''Sometimes you have to put others before yourself.''

Chapter 19

Not the Right Time

Clanks and clangs were jutting from her room. The fair-haired lad gawked at the entrance with a perplexed façade. He had second thoughts of coming to Imai Hotaru's room. But even so, he elevated his hand and knocked on the door.

''Imai! It's me, Ruka!'' he yelled on the top of his lungs, so she could undeniably hear him.

The possessor of the powder blue orbs could hear footsteps behind the door. He dug his teeth into his lower lip then detached them when she appeared.

''What do you want, Nogi?'' the inventor probed. ''I'm busy.''

''I just wanted to see how you're doing,'' he confessed with a fidgety smile.

''Fine,'' Hotaru snippily replied. ''Now leave.''

Before the door could lock Ruka out, he interjected it with his foot. The raven haired girl tossed a hostile look at him while the blonde grinned with triumph. He shunted the ingress and crossed the threshold. He wandered inside the blackmailer's chamber. The golden haired bloke was flabbergasted at what his eyes feasted upon.

''You're room is…''

''Crap,'' she bluntly said.

Hotaru's room was indeed that. The velvet bed was decomposed, crumpled papers and peculiar gizmos were daubed on the floorboards, a massive stain that was supposedly spilt coffee laid on her settee, and tools yet unknown to man were scattered everywhere.

''I was going to say muddled, but if you want to say that, fine by me.'' Hotaru grimaced. ''Why is you room so messy though?''

''I was constructing new inventions for the rescue of that baka tomorrow.''

Ever since she found out that Mikan was kidnapped, she trapped herself inside her room and spawned new and powerful inventions, so the redemption of her best friend would be a success.

''I see,'' he uttered while ogling at what seems to be a more improved and deadly Baka Gun. Ruka shifted his blueberry orbs back at heliotrope ones. ''Be that as it may, you still keep your room tidy.''

''If you're here to criticize me, I suggest you leave, Nogi.''

''I didn't come here to criticize you!'' he opposed. ''I came to check up on you.''

''You're neither my mother nor my father, and surely not my Onii-san. You don't need to check up on me.''

''Ugh! Why are you always so insensitive?'' he exploded.

''That's how I am. Deal with it.''

''No, I can't deal with it.''

''Then leave.''

''I won't leave,'' he said with solemn eyes. ''And I know you don't want me to.''

''I do.''

''You're lying,'' he professed. ''Why are you always pushing others away?''

The girl remained silence. She slightly opened her mouth, but no words emanated out of it. Ruka continued.

''Can't you understand how I feel when you push me away! Can't you see how it breaks me when I want to help you, but you don't let me!''

''Shut up,'' she muttered while her hands were clutching the rim of her top.

''Can't you see I want to be by your side!''

''Nogi, shut-''

''Can't you see that I love you!''

Hotaru widened her eyes though Ruka couldn't see since her head was down. Her heart was beating rapidly. She wanted it to stop. But no matter how much mental praying she did, it wouldn't. Her face was heated. Her stomach was churning. Thoughts were spiraling in her head. She couldn't believe he just confessed.

With his hand, Ruka slapped his forehead.

''Crap, I said it.''

Suddenly, the lad felt a warm hand on his cheek. He shifted his eyes and witnessed Hotaru gazing at him with a genuine smile.

''You finally had the guts to tell me and I'm obliged you did, but now's not the right time.''

''Then when is the right time?''

''I, for one, am not sure. We're in the middle of a war. We can't put love as our first priority.''

It was Ruka's turn to dawdle with the Goddess of silence, but after a couple of seconds, he waggled his head.

''You're right, we can't. It would be selfish.''

''I'm glad you understand.''

Hotaru heaved a sigh of relief. She afterwards rose on the balls of her feet and leaned forward with her lavender orbs sealed. She placed her pale lips onto his forehead. After a brief second, she sited her heels back down to the ground and revealed her lilac irises. Before she could remove her hand Ruka's cheek, he snatched it.

''When the war is over, may I declare my love for you again?''

She rolled her violet eyes. ''Whatever, Ruka.''

''Hey! Don't act….Ruka? You just called me Ruka!'' he bursts out with hilarity.

''Shut up, you're hurting my ears,'' she stated. ''Now help me with my inventions.''

''Sure thing, Hotaru.''

''Who gave you permission to call me that?''

''When you said my name.''

''I most certainly did not say you're name,'' she refuted.

''Yes, you did!''

''No, I didn't.''

''Yes, you did! Don't lie!''

Before contradicting back, she let out a small smile.

A.N. (10/1/11): So what do you guys think? Did you think it was right for Hotaru to say that? Oh and before you leave this page, I have something to say. I will be revising all of my stories! Just wanted you all to know. Anyways, review!