Okay,, this chapter is sort of short I guess??... anyweiz.. hope you like and appreciate it...and once again thanks for having the time and effort to read and review...=)

Chapter 4:

"Now that I'll be gone,

Promise me...

That you'll always protect her..."

-*-*-*-*-

It was late in the evening. He was drunk but not too much. At least he can manage to walk but in a very unstable manner. He made his way through the hallways of the student's dormitory hoping that soon enough he would be able to arrive at his room.

Damn that Koko!!

This was the third time Ruka consumed much amount of liquor. He felt sudden pain throbbing in his temples. He began to curse his brown haired friend, for reading his mind and convincing him to shove his thoughts off by drinking. At first he was hesitant; he wasn't really the kind of person engaging into such things, but at his second thought, why not... it might help him forget his worries and troubles concerning his best friend and finally get over her stunning smile.

-

Now, she was less worried, her idiot best friend has finally eaten her dinner and is sleeping safe and sound in her room. Finally, she can settle peacefully on her bed and have a goodnight sleep. It was almost midnight, and she was sure everyone in the academy is having a deep slumber. Hotaru walked through the hallways, proceeding to her room when all of a sudden,

-

He collided into something soft. His vision was kind of blurry and so he didn't clearly see what he bumped into. He deduced that it was an object that got in his way, or something he tripped into due to his inability to balance his own self. But, the familiar sweet scent that lingered in his nostrils and the purple orbs he looked into brought his senses back.

-

"Are you done staring? Can you now get off of me...?" She stated bluntly.

Much effort was required in order for her to pull of the act. Though it was difficult, she still succeeded in doing so. Just keep the face calm and composed, voice should be steady and her lines must be brief and short with a tone of finality. There was only one thing Hotaru couldn't cover up, the tint of red emerging on her cheeks. Thank God she could tell from his smell that Ruka was drunk and his vision was clouded, making her blush hidden from his sight.

"I-I-Imai!! I-I-I'm s-s-s-sorry!! I-I-I was... you know... I-I- was-"

"Shut it Nogi. Get off."

"I-I-I was..... y-y-our, your eyes... they're, they're wonderful" His voice fainted as he said those words.

"Geez, what kind of possessed creature turned you into a delusional idiot..."

He seemed to be unaware of their their 'not-so-awkward' position. If you try to picture it, you would clearly see Hotaru lying on the ground and Ruka situated on top of her. Hotaru's right hand was pinned on the ground and was tightly clutched by Ruka. Her thighs were in between his knees and her free hand positioned on his nape.

He was drunk. And clearly, we all know that he wasn't in full control of his actions. The eyes he stared into were very tantalizing that his damn hormones begun rushing into his system. He couldn't hold it back any longer. He wanted a taste of her right here, right now.

Hotaru felt his face inch closer to hers. She felt her heart skip a beat and his grip tighten. The blush on her face was worse than before, she was now as red as a tomato but she can't surrender to his actions. By, now she has already anticipated his next move.

How stupid could he get...?

Her breath now became Ruka's lifeline, inhaling the air she exhales. His face was so close to hers that the distance couldn't be measured. His heart beating rapidly and his eyes locked into hers. Gently, he closed his eyes, feeling every sensation brought about by their present situation.

You're mine.

...

...

...

...

...

BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

3 shots. To the head, to the stomach, and thankfully, she intentionally missed his... 'You-know-what-part'. With one shot of the latest and the most effective Baka gun, surely you're dead. About 3 to 4 months you'll be confined in a hospital due to whatever damage the shot was responsible for and... Luckily, she didn't use this on Ruka.

"You can now say thank you Nogi."

They were now meters apart. His butt touched the cold floor and his forehead was swollen. He clutched his stomach, because it felt like a big ton of boulder was thrown on it. Finally, he has gotten out of his drunken state. Thanks to his near-to-death come back to reality by none other than the ice queen, Hotaru Imai.

"Say thank you for WHAT?"

"Because I didn't actually kill you... Your eggs could've been scrambled by now, so... the least you can do is say, Thank you..." She pointed out in a matter of fact tone. She was now up on her feet as she stared down on Ruka.

"What? Scramble my... eggs?? Just what do you mean by that?" He looked up at her with scrutinizing eyes.

"You honestly don't understand that, Nogi? .... Oh yeah I forgot...

You're stupid..."

