"I like you."

The girl opposite the blue haired boy on the couch stared him down with her deep, ruby red eyes. A look of utmost seriousness and sincerity was upon her face. Her legs were tucked in a butterfly position and her hands were in her lap, pushing against the plush material of the sofa as she leaned forward slightly.

Tyson snorted and pushed Hilary backwards by tapping her forehead with a finger. "Yeah, okay," he drawled sarcastically. "Now tell me the truth."

"That is the truth you idiot!" Hilary scowled at him and rubbed her forehead. She pushed herself back up from the pillows and gave Tyson a flick of her own.

"Ow!" The boy grabbed his now red nose. "Why are you always so violent?"

"Well, you started it!" Hilary argued.

"You're the one who usually starts it!" Tyson grumbled. "Besides, you're supposed to be the mature one. Why don't you use your words instead of your fists? That's mature people do. Gramps told me that!"

"Aw, Tyson still minds his Grandpa does he?" Hilary taunted. "Didn't he tell you not to hit girls?"

"I don't see how that applies to this situation," Tyson scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oooh, that sounded complicated Tyson!" Hilary snickered. "How long did it take you to come up with that one?" She grinned maliciously at him for a moment longer before comprehension dawned on her face. "Hey, wait..."

"Now who's the slow one?" Tyson cackled.

"Jerk!" Hilary screeched and threw herself onto the boy, nails outstretched like claws.

The two tussled on the couch for quite a while with lots of snarls, yelps, and cries of: "Hey! Tickling is not allowed!" Pillows flew in all directions as the teens fumbled this way and that, arms and legs flailing every which way. It was a wonder they didn't fall off.

"Umm, what were we talking about?" Hilary lay panting across Tyson's stomach, stretched out the full length of the couch.

Tyson was draped across the furniture so that his feet barely cleared the top and his head brushed the floor. It wasn't too uncomfortable, so he stopped trying to wiggle his way out from under Hilary when it was obvious, she wasn't going to budge.

"I think," Tyson began, racking his brains for what they had been discussing just minutes before, "that...uh...oh yeah! You were going to tell me your deepest, darkest secret!"

"Didn't I already?" Hilary huffed out. She giggled at the strangled noise Tyson made when she bounced on his stomach. Her deepest secret? Uh-oh...she didn't tell him that, did she? Darn her sleep deprived mind for not working correctly! "Wow, that was really stupid of me!"

"No you didn't! You just made up something up so you wouldn't have to tell me your real secret!" Tyson protested. "Now you gotta tell me the real one! An' you promised you'd tell me yours if I told you mine! So 'fess up Hil!"

"I'm going to need more beer for this," Hilary muttered darkly. After several failed attempts of trying to push herself up by using Tyson as a support (his stomach wasn't firm enough, he should really lay off those burgers), Hilary managed to lift her body off the couch enough to be able to grab the large bottle that was on the coffee table.

"That's not beer," Tyson pointed out. "It's Mountain Dew."

"Shuddup!" Hilary growled. "It's the eighteen-year old's alcohol, okay?" She swung the green plastic jug up to her lips and drank deeply. With a satisfied sigh, Hilary put the soda back on the table and snagged a few sugar cookies before slumping back down on Tyson.

"Oof! Hey, you didn't have to flop on me so hard!" Tyson complained, poking her exposed belly.

Hilary laughed and tugged on her sky blue tee so her skin was covered. "That sounded really dirty," she sniggered. She took a big bite out of a cookie and moaned in appreciation. "Mmmm this tastes so good!" If anything could distract Tyson from asking more questions, it was food, especially when it fell into the sugar category.

"Whatever!" Tyson scowled, a light blush dusting over his cheeks. "Now give me a cookie!"

"Nahh, I don't see why I should," Hilary mused. "You've already eaten at least half the box. I don't think you need anymore sugar. W-e-i-r-d stuff could happen to you man!" Hilary tried to make a scary face but couldn't contain the laughter that seemed to bubble up from the soda she just drank.

Tyson wiped imaginary cookie crumbs off his face and stuck his tongue out at her. "I think you've had a little too much sugar Hilary!" He countered. "So why don't you give the rest of your cookies to me?"

