disclaimer: Uhm..I don't own anything... Just fooling a bit around, nya

A/N: Thanks for reading so far !! And thanks for the reviews of course; I hope you'll be able to enjoy the following parts, too


Three: Broken Bridges

"Fujiko…?" Eiji suddenly asked, his voice laced with slight hesitation.

"Ne, Eiji? What is it?", the other asked back, still caressing soft strands of red hair; still aiming for the other's reassurance.

"I'm sorry" came the almost shy reply. He could watch Eiji frowning slightly and focussing on some random corner of the room, somehow embarrassed.

For that incident this morning and because I made you worry, the redhead continued in his mind.

"You don't have to apologize, silly. I've already told you.." Fuji started immediately, seeing no need for the other to apologize right now, since he hadn't done anything wrong in particular.

Some silent moments passed by, until Eiji found back his words again.

"Nya Fujiko….May I ask you something?"

As to tell from the undertone of Eiji's voice, this was going to end up in some very serious conversation. Not if the previous conversation they shared hadn't been serious. This could be foreseen then.

Their coach just had sent him to look after the redhead, who had stormed of the court and disappeared during practice. Knowing his best friend very well, Fuji didn't take much time to find Eiji resting somewhere on the campus; leaning against one of the trees, his head buried in his hands.

It took a bit patience to convince the latter one to tell him about the what happened during practice, but somehow they ended up in Fuji's room, which was the perfect place to have serious conversations as nobody, except them, was home- so they wouldn't be disturbed or interrupted.

"What do you consider as more important? Love or friendship?"

This question made Fuji, who only lost control over his expression very few times, blink in surprise. And maybe confusion.

"You're asking me to decide for one of these two? Saa…"

This was a tough one and Fuji asked himself why -all of a sudden- the redhead was asking this kind of question; but – as Eiji was his best friend- he just had to find an appropriate answer; otherwise the other one would have a hard time with cheering up again.

"This is a tough question. Really…", he mumbled, still thinking.

"..It's important", Eiji said, his words only a whisper, while he tightened his grip on the other boy slightly, hugging him closer.

"Hm..I guess you shouldn't let your friends down, even if you want to spend all your time with your beloved one…"

"Nya, that wasn't what I meant! I was talking about.. Uhm.."

It was like Eiji's words were dying. How should he explain the thoughts, which still kept on ghosting through his mind?

His friend gave him a rather questioning look, before starting a new attempt.

"Maybe you were thinking about.. Well, if there's a certain person and both of you are connected through friendship, but your feelings develop in another way- love as you stated-…" A short pause followed.

"Is that the background you based your question on?"

There was no particular answer following, just a slight nod. Now Eiji's expression was a mixture of desperation and curiosity, as if his friend's answer would bear the wisdom of the whole world.

"..This is really tough, Eiji. I guess it depends on the two persons being involved. It's just normal to fear the changes a sudden confession would result in.. What if the friendship is going to break when the other one doesn't reply those feelings? Or, if it doesn't break, will it ever be the same again? Will the whole thing end in rejection? Or maybe everything turns out to be pretty easy? That's the first aspect. The other aspect would be if the person could be able to be a friend- and nothing more- even if the feeling for the other one are tearing up his or her heart…

But whatever, there will be consequences, no matter what will happen."

"It really is tough...", Eiji replied quietly.

"But Eiji..if the other one just feels the same.. then the decision should be pretty easy. There are always signs for that …", Fuji added after a few moments of consideration; hoping that this would cheer up his friend again. Smilingly, he bended forward to regain some eye-contact.

"Did that help you to find your own answer?" To tell from your expression, I guess it didn't.

A soft sigh could be heard when he redhead frowned slightly, biting his lower lip. "Maybe.." came the short, not very convinced, reply.

"Eiji…after all, you aren't the type of person, who is able to hide your feelings without ending up hurting yourself with it. Maybe you'll have to take the risk…"

Eiji felt caught.

Nya, how come he always sees through my questions? Concluding that this wasn't a hypothetical question, but something which really concerns me…Nothing to hide anymore I guess.

"But Fujiko…what should I do? That friendship is very precious and important to me...I don't want to destroy it.." Eiji's voice was trembling and so did his hands, while he still clung to his friend, who, honestly, didn't know what to do either. He –almost- never had seen the usually cheerful and energetic redhead in such a state.

"If that friendship is trustworthy enough… I don't think that you'll have to fear loosing it,; even if your feelings aren't responded…the other one won't hate you then. The question is: Could you keep on with hiding your true feelings?"

"Fujiko…", Eiji sobbed, barely audible. "Would you help me?"

"How?", the brunette simply asked without any hesitation.

After all, this was his best friend asking for help.

Eiji wasn't sure himself. He didn't know why he had asked for that and raising more question wouldn't improve the situation either.

"It's okay, nya. Just a thought of mine…You helped me enough for now. I think I'll have to go through this all by myself." He tried to smile as cheerfully as possible, but instead of this he showed some half-hearted smile.

Silence grew very uncomfortable.

Fuji mentally sighed. The fight the Golden Pair have had in the afternoon seemed to affect his friend more than just assumed; Eiji really made a desperate impression and there weren't any signs that this point would improve.

But the question the other one stated before...Had that been the aspect the redhead had though about the other day, before that Mizuki had interrupted them? Had to be like this.

So maybe the whole thing concerned his friend that much, because his feelings towards their vice-captain were more then just friendly one? Could it be that…Eiji loved Oishi? Somehow, this made sense. Which didn't mean that Fuji liked that thought. But he wouldn't tell as this was Eiji's business and his decision- he had no right to interfere in matters that private.

Eiji would have given his right hand to just know what the brunette was thinking in that moment. His friend didn't said anything; his expression was still serious, even if the tensai's eyes didn't seem to be focussed on something. Feeling kind of unnoticed, Eiji straightened up and stepped in front of the window. It was raining.

"Nya..Fujiko?"

"Hm?" The other one was starling.

"Can I stay here?", the redhead asked, slightly begging. "It's raining pretty hard and I don't want to…", he started to excuse himself.

And if I go home…maybe Oishi will be there or he called…my family will be curious then…

He wanted to avoid more trouble.

"Sure. This is no problem", came the soft reply, which was accompanied with a warm smile. "Just call your family so they don't have to worry about your whereabouts, okay?"

"Nya, thank you, Fujiko!"

In his mind, Eiji asked himself whether that was such a good idea at all. Hopefully it was.


Hope you liked that one -sweatdrops- There's still more to follow...XD