"It's my fault why we lost. It's all my fault."

The memory of it was still freshly imprinted on my mind. I never knew how to react to it. It was like hell. And to add to that, the shadows cast by the lockers were hugging me to death. I rested for a while after that strenuous self-training. I looked at the door and saw the silhouette of a familiar person. "What are you doing here?!" The man standing was Rukawa clothed in his gym suit. Shit. He looked drop dead gorgeous, I noted. He was leaning on the door of the locker room.

"Why do you ask?" I grunted. I never liked the way the kitsune acted towards e. Though on special occasions, he didn't call me do 'aho.

"Nothing." Rukawa sighed, walking away.

"Why don't you say it?!" I asked. I'm not going to let him get away with this. Not this time!

"Say what?"

"That it's my fault that we lost to Kainan!"

"I never said that."

"But you were thinking of it. I know everybody does."

I looked at Rukawa and suddenly I shivered but in a good way. Rukawa was looking at me. affectionately. you know. the look of love, filled with burning passion. It was quite scary. coz he was never like that. Then Rukawa slowly walked towards me, kneeling in front of me as he touched my face gently. His hands were so soft that my heart could burst any second.

"That was a great game. yesterday." He whispered. He got up from his position.

"Rukawa. I. I. don't.''

"Shh. stop."

Rukawa was still caressing my face, then lower, to my shoulder and suddenly. he kissed me.

"I love you, Sakuragi."

I was shocked at what he told me, but seeing the seriousness and sincerity in his eyes, I knew that he TRULY loves me. Even though I was often mean to him, I always feel attracted to him. I never thought that I could possibly fall in-love with a man. More so with Rukawa. So, I kissed him back with much ferocity. It was the most passionate kiss I ever had in my entire life. It was so forceful the we fell to the floor.

"I love you too, Kaede." I silently whispered with a smile.

"And you just made me the happiest man alive, Hana." Kaede smiled, possibly for the first time in his entire life.

~*~