Theme #107: Mine

Given her natural beauty, soft and feminine personality, and talent in football, it was no surprise that Karin was one of the most popular girls within Teikoku Academy. Naturally, this attracted a lot of attention from both males and females alike; people who made an effort to offer her all forms of assistance, present her with gifts, and shower her with praise. For those not privileged enough to share the same class with her, Karin's fans took to coming onto the football field during practice, screaming her name and cheering on everything she did.

It was during one of these practices that a 3rd year walked onto the field toward Karin, his arms filled with a large bouquet of roses. The team had been given a fifteen minute break, and Karin and Taka were standing off to the side, taking sips from their water bottles while discussing strategies for their next game, when the boys sauntered up to them, cocky smirks painted across their faces.

One of them, a particularly tall and lanky boy from Karin's class, stepped forward and held out the bouquet of roses for her to take. "For you, Karin-san. Only roses such as these have any hope of competing with your natural beauty."

Karin, the polite girl that she was, accepted the flowers, an uncomfortable flush coloring her face. "Um, thank you, Satoshi-san. Do you need anything else?"

He bent down towards her, a sneer creeping at the corners of his mouth when she inched back away from him, totally oblivious to the way Taka's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I have come to ask you for a date, my lady. For only one such as you, with your astounding beauty and natural grace, can be the only one fit to date someone such as myself."

Karin pursed her lips, her discomfort showing plainly in her eyes as her hands gripped tighter around the bouquet. "Um, I'm sorry, Satoshi-san, but I would have to decline."

His hand lashed out to grab her wrist, pulling her closer to him as his face twisted into an evil sneer. "Unfortunately, Karin-san, I-"

He didn't get a chance to finish that answer when another hand shot out to grab his wrist, the painful grip twisting his wrist until her was forced to let go with a cry of pain. He looked to the side, ready to snap at the person who had dared to interrupt him, but was stopped by cold, furious eyes. Taka was staring intensely at him, his face still composed into his usual mask, but his emitting waves of hostility towards the boy standing before him. Satoshi took an involuntary step back, a shiver creeping up his spine as he rubbed his wrist.

Taka stepped toward him, subtly moving in front of Karin in the process, and fixed Satoshi with a glare. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Yamato and Heracles watching the three of them, looking ready to charge forward at the sign of a fight. Reassured by this, Taka turned his gaze back to Satoshi.

The atmosphere around them pulsed with heavy tension while the two boys continued eyeing each other, Karin nervously fidgeting behind Taka, when Satoshi broke eye contact and began walking away. Taka allowed a small smirk to creep across his face, visible only to those who knew him best, and turned to look over his shoulder at Karin. "Are you alright?"

Karin gave him a timid smile, still recovering from her slight scare, and let out a sigh of relief. She blinked, though, when Taka removed the flowers from her arms and walked over to the nearest garbage, unceremoniously dumping the flowers into the bin with a clunk. Karin sent him a curious look as he walked back over, her head tilting slightly to the side in silent question. Taka, in response, reached out to catch hold of her hand, rubbing his fingers over her palm in soft circles. He ignored the wide blush spreading across her face, and instead opened his mouth to say, "Don't take gifts from other guys."

She opened her mouth to respond, her forehead creasing in concern at his uncertain tone, but he continued on. "You're my quarterback. I don't want anyone else to try and take you away."

Karin felt her mouth close, her mind blanking as he pulled the two of them back over to the team, their hands still intertwined together, but wasn't surprised when the soft smile spread across her features. She increased her pace so that she could walk right next to him, her hand tightening around his in reassurance.

There was no reason for him to worry so much, even with her monstrous, and in this case scary, fan base. She was, and would always be, his.