Author's note: I thought I'd write up something like a prequel to "Café Starbuko". The slim possibility of this unusual pairing presented an interesting challenge. Hee.
Though now I'm not sure anymore if this story will go as planned and lead to the events of the aforementioned fic. Maybe it will, maybe it'll be a completely different story altogether. I'm just writing it as it comes. 'Wingin' it, you might say. XD
For NAtaku TAishi/Nerva al'Thor, who shares my interest in this bizarre pairing. Also for Ica, who started this madness.
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One Last Thing
He'd always loved seeing the students off on graduation day. Watching the students succeed gave him a sort of fulfillment, and also, he liked dreaming. While looking at each student who climbed the stage, he hoped they would use their alices as he hoped they would, for the good of others. And, maybe, some of them might come back to help the Academy change, like he did.
Admittedly, nothing much changed. He'd become headmaster, led the school for eight years, and yet students were still being treated as before, and if anything, more and more of the children were becoming restless. Like for example, that Dangerous Ability girl who killed a student during the escape attempt that year. Poor boy…
But it wasn't like Narumi to dwell to in the bad times, was it? At least he'd managed to see some kids grow up to be fine individuals.
Like Ruka, for example. Kind, as he had always been, but the boy disliked the Academy then. My, Narumi didn't expect that one to return and teach.
Another notable student, and the more surprising, was Hotaru. Of her batch, she looked the least likely to give a monkey's bottom about anyone, and here she was, the new headmistress.
Narumi smiled to himself as he stood under a tree at the very end of the courtyard. The wind whipped at his coat and blonde hair, as well as the togas of the students who sat in rows facing the stage. On it, Imai Hotaru gave her closing speech after giving the graduates their diplomas.
She HAD changed. Not because she was doing a speech, of course. It was because she had agreed to become the headmistress in the first place.
The blonde could not stay. He glanced one last time at the woman on the stage, and then walked off. The Academy was in good hands.
x x x
"You forgot your…paper weight."
"Thank you, Noburu-san, but you can have that." Narumi looked up from his luggage to smile at his employer. "Think of it as my parting gift."
The old man blinked and stared down at said paper weight. It was a figure of a naked man in a barrel. The barrel could actually be lifted off him, and…Well, let's just say he thought the thing was vulgar.
Actually that had been a gift from Ruka, who said he got him from someone else. While the toy amused him for a while, Narumi could get rid of it. He wondered how many people had already passed it down…
Noburu was probably thinking of throwing it away or refusing it, but being the polite man that he as, merely muttered a half-hearted thanks and walked off. Meanwhile, Narumi continued to pack.
He'd only been working in the Central Town bookstore for a few months, so he couldn't believe how much he had to pack. Maybe he should leave more of his paper weights behind.
Why did students keep giving him paper weights anyway? Not that he didn't appreciate the Christmas gifts he'd been given over the years, but they could have thought of a change. Socks would be nice. Or an authentic Victorian dress—that would have been really nice.
A picture frame fell from the bed where he had placed his brief case. Narumi picked it up and smiled.
It was a graduation photo of him and his former homeroom class. Mikan was waving frantically in front.
"Now why didn't any one of them see me off?" he said to himself. Natsume was in Central Town, like he was. Ruka was surely not sick enough to not come for a visit, and Hotaru…
Ha. As if she would bother herself for that.
But not even one student? Aww. He wasn't that weird a teacher, was he? No parting gifts for any of them!
Really, none. He didn't have the money.
After a few moments of his mental tantrum, he closed his briefcase and made for the door…
Only to find someone standing at the doorway.
"Hotaru?"
x x x
Hotaru's blank eyes met his equally indigo ones, only his were wider.
"You sound surprised." Her voice was level, with the faintest hint of amusement. None of it could be read on her face, though. Not even the mild disappointment at him sounding like she wasn't wanted there.
Narumi composed himself and chuckled, shaking his head. "No, just...Well yes, surprised. Is there something wrong at the school?"
She often came to him, asking for advice. Of course she wasn't going there because she lacked competence; she only valued his experience and insight. Though sometimes the conversation would sometimes wander to friendlier topics…But that wasn't her fault. Narumi had a gift for socializing. Come to think of it, Hotaru became more open around him.
"No, nothing wrong. I'm much more competent than the last headmaster." She said this with a smirk.
It was an old joke. Narumi merely did a mock pout, doing an effeminate gesture of touching his chest. "That hurt, Hotaru. Even from you."
Well, he WAS sacked. But that was beside the point. Back to business. "How does dinner sound?"
