WARNING: This Chapter is a bit fluffy! (But i like it that way! :D) Also! It's the longest chapter! I just wanted to cover the ENTIRE non-a-date date. ;)

Chapter Thirteen

[Kaoru POV]

I shook my head, walking to my house. I opened the door and ran up to my room.

"Kaoru?" I heard my mother ask. I ignored it and closed my bedroom door. I jumped on my bed and buried my face in my pillow.

Did Butch just ask me out on date? Is he serious?!

I was so angry right now because I wasn't angry!

I heard my cell phone ring and picked it up without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Kaoru?" It was Momoko.

"What's up, Momoko?"

"Miyako told me you stayed at…" She giggled. "the RowdyRuff Boys' house?"

"Yeah? What of it?"

She giggled even more. "How was it? Why? What did you do?"

"Momoko! Shut up!" I exclaimed into the phone. "I was injured, did Miyako tell you that?"

"Yes. She told me all about Ace and how Butch saved you. She also told me how he carried you to his house and cleaned your wounds."

"Then why do you care if I slept over there? Shouldn't you care if I'm okay?" I asked.

"Of course I care!" she exclaimed, shocked. "But I knew you were okay and I knew that you're tough! Besides, it's not everyday a girl--much less you--sleeps over at a boys' house--much less the RowdyRuff Boys."

I sighed. "He cleaned my wounds and bandaged them. Then he heated some pizza for me to eat. Then we were all talking--me, him, his brothers--and we told them what happened. Then Butch and I were arguing about where we were going to sleep. I kept trying to persuade him to sleep on the couch while I got his bed. He didn't allow it. So, finally, we ended up sleeping in his room. I think I fell asleep right after turning on the TV, but I woke up before him."

She squealed so loud, I swore I was going to need a hearing aid. "Oh my gosh!!!" she screamed. "So you two are dating now?!"

"No!" I screamed. "He's just my friend. Plus, we don't like each other like that. We just joke around."

"Right…" she said, still not believing it. "So when are you going out?"

"Ton--hey! What do you mean, when are we going out?!"

"You were gonna say 'tonight', weren't you?!" she shrieked. "So you are going out!"

"No! We're just gonna hang out! Stop making such a big deal of everything just because he's a guy and I'm a girl!"

"But you two were meant to be!"

"Okay, I'm hanging up now," I said.

"No, wait! Come over to Miyako's house soon, okay?"

"Why?"

"Just come! I'll be there in a second, okay?"

"Fine."

We hung up. I jumped up from my bed and ran downstairs.

I almost made it out the door when…

"Kaoru? Where are you going?" my mom asked.

"I'm going to Miyako's house," I said.

"But weren't you sleeping over there in the first place? Didn't you just get back?"

"Yeah, but she forgot to give me something."

Before she could question me further, I ran out the door and to Miyako's house.

It was around five in the afternoon.

[Butch POV]

It was six fifty-six. In four minutes, Kaoru would be here. I was getting nervous, for some reason.

Was it because of what that little voice in my head said earlier? Was it true? Did I love her? I'd find out tonight.

I was waiting on the sidewalk, sitting down near the curb.

Someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up to see Kaoru with a smirk on her face.

I stood up and hugged her. "Kaoru!" I said.

She looked shocked but returned the hug slowly, if not carefully. "What are you doing?" she asked calmly.

I realized that I hugged her. I let her go. "Sorry…" I muttered. I looked back up at her to see that there was a touch of pink on her cheeks. I smiled.

"Where are we going, anyways?"

I smiled and took her hand. "I hope you're hungry," I said.

"Actually…yeah."

I snickered. "Good, because we're going to a restaurant."

"What?"

"Something wrong with that?"

"No…"

"Then?"

"It's nothing."

"If you say so."

We walked to the restaurant, not too expensive but calm and quiet. I noticed her for the first time this evening. She was wearing black skinny jeans, black converse, a dark green tank top with spaghetti straps, and a denim jacket that had sleeves that stopped at her elbows. She also had that emerald--diamond shaped--clip in her hair.

We walked inside the restaurant and were greeted by a waitress. "Hi! How may I help you?"

"Table for two, private booth, outside, preferably," I responded.

She nodded and asked us to follow her. We reached the rooftop of the restaurant where there were few tables, still all private. It was dark outside now, and you could see the stars clearly.

We ordered our food and drinks, and the waitress left.

There was a band playing downstairs, and we could hear it from here.

[Kaoru POV]

I didn't like this. This whole situation felt too awkward, especially with the clothes Miyako and Momoko put me in.

I glanced at Butch. He was staring up at the stars. He was wearing black jeans and sneakers, and he had a black shirt on that had three thin, forest green stripes in the middle. He had a black jacket on, too.

I listened to the band playing downstairs. Right now they were playing Boulevard of Broken Dreams, one of the songs on my iPod. I got up from my seat and looked over the edge of the roof. It wasn't too high up, and the restaurant was mostly open. I saw the band playing and smiled. This was a song I loved since I first heard it.

"Don't fall off now, okay?" Butch said. "I'm responsible for you, remember?"

I pushed him away. "Shut up," I said, jokingly punching his shoulder. He smiled, and I couldn't help smiling back.

"Crazy boy…" I muttered.

"What? What was that?" Butch teased. " 'Crazy boy'? I am not crazy!"

I laughed and mock-punched him again.

[Butch POV]

"Crazy boy…" she muttered, turning back to the band.

