AN: Yes I am ashamed… very ashamed…

Chapter 10: Avoidance

~~~Shalalalala~~~

The following days after the "definite-never-going-to-happen" talk, things gradually got back to how it was.
Tokine and Yoshimori got over the awkwardness quickly as they worked side by side at night. Years of working as partners ingrained enough for them to act professionally whilst on the job.

But there are subtle changes. The biggest one is walking home.

He's not waiting for her anymore… He makes sure he's out the classroom well before her or he lingers at school to ensure missing her on the way home. If they somehow end up at the same time, he'll deliberately take a different route.

She doesn't mention it, but she noticed it big time and I'm pretty sure it hurt from the looks of it.

Still if this is his only problem/hurt issue then I think we all got out of it reasonably unscathed. I'm sure they'll be okay. But just to be on the safe side I'm keeping a close eye on them. Checking with Tokine regularly to see how she is doing and… I've come… I'm not sure how to say it… But I have suddenly developed a habit of walking Sumimura home… It was a reflex, I swear! When I noticed him avoiding the Sumimura girl I kind of panicked and unknowingly jumped in to fill the void. To keep an eye on him of course, maybe offer some support. But it's weird. Not because it feels weird, but because I literally feel like I have replaced Tokine.

The walks are okay though. It helps that he doesn't need me to talk back at him, he frequently fills in my own thoughts by saying things like: "Ofcourse you think that's stupid." "You agree with me." Or "Stop looking at me like that."

As luck would have it we run into Tokine. She's a bit up ahead and was about to turn a corner when she spots us. She halts in her movements… Yoshi stops as well the second he sees her. Then she waves and Yoshi hesitantly waves back. She smiles and turns the corner, out of sight. Yoshimori lets out a relieved sigh. I roll my eyes. And as suspected Yoshimori wants to take another route to avoid running into her again.

"Lets head this way! I was planning on going here anyway."

I very much doubt that but I follow him anyway, I've got no place better to be.

We end up at a park and he walks straight up to the pond as he grabs his backpack. "Hey, come on Gen!" I mosey to his side, hands in my pockets, just a little bit curious what he's got in his bag…

It's bread… Old bread. Some of it is hard and it makes a loud crack as he splits it into little bits and pieces. "Here!" He hands me a few. I stare at them… Not sure what the idiot wants. But then I suddenly see a duck near my feet… Actually more than one… They are gathering to where we are standing and Yoshimori is throwing the harder bits into the water for them to get soggy.. .Some of the softer bits he throws at his feet for the daring ducks who were brave enough to leave the water. "Cool right?" He says. "When I told my dad about your hobby he promised me to save up on any bread he could find."

I still have the slices of bread in my hands as I stare at him. "Hobby?"

"Yeah!" … he hesitates staring at the bread in my hands… "You said you liked ducks. You… you feed them right?"

Oh right! I did! Well, I don't actually… but I said I did. I don't really like ducks… well I don't hate them, I just don't have any preferences for any kind of animal…

He's looking at me, as if trying to decipher a puzzle and I realize I'm not reacting in the way he expected me to react. He would have expected me to react thankfull? With appreciation? He wanted to share this experience with me? Why? I shake my head… I need to keep this simple. He went out of his way to gather bread so we could feed my "favorite" animal. I should simply feed said animal and say thanks.

"Thanks." And I break up the pieces of bread like I saw him do and toss them to the critters at our feet. They are quacking happily and scouring the ground for bits of food.

"No problem." He's silent for a bit… pensive.

"You've never done something like this?"

I freeze… He's on to me… Am I that bad of a liar? "Uh…" I can't really answer that question I've never went to the park to feed the ducks. My sister might have… But I don't remember there being any near our home… I don't remember much of that time anyway… I might have to lie to him… Or risk him getting even more suspicious… I just can't believe he figured me out… how…

"I mean with someone… You've never gone out with someone to feed the ducks?"

My hearth is pounding merciless as I realize he's not onto me, what was I thinking? This is Yoshimori we're talking about. "No." I answer his question truthfully.

"My dad used to take us all the time. Me and Tokimori loved it. Masamori didn't realy care about it. Thought it was a waste of time."

"Yes I can see he would think that." And if I were with anyone else I would surely agree…

It's getting dark and the ducks have long since abandoned us. Pretty much the second we ran out of bread, they went off to find some other feeders. Ungrateful little critters they were. Yoshimori didn't mind. He discarded the empty bag in a trashcan and took a seat at the bench beside it.

As I take a good look at him I suddenly feel the urge to talk. Actually the thing that has been bothering me for the past couple of days… Tokine.

"You had that bread ready as an excuse to avoid running into Tokine did you?"

"What No!"

"My dad has been saving up for weeks now, ever since I told him, He only gave me the bag this morning. I didn't use it to avoide Tokine…" but he avertes his eyes as he says it and I know it is only partly the truth but not wholy.

"I get it."

"You do?" He sounds surprised.

"Yeah, I would probably do the same if I were you."

"Oh"

"It's just… I think you are hurting her feelings."

"eeeh? I am?" Panick is seeping into his eyes. But I take no mercy and simply nod to confirm.

He looks pensive again… "I don't mean to hurt her."

I know he doesn't. And even though he got hurt first. I believe there is some justice in both of them hurting for just a bit… But enough is enough. I don't have to tell him that though, he's naturally good hearted.

"I guess I'll try to make it up to her somehow. I just really do not want to walk with her and pretend everything is normal… Because it's not."

I nod as a good friend who listens does.

"I don't want her to be unhappy."

I look away, he's hurting again… I can feel it. But this time it's for another reason. I think we might be have moved on onto another stage of grieving… Maybe we can get past this very quickly… I know something that would make Tokine very happy… As I remember the blush she showed when that 'Chad' guy had brought her her bag. Or the grin as I commented on his height…

"You know I think she has a crush on a guy in her class."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah, Brad something. He's really tall and I guess he's pretty nice to her."

"But… why? I've never seen her show interest in any other guys."

"She doesn't believe it can work. With being a kekkaishi and all."

Yoshimori seemed to ponder my words for a second before reaching a conclusion. "That's stupid! Not that Tokine is stupid… but you know. If she likes a guy even if it's a stupid jock she should be able to… date him I guess…"

I can only agree. "Well she told me part of it was that there was no way she would slack off while our teamwork.." I point to the two of us. "..still needs some work."

"We're not that bad are we?"

"Well… We still tend to clash. The past few weeks really haven't been the best to plead our case."

"I guess so… "

"Gen!"

"What?"

"We should totally train together!"

"What do you call what we do at night?"

"No… well, yes we train then too sometimes… but we kekkaishi train during the day too you know."

"You mean you don't sleep all day?"

"Pffft… you know I sleep at school… I don't know how Tokine manages it though, she must be one of those few people that don't need a whole lot of sleep… So unfair…"

"Okay…" I'm pretty sure the key word is discipline.

"We can start right now!" He goes on enthusiastically. "I know just the place!"

And without waiting for my consent he takes off, dragging me along with him.

And I'm totally okay with that. I would follow him to the end of the world.

~~~Shalalalala~~~

AN: My dear readers. I'll apologize in advanced. I have the attention span of a goldfish and it will probably take a while for me to update. So sorry… T.T

Next chapter: Workout!