Disclaimer: I don't own anything…

Her dark gray eyes quivered as she looked up, seeing a pair of warm golden eyes staring down at her. Salima bit on her bottom lip slightly. This was all Kane's fault. At the water tower again, by coincidence.

"R-Rei?" she uttered out. The Chinese blader nodded a head at her, with inquiring question in his eyes and he gave her a small smile of comfort. Salima sighed softly to herself, swallowing what pride she had left in her, "Rei…I…" she uttered, dawning a flush, looking away from him, not wanting to see his reaction as uncomfortable sensations ran through her stomach, "I like you…" she blushed, staring away, "a lot…" the second those words came out, the redhead wished they had never formed in her mouth at all, although she knew she liked him for the longest time, denying her feelings each time an occasion came up.

Her stomach fluttered with fear and anticipation. She felt something in her throat, making her regret what just happened. Salima knew this didn't feel right…she didn't want to look at him again.

Rei stared at her for the longest while, as she kept looking away. He could sense all the fear she had and the courage she had to build up to admit such a thing to him, and yet, at the same time, he almost felt bad for her, "Salima, I…" he brought his right black-gloved clad hand to rub the back of his neck nervously, feeling bad, in a way, "I'm sorry…"

Her gaze shot back to him, her eyes widened and a saddened look crossed her face, "F-For…for what?" she asked, wondering what he was getting at.

Rei was now scratching the back of his head, looking away from her, "Well, I like you, but you're like…a little sister, a relative or a best friend…" he trailed off, figuring that she understood him.

Salima felt hot tears stinging her eyes, threatening to break through. She didn't care anymore; she let them flow down her cheeks as she stared up at the Chinese blader with a saddened, yet almost broken look on her face. She needed support at the moment and her forehead fell on his shoulder, her tears dropping freely onto his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging and trying to comfort her. She didn't believe it; she shed actual tears for him after he made her feel like an idiot. Her eyes clamped tight and the tears flowed faster for that moment.

Rei made an attempt to pull Salima off his shoulder and look in her eyes, to sympathize with her, but she didn't budge.

Salima gave him her love, and he just pushed it away, and she couldn't do a thing about it. She felt like nothing at all to him, as even more tears proceeded to fall. Her throat dried up as she sobbed some more. Soon she lost the feeling in her legs and they gave way, causing her to fall on her knees and she hung her head, watching her own tears fall on the ground.

"Salima, are you-?" Rei started, but Salima cut him off.

"Please…" her voice cracked when she spoke, her throat hurting her. Everything hurt, and she could barely speak, "Rei, don't…just leave…" she didn't want him to see her like this. He'd hurt her enough already.

Salima heardhis departing footsteps as she hung her head even more. More footsteps approached from the other direction and a shadow loomed over her. She looked up; "Hi," her voice wavered at the end, showing her fear as she forced a smile, despite her tear-filled face, "Kane…"

End.

Wow, look at that OOC-ness. I have no idea where that came from, but I'm sure it's just my mindless ramblings…