"Never!" Hilary cried, holding her arms out of reach as Tyson's hands tried to grab the treats from her. "These cookies have chosen me to eat them! I'm the chosen one! They're all mine!"

Tyson rolled his eyes at her antics before asking, "Really, and who told you that?"

"The cookies did. They speak to me." Hilary told him, dead serious.

"Well, then all the cookies in the pantry are talking to me!" Tyson retorted. "And they all want me to eat them, not you!"

"Fine then." Hilary licked the tips of her fingers, a smug expression on her lips. "Go get them."

Tyson tried to pull himself up but was obstructed by his friend who still lay across his midsection. He glared at Hilary, but all the brunette did was smile wickedly across her shoulder and go back to eating her cookies.

"Get off me," Tyson ordered shortly.

"I don't think I will," Hilary responded in a sing-song voice. "Especially when you're being so rude. Really, talking to a lady like that! What horrid manners."

"Fine." Tyson dropped back down, yelping when his head met the table with a particularly nasty thump!

Hilary snickered at his misfortune. "Try not to kill any more brain cells Tyson. You don't know how many you've got left, and I don't think it's very many."

"Oh you're hilarious," Tyson snapped. "Why did I invite you over again?"

"You need a good reason to have your best friend to come over and hang out with you?" Hilary drawled. "Well, there is the fact that Grandpa is away visiting the dojo in Osaka for a few days ,and he didn't want to leave you here alone. You know, 'cause he actually wanted an intact-house to come home to instead of a pile of rubble."

"That's not true!" Tyson argued. "He just didn't want me to be lonely! I am perfectly capable of house sitting by myself for a couple of days!"

"Sure Tyson, whatever" Hilary said agreeably.

"I don't get why you being here suddenly makes it all better!" Tyson complained, trying to cross his arms over his chest but managing only to jab Hilary in the stomach. "It's not like your mother would let you watch the house alone! You still can't cook, you know that!"

For a moment there was silence. Then-

"Ooooh yeahhhhhh."

"Yeah. Way to go genius." Hilary reached down and tweaked his nose playfully.

"Guh, whatever. I'm tired," Tyson yawned loudly. It had been a very exciting day. Hilary arrived just as his Grandpa was leaving, kindly playing the role of an alarm clock by jumping on him and screeching in his ear.

Things had mellowed out from there as pleasantries were exchanged and small talk was made to catch each other up on their respective lives. Tyson had just gotten back from France when his Grandpa decided to take his little trip. Thinking it would be nice for his boy to see his old friends, and hoping fervently that he wasn't making a drastic mistake by leaving them together and unattended, Ryu called Hilary and asked her over. The girl was happy to take a break from her studies, and watch the house and Tyson.

The two had collapsed in front of the TV with sweet provisions and a stack of movies. The screen didn't hold the teens' attention for very long though. The sugar from large liters of soda and copious amounts of junk food soon had them engaged in a very serious, and very deadly pillow fight. The next morning, Tyson and Hilary would reflect that they had been extremely lucky nothing was broken in the all out free for all.

The sugar rush could only last so long, and after a while Tyson and Hilary crashed on the couch, apathetic and tired but still unwilling to go to bed and give up their freedom. Kenny was going to arrive sometime in the morning, and Tyson had a strange feeling that after his other friend came, things were going to be different. The trio would still have lots of fun together, but it wouldn't be just him and Hilary anymore. Tyson liked hanging out with just her; it was something he didn't get the chance to do very often. So this...alone time with her was very special.

"You've been quiet for a while." Hilary interrupted his thoughts with a poke on his cheek. "Am I smushing the air out of you? I could move, but I'm actually really comfy right now, so if you're not dying or anything..."

"I've been thinking," Tyson told her, absentmindedly pushing her hand away from his face. "I'm glad you decided to come visit."

"Of course!" Hilary beamed at him, deciding to skip over the opportunity for a scathing comment with the opening he had made about thinking. "I never get to see you in person, and we hardly ever get the time to chat on the video phone."

