Note to Disclaimers: I do not and never will own Crescent moon. If you think I do, well…then you need some help! Hahaha! Anyway, please don't sue me. I have nothing to give anyone who does. I'm a college student here, and I NEED money.

A/N: Okie, this is still my first Crescent Moon fic here. I'm still really in love with this little Manga. Anyway, yeah, not all of them are out, so there is some inserted stuff here, Okie? OH! AND I TOTALLY MESSED UP SOMETHING IN THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER! Misoka is a girl, I just found out—my bad! So yes, we know she is a girl, not a boy! I apologize for my mistake! Well, enjoy the fic. Same Author's note in first and following chapters applies here, basically. This will be rather short, as I just want fluff, fluff, and more fluff! Enjoy!

Word Coding:

'Thoughts'

"Speaking"

Everything Else

Smiling for Always (Chapter Three)

I let out a small sigh as my mind returns to my current task: tackling my AP chemistry homework. At this point I could care less about anything having to do with elements and periodic tables since my mind is still on Mitsuru. Outside, in the garden-like area of the house, which in on the other side—well hidden, too—I can hear the birds chirping, though it is faint. Normally this would make me feel elated, it would bring a sense of peace to me like nothing else; but today it angers me and irritates me beyond reason. I want to throw something at the happy creatures outside my window. Mitsuru hasn't yet returned. Nervousness creeps into my body like a numbing poison, quick to disarm my sense and rational thinking process. Somehow though, it leaves my feelings untouched, which allows all of the usual sensations stay, the ones caused by Mitsuru himself.

Only now they are worse because of Friday evening. Thanks a lot, you damned Tengu.

So this internal battle continues while I attempt to explain what chemical reactions are in comparison to physical reactions. Of course, I get absolutely nowhere with this as I listen intently to the sounds of cleaning going on beneath me. Downstairs the usual preparations for opening the Moonshine bar for the night are taking place. I try hard to ignore them, but like a constant buzzing in my ear, I cannot shake them. It's practically early evening and there has been no sign of Mitsuru whatsoever. I didn't answer Nozomu again when he asked if I knew anything about why the hot-headed demon disappeared; then again, I didn't answer anyone's questions—not Oboro's, Katsura's or even Akira's. Misoka didn't even bother to ask her questions, if she had any in mind. I know Shirogane must be angry with my defiance and yet I don't care whether he is or isn't. In his eyes it was probably a waste to save Mitsuru with a Teardrop of the Moon. I think I heard Misoka scolding Mitsuru about that when I first came to live with them.

I think Mitsuru is well worth saving, and I'll always live up to that promise that I've made myself. I don't need anyone to tell me he is or isn't…even if he doesn't love me back. Being near Mitsuru is enough. Or…at least before Friday…it WAS enough.

But now, as I sit here with futile attempts to complete my homework, I know I can't just be near Mitsuru anymore. I need to be with him, but not just because he takes care of me or because he is stuck with me. I want him to want me to be with him. I can't stand it if he doesn't love me, I just can't. But if not, I think I'll have to accept that, hard as it may be for me. I'm still intent on going through with my plans tonight, my revenge of a sort, for him totally hurting me. In the end, if it does not work out to my benefit, then I won't regret it. Sure, it'll hurt; but I don't ever regret anything I do when it comes to Mitsuru—not even that kiss from last night. However, this time I will be less rash, I hope. Last night I couldn't control myself, and my actions caused a bit of a problem. I let out another sigh as I hear the door open downstairs, commotion, and then silence. 'I guess Mitsuru has returned now,' I muse, drifting off into space. I'm brought back to reality at the loud knock on my door. Not really thinking about who it could be, I get up to answer it without much focus. I don't expect it to be Mitsuru, in any case. To my surprise it is indeed him, and I blanch as I allow him into my room, wordlessly. He sits on my bed, neither of us saying anything as I sit away from him on my desk chair. The silence blankets the room as he stares at his feet and I stare out my window, blushing a little.

Finally, after what seems an eternity he steps up from the bed towards where I am sitting. I jump a little when I notice he is now in front of me. I shiver as he grabs my hand, roughly, and yanks me up from my seat to face him. "Mitsuru…is something…" I trail off as he leans forward, his face too close to my own and I feel faint all of a sudden.

"Why did you do it?" His voice is a low whisper.

"What?"

"Why did you…kiss me? Why do you care about me? Why do you have to be so helpful and caring?" His voice quivers again, much like it did the night before. I feel a shiver run down my spine as he leans in closer. "Mahiru…why?"

My name on his lips is beautiful, entrancing, and I flush again as his hand comes to rest on my cheek. But for once I do not take comfort in whatever he is willing to give. Instead, I pull away and I make to dart for the door, not sure what to tell him. I don't know why I did it myself; well…that's not a complete lie. I want to run from him, for once. I want to cower in fear, give into the lack of courage that I know has been building up inside me, only further enhanced by the fact that he ran away from me last night. I am almost at the door, which is in truth a short distance from my bed—though it felt like forever—when it suddenly slams shut. I take a quick glance over my shoulder, panicking when I see Mitsuru looking off to the side, his hand outstretched before him. 'He closed me in!' I feel my heartbeat quicken as he begins to walk towards me again, a somewhat sinister look in his eyes and I yelp in fear. His facial expression changes immediately, softening but still rather predatory. And before I know what's happening, for the second time in 24 hours I am full of uncertainty and curiosity at the same time as I find myself trapped between his arms, both of which are on either sides of my head. My back hits the wall forcefully as I seek an escape from something I don't know. I can't help but think he has had the last straw with me and is going to get rid of me, finally.

