Chapter 4

"You should stay away from Rukawa." Mitsui said as he walked her home that night after practice. "I mean it Nay!"

Nay signed telling him; don't worry, I will be fine. I like him. I think he is nice.

"He is a conceited bastard that is what he is!"

I don't think so, he likes my drawings!

"Maybe it is because they are sketches of him!"

Nay blushed slightly; I like drawing him, he plays basketball really well!

"You never like basketball." Mitsui said narrowing his eyes at the girl who was now blushing beat red. He was upset that Nay didn't think he was good in basketball.

I still don't. Nay shrugged as she signed.

"You don't just like him do you Nay?" Mitsui asked softly and slightly miserably.

Nay turned towards Mitsui wonderingly and blinked.

Something wrong Hisashi?

He shook his head simply and shrugged.

When they reached Ozuki's residence, Mitsui stared down the ground playing with his feet solemnly. Nay watched him with her head inclined then she smiled slightly and took hold of his hand. Mitsui looked up slightly surprise.

Thank you. She signed and pulled his hand slightly so that he bent forward his head almost the same height as hers and she tiptoed up slightly.

Slowly she leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Oyasumi Hisashi! She signed and skipped into the house.

Mitsui was still too stunned to move an inch watch her disappeared into her house. Slowly, coming back to his senses he straightened up and touched his cheek where she had kissed him not long ago lightly. Gradually, a smile crept into his face.

Next day in School…

Nay walked down the crowded corridor to get to the notice board to see her result of the art competition she had done a few days back. She looked up the list of names and her face fell. She didn't expect her drawing to had gotten the fifth place. Frowning slightly she turned away from the board.

"Oh isn't it Nay Ozuki?" Someone drawled nearby.

Nay blinked and turned to see who asked the question and saw two girls standing nearby glaring at her. She recognized them for she had seen them during Art Club meetings. They were the board of directors of the club and from the first day she entered Art Club, they had always given her a hard time. One with long straight light brown hair, Suki Tanski and another with shorter bob cut hair style, Tammi Suzaku. Besides being the board of directors, they are the most popular girls in school. Not to mention very rich too.

"Disappointed that you didn't get higher than the teacher said you would?" Tanski sneered. "For a disable person like you, shouldn't even be in this school!"

Nay narrowed her eyes slightly and back away from them. She didn't want to cause any problems in school. Besides she had always preferred to keep her profile low so that no one knew that she can't talk.

"Well, I hope you enjoy you day Ozuki… looks like you won't be able to enter the finals…" Tanski said in a rather bored voice and walked away waving her hand as if dismissing a servant from her sight at Nay. "Let's go Suzaku."

Nay turned her head towards the board again, she still couldn't believe the result pin on the board, as tears pricked her eyes. She was so sure she would be able to get into the finals for the Art Competition. In fact the teacher had told her even before the results was pin up. Why a sudden change? She couldn't understand.

Turning away in defeat Nay hung her head and walked away aimlessly. She didn't know where she was going until she heard a loud sound of someone bouncing the ball on the wooden floor. Looking up slowly she realized she had arrived at the school basketball gym. Curious who would be practicing basketball during break, she pushed the door opened and saw Rukawa inside doing a dunk and then landed on his feet gracefully though the slam echoed through the empty hall. The ball bounced on the floor several times and slowly it rolled over towards her.

Rukawa bent over his knees taking deep breaths for a few seconds after the dunk before he straightened up and wipe the sweat away from his chin with his arm. He turned and came face to face with Nay who was holding his ball. She held it out to him with a slight smile on her face.

"Arigatou…" Rukawa mumbled softly taking it from her. "Why are you doing here?"

Nay wrote something on the note book she carries around her neck and showed it to him; I was just walking by.

"…" Rukawa looked down at her and then at ball he was holding.

Nay blinked and wrote something again and showed him; don't mean to bother you, just came to say hi.

With that she turned away and was about to walk away when Rukawa called out.

"Hey, why don't you help me pick up the ball?"

Nay turned back, her eyes widened with surprise. Slowly a smile appeared on her face and she nodded.

Rukawa turned away from and started bouncing the ball slowly. For once he had an audience who couldn't shout or yell or cheer and he didn't mind her being around.

Mitsui hurried down the corridor after he saw the result of the Art Competition on the notice board.

Where the hell can she be?

She wasn't there under her favourite tree and she was no where in the cafeteria or her classroom. Where else would she go? Library? Well it was worth a try.

After searching in the library and there was still no luck Mitsui walked down the deserted corridor slightly worried. He reached the end of the school corridor which led to the gym when he heard the sound of ball and he frowned. The door was slightly opened and he could see Rukawa doing a three pointer and when he saw another figure getting the ball for him. He nearly tripped on his own foot.

