AUTHOR'S NOTE AND DISCLAIMER: I have tried my best to update at least once a week. Being a student is so damn hard, and the teachers just don't seem to understand that. Either that, or they are avenging themselves for the terrible student life they had when they were younger (which is a century ago LOL).

Chapter 7

Luna Koizumi ran around the house, looking for her grandfather, her excitement visible on her face.

"GRANDPA! WHERE ARE YOU?"

Annoyance starting to get the better of her, Luna caught sight of a small note stuck on the fridge door.

Went out to buy supplies from downtown. I'll be back at around 3.

-Jii-chan

Scowling, Luna headed to the young lad's bedroom. His first question upon waking up was precisely who the fuck she was, but probably due to her exhilaration, it did not register on her mind.

Opening the door, she gasped as a strong hand gripped her throat and slammed her on the wall. A soft click told her that whoever was in the room with her had closed the door, locking it as well. Choking, she stared at her tormentor. The crimson-eyed boy glared at her fiercely through bloodshot eyes, and his rage was barely uncontainable. In fact, his anger seemed to seep right out of his skin, emanating a strange aura around him.

Oh yes. Luna Koizumi was afraid. Very afraid.

It wasn't supposed to be like this, she thought, as her face slightly turned an interesting shade of teal, He was supposed to be grateful. I saved his life! He was supposed to fall in love with me!

--

"I will ask you once more. Who the fuck are you?," Natsume asked, his dangerous tone making the stranger's hair stand on end.

"I can't-. Can't-. Brea-," she spluttered, as she clawed at his strong hands.

Slackening his grip a bit, Natsume felt his patience wearing thin. This girl, whoever she was, was not giving him any answers. The taunting endless nightmare he had was still fresh on his mind, and right now, everything just seems so real that he deduced that this might be another trick again.

Adding insult to injury, goddamit. Making a dead person feel that he's alive. Giving him false hope. This is twisted...

Returning his attention to the girl coughing in front of him, he tightened the previously loosened grip once again.

"Answer me, or I swear I'll kill you!"

"I-. I'm-," she stuttered once again, her teeth chattering due to fright.

"STOPSTUTTERING AND GIVE ME AN ANSWER!," he shouted, punching a hole through the wall with his free hand.

Struggling to pull herself together, the girl explained everything to him.

"I found you in the woods. It has been three days since you have been in my care. I live with my Ojii-san in this little cottage. My name is Luna Koizumi," she told him, wiping the tears on her face.

Letting her go, she dropped to the floor, crying her heart out. He ignored her pathetic little sobs, and threw the door open.

"Get out. I need to be alone," he said through pursed lips, nodding towards the open door.

--

Hotaru Imai wrung the washcloth once again, huffing in severe annoyance. She glared at the "dashing" blond she was currently tending to. It was his eighth consecutive night in her room, and it was an understatement to say that she was not pleased.

"I'm not your maid, Nogi. I don't understand why you come to me after each messy, drunken night, knocking at my door like it's my fucking obligationto clean you up. Goddamit Nogi! You know how much sleep I get every night! Since your stupid little nightly visits, I haven't been getting any peace!," she stated, her brows furrowing in exasperation.

She looked at the blonde's face, irritated at his lack of response. He merely stared at her through half-open glazed eyes, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

"Fuck you, Nogi. Fuck you and that irksome little smirk of yours. Fuck you and your devil-may-care attitude. Fuck you and your infuriating blonde hair. You never cease to earn my spite," she told him icily, throwing the washcloth in the basin, making water slosh over the brim, "I don't even know why I'm doing this. There simply is no profit at all. You're not paying me."

Turning her back on him, she was about to head to bed when the Ruka uttered a short statement, catching her attention momentarily.

"It's because deep down, you want me, Hotaru-chan."

Hotaru's mouth formed a small 'o' as she was startled by a pair of strong hands wrapping around her, pulling her back. Ruka's lips met hers, kissing her fiercely, making her knees buckle beneath her. She froze as his mouth moved, violent yet gentle, pleading for her to partake in their sweet fiery dance.

No, Hotaru thought desperately, gathering all her willpower to remain stationary, I will not respond to this kiss. I won't kiss back. He disgusts me. He-

Hotaru's insides did a little flop as the boy gently thrust his tongue in her mouth, gently fencing her own.

Dammit.

Despite all her determination to remain unmoved, Hotaru finally gave up, kissing him back with the same sheer intensity, wrapping her arms around his neck while doing so.

Oh, she tried. Hotaru did try to hide the passion she felt, tried to stay immobile and indifferent towards Ruka's kisses. But she soon found out that our young blond can be quite persuasive.

After what seemed like ages, the two finally came up for air, panting and gaping as they glared at each other sternly.

"See! I paid you back, Hotaru-chan," Ruka drawled lazily, tracing swirls on Hotaru's cheeks.

"I hate you, Nogi," she replied.

"The feeling's mutual," he whispered, pulling her for another kiss, which she met enthusiastically. Tongues danced once again, but this time, Hotaru pulled away quickly.

"You just can't keep kissing me, you fucking drunkard. I can taste the bitterness of the alcohol you've had, and quite frankly, you smell like the inside of a beer barrel," she declared, raising a brow at him.

Pulling her close for a hug, Ruka nipped at her earlobe, rubbing her cold shoulders.

"Don't worry Hotaru-chan, for I won't be drinking or going on drugs any time soon. You see," he breathed on her ear, "You have become my favorite drug."

--

Mikan dragged her feet towards Hotaru's room, hoping that talking to her best friend would finally calm her down, and make her tranquil enough to go to sleep. Hotaru had given her access to her room as well, so that a simple fingerprint was needed to enter the inventor's realm. Of course, whenever Hotaru was busy, she would restrict the people who would potentially disturb her, yet Mikan highly doubted that her best friend would be busy at this late hour.

After her fingerprint was analyzed and confirmed silently by Hotaru's very own invention, which was next to her door, Mikan watched as her best friend's bedroom door opened, feeling awe at how everything operated smoothly.

Peeking in to make sure she wasn't disturbing anything, the brunette had to stifle a gasp, as a shocking little scene played right in front of her. Hotaru was quite busy, and not with an invention. All those years, Mikan did not suspect that her best friend was capable of such an act, and she was indeed astounded.

For Hotaru was busy, not with a machine, but with a man.

A man who happened to be Ruka Nogi.

Hotaru….and…Ruka?, she thought, as she closed the door silently,, and tiptoed back to her room.

Jumping on her bed, she giggled uncontrollably, screaming the same thing all over and over with delight.

"HOTARU'S IN LUUURVE WITH RUKA! HOTARU'S IN LUUURVE WITH RUKA!"

Catching her breath, Mikan sat up straight, her melancholic mood slowly seeping back in.

Though I'm happy for Hotaru, I can't help but feel so alone.

Standing up, and heading to her balcony, which has become one of her favorite spots, she looked out into the Northern Woods, pondering on everyone's latest relationships. It was no secret that Koko and Anna were going out, and though they postponed the announcement due to the sudden death of Natsume, Mikan knew that they were involved.

Great. Now I'm all alone.

Sighing, she went back to bed and crouched under the covers.

Natsume, you dummy. If you hadn't gone, we would be like that too.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ta-da! Hope you guys liked it! Hotaru and Ruka are finally together! LOL Don't forget to drop a review! XD