Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to get the chapter out. I've been busy with classes and exams and college stuff (yet never anything fun). Ug… Anyway, I hope you like this chapter.

~ebob

Disc: I wish I owned the characters…but I don't (unless I made them up, if that makes sense). But I do own the ideas. I think?

Chapter 2

The couple walked to Mihashi's house together. They held hands together until they turned onto Mihashi's street. Both were comfortable with their relationship and loved one another very much. However, neither had come out to their parents yet either. Abe had suggested it a couple of times, coming out to Mihashi's parents at least, but every time the dirty blond pitcher declined. Abe didn't want to push the subject, especially with Mihashi's temperament. He thought that the two elder Mihashis would be fine with the announcement. But since Ren himself wasn't ready the catcher let it be. So instead the couple continued to hide their relationship, taking precautions and safeguards like letting go of each other when they neared each other's houses.

As Abe thought about it as the couple walked in silence to Mihashi's house, he realized that the only contact they had with each other throughout the day was in fact their time in the locker room. They went out just about every weekend, enjoying their date night as much as a fully closeted gay couple could. But even then they could only manage a quick kiss; or if they were really lucky and managed some time away from prying eyes they could share a tender embrace. Yet still the only time they had together to be themselves as a couple was their shared moment in the locker room.

When the couple reached the front door Mihashi turned to Abe. "Th-thanks Abe. I-I'll see y-you later," Mihashi stuttered.

The frown Abe was trying to hold back slipped onto his lips. He hated it when Mihashi stuttered. He had all but beaten the old habit when he was around people from the team, people who knew. But whenever he was in public hiding he returned to his old shaky way of speaking. But Abe recovered. "See ya," he said simply. Then in a lower voice finished with "I love you."

"Love y-you too," Mihashi whispered before turning away. Abe watched as his love bowed his head and passed through the threshold. A pain welled up in the catcher's chest. The utter sadness of the scene made Abe want to start crying, but he held back his tears. There was something unpleasant on Mihashi's mind, and Abe wanted to know what.

But he knew that there was no pressing the pitcher. If Abe let it be known that he was worried, then Mihashi would no doubt worry. Instead, Abe needed to let it go. He knew in his mind that if Mihashi wanted to share it, he would. But Abe needed to know that in his heart.

With a heavy heart Abe set off back home. The whole way back he thought of Mihashi. He concluded that there was definitely something on the pitcher's mind. But to interfere and solve the problem for his love would take away Mihashi's power and devalue him. Yet it killed Abe to know that his boyfriend was suffering and there was nothing he could do about it. By the time he reached his house Abe was in the gutter. Valentines Day wound be on Monday. There was always the possibility of celebrating the couple's romance during their normal Saturday date night. But Valentine's Day is a special day and should be specially celebrated. By the time Abe reached his room he started formulating a plan to show Mihashi how special he was to the catcher.

That night Abe rushed through his homework. A worksheet in history, ten pages in literature, and twenty algebra problems seemed like a trifle ordeal compared with finding something he could do for Mihashi. The pitcher liked baseball and liked to eat. The food situation could be taken care of by going to a restaurant or if the opportunity presented itself Abe could always cook something special. The problem would come afterwards. What could the couple do? The raven haired catcher didn't want another evening of simply watching a movie or anything like that. Abe wanted something truly special. But what?

Even as he slept Abe still didn't have a set plan. He tossed and turned, waking constantly as the hours crept by. Fear for the coming date's success clouded any rational thought and as he slept anxiety ate away at the young man's mind. There was no question that Abe loved Mihashi and that Mihashi loved Abe. But the raven haired teen began to worry if, despite their love, their relationship would last. If their current situation were to be taken as the norm, then would they forever be in this slump? The couple wasn't even at their 100 day anniversary, and yet already they had fallen into a monotonous routine. Could they survive?

