A/N: Gomen for the long wait. A couple of ppl's been telling me to chop off my long A/N and I took their advice. *S*

Chapter 8

I was so worried and frustrated, I had to do something to get my mind off them. So I began counting the visible tiles on the ground, '51 and 2/3, 52 and 2/3, 54, 55...'

Hanamichi walked in. I glanced at him. There was a lot I wanted to ask him but I resisted the urge, 'Where was I? 54 and 2/3? No that wasn't it. What square was I on?'

He cleared his throat.

I pretended I didn't hear.

He cleared his throat again, louder this time.

'Is he trying to get my attention? Should I ask him what?'

"Rukawa…"

"Hm?" I asked looking at him.

"Anou…would you…would you…" he began but never seemed to be able to complete the question.

So I prompted him, "Nani?"

It came out harsher than I intended.

"Never mind! I don't need your help!" he screamed and ran off.

'Help? He wanted to ask me for help? On what?' I wondered as I picked up my bag, 'now that Hanamichi left, I have no reason to stay here, and the bench isn't really that comfortable.'

.

The phone rang and I instantly knew it was Sendoh. He phones me more frequently than my mom and always around dinnertime, "Moshi-moshi?"

"You must be feeling good. I just got rejected and he picked you to pose as his boyfriend."

"What?" I asked confused.

"I'll help you court Hanamichi."

"Huh?" I said at a lost.

"Because he's so totally homophobic right now it impossible for me to get close to him and change his views. So I got to push him to you and you can change his views. When he'll realize liking a guy isn't that bad, he won't be afraid of my advances anymore."

'That's the most absurd thing I ever heard,' I thought.

"Isn't it a wonderful idea? But it's just as I feared though. He did pick you out of the entire team to pose as his boyfriend. Why do you think that is? But I suppose it's just as well, seeing how if it's anyone other than you, they won't help me in the removal his homophobia."

'He what?! He told Sendoh I was his boyfriend?! I want to know why that is too. Is that what he wanted to ask me?' I wondered.

.

After the whole team left I looked at Hanamichi, "Oi."

"What Kitsune?" he asked.

"Why did you tell Sendoh I'm your boyfriend?"

"…" he looked at me, "did you tell him I lied?"

"No."

He let out a sigh and asked, "Well, since you already know…will you pretend to be my boyfriend?"

I resisted the urge to jump at the chance, "Why?"

He made a face, "Because Sendoh said he won't leave me alone unless I got a boyfriend."

"Why me?" I asked.

"Look you just have to say yes or no, it's that simple. If you don't want to help me fine!!" he said annoyed.

"I'll help."

He looked at me, "Really? You'll help me Kit, uh…Rukawa? That's great!"

'This is the first time he's smiling because of something I've done…'

~TBC