A/N: This is the second last chapter! I'd say I'm going to miss this story...but that'd be a lie...because there's going to be a sequel! I just love Kouzumi too much to stop writing so when I'm finish posting this one I'll start posting the sequel entitled: Express Yourself. That being said I hope you enjoy this chapter and sorry for the language if it offends you but hey, the story is rated T!

Disclaimer: Don't own it; wish I did, that's pretty much all there is to say, right?

Cheers rang out as the buzzer went off signalling the end of the game. Raising his fists to the sky Takuya gave a victory cry, echoed by the rest of the team and most of the crowd seated on the bleachers. Funny how after being in the digital world his leadership skills transferred to the soccer field. He was only a junior and already the captain of the soccer team.

Kouji breathed a sigh of relief feeling the muscles in his legs burn like, well, like he'd been chasing a ball around for over an hour. Still, victory would make hanging out with Zoe after that much sweeter. Soccer was one of the few things that made losing his spirits bearable; it kept his mind and body sharp.

The other team was grouping together as well, looking disappointed. It had been a close match after all. Takuya motioned for the guys to go and shake hands; he had this thing about good sportsmanship, yet another thing that had carried over from their adventure as kids.

"Great game guys," He called, holding out his hand to the other team's captain who looked at him uncertainly before shaking his hand.

"Queer..." The guy mumbled and Kouji glared, overhearing although Takuya looked as oblivious as ever. He had always been harsher with his competition then his friend had been though.

"He's not queer," He contradicted quietly, taking his place to shake his hand a little too firmly to be friendly.

"And you'd know about not being queer ponytail boy," He said, dropping Kouji's hand as the anger of defeat leapt in his eyes.

"I don't care if you insult me, just don't insult Takuya. He's our captain, and a good one. Calling him gay because you lost makes you look worse then you already do," He said coldly and the other guy curled his lip. One of his teammates seemed to notice the growing tension between them as he put a hand on his captain's shoulder.

"Just let it go man, no big deal," the smaller boy said nervously but he just shook him off.

"No, this fag isn't going to tell me what I can and can't say. Are you his boyfriend girly-man?" He taunted and Kouji kept his temper in check. Getting in a fight would be pointless and it was clear from the other guy's teammates that they agreed.

"If you get in another fight, you'll be suspended for the rest of the season," said a slightly bolder guy on his team.

"Does it look like I give a shit?" He demanded, obviously frustrated with his team for backing out on him.

"Takuya isn't my boyfriend, neither of us is gay," Kouji told him, not allowing himself to get riled up. It wasn't that he personally had a problem with being called gay; lord knows he'd been called that enough times with hair like his. He didn't even have a problem with gay people in general, that was none of his business as far as he was concerned, he just didn't like it when people called his friends names.

"Kouji..." Takuya warned, taking note of the brewing fight and also seeing the anger in the other guys face.

"I've got it under control," he assured him, barely glancing his way.

"Kouji!" A second voice called and this time he actually took time to look as she hopped down from the bleachers, a look of concern on her face. Several people had stuck around to watch as the two teams stood together on the field with a definite sense of tension in the air.

She started to walk forward but he shook his head, silently motioning for her to stay back. If this did get ugly, which he had no plans of happening; he didn't want her caught in the middle. Turning back to face him the other team's captain raised his eyebrow in mock surprise.

"That bitch is your ho?" He asked loudly and he grit his teeth, feeling sudden rage rise up inside.

"What did you just call her?" He asked voice dangerously cold. Insulting Takuya because he lost was one thing; technically they had offended him by beating his sorry ass. Insulting Zoe was opening a whole new world of punishment.

"I said, is that your ho?" The words were barely out of his twisted mouth when a fist connected with his face. Takuya gave a shout of alarm as Kouji knocked the nameless offender to the ground, launching himself on him in fury, both fists moving into action.

"She...is not...a ho," He said commandingly between punches. The guy beneath him struggling to raise his hands in defence and wouldn't have got that far if Takuya hadn't attempted to drag him off. Propping himself up on an elbow the other guy glared at his dark hair rival, holding his hand to his bleeding mouth.

