Ever since that time with Semimaru, he had been avoiding Natsu like a plague. She probably shouldn't have avoid his question, but she was so confused and didn't know what to say. It probably wasn't the best option to just leave. She breathed out loudly regretting her actions. The way he had been avoiding her had made it clear to everyone that something had happened between them. It didn't make it any better that Arashi and Matsuri kept pestering her with questions. She wanted someone to talk to about it, because she was lost of what she should do. Once she almost told them but then she remembered that Semimaru probably wouldn't like that. It hurt her the way he went out of his way to avoid her.

She saw him talking and laughing with Botan-san and called out, ''Semimaru.'' He looked at her and the laughter and smile was gone.''what?'' he said.

''Nevermind. Sorry to bother you. I will ask someone else,'' She muttered and looked away before he noticed the dejected look on her face. She knew she probably shouldn't have left him hanging like that but he didn't need to make his annoyance at her that obvious.

She walked over to where Arashi was talking to Matsuri, but sat down close to them without saying anything as she felt rude interrupting them. ''I'm so happy Natsu found that letter. At least now I have hope of Hana being here and alive,'' Arashi said.

''Wow you really do love Hana! wonder how she is like, from what you've said she seems like the exact opposite of you.'' Matsuri exclaimed, ''I can't wait to meet her.''

''We have more in common than you would think,''Arashi said laughing. "By the way do you know what's up with Natsu and Semimaru these days? I'm worried. It is rare to not see Semimaru teasing or bothering her, but when I asked Natsu she said there was nothing wrong."

"I'm not sure, Natsu won't say anything to me either and you know how hard headed Semimaru is," Matsuri said. ''Damn Natsu!'', Matsuri suddenly jumped, startled when she finally noticed Natsu. ''Jeez how long have you been here? I swear you move like a ninja, even Arashi didn't notice you were here.''

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to interrupt you," she said worried they might think she was eavesdropping. "Errm I came to ask if you could help me carry the buckets to the ship? "

"Of course," Matsuri said and ran off to the river.

Arashi and Natsu started walking to the river. She thought about what he had said to Matsuri. She really wanted to talk to Arashi about it, but she couldn't since he was one of the main reason for this misunderstanding. It was already difficult with the way Semimaru had been avoiding her. They were almost at the river bank when they saw Semimaru gathering woods and leaves under a nearby tree.

"He must be gathering them for storage."

"Hmm..." she nodded.

"Yo Semimaru, what's for dinner?" Arashi shouted.

"I'll be making my specialty, Smoked moron bird." He said grinning proudly. "Chimaki grinded some great scented leaves I can-" He suddenly stopped talking and looked at her with his eyebrows furrowed and with a look she couldn't comprehend. It wasn't the nonchalant and annoyed look he had been giving her these past few days. There was the annoyance there of course but also something else, however, she couldn't get her head around as to what it was.

He started walking towards them with his hands full of branches and dried leaves. He whispered something to Arashi and turned to go. As he turned, their eyes met. After what seemed like forever, Natsu quickly turned her head away with flushed cheeks. Feeling his gaze on her, she felt her heart race erratically. How she missed the way he ruffled her hair, his naughty grin and even his teasing tone whenever she got into one of her awkward moments. Ok if he won't talk to me I will take the initiative, she decided. She tried gathering just about enough courage to say something and as she opened her mouth, he left. He just left. She just stood there dumbfounded staring at his retreating back.

"Natsu. Natsu." Arashi waved his hand in her face.

"Oh sorry"

They continued walking to the river. "It is rare to see you daydreaming," Arashi said.. "Seriously what happened?"

"What happened what?" She asked knowing exactly what he was talking about.

"Natsu, don't try to avoid the question," he said with a hint of worry in his voice. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

She looked down and timidly said, "We just had a misunderstanding."

"Natsu, everyone knows you had a misunderstanding, but what happened to cause that?"

She closed her eyes and slowly breathed in, the images of that particular night flooding her thoughts. More than ever she felt like opening up to Arashi about what was bothering her. She silently laughed at the thought of her voicing out her feelings. She remembered how she couldn't even say her sentence without stuttering before the project and now here she was thinking about talking to someone about her feelings.

"Natsu."

"Yes?" she looked at him anxiously waiting for what he was going to say next.

"Do you have feelings for Semimaru?"

The bucket she was carrying dropped out of her hand and she looked at him taken aback at his straightforwardness. "Wha-, what?"