Note: Please excuse how long this is. It wasn't supposed to get this long. :L

Kyuhyun sighed heavily as he stepped onto the airplane, all twelve of his other teammates either behind him or in front of him. Tomorrow was one of the biggest soccer games of his life, and it was in Japan, requiring everyone to pack up and travel through a plane. The teammates behind him were pushing, so he yelled back a very frustrated "Yah! Stop!", causing a couple to complain.

Kyuhyun was the team's goalkeeper. He was amazing at what he did, and he had blocked more passes in his short career than he could count. He had made Mokpo's pride and joy soccer team after graduating from high school, getting scouted by his coach, Yunho, after the team's last goalkeeper was injured. He loved what he did, and so did everyone else on the team.

Everyone had a place on the team; Hyukjae, Donghae, Minho, Junsu, Seungri, and Hankyung played offense, Kangin, Siwon, Changmin, and Sungmin played defense, Kyuhyun was the goalkeeper, and Taeyang and Shindong were subs just in case anyone got hurt or tired. It didn't happen often, but when Changmin got his shin broken from an opposing team member kicking it, they were really helpful in filling in.

Everyone else on the plane seemed to be pretty annoyed from all the rowdy soccer players. Despite them not wearing the same thing, you could tell them all apart out of the boarders. Kyuhyun grumpily pulled his ticket out of his pocket, meanwhile rubbing the backpack on his back in Seungri's face just to piss him off. 19A. Yes, a window seat, he thought happily as he found his seat and shoved his backpack under it.

He was dreading which person he had to sit next to. If it was a stranger, he had no one to talk to. If it was one of his team members, he'd probably end up shoving them in the aisle if they were annoying. He pushed people a lot. It was bound to happen.

But, when the person finally did sit down, it was none other than Hyukjae. Kyuhyun liked Hyukjae as a friend. The two got along pretty well, and Kyuhyun always went to Hyukjae when they won a game first to cheer with him, even though he was closest to Changmin. Kyuhyun groaned playfully. "Oh God, I have to sit with you?" he mocked.

"Shut up, you," Hyukjae laughed. "You could've been stuck with Kangin."

"Who got stuck with him this time around?"

"Hankyung."

Kyuhyun couldn't hold back his laughs. "He's definitely going to kill him."

"Oh, I know."

It wasn't long before the plane took off, and they were on their way straight to Japan. There were no stops, but the flight would take around two hours, so they would survive. Kyuhyun pulled out his iPod once the captain announced it was okay to use electronics, where as Hyukjae had lent his to Donghae, who was four seats behind them. Kyuhyun could see Hyukjae watching him out of the corner of his eye, so he looked up. "Yes?"

"What are you listening to?"

"Music."

"No duh. Can I listen?"

Nodding, Kyuhyun lent him an earphone and they leaned over as they watched Kyuhyun played a game. The side of their heads touched, but neither really mentioned it or did anything about it. It was the comfortable kind, not something you would consider flirting. After a while, Kyuhyun quit the game, getting frustrated with it as Hyukjae giggled at his teammate's behavior. They didn't stop listening to music, though.

Kyuhyun looked over at him. "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

Hyukjae shrugged. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't."

"Those players really know how to maneuver past the goalkeeper. I'm scared that I can't keep them away," Kyuhyun admitted, still pretty embarrassed that the charasmatic goal keeper everyone knew for being confident was saying he was scared.

Hyukjae laughed. "Don't worry. We'll keep them away from you, I promise."

Kyuhyun nodded. "Good."

After that, they both looked out the window, admiring the scenery. It was getting late, so the sun was setting and it was very beautiful. Most of the other players were asleep or absorbed in an electronic device, but Hyukjae and Kyuhyun wouldn't let this opprotunity for an amazing view pass them. And, before they knew it, they were warning to put on seat belts now that the plane was landing.

Kyuhyun took his earphone out of Hyukjae's ear and stuck the device back in his bag once the plane landed, everyone standing up to get out. Hyukjae wasn't very good at Japanese, and neither was Kyuhyun, but what he did know he pronounced better than Hyukjae. It's not like they would be here very much longer. They'd get a hotel tonight, play the game tomorrow, and go home the next day, probably hungover from celebrating.

"Hyuk, here's your iPod back," Donghae called to his teammate, handing the iPod back. Kyuhyun noticed that the ones that were sleeping looked beat. Kangin always slept, so he looked fine, but the others like Sungmin and Minho looked like they were about to drop. He just hoped they would be energized and ready to play tomorrow. If they didn't win this, the chances of going to the World Cup would be lost.

That couldn't happen.

