A/N: Hm I totally thought I already uploaded this chapter...my bad, but it means chapter four will be coming out even sooner! :) A return of an old character this chapter...dun-dun-dun-dunnn!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

It wasn't working. Without the physical to fill the gaps between them things were just falling apart faster. Last week she snapped on him out of nowhere over virtually nothing and he had to serious damage control just to keep her from walking out right there and then.

He wanted to explain it to her the way JP had explained it to him but every time he tried the words wouldn't come. It was only getting harder and harder to talk to her when she was clearly feeling ignored and hurt more and more every day.

He knew he was doing this so that he could explain but until then he couldn't explain why he was doing it! He was frustrated beyond belief and was about ready to give up when he noticed her in the crowds at the game that day.

His 'fight for love' last year had drawn more fans to the soccer field that year and the crowd was sufficiently bigger but his eyes found her like a magnet. Mostly it was the sad expression on her face and the distinct sign of tears on her face that caught his eye before ripping his heart apart.

He was sure someone would notice the trail of blood as he played distractedly throughout the game, obviously not in his rhythm. Takuya was frowning but didn't say anything, knowing he was going through a rough time right now, but not knowing the extent.

It was then that he decided at half time he'd find a way to tell her, he'd write it down if he had to but so help him God the look on her face was too much to bear. Nothing was worth that desolate expression.

Zoe watched him play, noticing how off his game he was, letting easy plays go by that he normally would have snapped on. It just depressed her more. Lately she felt like he was pulling back, rarely embracing her and only half heartedly when he did. She knew break up was coming but she couldn't bring herself to initiate it, her heart was heavy enough knowing he was considering it.

At half time she couldn't stand anymore, getting up off the bleacher she hopped down and started to walk off the field, head down. She nearly ran into the guy and would have except that he called her name in a voice she didn't recognize.

"Zoe Orimoto?"

"Hello…?" She asked, looking up in surprise and trying to place the face before her. Medium height, non-descript brown hair, green eyes…nothing that stood out but for some reason the face looked familiar. Who was he?

"Sorry, I know we've never formally met but I was hoping to talk to you today after the game and here you are!" He exclaimed, a smile on his face that reminded her of Kouji's. Her heart sang with pain and she offered a meagre smile.

"Do I know you?" She asked and he shook his head, still smiling.

"Not really, I offended your boyfriend once before."

"So you know Kouji?" She gathered, caught between upset that he was even brought up and curious.

"Sort of, but not really. I'm Hiro Masahashi and I got in a fist fight with your boyfriend around this time last year when I insulted his captain and you." Understanding flashed across her face quickly followed by discomfort.

On her birthday last year the same day she and Kouji officially got together he got suspended for punching the living daylights out of a guy on the opposing team who called Takuya queer and her a ho.

If this was that guy she wasn't so sure she wanted to be talking with him beside the bleachers just slightly out of the eye of most of the people except those on the field. Suddenly she found herself desperately wishing Kouji would show up.

"Oh…that was you…" She said slowly, resisting the urge to back away quickly.

"You don't need to be afraid of me, I'm not here to bother either of you," He said, being strangely friendly and it was making her nervous.

"Maybe I should go get Kouji," She said and neither of them missed the warning signal in her voice.

"I wanted to talk to both of you so now is as good a time as any," He said agreeably she noted with relief.

It turned out neither of them needed to go looking for Kouji. He was avoiding his teammates questioning looks, not wanting to explain why his game was off as he looked for Zoe when he caught movement beside the bleachers, out of the way of the field.

He frowned, alarm bells going off in his head as the sun shone off blond hair and he kept walking, turning the corner to see Zoe and a vaguely familiar face talking. She looked a little nervous and he picked up his pace, making a beeline for her.

"Hey!" He called out loud sharply and they both turned quickly to face him. She was trying and failing to mask the relief on her face as he jogged towards her, putting a protective arm around her waist. Familiar butterflies rose in her stomach at the gesture though she knew it was protective and not romantic.

