Chapter 6 - Bonfire Night
It was 8'oclock in the evening and all Namimori high school students were gathered at the seashore for the bonfire night. Surrounding the huge flickering fire light were chattering teenage boys and girls. There were some groups of friends who were roasting marshmallows. There were several couples who were dancing in the moonlight. And there were a few who were sitting by the fireplace warming their numb hands just like a certain brown haired girl.
The said girl looked on her left and saw a couple cuddling with each other. She turned to her right and saw a boy asking his girlfriend to dance. She sighed and thought to herself, 'Screw all these couples. You're all just gonna break up when you enter college desu.'
Realizing that an unpleasant thought crossed her mind, she shook her head and slapped her face repeatedly, 'Hahi! What are you thinking, Haru? You are just bitter that you are going to graduate high school without having a boyfriend desu. Stop thinking about others negatively.'
Using a twig, Haru drew a naked, winged boy with a bow and arrow on the sand. Then, she added two horns and a tail to the popular figure. 'Cupid-san, why are you so unfair to me? I am losing my faith on you. Haru also wants a prince charming who will sweep her off her feet. Why won't you give-'
"As expected of an idiot woman, you are doing something stupid."
"Hahi!" The startled young woman yelped in surprise. "If you are just gonna insult Haru then just stay away, Gokudera-san. You're the last person I want to be with right now."
"You presumptuous woman, I didn't come for you. I am looking for Juudaime but I can't see him anywhere around here. "
"You don't need to worry. I saw him with Kyoko-chan earlier. You shouldn't interfere with them."
"Tch." He sat beside her.
'Stupid Gokudera! Don't sit next to me. People are gonna get the wrong idea especially in this bonfire's romantic atmosphere.' She moved a little far from him. "I told you to go away desu."
"Who are you to order me around? I will stay wherever I want." Hayato saw a trace of sadness in her chocolate brown eyes that is why he couldn't leave her alone. He wanted to be there for her but he would never admit it.
'Cupid-san, why are you doing this to me? I asked for a prince not an ogre. But to be fair, Gokudera-san certainly looks like a prince, that I couldn't deny, but his attitude is definitely of an ogre.' The hahi girl kneeled on the sand and bowed her head countless times. 'I'm sorry, Cupid-san. Please forgive Haru. I will never question you again and put horns and tail on your cherub–like appearance. Please don't curse my love life desu.'
"You crazy woman, what the hell are you doing? Are you out of your mind?"
Haru threw him a menacing look then she sarcastically replied, "Nandemonai desu. Just acting stupid."
Not long after, Takeshi approached the two and handed each of them a stick of roasted marshmallows. Then, he sat on the space in between them. This made the storm guardian's eyebrows twitched.
"Thank you, Takeshi-san. This is really delicious."
"Tch. Is this your definition of delicious? It tastes burnt."
"Burnt marshmallows are the best desu. Roasting made them gooey and tastier."
"Idiot, how is that any good? They've become viscous and tasted like charcoal."
"Opinions aside, it's rude for you to comment like that when Takeshi-san was generous enough to give you one."
"I didn't ask for it. And people do not do kind things just so they can be thanked in return."
"Why you-!"
"Maa, maa. I don't really mind, Haru. Just stop arguing over such a trifle thing."
"Tch." The irritated man stood up and walked away.
"Where are you going, Gokudera?"
"Anywhere away from the two of you." Why was he so vexed over such a trivial matter? He couldn't understand himself anymore. Jealousy was taking over him but he was too dense to realize it.
Takeshi reached out his hand to Haru as he stood in front of her, "Shall we dance?"
The brunette haired girl tilted her head on one side and gave him a questioning look, "Why are you asking Haru to dance, Takeshi-san?"
"Because it will be ungentleman-like of me to not ask such a beautiful girl like you." Strike 2. That is the second time he called her beautiful and just like the first time, she was caught off guard once again.
