Chapter 1: The Real Ruka
Ruka stood alone in the classroom, reflecting on the past years since he met Mikan. He knew everyone always thought of him as a gentle person, with a bunny on hand and his heart on his sleeve. Everyone knew of his devotion to Natsume, as well as his love for Mikan. If only they knew, He thought.
A woman came forward, lazily running her fingers over Ruka's chest. "Of all the places to take me, why here?" She whispered. Ruka clutched her hand to his chest and let out a small laugh. "You can't be that dense, Sensei."
"Mikan." The woman said, a little amused by Ruka's predictable answer.
"Ruka, what the hell." The voice was thin and deadly.
"Ah, Natsume-kun." Ruka turned to look at his best friend, seething in the doorway. "How did you know I was here?"
Natsume's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing Ruka. What if Mikan found in this situation, what would she think?"
"Gomen, Natsume." Ruka said, his eyes downcast. "I just needed to unwind."
"I'm going to leave you boys alone for now." The woman said, slipping through the door past Natsume. She was very afraid of this student, this black cat that everybody knew and feared. But Natsume only had eyes for Ruca, and for that moment, he was doing all he could not to beat his friend senseless.
"You couldn't do that Natsume," Ruca said with a smile, knowing exactly what was going on in Natsume's mind. "Besides, I'd probably knock you out, and then what will Persona do to me?"
Natsume gaped for a second, and gave a short laugh at Ruka's quip. No one knew besides him just how sharp and quick Ruka's mouth was. Smart Ass. Natsume thought with a smirk. His crimson eyes hardened. "Ruka, what are you doing. This is stupid, playing around with the substitute teacher. Tch." He didn't make an effort to hide his disgust.
"Natsume..." Ruka said suddenly, turning back to the windows, watching the pale moon hanging alone in the sky. "How are you and Sakura?"
Natsume's face was a cold, hard mask. His eyes bored into Ruka's back. "What's happening between us isn't something you should be focusing on, Ruka."
Ruka's face was uncertain. He closed his eyes. "I don't want to lose her to you. You're a bastard, and you'll only hurt her."
"You know as well as I do that you can do anything you want Ruka." Natsume paused, his voice laced with ice. "Like I said before, I don't plan on winning."
"But you're not going to lose, are you, Natsume?" Ruka shot back.
"Tch. I don't like losing to anybody." Natsume said and turned to walk away. He paused by the door, he and Ruka, back to back. Natsume faced the darkness of the corridor as Ruka absorbed the lonely light of the mid-autumn sky. "But neither do you, eh Ruka."