Chapter Three

"What were you thinking? You could've been killed! You even ripped your new dress!"

Haruko's mother continued to yell at her; she wasn't listening at all. Her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't feel the pain from her wounds either. All she could think about was the memory that slowly creeped into her mind. The faces were still blurred, but she seemed to be crying over a dead body.

"What happened?" she wondered.

She couldn't remember everything, but it must've been sad. Two tears fell down her cheeks.

"Haruko, it can't hurt that much. You weren't upset before. Haruko? Haruko?" her mother asked.

Haruko began to cry harder. She couldn't stop the tears, as the memory became clearer and clearer.

"Baka Kaizen!" she cried as she stood up.

Her mother suddenly looked angry as Haruko headed for her room.

"She's still whining about that boy…" she thought.

Kaizen slept soundly in his hospital room. Haruko's red, teary eyes looked at the ground as she followed Raisuke and Tanaka-sensei to his room.

"Cheer up, Haruko. He's not dead, so you can hit him all you want," Tanaka-sensei said.

"Uh-huh…"Haruko replied quietly.

Raisuke sighed as he knocked on the door before entering.

"Haruko-chan, are you coming?" Tanaka-sensei asked.

Haruko sat next to door outside of the room. She couldn't face him, not yet. After what she did to him and what it caused, she could never face him again.

"Haruko! Come in here! Stop acting like the sky is falling!" she heard Tanaka-sensei yell.

She slowly peeked in the room. Kaizen looked at her; he didn't seem angry at all. His expression almost seemed…forgiving. She walked in slowly and sat down quietly. The room fell silent.

"Gomen ne, Haruko-chan…" Kaizen said.

Haruko looked up, a look of surprise on her face. Why was he apologizing to her?

"Minna, gomen ne…" he added.

"All is forgiven, Kaizen. Just listen next time," Haruko replied.

She smiled brightly and stuck out her tongue. Tanaka-sensei shot Raisuke a glance and smirked.

"We'll just leave you two lovebirds alone then…" Tanaka-sensei said as he followed Raisuke out the door.

Haruko blushed before moving a bit closer to Kaizen. She figured the space between them was a bit awkward.

Haruko sighed. "Kaizen...I...I..."

"Don't worry Haruko-chan. no need to explain." Kaizen said softly.

"But...I said all those things...and..."

"Never mind those."

She got up and kneeled beside his bed, gently laying her head on the edge. "It's still my fault..." she sobbed.

"No."

"I should have never joined this cell...all I do is bring trouble to others..."

"Hey, accidents happen," Kaizen managed a smile.

Haruko looked at him with red, teary eyes. "Just admit it...you hate me..."

"N-n-n-no of course not, Haruko! I don't hate you…I..." Kaizen stammered.

He didn't hate her; in fact, he was beginning to like her now. It was a bit unusual, but something about her made him happier than before. Although, she was a bit mean to him. While he was thinking to himself, Haruko stood up and began walking away.

"I'm leaving…the cell… I wouldn't want anything else to happen…because of me…" she said softly.

"Haruko-chan, wait! I don't hate you, I never did…" Kaizen replied.

He suddenly hid under the blankets of the bed. He had to stop her from leaving somehow.

"I really like you, okay? Just stay with us…please…" he blurted out.

His face turned red as he hid under the blankets. Haruko stopped at the door. She looked back at him before running over and gently pulling the blankets from over his head. Her face turned a light red color.

"You…you…you're lying to me!" Haruko exclaimed.

"No, I'm really not! Look, I can't prove it…but I'm not lying to you… Just believe me…" he mumbled as he looked away from her.

Haruko sunk to her knees; she didn't know what to say. The same person who was mean to her all this time really did like her.

"Look, I know I'm not the best at being nice, but I'm trying. I'll change; I promise. Just give me a chance, alright?" Kaizen asked.

"You promise?" Haruko asked.

"Yea, I promise…" he replied.

Haruko smiled at him.

"Well then, I suppose I'll give it a shot," she replied.

"Arigatou, Haruko-chan."

"Douitashimashite, Kai-kun."

Haruko began laughing.

"What? What?!" Kaizen asked, but Haruko continued to laugh.

"Aww...so cute!" Tanaka-sensei smiled as he stood in the door.

Haruko looked over to him and blinked.

"I told you she'd end up as your girlfriend, Kaizen..." he added.

"Thanks for eavesdropping Tanaka-sensei." Kaizen said sarcastically.

