"If I don't understand, then how the hell would you!" I screamed as I threw a pillow at him. He successfully blocked it by closing the door behind him as he made his hasty exit. For a moment, I stood alone in my bedroom, on the bed with nothing on but his buttoned shirt that reached down to about half my thighs. My shoulders rose and sunk with each breath taken in and let out. That sudden burst of rage took a lot more out of me then I realized.

When nothing could be heard but the sound of my breathing, I fell back on the bed and buried myself in the covers. "Stupid, stupid..." I chanted quietly, more to myself then the person I had been angry at. It was a natural thing: to get angry rather then defend myself properly. I don't know if it's because of the environment I was raised in, or if that's just how my sad-excuse-of-a-brain works. But I can't seem to come up with an intelligent retort when it comes to anyone... or rather, him. Maybe it's just him.

Before I knew it, I woke up hours later. It was evening, and for a moment, I thought I was still dreaming. I was surrounded by a scent that had my spirits lift, and the bed had never felt so soft. Dreary, I blinked open my eyes, then sat up quickly when realization hit. It made my head swim, but I didn't care. Guilt and embarrassment flooded me at the same time, and I grabbed for my pants like my life depended on it. He could walk in at any moment, finding me here still. It'd be one more thing he could smile about. Damn that smile of his. The image of it makes my heart flutter, and I hate it with the heat of a thousand suns.

I had gotten rid of his shirt and replaced it with my grey t-shirt when I heard a soft cluttering at the door that caused me to freeze. With wide eyes, I stared at the door knob, expecting it to twist. But all I could hear was what sounded like something being pushed towards the foot of the door. I saw a shadow in the crack there.

"Hayato," he said with a casual voice, though I knew the tension it held in them. I didn't answer, and stayed frozen as I was with my arms up and my shirt bundled a top my head in a mid-attempt to put it on.

After about a second, I heard a sigh muffled through the door and shuffling. The shadow beneath the door thinned, but one shape stayed constant and solid. It looked like a tray.

"I know you're still angry at me. But at least eat something. I'll leave the food out here for you." he continued. There was a moment's pause of silence, then the sound of fading footsteps as he made his way downstairs and probably towards his dad's doujo room.

Like a fool, I kept myself still, afraid that the slightest bit of movement would cause him to slam through that barrier of a door and... I don't know. But eventually, I shook my head clear and finally put my shirt on properly. After that, I was at a loss of what to do. My nose picked up the delicate scent of raw fish from his dad's restaurant, and as if on cue, my stomach growled... or rather, roared. I knew I was by myself, but it was still humiliating, and I dropped my head in shame. No way was I taking that food. Not from his hands which had probably prepared it. Not after that conversation today after we... –Refusing to finish that train of thought, I placed myself on the far side of the room, directly opposite the door, and slid down against the wall into a sitting position. My knees were brought up against me so I could lean my arms on them and rest my chin. I decided I'd rather starve myself and lock myself in this room then go past that door, spot the food, take the food, leave the house, and chance meeting him face to face.

Takeshi Yamamoto—My arch nemesis, my opposite, the only guy who can push the wrong buttons in an instant... and make up for it each and everytime. Not this time of course, but that's where I'm getting to. It was his birthday today. I told myself I'd be as nice to him as possible. I'd let him spend some time with the Tenth without getting jealous or angry –for more then one reason-, and I'd give him a ticket to say whatever the hell he wanted, and I wasn't going to do anything about it. There was more, but they weren't as important, and throughout the day that we spent with everybody –it was in the morning. Reborn thought it was a good idea to celebrate as early as possible so that the Tenth could continue his training-, I had bombed more then half of my mental list.

As for the previously mentioned 'birthday gifts', I had been able to keep myself in check whenever I saw that the Tenth and Takeshi were getting too close. Of course, the angry jealousy part was an internal failure, but no one needed to know that. Regarding the 'ticket', that had backfired the instant he started. And he had started his teasing when we were alone.

I don't exactly remember how –and wouldn't want to recall it because it brings me lower in my shame-, but one thing lead to another, and I ended up spending the next half of the day with him... in this room. I definitely did not give him a free ticket to do what we did, but we did it, and what's done is done. That's not important, though. It was afterwards that took the cake.

