7

Matsuri! Matsuri! Matsuri!

"MATSURI!!!" Before I can think anything I storm into Honjou Matsuri's bedroom.

I find him outstretched on his bed. He looks at me wide-eyed as I enter and sits up.

I…

I…

I don't know what to say.

There is Matsuri, sitting on the edge of his bed and I am standing here helplessly.

I walk towards the place he is resting, frequently opening and shutting my mouth but no words will come out.

Matsuri.

Without any words he reaches for my neck and pulls me into a kiss.

In a moment of brightness we both fall back on his bed and I come to lie on him.

Keeping silent he wraps his arms around me as we drift off peacefully.

-

Early in the morning I wake from the most pleasant dream I ever had.

"Nakajima-san?" Matsuri asks from beneath.

Matsuri? Asks? From? Beneath? Wh…???!!!?!?

Could it be? Could this be true?

"You know what?" he continues rolling over and placing himself above me.

I can feel his knees between my legs, his hands on my shoulders pushing me down – this is true!

"In fact.." Matsuri states. "..I should kick your ass."

His shining blonde hair falls on the slightly crinkled school uniform he had been wearing all night. Matsuri, you can do whatever you wan…. Kick it?

"Wh...?" I wish to question the reasons but get silenced by his serious face.

"Nakajima, how dare you to throw away my gift…" he says in a severe tone.

Then he lowers his voice when he leans in "…and let me die on sweetness?" Honjou-kun looks into my eyes smiling.

I let you die on sweetness? I'm the one who suffers from lov…. Wait a minute! Your present?

"Your present? I threw away your…?"

Matsuri sighs deeply and shakes his head. Done with this he points on the side of the pillow and I take a look at the place where strains of his golden hair meet my red.

"The red box with the golden ribon?" I whisper in disbelief.

Matsuri sighs again.

"Now you finally get it, huh?"

"But..but…" I stutter and Matsuri runs assuasively his fingers through my hair.

"You actually think… " his voice is a little rough but playful "..I would indeed allow you to sleep in my bed … if I didn't like you, Nakajima? What kind of person do you take me for?" He grins a little as I blush.

"You gave this to me…." And I threw it away because I thought you would have returned my own gift, I'm such an idiot.

"Yes. I gave this one to you, Nakajima. This one and not the sweet white chocolate you gave to me."

"How..?" How do you know? How do you know my thoughts so well, Matsuri?

Matsuri giggles softly.

"I'm the manager of the Do-It-All-Team." He explains fondling my cheek. "I'm perfectly informed about every bit of chocolate that changed his owner on Valentine's Day."

"But I…"

"Yeah, sure. You assigned anonymously, Nakajima-san." He laughs "The big envelope with the type-written letter – that's so you, Nakajima. What did you imagine? We doing a specimen of the handwriting?" Honjou-kun laughs a little more.

Sure. That's really me. Overdoing everything I should not.

"However to be honest I was not completely sure." Matsuri admits. "Until your candidacy speech..."

My candidacy speech…. My face turns crimson.

"It was so cute!" he adds. "And nice and honest – as far as you were convinced." Honjou-kun grins "You didn't recieve a single gift you bought yourself, I knew that. But on the other hand knowing you recieved the same type of chocolate you gave to me, I supposed you just got it all wrong. I wanted to tell you but then…" Matsuri takes a short break "I guess I was just.."

"I'm sorry." I whisper. I know I hurt you. I hurt you by throwing away what you made for me, by thinking you would've rejected me and rejecting you afterwards without knowing. I thought it was you who gave the sweet white chocolate back to me – you, not …..

"I'm sorry." I whisper again voice broken when tears start to fill my eyes.

"Nakajima." he comforts me crushing our foreheads together. "I guess there will be a broken heart today – but it shouldn't be yours. Your heart should dance with mine."

Matsuri leans in for a kiss.

I close my eyes a moment before our lips will touch…

"MATSURI-SENPAI!!!!! MINATO-SENSEI WAS JUST RUSHED INTO THE HOSPITAL!!!" Someone screams from the outside.

-

How to describe my love's face? I think there are no words to express the horror he felt that moment. Matsuri jumped out of the bed and stormed through the door with me close behind him. Some underclassman stared at me perpelexedly as we passed the corridor in order to enter the room across from Honjou's own, but did not comment anything. There were more important things to handle. Matsuri looked troubled at the untouched beds of Hashiba Sora and Fujimori Sunao – his best friends were missing. Later he explained weird things to me. Things concerning mind-control, a laboratory, vengeance and pain. Things I cannot believe. Things I don't want to believe. Matsuri thought Hashiba himself might have hurt the mathteacher being under the control of some disturbed scientist with Fujimori as his companion... But these thoughts I only got to know later that day. The time we were standing in Fujimori and Hashiba's bedroom Matsuri didn't tell anything like that. All he did was turning to the student who brought the bad news and placed his hands fatherly on his shoulders, saying:

"It's ok, Ichikawa-kun, everything will be alright," and he added in a reassuring tone

"I will take care."