For a split second, Haru felt her heart skipped a beat. Her chocolate brown eyes blinked, "Hearing compliments is one of women's weaknesses and it makes us blush instantly. But don't think I will say yes to you just because you said I'm pretty."
He laughed, "You're really different from the other girls, Haru. But are you sure want to keep yourself glued to that log that you're sitting on?"
She pouted her lips then she said playfully. "Since there are many girls who'd like to be in my position, I will take your offer desu. Haru thinks it would be fun to see your fangirls rage in jealousy." She stood up and put her hand over his palm.
The two joined the dancing and swinging figures circling the large iridescent flame. Haru rested one of her hands over Takeshi's shoulder while she clasped the other with her partner's palm. The baseball jock placed his other hand on her waist.
"I thought you didn't want to die yet." He said jokingly.
"Just watching the other couples flirting and cuddling with each other is already killing me desu. If jealousy can kill then Haru would prefer to be the one being envied rather than one being jealous."
He chuckled, "You know, you can really be unpredictable at times, Haru."
"Your foot movements are unpredictable as well, Takeshi-san. You obviously do not have any experience in dancing desu. You stepped on Haru's foot for more than 3 times now."
"Sorry." He said shyly then he beamed his heart melting smile at her.
Haru slighty blushed seeing his cute face, "Mou…You are helpless desu. Haru will teach you."
From a distance, Hayato balled his fists as he watched the two swaying back and forth with the music. He felt even more upset when he saw the stupid woman laughing as the baseball-idiot twirls her around. When the music became slower, Haru rested her head on Takeshi's shoulder and this made Hayato's heart cringed in pain. The sight of them hugging and dancing very close to each other infuriated him to great extent. For a second, he thought of getting in between them and pulling Haru away from Yamamoto but he kept himself from doing so. There is no way he was going to do something stupid like that. The smoking bomb lit a cigarette as he walked away farther.
Meanwhile, the rain guardian could smell the strawberry scent coming from Haru's hair as he caged the petite girl in his embrace. He wondered if she could hear his heart beating fast as their bodies press against each other. He wanted to freeze time and make this moment last forever. But just when he was feeling that he could not be able to let go, she suddenly pulled away from him.
"Sorry, Takeshi-san, but Haru needs to answer the call of nature."
When Haru left, a herd of girls immediately hovered to the baseball jock. He was surprised to see that there was already a waiting line for those who wanted to be his dancing partner. He sighed knowing that this was probably going to be a long night.
The brown haired girl stopped from running when she saw a hammock tied between two coconut trees. She sat on it with her hand clutched over her chest.
.'Why is Haru's heart thudding so fast?
Calm down, Haru.
You're just two friends hugging, that's all.'
.
She lied down on the hammock and rocked herself.
.
'It's that girl's fault.
She said something that Haru has never even thought of before.
Now, I can't get it out of my head. I can't even look at Gokuder-san and Takeshi-san the way I used to.
I'm sure I don't feel anything for them and they don't see me in a romantic light likewise but it just suddenly became awkward.
Or maybe it's just me?'
.
As she lost herself in deep thoughts, her eyelids started to become heavy and it was only a matter of time until she fell asleep.
A thunderous explosion stirred her slumber. When she opened her eyes, she saw gigantic, hot, burning streaks of light illuminating the sky. She hurriedly got up on her feet to run back to their place.
When she got there, she saw the people watching the fireworks display crowding. As she passed through the jam-packed area, she looked left and right to search for her friends but she didn't see any sign of them.
Haru continued to look around and she saw that everybody has an expression of amazement on their faces. Then suddenly, it hit her. Everyone was watching the flashing dancing colors in the sky with their friends and loved ones but there she was standing all by herself with no one to share the spectacular view with.
Everything suddenly turned black and white for Haru. All sounds were muted out and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She felt so lonely in the middle of the gleeful and excited crowd. She looked again in all directions and saw groups of friends holding hands and girls trapped in their boyfriends embrace. Tears started to swell up in the corner of her eyes as she had never felt so alone before. She was looking forward to see the fireworks but watching it alone was much worse than not seeing it at all.
