Jackie:  Okay, next chapter.  Please don't hurt me, Moon*Blossom!
(Takeru and Ken are still making out, Agent Blorange is drooling)
Jackie:  Guys, save it.  You may get your chance later.
Agent Blorange:  This is better than listening to channel 99 and catching the occasional scrambler error!
(Takeru and Ken stop, disgusted)
Takeru:  Yuck!
Ken:  Weirdo!
Jackie:  Please enjoy this chapter!
Agent Blorange:  (blushing) I thought everyone did that…

Takeru glared at the clock on the wall.  It was Wednesday, and the last period of the day seemed to drag on forever.  In fact, these last two weeks had lasted an eternity.  Ken and Takeru didn't have any classes together, and it was time for the soccer championship, so Daisuke, the team captain, kept herding Ken onto the soccer field to practice every time he saw him.  Takeru, himself, had basketball practice and piano lessons every week.  Yamato's Musicianship professor, Mrs. Kupermann, was a really strict disciplinarian.  Takeru had to keep a practice log, signed by his mother, that showed he had practiced at least an hour every day and two hours a day on the weekends.  Between the two of them, the most interaction Takeru and Ken had had was a passing "Hi!" in the hallway between classes.

            Finally, the bell rang, and Takeru gathered his stuff and hurried out the door.  Yamato was waiting for him outside, and Takeru practically jumped in the front seat.  If he was late, Mrs. Kupermann would make him do arpeggio drills in flat keys…a fate that Takeru didn't want to face.

~*Elsewhere*~

            Meanwhile, on the soccer field, Daisuke was running practice yet again.  Ken lined up for passing drills, but his mind was on something else.  A blonde-haired, sapphire-eyed something else.  After his turn, Ken wandered off to the side and kind of stared off into space.  He missed Takeru dearly.  Maybe he would go see him after practice today…

            "Dude, are you okay?"

            Ken's mind snapped back to reality as Daisuke put a hand on his shoulder.  "You look out of it today.  Worried about something…or are you thinking about someone?"

            Ken's mind raced.  How does he know? "Wha…what do you mean?"  Daisuke smirked.  "I see you looking at those cheerleaders.  Just remember, Hikari's mine." Ken breathed a sigh of relief.  The space he had been staring into happened to be occupied by the practicing cheerleading squad.  "Yeah, don't worry, Dais, I wasn't looking at her."  In fact, I wasn't looking at anyone here…

            Daisuke patted his shoulder.  "Ken, buddy, you can have any other girl you want.  Anyways, practice is over.  Why don't you meet Hikari and me at the coffee house tonight?"  Ken was shocked.  "You finally asked her out?"  Daisuke blushed.  "Not exactly…everyone's coming, except Takeru.  I couldn't get his attention in Chemistry, otherwise he'd be coming, too."

            Ken looked sort of disappointed, then perked up.  "I'm going to his house now.  Can I invite him, or are you pissed because he didn't answer you?"  This would be great!  Going out with Takeru…wait, what am I saying?  In front of everybody?  Then again, we don't have to stay the whole time…but, wouldn't that be really awkward if we left together?

            Daisuke gave him a strange look.  "Sure, invite him.  Why are you going over there, anyway?"  Ken gulped.  "Um…he borrowed my…my Spanish book!  I have homework in my Spanish book, and he borrowed it, so I'm going to get it back."  Ken waved as he ran quickly away from Daisuke, trying to hide his blush as he sprinted towards the bike rack.

            Daisuke shook his head.  Ken was always thinking about homework…Takeru, what a dork, forgetting his Spanish book… "Wait a minute!  Takeru's in French with Hikari!"  He spun around, but Ken was already out of sight.  Strange…

~*Several Minutes Later*~

            Takeru leaned over the sheet music.  "I thought Für Elise was supposed to be easy!"  He began the middle section again, when the doorbell rang.  "Distraction!  Thank you!"  Takeru jumped up and opened the door.  "Hey there, beautiful." Ken said, grinning.  "KEN-CHAN!" Takeru practically jumped in his arms.  He shut the door behind them as Ken walked into the apartment.  "I missed you so much, we've hardly seen each other!"

            Ken tilted the taller boy's head and kissed him gently.  Takeru eagerly complied, kissing back, and gingerly opening his mouth when Ken's tongue ran along his lips.  After a while, Ken moved back and ran his hand along Takeru's cheek.  "We may have a slight problem."

            Takeru looked at Ken, confused.  "What sort of problem?  Is something the matter with me?"

            Ken put his hands on Takeru's shoulders.  "No, of course not…the thing is, we're invited to go out with Daisuke and the others tonight."  "Well, what's the…oh.  What if they find out." 

            The two boys sat on Takeru's couch, trying to figure out what to do.  "We could just pretend like we don't love each other," suggested Takeru.  "No way.  We'd lose it halfway through the night.  We don't have to stay the whole time, though."

Takeru shook his head.  "Wouldn't it be kind of obvious if we both left together, and we live across town from each other?"  There was an excruciating silence while both thought deeply about the situation.