Matsuri sent this agitated pupil back to class. He made the worried boy to follow the lessons and remained himself in his friends' room.

"Matsuri?" I whispered helplessly standing behind him, but he only shook his head.

"I will go see Nanami-sensei." He answered quietly. "He will be at the hospital, I suppose."

"I'll join you." I propesed.

However Matsuri shook his head again.

"No." he said turning around and putting his hands on my shoulders like he did with the boy before.

"There will be a big commotion around the students. You are a representative, you have to stay here to calm them."

Despite of his friendly words I felt like an completely useless idiot. 'Stay here and calm the students?' Kind of odd, huh? I got that Matsuri wanted to talk to Nanami-sensei alone, maybe he wanted to be for himself just a moment to settle down. That's him. Never worry someone else, always comfort others, heal their pain, forgetting about his own… Matsuri, how can anyone be so grand?

There was nothing more for me to do than to nod and watch him leave.

I went back to my room deeply touched by my worries about Matsuri.

In front of my door there was already Iwai-senpai waiting – the last but one person I wanted to see that moment.

"Vice-president Iwai." I greeted avoiding eye-contact.

"President Shinomia fell sick." He stated dryly "Until his condition improves I will take over the official functions. I hope for your assistance." Iwai-senpai ended.

"Of course." I aggreed toneless eventhough I didn't mean it. The only one I wanted to acompany, was on his own way to someone in need.

I joined Iwai-senpai for a meeting with the head teacher who informed us about Minato-sensei's state of health. The teacher was rushed into the hospital yesterday night - it didn't look too good for him, his wounds seemed to be rather serious. Wounds. Nobody talked about the reason he got wounded and nobody seemed to know what really happened to him either. The vice-president and I were asked to avoid the emergence of rumors through answering questions properly, but assuring Minato-sensei would come back again soon. I was not too pleased with the idea of lying to the others. The sensei might die.

Worried, sad and still feeling helpless I visited the classrooms where I was assailed by dozens of questions concerning the already existing rumors of Minato-sensei's death. There were even people speaking of a common suicide of him, Nagase-senpai, Hashiba and Fujimori. I did my best to put an end to all that fuss while I wished Matsuri could be here by my side. He has such a great talent becalming and comforting people.

-

I met Matsuri again late in the evening. He was sitting outside on a bench holding the crying Ichikawa, speaking to him quietly and giving him hope. I waited until the student was gone and sat down next to Honjou-kun.

"How are you?" he asked.

That doesn't matter now.

"Matsuri." I said softly reaching for his hand.

He looked at the ground as he continued

"I'm sorry for the way I left this morning.."

"Matsuri." I said again gripping his hand tighter.

"I'm really sorry." He resaid trying to hide the pain in his eyes by smiling.

"Matsuri…" I ran my fingers through his hair, knowing there are no words to comfort him. One of his important persons was hurt so badly, that he might die. His best friends were missing and he did not know if they would come back.

Matsuri…

Slowly he sank on my lap trying to explain everything he heard from Nanami about the cruelity Hashiba and Fujimori had to experience while he went away when they were little.

I didn't say anything. I just listened to him when silent tears came out of his eyes.

-

As it got dark the two of us stood up and walked towards the dorms together. I wrapped my arm firmly around Matsuri's waist just like I could protect him this way. I wished so much I could take his pain away but I had no chance.

People stared at us. They started to whisper as we passed by, but I did not give a damn. I was with Matsuri – nothing else mattered.

We went to his room and despite of his protest I made him rest while I called the hospital only to hear that there was no improvement. Hashiba and Fujimori were still missing, the police already informed.

I left some time later when he had fallen asleep from enervation.

-

Now I'm on my way to my own bedroom. I want to stay at Honjou-kun's but actually I was wearing these clothes since yesterday morning so I really need to change. I am in the very act of opening the door when I'm called.

"Nakajima-san, may I have a word with you?" I indeed feel like refusing when I turn around to face Endo Yuki a reporter of the school-newspaper and last but two person I want to see today.

I'm sure he wants to question me about Minato-sensei and even write an article about that occurence – I really don't like people who take advantage of other's suffering.

I try to stay friendly but shortspoken.

"What can I do for you, Endo-san?" I ask "I'm sorry I have no further information about Minato-sensei's condition." I want to stop the conversation before it started.

Endo smirks.

And I don't like him smirking. It's more than inept.

"Oh, I know that, candidate for presidency Nakajima." He answers.

What is this going to be?

"So, Endo-san?" In fact I don't want to know what he wants, I can already imagine.

"As you know, Nakajima-san." He stretches the 'san' and grins even more – I start to hate this guy. "There is still your interview missing. For the candidacy you remember? It shall be published shortly before the election so that people can compare the candidates and stuff…."

