THE TALK

"Love covers all things."

Two figures were sitting on the swing and enjoying the cool breeze coming from the sea. The redheaded one dug his shoes into the sand making squiggles, while the shorter dark-haired boy was wrapped up in his musings.

"I noticed it since you got back from rehab." Youhei said. "Then I realized, maybe this guy is serious. Maybe, he does wanna make friends with you."

Hanamichi continued to make squiggles on the sand as questions raised through his head.

Why do I feel so not myself every time you're near? And your eyes, when they're looking at me, it feels as if they're burrowing into my soul…

Youhei turned to Hanamichi as he heard him sigh heavily. A small smile graced his lips.

You're confused aren't you? Look deeper Hanamichi, he truly cares for you and even more, I bet. I know it's very different and also in away challenging but if you're honest and willing to open up to the possibilities, the very thing you have been searching may finally come to an end.

"How come I get this sinkin' feeling something happened between you and Rukawa during your rehab?" Youhei said, snapping the redhead from his reverie. "Care to tell me what it is."

Hanamichi pouted; nevertheless he decided to tell his best friend what happened last summer. That was why he invited him, to talk and hopefully get some answers. It's not like Youhei's a pro in the love department or something like that; however, he always seems to notice minute details about people and their actions. He may not admit it openly, but Youhei is the smartest one in the group. Then of course, in the Tensai's belief, Youhei is only second to his innate genius-ness.

"Remember I told you his training camp was just a block away from the center."

"Yes."

"Well, ever since that first meeting on the beach, we started seeing each other frequently, mostly in the afternoons. Of course, we still bickered, which was mostly the kitsune's fault of course," Hanamichi snorted. "But the more we hanged out, the bickering lessened and the name calling started to feel like… something like…?"

"Affection." Yohei concluded.

Hanamichi quickly opened his mouth to refute the answer; sadly not a word came out. Somehow, somewhere in the back of his head, Youhei nailed it.

"Yeah, something like that." Hanamichi said in a low voice.

Eventhough he could only see one side of the redhead's face, he could clearly see in his features the perplexities bothering him. It sure took the redhead long enough to finally realize it but deep inside he knew it was inevitable, even if they had unique ways of expressing it.

You like him too, don't you Hanamichi?

"I… uhm… started to see a different side of Rukawa everyday. At first, I thought he was only trying to be nice or playing me for a fool… until that night."

"What happened that night?" Youhei asked anxiously.

"He… ah… asked me to have dinner with him and I said yes because the hospital food was beginning to be a bore. So, we ate at this diner near his camp. We talked even though I did most of the talking and he did most of the snorting, grunting and nodding. And when that finally ended, he escorted me back to the center. I told him no but he persisted. As we were walking, my back suddenly acted up. But this time the pain was different, it felt like someone had shot me on the back."

Hanamichi momentarily stopped as he felt his back tighten. As if physically recalling the acute pain he felt that night.

"Next thing I knew my vision hazed and my knees buckled. But the ground never came; I was suddenly pressed against a hard chest. I knew it was Rukawa holding me but I was in so much pain, I couldn't free myself from him. Then I felt his hands on my back; there were light and gentle. Somehow, his touch was minimizing the pain."

Hanamichi pursed his lips, as his hands tightened their grip on the chain of the swing.

"And he spoke to me, saying that it's gonna be okay, cause he's here and all that crap. But, in a way I believed him. I actually believed that it was going to be okay as long as he was with me. I felt like the number one do'ahou in the world but his words sounded so real, honest and tender. And when he was holding me, I felt protected and stupid as it may sound, I… really liked it. He made me feel warm and somehow it felt… right. I felt so comfortable, I didn't know I've fallen asleep already. I don't know how long we stayed like that but when I woke up I was already in my bed in the hospital. The nurse told me a tall young man brought me in and stayed the whole night watchin' over me."

Hanamichi turned to Youhei, his eyes reflecting wonder. "Why did he stay, when he didn't even have too."

Youhei smiled back. "Because he cares Hanamichi and after witnessing you like that, I bet it scared that shit out of him."

"But he shouldn't care, were enemies." Hanamichi said his voice low. "Right?"

Youhei swung an arm over Hanamichi's broad shoulders. "Why are you asking me these stupid questions, when you already know the answers."

Hanamichi gaped. "Na… Nani?"

Youhei suddenly laughed out loud, hoping what he said earlier would be dismissed by the redhead. "Never mind." He said patting the redhead's shoulder. "So, have you opened his gift yet?"

"No."

"So, when do you plan to open it."

"As soon as I get home."

"Ok but promise me that you'll call as soon as you open it, ok?"

"Yeah, sure." Hanamichi answered. "And Yohei…"

"Yeah…" Yohei suddenly found himself under the looming figure of Hanamichi. "If you tell anyone about this, I. Will. Kill. You."

Yohei quickly made a peace sign and said. "I promise not even a breath of this."

To be continued...