A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed! I really enjoy the fact that people love my stories! Criticism is welcome, as long as you aren't rude or anything like that. Thank you for sticking with Himeno and Co!

Chapter Six: In Which Starbucks Becomes Himeno's Least Favourite Place

**Fuji Shuusuke's POV**

"So, Shuusuke-kun, Himeno, what are your plans today?"

It was the next day, around breakfast. Actually it was more of a lunch than anything else, because it was 11:30. I had surprised myself by sleeping in so late - but it make sense, since I had just gone through that awful flight from Japan to here. I had nothing against America, but why did it have to be so blasted far away? Anyway, I had stumbled down the stairs from the room Himeno's parents had rented for me to the dining room, where I found a sleepy-eyed Himeno, Mikage and her parents. Zach, I had been informed, had gone out with one of his friends to play tennis, and Kody (who worked during the night as a security guard, I had learned) was still asleep.

The question, posed by Mikage, made Himeno look up from her cereal with a frown. "What do you mean?"

Mikage gave her sister an impatient look, as if she was suppose to understand what she meant. "Ayana-oba-san said that you and Shuusuke-kun rarely have any time together because he plays tennis. Now is the perfect time to spend some quality alone time with him! So what are you going to do? Surely you have something planned."

Lemme get something straight right now. I don't know why I agreed to the Twerp... I mean, Himeno's crazy idea. At first, I had been intrigued by the tantalizing idea of going to America. I had picked up some English, and had excelled in it at school, so I was fairly good at it. But that hadn't been what made me agree to pretend to date her. Frankly, I didn't know why. But when she looked pleadingly at me - forcing herself to beg the person she hated - something inside of me melted. I didn't want her to hate me, I reasoned, so I had agreed.

But I had no freaking' idea on how to act like her boyfriend. I've dated girls before, casually, but nothing really serious. And, judging by how Himeno had described Mikage, her older sister took relationships very seriously. After all, she had cowed her into going out with me! So how on earth was I suppose to act? Himeno stared blankly at her sister, obviously struggling for an answer as well. She shot me a pleading look over the top of her sister's act, eyes desperate.

What was I suppose to do!?

Pulling something out of my ass, I said, "We were planning on... Twer--Himeno was going to take me around the city. We planned on stopping by, uh, Starbucks or something like that."

Himeno groaned - she had obviously been hoping for a day off - but nodded brightly when Mikage looked at her. "Yeah, and maybe do a bit of window-shopping. Something relaxing."

Mikage sighed happily. "Young love! So cute." I noticed Himeno wrinkle her nose and roll her eyes, and had to cover a laugh. Her little sister definitely didn't agree. "Kody and I are having a date too; maybe we'll see you guys!"

A date? Was that what it was? I looked dubiously at Himeno, who nodded at her sister's words, a fixed smile on her face. "Right. Well, the day's almost half done, so we best get on going, right, Fuji-kun?"

I finished the last bite of my apple and nodded, rising to my feet. She didn't seem angry – which was my initial thought at the sight of her fixed smile, more like resigned. Was it such a bad thing to go out with me? I mean, I was sadistic at times (I'll even admit it), but I wasn't that bad of a person.

Then I remembered.

She hated me.

That certainly put a damper on my morning.

A half an hour later, Himeno and I were off for a tour of Spokane, Washington. It, unlike the spring in Japan, was autumn here, and Himeno wore a brown jacket over her t-shirt and jeans. Her hair was loose, a change from her normal pony-tail. She wore only a tiny bit of make-up, no jewelery. She didn't need it, really, with her pale skin and dark eyes. She was pretty enough to turn any guy's head. No wonder that asshole guy Christian was all over her.

Damn guy.

"Fuji? You okay? You're staring, and it's kinda starting to creep me out."

Himeno's voice jolted me back to reality and I realize that yes, indeed, I was staring. I adverted my eyes, saying candidly, "It's just strange seeing you in street clothes. It almost makes you look normal."

Her eyes narrowed at me. "Again, with the insults! Would you lay off, already?!"

"Not until you tell me why you hate me!" I shot back.

Like it did every time that subject was brought up, her lips tightened and she looked away. I gave a little growl of frustration, though didn't push it. I didn't understand why she hated me so much. Not even Tezuka knew, and she told her cousin everything! It was so irritating to be hated for no apparent reason. I expected Himeno not to talk to me for the rest of the day – resigned myself to it, actually, when she surprised me.

Again.

