"Hanamichi!!"

	Hanamichi kept on walking keeping his hands in his pockets. 
Head drooping, Hanamichi stared aimlessly at the ground in front of
him and kept his pace.

	What is this? I thought he'd be jumping off some roof by 
now. Hanamichi, don't scare me like that. Yohei bored holes in his 
best friend's back as he panicked. Nevertheless, he followed 
Hanamichi silently, ready to do whatever it takes to make Hanamichi
--Hanamichi. He didn't even go out and punch out Rukawa. I thought 
he'd at least pick a fight with him. No, not at all, he didn't even
rush out to stop the kissing pair in front of him. Not waiting for 
that kiss to end, Hanamichi had slipped away. It is better this 
way, can't you see?

	"Hey!" For the first time in his 16 years, Yohei lost his 
cool. He ran up to Hanamichi and anchored his hands on Hanamichi's 
shoulders forcefully. The determination and strength in him, 
combined with the hidden power those pair of hands embodied was 
able to halt Hanamichi's movements. Those hands were potent enough 
to curb Hanamichi's movements, but Yohei was not able to inhibit 
his rapidly rising emotions.

	"Let go of me, Yohei." Sakuragi's voice lost all of its 
usual vigor. Where is his confident, energetic voice? Yohei 
tightened his grip as a pang of regret punctured his heart. Or is 
that pain? He didn't want to find out.

	"Hanamichi, you deserve better." Yohei said through his 
clenched teeth. He took one more step and pressed himself onto 
Hanamichi's back. His hands slid down from Hanamichi's shoulders to 
his waist. He hid his face onto Hanamichi's shoulders. Hanamichi, I 
wish you'd understand. Let my feelings seep into your soul through 
my touch...

		------------------------------------

	Some distance away, another pair was standing still, in a 
close embrace. The boy watched warily as the running figure 
vanished before he tore the girl away from him. The brusque act 
jolted Haruko into reality.

	Rukawa-kun---kissed me! But...

	Haruko's legs were shaking so much she thought she was going
to collapse any second. However, something wasn't right. As she 
gazed into Rukawa's glacial features, she felt a familiar dread 
welling from the pit of her stomach. Rukawa was completely 
unaffected by the kiss. The realization was shocking. She might be 
dense, but she could tell from Rukawa's reaction, or rather, lack of 
reaction that he did not care. He acted as if he was doing this for 
show, for someone--abruptly, Haruko whirled around. She didn't see
anyone behind her. Then, apprehensively, she looked at Rukawa again.

	"He's gone."
	"He?" Haruko unbelievingly asked? Her breaths quickened.
	"Yes, the one you were looking for." It's enough. I don't 
want to continue this farce anymore. Time to let her wake up, just 
like I was rudely awakened into the harshness of reality.
	"You were--"
	"Putting on a show." His words fell on her like hail pelting 
the ground--unrelenting and compassionless.

	Haruko staggered backwards. She covered her mouth to keep 
herself from screaming. My first kiss--my first love... She did what
Sendoh did. She turned around and ran as her tears trailed down her 
cheeks.

	I'm sorry. But I had no choice. Sendoh, why do you hurt me 
so? In hurting me, I hurt another. Sendoh--his heart cried out in 
anguish. I hate you--I can't forget you. I hate you--I want to see 
you. I hate you. I need you.

	Am I really so deplorable that you had to leave me?

		-----------------------------------

	The wind was behind his back while his legs carried him 
wherever he wanted to go. He had no direction, he needed to escape. 
Escape. He continued running, and all of a sudden, he found himself
on a beach. He chased the sun, he chased the sky. He couldn't stop,
until he tripped on a stray rock embedded into the sand and fell. He
felt the silkiness of the sand and he dug his fingers into it. Why 
is it so slippery? For every fistful of sand he tried to grasp, in 
the end, only a speckle was left. Rukawa had said--

**** "There are some things we can't control. The more we want to 
hold on to it, the faster it slips out of our reach." He grasped a 
handful of sand and watched it slip out of his fingers.

	Sendoh looked at Kaede and said, "We treasure that moment 
when we have it and then let it go."

	Rukawa did not answer. He couldn't have answered anyway, 
since Sendoh ended those words on his lips.***

	"Kaede.." His mind conjured up images of the heated kiss 
between the girl and Rukawa. I know I ended our relationship. His 
Kaede is no longer his. His lips are not his to kiss. His thoughts
will never be revealed to him again. I don't know why, I don't know 
why. WHY?? I really thought we could be friends. I thought I could 
let go--but I was wrong.

	Sendoh got up, only to land on his knees again. His hands 
rested on his thighs as he stared at the boundless sea in front of 
him.

	The sun was beginning to set.


∼To Be Continued∼