A/N: Dun dun dun dunnnn~ Again, with the endless apologies, I am truly, truly sorry of updating late, guys! My life is becoming busier and busier by the hour. /sigh/ Anyway, here's the new chapter, yay! This is only composed of a short... scene or two, or three. I just had to be detailed-oriented on this. Hehe :) Leggo, leggo, leggooooooo! I am excited. 3

Doki/Ba-dump = sound of a heartbeat

Disclaimer: A fanfiction.


TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCE

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Is Fate Even Real?

Heavy downpour of rain was all there was to hear, the scent of wet earth was all there was to smell, and the sight of an auburn-haired girl and a white-haired boy locking gazes five feet away from each other—alone in the quiet streets of Tomo, standing in front of a pastry shop—was all there was to see. There they stood along the pavement, staring with surprise at each other's eyes. No one was talking. No one was moving. It took about ten seconds before someone could utter a word.

"What are you doing here?" Killua spoke first. He blinked. "You look like you've seen a ghost or something."

As if she was holding her breath, and as if her heart stopped, Yuhi let air out of her lungs, feeling her life muscle pumping too much blood with its fast rate. Her face started feeling hot. She felt like she was a bomb about to explode. Yet she remained frozen.

The boy raised an eyebrow, pulling the red lollipop he was chewing out of his mouth. "Hey, hallway girl, what's up with you?" he called out.

Here Yuhi blinked and finally gained the strength to stand up straight, and bow—though nervously. "H-Hello!" she greeted, her tone was high and shaky.

Killua's eyes grew wide with the unexpected polite gesture. "What the…?"

Realizing what she did, Yuhi immediately stood straight again, flashing the boy a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry…" she trailed off, looking down and feeling ridiculous.

Silence.

Yuhi did not know what to do. She was again torn between staying and turning away. If she stayed, she was afraid she might be pushed another step near the edge of the unknown again. But if she turned away, the pretty box in her hands might receive the consequences it did not deserve. Yuhi turned and stood before the rain, watching the huge drops it made on the concrete road.

"What are you doing out here?"

Doki.

The girl thought of her white umbrella again. She sighed. My poor umbrella…

"Are you lost or something?" Killua added the question in a tired mumble.

Yuhi almost laughed, but she did not. She shook her head, smiling as she glanced at Killua to gesture towards the pastry shop behind them. "I came from in here," she declared silently, raising the box she was holding. Killua looked at it. She continued, an excited feeling paving its way through her chest. "It's Roroturo-san's birthday!" she exclaimed, beaming.

Killua nodded slowly as he placed his lollipop back in his mouth. "Oh." He then gazed over the whole person of the girl, as if looking for something. "Then why are you still here?"

Ack. Yuhi thought about it, but she could not come up with a lie a little less stupid than what had happened. She shrugged. "My umbrella, I think…" she looked down, stroking the end strands of her hair with her free hand. "I think it got stolen." She ended the sentence with a laugh.

But Killua did not buy it. His face was disbelivingly grave.

The rain sounded like it poured harder when silence once again ensued. Yuhi looked down, and played with her shoes as she thought of how she could get home.

"…That's stupid," the boy mumbled suddenly, grinding the lollipop in his mouth and throwing the stick to a nearby trash bin.

Coming from her white-haired angel, Yuhi knew she would be somehow surprised by that call. But it seemed as though she was getting used to the boy's way of talking. She uttered a small laugh. "I know." However seeing herself smiling again and getting comfortable with the white-haired boy's presence beside her, Yuhi instantly retracted. She blinked and looked at him. "I-I think I should go now. Roroturo-san might be looking for me." She smiled.

"I'll bet," Killua answered, pulling his hands off his jacket's pockets and facing the girl. He looked at her, jabbing a thumb towards the rain. "You're going home through that?"

With confused, wide eyes, Yuhi nodded.

The white-haired boy showed a little smirk across his lips as he looked away from the girl. "That should be fun to watch."