"Mmm," Tyson agreed. "And it's nice now that it's just...you and me. You know?" Despite the uncomfortable position, Tyson was glad Hilary couldn't see his face from where she lay. His blush was directed towards the still flickering TV and not the brunette on his stomach.

"Yeah." Was it just him or was there a dreamy, almost longing tone to her voice? "Man those were good times we had!" Hilary sighed wistfully. "I really miss hanging out with you guys."

"I miss it too," Tyson whispered quietly, automatically. He didn't even have to think about before the confession flew from his mouth.

Hilary didn't seem to mind, however, and didn't even comment on it. Instead, she let a comfortable silence form between the two friends. Tyson jerked his head up swiftly when he felt something light on the back of his hand, but let his head fall back against the bottom of the couch when he saw it was only Hilary sketching random shapes on his skin. The girl wasn't looking at him, but instead staring off into space while her fingers idly twirled on his hand.

"What were we talking about before this?" Hilary asked aloud, her voice soft. The last of the sugar induced craziness seemed to be gone from her system, Tyson noted, turning her back into the sane, quiet Hilary she always was. Well, not silent exactly...

"Uh, I don't really remember" Tyson confessed. "I think we were playing 'Never Have I Ever,' and then we started talking about other stuff...and...oh yeah! You were just about to tell me your deepest, darkest secret!" Tyson was revitalized somewhat at the thought. He had already told her his, and he was extremely curious to know what hers was. He faintly remembered her saying something along the lines of "I like you" the first time he asked, but Tyson's brain couldn't really comprehend the exact meaning of that. Not that he was trying too hard to anyways. It had probably just been the cookies talking.

Hilary's face fell, and she shot the empty bottle of mountain dew a withering look as if it was its fault that Tyson hadn't believed her the first time.

"Mmmpf, do I really have to?" Hilary's voice was muffled from the pillow she had buried her face in. "I already told you anyways..."

"Yes, you really have to," Tyson chimed at her, not hearing the last part. "I told you mine!"

"But yours isn't embarrassing!" Hilary exasperated. "It's...it's...nobel!"

"Really?" Tyson asked, straining his neck up so he could see his friend.

"Yeah! The fact that your secret is that you're worried you might fail the world sometime and hurt thousands of innocents-"

"And my friends," Tyson added quickly.

"And your friends," Hilary repeated, flashing him a shy smile, "is really, well, sweet of you Tyson! And totally irrational. You're always the hero. How, I dunno, but I'm not going to mess with fate."

"Thanks Hil." It was Tyson's turn to smile back. "But, I always had help you know."

"And you always will. If you need me, just call. I'll come whenever and wherever." She caught Tyson's gaze and held it, making sure he knew how serious she was.

Tyson nodded, feeling his heart pounding as the depth of Hilary's words reached him. "Thanks, and same for you, okay?"

"Alright Tyson...thank you."

"Maybe...Maybe he has changed," Hilary thought to herself. "Was I too quick to assume...?"

"Wahhh! How do you keep doing that?!" Tyson raged, breaking Hilary's inner contemplation.

"Keep doing what?" Hilary asked innocently. Too innocently.

"Changing the subject!" Tyson pouted. "I've tried to get you to tell me your secret three times already, and each time you find some way to distract me!"

"Oh, so I distract you Tyson?" Hilary purred coyly, winking at him.

Tyson felt his mouth drop open slightly as he stared at the brunette lying on him. "Yes, no, yes, arg! Not what I meant to say Hilary!" He sputtered furiously as she giggled at him. "Just tell me!"

"No! I already told you the first time Tyson Granger, and I'm not going to tell you again!" Hilary raged, a blush spreading across her face. She remembered how easily Tyson had passed off her confession as a joke, a lie. If he wasn't going to take her seriously, then he obviously didn't feel the same way she did.

"Come on Hilary!" Tyson whined. "I barely even remember what you said! Can't you just tell me again? Please?"

"No Tyson! If you don't have the decency to accept what I said the first time as the truth, much less remember it, then I don't see why I have to tell you!" She was shouting at him, trying to cover up her embarrassment like always.

Tyson growled, frustrated, and began poking her stomach in sharp, quick jabs. "Just tell me Hilary! I-wanna-know!" Each word was emphasized with a nudge. "I won't stop poking you 'til you tell me!"