Again, Narumi stared. Hotaru could shoot him with her Moron Gun for looking so darn stupid all the time.
"Dinner?"
"Yes. We're celebrating the fact that you're leaving."
The blonde burst into a chuckle and glanced at his briefcase. "You really mean that?"
"Of course. Good riddance." she replied sarcastically.
"You break my heart, Hotaru." He sounded sincerely hurt.
She SHOULD pull out her gun and…
"So where will you bring me? Not somewhere shady, I hope." His casual tone had returned.
Hotaru's lips quirked up. If anyone thought Narumi was easy to read, they were dead wrong.
x x x
Hotaru had good taste, Narumi noted as he looked around the place. They were in what looked like a four-star restaurant with waiters and customers in formal attire. Compared to them, Narumi looked drab in his simple shirt and slacks.
"Maybe I should go get a coat." he said, looking down at his clothes. "I look ghastly."
"Don't be ridiculous." Was it him or did she sound amused? "You look fine."
"I don't feel like it."
The waiter who met them at the door showed them to a table by the windows. Being the gentleman that he was, Narumi pulled the chair back for her.
"What will you have, Sir?"
Narumi shook his head. "Oh, no. Let the lady order first."
The waiter nodded and turned to Hotaru. Meanwhile, the blonde once again studied his surroundings. Wooden panels lined the walls, as well as mirrors. It looked as if ornate wooden mirror frames surrounded them. The tables were of black wood, as well as the chairs. The dim, yellowish lights worked quite well with the mood. A decorative lamp was in the center of his table, as well as the other tables.
"Narumi?"
Hotaru's voice brought his attention back to the waiter. After a quick browse through the menu, he ordered for himself.
"Won't anybody else be coming?" Narumi asked.
"No."
"Oh? Just the two of us, huh?"
"Yes."
"My. Am I that unpopular or does no one know you arranged this little date?"
Hotaru did not answer and instead pulled out a small, colorful box with a lever. It was a Jack in the Box. She looked back at him, her face unreadable. "I arranged this so you could help me with something. I-"
"Champagne, Sir, Madame?"
The waiter had returned. Narumi had a glass poured for him, while Hotaru declined. When he had left, she immediately continued.
"As I was saying-"
"STOP THAT MAN!"
Narumi turned to see a man running through the restaurant, a waiter right behind him. Maybe he'd skipped the bill? The waiter was a fast; he'd caught up with the man and jumped at him from behind. There was a loud thud and an "Ow!" when they hit the carpet.
"Ouch." Narumi cringed. "Dear me, so much commotion in a restaurant like this…"
"Ignore him." Hotaru told him just as Narumi was about to stand to watch the two wrestle on the floor.
"What was it you were going to say?"
Hotaru pushed the box towards him and, with her hand still touching it, she said, "This is a lie detector, something I invented in middle school."
Narumi frowned at her.
"Don't be mistaken, it's more accurate than anything the police have. What I want you to do is answer my questions truthfully."
The blonde began to smile. "A game? I really don't-"
"You will not lie to me." she cut off, pulling out at familiar-looking gun. "You wouldn't like it."
Her former teacher froze and stared at her.
"By the way, I also have these." she placed some pictures on the table, and Narumi's jaw dropped.
They were pictures of him and former students, male or female. Narumi remembered the scenes to be completely innocent, but in the angle in which the pictures were taken…
"How did you get these?"
"None of your business." she answered coolly, placing her hands on her lap. "Now, I think you'll be telling me the truth.
He was still staring. It was unbelievable.
"First question. Have you ever used your alice on me?"
"What?" His voice had already sounded panicky.
"Answer the question." Hotaru started fiddling with a dial on her gun.
If he was standing, Narumi could have backed himself to a wall. Watching the hand that held the gun, he answered, "Y-yes."
The woman's violet eyes turned to him, and a finger rested on the Moron Gun's trigger. "How often?"
Now she sounded threatening.
"Once." the blonde answered nervously, glancing at her lie detector.
Hotaru looked at it too, but quickly returned her gaze to him.
"When?"
Narumi paused. How did the lie detector work? Was it like the ones who measured how nervous someone was? Probably not, considering he was practically sweating buckets.
"In high school…" he answered slowly. Nothing happened to the Jack in the Box. Strangely, Hotaru lowered her gun. "…I borrowed your hologram wardrobe, remember? That's how I got it without a fuss."
The raven-haired woman observed him for a few moments, glancing at the lie detector on the table. They were both so silent that when Hotaru spoke, the former headmaster jumped.