Here the girl's heart fell. She was not expecting some pretty words of courage from the boy, no, but at least she expected something polite. It was a good sign, because it pulled her a little from the edge. But is was a bad sign at the same time, because she felt a painful slash in the chest. Yuhi felt like completely leaving at that time, and so she did. "Good night." She bowed her head a little. Her tone was solid, cold. She regretted it when she turned around to walk away.

"Hey, ramen girl!"

Freeze. Yuhi did not know why her heart stopped when she heard the call from the white-haired boy. She paused in her tracks, clenching her fists tight to ready her heart before slowly turning back around.

Killua was still standing where the girl left him. He sighed and looked down as he approached her, ruffling his hair a little.

Yuhi's heart was not ready enough. It gave off fast beats and slow loud and hard thumps all at the same time, while watching the boy walk towards her with his beautiful physique. She distinctly remembered seeing that particular scene in one of her dreams–of him walking towards her with his hair and clothes blown by the wind, looking as perfect and flawless as ever. Yuhi was close to smiling. However, she instantly shook her head when she met his eyes. She was about to ask a question when the boy walked past her, the wind blowing his hair towards her direction. His scent was… sweet. No. Shaking the thoughts away again, Yuhi's eyebrows creased as she followed Killua with her eyes, wondering if he's just playing tricks on her or what.

The answer was given when the boy stopped walking, turning around to look at the girl with his somnolent blue eyes. "What are you standing there for?" Killua then looked down and mumbled a silent "Let's go."

Heh… Here Yuhi's heart started beating abnormally, so fast yet loud and slow she did not know how to describe it anymore. She was infatuated, enchanted, charmed. She felt like the magician's assistant again. Killua's words and tone of voice lured her near him, as if she was hypnotized. She stepped forward without second-guessing, but suddenly seeing a smiling black-haired girl in her head she stopped, and felt obnoxious. Yuhi blinked. "Where are we going?" she shouted across the pavement as the thunder roared.

Killua completely then turned around to look at the girl. His face made a twisted disbelieved expression. He shrugged. "Isn't it obvious?"

Yuhi did not know how fast her heart was racing that moment. She knew what that meant. She took a deep breath to calm it down a little, not knowing what to say or do. Glancing around to think of something, she catched the clock from inside the pastry shop—eyes instantly widening when she saw the time. It was nearing six in the evening. She needed to hurry home. She turned to look at the sky. The rain was consistently heavy. She turned to look ahead. Killua looked painfully beaituful the girl did not know how that happened.

Yuhi immediately shook her head to avoid getting hypnotized again. When the sky once more roared, the girl hugged the box in her hands, running towards Killua's direction. She paused when she reached him, shouting her words midst the rain. "I'm really sorry, but I'm fne in going by myself. The rain's strong. You should head back. Gon might be worrying about you."

Killua stood straight, lips parting, when the girl bowed.

"Please take care on the way home!" Yuhi exclaimed as she stretched her back straight. She waved a hand and sprinted through the sidewalk, not turning to look back to see if the boy was still there. Yuhi ran and ran along, until she slowed down and started walking normally. She focused her gaze ahead before releasing a massive amount of air from her lungs, inquiring where the shed along the pavement she was walking through would cease. It was near the open road beneath the downpour.

Yuhi took another deep breath and exhaled it fully, hugging the box of sweets in her arms to feel her heartrate. She was panting, and she knew it was not only because of the distance she ran, because when she started breathing normally, her heart still felt like it was about to burst out of her chest without warning. She felt the loud beats throb in her throat, and in all of the pulses in her body. Yuhi knew it was because of him. It was because of Killua.

Remembering the event that happened ten seconds ago—that event playing in rewind inside her head—the auburn-haired girl could not help but question her stars. Why do I always have to be caught in the middle of everything with him? Yuhi inhaled air, feeling her knees weakening when she remembered the whole appearance of Killua when he said the most hypnotizing thing she had ever heard in her life.

