# Ch 2: Rain Takes Longer To Dry

Not a resonance was heard in the dead silence of the night. It was 10 p.m. already. They walked side by side, in late autumn night, the breaths and sighs condensing into misty droplets just inches from their lips.

"Taichi, what's wrong?" Chihaya inquired, worry in her pitch.

Taichi nodded reluctantly. "Every damn thing," said his heart.

Suddenly, he noticed Chihaya shivering. A late autumn night near Nomori isn't in the least warm. Voluntarily, he took off his coat, covering Chihaya's back with its warm fabric. "Here, see that you don't catch a cold."

"Arigatou, I was fine anyway. Gimme your hand, Taichi."

"Wh-why?"Taichi stammered with bewilderment.

"I ain't wearing any gloves, am I?" she giggled.

Two hands unhurriedly clasped, the cold air between them closing in on the distance. Taichi flushed red, trying to screen his face with the lone hand. He was glad Chihaya didn't notice 'cuz she seemed to drift off in thoughts.

"No weird thoughts, Taichi! You know she only loves Arata, don't you? This isn't meant to be anything. Just don't take it seriously!" Taichi screeched from inside his head, but the head and the heart are made to be separate -

by Divine Will.

Chihaya's POV

"I would do even without gloves, or your coat .I just craved for the warmth of your hand against mine. And if you really knew how I felt, you'd have noticed the faint blush streaking past my cheeks, now and when I was scribbling down on that maple leaf. I wish you'd notice, Taichi. So long, I'll just grasp your hand tight, 'cuz I only know –

Daisuki dayo, atashi no aisuru Taichi! (I love you, my dear Taichi!)' "

It was late when they reached the camp. Having to have supper in an empty room with no one around except your one-sided crush (who already loved someone else, as he thought) was tough, especially for Taichi who was enveloped by an uncanny aura of heartbreak. Chihaya could see Taichi's 'down in the dumps' face, but thinking he was stressed due to the match, instead of trying to cheer him up, she let him be.

They met up with Kana-chan and the others after a hearty meal, but Taichi barely ate anything. Feigned unfortunate (as they pretended), but truly fortunately, all other rooms were taken but one. Kana-chan mischievously suggested that room to the duo, making them blush to fifty shades of red. But Kana-chan was evil, at least when it came to keeping Chihaya-chan and Mashima-bucchou together.

So, reluctantly, they strolled into the solitary room.

White curtains gestured in the breeze, letting into the room glistening moonlight like a rivulet of milky white aura. Two beds, joined together, spotlessly neat, stood on an end. On one of which Chihaya ran up, sprawling her exhausted self on the flower-print fabric.

"Ahhh…. I'm dead tired," she said in a childish tone. "I told you we had better not stopped there near the Tatsuta. Now you're tired and tomorrow, you've got those matches coming up. Chihaya, you never change!" Taichi yelled. "Are you my Kaa-chan, always so complaining?!" Chihaya giggled with a puff face.

Soon their luggage was brought in and it was past time for 'lights out'. The other members wished them a very 'good' night and Taichi caught some thumbs –up signs from Kana- chan.

She cuddled up into her comfy blanket. He budged not an inch from the window, the moonlight rivulet pouring in, illuminating up fractions of his face. Taichi couldn't catch hold of the feeling within – excitement, tension, happiness, melancholy, good luck or a bad one.

Nevertheless, he did lay himself down into his blanket, facing the other side, daring not to concur Chihaya's startling brown eyes."Oyasumi, Chihaya," he mumbled, she reciprocated.

He did face the other side, but only after his ears perceived her gentle snores. He led his honeyed eyes astray on her beauty- her eyes, her locks, the slight curl of her lips. Resisting the firm impulse of brushing her cheeks, he submitted to a less perilous desire. She is not an early bird, while Taichi rises early; she'd not know.

Interlacing his fingers into her light brown hair, he sparked a faint blush before devoting himself to the night.