Kebchii says: As always, I thank everyone who reviewed the last chapters. I also thank the ones who spend their time reading this fic. :) Since I'm trying to work on someone's birthday fic, I'm posting this chapter a little earlier than usual. I hope you guys are happy with this! If not, just tell me and I'll try to adjust.

Disclaimer: You should know already. Sheesh.

Summer Heat

Kebchii

"No." Sougo grabbed hold of Kagura's wrist. "You're coming with me."

He began to drag her out of the cottage. Kagura started to retort but then shut her mouth as she remembered the day hasn't ended yet and she was still his slave.

When they were out at the backside balcony, Sougo pushed Kagura down to sit at the top of the stairs. The female Yato was puzzled but she kept her mouth shut and watched as he settled beside her then unceremoniously laid his head on her lap.

Embarrassed at the boy's actions, Kagura stammered, "W-what the hell's with you?!" His eyes were covered by his hair and his face was toward the sea which was in front of them so she really couldn't see if he was embarrassed as she was.

"Keep still and shut up, China," was all Sougo said before going all silent.

Realizing that she couldn't do anything about it now, Kagura calmed down and looked around. The sea was pleasantly calm and the sky was dark but the moon and the stars gave enough light for them. The girl reckoned everything felt so cheesy. The breeze was cold but she barely felt it thanks to the help of the sadist's hoodie. "Hey, aren't you cold?"

"I'm all right," Sougo answered. In truth, he was more than all right. China's lap was warm enough to heat up his whole face. He never actually expected he'd get an opportunity like this.

With nothing else to do, Kagura was looking at Sougo's hair and wondered if it was as soft as it looked. She slowly reached out, and when she finally touched it (it really was soft as it looked), she felt him stiffen. Abruptly jerking her hand away, she apologized.

Sougo was tempted to look at her, but stopped himself. He was sure his face was burning and he surely didn't want Kagura to see that. "Ah, no. Actually..." He grabbed hold of her hand and steered it back to his mop of hair. "...it felt good. Stroke it more, will ya?"

Kagura's face burned at his last words. "What the hell?! That sounded so wrong!" she squeaked and abruptly pushed him off of her, leaving him tumbling down a few steps.

Annoyed and confused, he retorted, "What? What sounded wrong? What the hell are you talking about?" Sougo went back to the girl's side and was about to re-position himself on her lap when he realized what she just meant.

"Heeh," Kagura jolted at his sudden teasing tone. "You're one naughty little girl, China."

Out of embarrassment, the girl downright slammed his head back to her lap and left him groaning in pain. Feeling guilty, Kagura started to gently stroke his hair and immediately his groans ceased.

The two of them stayed silent for a while. Kagura had no idea on whatever's going on inside the guy's mind and was determined to find out. "You've been acting weird. Did something happen?" she queried and right at that moment, Kagura decided they wouldn't be rivals. Just this once.

Her voice was unexpectedly soothing that Sougo was tempted to just spill everything out. Still, he couldn't stop himself from answering, "My parents called."

The female Yato knew he wasn't going to say anything anytime soon. She thought of her Papi. "Do you not like them?"

"I don't hate them, but I don't like them, either." China's gentle stroke on his hair made him want to say more. "They're just so... so formal and proud. I mean, who calls their own son with the honorific '-san'?" Sougo thought he should stop at that point but after hearing Kagura giggle, another unexpected thing but he certainly did not dislike, he continued, "I don't suppose you have any siblings."

"I have." At her answer, Sougo adjusted his position and fully faced her. She looked pretty great under the moonlight.

Kagura pushed his hair away from his eyes. "A brother."

Her expression was blank, he noticed. "How is he? As a brother?"

"Stupid. Just plain stupid. When we needed him the most, he went away." Although she acted indifferent, Sougo can see the sadness that reflected in her eyes. He wanted to tell her to stop.

"Pretty fun guy," Sougo deadpanned.

Forcing herself to be cheery, Kagura exclaimed, "Enough about him! What about you?" She watched him close his eyes and was surprised to see a genuine smile on his usually sadistic face.