"What are you standing there for? Let's go."

Yuhi's heart started pumping blood faster. A groan excaped her throat as she ruffled her forelocks and kicked the air. I said, no! Inwardly she was scolding the circumstances, but outside, absent-mindedly, she was smiling. The giddy feeling was too overwhelming to contain, she just have to let it out. I thought I wished that I won't get into such a situation with him. More of this and I'll completely be… Yuhi bit her lower lip and shrugged continuously, walking fast as she neared the end spot of the pavement.

Upon reaching, she stopped and observed the rain, gaze shifting from the sky to the nearby shed a few meters away. The heavy rain made the streets appear obscure in the auburn-haired girl's eyes. But despite it all she still decided to push through with going home. Yuhi removed her bag and placed it to stand on the bricked sidewalk while she shrugged off her jacket, wrapping the object around the box she held in her hand. Then hoisting her bag and hanging it back around her, she stood straight, took a deep breath, secured the box in her arms, and sprinted away.

The rain was harsh; hitting our protagonist as though every drop was a dagger. With every step, water splashed all over her shoes and legs, completely wetting them. Yuhi looked ahead and focused her eyes. The shed was nearing.

A few steps more and she was covered, panting as she wiped her wet arms against her uniform. She then removed her jacket from wrapping the box of sweets to check any damage. A thankful smile escaped the girl's lips. The delicate crepe paper was still perfectly dry. Yuhi exhaled quickly of relief, wrapping her box again with the cloth. I hope I can keep this up until I get to the bus station.

Stretching her neck to check how many more meters she had have to run in order to get to where the bus station was, Yuhi sighed. I've got a long way to go. She then smiled to herself, chuckling a little, because of the irony. And just when I thought I everything's going according to plan. Yuhi's smile was stagnant as she shook her head, turning her gaze to the other side when she felt someone step in under the shed beside her.

. . .

What…? The auburn-haired girl started to feel as though pretty fireworks were exploding inside her chest all of a sudden. She wanted to smile so widely, but her curiosity grew dominant. She instantly erased her smile, as her eyes grew wide with surprise. Her lips parted, but words would not come out of her throat. Why… are you doing this to me?

It was a dream, definitely a dream. A single unexpected event could not have happened, in reality, twice in the same day, in the same situation, with the same person. Right? Yuhi wanted to know the limits of that certain possibility. She did not want to think of fate and all its elements. She did not want to fall into the traps of serendipity. So she assumed it was a dream, and she knew it was the most ridiculous thing in the world. Because in her dreams, she would not feel all sorts of emotion rolling about her gut, she would not feel that excessively giddy. In her dreams, everything was moderate, everything felt normal. She would feel happy, but it was not like what she would feel in reality. It was not like what she was feeling at that certain moment.

Reality, however, did not hit the auburn-haired girl as fast. There she stared, stunned, as the person, the boy, beside her pulled off the hood of his purple jacket from securing his head, ruffling his fluffy white hair to shake off the rain drops that stayed on the strands. It was confirmed then. No, it was confirmed even before he showed his face. Yuhi instantly knew who the person was the moment she laid eyes on him. There was no doubt about it.

Killua.

Again.

Yet, again, Yuhi was wonderstruck by his presence. The boy's fire seemed to have burned her once more in a very, very good way. Especially when those jaded, cerulean eyes turned their gentle yet strangely intense gaze towards her light auburn ones. No, Yuhi still could not get used to that. She blinked, secretly pinching her arm to wake herself up. But then again, she was not dreaming. Yuhi pondered, but slowly realizing how long she was staring back into the boy's gaze, she quickly looked down, blushing hard. She knew she needed to say something, something cool and void of stutters. "You're… uhm… h-here." Yuhi's voice was silent, but her heart was screaming. The situation was abrupt and unexpected, for Pete's sake. She needed to redeem herself. Yuhi took a deep breath, collecting all the courage she could, and flashed a shy smile towards the boy. "A-Aren't you going home?"

