After weeks of dormancy, here's another chapter for you boys and girls :D

Read on, have fun.

"Today, boys and girls, we're going to have a 100 free swim race. Who wants to go first?"

Hands were thrown into the air like flags were waved on Independence Day. Of course, not everybody was going to get the chance. The instructor, Maeda Matsu, selected students at random, but intentionally chose Kasuga because of her fondness towards the natural athlete.

Just a few meters away from the pool, Yukimura emerged from inside the men's room. Sasuke followed after a few moments.

"Isn't that Kasuga-san, Sasuke?" Yukimura pointed at Kasuga, who was doing some stretches at the edge of the pool.

"That's my girl."

"That has to mean that she's already your girlfriend, right?"

"No." Sasuke smirked, admiring Kasuga's curves which were clearly defined through the standard blue bathing suit she wore. "But we're getting there."

"Then why is it that she's not so nice to you as she is to me?"

"Kasuga's just a little embarrassed to open up to me."

"I don't understand women at all!" Yukimura softly said with a scratch of the head.

Just then, a girl bypassed the two of them and gave Yukimura a confused look after hearing what he said. At the same time, Matsu Maeda blew her whistle and the participants of the race dove into the water.

"I apologize, miss. It's not what you think it is." Yukimura said repeatedly, bowing in between words.

The girl dismissed the apology by waving one hand vaguely, then said "It's fine." After that, she scampered away like a little kid.

"Thank you very much, miss." Yukimura called out, still bowing fervently.

"See. Girls are such complicated creatures." Beautiful too, he murmured as Kasuga emerged from the pool, her body glistening from the water like a fine gem.

"What's wrong, Kasuga-san? You're last." Matsu asked with obvious concern.

"I'm fine, Matsu-sensei-san. No need to worry."

"But you're always first, sometimes second – but not last. Are you sure you're alright? Have you been staying up late?"

Now that she thought about it, she had been sleeping later than ever. She probably thought too much. Whenever she's eating, taking a shower, or sitting at class there are thoughts that are bound to leave her oblivious to the outside world. What's worse is during the night, the thought-meter reaches maximum level and leaves her lying awake in bed for, often, more than half an hour. Sometimes one or two hours. During that span of time, she'd think about Sasuke more than she thinks about Kenshin. And that's what leaves her restless more than anything.

"Matsu." Toshiie Maeda, head of the athletics department, called out, his finely pressed suit a stark contrast against his sun-kissed skin. He proceeded to hug Matsu, then placed a gentle kiss on her lips afterwards. Matsu started blushing like a high school girl, then asked him the type of questions mothers would ask their children.

Kasuga looked at the couple dreamily – wishing she too, was that lovey-dovey with the man she loved. "Ah, Matsu-sensei, please excuse me." Kasuga could watch the two of them all day, but somehow it made her sad – seeing lovers who were that sweet it made her envious. She jogged her way to the hallway leading to the comfort rooms. However, upon seeing Sasuke and Yukimura chatting outside the men's room, she started to double back but was not successful in doing so.

"Kasuga-chan!"

"What is it, Sasuke-" Kasuga bumped square into Sasuke's chest, and she jumped back immediately like a spring. "Would you stop bumping into me every time we meet?"

"I'm sorry, Yukimura tripped and bumped into me."

"What?" Kasuga raised one of her eyebrows and studied Sasuke's expression. She thought his alibi was a little lame because she saw nothing in sight that a person could possibly trip over.

"On that little step." Sasuke pointed to the small step under Yukimura's foot. Kasuga then noticed that Yukimura was patting his butt, so he must've really tripped,, like what Sasuke said.

"I'm so sorry, Kasuga-san. I was clumsy."

"No, it's fine. I totally understand." Kasuga even smiled, to convince the two guys that she was alright.

"That's good then. Ah, Kasuga-san, is it true that you and Sas-"

Sasuke threw one arm heavily around Yukimura's shoulders, cutting him off. "Yuki, the club meeting's gonna start in ten minutes. Wanna head to the dojo now?" He turned both of them away from Kasuga, then looked over his shoulder and winked at her.

Kasuga furrowed a brow in slight confusion – was Yukimura about to ask something about her and Sasuke's relationship? Did he think there was something going on in between them? No. She had to explain to him what her and Sasuke's true relationship are – not lovers-to-be and definitely not dating. Shaking her head, she proceeded to the girls' room and left after a few moments – but not without staring straight into Kenshin's blue eyes and blushing heavily.

The two of them had exited the comfort rooms at the same time, and Kasuga had almost melted when Kenshin just stood there and smiled gently at her. Nervous and feeling a whole kaleidoscope of butterflies in her stomach, she stood planted in her place, like Kenshin's gaze held some sort of magic that prevented her from moving or turning away.

"We meet again, Kasuga."

The sound of her name being said without any honorific after it sounded good, and it sounded all the more pleasant with Kenshin's deep, although a little feminine-sounding, voice.

"Ah, Kenshin-san. Excuse me, I have to go, Matsu-sensei's probably looking for me now." Kasuga was surprised at how fast the words left her mouth. She started to walk away when he spoke. "You're beautiful, as always." he said, his voice sounding cold but sweet at the same time.

Kasuga turned to thank him, the heat in her cheeks seemingly getting stronger. "Thank you, Kenshin-san." She smiled faintly at him, who had now fallen in step beside her, and felt weird at the expression. She rarely smiled, and if she ever did, just like now, it wouldn't be a toothy, happy smile.

"I'll see you around." Kenshin declared, his heady perfume – along with his words – wafting towards Kasuga in a pace that was slow and fast at the same time. She stared at his back wistfully, then walked back to the pool area.

Random blabber about this chapter: I mentioned somewhere that Kasuga's a natural athlete. I mean, with her seriousness and focus towards the things she does - she's an athlete through and through. Also, does anyone else think that this chapter was a bit confusing? The portion about Kasuga lying awake at night thinking of Sasuke more than she does about Kenshin, then suddenly getting all flustered when she sees Kenshin. To me, it seems a little confusing, even after I'd gone through the whole thing and rewritten some stuff. But I guess Kasuga is weird in that way. And that staring-at-your-back part in the end, does anyone do that? Me, I do that all the time. Not in a wistful sort of manner, though. I don't know, I have a thing for men's backs. Is there such a thing as a back fetish? xD

R&R greatly appreciated :D