New chapter!! Phew! Got it done in half-an-hour. Am so proud of self that I am contemplating on giving myself a pat on the shoulder. Ha ha! : )
Lazuli: Me read your fic, and me like it. : )
Patty g: I'm glad you understand! Thanks for actually bothering to read it again!
Fer-chan: Now now, forget about Enishi and get yourself out of that ravine.
Alexia: Thanks for your support! I can see Fujima still dominates your thoughts! Heh heh!
Joy: Arigato! Maybe you can term this chapter as another conflict, no?
Frozenfemale: Do you want them 2 be 2gether?
Tensaispira: Where's Maki? I don't know. Where is he? How come your mom likes Fujima?? *grows alert* she watches SD too?? Cool!
Shirodachi: Yep, Fujima's once caring, we're-a-team guy. Still, I dunno if he's THAT caring as to allow people to fall on him! Ha ha!
Rei142: Hope you don't miss this update! Heh heh!
Fiery-ice: I'm trying my best to update, fiery-chan. You try your best to be patient too, okay? *puppy eyes*
sLL: Tell you why all my OC's are great girls … (drumrolls) cuz the authoress is GREAT herself! Ha ha ha! *sobers down* Sorry, just joking. *winks charmingly* Yeah, my updates will be rather slow, but I promise you I'll continue all the stories.
Jo-sen7: You wanna see sparks? Why don't you read on?
Fer-chan: Happy school holidays! Hope it's not as boring as mine is *sulks*
Reika_zelon: Really? You talk like how Rui thinks? I can just imagine! Ha ha! Enjoy!
Tiran: OK, I apologise for bashing *bows and begs for forgiveness* You can imagine Fujima as Sendoh, if you like. : ) I think both fit well into the story.
Kka: ':' is for Chinese use? In what? And why can't it be used in English?
Fujima stood cautiously in front of Rui, who was busying herself with a tent. He bent down to help her latch two poles together and felt her tense. "Are you still angry with me?" he asked.
The tightening around Rui's eyes clearly indicated that she was, but she looked at him with a cheery smile. "No, of course not. Why on earth would I be mad at you, Captain?"
He finished tying the poles together and handed them to her. "We did have a little fight some hours ago, in case you've forgotten."
She smiled wryly, shifting now to unwrap the PVC tent. "No, I didn't forget." She flapped the tent once, stopped and looked at him. "I guess I shouldn't have fought with you like that in public. Sorry, Captain."
He shrugged. "It's vital that we correct each other when we think the other's doing something wrong," he told her. "I could have done something wrong back then and I appreciate you voicing out your concerns. You don't have to apologise."
She regarded his statement for a while, and then bent down to tie the tent to the poles. "But I do. No. 1 in the Ranger's Rule Book: The captain is always right."
He frowned a little bit at that. "You Rangers have weird rules," he stated in amusement. "In the basketball club, the members and I fight half the time and then make up during the other half."
Rui smiled briefly. "Ogami-sensei said something about that to me," she glanced at him with an unreadable expression. "You being captain of Shoyo's basketball team – and the coach as well." She raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
You don't sound all that impressed, though, Fujima thought faintly. "It has its ups and downs," he replied simply. "Here, let me help."
She couldn't stop the impatient hiss in time. "No, I can do it."
He gave her a disdainful look. "You ARE still mad at me."
"I'm not. Now why don't you go and get yourself something to eat, Captain?"
He wondered is she'd realised she had just ordered him around. He watched calmly as Rui struggled with two metal cords, trying with all her might to attach those two together. When it was pretty obvious that the cords weren't cooperating, Fujima leaned forward to lend in his energy. He casually placed his hands over Rui's, enjoying the way her eyes snapped to his and pushed the cords in with a slight squeak.
Rui blew a breath, embarrassed. "I could have done it," she said lamely. "But thanks anyway." She tugged her hands away, raised an eyebrow when they remained stuck. "Captain, I need to use my hands, if you don't –"
"Why do you keep calling me, Captain?"
The absurd question surprised her a bit. Great, now the guy's starting a debate. "Because you're the captain," she said patiently, as if she was speaking to a toddler. "What else am I supposed to call you?"
"Last time I checked, I had a name on my birth certificate." He informed. "And it's not all that hard to pronounce."
Rui tried not to think of how well sarcasm suited him. "Calling you Captain keeps things professional." She tugged her hands again, and discovered that he had a strong grip.
"What's wrong with getting personal?"
Darn, did he have to sound so good saying that? "Captain," Rui murmured, struggling for the same casualness. "This is a Ranger camp. You want romance, you go to a CyberCafe, chat and get yourself a blind date. Over here, it's strictly business."
"Is that in the Ranger's Rule Book too?"
Rui suddenly felt like screaming. Why couldn't she be as cool and calm as he was? He was obviously enjoying himself. "No."
"Well then," Fujima smiled easily. "I don't have to follow it, do I?" His fingers had started, almost unconsciously, to rub circles over her palm.
Rui looked at him suspiciously. "Are you flirting with me?"
"No." He shrugged. "But I'm thinking about it."
Rui was sure if it had been someone else, the (un)lucky girl would've fainted dead away. She definitely wasn't going to. "Well, you can stop thinking about it," she said with aplomb, acutely aware of how red her face was. "You and I have better things to do."
He grinned at the way she kept shuffling from foot to foot and looking around nervously. He didn't realise he had a liking to making girls – especially serious, regal girls – nervous. "Doesn't mean I can't give it a try," he said smoothly. Then, just to make Rui's eyes even wider and her cheeks even redder, he lifted one hand to his lips. "You'll give a chance, won't you, Rui?"
Her eyes grew wider, and her cheeks redder.
Laughing and satisfied, he gave the completed tent a pat and then walked off to get lunch.
Do I have to apologise again for another short chapter? I seemed to have done that three times already.
Sorry for the short chaper. I hope it didn't spoil your fun or anything. : )