Chapter 35

Uni's lips are still pressed against mine. I'm not putting up any bit of resistance because I have idea what to do in a situation like this. All I do is stand here stunned and paralyzed in place.

She eventually lets off her assault to breathe heavily. I don't get angry very often, but I think I'm starting to feel rage build up. No… it's disappointment that I'm feeling.

I don't want to lash out at her, but due to these circumstances I feel like I've betrayed Nepgear by not doing anything in revolt.

*Thud*

Something drops in the background. By the sound of the crash, it is moderately heavy.

Turning to look at it, the cause of the noise is the worst possible thing, or rather person who could be here right now. Standing at the doorway is none other than Nepgear.

My heart stops when I see her. The surprised look on her face is something I hope I never have to see again for as long as I live.

Nepgear's eyes start to water up a bit. I can't blame her, her best friend just kissed her boyfriend. And worst of all, I did nothing to stop it.

"Jack… Uni… How could you?!"

Nepgear storms away fast enough that I can't even call out her name fast enough from the realization. All I do is stand still and look like an even bigger fool than I already am.

"Jack… I'm…" Uni tries to speak to me to soften the blow that I just took.

"Don't even speak to me." I'm angry, sad, and disappointed at myself right now. The last thing I need is some bullshit excuse from the person that caused this whole thing.

Uni herself looks like she's about to cry. I know I shouldn't have said that in such a harsh tone but I can't help it. The girl that taught me how to truly smile is probably pissed off more than words will ever say.

"*Sniff* *Sniff* *Hic*"

Now I've really done it, I made Uni start to cry. I didn't want that to happen, I really let my anger get the better of me. Though this wound can't be closed so easily, and I don't have a clue how to fix this in the first place. I have to try at least.

Hopefully in the end I get to keep all my friends. But more importantly, I want to keep Nepgear by my side.

I need to calm down first, if I talk to Uni like I am now, I might only end up making things worse.

If it's anything I received at birth that I'm glad for, it's that I'm less impulsive than Maurice is. Unlike him, I'll actually try to handle situations calmly even when they're bad.

"Uni… Please stop crying."

"Why? It's clear that you don't like me."

"I never said I didn't like you. I'm just really disappointed in the fact that you'd do that even though you know Nepgear and I are together."

Uni drops to her knees and sinks her face deeper in her hands. The crying picks up tremendously and the sound it makes is even worse than before.

"*Sniff* *Hic* *Sniff* *Sniff*"

"I'm such… a fool…"

"To think… you'd leave Nepgear… for me…"

"Uni… I can't see you in that way. You're a friend of mine… I don't want to see anyone I care about cry. Please get up…"

Uni lifts her head a little to where I can see her red puffy eyes. I really want to run back and find Nepgear, but for some reason I can't leave Uni's side. I need to make things right.

"I'm sorry Jack… sorry for this whole thing. Why do I have to be such a screw up?!"

"You're not a screw up!"

Uni's eyes widen from my brash statement. I still have no idea why I'm still here. I'm losing precious time to find Nepgear and apologize. But Uni's a friend, and I hurt her in a way… even if she hurt me first.

"You made a bad decision… we all do. But don't even think for a second that you're a screw up."

Now she raises her head enough so I can see her full face. Her lips are still a little puckered from where she's been whimpering.

"But you know what, you've done so much for me that I could never possibly repay you."

Her head shoots up completely and is adorned by a really surprised look on her face. I think I may have finally gotten to her.

"If it weren't for the bonds I've built with you, or any of the others for that matter… I don't think I could even be saying these words. I'd probably want to give up on life if I didn't have you around."

I reach out one of my hands to her. She looks at it curiously for a moment but soon reaches out her own. Our hands grasp together and I pull up from the ground.

Looking at her now she seems a little more calm than before but still pretty shaken up. Its cliché anime moments like these that make life worth living.

"I'm sorry Jack… I shouldn't have given in to temptation…"

"The past can't be changed, we can only try to alter the future."

My philosophical comment earns me a smile from Uni. It's great to see she can feel happiness again even after what just transpired.

