Disclaimer: "Only the Ring Finger Knows" and all its related elements belong to Satoru Kannagi-sensei. The original concept for this story is NOT mine either. It is Kasumi Hayashibara-san's concept for the "Empty White Canvas" story (see her author's note on the last chapter of "The Untouched Ring"), and hence, it naturally belongs to her. She has generously granted me permission to use her idea to write this story. However, it does NOT mean that she will drop "Empty White Canvas". She will definitely return to it after she finishes "Endless Summer", the sequel to "The Untouched Ring". Therefore, this story should not be confused with Kasumi-san's story and vice versa.

**********

--Resolution--

After a difficult evening trying to conceal from his parents the cause of his pale face and lack of spirit, which he attributed to a sudden cold, Yuichi was finally able to retreat to his room. He threw himself on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Now that he had had time to consider the whole thing, the meeting with the dark-eyed boy was exactly what he had been looking forward to the previous week. He met the person who was with him in the date again, and had answers to all the puzzles. But the substance of the story was not exactly what he had expected.

Nevertheless, he was surprised that part of him was not surprised by this turn of event. Perhaps all this time his instinct had been trying to tell him that the boy was the one he was looking for. He had been comfortable and cheerful when interacting with the kid just like the time of the date. He had unconsciously found in the kid everything he liked about his Cinderella, but he attributed everything to the likeness in looks. Besides, there had been signs pointing to this revelation like the handkerchief, the drawings, and Takako. But honestly, who would expect, or rather wanted to expect that his crush was just a boy in girl´s dress for some absurd reasons.

Depression came over him again. He had calmed down, and he began to regret his behaviour. His mind involuntarily recalled how afraid and uncomfortable the boy was at the beginning of the date. It was really not easy for the kid. The forced kiss too was not a pleasant experience. Despite his mood, Yuichi smiled a bit at the memory of how the boy so stubbornly insisted on consent from both parties for relationship matters, including a kiss. Well, it was certain that the boy would never want to have anything to do with him again, given that kind of personality.

Yuichi covered his face with his hand. Suddenly things became so empty for him. The week before he was moving around in the dark, but he still had something to strive for and to look forward to. What would he do now? Pursuing the boy´s sister as a kind of revenge? After all, she was the one who was supposed to be his date. That kind of face suited his taste, and she was interesting in her own rights. But their meeting the day before made it clear to him that he would never be able to be crazy over her the way he was for the ¨Cinderella¨.

That date surely was cursed! At that moment, Yuichi resented himself for not opposing the nonsense his father arranged to the end. In truth, he resented everything. He could have any girl he wanted, but the one person who had stolen his heart was unattainable. For one moment, he did consider seriously going for the boy, but then he laughed at himself. His brain must have become a mess. Having that boy as his partner? Did he seriously want that, or was it just a result of his fey mood which was like that of a spoilt child? After all, the reason for him to fall for the boy in the first place was that he believed the kid was a girl. He smiled bitterly. The boy would not find it funny and would probably hit him again.

Yuichi curled up and closed his eyes, yearning for the forgetfulness of sleep. He was tired and did not want to think any more.

***

Yuichi was more resilient than he thought, for he could start the next day relatively normal. He calmly sat in class listening to the tedious lectures as if nothing had happened. Nevertheless, an unpleasant sensation invaded him when the president reminded him of his promise to help with the preparation for the exhibition. Going to Ryokuyo meant he would have to meet the dark-eyed boy again, and he was unprepared. He did not want to be reminded of the situation he was in at any cost. But his stubborn pride protested the idea of running away. He had to show that boy that he was not at all affected by the business!

He discovered that if he did not set foot to the art club´s area, he would not meet that boy. Nevertheless he seemed to always have reasons to go there. At every encounter, both of them would act as if the other were invisible. When the situation forced them to speak, it was always concise and formal phrasing. They had reached an implicit mutual understanding to avoid any further confrontation. They probably would never get involved with each other ever again.

However, Yuichi would turn to look at the boy when he was sure that he was not seen. In addition, he often found himself standing in a hidden corner to watch the art club at work, his eyes searching for that one face. To make the matter worse, he did not have the heart to return the kid´s handkerchief. He felt that once he gave it back, the affair would be truly over. Whether he wanted that or not, he honestly did not know. Yuichi by no means liked to hurt himself, but if there was one thing he got out of the whole situation besides the heartbreak, it was that feelings were extremely difficult to let go. He honestly fell head over heels in love, and even when he repeatedly told himself that the situation was hopeless, somewhere in his heart still entertained the hope for a miracle. Besides, like Takako said, perhaps that boy was really a sorcerer, for there was something about him that never failed to charm Yuichi. His heart always skipped a beat when the kid laughed about something together with his friends, and he could have stand there watching the kid working for hours to the point of forgetting time and place, had someone not called him for one or another task. It was again a deadlock, and Yuichi knew that the way out would not come in a foreseeable future.

***

A few days before the exhibition, a large cargo arrived at Ryokuyo. It contained frames, screen, hanger, in short everything to show art-pieces off. There were also some proper tables and chairs for the distinguished guests, as those in the school were more or less sabotaged. That was again heavy work, so everyone gave a hand. Meeting the boy was almost unavoidable, but thanks to the task, they did not have to interact much with each other. That sat well with Yuichi, who had resolved to force himself to truly move on after the exhibition thing finished. He would give the handkerchief back, maybe apologize for his remarks the other day, and there would be nothing left between them. If it dragged any longer, he might end up doing a lousy job for the university entrance exam and all his preparation would come to naught. With that resolution Yuicki threw himself to the task in order to help the exhibition to come to a quick end.

