I realized that this fiction is very young and innocent—and I do plan to maintain that. I will end the first part with Chapter 12 and update my other stories while I contemplate if I should add another season for Yui and Kaede. I plan to finish Prince Next Door and Eternal Serenade right after this fiction. As for Eien no Monogatari, it might get extended. Haha. Despite my lack of inspiration for EnM, I can't seem to find it in me to end the story yet. Things will get dramatic, I tell you. I also want to start Rain and Thunder, my Yui-Tokiya summer romance. As you know, it's summer already and my inspiration always changes with the season. ;)

ThePinkMartini: Yeah, Yui's a little confused here. I want her to be cautious of relationships especially since she did hurt many people in the book. This time, she's still unconsciously hurting people by evading a possible love.

LeeRaRa: I think some girls tend to be a little dense. I'll discuss that more as the chapter goes along. I think the last chapter didn't end nicely, ne? I didn't get much reviews for that one. Haha.

Season's Call: I agree that Yui can be heartless sometimes, I think it's because she's always too cautious of relationships. Wasn't planning on adding Miaka and Taka but it sure improved this chapter. Thanks for the suggestion!

Obsessed Dreamer: I can't remember how many times Yui rejected Rukawa. Haha! I hope she learns her lesson and run after him before its too late! :)

Disclaimer: FY and SD are not mine.


Cold Night

By Slavedriver2008


Yui has repeated the scene over and over in her head, and every re-enactment made her feel guiltier. She felt stupid, to say the least. Thousands of unpleasant adverbs were in her head and she had never placed herself in such a depressing state. She literally blamed herself, a thing she always avoided whenever she committed mistakes. For her, things will always even out soon.

This time, however, she can't comfort herself with the same lines. Regardless of the numerous times she jumped and do her spins, Yui could not brush away Kaede's face in her head. Everything that happened that afternoon felt like a dream. And it ended too soon. Fairytales never existed in real life to begin with.

"Hoy, you're too preoccupied you're a bore to watch." She lifted her downcast eyes and found Hisashi, leaning at the bar that separated the bleachers from the ice. A smirk spread over his face and Yui slowly skated toward him.

She was practicing for a competition and she was not in her element. Even her coach noticed and let her off earlier than usual. Solve whatever problem you have, he said. I don't want a skater who's performing half as bad. Instead of going home and figuring things out, she opted to skate some more to clear her thoughts. Still, she can't concentrate and it's all because of one damn guy.

"Why are you here?" she asked, not the bit interested.

"I have a game next week. Are you gonna watch?" he asked as they walked toward her things. She sat down and untied the laces of her skates.

"Probably not."

"Well that's understandable, considering that happened to you a few weeks ago," Hisashi said in a very understanding tone that made Yui frown. He knew she would never go but he still asked her to come. What an annoying relative. "Anyway, Rukawa got sick last week."

"I heard."

"From who?" he asked and Yui looked up to him with a frown.

"What are you driving at?" she asked defensively. She was not in the mood to talk about Kaede. Why can't people avoid mentioning his name? Why does the world have to talk about him to begin with? Like she cared.

"Whoa, easy. You're a fierce vixen today." Yui rolled her eyes and changed into her normal shoes. She arranged her things and heaved a sigh as she re-tied her hair in a bun. "Were you at his place last week?"

"No, I don't even know where it is," she lied. She knew exactly where he lives but she would be stupid to tell Hisashi. Why are you scared? She asked the question in her head again. Kaede asked her before she left but she could not give a concrete reason even after week.

To be honest, there was absolutely nothing wrong with being seen in Kaede's place by her cousin. She has no reason to leave that afternoon. But fear gripped her when common friends arrived while they were having The Conversation. She cursed in her head. Kaede was right, they haven't talked yet. But what would happen if they do? What would come out of it? If she stayed she might end up being forced into something she doesn't want. Something she'll regret later on. The men in her life, or at least the men who caught her attention, she realized, always knew how to get their ways with her.

"I saw a pair of girl's slippers inside his apartment. Thought it was yours. Now, I didn't know that punk allows girls inside his place." Laughter came from the older man and Yui sighed again, staring at the big pool of ice.

"Hi-chan, did Rukawa ever had a girlfriend?" she asked. He's never dated but he sure knew how to kiss. And if he wasn't kissing girlfriends, she doesn't know what it meant. The thought didn't please her at all.

"None that I know of. Why are you interested?" Hisashi asked, evidently looking for a way to tease her. But she was not in the mood for some bantering. She wanted to go home and take a hot bath and sleep and stop thinking of Kaede. But she was scheduled to watch a movie with Miaka and Taka. Another boring film where she was destined to become the undesirable third wheel.

