Chapter 9

Sakuno slept in her best friend's bed, fatigued by the events of the day. She still felt down but having told all to Tomo she drifted off to dreamland. However, while Sakuno slept Tomo was intent on finding out the reasoning behind Yuuta's rejection of her friend and sent a final glance in Sakuno's direction before retiring from the room.

Tomo crossed the hall and entered her mother's room where she would be sure to be alone and uninterrupted for the important call she was to place. Her brothers were still playing their games downstairs and her mother was still at work.

Tomo seated herself on the raised bed without bothering to turn on the lights and dialed Yuuta's dorm number (that kid really needed to get a cell phone). It rang a few times before his roommate answered.

"Hello. Hazuki speaking," the boy on the other end greeted.

It was late but also the weekend so it didn't seem too strange for a caller at that hour.

"Hello, Hazuki-san. Is Yuuta-kun available?" Tomo inquired.

"Yeah, hold on."

Tomo waited a few seconds before the phone was picked up again and she was greeted with Yuuta's voice.

"Hello?"

"Yuuta Fuji!" Tomo screeched into the phone in such a way that Yuuta had to have flinched.

"Who's this?"

"Don't play dumb with me! It's Tomo and I want to know what happened with you and Sakuno!"

Tomo paused to allow for Yuuta reply. All she heard was a sigh and that wasn't answer enough.

"I don't think you heard me--"

"I heard you!"

"Well?" Tomo asked, expectantly.

"What? What do I have to explain to you?" Yuuta asked. He took a quick glance at his room mate before getting up and walking out of the dorm room with the cordless phone.

"Oh I don't know… maybe why she'd come running to me early after her date upset!"

Yuuta crossed the hallway and entered the emergency stairway where he could talk with more privacy.

"Tomo is this really necessary?" Yuuta asked, voice showing some annoyance this early in the conversation. He was never good at masking his feelings, especially annoyance and anger.

"What do you think?"

Yuuta sighed, "I don't think it's necessary for me to explain myself. I have my reasons. I didn't break up with her."

"You could have handled it better. You know Yuuta I don't hate you, but you had Sakuno in tears this evening and that's unforgivable."

Yuuta's eyes widened at those words. "She was crying?"

"Yes," Tomo replied, roughly. "Did I stutter?"

"I didn't mean to hurt her. I'm just not ready."

"That's not the problem. The problem is that you lied and abandoned her!" accused Tomo.

Yuuta replied hastily in his defense, "You make it sound like it was malicious! I had to think!"

"What about?" Tomo demanded.

"About--" there was a long pause.

"I'm waiting!"

"Shut up!" Yuuta growled. "You wouldn't understand!"

"Is this about how you told her you were Christian?"

Yuuta let out a groan. "Is there anything she doesn't tell you!?"

"Just answer the damn question. I'm not Sakuno you can't skirt around issues with me!" Tomo growled.

Yuuta let out a heavy sigh. "I can't tell you." His voice was wavering as he spoke.

"What do you mean you can't tell me!?"

"I mean that… well, it's--," Yuuta said but then quickly fell silent, perhaps hoping his answers satisfied the girl.

Tomo was silent on the other end, contemplating her next move. She was normally an abrasive in your face type, but Yuuta was already shutting down. She didn't understand what Yuuta was hinting at but she was pretty sure the conversation was now deviating far from the chew out session she intended. She only wanted Yuuta to apologize to poor Sakuno and provide a better explanation for his actions. Her and Momo had just broken up because of a lack on communication and she really hoped Sakuno wouldn't experience the same thing.

"It's Mizuki-san--" Tomo was startled out of her thoughts as Yuuta began to speak again, softly. "I think I may want to do it… with Sakuno-chan. Tonight she was so forward and I almost didn't stop but I thought about how… disappointed Mizuki-san would be if he found out. Tomo-chan, I don't expect you to understand. I don't even understand it myself but Mizuki-san's approval is very important to me. I don't share his religious beliefs but it makes him happy when I pray to his God and when I wear this cross and when I uphold those standards and in turn that makes me happy."

