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Hikari breathed, inhaling a large sum of oxygen into her lungs. The air smelled a faint scent of honey. A smile touched her lips. She scoped the scenery around her. The meadow was peaceful and beautiful. It hung in a balance; the greenery and the colorful flowers that was equally splayed across.

The sun rays peeled through the thickets of leaves. Hikari looked up, greeting the sun with a smile. She was happy and so were the faces in the little bookmark she held in her hand. Her smile faltered as she placed the bookmark carefully into her book. She missed them, their smiles and laughter and him.

Her gaze fell at her watch. 2.57. It was nearing three o'clock. A grin encrusted her face. Hikari moved her hands and produced a sleek silver cell phone. Holding her arms up and fingers readily placed on her phone. She waited.

Takishima would always call at exactly three o'clock. Hikari was reluctant to answer but when he made it a challenge. Hikari's spirit flared. She couldn't say no to a challenge now could she?

It was a challenge to see who would call and pick up exactly at three o'clock. They were currently tied but Hikari intended to have a change in results today. Triumph.

2.59. She counted, "50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57," her fingers flexed, "58, 59…"

In a flicker, her fingers snapped the phone open.

"Still too slow number two," a mocking voice rang from the other end of the line. Hikari's jaw dropped. 'How?!' her eyes frantic and fell onto her watch. 3.01. Her fist balled and her fury boiled.

'Why? Why can't I beat him? WHY?!' Hikari trembled.

"DON"T CALL ME NUMBER TWO?!" she shrieked into the phone. Her voice shattered the peace of her meadow. Hikari didn't care, she was angry and succumbed to pure fury itself.

There was no answer. Hikari snarled. She was not amused.

"Do you hear me Taki-"

"Hikari!" Takishima's voice cut in. Hikari tilted her head slightly. Takishima sounded weird. He sounded unconfident and trembly. Why? Her curiosity sprouted.

"Yes?" Hikari asked.

No answer. Hikari frowned.

"What is it, Takishima?" she asked again, her voice edged with curiosity. She had to know.

"Will you, I mean, can you come , uhm, can you…" his voice churned and finally died. "Yes?" she encouraged.

She could hear him taking a deep breath from the other end of the line. She waited.

"Can you come to the S.A greenhouse at 4 o'clock sharp this afternoon," his words shooting like bullets, leaving him breathless.

"Why?" Hikari asked. Her curiosity still had the better side of her.

"Because, uhm, I will, I am, I need, yeah, need to show you, uhm, a-a-something,"Kei stuttered.

"Something?" Hikari mused.

"Yes," Takishima's voice was rigid. Hikari dazed, 'So…he wants to show me something.'

Hikari pursed her lips and think. 'Okay, clue number one: Kei is acting weird. Clue number two: Kei wants to meet at the S.A greenhouse. And the final clue: Kei is going to show me something… What?!' Hikari didn't like games especially guessing games. She thought harder, draining her brain cells, 'Show a something…a pet like a dog. No, he doesn't like pets. Takishima…hmm…he's show off anyway. Wait, that's it!' Hikari's eyes sparkled. "He's going to show off his fancy moves. He's challenging me!' Hikari jumped off the bench. It was too much to contain, Takishima –her number one rival- was proposing a challenge to her. Another jolt travelled down the length of her spine.

'Yes!' she punched her fist into the air.

"So…" Kei's voice broke through her excitement.

"Yes?" Hikari asked, her voice jittering with exhilaration.

"Are you coming?!" Kei demanded. His patience must have reached his limits.

"Sure. Why not." Hikari was confused. Why would she turn down a challenge from him anyway?

"Oh."

"Hikari, thank you." He thanked. Hikari blinked, 'Takishima's getting weirder,'

Hikari open her mouth to protest but thought better of it. Takishima was in one of his weird mood swings and she did not want him canceling out on their challenge.

"Your welcome," it was the only logical way to reply.

"I miss you," Hikari flinched. Takishima's voice was all sickly sweet and it was the signal to hang up.

"Okay. Bye," she snapped the phone shut.

Hikari smiled. Not only was she happy, she was exhilarated. She hasn't challenge Takishima for a long time. Her body trembled with excitement.

"He might have learnt a few moves but I won't lose!" Hikari said, her voice saturated with excitement.

"Bring it on Takishima!"

*********************************

Hikari crept silently down the path. She was going stealthy, incognito so she would be able to spring a surprise attack on Takishima. She could imagine it now, Takishima's surprised face. She laughed silently.

Hikari moved to the metal door frame. Her hand inched forward, pushing the door open with utmost silent. Her legs fleeted in with the tiniest pressure and she pushed the door closed. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for any threats or traps.

She had zanshin to the max. She moved with utmost silent though the foliage of the greenhouse; her eyes scanning for her rival. He was nowhere to be found. She pouted.

'He says he would be here at 4 sharp. Where is he?' she wondered.

Hikari froze. She could hear breathes, someone breathing. She closed her eyes, focusing her chi to her ears, heightening their sense. 'North and 5 feet away,' she analyzed.

She crept further, her ears listening. The breathing was getting louder, he's close. She edged forward. When she found him, Hikari was flabbergasted.

Kei Takishima was lying on the couch, sleeping. Anger washed through her. 'HE IS SLEEPING?!'

How could he be sleep during a challenge? It had to be a trick. Hikari's eyes brightened like a cat's and scanned her opponent once more. He was wearing a dark tux, probably custom made for him. His face seemed tired, very tired; his eyes were traced with dark circles and his face was sallow and thin. Hikari's heart lurched. He looked so tired and stressed out. Hikari didn't like to see him like this. It hurts to see him like this.

She moved out of the thicket of bushes with her arms behind her back. She trotted forward to the couch where her beloved rival laid. She knelt beside him, eyes tracing his handsome features. 'How long have I not seen you?' she wondered.

