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I Finally Found Someone

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Chapter 2: The other side of Hotaru

"What took you so long?" Hotaru asked the ever-energetic Mikan who was smiling to herself. Mikan raised her head making the 3 girls bewildered. Mikan suddenly went near to Hotaru and embraced her. This time, Hotaru didn't stop her from doing so. "What's the matter?" She asked.

"I'm glad you showed me this place, Hotaru." Mikan broke the hug. "The old lady was so nice to me. I like her. It was just our first meeting, yet I felt a light feeling that I've met before. She's… she's so warm." Mikan placed her palm in her heart, and then closed her eyes.

Hotaru stared at her bestfriend. Weird. She's never been this close to any stranger. "Baka." Then Hotaru made her way to the tent.

"See you later, Hotaru!" Mikan shouted making the other people looked at her.

Baka, making herself embarrassing like that. Hotaru went inside the tent.

"Blue Iris. You're finally here." An old female spoke voiced out.

Hotaru raised a brow. What's the matter with this granny?

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Mikan covered her face with her blanket. A coffee, a call, and a kiss, Aaa… so confusing! What kind of signs are those! How could that possibly come true? Mikan jumped out her bed then she sat at the side of her bed. She's trying to site up situations to make the signs as possible as it should be. Maybe, he's going to give me a coffee, or buy me a coffee. But I hate coffee, unless there's a cream. But still… how about the 'call'? He's going to call me? How? When? In my name? In my phone? What? Mikan spoiled her hair. "Aaaa! Such a headache!" Mikan suddenly froze at the next thought that came to her head. Her cheeks reddened as she felt the warm feeling running in her veins. She touched her face ignoring the twist happening in the pit of her stomach. A kiss… a kiss… a kiss. Where? Forehead? Nose? Eyes? Cheeks? Lip…s??? Mikan blushed even more. NO!!!!!!!!!! Not in my first kiss! With him? Mikan blinked. What am I saying? Mikan slapped her face lightly. Forget… forget everything. It's only a guess, an assumption… prediction, whatever you call it. She crawled on her bed covering her face again. Tomorrow will be a new day. Forget everything what the woman said. Yes! A normal day! Mikan held the Carnation pendant she wore earlier. I'm going to return it to her and thank her anyway, for everything. Then Mikan forced herself to a sleep.

The new day came and Mikan sat up at her bed. Her eyes look so deep signifying her lack of sleep. "I couldn't sleep because of that 'signs' floating on my head." She sighed and looked at the clock hanging on her room. "So early…" She smiled. "At least I won't be late for class." She stretched out her legs and run towards the bathroom.

"Ohayou!" Mikan greeted as soon as she entered the class. "Hotaru!!!!!" Mikan tried to hug Hotaru but a…

Baka

"Go away! I hate physical contact!" She muttered.

Mikan touched her head. "Ouch!"

Yuu, the class representative, helped Mikan to get up. "Are you alright?" Then he turned to face Hotaru. "Don't you get tired of doing that everyday, Hotaru?"

Hotaru smiled. "No, actually, it's quiet entertaining to start a new day like this." Hotaru turned to read her book again.

"You're so cruel! I thought were bestfriends?" Mikan said shaking Hotaru in her shoulders.

"Hey! Shut that big mouth of yours if you don't want to get burned." A deep male voice came to Mikan's eardrums. She froze as she looked at the young handsome boy with dark hair and brownish-ruby eyes. Their eyes met. The boy whose name was Natsume glared at her orbs eyes. What's the matter with her today?

Mikan looked away slightly blushing and went to her sit. She buried her head in her cross arms. "Stop thinking about it…" She whispered to herself. I'm going to the Central Town later and return the pendant. It's the best way to forget.

On the other hand, a boy named Ruka looked at her with concern. What's with her today?

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Hotaru walked upon an oak tree and sat under the shades of it. She went there to read the book she bought yesterday at Central Town. She mesmerized the peaceful atmosphere of the place. No noisy baka. This place is great. She thought to herself.

All of the sudden, a cute little rabbit approached her. She glowered at the rabbit with her usual cold eyes. Hotaru's eyes widened when she saw the rabbit's little present for her, a blue Iris. It is her favorite flower. She grinned and took the rabbit in her hands. The rabbit went to her right shoulder and put the Iris flower in her ear.

"You're such a lovely and intelligent rabbit. Where have you been? Where are your friends?" She touched the head of the rabbit as it went to her lap to rest. Her smiles widened a bit. "I wonder if you feel lonely, like me."

"Akira! Where are you?"

Hotaru looked up at the source of the noise came through Hotaru's peaceful atmosphere. She gazed at the blonde boy with deep-sea eyes as he looked back.

"Yo… Imai-san." Ruka said.

"What are you doing here?"

Ruka sweat-dropped. "Umm… looking for my rabbit, Akira."

"You mean this thing?" She pointed her finger to the sleeping rabbit in her lap.

