A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews, everyone! They truly make me happy! I should mention about this chapter that Gazel and Burn's destination is completely made up by me. I have never been to Japan so I dare not touch places that actually exist and ruin the accuracy. Enjoy!

The train arrived at its final destination by noon. Burn and Gazel took their luggage and stepped outside, taking in the first view of the city that lay at the very Southern point of Japan. Each trying to forget about the other, they left the station and walked in opposite directions. However, it didn't take long before they planned their next step, which would make them cross paths a second time. While Gazel read a travel guide at an ice cream cart, Burn scrolled through a similar guide at a videogame store. They then decided at the exact same moment: they were going to take the ferry to SunShore Island. The island revolved simply around beach and relaxation, which were the two elements they both wanted.

After Gazel had paid for his five scoops of soft ice cream, he calmly made his way to the port. Burn had been caused a little bit of delay, as he failed to find the ferry right away. By the time he got there, Gazel had found his spot aboard the boat. Even though there were seats on both the inside and the outside, Gazel had taken an inside seat, seeing as the heat was a little too much for him. Whenever he could find shade, he took it. Once Burn had paid for his ticket, he narrowly missed Gazel a second time, occupying an outside seat so he could enjoy the sun.

Half an hour had passed when the separate pair perked up as their destination came in sight. SunShore Island was a small island containing only a couple of villages, hotels, beaches and hills. Only in the middle stood a noticeably large mountain. This island had to be the perfect vacation spot for them both.

Fifteen minutes later, the ferry arrived at the island's port. Gazel grabbed his suitcase and pulled it along on its wheels to the exit, which he then noticed seemed blocked. A crowd had gathered around the gate, staring both in awe and impatience at the current center of attention. Sharing in that impatience, Gazel pushed himself to the inner circle, and a moment later wished he hadn't.

Burn had gotten into a fight with one of the passengers. From what Gazel could gather, he had apparently bumped his backpack into him per accident, but the passenger insisted he had done it with the intention of starting a fight.

Burn, not in the mood for this, told him: "For the fifth time, it was an accident. What's your problem, man?"

"The problem is that you shoved that dumbass bag straight into my back," the passenger snapped, "Tulip-head!"

A throbbing vein instantly became visible on Burn's forehead. "Tulip-head…?"

Snickering inwardly, Gazel decided to meddle with the situation. He was familiar with Burn's view on his flower-shaped hair, and if their fellow passenger didn't put a lid on it, he'd be flying overboard within the next two minutes.

Gazel went to stand between the two quarrelers, aiming an open hand at one chest each. "Alright, enough," he ordered, "this fight ends now."

Swallowing the urge to demand what the hell this stranger was doing prying in his business, Burn stared at this familiar stranger with wide eyes. He had expected Gazel to take a different direction from the train station, but it turned out they were both on the ferry that lead to only one island. His island.

"Gazel!" he breathed. "What are you doing here?"

Gazel looked at him impatiently. "Trying to enjoy my vacation. You're holding up the line."

The angry passenger also had something to say. "Who do you think you are, meddling with my bu-" He was instantly silenced by the ice cold glare the other boy suddenly shot him. His eyes had turned an intimidating shade of blue, and this look was enough for the passenger to let the whole situation slide. Without another word, he made his way off the ferry and unblocked the line of impatient fellow passengers.

Once Burn and Gazel had also gotten ashore, they weren't exactly sure what to do next. The island they had just stepped foot on wasn't exactly big, and if they separated, they would definitely run into each other again, be it on the beach, or, heaven forbid, the same hotel.

Trying to avoid this strangely touchy subject, Burn flashed a glance at the ocean and muttered: "I could've solved that myself, you know."

"Yes, I know," Gazel acknowledged without hesitation. "But knowing you, not the right way. I know how being called a Tulip-head ticks you off."

Burn gritted his teeth when he heard that nickname again, out of this mouth of all mouths. A small blush also started to glow on his cheeks when he realized that Gazel was right; he was one of the people who knew him best. He had never stopped to think that even though they had been rivals for half the time they spent together, they had gotten to know each other pretty well.

"Yeah, well… Your being here ain't gonna affect my plans. I'm off," Burn muttered, turning away and nearly hitting Gazel with his backpack in the process.

Gazel dodged the bump with a swift move, and simply remained silent while he followed Burn with his eyes. There was nothing he could use as a comeback; Burn had just announced not only his own thoughts, but also Gazel's.

Gently tugging forward his sunhat to cover his eyes, as if he needed something to avert them from the other boy, Gazel turned into the opposite direction, feeling awkward just knowing Burn was on the same island as him.

"You have got to be kidding me…!"

Burn had just passed the entrance of Hotel SunShore, intending to check in for the holiday, but he was now frozen upon the sight of a too familiar boy already standing in front of the reception desk. Gazel just rolled his eyes in response to Burn's reaction and looked elsewhere, brushing gently through his hair.