"Look, Fuji-kun, arguing is dumb. Why don't we call a temporary truce while we're here, and I show you around?" It wasn't exactly an apology, but it worked.

"Sounds good to me, Twerp." At her narrowed gaze, I amended, "I mean, Himeno."

Most of the day passed quickly after that. Himeno took me all over the place, from the library to Wal-Mart, to the mall, to Barns and Noble, and finally to Starbucks. I surprised myself by actually enjoying the trip. America was sort of like Japan, only... Americans seemed a lot more.... closed up. Private. Except for the girls – I had gotten several stares, to my displeasure. I wasn't a zoo animal, after all!

What surprised me most was how open Himeno was now. She joked and teased, and she seemed so relaxed, totally different from she was in Japan. She laughed often, and her face was unguarded and... friendly. With me. It was a surprising, yet nice, change of pace. I teased her back over coffee, when a new voice interrupted us.

"Himeno? Is that you?"

Himeno's eyes widened and she looked up. A short girl with curly blonde hair and green eyes stood there, with a half-hopeful, half-nervous look on her face. Himeno's face clouded over slightly, and her tawny eyes hardened. "Amy."

The blonde girl slumped. "You're still angry." Not a question.

"No. I don't to talk about it, Amy. It's done. But... we can't be friends anymore, Amy. I can't trust you."

So this was the girl who Christian had cheated on Himeno with? I wanted to be angry at her, but I couldn't. She seemed so... sad. Himeno had a stony look on her face and wouldn't even glance at her. I reached over the table, touching her hand. She glanced at me, surprised. "Why don't you give her a chance, Himeno? She does look apologetic." I said gently.

She stared at me, hurt and anger in her eyes. "But she betrayed me! She was my best friend!"

"I've told you! It wasn't my idea! Christian kissed me, not the other way around! I didn't ask for it, nor wanted it, he did it without my consent!" Amy protested, nearly in tears.

Himeno looked at her former best friend. "But, Amy, you lied! You told me nothing happened – I found out when Jenny told me, not you! I'm more hurt... by that, then anything else."

Amy looked at her feet, embarrassed and hurt. "I couldn't tell you, Himeno... I knew it would hurt you. I wanted to protect you. I was trying to figure out a good time to tell you, when Jenny told you."

Himeno stayed silent for so long that I thought she was not going to reply. Then, quietly, voice confused, she said, "Amy, you hurt me. I know you didn't mean to... But I think... I can forgive you soon. Not now, I'm too confused, but...soon."

Amy's face brightened slightly. "Thank you, Himeno. I'll leave you to it, then." The blonde girl turned to leave, then stopped, looking over her shoulder. "And, Himeno? I think you've picked a much better boyfriend this time!"

Himeno laughed as Amy walked away. I smiled, just as another voice reached us. "Look, Kody, they're holding hands!"

Mikage and an unfamiliar but smiling guy waved at us from the entrance, grinning. The man was taller than I was, with black hair and sparkling blue eyes. He had an arm wrapped around Mikage, and she leaned contentedly into his embrace. All of which I assumed that he was Kody. At her words, both of us looked at our hands. All of the hubbub had distracted us, and I had forgotten that I had been holding her hand. Like my hand was on fire or something, the girl yanked her hand from under mine, setting it in her lap.

Gee. Self confidence booster there. Was I all that bad? I knew she hated me, but...

"Aw, Mikage, you embarrassed them!" Kody laughed, leading his fiancee over to us. He bowed to me, saying in heavily accented Japanese, "Hello, I'm Kody Sanders. Nice to meet you."

I couldn't really bow sitting down, so I dipped my head. "I'm Fuji Shuusuke."

"See, isn't he adorable?" gushed Mikage with a squeal. "He's perfect for our little Himeno, isn't he? I was worried that she'd never get over Christian, but look at the fine specimen she picked out!"

Specimen?

I wasn't quite sure that was a good thing.

Himeno had a rather horrified look on her face, which was beet red. "Mikage, stop it! You're embarrassing us!" she told her sister with a glare.

Kody laughed and ruffled her hair fondly as Mikage protested, "But it's sweet!" A look entered her eyes, one that made me nervous. "Have you two kissed yet?"

Himeno stiffened, a strange look crossing her face and I stared. Kiss? Himeno? Why on earth would I do that?! That was for two people who were dating, not the two of us... whatever our relationship was. Then I remembered.

To her, we were dating.

