krappkarmin: thanks!

supergal88: yep she had a split personality…hehe…

Autumn Tea: I already emailed you but still I wanted to thank you again! Thankyouberimuch!!! But I have to warn you in this chap…I know that you don't like Maki that much…^^…

Chapter Four: The Man of Her Dreams

        Jin glimpsed from his book to the opened door. He could almost hear the clicking sound of her shoes as she walked down the hall towards their room. He knew it would be different this time. He knew everything had changed since that night. It would be a different routine now. And so he waited.

        She entered the room with that same feeling of animosity like every morning. He shoved that thing aside and gave her his warmest smile. "Good morning Kurei," he greeted.

        Kurei glanced at him as if he's out of his mind; one of her eyebrows went up.

        "About yesterday, I just wanted to tell you that it's all right. I've forgiven you and it's really nothing," he said, still smiling dumbly at her. He had the strangest feeling he was talking at someone who's different from the one he had been with yesterday night. "And that I…"

        "Cut if off twerp! Who says I asked for your forgiveness," she replied menacingly, that same smirk he always saw every morning appeared once again. "And me, feeling sorry? I wouldn't miss it for the world to do it again and again. So save your breath."

        Jin blinked. He felt he had been punched on both sides of his head. This has got to be some kind of a joke. He had heard her correctly and clearly the other night. He was sure it was Kurei he was with but what she had said right now brought him back to reality. Kurei would always be Kurei.

        She gave him one final smirk before sitting on her chair behind him and began blabbing with her friends. It was back to normal again.

        The look on his face was pure determination. He had that wonderful face that deeply enthralled her; she was completely benighted with the world around her. She cannot even willed her body to move and her eyes were the only ones that were moving, surveying his every move, his every existence. She was mesmerized. She doesn't want to close her eyes anymore afraid he might vanish from her sight once again.

        But she loved the feeling, just hiding herself in the shadows. She loved watching him.

        His strong footsteps made the court shuddered as he jumped and flew towards the basket. His slender hands were gripping the orange ball on his outstretched hands. And she gasped, completely hypnotized as the rim quivered.

        The ball smoothly went through.

        Sweat dripped unto the floor from his perspiring forehead. He lightly brushed his sleeve unto it and glimpsed around the murky court where shadows loomed in every corner. "Who's there?"

        Kurei stood rooted on the spot, suddenly befuddled. She budged herself closer to the shadows and stared hard at him. He was dribbling the ball languidly from the center; still waiting patiently to expose herself.    

        "I know you're just there, hiding yourself," he stipulated. "So all you have to do is to show yourself." Then he glanced briefly at her direction as she caught her breath. "I'm waiting…"

        She closed her eyes and lightly slapped her forehead in apprehension.

        "I said I'm waiting. Do I have to come and get you out of there?" he threatened, still bouncing the ball up and down the well-polished floor. She could almost hear hers bouncing in fright.

        "I'm here…" she feebly muttered, stepping away from the shadows and staring dourly at him. "Shini-chan."

        Maki's eyes widened. "Kurei," and then a smile broke his handsome features apart. "I didn't know it was you."

        She blushed. She was in a lost of words in which this certain guy could only make her do. His eyes were watching her, stabbing through her and she felt her body went still. She didn't dare to even move an inch.

        "So what are you doing here at this hour?" he asked, breaking the eerie silence that lingered around them.

        She balled her fist to stop herself from fainting. "I was just, you know, passing by and I heard someone playing so uh, I came over to watch." And she added with a weak smile, "And I guess it was you after all. Did I bother you someway?"

        He grinned at seeing her in a very unstable state. "I guess not," and he uttered more to himself, "It has been a long while since we talked again, hasn't it?"

        Kurei smiled. "Yes. A very long time now but I'm different now, Shini-chan," she whispered, barely reaching his ears. And she wished, she just wished, that the night would never come to an end.   

        "Arigato Shini-chan!" little Kurei earnestly said, her once trembling lips were now smiling up at him. She wiped her tear stained cheeks. "If you didn't came in time, those guys might have bullied me."

        Little Maki lifted his chin with an I-am-a-hero like expression on his face. "They really don't stand a chance, especially against me! Hahahahaha" he contentedly laughed.

        She grinned as well, totally believing what he had just said. Then her eyes fell on the orange ball that he was holding for quite a long while. "What is that ball for?"

        "Oh this?" and she nodded. "The guys and I were going to play basketball. I was just heading there if I didn't saw you. But I think I'll walk you home. Those guys might come after you again."

        And she happily agreed. "But you know what, if I get older they'll gonna be sorry! Calling me a crybaby and those mean names!"

        He laughed. "You really are a crybaby."

        "NANI?" she angrily turned to face him.

        "Uh, nothing," he gesticulated with an innocent smile playing on his lips.

        "But I think I still don't want to become a grown up," she mumbled that Maki had to lean to hear her. "Mom said we could only fulfill our dreams if we become a grown up. What's your dream anyway Shini-chan?"

        He pauses then thoughtfully replied, "Well, I want to have a team then become Japan's no. 1!"

        "Don't you ever think of marrying someone?"

        He shrugged. "Maybe…"

        "Then what kind of girl would you like?" she asked and hopefully stared at her tall companion.

        He quirked his brow. "Well, for one, she has to be brave," and her shoulders drooped. "And strong and vigorous and…"

        "Ok, I get it. I'm not one of those…" she silently said, sighing inwardly in hopelessness and defeat.

        "What?"

        And she shook her head. "Nothing."

        "What about you then?"

        She bit her lips that were starting to quiver again. "I don't have to describe him…"

        He questioningly turned to her. "And why not?"

        "Uh, because I think I finally found him," she finished.

        "Who?"

        "His name is uh," she stuttered nervously. Her head was in a heap of a mess. One part of her wanted to confess but the other part was too afraid. Ahead of them, her house came to view like a messiah to her rescue. "I'd better be going now. Thanks again Shini-chan."

        And he blinked. "Now what had come over her?" with that, he retreated, dribbling his ball along the way.

Just review! ^^