CHAPTER 6;
Shut Up ;
"Hotaru," Ruka lifted both hands up slowly, speaking very deliberately, "It's me."
She eyed him coolly as they circled each other in small, careful steps, their feet movements synchronized rather comically.
"I know there's someone behind me," he continued, "someone you really want to hit…"
Hotaru lifted an eyebrow at the person crouching behind him and tugging on the back of his shirt for her dear life. Her copper hair bobbed behind his shoulder now and then, mimicking his movements as if trying very hard to conceal herself, and Hotaru couldn't help but marvel at her idiocy.
"But," Ruka laughed nervously, "It's me."
He tried not to be intimidated by the weapon that fitted snugly onto his girlfriend's right arm. Hotaru had annual maintenance and upgrading sessions, and the infamous Baka gun he was so familiar with never failed to increase its size every year. Comparing its current size to when he first saw it 8 years ago, he had to wonder how he pulled through all these years.
"I can see it's you." Hotaru observed dryly.
"Hotaru, I have grown frail under the wrath of your Baka gun all these years." Ruka paused for a dramatic effect. "My chances of survival are almost zero now."
"My Baka gun does not care to hit you, either." Hotaru said smoothly, releasing the safety notch with a loud click.
Talking as if it has feelings, Ruka grumbled in his mind, watching as she handled her inventions fondly.
Mikan swallowed behind him. Ruka was her only fragment of hope, but it seemed that he was having difficulty protecting even himself.
"Move over, Ruka. I don't want to waste my bullets."
His mouth fell open. After countless times of being her experimental hamster -to which he had attained bruises on every imaginable part of his body- he was now reduced to a waste of bullets?
It was time he took control of this bizarre situation.
"Look here, Hotaru Imai. I've always respected your freedom to invent any damn destructible weapon and try it on me, hell, I've even let you take embarrassing pictures just to contribute to your source of income, but this? This, has gone too far! Before being the Academy's first-class inventor, you are my -Ruka Nogi's- girlfriend! And I am your somewhat abused boyfriend!"
… was something he would have liked to say.
Instead, he muttered incoherently, "Look here, Hotaru…" and swallowed the rest of his ideal script at the sight of the Baka gun being adjusted to its aiming position. "Just put that thing down. It's playing with your emotions."
"This Baka gun has the capacity to knock ten people out," she paused, and then added with a slight hint of pride, "simultaneously."
He shuddered at her merciless tone, thinking that perhaps jumping in front of Mikan had been a bad idea after all.
"Hotaru…" Mikan whined behind Ruka's shoulder desperately, "I'm sorry! I didn't make a deal with Persona in the end!"
"You used Amanatsu without paying." her violet eyes sparkled dangerously. Ruka almost stumbled forward upon hearing her words.
"I… what?" Mikan gasped in incredulity, and proceeded to wail loudly, "Hotaru, you meanieee!"
"I've wasted too much time talking." Hotaru smashed her palm against the 'Start' button. The Baka gun shuddered slightly, as its mouth began to absorb white light with a whizzing noise. Ruka widened his eyes in horror.
"Ruka, let's run for now!" Mikan grabbed his arm and made for the door, but they were too late.
"Two idiots detected. Target: lockdown."With a standard idiot message programmed by Hotaru, the Baka missile sprung towards them purposefully. "The end is nigh, the end is nigh, baka baka!"
Ruka would have laughed at that high-pitched robotic voice, were it not aiming at them.
"Hotaru Imai!" Instead, he threw an arm up to cover his eyes and yelled, "You're going to get it when I wake up-"
"Did you hear that?"
In the Special Star corridor, two girls whispered as they passed by. They turned towards the source of the muffled thumping noise that resonated off the walls. Cold wind fleeted past their faces with a two-second current, carrying faint whispers that sounded like "baka", chilling them to the bone. From that, it was fairly easy to imagine the magnitude of the internal force.
"The wall," a girl pointed ahead, frightened, "I swear I heard it crack."
"Let's not hang around here too long," the other girl tugged at her and quickened her pace, "I've heard the Special Star dormitory requires the highest maintenance because of the 'experiments' conducted there…"
Ruka woke up to a cool sensation and slight pressure on his cheek.
He didn't have to look to know that the hand belonged to Hotaru. She always tended to his wounds (despite the fact that she was the one who inflicted them).
"That really hurt." he said dryly, "I can't believe you knocked me unconscious this time."
