Author's Notes: I don't own Samurai X

"Drats! Don't you know I was so nervous back there?" Asaki exclaimed, eating her lunch.

"Yeah you were", Okita compliment.

"But I didn't know it was some kind of a love triangle. And imagine that! There will be a kissing scene! Good lord!" she exclaimed more.

"Yeah. I know", Okita said, lamely.

"What's wrong?" Your mood change", she said, eyeing him.

"It's nothing. Don't mind me", he told her.

"You know? If you have any problems you can open up to me", she said, finishing her lunch.

"Right", he answered.

~*~*~*~*~

"Okita Soushi is there a problem?" Silvia asked, as Okita sat down on the chair. While Asaki was changing her clothes in her room.

"Um...sis...how will you know if you get...jealous?" Okita asked.

"Jealous? Are you in love with Asaki?" she asked back.

"No...yes...I mean no! It's just that I feel weird when Aldo and Asaki talk this morning. I feel weird inside. Am I in love?" his sister gave a slight laugh.

"Only you who can answer that question. Maybe you are jealous", Silvia answered him.

"I couldn't be I love Linna!" but actually it wasn't Linna who he pictured in his mind it was Asaki.

"I can read your mind. Did you imagine Asaki?" he nods. "Well that answer your question you love her!" she said straight to the point.

"No I don't! It's too early! Isn't there a way to know more if you love somebody?" Soushi asked.

"There are many ways but only you who can answer that", she answered. Then the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" Soushi said. "Hello good evening?" Soushi greeted.

"Soushi is this you?" the voice was a girl's voice.

"Linna? You called!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah. Just want to say how are you?" Linna said.

"Fine! You know what? We have a role play and I'm one of the characters. Including Asaki and Aldo. But it's a love triangle", he said, his voice low.

"Really? Who will be together in the end?" Linna asked.

"Aldo and Asaki", Soushi answered.

"Too bad", she said in an I'm-so-sorry-about-that-voice.

"That's okay. It's entitled Only Time. Cool huh?" he said, cheering up himself.

"Yeah unique", Linna compliment.

"Linna I have a problem...um...Aldo and Asaki are talking this morning and I...I feel weird. Am I in love?" Soushi asked.

"Are you?" she asked.

"I don't know", he answered. "But do you have a love one already?" he added.

"Yeah. About that problem of yours only you who can answer it", Linna adviced. He paused for a moment.

"It's good to know that somebody is taking care of you now", Soushi said, voice soft.

"I know. You too", she told him. "Wait! I need to go! Got some assignments to do!" she added.

"Bye Linna! Take care!" Soushi told her then they put down the phone. What Soushi didn't know is Asaki was listening.

'He had mixed feelings', Asaki thought. 'He doesn't know if he loves me. But that's okay we're friends and that should never change'.

~*~*~*~*~

"One boring day again", Asaki said in a-not-so-cheerful-voice.

"How come?" Okita asked.

"We're going to practice in our English class about the play. Since its Friday I want to cheer myself up!" she answered.

"Is Aldo really gonna kiss you?" he asked, seriously. Asaki look at him. And she thought about the conversation she heard last night. That he had mixed feelings towards her.

"Yeah. On the cheek", Asaki replied, playing with her pen.

"Oh...I thought..." Okita blushed faintly.

"On the lips?" she added. "Silly you! He had a girlfriend for pete's sake!" she laughed. And Okita smiled.

"Hey would you like to go out to dinner after practice?" he asked her. "Hmn..." Asaki thought for a while, tilting her head. "Okay! Make sure you have told Silvia about it. We'll be dead if she doesn't know", Asaki told him.

"Don't worry. She already know this morning", he answered curtly.

~*~*~*~*~

After they did practice that late evening they went in to a fine restaurant. They we're still wearing their uniform. They choose a table for two. After they have ordered their food they we're silent for a while. "Next week will be a busy day. I'll guess...we will practice next week the whole day!" Asaki began their conversation.

"Your right. Ugh! I hate to be a member of the play. Tiresome and boring", Okita said flatly.

"Okita I never knew you are like that", she said. 'But I never knew you are a kind of person who have mixed feelings', she thought to herself. Okita didn't answer. As their food came minutes later they began to eat.

~*~*~*~*~

They didn't spoke after eating and even when they went inside the black limousine. Asaki was busy staring outside as cherry blossoms fall down through the streets. What she didn't know is Okita was also busy staring at her. Finally she met his gaze. "What is it?" she asked.

"Well I just couldn't believe we're engaged...already!" Okita answered.

"So...you don't want to be engaged with me?" Asaki couldn't help but ask.

"It's not like that it's just..." he breathed out. Finding the words to say.

'He's confused. Of his feelings that is', she thought. "Okay I give up! It's okay if you can't tell me!" Asaki said, lifting her hands up.

"Silly girl", he muttered, as they laughed.

"You know what?" Asaki asked, looking through his brown eyes.

