Author's Notes: Why I've been gone: went to the province, had to go to school to attend to some previous semester matters, and house went under renovation (thus no Internet connection until this very moment; I'm in a cafe again). Just thought you should know, though that was a rather silly way of doing it. Anyway, I apologize in advance, but I'll be gone again from the 23rd to the 28th. I have to go somewhere for this big school event. But don't worry, I'll have an update when I get back.

Pretty please review! I need to get inspired - desperately - to finish writing this before classes resume!

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Twenty-Four

"I can't believe this is happening. Being together just like this, I mean. It's been so long… all this Gear Fighting ruckus has taken up much of my time," Lan whispered as she leaned back against the wooden bench, before cocking her head to the side slightly to glance at the dark-haired Gear Master. They had just finished eating a sumptuous dinner --- courtesy of her host, of course --- and they had decided to stop by the nearby park to rest up and take a trip down memory lane.

Kyousuke, though a bit hesitant at first, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. "Gear Fighting? I thought it was school that was taking up your time?" he asked lightly, but then he let out a sigh. He didn't continue until after a rather uncomfortable pause, which prompted him to start another topic. "Anyway… how did you convince your brother and everyone else that you take an earlier flight?"

She grinned. "Oh, it was easy. I just had to tell them the exaggerated way that I missed you so much," her voice had taken an exaggerated tone as well, "and well, Wang Hu immediately suggested that I go ahead so we can spend 'quality time' together. Ma wasn't really in favor of the idea, but he was overruled, because Li was on my side, too. So I packed my bags and left a day early. You know the rest."

Then, to her surprise, he gently pulled away from her, looking at her squarely in the eyes. There was an odd gleam in his intelligent, dark-hued eyes, and it forced the young woman to swallow the lump that had formed on her throat. "I… I just want to tell you…" he began in a nervous but carefully controlled voice, "if you want to know if there's anyone else in my life, or anything else in my life, I swear by my life that there's nobody else but you. I know I was just a disillusioned Gear Master who had a crush on you when we first met, who thought you were the prettiest Gear Fighter to ever set foot in a Crush Gear arena, but so much time has passed that what I feel for you has developed into something more than just infatuation. It's… it's love. I… I love you, Lan Fang."

"You really prepared for this, didn't you?" she asked in an amused tone, her eyes sparkling with tears that were threatening to fall, before she snuggled beside him once more. She then rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, savoring the moment. "I love you, too, Kyousuke Jin. Stay… stay with me."

-x-

A shiny, silver-colored sports car of the latest model pulled up the road just by the bench Kyousuke and Lan were sitting on. The Gear Master was looking up the star-decorated velvet sky thoughtfully – making a couple of wishes, perhaps – while the latter had fallen asleep beside him, her head still resting on his shoulder and a smile accenting her beautiful, serene features.

The owner of the car turned off the engine and stepped out of the vehicle, tossing his set of keys up and down with his right hand absent-mindedly. His deep sapphire blue eyes were fixed on the black-haired young man sitting on the bench, and when he realized that the other did not notice his arrival, he called out, "Lovely night, isn't it?"

The voice tore Kyousuke away from his meditation, or whatever he was doing. He averted his eyes from the sky to the blonde… and then to the car that was parked behind the newcomer. He gaped in utter astonishment, totally unable to believe what he was seeing. "What's with the car?!"

Kuroudo grinned. "A reward. Dad was too happy that I made it to the Dean's List for two consecutive semesters. Plus he thought it was about time I get my own. I was going to ask you to come with me to get it and accompany me for a joyride, but well, you were busy." He glanced at his keys for a moment, then threw them with much precision towards his best friend, who managed to catch them without flinching from his position.

"What--?"

The flaxen-haired bachelor pulled down his cap before answering, turning sideways in indication that he was at the verge of leaving the premises. "To take her for a ride, of course. Don't tell me you were thinking of letting her walk towards wherever she'll be staying for the night?" he asked, raising a blonde eyebrow teasingly. He then tucked his hands into the pockets of his trousers. "Well anyway, if you need anything else, just drop me a line. Ja."

"But Kuroudo," Kyousuke objected as the other was leaving, "that's your new car."

"So?" He chuckled, then turned back to gaze at the black-haired young man. "Look, Kyousuke. This is just one of those few instances where I can be of help. Let me do so. You've always been the one to do me favors, now let me do something for you. And besides, I trust you. If there's anyone I would leave my most prized possession with, it would be you. Hey, I think I already left my most prized possession with you!"

And besides, I trust you…

"Thanks, Kuroudo. Really. This… this means so much to me." He glanced at his girlfriend, about to wake her up and invite her to go for a little tour around the city, but before he did so, he reverted his gaze to his blonde-haired best friend and smirked. "Now scram before she sees you."

-x-

The morning breeze was warm and humid, and despite the air-conditioning system of the Japan International Airport it could still be felt from within. Most of the people in the premises didn't seem to notice it, however; they were either too overjoyed to see their loved ones and friends once more, or engrossed with other issues words could not seem to express.

The young men stared at each other in silent recognition, brown eyes meeting black, all the while accepting the fact that they were now two changed individuals, two changed Gear Fighters. Wang Hu broke the eerie spell first by extending his hand for the other to shake, but the gesture irritated the former Tobita Club captain instead. Realizing that --- and the fact that Kouya could not possibly understand why he broke his promise and rejoined the Gear Fighting world just like that without giving away a thorough explanation --- he pulled back his hand and pretended that nothing happened.

"Where's Lan Fang?" Jirou's voice crashed in all of a sudden, interrupting the Chinese boy's train of thoughts. And perhaps everyone else's as well. The red bean bun lover then arched an eyebrow, suspicion lurking within the corners of his eyes. "Kyousuke's not here either. Are you guys hiding something?"

As Wang Hu, Ma Liang and Li Chun, the three other members of the Chinese Gear Fighting team Si Xing Hu Tuan, erupted into a laughing fit, a dark shadow retreated into the shadows, narrowed cerulean eyes flashing dangerously. She held her cellphone close to her and relayed in a rather suave tone, "Search the city. She couldn't have gone far."