"So warm..."

It was very hard not to blush when you have a normally stoic girl nuzzling your neck, especially when you're ticklish and was not used to having contact with foreign human flesh. Coincidentally, I was both. Add to the fact that she smelt very nice too.

"Baka..." she whispered, breath hot and very enticing against my collarbone. I tried not to shudder as it went inside my shirt to god-knows-where. "Make up your mind... won't... last..."

I decided not to focus on the way her fingers walked up and down on my arm, but rather on the words she whispered deliciously while still buried to me. She said idiot... so I guess she was talking about Mikan. Hotaru was too polite to everybody else to call them that. Now that I think about it... I may be the only other person she's rude to.

"Should I be grateful?" I voiced out loud.

"Honoured..."

I looked down, feeling her grip loosening a little. Hotaru was beautiful, undoubtedly... this is the first time I really ever came this close to her without involving some kind of physical punishment. My eyes trailed to the gentle dip of her chin, the smooth curve of her hairline and the gentle slope of her cheeks. Her lashes were long and so lusciously dark, with an eyebrow so thin and elegant I wanted to let my finger hover over and trace it if it wasn't pinned to my side. Then my eyes betrayed me and stopped over her lips, throat turning dry when they suddenly parted, soft pink plums inhaling and exhaling. Aah... stupid puberty.

"You look really pretty." I told her in a hoarse voice, feeling it a betrayal of my gender to feel this conscious when lying beside a sleeping girl. Besides, I wanted to tell her now since I probably wouldn't have a chance to tell her any other time anyway. "If only you don't spend too much time pushing people away."

Her right arm slackened and I managed to pull my own arm away. I decided to stay in that position though, just for the heck of it. She was now lying against my chest. Her hair smelled like grapefruit... and something else I couldn't figure. I couldn't resist tracing her brows.

"I don't..." she pushed closer and I welcome her, my arm curving naturally against her back to hold her firmly against me. "I just..." she sighed. "Ice cream..."

I sweatdropped. Trust Hotaru to change it to a sudden unrelated topic. But I guess I really couldn't blame her, being unconscious and all.

"Ruuka..."

Somehow, I wasn't surprised to hear her say that. "Yeah?"

"Sorry... so so sorry..."

I smiled, feeling suddenly fond of her breathy voice and the rare pleading note in her tone. "No problem."


A/N: Somewhat...adulterated fluff... I believe. Haha. Sorry if I haven't been able to update sooner. Our phone line's been disconnected and I haven't been acquainted with the web for more or less a week... I think. I'm raiding a friend's house after much persuasion. Still short... but an improvement from last time, ne? I got a bit stuck... but the story's coming to an end. Reviews are welcomed, accommodated and hugged. XD

Now I'll go and tell myself to shut up.

Sayonara!