When the heavy load was taken off the truck and was piled up on the school yard, they took a short break. The big group quickly disbanded and rushed for refreshments, while jokes and laughters were heard all over the place. Yuichi was in a difficult position where he had to look for a way to avoid both the boy and the advances of some girls. For some reason, the root cause of his troubles remained near the high pile looking curiously at something on the sky. Perhaps to get a better view, he stepped back closer and closer the pile. Yuichi could not well ignore the situation. Why did the kid have such a lack of awareness for danger? He was considering telling the kid off when a loud sound was heard. Apparently the kid did not look behind him and fell into that big load of frames, chairs, and other heavy wood works, which immediately threatened to punish such carelessness.

Without thinking and hesitation, Yuichi rushed forward to rescue the boy. He was nearly too late because something was already falling down. He just had enough time to pull the petite body into his arms and cover it with that of his own. Hell was raging around him and he received several hits, but he did not give it a damn. At that particular moment, he just felt the warmth of the boy mingling with his, and the relief that the kid would be safe. That was the last thoughts before his head was struck and he lost consciousness.

***

Yuichi honestly did not want to wake up as he was feeling so pleasant. Of course his head and body protested with every movement, but he was lying on a soft and comfortable bed. In addition, though his mind was in such a thick haze that he could hardly think coherently, he could tell a warm hand was holding his. It should be nice to enjoy that just a little bit longer. But he already stirred, so he might as well let whoever looking after him know that his consciousness had returned. Yuichi signed lightly and slowly opened his eyes.

Yuichi did not expect that he would be greeted with the pair of large dark eyes that he liked so much. At that time, they were so soft and a bit moist, but Yuichi could also see joy shining in them. Those eyes were so beautiful, and all he wished was to be drown in them forever. The boy´s fine lips trembled a little, as if he was about to say something. But he suddenly blushed, dropped the hand he was holding, and turned away. The luxury he was enjoying spoilt, Yuichi wanted to sit up to catch that small hand and draw that sweet face toward his. Screw all reasoning and precaution! He was the patient and the hero here, and he deserved some privileges, namely to be provided with what he wanted. And what he wanted was to have that boy beside him, preferably in his arms. He did not care much about possibility or consequences. That was his demand, loud and clear.

For good or ill, Yuichi´s intention did not come to pass due to the school nurse, who chose to return right at that moment. After having a quick look at Yuichi to evaluate his state, she turned to the boy and threw a volley of rebuke at the kid.

¨You sneaked in again? How many time do I have to tell you not to do so? Don´t you see he needs to rest?¨

The boy just hung his head like a child caught in a bad act. For the kid´s sake and also for his personal benefits, Yuichi intervened.

¨Excuse me. He doesn´t mean anything bad and he doesn´t disturb me.¨

The nurse shot him a sharp look that made it clear that she was not joking.

¨He may not. But if he is allowed to be here, then all those girls will want to get in too. This is an infirmary, not a circus. Now be good and take a rest. And you.¨ She turned to the kid. ¨if you want to do something good for him, stay outside. I know you´re worried but that´s the best for him.¨

Wrong! What was best for Yuichi would be the boy staying and taking care of him. But he knew enough not to argue with the scary school nurse. He nodded to the boy to express his appreciation for the concern and to signal that he would be fine. Was it his imagination or the boy seemed to be hesitant to leave? But he could not ascertain that, because the boy was shooed away. Yuichi signed and curled up in the blanket. This was again an unexpected development, and Yuichi´s plan was one more time shaken to the core.

He originally intended to sink the matter slowly but surely. Reminding himself that the kid was dressing as a girl in the date, he insisted on believing that his feelings were illusionary. He deliberately ignored the desire that invaded his veins whenever he saw the boy, and tried to gloss over his traitorous actions such as watching the kid and keeping the handkerchief. But the accident opened his eyes about the nature of the matter. Whenever his manipulative mind did not come in the way, he acted how he honestly felt. He truly fell for the boy, before and after he knew the truth about the date. After all, when he was still in the dark, he already sensed that the boy was special. He was certainly discouraged by the fact the kid was of the same gender as he, but that was rather because the near zero probability that his feelings were reciprocated. However, something about the kid´s behaviour just then told him that it was not hopeless. Like the nurse said, the kid sneaked in repeatedly to be beside him. Yuichi looked at his hand, recalling the warmth of the small hand that was holding it. Clearly with such actions, it couldn´t be the boy truly hated him. Quite the contrary. The question was, whether he would act on this intuition or not.

Yuichi closed his eyes. What if he angered the boy by his confession? He did not like the idea of being hit again. But the prospect of happiness was so tempting! In one way or another, that boy was his Cinderella. Finding the right person and confessing his feelings. Wasn´t it what he had been desiring? And he had been so far. Hesitation and indecision be damned! He would not be a Kazuki if he ran away from the challenge. Now that he was finally clear about what he wanted, all was left was the battle. After all, miracles could be wrought by one´s own hands. The ship had scarlet sails because its captain wanted to pursue his happiness. With such thoughts, he sank back to sleep with a confident smile on his lips.