A/N: Damn this took years. -_- I'm really sorry for uploading much much later than I promised. Had a massive writer's block the past few days because I was debating whether to put this in either Chihaya or Arata's POV. T_T Anyway, I wanted to give a lil back-story to where it all started for Shinobu and Arata, and I hope I succeeded in that. Let me know what you guys think =) Enjoy!

CHAPTER 8: JEALOUSY

What are you dreaming of? Arata wondered as he back-hugged Chihaya's sleeping form. Though they were fully clothed, her skin felt bare against his body. He held her tight as he buried his face in her neck.

He was staying over for a few days before he goes back to Osaka for his project, and though he wanted to caress her tonight, he knew she wouldn't do it with him. Not in the state she was in.

There were still bruises in her legs, and her ankle was seriously injured due to the harassment incident that happened a few days ago. It left her traumatized that she refused to play her matches and do her tutorials in the Dojo until after her friend's wedding.

"Not up to the title are you? What boyfriend leaves his girl by herself, getting herself almost raped?" He remembered Taichi shouting at him accusingly. His mood darkened at the thought.

He didn't want to admit it, but even though he hated the fact that it was Taichi of all people who had to save her, he was thankful she only had to suffer a few bruises in lieu of rape. He knew he'll forever condemn himself if it ever came to that.

He was surprised when he saw him with her, and though he was aware that Taichi would come home for their friend's wedding, he didn't expect it would be so soon. And that he would run into Chihaya first after all these years. This realization renewed his untold fears of losing her, and how this development happened…

3 years after High School Graduation

"Yes, yes, I'm okay Taichi. Seriously, did you just call to nag me?" Chihaya snapped irritably at her phone as they made their way towards the main hall of the Omi Jingu. They will be playing their 3rd Meijin/Queen match in a few hours, and as the "Karuta Power Couple", they had to pose for a few photos before the event.

Taichi was calling from England, and with the 9-hour difference, he might've woken up really early just to encourage them. Or Chihaya for that matter.

She was wearing a beautiful red and tangerine hakama with some golden flower embroideries. Her beauty was very hard to miss, and ever since she took reign as the Karuta Queen, much attention has been given to the sport, giving her lots of media exposure. She was the society favourite, garnering her a strong following and even a string of endorsements much like her sister. It was a pity she refused more than half of them, but it wasn't really a surprise because he knew how important Karuta is to her.

"Idiot. Of course. I miss you. Hope you can come and watch…" He heard her say. His eyes narrowed slightly as he peered at her, though the latter was oblivious to his glare. He tried not to show it, but her affection towards Taichi somehow bothers him. Arata knew Taichi was just a "childhood" friend, and that he shouldn't even be jealous because he already had her, but the bond that they share was too saccharine. Not that Chihaya wasn't normally sweet, but still.

She was chatting with him animatedly for a few more minutes when she exclaimed in disbelief, followed by a hastened goodbye when they were finally called for their shoot.

"Arata! He's coming back this year!" Chihaya exclaimed excitedly. She was beaming from ear-to-ear, and as much as he hates her bubbly reaction to everything that concerns their other friend, he hated breaking her bubble. So he smiled instead.

"Really? Is it for good?" He asked with a small smile gracing his lips as they posed for the cameras.

"Well, no. He said he'll just come over for a vacation. Isn't that great? He'll come back in time for the tournament in Shiranami!" She squealed, as she gave another dazzling smile before facing him. It was so like her to relate everything to Karuta.

"Chihaya. If he's coming back for a vacation at least let him rest before you challenge him to a match." He said, as they wrapped up their shoot and went to proceed to the adjacent room to rest before the actual match.

"Awww. I know that. It's just that, I really miss him…" Chihaya responded softly. There was a sudden twitch in his heart, and he tried to ignore it.

"Yea, me too. I guess we'll just see him next year huh?" Arata lied, as she stared at her beautiful face, with her eyes and thoughts drifting onto space.

"Arata…Arata-Stop...Please…" Chihaya huffed as she gently tried to push Arata off of her as he nipped at her neck.

They were in her room during one of their practice matches, and though it wasn't really an excuse to do something other than Karuta, there was something inside of him that urged him to possess her.

"W-why? Did I hurt you?" He asked as he hovered above her. Her hands were clutching her chest. He could see her flushed cheeks and her rugged breathing. Though he wanted to get on with it anyway, there was something in her voice that stopped him from doing so.

