“Mou, Fuji! I can’t understand what you just said nya!” grumbled Kikumaru Eiji.  The red headed boy sat at his desk twirling his pencil between his fingers.

“Can you understand what I said ?” Fuji Syusuke sighed turning to the girl at his left.

“Well, better than what I read. Thanks Fuji-kun!” she smiled.

Fuji Syuusuke, Kikumaru Eiji and had been close friends since their first year. And as luck would have it they had been in the same class for 3 years straight. It was the 2^nd semester of their 3^rd year and for the end of the semester project, their class had to come up with a project to make items that are eye catching or edible to be sold in their school fair for fund raising.

***

“Heh? -chan understood what Fuji said? No fair!! Explain to me again!” whined Kikumaru clinging onto Fuji’s shoulder.  laughed shaking her head, he could be such a child.

Fuji smiled, “How about after practice? We are going over to ’s to do planning, right ?” Fuji turned towards , that beautiful angelic smile on his perfect face.

“Ah hai!” a slight blush crept over ’s face.  Her heart was racing

“Doshitano ?” Kikumaru asked curiously

“N-nothing… Um, should I get some snacks ready?” She stuttered out playing with her fingers

“Hoi! That would be nice nya! Ne, Fuji?” Eiji chirped

“Ah, that would be nice. But could you get me a rasp—“

“Raspberry pie? Sure, no problem!” smiled as she quickly scribbled in her note book

“How did you what Fuji wanted? Do you got a crush on him? Do you know almost everything about him nya?” teased Kikumaru

blushed furious at the words that Kikumaru had just spoken. “N-no… I umm….I have to go! See you guys later!”. tossed her books into her bag left the classroom as fast as lightning.

Fuji watched as she moved passed the windows and down the hall. Sighing he got up from his seat and began to walk to the door. “Eiji, why do you always tease her so much?”

“Because it’s fun nya! And it’s obvious that she likes and you know you like her too… Why don’t you just tell each other?” Grinned Kikumaru as he stood and stretched.

Fuji chuckled, “I would if I had the chance… But your childishness might have just scared her off”

“Nya? What’s that supposed to mean?” grumbled Kikumaru as he turned to face Fuji, only to find that he had left the classroom.

“Oi! Fuji! Matte!!”

***

While Fuji was at practice, was busy gathering snacks in a local supermarket. She bought some chips, poky and a few cans of soda.

‘Hmmm, maybe I should get some sandwiches as well” she thought as she glanced through the shelves in the bakery.

“Anou, sumimasen… Do you have any raspberry pie left?” she asked after 6 minutes of looking around.

“Of course, how many would you like?” The woman behind the counter said.

“Three please, thanks again!”  smiled.  ‘Perfect!  His favourite snack!’ She though as she took the packages from the clerk.

Leaving the bakery with the freshly baked pie, headed towards the check out and then home. The pie smelt wonderful and it would definitely taste nice since Fuji loved it.  She smiled as she thought about him.  She hoped he liked everything she bought and she hoped tonight went well. But most of all, she hoped she’d have a chance to talk to him without Kikumaru’s teasing. 

It bothered her that he knew how she felt about Fuji.  She hadn’t yet worked up the courage to talk to him about her feelings and every time she had just began to feel comfortable and confident in telling him, Eiji would embarrass her and she’d rush off.  Hopefully tonight would be different. The best part was they were staying over to work on the project.  Her parents were ok with it, as long as the boys stayed in the downstairs bedroom.  was excited, it was an opportunity most girls at her school would kill to have, both Eiji and Fuji spending the night.  It opened a great window of time to talk. 

***

“Ne, Fuji! Since we’re going over to her place why don’t you take this chance?” Eiji asked as he and Fuji walked out of the locker room.

“Fufufufu… I suppose so” Fuji smiled.  Any time she entered his mind he couldn’t help but smile.  ‘Yes, maybe tonight I will’, he thought to himself.

“Yay! This should be interesting!” Eiji piped raising two fists to the sky.

“But, I won’t do it when you’re around” Fuji added, turning a smiling face to his hyperactive friend.

“Uwaaah! Fuji-chan hidoi!!”  Eiji pouted, a rarely seen frown on his face

Kikumaru whined all the way to ’s house, and Fuji just enjoyed the amusement as he teased Kikumaru.

“Well, we’re finally here” smiled Fuji as he knocked on the door.

“ -chan!” Kikumaru called out.

“Gomen, I was in the kitchen” she apologised opening the door.

“Please, this way.” smiled as she led them in the house

“Ii yo betsuni” said the boys in unison as the walked into the house.

Sitting himself on the sofa, Fuji rummaged through his bag for his notes. The other two gathered around the small table. placed the snacks beside them so the two boys could eat and regain back their energy.

“So basically, we’re making transparent soap. All we need is a bar of un-moisturised soap.  We scrap it into tiny thin pieces, and boil it with 1/3 of ethanol and 2/3 of glycerol” Fuji said softly as he took some papers from his folder.

“That sounds easier than what you told me this morning, Fuji!!” grinned Kikumaru, his mouth full with food and tiny crumbs could be seen on his cheek.

giggled. “Ne, Fuji-kun… I’ve bought the soap earlier. How are we going to get ethanol and glycerol?”

“Neesan will be bringing it over later. You’re staying over for the project right Eiji?” Fuji asked turning towards Eiji who was still stuffing his face.

“Hoi hoi nya!” he said with a smile, crumbs flying everywhere.

“Alright… Then I guess we should scrap the soap now?” suggested as she stood up and went into the kitchen to get the soap, knives and a bowl to scrape the pieces into.

“Hai!” nodded the boys

***

While scrapping the soap, accidentally cut her finger, causing it to bleed.

“Ouch!” hissed as she watched the blood appear as a large crimson bead on her finger.

“ -chan!!! I’ll get some plasters, nyo!”  cried Eiji as he jumped up.

 “It’s alright Kikumaru-kun, I can manage.”  She sighed as she put down the knife.

“Nya, there’s so much blood!” Kikumaru said and ran to get the first aid kit in her kitchen.

 “Are you alright?” asked Fuji in a concerned voice.

“Hai!” she smiled, pressing a tissue on her wound

“Let me stop the blood” offered Fuji.  He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, softly. sucking on the wounded finger

blushed crimson, “Fu—Fuji!!”

While holding on to her hand, Fuji slid his other hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Their faces were just an inches away from each other.

Without any hesitation, Fuji slipped her finger out of his mouth and edged his lips closer to ’s, brushing it slightly. blushed and trembled a little.  Fuji swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his ears.  This was it!  Time to confess!

“ , daisuki.” He spoke softly.

“Fuji…”

A smile crept over Fuji’s face and he pressed his lips onto hers and parted them slowly. His tongue met hers and she sighed, relaxing in his arms.  Warm tears trickled down the girl’s face. Breaking the kiss Fuji cupped her face.  He smiled as he wiped her tears away with his slender fingers.

smiled and buried her face into his chest. “Fuji wa daisuki…”

***

“Ne, -chan… I finally found the first aid kit—… Wah!! Fuji!!!” pouted Kikumaru as he entered the room and found her on Fuji’s lap and in his arms.

Fuji chuckled and held the girl tighter in his arms. “I told you I wouldn’t do it when you’re around”

“Fuji—!”

-Owari-

Marishka [20/12/2004]

Edited by Kashii