"You know I won't apologize even though I'm sorry." She replied flatly as he started to laugh, his cheek aching even more. Had he not known her well enough, he would not have noticed that she was apologizing indirectly.
"Where's Mikan?"
"She got away easily." said Hotaru nonchalantly, and then added, "She is an agent, after all."
Ruka rolled his eyes, "Everyone knows you're the final boss. You just went easy on her." He winced as she applied more force on his cheek, "Itai, Hotaru."
"You really know me well, huh?"
He grabbed her wrist and stopped her movements solemnly, "What's that supposed to mean? You're my girlfriend."
Hotaru flinched slightly at the seriousness of his tone.
"It's been bothering me for a while already."
"What has?"
Sensing the rigid atmosphere, Ruka loosened his grip and looked away. "You don't even look me straight in the eye anymore. It's as if our relationship is just an extra-curricular activity to you."
"What?"
"Maybe you're just too comfortable around me now. But I care. I care when you don't step out of your laboratory for days and miss all of our dates, I care every time you let go of my hand to whip out your weapons or snap scandalous photos. I'm always with you, but you're not always with me, even though we may be standing beside each other. It feels as if I'm trying to clap with one hand."
"…"
"Forget it, I'm tired." He muttered and made to get up, "Are we in my room or yours? Do I need to get out or-"
He was cut off as an unexpected weight pinned him down, as the mattress sunk down beneath them. His cerulean eyes widened as Hotaru positioned herself perfectly on top of him, her stoic facial expression completely wiped off. He saw a mixture of fluster and anger in her eyes, and a pang of regret suddenly hit him as he realized the implication of his words on her.
"Hotaru-"
"Take it back." Hotaru demanded. He blinked in confusion.
"You, being an extra-curricular activity."
He noticed from the corner of his eye that she was gripping the bed linen tensely as she spoke, "Did you really mean it?"
Ruka shook his head slowly, "No, I don't think I did."
Upon hearing that, she relaxed slightly, yet still looked shaken. He wanted to touch her face and tell her that it was alright, but her expression stopped him.
"I'm sorry." Hotaru said, her gaze locking with his as she struggled for words for the first time, "You're right… I haven't looked at you this way in a long time."
He smiled, "Yeah." Reaching out to stroke her cheek, he said softly, "That's what I'm talking about."
"I love you."
It was so soft that it almost felt like a hallucination. But his heart beat harder as she repeated herself more clearly this time, "I love you. No matter how many dates I miss, or how many times I let go of your hand, I lo-"
"Enough." He quickly covered her mouth with a hand as she widened her violet eyes in surprise. "If you say it one more time, I swear my heart is going to explode."
He felt her lips curl into a smile, and dropped his hand.
"I'm sorry too, for being stupid just now." He smiled back at her, "I guess that makes us even."
"We'll never be even, Ruka Nogi." Hotaru smirked, as he laughed quietly and said, "Are you going to hit me again?"
"Later." She relaxed into a more comfortable position against him as he enveloped her in his arms and kissed her forehead. "If you do a good job tonight, I'll reward you instead."
"Tonight?" he gulped, "W-what are we doing tonight?"
"Something important to us…"
He could feel hot blood rushing to his cheeks-
"… and Mikan."
Ruka's mouth fell open comically. "Mikan?What does Mikan have to do with this?"
"What doesn't Mikan have to do with this?" she asked perplexedly, "We are going to find Natsume."
"Oh." He coughed awkwardly, "I thought… wait a minute, Natsume?"
"I've been thinking about this over and over again." Hotaru said slowly, "I don't think Natsume really left us."
He instantly picked up what she was on about. "You're saying this was all just an act?"
She nodded. "He wouldn't leave Mikan even if the sky were to fall. I suspect he's on a mission."
"Do you know his whereabouts now?"
"I sneaked a bug onto one of the Dangerous Ability students a few days ago. He reported to Persona that he'd seen Natsume with the AAO during his mission. Persona deliberately dismissed it and told him not to take any action."
"That hardly sounds like Persona."
"I also heard that the AAO will go on a major mission tonight, and that the Dangerous Ability class will dispatch an equal number of elites out. Mikan is included in the patrolling list. Tonight is the best chance for them to cross paths."
"Have you told Mikan about this?"
"Not yet," Hotaru said thoughtfully, "If we do, she won't be able to concentrate during the mission. She'd endanger both Natsume and herself."
Ruka tightened his grip on her shoulder and murmured, "Tonight, then."
"I'm telling you, partners need to hold hands during missions."