The problem was a monkey on Abe's back on Friday as well. Nobody on the team had any suggestions. Normal dates like karaoke or the arcade wouldn't work. Mihashi didn't have the voice or the personality to sing, not to mention Abe's own harpy-like voice and general aversion to singing. Besides, Abe didn't want to remind his boyfriend about what happened last time they went to the arcade together.

It tore at Abe's sanity. Hardly at all during the morning's condition did the catcher even look at his golden haired boyfriend. He speedily showered and changed, making sure to be out of the normally semi-erotic locker room. As he walked down the hall, hair still wet from his haste, Abe fought back the tears the threatened his eyes. He and Mihashi had a problem with their relationship. Abe knew it and was even able to identify what the problem was. Yet here he was, walking away from the place where his eight best friends and his boyfriend were changing; a place ideal for the conversation Abe knew needed to take place. Yet here he was, walking away from the problem he had to talk over with Mihashi. Yet here he was, bewildered by his ignorance and knowingly avoiding the only source of a solution.

Abe kept his head low. If he acted like he was in a hurry to get somewhere then people would let him be. The last thing Abe wanted was to talk to someone outside of the baseball team. Abe felt like the next time he opened his mouth the confusion and panic waiting on the back of Abe's tong would spring forth. Somewhere. Abe had to go somewhere where people wouldn't want to talk to him. Some place quiet; some place where he could hide.

The library door was in front of him before Abe even considered the decision. Once he thought about it the library was the only real choice that met his criteria. Based on his actions the gruff catcher knew his teammates wouldn't be far off, wondering what had overcome their teammate. But Abe wasn't in the mood. Taking a seat at one of the tables in the vast and quiet room would be a trap. Instead Abe wandered into the back of the library; back into the deepest, dankest, least used region of the room. In the far back corner Abe made camp flanked by ancient math tomes caked with dust. No one would find him here. By the looks of the corner not even the custodian had ventured here.

Alone in the semidarkness Abe readied himself for the grief crashing against his inner walls. He bit his lips and curled into a tight ball. If Abe was going to suffer for his utter stupidity it would have to be in silence. With everything ready Abe let himself go. He conjured up his perfect saintly image of Mihashi and pulled out the stopper on his reservoir of bitter tears.

But nothing came. Abe couldn't cry. It was there, the burning sensation that always preceded and succeeded tears. His eyes sizzled and ached, but no a drop fell from the steely orbs.

His self hatred had been foiled. But why? Abe was stupid enough to recognize a problem with the one thing he wanted the most in the world. The honor of going to Koshien, and even more so winning the tournament, would be something that he would treasure. But it would be a dull candle when held to the bright, shining radiance Mihashi gave to the catcher. Mihashi gave the catcher light, direction, and something to hold sacred. The innermost corners of Abe's heart held nothing but the pitcher. Yet here he was hiding from the very person he loved more than anything in the world simply because Abe didn't want to talk about the problems he himself identified. It was like simply ignoring the couple's slump would make it go away. And a part of Abe thought that it would; that they both just needed something to kick-start their romance. But to leave it up to chance? To allow his happiness and sanity to ride on the winds of whim was simply on a level of stupidity far below the catcher.

And here was Abe, cowering in a corner hoping all of his problems would vanish. Abe wanted to laugh at himself, his foolish thoughts and fantasies but was too sad. He wanted to cry at his despair and his loathing, his foolishness and grief but was too melancholy for tears. So he did nothing. With a blank expression Abe stared at the ancient programming in DOS manuals on the shelf in front of him.

That is where Suyama found him, looking as though Abe's steely eyes were but windows to a soulless inner self. Suyama tentatively approach the catcher. The way Abe had left the locker room startled everyone. Now to find Abe as dull and, well, blank as he was was unnerving to Suyama. "A-Abe?" He asked, unsure of what would happen next.

The only recognition the catcher showed was an infinitesimal turn of the head.

"Abe," Suyama repeated with more feeling in his voice, hoping some of which would invigorate the catcher. It was eerie seeing Abe like this. He was never as sporadic as Tajima, but Abe gave his own sense of life and energy to the team. To see the cold calculating eyes of the catcher now empty of all feeling was unsettling. "You ok?"

