Summary; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Some more Haru/Jenna fluff in here. (grin) Thanks to all who've reviewed - and two of you got it right! KactusKat and unknownrevenge for guessing right! Anyway, KK has her cameo here, and since I couldn't contact ukr - sorry, no email - I made up a name and gender. Sorry if you're not a guy, 'cause that's what you are in here...(grins) Hope I don't offend ya! Well, here's the next chapter for you guys.
Please review. Comments, suggestions, ideas, and helpful criticism welcome.
"I'm trying to sleep!" Jenna complained the next morning, burying her head underneath her pillow with a groan. Whoever was in the room closed the shade again with a sigh, trying to get the girl out of the bed for the past five minutes.
The rest of the day before had passed without anything out of the ordinary happening – everyone was too busy trying to settle in with everyone else to cause much trouble, even Ayame. The young woman had found herself in a large room with beds for all three girls, and had passed out as soon as she was able to escape the group that night.
"You forced me, remember," the person informed her, and Jenna had just enough to register that it was a boy's voice before she found herself being rolled out of the bed and onto the floor with a 'thud'. Shaking her head in shock, she looked up to see a grinning Hatsuharu standing over her, and she threw her pillow at him with a glare.
"Hey!" she yelled, scrambling to her feet. "It's…six-thirty! This is vacation! That means I get to sleep late, Hatsuharu Sohma! And get out of my room!"
"You look good in green," he commented with a smirk, and backed out of the room before Jenna realized he was referring to her sleepwear, which consisted of light-green panties and a tank-top.
"I'm going to kill him!" she vowed, now fully-awake. Sighing, she grabbed her things and headed for the shower, hoping cold water would wake her up better than being tossed around in the morning.
"So, what's so urgent?" she asked with a yawn, heading into the kitchen a little later, now fully dressed in sandals, a denim miniskirt, and blue tank-top. "And where's Haru?"
"He said something about running," Tohru mentioned, greeting her with a smile. "Good morning, by the way! I made breakfast."
"Thanks," Jenna said gratefully, sitting down at the table and digging in as soon as Tohru brought her food over.
"And to answer your question – Ayame just wanted to get everyone up early," Kyo grumbled, and Jenna realized he was sitting across from with a dirty look on his face. "Damn Snake…Why're you looking for Haru, anyway?"
"He flipped me like a pancake," she informed him. "Right onto the floor."
"Hm," the Cat couldn't resist a grin at her expense, which she easily ignored and continued talking to Tohru.
"I think we were going to the beach today," Tohru thought, getting her own food at last. "That's probably what we'll do every day – we're a few hours from the nearest town, and it's much more fun to just hang around here with everyone anyway!"
"Agreed," Jenna nodded. "And Tohru, this was delicious."
"Thank you!"
"Ah! Jenna, you are a vision of loveliness in your bathing suit!" Ayame cried dramatically, and Hatori raised his eyebrow at his friend before greeting Jenna with a nod and returning to his newspaper and coffee.
"Very funny, Ayame, but thanks all the same," she returned, rolling her eyes slightly and turning as Kisa followed her down the stairs. "Ah, there you are! Ready to go? I think everyone else is already there."
"Sure thing," Kisa nodded, grabbing her bag. "Thanks for waiting – I can't believe my swimsuit got lost."
"Happens to the best of us," Hatori offered unsympathetically, and the Tiger playfully wrinkled her nose at her older cousin before turning and walking out of the kitchen toward the front door. Jenna moved to follow her, and then glanced back at the two men as Ayame waved cheerfully at her back.
"Uh…aren't you two coming?" she asked, deciding not to comment.
"Due to my delicate complexion and sensitivity to all kinds of extremes, I must remain indoors with my beloved Hari and thaw his chilly heart, which –"
"Ayame transforms in extreme heat or cold," Hatori interrupted, silencing Ayame's nonsense. "And I'm none too fond of it myself. Go have a good time – we'll still be here when you get back, don't worry."
"All right," she nodded, and rushed to catch up to Kisa, who had already left the house while the older girl was talking with the men.
"I didn't think you'd look that good in a swimsuit," Haru commented, as Jenna arrived with Kisa to the beach. The Ox took a moment to eye the young woman appreciatively before she smacked him lightly with a glare.
"Cut that out, you perv," she ordered, and spread her towel down on the sand. "It's a nice day out, though – nice and sunny."
"I think I'm going to go swim some," Kisa told them, and left her things with Jenna before making her way to the blue water, where Momiji was already in with Tohru and Hiro.
"The water's warm, too!" Momiji yelled to them, and Yuki calmly ignored them as he sat on his towel near the water, playing lifeguard. "You've got to come in!"
"I will," Jenna promised, and looked around curiously as Haru took a seat next to her. "Where's everyone else?"
"Kyo doesn't like the water – he's hiding somewhere, though. And Ritsu didn't come – he said he was too busy with work to get any time off right now," the Ox told her, and she glanced at him in surprise before seeing Kyo crouched on the sand well away from the water.