Killua exhaled and took his eyes off the girl, shaking off more droplets of rain from his jacket. "I am."

This made Yuhi ponder. She cocked her head to her right in confusion, thinking about what that meant. Then realizing something, she instantly stood straight, like an electric current crawled through her spine. His way is here!? "You're going home?" she asked again, tone stepping an octave higher.

The boy blinked and nodded.

And with reflex the auburn-haired girl asked a question she never knew would come out from her to him. "Where?"

Killua turned his eyes towards the girl, and shifting his gaze ahead, he pointed towards that one corner opposite the turn to the campus.

Eh—!? Yuhi followed it with her wide eyes. It was an empty lot. Killua might be pointing out that it was the street to their home. The girl's eyes grew even wider because of humiliation. I… left him there, without me knowing that we'll be heading in the same way… Yuhi wanted to hide her face from the world. It was already painted pink. This is so embarrassing! She instantly turned back around and bowed low. "I'm so sorry I left you earlier!" Her apology was sincere. But she could not help but think of the possibilities that the boy might take the event that happened earlier in a negative way. She left him again after Killua offered to, basically, walk with her, after all. Yuhi inwardly grunted when she thought of that. Can I turn back time?

"You're always in a hurry anyway," Killua mumbled under his breath, sounding annoyed.

Ba-dump. It was an alarm. Killua was starting to notice the girl's actions towards him. Yuhi started to feel tensed by that. But she let it slide in the moment, knowing that the problem was hers to solve. She stood straight and smiled sheepishly. "I'm so sorry…"

The boy stared at her, and then returned his gaze to looking at the rain again. He placed his hands inside his jacket's pockets. "…No need to say sorry." Another mumble.

Yuhi nodded and pursed her lips as she turned to watch the rain as well. Again she felt comfortable and safe in the white-haired boy's presence. And she knew she did not want to leave that zone. Not yet. Just a few more seconds of peaceful silence. A few more seconds of before she could run off again.

"Ah! The rain's never going to stop!"

Turning her gaze to her right, the auburn-haired girl blinked as she stared into Killua's twisted expression. She then shifted her gaze to his arms, and back to his face. "Why aren't you bringing any umbrella?" Her tone was silent and sincere—concerned.

Killua shifted his gaze to the girl, resting his eyes for a few seconds onto hers with that same disbelieved expression on his face. "I don't bring umbrellas. Umbrellas are a pain to carry."

Yuhi shrugged and nodded slowly. "But in a rainy day like this, you might get sick, ne."

A small faint crooked smile appeared across the boy's face as he turned away from the girl. "Get sick?" He shook his head. "Don't make me laugh."

Yuhi frowned while thinking of the consequences Killua's words might do to him. She did not anymore know what to say. She just nodded and hugged the box in her hands. Feeling the object in her arms, a certain man appeared in her head. Roroturo-san! She gasped, and looked at Killua.

A conflict of interest.

No, how could she leave that beautiful face alone in the rain? But how could she make her guardian wait for her on his birthday? Yuhi turned around and narrowed her eyes to check the streets. The rain was consistent. And the road she was to pass—run—through was uncovered. A deep sigh escaped her lungs. She wanted to get home. The cool air that howled with the rain was also making her bared legs freeze. She needed something warm. Something like hot ramen on a cold, rainy day.

Grumble.

Yuhi was hungry. Yes, there was no second-guessing at that. She really needed to get home.

"Hey."

It was Killua's call. The girl turned to look at him.

"I'll head back first," he said, jabbing a thumb towards the street he was pointing out a little while ago.

Yuhi seriously did not know how to react to that. She wanted to smile, but inside something was stinging her chest. She tried exhaling it out of her system. However, considering she had done that to him not once, but twice, she understood how she was going to answer. A nod. "Sure!" she ushered, finally letting out a faint convex curve through her lips. She bowed her head a little. "Please take care!" When she shifted her gaze to the boy's face, she met his deep blue orbs, and melted in it for a span of seconds she did not know how long, until she looked down.

