Disclaimer: I do not OWN PoT = D I try to be honest.

Writers Blurb: A BIG thank you to so many of you who commented on my story, although I may not often send back a thank you, but heh… I have a funny idea how to thank you all at the end.

Assignments, exams and everything is out of the way now. So time to exercise my right brain, also did I mention how much of a pain this was to write? He drove me out of my mind. Always asking, 'Is this Gakuto?' 'Is he being himself?' RARARA, etc. Anyway I posted it finally. Have to dedicate it to someone in particular though, Ryosaku EchiSaki. The enthusiasm was sometimes something I need to keep me going. But that is not to say no one else fuelled it. THANKS FOR READING! I LOVE comments, always makes me smile and makes me slightly more creative, can't have me drifting can we? XD

Mukahi Gakuto

"She taught me many things… she is my light and the air of freedom."

Mukahi Gakuto, it is time you realize what is most important for your future. Tennis and acrobatics is not a future. Our company needs you as it is, and I strongly disagree in the choices of activities that you choose to participate in.

Gakuto kicked another stone along the roadside, furious of what his father said to him this morning. Couldn't the old man just eat his breakfast behind a good newspaper like any ordinary father? Instead of a father who sits there and actually wants to talk to you. Gakuto would choose an ordinary father… and an ordinary father who wouldn't call tennis or acrobatics stupid. Angry wouldn't cut it for Gakuto, his father had always got something to say about one thing or another, from his hair, to the choice in of his subjects, his personality and then to his extracurricular activities. Was there anything his father liked about him?

Nope, even if I paid him to give me a positive comment… he would take years to think up one.

"Mukahi Sempai!"

A girl came running up to him, her eyes looked bright and excited, and in her hands she carried something which smelt freshly baked. Nothing makes Gakuto happier than food, with one exception, if it came from Mika, it was a no go. Girls who noticed that he had arrived all started to pull out some candy which Gakuto loved… trust the ladies to know how to cure a man's anger. But today, he felt annoyed and bothered about them.

Usually he would perform a few tricks for them as they clap in glee, and then perhaps talk to every girl with an equal amount of cheeriness. Today, it just wasn't his day… with his father's words weighing his own mind down, all his past behaviours towards the girls felt like him being a monkey preforming for treats, and he didn't like to be forced to amuse others… Their comments didn't help either way.

"Mukahi sempai! I want to see your famous handstand!"

"No! Mukahi sempai is going to do a backwards flip ne?"

Gakuto was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling the sudden loss for air, a situation similar to drowning in the sea, a sea of demands. The way they crowd around him made him feel claustrophobic, tense, trapped and annoyed. Gakuto had to make a sudden decision, he didn't care if it had to involve another girl, all he wanted to do was escape! Gakuto stepped back, trying to get out of the circle, in front of him was the last wall of girls and that was when he pushed past and took hold of a girl's hand and yanked her close to him.

At that very moment, the girls stepped back in surprise, giving the space Gakuto was craving for. He then lowered his eyes to assess the girl, whose hand he had a firm grip on… she had beautiful big brown eyes, her heart shaped face matched her eyes down to her small nose and cute lips. Her two braids were pinned up on her head… to top it off, she was blushing. Gakuto had done what he usually wouldn't have done, Gakuto thought mentally…

I have no idea what she is like, but can anything be worse than this hoard of girls?

He said to her in a whisper.

"Play it cool."

"Who is this?"

Mika has arrived, her hands on her hips as if he was cheating on her… for goodness sake, since when did he appoint Mika to be his official girlfriend? Just because he was addicted to her apple pies at some stage did not give her the right to start her plans around him. Mika had always been controlling after he had given her his attention. She would tell him what he should eat and sometimes had a frown when she caught him doing acrobatics. In more ways than one, she was female version of his very own father. He had enough of his own father, he didn't think he would need another one in school. He found it extremely taxing on his feelings. He taunts her sometimes, but it seems like she had not understood the true meaning of what he means.

"My girlfriend."

Gakuto replied in a coolly, but no one could dismiss the jab in his tone, Gakuto realized that he had waited too long get that expression that was now currently on Mika's face. She seemed to have turned purple and was very upset. However, since he didn't run the moment he latched himself to a girl, there was a problem, it seems that the girls were now staring at him and waiting for Mika to represent them in the questioning his girlfriend.

"You, girl! What is your NAS?"

"NAS?"