Ruka glared at her. "Don't say that! He's not a 'thing' whatsoever." He approached Hotaru and sat beside her. Hotaru blushed a little.

"Whatever. Aren't you going to take him?"

"No. He's sleeping so I'll wait for him to wake up." He turned his head to face her. "You don't mind right?"

"Just don't make a noise or I'll punch you with my glove-horse shoe." She looked back turning her attention to the book.

"My rabbit gave that iris, right?"

She froze a bit. So? Will he compliment about it?

"Akira is such a sweet boy. He usually gives flowers to people he likes." Ruka said closing his eyes.

"Like whom?" Hotaru smiled to herself.

"Like…umm… me and you. As far as I know." He said scratching his head.

Hotaru lifted her head and faced him. "Why me?"

Ruka smiled. "Don't know? Maybe you should ask him."

Ruka's smiles seemed to be so adorable in Hotaru's eyes. She blushed and looked away praying that he didn't see it.

Hotaru was still the no. 1 blackmailer in the campus. Her favorite victim? Of course our animal-lover Ruka Nogi. She already made half a billion by selling his pictures. But then… why only Ruka? Have you people thought about it? Why not Natsume? Misaki-sensei? Or Narumi-sensei? Why only Ruka? We usually felt sorry for Ruka because of it. We pitied him and sometimes felt angry on the amethyst girl for torturing and embarrassing Ruka. But there's a hidden secret. The real reason why Hotaru always blackmailing him and taking his picture:

Because it's the only way I could get close to you… Hotaru said to herself a very long time ago.

Flash Back

Hotaru was enjoying her crabs ignoring the millionaires in her front who was asking her for a dance. As if I care. She said to herself. She saw Mikan stood up. "Where are you going?" She asked.

"Umm… I'm thinking of asking Ruka for a dance." Mikan waved goodbye. "See you later there, Hotaru." And off she went to where Natsume and Ruka were sitting.

Hotaru looked at following the auburn girl making her way to a bunch of girls who was asking the boys for the last dance. She sighed. Of course she knew Ruka would say yes. She knew very well what the animal-lover's feeling for her bestfriend. And somehow it pains her because she finally admitted her feelings for that boy. It's just a crush. She thought. It's nothing to deal with. I could easily take this feeling away.

Hotaru watched as the 10-year old Mikan danced with Ruka. She watched the whole scene attempting not to look so hurt of what was happening. They looked so happy. But her heart failed her. She closed her eyes and looked away. She couldn't bear to look even for a glance. She can't.

As soon as the two split, Hotaru approached the unaware Ruka and hold him in his hand. His hand is soft. She told herself. Then she started her blackmailing on the poor guy.

"You know… that girl… she doesn't know." Hotaru said not showing her inner emotion. I wish it would help him to confess.

"Wh… what are you talking about." Ruka asked blushing.

"Mmm… after a nice meal of crabs. I think it would be nice to have a dessert. Perhaps… a cake will do." Then she stared at the blushing Ruka who was hiding his face on her. You can't hide that red face.

Hotaru looked away but still her attention on the boy. "You… you should tell her." She smiled and turned to Ruka who was blushing even more. "Understand?" She narrowed her eyes in her usual blackmailing looks.

"Aaa… I'm going now." Then Ruka dashed on and ran trying to get away from the blackmailer.

Hotaru's mood turned into a sad one trying her best not to show it. She knew Ruka would get her a cake so that she would shut her mouth from bringing it up again. Sorry Ruka… because it's the only way I could get close to you.

End of Flash Back

"Don't make me stupid." Hotaru said in her calm voice. "As if I can understand this friend of yours." She buried all her attention to her book. Please go if you don't have anything to say. She secretly spoke to herself.

But Ruka just smiled and placed his head on the bark not making a move. Hotaru looked at him from the corner of her eyes. He's gorgeous. Ruka sat there in silent as he closed his eyes. It's like what he said, he don't want to wake his bunny so he'll just wait. But it's making the purple-eyed girl more irritated of what's happening. She wanted to run just to keep her distance from the boy she have had a crush on. But how could she do that if this stupid bunny was on her lap? She didn't want to wake it or else Ruka will get angry.

She shut her book and stared at the sleeping mammal. She grinned and secretly thanked the animal. Hey, you know, I should thank you somehow. Because of you, I got closer to him without the help of that blackmailing thing. Thank you because he's here with me… on my side. But still…

She looked upon the boy who was resting his head on the tree still with his eyes closed. I have to keep my distance, because he's in love with somebody else. And if I force myself to get a millimeter closer to him, I will just get hurt even more. And I don't want that. Besides, I want to make him happy, by helping him to get closer to Mikan. It's the only way I can show… Then Hotaru took the blue Iris on her ear and placed it on Ruka's lap my feelings… that turned into a sad love… and that that I hated so much… but it happened.

She stretched her legs to stood up causing the bunny to open his eyes. Ruka seemed to not notice it that gave her the chance to walked away. The bunny stared at the only girl he liked. Maybe, on some ways, he knew the girl's feelings for his master.

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