My Warnings: OK, this is yaoi (practically everything I write is.) and in Haruko’s POV. I decided to try something different (for me) and be sympathetic toward the girl, but sadly I don’t think it worked. I tried, and as an afterthought I’d like to add that I don’t own these characters and I don’t claim to, so please don’t sue me. Honest, I barely have gas money. Enjoy.

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She was tired of this. She was tired of working night and day and still not coming up with the right answers. Of straining her mind beyond it's normal capacities to try and accommodate what could have possibly transpired over the past three days. It was wrong. It was wrong, dammit, and now this cold, harsh, unrealistic thing was slapping her in the face every few seconds and she was forced to take it, because the simple truth of it was that she couldn't deal.

"Why would he do this to me?" He was her best friend! Her confidant! The person she turned to for advice, kind words, a shoulder to lean against, a pillar of strength. He'd torn himself from her for another. One she'd been lusting after for so long. One that was now so far out of her reach that it brought tears to her eyes. She placed one fist to her lips, the other palm flat against her small stomach, pushing against both as if to contain herself within her shell. Everything felt like it was ripping away, exposing her to the world, which continued to pound against her, cruel and unforgiving. To her chagrin, moisture pooled in her eyes and began to spill. She sucked air into her lungs with a hiss, willing herself to gather her emotions. Crying would do her no good; life had taught her that by now.

She spun away from the window that she wasn't looking out of and toward the door of her house, ready to bolt out and scream her pain to the world. Her hand froze as it reached for the doorknob, fingers brushing the cold metal. She yanked the appendage back as if burned, then held her hands clasped tightly in front of her before falling onto cushions that were scattered around the floor. Her pacing had disturbed them, but now they served to break her fall.

How could Hanamichi do this to her? If there was anyone that knew of her love for Rukawa, it was him. She had told him. She knew he wasn't the sharpest of blades, but she was sure he understood that she was interested in the fox-eyed Rookie of Shohoku High School. And yet, he'd done this to her? Either he was duller than she thought, or he just didn't care.

The thought that Hanamichi wouldn't care made her stomach clench painfully. Sakuragi Hanamichi was always so sweet and shy around her. The thought that he would ever try and betray her had never crossed her mind, not even the darkest crevices. Still, reality never lied. Not the brutal reality. It liked making people miserable.

This time the tears couldn't be stopped. She buried her face in one of the small cushions, her shoulders shaking with every heaving breath. The pillow was soon soaked with her heartache, salty tears sliding down to touch her lips. The lips that had, not too long ago, uttered her undying love to Rukawa Kaede. Only to have his own pale lips draw down in a frown and return her sweet words with cold, detached notes that shattered her heart in two. And as if that wasn't bad enough, to see him walking away with her best friend, arm slung around his slender waist in a possessive gesture she'd always imagined he would one day use on her, had killed her emotionally.

So what could she do now? She wanted to talk to Hanamichi. But, at the same time, she didn't want to hear him or see him. She was so mad at him!

A surge of passion swept through her wildly, like a wave of bubbling water breaking free of the restraints of a reservoir. It splashed and crashed through her, heating and cooling her entire body at once. Hanamichi knew she loved Rukawa, loved him with a passion that could never, ever be matched! She loved him in a way that could never be described in mere words, could never be really expressed, in her opinion. All she knew was that when she was with Rukawa, was in the same vicinity with him, she felt warm, full, ready to pop. A feeling of giddiness and...peacefulness...filled her in a way that made her want to fall to her knees and thank Kami-sama that he was gracing her with his presence. When he was gone, she felt as if half of herself were missing. As if there was a piece of her that had walked off with him, only to be returned when he was around once more.

And, knowing all this, for she had told him many times of her never-dying love for Rukawa Kaede, Hanamichi still had the inconsiderateness to take Rukawa from her, and all chances of her ever being happy.

She wanted to hate him. Every pore in her body was raw and screaming for her to hate him.

But her heart was sadly shaking its head. It knew she could never hate her best friend. After all, he'd always seemed as if he weren't complete himself. Something, a kind of sad tenderness, was always sitting at the edge of his expression, unnoticed by the rest of the world, waiting patiently for the day it would be able to show itself fully. She'd never seen him date; she'd never seen him really look at any of the girls at school.

She paused, remembering a rumor she'd heard not four months ago. Something about Hanamichi liking her. She shook her head. She didn't believe it then, didn't believe it now. He was her friend, nothing more.

What kind of friend would do this to you? Take the one you love from you? With friends like that—

She refused to finish the cliche. It was unnecessary. She felt her tears stop as she sat up. Crying would do nothing for her. Neither would sitting here bawling her eyes out.

Rukawa had said he didn't want her. He'd found love through a man. But she wouldn't take no for an answer. She'd wait, watch, and look for the weak link in the relationship, the sensitive spot. Then she'd strike.

Nodding with a firm decisiveness, she smiled grimly. She would have Rukawa, no matter what. If Hanamichi could play dirty, she could too.

This time the cliche couldn't be stopped.

All's fair in love and war...

~~~x~~~

TBC