I ran my hand over the golden swirls of the spinet's fallboard as I sat upon the bench that was in front of it. Yamato had yet to show up, but heck, it was Yamato. He was probably talking to Taichi or something, possibly talking to some random cheerleader who wants to date him. For some reason, that thought both angered and saddened me, at the same time. What was wrong with me? This was Yamato we were talking about. He could get anyone, so why was my pathetic heart set on wanting him to get me? It's not as if he would choose me over the cheerleaders that wanted him.

I lifted the fallboard of the piano, my fingers slowly running over the keys, lightly so as not to actually make a sound. Black keys, mixed with the more dominate white, turned a dull yellow with age, keys. The spinet was anything but extrodinary, except for the golden paint upon the fallboard, but even that can be done with a cheap set of paints and a brush. The spinet was something more put into the background, a piece that didn't try to stand out. Much like me.

I started to play a different song from Down. The other one that my sensei had helped teach me. Yuuhi No Yakusoku. A song that was one of her favorites that she helped me learn, because she thought that it was a nice song. I thought it was a nice song as well and its meaning had never really jumped out at me until one night when I was playing it at the Junior High, last year. The song was beautiful in its own sense, and its main music source was truly a piano, other music simply helping the piano.

"Are you sure you even need my help to play?" Yamato's voice made me jump and I stood up quickly, the bench falling over because of my quick movement. I felt my face darken as I blushed with embarrassment.

I looked over to him and I knew he could see my blush, but I still met his gaze, his icy eyes studying me. I shook my head. Yes, I needed him. Err, to help learn the piano I mean, not that I needed Yamato in my life, exactly, but for the piano I did. I hope that my eyes didn't betray my thoughts and he studied me.

"Well, if you say so. Sorry I'm late, anyway. I stopped by the school store to buy a notebook," Yamato said as he came over and sat a light blue notebook upon the music rack, a pink pen neatly clipped onto the notebook. I looked over to Yamato, my face quizical, an eyebrow raised in question. "Uh... I figured I'd get you a notebook and pen. So we could talk, ya know. The pen you can keep, ya know, since it is your favorite color, so says Miyako. Pink is your favorite, right? I didn't get a pink notebook though. The girl I bought these from already gave me an odd look for buying the pink pen, no way was the notebook going to match."

He was rambling... and he knew my favorite color. Of course, everyone could tell that by looking at me, but I still felt special because he'd paid enough attention to me to actually notice that I like pink. But... he's said that Miyako said my favorite color was pink. Had he been talking to her? About me? I felt my blush deepen a bit at that thought. He was talking about me to my best friend. I so had to question Miyako when I saw her. Wait, no! I was starting to sound like every other girl that wanted Yamato. I didn't want Yamato! I didn't like him like that... did I? Oh no.

Yamato caughed, obviously realizing that he had been rambling. "Umm... anyway, shall we start? I'll teach you the basic notes and a simple song. Sound good?"

I nodded and picked up the bench, righting it from its fallen position. I looked at Yamato, wondering what to do next.

"Sit," Yamato said, noticing my hesitation. I did as I was told, sitting on the edge. "No, sit in the center. I'm not going to be sitting down." Again, I did as I was told. Yamato stood behind me, leaned over. "Okay, this might seem awkward, but trust me, you'll learn quicker this way, because I'll be explaining things from your point of view." I nodded my agreement, trying to surpress my blush. I was probable going to be permanently red so long as we were this close and in this room.

The next fifteen minutes was a quick session of what key was what note and that went qucikly, as it was partially review for me, as I had learned this before, I simply hadn't actually taken the time to remember it. But now that I was relearning it, it came quickly to me, which impressed Yamato.

"Okay, song time. Here, I'll teach you while playing, so you can get used to the pattern of the song. Place your hands on the keys, but relax your fingers. Not enough to actually push the keys down," Yamato said and I did as told. A heavy blush engulfed me as he leaned over me, his hands over mine on the keyboard, his face next to mine. Oh. My. God. It's a good thing I can't make any noise or I would have squeaked just then.

I focused on the keys, trying not to notice the sexy blond that was now touching his chest to my back while we played a soft, soothing song. The melody of the song was beautiful, yet it wasn't exactly enough to take my mind off of Yamato and the fact that he was so close to me. Once we finished and he lifted his hand, I reached for the notebook and pen.

What song was that? I wrote.

"It was a lulliby... that my mom used to sing to me and Teeks," Yamato said, his voice sounding a bit saddened.

It was beautiful.

"I used to think so, too. But that passed when she left."

Then why teach it to me?

"Because I remember it. It is still a good song, I just don't think that highly of it anymore," I felt Yamato shrug more than actually seeing him do said movement. "It's not as if I was good enough to go with her anyway..."

When that I was said, I turned to Yamato, a concerned look on my face. I wrote What do you mean?