"Are you saying that Mizuki-san's opinion of you is more important than Sakuno-chan's feelings?" Tomo demanded, feeling her anger rising again.

"Tomo--"

Tomo didn't bother to listen to him and instead continued on. "Yuuta Fuji! How long are you going to keep revering Mizuki like he's the best thing ever. Wake up! Hajime Mizuki is not God!"

"Tomo-chan you--"

"No! I'm really angry with you right now! I called because I wanted you to talk to and apologize to Sakuno and instead I find out you were thinking of some stupid guy that you barely even see, especially since he's in University now! Think about that and how stupid you were and how you hurt Sakuno!" Tomo scolded. "I understand that you're not ready, but the reason you gave me is not a real reason! Sakuno Ryuuzaki is your girlfriend NOT Hajime Monkey Butt! Think about that!"

Tomo didn't even wait for Yuuta's reply and abruptly hung up. She let out a humph and it was then that she noticed the shadow upon the stream of light pouring in from the hallway. She turned towards the door and noticed Sakuno standing there.

"You're awake," Tomo said.

Sakuno nodded and walked into the room sitting with Tomo upon the large bed.

"You're yelling woke me," Sakuno said with a weak smile.

"I'm sorry I meddled," Tomo apologized, meekly. "I just wanted to fuss at him a little."

"And a little turned into a lot, huh?"

"As always," Tomo giggled, though not really sure if Sakuno was joking or not. "I'm really sorry to have woke you though."

"No, it doesn't matter. I'm ok," Sakuno replied. "What did Yuuta-kun say?"

Tomo hesitated, unsure as to what to say. There was a lot said in that brief conversation. Just as Tomo was about to speak Sakuno continued.

"It's ok if you don't tell me I guess. I feel so stupid right now. It's my anniversary and I ruined it with my own stupidity," Sakuno took a pause in her speech as if in thought then resumed. "When you were talking to Yuuta-kun you said something about Mizuki-san. Did… did Yuuta mention him as a reason."

Sakuno's voice became softer with each word and Tomo was straning to hear, but Tomo caught every word.

"Sakuno! What are you saying?"

"When we were together, remember I told you he said he was Chrisitan. Mizuki-san's Christian. It made me suspicious… Besides, you know what happened with Ryoma-kun--"

Tomo's eyes widened as she realized where Sakuno was going with her train of thought. Tomo was horrified to think Sakuno would hint that Yuuta might be gay. Sure Yuuta admired Mizuki a lot, but that was simply a result of Mizuki being a very close sempai to him, and Yuuta also attributed his "rescue" from Shuusuke to the Catholic data player.

"Yuuta-kun is not like Ryoma!" Tomo exclaimed. She then blushed and to save face she added, "Not that that's wrong. Tezuka and Ryoma are really cute together!"

Sakuno only shrugged.

"You're right. I'm just reading into things…I'm sorry Tomo-chan I just feel so jealous right now."

"Jealous?" Tomo asked, not quite following Sakuno's thought patterns.

"Yea, It's… it's bad of me, I know. But, Everyone's so happy! I see you and Momo-chan-sempai-buchou and--"

Tomo felt a pain in her chest. She knew she had to tell Sakuno about her and Momo now.

"Sakuno-chan! Don't be jealous of me!"

"What?" Sakuno flushed, startled by Tomo's loud exclamation. "I was just saying… sometimes… I'm… I'm sorry."

Tomo shook her head and just as she opened her mouth to confess her own trouble, the telephone rang. Both girls started with a shock and turned to regard the phone as if it were the strangest device ever.

"Aa, phone!" Tomo exclaimed, finally putting two and two together. She picked it up. "Hello?… Y,yes she's here now!"

Tomo handed the phone out to Sakuno. "It's Yuuta."

-To be continued-

AN: this night is finally end. next chapter they go back to school. anyway i'm sleepy as heck. it's last few weeks of school. hopefully i'll update regular! anyway i hope you all are enjoying this story as much as I enjoy thinking about it (writing it is a whole diff story). PLEASE tell me how u feel... i think this story must be the type of story that everyone loves to lurk. ngyuk. thanks for reading. please review. They're the power source i use to update...