"What the hell is your problem?" He shouted and Takuya echoed that, struggling to contain his friend who had completely flipped seemingly out of nowhere.

"Let me go Takuya, he called Zoe a ho!"

"He called her a what?" Takuya asked surprised enough that his grip loosened and Kouji ripped away again throwing himself back on top of the other guy who got in one punch before he was brained with a solid fist. This time Takuya did nothing to stop him. The referee was blowing his whistle uselessly and in the end it took the coach to pull him off the guy whose face looked like a Halloween mask.

"Minamoto, calm the hell down," He ordered putting him in a double arm bar.

"Had enough yet?" He shouted to the other guy, but not stupid enough to struggle against the coach who was twice his size in weight alone.

"Bring it on!" He shouted back, scrambling to his feet even though he was bleeding and coughing painfully.

"Fuck you!" He jerked towards him but the hold only got tighter with no hope of escape unless he planned on dislocating both arms.

"Someone call the doctor for him, and get me a straight jacket for this one," He ordered and the referee pulled out his radio, asking for the school nurse ASAP.

"We get it; Orimoto isn't a...whatever he called her, you made your point, now calm down!" The Coach shouted in his ear and he slowly forced himself to keep his temper in check.

"I'm fine," He said gruffly and was surprised when he was released although the Coach kept a wary eye on him.

"Yah, well you won't be when the school gets through with you. That was stupid," He reprimanded, glaring down at a student that he would have expected better from.

"It was worth it," He said in the calmest voice he could attain and the Coach raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"Was it?" He asked.

"Yes," He replied certainly. He would have felt worse if he didn't beat that guy up. Nobody called Zoe anything other than Zoe without his permission first and definitely not 'bitch' or 'ho'. The Coach just sighed shaking his head as he saw unshakable pride.

"Get yourself over to the school you're going to have a lot to answer to. Somehow I don't think the principal is going to be moved by the argument of 'true love'."

...

"Kouji!" He looked up as the office door swung up and she all but tumbled in, looking anxious and angry all at once. He was relieved to see her, being in this room was like being in a jail cell though he was just waiting to be released now. That must be why they finally let her come see him. He wasted no time pulling her close, wrapping his tired arms around her tightly.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently in stark contrast to his earlier rage though he told the principal exactly what he had told his Coach.

"You're worried about me?" She asked, baffled. "You're the one who got punched!" He rolled his eyes but cracked a smile at the same time as she touched the purplish mark on his jaw gingerly. Her touch was soothing to the sore area the way no icepack could be.

"Only once, and I wasn't in the mood to care," He scoffed not wanting her to see how weak she could make him.

"Why'd you do it?" She asked, searching his face for an answer and he sighed, knowing she wouldn't like it. Glancing away his dark eyes tried to escape her penetrating gaze but no luck. There was no avoiding admitting what happened now.

"He called Takuya queer and then...he called you a ho," He said hesitantly and she flinched at the word.

"But why'd you beat him up?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Did you hear me mention that he called you a ho?" He asked waving his hand in front of her face. She pulled it away impatiently, frowning at him.

"Why would you get in a fight over something stupid like that? It's just a label" –

"A label that you don't deserve," He cut in angrily. "You're not a ho Zoe, not even close, I'm not going to let some bastard call you that."

"Kouji!" She admonished and he couldn't help smiling ruefully again. She still corrected his bad language even though he just beat someone up. He couldn't help thinking it was sort of cute.

"How long?" She asked with a resigned sigh, taking a step back from him although he kept his hands on her waist protectively.

"Two days suspension from school, one game for soccer. Takuya's going to be pissed," He said sounding a little regretful for the first time.

"Not yet, he's still mad to," She said and he looked curious.

"Were you guys waiting for me the whole time?" She nodded, looking up at him with a pained expression on her face.

"Kouichi waited to."

"You guys shouldn't have...I didn't mean to ruin your birthday," He said, actual regret in his voice now. He had promised himself that he'd do whatever it took to make her happy and then he went and ruined it. Not that he had a choice in his mind, but he still felt bad that it had to happen on her birthday.

"You haven't ruined it yet, besides, they kept me company. And you still owe me a date," She said, offering a small smile.

