Evenings:

Ground Zero

Summary: If he said no, he would probably break her heart as equally as Jyou had broken his. He didn't wish this hidden pain on anyone...

A/N: I must note that the lyrics are some shoddy old poetry I drug out of a drawer. Nonetheless, please don't use them as they are mine. Thanks

Warnings/Pairings: One-sided Sorato, I guess. Hinted Jyoumato

December 2002

Yamato ran a hand through his hair, glancing down at the lyrics in his hand.

Yutaka leaned in with a smirk, "So, it's that again. Well, where's the lucky lady?"

"Ah," Yamato blushed with a smirk, "It's nothing. No one."

Yutaka blinked, watching the fond look in Yamato's eyes at the words hashed out on the paper. They were crumpled and yellowed from years of carting them around. "...there's someone important to you, isn't there? You're not much of a lovesong type... you're too vague for my tastes, actually." Yutaka snatched the paper and held it up to the light as if able to read some hidden message.

Forever blue until I conquer the outside

My heart he stole

even though it was long-since shattered

All that's the past, though?

This hatred is too great an amount

My heart can't take it anymore

and my mind finished loading the round

All that's in the past, though?

"Meh, doesn't sound like you," Yutaka sighed. "I say scrap it."

Yamato gave a weak smile when he noticed someone in the doorway. "S-Sora..."

She smiled over to him, holding a gift in her hands. "Yamato, I brought this for you."

Yamato stood and rushed over. He had to admit, he hadn't talked to the girl much in the last four years. Still, he occasionally heard things from Taichi, since they had soccer practice up until two years ago. Then, she kind of faded into the black. "S-Sora..." Yamato started, staring down at the present. He realized it was a home-made chocolate cake. One that had taken more effort than he deserved. "I can't acc-"

"I'm sorry to bother you before the show, but I couldn't wait," she said, bowing.

He blinked at her. "Sora, what...?"

"Please, Yamato. I'm asking... would you go out with me?"

He blinked in disbelief. This had come completely out of nowhere and it took him a minute to set aside the feelings he had been scribbling down a second ago to focus on the beautiful redhead in front of him. Having said that, attractive, sure, but the source of his stolen, shattered heart? Certainly not. He had hoped...

"Yamato?" she asked worriedly, rising.

The blonde felt stuck. If he said no, he would probably break her heart as equally as Jyou had broken his. He didn't wish this hidden pain on anyone, having to put his happy face to the forefront. He especially didn't wish this on Sora, who had been his friend since elementary and beared the crest of love and didn't deserve to have it broken. He spared her feelings for the time being. They would realize they had nothing in common and he could go back to being alone. "Alright," he said, forcing another smile, like he was about to force for the crowd waiting for them outside and all of his friends.

When her hand touched his, however, he had to hold back a flinch and wonder why.