"I see." The box, pictures, and Moron Gun disappeared insider her bag. "So that's why I didn't get any money from you then."
Narumi allowed himself to relax, but he couldn't speak just yet. What was that all about?
The waiter returned, and Hotaru smiled at the blonde. "Now, let's have dinner."
He gaped at her. It was amazing how smoothly she could change from intimidating to cordial.
"Narumi…" Hotaru spoke again after a while, frowning at him. "…you're being oddly quiet today."
He was being odd? What was the lie detector for? And why was she wondering if he'd used his alice on her and didn't get angry that he had?
"And by the way…"
Narumi started. Her hand had moved towards her bag.
BAKA!
The projectile hit him square on the head, toppling his chair over.
"That's for thinking you can get away with stealing from me."
Narumi remained on the floor while some of the other customers started abandoning their tables.
x x x
"That wasn't fair."
"You stole from me."
"I didn't steal it. I borrowed it."
"Borrowed without proper permission."
"That was proper permission."
"You used your alice."
"Only a little. Besides, that was years ago. You could have at least let me eaten my fish before knocking me out cold."
The exchange was less heated than it could have been, mostly because Hotaru had already exacted her revenge and Narumi was either suffering from a concussion, afraid of another Moron Gun projectile, or just plain mellow that night. Either way, he was fairly silent as Hotaru drove him back in a small car she built herself. Even the headmistress was silent after their short exchange, but that wasn't too surprising.
"This isn't the book shop." Narumi pointed out when Hotaru drove into a basement parking lot. She turned off the engine, kept her hands on the wheel, and stared ahead.
"I can see that for myself."
Silence.
"You can't possibly still be angry with me." Narumi started. "I'm the one who's just had the worst farewell dinner of my life."
Hotaru ignored him, once in a while glancing at the dashboard. Narumi would glance at it too, wondering what she was looking at. There was a set of gauges, buttons, a small monitor, and a digital clock.
"Is there any reason we're here?" he asked.
"Yes. Wait." was her curt reply.
Narumi went back to sitting quietly in his seat. He observed her idly, noting how much she had changed over the years. Imai Hotaru no longer sported the short, boyish cut, but rather long, raven-haired, evenly cut hair. It framed her face quite nicely, and with her fair complexion gave her the countenance of the perfect Japanese beauty.
She was no soft geisha, of course. But Narumi wondered if those lips of hers would ever smile more often, not smirk or look like she had something under her sleeve. A genuine smile, or better yet a laugh.
Hotaru again looked at the dashboard, and this time, Narumi was able to follow her gaze.
She was looking at the digital clock.
"Is it…?"
It was time. She began unfastening her seatbelt, but after a second frowned and struggled with it. Narumi quickly leaned towards her.
"Let me."
The lock was a tricky one. He had to shake it—violently—a few times and figure out how it actually opened. Hotaru made weird locks. After a couple of minutes of fiddling with it, he heard a small click.
"There." he panted, looking up. He was staring straight at Hotaru's face. Not to mention their faces were only a couple of inches from each other that any slight movement could have their noses touch. Hotaru didn't move and instead raised an eyebrow. She was probably waiting for him to move away, but strangely, he couldn't.
He was so close to those lips he wished would show her emotions more, eyes that were like his in color but entirely different otherwise. It felt nice to stare at them. He didn't even realize their lips had touched.
Eyes snapping open, Narumi jerked back. He'd leaned in too close. "I…sorry." Heart pounding, he squinted to see her eyes in the dim light. They were as blank as ever.
"Pervert." she said.
He knew it; he was DOOMED. There wasn't any space to dodge, and she could blast him before he could open the door behind him. Instead, he threw his arms over his head and braced himself.
Nothing happened.
The blonde opened an eye and peeked from under his forearm. Hotaru was no longer in her seat. Or in the car, for that matter.
"Are you going to sit there or are you going to come upstairs?"
Narumi lowered his arms and blinked at the woman who stood outside the car.
-end of chapter one-
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Footnotes
The 'barrel' man is sold in at least one city in the Philippines, Baguio. And no, I don't have one. I'd rather have candy or strawberries from Baguio. 8D
Some people actually like staring at pretty lips. Just staring, mind, not kissing.
Whoah, that was long. The next chapter should be shorter. Maybe. I dunno.
I'm not very experienced in writing romance, so reviews are VERY MUCH appreciated. Flame me, type up a two-page list of all things you don't like about my writing, whatever. Just don't say "I hate you, HxR ROXXXX" or anything like that. That's just lame. I think I know how much the pairing sounds like crack without you telling me.