"What?" Okita said.

"Only time knows if you love that person", she answered.

"What's the connection with the engagement?" he asked.

"Because my dear", Asaki said, as she saw him blushed faintly. "You can't marry the person if you don't love him or her. Although some persons are into force marriage", she explained, tilting her hair down. He blushed faintly again as she have done that. She looks beautiful as he realized her hair down. "Do you understand?" he nodded shyly, biting his lower lip. "Good". She reached his hand; who-he is sitting across her. She made a soft squeeze to his hand. "Okita if you don't love me I'll gladly accept it. If you love me as a friend I'll be happier. I don't want to break our friendship it...it's important to me", she looked to his eyes. Brown eyes meet aquamarine eyes. Okita nodded. But the feeling of warmth in her hand melts all in him.

~*~*~*~*~

"How's your date?" Silvia asked, as the two had arrived at 8:00p.m.

"May I correct you dear sister it was only a dinner not a date?" Soushi corrected.

"Soushi! It's still the same!" her sister wailed.

"Soushi I'll see you tomorrow after lunch. We'll practice the play", Asaki turned to him.

"Sure Asaki. Have a good night", he said as she just nod her head. After they had seen the figure of Asaki disappeared Silvia and Okita have a serious talk.

"So have you realized your feelings? You said that this dinner thing is to realize your feelings towards her. Is it admiration or love?" Silvia asked, as the two sat at the couch.

"I still don't know! When will it ever stop? I'm so...confused!" Soushi nearly yelled. And want to stand up and kicked something-hard.

"Well my dear brother I just want to tell you don't force yourself in this. Give it time...only time!" his sister said with a smile.

"You mimic what Asaki said. She told me that a while ago", he said, feeling sleepy.

"Fine! Go to sleep. Your so tired and sleepy", Silvia advice, standing up.

"Your right! I'm just tired!"

~*~*~*~*~

After eating their lunch Asaki and Soushi went to Asaki's room. Soushi hold the script and sat at the bed. Asaki told him to guide her on the script coz' she almost memorized the lines. She was standing up in front of him as she says her lines. "Do you...do you really..." Asaki couldn't say it as she blushed.

"Love me!" Soushi added. "My god Asaki! All you have to say was 'Do you really love me Clarence?' For pete's sake this is the third scene!" he added.

"I just couldn't get my fingers crossed-couldn't say the words", she told him. But he admits to himself that those words are for him. When she looked straightly to his eyes he wished she told him she loves him.

'What's wrong with me? I really need a medicine to cure this sickness! Could it be-'

"Well that's it for now", Asaki sighed. "I had to go home".

"Home?" Soushi questioned. Asaki gave a slight laugh.

"Silly. I'm visiting my family for a while".

"Oh", was all he could say. They went out of her room and walked downstairs. Soushi smiled to himself. It was still early but he thought.

'God! I do love her!' ~*~*~*~*~

Since Asaki was gone Silvia and Soushi went to the music room as Silvia played the piano. "So do you now love her?" Silvia asked playing the Vera's Theme.

"Yes I admit now", Soushi replied. He couldn't help but smile.

"How Soushi?" his sister asked again.

"I don't know sis. But maybe I was compatible with her. Then maybe it's jealousy that drive me insane when she talks to Aldo!" he answered.

"If you're insane I'll take you to the love mental hospital!" Silvia joked, she laughed.

"Very funny!" Soushi said, laughing along.

"Are you sure it's true love?" he was silent for a while then answered.

"Yes it is", his sister was taken aback.

~*~*~*~*~

"I'm home!" Asaki exclaimed as she was in the house.

"It's late at 8:00p.m. really just to correct you", Soushi said leaning at the wall near the kitchen, as he crossed his arms.

"Sorry", she apologized.

"By the way it will be a long week next week. We have practice", he added.

"Sure", Asaki went near him and kiss his right cheek. "Good night. I'm sleepy", she left him there stunned as she went to her room.

~*~*~*~*~

Somehow in that week Asaki and Okita couldn't spend time. They always memorize their lines almost everyday. Some people also put up the props. But Aldo, Asaki and Okita have their own costume to wear. Actually they talked...sometimes. It was Sunday on the third week as Asaki and Okita practice again the script in Asaki's room. Okita was joking around while she was seriously memorizing the script. "And blah, blah, blah..." Okita said.

"Stop it Okita! I'm memorizing!" Asaki told him, but she wasn't angry actually he made her relax. She put two fingers on his lips, silencing him. He smiled wickedly. He pulls her two fingers away and crouched a little. "Soushi?" Asaki asked, as a faint blush crept to her cheeks.

"I have a favor to ask", Soushi said.

"W-What?" she stammered. He was about to ay it but he changed his mind, he shook his head and his lips fell to her cheek.

"Never mind. Good luck for tomorrow", So dense and she didn't even know what's going on she nod her head and gave him a wry smile. To be continued...