"No I'm… I'm… just not ready…" Chihaya mumbled, as she sat up slowly, her eyes not looking at him. She was shaking slightly.

" I…I see… I'm sorry, Chihaya," Arata responded, his libido now dampened. He had always wanted to do it with her, but ever since they got together, though they went on to dates, it was always the PG13 kind. They were either playing Karuta or watching movies or having a picnic. He knew his girlfriend was way behind in the romance department even though they've been dating for years, but what he couldn't understand was her aversion to it whenever things get heated between them.

"I'm sorry Arata." She said softly, as her tender eyes searched for his.

"No, I am sorry… I didn't mean to take advantage of you. Even if you're my girlfriend it's…" he babbled as he stood up with his hand scratching his neck in embarrassment.

"It's okay, Arata. I just… don't quite understand the need for this, really…I mean… is it, really necessary?" she asked innocently as she touched the cards at their feet. By "it" she meant everything x-rated, of course. He knew she loved Karuta to the moon and beyond, but it seems like it siphoned all of her brain space for anything other than the sport.

"Uhm, no…not really. Anyway, we'll just, play Karuta at the Dojo in the meantime alright?" he responded, as he willed himself to just change the topic.

"O…Okay." she replied softly as he went to pick the cards while Chihaya went to put away the CD player.

They sat down at the foot of her bed to watch TV a few minutes later when Arata spoke.

"By the way, my team with Shinobu won the Burj contest." He said, referring to the contest their university had for engineering students. They had to design a modern skyscraper, and the Grand Prize for the contest was a chance to study advanced engineering courses in Dubai which will give them recommendations in the future for top multinational companies. It was also the best preparatory for their board exams in their 5th year.

"E-eh? With Shinobu-chan? Th…That's great… But… For how long will you…?" Chihaya asked disbelievingly, her hands clasping his right hand.

It was a surprise to them when Wakamiya Shinobu, the former queen, became Arata's classmate in Toudai. Once upon a time she was so obsessed with Karuta that her world revolved around it, but then came a rude awakening when Chihaya beat her on their senior year.

"It's only for 2 years." He sighed, making it seem like 2 years was just 2 days or 2 hours with him gone. Chihaya's face crumpled.

"But…how about the Meijin match?" she asked sadly, and though it was a valid question, he couldn't help but be amazed that her first concern would always somehow be related to Karuta.

"I can come back every winter in time for that…so… will you be alright?" he asked, as he hugged her shoulders.

"O-of course! It's just…I was hoping we could get together this year…it feels like Middle School again." She said, looking at him briefly then staring into space again, her eyes betraying her facade.

"We'll be together again soon." He said softly, as he kissed her forehead.

"So she shot you down? Again?" Shinobu jokingly mocked as they made their way towards the university canteen. They share the same classes, and though he wasn't really obliged to accompany her because she was an acquaintance, he chose to be in her company rather than their other classmates. She was scaring the hell out of the male population in their course, and the women were either too vain or too meek to befriend her.

"Well, I can't exactly force her, can I?" he snapped, as he sat down on the chair.

At 21, he was the only one among his colleagues who remains a virgin. Not that he was competing but, with Chihaya being so famous they couldn't even believe they were a couple, he was the butt of all jokes whenever the topic becomes "your first time" or "your best sex" or the "quirkiest position you ever did". They somehow knew that with Arata's personality, he wouldn't be able to score. Not that he cares, but he somehow feels emasculated.

"Can't. That'll be rape. But couldn't you at least learn to seduce her? To want you like you want her?" she asked incredulously.

"I don't know…I'm…not really an expert on that. I'm not like you." He replied nonchalantly. Though she was aloof, she wasn't entirely pure and innocent.

"Well excuse me. I just happen to have common sense and an ex who's great in bed." She replied blatantly. It was hard to believe, but she dated Suo Hisashi when she got into college. They were very much open to casual sex but they broke up a year ago when she discovered series of raunchy messages from different girls.

"I didn't need to know about that." Arata griped, wincing at the thought.

"Seriously though, if you're not gonna do it with her she might fall for the "other" friend. " She countered, as she took a bite off her onigiri.

"That….is not funny, Wakamiya," he frowned, as he remembered spying on Chihaya's messages to Taichi, some of which he didn't know. She wasn't really cheating or anything, they were just being themselves, but their sweetness was too hard to ignore. He tried telling Chihaya about it, but she got visibly upset he took his request back.

"Just stating the what-ifs you keep on ignoring," she replied nonchalantly.