"Date?" He asked, not sure he had heard her right.

"We were going to hang out, remember?" She reminded him, like he could have forgotten, and he grinned, liking the way she called it a date.

"Of course I remembered. Just don't tell Takuya it's a date or he and the guys might hijack my car on the way out." They both laughed and he pulled her closer again, unable to help himself. He noticed that she was still wearing his bandana to.

Glancing over her shoulder she saw Takuya standing in the hallway with his face pressed to the glass, wide eyed, his cell phone in hand as Kouichi shot him a thumbs up and a grin. Noticing his gaze elsewhere she started to turn around to look but he gently turned her head back to face him, before weaving his fingers through hers skilfully so they were palm to palm less than a foot away from each other.

"Can we pretend this has nothing to do with Takuya?" He pleaded quietly and she laughed sheepishly as he called her next question.

"Well he keeps texting like mad every time we're together," She said and he winced at her thoughtful observation. Her eyes sharpened, noting his reaction.

"So I take it that all the weirdness lately does have something to do with Takuya and the guys?"

"What weirdness? You're paranoid Zoe," He said innocently raising their entwined hands to bop her head but she pulled both sets down, taking a step closer so they were little more than chest to chest, hands forcibly at her sides though he could have broken her grip easily if he wanted to...that would require him wanting to though.

Inside he felt like he was burning up as his adrenaline spiked recklessly, making him want to do a number of things, all of which would make his feelings for her more than a little obvious and none of which were appropriate for the principal's office.

"I think we both know what weirdness," She said boldly, shaking back her hair out proudly as she looked him in the eyes, her turquoise eyes defiant. He leaned a little closer, drawn to that expression, wanting not for the first time to know more than just what she was thinking.

He wanted to know what kissing her would be like. He'd kissed other girls before but nothing serious, and no one who had ever made him feel the way he did just thinking about a heated kiss with the fierce blond he was practically embracing right now.

"I guess it has been...weird...between us," He admitted, swallowing slightly though weird was not the word he would have picked. Amazing would have been a better choice in his opinion. "If they're bothering you I'll tell them to stop but they think that they're help" –

"That's not what I'm talking about!" She exclaimed, looking frustrated and embarrassed as he practically asked her to spell it out. "My point is Takuya is super obvious about everything, but you're not. I'm not good at flirting, I'm not good at...getting your attention. I ask you what you're thinking and you give some ambiguous answer that doesn't help me at all! I mean no matter what I do you don't seem to notice what I'm really trying to ask!" She blurted then flushed cheeks turning a charming pink as he chuckled, unable to resist as his whole body short circuited with happiness. So she did like him!

"And what are you trying to ask exactly?" He asked, heart hammering as he pulled their hands up so they were elbow to elbow, hand to hand and chest to chest, gazing intensely into her eyes as he raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What...you...what you think...about...me..." She said hesitantly, looking up at him shyly from the floor, eyes piercing even shielded by long black lashes. And man had he been pierced, but Cupid's freaking arrow. He'd never had so many cheesy thoughts at once before.

"You want to know what I'm thinking right now?" He asked softly, inclining his head towards her slightly as she caught her breath obviously catching his drift. She nodded eyes wide as she tightened her fingers around his. He was relieved he wasn't the only nervous one.

"I was just thinking, wondering really...if you'd be very upset if I kissed you right now?" He asked and nearly died as the words left his mouth. It was cheesy and sappy and felt wrong coming out of him yet so right at the same time...and these thoughts took way to long, he didn't care if she said yes or no he was going to kiss her so help him lord, he'd been waiting too long to hold back now.

"I'd only be upset if you didn't," She said in a breathless rush as he closed the distance between them, skimming his lips gently over hers. Not enough. Their surroundings disappeared as she closed her eyes, separating her lips ever so slightly against his lower lip as he dropped her hands and took her waist gently as he recognized her request for a deeper kiss.

Her arms encircled his neck shyly, fingers teasing his collar making his neck prickle as her skin brushed against his. Pressing forward eagerly he parted his mouth around hers, tugging enticingly at her lips as his tongue flickered out to lick playfully at the exposed inside of her mouth. She giggled and he rolled his eyes pulling away slightly.