"I have an older sister. She's at Bushuu right now. She took great care of me and because of that I became a spoiled brat. Aneue's the only thing that's keeping me from leaving the family." He turned his face away and stared at the sea. "I don't know how she keeps up with those two every day."

Kagura tried to imagine Sougo's sister – all kind and not at all sadistic. She suddenly wanted to meet her. "Your sister must be pretty strong."

Sougo nodded. "She is. You should meet her." He felt her hand on his hair stop and he knew she was just as surprised as he was. Ah, he spoke more than necessary.

"You know what, Sadist..." The lad turned his gaze back to her. "I hate you, but I'm glad you told me these things."

He gently pulled a few strands of her hair. "I hate you, too, but I'm beginning to hate your brother even more."

On the second day of their trip, Kagura was already up and about at eight-thirty in the morning.

"Hurry, Kagura-chan. Kyu-chan's already waiting for us outside," Otae said before going out of their room.

"Wait!" Kagura called out. When she finally found her slippers, she picked it up and headed out of the room.

Just in time after he had closed the door behind him, Sougo was briefly greeted by Otae who soon scurried off to who-knows-where. He wondered if China was still here.

As he turned to head towards the other room, Kagura got out. They both stared at each other, or rather, he stared at her. Kagura was simply surprised.

China was clad in a soft brown summer dress with floral print that reached past her knees. It suited her very well. It suited her very well, indeed. It suited her very well that the next thing he knew, he was asking her to come and eat breakfast with him.

She looked stunned for a moment, but soon told him to wait and went out then went back in. She fidgeted with the slippers she held and said, "I've asked Anego. She said it was okay."

Sougo nodded slowly, surprised at the turn of events. Clearing his throat to hide the small smile that was forming on his lips, he pointed out, "You should wear that before heading out again."

Needless to say, Kagura smacked him on the head with her footwear.

Azure eyes stared at the deliciously-looking food that sparkled as an added effect. "This is too good to be true. And it's free. Did you poison this?"

Sougo was already scooping up his breakfast. "Probably."

"What the hell?!"

"I'm kidding," he deadpanned.

"When you say it like that, it makes me doubt even more." She cautiously eyed the food.

He fixed his gaze on her. "What? Want me to spoon-feed you?"

The Yato flushed in embarrassment, "I'm not a child, you idiot!" She finally consumed the meal in front her and Sougo sighed.

After a while, he spoke, "I just realized you were supposed to go with Lady Boss somewhere today. I shouldn't have kept you from her."

She shrugged, "I don't mind and Anego said it was okay."

He paused from eating to look at her. "Then explain to me the dress."

The way he talked about it was so unfeeling; Kagura was lead to think that he didn't like it. Damn Gin-chan for telling her she looked good in it. She glared at him. "Why should I? You're not my Master anymore," Kagura emphasized on the last word.

"Right." Was that disappointment she heard? Damn sadist.

"I wonder why you agreed to come with me like you had no other choice, though," he smirked at her.

Irritated, she shot back, "Why did you invite me in the first place?"

"Maybe because I just wanted to be with you."

Kagura went still, stunned. Sougo on the other hand, ate his breakfast like he never said anything significant. Well, looks can be deceiving.

Holy shit, I just said that out loud!

How the hell am I going to respond to that?! The Yato didn't know if he meant what he said or was simply playing with her but she was definitely affected by it and couldn't even hide the blush that started to form on her cheeks. She bowed her head as if to look at her plate all the while feeling awkward since the sadist was being silent again. "I – I wonder where Gin-chan is right now," she uttered, not knowing what else to say.

Sougo mentally sighed in relief at her sudden change in topic. "I think they went to the pool area. We can go there next."

Bright blue eyes twinkled at him, "We should check out that wave pool!" He nodded in response.

"He – help!" Gintoki cried as another wave crashed on him and he found himself plunged down once again into the waters.