Now that the idea was lodged in my brain, I looked at the girl sitting across from me. I had noticed before, but she was really quite pretty. If she didn't, ya know, hate me or anything like that, she would be exactly the kind of girl I'd date. My eyes fell upon her lips... her quite plump, soft-looking, kissable lips...

"That's none of your business, Onee-chan!" Himeno's tart response broke me out of my thought and I tore my gaze away from her lips to her eyes. Her face was an interesting shade of red, and she had a strange look in her eyes.

"Well, I was just asking. Kissing is a big part of every relationship. It shouldn't be ignor--"

"Mikage!"

Kody, thankfully, rescued us. "Come on, Mikage, leave the two alone. It isn't any of our business, anyway. Let the kids work it out themselves."

Mikage pouted. "But -"

"Mikage." Kody looked into her eyes. "Stop worrying about them, and worry about us. I'm feeling quite neglected over here." Over the top of her head, the man winked at us, making Himeno giggle and me smile.

Mikage looked up at her fiancee, adoration in her face. "Well, we'll just have to go remedy that, now won't we?" She looked over at us as she dragged Kody away. "See you later, kids. Tomorrow's the dress rehearsal, so don't be late!"

The door closed after the two, leaving Himeno and I in relative peace. I looked over at her to see her staring at me with a rather... speculative look on her face. When I raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her, she just shook her head, blushing furiously.

Girls.

"I can't believe Mikage said that!" she said, taking a sip of her mocha. "I'm sorry, Fuji-kun!"

"Eh. I don't really care." Nope. I liked the idea very much, actually.

"Humph. I do. Like I'd ever kiss you." she told me, wrinkling her nose slightly, though her eyes remained thoughtful.

I narrowed my eyes. Was that an... insult? "What's that suppose to mean?"

She gave me a surprised look. "I don't want to kiss you." She nodded firmly. "I wouldn't kiss you if my life depended on it. You don't look like a very good kisser, anyway."

Okay. That was beyond rude. I had been nothing but nice to her (with a few sadistic comments here and there, but she deserved them!) and she treats me like this? And now she was said that I was a bad kisser! I had done nothing to her to deserve her ragging on me!

"Oh, really?" my voice was carefully neutral, but she didn't catch on to my mildness.

"I mean, the thought of actually kissing you is just... ugh. No offense but -"

"Offense taken." I didn't even recognize my voice, but it made Himeno look up from her drink with a surprised look.

I wouldn't have done what I did next if I had been in my right mind. My excuse? I was exhausted and upset, and she had crossed the line one too many times. I reached across the table and yanked her across it, easily setting her down in my lap. Ignoring her half-coherent protests and squeaks, I cupped her face with my hands and kissed her.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. I was pissed, after all. She tried to struggle, to get me off her, but I was too strong for her. Her hands came up to my hands – probably to try and remove them – and opened her mouth to protest. I didn't allow her to – instead, I tilted my head slightly and, gentling myself slightly, deepened the kiss. Her hands tightened on my wrists slightly, and she stiffened.

Then she did something so surprising that is shocked me to the core.

She kissed me back.

Her hands came away from my wrists to rest on my chest, and she leaned into me slightly. My hands moved from her face to her slender waist, hugging her closer to me. Her smaller body fit just right against mine, and she hummed in pleasure as she returned the kiss.

It was the clapping and whistles that brought us back to reality. I knew exactly when she realized what she was doing – she stiffened and pulled back violently, almost falling off my lap. I stared at her, a slightly smug smile on my face, and slightly dazed. Did I just do that? Himeno gaped at me, one hand to her mouth, eyes wide.

Then she slapped me.

I had expected it, of course. I had kissed her against her will, after all, even though she did participate in the end. But it still hurt. I stared mildly at her as she struggled off my lap, face red as a beet, her eyes sparkling.

"You – you – you-" she sputtered, not even coherent.

"Yes?"

"You kissed me!"

"Indeed. I did. I was there."

"Against my will!"

There was little I could say to that, but, "You kissed back."

She froze in the act of picking up her purse, glaring at me. "I most certainly did not!"

"Yes. You did."

"Liar!"

"Nope. Believe what you want, Twerp, but you kissed me back. I felt it."

"You're delusional." she growled.

Feeling incredible – must be the male ego thing – I said serenely, "If that's what you want to believe. Anyway, shouldn't we get back? We're having dinner out, aren't we?"

Himeno sputtered for a few minutes, then threw her arms in the air in exasperation and stalked away. I followed after her, a smug smile on my face. She may not like me, but she was attracted to me. I knew it. My man instincts were tell me so.

Now, if only I could get her to like me...