Standard disclaimer applied.
Author's Note:
There is a major alteration of their ages since I find it quite disturbing to make them do certain things at such an early age (a friend of mine pounded this certain fact on me during a phone conversation). Ruka Nogi, Hyuuga Natsume and their classmates are at the end of their junior high days.
Italicized words are part of the flashback.
A Bunny's Helping Paw
By Snotty Chim-Chim
Part Two: The Anticipated White Day
It is the end of their summer holidays as they would be starting another year loaded with schoolwork the following day. And so, the students of Alice Academy found themselves lounging around, practically doing nothing since they had already prepared their things for tomorrow. Ruka and Natsume are no exceptions.
Ruka Nogi entered Hyuuga Natsume's quarters without even bothering to knock. He decided to spend his remaining free time with Natsume seeing that he also has nothing worthwhile to do. But Natsume is nowhere to be found inside his bedroom; knowing him, Ruka is certain that Natsume is only in the –
Water began to descend from the shower and onto the bathroom floor as Natsume turned the shower on. He knows Ruka had invited himself on his bedroom again, probably waiting for him to finish his shower. He lathered his hands with shampoo before placing them in his soft locks. After which, he began scrubbing the dirt off his body.
Ruka grinned to himself; of course, Natsume is in the bathroom taking a shower before the day completely wears off. Ruka sat down languidly on Natsume's perfectly-made bed. Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught a certain photo enclosed in a frame sitting innocently on Natsume's desk. He made his way to the picture and picked it up. He gasped when he realized when and where the picture was taken. He can perfectly recall that particular day. After all, it was that fateful day when Natsume finally granted him his wish.
Everything seems fine around Alice Academy or so, if one looks at the outside appearance; for if one enters, chaos is just around the corner. Every student, except those who has an image to maintain, is bustling around excitedly. The girls, while giggling and talking in whispered conspiracy, are all looking at the boys with an expectant look on their faces. The boys, who all blushed when the girls eyed them rather keenly, are trying and failing to hide something – something akin to a chocolate bar.
Of course, Class B of Alice Academy Elementary School has an entirely different scenario. The girls, save for some, are eyeing one of the two most popular male students in their class – Ruka Nogi.
He, on the other hand, ignored them all. Only one person mattered today, and his presence is yet to grace the class.
The door of their classroom opened and shut as the girls' gazes followed their newly arrived classmate, whispering among themselves.
"Hey look! Natsume doesn't seem to hold any chocolate for those who gave him last Valentines Day or even for the one that matters to him." A girl whispered dejectedly.
Ruka Nogi tensed. He caught every word the girl whispered. One glance at Natsume confirmed what the girl had said.
He doesn't even seem to notice all the stares directed at him. But this is Hyuuga Natsume we're talking about. He just ignored them all and made his way to his seat, next to Ruka.
"Of course, he doesn't want to do it in front of the whole class!" Sumire announced.
The other girls nodded in approval.
Ruka doubted their logic and redirected his eyes to Rein-chan, the bunny in his hands.
'I really shouldn't expect something back from Natsume. After all, he's not the type who gives chocolates back to those who gave him last month.'
Ruka peeked at his best friend and sighed.
'We haven't really talked about what happened last Valentines Day. But still –'
"Anything wrong, Ruka?" Natsume's voice cut his trail of thoughts.
Ruka shook his head and smiled. "Just thinking." He said.
"About what?" Natsume pressed on.
Ruka ducked his head to hide his blush. "N – Nothing of importance." He stammered.
"You sure?" Natsume looks unconvinced.
"Yeah." Ruka answered.
Natsume is about to question him further but Sumire beat him onto it.
"Hey Ruka! I noticed that you aren't holding any chocolates either. Didn't make one?" Sumire asked.
"Uh… yeah. I've been busy and I couldn't find the time to make one." Ruka said.
They seem to buy it and so, Sumire turned to Natsume.
"How about you, Natsume?" she asked sweetly.
"Didn't bother to make one." He shrugged and at the corner of his eyes, he saw Ruka cringe.
Their substitute teacher entered their classroom with a sigh.
"Okay class, Mister Narumi is engaged with some important matters so I guess you're stuck with me again. So, we all know what day today is – White Day! Now, who can –"
Ruka tuned out most of the discussion, just like most of his classmates. They discuss this yearly and he doubts there'll be a difference between this and the last one. Besides, he can't concentrate much even if he tried to since a living distraction is sitting right next to him.
Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to hours and Class B found themselves wearily waiting for the bell to ring. Soon enough, fate finally decided to grant them their wish.
"Hey Ruka!"
