Ey, there. I'm not exactly new to the site, but I'm new as a member. So welcome. Pen name is thehappyandroid but call me Ella, kay? Enjoy this story and review (no flames, thank you very much) If there's any mistakes, tell me!
I don't quite know how many chapters this will be, but I'm trying to reach for under 10, because I lose interest in a story quickly.
Summary: They're an unlikely pair, everyone, even the two of them, know it. But Hotaru has an ulterior motive. Plus, Ruka makes excellent arm candy for the meantime. For the moment, her job is much more dangerous than his fan club charging for her.
"Hello, Hotaru,"
Hotaru was once again greeted by him, like every day. Like how everyday, all girls gaped, even though it was a recurring event. Like how everyday, Natsume smirked at him in the halls and Mikan whizzed to them, squealing something she never, ever understood into her ear. How the fan club, who were always situated at the east wing, corridor 3B, in front of the English classroom. They always glared, chin-up, arm crossed. Hotaru simply pecked Ruka on the cheek and gave them one of her dare-to-cross-with-me looks and they simply scuttled away, murmuring amongst themselves.
"Afternoon, Nogi." Hotaru was still getting used to being called…well, Hotaru. Last week she firmly told Ruka that, yes, he had permission to call her by her first name, but no, she would not return the favour. Ruka simply laugh and grabbed her by the waist and pecked her on the cheek.
It seemed like every conversation ended with some form of affection.
Hotaru thought she was losing her edge.
"How was class?" He questioned, a smile. Did his eyes always sparkle? It was like he was eternally cheery.
"Oh, it was fine. They admired my new prototype for a language translator. I'll have to have the final finish after the break."
"I doubt you'll fail." Ruka told her. His arm was around her around, and they were walking towards Hotaru's laboratory.
You see, a couple like Ruka and Hotaru could certainly not walk through the campus without getting a handful of stares, and whisper huddles. No one dared approach them. Even though Ruka could never say no, Hotaru could never say yes.
"Hotaru!" Mikan flung herself towards the two, giving them a tight hug. "Hi hi hi! I missed you so, so much! Oh yeah, you two Ruka."
Ruka smiled. "That makes me feel nice."
"Oh, you two know I just kid. You look super, super cute. "
"Okay, Mikan. Go do your homework that you never seem to understand or finish and end up cleaning chalkboards afterschool because."
"You're mean!" Mikan stomped her feet. "I say hi and this is what I get? I'm late for chalkboard cleaning anyways."
Ruka burst out laughing while Hotaru rolled her eyes, resisting a smirk.
"She's crazy."
"Oh well," Ruka shrugged. They were getting closer to the laboratory now. "Let's just go."
Hotaru gave her pass card to the robot and the android accepted Hotaru and Ruka, as her guest. They clomped up some stairwells and finally arrived in Hotaru's large-not to mention private-laboratory, filled with knick-knacks, machines, tools and wires. Ruka always marvelled at this, and how his girlfriend could create such things.
"Thanks for walking me here," Hotaru murmured "And dropping me off."
"No problem," Ruka told her. "Mind if I hang out for a while."
"Okay." Hotaru replied. She kind of wanted to do something else, well, without him…
But Ruka had other ideas.
"So, are you going to have one of those Friday sleepovers with 'your girls'?" Ruka teased. "Or just Mikan."
His girlfriend scoffed. "I never have those things. The only times I actually slept over with Mikan is when she thinks there's a monster in her bedside table…under her bed…in her closet…"
"Wow."
"Exactly," Hotaru muttered, tinkering with a small, circular device. She flicked a switch and it started hovering and flying around the room.
"That's pretty sweet." Ruka whispered in awe. Hotaru smirked proudly before reaching on her toes to flick it off, the device slowly lowering down. She continued surveying it until-
They were suddenly kissing.
Now, after two months of dating Ruka Nogi (not to mention a lot of kissing), she learned to close her eyes and just go along with it. So when Ruka Nogi's lips landed on hers, she closed her eyes and joined in.
He wrapped an arm under her shoulders, pushing her closer to him. Hotaru snaked her hands on her necks and they just kept on going. They went deeper and deeper until Hotaru stopped herself, slowly pulling back.
"Mm, wait, mm, Ruka." She murmured, as he continued to lean forward.
"Ahh, sorry, mm." He mumbled. "What?"
"It's dinner soon. You should get going." Hotaru said flatly. "I have to fix that." She pointed to the hovering thing.
"Right." Ruka's cheeks turned pink. "You'll be there?'
"No, I'm skipping." Hotaru walked away, towards one of her many working tables and started meddling with the circular device. "Tell them I won't be there."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." She replied firmly.
Ruka sighed. He lingered behind her, kissing her on the cheekbone. It seemed like he took every liberty to kiss her. Or even touch her. Hotaru closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling. Ruka bid her goodbye and disappeared out of the door.
"Finally."
"Imai-san,"
Ring ring ring,
Hotaru lunged for the opening of her laptop, pushing it open. A man sat there, whisper-thin oval-shaped glasses perched atop his nose.
"Imai-san, Imai-san." He chanted.
"Shut up!" Hotaru hissed. "I'm not even supposed to have internet connection. You're damn lucky I tethered a network-"
"With our help, Imai-san." The man reminded. Hotaru rolled her eyes.
"Please go on." Hotaru asked politely, standing up to close the curtains. The glasses-wearing man cleared his throat.
"Well, how's he doing?"
"He's doing fine. Alice Academy has one of the best security systems. The only way someone could possibly do something to him is an inside job."
"Which is very, very likely. Aside from having the top teachers and security, Alice Academy has a past of treachery, Imai-san. Stay wary and alert, my dear."
"I know, I know. He's basically with me every breathing second. Except for now," Hotaru narrowed her violet eyes at the man. "Consider yourself lucky, Honda."
"Listen, Imai-san. There's a break starting Monday, right?"
"Yes."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's a two week break, non?"
"Correct."
"Then, I need you to protect him during that time."
"What?" Hotaru said dryly, but her eyes shone with surprise and anger. "No, Honda. The deal was, school protection. Hire someone to be in butler, or something. An inside job."
"Sorry, Imai-san. Truly, I am. But we can't. We have to use you. You're the closest to him, except for that funny little black-haired boy that we spotted hanging out with the fellow. But please."
"I can't keep up with this senseless charade anymore, you understand me?" Hotaru was challenging him now. And he would take the bait, obviously. "I can't. I can't go around, people staring at me, his fan club threatening me, and kissing him. Really, Honda. I'm putting my foot down. I can refuse. I can drop out."
"Try." Honda's voice lowered to a whisper. Suddenly the already-cold atmosphere in Hotaru's sleeping quarters turned colder. "But, you owe us."
Hotaru picked at the space bar on her keyboard for a few seconds. She could drop it. She could leave stupid smiley Ruka Nogi and Honda can get some other goon to deal with it.
But it was true. And yes, she felt utterly trapped.
And if there was another thing Hotaru Imai hated, other than feeling stupid, was feeling trapped.
Her eyes told Honda all as she gave him one lasting look and slammed the laptop closed.