Gakuto was glad he wasn't the only one who thought he hadn't heard of that word before. Mika didn't seem impress as she scoffed in a very arrogant tone, sounding more and more alike his father that he now seemed to be slowly developing hatred for the girl. Gakuto never hated peers, only his father, but when someone is transforming into his father, it is very hard to not hate those people.

"NAME, AGE, STATUS! Seriously, I thought you of all girls should know how important NAS is, to be with Mukahi Sempai!"

"…I…I…I… name is… Risa…Wa…watanabe. Fir…first year… daughter of…of…"

"Stop bullying Risa! I don't care about AS, I choose her because she is herself!"

"Don't be silly Mukahi sempai! Your father…"

"What do you know Mika?"

Mika took one step back in shock, because Gakuto had never used that tone with her… EVER. Once Mika got over the shock, she started to scowl but before she could snap another retort, Gakuto decided he had enough. Picking up Risa's hand, he started to run fast speed out of school. As he ran, he felt the rush of cold air which kissed his face. All of the sudden it felt like he was running on air, with the smell of fresh air and the sky so blue… the smell of freedom, away from his father, and his father's equal… the world so large and so free… Gakuto loved it. He loved it very much.

"an…Ano…sum…sumimasen… I…I can't run…run any…longer…"

Gakuto was suddenly made aware of the girl that he had accidentally dragged out of school, and eloped with. Her face was red, except this time it was from the running. Surprisingly enough, he realized just how far they had run. They were already very far away from school! Gakuto was firstly very amazed at the girl, because no girl ever lets him run this far while they run alongside him. They would always ask him to slow down. But to only utter a word now… no wonder she looked so exhausted.

He felt guilty that he had just made a girl run her heart out, but wasn't that the girl's aim? He couldn't trust this girl, what if she was just like Mika? What if she was also always expecting him to do something and perhaps try to limit him? He shouldn't make her feel special and he was inclined to go to other places away from school.

"…Sorry, but I just wanted to get away."

The girl was still trying to catch her breath, she was leaning against the pole, she looked like she had never run this much before. She merely shook her head, as she tried to regain normal breathing.

"I…it is… ok. I… think I can under…understand."

"You can go back, but I don't know if you will be safe there. I am not going back, I am going to go walk around, so you can go wherever you like."

Gakuto said in a very airy tone, he was glad to be away and perhaps she would go somewhere else, but he knew a thing or two about girls, and girls usually would think they had a chance, and they would insist to go on a date. The look on her face tells him everything… she was option B, insistence of a date, except she didn't look like she actually wanted a date. With girls these days, one never knows. It was just last week when he was conned into a date with a very rich girl.

"A…Ano… would it be ok…ok if I tag along?"

Gakuto felt apprehensive about allowing her to come along, but his inbred manners and the normal male instinct to never let a girl wander around by herself was strong… yet… He didn't want to get rid of one Mika to gain another one!

"…Sure! I am going to be practicing my acrobatics. So if you don't feel bored…"

Gakuto stated casually, he knew that wasn't an ideal dating place but that was exactly where he wanted to go. He watched her, he noticed her eyes seemed to have soften at the word 'acrobatics' but he didn't know why… just what about acrobatics made her eyes soften like that?

Focus Gakuto, don't let your guard down.

Gakuto made a plan his aim was to send her running before the end of today. Usually he was very energetic… his father, Mika and everyone besides his regular tennis members always seemed to complain about him, one way or another. Be himself was the way to go about this, and that shouldn't be hard.

Plan A: Acrobatic scare

Arriving at his favourite studio, he waved at some of the boys who were lounging outside of the dance studio itself. The boys here were having their arms around each other and two of them seemed to be a couple and were smooching just a few meters away. Gakuto peered behind Risa to see how she was taking this scene, only to find her watching them with great interest, she wasn't disgusted, but looked interested.

"Who is this Gakuto? Your girlfriend?"

Risa seemed to be a bit scared of talking to those boys, as she hid behind him and even without Gakuto opening his mouth his friend 'assumed' he was right.

Get her to wrinkle her nose in distaste for his social friends – failed

He didn't think a girl or a normal girl would be so accepting of this. Usually he could see some other girls from different schools squealing but Risa wasn't doing that either… Gakuto gave one of his friends a kiss on the cheek.

"Didn't think you'd do that in front of your girl man, she must be a hell of a catch to not be jealous."

Risa was still silently observing the exchange without much of a say about it.

Get her to be disgusted, or think I am gay – Failed.

"I may stay here for quite some time, I hope you aren't going to be bored."

