A/N: So, well, chapter 2. This one was quite hard, because I had to write everything from a completely different point of view. But well, it taught me some stuff. I wanted to make some things clear, so I pretty much had to write it this way. It's Ruko's POV in this chapter. Enjoy~

2- A time and place for everything

She will never know how happy she made me when she asked me to go somewhere with her alone. And I don't want her to know, actually.

She probably doesn't know about who I really am…No, it's impossible that she knows, unless someone has told her. And considering my low popularity in school, and the fact that nobody talks about me anymore, nobody has. That's...A relief. I want to tell her myself.

I'm hermaphrodite. And I'm also sure that she won't be as kind as she currently is with me when she finds out. Even though she is the kindest person I've ever known.

Things have changed since she left. A lot. Since I entered in this high school, I have always been with my primary's school group of friends. That made the other people curious about who I was because of…my...eh, let's say looks. After a while, the people were already suspecting that I was hermaphrodite. At first, only shy girls – obviously pushed by some other girl who wanted to know – would come near me and ask; and I would just ignore those sad people. Later, all the girls started fooling around with it; they asked me day by day. It even made my group of people doubtful. What they had done was enough.

In the end, I was so pissed off that I told them the truth. I'd like to say that I don't regret it...But I would be lying. The memories that I had from the day when everyone found out are impossible to erase from my mind.

Granted, the ones I knew from primary school are still my friends, but…I'll never forget their faces of disgust when they found out – though later they kind of helped me, because I had ended up crying, etc., etc. I don't want to see her face filled with disgust about me. But I have to tell her. Sooner or later, she'll have to know. Damn…Why did everyone have to find out, huh?

Everyone - except, of course, the people from primary school - became my enemy. Or rather, I became the center of their jokes. One day I almost hit a girl. They made me so mad...But with the time, I've learned to live with it. How? It just makes me happy than I'm better than that shit that doesn't even deserve to be called people.

Talking about the present, I had been thinking of going to the ice cream store with her. The next day, at school, when I told her, she freaked out a bit. Like…She went all "eh?" and her hands started trembling. I asked her if she wanted to go anywhere else and quickly replied that it was okay, and that she had forgotten something.

So, there I was, at the entrance of the school, waiting for her. I was spacing out – almost falling asleep there – when I heard her panting from running and turned instinctively to see her. She was…She was…Wearing a jumper, with its hood on. And to sum to it, her intention seemed to be that nobody saw her face, as she had it almost completely covered. But her ruby eyes could be easily seen.

"Um, Teto…?" I asked.

"Yes, I know this is weird, but I have a reason…" She replied, looking to the other way and blushing. 'Maaaan~ She looks so~ cute~' I thought. I made a reverence, as if she was a princess, and said:

"So, shall we?"

Teto smiled to me, with her beautiful crimson-coloured eyes looking at me – and I was melting just in front of them. "Yes, let's go" She answered, with her cute voice.

I was deeply in love with Teto. And I had always been. She, as clueless as she is, never found out; but those feelings have always existed.

And so we left the entrance and started walking in the calmed and silent city. There was almost no one in the streets; that was sort of weird, as the city is always really noisy. But it was a good thing; if not an excellent thing. Teto seemed to know the way even better than me. She looked down the whole time; and I took advantage of it to look at her. I wouldn't be amazed if cat ears had popped out from my head, for I was really happy of spending time with her. I sank my hands deep in my pockets and enjoyed the view, as anyone would. Heh, the best thing is that she didn't have a clue. She seemed somewhat perturbed by something. I asked her a few times if something was wrong, and if she wanted to go somewhere else – adding always a "It is no prob' to me". But every time she would hesitate at first but in the end, she would say that she was okay. Untill I couldn't control myself anymore. Something was bothering Teto, and I was not going to wait n' see.

