The Saying ~ [The Pig Pen]

The Saying

*If at first you don’t succeed…*

I racked my brain for the next part of the saying. Somehow it eluded me at that moment. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll remember when the time comes. For now I have to concentrate on the task at hand. I licked my lips in anticipation as I slipped the piece of paper into his locker. Yes, tonight is the night.

~*~*~*~

Rukawa Kaede trudged into the basketball club locker room. Time for practice. He opened his locker and was mildly surprised when a piece of paper flitted slowly to the floor. Impassively, he bent down and picked it up. The fox-like eyes narrowed slightly at the contents of the note but he just shrugged, stuffed it into his back pocket and changed into his sports attire.

~*~*~*~

*If at first you don’t succeed…*

Darn it! Why can’t I get this phrase out of my head! He’ll be arriving anytime soon and I have to concentrate if I’m going to confess tonight. I pushed the words to the back of my mind. Tomorrow would be soon enough to think about that. I wonder if he got lost looking for this place? Nah. He probably just fell asleep on the way.

I turn my head when I hear the bushes rustle behind me. Ah, he’s finally here. A rush of excitement flood my veins. Yosh! Tonight is definitely the night. I can’t wait to see his reaction to my proposal.

~*~*~*~

Rukawa walked into the secluded spot beside the lake, pushing several branches out of the way. It was dark but the moon offered some light so he could see where he was going. He approached the figure seated by the edge of the water.

“Do’aho. Why did you want to see me here?”

He sat down a few feet away from the redhead and looked absentmindedly out unto the water’s surface, waiting for a reply.

~*~*~*~

I don’t answer for a few moments. I just sat there, savoring the feeling of having him near me. Yes. It was time.

Mustering up all my courage, I blurt out my feelings.

“I like you, Rukawa.”

I turn to face him and waited for a response.

~*~*~*~

Rukawa blinked a few times when he heard those four words. At first he thought he just imagined them. But when he cast a sideway glance at the redhead, he found the other looking at him with a guarded look in his eyes.

And for once, Rukawa felt a rush of pity. He had never met anyone as unfortunate as the person who was with him right now. But he wasn’t gay. And the redhead had to know that as soon as possible.

“Sorry, do’aho. I’m not interested.”

With that, he stood up and turned to leave.

~*~*~*~

His words reverberated inside my head and I could only stare at his retreating back. No way. There was no way he could reject me like this.

And at that moment, I suddenly remembered the second part of the saying. A sardonic smile spread across my face. I knew then what I had to do.

I picked up a nearby rock, ran quickly and silently up behind him and sent it crashing to the back of his skull. He fell to the grass with a satisfyingly soft ‘thud’.

The words of the complete saying ran through my head, over and over again, like a broken record. Yes, I had to get rid of the evidence. No one must know. I found and destroyed the note I had sent him before I dragged his lifeless body into the murky water.

I walked away calmly, a smile on my face. The saying was right.

*If at first you don’t succeed, remove any evidence that you even tried.*

~Owari