I wanted to make this a completely K to K+ story, but my profanity has gotten the better of me. And, c'mon, saying darn and heck just doesn't make the same impact. I try so hard to be good... Please, bear with me. Have fun reading! Oh, and the serious cursing doesn't come in until later on.

Disclaimer: I don't own Furuba. Sorry, ask someone else.

Back through the forest.

I couldn't walk. I couldn't run. I did this weird shuffle through the foliage.

My pulse was speeding.

I was drenched.

I was thirsty.

Hungry.

Hot.

...Scared.

Yes, as much as it pained me to admit it, I was scared.

This was supposed to be a fun, uneventful day (in terms of unfortunate uneventful) and she ruined it!

Shit!

Where was she? Where the HELL was she?!!!

She couldn't have gotten lost, right? But seeing as her IQ was about the equivalent of a tomato's, I could very clearly picture her--

Oh, no.

What if it were worse than that?

What if she were injured?

Stranded?

Abducted???

No. Impossible, I rationalized as a crazed laugh fell from my mouth. If a group of hoodlums wanted to kidnap her, they wouldn't go so far as to throw her in the rickety old van. Motoko would annoy them so much that they'd give up.

And what would such a group do this for? Motoko's a high school student, not some rich heiress. But if they had caught sight of the school buses, what could they've been thinking then?

What would they hold Motoko ransom for?

School lunches?

Giggles sizzled in my throat and toppled through my teeth. Saliva thickly coated my tongue and I felt as if I were on the verge of choking on it but I didn't care.

My vision became distorted because of the tears in my crescentic eyes.

My arms twirled around my stomach in an attempt to soothe that aching part of me.

My legs became boomerangs and before I knew it, I fell.

This made me laugh harder.

In.

Out.

Gasp.

Wheeze.

Composure.

There. Finished.

That's right, I thought as I got to my feet, brushing grass, dirt, and leaves from my pants. I have to stay focused. A student is in peril now. If she's injured...

And the weirdest thing happened.

I felt my heart drop.

But it wasn't because of her! It was because of him. In my mind, from the first day I met Yuki, I knew he was destined to be class president. He had the maturity, the intelligence, and the poise to take on such a job. All throughout my term, I inwardly promised myself and him that I wouldn't mess things up. I would be at his level, or close to it. I'd try to be as good as him.

My term was ending and I had done the best I could to avoid trouble.

And then Motoko had to ruin it all.

I felt a variety of emotions as I checked the places she might be.

Behind a boulder.

Frustrated.

Up a tree.

Angry.

Behind a bush.

Really fucking pissed.

I threatened that trouble-making girl with stormy, dark words, stomping around blindly, looking in places that fat heifer couldn't possibly hide, like under pebbles or in streams. "Oh, when I find her... I'll make her pay for ruining everything with her games," I thundered sizzlingly under my breath.

I encountered a hill that conquered the sky when I exited the forest. Its steepness served to intimidate all who dared try to climb it.

I dared to climb it.

Up, up, up.

Puff, puff, puff.

Out of breath. I was so out-of-shape. My grip sucked my shirt into a whirlpool over my throbbing heart.

Finally, I reached the top.

I watched cars pass by on a road, a thick metal rail keeping intrusions to a minimum. Only a few cars drove by me. My lower lip hung open at the sight, but that wasn't what astonished me. I just couldn't believe that...

...On this gray-black solid river, as content as could be...

...Was Motoko.

A plastic bag handle rainbowed over her forearm and joined a generous pouch. I guessed that the girl had purchased some candy.

Candy.

Motoko played with my emotions for some candy.

I wanted to yell at her so badly, but my vocal chords were out-of-order at the time. All I could do was gawk at the brazen little girl.

She scrunched up her nose as if my presence couldn't help but disgust her.

And to think that I'd wanted to find her.

"What time is it?" Loathing and disgust crept into her question. A hand found her huge hip. She twisted her lips into a grimace, as if it were my fault that she'd decided to wander about and worry everyone.

I thought about Minami's tears and I couldn't help the surge of rage spouting in me.

