Disclaimer: ...Same as always

Heartache's Slap

Agitatedly Gakuto ran his laps scowling to himself at the thought that he had only just begun running. Keeping his gaze locked ahead of him he refused to look at anyone concentrating instead on his less then pleasant mood.

For skipping classes, two practices, and yelling at Atobe his punishment was to run many, many laps and pick up balls for the next two days along with the freshman. To top it all off there was no Yuushi to brighten his mood or make light of the situation. No Yuushi to make practice all more tolerable. Perhaps facing the consequences was something he needed to think about.

Pushing aside the depressed side of him he focused instead on being annoyed which was considerably less painful. For once he was glad to be avoiding everyone else on the team for the redhead had no desire to converse with anyone.

No doubt Ootori would question if he was alright while Shishido would only be a pain and the Gekokujou freak he didn't even want to see. Becoming someone else's partner, especially his kouhai's, was unthinkable. Only the tensai could create such a wonderful combination as they had. Anyone else…Gakuto didn't want to even think about.

Moving his trail of thoughts once again elsewhere he reminded himself again and again that Yuushi wouldn't want him to be depressed. Only problem was Gakuto wasn't so sure that was true anymore, maybe Yuushi wanted him to suffer, maybe that was why he quit.

Shaking his head in hopes to force such thoughts from his mind the acrobat was struck by how selfish he really was. Everything wasn't about him, not even close, and he needed to see that. Needed to stop acting so…pathetic in order for him to figure out why Yuushi had quit in the first place.

Finishing the last of his laps he barely even noticed the fact that he was panting and sweat had collected on his face. Once again his short stamina was showing, another one of his horrible weaknesses that made Gakuto unworthy of being Yuushi's partner in the first place.

Wiping the sweat off with his sleeve he sighed to himself wanting to bang his head against something for the third time that day. If he continued this way then he wasn't doing anything more then proving to himself all his doubts.

Unfortunately the one person he didn't want to see above all else interrupted his thoughts by suddenly appearing a few feet away from him. "What the hell do you want Hiyoshi?" He asked turning his gaze to glare at the other his tone showing his annoyance.

Rolling his eyes Hiyoshi seemed to ignore Gakuto's obvious agitation by provoking it even more. "You still need to work on your stamina Mukahi-san." The second year said with as usual a cocky smirk.

Immediately rising to the provocation Gakuto retorted angrily. "Yeah well so do you Gekokujou freak!" Yelling back almost childishly he pointed an accusing finger towards the other as the acrobat was too agitated to think so he relied on the insult.

"My stamina may not be the best but it's better than yours…and that's what counts." The smirk never leaving his face Hiyoshi seemed only the tiniest bit or maybe not at all affected by the insulting nickname.

Grinding his teeth together angrily the redhead forgot about everything besides how much the other just annoyed him. "Just shut up! Everything you say pisses me off." Turning away from the other he scowled even more before starting to walk away from the other preferring to pick up the balls then converse with him.

Although Hiyoshi didn't seem to be done talking to him as he followed along side of him. "That was rather rude senpai," he pointed out only making Gakuto glare angrily ahead of him.

"Hell if I care, just tell me what you want and leave already." Not even bothering to look at the other he was too busy being royally pissed off. Except he never even thought about why his kouhai was pissing him off more then usual.

Hearing an annoyed sigh from Hiyoshi he vaguely saw him shake his head from the corner of his eye. "You loose your temper too easy as well," he said pausing for a moment making Gakuto's eye twitch slightly. "Since you went and made yourself unable to practice right now we need to practice after the teams practice is over."

Coming to an abrupt stop Gakuto's scowl and glare left his face as he slowly turned to look at Hiyoshi. Saying nothing as if he didn't understand what the other meant the redhead blinked several times.

"...Were doubles partners now in case you've forgotten. Despite the fact that I'd much rather play singles there's no way I'm letting us loose a match due to the fact we haven't practiced together," the younger male explained meeting the redheads gaze with an annoyed look.

Without even thinking about what he was doing Gakuto raised his hand and slapped Hiyoshi hard right across the face. Not waiting to see the effect of the slap he stormed off to go pick up balls leaving behind a very shocked Hiyoshi.


Practice ended an hour ago or so but Gakuto was still at Hyoutei Gakuen sitting under the same tree he had fallen asleep under after cutting class. Leaning against the trunk he had his legs curled up to his chest with his arms wrapped around them as he stared blankly up at the sky.

Once more he was deep in thought, something that he was doing more and more now that Yuushi had quit. There were just so many more reasons to reflect, or rather become depressed, then there ever had been before.

Yet again the focus of his thoughts was something stupid he had done; slapping his kouhai just like a damn girl would have. At the time Gakuto wasn't even thinking about what he was doing or why he was doing it. Just that Hiyoshi had brought up so casually the one thing he didn't want to think about.

Having a new doubles partner.

The idea seemed impossible to him. How could he ever play doubles with anyone besides Yuushi? And how dare his kouhai act like it was nothing more then a simple matter. It was far from simple!

Closing his eyes forcefully as he once more wanted to slam his head against something, anything, in order to relieve his frustrations as the redhead felt too mixed up inside. He was worried about Yuushi, pitying himself, angry at everyone, and too confused to even function properly.

If he kept things up he would only end up getting into trouble again and again something he didn't want at all. But he had no idea how he was going to get over anything that had happened. All in all the acrobat was a mess with no one but himself to clean it up.


Still gazing up at the sky blankly it took the redhead a few moments to notice what he was seeing from the corner of his eye. Moving into a standing position quick enough to earn himself a head rush his eyes widened. There was Yuushi walking just a few feet away from where he was.

Bolting into a sudden run it took more then his usual amount of restraint to keep from jumping onto the other. Stopping just a few feet from the other he stared up at him ignoring the fact that he probably looked pathetic. It all didn't matter if it was Yuushi who saw him in such a mess.

"Y-yuushi..." he stuttered unable to tear his eyes off the blue haired tensai. Every part of him wanted to touch the other, hug him, something other then just stand there stuttering. But he was afraid that he would be pushed away or something worse.

For a moment the tensai did nothing more then stare down at his former doubles partner with nothing more then a blank expression upon his face. "What are you doing here so late Gakuto?"

Taken aback by the question the acrobat had expected...something different but what he didn't even know. "I was just...thinking. Are you okay Yuushi?" Asking anxiously he scanned the others features hoping to get a clue as to how he was. Though for once Gakuto couldn't read him.

Shaking his head as if to avoid the question Yuushi's light eyes seemed to hold remorse and several other things he couldn't decipher for a brief moment. "I'm fine Gakuto don't worry but if you'll excuse me I have to leave..."

Completely shocking him the tensai stepped around him and left him standing there, mouth agape, wondering just what he had done wrong. Holding back the urge to cry the acrobat felt like an even bigger mess then before, full of a different kind of pain.

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Sorry for updating so late! Also I apologize if this chapter is lacking as currently my brain is fried. But since spring break has just started for me I will be updating this fic much more rest assured.