Chocolate kisses for everybody who reviewed! People actually read what I write o.0

Anyway, it seems that some people would like my chapters to be longer. Ok, I'll try my best!

Side Note: About the Naruto fic I told you last chapter, I'm going to write ONLY Naruto/Sakura. I've never liked the idea of Sasuke/Sakura. Sorry . . . And don't ask me why, my mind made that decision on its own. Blah.

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Chapter 9

"Look, Hikaru!" exclaimed Sai. "Akari's parents are stepping out of a metal thingy!"

"That's a car," answered Hikaru. He ran over to the window as fast as he could. "It's about time they got back!"

"Will you go and see her?" asked Sai, quietly.

"I - ," started Hikaru, but then he remembered something he promised not to do. "No, I told you that I wasn't going to bother with her anymore. If she doesn't want to talk to me, that's fine. I don't have time to keep chasing her."

Sai looked a little disappointed but he didn't say anything.

"I have school in a week," said Hikaru. "I didn't do my vacation homework yet so come on. I'm stuck on a history paper."

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Hikaru had his first day of school. It was something short of torture. He didn't concentrate on what the teachers were saying and forgot to copy his first homework assignment.

He was walking home when he noticed Akari walking several feet in front of him.

"At least try to patch things up with her," said Sai. "It's no good turning away from a problem."

Hikaru let out a big, exasperated sigh and ran over to Akari's side.

She was a little startled to see him, and whispered a small hi.

"Hi," said Hikaru loudly. "I haven't seen you in so long."

"Oh," replied Akari. I'm surprised he noticed, she thought.

"Hey," said Hikaru. "Listen, I'm really sorry for what I said. You know I don't mean it when I say such things. We were friends for too long for you to take it to heart."

Akari's spirits rose a few inches. Did she hear him correctly?

She blushed a little but still didn't say anything.

Hikaru raked his brain for something comforting to say.

"If it makes you feel any better," he said finally. "On the weekend we can go hang out or something. Just like old times."

Sai's eyes went wide, so did Akari's. They both quickly looked at Hikaru's face.

"You mean it?" asked Akari, going a little teary-eyed.

"Uhh," said Hikaru, a little uncomfortable of the fact that Sai and Akari were staring at him so intently. "Yeah, I mean, why would I say it if I didn't mean it?"

"Sorry," answered Akari quickly. "S-sure we can do something!"

Hikaru's mind was eased for the first time in months. He felt as though he could beat Akira himself at Go.

The weekend came at a fast speed. Akari was a little startled that it had already come. She was a little nervous of going out on a date with Hikaru because that's what she decided it was.

Before, whenever they'd go out, it was friend stuff. Now, Akari had a different perspective of the whole thing and she was getting butterflies in her stomach just thinking about it.

"I'm burning up again!" she exclaimed, before she heard the doorbell ring and raced downstairs as fast as she could.

Hikaru noticed that Akari was extremely red in the face. He chose not to say anything.

Akari closed the door and they both went out into the street, walking side by side.

"So, where did you wanna go?" asked Hikaru, offhandedly.

Akari was so into her fantasies that she completely forgot to plan where they'd be going.

"How about a movie?" replied Akari quickly, saying the first thing that came into her racing mind.

When they reached the cinema, Akari strongly insisted that Hikaru pick a movie that he'd like.

"I don't want you sitting through something you'd call 'icky'," said Akari innocently, smiling softly at him.

Sai caught a small blush on Hikaru's face.

In the end, they decided to watch a horror movie. (Hikaru still protested to watch something Akari wanted and vice versa, Akari won.)

Akari realized that the movie had ghosts in it, typical of a horror movie. She was absolutely terrified of the things but she didn't dare say anything to Hikaru.

I'll just close my eyes when the scary parts are on, that's all, she thought nervously.

"Akari looks a bit white to me," said Sai. "What's wrong with her?"