She was walking just right next to me. I took all my courage, grabbed her hand, and jumped in front of her. She took her sight away from the ground, and finally looked at me. She had…A blushed, confused and flustered face. Plus, her perfect crimson eyes. Plus, her red lips that tempted me. I had to make myself think of Buddha just so I didn't drool. I swallowed, took a deep breath and asked:

"Teto, tell me the truth, what is going on? If something is troubling you, I will—"

"Look" She interrupted. "When we get in there, I'll tell you, okay?" She was smiling widely. But my serious face won't change. "…Don't you trust me?"

My expression wouldn't have changed if it wasn't because of her cuteness. How can somebody as cute as her exist…?

-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-

We entered in the store. I just wish we hadn't.

First of all, as we stepped in, she seemed to get more nervous and nervous. She seemed to think that someone was spying on her or something. I wanted to make her calm down somehow, but I couldn't. I didn't dare to. Heh, my own love is making it impossible for me to help my beloved Teto. The ice cream store had red-n'-black squared floor, and it was plenty of places where we could sit. We sat down next to a window.

Second of all…

She was finally going to talk and let me know the reason why she can't join the musical group. She opened her delicate mouth, took a deep breath and when she was going to say those so longed words, he appeared.

"Well, well, look who is here? Ruko~"

'God, I know I haven't been the best person, but please, PLEASE tell me it's not him'

And it was. As I dared to turn around, I saw his stupid, smiling face. Rook. That guy has a crush on me or something; he's always following me like an in-love puppy! Hell, I would say an idiotic love-struck dog. '…You've failed me, Chuck Norris'

"Hello, Rook. Would ya mind? I'm havin' a serious discussion here and I'd like 't if you let us talk, you kno'…"

I stared again at Teto, but of course, how could I have forgotten? They didn't know each other. And frankly, I would have preferred if it had stayed that way.

"Teto, Rook. Rook, Teto. Skip all the formalities. This ain't no time to do it. Now, Rook, if ya would, please…Bark off"

I heard Rook sighing. He said: "Okay, see ya~", I waved and he – finally – left. That guy needs to learn to respect the other's privacy and time. I turned a little bit, put my arm on the part where you place your back, and watched that stupid dog leave.

"…Ruko-chan…?" Teto called me, and in an instant I was looking attentively at her, smiling.

"Mh?" I titled my head.

"…That guy…He likes you, doesn't he?"

I let out a nervous laugh. "How…Perceptive of you"

"It's not perception…" She placed her head on her hand and looked outside the window. She seemed thoughtful. She sighed, and continued: "After all, I know just how he feels…"

That…Was probably the longest and most painful moment of my life – and the third reason why I wish we hadn't enter. A hole had appeared in my heart. The sorrow was inexplicable. It was as if all my life was being drained by that hole that was in my heart. I'm sure that my body wouldn't have moved even if I wanted. My brain's thoughts were slowly reducing to just one. A sole thought that was embodied by a word that expressed the exact same feeling that the thought did:

"Huh?"

Teto widened her eyes, and looked at me, blushing. "N-No, I meant…I…"

I put both of my hands on my laps and grabbed the ends of my shirt tightly. I had to ask the question…Said question's answer would tell me who to hate for all the eternity. "So…Who do you like?"

"I…Eh, um…"

She was not even saying words. She was clearly flustered. My brain began to work on its own – while a inner voice begged it to stop. It formed a lot of hypothesis of its own. Some of them were as painful as the moment that had just gone by. And I wasn't as stupid as to want to revive that feeling. But my mind wasn't going to stop. Luckily, Teto saved me:

"I meant I liked someone!"

I immediately smiled with a face full of hope and said: "Ah~… I see…" I hadn't noticed it, but Teto was getting more and more flustered while my mind was torturing me. But in that moment, she smiled and shrugged. And my mind was working fine again too: 'Man, I'll never get tired of seeing her~'

We ordered ice cream, and when it came and we started eating, she finally let it all out…

-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-

Girls are explaining…

-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-

"'S that so…?"