"Come on, all of you. We have to get your luggage and then we can go home and sleep. Just don't do it beforehand. And, yes, I'm talking to all of you that look like you have a hangover," Coach Yunho ordered once they were in the terminal. Everyone nodded absentmindedly, and they walked to the baggage claim in a clump. Nobody really talked, the jet lag and sleeping on the plane wearing everyone out as all the baggage rolled around. Hyukjae and Kyuhyun got theirs quickly, and went over to their different friends, Changmin and Donghae.

Kyuhyun laughed at the sight of his sleepy friend. "Are you a little tired?"

"No, I'm ready to save the world. Of course I'm tired. How are you not? Everyone but you and Hyukjae aren't tired."

"It's because me and Hyuk didn't sleep. We were listening to music and looking outside the entire time. You're all just very lazy," he defended, crossing his arms and noticing that only Shindong had yet to retrieve his bags.

"Yah, don't be rude."

Upon noticing that everyone had their bags, the fourteen of them got in a bus that Yunho had called in ahead of time, thanking the driver in Japanese before letting everyone get on, putting bags and small luggage in the front seats before sitting in the back. It was quiet, for the most part, as it was late at night and everyone was tired out of their minds. Seungri was the one to stick up. "For a winning team, we are pretty pitiful right now."

"Eh, who cares, we're still going to kick Japan's tomorrow," Donghae reminded him.

Everyone nodded in agreement, garbled mumbles all around.

"As long as all of you get some sleep and are ready to play tomorrow, it doesn't matter what we look like right now. Nobody's going to drink until tomorrow night when we win, right?" Coach Yunho piped up, sprawled on a seat with his head against the window.

"Right," everyone said in unison messily.

"Good. And we will win tomorrow. I didn't waste two years with you pabos for nothing."

The bus finally stopped, and all the soccer players grabbed their bags and walked into the hotel they had stopped in front of. It wasn't very high class, but it wasn't something that would make you embarrassed to stay in, either. It was just average. Yunho walked through the empty lobby-- well, there was a couple that glared at all the players, knowing who they were-- and up to the receptionist, paying for seven rooms, two beds per room.

"Everyone, pick your roommate for the night," Yunho called as he was obtaining the keys for each room. "The only one left gets to sleep in my room."

Immediately, everyone tensed.

Yunho snored like you wouldn't believe.

"Eh, I'll sleep with one of the babies for tonight," Hyukjae sighed, wrapping an arm around Kyuhyun's shoulder and flicking the side of his head. Kyuhyun pushed him away playfully.

"Yah, don't flick me! And I'm not a baby!"

"You, Minho, and Seungri are the youngest ones. Therefore, you're a baby."

"Whatever. Let's get up to our room and sleep, yeah?" Kyuhyun asked upon getting his key from Yunho and everyone started boarding in seperate elevators and going to their rooms. One elevator couldn't fit fourteen grown men, especially not with Kangin and Shindong around.

"Yeah."

* * * * *

The amount of fans in the packed stadium was incredible. The sides were mostly even, fans either dressed in dark blue for Japan or red for South Korea. Everyone was cheering as both teams got on the field, sitting on the bench. Hyukjae was adjusting his shin guards under his socks when Kyuhyun went to go sit by him. "Are you still nervous?" he asked his hyung.

"Are you kidding? About ten times more than I was yesterday. This place is huge and full."

"How do you think I feel? You get mixed in with the others, but when they get close to me, all eyes are on the goalkeeper."

"You have this, dongsaeng. I've seen you play, and you and I both know that this stupid little team is not going to stop you from being an amazing goalie," Hyukjae told him, and Kyuhyun knew how sincere it was by the look in his eyes as he spoke.

"Thank you for that."

"You're welcome."

Yunho came over to them just then, even though all the players were on two benches. He had a bright yellow jersey in his hands, along with some white gloves. Kyuhyun knew that this was his. He had to be distinct from the others. "Thanks, Coach," he said as he slipped the penny jersey over his real one and the gloves on his fingers. However, even as the announcers started talking and introducing the game, Kyuhyun was still fidgeting and bouncing his legs.

He was so nervous. His stomach was flipping. What if they were really good shooters? What if they got right past him? What if he let his entire team down today? Would they hate him? Kick him off?

Of course not. Sure, they'd be disappointed, but can that really be helped?

"Kyu, your leg is bouncing so hard it looks like it will snap right off. Would you relax? It's just a game. It's not like it's the World Cup or something. You can relax and play like you normally do. You look so worried," Hyukjae said quietly. "Is there a way to help you relax? I can't stand to see you like this."

Kyuhyun didn't know how to respond. "I.. I don't know. I've never been this nervous."

Hyukjae chuckled. "I see that. Would a kiss help?"

