From the corner of the room, the black-haired boy looked around himself. In this warm room, he could see a boy with sweet face playing cards with Tetsu. Well, those two were always together. He paid no attention to them and then, looked at the large group of children around his ages gathering in the center of the room.

A talkative pink-haired boy who seemed to be the leader captured every single's attentions. They seemed to have a fun chatting with the group. The skinny boy let out a long sigh. He had never liked to join in any party as he knew that he couldn't get along well with people.

He watched Sugizo who happily narrating his playful story to the group.

"I don't understand why Sugizo could make that easy friendships with everybody except me"

The boy thought to himself.

Even they were in the same school but it seemed like the pink-haired boy was always dislike at everything he did.

Actually Ryu didn't want to come when he knew that Sugizo would also come. But he couldn't refuse as this party was held by Yoshiki!!!! Hide would punish him if he said that he didn't want to stay at home.

So looked at the result, didn't he be left alone here in this room with his classmates and Hide just disappeared to somewhere else. He would now talk happily with Yoshiki and other guests.

Being in bad mood, the slim boy then wrapped his arms around his bony knees. In the back of his mind, he thought of his only friend.

"Hakuei.... Where are you? I'm so lonely"

Just then, the tall boy lift his head up and saw the figure sitting in the corner of the room. Sugizo felt disappointed to see Ryu sat in the place like that. The pink-haired couldn't understand why that black-haired boy was so timid, solitude.... such a tiresome guy. He knew that Ryu had bad health and that also annoyed him. Why didn't he ask for someone to help him. He didn't need to separate himself from the group for such of that reason.

And there was another reason which made Sugi dislike most. In school, everyone knew that the pink-haired was the best in every subject even in classical music. He was also popular among friends. The tall boy was so proud of himself but still there was a boy who seemed to be his rival. The tall blond-haired boy, Yoshiki's adopted son. Sometimes Hakuei got the highest scores in the class and the pink-hair was the second. In P.E test, sometimes he won and sometimes it was Hakuei.

So Sugi considered Hakuei as a perfect rival and suited for him. But what made him annoyed was that everything Hakuei would do was only for that dead-liked walking boy, Ryu. Those two were always together and Sugi didn't like it. He felt that Ryuichi had nothing suit to be Hakuei's partner.

By then, someone opened the door and entered the room. It was the host's eldest son, Hakuei. Children in the room made a cheerful greeting and some girls ran toward the blond-haired boy to persuade him to join the big group. The tall boy politely refused while looking around to search for something or someone....he headed toward the direction..

"Ryu! Why are you sitting here?"

Ryuichi looked up and his eyes shone happily when he saw his friend's face.

"Osoiyo. Hakuei. You left me alone."

"Gomen gomen. I'm helping my father greeting the guest. Where's Kyo? I asked him to find you"

Ryu shrugged

"Well, I didn't see even his shadow"

"That walking mushroom would go see Toshiya for sure"

Ryu laughed. Both of them continued talking without knowing that their whole conversation was closely observed by a tall boy from the center of the room.

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Ryu folded his arm tighter as the chill wind blew passed him. He touched his face and noticed that even his fingers were as cold as ice.

"May be I should go inside"

The slim boy thought inside of his mind. By this time, he was waiting for Hakuei at the balcony.

From the clear window glass, he could see the inside guests, he didn't want to talk with them about how his medical treatment was so he made an excuse and went out here.

Yet the weather was getting cool as it was about 8 p.m. Ryu decided to walk back to the warm hall but someone blocked his way. Ryu felt a bit uneasy to see this classmate.

"Would you please give me the way?"

Ryu questioned the pink-haired boy. Still, Sugizo didn't make a move. He pretended like Ryu's word was nothing but wind's sound.

Seeing Sugi's non-reaction. Ryu was upset and tried to push Sugi aside. The pink-haired boy got furious.

"How dare you! Don't you know who I am?"

Sugi firmly grabbed Ryu's wrist and pressed him hard.

"Itai!"

Frightened, Ryu cried out. He wanted to stay as far as he could from the pink hair.

"AHHHH! Let me go!!"

Sugi still grabbed his wrist and Ryu felt pain.

"What do you want from me? Get out off my way! YOU! Spiky head!!"

Sugi held Ryu's arm harder.

"What did you call me? You faint walking kid!"

Then, something came too the pink hair's mind.... Yes, he used to hear some story....

Something about Ryu's water phobia.

His lips curved up into an impish smile. He could hear the sound of wave. Yoshiki's new house was situated near the seashore.

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2/24/00 11:06:32 PM