I am extremely sorry for this late update. School has started and I am not getting time to complete my fanfics. Please excuse me. Now, the next chapter.

"The rule for the art of wooing is to win the girl's heart, or else you are reaching nowhere.' Said Shizuka in a I-am-a-teacher-of-teaching-love tone. The girl glanced at Zen, who was more interested in the greenness of the the grass than the boring love lecture. A sharp bang on his head from Shizuka, and he was back to giving attention.

"ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!" Asked the 10 year old girl in a shouting tone.

"Yes, teacher.' Said Zen. The poor guy was exhausted and was not willing to listen to her anymore. Yumiko smiled back nervously at him, while he glared back at her.

'Why is she teaching me?" He whispered to her, then Yumiko whispered back. 'Shizuka is excellent in teaching about love related problems and solving them. Whenever anyone in this village suffers from love problem, she is the one to whom they come."

"Heh?! But, she's just a kid..."

Poor Zen. He received a whack on his head since he was not paying attention to his teacher.

"Now, you have understood that you need to grasp Sis Shirayuki's attention, if you want her to love you back. So, you need to do something awesome for that to happen." Said Shizuka in an energetic and confident tone.

Zen was in a confused state. "I know I have to grasp her attention. I already knew that."

Shizuka became irritated. "Well, if you knew that, why didn't you catch her attention yet?!"

Zen quietened. "I don't know. She doesn't pay any attention to me."

A cool breeze blew, rustling up the dead leaves off the ground.

The sound of a smack...

"OW, WHY DID YOU HIT ME...?!" But he couldn't complete his sentence.

"YOU IDIOT! YOU WEREN'T EVEN TRYING, AND YOU THINK SHE ISN'T PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO YOU?! WHAT A GOOD FOR NOTHING YOU ARE!" Shouted Shizuka.

Zen rubbed his head where he was smacked. He heard the words of the little girl patiently, and realized, that he actually wasn't trying.

Hanging his head with shame, he said, "I think you are right."

The girl crossed her arms on her chest, while Yumiko was looking at Zen in a stunned manner.

"I, ZEN, HEREBY DECLARE, THAT I WONT GIVE UP ON SHIRAYUKI, UNTIL AND UNLESS SHE FALLS IN LOVE WITH ME."

"Ugh!"

Zen sighed, since his head was hurting like mad. He had been punched and smacked and whacked a lot, and he was unable to touch his head, because of the pain.

"It hurts." He grumbled.

According to Shizuka, the first thing to make Shirayuki fall for him, is to win her heart, either by kindness, bravery, food, or flattery.

Well, he won't flatter her, so that's canceled.

There is no place where he can show his kindness at the moment, so...leave it.

So, bravery, and food is left.

"I am good at cooking. I will cook something. But, bravery..." He pondered. Suddenly, he remembered. "Yusuke!"

"What? You want to fight with me?!" Yusuke asks in a shocked tone.

"Yes. Tomorrow. I want to show her that I am strong and reliable. And if I defeat you, then she will love me again."

"Well.." Yusuke rubbed his chin. "I am strong, and I dont let anyone win no matter what occasion. And when we had fought before, none of us had won."

Zen's face downed. "Please. Let me win this once." He begged like a shameless idiot (boys have to or must do anything to win their love).

"Um, ok." Yusuke hesitated. "If that's what you want..."

The next day...

The two opponents were facing each other with an angry glare (to make the fight look more realistic).

On one side, Zen. On the other, Yusuke.

Shirayuki, Shizuka, Yumiko and Shizuku were sitting on the porch. Yumiko had a worried face for Zen, while Shirayuki was worried for both. "I hope they don't get hurt." She muttered under her breath.

"Why are they fighting in the first place?" Shirayuki asked to Yumiko.

"I don't know." Yumiko gave a hesitant answer.

Kosuke was the referee. "Start." He said to both of them.

Well the fight began.

A hour later...

"I am tired." Zen said to himself. He was holding a bamboo sword, while Yusuke as well. It was a sword fight. Both of them huffed and panted, while the audience were watching with bated breath.

His eyes fell on Shirayuki. The girl was looking at him worriedly. He felt a shadow come over his eyes. Her green eyes were looking at him intently after a long time. He had missed that look. That look, which had almost disappeared... He was feeling her worry, her scared face, which portrayed, that she didn't want him to get hurt.

He betrayed a smile.

"I will definitely win." He said in a slow tone. "I want you to know, that I am strong, and that, you can lean on my shoulder without any fear. I want you to know... That I need you. I want you. I...that I...love you."

"Here I come!" Said a tired Yusuke. But, the poor fellow was unable to strike properly. That was Zen's chance. As soon as Yusuke's shot missed him, he quickly struck with his sword on Yusuke's head. Game over.

After waiting for some seconds, Kosuke the referee announced that the fight is over. "Our winner is Zen." He announced.

Yumiko's face filled itself with a satisfied smile. "He won." She said.

"Yes, Zen brother! You did it!" Said an excited Shizuka and Shizuku.

Zen smiled a tired smile. His gaze fell on Shirayuki. He blushed a bit when he saw the surprised look, or rather astonished look on her face. "She must be surprised over my strength." He thought. Now, he was just waiting for a tight hug from Shirayuki, and that alone will be his prize.

A moment or two passed...

"Yuki Chan!" Yumiko said.

Shirayuki said nothing. After a moment, she took slow steps towards the yard, and then ran to the unconscious Yusuke, running past Zen.

The audience was surprised.

"Yusuke! Yusuke are you okay?! I am feeling so sorry that you got hurt on your head like that. Oh, don't worry. I will quickly get some herbs and rub in your head. It will then feel nice." She said to the boy, putting his head on her lap.

Shizuka hadn't expected this result. She stood baffled at the happenings. Yumiko was shocked. Shizuku had a sad look. Kosuke was unaware of the happenings, so let's leave him. The person who was more than shocked at this behavior of Shirayuki was, none other than Zen.

"Zen San." Yumiko said to the unhappy boy. A shadow fell over his face, but then that shadow disappeared soon. He smiled with his eyes closed at Yumiko. "Yumi San, I won!"