"It's... nothing. A personal issue of mine," Yamato looked down at me, as he was still leaning over me. I had no clue as to what was going on in his head, as his face was passive, but he seemed to have changed his mind about not telling me. "I just... I sometimes think I'm not good enough for my mom. Ya know, maybe that was why she stuck me with dad rather then taking me with her when she and Takeru left." His eyes closed.

I felt horrible. I brought on these painful memories, and by the look that was now on Yamato's face, it still pained him to think of it. The more I thought, the more I wanted to know about his past. His mother leaving could only be part of what made him this... sad, empty shell, hiding all emotion behind fake pride and anger. It had to be fake, the way he held himself showed that he thought highly of himself, but his actions, the actually movements seemed to show that he thought he wasn't what he tried to be. Wasn't good enough, I guess. I wanted to know exactly what had caused this in him. I lifted my hand and placed it on his cheek, which startled him, because he flinched a bit and opened his eyes quickly to look at me in confusion. I didn't really have an explanation for my actions, so all I had to offer was a smile. One that I hoped held warmth and understanding.

Yamato tried to return the smile, but it ended up being only a half faked smile, only one corner of his mouth moving up. Just what has happened to this boy to make him so... empty. Lifeless almost. Not lifeless in the sense of not being, but rather, in the sense of not feeling. Almost like he was afraid to show emotions. I looked into his eyes wondering when they last cried, last held an actual glimps of humor, last shined with real laughter and happiness. All Yamato did seemed fake to me, the happiness, laughter, acceptance of his own life. It was like a show to me, in which the actor could fool anyone, except themselves and, apparently, me. I could be wrong about this and Yamato was fine, but I'd spent my whole life observing, wondering, growing up without growing old. I was older than my years in the mind, as not everyone wanted me to go outside and play, and I'd learn to pick up on people's emotions, almost like a sixth sense.

I'd kept my hand on his cheek a long time and I just realized this, yet I still didn't pull back. Yamato closed his eyes and sighed, nuzzling his cheek against the palm of my hand. This action surprised me, yet his sigh worried me. The sigh, it sounded so... worn out, as if he was tired, but not a physical tired. Tired of being someone he knows he isn't, tired of pretending. I pulled my hand back, which made Yamato frown a bit. I picked up the pen again and wrote. You know, you don't have to pretend with me.

This statement made Yamato freeze for an instant, but then it seemed to turn into anger. "What makes you think I'm pretending anything!?" He had demanded it rather harshly and I visibly flinched at the tone in his voice.

I don't know if you are or not. It is just a feeling I have. Like you don't think you are good enough. There is so much about you I don't know or understand. Not a bad thing, of course. I'm sorry if I hit a nerve.

Yamato's face softened a bit. "No... well, yes. It's just... you scare me, Hikari." I gave a look of faked hurt and true surprise. I scared him? Clearly, he knew I was asking why, because he continued, "I don't know you, yet, you seem to know more about me than my own dad. We barely talk, yet you've gotten this understanding of me that on a whole new level than I've ever know. You don't know me, but you know me. When I see you, I get this weird feeling, like I'm not sure whether I should run to you or run away from you."

I was surprise, to say the least, and my hand shook as I wrote my reply. I feel the same towards you. Half the time I don't have to sign or write, or make a geasture with my hands at all and you just seem to know what I want to say or do. I can talk to you without talking at all. I can't even do that with Taichi and I'm closer to him than anyone.

"Huh," Yamato gave a light chuckle, looking straight at me, "I guess we have more in common than I thought." I nodded my head. I thought so, too. This made me look at Yamato in a whole new light. He felt that I knew him without knowing him. As confusing as it sounds, it made sense to me. So, does that mean that I was right about there being more to his past then just his mother? What else had happened to Yamato to turn him into... this?

Yamato, since we are being open, you scare me too. But... in a good way, I think.

"You think? You aren't sure if it's good?"

No... well, yes. I mean, you make me... flustered. I feel funny when you're around and I've never felt this way before. Sora said... well, she thinks that- I quit writing after that. Whoa, whoa girl! I might have been having a heart to heart with him, but did I really want to involve the heart in it. I looked at Yamato and saw the look on his face. His mouth was even, as if deep in thought, and his eyes held a sad tint to them. Was he trying to find out what Sora thinks it was? I felt bad for not actually telling him, so I turned to the piano and started to play. Not the song he taught me, but I started to play Down, the song he'd almost kissed me to. Yamato heard the beat and started to sing. Once he got to the line that I wanted, I stopped playing, making Yamato blink in confusion. I played the line again and Yamato sang it, again. "burns light upon her, I'll try to kiss you if you let me."

I turned away from the piano, to see if he got it. His face held a look of thought as his eyes met mine. I think he understood what I meant by the song, but was having difficult figuring out that I actually meant it. I figured I would help him. What did I have to lose? I turn around on the bench so I was facing him, looking up. I place a hand on his cheek, which he instantly rubbed gently against, as if instinct. I moved my hand to the back of his head, letting my fingers get lost in the golden locks. I stood and pressed my lips softly to his.