Warning: This chapter will be focus on Kouji and Izumi. ^^; Enjoy and remember to review!

Chapter Two:  Lonely Hearts

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            Minamoto Kouji stood on the bleak sidewalk, as still as a stone, pretending that the wind was nothing compared to the loneliness in his heart. He stared up at the darkened skies, his dark blue eyes shimmering under the moonlight. After he got the call from Takuya that Izumi was leaving for America, he felt he couldn't breath and had taken a night stroll.

            He breathed in the fresh cool air and let it out. He brushed back the two strands of hair on his forehead to the sides of his head when a figure approached him. He turned around to find the blonde girl of his dreams standing in front of him. She wasn't wearing the purple vinyl hat, the white and mauve striped shirt that barely covered her stomach, her purple vest and the short purple miniskirt. Instead, she wore a purple sleeveless shirt with the bottom folded in a bow-like shape that revealed her stomach, lilac skirt that went down to her knees, and her purple sneakers. Her hands were in front of her, folded together, and she broke the hands bond and put one hand on his shoulder.

            He flushed when her hand landed on his shoulder.

She asked, "Kouji-san, are you okay?"

            "Yeah…" He replied.

            Izumi only nodded. She took off her hand from Kouji's shoulder and stood beside him, and stared at the black sky with lustrous stars. She breathed in the fresh air and sighed. "Kouji-san, I'm moving to America," Izumi finally said. "I…know you probably don't care or even thought I existed… But I wanted to tell everyone that."

            Kouji turned to face Izumi. He looked into her yellowish teal eyes and licked his lips. "Izumi… Can I tell you a secret?" Kouji asked hesitantly. He reached for Izumi's hand, which was still in front of Izumi, but she pulled away.

            "Look, Kouji-san," Izumi began. "I know we're friends and stuff but… Maybe we're not ready to be more than friends, Kouji-san."

            Kouji was wide-opened. "Izumi-chan, what do you mean?" He asked, in hope that she would believe his puzzlement.

            "You know what I mean," Izumi hesitated.

            "No. I just wanted to say that I'd miss you. So will the others. Of course we'd miss when you're gone," Kouji forced a smile. "Who wouldn't? You're such a nice, pretty, sweet, and strong-willed girl. Everyone likes you."

            Izumi smiled. "Thanks, Kouji-san. You're sweet." She walked closer to him and leaned against him, her head against his chest and her arms in front of her torso. Kouji's arms went around Izumi as soon as she lay against him. They stayed like that for a few minutes when Izumi remembered she had to finish packing.

            "I'm so sorry, Kouji-san, but I just remembered I have to finish packing."

            "It's okay, Izumi. I understand. Just remember that we'd definitely miss you when you leave. And remember us."    

            "Of course."

            Izumi leaned toward Kouji and planted a small, light kiss on the nose. She giggled, "When you touch or wash your nose, you can remember me."

            Kouji and Izumi laughed at that phrase for a while before Izumi walked back to her home. Kouji was left standing on the sidewalk foolishly and staring at the direction where Izumi left. He wasn't even aware of Kouichi's arrival.

            "Dude, Kouji, what are you doing standing there in the middle of the sidewalk?" Kouichi asked.

            "None of your business," Kouji replied and walked back home, with Kouichi following. "Quit following me, Kouichi."

            "Why can't I?"

            "Because."

            "Because?"

            "Because I said so. Now leave me alone." Kouji picked up his pace.

            "Tell me why you weren't aware of my presence first," Kouichi insisted.

            "Fine," Kouji stopped as Kouichi stopped as well. "Izumi is leaving for America tomorrow. And… it's that…" Kouji turned from Kouichi and gazed at the ground, unable to continue but he found his words in time. "I never told her how I felt. How I felt so…warm when I was around her. I wish I had told her my feelings. And now, now I'm stuck with my own thoughts. It's too much, can't you see?"

            Kouichi was silent at first and then he clenched his fists. He made a soft growl, inaudible to Kouji, and stepped back. He looked at Kouji once more before breaking into a run. He ran through the busy streets, pushed people aside, and kept running with Kouji looking baffled. Wonder what'd gotten into him today, Kouji wondered, obviously perplexed.