"Su-- what?" Kyuhyun asked, stunned, turning to his friend with a shocked expression on his face. However, Hyukjae looked unphased, his short light blonde hair clinging to his forehead, his lips slightly parted, watching him carefully.

Now that he thought about it, Hyukjae was really... cute. He wasn't the most attractive in South Korea, or Mokpo, for that matter, but he definitely wasn't ugly. Kyuhyun still didn't know how to respond. He couldn't. He had never had someone kiss him, unless you count a fan kissing him on the cheek. Obviously, Hyukjae was serious. Still, he had no idea what to do. Did he say yes? But then what? Would Hyukjae kiss him in front of all these people?

There was some show going on on the field, therefore putting everyone's attention on it. Kyuhyun made a decision. A kiss wouldn't hurt, right? He was single, and he was discovering a new found love for Hyukjae, so why not? What was holding him back? Obviously not the fans in the audience. They were busy watching the thing going on on the field. So this was his perfect chance.

"Okay. Sure. I'd like a kiss."

Hyukjae smiled, before he started leaning in slowly, eventually his forehead meeting Kyuhyun's, their noses brushing, hot breath flying between the two of them, before Hyukjae pressed his lips gently to Kyuhyun's, both of their legs on either side of the bench, hands on each other's thighs. Nobody noticed, of course, which was a good but very surprising thing. When they pulled away, the act was finishing up, and it was almost time to play.

"Feel better?" Hyukjae asked softly, both of them returning to normal position on the bench.

"Much better. Thank you."

"I love you."

Kyuhyun laughed. "I love you too, Hyuk."

"Good. It's showtime, my little dongsaeng."

Kyuhyun didn't get to object before they were getting ushered onto the field. Kyuhyun took position in front of the net, bending his knees down and resting his hands on them, watching the ref intently on when he would start the game. Finally, the whistle was blown, and the game began.

Japan started out with the ball first, and they were getting pretty close to the goal, but Donghae quickly slid right in front of them and stole the ball away, passing it to Hankyung. In less than twenty seconds, South Korea had a goal, and the fans for them were going crazy. Yunho was smiling proudly from the side, Shindong and Taeyang standing up and getting into it already.

It went on like this. Most of the time, it was a battle for the ball, nobody really getting close to the goals until the ref had to blow the whistle and split people up so they could run the clock again. Finally, Japan got close to the goal, and all eyes were on Kyuhyun as he got low and watched the ball with his life. He couldn't let them score, even though there was a 7 - 0 ratio on the points.

The ball was shot in the high left corner, but Kyuhyun recepted it, jumping up and falling to the ground as the crowd screamed for his victorious save. He couldn't help but be very proud. Swiftly, he sent the ball flying with a punt to the middle of the field, and the game was back on, everyone fighting for the black and white soccer ball.

In the second quarter, Kyuhyun unfortunately let a shot slip his peripheral vision, causing in the first shot for Japan to be made. The Japan side erupted as Kyuhyun rolled back over from his failed attempt to block the shot.

Sungmin, who had been close while the shot happened, shrugged. "They had to score, eventually, my friend. But you're doing really well. We're kicking their . Just keep it up." He gave him a two-finger salute before heading back down the field, where the next play was about to start.

Sungmin's peptalk didn't work. Since that play, Kyuhyun had let two go. He didn't know how; he was so focused! Why did they slip past him like this? He looked forward and saw that Hyukjae was watching him as the ref got ready to blow the whistle. Not only did he look concerned, but he also looked very... sympathetic. Almost like he was sorry for Kyuhyun.

He didn't have time to dwell before the next play popped up, and the game continued. Shindong had replaced Kangin, as he was tired, and Taeyang was now in for Donghae. Kyuhyun puffed out his cheeks as his side scored from Seungri, thankfully. But he stiffened when the ball came in his direction, and he knew he had to get this. He couldn't let them score again.

And, this time, he caught the ball.

But not easily.

Somehow through the process of sliding to catch the ball, his leg had twisted painfully, and a searing pain spread through it, causing him to gasp in pain. Even though the South Korea side continued to cheer, people were starting to notice and stopped. The refs called time, and Kyuhyun's teammates were starting to circle him, as well as medics.

Of course this had to happen. The first time he had gotten hurt in soccer had to be during the most important game in his life.

"Guys, move out of the way."

"No, no, I'm fine," Kyuhyun insisted, biting back his pain as he fought to not show weakness. He had to play. He couldn't let his team down right now, not here, at least. He fought to stand up, and, after getting help from Yunho and a ref, he was painfully lifted to his feet. It hurt to even set his bad leg on the ground. Upon seeing him up, the crowd clapped for him in sympathy as he was helped off the field. His discouragement hid his pain from the injury.

Of all games.

This one.

