I suppose there isn't going back once you started a project like this. It wasn't meant to solve the mysteries of life or anything even remotely close to that. All I wanted was to know what was going on with him. I never realized how vulnerable this left me.

Not until it actually started.

The project was this: I would answer any question Daisuke asked me, if I was allowed the same with him. It didn't necessarily even have to be a personal question. It could be any question.

When I told him about it, Daisuke stared intently at me as he thought it over. "Okay", he agreed. I smiled.

"You could go first." I told him. We were seated on a bench in the middle of nowhere, and with the sky a myraid of colors and the streets empty, there was almost a surreal feeling. I looked over at Daisuke's face, he was thinking, and I suddenly felt a tug at my heart.

For a moment, I could see everything so clearly I felt like my heart was dying. The boy's long eyelashes cast shadows over his tan skin as he looked down at his hands. He was playing with one of his black wristbands. A lock of red hair fell into his eye as he looked up.

I didn't ever want to loose him.

"Takeru, what does it feel like to be perfect?"

My head snapped up in surprise. "Well, how would I know?"

"Don't play dumb, man. Tell me, I mean, you're the closest I've ever known to achieve perfection." He smiled.

I sniffed. "Daisuke, you don't even know me if you say something like that. You might see me like everyone else does, but in reality, you're probably better off than me anyway..."

"Yeah, right!" Daisuke scoffed. "I have such a perfect life. You know, bad grades. Family who hates me. Friends who don't even notice I'm alive. Enemies everywhere..." He shook his head sadly. "Just peachy keen."

"Hey, I care!" He looked away and bit his lower lip. "Daisuke, what makes you think I don't care?"

"Takeru, in the past... Whatever years we've known each other for, how much of it was spent actually together? Just you and me?"

"Dai..."

"I can't remember one either." His eyes looked up into mine. "I really regret that now. Takeru, I regret that I never was as close to the group as everyone else."

"Is that really what's bothering you?" I asked. Daisuke didn't say anything. "Dai, I can't speak for the group when I say this, but I know I would die if you weren't here next to me. I know we weren't ever such good friends, but now that I know you, here like this... I don't ever want to loose you. Ever. You hear me?"

He looked up. He had been crying. Tears fell as he asked, "Takeru, could I kiss you?"

Numbly, I nodded.

He leaned over, his lips meeting mine for the first time. They seemed fuller and softer than I had imagined them. Maybe because he had been crying. I could taste the salt from his tears on them.

I close my eyes as I felt him stop. When I opened them again, he was gone.

*******

The next day at school, Daisuke ignored me.

This wasn't the kind where we both ignored each other. He blatantly wouldn't come near me. He wouldn't even look at me.

When I stopped him in the hall, he couldn't look me in the eye as he broke my hold and left me standing there.

'But', I couldn't help thinking, 'at least his uniform is ironed.'

After all, I could get to the bottom of this after school.

A/N: Okay, WELL, review! It took me a while to write, I know. I suck! But I was really busy with school and all. We're having this major rally, and I'm helping out with it for God only knows why! Plus I have to read about forty chapters in my AP history book, AND Moby Dick. *dies* Feel free to tell me what's wrong with my story or anything. Criticism is always received. Just not use ALL the time. :D