Cuxie: Whoa~whoa~yeah!!
Karin: No no NO! Get focused! The story's getting intense!
Cuxie: Uh-huh~Uh-huh~Uh-huhUh-huh-Uh-huh!
Karin:CUXIE!! PAY ATTENTION!!
Cuxie:...Fufu. You're no fun.T3T
Karin: Can you get with the chappy please?
Cuxie: Eh, why not? Rolling in 5! 4! 3! 2!...
Kazune: What are you counting?
Cuxie: Kazune-kun!
Karin: Gah! No! 1! 1!
Kazune: ?
Cuxie:(glomps Kazune)I missed you so much!!!
Kazune: Uh, I missed you too...I guess.
Karin: Stops distracting her! She was about to start the chapter!
Kazune: Oh. Sorrry. Go on Cuxie.
Cuxie: T-T B-But...you just got here.
Kazune: I'll be here after the chapter.
Cuxie: Promise?
Kazune: Yeah.
Cuxie: Okies!^-^ 1~!
Karin: You two make me sick...=_=
"We need to talk. Please come with me."
Karin stared fearfully into the eyes of Ine Nakayama. Oh no, not again! She straightened her posture and tried to look calm, even though Ine didn't seem like she was trying to intimidate her. In fact, she looked somewhat regretful. Like she had to be there against her own will.
"Actually, I don't think there's anything at all we have to talk about. So I'd rather stay here, thank you," Karin said firmly, then added, "Kazune-kun will be back any minute with my drink." Just to make her think twice about doing anything she'd regret in his presence.
Ine stood her ground. "It'll only take a minute. Actually, we want to apologize for the way we've acted towards you."
What? "We?"
She nodded. "The Kazune-Z. I'll take you to Atsune-chan. She feels really bad about pushing you and making you hurt your ankle. Is it all better now?"
Karin nodded and eyed her suspiciously.
"That's good. Anyway, Atsune-chan just felt terrible and she wanted to make it up to you. She has something for you. Will you come see her?"
Karin hesitated, knowing she probably shouldn't believe anything a Kazune-Z member tells her. Then again, Kazune had them pretty scared. Maybe they really were sorry. She looked up at Ine who was staring back at her expectantly. Apart from her participation in the Kazune-Z, she seemed like an ok girl. Maybe. Karin didn't know much about her other than her participation in the Kazune-Z.
"I-I guess so."
She allowed Ine to lead her through the thick mass of dancing, laughing students, all the way to the outside corridor. Halfway through the dance, the front of the school was deserted. The photographers had packed it up inside. The sudden lack of fast-beat music made the air sound eerily quiet. From the top of the steps they could see the silhouette of a girl standing against one of the fountains.
"Um, how exactly does she want to make it up to me?" Karin asked, imagining her hiding some brightly wrapped gift behind her back, but her hands were visible on her hips and she appeared to be hiding nothing. She caught sight of Karin and Ine and waved.
Ine looked away. "...It's a surprise."
With Kazusa:
"Enjoying your first dance?" Jin asked Kazusa.
"It's wonderful!" she answered brightly. "I knew it would be, but it's much better than I expected. I'm so glad Onii-chan let me come! And Karin-chan too! If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't attend school. I wouldn't even have met you. I owe her so much." She sighed.
Jin smiled fondly. "The goddess has a way of working miracles like that."
"I really should thank her." Kazusa looked around, trying to find Karin's pink-clad form amongst the midst off dancing students, but the strobe lighting made it frustratingly hard to see. "Where is she?"
"I think I saw her go outside."
"Outside?" Kazusa repeated, puzzled. "Why would she be out there?"
He shrugged. "No clue. She was talking to some girl. They both just left."
Kazusa's heart started to pound in her chest and her stomach curled as the beginnings fear set in. "W-What girl? Describe her."
"Um, green dress, short curly hair, I couldn't see too well. Is something wrong?" He tried desperately to read her face for any clue as to why she suddenly started to breath hard and a look of panic flashed through her eyes. He tentatively laid a hand on her shoulder. "Kazusa?"
"Oh no! I completely forgot!" She broke away from Jin and dashed towards the door. Jin called her name, but she was already beyond his reach, weaving her way through the mass of bodies and sprinting out the door. "I should've warned Karin-chan! I hope I'm not too late...!"
With Karin:
Atsune Hikaze greeted them with a smile that sent chills down Karin's spine. "Hanazono-san!" she greeted a little too cheerfully. As soon as she was close enough, Atsune pulled Karin into a hug that caught her off guard, spinning her around so that she stood in between Atsune and the fountain. Ine remained a few steps back, watching.
"Um, you wanted to see me?" Karin asked, feeling as though she were speaking to a teacher who had just asked her to stay behind after class. It's just Hikaze-san. Relax. She's being nice.
