Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

My Last Love Story by Hotaru Imai

Chapter Nine: Protecting You

By the time I had run into the school gates, Ruka's shadow was nowhere in sight. I was looking around, turning my head so quickly I was beginning to feel a headache coming. Where is he? I had thought to myself as I wondered aimlessly through the echoing corridors.

"Ruka-kun!" I shouted out. I know it was stupid, as if he would reply; but there is no harm in trying right?

I was about to move on but stopped when I heard shuffling and someone call out my name.

"Imai!" It was a female.

I turned to see myself outnumbered as five seniors surrounded me in an arch. What did they want? I thought.

"Y-Yes?" I muttered out as I avoided their piercing gazes.

The girl to the far right lifted a perfectly manicured hand to lift up some strands of my short raven hair. I was practically shivering in fright by then.

"So…I heard you and Ruka-san are close." She said as she held my hair in her hand.

Another girl piped up. "Is it true?"

I gulped heavily as I started fidgeting with the bag that was slung over my shoulder as I tried to answer in coherent words. "N-Not really."

I felt a painful tug on my scalp as I realised the hair that the girl on my right had been holding had been forcefully pulled. I screeched out in pain as my hand flew to where the pain was centred.

Biting back the urge to cry, I glared up at the seniors. "What do you want from me?"

The girls laughed at me. It was as if I had asked the most idiotic question I could have asked. But then I did. Of course, somewhere in my subconscious I knew why they were bullying me. It was because of Ruka Nogi.

"Stop acting innocent Imai. We know." The girl in the centre of the others said in a menacing tone. I recognised her. She was Luna Koizumi; and lets just say she wasn't easily recognised because of a good thing.

"Know what?" I countered. I was pissed off. Who gave them the authority to just come and push me around? Not me.

"You know what, you bitch." She sharply replied. Her eyes narrowed and from such a close proximity I was overrun with the multiple amounts of men cologne mixed in with that overly scented body of hers. And she's the one calling me a bitch.

I put on an innocent face as I replied her with a cold tone. "Oh, I really don't know Koizumi-senpai. Would you care to tell me?"

I could tell that my act was seriously annoying her as she raised a hand and an impact landed on my left cheek.

I was about to give her a piece of my mind when another girl in the group started to talk. "We shouldn't mess her up too much Luna. You do know that her best friend is that Mikan Sakura and we all know whom she is going out with. Natsume-san wouldn't appreciate it if we don't even take into account his… acquaintance with this girl."

"Hey-" I had half a mind to give them all a slap across the face but someone stopped me.

"What's going on?" His velvet voice travelled down the length of the hall with the sound of his footsteps close behind.

I turned around to see Ruka, already changed and with his bag, walking towards us with a scowl on his face.

"Ruka-san!" Luna said in a fake sweet voice. She was putting on an act just because Ruka was there. "We were just chatting with Imai. No harm in that, right?"

He neared me with that slight frown on his face. His hand tenderly touched my left cheek, as if he knew what had happened.

"You okay?" He whispered, as if the slightest sound could break me.

I nodded my head slowly as the grip on my shoulder bag tightened. I just wanted to disappear or at least get swallowed up by the floor.

"So, do you mind telling me why you slapped Hotaru-chan?" Ruka asked as he peered behind me at Luna. I could tell by his tone that he wasn't pleased.

Just leave it be. That was what I wanted to say. I had been bullied so many times at my old school that it didn't affect me anymore: most of the time.

"I didn't slap Imai." She feigned innocence as she widened her eyes.

"I saw it." Ruka returned with a monotone. "I suggest you leave her alone. I don't like hitting women; even if they are like you."

Luna gasped from behind me. "Ru-"

He cut her off. "Let's go Hotaru-chan."

He put his hand over mine. I felt jolted as the warmth of his hand swirled into my body. My heart was seriously getting a workout while my face was getting hotter.

I merely nodded my head as he led the way. Glancing up, I saw the back of his head. He was walking at a hasty pace, as if he wanted to get away from there as soon as possible.

I didn't know why, but as I stared at him from behind, I smiled. My eyes travelled down to the hand that was ever so gently yet tightly intertwined with my own.

I was feeling giddy like a little schoolgirl.

Oh, the things he made me feel. They were abnormally addictive; but I really couldn't care less.

This was just another experiment with Hotaru Imai and Ruka Nogi. Who would fall first? As I kept on smiling like an idiot, trailing behind him, I knew what my hypothesis would be.

And I can't wait to thank fate for the results.

Thanks for the memories. Thank you for giving me the best. Thank you for giving yourself the chance to fall in love with me.

Thank you for giving me everything you had.

Thank you for giving me your undying love.

And I don't know if this will reach you but,

I love you, Ruka Nogi: With all of my existence.

My Last Love Story – Chapter End.

Author's Note: Yay! Another chapter is done.

NOTE: Previously uploaded chapter 10 was a repeat of chapter nine. I didn't realise it until now; sorry!

Eufinley: I absolutely LOVED that idea. Got a few chapters out of that one idea so, THANKYOU. And aw, so sweet of you. Hope you like this chapter as much as the rest!

Papaya1212: I absolutely ADORED the latest chapter of Tainted. It is so…cool! In a depressing kind of way…if you get what I mean. And yes, go Rukaru! Hahas

Keyheart: Lol! Too bad she didn't bring it with her yeah? xD

Listen2music4ever: Peaceful and carefree, yeah, I can picture that (: More peaceful and carefree moments coming up!

Hikari Yukihara: Aw, that comment is so sweet. I really doubt my story is that good though, but if some people like it, I'll feel happy (:

LunarChan: YO. Hopefully by the end of this story, I will turn you into the Rukaru obsessed fan I am xD So keep reading ne?

Chapter Dedication: this would be to Hikari Yukihara because I nearly had a heart attack when I saw my story when I was voting for the Alice Fiction Awards: Romance. Thanks for the thought (:

Here is an advance sorry to all those who read this story of mine: School restarted earlier and already I'm feeling the pressure! Even though I'm only in high school, there are only a few more years until I graduate, so I got to focus. So, I reckon the next update may not come soon, but please, BEAR WITH ME. Estimated Next Update: Somewhere in September. Really sorry!

And hey, to all those who didn't know or haven't voted yet, go and vote for the available categories in the Alice Fiction Awards. You got till August 15 so, hurry! Hahas. Link is on my profile, under EVENTS.

Please leave a review,

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