Chapter 3

I was quite comfortable. No really, I mean as warm and bubbly as a seriously stressed college student could be. Let's see…sitting here on this freezing bench in the spotlight of street lamps on the deserted main road of the campus…life was pretty great (and no I'm not crazy…yet). I leaned further into the teal bundle in my arms. She was so small yet so warm. My fingers began moving of their own accord. She's sleeping so she wouldn't mind…right? But we did just meet so maybe I should be a little more normal? Too late, long teal strands were already entangled in my hand. They were so silky and soft, well-kept in spite of their length. Ahh…I was in heaven already. People always thought my infatuation with hair was strange and I suppose it is but I just can't help myself. You'd think that with hair like mine I'd be in a constant state of satisfaction but life just doesn't work that way. It has to be someone else's hair…Of course, that's not the only thing that compelled me to ignore the fact that I have boatloads of research to do tonight and help this poor sleeping creature beside me instead. I must say the grounds for our meeting was unfortunately painful but when I looked up at that bewildered little face I almost daresay that I felt something other than the numbing pain from my back. With her long twin-tails drooping on either side, I thought she looked rather cute, like a poor lost rabbit. I, being the kind and forgiving wolf, decide to help this little bunny find her way. Somehow that led to the current scenario, with her sleeping in my arms, not that I minded of course. Who wouldn't want this little pet in her arms? Although the unnaturally focused glare she was giving me before she fell asleep was quite frightening. It was like she could see through me…but her adorable embarrassed face-burying was very much worth the scare. Then there was the way she let herself be hugged, it was just…eh? Someone's here?

My sixth sense tingled so I looked up and of course, there stood a tall young man with smoothly combed hair the same colour as the strands I currently fondled. First thought: this must be Mikuo. Although I have the nagging suspicion I've seen him before. No, scratch that, I definitely have. He sometimes lingers in the main courtyard, which is, coincidentally, my favourite study area. Realizing what his arrival meant, I gave an inwards sigh and began shaking Miku awake. I couldn't have stayed much longer anyways.

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Miku wanted to kill the one who tore her from her heaven. She was having such a great dream too. It was another one of those flying ones where she had pristine white wings, dyed golden by the twilight...except this time there seemed to be someone flying beside her, someone with long flowing hair…like Luka. Wait. Luka?! Was she still outside? Sleeping? In Luka's arms?! Ohh, this was just great. First she stares at this gorgeous girl she'd just met like some hungry old man, then she proceeds to sleep for how long in the other's arms? Was it dark already? Oh crap it really was…Miku felt her brain going haywire. The pink-haired girl beside her looked as calm and content as ever and instead of comforting Miku, this made her even more unsure of what to say. 'Thanks for your shoulder'? Is that what people say after falling asleep unceremoniously on strangers?! It was a while before Miku could calm down and finally notice her brother who had been standing there awkwardly the entire time. Oh right. That was what she came here for…Suddenly Miku felt angry, very very angry. She wouldn't be in this embarrassing situation now if it wasn't for her stubborn pig-headed brother!

Miku sprang up from the bench, ignoring the brief dizzy spell. She had to tip-toe to look into Mikuo's eyes but it didn't matter much with the hellish fire of Miku's pupils burning into tall boy's flesh. "Mikuo…" She seethed with a grimace-like smile on her face, "You. Will. Come. Home. For. Christmas." With that, she tried to march off angrily but balance seemed to have deserted her for the day and she felt herself tripping over her boots…'goodbye world'… she thought to herself. The ground never met her face, however. A warm hand had grabbed her wrist and pulled with just the right momentum so that she fell backwards instead. She landed, once again, on something soft.

"Aren't you going thank me for my help at all?" A low voice teased mirthfully from a position that was much too close to her left ear. Miku noticed that those arms were wrapped comfortably around her again. Long pink tresses tickled her nose and somehow she could smell the scent of the other's shampoo though the freezing winter breeze. Having caught herself spacing out again, Miku quickly struggled out of Luka's bear-hug.

"Y-yes…thank you. Sorry for wasting your time," She mumbled with her eyes on the ground. She was aware of the colour in her cheeks that contested with the ripest of tomatoes. She was also aware of her brother's disbelieving gaze on her. Wait, did he just purse his lips a little? Whenever Mikuo pouted it was usually out of jealousy. Was he jealous? Of…? Miku put the pieces together…was that why he didn't want to go home…? Miku suddenly felt like laughing. She had discovered a secret hadn't she? Oh all the ways she could tease him…the holidays looked to be very promising. Meanwhile, Luka had paid no attention to Mikuo at all. She was too preoccupied with watching Miku's umpteenth display of cuteness. Suddenly, Mikuo spoke up.

"Actually, dear sister, I had every intention of going home for the holidays but you see, it is very rude to let all the lovely women staying here spend Christmas alone. I have to save these poor souls! So I thought, wouldn't it be nice to…you know?" He glanced a little at Luka as he said this, hoping that at least one of them would take a hint. 'C'mon Miku, don't let all those sweets I spared you last Halloween go to waste,' he mentally begged. Miku only sighed at her brother's helplessness and delivered the last half of his message.

"What he means is that if you're not doing anything for Christmas, you can come over and have dinner with us," she said in a rush. Miku couldn't bear to look over in Mikuo's direction. She knew the kind of 'master-spared-me-a-bone' expression he'd surely be looking at her with right now. For the first time since Mikuo found them, Luka looked over the young man properly. She gave him a sweet smile.

"Well, Mikuo, I guess I would feel lonely spending Christmas all alone in the campus so let's hang out sometime before the break alright? Dinner? Well we can talk about that when we know each other a little better." Her nonchalant half-agreement seemed to have lit a spark in Mikuo and the frozen boy instantly became an uncontainable puppy. He practically bounced with newfound energy. Miku only hoped that he wouldn't sprain his neck from the intensity of his nodding.

"So when are you free Luka-chan? I have…so tomorrow would be…yeah…..I know right? Ah, of course…" Miku began walking away. Her job, as far as she was concerned was done. Of course, Mikuo owed her one for her help back there…

"Hey, Miku?" A voice halted her leisure steps. She turned to see a faintly smiling pinkette looking at her. "It was nice meeting you," the older girl finished. Miku nodded hurriedly and started walking again, confused as to why she felt all flustered. There was nothing strange going on this time. That was a perfectly normal thing that people say. So then why…? Miku shook her head clear of these uncalled for thoughts and walked even faster in the direction of her house.

It was only when Miku got home that she realized that she had something that wasn't hers, a pretty red scarf that hadn't been there around her neck when she left the house. Vaguely, she remembered Luka wrapping something around her just before she fell asleep, so this must be Luka's. It was too late to return the thing however…Miku hoped that this wasn't too important to the pink-haired girl because for some reason, out of a strange selfishness, she wanted to keep the scarf. She had the sneaking suspicion that this desire was related to that dull sadness that she felt when she realized that she probably wouldn't see Luka ever again. It was only logical to assume that, after all, with her brother's track record with girls.