Poke.

Poke.

"Fine! I'll tell you, you jerk!" Hilary smacked his hands away. "Stupid brat, how does he get under my skin so easily? I guess I was gonna have to tell him sooner or later. Those cookies must have rotted my brain or something because never in my right mind would I ever tell him this! I guess it's too late now and I should just say it all and-"

"I really like you and I have for a while like since we last travelled together and I miss you a lot when you're gone and I like hanging out like this and I've always wanted to tell you but have always been too shy and I didn't know if you felt the same way and didn't want to stop being friends but I really really like you in a more than just friends way!" That being said, or rather yelled, Hilary turned her head and buried it once more into a pillow. The girl wasn't sure how much Tyson might have understood in that long winded explanation, but she was pretty sure he must have heard the words 'I' 'like' and 'you' at least a couple of times. Even if he was still as dense as the twelve-year-old he used to be, Hilary assumed Tyson would figure out the gist of what she had been saying.

"Oh. So, then before you..."

"I was telling the truth."

"So that means that-"

"Yes, I do."

"For-"

"A while."

"Oh. Well, um-"

"Yeah," Hilary sighed into the pillow, refusing to meet Tyson's eyes. "We should have gone to bed a loooooong time ago. I know that my brain shuts off after midnight."

There was silence in the dojo's living room. Unlike last time, this one weighed more heavily upon the two piled together on the couch. Hilary was mentally beating herself up and preparing to do damage control while Tyson was quietly absorbing what his best human friend had just confessed. So Hilary liked him? As in, like in more than friends-like way? That was...interesting.

"Why is that your deepest darkest secret?"

"Huh?" Hilary turned her head slightly, just enough so she could see the tip of Tyson's hair from where he was thrown over the front of the couch.

"I thought these secrets were supposed to be bad or something." She couldn't see his face, but Hilary heard a slight lilt of amusement in his tone.

Hilary paused, trying to understand what he was saying. "Well, yours wasn't exactly terrible either," she pointed out cautiously.

Tyson laughed softly. "True."

There was more silence. Then-

"So, does this mean, you, um, like my secret?"

Tyson wiggled. His head was finally beginning to hurt after lying upside down for so long. "Uh, yeah, I mean, I guess so. Can I get up?"

"Oh! Oh- okay. Sorry." Hilary scrambled to get off Tyson's chest as the boy pushed himself up and onto the sofa, wincing as the blood rushed back into the rest of his body.

"Guh, I feel dizzy." Tyson pressed his palm into his forehead, trying to somehow stop the room from tilting.

"Here, lie back." Tyson felt arms gently pull at his shoulders until he was propped up against the back of the couch and resting against something soft and warm. The boy sighed, and let his head drop onto Hilary's shoulder.

Hilary froze at Tyson's move. She hadn't intended to pull him so close, but now that Tyson was voluntarily -dare she think it- snuggling closer, her uneasiness was put to rest. Hilary smiled and settled back into the pillows, bringing Tyson with her so the two would be more comfy.

"So."

"Yeah."

Thousands of words rose and died on Hilary's lips. There was so many things she wanted to ask, to confirm, but uncertainty held her back. Tyson hadn't exactly said that he liked her, just that he liked her secret. Whatever that meant.

"I think I like you too."

Oh. That was what he meant.

"Oh."

"Yep. Is that okay?" A warm, tentative hand crept into her own and played with her fingers.

Hilary snorted. "Tyson, you're so weird. That was the least romantic confession I have ever heard."

"Yours wasn't much better. You practically confessed to a pillow."

"Ungrateful jerk."

"Moody tomboy."

"Dense idiot."

"Loud baby."

"Little twerp," Hilary muttered affectionately, butting her head lightly against his.

The clock flashed 1:03 am. The TV was still on, a commercial for a new sports shoes dancing across the screen. A wasteland of soda bottles, candy wrappers, and microwave popcorn bags was lit up by the flickering glow. At the epicenter of the pile of cartons was the couch, on which two teens lay with hands clasped, heads together, and identical smiles on their faces.

Crazy stuff happens after midnight.