Yippee! Here's Chapter 10, I think my fic is long already, but I can't help it! I'm really interested with what-will-happen to Ruka and Hotaru... Sorry, this interrogation series is needed for the next chapter... Maybe we'll only be having one or two chapters for the next update.

Hey! Thanks for the reviews! I LLLLOOOOVVVEEEE it! God bless us guys!

CHAPTER 10: JUST ASKING

Ruka's POV

So, this is my point of view now? Sigh. I'm now sitting across the ice queen... My, she looked so adorable in that gown, I hope she'll smile, that'll make the view better... but instead, she took a slim-something from her silk gloves, opened it, and there... she ate what's inside that plastic. I became interested so I started our game by asking her the first question: "What's that?"

"Lobster cracker." She said in a blasé attitude. "Why? Is it bothering you, harebrain?"

I smiled at her cheerfully and answered her very first question. "Nope." It's now my turn to interrogate her. "You eat a lot..." I stopped as she shot me a malevolent glance. "I mean, how ...how'd..." I choked, see? I'm talking, she's eating but I'm the one who choked. What's with this girl??? Anyway, I continued my question... "Uhm... What I'm saying is... is that... how come you stay slim in spite of your eating disorder?"

"I'm doing pilates." She answered frigidly. "How about you? You're still so composed and calm even in your most awkward predicament. I'm only curious since you always hang out with that nefarious, shirty cat."

Is she referring to Natsume? Ok, I know the answer... "I'm doing yoga." I said with a shrug. She just raised her brows, no-comment, and continued eating.

"What are you staring at Nogi?" she asked coldly.

"I'm staring at you..." She rolled her amethyst eyes on me and mumbled, "Idiot."

"Why aren't you smiling, Imai?" I asked her back.

"Do you expect me to smile, *eejit!?" she sharply said. (//*eejit is a Brit word for idiot)

"Foul. You can't ask a question when you didn't answer what is asked yet" I announced, rejoicing.

"You bastard! You never stated that on the rules..." she pouted. Aww... she's so cute.

"I clearly said that---quote," I paused, making some imaginary quotation marks with my fingers, "that WE TAKE TURNS ON ASKING QUESTIONS." I said, stressing every word of my sentence. "...and that means that the person asked, NEEDS TO ANSWER his or her question first before she could ask the other one... That's too bad; I really thought you're a braniac." Oh yeah, I'm getting better at this...=)

"Shut up, baka! So much for the explanation! I'm not smiling because you annoyed me! You're bedevilling me!" she answered in a very, well, annoyed manner with gritted teeth. I can only smile. I never saw her so talkative than before... I think my plan's working now. "Now..." she started as she composed herself, I can't help but be so much interested at her sudden expressions, something only few somebodies can only do. And then she continued, "Are you taking me back to the venue or what?"

"I will... I'm just waiting for the moon to shine again... It's very dark and I can't take the risk especially when I'm with you. I won't ruin your dress." Then I looked at him from head to toe. She's a lulu. She rolled her eyes on me. "Why? Don't you like being here with me?"

"No." She answered simply. "So why are you still waiting for the moon to come out?"

"I dropped moon-stones on the path I took so I can follow them back. They'll only shine if the moon will show up, but unfortunately..." I just shrugged. She sighed and maundered something like Hansel-and-Gretel-freak. I can see her getting impatient more and more, and I'm running out of ideas or questions to stir up her interest, and finally make her say what I wanted her to say. She's looking away, with much coldness on her violet eyes. "Don't you like me Hotaru?" She flinched as she turned her face to look at me with wary eyes. What's with my question? She looked so worried and she's blinking so fast. Did I worry her? I sat here in silence waiting for her to answer and she finally lifted her head up. I inhaled for some air.

"No" Wow, it did hurt and almost melt my whole existence. I looked at her silently, digesting that one word as my chest started to weigh more and more. I almost believed her, but a little ray of the moon's light escaped from a thin cloud, and made her so visible in my eyes, and that's when I started to laugh.

"Your second foul." I said between my laughter. I wanna roll on the ground since I can see victory coming; it's just that... the new portable version of her baka gun was on her hands. I can hear her cursing my name and repeating the words idiot and asshole under her breath.

"What's so funny, huh?" She looked at me again with a vexed expression.

I just shrugged and tried to talk without laughing because it really hurts on the stomach. I opened my mouth but the lingering of what I saw tickles my mind and I can only laugh, until...

Baka! Baka! Baka!

"Ouch..." I complained. That was small but incredible, like I was shot by a million little broke pieces of glasses. She gave that answer-me-or-you'll-have-more look and I was obliged to talk, but... I honestly don't know what to answer. "You look funny." Geez! Where did that come from? What's inside my mind was... uhm... because... I like her expression, that she blinked so fast after telling me that it's "no", she don't like me--- because she did. She did like me! Hooray for that! Hahahaha... It's just like answering a true-or-false question on an exam---if it's not false, then it's true. (It's a simple logic from my course=)')

"Foul number one, Nogi" she smirked, inclining her body on the tree beside her, her arms crossed in front of her, even her silhouette is lovely. But I froze, as a light directly hit my face and blinded me. That baka gun has a flash light?!!! Just then, I remembered that I was... well, blushing. I sighed, it's normal for anyone to feel this, I mean blush, be flattered because you found out, or just heard, that someone likes you... specially if that someone is... as adorable as she is.

