Nitori didn't understand why Rin wasn't talking to her.

At first she suspected that he was just in one of his moods. Either one that work put him in or maybe he was getting frustrated at the gym, she didn't know. But he always came around, not always in a day but nearly a fortnight had passed and now he was just having a laugh.

She tried making conversation or displaying any attempt at affection but Nitori was pushed away.

It was horrible.

There was one point where she began thinking over what she may have done to annoy him but nothing came to mind. Two weeks easily turned into a month and then another. He gradually started speaking to her again and kissed her cheek one morning though that was the only time anything happened between them. It made her feel so confused, Nitori thought they were okay again until he grumpily told her he was sleeping on the sofa that night. What had she done to deserve this.

"This is getting ridiculous," She thought. "We can't keep doing this."

Some would tell her to simply 'move on' or 'get over' whatever the hell was happening right now in their relationship. But Nitori loved Rin far too much, he was her anchor and no matter what she couldn't let go. Not after all this time, there was no way. This ignoring and avoiding all she could hope was that he would overcome it for them both. Loving Rin hurt sometimes, the paradox being that she could love him until it hurt only finding there would be no more hurt just love.

So during that week after her shift Nitori trotted over to the small supermarket just round the corner from where she worked. Since it was getting late, products were usually reduced at around this time. Sneakily watching from afar she waited for the clerk to throw a half price sticker on to a pack of chicken breast pieces and leave. Happily jogging over, she swooped the packet right into her basket and collected the rest of the goods before leaving.

Nitori was a fairly good little cook, her mother had tried teaching her but Rin taught her the best. She smiled fondly at that memory of when they first had their little cooking session together. Nitori nearly scolded her hand but Rin put his hand before hers and caught the flame instead, there is a faint scar still to this day but she always jokes about it being 'heroic' while he would snort in response and call her childish.

The meal was almost ready and all there was to do now is clean up.

Rin was the one to talk about mess, he was getting kind of lazy when it came to simple things. She sighed thinking about it, Nitori decided to get out a few scented candles that Gou passed down to her. They were lily and gave the whole apartment a fresh sensation; like exhaling the first lungful of clean washing right off the line.

Everything was going well.

She wiped her hands on the front of her shift after her hard work. While she was drying after a quick shower the front door went. Surprisingly Rin was earlier than she initially expected. "That's a first.."

"Ai?" She heard.

"Ah.. Rin!"

"Where are you?"

"In the bathroom, I won't be a minute I'm just drying my hair-"

"Right, well you forgot to turn the stove off and whatever it is you're making has burnt to a crisp."

Suddenly she stopped rubbing her damp locks before picking back up the pace. Just great, their dinner was charred. Nitori met him in the kitchen where it appeared he was trying to sort out the mess she created.

"You're lucky I came home when I did, seriously what is wrong with you sometimes?!" He shouted. "Fucking candles everywhere.. Nitori!"

She watched him blow them all out like a mad man. "I forgot, it's not often that I do something like this! Y-You know that, I just wanted to cook you a nice meal and now.. Never mind."

"What was it anyway?" He said, Nitori saw how he was investigating the black slurry.

"Oyako Donburi"

"Have you used all the ingredients?"

"Yeah, there's nothing left."

He gave a 'tsk' and launched the pan right into the sink. Water went flying out over its edging wetting both Rin and Nitori who'd only just changed.

"Rin!"

"What? It's fucked, may as well just cook something else."

"Rin.. Fine.. Well just pass me the pan"

"Oh go away, I'll do it-"

"No I want to-"

"Stop fucking around!"

"Quit swearing so much!"

Nitori tried fighting him for it but he shoved her away. Surprised he had actually done that, she saw red. Finally after all these months, weeks and days Nitori Aiichirou let it out. Now she wasn't the type to go round hitting people, it just wasn't what she did but Rin truly deserved a good thumping. It probably didn't even hurt that much either but it definitely caused an echo. Right on the side of the head she clouted him.

"What the hell?!" He whimpered when trying to soothe himself. "Nitori!"

Now she felt terrible and his voice breaking didn't help either. He just made her so angry sometimes.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to.."

Naturally she fled over to his side, Nitori tried putting a hand to where she'd hit him but Rin pushed past her enough to probably leave a bruise on her shoulder. Squeaking in pain poor Nitori grasped it and she began to well up in tears. "Why did you.. Rin.. I'm sorry! Listen to me please.. I didn't mean to hit you!"

"Save it!"

This time Nitori stopped and frowned as his back faced her. All the anger and frustration she brewed up for so long was at its peak, enough was enough. It wasn't like her to act this way but be damned. "What is your problem? You've acted strange with me for months! R-Rin it's scaring me.. I don't know what's wrong and unless you tell me then how am I supposed to fix whatever it is that has upset you?"