Yui smiled mischievously as she watched Natsume examine the white mask in his hands, ignoring her. "Natsumeee-"
"What?" He turned around to look at her irritably.
Her hair was tied back into a neat ponytail, accentuating her sharp features and ice-blue eyes. Her cheeks had some color and she no longer looked as sickly compared to when he first met her. She was smiling at him now, her head tilted slightly, reminding him of how Mikan used to look at him.
His heart contracted.
"I just like calling your name." Yui shrugged, "You're going to be late if you don't hurry up."
"Why are you waiting for me, anyway? We're assigned to different areas."
"Whoever said I was waiting for you?" she said coolly, "Haru is picking me up."
"Go and stick with him, then."
Yui looked slightly affronted and sprung up from her bed, "I will."
The door opened precisely at the moment she got up, and Haru stepped in, "Hey, sorry I'm late-"
"Let's go, Haru." She grabbed his wrist and spun him around, pulling him out of the room before he could say anything else. He protested lightly, "Hold on, Yui, I've got to explain to Natsume-"
"He'll manage on his own."
Yui slammed the door behind them a little harder than usual, as Haru looked at her expectantly. She was still holding his wrist.
"Haru," she said, "Have you ever felt like someone's looking at you, yet not looking at you?"
Natsume's vacant expression pierced her mind instantly. Yui smiled mockingly at her own statement, "I'm not making much sense, am I-"
"Yeah." Haru replied from behind her, his voice distant. His serious tone made her realize that he was referring to her first sentence. To her surprise, she felt his warm hand jerk out of her grip. "I get that, all the time."
A few hours later, Natsume stood against the red-bricked wall of a deserted alley, playing with a small earpiece in his hands. He smirked in amusement – the earpiece had obviously been tampered with in a feeble attempt to disrupt his first mission and put him into an unfavorable position as a Team Zero member.
His fingers worked quickly to dismantle the earpiece and fix the necessary parts. As he was about to test it, he heard distant footsteps and tensed up warily.
The footsteps were relaxed like a normal passerby's, but quieter and more controlled. To his surprise, Shouta emerged at the end of the alley and stopped, turning to look at him. Unlike his subordinates, he did not wear a mask and was dressed semi-formally in black.
"So this is where you were stationed to." Shouta said nonchalantly, "Given your abilities I thought you would've been one of my bodyguards."
Natsume replied, "Aren't you the one who arranged our positions?"
He laughed, "I follow orders too, Natsume. Just like you." His sharp gaze fell onto the earpiece in Natsume's hands, "Why isn't that in your ear?"
"Someone sabotaged it."
Shouta's lips curved into a smile of comprehension, "It happens. Do you need a new one?"
"No. I've fixed it."
"I wouldn't expect less from an Academy elite," he mused, "See you around then, Natsume."
As he turned around to leave, Natsume said calmly, "I can help you, Shouta."
Shouta waved a hand dismissively and continued walking, disappearing from the alley.
Natsume fitted the earpiece snugly into his ear and closed his eyes, concentrating on periodical reports on the mission. He heard Haru say, "We've retrieved the case-" and then Ren's voice, "I'm bringing it to Shouta now."
I need to gain his trust, Natsume thought, just one chance is enough.
Half an hour later, Ren spoke again, "There's someone from the Academy following me. Who's near the main streets?"
Natsume opened his amber eyes quickly and responded with the mouthpiece on his collar, "I am."
"Intercept that person for me."
"Are you mad at me?" Yui said flatly, without looking up.
"No." Haru replied flatly, without looking up.
With towels draped on their shoulders, they sat side by side on the end of a narrow pier that extended out to the sea. The harbor was surprisingly warm tonight, due to the absence of cold air. They had swum in the dark waters just a few minutes ago to retrieve a metal case and bring it ashore to pass it to their comrades. Given an hour to rest before continuing the next task, they had both decided to stay where they were while waiting for further instruction.
Yui rubbed an index finger against the wood surface carelessly, manipulating a gust of wind in their direction to dry her hair. The wind was cold, causing her to shiver slightly. Haru sighed inwardly and turned towards her, draping his towel around her long hair. She looked at him questioningly and he replied, "You'll catch a cold before your hair dries."
Yui watched silently as he drew a lock of her hair with the towel and started to dry it. His face was inches away from hers, but she was used to this distance. His hair was not completely dry either - as she noticed the tiny water droplets that glistened under the moonlight.