"It's not nice to laugh while I'm trying to kiss you, you know," He said mock sternly and she just smiled planting another kiss on his mouth which made concentrating on talking much harder. She couldn't help it, kissing him was like entering a whole other world where the connection between them was so literal she felt like their minds moved together.

She could feel the beginnings of his small smile, something she wouldn't have noticed with her eyes but every small muscle movement was clear to her like they were suddenly speaking a whole new language. Because when they kissed he was happy. It was a powerful emotion she hadn't noticed coming from him before when they were together with his lone-wolf mask constantly shadowing him. Funny the things kissing could tell you.

She pulled away after her short distraction and said, "I wasn't laughing at the kissing, that part was perfect," She winked flirtatiously, noticing his flushed cheeks. "I just thought it was funny that when you finally decided to kiss me it was in the middle of the principal's office with your brother and Takuya watching everything," She continued teasing as his gaze traced every line of her face intent on memorizing this moment.

He resisted the urge to look at the window to see if the other two guys really were watching. Kouichi probably turned away with respect and probably some embarrassment but Takuya likely watched the whole thing with great interest.

"Well I do like to make a statement," He replied lightly, tugging his bandana still knotted firmly around her head. She giggled again, reaching up to take his hand.

"You know a lot of people think you giving me your bandana makes us 'official'," She said, and it was amazing how obvious her flirting was now that they'd kissed to him.

"Well doesn't it?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he ran his hands up her arms and took her by the elbows, pulling her as close as she could come.

"Yes," She said with a blissful smile as he grinned and leaned down to kiss her again. She pulled away with a small frown. "What, no love proclamation?" She asked only half teasingly and sighed looking down. He knew this was coming; it wasn't Zoe-like for her not to bring up the whole 'express yourself' thing.

"I think it's pretty clear I have strong feelings for you at this point. And I'm not talking about the, let's-be-friends-even-if-we-break-up kind, I'm talking about the lets-stay-together-forever-and-if-we-break-up-it'll-never-be-the-same kind," He said seriously, looking her in the eyes as she looked solemnly back.

"I know what it is I'm feeling...but I'm not ready to say it yet. Not because I don't believe this will work or because of you or...anything like that! Just..." He sighed again, frustrated with his lack of words to express himself. If Takuya could struggle through this why couldn't he? Why was everything harder for him?

"I'm afraid if I say it, you'll disappear," He finally admitted quietly in the best way he knew how to describe the fear inside of him. It sounded strange that way but she seemed to understand. He knew he loved her but saying it out loud made it feel like she really might disappear, taking his heart with her.

She wanted him to say it but part of him couldn't let go of the fear that it would still push her away if she knew exactly how strong his feelings for her were.

"That's enough for now," She said with a delighted smile to his surprise. He felt like an utter failure and she thought it was good enough? He marvelled at how accepting she was and felt his heart expand with 'that feeling'.

"But you really mean it? You're mine?" She asked, looking innocently for confirmation and he chuckled with relief, leaning his forehead against hers.

"I'm yours," He assured her, done with hesitating, done with waiting and watching. He wanted to be hers from now until always. "And that makes you mine," He said with a small growl and she laughed shoving him gently before he could grab her hands and pull them away, leaning in for another kiss just as the secretary walked back in.

She cleared her throat loudly and he pulled away quickly while Zoe flushed an interesting shade of pink, clearly embarrassed.

"Later," He muttered and she hip checked him with a frown that read 'shut up'.

"You're free to go Mr. Minamoto," She said, giving the couple a distasteful look and he nodded respectfully, grabbing his papers and exiting the office, pulling her after him.

"Are you going to explain anything?" Takuya demanded as he breezed by, pulling a giggling Zoe after him as their clearly distressed friend waved him cell phone in the air looking ridiculous.

"Someday," Kouji replied with a smirk. Someday indeed.

A/N: So...what'd you think of the second last chapter? It kind of went from violent to fluffy so I'm interested to hear people's reactions. After all, without constructive criticism nobody's talent would ever grow and without encouragement nobody would ever have the will to continue and improve!