The clear salty liquid was on the verge of trickling down her face, when all of a sudden, she felt a strong hand gripped her wrist.
"Stupid woman, finally, I found you. Juudaime asked me to look for you before the fireworks started. Seriously, how troublesome can you get."
For the first time, Haru felt so happy and relieved to be greeted by Hayato's presence. She felt like she was a damsel in stress saved by her prince charming. The dull scene she was staring at earlier was painted with bright tints and hues.
"Hurry up. We need to get back to where Juudaime is. We missed half of it already." He dragged her arm but she caught his wrist to stop his movement.
"We're going to miss everything if you insist on finding our way back desu. Let's just watch it from here."
.
.
.
He didn't know what has gotten to him that he gave in to what she said. Deep inside, maybe that was actually what he really wanted. Just the two of them watching the dark night sky being covered by gigantic sparklers.
He laid his emerald eyes on her face and he saw that tears were flowing down from her chocolate brown eyes. He wondered why she was crying when there was no trace of hurt or sadness on her face. He smirked on the thought that maybe she is happy to see the fireworks with him just like the way he is with her.
Hayato decided that he wouldn't deny his true feelings anymore, at least not to himself. Maybe the stupid cow was right. Maybe the reason why this stupid woman was driving him insane was because he likes her all along.
.
.
.
When the fireworks display ended, Haru turned to face Hayato. He was the last person she expected to enjoy this dramatic event with but she proved herself wrong. Just having him right there, made her feel warm and happy.
Shades of red crept over her face when she realized that she was still holding his arm. That meant she was holding it the entire time.
"Hahi! I'm sorry I didn't know." She let go of his hand.
"Hmpf. If I knew better, you actually wanted to keep me to yourself that is why you asked me to stop and watch the fireworks from here."
"Haaaahii! O-of course not. Not even in a million years."
Haru was on her way back to her hotel room when suddenly, she met Kyoko at the hallway.
"Haru-chan, I didn't see you the whole night. Where were you? Did you see the fireworks? It was very spectacular, wasn't it?"
"Yup! I was actually looking for you but there were too many people so I gave up. I decided to just watch it alone but luckily, Gokudera-san found me."
"I see. So that is why he suddenly ran off."
"Ran off? What do you mean?"
"Well, Tsuna-kun, Gokudera-kun and I were supposed to watch the fireworks together but when Yamamoto-kun arrived, I don't know why but he suddenly ran off and said he has something important to do. Anyway, I'm sorry if I wasn't able to hang out with you because I was with Tsuna-kun the whole time."
"No problem desu! Haru doesn't mind at all."
"Okay then good night, Haru-chan."
"Hn, good night, Kyoko-chan."
.
.
.
That night, Haru couldn't sleep because of what her best friend has said to her. She told herself that there is no need to look into Hayato's action. However, the thought that the rude, cold idiot actually went out of his way to find her on his own volition couldn't stop her heart from fluttering.
A/N: Hello my dear readers! I realized that the last time I updated this story was on Aug 15 so I decided to post a new chapter tonight.
Special thanks to and kawaiinekochan16, Akari. feat. Mido and VongolaViv for always taking time to review and for supporting me ever since chapter 1. I love you guys!:D I can't thank you enough! and to oliviaotakusama101 for flooding me with heartwarming and crazy reviews.
Thank you also to the following people for reviewing the previous chapter:
khausmiley, Neolazer, randomSweetness, jocetema and Guest
Thank you so much for loving this story!:3
Anyway, guys, I don't know why I came up with this dull chapter so please do not shoot me! I mean the mood in chapter 5 was fun and light even I enjoyed writing it. But this, I don't know anymore. Maybe the sad atmosphere with my other fic has been carried over here. Gaaah! Maybe I should add fluff to the story.
Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own KHR!