The moment she looked back up, she flashed a wide smile, waving a hand before turning to stretch her neck to check the road again. Outside she seemed cool about everything, but inside, her system was at red alert. She honestly could not comprehend everything that was happening between her and the boy. She wanted to ignore it. She needed to get home. Yuhi stepped forward, tiptoeing to find the turn to the campus. And just when she did so, a call ceased her nerves.

"Wait—"

When Yuhi turned back around, she found Killua still standing there.

The boy looked away immediately after meeting the girl's eyes. Then he returned his gaze back at her after a frustrated sigh. "You're in a hurry, right?" he asked, almost mumbling.

Yuhi knew she blushed at that time, finding that particular expression on her angel's face so… cute. "Yeah, but—"

After a sigh, Killua cut the girl's sentence with a fast one of his own. "I'll walk you to the bus station."

Yuhi froze.

Church bells; she started hearing church bells inside her head after hearing that silently gentle sentence from her white-haired angel. The rain ceased in her hearing and vision, and everything went in slow motion once again. Yuhi's eyes was bright as she looked into Killua's blue ones, letting herself in to melt, and to fall, so, so close to the edge of the unknown. But like a fast rewinding tape, reality came back into her vision. The rain sounded heavier, and that was what woke her up. She blinked and instantly pointed to the open road. "It's raining, you know!" she exclaimed, not wanting to cause her angel the trouble of getting sick.

Killua's eyes grew wide with the response he received. But he replied with an equal tone. "That's the point! It's raining!"

Doki. Yuhi felt another push. "But we don't have an umbrella!"

The boy then blinked, and looking around his eyes fell to his own clothing. He pointed to his jacket.

Dokidoki. Pretty scenarios started infiltrating the girl's brain and chest. But she shook them away. "That's yours. It'll get soaked!"

Killua started unzipping his jacket and shaking it off from securing his upper body case.

Dokidokidoki. Yuhi blushed upon seeing the boy wearing a white t-shirt. It was the first time she saw him with such such simple clothing. He's so… handsome… She then shook her head when Killua looked at her, looking down and looking back up. "I can't risk you being sick after this!"

The boy shrugged, spreading his jacket and hanging it over his shoulders. "Why do you talk about getting sick? This is nothing! It's only rain!"

Dokidokidokidoki. Yuhi took a deep breath and thought about it as she looked down. She tried. But she could not decide, because a different question was swarming inside her head. Why does he persistently want to walk me to the bus stop? Yuhi then thought of a positive answer. But no, she shook her head. That's impossible. Cannot be.

"Hey, I'm trying to be nice here!" Killua shouted midst the heavy rain. The frustrated tone in his voice can easily be comprehended.

The girl then looked back up at the boy, watching him look away and rub his nape with his free hand while the other hand held the jacket that hung over his shoulders. The view made Yuhi's heart beat faster, and faster. She wanted to, she truly wanted Killua to walk her to the bus sop. But it was raining so hard she just did not want to cause him any trouble.

Killua then turned his gaze towards the girl. Yuhi held her breath. For a second the boy stared with an intense look on his face, until his ruffled his hair in frustration and ran to the girl. "Ah! The heck with this!" He instantly threw his jacket over their heads and pushed Yuhi in the shoulders to run through the rain with him.

Dokidoki. Ba-dump. Doki. Dokidokidokidokikjsadkjsdkj.

Red alert.

While Killua's left hand was above their heads to support the only cover they have, his other hand firm around Yuhi's shoulders was what got all of the alarms inside her system to ring frantically. Yuhi was surprised, deeply. Her eyes were wide, her world seemed to have stopped, and she felt as though someone was punching his chest hard with solid fists from the inside. She did not know what was happening, she did not know what she was doing, not until she heard her angel speak, and his voice so close to her ear.