"He's not even in Japan. How's he gonna do that?" he snapped. He didn't like the direction of the conversation already.

"Does he need to be physically here? Didn't she fall for you even when you were in Fukui?" she pointed calmly.

"Well she loves me." He retorted, stating it like it was an absolute truth.

"What makes you think she doesn't love him too?" She asked him hauntingly.

"Taichi," Arata greeted, as he answered his phone. It was late in November, and exams are looming in the horizon before the winter break. He and his team were still in Dubai.

"Arata, where are you?!" Taichi demanded. He knew he was furious, but it was understandable.

"I won't be able to go home just yet…" he replied, answering his concern directly.

"What?! Chihaya's mom had a heart attack! Didn't you say you can go home for winter? She needs you!" Taichi shouted angrily.

"I know. But… If I leave now, I might not be able to finish what I started. I might not be able to graduate on time." He reasoned. It was a long time before Taichi spoke. He knew he was composing himself.

"Fine. I understand. But stop ignoring her calls will you? I know you don't want to disappoint her but you're crushing whatever hope she's left behind." He grimaced. There was shuffling in the background and a sound of a door slamming.

"Taichi? Is that…Arata?" Arata heard Chihaya say. He forgot that Taichi would be coming back in time for winter.

"I'm handing her the phone." He said curtly.

"Wa-Wait!"

"Arata?" Chihaya greeted in a small voice.

"Arata? Is this you?" She asked a little bit louder this time when he forgot to breathe upon hearing her.

"Chihaya…"

"Are you alright? Has something bad happened to you?" she asked worriedly.

"No…I'm alright."

"That's… that's great… that's great… I thought something bad happened, because you weren't answering my calls or emails, and I didn't know how to contact you and…" she gibbered nervously. She sounded like she was about to cry.

"Chihaya… I'm sorry. I may not be able to go home this winter after all. There are so many things we need to do here, and we only have a few days rest until the start of another term." He said, though he knew he was only telling the half-truth.

"I… see… I miss you…" she replied meekly.

"I love you. And I'm sorry I can't be there for you…especially during this time."

"It's alright. I understand."

"How's Chihaya?" Shinobu asked as she flipped the channels of the TV. They were sharing an apartment with two of their classmates, and both of them were already sleeping in their beds. He couldn't sleep after talking to Taichi and Chihaya, so he went to space out in their dining table.

"Why do you ask?" he asked her coldly.

"She sent me an email earlier today. She was asking for you." She replied, her voice matching his iciness.

"I don't know how… to face her" he responded truthfully, as he stared at his hands. He felt guilty for not being able to keep his promise, but he felt guiltier for lying to her.

"Why? Because you had sex with me?" Shinobu frankly probed. He banged his fist at the table, but the act did little to jolt the raven-haired woman.

"Look, it was an accident, ok? We were drunk and-" He snapped angrily.

"You had needs?" she completed sarcastically, as she shut down the TV. She acted like nothing happened, but he wasn't quite as good at acting as she was.

It was their colleagues' birthday, and they all had a round of strong Arabian drinks. He couldn't remember much of the night, only that he woke up to a naked girl beside his bed… And it wasn't Chihaya.

They somehow managed to sneak out on their friends and proceeded to do the things that he could only imagine in his dreams, but it was only because the liquor gave his confidence and libido a triple boost.

She was traversing the room to the kitchen when he called her out.

"Shinobu… I'm sorry." He mumbled apologetically.

"Idiot. If you say it's an accident then let's just leave it at that. Go back to her after our term ends here." She replied dismissively, a curt smile gracing her face. He couldn't tell if she really didn't mind what happened as it was hard taking her at face value because of her poker face.

He sighed, appeased for a moment when she spoke again.

"But you really sucked at it though. If you need some practice you can come to me anytime." She said jokingly as she winked at him.

His heart stopped at the sight. He just came back home after graduating in Dubai, and the first thing he wanted to set straight upon coming home was his relationship to Chihaya. They barely talked to each other the past few months because of their schedules, and he knew he was partly to blame.

He wasn't prepared for what greeted him though.

Thousands of questions and profanities were coursing his mind as he watched his childhood friend and girlfriend kissing passionately at his girl's living room.

The door was slightly ajar when he came, and Taichi's voice came as a surprise to him that instead of going in, he peeked in first, only to see this very incriminating scene. He was about to burst into the room when he heard him speak again.

