Notes: Wow! I'm already on chapter 4! Thanks for the reviews ok! And once again: Enjoy!

Chapter 4 – Sunset

She walked down the corridors of the school. Her feet were carrying her to any place… in short, nowhere. Her tears were falling endlessly from her crystal blue eyes.

Why? Why in the hell did I lose? No one's ever won over me except for Kiyota… Why is it like this?! Why!!! she said to herself trying to control the tears that continuously fell from her eyes. She reached the school gates but something stopped her. It was Hikari.

"A…Aia?" she said in a small feminine voice that she possess. Aia tried not to look at her but Hikari held her shoulders tight.

"Hi…Hikari!" she yelled at her while trying to let go.

"You're crying?" Hikari tried to question her carefully.

"No!!! Leave me alone!" she shouted and pushed Hikari to the ground. She stared at the girl lying on the ground for a second but then, continued running towards the streets.

"Aiaaaa!!! Wait!!! Aia! Aia!!!" Hikari shouted with all her might but it was no use, for Aia was already far away. She continued to run down the streets. She didn't care if she bumps on other people. Only one thing is for sure, she is going to her FRIEND.

She walked down the train…slowly…almost unable to move. She dried her tears. There is no place in her that honors the act of crying, she said, trying to comfort herself. The train stopped and she walked out from it. She walked a little more and in no time, she reached her destination.

"Kainan High School," the banner read as she stopped at the gates. "I'm gonna wait for him, here." she thought. It was already 5 o'clock. She waited there for about half an hour… and then…familiar voices were heard.

"You… idiot… of course, Kainan will be the number one…"

"Let's change topic, let's talk about… Girls!"

"You, pervert! You really have a lot'ta guts out there!"

"You're saying that, Captain, coz you only love to play basketball all day!"

"Hahahahaha!"

"How bout you Jin?"

"Me. Oh, nothing…"

"What do you mean NOTHING! You foolish shit!"

"Kiyota, you're asking us about these things while you, yourself, didn't have a girlfriend!!!"

"Hahahaha!"

"Oh, shut up! I'm gonna get one sooner or later!"

"And when is that sooner or later? After 1000 centuries?! Stop daydreaming, Kiyota!"

"Hahahaha!!!!"

Just before they reach the gates the laughter died down and all were surprised to see a girl dressed in a white T-shirt and blue shorts. Kiyota was shocked.

"A…Aia?" the guy with black hair in a neat ponytail said in great amazement as he approach her.

"Ki..Kiyota! it's you!" she smiled to him shyly.

The others were just staring at the two of them. "So! Who is she? Won't you introduce her to us?" Kainan's captain, Maki, said in his deep manly voice.

"Oh, I see. This girl's Aia Yuuiji, my best childhood friend." he said to his teammates and turned his head to Aia and said, "These were my teammates, Aia."

"Nice meeting all of you." she replied trying to force a smile on her lips. Kiyota noticed this and tried to think of a way on how to get rid of his teammates and talk to Aia privately. She won't come here if there was no reason he thought, knowing Aia's attitude.

"Maki, and all of you guys, sorry, I had something to do with Aia this late afternoon… so… won't you mind excusing us?" he said to the others as an excuse. I hope this would work… he thought.

"Oh, we understand, Kiyota, gomen nasai for disturbing the two of you." Jin said trying to tease Kiyota. It was followed by their captain's statement, "Kiyota, look's like you're 1000 centuries of waiting is over!" Kiyota smiled at their captain in return to his tease and said, "She's my friend, Maki." They all laugh at Kiyota's statement for they can't imagine Kiyota being "clean" like this for he was usually searching for a "perfect girlfriend" for himself.

"Gomen nasai, for disturbing the two of you. We'll go now." The whole Kainan team said as they walked the opposite direction. The two watched them as they left… their shadows being formed by the sun. When they were already gone, the two looked deeply into each other's eyes, unable to speak, and asking questions to themselves.

"Let's go." he finally broke the silence and lent a hand on Aia with a small smile painted on his lips.

"Yes." she replied without hesitation a put her right hand towards Kiyota's.

*

My bike… it was a clear reflection of me… yes… and the discman… A clear refection? Did you really say a clear reflection? No! It's just hiding me from the people. When I'm alone, my only companions were my bike and my discman. It's not that I'm lonely about this… I'm just reminding people about the usual me… the cold and heartless me…

Until she came… saying that I'm a broken record… that I drool.. that I'm cold-hearted… that I'm nothing as a person! Who gave her permission to say all those things! She didn't know me… or even recognize me! She's not even a friend…friend? Did I ever had a friend. She…She… she's the only one I've got in my life… and now she's gone.

*

The sun was about to set when they reached the place. It was the sea painted with the reflection of the bright colors of red, orange and yellow from the setting sun. They stood in the sands, staring at the beautiful scene.

"It's beautiful right?" he said trying to cheer her up.

"Yes, it is. This is our favorite place, Kiyota, it should be beautiful." she whispered in a voice almost unheard. Kiyota removed his rubber shoes and placed it on one of the rocks. She looked at him and smiled as if an evil idea was caught in her mind. She also removed her shoes and placed it near Kiyota's. She walked away from Kiyota and said, "Catch me if you can, Kiyota Nobunaga!" Kiyota smiled at her and replied, "You won't stand a chance to escape me now, Ms. Aia Yuuiji…!"

With this they ran and ran. They never stop running like children playing. They tried to catch each other. They splash water into each other. They gathered shells and formed different things through it. They gathered some sticks and painted their names on the sand. They were happy.

They stopped for a moment and both of them lied on the sand. They looked at the orange painted sky with birds flying, this time, in the same direction. Beside them were the sticks and their names "Aia" and "Kiyota" carved on the sand. Kiyota again broke the silence.

"I missed those times when we're still young."

"Baka! Nothing has really change since then."

"Hn! You're right, you're still ugly as ever…!"

"You baka! And you're still the Kiyota I know! Great in bullying people but not great in looks!"

"Ugly!"

"Baka!"

"Ugly!"

"Baka!"

With this, Kiyota took his seat. Aia followed her. "Don't try to hide your emotions!" he yelled at Aia with deep black eyes. His shocking statement stirred her.

"I…I…" Aia tried to say something but her tongue failed to make a single movement or sound.

"Since childhood you were good in hiding your feelings! You're pretending to be happy but deep inside, you're crying! I know you had a problem, Aia… So…Tell it to me! I'm always ready to listen to you…I…I… I'm always here for you…!" he stated firmly.

"Ki…Kiyota…I'm sorry!" Aia burst into tears and wrapped her arms around Kiyota. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…but…" Kiyota stopped her sentence.

"No need to…" he said returning a hug on Aia. "You don't need to cry… it never suits you…" He looked up in the skies, it was getting dark and the sun will soon vanish in darkness. "No…"he said. "Tears never suit a girl I love… "he whispered to himself as he wrapped his arms tighter around Aia.