Chapter Twenty-Five: A New Lease

"YES!" I cheered, as the ball sunk through the basket. I rotated my shoulder several times in wonder. "And it doesn't even hurt!"

Kyou and I had already celebrated the results of the experimental surgery, but I had to tell someone: "Of course! Kotomi! She'd love to hear about this!"

I ran from the gym, took the stairs two at a time and quickly found myself before the library doors. My smile must have looked goofy as I reached for the handle.

"Tomoya-kun," Kotomi greeted from her cushion. Around her spread a variety of open books.

"Hey Kotomi-chan!" Even in all my excitement I hadn't forgotten how she preferred to be addressed. "My shoulder! It works!"

She shook her head, sending her hair ornaments bobbing. "Your shoulder works? I don't understand; what was wrong with it?"

I had forgotten that we weren't friends when my shoulder was 'broken'. "I injured my shoulder when I fell against a wall a few years ago. I thought I had broken it, but it turns out that I had just bruised something. The doctor did something with some kind of ice, and now I can play basketball again, and…what?"

She was smiling fondly. "I like seeing you this happy. This is the first time I have seen you this happy since becoming reacquainted."

I suddenly felt really awkward. "I'm sorry. Am I talking too much?"

She shook her head again as she rose to her feet. "Not at all. I am happy for you; now you can follow your dream to play…basketball, is it not?" She stopped right in front of me.

"Yeah, but I gave up on that after my injury." It then hit me: "Hey; would you like to come to the gym and watch me? I want you to see me shoot baskets! I haven't been able to do that for years."

Her smile reflected in her eyes as she clasped her hands in front of her. "I would love to."

"Did you see that shot, Kotomi-chan?!"

Kotomi sat clapping on the sidelines. "I did! It was very impressive!"

I held my right arm straight in front of me. "I used to not be able to lift my arm higher than this. But now…" I retrieved the basketball and executed a lay-up. "No pain! It's like it was never injured in the first place!"

She clapped again, he face the epitome of happiness. "Good for you, Tomoya-kun!"

"Can I teach you how to shoot?"

Kotomi cocked her head, looking like a puzzled puppy; it was cute. "Me?"

"Sure!" I waved her over. "I have a lot of energy right now. I need to use it for something useful."

Kotomi still looked uncertain.

"Oh come on," I said. "We used to toss the ball as kids; this isn't that much different."

A hesitant smile flickered across her face as she carefully rose to her feet and made her way over tome. "All right. What do I do?"

"Well…let me show you a basic shot." I took up the position for a 'free-throw' and sent the ball through the basket. "See? Bend your knees and elbows and aim just above the hoop."

She accepted the ball, stood where I had been standing, and tried to copy my movements. As expected, she 'air-balled' on her first try.

I noted the pout on her face as I retrieved the ball. "It's okay, Kotomi-chan. I messed up a lot when I started…in fact, I was messing up a lot when I started again after my surgery."

She accepted the ball and tried few more times, air-balling each time. "I am sorry, Tomoya-kun. I do not think that I can do this."

I smiled affably. "That's okay. We all have our strengths."

She gave me a return smile, but it quickly faded. "You would have to travel much if you played basketball, correct?"

"Yeah," I replied as I wiped my face with a towel; I hadn't exercised this hard in a long time. "I'm not sure how many away games I would be playing, but yeah, I'd have to travel sometimes."

"But you would come home after your travels, correct?"

"Yeah…" I answered, feeling more than a little apprehensive. "Why?"

She moved closer, and her face filled my view as she cupped my face with her hands. "The day before yesterday, I saw a rabbit; yesterday, I saw a deer; today, I see you."

"Huh?"

Without answering my question she closed her eyes, drew her face closer and…kissed me?! It was a moment and an eternity at the same time. My eyes closed on their own, the sensation was so overwhelming.

I was able to regain some of my senses after she broke the kiss. "K-Kotomi? What…why…?"

"Tomoya-kun," she replied softly. "I see only you." And with that, she kissed me again –WHOA! – more forcefully this time!

I didn't want to hurt her, but I had to get her off me before Kyou could catch us – with her tonGUE IN MY MOUTH! "Mph!" I tried to protest, fighting against arousal. I didn't know what books she had been reading, but she had really learned how to kiss, and the feeling of her softness against me, and her hands on my face…I was fighting against myself as much as I was against her!

My blood ran cold when I heard a familiar voice: "Kotomi? What are you doing to my boyfriend?"

Kotomi broke the kiss again, tongue still stuck out between slightly reddened lips, eyes widened in obvious fear.

I slowly looked over to see Kyou standing at the open door to the gym, fists are her sides, and I knew that there was no way I would be able to explain our way out of this.