            Finally, Ken reached over and took Takeru's hand.  He looked into Takeru's beautiful blue eyes, and smiled gently.  "We need to tell them.  It's going to be hell for us if we have to hide it."  Takeru looked at his hand, wrapped in Ken's.  He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell them…especially Hikari, who, aside from being disappointed in him, would no doubt tell Taichi (and the rest of the cheer squad), who would tell Yamato.  On the other hand, he was happier with Ken than he had ever been with anyone else.  He looked up, into Ken's deep indigo eyes, and smiled.  "You're right.  Anyway…isn't this karaoke night?"

            Ken and Takeru laughed and held each other tightly, until Takeru realized that he needed to finish his practice session.  Ken sat with him on the piano bench, watching him play until it was time to go meet the others.

~*That Night*~

            Daisuke was waiting outside the coffee house with Hikari and Miyako.  "Where are they?" he asked as he paced up and down in front of the entrance.  Hikari grabbed his shoulder.  "Calm down, Dais!  They'll be here soon."  Daisuke grabbed her hand and spun her into his arms.  "Well, we could just go someplace else without them…" Hikari removed his hands from her waist and shoulder.  "No.  I don't think so, Dais."  Miyako huffed.  "They'd better show up soon before Daisuke's hormones take over for real.  I hate being the third wheel!"  Daisuke smirked.  "Why?  You're so good at it, and you've had so much practice!"  He ducked as she swung her fists.

            "Hey, don't kill him without us!"

            "Takeru!  Ken!  Thank you, save me!"  Daisuke jogged over to them as they walked up.  He noticed that both were kind of dressed up.  "Guys, this isn't a date, this is a hang out.  What's with the clothes?"  Takeru and Ken looked at each other and smiled.  "You'll see," said Ken, as they all walked into the shop.

~*Inside*~

            Ken made sure to pick a table close to the stage, so he and Takeru could carry out their plan.  The waitress came by and took everyone's orders while they were talking.  Hikari ordered a low-fat cappuccino ("Gotta watch my weight, I'm the top of the pyramid!"), Daisuke got a caffè mocha, Miyako got a hot chocolate, and Ken and Takeru shared a Grande Caramel Mocha Frappuccino. As the karaoke started, it was the usual lineup of dares and people who'd had way too much caffeine.  Hikari convinced Daisuke to get on stage and sing "I Will Survive", and then Miyako got up and sang "Don't Let Me Get Me".

            Eventually, Ken swallowed hard as he got up to sing.  It was one thing to sing at home, at a voice lesson, or with Takeru…it was quite another to do it in front of an audience.  Also…he had no earthly idea what he was going to sing!  He scanned the list, and, towards the bottom, his eyes found the perfect song.  He looked straight at Takeru and winked as the music started playing.

"When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love"

Takeru sighed.  Ken has such a beautiful voice.  And it's all mine.  He leaned an elbow against the table and rested his head on his hand.

"When evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you fell my love"

Hikari noticed the way that Takeru was staring at Ken.  I always thought he was a little slow on my signals.  Guess I know why now…

"I know you haven't made your mind up yet
And I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
There's not doubt in my mind where you belong"

Ken stared straight at Takeru.  Well, at least Takeru's relaxed about this.  Wonder how long it'll be before everyone else figures it out…

"I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
There ain't nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love"

Miyako saw the way Ken was singing right to Takeru.  She didn't care.  She closed her eyes and pretended that he was singing to her instead.

"The storms are raging on a rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothin' like me yet"

Daisuke wondered who Ken was staring at…and what was wrong with Takeru, was he sick?  What's with these two late…ly…oh…my…

"There and nothin' that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
Make you happy make your dreams come true
To make you feel my love"

            Everyone in the coffee shop clapped as Ken walked off the stage.  Takeru stood up to meet him, and before he could protest, Ken pulled Takeru close and kissed him.  Miyako's jaw nearly fell off.  Hikari nodded and kept clapping.  When the kiss was over, Takeru smiled and brushed a stray hair out of Ken's face.  "You did great."  Ken looked at their friends.  Someone was missing.

            "Hey, where's Daisuke?"

~*Outside*~

            Daisuke leaned against the building, shaking his head.  How?  Takeru and Ken…together?  Why?  What's wrong with Hikari?  Or Miyako?  Why couldn't they have liked the two girls that liked them?

            Why'd they have to like each other…instead of me?

Takeru:  *shudder* Why Daisuke?  Why?
Ken:  What do you have against us?
Jackie:  I have nothing against you.  I have something against Daisuke.
Agent Blorange:  I see some interesting things in the future.
Jackie:  What do you think, my sweet Takeru-muse?
(Takeru changes quickly out of clothes into muse outfit, while Jackie and Agent Blorange make Ken look away)
Takeru-muse:  I think there are some very interesting options with this chapter ending…
(Begins writing notes, and hands them to Jackie)
Jackie:  Ooh!  I likie this one…but, I need to know if anyone's interested.  Please R&R, and, in the meantime, read "Crossing Seas, Mixing Hearts", I'm working really hard on it and nobody's reviewing it!