"We're… still friends right?"

"Do I even have to answer?"

Uni's smile beams again, I'm glad that I was able to get through this part of the journey. But the bigger part remains… getting Nepgear back.

"Go on, don't you have your girlfriend to catch?"

Uni's right, I have to get moving now if I want to have a chance at finding her. I could try calling her but I doubt she would pick up. The sad part is she doesn't know the truth.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow then."

Separating our hands I immediately begin to run for the door. I stop at the realization that something's in front of me. It must be what Nepgear dropped when she came in.

It's my messenger bag, I must've left it in the car and she wanted to get it back to me. She really does care about me a lot. More than I initially realized in the beginning.

My right hand goes down and picks it up by the handle on the top. Afterwards I take the strap and put it around my shoulder as it was intended to be.

Turning my head around to catch one last glimpse of Uni. Before I can really leave, I have to get one last question off my mind while it's still fresh.

"Hey Uni, before I go… why do you like me?"

Uni blushes in response, but sure enough she's thinking of an answer that will make sense. If it's anything that I've learned with my time spent with all of them, it's that the female mind is very, very confusing.

"If you really want to know… you don't judge me or anyone else I know, except for Andrew that is. And… you're kind of good looking."

She looks to the floor for that last part, and mumbles it to where I can hardly hear her. As hard as it is to hear her though, my acute sense of hearing picks it up.

My cheeks redden from her saying that I look good. Just one more reason to get out of here before things get more awkward than they already were. I hope that once this is all over she can look at me as a friend and not an interest.

"I'm losing time, sorry for my question."

I dart out the door very quickly before Uni can make a response. I feel bad for just leaving like that, but in this situation time is of the essence. And I've wasted god knows how long trying to fix the situation here.

Worst part of all is, I don't know where Nepgear is right now. For all I know, she could be anywhere in the area by now.

Knowing Nepgear she wouldn't want to go home immediately, she'd probably want somewhere that she could calm down and also feel secure. Neptune being the person that she is wouldn't be able to give her that.

Damn, I'm getting nowhere with all of this thinking. Nothing I've been able to think of so far has been able to help me find her. I know she won't answer her phone so what can I do?

*Skid!* I stop dead in my tracks from my constant running. Something just hit me as to where I can find her.

That's it, if that's where she is then I can't waste anymore time running aimlessly.

Taking off in the other direction, my feet move as fast as I can make them go. Call it a hunch but I know where she is right now.

It didn't take as long this time to reach this place. Last time it was a simple walk here, this time I ran like hell just to make it. The only place I could think of is the park where we went to on our first date.

She has to be here, she just has to be. If she isn't, then I might just lose it. Just the thought of that is starting to make my eyes water.

No… I can't cry right now, I have to persevere and find Nepgear. I know she's here, it's the only place she could be.

Running a little bit more after I catch my breath, I begin to look around the area. So far it seems pretty deserted having nothing here but old playground equipment and barren flower beds.

The only option I have is to keep running, I don't want to make it before it's too late to fix the damage. I swear if I don't make it out of this ok, Uni has some serious repaying to do.

But on the bright side, if it doesn't go as planned I have a backup.

Now's not the time for jokes like that, now's the time for swift action to get the person I care about back.

I'm finding nothing though, all that's here is what I mentioned before. I was sure that she'd be here of all places.

Getting on my knees on the gravel, I put my head down. I've given up, lost my spark. If I couldn't find her here then I'll never be able to show her how much I care about her. If I did it at school it'd look impersonal.

"*Sniff* *Sniff* *Hic*"

It's no use… I failed in my endeavor. Nothing I do now can delete what's been done.

Picking my head up a little so I can get up to go home, I notice something… or someone for that matter.

Standing at the edge of the park, with lilac colored hair blowing in the wind, is the one I was looking for all along.

"Nepgear…" I say to myself.

She can't hear me I don't think. And if she can, she's a doing a great job at ignoring me. If she is ignoring me, then I can't really blame her. After all, who wouldn't be a little shaken up after seeing the person they're with kiss someone?

