I finally found time to type!

I was a little disappointed with the response last time I updated (Only 97 hits? Really?). So please, don't tell me the story has suddenly gone downhill. :'(

A little grief for Shouko (I'm sorry!) and Haruki comes to a decision (well, kind of).

Enjoy!

The task was daring but she seemed to be that a lot lately. Her anxiety had been replaced by a kind of adrenaline-ish excitement as she took purposeful strides on the sidewalk. Shouko was filled by an indescribable kind of nerves and pleasure. The idea of her, walking towards a college university right after school! Preposterous! But her curiosity was eating her and she knew until it was satiated she wouldn't be able to get another night's peaceful sleep.

Nosiness was not a characteristic associated with her. But Haruki's temporary normal behavior had changed yet once again after Sunday. As soon as the meeting ended Haruki had whisked her off home and said little on the ride back. The change had her spirits drooping in silent disappointment; especially after things had just started getting good again.

Haruki hadn't replied to any of her texts either. Her first on one Sunday evening was met with an "I'm sorry, got things going on, will text you when free." And there had been no further reply since then. Though Shouko berated herself for having her joy connected with his responses she could not help feel that somehow she had once again been left out of the picture. Haruki was not himself; and she didn't like the ignorance being displayed towards her.

Thoughts had crept into her mind, as thoughts usually do, when one is in doubt or uncertainty. Was Haruki really so busy that he couldn't spare to glance at his mobile? Or if he had, to send a reply back? Had she become bothersome? The most gruesome thought she had imagined was that now since she had testified at college Haruki no longer needed her anymore. But her rational and reasonable side had soothed her, assuring her Haruki wouldn't do any such thing, if he found her annoying, he would have told her long back. Thus, one other thought, which Shouko was unable to get out of her head, and for which no rational, reasonable explanation could be presented remained stuck in her skull.

Sakuragi.

Shouko had almost run into her again when Haruki had been leading her to the vehicle, but he had taken a sharp deviation to avoid her. To spare herself, or to avoid himself from embarrassment she didn't know. Now it seemed Sakuragi's face had been tattooed into some void of her brain and she couldn't get it out. Mockingly the blue eyes seemed to glitter with unhidden confidence at her.

Questions again formed, vanished, and rebirthed. What was Sakuragi to Haruki? A close friend? An acquaintance? Girlfriend? Ex-girlfriend? (Shouko's stomach always knotted at these thoughts ). After three days of no calls or texts, Shouko found herself blaming the beautiful flame-haired siren for Haruki's absence. Haruki would never leave her hanging like this, nor would he crack the little positive confidence he himself had helped her shape.

Wednesday night found her unable to eat or sleep. Restlessness had coiled around her like python scales and she couldn't understand why. Nut, Chip and Skitter had also failed to bring her away from these tormenting thoughts. And Shouko finally found herself admitting things she didn't want to admit to herself.

Haruki and she were special. In what manner she didn't know. But to her, he was. She liked his company and presence. The term 'oniisan' sounded rather loose in her head. She no longer considered Haruki as a brother, nor did she want to confine his role in her life to such a limited extent. But what was she to do? She assumed the title 'friend' was a much better one than 'oniisan'.

Now was it normal for a girl to feel jealous of another female over a male friend common to them both? What was normal anymore? Her world and perceptions had been opened up. All the answers seemed to be locked inside Haruki, Haruki who wasn't contacting her of late.

All of this had jolted her into a decision. She wasn't going to sit and wait patiently like a cocker spaniel silently expecting a bone to be thrown from its master. She was a new spirit, who asked, learned and interacted. If she wanted an answer she no longer needed to wait until someone offered her one. She would get it herself.

Still she felt some of her assurance slip as she looked up at the tall dominating gates of the university. What should she do now? Go inside and ask around for him? The thought seemed so bold that Shouko felt herself shying away before it had even formed completely. She decided waiting was the best choice as of now.

But of course, Fate always loves playing around with people and their reasonable decisions and ideas. Of the many people of who could have come out and spied the little clarinetist, did it have to be the object of her distress?

Sakuragi distastefully took in the small frame that stood a little way off from the gate. She knew the teal haired girl was the reason Haruki had been unable to make time for his friends as well as her. She found everything about her unbearably naïve; the look in her eyes all the way down to her polished uniform shoes. She strode over to her without hesitation.

Shouko nearly almost bolted when she spied Sakuragi making a beeline for her. Then reminding herself this was public ground she was standing on had remained fixed. Sakuragi had placed herself very close to the young girl.

"Look, you know Haruki's going to be busy. He doesn't have time for you anymore." Sakuragi stated the words plainly as though they were discussing the weather.

"Also, the siblings program is over. You do know he did this because he needed credit?"

"Haruki kun is not the sort," Shouko said firmly, but softer than she would have liked.