"Rukawa is not a vocal person and he seems very evasive of relationships." Hisashi sat beside her and turned toward the ice. A zamboni had come out and was clearing the doodles her skates made awhile ago.

"Girls like him and they're not discreet about that fact. I wonder why he never had a girlfriend, or even went out on a date." She sighed and looked down, watching the plain white sneakers she wore.

"Well, he is kinda selfish—and he wants to leave Japan. Even during high school, he wanted to fly off to America and be an international basketball star." Hisashi placed his hands at the back of his neck and leaned on the bleachers.

"I don't see the connection between relationship and Japan." She was stupid to continue the conversation but she wanted to release a little of the frustration she had for him. There were many reasons why she dumped him last week and thinking about it, none of it made sense. Now that she gave it a deeper thought, there was absolutely no reason to dump him to begin with.

"You're such an innocent college girl, you know. Put it this way, if he enters a relationship Rukawa either leaves her or turns his back on his dreams. It's always one way or another. There's always a choice to be made and no matter which one he chooses, he'll hurt someone." Hisashi sighed. "Now that I think about it, it makes him a selfless emotional punk. I think I'm mistaken somewhere. You should get a boyfriend. Its time you learn these things through experience."

Yui laughed and it touched her heart. "Ha, and you feel you're all wise when it comes to relationships. You're funny."

"Of course I am. Wanna count how many girlfriends I had? And how many I've brought in bed—" Yui slapped his shoulder and Hisashi smirked confidently.

"Jerk."

"Hey I don't always flaunt those details, you, my dear cousin, should feel proud." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and squeezed her. Yui laughed again. "Now stop being a prude and watch our game on Saturday. Your friends might want to watch."

"Fine. I'll ask Kyouko if she wants to watch but I'll have to pass. Who are you fighting against?" she asked as they stood up. Hisashi took her duffel bag and she carried her skates and school bag.

"Todai. That's why you should watch."

"It's not a good idea. I won't know which side I should be on."

"Then wear something neutral," Hisashi said and Yui turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"Why are you insisting I go?" she asked and he smirked mischievously.

"Well… that punk plays better when you're around. He doesn't fight much—and it's not just me who noticed." A wide teasing smile spread on Hisashi's lips and Yui blushed a little. She bit her lip and turned to continue walking, looking away.

"I think you're lying."

"Why not just go? You like Rukawa."

"I don't—Are you crazy?" She turned, flushed and guilty. Was she that obvious?

"No, I'm not crazy and yes, I think you like him. You're running away from the possibility of falling in love with someone who is not as intellectually-stimulating as you are." Hisashi's voice was serious.

"That's not true… I'm—I'm just not ready for a relationship, that's all." Hisashi raised an eyebrow and Yui sighed, turning around but standing still. Hisashi paced with her and looked intently. She turned away from his gaze.

"Eh?"

"I'm in love with someone." He didn't say anything and Yui closed her eyes. "He's not with me. I can't find him. I don't know how to find him. But I love him." She never thought she'd confess to Hisashi about her first love. It was the most unimaginable scenario.

"How old were you when you met?"

"Fifteen."

"And you last heard from him…?"

"Before I turned 16. And I never heard from him again," she breathed out. Even if she tried all ways, she could never see him again. If only he were reborn in this lifetime like Taka, she would be the happiest girl. But he was still as dead as the rest of her warriors. Like her dreams and her heart. Without him, she would rather be dead.

"Sorry to be rash but you're holding on to a love that doesn't exist. You're wasting your time." Yui looked up, a little angry. How dare he say such a thing?

"Are you implying—"

"You're in love with the idea of falling in love, that's what I see here. You can't stay that way, you know." Yui's eyes misted and she wanted to return the time and avoid confessing her deepest feelings to Hisashi. But she couldn't help herself. After years of keeping quiet, she wanted to voice out what she feels.

"I'm scared."

"Of letting go or falling in love again?"

A hopeless laugh left her. She must be mad for telling Hisashi these things. "I don't know. Both?"

"Grow up, Yui. You're no longer in Junior High, you're in college now. You can't be scared all the time. I told you this before, if you don't look around, you'll miss the person who values you more than anything—even more than his dreams." Hisashi walked ahead and Yui sighed. She paced with him, flushed.

"Why do I have this nagging feeling that you're pushing me to Kaede?" she asked and Hisashi smirked but didn't turn to meet her gaze.

"Oh, was I too obvious?" He chuckled, making her frown. "That punk beat me in a one-on-one last week. He trained really hard for the last weeks and has been challenging me every night after practice." Yui cannot help but flush harder. "The night he beat me was the same night he fell sick from exhaustion. But you should have seen the look on his face, he was so happy like his life depended on that win. Imagine the pain I had to go through to take him home. Man, he owes me big time." Hisashi turned to her and Yui looked away. "What's with the smile?"