"Dude—No way! I am not going to stay in the same hotel as you!" Burn turned on his heel, but was stopped by the voice or a nervous receptionist.

"Excuse me, sir, if I may… All other hotels on this island are full. Hotel SunShore is the only one with room left."

Burn needed a moment to clench his fists and let out an impatient growl, but then stomped over to the desk, slamming a flat hand on top of it.

"Fine. One room, two weeks."

"Understood." With an awkward expression, the receptionist attempted to make everything in order on her computer, but frowned in fear at what was to come when the screen told her there was more bad news.

"Ah… I appear to have made a calculation mistake. There is only one room in our hotel left. Would you two gentlemen object to sharing it?"

Gazel gripped his silver locks so tightly it nearly hurt, but said nothing.

Burn groaned and shut his eyes for a moment, then opened them and repeated: "Fine. As long as it has separate beds."

The receptionist gulped and avoided looking him in the eye. "… uhm, well…"

They each sat on one side of the queen-size-bed that belonged to their room. Even though they weren't facing each other, both Burn and Gazel felt awkward as it was, knowing they had to share nearly everything during the course of their holiday. Their luggage had been brought in nearly ten minutes ago, but neither one of the pair had left the bed, which is where they had been sitting since they'd entered the room.

Gazel perked up when he heard Burn mutter something among the lines of "How did it turn out like this?" He turned his head, facing Burn's back, and noticed that the other boy's hands were slowly squeezing the duvet between their fingers.

Gazel raised an eyebrow at the back of Burn's head. "Do you hate me so much?"

Burn nearly flinched out of his thoughts and turned his head with abrupt speed. "What?"

"You've been clear about your opinion on spending a holiday with me all day," Gazel explained. "Everytime we bumped into each other, you had something to say."

Burn glared at him. "What about you? You're the one who keeps touching his hair each time we meet, and I know what that means."

Gazel was about to suit the action to the word, but then realized he was a second away from confirming Burn's words and quickly lowered his hand. "Do you?"

"Yeah. It means you can't stand being in front of me, but you're too much of a coward to say it, unlike me."

Gazel's teal-coloured eyes slowly narrowed a little. He recognized Burn's good old arrogance in that last part, and he still couldn't stand it.

Only half realizing he was expressing that same arrogance by lifting his head and delicately brushing his hand aside his hair, he answered: "Who is the coward here? Not the one whose team was granted a chance to fight Raimon, that's for sure."

Burn's eyes narrowed completely, and he got up from the bed in an instant. "You picking a fight?"

Gazel answered him with a conceited grin and simply said: "You still burn up easily, I see." He widened his eyes in shock when Burn suddenly came at him, his arms reaching out to get his revenge. Gazel let out a groan when he found himself lying on the bed, his wrists pinned down on each side of his head. He glanced up at the other boy with only one eye open, taken aback by his action. Burn was hanging over him, not planning to let his wrists go.

"Get off of me…" Gazel ordered slowly. He had no doubts that he would be able to push Burn off himself, but he didn't want to risk making the fight even worse. This was the first time Burn had attacked him by other means than soccer, and Gazel had no idea how to respond to it. To make matters worse, his ice-cold cheeks had melted into a small blush.

Burn seemed unaffected by his words, if they had even managed to reach him. He simply glared down at the other boy, but luckily, it looked like he wasn't going to make any other sudden moves. It was then that his grip on Gazel's wrists loosened and his facial expression softened. Eventually, Burn averted his eyes from the blushing boy underneath him and muttered: "Why'd you have to bring that up…"

Gazel raised his eyebrows. "What?"

"Aren't you doing it too? Taking this holiday to forget about the whole Aliea thing?" When Burn regained eye contact, Gazel had to admit he suddenly looked rather sympathetic. This time, he was the one to look away when he spoke.

"I am… That's why it might not be a good idea to spend it together."

Burn exhaled a sigh, confirming his exact same thoughts. He completely let go of Gazel and went to sit next to him instead, gazing at the duvet. "Well, it's not like we have a choice now," he grumbled.

Gazel also sat up and massaged his wrists for a moment, then looked over at Burn. "Exactly. That's why we shouldn't spend our time fighting, don't you think? Besides, the last times we played soccer we were teammates. What happened to that?"

"… I don't know… I don't know," Burn growled. He clenched the duvet once again and shut his eyes for a moment. "It's just that whenever I look at you, I remember Aliea Academy, along with all the times we argued."

Gazel decided not to answer him, as his situation was no different from Burn's. Even though he had felt a glimpse of pleasure when he teased Burn, as he had often done, he wondered if their relationship could involve anything other than rivalry. They had worked together as teammates, as allies… Now that they were both determined to leave the past behind, there might be an opening for friendship.

A/N: Next chapter: bath time! ;D Please review!