"That's too bad," Jenna shrugged, pulling her hair through a hairband. "At least everyone else could make it – what a group. No wonder you guys have such big houses – you need it."
"Yep," Haru nodded, sliding his sunglasses onto his face. "And noisy, too. Next time we go on vacation, I'm taking you somewhere quiet."
"Excuse me?" she asked, but the Ox ignored her and lay on his back next to her. Jenna gazed at him in confusion for a moment before shrugging again and going to join the others in the water, having been looking forward to a chance to go swimming.
"We need food already?" Yuki asked in surprise, as they ate dinner the next day. "Who was in charge of buying the food for the trip and making sure we had enough?"
"Uh…" Tohru paused, and they waited for the culprit to speak up. Sure enough, Ayame grinned brightly and raised his hand.
"I placed myself with the responsibility of providing the supplies for the household for this trip!" he announced loudly. "But fear not! For there is a town nearby, and Kyo will go and get supplies tomorrow for us."
"What?" he demanded, bristling. "Stop making me do everything, you damn Snake! You're in charge – do it yourself!"
"Kisa and I have to get back tomorrow – break's almost over and we need to get ready to go back to college," Hiro informed them calmly. "So don't think we're going to get the stuff."
"I can go," Jenna offered. "I just need someone else so I don't get lost."
"I guess I'm stuck, then," Haru grunted.
"Isn't there a worse chance of getting lost if you go with her?" Kyo pointed out, and Haru shrugged.
"Dunno," he replied, and Hatori nodded with a sigh.
"All right – you two can borrow my car, since it's bigger. Just be sure not to destroy it, all right?"
"I'll drive," Haru nodded, and Jenna glared at him.
"What are you insinuating?"
"Nothing."
"Then that's all settled," Yuki sighed, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it, Tohru." Tohru, who had been looking worried, nodded agreeably and smiled before turning to Jenna.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No, I think we'll be fine," Jenna thought. "If you could make a list, though, I'd appreciate it."
"Of course!"
"Ayame, you have to learn to be more responsible," Hatori chided his cousin, who nodded eagerly and ignored the dirty glances Kyo was still shooting his way.
"Are you two lost?" a young woman asked, as the pair wandered around town the next day, having parked the car and trying to find a store.
"Yeah, actually, we are," Jenna nodded, and the girl stuck her hand out towards them with a grin.
"I'm Kamerin – and this is my cousin, Aka," she added, gesturing to a young man beside her as she shook hands. "We live here, actually – want us to show you around? We won't even charge," she added with a wink.
"Maybe you won't," Aka retorted, smirking playfully.
"That'd be great," Jenna said gratefully, and elbowed Haru. "Hatsuharu!" she hissed, and he blinked down at her expressionessly before sighing like a martyr.
"Oh, all right – thanks," he said, and Kamerin nodded.
"No problem. What are you looking for, anyway?"
"Thanks for helping out," Jenna smiled, after Aka and Kamerin had guided them on a tour of the town, ending at the place they needed to be – the grocery store. "I think we'll be able to find our way back."
"No problem," Kamerin bobbed her head happily. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Jenna and Haru."
"Do you come here often?" Aka asked, and Haru shook his head.
"Nope. We're just here to get supplies – we're a beach house a few miles from here," he said, and the young man nodded understandingly while Kamerin shook Jenna's hand eagerly.
"Well, until we see you guys again!" she called, waving as she and her cousin headed down the street. Jenna waved back, and Haru only shrugged as he turned to go into the store.
"You were pretty rude," she informed him as they searched for what they needed on the list, and he looked at her in surprise.
"I was?"
"You know you were, or else you wouldn't look so guilty," Jenna shook her head in dry amusement. Haru went to say something, but sighed and closed his mouth with another shrug.
"Oh well."
"What, didn't you like them?" she asked, standing on tiptoe to reach something on the top shelf. Haru regarded her with a grin for a minute before reaching over her and grabbing it for her, which she took gratefully.
"I dunno," he told her calmly, and she took a moment to consider something before grinning at him.
"Were you jealous?" she guessed, and he narrowed his eyes and stared pointedly in another direction. Jenna couldn't resist the opportunity to tease the Ox, especially after what he had done that morning. She still hadn't gotten him back, and now was just too good to pass up. "You were, weren't you? What, did you want to get lost all day just to spend some time alone?" she asked lightly. Haru ignored her and shoved his hands in his pockets, and Jenna stopped the teasing, not wanting to tempt Haru into going Black in the store. The phrase 'a bull in a china shop' wouldn't be anything if the Sohma went berserk with all the people around.
"I wasn't," he said as they were checking out, and she looked at him in surprise.
"You weren't what, again?" she asked, having sort of forgotten what she had been teasing the Ox about before.
