GENDER CONFUSED?! (oh no…)

Disclaimer: I would still have to steal to own something. How can I steal an anime?

Plus, I like it better when it's owned by Higuchi Tachibana….

sorry if there are typographical errors, i'm not a great typist, sorry too if you get confused by anything...just pm me so that i can explain...sorry too if there are wrong grammars...

pls. enjoy, and don't be too tight-fisted with those reviews!!!!!!!????????!!!!!!!!

CHAPTER 6. TO CENTRAL TOWN

The greenhouse was filled with an unusual silence. Natsume, leaning on a tree, his hand in the pockets of his trousers, was looking at them like he was an outsider. He was still suspicious of Hotaru, however, his instincts told him something was inside her evil head, and it wasn't good. He looked at his good friend, Ruka, he had a suspicion too that whatever was inside Hotaru's head, it involved him. As usual.

The noise of birds fleeing from their roosts in the trees announced the arrival of Hotaru and Mikan. Ruka, always the gentleman, stood up and greeted them. Natsume only rolled his head to look at the newcomers and grunted his greeting. He could warn Ruka, but then again, maybe not, Ruka could handle her.

It was a Saturday and a beautiful Saturday that heralded good things to come about. Hotaru, smiled smugly at herself, if anything, she felt like she could get any evidence to prove Ruka's, ah, gender?

Anyway, tucking her hands behind the straps of her backpack, the carry-all panda bag, she was ready to go. She glanced at Mikan who was not beside her but rushed immediately to annoy the hell out of Natsume. Again. Poor guy. Inchou followed behind Mikan and greeted the fire-wielder, and then his quarry…. Yes, her quarry, and gold mine, and she could blackmail him whenever she wanted to.

She looked at the rabbit-toting blonde she decided to spy on. She still didn't know what to do with her information, if she ever got it and proved her suspicions. She could have a slave in the form of Ruka. But knowing that he would inevitably hate her later on, she decided not to risk it. She didn't like Ruka to hate her, or anyone hating her for that matter. So she still need time to settle that part of the affair.

Ruka saw that she wore that indigo dress that fell to her knees that he knew was a gift from Subaru. It was printed with cheery looking cornflower blue flowers. Actually, it did fit her nicely. She would look better in it if she only smiled a great big smile.

An image of Hotaru's normally passive face flash a great big smile forced giggles out of him. So much so that he ended up laughing out loud. God forbid that Hotaru knew he was laughing because of her.

He clutched his stomach, fighting against the gales of laughter to breathe but another image of Hotaru, smiling seductively this time, got him laughing again. He was gonna die happy if he died now.

A small sound caught his attention. It seemed to come from Hotaru. Though it sounded more like a grunt, or a groan. He can't tell. His merry eyes traveled up the length of her, since he was facing the ground while laughing.

Seeing that the dress was a really perfect fit, accentuating the curves of her young body, sobered him instantly. The image totally lost its humor, faced with the real one. Oh well, he had to endure this since Natsume had decided to come with Mikan when the girl asked him to.

He straightened and his eyes went straight to the rabbit clutched against the girl's breasts. God, that rabbit is really annoying him. How come he gets to be picked up by Hotaru and then hugged? That rabbit is someday going to get what's due him. He tore his gaze away from the lovely sight and scowling, faced his bane.

"What's with Central Town today?" he asked.

And saw the twinkle in her eyes. Evil seemed to surround her in his eyes. It was enough to make him keep his distance away from her, but she damn well does not allow it with her money-making-business-through-him project. Damn those fan girls to hell and he hoped they were never to come back to earth.

"The usual. Components, instruments, Money." She placed considerable emphasis on the last word. He tried hard not to groan too loud. Yeah, right, money.

Natsume spoke up, striding towards him, and he saw that Mikan was wearing a pink dress with butterflies in it. It was given to her by Hotaru.

"Why are we here?" Natsume asked, jerking his had to rid himself of his bangs that seemed to swallow his view.

Hotaru rolled her eyes at him.

"You already had your trip the last time and I didn't. So I persuaded some of the teachers to allow me, except there was a catch, I had to bring someone with me."

They all sweatdropped. Knowing how she could persuade the teachers into allowing her into doing this.

"You should do that more often." Natsume said, shrugging.

"I still want to be in our honor roll. I'm not a special star." Natsume shrugged again as thy all started to march down the rarely used path to go to Central Town.

Mikan started to run off the path as she saw the familiar buildings and stores of Central town, tugging at Hotaru's hand to walk faster. She groaned, Why won't the baka leave her alone? Inchou was there, maybe she could leave Mikan in his care for a while...

They all stepped into the light and Hotaru blocked the sun's rays from her eyes. The path they have taken was just so rarely used that trees and vines have managed to grow until there was but a little light left to guide their way. And all that time, Mikan was clutching at her arm like a money.

If only she could get rid of her then she can continue to do her spying on Ruka…

On the other hand where was the animal lover?

She spied him going to the pet shop, probably to greet his friends…maybe his—the other man—worked there and that was why he could, they could, meet with no one the wiser.

"Oh, look Mikan the howalon-selling man is having a sale."

The brown head turned with adoring eyes to look at the general direction she pointed at. Frowning at having found nothing, she looked back at her violet-eyed friend, and met cold air.

The genius have escaped her best friend.

Hotaru was far away from her friend, confident that she would merely go straight to the candy shops and have a lot of fun from having free samples. She was sitting on one of the tables set outside the café, her face covered by the newspaper she was holding.

Glancing back and forth, she walked in a normal pace to the shaded area by the woods. Around her, elementary students were frolicking, some were chasing after each other, some were talking, and some were licking the ice cream and eating fluff puffs.

She was already inside the space that separated the pet shop and the bookstore. She glanced again at the crowd she left behind and went to the back of the pet shop's building when no one watched.

A few minutes later, she was sitting atop a stretching chair, her invention, and looking at a scene that she usually saw when he was around animals, or should she say, when animals were around him….

She peered inside and saw no one else. Frowning darkly, she decided to wait and take pictures of the oblivious Ruka while he cavorted with his beloved animals. Even the animals who she knew had sharp senses were oblivious to her.

The bell signaled that the door opened, and she lowered her head. Damn, if only animals could talk then maybe they will tell her upon a threat to their life….

She could hear talking, but she was too far away to make it out…she could not take this any longer, she had to know!

She lifted her head and peered again… the man inside was….

Her eyes widened as she recognized the man who just entered.

cliffie!

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