We were talking. Just talking. It was rare for us to get time like this, to not care about the world or Vongola, to have no worries and to just... pathetic as it sounds, spend time together. This guys pisses me off, and he makes me feel things I hate so much. Hateful things that hook me to him, and undoubtedly chain me to him while I crave for more.

I had been so close to him. Enough that every sense that possessed me was filled by him and only him. His scent felt permanent on me and around me. Only in these times do I feel or let myself feel protected and warm. His voice was a resonating rhythm that struck me to the core of my being. And that's where things backfired.

"If you had to choose between Tsuna or me, who would you choose?" he asked.

"That's a stupid question." I answered quickly, though my mind raced to find a proper answer.

"But you still have to answer it." He smiled. I growled and bowed my head in thought. The answer seemed so easy, but the more I thought about it, the harder my decision became. So I decided I wouldn't answer with complete truth.

"I would pick Tenth." I answered confidently, eyeing the Japanese boy with a smug smirk. "He's much more worth following then the likes of you." I put some acid into my tone of voice for effect, but I meant nothing of it. Takeshi never took me seriously before. So I was surprised with the sudden dark look on his face.

"I get it." He said a little slowly, the smile on his lips looking a little forced now. That was the first time that day that guilt struck me. I could have taken it back, but stupidly, I thought it'd be fun to continue.

"What, does that make you jealous?" I teased, the look on my face a little more morbid then I intended. But at the same time, I was curious to hear his answer. There was a pause before it came.

"No," he said, too happilly for my liking. And that had me dumbfounded.

"What?"

"I said 'No'. You're supposed to be his right-hand man, right? I completely understand."

Well, that wasn't the reaction I was hoping for. I thought I had had him, but apparently, guilty as I felt, it wasn't enough. Irritated, I sat up so I could look down at him, making the arm he had had around me slip off.

"The Tenth is a great leader," I began to brag. "You'd be an idiot to not want to be at his right side." The subject had branched off into something else, but I wanted so badly to get a more negative reaction out of him. To the point where I didn't realize I was bothering myself more then anything.

He shrugged at my words, looking up at me oh-so-casually with a comprehensive smile.

"I know that. Tsuna's great. And did you forget? I'm already at his side. Just not his right. That's your place." He stated like he was proud of me. That had me pause in surprise a moment, but I recovered quickly, feeling the irritation grow into anger.

"I deserve to be at his left, too."

"You do. Then I'll be right behind Tsuna. He needs someone to push him along the way."

"But you'd be in his shadow all the time."

"I'm always in his shadow anyway. I'm not looking for the spotlight."

"Well, then, stop showing off your sword."

"I'm... not showing off. I just take it out when we have to fight, like how you show off Uri."

"I don't show off Uri!"

"Oh, sorry—when you summon him."

"I don't—gah, I'd choose you, too!"

Those words slipped out before I could think to stop myself, and I had to fight the urge to curl up into a ball of failure, and bury myself in the covers. Another silence ensued, Takeshi looking surprised more then anything. Then slowly, that damn smile began to form on his face. An amused, adoring smile. One that had me stiffen in place and turn away quickly.

"At the same time as the Tenth?"

I didn't say anything.

"You were trying to bother me, weren't y—"

"I wasn't! You got it all wrong!" I cut him off, feeling the heat rise on my face. His eyes widened a moment, but he sat up to be at eye level with me shortly after.

"You're acting so strange." He commented, peering into my eyes. I kept them away as much as possible, sinking further into myself. "But I understand." For some reason, that got to me the most, and I blurted,

"No you don't!" I slipped away from him, though not off the bed, and glared at him with the fury of a lion. This set him a back, but he seemed to recover quickly and made a move towards me with a smile that told me to calm down. Of course, it did the opposite, and his gesture added s o much more to it. I made for the closest pillow and used it as a shield between us while I stood on the bed to tower over him.

"But I do. You're just—" I threw the pillow at his face.

"SHUTUP! It doesn't make sense!" I exclaimed, grabbing for another pillow. By this point, he had slipped off the bed, and stood by it in a sort of crouched position with just his boxers on. I didn't let that phase me.

"Hayato, calm—"

"If I don't understand, then how the hell would you?"

And that's how things got to this point.