Again Abe turned his head an minute distance towards Suyama. "I…" Abe trailed off. What should he say? Should, or more importantly could, Abe tell Suyama what was going on in his mind? Abe knew his feelings and thoughts were for the most part unfounded and ludicrous. But what if they weren't? It was that but that was keeping Abe's mind from thinking clearly. So he answered Suyama honestly. "I don't know."

"You ran out of the locker room pretty quickly this morning. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

Abe looked up at Suyama, his friend, his teammate. Abe was not particularly close to Suyama. Even within the team there were some divides. Abe and Suyama never before had hung out together just the two of them. But that didn't mean that Abe didn't like Suyama. Maybe it was time for Abe to branch out? "I don't even know where to begin," Abe murmured in a low voice.

"Mind if I join you?" Suyama asked nonchalantly, as if asking a distraught friend if he could sit next to him in a desolate and dirty part of the library was a weekly occurrence.

Abe nodded his head. "Go ahead."

As Suyama sat he tried to keep the conversation going. "Well tell me," he said, thinking quickly for something to say, "You looked fine yesterday. What happened last night to make you so, well, sad?"

A faint smile briefly twitched at Abe's lips. "I had an epiphany," he said nonchalantly.

"About what?" Suyama asked.

"I got to thinking; you know about Valentine's Day. Normally on Saturday nights we go get some dinner and then watch a movie or study or something. Nothing too interesting. I wanted to do something special for Mihashi," the catcher explained. "But I want to do something special for Mihashi this year."

"Like what?" The short stop asked.

"Good question," Abe responded. "That's why I'm like this. Mihashi loves baseball and food. I thought I could make him something, but then I don't know what to do from there. I get the feeling like we're just going through the motions, like we've already become sick of each other but just don't know it yet."

Suyama's eyebrows skyrocketed. "But you two just started going out. Hell, some of us on the team thought you two were secretly going out way before you actually were. If anyone is meant to be together, it's you two."

"I, I know," Abe said solemnly. "But this has realized just how much I don't know about Mihashi. I feel; I feel like I don't know him at all and that scares me, Suyama. It scares the shit out of me."

The short stop was silent for a moment. "Have you talked to Mihashi about this?" Suyama asked.

"I can't…I just c-can't," Abe's voice cracked as he spoke. It was a problem that tore at his insides. He felt so close to bursting into tears. His eyes scorched and stung and threatened tears but the droplets of salty water just wouldn't fall.

Suyama had never seen Abe so emotional. Part of him wanted to run, to leave get away from the unstable catcher. But that just wasn't Suyama's style. They were teammates after all. Suyama may not understand what the catcher's going through too well but damn it they were friends. "Why?" Suyama prompted, his voice softening in an attempt to soothe his friend.

"I don't know," Abe whispered. "I know I should. I really do. This isn't just my problem. We need to talk about this. But I can't, I just can't."

The catcher was silent for a moment before adding as an afterthought "I'm too pitiful, too weak. Mihashi can do better than a wuss like me."

At this Suyama rose to his feet. "Alright. That's it. We're going." He commanded.

"Where?" Abe asked, his voice still dead as he looked up at the teen with the buzz cut.

The short stop glared at the catcher. "We're going to find Mihashi. You two are going to talk this out. Now let's go." As he spoke Suyama reached down to help Abe to his feet.

But the catcher just looked up at his friend with a blank face.

"Come on," Suyama prompted again. "Let's go." Abe still refused to get up, so Suyama brandished his ultimate threat. "Fine," he said simply. "I'll go have a chat with Mihashi; see what he thinks about this."

That was it, the only provocation that could bring the catcher too his feet. Suyama knew that Abe would rather drink gasoline than make Mihashi worry about him. It was almost sickening the way the catcher was devoted to the pitcher. Sickening perhaps, but deep down Suyama couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to love someone like that.