"Sure." I agree. Oh no! "We should make a fixed day and…"

"That won't be necessary, Nakajima-san." Endo interrupts me. "I suppose our interview will be a short one. For that we can do it even at once. There is only one question I would ask you."

"That is?" I'm getting some kind of annoyed.

"Do you really think, Nakajima-san." He points out "that a… relationship with Honjou Matsuri would be suitable for a president? I mean he may be handsome and I'm sure he has some other…amenities but as we all know: he is a jerk."

WHAT THE…?

I have already clinched my fist, then I stop myself. That's what he wants I come to think.

"As you know, Endo-san." I put out in the most sarcastic tone I have, smiling coldly "Being the captain of the karate team I could easily break every bone in your body which heals slowly." I smile even brighter as I add: "And believe me I really feel like doing this right now."

I wait one moment to look at Endo, who stands frozen. His mouth opens but he doesn't know what to say. So I continue letting out my anger:

"But in fact why should I dirty the hands which are touching my lover with you, Endo, when all I can feel for you is compassion? You think Matsuri is a jerk? I think you are poor. If you really can't see what kind of person he is you are nothing but blind. Matsuri is the damn best person I have ever met. If you don't like him – bad luck. Someone who is so friendly, so warm and so caring… If you think a person like him was not suitable, if it's not suitable for a president to be with the one he loves, you know what? If it is like this I don't give a damn about the presidency." I blew a strain out of my face and felt the rage easing.

"If you would excuse me now, Endo-san." I subjoin with the cold smile and step in my room. Dammit.

-

Five days later.

It's election day today and you may think I should be around the school campaigning. But I don't think so. In fact it's not that I would have some better things to do, I don't have actually. Today there are no lessons, no club-activities, meetings or anything, only the election. I'm hanging here in my room doing nothing but hoping Matsuri might drop over. We didn't see each other that much the last week. He was too busy celebrating the prosperous union of Hashiba Sora and Fujimori Sunao. Both returned unharmed one day after their disappearance – being a love couple, just like Matsuri wished for them. And he was right: they are a perfect match, I'm happy for them, too. What makes it even better is that Minato-sensei regained conciousness shortly before that event and he is on the mend. Yeah, everything is perfect. Everthing? Hm, one might contradict, because all my work for the student council came to dust, but I don't see it like this. Sure, I lost every chance on the presidency – if you ever candidate for a political office: never pick a fight with a journalist! However I'm happy the way it is. Finally I'm with Matsuri (if he would finally be here even for only a minute) and that's all I ever dreamt of. I'm happy, don't mind the election, it's…

"Nakajima!" My boyfriend broke the habit of knocking from the first time we kissed.

I smile and turn around to see him. Good things come to those who wait.

"You…" I stop abruptly when I see him waving with the school-newspaper. Oh, dammit.

"Did you read the special edition for the election, Nakajima-san?" Honjou-kun grins brightly.

"Not yet." I answer honestly and take the paper from him.

On the front page is a large portrait of Matsuri and me together. My love watches me as I read the text below: It starts quoting exactly what I said to Endo some days ago '…if it is like this, I don't give a damn about the presidency..' and continues with talking about the fact I wanted to break some of the author's bones….

"Um." I furrow my brows.

Matsuri giggles and pulls me into an embrace.

"I didn't know you love me this much, Nakajima-san." He whispers into my ear.

"I do." I admit quietly. Finally my words go hand in hand with my feelings.

Matsuri kisses me.

He lays his lips on mine tenderly, then he pulls me closer to deepen the kiss. I have my legs turn to jelly and feel like dying in his arms. Softly Matsuri bites my bottom lip and I allow his tongue to slip in. I'm overwhelmed by the heat flowing through my body.

I don't care about the article, about the election, about anyone else.

All I can think of are Matsuri's lips on my neck, his hands in my shirt, his skin on mine…

I wake up naked with a slight pain in my lower region cuddled closely against Matsuri.

I look up and see into my lover's eyes.

"'Morning." I whisper. Who cares for the stars outside the window?

Matsuri smiles warmly and kisses my forehead.

"Good morning, Nakajima." He replies softly.

"Matsuri, would you do me a favor?" I ask him.

"Sure." He mumbles in my hair.

"Could you call me by my first name 'Kaoru'?"

"K-aor-u." It's like he was celebrating my name.

"I would love to call you like that." Matsuri finally agrees smiling "So now I have a K'u-chan of my own.

My own."

The end

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Ok, ok, I know. Stupid word-play with K(aor)u-chan and Kuu-chan. Yeah. But infact this was the reason for writing this story: I wanted Matsuri to have a love for his own. He always cared about others and I wanted someone to care about him. Matsuri is my favourite character of Sukisho/Sukisyo, he should have tons of fans! ;)

Finally this story is completed. It's my first with more than one chapter and I truly hope you liked it. Thanks to everyone for going through all the chapters with me! For a little bonus (and lots of author's notes) please check out the next chapter.

Tons of thanks to my sister for being my beta - you're great!

Lots of love, sunshine