CHAPTER 10: GREEN-EYED MONSTER ATTACKS (Last Part)

The sun is up, another day is about to begin, they're still at the TEEPEE Beach, but it's quite different than the other days, cause now… they are four---- Keitaro, Ryoma, Narusegawa and… Mutsumi.

Nobody knows how hard it is for Narusegawa to be under the same roof with Mutsumi, even just for a day. It's not that she doesn't like her, it's just that… being with Mutsumi is just pure torture for her, just thinking of the fact that she's the one that Keitaro loves, slices her heart little by little. But still, she has to act normal and… unaffected.

That morning, she woke up earlier than usual, she looked at the bed where Mutsumi slept but she isn't there anymore, which means she woke up earlier than her…

She went out, nobody is out there yet. She looked around, searching for Keitaro and Ryoma, when someone shouted.

"Ohayou Naru!"

She turned around, and saw Mutsumi, "Oh, hey Mutsumi!"

Mutsumi smiled, "You're up early huh? How's your morning?" and asked.

She smiled back, "Really good, how about you?" and asked. 'What do you expect? My morning's not good and I bet my whole day would just be the same…'

"My morning's fine too, and I know it would be one pretty day, cause you know, I'm gonna be with Keitaro for another day again. I really missed him, it's been long, very long years, and I really missed our days together way back in Canada…" Mustumi stated and then she sighed.

She tried to smile, "Oh… don't worry. It doesn't matter, cause now you're together again 'ne?" and said with a smile--- a fake one, of course. 'Yeah, me too, I miss the days way back when you weren't part of our lives yet… and I hope I could bring back those times.' She sadly thought.

Mutsumi nodded, "Yeah, now that we're together again, I will never let anyone separate us, never. Because I just love him so, that I don't want to lose him, without even FIGHTING for him... And without even TELLING him my real feelings. I don't want my PRIDE to take over my feelings, I don't want to lose him, without even trying to have him… " Then she said, while looking straightly into Narusegawa's eyes, it's like she's searching for something.

Narusegawa got quite conscious and very much affected by the way Mutsumi stares at her… and also, about what Mutsumi just said. It was the same thing that she wanted to do, to fight for him, to never let anyone separate them, 'But how can I? How can I not let anyone set us apart? When I know I don't have anything to make him stay? I don't have anything to make him love me… because he loves you. You're the one that he loves. We're just the best of friends… only that. We could never be together like you were way back then… never.'

Silence surrounded them for quite a little while…

But Mutsumi broke it, "Hey… are you okay Narusegawa?" 'I'm so sorry Naru, don't worry, all those pain will pay off in the end. We promise you... We just really need to do this.'

Narusegawa tried to smile, "O-Of course… Don't mind me, maybe I'm just a little bit hungry. C-Come on, let's get inside." And then she walked away.

Mutsumi smiled secretly and mumbled, "Nice start Mutsumi, you're such a great actress…" she giggled.

There they are now, having breakfast--- a breakfast surrounded with tension. Rather, only the two are feeling that tension---- Keitaro and Narusegawa.

Ryoma started talking, "So, how's your morning girls?"

Mutsumi smiled, "Mine is very fine."

Ryoma smiled back at her, "That's great Mutsumi, how about yours Narusegawa?" he said and then he looked at Naru's direction.

She smiled, "Fine too…" and said.

"How about you Keitaro?" Mutsumi asked.

Keitaro smiled, "I'm just fine."

Mutsumi asked with a sweet smile while looking at Keitaro, "Hey, will you accompany me later?"

"Me? Where?" He asked back.

"I want to go buy some souvenirs, so… will you? Please?"

Keitaro looked at Narusegawa.

Narusegawa pretended to be busy eating.

He nodded, "Sure… that would be… fun." and said.

Narusegawa pretended again to hear nothing.

"How about you guys? Ryoma? Naru? Want to come and join us?" Mutsumi asked.

She shook her head, "Don't worry about me, I would be… just fine here." and then she smiled--- yeah, that was another fake one.

Ryoma interrupted, "Yeah, why don't we come too Naru? Don't you want to buy some souvenirs? It's our last day here, we would be leaving tomorrow afternoon, that's why you wouldn't have the time to buy except for today." and said.

"But…"

"Come on, we would go, no buts." Ryoma added.

Mutsumi smiled while looking at Ryoma, "That's great! We could all go together." And then she secretly winked at Ryoma.

Keitaro saw Mutsumi winking and smiling at Ryoma, that's why he got confused and somehow suspicious. 'What's that for? I really think something insane is up with them; I got to know what they're up to.'

They finished breakfast; Narusegawa stood up, "Uhhh, excuse me guys, I would go first. I want to breathe some fresh air outside." She said and then she walked away.

Keitaro looked at her and decided to follow her, "I would just go out too, you two clean out our table." He said.

Narusegawa heard that Keitaro is following her that's why she walked faster than usual.

