Chapter 21: Rabbits equals a deal
"Natsume, what were you doing a while ago to Mikan?" Ruka asked with much curiosity
"…Nothing" the raven haired boy simply replied
Ruka remained silent as they were walking back slowly to the classrooms. He didn't know what else to ask, maybe he was afraid that his best friend might find his questions offensive so he just remained silent.
"Just a while ago, I could've sworn I saw Natsume blushing as he looked at Mikan" Ruka thought
"Ruka" Natsume uttered
"Hm?" he replied
"Go-gomenasai"
"For what?" Ruka simply asked
"For… a while ago" Natsume answered
"Oh, the one with Mikan? It's nothing, it's not like she's mine" Ruka replied in a sad tone
Natsume stopped walking and faced his best friend "Why don't you just tell her that you love her? No one's stopping you"
Ruka stared back at his best friend and replied "I… don't want to"
The black cat then cocked an eyebrow at Ruka
"I… don't want to" Ruka repeated
"Why not?"
Ruka then felt nervous. He wanted to tell his best friend that Mikan is in love with Natsume, but he couldn't. After all, he did make a promise to Mikan that he would not tell.
"What now? I can't tell him about Mikan's feelings" the blonde haired boy thought
"Ruka?" Natsume uttered
"Because…" Ruka started as he clenched his fist "because I know you've fallen for her"
Natsume then lowered his head as his bangs hid his expression "What made you think of such a thing?"
"I…just know that you love her" Ruka simply replied
Natsume turned his back at his best friend "You're wrong"
"I'm not"
"I told you, you're wrong. I don't love her; you're the one who loves her. What the heck are you saying, Ruka?"
"No! You're wrong, Natsume!"
"And why am I the one who's wrong?" Natsume asked as he made eye contact with his best friend, trying to figure him out
"Because I don't love Mikan" Ruka said almost in a whisper
"Huh?" Natsume uttered
"I DON'T LOVE MIKAN!" Ruka said once more with much force in his voice
"Liar" Natsume replied
"What?"
"You Liar" said Natsume
"No, It's true" said Ruka "I don't love Mikan anymore because… I'm falling for Hotaru" he added with a sincere voice
Natsume's eyes widened. What did Ruka just say? Falling for Imai Hotaru? That cold, evil, conniving ice queen? He never imagined that would even be possible.
"You serious?" the black cat asked
"…Yeah" Ruka said while smiling
Natsume sighed as he thought. "I never imagined Ruka would fall for Hotaru Imai. Something's wrong, I know I shouldn't doubt Ruka but something tells me he's doing this because he's thinking of what feel"
Natsume turned his back and started walking as Ruka followed. He then stopped at his track and said "You sure have weird taste when it comes to girls, first polka dots and now ice queen"
"Look who's talking" Ruka answered back with a smile
"What are you talking about?" said Natsume
Ruka giggled and replied "Never mind"
"I know Natsume won't believe what I said so easily. I have to think of a way to make it look like to him that I'm really starting to fall for Hotaru. Wait a minute, why did I even say it was Hotaru that I'm falling for? There's no way I'm falling for that… that… black mailing freak. I am such an idiot"
Meanwhile
"HOTARUUU!" Mikan wailed. Once again, she was chasing her best friend.
Hotaru did not reply, she just continued to walk.
"Hotaru! I swear nothing happened!"
Hotaru finally stopped and turned to her best friend. "Well, I will get profit from the shots a while ago"
The brunette twitched as she replied "Wh-what? Profit?! I can't believe you're making money out of me!"
"You're actually a big help you know, at least I have an easy source for rabbits"
"What do you mean "easy source"?" Mikan asked
Hotaru sighed then answered "It's just so amazing on how a lot of things can happen to you and Natsume in a day, making it easy for me to take intriguing shots of the two of you"
Hotaru continued to walk while Mikan stopped for a moment to think. "It is amazing how something always happens between me and him almost everyday" the brunette thought
"Hey Hotaru! Wait up!" she exclaimed as she ran to the stoic girl
The next day
"Ohayou!" an enthusiastic Mikan greeted
"Ohayou" Random students greeted
"HOTARUUUU!" Mikan exclaimed as she ran towards her best friend and flailing her arms wide open. She attempted to give Hotaru a hug but then again…
BAKA.BAKA.BAKA.
"…Ouch" Mikan said as she fell to the floor
"Baka" The ice queen uttered as she was reading her book
Just then, the door of the classroom opened and it revealed the black cat and his blonde-haired best friend. They went in casually and sat down on their seats.
"Mikan's here, so is Hotaru. Maybe this is the chance to show Natsume that "I'm falling" for Hotaru. I still can't believe I picked her to be the one I'm falling for, even if it's pretend. Just thinking about it gives me the chills" Ruka thought
"Ruka, daijobu?" Natsume asked his distracted best friend.
Ruka then snapped out of his thoughts and replied "H-hai".
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just have to give these back" he replied. He then stood up and walked towards the two girls as he was holding some photos in his hand.
"Oh, Hi Ruka!" Mikan greeted
"Ohayou, Mikan" he replied "Imai, you left these" he continued as he presented to her the faulty pictures she took of Ruka the day before.
Hotaru looked at him and replied "Keep it"
"What?" the blonde haired boy asked
"I said keep it"
"But why?" Ruka asked
"I don't want those ugly photos piling up in my stuff" she simply replied
"Hotaru, isn't that a little bit cold to say?" said Mikan
Hotaru then took out her baka gun and started aiming at Mikan.
"You're so violent, Hotaru! the brunette said
"Mikan!" Nonoko called from the other end of the room
"Hey, what's up Nonoko?" She yelled back "I'll see you guys later. Bye Ruka, Hotaru" and she walked away
"You still plan to stand there?" She asked as she kept her eyes on the book she was reading
"Well…"
"What do you want?" she asked
"What do you mean?" he stammered
"Come on Ruka, you think I don't know? You need something" she said
"…Fine" he answered in a surrender
"Okay then, but it'll cost you" she replied
"Wh-what?"
"I'll help you, but it will cost you" she answered as she emphasized the last phrase
Ruka sighed and asked "How much then?"
Hotaru closed the book and turned to him to reply "Depends on what you want me to do"
Author's note: I want to thank all the people who reviewed the last chapter and to those who support this story as well. ;) love you guys. Anyway, till next chapter. Thanks for leaving those reviews. ;)