At least one of her friends was so distraught as to cry without her leader and Motoko trampled all over her feelings, hers and mine.

Motoko's the worst, the most inconsiderate...

"Wha... Wha... What-- What time?! Time to head back, that's what time!" I advanced on her, shoulders raised to my ears, rigid legs, a mass of fury. I must've made a frightening sight, but Motoko stood her ground, never once shifting emotions. "You're a bad girl!"

What I interpreted as the fear similar to a disobedient puppy's was actually anger. "Who the hell are you, my father?!" she had the nerve to snap, pushing me. It was a miracle that I stayed atop that hill. "That's the lamest thing I ever heard. Think of something less ridiculous, would you?"

"Well, excuse me! I wasn't under the impression that you had permission to leave the premises! If you weren't going to play--"

"I did play!" she cried. "It was a really good place too! My hiding spot was so good, not even you would've found me!"

"Yeah. You sure did," I said sarcastically with crossed arms and a frown. "Who would've guessed that you were at the convenience store? But that's to be expected. After all, you are always stuffing your face!"

Motoko gave me the look she might reserve for a misbehaving dog. "Would you mind not scolding me in front of him?" An embarrassed Motoko faced Yuki.

And the rest of the students.

Plus the teachers.

Minami, Mai, and that other girl were too busy crying and hugging each other to run to their president.

Or maybe they couldn't get through the mob of kids.

It wasn't Motoko's time to be admonished. The teachers just looked relieved that a student wouldn't be making headlines with her death or something. The students didn't exude the concern of their betters.

"Motoko Minagawa, I cannot, absolutely CANNOT forgive you!" I vowed, pointing at her. "Explain yourself immediately!"

She cocked her head to the side, this time with both hands on her hips as if she were so rebellious and cool. She smirked, then said in a deadly calm voice, as soft as the wind but harshly grating to my ears, "It isn't your place to admonish me."

The breeze covered me, freezing the sweat on my body. I had perspired for this girl. I had wounded my knees for this girl. A hand fell to a kneecap as pain stabbed it, blood boldly bolting down my leg. I'd been so worried about her while searching that I hadn't thought about my pain.

Not only had she insulted me, but she'd embarrassed me in front of everyone.

I was beyond pissed.

It took me a moment to gather my wits, but I finally found my voice. "N...Not my place? I happen to be the president, Motoko!" I desperately looked over at Yuki, who looked up at me with clear eyes. I could see the entire sky reflected in luxurious purple.

Yuki was my sky.

I whipped my head towards Motoko again. If Yuki was the sky, then Motoko was the ground, the dirt, the rocks! She was absolutely worthless!

"So?" she answered bluntly.

"Why, you--!"

"You should be glad, Makoto," she explained in the same deadening voice, twisting her arms over her chest. "You've fixed the disaster that would've made you remembered as the worst president, not that you aren't already. So be grateful."

It wasn't so much what she said, but the way she said it that made me bark, "Glad? I should be glad that you so blatantly disregarded the rules, not to mention that you insulted not only me, but the pureness of the school?! Pray tell, Motoko, explain why I should be glad."

"You won."

"I...won?" I almost choked on the absurdity of her explanation. I blinked, dazedly repeating what I said. "I won."

But what did I win? I was so confused! Was she teasing me? Did she think this was a game? Did she...?

But it was a game. A game of hide-and-seek.

My eyelids fluttered open and closed as confusion sunk into realization.

I had found everyone. The only one left was her.

Hide-and-seek...

I can't believe how ridiculous she...

That was so Motoko of her to say!

And to my surprise I didn't yell at this girl.

Or drag her back to the buses.

Or make her apologize to the teacher for her carelessness.

I laughed.

It wasn't the forest-crazed laughter, but a warm kind, frothing in my throat and spilling forth, as sweet as whipped cream.

You can't win a game like hide-and-seek!

The goofy smile remained on my face as I felt my head tilt. A strange sort of affection for her went through me. I lifted my glasses to wipe the warm tears from my eyes.

"Dammit, Motoko," I said.

And I stepped forward, arms outstretched...

And hugged her.