But Keitaro noticed that, that's why he tried to catch up with her fast walking.

And when he reached her, he pulled her arm to stop her from walking, "Narusegawa, what's going on?"

She shook her head, "Nothing's going on."

"Nothing? Then why are you avoiding me? Is this what you call nothing? Tell me, what's wrong?"

She just shook her head and looked down.

He pulled her much closer and made her look at him straight into the eyes. "Tell me… is there something bugging your mind?"

But she looked at the opposite direction to avoid his eyes, "I said it's nothing, just don't mind me…"

He sighed, "Okay… if that's what you want, then I wouldn't ask anything, if that's what you want me to do, to just ignore you, then fine… I'll do what you want." Then he let go of her and he walked away.

As she watched him walk away, she couldn't help but cry, 'How could we be like this? I never imagined we would be just like this, just because of the girl you love… or maybe, this is all my fault, this is because of me, this is because I love you… and this damn pain I feel inside this stupid heart.'

The tears kept on flowing, she ran, she ran as fast as she could, trying to run away from the pain, running away from everything that's bugging her mind, running away from the emotion that she's feeling, she ran as fast as she could to just forget about everything, to just simply throw away everything that she's feeling at that moment, she just wanted to feel numb.

So she ran...

and she stumbled.

She stumbled upon one stone and that stone was just like Keitaro… because it caused pain to her too. The only difference is with Keitaro, the wound is deeper, for it was not just an ordinary wound; it cannot be aided with just a band-aid and an alcohol, because it's unnoticed. Yet, there's only one person that could heal that unseen wound inside Narusegawa's heart, but sad to say, that certain person can't.

After a few minutes of just sitting at the sand with the tears flowing down her cheeks, Narusegawa had decided to go back, she wasn't ready to face them yet…but she has to.

Mutsumi saw her coming, "Hey, Naru, where have you been? We've been waiting for you."

She let out a timid smile, "I just did something, I'm sorry I kept you guys waiting, you shouldn't have waited for me."

Mutsumi smiled, "Don't worry about that. Come on, change now and then we'll go. We'll just be here outside waiting for you."

She walked in and he saw Keitaro sitting at one corner, their eyes met but she quickly looked at the opposite direction to avoid his. She couldn't bear to look into those eyes.

They are now strolling, looking for some interesting souvenir shops outside the beach. Keitaro is walking with Mutsumi, and Ryoma with Narusegawa.

Ryoma thought that was the best moment to end in a right way, the game he started, 'Okay guys… let's end this game right. I guarantee, this day would not end without you two fixing whatever it is that have been damaged between you. You would be happy now, for life.' he thought and then he smiled secretly.

Ryoma can't find a way to tell Mutsumi, so he just sent her a text message.

BEEP!

Mutsumi read the text message, it's from Ryoma, it says:

Hey Mutsumi! You ready to end the game? I think this is the best moment to do it. Do whatever it is that's necessary. You do it well or else… LOL. Good luck! Don't reply. They might notice.

After reading the text message, Mutsumi smiled. 'Okay… let the final game begin.'

While they were walking, Mutsumi held Keitaro's hand. With the way Keitaro reacted, it was obvious that he was feeling quite uncomfortable.

Narusegawa saw it, but she pretended that she didn't notice it.

Ryoma smiled, 'Nice move Mutsumi.'

After holding his hand, she leaned at his shoulder. Keitaro felt uneasy for the second time. 'What's this? Man… what is Mutsumi thinking? Holding my hand and then leaning at my shoulder?! What's up with her? I-Is she really… still not over me? Damn.' He thought.

Again, Naru pretended not to notice. She just looked at some other direction. 'Damn… What now?! I shouldn't have come here in the first place. If they would act like that all day, I should have just stayed at the beach.'

Ryoma looked at Narusegawa, "You okay Naru?"

Narusegawa smiled, "Yeah, of course, why?"

Ryoma shook his head, "Nothing. So, have you seen any shop you want to go to?"

She shook her head, "I haven't seen any yet."

Ryoma nodded and smiled, "Alright."

Mutsumi stopped, "Hey, I haven't seen any shop I want to go to yet, can we just sit down and eat first?" and then she said.

"That would be fine with me; anyway, I'm quite hungry too." Ryoma said.

Narusegawa just nodded.

"Sure…" Keitaro said.

The tension between Keitaro and Narusegawa was felt while they were eating, they weren't talking to each other, they weren't smiling at each other and they never even glance at each other. It was like they were strangers, and the thought of that made both of them feel… sad.

'How can we be like this? How can you let us be like this? It's just so strange… to think that we are best friends. But why are you acting like this? Will we just let our friendship end just like that? I want us to be like before again Naru… I want to hold you close again. I miss you… so much. And I can't bear this; I don't want us to end up just like this.'