Therefore his next actions completely alarm me. I freeze up as his arms drop from where they were positioned, instead pulling me into them in a hug. My breath catches in my throat for what seems to be the billionth time as he pulls me ever closer until I am surrounded by his embrace—I tremble. Instinctively he wraps his arms tighter around me. I seem to find my voice and am about to speak when his clear, smooth vocals enter my head. "Princess, princess…why do you cry, in a forest painted by the setting sun?" I am stunned into silence as his beautiful voice fills my head and ears, drowning me in a river of passion, a river of Mitsuru. I strain my head to look up at him, hopefully into his eyes. To my dismay, they are closed, but his lips still move, singing the words out of order—but in an order that makes sense to me as I continue to listen, intently, at loss for speech. "Princess, Princess, why do you laugh?" I feel my mouth become rather dry as his eyes flutter open until they are piercing my own with such intensity that my knees go weak, giving way beneath me. I let out a small whimper of embarrassment as Mitsuru sweeps me off my feet, quite literally, and into his arms, cradling me against his chest. Our eyes are still locked together in an unbreakable gaze, and I can't seem to break it, not even with words. He murmurs the last words so quietly that I almost don't hear him and make myself lean closer to take them in. "Princess, Princess, why are you scared?"

And I reply instantly, my mouth close to his ear. "I made a promise to a demon boy…that when the full moon ascends the sky in ten…I'll become his bride," I sing softly.

He pulls away, slowly, his eyes still lingering on my own. One simple sentence leaves his mouth. "No, you can't Mahiru."

At this, the spell is somewhat broken and he places me back on my feet, though he doesn't move away from me, still standing mere inches before me with his arms on my shoulders. I speak the only thing I can think to tell him how I feel about that damned good kiss. "Mitsuru…I'm sorry…but not for kissing you," I reply. He tenses. "I don't regret kissing you, and I did it with good reason. I care about you Mitsuru."

"But why?"

I try to come up with a reason that Mitsuru will believe but find that, knowing Mitsuru for so long, he won't believe whatever I say—well, except for that popular phrase, perhaps. I struggle to think of something less cheesy, less cliché, without success of course. 'But the cliché…it portrays exactly how you feel, doesn't it? Not to mention that intimate moment you just had…singing to each other and all…' I shiver again as I feel his arms begin to release me. Instinctively I throw myself right back into them, clutching to him as though he is an anchor I hold to for dear life, which isn't completely far fetched. For once he doesn't try to pry me away, get rid of me like he usually does. Instead he leans forward, resting his chin above my head where it rests in my golden locks. I want to smile but something tells me the moment is still somewhat shaky, and I decide against any sudden actions. And there we stay, wrapped up in each other as the moon shines on us, a full moon. My contentment wins the best of me, and I still say nothing, choosing to savor the moment for what it is—though I don't even know exactly what it is.

After a few moments I feel my voice returning full force, my conscience telling me that now is the time to tell him how I feel. I move away just enough so that my mouth is not muffled. "Mitsuru?"

His voice is still quiet, too, though its coarse quality does not disappear. "What?"

"I've wanted to tell you…that for a long time now…I…well, I think…no I know…um…"

"Spit it out," he replies, unromantically, but softly enough that I am not discouraged.

I am about to speak when there is a loud knock on the door. I blanch, scolding myself as we jump apart. Mitsuru throws me a withering look as he darts towards the window, ready to leave lest he be caught. I feel my eyebrow knit together in frustration as Misoka's voice drifts through the door. "Yes?"

"Mahiru, Princess…is Mitsuru there? We are having a meeting right now. It seems we have found another Teardrop of the Moon. We're discussing details, and your presence is requested." She explains everything from outside the door.

I thank the heavens that at least Misoka understands about privacy, being a girl herself. "No…Mitsuru isn't here. I'll be down in a minute." Once she had disappeared I turn to look at the tengu, who is positioned by the window, his face gazing out at the city. "Mitsuru?" He nods, slowly. "Um…I guess we should go, then, right?" I berate myself for letting my chance go but know that now is no longer the time.

"Yeah…" with that said, he exits, quietly.

Once he is gone I reach for my slippers, my eyes tearing the entire time. 'Nice going Mahiru…some luck I have…' As I reach the door, I let my hand rest on the knob and my head on the cool surface of the door. Heaving a large breath, I turn it and exit. At the top of the staircase I pause, hearing the chatter from below but not sure about joining or not. As I take my foot to the first step, I feel dread fill me. 'Something isn't right, not at all.'

TBC…

(And there is chapter three. WOOt! Um…same thing applies here, meaning that it will be a shorter story. I might write another one in the end, or a sequel or something…when I've finished or at least progressed with my other fics. Hm…well…that's it for now! Well, please R&R, flame if you want, since you will if you REALLY want to. Thanks for reading.)

Chocomintswirl