"What? What was that?" I teased her. " 'Crazy boy'? I'm am not crazy!" I'm crazy…for you…

She laughed and punched me softly. I grinned and looked towards the band. They were playing My Immortal from Evanescence, now. I looked at Kaoru for a second and saw that she looked troubled. She was gazing at the band and listening to the song, but she was thinking about something, and it was bothering her.

I wondered what it was. "Kaoru? What's wrong?"

Her head snapped up and her eyes locked with mine. "Nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking."

I was about to press the matter further but the waitress came with our food. We sat down to eat in silence.

After we were done eating, Kaoru went to edge of the roof again to see and hear the band play. She half-smiled when she heard what they were playing. They were playing Bring Me To Life by Evanescence. It was one of my favorite songs, too.

I walked over to her and stood beside her. She was watching the band and I was watching her.

I listened and thought I heard Kaoru singing along. I watched her more closely, and, sure enough, she was quietly singing. I tried to listen for her voice, and barely caught it. She sounded lovely.

"…call my name and save me from the dark…"

I smiled and placed my hand on her shoulder. Bad move. She jumped up and stopped singing. "Don't sneak up on me!" she complained.

"I'm sorry," I said, smiling apologetically.

"It's okay," she said, petting my head like a puppy.

"Okay, lady, I am not a puppy!" I said in mock anger. She smiled and pet me again, this time passing her hands through my hair. I rolled my eyes, smiling. She mimicked me. We both started laughing.

It was darker, now, and the stars were the main source of light. There were a couple of lanterns and candles but those didn't help much.

My heart was racing and I didn't know what to say now. Kaoru's attention was still on the band but she was absentmindedly playing with my hair, twirling her fingers in it, still petting me, as well.

I placed my arms around her waist. She was still watching the band so she either didn't notice or didn't care. It was more likely the first one.

The current song ended and was replaced with a slower, more peaceful song. "Care to dance?" I asked playfully, bringing her attention to me. She rolled her eyes but complied.

I had my arms around her waist so I pulled her closer to me and she put her arms around my neck. Her head was resting on my shoulder and we were just swaying, listening to the lyrics of the song.

[Kaoru POV]

I'm following what Miyako and Momoko told me to do, to a 'T'. Momoko and Miyako instructed that I do most of what Butch offers. What they put on the list was dancing, hugging, holding hands, and anything else like that, but would still be considered okay for a first date.

I scoffed when they said that. I denied that, mostly because it wasn't exactly a date. Also because I doubted that Butch would do any of that. Finally, because I wasn't sure if I would mind doing that or not.

I was wrong. It did feel like it was a date, but it didn't. It was like hanging out, but it was a date, I guess. I didn't like the word. I was also wrong when I thought Butch wouldn't do anything. He had already held my hand, snaked his arms around my waist, and asked me to dance, not to mention the fact that he hugged me when he saw me.

But I complied. After all, Momoko and Miyako had practically dared me, and I hated skipping out on dares; it made me feel weak. So I put my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder. We were just swaying to the music, listening to the song. I could practically hear his heartbeat. It was the same as mine: racing and wild. I smiled.

[Butch POV]

I couldn't believe that I was actually holding her in my arms--of her own free will--and she could walk by herself. My heart was racing, and I hope she didn't notice that.

It was getting dark--almost ten--and I didn't want to keep her out too late. I asked the waitress for the check and paid. We left the restaurant.

I held her hand and we walked to the park. Why? I wasn't ready to have her leave me just yet.

We sat on the grass at the top of a hill, watching the stars. She was getting cold, and sleepy. She turned over and snuggled closer to me. Yep, she's sleepy. Otherwise, she wouldn't have done that. I smiled and hugged her closer to me. Even if she felt cold, she was warm to me.

I smiled, watching her. She was so strong, so independent, but she looked so fragile and soft. I was just happy to have her for this moment, even if there wouldn't be any others.

I kissed her forehead and held her closer. A few more minutes, I told myself. She has to get home sometime… I wish she didn't.

After a few more heavenly minutes, I sighed. I nudged her softly. "Kaoru?" I whispered. "We gotta get you home."

She opened her eyes slowly. "No," she whispered meekly. I smiled.

"Come on, Kaoru. You gotta get home."

She yawned. I helped her get up but she didn't look like she could walk all the way home. She climbed on my back and I carried her home. She had her cheek pressed to mine and she was still sleeping ever so peacefully.

When we were a block away from her house, I sighed. I didn't want to leave her now. "Kaoru," I whispered. "We're here. Wake up."

She sighed and climbed down. I held her a bit so she could wake up a bit more. She blinked a few times, then started walking.

"What? No goodbye hug?" I teased. She rolled her eyes sleepily and gave me a tight hug. I hugged her back and kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Kaoru."

"Night," she whispered before walking to her house. I watched as she entered her house.

This was the best night of my existence.

[Kaoru POV]

I was still sleepy, but I managed to run to my room quietly so no one would notice I was there. I didn't bother turning the lights on. I just closed and locked my bedroom door. I ran to the window.

I saw Butch walking away from my house, smiling. I watched until I couldn't see him anymore.

Then I threw myself on my bed and fell asleep, not even bothering to change clothes.

I HAVE to say: that was AWESOME. I LOVED it, especially reading it back to myself. Note: Kaoru is sleepy for some of the date, and Momoko and Miyako dared her to go along with some things Butch says. HE doesn't know that, though. ;)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!! :D