There truly is no going back from this point, I have to make things whole. Even though I'm scared out of my mind, I'm sure my feelings for her will overcome my fear.

My body gets up once more, and I run to her. After all the running I've done today I think I've earned myself a nice hot bath, regardless of the outcome.

I stop about a meter away from where she's standing. That sprint plus all the other running I've done today have finally caught up with me now of all times.

"haa… haa… haa…"

Nepgear turns her head slightly to see me. Immediately she turns back to the direction she was look at in the beginning. This is worse than I expected, I have no idea on how to start an apology conversation.

"Nepgear… I'm… sorry…"

"For what? Kissing another girl behind my back?"

"I…"

"And worst of all… you… don't even care about me."

Nepgear lets out the tone where you're about to cry in the last part of her statement. But she's wrong, if I didn't care about her I wouldn't be standing here right now trying to fix things.

The waterworks begin to flow, Nepgear is crying right now. All from one big misunderstanding. I do take part of the blame as well, I never stopped Uni when she was on me.

I'll write that off as sheer shock for now. It's the best I can do to at least hold some pride in the situation.

"It's no wonder Uni said she didn't want me to come… I really am a useless person… who's nothing but a husk…"

I can't take this anymore… I know I do these kinds of things a lot but it's the only thing that'll work. I hate it when I have to get out of my comfort zone.

"You're not useless! I told that to Uni and I'll tell it to you. You've done more for me than words will ever say…"

Nepgear still burry's her head in her arms for crying purposes. Damn, she's really making me push my limits. Please let it all be worth it in the end.

"I can't even imagine a day without you anymore. Without you… I'm a husk…"

Still no response from Nepgear even though this is the most I've ever broken out of the shell I built around myself years ago. I have no other choice… I have to say what's really in my heart.

"And… I love you!"

This time I get a response from Nepgear, she peeks her head out from her arms a bit out of surprise. I've wanted to say that since we first became a couple four days ago. It might seem like taking it a little fast, but I can't help what she's made me feel.

Through the time I've know Nepgear, I've had some good times, some painful ones, and some experiences I'd like to forget. But even if I have to endure pain, I'll do anything to make sure Nepgear doesn't hate me.

"What? *Sniff**

"I love you… I need you… and… I need you again…" I can't think of anything else, but those words should be enough. After all, I'm not exactly a romance expert.

I'm on the verge of tears myself now, saying what was on my mind is emotionally exhausting. As well as thoughts still linger with the worst possible outcome in mind.

I drop to my knees because I can't stand anymore. I'm at my physical and emotional limits. My face is then buried in my hands because I don't want Nepgear to see me cry. I can't afford to be weak now.

All of a sudden I hear footsteps coming towards me. I know what's going to happen… I'm going to get smacked because of that little show I just put on.

"Hey Jack… why did you kiss Uni?" Judging from how she asked that, my display of affection actually calmed her down enough to ask for the truth rather than make her own judgment automatically.

I raise my head up to where I can see her. This is the worst I've ever scene her. Nepgear's eyes are really red along with her cheeks. Her usual neatly brushed hair is all in a mess, but that could just be from the wind.

"She… actually kissed me. The reason I didn't retaliate… was because of shock and thoughts… thoughts that I was betraying you. And before I knew it, it was too late…"

Nepgear's demeanor changes, she goes from the look of being extremely sad recently and a little curious to the I'm such an idiot look.

Hers eyes begin to water once more for some reason. This time it's really clear that it was my fault.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because… I'm a fool… for not getting the details first."

"We all make mistakes, it's just how we learn from them that counts."

Picking myself off the ground, I look Nepgear in her terribly red eyes. I open my arms and begin to speak.

"Don't cry any more… it'll only make me cry."

The tears that were on my already start to drop down my cheek as I look at Nepgear. She's still a little shaken up, but I know that she's a fighter.

"*Sniff* Waaaah!" Nepgear runs into my arms crying her eyes out. She goes ahead and buries her head in my shoulder. I'm pretty sure I told her that her crying would only make me cry.

