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A/N: Hey, there! I'm back with my new RukaRuk fanfic, and I have to say...this one is the longest G.A. fanfiction I've ever managed to write and upload. And I hope you'll like it!

So...here it is then! :D

P.S. Thanks for even bothering.

Enjoy! :]

Chapter 1: Board work distractions, Happy Baka Gun moments, and Chicken Pox

"Calling Ms. Hotaru Imai of High School department, please proceed to the director immediately."

The message repeated for a couple of times before she met the distracted teacher's eyes. A few curious ones darted to her direction as she thought for a second, fixed her things, and with a nod from the teacher-in-charge, went out of the classroom.

It didn't cause so much fuss, though; they were all kind of used to announcements like that—especially when it's Hotaru Imai. They usually meant that she'd have a visitor of some sort—either possible investors for her inventions, or suitors that were obviously going to be rejected. Not that she'd actually blab about any of those things; it's just isn't easy not to know them—words spread so fast.

Ruka Nogi was staring at the door for quite a while now and only looked away in shock upon earning a good elbow from his bestfriend beside him. "Oh, uhm…w-what?" He stuttered, his cheeks slowly turning pink as he met the Black Cat's dissecting eyes. Natsume smirked, and jerked his head towards the now pissed teacher. The blond felt like shrinking even more at the sight of the whole class' curious, perceptive smirks.

"As I was saying, Mr. Nogi, before you got pretty much distracted by Hotaru Imai's exit...", the teacher said in gritted teeth, obviously trying to lengthen his patience. "Would you mind answering the first problem on the board?"

Clearing his throat, he glanced back down to his book and went to the board, trying his best to ignore the eyes boring down on his back. He shrugged off fragments of his recent thoughts and concentrated on his work—which was supposed to be pretty easy if not because of the distracting giggles from his fangirls and Koko's irritating snickers.

Note to self, he thought irritably as he boxed his answer on the board, Try to make this mind-reader's life a little miserable. That's pretty much out-of-character, but who can blame him? Koko knows just too much by simply reading Ruka Nogi's thoughts—and that's really something he should get worried about.

"Well, done." The teacher clapped his hands once as Ruka put the marker on the table. He was feeling a little proud of himself, for being able to concentrate for a while, but it didn't take him long to drift back to embarrassment as the teacher smirked at the class. "I guess Ms. Imai's not a distraction after all."

"Isn't it supposed to be a week long?" She asked, managing to be convincingly calm even in the surging emotions deep inside her.

"No, that privilege is for the Best Student Award." the high school director paused, and she didn't bother ask who's that award for. "You'll be given just one day. However, Ms. Imai…" the man said, taking off his reading glasses and looking up to the brilliant student in front of him. "Unlike previous cases of this incentive, you ought to bring with you a fellow classmate of yours."

Hotaru Imai blinked, almost lost in the engulfing happiness she was feeling deep down that her façade almost gave in. "A chaperone?"

The director chuckled, finding her expression quite amusing—considering how her face didn't actually bear any emotion. "Apparently, yes." He replied and glanced at his pocket watch as if sending off a quiet message that he'd have plenty more things to do other than conversing with a high school student. "For the purpose of…ah, "He smiled at her in a rather convincing, grandfather-ish way. "…a reminder—that you have plenty of reasons to come back here."

And as if on cue, the secretary went in the office and ushered her out. Under normal circumstances she would've found it a little rude, but she got used to how the Academy works; and she was just too…happy, to care about anything.

When she reached the corridors, it was quiet—classes were still on. Doing her best to control herself but just couldn't help it, she allowed herself a smile.

She's going home.

Mikan screamed. —BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! — But she was just too happy to feel the pain, you know. "Oh, Hotaru!" She wailed and threw herself to her bestfriend— BAKA! BAKA! — "I'm soooo happy for you!" —BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

But the Ice Queen was so happy, too, and feeling less like herself because of this, she allowed her bestfriend the hug. "I'd better get disinfected." She mumbled as Mikan squeezed her in a tight embrace. "Your breath stinks, you know."

Mikan pulled away a few inches, her arms still around her bestfriend, and asked: "When is this going to happen?"

"Four days from now."

"Really?" —BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! "Ouch, Hey! Hotaru!"

"You really should stop yelling at my face, idiot."

Mikan wiped the happy tears on her face with both hands and took a step back. "I'm just so happy!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes, but there was an unmistakable smirk playing on her lips as she kept her gun away. "And by the way, ", she said and glancing back to the brunette before walking from her working desk to the open window of her three-star room. "You're coming with me."