When I recovered from the shock (ok, I'm shocked), I looked at the sky and think of something to ask her. "How will you describe me using a character, or a person?" Again, where did it come from? My eyes are still above, but half of my attention was on her. She was motionless for a minute and looked up also, like she's curious of what I'm looking at.

She laughed quietly and looked at me, our eyes met. Did I saw her smiling at me? Oh she's serious again... "I can only think of Hotohori, that emperor from Fushigi Yuugi. It's because, if you'll ask why..." Uh-huh, that's what's on my mind now, why? She continued, "It's because you both look like a girl." I blushed. But a boy won't look like a girl if he's not good-looking, beautifully handsome! "But you're still, I mean both of you... are guys..." she said, her eyes on mine. My sanity about how I look like came back to normal. "It's just that... he's more of a man than you are!" she added, and I turned into crimson. Seriously! Why on earth, that when everything seems so alright, something defective will arouse again??? I looked up to see her laughing, and it sounded like wind-chime touched by a soft breeze. Her eyes shining despite of the darkness, and it touched the deepest of my existence. If I only have a camera, I've taken pictures of her, not to sell but to keep for myself. But NO. No, since I made up my mind to make that smile, that laughter... mine. I'm determined to win her heart and make and see her smile for eternity.

"Seriously, bunny, do you have hormones? I mean the manful hormones, like... testosterone?" I don't know if I'd be embarrassed or I'll burst out laughing again. I didn't expect that question from her!!!

"Of course I do!!!" I exclaimed when she started laughing at me; I can feel the blood rushing to my head. "Just what are you thinking!?" Oh sure I have hormones, I won't be absurdly in-love with you if I'm gay! I wanna think that you're an idiot but I don't because I love you. I hope I can say that out-loud. And also, I don't want that canon again!

She smiled mischievously. "...because sometimes, I think that you will be another Narumi Anjou in the near future. A Freaking homosexual."

"Sensei is not a gay, and you know that. He's in love with principal Azumi and he's going marry her. And me? I'm not a 'homo'!!!"

"Relax Nogi..." she said, smiling darkly while shaking her head.

"Why, you seem like a girl lacking from oestrogen, are you a lesbian?" I smirked. It's my turn to mock.

"Bastard!" she squalled. "For the sake of this game, I'M NOT A LESBIAN! Dumbass! Aaaaarrrrggghhhh!!! Idiot! Thicko! Moron!!!" she screamed in so much vexation.

"Hey please watch your profanity, Icy."

"Yes and I'm doing it, because if I'm not, I think you'll be dead by now... mollycoddle!"

"Mollycoddle?? And what makes you think so?" I asked her.

"Because you're freaking stupid and dense!" she glared at me coldly and took another bite from her so-called lobster cracker while I can only stare at her in disbelief.

"No. I'm smart."

"You're wrong! I'm smart... and drop-dead gorgeous, may I add." She said rolling her eyes on me. That. Was. So. Straight. My mouth fell and I can only stare at her for almost a minute.

"And what do you think makes you smart?"

She smiled pridefully and later laughed. Yes, she didn't utter anything because I already realised that I just got my second foul. I'll be blowed, goodness! I can't lose to her! "I think I need to make a new camera to suit our photoshoot, blonde rabbit." I blushed.

"Don't forget that you're on a warning score, too." I warned her.

"I know, I told you I'm smart!" she smiled simperingly. "I'm smart because I'm not going to lose." She said, sure as shooting.

"Listen---I'm not going to lose to you... EITHER..." I said as I walked towards her, emphasizing my last word and stopping right inches from her. Am I still Ruka Nogi? The moon started to shine revealing her exquisite face and I realized it just as I saw her blushing like crazy! So, I moved away from her, I don't want her to think that I'm perverted and I want to harass her---because she's this precious to me, and I don't wanna hurt her. What can I do? I'm on my knees before I'm on my feet, she's a sinister romantic!

Wait... Did I miss something from that guy's lesson?

"That... is what makes you stupid." She said sharply. I don't know what part of what I did, that made me stupid in her eyes---the part that I don't want to lose or moving away from her?

Author's Note: KKKKYYYYAAAHHHHH!!!!! I totally didn't want Ruka to be this way... I'm just not as diffident as he is... But so far... Well, hehe, I don't know what to say except that I want to supply you with this gossip:

Ruka asked for Tono's assistance before he did this. Tonouichi-sempai was the one who taught him the game, and all the things to do, but as we see from here, Ruka used his own methods and questions. And Ruka has something, an ace, I should say, that made him sure enough that there will be a positive outcome. Please don't ever think that he will blackmail Hotaru, he'll never do that...=) and for the positive outcome? We still don't know how a genius' brain works, so please don't make some exaggerated assumptions, ok?

We'll be having the next chapter soon=) maybe in just a few hours, I can't wait to get through with this!

I LOVE U ALL GUYS! Please review...THANK YOU Sweet-Hearted People!!!

';-'--

Aiai3