Nay? What the hell is she doing with Rukawa after what I told her last night?

Mitsui walked closer to the door to look at the couple feeling as if his heart wasn't there anymore. He watched Nay as she threw the ball towards Rukawa who caught in daftly and she flashed him one of her smiles she most often gives him, Mitsui Hisashi! Not Rukawa Kaede! Feeling anger blowing over he clutched his hands into fists at his side.

Nay watched Rukawa shot another three pointer as she went over to get the ball. As she bent over to pick the ball up she caught sight of Mitsui and straightened up, grinning at him she waved with one free hand and the other hand hugging the ball close to her.

Rukawa turned to see who Nay was waving at and saw Mitsui at the door. He frowned slightly to think he had to interrupt all the time when he was with Nay.

Without acknowledging Nay's friendly gesture Mitsui turned away angrily and walked off.

Nay blinked with confusion when she watched Mitsui walking away from her. He never did that before. Feeling slightly devastated, she turned to Rukawa to pass him the ball and then quickly scribbled something on the notebook to show Rukawa.

There is something wrong with Hisashi, I am going to see if he is alright.

With that she ran out the gym after Mitsui.

"…."

Without much thought as Rukawa watched her go. She had called Mitsui, Hisashi. This means she had a very close relantionship with him, though he wasn't sure how deep. Not wanting to duel on petty and annoying things he continued with his practice.

Nay caught up with Mitsui by grabbing onto his arm. She looked up at his angry expression anxiously. She had never seen Mitsui this furious before not with her at least. She tried to get his attention but still he looked away from her.

Nay frowned, in situations like this, it is best if she could speak instead of doing sign languages for he wasn't even looking at her. He wouldn't know what she was doing. Letting go of his arm, she quickly wrote something on her notebook again and shoved the note in front of his face, forcing him to read as she grabbed his arm again to get his attention.

Hisashi, please look at me! Why are you angry at me?

"Why?" Mitsui whispered.

Nay looked up at him confused. Slowly Mitsui turned to look at her.

"Why didn't you listen to me?"

Nay raised both her eyebrows.

"I told you to stay away from Rukawa!" Mitsui yelled.

Nay let go of his arm and cringed slightly.

"You never disobey me before Nay…" Mitsui shouted.

Nay looked away from him upset as tears burned her eyelids though she refused to let them fall. She refused to let anyone see her cry. Mitsui had never shouted at her before and it actually hurts seeing him so angry at her.

Slowly Nay raised both her hands and did some signs slowly and rather shakily; I had not made a single friend since I came to Shohoku. Rukawa seemed to be the only friend I had made in this school so far. Someone who doesn't mind I don't talk, someone who doesn't care that I have speech disability. Someone who actually likes my work.

Mitsui looked at Nay who had her head bowed as she signed. His anger suddenly seeping away and he began to regret shouting at her.

Gomen, I didn't mean to make you angry…

With the last sentence Nay turned away and ran down the corridor. She couldn't keep her tears in much longer and then last thing she wanted to let Mitsui know was she was crying.

"NAY!"

Mitsui ran after her. For being a basketball player and athlete he caught up with her in no time. Quickly seizing her arms into his, he made her turned around to face him. Nay quickly turned her head away so he couldn't see her tears.

"Nay, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" Mitsui tried to whole Nay still as she struggled in his arm. "Nay, stop moving… listen to me…"

Nay shook her head as she tried to pull away from his grip.

"Nay…" Mitsui frowned as he felt her arms slipping out of his hold at her continuous struggles. He didn't to hold on to her to tightly incase his grip might hurt her. "I'm sorry! Nay stop…"

To Nay's surprised both Mitsui's arms encircled around her shoulders instead pulling her towards his body trapping her after failing to hold on to her arms much longer. She froze in his embrace.

"I'm sorry Nay," Mitsui whispered as he buried his face on top of her head. "I didn't mean to shout at you…"

Slowly Nay raised her arms and enclosed them around his waist gently. Her tears sipped into Mitsui's uniform as she buried her face on his chest.

Mitsui felt her tears and began to feel worst. He tightened his embraced.

"Please, don't cry…" he whispered hoarsely.

Nay nodded slightly, she looked up giving Mitsui a slight smile.

Mitsui smiled in returned.

Around the corner, unaware by the couple, Rukawa stood watching them silently a towel hung around his shoulders and he leaned casually on the wall taking a sip of drink out of a can. He felt strangely disturbed watching Mitsui hugging Nay and when Nay returned his embrace.

The next time, if Nay was with him, he must make sure that Mitsui won't be around to bother them.