"Run faster!"

Yuhi returned to earth with the sound and feel of heavy rain on her shoulders, and the splashes of water with every fast and solid step. Yuhi blinked and focused her gaze ahead, feeling her heart beating as fast as every drop of rain. She swallowed a good amount of liquid and obeyed what Killua had said. She ran faster, and she knew she was to feel cold because of the rainwater that practically already wet her arms and hair, but somehow she felt warmer. It was strange. Was it because of his presence? Yuhi attempted to look up at the boy, only to look ahead again. She palpitated. Killua's face was so, so close to hers. A tight grip secured the box she was holding in her arms, absent-mindedly crumpling the object with force.

Reaching a turn, Yuhi looked up at the boy again, blinking immensely as droplets of rain covered her sight. "Are you okay!?" she asked, hoping that her voice was loud enough.

No answer.

Yuhi then pressed her lips and carried on, hoping that the bus stop was near.

It took them about two stops before both could reach the bus stop. When they did, they were soaking wet. Both heaved deep sighs of relief upon reaching the shed.

Yuhi walked to the bench as she catched her breath. That was probably the longest, fastest, and craziest run she had ever had in her entire life. She placed her things on the seat to wring her hair and skirt dry. Amidst the complicated situation, there was still this giddy feeling fighting its way out of her chest. It was overflowing. It made her smile, and giggle a little. She turned to look at her white-haired angel.

Killua walked towards the bench where she was, to hang his soaking jacket in; hair and clothes damp because of the rain.

The auburn-haired girl watched as the boy wiped his arms off rainwater, and as he ran his fingers through his hair. Yuhi suppressed a smile when she saw that annoyed look on the boy's face while he try to level the strands of his hair to his eyes. The girl's gaze then shifted from her angel's face to the boy's slightly exposed physique. She was alarmed. Killua's shirt was half-soaked. Yuhi noticed the solid chest of the boy sticking against his wet shirt. She blushed, but that was not important. She looked at Killua, only to find that he was looking at her. Yuhi could not but utter a two-word sentence. "…Your shirt…"

The boy blinked and looked down at his clothes. He then shrugged. "What about it?"

Yuhi shook her head a little to get her rationality back. "It's wet," she said with concern. "When that dries on you, you might get sick."

"Psh." Killua then stepped towards the bench and took a seat, shaking his shirt a little from sticking to his skin. "I told you already, don't make me laugh."

A deep exhale escaped the girl's lungs. Yuhi was worried, and to think that it was because of her that Killua sacrificed his jacket, his time, and his temper. She wanted to approach the boy, and thought of probably the most insane thing in the whole wide world at that time. "Do you want to—" Yuhi was to say her sentence, but Killua's gaze turning towards her made her think about the offer she was to give again. Will it be okay… if I invited him home for ramen and dry clothes? Yuhi gulped. What will he think?

"What?" Killua aked, sounding surprised and impatient at the same time.

Yuhi pressed her lips together, slowly shaking her head as a response. She then looked away and pretended to check her things while she scolded the level of her courage. Cowardice predominated in that moment. She sighed at that, taking a seat on the same bench Killua was in. She hoisted her box and removed her damp jacket from securing it. To her dismay, the crepe paper was destroyed and the edges of the box were already wet. Yuhi pouted at that. She compeletely expected that it would turn out like that the moment she found out that her umbrella was stolen, but it still made her sad. It was so pretty when I bought it.

"You're giving that to Roroturo-san, I guess?" Killua suddenly mused as he watched the girl remove the crepe paper from around the box.

The latter nodded. A smile escaped her lips upon hearing her angel mention her guardian's name. It felt nice. "I was supposed to." Yuhi placed the deformed crepe wrapper beside her and peeked from the clear plastic on top of the box to check the sweets. "But the wrapper's ruined now. It wouldn't look like a surprise gift anymore." She laughed as she peeled off the scotch tape that secured the box shut.

