Notes: Oh hey! We have a Messenger! Sugoi, ne? those who haven't tried it should…it's really cool, you can chat with other authors and coax them into reading your work and make them review! Hehe

Oh! And I have two pages of reviews! Hehe. Sorry, I just didn't expect to get any more than five for this story. I was afraid I might end up discontinuing it AGAIN. But, since I got more than I expect…THANK YOU sooooo much to everyone! *hands out choco pockys*

PART TEN

The hallway was filled with students when the fourth period bell rang. Students could be seen standing by their lockers, gathered around the stairs,

Youshi tried to fight his way around the crowd, eager to put food in his stomach. He hadn't eaten a thing since that morning because he was trying to finish his movie report on Secret Garden for English. It had taken him almost all night to put the exact thoughts on paper, ergo his inability to have breakfast.

When he finally got his food and paid for it, the problem at hand would be to find a table to sit on. He looked around finding none, all the tables were packed. As he was about to give up and settle for eating outside, he saw someone waving madly in his direction. He made a second take to make sure he was actually seeing it or it was just a mirage caused by his hunger.

There, across the room, at the other end, he saw Aiji, waving at him, signaling him to come sit with them.

Them? Oh…that means…

Realizing this, he wasn't sure if he was supposed to go or just pretend he didn't notice the other guy. However, he was stupid enough to take another look at the direction of the table.

"HEY YOUSHI! C'MON!"

He wanted to ignore him, he really did. Hisou might be there

Baka! Of COURSE, Hisou would be there

and things would still be awkward with them. Besides, Aiji might want to know what happened. But, his stomach took that time to voice its protest. Finally deciding on heading in the direction of Aiji's table

HISOU'S table

and berating himself all the way, he did just so to find Hisou absent.

Huh? Doko wa…? Shimata…

"What took you so long? I was losing my voice already!"

He smiled at the smaller boy, before ravaging his lunch. Aiji looked in awe at his ability to eat so many so fast. When he finished, he slowly wiped his mouth and took a huge gulp out of his orange juice before looking at Aiji, "Nani?"

"Y-you…how can you eat that mu—fast?"

He laughed, "No breakfast," he said, burping. He looked around, pretending to just notice Hisou's absence. "Where's Hisou?"

A flicker of something shined in Aiji's eyes, "He's in the library, researching. I heard you two went out the other day?"

Youshi tried to kill the rising blush from his cheeks, "What? Oh that…"

Aiji smirked, nudging him across the table, "Yeeees that. Soooo, what happened?"

He feigned surprise, "Why Migawara Aiji, I didn't know you were into gossip!"

Aiji stuck out his tongue, "Well, on a normal basis, I'm not. But this is a special case…sooo…you gonna tell or do I have to force it outta you?"

Youshi smiled, "Nothing happened. We just met at—" sudden realization dawned on him, he pointed accusing fingers at the smirking Aiji. "You set us up! You did it, didn't you?!"

Aiji crossed his arms, "I did NOT. I merely pushed you in the right direction."

"Well, the right direction wasn't exactly the best one."

Aiji looked puzzled, "Why? What really happened?"

"Well—" as Youshi was about to explain, the fifth period bell rang. Sighing in relief, he grabbed his bag and stood up. He was about to walk away when Aiji grabbed his arm, "You will tell me EVERYTHING later."

~*~

Hisou drew a deep breath. He had been reading for two periods already, and still he's on the same page he was in since he started. He couldn't seem to focus on anything lately. He grabbed his bag and took out a piece of paper, neatly folded in four. Carefully unfolding it, he stared at the sketch with Japanese writing on the bottom.

Take care…

…take care

Take care.

His image stared back at him. He was really beautiful. No one can deny that and still be considered sane. With his long flowing hair, gentle eyes, delicate nose and his soft red lips, he was the epitome of beauty. The depiction of his face wasn't exactly what he'd call perfect, but it did him justice. When he was young, he had a feminine beauty about him, but as he was growing, the girlish look which he thought would be gone by then, remained, but now there's a masculinity about his looks. Even that was shown in the simple sketch. Whoever did this was an excellent artist.

Youshi

Only one person knew of what happened to him that night. Well, at least only one besides his family. Then again, Houki might have told Hisaki about it

But Hisaki's not like this. He'd say it's too cheesy

However he wanted it to be Youshi, he still can't take his mind off Youshi's reaction when he told him about his feelings.

Argh Hisou! Stop it!

But, Youshi was the only one he knew who spoke and write Japanese so smoothly

That's cause he is, genius!

even if Hisaki has Japanese in his blood, he still couldn't care less about it. There's also Aiji, but he didn't know what happened.

See? You only have Youshi left

Shut up!

What? Why don't you just admit it, Youshi gave it to you…it must mean something!

…what?

Well, duh! He likes you!

His eyes snapped open at his recent conclusion. Maybe that's it. He told Youshi that he draws pictures of him on his notebook and the sketch was Youshi's way of saying he like him, too! But, what if Youshi was just saying sorry, the sketch doesn't mean anything.

Okay, be that as it may…but why a sketch? Why not just settle for the flowers and a simple card?

He shook his head. He didn't know. Besides, what if he's wrong again. Just like how wrong he is about deciding to tell Youshi how he feels. Just like how wrong he is about leaving his notebook wide open for Hisaki to see.

Ah, what are you so worried about? He hasn't rejected you outright, has he?

