A/N: This was lying around in my folders…don't worry Almandine fans, I'm running a bit late because of homework. It will be up hopefully by Tuesday (Monday is no good because of the GREEK FINALE!)

Standard disclaimers apply.

062: Time Limit

His heart was hammering against his chest, staring at the clock above him. He only had five minutes to finally decide.

Five minutes? I've had over five years to decide and have come to no final choice.

His breathing became shallow and short as the minute hand slowly moved down to the first black dash, signaling a minute had passed.

Four.

How could he bring himself to look into her beautiful eyes and tell her everything? There was too much to lose. Too much risk. Besides, wasn't she the one who commended him on being the best friend a guy could be? He didn't want to burden her with his feelings.

Another complete cycle. Three.

He forced himself to walk back to his kitchen table and sit, putting his face in his hands. Yes, this is right, he thought to himself resolutely as he inhaled deeply.

But was that how life was going to be? He internally holding his feelings until he withered away from the inside out? A small, but strong voice told him he didn't deserve such punishment. Biting his lip, he raised his head from his hands and looked toward the clock.

Two. Two minutes before she would be gone.

Gone.

He impulsively stood up, the chair scraping against the tile floor. Looking toward the clock, the second hand ticking loudly in his ears, he froze and watched the constantly moving hand continue clockwise. He was so uncertain it drove him insane.

One.

Only one minute.

His eyes widened and his breathing ceased. He heard his blood pulsing in his ears, coinciding with the ticking of the clock. He was human too, his pulse proving this. He merited to sharing his feelings. Who was he to decide what is burdensome? If she didn't like what she heard, then she would just have to accept it, because he had heard plenty of onerous stories from her and didn't she owe him something?

With that thought, he stumbled out of the kitchen and sprinted across his apartment to the end of the hallway where he ran down seven flights of stairs, hoping he wouldn't be too late.

Breathing harshly, he found a familiar figure getting into a yellow taxi.

Now.

"Kaoru!" He yelled – his voice cutting into the cold November air.

When she turned around and looked into his eyes with a questioning stare, he knew a time limit was exactly what he needed.

A/N: Kind of random...but when have my oneshots ever been...nonrandom?

Ha ha, you know what I just realized? This is theme #62...this is chapter #26...the numbers are flipped...get it?

Please review!

MissGoalie