Here is the next chap...
Hope you'll enjoy...
"You want some coffee?" Hotaru offered, after Ruka put the young boy in bed.
"Sure." Ruka replied, taking a seat on the couch.
Hotaru handed Ruka the cup of coffee. She then, sat down too.
"Exactly my flavor." Ruka commented, after taking a sip from the coffee.
"So some things never change." Hotaru commented back.
After that comment, it was silence that engulfed both of them.
"Umm…"Ruka started, trying to break the ice, "Today was great." He continued.
"Yeah." Hotaru agreed.
'Except the fact that Natsuki got lost." Ruka added with a smile.
"Yeah. Except that. I really wonder where he went."
"Speaking of that, why did you end up near the forest?" Hotaru asked, looking at Ruka curiously.
"I am low when it comes to direction." Ruka reasoned but the truth is, "I got lost because I was thinking of you."
"Oh" was all Hotaru said in disbelief.
"Anyway, where did you find him?" Ruka asked changing the topic.
"He was just in a nearby bench, sitting."
"Sitting?" Ruka asked.
Hotaru just nodded in reply. But in the back of her mind, "I can't think of a single reason why he was just sitting there after he went to the bathroom. I wondered why he didn't directly go back."
"That's weird." Ruka said his face confused.
"Oh! It's late." Hotaru suddenly said, looking at the clock.
"I think you should get going. You have work tomorrow." Hotaru added.
"You really want to get rid of me, ha." Ruka teased.
Hotaru just smiled.
Ruka stood up, heading for the door with Hotaru following behind.
Ruka opened the door, he slowly stepped out but before he left, he turned to Hotaru.
"Thanks for today. Natsuki really enjoyed it." Hotaru said.
"Can I ask something in exchange for the thanks?" Ruka asked.
"Umm…what?" Hotaru asked, curiously.
Without warning, Ruka gave Hotaru a peck on the cheeks. This action caught Hotaru off guard.
"That's all. Good night." Ruka said, quickly walking away.
Hotaru in dazed didn't notice Ruka leave. She slowly walked in the door, closed the door so slowly that it caused no sound.
She sat down on the couch while staring into nothingness then after a couple of seconds, she finally let out a big sigh then gave her self a slight slap.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked herself.
"Just a peck." She added.
"Why am I talking to myself?" she asked again. "I am like my idiot best friend."
"I need to keep myself busy." She thought looking at all the papers and her opened laptop on the table.
She quickly worked and worked until…
"Aun…tie…" a drowsy, small voice called.
Hotaru looked over her laptop and saw the little boy rubbing his eyes, obviously still sleepy. Hotaru let out a small sigh before standing up.
"What's wrong?" she asked, approaching Natsuki.
"I'm scared." He silently said.
"Why?" she said with a gentle tone, kneeling down to level with the little boy's height.
The little boy didn't reply and just simply whimpered.
"Okay." Hotaru said taking the boy into her arms.
The little boy tightened his hold on Hotaru's arm while Hotaru was just rubbing Natsuki's back.
Hotaru then went inside the bedroom and placed Natsuki on the bed.
"Where is Uncle Ruka?" Natsuki asked, innocently.
"He went home." Hotaru answered.
"Why?" he asked.
"He wasn't able to bring his things and he has a lot of things to do, too." Hotaru explained.
"But…"
"No more buts, okay. I'll be sleeping with you tonight." Hotaru said, slipping on the bed beside Natsuki.
The little boy just nodded, knowing he can't do anything and he doesn't want to act like a spoiled kid, even though he is.
Hotaru just lay beside Natsuki while Natsuki was hugging her for comfort.
He was supposed to be heading home but he found himself going to the opposite direction.
"It's okay. No one would be waiting for me at home anyway." he tried to reason to himself.
Just then, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey."
"Natsume. How's the trip?" Ruka asked.
"Okay. Just arrived. Anyway, can I speak with Natsuki?"
"A…a…at this present moment, you can't."
"Why?" came the arrogant reply from the other side.
"Don't tell me you're not with him."
How was it?
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