"Last modified: 17/09/2010." Basically, a complete and utter fail on my part! I am so sorry guys. This chapter has just been sitting here, simply waiting to be posted. :-|

I really suck, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

Chapter Four

Easily, Kari fell into an effortless pattern as she became more and more accustomed to her daily ritual. Battle with the alarm clock, get ready, meet Takeru, run. Yes, even T.K. had become a regular aspect of her routine. Surprisingly, not long after they had met, T.K. began meeting her at her doorstep every morning, eagerly awaiting for her to join in with the exercise.

Although she found it quite strange how a running zealot such as himself had no problem with slowing his pace to match her own, she didn't object. Kari was pleased for the companionship, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was particularly pleased that the companionship came from him.

Running now, she chanced a glance at him for a brief moment asking, "What got you started on running anyhow?"

She faced forward now, but she could still tell he was smiling. "Nice try Kari, but right now we're talking about you."

She sighed, irritated that he refused to share a piece of information about himself, as small as it may be. "Not much else to tell," she replied gruffly. She had been explaining what brought her to her rash running decision just moments before.

He laughed, clearly still not even fazed from all of their running. Kari, on the other hand, was starting to feel it. "Oh, there's plenty to tell. For instance, why didn't this Ken fellow come jogging with you?"

Huffing a little, she explained how, as much as he regretted it, he simply couldn't because of work. Kari finally gave T.K. the signal, and they flopped onto the nearby grass. Well actually I flopped, Kari corrected herself mentally. T.K. sort of just sat down completely gracefully. Jerk. Kari still held some resentment toward the fact that he was able to look good with everything he did.

He then asked about Ken, someone who was a mysterious figure in T.K.'s mind. To Kari, this idea seemed absurd as she had know Ken for so long; the idea of not knowing him was impossible. Nonetheless, she explained to T.K. all about Ken. He was her best friend, and had been for a very long time. They were always there for one another, and although he had the annoying tendency to be overprotective sometimes, she still loved him deeply with something she considered close to brotherly affection.

T.K. listened carefully, only breaking eye-contact to take a swig of his water bottle occasionally. After she was done, they both lapsed into a brief silence, T.K. pensive, and Kari clearly curious about his thoughts. Finally, he spoke up.

"From what I've seen, guys and girls rarely stay 'just friends'," he said finally. "Not when they're that close." The statement was simple in theory, but it set Kari's mind, as well as her temper, loose.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked putting her hands on her hips.

T.K. threw his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "Hey, it was just an observation."

"Well it's not the case with Ken and I," she responded acidly. She had just explained how she felt about Ken, hadn't she? Romantic was the last thing one could use to communicate the affection she had described to him.

Choosing his words carefully, he said, "You're lucky to have such a good friend."

She nodded her head while her anger ebbed away quickly. Realization dawned on her as she said, "You sound like you're speaking from personal experience."

He looked genuinely surprised for a moment that she had come to that conclusion. "Not personal exactly," he mused. "My brother, he and a good friend of his, ended up together in the end. It wasn't really what any of us expected, but they were always there for each other and eventually things became romantic between them." He shrugged. "It was natural."

Now it was Kari's turn to be surprised. T.K. had never spoken about his family before. In fact, Kari was convinced he didn't have any siblings up until this point. Eager to grab at a chance to get to know him better, she asked "What's he like? You're brother, I mean."

T.K. lightened instantly, laughing. "Oh, you know, the usual. Rock-star wannabe." He leaned in conspiratorially now, whispering in her ear. "Don't tell him I told you this, but he's not very good." Kari laughed. "Yamato, Matt, is his name," he added happily. There was something in his expression that told he was glad to have who he did as a brother, and proud too.

"What about the rest of your family?" she asked, pleased he was finally sharing information about himself. Although T.K. was always friendly, there was a sort of reserved nature about him that made her wonder if he was all that eager to be known. He asked her loads of questions, sure, but when she tried to reciprocate, he would artfully dodge them. Like now, for instance.

"What about yours? Matt's twenty-six. Didn't you say you had a brother around that age? What's he like?"

Although Kari was irritated he was able to avoid her questions again she wanted to talk about her brother. After hearing Takeru speak of himself, it made her want to share a little bit of herself to him as well. Enthusiastically, she launched into multiple tales of her zany older brother, Tai. She explained how he was always eating, being silly, and letting that big head of his get in the way of things.

T.K. laughed accordingly before saying "He sounds like a great guy, but…" he adding glancing over his shoulder.

Kari sighed. She knew that look. "Daylight's coming so we have to go?" She didn't even think about her use of the word 'we'; when it came to jogging, they were a team.

Nodding, he got to his feet while she narrowed her eyes at him accusatorily. "Are you a superhero? Or perhaps a ninja in need of the cover of darkness at all times?"

He grinned widely as he helped her to her feet. "I wish it were that glamorous. I just have to go to work."

"Oh, well that's no fun!" she teased. "And here I thought you were out saving the world."

"I am," he said giving her a completely straight face. "Saving the world from boring breakfasts that is. I work for the local newspaper."

She burst into giggles from his performance and again, so familiarly, they were running.

A/N: Chapter title is Favourite Colour by Tokyo Police Club. I swear, these titles do make sense, or they do to me at least. :-P

Review, review, review!