I am sorry for the delay. But well, because I was neck high with stuff to do I briefly postponed writing this story for the past two weeks or so

Naively Clueless

crystal-mist

Chapter 5

sama This sama That.

The whole incident involving Klaus had subsided. Runo found that it was best to act like she didn't know about Klaus and his 'confession' that was stopped short.

Actually, it felt so weird just talking to him .She wondered just what would have happened if he actually HAD confronted her? Wouldn't it be a hundred times more awkward?

Secretly, she was thankful to Dan for helping her. But she would never let him know of her silent gratitude.

Time passed and Runo finally turned into a teenager, an inexperienced thirteen year old.

Even though this maturity was achieved age-wise; she and Dan never matured in the 'bickering' sphere.

It was a beautiful day and things were pretty normal. Runo was waiting impatiently for Dan. Boy, he was late.

He then came rushing down the steps, brown hair ruffled and an apologetic smile on his face.

"I won't wait for you the next time." informed Runo as she started walking to school without taking much notice of the guy beside her..

"Alright…" he broke into a smile as he followed her on the way to school. On the way, they ran into Myleen, a girl who studied at their school.

Myleen froze as she saw Runo's lighthearted expression. Myleen wondered why this girl was so at ease… She was walking with someone as cute, amazing and talented as Daniel and she was unperturbed!

"G..good morning Daniel-sama." said Myleen with a sweet smile on her face. She seemed a bit nervous.

Dan raised an eyebrow. "Good morning…You know, you really don't have to call me Daniel-sama…I am only one year older than you."

"But, One year is a big difference…" said Myleen. Runo just kept walking without taking notice of them, rather she was 'pretending' not to take notice..

"It really doesn't matter..." he said. "Runo here calls me Dan. And she is two years younger. I keep telling her that she should give me more respect, but I've never heard the word sama follow my name when she says it." He said with a little chuckle.

Myleen's heart burned with a sort of jealousy as Dan talked about Runo.

Runo on the other hand was fuming. Why was he bringing all this up anyway?

That evening Runo sped up her steps that Dan found it hard to keep up with her.

"Runo, where's the fire?" he asked.

"Shut up."

"Now, now you shouldn't be rude…Especially not to a senior."

"What was that? This morning; Myleen-sama and you."

"Wait a second. You call her Myleen-sama and no me?"

"What difference does it make anyway? Why did you have to tell her that stuff about me? That was none of her business."

"I never said stuff about you. I just told her that you don't give me respect, and that is the truth." He was starting to get confused, why was Runo mad at him anyway? Poor Dan, he had no understanding how the female mind of a thirteen year old worked.

"So what? You want me to start calling you Daniel-sama now?" she started.

"…."

"Of course that's what you want….And what about her?" Runo did a crude imitation of him from that morning " 'You don't have to call me Daniel-sama…Myleen.' " said Runo in a sugary voice.

"I did NOT say it like that."

"Whatever." They had arrived at the apartment complex.

Runo turned towards him. "I will be taking your leave then…" her expression hardened. "Daniel-sama." After she said that, she ran all the way to her home, she almost fell down once but she relentlessly rushed up the steps. And when she reached home she closed the door with a deafening thud.

Dan just stood there. When she said Daniel-sama, her voice was so unfriendly that it almost concerned him. Every time Runo and he bickered, it had been for something silly. He wasn't really sure what it was that ticked her off now.

It was strange, how Runo had this weird effect on him. She could completely baffle him with her every action. Also, whenever he was with her, he didn't have to pretend to be someone he was not. But now…

Soon after that, Julie suddenly stumbled upon something totally unexpected.

One evening she had reached the ground earlier than anyone else. After about five minutes passed Dan reached there.

"Uh…no one here yet?" he asked.

"Then what am I? An animal?" asked Julie playfully.

"Don't tell me that you are going to take after Runo and start pointless quarrels with me." Dan stated, his mind briefly revolving around what had happened earlier that day...