Takishima was sleeping so peacefully, she dare not wake him. It was always such a bliss to watch him sleep. She smiled. A slow breeze blew past them and it swayed his dirty blonde hair. Hikari's fingers inched forward. She wanted so much to touch him.

Takishima's eyes snapped open. Hikari fell back, surprise. He stared at Hikari for a long moment and stifled a smile. 'Takishima's smiling,' she smiled in response.

She saw his hand clutched his pocket tightly. "What's wrong, Takishima?" she asked in a worried tone. Takshima stood up in an instant. Hikari remained dazed, 'What's wrong with him?'

He held out his hand, "Come on,"

"Huh?" Hikari's voice confused.

She followed his mocking gaze and looked around. 'Oh,' she was still sitting on the floor.

Hikari grabbed his hand and pulled herself up. As she patted the dust off herself, she noticed how rigid Takishima's posture was; his right hand was in his right pocket clutching something. Not natural. She eyed him carefully and asked once more, "What's wrong, Kei?"

Kei took a deep breath and fell on his knees. Hikari's eyes widened, 'What is he doing now?!'

His right hand stirred for a moment or two and slowly inches out. It was trembling and it held a little velvet box. Hikari's eyes stared intensively at the little box. Her head tilting to the left and then to the right. 'What is that?'

"What's the box for?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and surprise. Takishima kept silent; his eyes hopeful.

Hikari crossed her arms together, she was thinking with utmost effort, 'He has a box and he is kneeling. Where have I seen this picture before? Where? He has a box-" her right hand upright "-and he's kneeling…" her eyes suddenly bright with wonders.

'Of course!' she knocked her fist onto her upright hand. 'He's proposing a challenge. During the Edo period, that's how a disciple asked the master for a challenge,' her eyes darted once more to look at the blonde.

'No wonder he wants me to come at 4 sharp. A challenge!' her smile brimming as she looked at the unconfident blonde. She move backwards with her eyes gleaming. Takishima eyes widened in response. 'He's confused. Good,' she thought.

She pulled both her fists up and pushed her legs backwards, a fighting stance. Takishima was still kneeling, she let out an odd snort. She was going to win.

" I'm going to beat you," Hikari announced. The day has finally come.

Takishima's face fell and he let out a deep sigh. Hikari pulled her fists tightly, ready for the first strike. But he merely stood up and placed that weird box into his coat pocket. Is this a trick? She analyzed her rival's movements.

"Hikari, you do know I've just proposed to you, right," Takishima asked with a deadly tone. Hikari flinched. She had seen this aura before. Takishima cannot be taken lightly with this aura. She switched to defense mode; readying her fists to form a shield if he strikes.

"Yeah. I know," she answered wryly, unimpressed. He didn't move. She frowned, 'Why isn't he attacking? Fight already!'

"Then?!" he bellowed. His purplish black aura crackled. Hikari flinched but she hidden her fear perfectly. He crossed his arms. Hikari guessed that he was waiting, but for what?! She wanted to fight, to battle but all he did was stood on his knees with a weird box and now he's waiting?!

Hikari pulled her hand to her chin, stroking it. She pursed her lips tightly and tilted her head to the left. Questions poured and twisted in her mind as she guessed her rival's intention.

'What does he want?' Hikari could feel the fury clouding her rival's aura. ' Takishima's angry…why? What did I do?' she tilted her head to the right and clutched her chin.

Then, the answer finally dawned her, 'That's it. When a disciple kneels and asks the master for a challenge, he must have expected a great challenge. That's what Takishima wants, a great challenge,' her eyes flickered at the blonde. He was still waiting. A sly smile touched her lips.

Hikari turned around and let her eyes flutter shut. She took a deep breath, filing her lungs with oxygen. In a second, she held her breath, letting all the oxygen seeped through her lungs and into her body. Oxygen filling every part of her body, 'Yes, zanshin to the max,'

'Kei's not the only one with a new trick,' she thought, feeling her chi grow.

Hikari whirred around, facing her rival. 'Prepare to be defeated, Takishima,'

With her lips curving up, forming smile, she called, "Kei! I understand," Takishima's gloat brightened and the dim hope he held flared.

"Kei!" she ran, waving her arms. 'A wise warrior once said….'

Takishima opened his arms, ready to embrace her.

'…one person's weakness is another's advantage' Hikari leaped with both fists balled and ready. She tackled him and brought him onto the floor.

"Oh my God…Oh my God." Hikari gasped as she looked down at her rival. Takishima was sprawled on the floor, clearly defeated.

"I beat you. I've finally beaten you," reality sank in and she clapped both hands together, smiling gleefully. "Hikari Hanazono has finally beaten Takishima Kei!" Hikari announced.

Hikari was happy, no, she was beyond happy, she was triumphant. She'd finally beaten Kei, she was number one.

Takishima picked himself up and looked at his girlfriend. Shock, surprise, hurt, disbelief was written all over his face.

Hikari whirred around in a second and leaned forward to gaze into her rival's brown eyes. Takishima gulped and held his breath. A smile touched her lips.

"Takishima Kei, I have defeated you." Hikari announced with her finger pointing at Kei. She had been meaning to say that for years and now finally…Hikari punched her fist into the air.

"What should I do now," Hikari wondered aloud. She has never had thought of what to do when she beaten Takishima.

Hikari snapped her fingers. She has to tell her father, her father who has worked so hard to let Hikari study in Hakusen Academy to beat Takishima. She had to tell him. She gave her long jet black hair a simple hair flip toss and glanced back at her rival.

"Number two," she teased as she trotted out of the greenhouse.

Takishima Kei stood motionless with his jaw unattached. He shook his head hard and yelled, "Why me?!"