It took her twenty-four hours—from the moment the director told her—to tell Mikan about the news. And prior to Mikan's screaming and infectious hugs, another twenty-four hours had already passed; and now she wondered, as she quietly walked to class, how many people learned about it.

Not that Mikan would actually tell everybody about it. It's just that, she perfectly knew that it was just a matter of time before her bestfriend could keep the news from her special guy. So Natsume Hyuuga ought to know about it by now. And considering that, she thought to herself as she opened the door and stepped into the classroom, by now Bunny Boy knows about it, too.

And as if on cue, her eyes darted across the room and met the enticing, blue orbs that suddenly went huge upon seeing her. She raised her eyebrows and looked away, casually walking to her seat. Strange how she didn't feel tempted to blackmail him this morning. She usually had this annoying urge not to leave him in peace; but now she just felt like ignoring him—as well as the erupting giddy feeling she started to have since a couple of months back, which she didn't want to get accustomed to since it would mean she'd start to squeal like a fan girl whenever Bunny Boy walks pass her.

Her eyebrows twitched—she really should stop reading those stupid Vampire books. They seriously confuse her with their human-mythical creature tandems that were obviously messing up with the readers' thoughts towards reality.

Like now, for example, when she kind of felt that it was Bunny Boy's eyes that's boring down on her back and that any time now he'd walk towards her and ask where Mikan is.

.

..

…

See? Those books ought to cause daydreaming, too!

She sighed and opened her textbook, and apparently found herself staring at it. Glancing at her watch, she looked around her. Mikan's indeed supposed to be here by now.

Then the school bell rang.

But Mikan didn't come, and that worried her a bit because her bestfriend hardly misses any classes even though her boyfriend's kind of a delinquent child but still a genius even without studying. However, that didn't stop Hotaru to stay in full concentration—especially when she's fully aware that at any moment her name's going to be called.

"Okay." Jinno-sensei clapped his hand once and scanned the class for a volunteer—which, most of the time, means that he'd pick a lucky student for a surprise board work. Apparently spotting the Ice Queen absent-mindedly twirling her pen on her fingers, the Calculus teacher raised an eyebrow. "Miss Imai."

Ruka almost jumped upon hearing the name. Not that he'd already changed his family name—'cause that's for women after marriage, and not for men— it's just that he couldn't get rid of that developed impulse when it's her.

Unlike him, Hotaru wasn't daydreaming—or if she was, she immediately managed to turn her attention back to sir Jinno, and went to the board. Of course, that's another chance for him to stare.

It's been a couple of months since her mom died, and he's sort of happy that she's better now. And whenever he thinks about that, he couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself for kind of…causing that. Boy, he did make her cry, didn't he?

Wow, he thought, his brows furrowed, I didn't know it could sound as bad as that.

He didn't actually make her cry like…being the cause of it. It was more like…he figured that she needed to cry so she'd feel better. Yes, that was it.

The thing is, since that night he held her close as she cried, he never looked at her the same way before; and by the way their eyes would meet, he knew a few things did change. And when he'd say things, it meant in plural form—literally—and there's just too many.

But to give us some insight, it more like…back then, when he'd look her way, she'd only appear to be another shade in the background—a deeper shade, that is, but still noticeable. Now, he couldn't see the background—just her. Things like that.

Cheesy as it is, there's nothing he could do about it. He's no fan of those love stories or Vampire books some of his fan girls drool about while imagining him as the main, hot, vampire; and he could only care less about the cheesy lines they throw at him.

Come to think of it, he smirked and crossed his arms on his desk as he tried concentrating on Hotaru Imai's solution on the board instead of Hotaru Imai herself, if things did change, trying those cheesy lines on the Ice Queen might no longer equate disaster! Might as well try?

"Good." Jinno-sensei said and took the marker from Hotaru after she boxed her answer and faced the class, accidentally meeting his eyes again.

Her purple orbs bore down on him, and even in a few seconds of a staring match, Ruka gulped and looked away, feeling the unmistakable gush of blood to paint his cheeks. No, definitely not.

Hotaru was pretty much aware of that, the staring; and her own face did feel a bit like on fire as she went back to her seat. And she figured, it was a little difficult to handle alone—with no babbling mouth beside her for a distraction.