"Yes," she answered solemnly. "It's about what happened that day in the hall. I can't stop thinking about it. Things really shouldn't have ended the way they did that day."
Karin nodded in agreement, thinking she was referring to her injury. "Well, it's over now. There's really nothing left to do but forgive and forget." She smiled brightly, waiting for Atsune to do the same.
But Atsune's eyes shifted and a dark look crossed her face. Karin got the feeling Atsune was regretting something completely different. "You're wrong. Try as I might, I just can't bring myself to forgive you, Hanazono-san."
"Forgive me?" Karin inched away as Atsune stepped towards her.
"Yes, you," she spat. "You defied the Kazune-Z's orders. You humiliated us with she stupid damsel in distress act. And, most importantly, you stole Kujyou-kun from me!"
Ine looked up. Guilt had kept her from watching as she tried helplessly to tune out of the situation. But she couldn't. From her? she thought. That lying snake! She's always wanted Kujyou-kun to herself. She's just been using us to try and get him. Part of her had known that all along. Of course it was foolish to think that four girls could possibly all get the same guy. But Ine never believed it would come to this. Why was she the only one who could except that Kazune wants Karin, not them?
Because I don't like him.
"I believe Ine-chan told you I have something for you, Hanazono-san." Atsune took yet another step closer and Karin, in turn, backed up until her back touched the cold stone side of the fountain.
Ine turned away again at the mention of her name. She felt disgusted with herself, being a part of something so cruel. I shouldn't have done this. I should've stopped Atsune-chan sooner.
"I'm afraid the dance has ended for you, Hanazono-san." She leaned forward, preparing to push Karin into the pool of bubbling cold water, when a flash of white zipped around her. "Wha--Gah!" It flew around her, snagging at her hair and zipping around her feet. Atsune stumbled. It flew under her foot and as she was about to step forward, causing her to fall back.
An arm shot out and pulled Karin out of the way before Atsune could fall on her. Instead, the witch fell face-first into the fountain, the skirt of her gold dress flying up in the process. She screamed and sputtered, coughing up water as and trying to right herself as the fountain continued to pour a steady stream of cold water onto her head.
The white thing, which turned out to be a dove, landed gracefully on Karin's shoulder. "Kazusa-chan..."
"Hanazono-san!" Ine cried, her hand still clutching Karin's arm. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry! I should've never let Atsune-chan try to do this to you! I-It's just, she's my best friend, b-but she's just been acting so crazy lately. I-I...I'm so sorry." A few tears ran down her cheeks.
"Oh, Nakayama-san..."
"Karin!" She jumped slightly at the sound of her name. Kazune and Jin were racing towards them. Kazusa quickly hopped off her shoulder and flew into the trees to change back. She came out just as Kazune reached them with Jin a step behind. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"Um..." she looked hesitantly at Atsune, who was crying shamefully in the fountain, her hair, dress, and make-up all ruined.
Kazune looked from Atsune to Ine and settled on her. "You girls again?" His blue eyes pierced into her fiercely and she flinched.
"No! Kazune-kun, it-it's not really Nakayama-san's fault. She saved me. Hikaze-san tried to push me into the fountain, but Nakayama-san pulled me out of the way and she fell in."
He blinked. Then sighed. Then groaned. "God, Karin, why is someone always out to get you?" He hugged her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
She flushed. "Y-Yes."
"Let's go back inside." He grabbed her hand and took her back towards the building. Jin and Kazusa followed suit. Karin stopped suddenly, looking back over her shoulder. Atsune was trying without success to climb out of the fountain. Ine was staring at her feet, wiping away at a few stray tears.
"Nakayama-san! Aren't you coming?"
Ine looked surprised, but shook her head. "I-I'd better head home. I'm sorry, Hanazono-san."
Karin smiled. "I know. And thank you."
The group of four went inside, leaving Ine alone with Atsune. "I-I-Ine-chan! H-Help me out!" she stuttered, from either the cold or crying.
Ine glared at her. "No."
"W-What?!"
"You tried to hurt Hanazono-san when she's done nothing to you. Nothing to anyone. Kujyou-kun likes her. He always has. But you just can't except that because you're stubborn, vicious, and cruel. I'm not helping you ever again."
Atsune stood, soaking wet and gaping. She shook violently. "Y-You c-can't say t-that to me! I-I-I'm your president!"
"Not anymore. I quit." With that said, Ine stormed off. Leaving Atsune alone in the water.
Cuxie: Whoo! Way to go Ine-chan!
Ine: I'm one of the good guys now!
Cuxie: How's that for a turn-around? Ine repents! She has come back from the dark side!
(-collective cheer-)
Ine: I'm so glad.
Cuxie: If you're likeable enough, who knows? I might just give you your own story....
Ine: Really?!
Cuxie: Might! I said 'might'!
Ine: Please tell her I'm likeable enough people!
Cuxie: R&R! Next chapter's the last chapter!