"No idea," answered Hikaru. "She tries to please other people too much."

When the movie started, it wasn't half bad. Akari didn't have to close her eyes yet.

About twenty minutes into the movie, Akari felt that the ghosts would be shown any minute. When she heard the main character in the movie scream their lungs out as they saw something transparent, Akari quickly shut her eyes and started to breath very rapidly.

She quickly grabbed her jacket off the seat handle and pressed it against herself.

I feel like my heart will jump out of my throat any second, she thought. I hope Hikaru doesn't hear me.

Sai was floating about Hikaru and Akari. He seemed rather excited as this was his first time seeing a movie, and a ghost movie at that.

He noticed Akari with her eyes tightly shut and it looked like she was waiting for the worst to happen.

"H-," started Sai but then something stopped him. No, he thought. Hikaru should be able to realize this on his own. It's time he learned how to deal with such things on his own.

My eyes are starting to hurt, thought Akari. I ought to relax.

Hikaru was watching the part of the movie where the ghost got away and everybody in the movie started to ask each other if they were okay. The boring part.

He looked over to where Akari was sitting and noticed that her eyes were closed and she was pressing something yellow against her chest.

What's she doing with my jacket? thought Hikaru.

Then something like a flashback passed Hikaru's mind and he remembered that Akari once told him that she was afraid of ghosts.

I'm so stupid, he thought. I knew I should have insisted we watch something else. Now what?

Sai was watching this whole thing with interest.

Comfort her, Hikaru, he thought. She should feel more secure.

Slowly, Hikaru reached out his hand and took hers.

Instantly, Akari stopped pressing Hikaru's jacket to herself and snapped her eyes wide open. She was too nervous to turn her head around to look at Hikaru.

What's he doing? she thought desperately.

Her whole body relaxed after a few moments and instead of looking at him, she squeezed his hand gently and didn't let go.

I feel so much braver now, thought Akari. I feel so much happier as well.

Akari watched the rest of the movie without closing her eyes whenever she saw ghosts. Instead, at every scary part, she pressed Hikaru's hand closer to herself and held her breath, but forced herself to overcome her fears and not close her eyes. Hikaru's jacket still lay on her lap.

When the movie ended, and the lights went on, Akari quickly let go of Hikaru's hand and realized that his jacket was on her lap.

"What's your jacket doing on my lap?" she asked Hikaru, pointing down on the jacket.

"I didn't put it there," answered Hikaru. He took back his jacket and Akari put hers on as they went outside.

"You know," said Hikaru as they were walking around the neighborhood. "You should have told me you don't like ghosts."

Akari blushed furiously.

"I'm not scared of them anymore!" she said, putting on a tough face. They were walking by a fountain and she jumped up on the stone marble that was surrounding the water. "I feel like I can watch another horror movie now!"

"Whatever," answered Hikaru. "Just don't fall."

Akari giggled a little and twirled around on the spot. It was a very beautiful evening.

Hikaru watched as Akari played around with the fountain.

She looks so pretty, he thought. He even forgot to scowl at himself for thinking that.

Akari started laughing when she touched the cold fountain water. She smiled at Hikaru and jumped off the stone.

"Let's go look at what's left of the sunset!" she said and taking his hand, forced him to run after her.

They were slowly walking on the pier, overlooking the ocean. The horizon was bright orange meaning that the sun had set completely.

Akari leaned over on the railing and took in a deep breath of the sea smell. Her hair was dancing in the wind and Hikaru stood there, leaning on the railing beside her, mesmerized by her appearance.

"It's such a nice weather today," said Akari, looking down on the ocean.

You're so nice today, thought Hikaru.

"The water reflects the colors so beautifully," said Akari.

You're beautiful, thought Hikaru.

"I love nature," sighed Akari.

I love you, thought Hikaru.

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How's THAT for long? Such a big cliffhanger, I know. I'll update VERY fast!! See ya next chapter.