Risa mere shook her head as she took a spot far away from him, just like a silent observer hiding in the shadows.

Just be yourself Gakuto…be yourself.

Gakuto reminded himself as he closed his eyes and began… He moved around the room with the basic acrobatic jumps, that was his happiest moment. High in the air, breaking free from gravity and free from restraints in life, only to come back down to the world… back to reality to subject himself back to fulfilling expectations. He ran towards the small steps so he could jump high enough to reach the two handles that hung from the ceiling. He swung his arms up to catch it on time.

"First time watching your boyfriend 'fly' huh?"

Risa was surprised that Gakuto's friend had settled himself down beside her, his eyes watching Gakuto swing from side to side. She merely whispered quietly… getting familiar with the boy beside her.

"I knew some of these moves… but how was that stunt done?"

When Gakuto was ready to look back and see a very bored looking Risa Watanabe, instead he got a very interested and very excited Risa. Beside her was his friend who apparently took the joy in talking to her. Funnily he felt like he was the subject of this conversation for they were watching him and when he was close enough, he could hear his friend say

"That move is quite complex…"

"…Is it because…"

"Yes… it was…"

Finally giving into curiosity, Gakuto went towards the two people and asked.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Noth…"

Risa seemed to be too keen to be able to stop the secret from coming out of her mouth. She said in a very excited tone.

"I just figured out… how you managed that stunt."

The moment Gakuto heard the word stunt, he settled right beside them his eyes shined brightly in anticipation.

"Tell me more…"

Surprisingly enough, Gakuto started cheerfully yanking her around as he explained and performed similar moves. Risa seemed to be making mental notes of every move and his explanation with an equal amount of enthusiasm as her eyes watched him. Before he realized it… they had already been there for 3 hours… 3 WHOLE HOURS!

Practice Acrobatics for hours and get her bored – failed

"You guys just started dating huh?"

Gakuto raised an eyebrow at his friend who was leaning on one of the lockers with a sly grin on his face. Gakuto simply ignored him as he reached up to grab his shirt and slipped it on.

"I knew it. How many girls can actually sit there for your first date! You better bring her to an amusement park."

"What can be the worse place to take a date to anyway?"

Shrugged Gakuto, his friend frowned and creased his eyebrows seriously debating the idea since she enjoyed this location.

"Game world, I think… not many girls liked that. I mean I brought girls there before… my boyfriend likes it though…"

Gakuto suddenly had an epiphany from his friend's suggestion, as he leaped and hugged his friend in joy saying

"That's it! That's it!"

"What's it?"

His friend asked, perplexed at what Gakuto was so overjoyed of, but clearly his friend wasn't planning on telling him either way. Watching his joyful friend practically cartwheeled himself out the door.

Plan B: GAME WORLD HORROR

"Have you been here before?"

Risa looked around at the dark and dingy area, she was holding onto Gakuto's shoulder a little tighter as she looked around wondering why this place was so dark. Gakuto thought to himself, thanks to his friend, he was able to think of a place a girl can really learn to hate a guy for. Taking them here, where it is dark and cold and sometimes filled with smoke… She helped payed for the coins as they went around together searching for a game that Gakuto would like. Strange thing was that Risa didn't seem to complain for the idea that she was paying because he had 'supposedly' forgotten his wallet. In fact, when he took a peek, it was a surprise at how little money she had with her, and no signs of an American express card. Was she really elite class girl?

Getting the girl to pay for him and make her feel annoyed – failed.

"I like this one!"

Gakuto pointed at the machine which had the title BLOOD SCREAMER Risa looked slightly more apprehensive about playing it. She whispered to him in a very meek but shaky tone.

"An…Ano… sem…sempai… I don...I don't like… the name or the visual hints…"

She indicated the blood and mummy pictures which draped itself across the machine. Gakuto took a deep breath and swallowed his saliva. Whatever it is, he was also quite afraid of it… but he had to play it and get addicted so she would get bored. But, he was keen on having a companion for this.

"Let's do it together. I mean we get to shoot them…"

Risa took one look at the monster and then back at Gakuto before she resignedly placed in two coins into the machine and the machine came to life with a blood curling scream which made Risa and Gakuto hold each other in fear.

They picked up their guns and started to look around, their eyes darting left and right and their heart rate was beating too fast for comfort. Gakuto had to admit to himself, he regretted choosing this game… he should have to planned on playing my little pony games instead!

"ARRAHAHHH"

"AH!"

