Alright, here's chapter 9. I feel the story is really progressing now =] ... although you have about 10 or so more chapters to read ;)

Don't murder for my pairings, but if you were paying attention, Hotaru was taken.

Please enjoy.

CHAPTER 9: RUKA-PYON, YOU LIKE...!

"Oh no," I murmured as I hurried towards the tree in Central Town. "I'm late. I'm late. I'm late!" It wasn't my fault. I woke up, had trouble finding something decent to wear because I had yet to unpack and couldn't find a clip to tie my hair properly. I ended up slipping a dress on, and jacket on top and pulling my hair in a ponytail to the side. I rushed outside and just caught the bus, I was still just going to make it when I got off the bus and I would have too, if he hadn't shown up.

Crap, I have to hurry. But I was running too fast and I bumped into someone. Great, just my luck.

"Whoa there, you all right?" said a familiar voice, but I couldn't put my finger on who exactly it was. "Hey, you're that girl from yesterday." I looked up and I finally saw who it was. It was that boy playing with the elementary kids yesterday. He seemed like the good Samaritan yesterday. Today, however, he was wearing a loose singlet with a number 7 on it and some sports pants. He must've seen the questioning look on my face when he said, "It's my basketball gear, I make it a point to play some with my friends every weekend." How devoted, he must be really passionate about his sport.

"Oh," I smiled.

"How rude of me, I haven't introduced myself, I'm Souma Kiseki. I don't think I caught your name...?"

Souma Kiseki... "Mikan, Sakura Mikan," I replied.

He looked astounded. "Mikan? The Mikan? Wow, I had no idea it was you, of course I've never met you before. You're just like how they described you..." He was beaming and held out a hand. I gladly took it. A new friend, and he seemed like a great character to get to know.

"Pleased to meet you, but how do you know me?" I asked.

"Oh, well you're pretty well known in our grade, my friends Koko, Kitsuneme and Kochiage told me about you." My sweat dropped at the last one, Kochiage never really liked me... he hung around with Natsume a lot before and wagged with him...

"R-really?" My eyes flew to the sports watch on his wrist and I suddenly remembered that I had a date. "I'm sorry! I have to be somewhere right now. I really have to go, I'm late."

"Alright then," he grinned and waved. "See you around." He was really easy to be around. I waved and scurried away.

The tree came into view and my heart fell when I didn't see anyone there. I slowed to halt by the base of the trunk and doubled over, leaning on the tree. I was tired from running all the way here. Natsume...? He couldn't have been late, could he?

My question was answered when I heard, "You're late, Polka." I looked up to see Natsume's body appear, or rather, fall down, before me. He had been climbing trees again.

"Aren't you a little old to be climbing trees?" I accused, hands on hips.

"Aren't you a little old to be wearing ribbons in your hair?" He pointed to the long silk ribbon I twirled playfully around my ponytail.

"Never," I responded almost automatically.

"There's your answer," he stated smugly. I pouted.

"Look at us," I said, "We're still acting the same as we did when we were 10. We're going out now, shouldn't it be... different?"

"Just because you're my girlfriend doesn't mean we have to act differently. It doesn't change anything, it's the exact same as before. That's the way it should be," he stated plainly.

"Then what's the point?" I challenged playfully.

"To let everyone else know," he said, "that you're mine." He looked at me with burning eyes. I had once felt his emotions seeping into me and they were far beyond intense. I felt my face redden when I realised that someone loved me so much.

"Am I... interrupting something?" It was Ruka. As I turned in surprise, I felt my face redden even more.

"Eh? Ruka-pyon, you're coming too?" I inquired.

"No, no! Don't mind me. I was just walking this way too, I have somewhere I have to go to," he assured. He looked at Natsume, "Shall we?" He nodded and we started walking.

I examined Ruka closely. Having made a conclusion I decided to confront him, "Ruka-pyon, you do have someone you like, don't you? You're going to see them right now!" He blushed fiercely and faltered, then looked nervously at Natsume.

Natsume however, started laughing. "Hahaha, it's amazing how she can pick that up so quickly, isn't it?"

Ruka grinned. "You're right and despite all that she probably wouldn't know what we're talking about."

What were they talking about? "Huh?" I managed. They merely laughed harder.

"Sometime soon she'll probably even come close to figuring out who she is," Natsume continued. But I wasn't listening any more. They seemed to be ignoring me, so I entered a state of deep thought.

"Look at her, she's thinking about it right now, any moment now..." Ruka answered.

Who could it be? That shifty glance at Natsume... "No way, Ruka-pyon, it's not me is it?" I exclaimed. The boys looked at each other briefly before bursting into more fits of laughter. "Ok, just checking. But it's someone close to Natsume, I'm sure."

"She's good," Natsume confirmed. Ruka smiled. What girl, besides me, could be so close to Natsume? I've only seen him surrounded by guys and screaming fans before – which he assured me he didn't care much for. I racked my brain for all the people he loved as we rounded a corner.

"Any moment now," Ruka said.

Just as we entered a shop, it came to me. "AOI-CHAN!"

"Yes?" said a voice from the counter, "Mikan! Is that you?"

A/N: It took me so long to figure out who would go well with Ruka... I think I did quite a good job considering the circumstances though... I basically went through the same thought process as Mikan :P

Next chapter may as well be up tomorrow, since I'm not busy... Buuttt!

REVIEWS PRETTY PLEASE!