The day went on and Mikan didn't show up; and it was only later that day when Hotaru noticed that the Black Cat wasn't present either. Oh, maybe it's 'quality time' day, she thought to herself as she walked out of the classroom after the last period.

Alone and thinking, she stopped herself on her way to her room. Or maybe the idiot's sick.

Chiding herself for not figuring this out earlier that day, she turned her heels and dashed towards the school clinic.

"What're you doing here?"

Ruka couldn't help but stare at her as she glared at him. "Uh…"

She was walking alone in the corridor on her way to the clinic when upon turning to the last corner, she saw him—of all people—waiting outside.

"You better have a good answer, Bunny Boy." She said and raised an eyebrow at him. No, there was no way she'd have him distract her again. Not because he'd seen the Ice Queen in her worst state and practically held her in his gorgeous arms while she…well, cried in grief of her mom's death two months ago, didn't mean that he'd have all the right to get her distracted. He better leave now.

"I-I, uh…" He started, then shook his head as if shrugging off thoughts, and cleared his throat before looking back at her. "I was going to check if Natsume's here."

Fighting off edging, useless, giddy feelings, she muttered, for lack of anything to say: "Really, now?" not really waiting for an answer.

Ruka was about to protest at her irritating skepticism when the door suddenly opened. They both turned to look.

"N-natsume…" The blond blurted out as the black-haired guy looked at them both.

The Black Cat gave Hotaru the double take before looking back to his bestfriend, who was apparently too red he'd make a ripe tomato rot in shame. "Ruka."

Silence, then Hotaru rolled her eyes. "You kidnapped Mikan the whole day."

Natsume turned his scarlet orbs to the Ice Queen, who wasn't the least threatened by the guy's piercing eyes. "I didn't kidnap her. She's confined."

Hotaru didn't flinch. "What, confined."

"Chicken pox."

She was pretty sure she saw Ruka gulp upon hearing that. So Bunny boy still didn't get chicken pox.

"She wanted to talk to you." Natsume cut her thoughts.

By the way the taller guy looked at her made her feel like there's something else. Thinking to herself, pushing her mind to figure it out, nothing hit her.

"Uh…" Ruka cut in, feeling compelled to break the heated glaring match going on between the two. "S-so she can't have visitors?"

Hotaru thought about snapping at the blond, to try to shut him up. She's clearly not in the mood to deal with him right now. Stepping forward, she reached for the door.

Mikan was inside, sluggishly doodling on her notebook. And when she saw her bestfriend by the door, her eyes pooled.

"I'm sorry!" She whimpered, putting her hands together and bowed her head apologetically.

Hotaru blinked and stopped at the foot of Mikan's bed. "I thought you already had chicken pox."

Mikan peeked from her raised hands. "No. Those were measles."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry, Hotaru!" The brunette wailed again. "I'm really, really, sorry! I-I really didn't know I'd get this. I-If only—"

"I seriously can't hit you now." Hotaru muttered, itching so much to reach for her Baka Gun. "So what the hell are you talking about?"

Mikan paused, and met her bestfriend's eyes. "You're going home, two days from now…" She sniffed and buried her face on her hands again. "And with this going on, I can't be your chaperone!"

It took her awhile to absorb that. Of course, how could she have missed it? Without a chaperone, her trip home would be forfeited…

When it finally hit her, it was unlike anything she felt—not exactly painful, but disturbing and haunting at the same time. Crossing her arms against her chest, she stared at her bestfriend.

"I'm really sorry, Hotaru." Mikan mumbled, and reluctantly met Hotaru's eyes again.

She nodded and let out a shaky breath quietly. "I'll talk to the director—"

"But, Hotaru!"

The Ice Queen raised an eyebrow at the brunette, daring her to suggest a solution. Her pox won't just disappear overnight; and if she'd insist for Mikan as a chaperone, then she'd better throw the chance altogether.

"W-well…" Mikan started, weighing her words carefully. "S-since I won't be able to make it, how about looking for another chaperone?"

Another eyebrow rose.

"You can't just throw the towel!"

Hotaru rolled her eyes and walked to the window. "And I believe you have someone in mind?"

"Of course, Hotaru!"

The Ice Queen looked back at her bestfriend, challenging her wits. And when Mikan replied, she instead found herself dumbfounded.

"Ruka-pyon."

A/N: Well, it's done! I hope you liked it! Please, don't forget to review. It would really mean a lot, you know.

Chapter 2 is up, so...ja! :D