Risa squeaked and Gakuto was quick to use one of his hands to find hers. And together they shot the area on the screen, hoping to eliminate the mummies that were somehow not dying as they dragged their way towards them. Gakuto shot the mummy a few more times before they were relieved that it died.

"What is in that box?"

Asked Risa who was getting into the game just like Gakuto was… together, they had survived the mummies and were now in a quiet but suspicious place. Gakuto too, was curious about the box by the side of the door. There were no mummies there… so shouldn't it be a breeze? There may be good items or things in there… All of a sudden when they shot the box a mummy came leaping out. Risa and Gakuto nearly leap out of their skins, they dropped their guns only to start moving around in fear for the sudden disgusting mummy. Once they found each other, they clung on to each other for dear life, shocked and scared out of their skins. The screen suddenly flashes 'GAME OVER' and out from the side slot slid out photos of Gakuto and Risa hanging to each other for dear life, utterly horrified by the jumping mummy in a box.

Risa reached out to look at the photo let out a small burst of laughter, and even then Gakuto looked at it and he too couldn't help himself as he laughed alongside her clearly amused that he could ever see the day his face would have such an expression. Being with her was almost as if he was on air, it was so relaxing so carefree that he felt some of the tension went away. Once Gakuto recovered, he was surprised because he didn't think she would really be enjoying this and what was scarier than her enjoying it would be the fact that he was actually enjoying himself with her.

Play games she does not like – failed

"Let's play this game!"

Gakuto dragged Risa towards a very cutesy game box control, the look in Risa's eyes were something of suspicion, something wasn't consistent in Gakuto's way of playing games. He just moved from the topic of horror to the topic of ponies. But she didn't say a word nor did she complain, as she silently placed coins into the slot and together they sat there with the joysticks and tried to outrun each other in a 'my little pony' obstacle race.

Gakuto couldn't believe it, he thought he could come to see this day coming at any moment in his entire life. Gakuto lost to Risa in his best game! Many times when he came here with the regulars, he'd compete with them and completely obliterate them because they were somehow too overwhelmed by the cute ponies. Then again he never had the chance to play against a girl, perhaps she was pretty good at this game. Gakuto would never let this sit, he was the champion of the My little pony Obstacle race! She won't be seated on that candy throne! That place is clearly his!

"Again!"

Gakuto said… and he smirked at the end of it. He was satisfied that he had officially retaken his throne, his favourite pony was seated on the glorious candy throne! Victory! Lesson to learn, never attempt to take a man's winning spot, and that applies to My little pony Obstacle race!

"Again…"

Gakuto pretended not to hear her as he cupped his hand onto his ear and he asked in a very taunting tone.

"Sorry? What? I couldn't hear you over the sound of being the winner."

Risa threw him a competitive look, which Gakuto swore that expression had never appeared before on her face. He liked a challenge as they restarted the game and both of them had an expression of determination, it was either reach the end line or it means instant death. Strangely enough, those challenges of death happened for 20 minutes and they both won alternating between them. Gakuto was sure, he had never had someone he wanted to defeat or get an eternal enemy this way… how could he expect to have an arch nemesis on my little pony obstacle race?

It was after their last game that they begrudgingly allowed their competitiveness to go to the back of their minds as Gakuto made the pick again.

Playing my little pony game and making her find him very girly – Failed

"DDR!"

Gakuto exclaimed in delight, by now he was quite relaxed, it didn't matter that he was failing every attempt to make her turn away. This game was something he really liked and it was also the one game it seems that, Risa simply refused to play on.

"Why not?"

Gakuto whines, as Risa dropped the right amount of tokens into his palm. Risa threw a nervous smile and she said in a very soft tone which was almost eaten up by the loud noises made by the games.

"I…I…I can't do DDR… and…people…people are watching."

Gakuto thought that was silly as he yanked her along with him as he left her on his opposite DDR machine. She seemed to be clammy and nervous but Gakuto knew the best way to cure her fear was to bring it out to her face long enough that she will get bored and use to it! And that was exactly what he will do.

"Just choose the same song I choose and follow my steps and don't look at the screen."

Risa seemed to trust him and together they choose their music at the same time. It was the easiest dance as the music played, Gakuto kept his eyes on the screen and Risa watched Gakuto and the instant the arrows appeared Gakuto started to follow and Risa tried following him.

Gakuto could track her performance from time to time as he turned to look at her, he noticed her face was flushed red but her eyes watched his legs and followed but unfortunately for her, she tripped with a complex move but Gakuto was there as he managed to prevent her from completely falling as he took her hand and said encouragingly.

