Chapter 12

Shun

"Where are we going?" Irene asked, her bubbly voice filling the hallways.

Shun gripped her hand. "Anywhere where we can be alone."

"Oh, so we can discuss your invisible pollen allergies? It must be a huge secret!" Irene gasped. Shun nodded slowly.

"Please believe that a little longer."

"OK!"

They fell silent. Almost without thinking, Shun led Irene outside and sat on the steps. The moon that night happened to be full and almost orange. Irene sighed contentedly and sat beside Shun.

"It's so pretty," Irene breathed.

Just like you, Shun thought, but he refused to say so out loud. I won't be cheesy.

"Yeah...I guess," he muttered instead.

"Did you plan to take me out here? You're so sweet, Shun," Irene, said, smiling.

Shun smiled slightly. "I just kinda came here."

"Oh...well, it is really nice out tonight."

"Yeah."

All was silent again. I like things more this way anyways.

Shun happened to glance down at his hand and noticed Irene slowly reaching for it. "What are you...?" Irene yanked her hand back to her side and blushed. GAH! Idiot! What did you do?!

"Oh...nothing," Irene muttered. She placed both hands in her lap. Shun mentally slapped himself.

Turning back to the moon, Shun began just staring at it, admiring the peacefulness. "It is pretty, isn't it?" he said quietly.

Irene nodded. Shun saw, out of the corner of his eye, that she'd begun to move a little closer.

He turned to face her. "Irene?" Irene jumped back to her original spot. Shun mentally killed himself.

"I'm fine." Slowly, Irene's hand moved out and grasped Shun's. He blushed.

"Hey people," a voice called. A girl with short black hair and blue eyes threw the door open and plopped down right between Shun and Irene. Irene yanked her hand away. "So, Grace and Blue just finished their acting scene. After Zhahara and Hikaru, and then Uilaces, Zara and Lil, it's your turn to go with Kyoya and Chazz. I was being a good friend and telling you."

"Victoria Erika Lemmons, didn't your mother ever tell you it was rude to barge in on people?" Irene pouted.

The girl shrugged. "Not really."

Shun groaned. "Vikki! Go away...!"

Victoria sighed. "Fine." Then she stood. "I'll, uh...see ya 'round." She walked inside. As soon as she had, Shun moved a little closer to Irene. Irene giggled.

"Let's cloud-gaze!" she squealed. "That one looks like a heart!"

Shun blinked. "That one looks like a cloud."

"That one looks like a baby holding a heart!"

"That one looks like a cloud."

"Oh no...that one looks like a broken heart."

"That one looks like a cloud."

Irene sighed in fake exasperation. "Shun Kazami, you have no imagination."

Shun shrugged. "They just all look like clouds..." he said.

Irene looked back at the sky, giggling and smiling. "Oh look! That one looks like a butterfly with hearts for wings!"

She's so cute, Shun thought happily. Her innocence...it makes me love her more... "That one looks like a cloud."

Irene shook her head. "Come up with something else, will you?"

Shun blinked. "That one...looks like a cloud."

"Please?"

"...Breathing fire. A fire-breathing cloud...pickle. Are you happy now?"

Irene laughed. Genuinely laughed, for the first time in a long time. She giggled far too often. But Shun had seldom heard the green-haired-blue-eyed girl laugh. Well, at least that's a good thing.

"You're funny!" Irene squeaked. Shun blushed.

And you're the most adorable, perfect thing I've ever laid eyes on! he wanted to shout. Restraining himself, he settled for just smiling and taking her hand again.

After just a second, Irene moved closer. Shun blushed. "Shun?" Irene whispered, her voice sounding serious.

"Yes, Irene?"

"I...there's something...I've been meaning to tell you..."

Shun turned to face her, curious. "Yes?"

Irene gazed into his eyes and moved a little closer, gripping his hand. "I..."

"Yo, dudes," Victoria called, strolling in casually. "So, Hikaru and Zhahara are done. Oh yeah, and I'm hungry. What do you guys want?"

"I want you to leave us alone," Shun muttered crossly.

"I kinda want popcorn," Irene said.

"Please go make some, OK?" Shun said quickly.

Victoria shrugged. "Kk." She turned and hurried back inside. Shun sighed in relief.

"Now then...what were you going to say?" he asked, turning back to Irene. Irene blushed.

"Oh...I was going to say something? I got distracted by Vikki and this weird bug." She pointed to a strange-looking insect crawling by their hands. It looked strangely like a mix between a centipede and a worm. "What is it?"

"I have no clue," Shun half-muttered. Stupid Vikki.

"I'm going to name it Buggy," Irene announced. "Isn't he cute?"

"Uh...yeah...doesn't it look dangerous?"

"No...not to me..."

"Oh."

Irene clapped gleefully. "I remember what I was going to say! That cloud reminded me!"

"Is that so? Well then, will you tell me?"

Irene nodded. "Of course, I—EEK! Buggy's flying! I didn't know he could fly!"

The strange bug had lifted off the ground and now hovered dangerously close to Irene's face.

Almost without thinking, Shun reached out and smacked the bug to the pavement, squishing it.

"No Buggy...aww..." Irene said quietly. "He was kind of scary...so thanks, Shun! Now...about what I was going to say..." Suddenly, Irene's playful eyes grew serious as she focused on Shun's. He blushed madly. "I...you're..."

"I have popcorn!" Victoria's voice rang. She burst outside.

"Vikki! Go away!" Shun and Irene snapped. Irene blinked.

"Sorry," she added.

Victoria shrugged. "What, so first you want popcorn, and now you want me to leave?" she asked.

"Victoria...please just go away," Irene moaned.

"Well...Zara, Lil, and Uilaces are done, so last up is Jo and Crow." Victoria shrugged again.

"Go away! We're trying to be alone!" Irene half wailed, half whined. Victoria lifted both hands in a sign of surrender.

"Alright, alright, but first-" She backed towards the door and opened it slowly.

"Vikki!"

"I'm LEAVING!"

Victoria shut the door. Shun groaned. "That took forever. Why didn't she-?"

Suddenly, Shun was cut off as Irene threw one arm around his neck, placed it on the back of his head, pulling him closer, and the other hand grasped his, fingers interlaced. Shun felt her lips press against his. Shocked, he simply waited until she pulled away, eyes wide.

"Shun...I love you," Irene whispered softly. "That's what I was trying to tell you..."

Shun blushed madly. "I..."

"Oh no, you like someone else, don't you? I'm sorry!"

Shun smiled. Slowly, almost impulsively, he leaned over and kissed her, gently and softly.

"How could I like someone else...when the perfect girl is right in front of me?" he whispered. Irene blushed.

"Oh, Shun!" she cried, wrapping both arms around his neck. Shun held her close.

"I...I love you too, Irene. That's why I sang. To see if you would harmonize."

Irene blinked. "Why didn't you just wait until a time when I was singing and harmonize with me first in a quiet room to save yourself the embarrassment?" she wondered aloud.

Shun tensed. "Ah, why didn't I think of that?!" he moaned. Irene giggled.

"It's OK. I think it's really sweet that you sacrificed comfort for me. Now, let's go back inside. Your scene is about to start!"

Shun snorted and stood, one arm draped around Irene's shoulders, pulling her close to him, grasping her hand. "Oh boy."

(Author's Note: Victoria is also an OC of mine. Just thought I'd point that out.

So much OOC-ness, but I wrote this a pretty long time ago, so...

Especially Blue and Shun. Those two are the worst. Although Shun's OK I guess. I think Grace infected him.)