Disclaimer: Don't own - we all know the drill by now =p

A/N: Yay! Up in under two months ^_^ I'd like to thank CherrieBluez for the encouragement she's given me lately - and not one to do things by halves, I'm gonna express my thanks by dedicating this chapter to her~ Rock on my friend xD

Chapter 4

A delinquent would never beat her. Haruka was going to make sure of that. Even if it mean doing a different kind of dirty work, she'd make sure of victory. She would never let a devil like Kuga win. She hadn't gone all the way to the Lindem Baum for nothing.

Time to make use of the privacy the booth offered them.

Time to turn up the heat.

"You never seem to mind when your Shizuru-sama is doing the pulling."

Ignition!

Haruka was surprised that the blunette didn't pass out, or explode, her cheeks were so red. Spluttering and incoherent - Haruka felt herself involuntarily smile at the cuteness. Kuga seemed extremely flustered, and was making the most adorable face - like a lost puppy…and the executive director had the strangest urge to take her home.

At that thought she blushed a little herself, before ploughing on ahead.

"Tell me Kuga-san, is it the person you like, or are you just into 'that'?"

If a person could have steam coming out of their ears, Haruka was sure that Natsuki would've at that moment. The biker didn't know where to look, nor what to say - her face was as red as cherries, in stark contrast with the blue of her hair, and she looked just precious.

It was easy to see why people fell for the blunette, shortcomings aside, and that was normally before they saw her in that sort of state, if they saw her like that at all. Though standoffish and cold, her figure and face were undeniably attractive. Those who looked for personality might be able to withstand her normally, when she was trying to isolate herself, but like this? When she was this flustered, this embarrassed and vulnerable, it was impossible to not feel a twinge of something.

The twinge Haruka felt?

"No answer? I was almost hoping you were into 'that'."

Jealousy

It was inexplicable, and completely unwelcome, but none the less it was there. The idea that the bubuzuke was able to keep this side of the blunette all for herself, it was infuriating - and yet Haruka couldn't get mad. She had the odd thought that, given the chance, she would do exactly the same.

Of course, she had a noble reason for it…if too many people saw this side of Kuga there'd be riots on campus. The executive committee would never keep order - lessons would be disrupted, students would become dysfunctional and unresponsive with drool and nosebleeds making a mess…and so it would be better if only Haruka was allowed to see this side.

No, she wasn't exaggerating.

Well…

Maybe a little.

What choice did she have? She had to at least attempt to rationalise her thoughts, otherwise she'd get embarrassed and flustered and confused, and Kuga would win again.

Which was not allowed to happen.

"It's n-neither…I…I'm not into that…or her…"

Stuttered words, embarrassed, and quiet. Haruka almost missed them, though she couldn't miss the firmness behind all the hesitation. It was clear Kuga wasn't certain of her answer, only certain she had to answer.

Haruka stared at Natsuki in disbelieve, noticing the way Kuga's blue hair fell like a shield in front of her face when the blunette tilted her head down, hiding flushed cheeks and nervous emerald eyes. Trying to find some hint of Kuga's expression, the executive found herself staring at slightly trembling lips, found herself remembering their softness…

Haruka looked away violently, her own cheeks colouring.

She didn't believe Kuga's answer, believed the blunette had only said it to avoid a scene, and yet the blond didn't want to pursue the truth. Whatever the real answer was, thinking about it made Natsuki behave far too strangely - she was too vulnerable, too delicate…

"It doesn't matter," Haruka muttered, thinking she was being quiet even though she was more than loud enough for Natsuki to hear.

The blunette slowly raised her head, her midnight locks falling back to reveal a twitch developing in one eye.

"It doesn't matter…?" her voice was ominous "It doesn't matter!?"

Haruka looked back just in time to see Kuga stand up and slam her hands on the table, "If it doesn't matter why the hell did you ask!?"

Not one to be outdone, Haruka rose from her seat swiftly, her own hands gripping the edge of the table also. This was more like it, a confrontational Kuga she could deal with.

"Why shouldn't I? It's true that you never complain when that bubuzuke drags you around, I was curious why you'd care if I do the same thing!"

"I don't care!"

"Oh yeah!?"

Without thought, Haruka grabbed the straps of Natsuki's top and yanked her forwards. She felt Kuga's breath hitch, noticed the flushed cheeks, was intensely aware of how close they were. Lips not even an inch apart, she could almost feel Kuga speak.

"…yeah…"

In that instant all the breath left Haruka's lungs and she struggled to catch it.

Abruptly she let go and stood up straight. Natsuki fell back into her seat and watched in stunned silence as Haruka clenched her fists and turned away, starting to walk out.

They hadn't even got their drinks yet.

All the better as far as Haruka was concerned - the whole idea had been a mistake. No-one could reform such a notorious delinquent, and it was better to leave than to be sucked in.

She wasn't sure whether to be angry she had lost, or just relieved it was over. In a sense she hadn't really lost - she had gotten out in one piece. That was something.

So why did it hurt?

Perhaps it was just her pride taking a hit, realising she couldn't deal with a troublemaker for reasons she didn't fully understand. She was sure she had been manipulated somehow, she must have been. The thought made her mad for all of a second, but she couldn't maintain it.

