Aya chan: Kira's not really based on any of my friends, but she does seem like a nice friend to have, ne?

girlbreaker: One more chapter after this!

neko11lover: will check blog right now.

jenjen: wait no longer!

You mean, Rukawa has a best friend?

Chapter Twenty Four

"Yeah, take that, and that, and –"

"Good morning!"

Rukawa stopped dumb as he stared at the door. In the process of stopping, he lost the first round on his game, Mortal Kombat, and glared irritably at the door.

He had been playing for an hour now, and though many would expect Rukawa Kaede would be playing basketball, and only basketball in his PS II, they would be surprised to know that he also enjoys playing other genres, mostly involving people beating other people.

Sendoh had left the game console near enough for him to reach, and with remote in hand, he placed the TV on mute, so that it wouldn't wake Kira up. Then he started playing, muttering at times when he's winning.

Beside him, Kira had stirred and moved her head. She was moaning a little loud, and was soon going to wake up, thanks to the loud greeting that came from the person at the door.

"Whoops," said his nurse, with a smile in her face, "I didn't realize that your company was still sleeping."

"Now you know," muttered Rukawa irritably, pausing the game and looking at Kira.

Kira, by now had raised her head sleepily and looked at Kaede, her eyes half asleep. She moaned again as the sunlight hit her face, and pushed back some of the strands of her hair that was stuck in her lip.

After about fifteen seconds, her eyes opened fully and registered a look of surprised at the widely awake Rukawa. She blinked rapidly about ten times, an expression that Rukawa knew meant that she was slightly surprised but more confused.

"Good morning," he whispered.

Kira just blinked rapidly at him again, then stood up quickly, muttered quietly and rushed to the bathroom by the door.

The nurse just looked confused.

"That's normal," he muttered at her.

The nurse nodded, and smiled as she stood next to her. "She's such a sweet girl."

How would you know?

"Very pretty, too."

I know that.

"You should count yourself lucky."
Hn.

"Well," said the nurse, still with her cheerful voice, "your ribs seem to be healing faster than before, we should be letting you out in a few days time."

He nodded, still not saying anything. He was staring intently at the door to the bathroom.

"I really should go, shouldn't I?" the nurse asked.

He didn't answer again.

"Is she your girlfriend?" asked the nurse.

Rukawa turned to her. His expression read somewhere between hoping to, and wanting to.

"Not yet, huh?" asked the nurse. "Well she already gave you her blood, maybe she can give you her heart now."

I hope so

"I'll leave you two alone, now," she said, closing her clipboard. "I'll be back for your lunch."

Rukawa watched her close the door behind her. Once the door closed, the bathroom door opened, and Kira came out. Her hair was fixed smoothly now, she had let it hang down, and her face was freshly washed, and a small shy and slightly embarrassed smile was in her face.

"Hi," she said softly.

Rukawa didn't answer her.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, her expression slightly pained.

"I've been better," he mumbled, patting the place where Kira's head had been, indicating that he wanted her to go there.

Kira smiled again, and sat at the bed, looking extremely worried. Rukawa saw in her eyes that she wanted to dearly say something, and by the way her mouth was quivering, it wouldn't take long until it burst out of her.

Her expression was beginning to show her emotions, her eyes were starting to screw up and slowly becoming shiny with tears and her lips were quivering again, until –

"I'm so sorry!" she screamed, her tears falling now, "I didn't mean for all this happen! I didn't want to fight with you! I wish this never happened! I've been so stupid! I'm really really sorry!"

"Shh," said Rukawa, cupping her chin in his hand and wiping the tears away from her cheek.

"But I hurt you!" she was wailing again, "And you got run over by a car because of it, and I wish it would've happened to me instead and I want us to be friends again, and I missed you!"

"But we are friends now," mumbled Rukawa, holding Kira close, as she sobbed in his shoulder. Even through her slight break down, she was careful not to make any more damage in his ribs.

"We – we are?" she asked, through her tears.

Rukawa nodded, looking down at her. "I missed you too," he said, then spread out his arms across and stretched it, "this much."

Kira hiccoughed, and smiled.

"Really," he insisted, "this isn't your fault."

Kira nodded vigorously. "Yes it is," she sobbed, "if we didn't fight, then you wouldn't be run over by a car, and we wouldn't have fought if I didn't go out with Akira, and I'm so sorry!"

Rukawa wiped the tears off her face again, and she smiled at him afterwards. "Are we okay now?" she asked.

Rukawa nodded, slowly. "Yeah, we're cool."

Kira laughed lightly, she had never heard him say 'cool' before, much less in that light tone,and leaned on his shoulder, so that they were now facing the other side of the room, where the TV was, which was still paused. "He broke up with me, you know," she said.

"I know."

Kira nodded. "I knew you would," she said, "turns out, I didn't love him."