She reached out, and he evaded her hand swiftly. Her blue eyes flashed in mild anger, "You are mad. Tell me what's wrong."
"Yui," Haru said without looking up, still concentrating on his task at hand, "Just shut up and rest already."
"You won't even face me."
"I've been facing you all night."
"First it's Natsume, and then it's you." she ignored him and continued, "What do you want from me?"
He finally stopped drying her hair and looked up upon her mentioning Natsume. His green eyes were very dark, the intensity of his gaze causing a sense of unfamiliarity to creep up her skin. But being herself, Yui stared back at him with a cool composure.
"I told you to shut up," Haru said, "I guess you never learn."
There was no menace in his tone, given the harshness of his words. That was probably the reason why Yui let her guard down, otherwise she would never have allowed him to lean forward and kiss her in the next moment.
His lips were soft and lingering against hers, as if giving her a chance to push him away. When she didn't, he moved slightly and deepened the kiss, causing her to respond ever so slightly. He felt her arm entwining his neck, and her fingers running through his hair. An alarm rang distantly in his head, because Yui never expressed that much affection.
His suspicion only lasted for two seconds as her grip tightened and forced him sideways abruptly. He lost balance and fell into the ice cold water with a loud splash. He hit the shallow rock surface beneath the pier almost instantly, pain shooting up his knees and elbows.
A towel followed closely and smacked his face hard before he could recover.
He knew Yui was gone even before he looked up at the pier. Haru looked down at his once-again soaked clothes resignedly.
"Shit… I should've chosen a safer place to kiss her."
Wild thoughts ran in Natsume's head as he stayed hidden in the shadows. Ren had mentioned the Academy, which meant that there was a high possibility of meeting someone he knew.
Natsume waved the thought away as he heard someone running in his direction. He listened closely; there were two people, but the distance between them was somewhat far.
Ren turned into the alley at an alarming speed, with a backpack slung against his shoulder. Upon seeing Natsume, he stopped and looked up at the walls of the alley, "Give me a boost."
"Hell, no." Natsume glared at him through his mask, "You're a Zero – do it yourself."
Ren made a small noise of exasperation and lifted a hand directly towards the fire-caster. Before the latter could react, he disappeared as if he had evaporated into thin air. Natsume looked around wildly; he could still feel Ren's presence, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where are you looking?"
Natsume whirled around in the direction of Ren's voice. At the same time, an invisible force on his shoulder caused him to stagger forward; heavy and brief. Ren reappeared behind him the next second, standing safely on the high walls of the alley, making it evident that he had stepped onto Natsume's shoulder to get up there.
"Don't get too cocky, Natsume." Ren said coldly, "Getting into Team Zero within your first week of entry doesn't mean anything."
Natsume's lips curled into a smile – he had only wanted to make Ren reveal his Alice. "You should go. I'll take care of your stalker."
Ren turned around and jumped off without a word, disappearing from his sight. At that precise moment, a slender silhouette appeared at the entrance of the alley, having caught up finally.
Natsume looked over his shoulder as the person walked towards him. It was dark, but he could tell that it was a girl. He quickly closed his eyes, suddenly afraid to look at her face. His heartbeat accelerated as she came closer, finally stopping in front of him.
But deep down, he already knew.
"Don't even bother using your Alice."
As she reached out and grabbed his collar, her fingertips brushing against his skin lightly, Natsume opened his eyes slowly, allowing her to pull him closer without resistance.
It was unmistakably the girl that occupied his thoughts, day and night.
My darlings, I humbly present Chapter 6. My conscience screams at me every time I receive a heartwarming review. I apologize for that, but since I have time today, I'd like to shower my love and thanks to these wonderful people who have taken time to review this story:
VeryCherryJellyBean, Chibified Indian, tokyobend17, funny sakura, -rhan-louise-, istopped, Ancr -I only just noticed, but hey, I followed your Vampire Fangs story during my early days in FF! You totally got me the minute you described Natsume doing push-ups *giggles insanely*
EnChan, LeonReon, PrincessJanelle, LinaLina183, vforlife, Kibou No Megami, Sunkised-chan, tinkerbellie, Sitting in the Silence Kate-chan hihi! Hope all is well.