She'd walked into it, after all.

Her hands unclenched as she made a move towards the street, preparing herself to look for a cab. Threatening clouds had gathered overhead, and she only hoped she'd find one before it began raining.

"Wait!"

She stopped in an instant, frozen in place by the call.

A hand dragged the blond round by her shoulder, forcing her to face her pursuer, to gaze back into those piercing emerald eyes.

"You lecture me about decency, then walk out on me," the voice wasn't so much angry as breathless and confused, "You could at least say goodbye Haruka-chan!"

Again their faces were close, too close, and Haruka felt her breath hitch and her face colour. She could feel herself slipping into a state of speechlessness again, a state becoming frighteningly familiar around Natsuki.

"…Chan?"

The only word she had been able to process was that, and so she regurgitated it to mask her lack of clear thought. A question, forcing Natsuki to speak so she wouldn't have to.

"W-well…well you know…" again with the stuttering, the blushing - Haruka tried to look away. She couldn't stand Kuga acting so exposed. Every time the blunette did, it made Haruka feel inexplicably protective - and with each red shade of Natsuki's cheeks…Haruka couldn't, wouldn't think about it.

This was wrong on so many levels.

She had to stop it.

"Don't act so over familiar with me Kuga-san!" she attempted to bark, unable to put much force behind it. Anyone could tell it was forced, and yet still, Natsuki recoiled.

"…sorry Suzushiro-san."

The pure defeat, the deflated reaction…gods this wasn't what Haruka had wanted. Hearing Natsuki like that, again there was a protectiveness that the blond was struggling to withhold. She refused to give into a troublemaker, even if she'd already given up.

Gripping Natsuki's wrist harshly, Haruka glared with a burning intensity that she hoped would ignite some defensive spark in the blunette, "Why'd you follow me anyway Kuga-kohai? Turning into a stalker as well as a truant?"

It didn't work - for once Natsuki refused to be drawn into a fight.

"It's the decent thing to do isn't it? If I didn't then you'd probably lecture me later anyway."

"That's all?"

"…I don't have my wallet."

With that, the spell Haruka seemed to be under was broken. Her face looked like it was going to turn purple. Her grip on Kuga's wrist tightened until it was painful, making the biker wince.

"You don't have your wallet?! You don't have your wallet! Baka, delinquent, manipulating fiend! You didn't bring your wallet to your punishment?! You expected me to pay for your punishment?!"

The biker suddenly remembered why she hadn't confessed earlier.

"W-well you invited me and…"

"I didn't invite you! I set a disciplinary event! You were supposed to bring your wallet!"

"P-please calm down Haruka-san, people will look…"

"Let them look! Let them know what an ass you are!"

Now it was Natsuki on the back-foot. When it was her in the wrong, it was hard to get defensive.

"I'll make it up - I'll get the wallet…I-I'll take you someplace better!"

Anything to get Haruka to stop making a scene, to stop her from yelling and being so mad. With things the way they had been in the restaurant, Natsuki was suddenly very keen to keep Haruka at least down at a simmer.

"Yeah right! You'll just as soon leave me then get your wallet! You think I don't realise, you conniving little-"

"I'll take you with me!"

Stunned silence on both sides - both in shock; Haruka at what Natsuki had suggested, and Natsuki that she'd suggested it. Too late to take it back, and impossible to turn it down. Natsuki had just landed them in perhaps the most awkward position of the night.

"…to your apartment?"

"J-just while I get my wallet - you don't even have to come in!"

Amending the terms, trying to make them more acceptable, struggling to avoid thinking about it, about them - alone again like in the Student Council room.

It was impossible.

Haruka couldn't say yes - yet knew for the sake of her pride she couldn't say no - she was trapped and so she said nothing. Instead she released Natsuki's wrist, almost as if she'd only just remembered she were holding it, and backed up a little.

"Haruka-san?"

"I…then we'll say we're moving straight to Phase Two - that's all it is, part of your punishment, you understand?"

The tension between them was incredible, so close to snapping point, closer than any other moment that evening.

"O-of course."

Without a word Haruka followed Natsuki towards the parked motorbike, wordlessly receiving the only helmet without so much as a murmur of complaint.

As she pulled it on, she sucked in a deep breath, inhaling Natsuki's scent. For some reason, being able to smell Natsuki's scent in the helmet felt oddly intimate. Behind the tinted visor, Haruka was glad of the way it hid her reddening cheeks.

She slipped onto the bike behind the rebel, tentatively gripping at the rebel's waist - and then flushing as red as Natsuki herself as she felt her hands being tugged to wrap around the blunette's taut stomach, feeling tight abs and soft breathing.

"F-for more security," Natsuki explained, and all Haruka could do was nod as the bike roared to life and they began their journey.

~Omake~

Haruka: What the hill?!

Yukino: You mean hell

Haruka: That's what I said! What the hell?!

Jle1993: *tries to smile reassuringly* It's fine, really…

*Jle1993 gulps as ominous shadow appears behind her*

Shizuru: Ara~ If it's fine, the I'm sure you can explain this…situation

*Natsuki appears with excited puppy ears*

Natsuki: Oh oh! I know this one 'Ruru! 'Ruka and I are about to-

*is cut off by Jle1993's hand over her mouth*