Heya... haiiz... take so long update… Sorry. I'm kinda having a writer's block here, so yeah… -.-

Last Chapter:

The portal expanded and contracted, and Meroko disappeared into it.

"Me-chan, NO!!"

Chapter 10: (OMG!! Double Digit!)

"Don't!" Izumi screamed. Yet, he was too late.

He watched as Meroko disappeared into the swirling mass, the faint image of her a moment ago still hovering in his mind.

The dog shinigami stared into the place she had been, then followed with decision. I will follow… wherever you may go…

He too disappeared into the portal, closing his eyes as he went.

The dark alley resumed its darkness. A cat slinked from one bin to another, its unnaturally green eyes staring curiously at the spot where he vanished.

After their mock pillow fight, Takuto and Mitsuki lay peacefully against each other, their backs touching.

They stayed in blissful silence, taking comfort in each other's presence. Mitsuki brought her arms around her knees, and laid her head back, against his.

I wish we could stay like this forever... So peaceful, so...happy.

She knew that she loved him, much more than she would ever imagine. But, sometimes she had doubts about his feelings towards her. Sometimes, she just didn't feel secure… She knew she should trust in him, trust in his love for her… But, doubt was inevitable. How could she be sure that it was not someone else he loves? There were so many that were beautiful...

"Takuto...??" Mitsuki spoke uncertainly.

"Hmm?" Takuto replied, turning slightly around to look at her.

"Takuto... do, do..." She stuttered. Hardening her confidence, she tried to speak boldly. "Takuto...do, do you like me?"

She turned very red, her heart pounding hard. I, I said it!

Takuto's eyes flickered. Tilting his head, he stared hard at Mitsuki with a strange look in his eyes.

"Why do you ask?" Takuto asked in return.

Mitsuki paused. Is he avoiding the question? ""I...I want, no, need to know."

Takuto just continued staring at her in that odd way. It was rather unnerving.

"T-Takuto?" She asked doubtfully, wondering what her friend was doing.

"I heard you." He replied curtly. The shortness of the sentence seemed to deepen Mitsuki's doubt. Why won't he answer the question?

A corner of Takuto's mouth turned up in a weird, lopsided smile. Mitsuki started feeling a little...scared.

He turned around, shuffling his body, until he was fully facing her.

"Mitsuki..." He murmured, a distant look in his eyes.

"Takuto? W-What are you doing?" Her voice quivered.

Takuto kept his silence, leaning forward as if wanting to whisper in her ear. He moved slowly, his eyes on hers, until he was unnervingly close.

He parted his lips as if to speak. Mitsuki stared into his dark eyes, just inches away from her.

Her eyes widened as he suddenly tilted forward, arms going around her, as he placed his soft lips gently on top of hers.

Strange, eerie wind blew in this bizarre landscape. Every thing was rather dark and gothic, as if in a haunted world.

No animals lived here, or at least, no animal that we know of. This was the world of spirits, different from the world we know. Strange spirits haunt this barren land, spirits of different kinds, elves, goblins, creatures of both beauty and darkness. Spirits never cease to wander in this place, their intentions unknown. This was not a place for mortals.

Green light flashed as a body plummeted from a mass of darkness, much darker than the darkest shade of black should be. It landed on a patch of grass, and didn't move for a moment. Pink gloved fingers twitched as they struggled to help its owner get up.

Yet, Meroko lapsed into unconsciousness as weariness overtook her, no matter how hard she struggled against it. Her body simply wasn't strong enough to withstand so much toil and taxing of her power.

Shadows flitted around the area, dancing, as Meroko's body finally stayed still. And so she laid, her pink clothed body lying in the centre of all that darkness.

The clearing filled with yet another big flash of green light as another body erupted from the black swirl. It landed more elegantly as the person before, landing kneeling. Izumi looked up to see Meroko's limp figure lying on the grass. His brows snapped together in concern, and immediately rushed over to her.

"Me-chan!! Me-chan!!" He tried to wake her, yelling her nickname. Reaching out to her, he tried to shake her, then—

He, too, suddenly collapsed.

A ghastly shadow fell across their bodies sprawled on the ground, cast by the oddly colored moon overhead.

Mitsuki stared in total shock, dazed by his sudden movement. His lips sent an unexpected electric shock coursing through her body. She had not imagined a simple touch could be anything like this. Warmth flooded into her body, as he pulled her tighter towards her. Her tense body relaxed in his grip, and closed her eyes as she fully received his sudden kiss.

After a moment, or was it hours —Mituski couldn't tell— he finally released her. They were both slightly gasping.

Mitsuki looked up at Takuto, bewilderment in her eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she realized what had happened.

Takuto was not much better himself. He was turning very, very red. It was easy to imagine him with smoke pouring out of his ears in that state. He did not meet Mitsuki's eyes.

So they stayed that way for a few moments, both embarrassed now that they were over their sudden impulse. It was the first time Mitsuki had really kissed anyone, for the sake of kissing. She was holding her fingers to her lips, still feeling Takuto's soft lips on hers, staring into the distance.

When she looked up again, Takuto was staring at her. His barely-controlled face turned slightly red again as their eyes met. But amidst his embarrassment, determination showed.

"M-Mituski." He choked out. Smoothing over, he continued. "What do you think?"

"Huh?" Mitsuki wondered aloud. What was he talking about?

As if he had read her mind, he reminded, "Your question."

"Oh." Mituski blushed again. ""That." Do you like me?

"I don't know…" She said. But the kiss... I don't know what to think...

Takuto smiled rather sadly. ""Do I like you..." He mused. ""Do you really want to know?"

Mitsuki nodded.

Takuto took a breath. "No."

Mitsuki stared in shock, then looked down to her knees, feeling her heart break.

Takuto smiled again, with that same sadness. ""Mitsuki," He held up her chin, staring her straight in her eyes.

"I don't like you. I love you."

Time seemed to freeze for the two. Their eyes met, and that moment seemed to stretch into infinity.

Mitsuki saw the warmth in his eyes, eyes that lighted up whenever he looked at her.
Takuto saw the sorrow that had been lingering there disappear from her eyes, replaced with happiness.
Pure, powerful happiness.

Sobbing, Mitsuki threw herself into Takuto's grasp. She sobbed hard, until tears welled out of her eyes. She curled up in his strong arms, feeling the safety and security there. Gradually, her sobbing subsided into hiccups. Takuto held her tight all along, treasuring this precious moment.

He murmured in her ears, telling her not to worry, not to cry.

Unknowingly, Mitsuki fell asleep in his arms. Takuto looked down at the innocent girl, sleeping so peacefully, cradled in his arms. He smiled at the wet stain on his shirt, where Mitsuki had cried on. Weariness flashed in his eyes, but not of physical weariness.

"Sleep, Mitsuki...You don't have to worry."

There is nothing I want to say... What is wrong with the new document thing?! It keeps deleting my lines and dots, and making everything weird!!Arghhh!!

Haiiz… Could you silent readers please review? I'm getting a lot of hits, but no reviews X(

And I know a lot that I have a lot of Story Alerts and Favorites. But PLEASE, could you just submit a tiny little review? REVIEW!!

If you managed to get through so many chapters to read chapter 10, it must be worth a tiny review :'(

I'm just gonna be evil; I'm not updating until I get at least 3 reviews!!