October 30, 2007

1:00

Chapter 9

Exposed Emotions

"AHHHHHHH Haruka! Sweet realm elders!!!!!" Kumi screamed banging her head as hard as she could with her hand. Kasumi sat across from her in the grass with a blank expression on her face and Hikari was too dumbfounded to speak. It was currently a Monday morning and the group of friends had gathered in the school yard again as they relaxed during their break at lunch. Satoshi was too preoccupied with writing his name with electricity to care what was going on around him and as always Shinji was deep in meditation not seeming to care at all.

"You kissed?" Kasumi managed to ask in a hushed tone as she stared at her friend in disbelief. Haruka nodded and Kumi fell on her back in complete shock.

"See! This is what happens when you leave teenagers alone!" Kumi exclaimed throwing her hands up in the air as she stared at the sky. "I mean, I don't have a grudge against him but ….you kissed him without asking me for advice first!"

"You kissed a boy before Kumi?" Hikari asked giving her friend a sly grin. Kumi sat up with a faint blush on her cheeks and lifted her head in dignity.

"Once or twice…" She muttered.

"Does it really matter that Haruka kissed Shuu? I mean they are engaged." Satoshi said inserting himself into the conversation.

"You're saying that from a boy's point of view you dense little monkey." Kumi said patting Satoshi on the head like he was a dog.

"Yea, to a girl it's a huge deal." Hikari said taking a glance at Shinji who still had no interest in his surroundings.

"But the most important thing of all is how did Haruka feel." Kasumi said. She then directed her gaze at the princess who was looking at her folded hands in her lap while blushing. "Well Haruka? What did you feel?"

Haruka looked up locking eyes with every single one of her friends. Right now she didn't know how to put her feelings into words. She was beginning to get the impression that she fancied Shuu and he did her, but she couldn't help but feel unsure.

"Well….t-to be honest….I-I enjoyed the kiss…..It felt right…a-and I think I like him." She stuttered as her blush grew deep. Her three girl friends glanced at each other before going into a fit of giggles and trapping her into a group hug. Haruka couldn't help but smile at the bubbly moment.

"That is sooo cute Haruka!" Kasumi said trying to hold down her little laughter.

"This could be the start of something really good…..for you I mean. I always knew you had a small thing for him even when he got you angry you couldn't help but stare at him." Hikari said.

"And best part is this whole marriage thing will be a lot easier." Kumi added with a nod. That statement made Haruka smile softly; she had been having daydreams about her wedding and couldn't help but feel slightly excited.

"You are all absolutely right. Everything seems more positive now." Haruka said with confidence in her voice. "Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought it out to be in the beginning."

"What isn't as bad as you thought?" Someone asked from next to her. She immediately noticed the voice and smiled.

"Hi Shuu." Kumi Hikari and Kasumi all stayed silent while giving each other knowing looks. Satoshi sat clueless….what else is new? Kumi then went into interrogation mode and spoke up.

"Sooooo, Haruka tells us that something went down after we left yesterday, do you verify this statement?" Kumi asked eyeing him. Haruka slapped her forehead and muttered 'Why me…' over and over.

"Yea, so?"

"Man boys don't know how big of a deal this is for a girl!" Kumi muttered crossing her arms. Haruka glared at her telling her to shut up but she ignored it and continued being the big mouth she was. "Well anyways do you plan on having a full committed relationship?" Shuu gave her an odd look.

"And that's your signal to shut up Kumi." Kasumi said "Talking so much is what you chose so in return your mouth will stay closed." She recited. Kumi tried to open her mouth but it didn't work then she continued her struggle while Kasumi smiled very satisfied.

"Are all your friends like that?" Shuu whispered. Haruka laughed lightly and shook her head.

"No only Kumi, so to what do I owe this visit?"

"What? I can't just come and say hi?"

"You never did before." She stated bluntly.

"True, but today I felt like it."

"So you're here cause you felt like it?"

"Well, that and I wanted to give you something." He said producing a rose out of thin air. Haruka gasped lightly at its beauty and took it gratefully. She ran her fingers over the velvet petals and smelled its wonderful fragrance.

"It's beautiful Shuu, thank you." She said smiling sweetly.

"You're welcome." He said giving her a kiss on the cheek making her blush. "I'll see you later." He quickly got up and left and Haruka let out a dreamy sigh. Kasumi smiled at her friends obvious happiness as did Hikari and Kumi still had that spell over her mouth so she was rolling in the grass trying to open her mouth while Satoshi laughed at her.

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