Bunnii: Okay, this time I meant to do the cliff hanger. It was just a perfect moment. And I think I'll address some questions briefly before I continue.

i'mthenewCAKEPIG: It's sort of a lung problem, but it mainly comes from a low immune system that ultimately makes her tolerance level lower than average. My brother hs this so he gets sick easy and when he yells, screams, laughs too loudly, or anything of the sort (especially loud singing), he can go into coughing fits that make him pretty sick. I'm not sure what it's called though. I hope I cleared it up for you J

LadyAmazon: To be honest, Pruu wouldn't really mind but Ikuto might. She's too fun to tease so he can't just leave her alone. And if you stole him, there'd be no love scenes L haha

Anyway, to the newest chapter, my lovelies 3

Pruu felt flushed as she was aware of Ikuto's breath on her face. He was so close to her face- only inches away. Her eyes were half-lidded while Ikuto's eyes looked at her with a sultry gaze. She was expecting the feeling of lips on her own when….

She felt a tug on her hair….?

"Got it." Ikuto leaned back with a smirk. "There was some of your hair out of place. I just had to fix it."

Pruu blushed furiously and looked away, making him chuckle.

"Were you expecting something else?" he teased.

She gave him an irritated glare. "I'm not talking about this anymore!" She turned away with a huff.

Suddenly, a hand was on her shoulder, making her jump and look behind her. Ikuto was looking at her with serious dark eyes.

"Tell me." He inclined his head downward and to the side to look at her. "Tell me what you're thinking right now."

Pruu watched the curious look in his eyes and found herself looking away from him out of instinct. "I'm not thinking about anything really….."

Airi let out a little growl from her position next to Yoru. "Can this be any more infuriating? Why didn't he make a move?"

"Because Ikuto-kun is cool like that, nyah," he replied, eating another cracker. "Why doesn't Pruu-chan make a move?"

The little ebony haired chara brightened up. "That's a great idea! Character Change!"

The same 'pop' sounded for the second time that day and Pruu looked to Ikuto with bold eyes, nearly catching him off guard.

Yoru sighed with disbelief. "Just can't control yourself with those changes, can you, nyah?"

Pruu stared into his eyes with full determination. "I think I really like Ikuto! You've been the first person not to treat me like a freak and you're so nice to me! Although your attitude confuses me, I really think I like Ikuto-kun!"

Ikuto sat there next to her for a good five seconds, speechless from the outburst.

During those five seconds, another 'pop' echoes throughout the silent house and Pruu regained her timid disposition.

"I…. I…." She quickly stood and let her bangs overshadow her face, that was blushing horribly. "I think it would be best if you left!" She covered her face and ran upstairs into her room, Airi following after her, spouting apology after apology.

Closing the door after herself, she threw herself onto her bed. "I was so stupid! I've just ruined one of the only friendships I had!" Tears fell down her cheeks and she tried not to sob. The last thing she wanted was to get sick again. "Baka… Baka…."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you would say you liked him and I just wanted for you to do something for yourself for once…." Airi looked down, ashamed with her tactless actions. She floated over to her egg on Pruu's desk and went inside, letting her creator be alone.

"Why would he like me….? I'm just plain old Tachibaka…." she whispered, using the same cruel nickname she'd been called for so long. She buried her face in her pillow to hide her tears. She was startled when there was a knock on her door.

"Pruu." Ikuto? "I'm coming in."

"P-Please don't! J-Just go home!" She didn't want to face him. Not after the awkwardness she had just put him through.

"That was bold to say that to me earlier, but the boldest thing you could do is open the door and face me."

She stayed silent. She didn't want to be bold. She didn't want to face the rejection and the pain of being a loser in another person's eyes. She just wanted to fade away and disappear until everything she did could be forgotten. She didn't hear anything from the other side of the wooden door and took that as a sign that Ikuto left. She knew she was being a coward and a selfish brat for just confessing to him and then leaving him and crying about it, but she just didn't know what to do. She'd never liked anyone. She didn't even know she had feelings for him until she thought he was going to kiss her. She actually felt some hope that she would be able to have some happiness for herself. She felt stupid for thinking it was going to be that easy.

After a few minutes, she was left just sniffling lightly. She felt a lot better. She was happy she wasn't coughing and wanted to just go into her bathroom and clean herself up. She sat up and wiped the tears from her face. Hopping off her bed, she walked over to the door and opened it, only to hop back with a small surprised sound.

Ikuto was leaning his arm on the doorframe and was resting his head against his arm. He was looking at her- almost right through her- with this serious expression on his face and some unfamiliar emotion hidden behind his eyes. How long had he been standing there like that? Why would he stay there when she had gone bipolar on him and just basically yelled at him?

"I…Iku…to…" She looked down and tried to open her mouth to speak, but he interrupted her.

"Do you always tell guys you like them and then run off and hide?"

"…No… Ikuto is the first… I've never… liked a boy…"

"Then I'll give you a starter hint: don't run away from me. Some guys may find it cute or a challenge, but I don't. It's insulting." He didn't sound angry, just stating it as if he were telling her the weather.

Sarcastically, she retorted, "I'll remember that next time I confess to a boy…"

"No, you won't." He tilted her chin up to make her look at him. "I'm going to be the only guy you'll ever have confessed to." He looked pleased at her still expression. "From here on, you're my girl." He gently pulled her face close.

Was he going to kiss her? This time for real? Pruu closed her eyes with a blush on her face. She had no clue as to what to do at all. She was just hoping that when his lips made contact with hers, her mind could act on its own and tell her what to do. Her heart was racing ridiculously fast, but the kiss she expected never came.

Instead, she felt something against her cheek. Her eyes widened just in time to see Ikuto pull away. He….licked her?

"Gotta go." He stuck his tongue out in a teasing matter and started walking away. "Thanks for having me over, Pruu-koi…" His voice was so smooth when he used the affectionate term.

Pruu just stood in her doorway, eyes wide, face flushed, and heart thumping wildly.

" 'My girl'… huh?" She kind of liked the way that sounded. She flushed and let herself smile a little. When she heard the door close downstairs, she let a wide grin come onto her face and she jumped into the air happily.

Her little chara peeked out through the little egg she was in and smiled to herself. Although the immediate results weren't too good, the ending results of the Character Changes were going good. When would they be able to Character Transform…?

Bunnii: I'm sorry this couldn't be longer, but I thought it was pretty cute. The next chapter or the chapter after is going to involve more of the characters we know and love and I'm getting ready to throw in a little monkey wrench or two.

Thank you for the reviews and adds, my lovelies. I couldn't do it without your lovez 3

Also, I was going to make Ikuto kiss her the second time, but why make it easy for Pruu? Anyway, it seemed more like Ikuto to lick someone ^^.

Till next time!