Hello, here's the next chapter, enjoy.

Disclaimer: RahXephon and its characters are the property of their respective owners.  This piece is not for profitable purposes.

Chapter 5: An Attempt to Move Time

Maybe I was wrong to thinks so, but I'd always believed that Kamina-kun was the only person who would say such a thing to me; to hear it now from Itsuki-kun is so – unexpected.  My first thought is to say no, but I am haunted by my mother's words, that I am searching for one who can never be found, and that my attachment to the past prevents me from seeking my future.  Itsuki-kun is kind and I enjoy spending time with him; isn't it possible that, someday, I could return his feelings?  Yes, I should look to my future, and, possibly, that future is with Itsuki-kun.

I turn to him and say, "I'd like to go out with you."

He embraces me again and says, "Thank you, Haruka."

When he moves back, I smile, but am unsure what to say, so I remain silent. 

Sounding excited, he takes hold of my hands and says, "There's an orchestral performance this weekend, would you please come with me?"

I suppress the feeling that I am standing on an unsteady precipice and answer, "Of course, I'd be happy too."

I stand in the theater lobby, repeatedly glancing at my watch, she is only a few minutes late, but I am worried about her just the same.  I see her step in through the doorway in a red evening gown with matching earrings, shoes, and wrap across her back and shoulders.  She sees me and smiles as she approaches.

"You look beautiful, Haruka," I say with a smile.

She smiles and replies, "Thank you, Itsuki-kun."

I do not show it, but I am surprised that, even now, she is using –kun.  I had hoped that this would change when we started dating, but, I still believe that it will disappear with time.  We accept programs from an individual handing them out, and she then follows me as I look for our seats.

"We're in this row, Haruka."

She nods her head, and, when I find our seats, sits beside me.  I am about to say something when I notice her opening and starting to look through the program.  Not wanting to disturb her, I decide not to speak, but to wait for her to finish.  When she is done reading, she looks up at me and smiles.

I lean towards her and say, "I've been looking forward to this evening, Haruka."

"I think it will be nice."

The lights dim and the two of us turn our attention to the performers as they begin.

The lights brighten as the intermission begins. I stand up and follow him out into the aisle.  To my surprise, he holds out his hand.  Why am I startled, of course, it only makes sense that we would hold hands.  I smile, hoping he didn't notice my initial surprise, and take hold of his hand. 

We walk together to the lobby and, as we arrive, he turns to me and says, "Are you thirsty, Haruka?"

I nod my head yes and he answers, "What would you like to drink?"

"I'd appreciate some water."

"Sure, I'll be right back."

"Thank you very much."

"Of course."

I watch as he walks to the table, and find my mind wandering.  I cannot escape the feeling that this is not genuine, that I am going through pre-set motions, following a script.  This notion makes me uneasy, and I am glad when he returns.  He extends his arm with a smile, and I take the bottle from his hand.

"Thank you again, Itsuki-kun."

He smiles and says, "My pleasure, Haruka."

As I drink, we chat about school, the performance, and our plans, which reassures me and reduces my earlier uneasiness.

When I held out my hand to her at the beginning of the intermission, it appeared that Haruka was uncomfortable, or that she found the situation awkward, surprising me.  However, my anxiety about this has subsided, since now, as we speak and she drinks her water, she seems more relaxed and as if she is enjoying herself.  By the time she finishes, it is time for us to return to our seats.  She disposes of the bottle and we hold hands again, this time, without hesitation, as I escort her back to our seats.  We sit down and watch the second part.  The performance ends and the two of us stand up once more and exit the theater.  As we step outside, I notice that the temperature has dropped substantially, she must be cold.

"Haruka?"

She turns to me and says, "Yes, Itsuki-kun?"

I take off my suit coat and say, "Please wear this, I don't want you to be cold."

She smiles and says, "That's very kind of you."

I carefully place the jacket over her shoulders, and when I finish, I step beside her and take hold of her hand once more. 

We arrive at my home and I remove the coat.

I turn to him and say, "Thank you, Itsuki-kun."

He smiles and answers, "Of course," as he takes it from me.

He drapes it over his arm and takes hold of my hands.

"I had a lovely evening, Haruka."

"I enjoyed it, too."

He seems to be leaning in slightly, which makes me nervous as I realize what he's planning.  A memory of Kamina-kun and I kissing flashes in my mind. Automatically, I find myself withdrawing from Itsuki-kun.  A look of surprise crosses his face, but then he moves away.

I look away, embarrassed, and say, "I'm sorry, Itsuki-kun."

He places his hand on my face and I look at him again.
"It's fine, Haruka."

He moves his hand from my face and says, "I'm going to head home now, I'll call you tomorrow, all right?"

I nod my head yes and smile as I say, "Sounds good."

He turns around and walks away, while I remain standing, consumed by conflicting emotions.