This is a really short chapter coming up... but it's mostly fluff anyway.

By the way, I have big news... I FINISHED WRITING THIS STORY :D :D!

Shout out to Asian Ranga for technically being my Beta :D

It's 21 chapters but I haven't written the said omake yet.

I need ideas, so please review some for me ^ ^

CHAPTER 10: YOU CAN'T BEAT ME

"I see," said Aoi as I finished explaining the events of my absence, "I'm glad you're back now. That must have been really tough."

"Thanks," I replied. "But what about Aoi? How have you been? When did you start working here?" I haven't heard from her since we rescued her from the Hana-Hime den. It's great to catch up.

"I've been terrific!" she said gleefully as she set down her cup of hot chocolate on the table we were now all gathered around. "I started working here about nine months ago. Dad let me come as soon as I turned 15."

Was she really 15 now? For the first time, I got to analyse her appearance properly. She did seem a lot older. She grew her short black hair down beneath her shoulders and her face was more mature. She was wearing a short, pretty floral dress and an elegant cardigan on top. She was quite tall for 15, only about an inch shorter than me. Her crimson eyes, which couldn't see, still had a bright look permanently installed in them. She was so cute. I couldn't help but notice how much she resembled Natsume, though, in her own way.

"So, does this mean you got your Alice back?" I asked.

She shook her head sadly. "The lady who owns this trinket shop was kind enough to let me help around. I get a decent pay and she gives me a bed too. Of course, I was jumping for every opportunity to see onii-san again."

"And Ruka-pyon too, I bet," I teased lightly.

But she only said simply and very cheerfully too, "Of course!" Her shameless grin made Ruka blush.

"So," she changed the subject so easily, "you and onii-san are going out now?"

Ruka nearly spat out all of his drink, "WHAT?"

Natsume's sweat merely dropped as he said, "She's good too."

Ruka stammered, "N-natsume! You didn't t-tell me that! H-how long?"

"Since yesterday afternoon," I answered.

"How did Aoi know?" Ruka inquired.

This time Natsume answered, "She didn't, but now she does."

"I just felt it in the air..." she said vacantly but then came back down to earth. "I can just tell."

Ruka stared in disbelief at the 15-year-old. "Jeez, Aoi, you can't even see them and yet you can already tell," he shook his head, impressed. "You're just too good for me."

"We should go now," Natsume told the party around the table as he stood up. I got up as well and thanked them for the drinks.

"See you, guys," I called as I waved goodbye. "It was nice catching up." Natsume and I walked out the store door, me holding onto his arm, as we left the happy couple to themselves.

"Wow, Aoi and Ruka," I muttered as we walked around the town. "Are you really okay with that? I mean, that's your sister and best friend there... not that they aren't a pleasant couple and all..."

"It's the least I could do for him," he replied, "after all, I did steal you." He looked at me fondly. Once again, he had taken me completely by surprise. The comments like that have been streaming in since I had come back to the academy. But I was completely fine with that, it's not like I hated it.

"One vanilla, double scoop, thanks." He was ordering my ice-cream. I decided I had enough Howalon from Dangerous Ability, so we settled for ice-cream. Perhaps, I should be the one to surprise him this time, I thought. "Here," he said as he made to pass me my ice-cream. I saw my chance. I quickly kissed him on the cheek as I took my ice-cream. I separated myself from his arm and half-skipped towards a bench, leaving him frozen in mild shock.

As I sat down and began to eat my ice-cream, he recovered. I was happily eating away when he sat down next to me. I smiled cheerily at him. "You have some vanilla on your nose," he commented.

"I do?" I asked, going cross-eyed to see. But just as I caught a glimpse of the patch of ice-cream and before I could even make to wipe it off, he licked it off. He, ever so casually, licked the vanilla ice-cream off my nose. I cringed slightly in shock.

"Mm, good ice cream," he said dismissively. There he goes again, I thought, always taking me by surprise. And just when I thought I could give him one in return, he goes right back and surprises me again. He turned back to me and, as if reading my mind he said, "Try as you may, Polka, you can't beat me."

Hehehe, well, since I've finished writing the main story (50 pages ftw!) I'll try and update ASAP from now on. I may even update again today, if I remember (hint hint - reviews) because this chapter wasn't even 1000 words.

Thanks for reading, reviewing and favouriting to everyone so far ^ ^.