Hibisha: I am so sorry! Please forgive me! I have been really busy with University and all so i really didn't have time to update.

TOBF: You're out partying everyday.

Hibisha: That kinda comes with uni life. ^.^"

TOBF: Excuse me, have you seen my best friend? Cuz you're definitely not her.

Hibisha: What'd I do?

TOBF: Raaaaaiiiight! *mimics Hibisha* OMG, fashion emergency 101! I don't have anything to wear. like, what gives off the, "I'm standing for a good cause" vibe? The pink shirt or the blue one?

Hibisha: Uuuuh, I refuse to comment.

TOBF: *smirking* Sure you do. Anyways, Hibisha doesn't own Inazuma Eleven, just the plot. Oh and Kawashima. Even though she hates him.

Hibisha: Onwards!

"Chapter 9"

I had expected Nagumo to burst through the doorway, looking out of breath. I had expected his flushed face to be shining brightly as he flung himself onto his bed. I had even braced myself for his happy expression to disappear and his gleeful smile to fade away when he realized how cold I had become-honestly, I had prepared myself for everything. Well, at least I thought everything.

What I had not been prepared for was him silently entering the room; for him to ignore my presence completely while I watched; for him to just crawl into bed and fall asleep without even saying goodnight.

I was not prepared for him to leave me.

I woke up the next day at the crack of dawn. Looking towards my right, I saw Nagumo's bed….empty. Silently trekking my way downstairs, I found him sitting in the living room, watching TV with unblinking eyes. I slowly made my way towards him and lowered myself on the spot next to him. Neither of us spoke. The TV was mute. There was no sound and the silence maintained until the other children woke up.

No one noticed us.

We were alone.

Weeks passed us by. Days became months and months became years. Nagumo and I grew more and more distant. It wasn't only me who was pulling away-it takes two to do the tango after all. He was trying to widen the rift between us and with neither of us trying to stop the gap from widening; it was inevitable that we'd end up as strangers. Hitomiko thought that I was finally listening to her advice and keeping my distance from the red headed boy but that was not the case. I may have wanted to push everyone away but deep down I knew I that this was not what I wanted. I had wanted Nagumo to break through all the barriers I had put up and I had wanted him to stay with me.

I desperately wanted to know why Nagumo was pushing me away but I was hardly in a position to ask now was I? I'd only be hypocritical if I said that I wanted him to stop being so cold and unattached.

But there was a slight difference in our behaviors. While I was ignoring everyone around me, Nagumo was only ignoring me.

I couldn't even deny how hurt I felt. Mr. Kawashima's words boomed in my ears. But those only fueled my anger and resentment and by the age of 13, I felt nothing towards Nagumo except deep rooted hatred. Nagumo was no better. His eyes narrowed dangerously every time he saw me and he made sure that everything he said wounded me. His eyes flashed with anger and sometimes, I thought I detected hints of pain and guilt but then again, if he truly felt remorse, he'd have stopped verbally massacring me.

Obviously, I retaliated. and as we all know, my knowledge, plus my quick wit combined with my cool composure-Nagumo didn't stand a chance. Always the feisty one, he used to quickly lose his temper and on more occasions than one, grabbed me by the collar and lifted his fist to threaten me.

But he never hit me. Not once.

Of course, Hiroto noticed the gap and pulled me aside one day.

"Okay Fuu-chan, what's going on?" he demanded. I gave him a level headed glare. My face was an emotionless mask and I did all I could not to smash my fist in his face. How dare he? What right did he have to question my actions?

"What makes you think that anything is going on?" I asked, my body perfectly composed, arms folded firmly across my chest. Gone were the days when my voice was filled with emotions. Hiroto ran a hand through his hair, his green eyes trying to find some underlying emotion in my eyes. I'm very pleased to say he failed. Watching him walk away with his shoulders hunched in absolute defeat gave me some sort of sadistic pleasure,

It might be hard to believe but I hated Hiroto these days more than I had ever. Hiroto had somehow wormed his way into the heart of the orphanage's benefactor. I hated him for that. I hated him for being loved. Everyone loved Hiroto. Well, except Nagumo and his posse. And mine as well.

Kira Seijirou's son was killed. Hiroto, who could have been his twin brother was 'adopted' into their family. He was going to inherit every single penny that man owned and that man owned a lot of pennies. It infuriated me, and Nagumo-not that he told me but I still knew.

Soccer was the only place I could vent out all my frustrations. My best friend was a bookworm, Touchi Shuuji whom I called IQ-endearingly of course- and Kurione Yuki, aka Rhionne, a girl who kept a mask on her face, like, quite literally.

As for Nagumo, he was hanging out with Heat and Nepper. Not their real names obviously, but ever since the Aliea program started, I've been referring to everyone by their Aliea nicknames. Burn, and Nagumo likes to call himself, has been having fun. I can tell when I look at him. He's always laughing, smiling and goofing off. Of course, he wants to beat Gran-Hiroto- but aside from that, he's just happy.

Obviously, I thought that it was over between us. He was never going to look at me with that happiness in his eyes. He was never going to want to be friends with me anymore.

That hurt more than anything Mr. Kawashima could have ever said. It even hurt me more than the thought of my mother leaving me. Because, in all honesty, I think Burn was the only family that I had.

So imagine my surprise when he proposed we work together to bring down Gran. Looking into his eyes, I saw what I had seen years ago. Pain, anger and guilt. There was once again some sort of desperation in his eyes which had made me reach out and take his hand all those years ago. Identically, it made me reach out and grasp his hand, accepting his proposals once more.

I guess I should have said no. I should have declined. But I guess I was being foolish since I was hoping we could somehow rekindle the flames of our former friendship. I really shouldn't have hoped for that.

Because if I hadn't...

"FOR GOD'S SAKE NAGUMO! STOP BEING SUCH AN ASS!"

"I'M BEING AN ASS? NO I'M NOT BEING AN ASS. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S BEING A TOTAL BITCH! WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS!"

…...I wouldn't be stuck in this cell with him alone.

Fuck my life, I thought in desperation, realizing Nagumo was expecting an answer, Fuck it all.

"I don't have to answer to you." I replied coldly, walking over to one of the bunk beds and sitting down and folding my arms-all to hide the simple fact that they were shaking.

We had been thrown in here because apparently, we had committed 'treason' against the 'Great One'. It was small holding cell beneath the main grounds. Right above our heads, somewhere, Gran was playing against Endou Mamoru. The place was cramped and there was barely enough room for one person to live in let alone two.

"You don't." Nagumo agreed, "But guess what? You're gonna tell me what your problem is or-" in a flash he was in front of me, holding me by my collar once more, "I'm gonna pound you!" I had two options. Deny there being anything wrong and get into an actual fist fight, or tell him the truth.

"Sit down," I muttered weakly, "This will take a while."

Hibisha: Oooh, drama. Fusuuke is about to tel Nagumo everything. Should we be scared about the out come? Maybe. Review please. The last chapter got only one review. [Thanks Amaya0Miyako]

Oh, don't think I've forgotten you all! I wanna say thanks to loving'it4321, SumizomeAkaibara, Permit writer, toto, Mizashi Haruka, Aslana di Angelo, Shizuki-yuki-chan, Almasen, Ice Prince, Kiyomi-chan789, Kuki Sayan, iiGato and finally Jazzy Amythest for reviewing.

Those who have put this story on your favourite/alert list, *bows* Thank you! *^.^* You all make me so happy!

Anyways, please review and send me your feedback!