'I didn't want this to happen; I never wanted this to happen. I never thought of this, never in my mind did I imagine we will ever be like this Keitaro… It just feels so strange… I thought we were best friends. I thought no one could separate us again. I thought you will never let anyone or anything, break us apart. I don't want us to end up like this Kei… I want to be close to you again. I miss you… so much.'

After eating, they finally saw a souvenir shop nearby. As they were shopping, Mutsumi planned something…

'This has got to work. This is an old and much used trick, but this has got to work.' Mutsumi thought and then she smiled. She came closer to where Keitaro is…

She pretended to be busy looking for some stuffs and then...

"Ah! Oh, my eye, I think something got into my eye!"

Keitaro quickly came closer to her, "What happened?"

"I think something got into my eye, I can't open it."

"Wait, let me help you."

Narusegawa was about to go to that corner where they are and she was shocked to see them. Mutsumi and Keitaro looked like kissing, yeah, they aren't but Narusegawa doesn't know. And in that corner, where she stood, they looked like... they are kissing.

It was a startling scene for Narusegawa, for some seconds, she just stood there, frozen while watching the scene. And when it finally sank into her system, she ran outside, with the tears flowing down her eyes.

Mutsumi saw Narusegawa, "Hey, Keitaro! I think Narusegawa saw us and she ran outside!" she exclaimed, "Follow her, go." And then she smiled.

Keitaro ran outside and followed Narusegawa.

"Naru!" He shouted while chasing her.

She ignored him and ran faster.

"Naru! Please, wait!"

He continued running after her.

She continued running away from him.

…until she stumbled.

"Narusegawa! Are you alright?"

"Stay away from me! Please… go away… just please." She sobbed.

"Naru… what's happening to you? I can't leave you like this. You need me…at least just for now." He knelt and came closer to her.

She tried to get away from his arms, "I don't need you… I don't need anyone!"

"What's the matter? Tell me!"

"What's wrong?! What's the matter?! You! You're my problem! You!" She shouted and then she sobbed once more.

Keitaro was quite stunned to hear that from her…

"Please Narusegawa… tell me what's wrong. Tell me everything you're hiding… I'm your best friend, you are my best friend. Tell me everything; I want to know all the things that are bugging your mind…"

She just continued crying in his arms.

She doesn't want to talk, because once she does, she's afraid she might say the wrong words; she's scared that once she speak, she might tell him her real feelings.

The deafening silence reigned between them.

Keitaro broke it, "Can you tell me everything now? Just like before? Please… tell me everything, everything."

"If I tell you everything… promise me you won't be mad. Promise me you'll just listen and if you want to leave after that, you can. You're free to go… just listen first."

"I will listen, I want to hear everything… don't worry. Just tell me…" He said.

She stared at him, as if testing if what he said was true.

"Tell me…" he said.

"I…"

"I…"

"I…"

"I love you Keitaro! More than a best friend, I love you more than just a friend; I love you for who you are, I love you… as a man. I love you… Urashima Keitaro." She said it with her eyes closed, because she doesn't want to see his reaction.

There. She said it, she finally did. It took her a lot of courage to do so, and now she finally said it. The words she'd been longing to tell him… the feelings she have been hiding for quite a long time.

Keitaro smiled, he's so shocked. But he is so happy, very much happy.

"Open your eyes Naru..." he uttered.

She bowed down.

He moved closer to her and lifter her chin, "Naru Narusegawa… Don't worry, I love you too. Just like what you're feeling for me."

Keitaro felt so happy to say those words to her, he never thought Narusegawa loved him back. He feels so… happy. If there's a more intense feeling that he could feel more than being happy, that's exactly what he feels at that moment. But right now, he can't be happier; he feels like he's the happiest man alive.

Narusegawa smiled, "Y-You love me?"

Keitaro nodded with a smile, "I do. I so much do. I love you Naru… even before. I loved you even before we were best friends, for the very first time I laid eyes on you when we were kids, I knew I felt something really different. And I know now what that feeling is ---- its love. L-O-V-E. Love."

Narusegawa smiled and hugged him.

"I love you too Keitaro… I really do."

Their eyes met… and slowly, their lips met each other.

Meanwhile…

Ryoma and Mutsumi are watching them from afar…

"That was a nice move Mutsumi! You did great!" Ryoma said and then he laughed.

"I know… I'm such a smooth actress!" Mutsumi exclaimed and then she laughed too.

Ryoma smiled, "Everything's okay now. Thank you for helping me Mutsumi, I'm so relieved that they're happy now. And I hope it would last forever." He looked at them again and he turned around, "Come on, let's go back to the shop, they might notice us. Just let those two talk, they have a lot to talk about." He pulled Mutsumi.

"Alright…" She smiled.

A/N: Done! Yay. I'm so happy. I'm still not sure if I would put another chappie or not, please help me.

Should I make another chapter?

Or should I let this chapter be the ending?

Your suggestions would surely help me decide.

R&R!

:D