"Nothing… I just…" She sighed. "Kaede is very passionate about basketball."

"And probably pursuing the girl he likes." A giggle left her and she covered her mouth. Hisashi laughed loud, his voice resonated in the skating rink.

"You're teasing me."

"You look like you're up for it." She slapped his shoulder. Now, she can't deny her feelings for him. Even though she tried to be discreet, Hisashi simply knew. He was annoying that way.

"What time are you playing next week?" she asked shyly and he laughed loud, again. "Stop it." Talking to Hisashi somehow took away the guilt and all the frustrations she felt earlier. Sometimes, it was better to share her feelings. She should learn to be more open. And he was right, she has to mature.

"Two," he noted. Yui made a face. "Why?"

"My competition starts at 4 p.m." She could not help but say it out in a sad manner. She somehow wanted to watch Hisashi and Kaede play. She'd seen him in practice games but never in the actual court. She wanted to see a real game. She wanted to know why everyone spoke highly of him. She wanted to know him better. Kaede. She's back in square one, it seemed.

"The schedule's too tight," he said as they made their way out of the rink. Hisashi walked toward the street and looked around for a cab. "I'll drop you at the cinema." She nodded.

"You don't have to watch. It's okay." She looked around as well. Streetlamps lit up the lanes and some establishments were closing in for the day.

"I always watch you skate," Hisashi said matter-of-factly.

"Well, you have a team to look after now. It's fine. I'll survive." She walked toward him and looked the other way, waiting for a cab.

"Your parents are watching?" he asked and she shook her head. What a stupid question. Hisashi doesn't need to ask that!

"Papa's on a business trip in Europe. Mama tagged along, says summer's a good time to walk the streets of Paris." She smiled wide. "They never watch me skate anyway so it's not a big deal."

"Things haven't changed much at home, ne?" he asked and she answered with a nod. "Great, a cab's here. I'll pay because I'm such a dear older brother today." He winked and talked to the driver. Yui laughed and for the first time after the incident in Kaede's room, she felt better. Maybe telling Hisashi about them was not a bad idea after all. Admittedly, he became way cooler in her eyes.


She met up with Miaka and Taka, bringing her duffel bag. Hisashi insisted to take it to her apartment and leave it at the guard but she valued her skating things too much to let it under anyone's care. In short, she was balancing her practice bag and her school bag on her shoulders when the couple showed up for the movie.

"Yui-chan!" Miaka rushed to plant a kiss on her cheek. They haven't seen each other since the practice game in Keio and the brunette finally moved out of the house to rent an apartment near the university. Taka moved to the area too and they have been discreetly living together. "You're alone? That's bad, I thought you'd bring that basketball hunk along."

Miaka giggled and Yui raised an eyebrow. "Basketball hunk?" Miaka rolled her eyes as Taka walked toward them.

"Come on. Keio number 10. Rukawa Kaede?" Taka greeted her and she nodded. Miaka dangled on her arm and looked intently. "Tell me, Yui. Are you dating him? He's the campus heartthrob, you know. I had to tell all my classmates that you 2 are dating so they'll stop pestering him with love letters!"

"MIAKA! How can you spread a rumor?" Yui screamed with disbelief. Her face was getting warmer and warmer and if the conversation continued, Miaka will find out about her infatuation with the ace player. Infatuation? She cursed in her head. When she was talking to Hisashi earlier, she admitted liking Kaede. Now she was infatuated with him? What the hell is wrong with her tonight?

"Baka, he was glancing at you all throughout the game! How can you be so dense? It was such a giveaway, you know." Miaka pulled her toward the ticket booth. She turned to Taka for help but the latter shook his shoulder, smiling.

Miaka didn't stop pestering her and kept on asking if Kaede gave hints. She kept of giggling and voicing out how physically compatible they were and even until they were sitting on the theater and munching finger food, the former Suzaku no miko was lecturing her on what to do once Kaede started to show his fondness for her. She only stopped talking when the opening credits rolled. This time, Yui noticed the way Taka wrapped his arm around the brunette and the way she easily leaned on his shoulder to watch the movie.

Yui was envious. They were very comfortable with each other. Even though Miaka had peppered her with attention earlier, Taka doesn't seem to mind being in the sidelines. Every now and then, the 2 would whisper and Miaka would giggle. Sometimes they would kiss and this time, Yui did not clear her throat. Strange, but she didn't find it awkward to be in the company of lovers. Every accidental turn she did, she found couples, like Miaka and Taka. They were watching a romantic comedy after all.