She took one last glance of him, observing if the impact caused him injury. Satisfied that he only had a bump on his head she removed her eyes from Ruka and headed to her room walking pass by him. She was partly thankful that she, once again, had the last laugh. Ruka wasn't able to carry out his actions, her pride wouldn't let him. It was against her ego, if she allows him to have his way with her especially now that he was drunk.

He glued his eyes on her back, staring at her petite and neatly shaped figure. His mind was still blank from the impact and he felt like something awhile back happened which resulted to his current condition.

He tried to remember while getting up on his feet and after some time of deep thinking...

Damn! What the hell...!

Realization then hit him. Damn it, he cursed himself. Damn it for getting that liquor in his system. No, it wasn't the liquor it was the source. All thanks to Koko, now Hotaru thinks he's the perverted, harassing moron Ruka Nogi.

He recalled their awkward moments awhile ago and as he did, an idiotic smile made its way on his face. He knew it was not his hallucination, but it was certainly beautiful,

Those crimson shades on her cheeks.

-*-*-*-*-

Little light illuminated his room. His windows wide open thus welcoming the cool evening breeze. He calmly lay on his bed but he wasn't asleep. Everything around him was peaceful, but his mind was not.

Narumi was aware of the depressed state Mikan was in. He knew the devastating incident the brunette witnessed 10 long years ago.

I am so sorry Mikan, but I had to do it.

He stirred in his bed trying to get a comfortable position so he could finally get to sleep. But his thoughts won't allow him.

Thoughts that revolved within a certain person...

Yuka...

He tried to recall the night when she came to him. He remembered the soft expression on her face yet her voice sounded like she was very distressed.

Flashback:

DING-DONG! DING-DONG! DING-DONG!

The disturbing door bell were heard on Narumi's home that day. It was raining hard outside, and what made it worse was the accompaniment of striking lightings and terrifying thunders.

Yuka Azumi stood before the door waiting for someone to open it. It was already late in the evening but instead of staying home, she preferred to come here along with her 4-year old daughter. It was the safest place where she could find refuge. She was carrying the delicate child in her arms while carrying their baggage with her other arm.

He was engaged in his very deep slumber when Narumi suddenly heard his doorbell ringing. At first, he ignored it thinking it was only a figment of his imagination. But the sound became louder and this brought him back to reality. He stood up from his bed and proceeded to his front door. The moment he saw her standing outsided his house, he immediately opened the door. It was clear to him, what she was doing here and why she was standing outside his house, freezing to death with a child on her hands in the middle of the cold threatening night.

There could only be one reason, the organization.

"Take her." She was breathless. With the way she spoke, it was obvious that she was very exhausted.

As soon as the door opened she immediately handed the little child on her arms to the man standing in front of her. As soon as she did, her knees felt week and she almost fell to the ground. Narumi caught her in time and supported her weak body.

"Yuka! Daijoubu ka?!"

"Don't--- worry. Im fi-."

Before she could finish, she felt her eyelids grow heavy and her thoughts went blank. Everything around her became black, and then she fainted.

End of Flashback

-*-*-*-*-

Another typical morning, the sun slowly peeking from the clouds as it exposes some of its rays, the birds that merrily chirped and the Sakura trees that gracefully danced with the wind.

Morning routines were done and students, little by little crowded the once empty hall ways.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"DEBT COLLECTOR o-eight hundred (0800) reporting for duty. MIKAN SAKURA: official debt of five, zero, zero rabbits."

Outside our brunette's room, 'techy', robotic sounds were heard. Another Imai invention, a debt collector prototype, made for the one and only Mikan Sakura.

A loud banging was heard on Mikan's door. Hotaru intentionally set the sound produced at a high number of decibels capable of waking up anyone in a very deep slumber.

Click!

The door suddenly opened which revealed a chocolate haired girl with auburn orbs. She shoved some bills in the machine and after she had done this the robot went away. Her usual pigtails weren't fixed on her hair and she was already wearing her uniform. It was odd for Mikan to be this early. Not tying her hair in pigtails was also very unusual. But the thing that was very out of the ordinary was the emotions her face showed.

The habitual smile she wore on her face was nowhere to be found. Her eyes showed no expression at all, and her face was blank. Also, the cold atmosphere she created around her was very dangerous.

It emitted a strange murdering aura.

Yey! Moments for ruka and hotaru... I'm a big fan of them..haha.. please tell me if you liked it. Another chapter down! I really hope you appreciated it!! Just tell me if there's something wrong with it.. I'll be very open to accept any kind of criticism... please please please please please... comment on it... thanks once again!!=)