He wasn't listening, it annoyed her more how he sucked his teeth and continued on walking. She followed him right into their bedroom where he began stripping off his top. "Just listen to me!"

"There's nothing that needs fixing, everything is fucking fine why can't you leave it alone!"

"It's not fine and you know it!"

"Nitori-" He warned, voice going slightly deeper but it still wasn't enough to rattle her. "Quiet"

"You always do this! Push me away, then we'll make up and it'll be the same cycle like before! I don't understand why you do this, not just to me but to us and I bet it would never happen if you were with Tachibana-san instead of me!" Nitori practically screamed.

Rin lashed out.

No, he never touched her but his looming height made her remember just how superior in strength he was compared to her and that sudden terrifying gesture with his arms left Nitori flinching. The two stared at each other, both wondering what would have happened seconds ago if he had harmed her. Rin would really hurt her? Her heart ached.

"Ai I'm sorry,"

"You were going to.. Why would you?" She literally gave him the saddest expression he had ever seen. "You were going to hit me."

"No... No, No I wasn't-" He threw his hands around the back of his neck, a silly something he always did when things were too much for him to handle. "I'd never hurt you."

"Ah.." Nodding, Nitori fled the room.

He lingered around pacing back and forth in their room. That wasn't like him, Rin wasn't the type to intimidate women and especially not Ai. Okay, he had snapped at Haruka in the past and gone through a bad phase. Just when he thought his temper tantrums had gone they always came back once he was pushed to his limit.

Rin swore his heart was about to jump out his chest, it was beating horribly fast and his body shook. "Get it together, get it together."

Then there was the rattle of keys, more shuffling and bare feet slapping against the ground.. Nitori was leaving.

"Ai!" He shouted after her.

She had her shoes on and almost got out the door however Rin somehow beat her to it, goodness knows how he hadn't tripped over all their clutter in the genkan was anyone's guess.

He pulled on her arm which she didn't take too kindly as Nitori yanked it out of his grip like she had put a hand against a burning flame.

"Don't touch me!"

"Oi, it's already late and you're running off still half wet in your pajamas.. Are you trying to make yourself sick?! Hey, please look at me."

Trying a gentle approach this time Rin took her by the shoulders, the soft touch sent shivers down her spine and yet she couldn't stay mad. As always, her façade fell down. "Why do you push me away?"

Now he couldn't tell lies since he had avoided her. Rin knew that, it was all down to that stupid text message Sousuke sent that night. Nitori hadn't known about it though.

"Tell me the truth, that's all I'm asking for."

Silence, this time he was looking away.

"Do you.. not want to be with me anymore?" Her voice barely a whisper, still it was enough for him to hear. Rin turned to her scowling, what a stupid thing to say.

"Don't be daft!"

"Then what is it?!"

"Why-" He paused. "Why did you let him take you home from the party? Remember, Goro threw it and I never even saw you that night, you disappeared completely."

"You mean Yamazaki-kun?"

"Yeah, Sousuke so why?"

"He walked me home on his own accord? You think.. Rin do you think something h-happened between us?!"

"What else was I supposed to think?!" He growled.

Nitori kicked off her shoes, now realizing exactly what had gone through her boyfriend's head. They could settle this and let it be over.

"No, no, we spoke a lot and walked back here together but nothing happened? Rin, I would never ever go for one of your friends, I can't believe you would even think that!"

"I know, it's just that when you were asleep he somehow must have gotten your number because-" Oh shit.

"You.. You were snooping around on my phone? R-Rin!"

Another vein must have popped because Nitori was already storming off again. "Fuck sake Ai! I know I shouldn't have but I was half pissed, I mean would you be happy if you saw some shit saying 'sweet girl' and 'things will be better in the morning' on my phone?!" Now thinking about it, Rin had no idea what they'd spoken about and what that text actually meant.

"That's because I would never go looking through your text messages!"

"Say Ai-" She groaned at how he was no doubt going to change the topic. "What were you guys talking about anyway?"

"Since when were you playing the 'overprotective boyfriend' role? It doesn't suit you."

"Dammit! I just want to set things right between us, you wanted me to open up so here I am! You could at least make the effort back and answer the question please! I don't.. It's been going around my head for weeks.. I know I can be closed off and I can be an asshole.. I don't really mean it though and you know it, Sousuke is an amazing guy but I can't help my suspicions."

"And I can't help mine either!"

"What?" Nitori couldn't even look him in the eye, it hurt. "What do you mean?"

"It's.. Tachibana-san."

"Eh, Makoto?"