A month ago, she would have rolled her eyes and lectured the couple with her cynicism about public display of affection. This time, she was different, felt the warmth of each funny lines, each heartwarming scene in the movie. She wanted to laugh at herself because this was the first time she agreed to watch a chic flick and she was enjoying herself. She began to realize why couples do what they do in the cinemas. It was not because of hormones but because they were with the people who were valuable to them. When someone is with the person he or she loves, every place becomes paradise.

Yui wanted to find that person. She wanted to watch a nonsense movie with someone, hold his hand, kiss very discreetly in the dark, lean on someone's shoulder. She wanted to feel like a high school girl on her first date. She wanted to look into someone's eyes and see herself, see a woman who was ready to fall in love. Her eyes misted as everyone around her laughed with the main characters.

She found him, didn't she? But she lost him even before she did.

When Miaka and Taka kissed again, she hurriedly wiped her tears before the lights went on and exposed the brief moment she pitied herself. They decided to get burger and fries in the stands afterwards and agreed to occupy a public table. They ate slowly, the couple still as sweet as ever. She smiled at them.

"You're not in your spinster mood today," Taka noted and she laughed, shaking her head.

"It's because Yui is in love," Miaka pointed out and Yui shook her head violently.

"I'm not. I'm just…" She looked around and smiled wide. "I realized that life passed by before me because I was too… too into the past." Miaka leaned on the table and smiled knowingly. "Like we've been friends for 15 years and I realized we're no longer in kindergarten or middle school or junior high…"

"Yui…" Miaka's eyes were misty and the blonde smiled. Taka wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. "We'll be friends no matter what. Even if you introduce the worst type of boyfriend or we'll fight over one guy—which I don't think will ever happen again—we'll still be friends."

"Boyfriend, huh?" Miaka held her hand and looked at her intently.

"Everything happened 4 years ago, Yui. You don't have to blame yourself or keep yourself from being happy. I already regained my heart, it's time you start claiming yours." Miaka tightened her hold on her hands and she smiled. She knew her hesitation right away, even without words.

The best kinds of friends, Yui realized, are the ones who never judge or blame you. And who knew the pain you go through silently every single day. They know when to hold your hand and tell you it's okay. And you believe them because they said it at the right time, in the right place, in the right exact instance that you needed assurance.

"I'm going to get something to drink before water pours around here," Taka joked and they both laughed. Alone, a tear fell on Yui's cheek. She pulled her hand away and wiped her cheek.

"I like him… very much… but I'm scared that if Nakago returns to this world, I might end up hurting him," she whispered. "In my heart, he's still here…"

"Love takes time to grow, Yui. Nakago is in your heart because you let him stay there. If you give Kaede a chance, he won't be able to fill Nakago's place but he can make a spot of his own, in your heart. A spot that might even overpower Nakago—but only if you let him." Miaka said calmly. She knew too much of love while Yui knew too little. Was this what she learned from experience? "Love is always about taking risks. It's all about letting people in, creating a space for them, nurturing them, and letting go when it's time. If I were you, I'd give Kaede a chance."

"Who told you I'm talking about Kaede?" she asked, flushed. Miaka laughed and winked before Taka joined them on the table, bringing 3 bottles of soda.

"I'm your bestfriend, Yui. I know you like a guy before you realize you like him," Miaka said confidently. Yui looked at her with disbelief.

She was halfway done with her food when an image caught her attention. Her brows creased when she thought she saw Kaede stepped out of the groceries, carrying bags of goods. Her heart palpitated wildly and she stood up, saying an immediate goodbye to the couple who followed her with eyes full of curiosity. Her immediate instinct was to run after him, which she did, clutching her bags. She was a few steps from him when a girl approached and wrapped hands around his arms. Yui's eyes widened and she stopped dead in her tracks.

"Ka-chan is very slow! Come on, I'll cook you a nice dinner. You're free to stay over for the night as well!" The girl giggled and she saw Kaede heaved a sigh. Yui looked at the girl and her heart ached. She was evidently older, with beautiful straight blonde hair and a small doll-like face. She wore a tight and skimpy denim shorts and white halter top, showing her curves.

If Kaede has a girl like that, then he wouldn't mind being dumped by a skinny ugly girl like her, Yui thought. And she called her Ka-chan while the most intimate name she could call him was Kaede-kun. Was she his new girlfriend? Kaede turned toward her direction and she turned back before their eyes met. She doesn't care if he saw her or if he intended to follow her or not. Nothing mattered.

Kaede was with a girl. He did not even… How could he…? She bit her lip, walking faster to get away from them. She tried to mellow down the throbbing but it was useless. Every part of her body was in pain.


A/N: Not sure if this chapter caught your fancy but things are getting serious between Yui and Kaede-kun. They need this, I swear!