Best Birthday Present Ever?
Chapter 2
Nani? Haruka's a...


Disclaimer: I don't own, Outlaw Star, unfortunately. You know the drill. Please, don't sue me! ^.~

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Jim sighed as he leaned back against the tree. He was stranded and as bored as hell. What was going to happen to them now, he didn't have any idea. Then, something stuck him: Where's Haruka?
He stood up, and brushed the dust and dirt off his pants. He approached Melfina, who had gotten over her hangover and had met Haruka.
"Hey, Mel, do you know where Haruka is?"
"No, sorry. Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering."
He sighed again and set off in search of his Ctuan friend. Maybe he could find out if they could permanently keep Gene here! Then, he heard a strange sound. It was somebody... humming?!

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Haruka's ears perked up.
"Who's there?"
And just when I was about to take a bath!

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Jim pushed his way through a couple of bushes. "Haruka?"
"PERVERT!" was all he heard as a bucket of cold water came flying towards his head.
WHAM! He fell backwards, onto his butt. For a moment, his vision was blurred. Then, it came back to him. Someone was approaching him, but he couldn't really tell who it was, because it was still dark, as it was sunrise. He stood up.
"JIM?"
"HARUKA?"
"I knew I could expect this from Gene, but from you?!"
"I... It's not what it looks like! Really!"
Haruka... was a girl, after all! Her chest was bound most of the way, but some of the wrap had been undone. She had been about to take a bath. Jim could see she was making a fist.
She stopped in her path of hitting him. He was... blushing? Water dripped from his blonde hair, onto his nose and his clothes.
"Why are you here?"
"I... was just looking for you. I didn't know! Honest!"
"Hmm... Are you telling the truth?"
"Hai!" he said quickly, nodding.
She stepped closer to him, and he backed away, into the trunk of a tree. She continued to follow him.
"Jim, I bind my chest so I can fit into my armor better. It's hard to a B-cup into armor meant for somebody with the body of a seven year old. By the way, how old are you?"
"T... twelve..."
"What a coincidence!"
She leaned up, smiling in a way he wasn't sure he liked. He closed his eyes, preparing to be punched in the face, and then, he was surprised. Her lips... were against his! She pulled away.
"Happy birthday. Now leave, so I can take a bath."
Oh... my... god...., was all that could enter his mind, as he walked away, a stunned look upon his face.

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"Jim, what wrong with you? You haven't said a thing since you got back this morning," Gene demanded that day, over lunch.
The red tint returned to his face.
"Jiiimmm, if I'm not mistaken, you're BLUSHING!" Aisha blurted in a teasing voice.
"I am not!" he retorted.
Am I? he wondered, not daring to look in a mirror.
Suddenly, Haruka approached the little restaurant table. She wasn't wearing her armor.
"Haruka? Is that you?" Gene inquired, almost choking on his stir-fry.
"Hai. It is. Is it so strange that I'm a girl?"
Gene and Aisha nodded at the same time. Jim just stared at his plate, blushing.
"Honestly, you two could stand to be more polite," Suzuka calmly commented.
"Haruka-chan, would you like to have lunch with us?" Melfina politely invited.
"Yes, thank you," the Ctuan replied, sitting down in an empty chair next to Jim.
The color of his face deepened. All he could really think about was what had happened that morning. He touched his lip, and luckily, nobody noticed. My first kiss...
"Jim, please pass the soy sauce," Haruka asked nonchalantly.
Without even looking up, he handed it to her.
"Thanks."