Or were those really just the same thing?

"I know you," He growled as he got a closer look at the familiar face. "Why are you talking to her?" He didn't jump straight back into the fight but he was more than ready to whale on this guy if that was what he wanted. On the contrary he raised his hands so that his palms were up in defence, stepping back from the aggressive boyfriend.

"I'm not here to fight with either of you, I promise. I just wanted to apologize for what went down last year," He said quickly obviously extremely wary of Kouji's temper when it came to his girl.

Seeing the fear on his face Kouji relaxed a bit but didn't remove his arm from her waist. It felt so good to have it there after what felt like eons avoiding physical contact. He was turned on just standing near her.

"You're…apologizing? Didn't you get kicked off the team over that fight?" Kouji asked, struggling to stay on track with the conversation and not just jump her right now.

"I know, I was an ass to you…to your whole team last year. I had some issues to work through but I've been seeing a therapist and there've been a lot of grudges in my past so she thought I should try working through them. I got kicked off the team but I thought I'd come to the game to see if maybe you two and your captain might forgive me for my behaviour last year," He said, winding up his long winded explanation with a sheepish smile as though he didn't except anything.

Zoe got the feeling they weren't the first people he had tried apologizing to.

"Well you really didn't do anything to me, I've been called much worse before but if it makes you feel better I absolutely forgive you," She said brightly so that only someone who couldn't read her like a mirror would notice the fake brightness to her tone. Kouji was that person and the worry gnawed at his mind like a hungry rat.

"Thank you, that does mean a lot to me," He said gratefully, a genuine smile on his face as he bowed slightly to her. Looking nervously at Kouji he knew that one would be much harder to win over.

"If she forgives you I forgive you to. Takuya can take of himself, and as long as you don't offend her I have no problem with you," He said offhandedly, still wondering at Zoe's fake response. It wasn't like her to hold back, she was a forgiving person.

Part of him didn't want to forgive this guy who was busy thanking him like he'd saved his soul because he wasn't sure she had forgiven him but really right now he just wanted to get rid of him. He could beat him up later if he had to.

Finally Hiro what's-his-face left leaving them alone together. She immediately tensed, folding her arms and stepping away from him with her back to him.

"Zoe…" He started pain in his voice.

"If you're going to break up with me you shouldn't be standing up for me," She said coldly but he heard the waver in there. The words cut icy fear into his heart. He never thought he'd have to think about a world without him and Zoe together.

"I would never, ever break up with you," He said flatly, letting as much raw emotion through as he could and she turned around, surprise on her face as well as a ray of hope.

"But…?" She prompted and he shook his head slightly.

"No but, there is nothing that would ever make me break up with you, you should know that."

"How can I know if you don't tell me?" She asked, voice jagged and the cutting edge buried itself deep into more than just his ego.

"I know you know I'm trying. And I know that's not good enough." Again his words took her by surprise. "That's why I'm going to do something drastic and possibly suicidal tomorrow," He added, taking a deep breath and letting it out. There, he said it, no backing out now.

This was truly a stupid plan but if he couldn't figure it out then he sure as hell wasn't going to go down without using all his resources even if it killed him in the process.

"Don't! I mean, don't hurt yourself over this, I'm upset but I don't want you to die," She said frowning deeply as she stepped closer automatically. He chuckled, a small 'Zoe' smile on his face as he reached out to take her hand gently.

"I'm already hurting myself over this; I might as well go all the way and hope it works out in the end. It's stupid but it might just work," He told her and she couldn't help giggling at his dooms day appeal.

Suddenly he pulled her closer and she hesitated in his arms, not sure whether she should hold him or push him away but he made her choice for her, pressing her right to his chest and resting his chin on her head. Slowly she put her arms around his waist as he rocked her back and forth slowly, almost unconsciously.

"I promise it'll all make sense tomorrow."

A/N: Just a short one-scene chapter but its much cuter then some of the others so I liked it...anybody out there agree? Even just a little bit? All feedback and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is appreciated, thank you to everyone who has reviewed :)