"Easy," Yunho said softly as Kyuhyun hissed upon the table hitting his leg when he was lifted on it. "I'm going to take your sock and your shin guard off to look at it." Yunho held out his hand. "When it hurts, squeeze my hand. Okay?"

Kyuhyun nodded and took his coach's hand as the ref went to find the doctors. Immediately, he was hit with a wave of pain when Yunho pulled off his sock. He hissed and squeezed the hand like his life depended on it. Yunho looked at him with a smile, but his eyes showed worry. "Does it really hurt that bad?"

"You try falling like I did."

"I'll pass. Junsu took your position out there, just so you know. I don't know about how well he plays the position, but let's hope he's at least decent compared to you," Yunho said, continuing to smile apologetically as the shoe and sock were finally off, the shin guard falling by itself. Yunho sighed. "There. All done. The doctor will be with you soon. You'll get back on the field soon, I promise."

Once Yunho had left and the doctor gave an examination, he was told that his leg, specifically his shin, was severly sprained and he wouldn't be able to play for two weeks. He didn't know what to think. All he had was disappointment. Hyukjae probably hates me right now... Kyuhyun thought with a sigh as they wrapped his leg in gauze and gave him some crutches. He limped back out onto the field and checked the score. Mokpo was still winning, thankfully. Now, Sungmin and Minho were sitting out, and Sungmin watched him take his seat on the bench. "Sorry, buddy."

Kyuhyun mumbled, "It's fine" as he looked down at his pain-filled leg.

By now, the game was about to end. The score was 9 - 5, with Mokpo ahead. There were only 45 seconds in the game, but it flew by fast. Kyuhyun's eyes were glued on Hyukjae, who had the ball around the ten second mark. He would shoot and end the entire thing. He knew he would. That's the Hyukjae he had spent two years playing soccer with.

And, of course, he did.

South Korea was going to the World Cup. They had done it, even without the help of Kyuhyun in the last quarter. He couldn't help but feel half elated, half discouraged as Hyukjae and the others hugged on the field, including Junsu, who now had on what Kyuhyun was supposed to be wearing.

Everyone ran to the middle, even Yunho, but Kyuhyun just stood up, slipping his crutches under his arms and waiting for them to come over to him. Hyukjae looked so happy, so carefree, and Kyuhyun couldn't help but smile faintly. He was so cute. He had definitely fallen for him, and, even though it took the game and an injury for him to understand, now all he wanted to do was be with him.

Kyuhyun was way ahead as they all made their way to the bus, feeling very left out as he plopped in his seat (he chose the middle of the bus, farther away from all the noise) and leaned his head against the cool glass of the bus, closing his eyes, enjoying the silence as he stretched his throbbing leg on the seat, the other one resting on the floor.

Soon, his teammates started loading the bus, and they lowered their excitement a bit upon seeing Kyuhyun in his state. He honestly felt like bursting into tears. Two weeks. The World Cup was only in one. He couldn't even play in the one game that he would kill to, while everyone else could.

He finally opened his eyes and stared at the cieling of the bus. He heard a chuckle from the seat beside him. "So I guess you are awake. Everyone got quiet because we thought you were asleep."

"No. Just... disappointed," Kyuhyun mumbled.

"Kyu, we don't think any less of you just because you can't play. Changmin's been through this. Hell, remember when I broke my arm and couldn't play? I was crushed, but you helped cheer me up. This is no different. We're all just happy it wasn't something that could become permanent. You're a great goalie, and, even though Junsu kinda at being goalie, you in the beginning helped a lot."

"Yah, I heard that!" Junsu shouted from the back.

"I don't care! Stick with being a shooter!" Hyukjae laughed.

Kyuhyun looked down at his leg. "You don't understand, though. I can't live my dream. While you all go play in the World Cup, I'll be stuck on the bench with crutches," he reminded him.

"Trust me, you'll get to do it next year. We'll all try extra hard so that we make it so that you can play. Right, guys?" Hyukjae called to the back of the bus, who had obviously been listening to the conversation between the injured one and the pep talker.

"Right!" they shouted in unison.

Hyukjae smiled at him. "See?"

Kyuhyun smiled back, moving his leg slowly out of the way and patting the seat next to him. Hyukjae obeyed and sat next to him, watching as Kyuhyun smirked at him, their faces centimeters away. "Kiss me."

"Of course, crutchy."

The two's lips connected, but this was much more passionate than the last. It was so perfect, and, even though Hyukjae was still kind of sweaty, it was the best thing Kyuhyun had ever experienced. Suddenly, the fact that he would miss out on goalkeeping at the World Cup didn't seem so important anymore. Neither the fact that his leg was stinging like crazy right now.

The only thing he could focus on Hyukjae.

And, frankly, that's all he wanted to focus on.

* * * * *