Killua shrugged and turned ahead, resting his back on the back support of the bench and throwing his hands behind his head. "Meh. Wrapping's not that important."

Yuhi pursed her lips together, pulling the box's lid open and leaning forward to look at what's inside. Her eyes sparkled when she saw the colourful cupcakes still placed perfectly and prettiy in the box. It still looked great, and it smelled great. It made her stomach grumble even more. But that won't keep her from pushing through with what she planned to do next. She hoisted one huge chocolate cupcake, with a nice swirly icing on top, and with confectionary sugar and more chocolate chips and sprinkles scattered therein, topped with a red cherry for color. Yuhi stared at its glory, and pursing her lips together she turned her gaze to her right.

There about five feet away from her, was Killua resting comfortably on his seat, eyes closed and legs crossed. Yuhi wanted to give the cupcake to her angel. She wholeheartedly wanted to do it. With an excited feeling filling her chest, she called his attention. "K—" No, calling out the name she was having a hard time saying aloud to the person who owned it was an even difficult job. Yuhi cleared her throat silently and nodded once. You can do this, Yuhina! Just say his name! She cleared her throat again and tried to gain all the courage she had in her body. Taking a deep breath, she parted her lips. "K… Killua." Her tone was so tender and soft. Yuhi only wished that the boy would not take that as something… else.

The addressed opened his eyes immediately upon hearing his name, turning his gaze towards the person who called him.

Yuhi pursed her lips. Her heart beating fast as she stretched both of her hands to hand the single chocolate cupcake to her white-haired angel. "Please take this!" She bowed her head, with reflex, and to hide her blushing face. Yuhi knew it was only a friendly gesture, as exchange for what Killua has done for her. But, she was nervous—even feeling her hands shaking as they waited to for someone else's.

Killua's blinked, shifting his gaze from the girl's face to the sweet delicacy in her hands. His eyes suddenly grew wide. He swallowed hard. "What's that?"

The girl stretched her arms out even more, praying that Killua would take her little gift. "F-For you…!" She then remembered when she was handing out Mitan's letter to them in the rooftop. Yuhi's eyes suddenly grew wide. Mimi-chan! She looked up at the boy who was staring at the cupcake in her hands. Yuhi pursed her lips. Just this once, Mimi-chan. He deserves to have a cupcake. No, she did not want to betray her friend by being all sweet and friendly first to the white-haired boy—at least that was what she was thinking.

Killua blinked again and cleared his throat. "…What do you want me to do with it?"

Yuhi swallowed liquid. For once, she wondered why she could talk for hours with random people, but not with Killua. She was always speechless in front of the white-haired boy. She needed enough courage. "Have it! I mean… thank you! No, I—" The nerves were taking over. Why is everything coming out sooo wrong? Yuhi took a deep breath. "It's for you. For walking me here… and everything, thank you!" She bowed her head again, embarrassed by her expression she did not know what looked like.

"Isn't that for Roroturo-san?"

Ack. The girl nodded and smiled sheepishly as she turned her eyes towards the boy's face. Please take it, even so. "But I'm giving this one to you." Yuhi pushed the cupcake more to the boy's direction, feeling her face burn with embarrassment.

Killua only looked at it, seeming as though he was thinking.

Suddenly, two headlights started shining through in Yuhi's vision and the sound of a verhicle approaching filled the air. The girl sat straight and turned around, only to find that the bus was about near the shed they were waiting in. Yuhi returned to Killua and stood up when she heard the beep of the bus horn.

It was adrenaline rush, for without second-guessing she grabbed the boy's hands and placed the cupcake in his palms. Adrenaline rush, but Yuhi swore her life muscle was dancing at that certain sparkly moment. She grinned as she stood straight. "Thank you!" She bowed. "I'm so sorry for causing you trouble!" Standing straight, she gained enough courage to look at the boy. Killua was staring at the cupcake. Yuhi pursed her lips together. I really don't want him to go home like this. He'll be all alone. It's cold too. Yuhi truly wanted to invite Killua home with her, but she thought of it being quite… sudden, and out of place, since she has a crush on him and she was not as close to him as she was to Gon.