Now leaning against the kitchen counter Nitori had her head down and twiddle with the loose thread coming off her t-shirt. She felt silly now, all this drama due to her not being able to trust Rin when it came to the beautiful brunette. Her insecurities are really digging under her skin now, if only she could let it go.

"What has she got to do with anything?" He arched up an eyebrow. "Ai, what're you not telling me."

Sighing, he moved to stand in-front of her and took her hand that was twirling around that annoying piece of thread. Squeezing it, he hoped Nitori would find this gesture reassuring and god help him, he was running out of things to say. Rin was trying, trying so hard.

"Ai.. Don't do this."

It took her a few minutes or so until she figured out what was the right thing to ask. Just like Sousuke had told her and that was to be honest with her boyfriend.

"Do you still have feelings for her?" Such a small, fragile voice.

Rin's eye twitched and so did the corner of his mouth, not that he even had words to say because if he did they'd probably come out all jumbled.

"I see the way you look at her, it's different compared to when you look into my eyes and I know you loved her once, maybe you still do but every time I see her or hear her name.. I can't help it.. I can't help but-"

"Aiichirou-"

"I can't help but think you still love her, I mean why would you pick me over someone like her? You could have had her, forget about Nanase-san and claimed her as your own! Why didn't you? I was always annoying, too clinging, too short, too weak and you ended up with me over.. over a woman." Well, that was it Nitori was breaking and had shattered like glass.

"I'll never be her, Rin and I will never be like her."

Rin was speechless. So this is what had gone through her mind? While he was worrying about Sousuke and Nitori together, all they had done was discuss her insecurities. He didn't know whether he was more upset or angry.

"Ai.. You're so.. ugh.."

Unable to take it anymore he flung his arms around her and dragged her in close. Their first real hug in months, Nitori had missed his musky scent and everything was overwhelming, she immediately just burst into tears. Crying and creating soft squeaks underneath him, Nitori clawed at his shirt helplessly. The weight off her shoulders felt amazing, it was good that he knew but still hurt so badly.

"You're such an idiot, dammit."

"Rin.." She whimpered.

God, now he was beginning to feel that familiar sting brimming in his eyes and before Rin knew it his cheeks were overrun with tears. All he could do was pull her closer in fear she'd run away again.

"I don't.. I did like Makoto.. Not anymore.. Fuck I thought.. She's an old friend and yeah.. Mako is attractive.. But I like you just the way you are.. So don't do anything stupid or ever change.. Aiichirou you really are going to be the end of me, you know that?"

"W-What?"

"I love you to pieces."

"You do?"

Now she was just being annoying. "...Yes"

"But.. How can you even get over her just like that?! I don't understand, weren't you heartbroken? She was your first love-"

Immediately Nitori was silenced by a finger to the lips. It caused her to go cock eyed for a moment until her gaze gradually met Rin's all but serious one. He didn't look too impressed.

"Wrong, I liked her but I was never in love with her.. When it comes to you.. I-I.. Yeah."

"You weren't? I thought.. I thought you were!"

"Well, you thought wrong and nope at graduation.. I kind of made a pass at her.. Before we were even dating! Just so you know.. Makoto rejected me and Haru saw everything hence the reason we fell out for ages.. I liked her for a long time, since we were kids but she was never mine." He ended with a shrug. "Never mine.."

"Tachibana-san and Nanase-kun.."

Rin re-wrapped his arms around her this time they faltered to her waist. She had missed this, them hugging and doing these things together. Being in Rin's arms again was like a sweet dream only it was real.

"Part of me believes those two were born holding hands, but oh well."

Nitori grinned into his chest, he could be such a romantic.

"I never knew that.. Why didn't you tell me?" She asked.

"I dunno, you were busy and it wasn't like the two of us were dating.. To be honest with the amount of times I saw Momo by your side like that.. I thought you were a lesbian."

"WHAT?!"

"I did! Not just me.. A few of the other members from the swim team thought that! And by god, we all knew how much she liked her women.. Not to mention you two were roommates and the way she used to latch on you like you were some rag doll.. Say Ai-" Rin said with a cheeky grin. "I'm curious.. Since you both were good friends and roommates did you guys ever-"

"No"

"Really?"

"Rin.." Her shoulders dropped disappointingly.

"Not even a kiss or something?"

Just then Nitori had a mischievous idea.

"Oh, now that you mention it there was that one time."

"Huh?"

"Nothing!" She said walking away.

"You can't do that! Oi Aiichirou-"

While Nitori was full of secrets and giggles, Rin pestered the life out of her for the rest of the night. It felt great to be wanted again, kissed and most importantly loved.

Hopefully now that their distances were put aside they would never have this problem again.