"I love you." Taichi confessed. Arata's blood ran cold, gluing him in place.

"W-What?" Chihaya asked, her blush evident in her face.

"I know it's wrong timing. But I can't hide it anymore. Ever since we were kids, I knew you're the only one I'll ever fall for." Taichi said, his hands clasping hers as he put them on his chest.

"Taichi...But…"

"I know. You're not ready. Neither am I. You're still probably in love with Arata, and honestly, I came here without a plan. I'm tired of guarding my heart, asking myself if all I ever do is futile. For once... I wanted to be honest. I just wanted to be with you, to support you as much as I can, and it just...happened to be that way." He added, as he gazed at her. Chihaya blushed profusely at that and she stared at her hands on his chest to avoid the intensity of his gaze. He touched her forehead with his as he wrapped his arms tightly on her waist.

"I'm not asking you for a reply right now, Chihaya. Whether you feel the same or not for me, I'll wait for your answer when you're ready." Taichi said as she pecked lightly on her lips.

It was at that moment that he finally found his voice.

"Chihaya! Are you there?" He knocked vigorously at the door after closing it lightly, alarming them. It seemed like forever before the door finally opened.

"Arata!" Chihaya gasped, as she opened the door. Taichi was behind her, shock registered in his face.

"Tadaima," He said as he smiled at Chihaya. He invited himself in as the two followed.

"You…when did you…come back?" Taichi asked reservedly. He wanted to punch the hell out of him but doing that would only make him the bad guy. He had to play it smart. Or else he'll lose her.

"Just last night. By the way, okaeri Taichi" He answered flashing him a fake smile. He started towards Chihaya who stood frozen in place, seemingly guilty for what transpired before he came barging in. He wanted to hate her, but he knew he had a graver sin he would rather not tell, so he'll let it slip for now.

"I'm sorry I left your side Chihaya. Please forgive me." He apologized, as he touched her face.

"Arata, I-" Chihaya started, but he interrupted her.

"Do you still love me?" he asked solemnly, trapping her eyes in his. Both of them knew Chihaya's weakness - she speaks the first thing that comes into her mind. And if she said she loved him, it would probably smack painfully in Taichi's face. Chihaya looked like she was fighting for words, but he knew that she couldn't help but be honest.

"I-Of course...I love you Arata, but..

Bingo. He rejoiced inwardly, as he saw Taichi's face darkened in the corner of his eye. Not letting her finish, he swept her up in a passionate kiss. Taichi stood there, clenching his fist.

Rather than breaking them up like he did last time, he stormed out, slamming the door and breaking their reverie. Chihaya looked at him in confusion and went running after Taichi.

"Taichi!" Chihaya called out to him, as he slammed her front door. She ran up to him on their steps and held him back.

"Taichi, wait!" she pleaded.

"What?" he snapped coldly without looking at her.

"Taichi, you don't understand." She said in aghast, putting herself in front of him to keep him from leaving.

"What do I not understand Chihaya?!" he retorted, trying to control his anger.

"I'm not sure about what I feel!" she burst out, stress and confusion getting the best of her.

"You don't seem so unsure when you said you loved him." He replied sarcastically, as he looked at her face. She bowed her head guiltily.

"I-I love him, but you, I..." she started.

"I know. You love me. But not in that way. Am I right?" he continued for her.

"Taichi... I'm so sorry." She apologized meekly, as her eyes started to tear up.

"The least you could've done was tell me honestly! You always speak your mind since we were kids! What changed, Chihaya?!" Arata heard him snap. He went towards the door and looked at him blankly. He didn't want to look smug, but he couldn't help feeling elated that he was still first in her heart.

"I guess there'll be no reason for me to stay." He said coldly.

"Matte! Taichi!" Chihaya cried, as he turned his back and left. Tears started flowing in her face.

Gomen-ne, Taichi. Arata thought solemnly, as he hugged her possessively.

There can only be one winner in our luck-of-draw. Me.

A/N: So yeah. They kissed. (My internal state of mind: THEY KISSED! AND HE'S NOT DRUNK! OMSADKJFHEWHFSKNC,S) Though I know it's quite unromantic because Arata's the one doing the narration, the next chapter will hopefully (finally) shed some light on what Chihaya thinks of them both. I've read from some fics here how difficult it is to write in Chihaya's POV and now I know why - She has a very simple character. And by simple, I mean there's little you can do to tweak her character. *sigh* Oh well. Hope you can give me your reviews. I really love reading them. See you next chap! =)