Twelve

Practice began directly after class that day. Everyone was groaning in protest saying they were very tired. Especially the people who had gym last period. But obviously it didn't matter to Mizuki and Akazawa; there was no arguing with them you were to do what you're told. Yeah that's right keep your mouth shut and keep on doing your pacer run! Yuuta was aching; his head hurt; his stomach hurt, his legs hurt; egh everything hurt! It felt like a migraine with more added to it. Yuuta would give anything now to lay down and rest. Just to curl up on the bleachers; shut out all that noise that was making his ears ring; and just sleep off everything.

Yuuta had a singles match straight after the run though. It just seemed like nobody was getting his damn telepathic connection today. What really sucked is that he was playing Mizuki… Not only would Mizuki be screaming at him to fix his mistakes in his play; but it would be an intense match. Something that Yuuta at the moment didn't have the will to fight for to win.

The first serve went to Yuuta. His serve was slower than usual. Making Mizuki very confused at what was going on here. They continued to play but Mizuki was winning by a long shot. Yuuta had no intensity today… Mizuki returned the ball and Yuuta dived for the return, but never got back up. The ball flew past Mizuki not caring that Yuuta gotten a point because it wouldn't matter. He was knocked out on the ground, eyes closed looking pale.

Mizuki now felt stupid. Completely and absolutely stupid for not noticing that Yuuta wasn't feeling well. Everyone was in shock as Mizuki leaped over the yet looking panicked. The manager shook Yuuta a little but the boy would not wake up. But he was breathing. Mizuki felt he boy's forehead and his eyes went wide. Yuuta was burning up. He sighed and lifted the boy up from the ground. It was times like these that Mizuki had the will power to actually not care weather his physical strength could or could not pick someone he cared about up.

"Ne, Akazawa; tell everyone to continue practicing. I won't be here for the rest of practice," he said.

But everyone heard the orders loud and clear, the captain would not have to tell anyone; then again maybe he would because everyone was awestruck. Because one Yuuta never had fainted like that before; two because Mizuki wasn't being selfish like he was most of the time. Then again, this was his Yuuta-kun. Either way it was a surprising sight to see.

Yuuta woke up feeling sore but warm. Something beside him moved and pulled him closer. Yuuta's eyes opened; everything was a little blurry but then focused after a minute or two. He shifted to where he could see what was tugging him closer. It was dark; very dark to see but he could easily tell who was beside him. Mizuki. What had happened?

He took a minute to think; they had been playing a match; him and Mizuki and then he remembered feeling very very weak. But that was all. Yuuta moved out of Mizuki's arms and got out of the bed staring at him who looked very peaceful. This time when he slept he was not crying, his eyes were not opened, and there was not a worry on his mind. In Yuuta's mind he looked like an innocent child with not a care in the world. Mizuki in short was the childish kind of beautiful when he was asleep like this. Yuuta blushed madly. Did he really think Mizuki was beautiful? He thought about it for a moment and admitted to himself that he had called Mizuki pretty in front of his face; which might he add was a very bold act.

Mizuki being called beautiful was a completely different story though. Beautiful was a lot different; it meant being graceful, attractive, eye candy even, something that would be treasured in someone's mind forever. Something that was full of perfection and had no flaws at all. Beautiful was almost like Syusuke; if it wasn't for a couple glitches here and there messing up the image like still water and a rock being thrown in it making the sereneness and stillness, the reflection that was above it completely disappear.

Yuuta looked over at the clock that dimly glowed in the room. It was late. Very late. He sighed hitting himself for slacking off and also exhausting himself at the same time. How'd he get here though was one question on his mind… Did Mizuki…take care of him? Probably considering that he was in his room… Yuuta admitted that he had been working hard. Very hard because he discovered just yesterday that he might've fallen in love. Yuuta blushed thinking about it. If Mizuki had played such a game for this long and felt the same way Yuuta did then everything would be perfect. Their future would be flawless. Then again parents, brother, and sister….even other people to worry about; and then Yuuta thought about such a thing and rolled his eyes. Screw them.

Yuuta decided to leave because he knew that he had been a burden to Mizuki tonight and it was best just to head to his own room. But before he did; he kissed Mizuki gently. It was barely even a kiss. But this time it wasn't a part of their game. It was one of those 'I love you, goodnight' kisses. Yuuta backed away from the bed, looked back once and then left; making sure to lock the door before he left for his own room.

That morning tended to be the most awkward situation Yuuta was ever in. Maybe even for Mizuki as well. At first everything started out good and well because Mizuki hadn't appeared. Everyone had asked Yuuta if he was okay and if he even felt like going to practice today. Nomura even made sure he ate breakfast this time. And then Mizuki appeared. Yuuta couldn't even look at him because he was absolutely in this position of awkwardness because of the night before.

Kaneda sniggered something that sounded awfully a lot like, "Here comes Yuuta's wife." But Akazawa had smacked him over the head so nobody would have heard that. But practice had been good because Yuuta didn't exactly have to talk nor did Mizuki bother talking to him. It wasn't until lunch that Yuuta truly had to face Mizuki.

Yuuta waited at the same spot, that one tree where they had ate together. Mizuki slapped him. Hard. So hard that it was probably going to leave a mark all day long.

"What the hell were you thinking!" exclaimed Mizuki.

Yuuta blinked.

"I have no idea; but working hard to get something I liked was well worth it," he replied.

"Your brain has officially gone dead. Yuuta, why did you do all that? Why?" asked Mizuki.

"Because I liked what you gave me. You're really addicting you know that? I can't get you out of my head," Yuuta said softly. His face was flaming as he said that hoping that Mizuki got the hint.

"I'm…I'm worth all that?" Mizuki asked.

"Yeah. You really are," Yuuta answered.

Yuuta didn't have time to even breathe because Mizuki had kissed him. Deeply; wound his arms around him and pulled him close. Their teeth clicked at the sudden movement but their tongues touched successfully. They finally had to part for air since it was so sudden.

"Yuuta…"

"Mizuki-san, I've figured out something recently. At first I thought it was game; but now I really and truly know that deep inside my heart that…I love you," whispered Yuuta.

It sounded sappy. Way too sappy for Yuuta's liking; but it was 'I love you' so it really didn't matter now that it was said and done. Mizuki was trembling and kept his head down so his bangs covered his eyes. Yuuta thought he was laughing because of such a thing said. He made an annoyed face feeling stupid he had actually had admitted such a thing.

That was until Mizuki looked up; tears rolling down his face despite that he was smiling looking very happy.

"Yuuta…I feel the same way. I love you too," he said throwing his arms around Yuuta's neck not caring that they had landed on the ground.

"H-Hey stop crying! I told you that you looked like a puny little girl when you do that!" Yuuta managed to stutter out.

Mizuki pulled away lightly slapping Yuuta's shoulder.

"Yuuta just be quiet! You're not romantic at all!" he teased smiling.

"We'll sorry for trying," said Yuuta wiping away Mizuki's tears before kissing him gently.

"Truly; I love you with all my heart. I don't care what happened to you in the past or what happened to us in the past. What's now is now and that's all that matters," he continued.

Mizuki was comforted by that but Yuuta didn't know yet. But he promised silently to himself that he'd tell Yuuta before he left Saint Rudolph. Everything might change but Yuuta had every right to know about him and his twin and what happened when he was a young child. But it would all have to wait until later.

(A/N: Yay! Mizuki and Yuuta goodness! We're about to cross with Memory...almost. Speaking of AfY..I am finished typing it and am working on my new story. I'll keep you updated on that later! Thank you guys for all your reviews! They make my day! Please keep on supporting the story! Until next chapter!)