"No?"

"Kira shook her head, without leaving his shoulder. "No," she said, "I love someone else."

Rukawa looked at her, she didn't look up at him, which means that he was looking at the top of her head. "Really?"

"Hmm," she said, "someone really special." She looked up at him, and asked hesitantly, "How 'bout you? Do you love anyone at the moment, Kaede?"

Rukawa looked at the television again. He nodded, not looking at her, and though his heart was beating a thousand miles a minute, he kept his expression neutral. "I love someone," he said.

Kira's eyes, though still teary, looked a little bit brighter. "Really?"

He nodded.

Kira then turned to the flowers at the far corner of the room and pointed at them. "Did she give you those?"

Rukawa glared at her. "Baka," he said, and hit her lightly in the head.

This was then that Kira knew that they were okay, completely and utterly okay.

"I was just asking!" she cried, rubbing her head indignantly but looking at him playfully.

Rukawa's glare softened, and rubbed the spot in Kira's head that he hit. He then rested his arm on her shoulder and then pointed at the white vase with the light pink roses that were resting on the bedside table next to Kira. "She gave me those."

Kira turned slightly and stared at the roses. They were still alive and in full bloom, as she bought them when they were still closed. Though he couldn't see it, Rukawa knew that a smile had formed in her face and it was confirmed when she turned back to him, looking like all her prayers had been answered.

"Oh, her," said Kira, "I know her, she's really pretty."

"I know," said Rukawa, playing along, "one of the reasons why I love her."

Kira shivered. Rukawa smirked. His arm was around her neck and over her shoulder. Their faces were only a few inches apart, and neither made no move of pulling apart any time soon.

Kira was light pink. "She's really nice too."

"Another reason why I love her."

Rukawa was slowly pulling her toward him, their lips only a few centimeters apart…

"And she really loves you…" she breathed.

"I know…"

Rukawa had pulled her completely and their lips met in a long, soft kiss.

Kira pulled back after a minute, breathing out slowly, and opening her eyes. Rukawa stared back at her, rubbing her cheek softly with his thumb.

"She's really lucky to have you," said Kira.

"I'm lucky to have her," retorted Rukawa, caressing her hair. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too."

"Do you think we'll fight again?"

Kira shrugged.

"Let's not fight again."

"Okay."

Rukawa tucked her hair behind her ear, and stared in front of him, in the exact same spot that Kira was staring at. "I missed you."

"You already told me that."

"I love you."

Kira smiled. "Now that you haven't said to me."

"Does this make you my girlfriend?"

"Why? Wanna be my boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"That's good."

"So you're my girlfriend."

"That's right."

"And my best friend."

"A two in one package."

"And I'm your boyfriend."

"Don't worry Kaede, I won't hold you back."

"Basketball?"

"I know she'll forever be your mistress."

"Shut up."

"No, I won't."

Silence, then –

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Shut up."

"Wha-" she began incredulously but was quickly silenced when he pulled her back again for another equally sweet, but longer, kiss.

"See, I told you they were busy."

They broke apart, and both turned sharply at the door, where, much to their embarrassment, there stood Mr. Rukawa, Mrs. Rukawa, the doctor, and the nurse, all with large grins on their faces.

"Ah, young love," said the nurse, who was smiling widely at them.

Rukawa turned to the Kira, who stared back at him. She was red in the face, and he felt his own face warm up and he was sure that he was flushed as well.

Kira, who had just now realized that she was still half lying in the a bed next to Rukawa Kaede, quickly got herself out of the bed, as if it had just burned her. She looked at Rukawa, a weak smile in her face, then turned to his parents and the physicians. "Good morning," she said in a rather small voice.

"Oh, honey, there's no need to be embarrassed," said Mrs. Rukawa, who had gone to her and hugged her tightly. "We've been through that."

"Bet you weren't caught," said Kira.

"Ah, touché," said Mr. Rukawa, who had hugged her as well. "Thank you for everything you've done for our son, we knew we were leaving him in capable hands."

Kira smiled, and then turned to Rukawa, who looked like he was surprised to see both his parents there in the room. He then turned to Kira, and his expression softened significantly.

"See that," said Mr. Rukawa, "that's how you look when you're in love."

"My son's in love," cooed Mrs. Rukawa.

Rukawa wanted to bury himself underneath a ton of sheets. With Kira, of course.

Kira blushed even more and then leaned over to Rukawa, and whispered, "I don't think I can handle any more embarrassment, I'll just go to the canteen for coffee, then I'll be back I promise." She kissed him in the cheek.

Kira nodded to his parents and rushed out the door.

Kira took a deep breath and leaned at the door, and looked up at the ceiling. She smiled widely, before straightening up, and walking to the elevators.

NOT THE END. One more chapter to go.