The steely eyes of the catcher flared with life for the first time since Suyama found the pitcher. He stood up quickly causing the short stop to back up a couple of steps. "Don't," Abe commanded softly, "it'll make him upset."

"Then go talk to him," Suyama half pleaded. "He's important to you. You can't let something like this come between you. To be weak is to be human. If you really love Mihashi you'll open up to him, let him help you and heal you."

The short stop's words dug into Abe. It wouldn't be easy. Opening up just wasn't something that Abe did. He had been strong for Mihashi when the pitcher wasn't able to. Abe was Mihashi's pillar. But who was Abe's? Could the timid pitcher shoulder Abe's burden? Was it right for Abe to force Mihashi to take some of it? Abe broke the eye contact he and Suyama had. "Mihashi has enough to deal with. He doesn't need any of my problems."

"Part of loving, Abe, is being able to share your weaknesses. Taking your flaws and your shame and laying them all before the one you want to be with. If Mihashi loves you, and believe me he does, then he'll accept you. But you Abe need to take that first step. You Abe need to trust and believe in Mihashi enough to let him love you for who you are."

What did Suyama know? He had never been in love. Sure he'd had a crush or two but never a relationship. But Abe didn't know that. He didn't need to know that now…

"Thank you," Abe whispered looking back up at his friend. "Thank you Suyama. I'm glad I have a friend like you."

"So you'll talk to Mihashi?" The short stop asked.

"Yeah," Abe replied. "I will at lunch. The bell's about to –" the ringing of the warning bell made the catcher's point for him.

The two walked together back towards the year 1 wing. Steadily with conversation Abe's mood improved to the point where he was able to crack a joke. So it came as a surprise to the other members of the baseball club when Suyama appeared with a cheerful looking Abe. They didn't have time to stop and talk to the others. But as Suyama walked Abe to the door of his classroom Hanai jumped into the conversation.

"Hey Abe where did you –" the captain started.

"Later," Abe cut him off with a smile. "Class is about to start. I'll tell all you guys after school."

"What about lunch?" Hanai hissed, becoming more aware of their classmates' eyes gazing in their direction.

"I'll be talking to Mihashi in private."

Hanai nodded in understanding. He didn't know what the problem was, but everyone on the team saw that there was a problem. Including Mihashi. "Abe," Hanai warned, "Mihashi knows you're upset. I'd send him a mail as soon as you get the chance."

"Thanks Hanai," Abe replied before taking his seat. Abe was rational again. Suyama had managed to talk Abe out of his self loathing. Now he was back to his normal calculating self. And now he had to repair some damage. Although their literature teacher hadn't entered the classroom yet Abe knew she would be there soon. But he had to chance it. As fast as he could Abe took out his mobile and found Mihashi's contact, number 2 on speed dial second only to his voicemail. I'm sorry, the catcher wrote, we'll talk at lunch. Love you. Abe hit the green send button just as the teacher shut the door behind her.

Classes were a slow and painful torture. In the time that passed Abe kept imagining what he would say to Mihashi, which make him think about the pitcher which made the time separating their reunion feel like forever and a half. Abe had to suffer through literature, math, biology, and then history. He had good grades in all of his subjects. It would be great if he could just cut class and spend his time in the library, probably in the same hidden math section, and have the talk with Mihashi he needed to have. Abe didn't need to be in class today, but Mihashi did. The pitcher was still as terrible at school as ever. But if they cut class now then Abe would be able to see Mihashi when they were supposed to be in class, and again when they had to study to make up for the material they missed.

It tempted Abe. Tempted him but the catcher knew better. He shook the thought out of his head. The last thing he should do is tempt Mihashi to miss classes. So Abe waited. Four long arduous hours of dull classes.

At least Abe wouldn't have to deal with anyone exchanging chocolates. It was an unspoken expectation that all of the girls would wait until Monday to hand out their chocolate. But that didn't stop the normal fangirls from trying to jockey their way into being one of the baseball team's Valentines. During each of the five minute breaks girls surrounded Hanai's desk, much to Abe's amusement. Hanai himself had started to relax a bit under the girls' attention. Like the catcher, the captain was learning to sit back and silently laugh as the girls fought with each other for Hanai's attention.