"Yes?" Ruka turned to look at Natsume inquiringly.
"May I borrow your bunny for a moment?" Natsume asked.
"Eh? Why?" Ruka looked at Natsume in confusion for he didn't expect him to ask such thing.
"Oh, we'll just do this and that." Natsume shrugged noncommittally.
Ruka continued to look dubious but gave his bunny to Natsume nonetheless. Natsume grinned to himself and carefully picked the bunny up from Ruka's hesitant hands. After securing the bunny in his hands, he began to trudge to the direction of his room.
"Don't worry! I'll give your bunny back later!" he called behind his shoulder before he completely disappeared from Ruka's sight.
"Hey there, Rein-chan, I have a little favor concerning Ruka. Will you do it?" Natsume asked the bunny as they made their way back to the dorms.
The bunny showed his approval when he produced a placard out of thin air saying, "Of course!"
Natsume placed the bunny on the ground and he kneeled.
"I need you to get something from Ruka that would tell me what he wants for White Day." Natsume said.
The bunny nodded his head to show that he understood the task at hand before running off to the direction of Ruka's room.
After a few minutes of standing there, Natsume saw Ruka's bunny running towards him, a notebook in hand.
Natsume picked the rabbit up and turned to the direction of his room. He flopped down on his bed and scanned the notebook in his hands.
'It seems to be Ruka's journal.'
He paused on the last entry when he saw the words written below the page:
All I want for White Day is to see a bright smile gracing Natsume's face. I want to be the reason behind his smile even just for a minute.
He closed the journal, placed it inside his drawer and went out to search for his best friend, the bunny in tow.
Natsume knocked on Ruka's door, which swung open as soon as the third knock echoed down the hall.
Ruka stared at his best friend, who is currently carrying both his rabbit and a bag. But before he could utter a word to acknowledge their sudden appearance, Natsume spoke.
"Hey Ruka, here's your bunny. Thanks for lending him to me." Natsume said.
"You're welcome." Ruka replied, extending his hands to take hold of his rabbit.
"Come on, I need to show you something." Natsume said once Ruka's bunny settled on his hands.
It isn't a normal occurrence for Natsume to be this talkative. Something had happened. And so, all Ruka could do was gawk.
Natsume waited for Ruka to say something but when he was certain that his friend wouldn't do anything of the sort, he grabbed Ruka's hands and dragged him to wherever they were supposed to go.
While running out of the dorm, Ruka's gaze strayed to their intertwined hands and he blushed.
They reached the top of the hill in record time. Ruka gazed at the landscape before him. He could see the radiance illuminated from the lights that lit the Alice Academy. He has never seen anything as stunning as this before.
Natsume glanced at his silent companion and noted how amazed Ruka seem to be with the Academy. Natsume smiled slightly at this, as it is only natural to have the same reaction when viewing a wonderful sight. Even he, who hates the Academy with passion, was amazed when he first discovered this.
Sure, going up the hill is bothersome but seeing the look on Ruka's face makes it worth it.
"Let's wait for sundown, ne?" Natsume suggested.
"…Yeah." Ruka replied, as if in a trance.
They sat down the hill and waited for the sun to set. After an hour, the sun made its final glow for the day, as if saying goodbye, before finally disappearing to the west.
The moment is indescribably perfect and as Ruka tilted his head in Natsume's direction, he saw a smile gracing Natsume's luscious lips. Natsume seemed to glow with the last rays of sun behind him and Ruka couldn't help but smile in return, barely recalling what was written in his journal.
Words are not enough to describe the happiness he felt within.
Ruka's rabbit whisked a camera from Natsume's bag and captured the ideal moment on the film.
It was a picture he wouldn't mind being taken because it reminds him of his journal entry years before and of how Natsume granted his wish.
Ruka placed the photograph back on Natsume's desk as Natsume emerge from the bathroom door, rubbing a towel on his wet locks.
Natsume glanced at the picture before he made his way to where Ruka is currently standing. He smiled fondly before capturing Ruka's lips on his own. The kiss become more needful and they found themselves stumbling over to where Natsume's bed is.
The photograph, which was momentarily forgotten, had just begun to catch the light that coursed through the blinds in Natsume's room.
And as the two lay on Natsume's bed with the heap of sheets covering their exhausted bodies, the photograph glowed with the moonlight's brightness.
Owari
Author's Note:
Whew. This chapter is harder to write than what I had originally thought. And of course, it is also a matter of dragging my ass in front of the computer to type. Hehe.
I don't fancy proofreading much so if you noticed some grammatical errors or misspelled words, just bear with it.
Comments are openly accepted! Review and review!
Ja!