Yukiri-chan, LiLMissVexatious, ladalada, , moonliteroses394, xXbunnyholicXx (berry smoothie!), chocobang is sakura hayashi, martocasmusic, Deprived of Chocolate, ProverbialSunrise93, raindrops22, JC-zala, dolin0000, GApurpLeAddicT, Tenilialunar
BunnySocks, Konnichiwa Minna, yasly, , Marshmallow73, toboe059, xDream-yAyumii, xXBellaSwanXx, ai-chocolate, Awai Tameni Za Kuro, Blitzer's demonic spirit, tsujeai, heya-gurl, 147258369 DELETED, Ms. BbB, nissikisses, L's apprentice, prettycj, Caritate, Eve 'lil' princess, eLeA mELeNdEz, 'Blue Moon and Roses', Enilezah, Kurukus, ruin princess, purple-flavored-gum my bear, kmc27, kirei31, cutestella, forchan, Elv, Irumi Kanzaki, Alrisce "senpai " amused me to no end, and yes if you every write a story let me know!
aegyo, FatHo, midnight-attraction, bunnnny-chan, randomizedthoughts, NRvirus, Comicworm, candyxgirl, tuticuttie, Her Cousin Was Here-Mwahahahah, manimefrancess, fieryme-, -KuroTenshi11-, nightlynxness, Typh You're one of my favourite authors and you were actually here! I absolutely adore your cute one-shots.
PurpleHime, gossipsmypassion, SpaiseFreaque, Heartbroken Confession, Fantisylover, midnitestarz, Lady Kaname Kuran, halftherainbow7, slowlyrealising, tAnGeRiNe-jUjUbE08, Banana Smiles, dominiqueanne, sweetswirlypop, illutia mist, o0huggies0o, RainbowPrincess326, Sakura-Hime246 (sakurapetal246) Good job translating the Chinese lyrics hime-chan ;)
fire dragonheart, Laine Whitlock, ainyo, Isadora T, Whatever07, -SmilingArtist-, dolphingal13, Arvee-Chan, jcroxx, crimsoneyes44, fitha, Youichiix33, evangeline, littleazngirl24, niceladysakura, 526biimqaa (Regina)
xXBlackTenshiXx, CarJanLucy, chello-chan, 'x-KiRa09-x', animechic12, Mitsumi Haruka, Irrevocable Truth, The Forgotten Promise, NadeshikoEverdeenHimeSama, kazeyukiryusama, shadesofgreen13, xxtiffanysaysxx, Purple Tangerines, mikan, mAeLyX, SweetieSakura, Eternal Anime Fan, samika-37, xXxCat-OtakuxXx, zoooaaa, Amethyst Petals, kawaiiIsa-chan, Jeniffer Artemis, (Anonymous), animefortune2468, SliverMeaning of Life and Love, HazZel and CriMson, lil achance, Eternal Anime Fan, (Anonymous), joeymental626, JustNicole3 I'm glad this story cheered you up! More good days coming your way :)
akadabra-kaching, YamCAKE, Suyin Sah
I'm terribly sorry I can't reply to every single review. As a general comment though, you guys write more awesome stuff than me because I wouldn't be able to write reviews with so much encouragement and sweet words. Always plastering a silly smile on my face, and that doesn't happen very often (I prefer to smile shyly) so flying kisses to all of you!
I haven't got fantastic memory but I'm not lying when I say a lot of your pennames ring a bell from Hold Me Tight and Never Let Go… (What am I talking about this is a sequel after all) That is nostalgically nostalgic. I still receive reviews for that story now and then; unfortunately I'll have to distribute my thanks in the next few chapters. Till then, allow me to sit on my chair and giggle more. I also appreciate those who changed their pennames and actually let me know in their reviews. Same goes to those who left their real names. Thank you for sticking with me even after Hold Me Tight and Never Let Go was completed.
Readers who read The Stray Cat of the Alley when it was first published in 2007 will know that I originally wrote five chapters and deleted them, rewriting the whole thing because it didn't feel "right". In that original version, I wanted to write about Yui coming back to ruin Natsume & Mikan's lives, but changed my mind halfway and decided to give her personal story a go. Sorry about that – some reviews are actually directed to the old version of this story (e.g. WHY IS YUI HANA BACK *#&).
As for the readers who never saw any changes to this story, the current plot I'm writing on is final.
Finally, a Sumo-sized hug to you who finished reading my insane rant. I have not forgotten this story, and I don't plan to either. Again, thanks for all the support and I hope you guys are well. x
p.s. Sometimes my reviewers like to give me cookies. Man, you guys really know how to play to my tastes.
p.p.s. A lot of you have been curious about my nationality since I posted Chinese lyrics in the previous chapters. Yes sweeties, I'm Chinese. As for which country, continue guessing ;)