Chapter Six:

BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

Natsume fell beside me, rubbing his head.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"HOTARU!" I shouted as I ran towards her.

BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

Hotaru shot me too and I fell backwards, it hurt.

"You're so mean, Hotaru! What was that for?" I asked.

She pointed her gun at Natsume.

"That's for being on top of Mikan."

Then she pointed the gun on me.

"That's for your intention of hugging me."

I pouted. "You're so mean." I repeated.

Natsume stood up and walked away. I brushed the dirt off my uniform.

"But thanks for saving me there Hotaru. He was bullying me again." I said as Hotaru and I walked outside.

"That reminds me, I have an invention to make." She said with her usual emotionless voice.

"WHAT! You saved me from Natsume and now you're gonna leave me?" I exclaimed. It's true! Why was she there anyway? I c rossed my arms. "Hmpf!" I turned my back on her. She didn't hesitate, she still went.

I sat down on the nearest bench. I sighed. Why was Natsume so curious about who my crush is? It's not like it's his business... I thought again. Was it? I don't even know who I like. His interrogations are killing me.

I stoop up and walked around. I just want to feel the warm breeze in the afternoon.

"Hey Mikan!"

I whirled around. I saw Hotaru's boyfriend, Ruka, still with, what looks like, his ageless bunny.

"Hi Ruka!" I greeted back.

"Can I walk with you?" He asked me.

"Sure!"

We walked together slowly.

"So, how are you and Hotaru?" I know I should be asking Hotaru since she's my bestfriend but she's been so busy lately.

"She's been kind of busy lately, creating inventions for her clients. I haven't spent much time with her, nowadays." He said sadly.

"I know how you feel, Ruka." I said while patting his back. "That's the way Hotaru is. But I'm sure she loves you and misses you. She just doesn't show off much affection to the people she do love."

"Mikan?"

"Yep?"

"Do you like anyone right now?" he suddenly popped that question again.

"It's the second time someone asked me that." I said while I placed a finger under my chin. "Honestly, Ruka, I don't know. How do you know you like someone?"

"Well, you just know." He said while he patted his bunny. What he said didn't really help me.

"But how will I know if I like him?" I slipped, I covered my mouth immediately.

Ruka looked at me.

"Who is it?" He said with a grin in his face.

"Wha-what? Did I say I like someone? I don't." I explained. I don't even know who that "Him" is. NOw, I know why they call me idiot. Ruka gave me a suit-yourself look.

"If you don't want to tell me, it's okay. Just don't come running to me when you need to know something about him." He said as he left me, standing there, alone as the sun started to set.

Who was Ruka talking about? I repeated what Ruka said in my mind, "Just don't go running to me when you need to know someting about him." HIM, must be someone he knows.

I continued to walk alone. I decided to sit under my favorite Sakura Tree, which happens to be Natsume's favorite also. But then again, the sunset is nice to watch from a tree branch. I made my way into the bushes as the sun continued to set. I stopped. Natsume was there. His back, facing me. I wonder why he's always here. But as stubborn as I am, I still went up to the tree branch in silence so that Natsume wouldn't hear me. I sighed in relief when I got up there. I sat there watching the sun set, swinging my legs continuously. I stopped, looked at my left side. THE TREE BRANCH IS BURNING! There's nothing I can do! I started to climb down but unfortunately, the tree branch burned faster than me. I fell down on my butt. I landed on a hard thug on the ground.

"You thought I didn't know?" Natsume met me under the tree.