"Gin-san!" Shinpachi called out. Gin-san was drowning! He looked at where the perm-head was and found that he was already on the seven-foot section of the pool. He immediately dove into the pool, only to find himself flailing and crying for his own life.

"What the hell, Pachi?!"

"I'm sorry! HELP!"

"Oh, no." Finally, the lifeguard noticed them. "Don't worry. I'm going to rescue you."

Gintoki and Shinpachi watched with awe as their savior dove in. Within seconds, the lifeguard's head shout out of the water and the two of them wanted to cry for joy.

"Mother of – Help me, you – " the lifeguard was cut short when his head went down into the water again.

Both Gintoki and Shinpachi went still for a moment, then all hell broke loose.

"JFC! WTF! AYFKM?!"

"You call yourself a lifeguard!?"

"Maybe we should go someplace else first..." Sougo commented dryly.

"We should," Kagura said with a nod.

Sougo stared with mild disgust at the fluffy, sugar-induced-candy-in-a-stick that China was holding.

"I'm not giving you any," Kagura suddenly commented, moving the cotton candy away from him.

"I never said I wanted any." He tutted. "Besides, we just had breakfast a while ago. Just goes to show you really are a pig."

She unexpectedly delivered a kick to his shin. "Ow! Dammit!" Sougo glared at her and she simply continued on walking ahead and munched on her candy.

In a matter of seconds, he was beside her with his face so close. He had taken a bite on her candy and Kagura didn't think he was going to move away anytime soon. Heat crept up her whole face and she quickly moved away. "W-w-what do you think are you doing?!"

Finally, he moved away, but his smirk was unnerving. "Revenge," he deadpanned.

Kagura heard squeals behind them and she turned to look. Some girls were running around and the next thing she saw was that the girl with auburn hair bumped against the sadist – hard, seeing as how he almost fell over. She shook her head, feeling sorry for the girl who was about to taste the sadist's wrath.

However, the unthinkable happened. While the girl was apologizing, Sougo simply smiled and said it was okay. He was offering a smile that she'd rarely see on him; a smile that was never directed at her.

Angry and confused at why she was angry in the first place, Kagura quickened her pace.

"Why did you suddenly walk off like that?" asked Sougo when he finally caught up with her. The girl stayed silent. Irritated, he took her hand and dragged her.

"Where do you think are you taking me?!" Kagura demanded.

"Since you're being a bitch on her period, we're going to visit the butterfly garden."

"Butterfly garden?" Her azure eyes twinkled at him again and he knew then and there that she wasn't angry anymore; whatever the hell it was.

"You've spent the whole day with Okita-san, didn't you, Kagura?"

The vermilion haired girl looked up from her phone and found Otae and Kyubei staring at her. They were all nestled on their futon though they lied on their stomach to talk easily with each other.

Oblivious, she nodded her head and smiled. "Yeah! We took a rain check on the wave pool, though, since Gin-chan and Pachi's stupidity poisoned the whole area." She continued playing on her phone as she spoke. "We went to this beautiful butterfly garden instead. The place was sort of like a maze, though, so we had to hold on to each other."

She remembered him telling her that she was navigationally-challenged and so he had to hold her hand so that she wouldn't get lost. She had smacked him at the insult but liked how he had, dare she say, cared for her. Recalling the whole time they had held hands, Kagura felt her heart beat fast and her cheeks grow warm.

"Kya!" Otae suddenly squealed, surprising the female Yato.

With a small smile, Kyubei commented, "You sound like a couple already."

"C-couple?! You're wrong!"

"Eeh?" Otae teased. "Then why are you blushing like mad?"

Kagura touched her cheeks and stammered. "I –I'm not!"

"Do you like spending time with him?"

The question surprised her, but she found herself immediately answering, "Yes."

"Do you blush or feel your heart beat fast whenever he's near?"

Kagura flushed then nodded.

"If that's not love, then I don't know what that is. I'm going to sleep. Good night." Otae turned and covered herself with her blanket.

"Think about it. Oyasumi," uttered Kyubei and followed right after.

Kagura was left to think about it, all right.

Was she falling for the sadist?