Hey there! So I just posted the previous chapter a while ago. And here's the next one. Still short, but I wish you'd like it. :)

Read and enjoy!

The Rose In Between

by four-eyed 0-0

CHAPTER NINE

Inoue unlocked the door of the car and went to the driver's seat. Hiro was beside her, excited and jumpy. It was the first day of the camp and they needed to drive kilometers away to reach the forest they will be camping on. She had told Rosella everything necessary during the time they would be gone and now they were all set. Kurama was driving in his own to the campsite and Hiro told her that he would not be late.

"Come on, Mum."

Inoue looked at her son for the longest time possible before he got agitated. Never had he been so happy in hi life. His emerald-green eyes sparkled and the smile on his face was evident in them. She smiled at him and revved the car, so that they sped down the road.

"You look so excited, dear." Inoue took a sideways glance at his direction.

He smiled at her. "'Course, Mum. I'll be having fun with the two of you."

Inoue nodded and turned back at the road. It would be one long drive and she needed to condition herself for Kurama's presence. For goodness' sake, they'd be sharing one tent for two nights! And three days would be for playing all sorts of games that were bound to keep them bound.

She sighed and hoped for the best.

The moment she stepped on the brakes, Hiro came dashing out of the car before she even had the time to put the engine off. And when she got out of the vehicle herself, she dropped her keys in shock.

Kurama had cut his hair.

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"Mum!" Hiro called, so that Kurama turned to Anikka. The moment he did, she bent down and picked up her keys. He was so sure that certain gesture was just a pretext of not wanting to be seen with that surprise in her eyes. Hiro jumped off from his arms and ran to pull his mother's hand. He smiled awkwardly at her, whose eyes darted from him and some random place.

Her gulping was evident, as though a very huge lump was inside her throat before saying, "Nice… hair."

"Thank you. Hiro said it'll look nice on me and well, your comment seems like it."

She eyed her son who merely scrunched up his nose cutely. "Told you I'll take care of it."

Anikka raised her eyebrows and looked at him again, as though trying to absorb the sight of him and his short hair. An awkward pause followed.

"So, what if we start unloading the car?" he suggested.

"Oh, yeah, right," she said quite nervously. Before he could say anything, she walked over at the rear end of her car and unlocked the tailgate and started taking their camp bags.

Kurama made his way toward her and reached the second bag. He caught her casting him a glance and she looked away almost immediately, busying herself with trying to carry the bag she got. But it seemed like she was not in the right state to do so. He touched her at the shoulder so that the skin of it bristled under his palm. She was blushing when she looked at him.

"Yes?" she asked, shaking.

"Mind if I just carry that for you?" He smiled.

"No —I mean, yes."

"First answer's first." He tugged the bag from her hand and went away before anything else happened. Hiro followed and the two of them started toward the site, so that she trotted after them.

Hiro had told him two weeks ago about Anikka saying that he did not look like a man due to his long hair. He knew it was just some form of excuse because for the years he had known Anikka, he was sure she had never doubted his masculinity with his hair length but likewise, he did not want his son nor Anikka thinking that he did not care about their opinions. Besides, he felt much like a father to Hiro now. He looked very much like the boy. No doubting about that.

"Kurama-san," she called softly, so that he paused, leaving Hiro ahead of them. She reached for a bag, saying, "Let me help you."

"No, it's fine," he insisted, yanking it from her gently.

"No. Please." She reached for it another time, and now he was quite sure of what he would do.

"I might kiss you if you insist."

Anikka straightened and looked at him with wide eyes. A blush started to creep up her cheeks and the memory of their last row shone in her eyes. A moment later, she was able to narrow her eyes. "You can't."

"Really?"

"Well, yes. I'll bite you if you do."

"Sure."

Fear evidently passed her orbs. "Was that a question or a sentence?"

"Sentence."

She bit her lip nervously and smirked. "No, you're kidding. Not with this whole flock of people." She bent down and was about to reach down for the bag when he dropped both on the ground and quickly whipped his arm about her shoulder so that she instinctively turned to him. He smiled before pressing his lips on hers and wrapped his other arm around her waist. He held her just like that for what seemed like eternity, and, feeling her lips part against his, he pressed harder and swiftly broke the kiss, leaving her hanging.

"See?" he muttered, eyes boring their way into her brown ones, as she reddened even more. Now people were looking. He shook her and unwrapped his arms around her. He took her hand after lifting the bags, deliberately saying out loud, "Come on, honey. Our son's waiting." Her hand slackened with what he said. Hiro was looking at them, he realized, his green eyes wide, like other spectators.

Kurama could not repress his chuckle at the sight. Not very typical of him. But well, it was Anikka being talked about.

So, there it is! And the next update will be... I don't know. Maybe after all the stuff I am doing. Too many. T_T

See you next time!

Reviews?

~four-eyed 0-0