"The sort of what? Oh you mean like, the sort of guy who would use someone?" Sakuragi rolled her eyes. "Let me be the first one to correct you there kid. Haruki is not everything you've seen to be. I would know. I'm the girlfriend after all."

A punch made itself felt in Shouko's gut. So here was the reason why she had so much claim over Haruki! Her worst doubts had been confirmed.

"If you're his girlfriend then there should be no problem if he shares his time with me…" Shouko's voice had gone to a little less than audible and her retort was so feeble that she felt embarrassed. Why should Sakuragi feel threatened if Haruki spent time with her? It was very limited time after all! She got the better portion of his attention if she was the girlfriend.

Sakuragi's eyes narrowed. "That's kind of the problem here isn't it? Every weekend he spends with you is one weekend less he spends with me, or his pals. Don't you know what your intrusion into his life has done to him? Haruki is kind, so he will never be able to bring himself to say it. I however, have grown tired of this from the past one month."

Sakuragi paused, wetted lusciously plump lips and continued. "Haruki gave you his time, his attention for the simple reason that he needed the credit. It looks good on applications. Kind of like volunteering or charity work."

"I don't classify myself as charity work," Shouko snapped softly, pleased at the poisonous tone. "And nor did Haruki."

"Then try explaining to yourself why Haruki suddenly cut off from you."

"He…he's been busy!" Shouko defensively said, unable to keep a small hint of desperation from her voice. Why had she asked the question to which she had no answer?

"Yeah, sure he has, but suddenly busy after the meeting? Doesn't it seem a little odd? Come on, even you can't be that stupid."

Shouko bit her lip, all arguments slipping away from her tongue. Everything Sakuragi was saying was true…but even so Shouko could herself screaming in her head "no…..no….!".

"Just give up. You're a high schooler after all. Haruki's in second year university. It's not really your fault I suppose. It's easy to get carried away when an older boy gives you attention. Especially…" Sakuragi trailed for effect, "If he's good looking."

The flush followed immediately, though the teal haired girl would have done anything to prevent it. How embarrassing! How juvenile of her to blush like a middle school girl!

"But I'm saying this for the last time." Sakuragi had stopped smirking to replace it with a straight line of her lips. "Haruki might still be considerate and nice to you. But keep in mind that if you don't back off, then I'll make sure you do."

The spare reserves of courage drained out. She was done for. Nothing in the world could have prepared Shouko for a comeback to such a firmly delivered threat. Also, perhaps everything the red haired girl was saying was true, and she herself was in denial. What other reason could there possibly be for Haruki's ignorance?

"Run along now. I'm sure you have better things to do with your time than wait outside university for a guy who doesn't care."

Shouko hated herself for doing it but she obeyed, like her former self, like a child she obeyed. Hot needles pricked the backs of her eyes but she was determined not to let Sakuragi see them. Not Haruki's girlfriend. After a few paces, she broke into a sprint and ran. Tears flowed freely past her cheeks as she bolted.

This cannot be! Please, it can't be true!

\/\/\/\\\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/

Haruki paused cautiously as he saw Sakuragi waiting for him. Her smiles either meant she was very pleased about something, or that someone was going to die.

"Haruki," she called before wrapping an arm around his.

"Stop it Sakuragi," he murmured, trying to free his hand.

The girl pouted but obliged. "So distant Haruki. You don't use my given name, even though I still use yours."

"you know we're not dating anymore right?" Haruki reminded her for God knew which time.

"Is that reason enough not to call me 'Arisa'?"

"I think so."

"So what are we doing now?"

Haruki quirked an eyebrow at her and she hastily added, "I mean, all of us? The group?"

"You guys go ahead. I'm just going to go home."

"Haruki!" exasperated, her eyes combed his face. "You've been saying that a lot lately. What's gotten into you?"

"I don't know. I can't explain it. Just please leave me alone."

He distanced himself and walked over to the parking lot.

"It's not that girl is it?" Huffed Sakuragi as Haruki fastened his helmet.

The long fingers paused very negligibly as they fastened the helmet, but apart from that Haruki gave no other indication of being ruffled.

"I'm fine."

He kicked the motor into life and was gone.

It's not Shouko. Shouko is my sister. She helped me. I am her friend. I need to call her.

He hit a traffic signal and frowned. Shouko had touched him in a way he hadn't expected and he still didn't know if he could affirmatively name the feeling for fear of being wrong. He knew he would have hurt her by ignoring her over the weekend. But after hearing her at the meeting he was feeling things which were definitely not there when he first met her. And the knowledge of this was scaring him.

He was alien to the emotions swirling inside him. This feeling of protectiveness, possessiveness, and weakness all mixed was just too much for him to analyze. But he knew one thing.

He needed to contact Shouko. Soon.

Reviews please! I will update soon!