"You can do it! Don't lose the beat! Listen to the song and dance to my steps!"

Gakuto was living the highlight of DDR while Risa was gradually being sucked into that vortex. The longer she had her feet moving in the right way, the more confident she got. Surprising what 40 minutes of DDR can do to someone. Risa seemed to be able to follow the beat! It was suspicious because she was able to quickly follow him. It proved one point, at some point she must actually be able to dance.

"Where did you learn how to dance like that?"

The moment they got off the DDR machine that was the first question which came to his mind. Risa didn't seem to understand but she replied in a much calmer tone… it seems that her stutter had stopped.

"I… I am currently learning a ballroom dance, perhaps that's where I learnt it."

She didn't seem to be too sure, but Gakuto had that checked off her list, every rich girl had to learn someday. If she was a rich girl, there were some things which didn't add up. She didn't give that feeling of someone who was living a wealthy lifestyle.

"We better go back Gakuto Sempai. Or we will miss the bell."

Gakuto didn't know which was more stunning about her… the fact that he felt like he was on air when he was with he or the fact that time flies when he is with her or even for the mere idea of such a girl exists. All his plans to test her came back to make his heart beat faster, and inside, he felt so sad that everything had to come to an end today. He wanted to hang out with her again, and discuss acrobatics, play games and get to know each other… what was happening to him?

"…? Gakuto sempai?"

Risa turned around to see Gakuto standing there looking shocked and surprised, Risa thought it had something to do with today. Risa took his hand in an encouraging way, her face resembled someone who was friendly and kind hearted when she said

"There is always tomorrow right?"

Tomorrow? He was planning weeks of activities he had in stored for them… weeks! Spending 2 hours with Mika was enough to annoy him a little but… he never planned! NEVER! It was too soon to say whether he will consider her a friend, which is the first for him… too soon to consider if she was really the kind of girl he would prefer as a girlfriend… but his lips curled into a smile as he held onto her hand as they walked out the door.

He may only know her for a day, but even if he didn't want to admit it, she opened his mind. He shouldn't have judged her to be like others, it was just like his father judging others before he really got to know them. He promised, he would never expect or have any expectations and just have fun, who knows… maybe there are more people like her.

Tomorrow… there is always tomorrow. He will come up with more tests but this time, he wouldn't be judging instead, he would show her his world… tomorrow, he will show her his eating habits, street dancing and meet his dad, oh no girl could stand that old man, not even him. However, there was a chance Risa may change his father. If so, it would be a chance he was willing to take. Tomorrow… that is just another 15 hours away… Tomorrow will come… it just that tomorrow isn't coming soon enough.

"I will race you up the hill!"

Gakuto suddenly said as they arrived at the start of the hill which he ran down from, with a sly smile on his face. Every minute counts they say… a girl… no… he wasn't going to expect. He was going to join the flow of things the way it is. Risa looked at Gakuto as she asked in a soft tone

"…Like My little pony?"

Gakuto's grin grew even wider as he started skipping and he suddenly did a complex turn and said in a very loud and energetic tone.

"I will win the candy throne!"

What he didn't know was the smile on her face was something he would remember and would probably be the one reason why he couldn't sleep tonight. She quickly started a light jog together they raced back to school.

Gakuto managed to catch her from time to time, efficiently taking her places and she never seemed to fail at surprising him. She even warmed his father's heart… but that was a different story…

Back to present –

"Just wait until she goes overseas, Japan sounds bigger and bigger every time I hear a story."

"What do you mean Jackal?"

Momoshiro asked, surprised at Jackal's expression of what he felt but the rest seemed to nod in agreement to what was just said.

"…Well, she had more adventures and encounters that seemed absolutely riveting. I doubt she'd think her life was boring. I would be surprised if it wasn't exciting."

"Hey, I just think these guys are one sided. I wonder whom will she pick?"

Shrugged Ryou as he leaned back against the wall with his hands folded behind his head. He was curious, with that many selections… who would she choose?

"Definitely Chibi! This guy!"

Momoshiro said with confidence as he pulled Ryoma to himself, Ryoma didn't say a word, it was Tezuka who said

"Who is next?"

"Akutagawa Jirou…"

"Let me guess… it all started with a dream!"

Laughed Momoshiro, but Jirou threw him a sleepy smile and said

"Why… how did you know? She safeguards me from nightmares…"

-To be continued –

Well, hehehe, a little taster for what is up next. I hope Gakuto's story didn't make you all disappointed. = S I will try harder! See you next time!