My right arm reaches up to the back of her head. Making sure that she knows that I care.

"*Sniff* *Hic* *Hic*"

Great I'm crying now, the one thing I didn't want to happen. There are only a few people who have ever seen me cry. That'd be my brother, and my mother before she was taken away. My father wasn't around for very long as I stated an ungodly amount of time ago.

"Why *hic*… are you crying? *Hic*"

"Because *Sniff*… these are tears of joy…"

Nepgear's head remains on my shoulder, which my shirt is now being dampened due to her tears. My tears are usually caught on my arm, I don't want to get her clothes wet even by a small amount.

I can feel her muscles move on my shoulder to where she forms a smile. It took a true hardship to realize what I really felt for her. As a wise man once said, "you never truly understand how much you love someone until they're gone."

Harsh words to live by, but the truth is hardly ever easy to take. I realize now that I love Nepgear… but I don't know how much yet. I only half lost her technically.

"Jack…"

Nepgear's voice makes me forget what I was just thinking about.

"Could you say it… one more time?"

"I love you Nepgear… and I always will." By now most of my crying has stopped but there are still some tears on my face.

"I love you too Jack…"

At that moment, something inside me changed. The barrier I had set around my heart all those years ago has finally vanished. The progress I had been making breaking out of it was good, but still being hindered by my internal limiters.

Limiters removed you could say… sounds like something Nepgear would say to me if she wanted to fight for something she cared about.

Nepgear picks her head up from my shoulder and looks me in the eyes. Now that most of her tears are gone, she looks more like herself than she did a couple minutes ago. Now that I'm not hindered… she's beautiful.

Without word, as if it were some natural instinct that lived in us both, we close our eyes and pucker our lips. In a second or two, our lips touch meeting for a kiss.

The sensation as it always is… is more exhilarating for some reason. This could be due to the factor that I'm not holding back anymore, but I'll write it off as passion.

Getting greedy for even more pleasure from this moment, I wait until I feel a break in her defenses and lightly slip my tongue into her mouth.

Nepgear gives off a little moan from this new take on the kiss. Neither of us have done anything like this before, so it's only natural to feel this way.

Eventually follows my example and places her tongue around mine. They coil, and then break apart. A new step in our relationship, and one I could get used to very, very easily if I tried.

Breaking the kiss, both of us are breathless from what we just attempted. Usually we are out of air after a kiss but this time it's different. This time it feels like I wouldn't mind if I died like that more so than the other times.

And it wouldn't be in proper fashion if both of us weren't blushing to our fullest bit of crimson.

"I can see why Uni likes you…"

"Why is that?"

Nepgear blush deepens a little before giving me her answer. This is going to be good I can already tell.

"You're really good looking… and you're the kindest person I've ever met."

This causes my blush to grow to the same shade of red that hers is in a fraction of a second.

Looking at the sun past Nepgear's head, I notice that it's getting a little late. Maybe we should start heading home.

"It's getting a little late, should we head back?"

Nepgear nods at me before turning to the direction of the park gate. I do the same and we start to walk.

Taking my hand and placing it on hers, they grasp each other like the last time we walked from the park. But this time there's a little more passion in our hands being transferred to each of us.

Looking at the path ahead I think to myself, this might be the best day of my life so far. I've still got a whole life ahead of me to change that, but now it's official.

Nepgear leans her head on the shoulder that she made damp with her tears. It's a lovely sight to look at, and I wish we could walk like this for a while longer at least.

"I love you Jack"

My heart skips a beat when she says that. Even though I'm back to being a generally ok guy, I'll still have to get used to that.

"I love you too Nepgear."

A/N: Well this was certainly a long chapter. I want to give a shout out to the person who gave me the idea for the Uni kiss scene that turned into this.

I'd like to know what you all think of this chapter. It would really help me if I got feedback from a lot of readers. Even those who read and haven't subscribed or favorited yet are encouraged for their thoughts.

Again, thank you for reading. Just remember, even if there's only one reader, I'll still write because it's the fans that fuel me to get creative.

Until then, see you in the next update.