Another beep from the bus. It stopped, and its doors can be heard opening. "Are you getting in?" It was the conductor.

Yuhi turned around to nod at the man before going to her things and collecting them. She carelessly slid the bag around her and carried the box underneath her jacket. She turned to Killua. He was looking her way. Ba-dump. Should I…? "Will you be okay?"

The boy nodded once. His lips parted. But before he could utter another word the girl started walking away.

"Please take care on the way home!" Yuhi waved a hand, feeling a tad guilty about leaving Killua alone in the middle of the rain. She smiled widely at him before turning to jump in the bus. But before she could take a step, a call halted her.

"Hey, wait!"

Dokidokidoki. Yuhi turned back around, cocking her head to the side when the boy looked away and rubbed his nape when she met his eyes.

After a rough sigh, Killua looked at the girl, slightly avoiding eye contact. "Thanks, I guess…" It was almost like a mumble. But Yuhi heard it nevertheless. The girl smiled gleefully, and was about to hop in when Killua stopped her again. "And!" he added, tone a little higher than before. Yuhi waited, her heart was racing. Killua looked at her. "…Don't get your umbrella stolen again."

Here the girl's smile was from ear to ear. It was a great feeling, and Yuhi did not know why. Killua only told her that she should not have her umbrella stolen again, right? That was a simple 'don't be stupid' kind of sentence, and she knew that. However, somehow, she felt that the boy's words were uttered with so much carefulness, with so much warmth and concern. Yuhi nodded and bowed. "Take care on the way home!"

And finally she was inside the bus headed home.

Yuhi watched Killua from the window as she walked along the aisle of the bus. There she saw him sit back on the bench while ruffling his wet hair, staring and hoisting the cupcake Yuhi gave that he placed beside him. It was then cut at that. The bus moved farther and farther fast. With an eased smile, Yuhi took a seat beside the windows of the bus, resting her right elbow on the windowpane while staring at the dark, wet road. She pursed her lips as she recalled everything that happened, cupping her hot cheeks as she felt her heart beating faster and faster with absolute glee.

Yuhi thought that by thinking about her friend, it would lessen the feelings that were building up in her chest. But she was wrong. It only brewed greater, and solid. It grew, and it pushed her more to fall deep into the sea of an unknown passion.

-CHAPTER END-


Sooo, how was the chapter? Too short? Hm, why don't you speak your mind and again, type down those thoughts in that pretty little review box down there!

Replies to guest reviews~

Mai: Hii! I loved how you described the cliffhanger. Cute, eh? lol Yes. that certain jacket of his. Upupupu XD I am giving it to you. Make sure you tuck it in at night, alright? Haha! Thanks for reviewing again! Hope you'll review this chapter too!

Ripplekins: Helloooo! My goodness, you're review is so cool and fangirl-y and I love it! Nyaha! I have updated todaaaay! Hope you can review again. I would love to hear what you have to say. :3

2102032: It's le pastry shop, Fondant Garden. Haha! That's fuuuyn, tho! Imaginations are awesoooome! Thanks for reviewing againnn! Review this too? Haha!

NEXT CHAPTER: What could have developed between Yuhi and Killua now? It's the weekends and Yuhi found something, someone, she knew while browsing through the market. What could possibly happen next?

BTW, bad news. I am not quite sure if I could update next week. My schedule for week is a pain to even look at so yeah. My brain's probably be drained all throughout. However that was only a 'maybe'. I am still not sure. If you want updates, you can add me through my FB. It's in my FFn profile! :D

Leave a review on this too? It'll be awesome if you could! Review guyssss, review. Please tell me what you think. I am encouraging you!~~ Thank youuu!