"Never mind," he muttered, and Jenna blinked at him before shrugging and moving to pay the cashier, who was looking at the couple with a grin on his face. He earned himself a glare from Haru when he let his fingers touch Jenna's too long for the Ox's liking, but Jenna either didn't realize or was purposefully ignoring the Sohma's actions, and calmly gathered the bags together and hefting them up, Haru taking the remainder of the load.
"Wow, it's already dark out?" she realized, looking around as they stepped out of the store. "I guess we spent more time with Kamerin and Aka than I realized."
"I coulda told you that," he said calmly, and she took a moment to glance at him before deciding he was once again back to normal, laid-back and lazy-looking as usual.
"Very funny," she replied, and shivered at the chill the night air brought. "Where's the car, again? I'm gonna get cold in these damn clothes if we stay out much longer."
"It's this way," he said firmly, and Jenna merely shrugged and began to follow the Ox, who strode down the street as if he knew the entire town with the back of his hand.
Unfortunately, the Sohma had never really inspected the backs of his hands, and the pair found themselves lost in no time – which didn't really come as a surprise to Jenna, but left Haru perplexed.
"I was sure I knew where I was going this time," he mumbled, trying to figure out where he had actually gotten lost.
"This town's like, what, three blocks?" Jenna thought out-loud, exaggerating a little but not by much. "How'd we both manage to get lost?"
"Why didn't you tell me we were lost?" Haru asked, and she stared at him in amazement.
"I thought you knew where you going!"
"Why?"
"I…oh, never mind," she grumbled, unable to find a reason why she had actually thought Haru wouldn't get lost for once. "Come on, let's go see if someone'll let us use their phone. Hatori can come pick us up, and we'll find the car when he does."
"This is getting heavy," he commented as he began to amble after the young woman, shifting the bags in his arms awkwardly.
"At least you have training," she snapped. "And you're not wearing a skirt!"
"But it looks good on you," he argued, and she resisted the urge to smack him.
"You're getting as bad as Shigure," she muttered, wearing a black miniskirt and a pale-green shirt with heeled sandals. "And my feet are killing me – I didn't think we'd be stuck wandering around for so long," she complained, her arms having become sore soon after they had realized they were lost. "And you couldn't just use someone's phone – you had to keep going," she added with a groan. "What is with guys and not getting directions?"
"You're pretty hot when you're pissed off," Haru commented, catching her completely off guard.
"Wh-hu-di-Haru!" she yelled, stuttering like heck and turning an interesting shade of pink. "Would you cut it out and try to focus?" she demanded in exasperation. The Ox only gazed calmly at her, and she heaved a sigh and turned back around, resuming her determined stride down the street. A few more minutes passed of them aimlessly wandering before they reached the shopping district once more, and Jenna noticed with relief that several stores were still open.
"What luck," the Sohma grinned, a little behind Jenna as they headed down the street, the alleys in-between buildings casting odd shadows on them. In the next moment, however, he was doing anything but grinning when a strange man appeared from an alley in front of them and grabbed Jenna's arm, causing her to drop her things.
"Hey! Let go!" she ordered, but the man – apparently too drunk to see Haru – only laughed.
"Yer a really purty thing," he slurred, leering down at her. "Why don't ya 'n I–" He never finished his sentence when Haru came flying at him, landing a kick directly in his jaw and knocking him out cold on the pavement. Jenna noticed with dismay the groceries scattered on the sidewalk, and nervously looked at Haru, who was inches next to her.
Haru, to be honest, was surprised at how fast he turned Black – usually it took some provocation, but it seemed that the only prodding his Black side needed to come was another man touching Jenna without permission. Taking a few deep breaths, he turned to look at her, and he instantly reverted back to White when he saw the scared look on her face.
Jenna gasped when he suddenly embraced her tightly, and hugged him back briefly, expecting him to let go. When he didn't, however, she began to wonder what the heck was the matter with him and looked up at him curiously.
"Haru…what's the matter? I'm fine now," she assured him.
"When that guy touched you…I totally lost it," he told her, sounding a bit dazed. "Something inside of me snapped."
"It's all right, Haru," Jenna said, feeling a bit weird at being the one to comfort him. "You took care of him, and nothing happened to me. You were a knight in shining armor, protecting me," she added jokingly, but the Ox only held her tighter and rested his cheek near hers.
"I'll always protect you," he murmured in her ear, and her eyes widened in shock at his next words. "Jenna…I love you."
"H-Haru?" she stammered, abruptly pulling from his grasp and backing up.
"I have for years," he persisted, deciding that he may as well get it all out of the way at once. "I keep trying to tell you, but shit keeps happening! But I do – I love you."
Jenna stared at him for a moment, and he gazed stubbornly back before she whirled, visibly shaking, and quickly headed toward the nearest store. "I need to call Hatori, especially now that all the food's ruined," she managed, before disappearing into the building. Haru was left standing among the spilled groceries in confusion, unsure whether she had rejected him or not.
Well? I'm enjoying writing this - a bit stuck, though. (sighs) Anyway, please review! Any ideas are appreciated, as usual.
