The Truth Hurts

A Note: Ding ding ding! The unexpected part! Well I guess I pretty much tortured you guys by leaving you hanging like that. Heh. Well here ya go.

Karin didn't say anything. An answer immediately flashed into her head. Yes.

Karin couldn't believe her thoughts. That's when she truly realized that no matter how much she thought Kazune-kun was a jerk, she still liked him.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then she said, "What about you?"

Kazune-kun's eyes showed disappointment. "You don't like me, do you?" "No!" Karin immediately responded. She froze in place, not believing her ears. She had just said…

Hope flashed across his face. "So you like me?" "Do you?" She quickly asked. The answer stuck in their throats.

Both of them were thinking, "Yes! I like you!" But both of them were also afraid. They were afraid to be hurt. What if one of them said yes but the other said no? I mean, they have their pride.

They just stared at each other, as if under some kind of spell.

"Karin? What are you doing here?" Came a boy's voice.

The two snapped out of their trance and looked at the edge of the roof. It was Jin. "Have you forgotten our date tonight, my Goddess?" The dark haired boy grinned mischievously.

Kazune-kun looked the other way with a look of disgust. "Oh. Kazune Kujyou is also here? I'm sorry, my dear friend, but you cannot join us on our date." The boy said, a bit smug.

Karin stared at Jin and then at Kazune-kun. The blonde haired boy was obviously hurt. She wanted to slap Jin. That was such a mean thing to say.

Jin turned his golden eyes on Karin. "You look lovely as always, my Goddess. Let's leave, for much time had been wasted." Then he smiled triumphantly at Kazune-kun and led Karin off the roof.

For some reason, although Karin didn't want to go with Jin, she followed him obediently, feeling the empty hole in her heart grow bigger and bigger as she left the wounded boy behind.

Jin made the date, as always, a perfect one. But Karin didn't enjoy it the least bit. No, Jin did nothing wrong. Everything was perfect. But Karin just felt that everything was… well… wrong.

After dinner, Jin led Karin on a walk. The night air was crisp and fresh, and the stars shone brightly in the sky, like little diamonds.

Jin was saying something, but Karin wasn't listening. She was distracted by two other figures in the distance, also walking. Sure, it could be anybody, but coincidentally, it looked almost exactly like Fuka and Kagami.

Then Jin received a phone call. He smiled apologetically at her and excused himself for the phone. Then he went to a nearby tree and turned his back to her.

Karin caught this chance and quickly turned and ran, following the two figures and leaving her oblivious date behind.

After a while, she noticed Kagami was leading Fuka deeper and deeper into the forest. Suspicion and fear gripped her chest. Something wasn't right.

Finally, they stopped. Thick trees and bushes surrounded them, and there was no one else in sight.

Karin hid herself between the trees and bushes and watched them. I'm sure doing a lot of spying these days… Karin thought unhappily.

Kagami turned around. Shivers ran up Karin's spine as she noticed the dangerous gleam in those golden eyes.

"Fuka, can I ask you a question?" The tall girl asked, an eerie smile spreading across her face.

Fuka smiled innocently and nodded. "Sure, Kagami-chan!" Irritation swept across Kagami's face.

"Do you remember Hotaru?" Fuka stayed silent for a while, then she grinned, nodding, "Yeah, I remember him. We were best friends."

Kagami laughed. "Friends? I don't think that's all. Am I right?" She narrowed her eyes. "You know who I really am? I'm Hotaru's brother, Hiroshi."

Confusion appeared on the girl's face, and it slowly dissolved into comprehension.

"But… you're… a girl." Fuka stammered, taking a few steps backward.

"Girl?" Kagami… no… Hiroshi started to laugh. He threw the black beret onto the ground and replaced it with a blue baseball cap. Then he put on a pair of black framed glasses. "You're so gullible, Fuka. Don't you think I look familiar?" He took a step forward.

Fuka was trembling. "You lied to me, Kagami!" "Hell with Kagami, bitch!" Hiroshi spat at her. "You think I lied to you? What about yourself? You lied to Hotaru! This is a taste of your own medicine!"

Tears filled the girl's eyes. "I didn't mean to… I know I'm wrong, but can't you forgive me? Hotaru forgave me already!"

"Forgive you? You were wrong and you'll never be forgiven. You killed him! You killed him because of your selfishness!" Hiroshi snapped, clenching his fists. He reached out and grabbed a handful of her lovely hair. Fuka cried in pain, tears rolling down her pretty face.

"Stop!" Karin yelled, leaping from her hiding spot. She pushed Hiroshi down on the ground, the boy yelping in surprise, letting go of Fuka.

He cursed, recovering almost immediately. He kicked her off and pinned her down. When he saw clearly who he was attacking, the hatred disappeared for a second. Karin's eyes grew wide as she saw an expression of mixed feelings on his face. But then she caught this chance and punched him in the stomach, leaping up.

Fuka ran beside her, holding Karin's arm. "Omigosh! I'm so glad you're here! … Why are you here?" Karin didn't have a chance to answer, because Hiroshi immediately attacked Fuka. Karin went forward again, but he just easily kicked her aside.

Karin fell on the hard ground, her dress already torn and she was bleeding pretty badly. That's when she remembered her ring. She looked at her hand. I had forgotten my ring… She held it up and wished. I must protect us…!

A surge of light shot out of her ring, and she felt the soft fabric of Athena's gown tingle her skin. Her staff appeared in her hand and a tiara transformed onto her head.

Karin opened her eyes and pointed her staff at Hiroshi. "You're going to pay!" Then, suddenly, Hiroshi whipped out a ring. Karin gasped, shocked. Why does he have a ring?

Another burst of light exploded, and when the light diminished she saw Hiroshi, in some God's robe.

Karin stared at the boy, taking a few steps backwards.

How is this possible?!

::::::: You don't have to get why Hiroshi has a ring. I don't really know why yet myself. I'll think of an reason.

Right:::::::