This within itself was amusement for Abe on a normal day. But the first year girls were becoming desperate. Since he and Mihashi had become an unofficial official couple the catcher had been giving any girl who approached either him or his boyfriend an evil stare. But this was Valentine's weekend. No girl wanted to be alone on Valentine's weekend. And since Abe didn't have a girl friend and he was the catcher on the baseball team, Abe was had once again become a target for the misguided affections of random hormonal teenagers. He also wondered how Mihashi was handling the added attention for the occasion.

Abe looked up at the clock. "Just a one more class," he murmured more to himself than anyone else. Then he could go sort everything out with Mihashi.

"Abe-kun want to share my bento for lunch?" One of the now desperate baseball fangirls asked.

"What? I was just going to ask him!" Another exclaimed loudly. "I made it myself. It'll keep Abe-kun healthy for baseball."

The catcher ignored their rambling comments. "Sorry," he said curtly. "I have to see someone at lunch. Baseball stuff." That was the key phrase. "Baseball Stuff" let Abe get out of anything he wanted when it came to his classmates. He could ignore people, skip meetings, and blow off things he simply doesn't want to do. And to be honest, it really was baseball stuff.

The bell had not stopped ringing by the time Abe was out the door. It was one of the perks of having a seat close to the door. People were just starting to file out of the other first year classroom crowding the halls. Abe's eyes scanned the crowd looking for the shock of short messy dirty blond hair among the sea black and brunette.

Abe still hadn't spotted Mihashi by the time the catcher arrived at the pitcher's classroom. Inside were Tajima, Izumi, Mihashi, and Hamada surrounded a group of chattering girls and a few of their non-baseball friends. Suddenly Abe's chest became tight. The ghosts of his old thoughts reappeared in his mind. Would it be better for Mihashi to find someone else? All Abe had to do would be to turn around and walk away right now. The pitcher hadn't seen him yet.

But just seeing Mihashi relieved some of the doubt in Abe's mind. Mihashi may be better off with someone else. But right now Mihashi was best with Abe, right now Abe wanted Mihashi, and right now Mihashi wanted Abe. After taking a pause to breathe and another to build confidence, Abe set his face in a half smile and focused his eyes on the pitcher. Before he could stop himself, Abe crossed the threshold and entered the classroom.

"Mihashi," the catcher greeted the pitcher before nodding at Hamada, Tajima, and Izumi. The two had seen the way Abe acted after practice. Probably would have discussed it between classes if they were alone.

Hamada, Tajima, and Izumi returned Abe's nod. "A-Abe," Mihashi stuttered.

"Mihashi," Abe repeated, savoring the sound of his boyfriend's name. For the briefest of moments he thought about what it would be like if all the girls surrounding Hamada, Izumi, Tajima, and Mihashi knew that Tajima was gay and that Mihashi and Abe were going out. If he were to suddenly drop that on the crowd, how would they react? Would they believe him? Would any be jealous?

Instead Abe continued with what he came to do. "Come with me for a bit. I need to talk to you about a few things."

Those who had seen what had happened in the locker room knew instantly what Abe wanted to do. Mihashi nodded his head solemnly before rising to his feet and joining Abe at the door.

"Wait, Mihashi-kun! What about my bento?" A girl asked.

"S-sorry," the pitcher said. "I g-gotta go."

Inwardly Abe smiled. She was nothing to Mihashi; just a leech trying to be "the ace pitcher Mihashi's girlfriend" purely for the social positioning. She didn't really care about the pitcher. And even if in some way she did have legitimate feelings for him, Abe loved Mihashi more. And hopefully, Abe would confirm that Mihashi's love for Abe was more than that of a crush.

Post Script: I hope you guys liked the chapter. There's still more to come but I'm going to be pretty busy so it might be a while.

Please review, it makes me feel good and write faster…hehe…let me know if you have any suggestions.