Julie raised her eye-brow at him. "So you know that you guys bicker over trivial matters!"

"Obviously." said Dan sitting down on an elevated platform and tightening his shoelaces.

"Then why do you keep at it?"

"I dunno, guess, I just really like annoying others." He said shrugging.

"Then why Runo? You can annoy anyone you want…Especially Shun, that guy is so easy to aggravate."

Dan raised his face to look directly at Julie. "Where exactly are you going with this discussion Ju?" he was starting to feel uneasy.

"I don't know…It's just…" she thought for a little while and purposefully made her thought exceptionally long so she could study the expression on Dan's face.

There was something ever so slightly nervous in the way he was avoiding her direct gaze.

Julie spoke up again. "Don't hold this against me Dan…But I think you like her…And you know which 'like' I mean."

"W..what do you mean? Don't be ridiculous." He exclaimed.

"What's with that unnaturally squeaky tone in your voice?" asked Julie, the suspicion in her increasing to an all-time high.

"…."

"The least you can do is lie convincingly." said Julie, a victorious smile appearing on her face.

"Listen Ju, you are just being absurd and increasing things we can fight over."

"Listen Dan, I know about how you intercepted some guys' confession to Runo…Now why would a normal friend do that unless asked to?... Answer me."

Darn it, Julie… thought Dan as he tried to improvise something.

"If you don't want me to increase doubt in Runo's mind then you should tell me the truth." said Julie with a devilish smirk on her face.

Dan mentally kicked himself for falling into Julie's trap. What was he to do now? He was ambushed. And right now Runo and he were at yet another arduous argument. The last thing he needed was for Julie to complicate it further.

His shoulders slumped as a sigh escaped his lips. He covered his forehead with his hand and his brown bangs hid his expression. "Alright…I'll tell you what the deal is."

Julie just sat there, her mouth open and eyes wide. She had the most surprised expression on her face.

Dan still had his head buried in his hands…

"No way dude!" exclaimed Julie. "Yeah sure, I expected this….But you admitting it is just to much. WOW!"

Dan looked at Julie. "Keep it a secret." The way he said it, it didn't sound like a request but a command.

"Fine, fine." She smiled as she saw the seriousness in his eyes. "Go for it." She said winking.

"Shut up." He muttered, getting embarrassed all of a sudden. If only Julie would help his understand WHY Runo was mad at him NOW.

That evening when the children gathered to play. Runo wouldn't talk to Dan.

"Wow…The place is really peaceful today…" said Joe provocatively. "Are you guys not going to bicker?"

"Yes, it's just not the same without the constant bickering." added Julie, winking at Dan.

"None of your business." muttered Runo.

"Ah…I get it, this is the silent treatment…" concluded Marucho. He shot a glance at Dan. "Someone is angry with you."

"I know…" said Dan in an extremely downcast voice.

Out of the corner of his eyes Dan looked at Runo's enraged face.

Runo had a pout on her lips. "Don't interfere…Butt out, mind your own business." She was telling off Julie.

"You don't have to be so forceful Ren-ren."

Runo glared at this new pet name. "Stops pestering me darn it…Julie…"

Dan continued to look at her. He had to admit, the girl's sudden mood swings and lively nature was refreshingly amusing... 'Runo; she can never know of this…If she does, then she'll never forgive me. She'll hate me…I just know it.' He thought to himself as a sigh escaped his lips…'

That night Dan went home and actually started writing a diary… Partly because Julie had told him that he should start writing one.

She had said that it would be fun to later read the entries and recollect 'these' confusing feelings and all the frustrations that he had to face.

A diary can be seen as an outlet to one's emotions- that's what Julie had told him. And once he considered it, the idea didn't seem half bad.

Thankyou for reading.

And please Don't worry about the delays….crystal-mist's first crazily strict rule for writing fanfictions was the pledge not to leave any story incomplete.

Please tell me what you think.

Please my dear readers, be honest and tell me if it is a bit disappointing. Because lately I think I am starting to regret ever putting this into words…