"I got that all on audio tape so you better keep your promise to Haruko, Kaizen." Raisuke smiled.

Tanaka-sensei smirked as Haruko's face turned a deep red. She stood up, her cheeks puffed.

"Yea...you...you better keep your promise! Or else!" she replied as she walked out of the room.

"Hai...ack!" he said as he tried to sit up.

"I forgot stupid bandages."

Tanaka-sensei laughed. "Sooo, how long are you stuck here?"

"Two days; a horrible two days!!!" Kaizen complained.

"Don't worry, we'll make sure Haruko-chan comes to visit you..." Tanaka-sensei replied.

Kaizen blushed violently after Tanaka-sensei spoke.

Tanaka-sensei laughed.

"Raisuke, it's so cute isn't it? Our little Kaizen is in love!"

"Yeah, who would've known?" Raisuke laughed.

"Well, I think we should let him rest for now. We can't do much without him but train..." Tanaka-sensei said. "Jya Kaizen."

"I forgot we can train." Raisuke laughed.

"WHAT? I'll miss training! Tanaka-sensei, you better keep me up to date on what you're doing!" Kaizen yelled back.

"Yea, sure I will... you just keep thinking about your beloved Haruko-chan!" Tanaka-sensei replied.

Haruko followed them silently; her face continued to flush with blood.

"Rai, could you come here for a second?" Kaizen asked.

Raisuke stayed behind as Tanaka-sensei pushed Haruko towards the stairs. Haruko left the hospital and began to head home.

"Haruko-chan!" Tanaka-sensei asked.

"Huh?" she replied.

"Is Kaizen your first?" Tanaka-sensei asked playfully.

"Actually, he isn't," Haruko replied seriously.

She sat down on a nearby bench and looked to the sky.

"The day I met you three, I was angry. My first love refused me. We broke up because he was older and he wasn't into me anymore. It was sad…but now that I think about it, I'm surprised I ever liked him. He's a pig, and he never cared about me. Still, I don't trust any guy with my heart, never have, and never will. Maybe Kaizen will change that…but don't count on it."

Tanaka-sensei laughed and sat next to her.

"Haruko, you sound older than you look. You act like a grownup ninja, and then, at the same time, you still act like a kid. Can I adopt you? You are so cute!" Tanaka-sensei smiled at her and poked her hitai-ate that rested on her forehead.

She blushed lightly as he hugged her.

"Sensei, I have a family. Why are you acting so weird?" Haruko asked.

Tanaka released her and just smiled. In this light, he looked a bit younger, and a bit cuter. Haruko shook her head as those thoughts entered her mind.

"He's your sensei! He's old! Besides, you like Kaizen, remember?" she thought.

"Well Haruko, I think Raisuke will stay with Kaizen tonight, so you're dismissed," Tanaka-sensei said.

Haruko stood up and nodded in agreement. She waved good-bye and ran towards her house.

"She's been in there ever since she returned home."

"Why?"

"Because, she broke through the seal."

"What? How did she manage that?"

"There must be more to this boy than we thought. She must be…in love with him."

Haruko's mother and father looked to the door to her room.

"Maybe, you shouldn't be so hard on her, Michiru. She needs friends sometimes. Maybe they won't keep her from her training. Maybe we made a mistake," her father said.

"No! She doesn't need friends! I didn't have them, and I turned out fine. She's too young to be in love, as well. Why are you encouraging it, Ryou?" Michiru inquired angrily.

"Michiru, just try to see it her way, all right? She hates this, and she can't help wanting company. She's a very bright girl, and friends aren't going to change that," Ryou replied.

"No! If you think that way, she'll never learn. I never had friends when I was her age! My parents forbid it, and I turned out better than they expected. Therefore, if I had to do it, she'll do it as well!"

Michiru stormed away, leaving her husband behind. He looked to his daughter's door.

"Haruko, I won't allow this to happen to you. I love your mother, but I want you to be happy, too. If you want to go back to them, I won't stop you."

"Otousan, what's going on?" Haruko asked as she came out of her room.

She yawned before hugging him sleepily.

"Nothing Haruko, go back to sleep if you want. Dinner won't be ready for another hour or so. I'll get you then, okay?" Ryou replied.

Haruko nodded sleepily and walked back to her room.

"I love you, Otousan," she said.

"I love you too, Haruko," he replied softly.

He watched her close the door behind her and sighed.