She nodded, with her sight looking at the ground, shameful. I couldn't help it…I couldn't help but burst out laughing!

"Eh…? What are you laughing at, Ruko? !"

"Sorry, Sorry…It's jus' that…you are gonna let those people have what they want? What, you are never goin' to sing again? You are goin' to deprive the world from your voice? That's jus' nonsense t' me"

She looked at me with a very indifferent face. She still didn't seem to get it. I sighed. How was I supposed to show her that she was giving up a lot?

An – really – awkward silence was produced. Teto just looked at the window and I, of course, just looked at her. Her eyes seemed even more beautiful with the sunshine… 'Snap outta it, Ruko! You gotta think of something to help her!' I told myself.

"Heh~! I got it!" I exclaimed. She gazed at me while I got up. "Look, tomorrow, you n' I, we're talkin' to the musical group's professor, and you'll sing for her! If she says that she wants you in, you'll accept. If not, I give up; I won't bother ya anymore. Deal?"

Teto looked at the ground with a worried face. She didn't want to say no. She didn't want to say yes either. "I don't know, Ruko, I…"

This time, it was me the one with the indifferent face. She wanted to put an excuse, she even raised her hand with her index finger, as if she was going to object, but no words came out from her mouth. She smiled and agreed at the end. And I was happy. Because I knew that her voice was really special, and that the professor wouldn't say no to it. I have told her many times about Teto's voice. I had advantage. 'Singing with her, if it still is what I remember it was…' I thought, while smirking 'It's going to be the ultimate experience…'

We kept talking for a while. When the sun was setting, she told me that she had to go, and I took her to her house. I said goodbye, and – making sure that no one was seeing me – jumped, screaming:

"HELL YEAH"

-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-

Silence…Complete silence…I hate it, that's certain…

I stepped in the empty, cold and lightless room. As I got in, I left all my stuff in the table. I went directly to my own room after that.

I threw myself in the bed. It was cold. As everything else. But it was the place that I was living in. And I wasn't planning – nor could afford to – of changing it. I turned around and looked at a photo I had on the night table next to my bed. It was a picture I treasured with my whole heart. It was a picture of me and my beloved Teto, when we were in primary school. That might have been…When we were in…fifth grade, maybe? Probly' it was. We were so young…She was so cute…Well, she still is cute.

'I wonder' I thought, looking at the roof 'How long have I been in love with her…?'

Surely, the things have changed since she left. My sister, Luka, she…Just disappeared one day. I have no idea of where she is. I like to believe that it wasn't intentional. I like to believe that she had a good reason. But I find that hard to believe.

Luckily, I am on a scholarship…But I have no one to ask for advice. I have a part-time job, and that's how I survive day by day…But always in the end of the day I am alone. Also, the fact that my best friend wasn't with me anymore…It also was heart-breaking for me. What the hell was she thinking when she left? In the end, she returned with her true friends, I am at least happy of that.

'I wonder if she has noticed how much my personality changed…'

Truth to be told, almost everyone realized. And of course, they attitude when they are around me changed. But hers hasn't. Or…Or has she accepted it?

I rolled on my bed. All I wanted to do was napping. When I nap, I don't have to worry about anything. I'm in my own world. Nobody will bother me or anything. I can be happy and relaxed. I sleep in the same position than a cat, so I'm usually warm. I don't like coldness, but I live with it. I stretched myself, and put my arms on my eyes so even if I wake up I don't have to see where I am.

When I dream, I'm happy. But ultimately, I've been only dreaming about her. Her smile, her voice calling my name, her warmness – oh, her warmness…- and her scent… Dreams seem to last an eternity when I'm dreaming them; and when I wake up, they seem to have happened so quickly… That's why I don't like waking up. If it was because of me, I'd sleep forever.

This way…I end the day thinking about her. Someday, I'd like to end the day with her. And to begin the day next to her, with the sunlight on her peacefully face asleep…That's my fantasy. That's why I like to dream so much.