Hi everyone!

This is my first Chihayafuru Fic ever so please don't judge me to harshly.

The night sky was filled with the glimmer of silent stars and the air flowing through the open window felt cool against the skin of Taichi's back as he slipped on a shirt, just as the brunette slid under the sheets of his bed, an angry buzzing like an irritated bee signalled the arrival of a new message on his mobile phone.

Taichi grumbled as he opened the message on the offending phone and skimmed its content's.

Hey Taichi what are you doing this weekend? Arata

Taichi felt his eyes widen as he read and re-read Arata Wataya's message, his heart thumped gently against his ribcage as blood rushed to his ears. Arata never texts, Taichithought whilst brushing light brown hair from his warm brown eyes as he quickly typed a reply.

Nothing… Why? Taichi

Taichi held the phone to his heart and waited for the device to buzz again.

Want to come over and play some Karuta? It must be tiring to play Chihaya all the time. Arata

Okay I'll be down tomorrow, I'll get the first train. Taichi

Do you want to stay the night? We can play more games. Arata

Fine, I'll pack a bag. See you then. Taichi

Goodnight. Arata

Why is my heart pounding? Arata never texts! Why does he want to see me now? Taichi questioned himself; they ran through his mind until he felt his eyelids droop from exhaustion and they followed him still, into the deep oblivion of sleep.

Taichi leaned his head against the train window watching the world roll by with tired eyes; he had woken up at 6:00 AM to get ready for the train to Fukui, packing a quick back and hurrying to leave his family, his mother as per usual was being overprotective and malicious. Taichi groaned at the memory of that morning it was so horrible.

"Taichi, why do you have to go to Fukui to meet that boy?" Reiko Mashima asked with disdain. "You should give up Karuta if you're going to lose all the time."

"That's right" Rika, Taichi's Sister, chimed in. "Why play karuta anyway it's so boring."

Normally Taichi would grin and bear it, but today he suddenly couldn't hold back his anger. "I'll play karuta if I want to!" He yelled shocking his Mother and Sister. "Even if I don't win all the time, it's fun and it just makes me want to try harder to improve myself."

"But what can you do with karuta huh?" Reiko shouted. "Can you make money? Can you be successful? What can you do with karuta?"

"Nothing Mother." Taichi retorted "Absolutely nothing, and you know what? I don't care, my dream is to become the master and someday I will be, because I love karuta, and that's all I need!" Grabbing his bag Taichi stormed from the kitchen and rushed to the train station.

Now that he thought about it he vaguely remembered her screaming something about not coming home until he was sorry and ready to apologize to her. Taichi turned his thoughts to Arata, picturing him wearing his glasses over his deep blue eyes and the way his coal black hair fell lightly against his forehead; And the way his large hands moved swiftly batting aside card after card, and the way sweat collect on his skin coating him in a sheen of moisture, and…

Taichi shook himself, what am I thinking, am I insane? Taichi pulled up the hoodie of his white jumper and began to tap a nervous rhythm on his jean clad thighs. Why am I thinking about Arata this way? And why does my heart feel like it's about to burst? He thought desperately, holding a fisted hand right over his aching chest. We're friends!

Tears welled up and collected at the corners of his eyes as the train began to slow and come to a stop at the Fukui station, wiping his eyes Taichi exited the locomotive and began to walk down the road beside the Asuwa River beneath the blooming sakura trees, their blossom decorated branches piercing the sky. The tired boy rubbed sleep from his eyes and grabbed a drifting petal from the breeze, smelling its sweet fragrance, Taichi almost didn't see the bike hurtling towards him until it was almost on top of him.

Taichi threw himself to the side and unfortunately rolled down the same muddy hill he and Chihaya had encountered on their last visit to the Fukui area, and again the cause had been a bike rider. Taichi yelped as he rolled over a rock sticking out of the ground and kept uncontrollably rolling down the muddy hill until he stopped at its bank.

"Are you okay!" Shouted a male voice, Taichi rolled his head to the side to get a better view of the man running towards him, the sun behind the figure outlined his body in a halo of light and as he drew closer Taichi suddenly realised who it was. His head was covered with spikey black hair; a pair of glasses framed his deep thoughtful eyes, which held the colour of the ocean full of the distress that showed on his slim face.

"Arata…" Taichi whispered, his breath hitched as his heart drummed a sharp staccato against his ribcage. "Where were you going in such a rush?"

"I was headed to the train station." Arata panted having run down the hill after the brunette. "To wait for you… But I was a bit late getting up this morning."

Taichi held his breath as he surveyed the face of the young man leaning over him, the way his lips parted with a small sigh and how his shirt rode over his lightly toned figure.

"You're all muddy. Are you ever going to get up?" Arata asked casually. "If not, I could come back later?"

"No! I'll get up, give me a hand." The brunette shouted, thrusting out his hand which Arata took and quickly hoisted him to his sore feet.

"Still shorter than me than?" Arata laughed, walking up the hill.

"Still younger than me Arata?" Taichi shot back.

The two laughed as they made their way back to the main path and began to walk back the way Arata had come, Taichi rubbed his back where he had rolled over the stone whilst making light conversation with the raven haired boy as they made their way back to his house. The pair soon left the shelter of the sakura tree's and found themselves walking along the road beside the fields of water, the sun glistened on their flat surface as the pair strolled past, casting luminescent reflections against the flesh of their cheeks.

"Did I tell you…? Mom kicked me out." Taichi murmured into the silence.

"Really? Why" Arata asked awkwardly.

"Because I stood up for my love of Karuta for once in my life…" The brunette mumbled, "This would normally be the part where you call me a coward…" Taichi was met with silence as they walked on nearing the house.

"…How long were you told to stay away?" Arata asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Until I'm sorry for what I said."

"…Let's get you cleaned up first and then I'll ask mum if you can stay for a while."

"What." Taichi exclaimed, "Why would you do that?"

Arata smiled, "Because I'm your friend, and that's what friends do."

Thank you for reading my Fic.

I hope you enjoyed, Please review to help me improve!

If you like what you read here I also write for Hetalia and Ao No Exorcist.

Chinese Translation by Kay: blog/post/48718612