Once again, he shook his head. Carefully, he folded the paper and placed it back inside his bag. That's why he won't approach Youshi about this. He's afraid of being rejected outright. He might not be able to take it.

~*~

"Okay, spill."

They were inside Youshi's dorm room, Aiji slumped on the chair, Youshi sprawled across the bed. Youshi looked at him innocently, "Spill? What's to spill?"

Aiji let out a deep breath, "Look, I didn't pause from studying and come here so you'd just waste my time. Now, tell me what happened."

Youshi stared at the smaller boy. People often underestimate Aiji, but when he wants to sound intimidating and commanding, he can very well do it. And now was the time.

He took a deep breath and moved to sit on the bed, "Okay, what do you want to know?"

Aiji smiled. Finally, "What happened? Everything?"

"Okay, we met at the library, which, I assume what you intended to happen," he looked pointedly at Aiji, "Anyway, we stayed there until closing. I asked him to join me for dinner." At Aiji's wide eyes, he waved his hands, laughing, "Noooo!!!! Nothing weird, I just asked him if he'd eat dinner with me!"

Aiji lifted an eyebrow, "Like a date?"

Youshi rolled his eyes, "No, not like a date. Like dinner. An ordinary one, you know, like what normal people do in the evening? Anyway, while we were eating, I remembered what Hisaki said last Tuesday. You know, at the parking lot. Anyway, he said we should talk about it somewhere else…" Once again, Aiji's eyes widened, his mouth hanging open. He knew what that reaction meant, so he hurled a pillow at the gaping boy, "OI HENTAI! WE went to a PARK!"

Aiji was regarding him skeptically, "Rrrreallyyy…a park."

"Yes, a park. Can I finish my story here? Anyway, we went to the park, to TALK. And then he…uh…he…we talked."

Aiji craned his head, hanging onto Youshi's every word, "You talked…?"

A faint blush could be seen on Youshi's cheeks, "Yes. We talked. And then we went home."

Aiji's brows furrowed, "That's it? You talked and you went home? Did he drive you home?" he asked, smiling, a flicker of excitement shining in his eyes.

"He…uh…no."

"No? NO? Why didn't he?" Aiji asked, evidently crossed.

"Well…he…hey! Why do you seem so excited about what happened?"

Aiji straightened up, clutching the pillow thrown at him earlier close, and looked at Youshi's irritated expression, "I'm your friend. I'm just concerned with you. I want you to be happy…" he smiled, picture of innocence.

Youshi snorted, "Hai, hai…"

"…well? What did you guys talk about?"

Youshi looked at Aiji's expectant face. How can he tell him that Hisou told him his feelings and after an eternity and a half, his lack of reaction drove the other guy away? How can he tell him that the night ended with him sending Hisou to the hospital?

"Well?"

Youshi fidgeted, as much as he wanted to hide it, he just can't. "Well…he…uhm…hetoldmehelovesme," he said, in a whisper.

Aiji strained to hear, "Whaaaaat????"

Youshi looked at him, blushing furiously, "I said…hetoldmehelovesme," he said, still as fast, but a bit louder.

Aiji's eyes widen to an immeasurable circumference when he heard, "He WHAT?!"

Youshi, still blushing, rolled his eyes, "Don't make me repeat it."

"He said that? What did you say?" Aiji asked, eyes still wide.

"I…nothing…"

Hearing this, Aiji got up from the couch and stomped over to Youshi on the bed, "You WHAT?! WHY?"

Youshi looked up at his menacing face, "I…well…I'm not exactly sure how to react to people who profess their love for me. doesn't happen everyday, you know." he said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Well, what did he do?"

"He ran."

"He RAN?"

"Oh cool, echo effect. Yes he ran…one more time!" Youshi said, desperate at avoiding talking about this topic any further.

Aiji looked at him sternly, "Okay. So he ran, then?"

"Well…he…fainted…then I sent him to the hospital."

Aiji was about to repeat what Youshi said once again, but he decided against it. Instead, he rubbed at his temples.

This conversation is giving him nothing but headaches.

AN: When I was in 2nd year, I think, our teacher asked us to make a movie review on Secret Garden, but she wasn't able to show the whole movie…and I was absent when they saw the first part…so that didn't leave me with anything to review. So, me and my classmates, thinking that we're supposed to finish the story in order to review it, did a half movie and half book report. Heh, teacher got mad. ^^;; oh, and did I mention I totally copied and rephrased mine from Barron's Booknotes™? Hehe

Okay…so, whatcha think? Does Youshi feel the same? Is Hisou planning to frame that sketch of his? Well, then again…it was a really good sketch.

Youshi: Hey author, here. *hands her 5 bucks*

Q: Wha…? Five dollars? FIVE LOUSY DOLLARS? I worked my ass on the sketch, and all I get is five bucks?

Youshi: Yeah, you complaining?

Q: Oh, of course not…after all, I can always write you in a slash fic with…hmm…lemme see…Ashitare, maybe? Oh no…Miboshi!

Nuriko: *Freezes, eyes widen, jaws fall to the ground*

Q: Why, you complaining?

Nuriko: Just give it to her.

Youshi: What? YOU give her money!

Nuriko: Do YOU wanna be in a fic with Miboshi?

Youshi: Wha…I…fine. Here. *Throws wallet at author*

Q: *glomps Nuriko and Youshi* WAAH!!! ARIGATOU!!!

Ø_Ø