+++++

Shape of the Heart - 2 - Warm the Heart

Sakura sighed as she dropped her bags on the bed. She closed the
window shivering at the cold room. "Next time close the window." she
muttered as she pulled the curtains shut and crawled into sweats.
She let her fingers walk along the edge of her corner desk to
the "on" button on her computer. She flipped the switch just as she
turned on her lamp.

"Sakura!"

"Haii~!" she called back.

Kimiko popped her head in, she smiled at her, "We're going to eat
at the cafeteria, come with us!"

Sakura nodded, "Alright, my paper can wait." she grabbed her purse
and a sweatshirt.

"Of course! Of all of us you're the smartest!" Kimiko said with a
smile, "I don't know how you can skip lecture and still turn in great
papers."

"I study I guess." Sakura said as she closed the apartment door
behind Kimiko and their other roommate Yuri. "I have to maintain that
scholarship anyways." she said with a smile.

"My sister mentioned that your father had another great lecture on
European sites of the middle ages." Yuri said.

"He's really into that European middle ages sites thing isn't he?"
Sakura shrugged, "Its his focus I guess."

"What about you?" Kimiko asked as they walked down the path
towards the dorm cafeteria.

"Dunno." she said, "I guess I could do the same as my father." she
said, "And I could try to do something with chemistry."

"Chemistry!" Kimiko exclaimed with a face, "Ick! That's just a
bunch of letters to me."

Yuri chuckled, "Science was never your favorite subject. The
closest thing to chemistry you'll get to is how much coffee will be
needed for a party of 250."

"So Hotel Management isn't brainy but its a decent major." Kimiko
said with a fake hurt tone.

"Hello girls!"

"Daisuke!" Kimiko called with a wave.

Sakura looked up to see the same guy from earlier today leaning
against the wall near the cafeteria door.

"I just lost my appetite." Sakura said as she turned away.

"Awww Sakura, come and have some soup at least," Kimiko
said, "Don't you eat anymore? You're always so skinny!" she wrapped
her arms around Sakura's arm dragging her back to the door.
Sakura sighed.

"Sakura meet Niwa Daisuke." Kimiko said, "He joined the judo team
but he was sidelined by an injury."

Daisuke grinned at the girls and lifted his injured foot a
little."I feel bad, I just transferred to the university too."

"Its alright." Kimiko said as she hugged Daisuke.

Yuri cleared her throat and extracted Kimiko from Daisuke and
dragged her into the cafeteria, "Well I'm hungry and I know you are
too Kimi-chan, let's go."

Sakura followed them in, she felt Daisuke fall into step with her.
"Sorry about earlier today." he said.

"I wasn't having a good day."she said.

"Funny, getting packages usually brings up my day."

Sakura shrugged, "I'm not like most normal people." she walked
into the cafeteria alone.

Daisuke stayed behind. "Neither am I." he said with a small smile.

++++++

"So what do you think of Daisuke-kun?" Kimiko asked.

"He's okay." Sakura said. "Very energetic, like you Kimi-chan."
Sakura said tugging on Kimiko's cheek. "He's good for you."

"Uuuuuuwah ugghhhh, bhaaaaaatttt heeeeeeee'd beeeee guuuuuud feer
youuu" Kimiko said.

"You say that about every guy you try to hook me up with." Sakura
said with a smile.

Yuri smiled. "So the coach told me that they'll be holding try
outs next fall."

Sakura let go of Kimiko's cheek, "Really?"

"You should try out again." Yuri said.

"I have studies-"

"Sakura you skip out on lecture and you still do well." Yuri
said, "You should rejoin. You're talented."

Sakura swallowed the lump of food in her mouth, "Maybe." she said
and took a sip of her soup. She wanted to wash down the food and
prevent any other conversation.

"I'm going to get some juice, I'll be back. Anybody want some?"
Kimiko said.

Sakura shook her head, Yuri gave Kimiko her cup. She watched as
Kimiko threaded her way through the cafeteria and then turned back to
Sakura, biting back a sigh. "The coach told me to tell you. I hope
you understand that he really believes in you."

"I know." she said, "I just-"

"I know what happened Sakura, I was there, but you need to get
back on the horse. Don't let this get to you."

Sakura nodded. "I'll think about it."

"Hey! Let's get some dessert!" Kimiko said.

Yuri laughed, "All you think about is gymnastics and food."

++++ 2 ++++

Daisuke sat on the edge of the roof of the men's dorm building.
He chuckled when guys in the next dorm looked through their fifth
story window and gave him a crazy look. He was used to heights, he
even preferred staying out at night. His roommate, Kentarou, was
perfectly happy with the habit. Especially now that he had a new
girlfriend.

Daisuke sighed and looked up at the clear night sky. The stars
shined like tiny jewels. He smiled, in a distant memory he
remembered a night like this, running to meet someone he loved. He
let his body fall back against the roof.

"Riku..." he whispered, "Are you there? Don't be mad... but I met
someone that reminds me of you. Well maybe not exactly you... but
she's interesting."he smiled, "There's something about her that I
can't put my finger on."

He looked down at the people wandering around their dorms, "She
can help me heal, she's a challenge."

+++++

Sakura woke up the next morning and stumbled into the common room
looking for milk.

"Hi!"

Sakura's head snapped up, "Oh, you." she mumbled.

"Not a morning person huh?" Daisuke asked.

Sakura reached for her tea and a mug. She wiped the sleep from her
eyes with a sleeve.

Daisuke watched as Sakura made tea sleepily. She was cute! His
eyes started from her feet up her bare legs to her giant sleep shirt
and to her mussed up short hair. He was enjoying the situation even
better.

"So why are you here?" Sakura asked as she leaned against the
counter. The tea pot was boiling away.

"Kimiko and I have class together." he said with a smile.

"Uuuuuuuuun." Sakura muttered as she put tea in her cup.

He stood up and leaned against the counter top. "So..." he
said, "When's your first class?"

Sakura looked at the clock, "In an hour."

"Ahh." he said. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by
the kettle's whistle.

Sakura poured the water into her cup and walked back to her room.

"Interested in catching lunch with me and Kimiko?" he asked off
handedly.

Sakura turned to look at him, "I have plans with my friend Ran."
she said and closed the door.

Daisuke chuckled as he called after her, "Ouch! Rejected!"



"Sakura-chann." Ran said in her mocking sing song voice.

"Yes Ran?" Sakura asked as they left their lecture class.

"Don't hurt me please." she said.

Sakura sighed as she gave a sideways glance at Ran, "What is it
this time?"

Ran smiled sheepishly, "I was bamboozled."

"What? Ran get to the point." she said in half laughter.

"You'll see," she said as they walked towards the down town to
grab lunch. She stopped infront of Sakura, "Just remember that I love
you, you're my best best friend-"

"Need a ride?" Daisuke called from the car that was parked next to
them.

"-and best friends don't kill each other." Ran said weakly.
Sakura gave Ran the look of death, "No, they just save the torture
for later."

Ran looked pale. "He just came out of nowhere and sort of
convinced me to take him with us." she shrugged, "He seemed really
cool."

"Well?" he asked, "I have no more class for the rest of the day,
shall we hang out?"

"Of course!" Ran said, "We can't turn down a ride."

Sakura let herself be dragged into the car. She sat in the back
while Ran sat in the front.

Daisuke chuckled, "I know that feeling," he said, "I'll leave an
open offer to drive you where ever you need." he said to Ran, "Both
of you." he added looking over his shoulder at Sakura.

Sakura turned her head to look out the window.
------------------
Notes:
1) These will probably be edited, since I think Daisuke comes on too strong. ^_^;