A/N: This is the chapter I've been personally waiting for. Sorry about last week, I haven't been as focused on this story as all my others. I hate making you guys wait so I just threw up any chapter I had pre-typed in my files. I would love to go on a hiatus but it just isn't ideal sense we're so close to the end.

Well, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I know I did.

Disclaimer:

Three years later.

"Hi Tamotsu!"

The boy eyes slowly widened at their encounter.

Round, flesh toned orbs bounced before of his eyes, and then a familiar face was replaced.

The girl grinned. "How was your break?"

Tamotsu soon regained his composure and smiled back lightly. "It was fine. How was your break, Hana?"

Hana Leaned atop the desk and flicked her long, jet black hair behind her shoulder. "Oh, it was great. Of course we went down to our vacation house, the one by the shore. I got the sickest tan! And I brought this new bag that can hold all of my stuff…"

Tamotsu just nodded at the girl. "Sounded like fun."

Hana agreed. "Oh, it was." The girl hopped off the desk and headed for the door. Walking out into the hall, she saw her frenemy, but not by choice. Hana knew that Tamotsu was friends with the nuisance so that meant she had to play nice. It was a dance she and her did, nice to the face but nasty behind her back; something Hana was very good at.

Hana's sneer quickly became a phony smile. "Hey Misoka!" Hana squealed and gave her a hug. "Long time, no see! I like your hair!"

Misoka blinked a few times. Her hair wasn't anything special, just wavy, short, and light brown. But Hana's was waist long, dark, and silky. But Misoka nodded, following along in their never ending dance "…Thanks…"

Hana looked Misoka's friend, Emiko and rolled her eyes. "We should definitely hang out soon!"

Emiko knew exactly the type of girl Hana was, no one was fooled. She was probably the meanest girl in class, along with being the prettiest and most popular. She's even made fun of Emiko for her braces a few times. And let's not forget her band of followers a mile long like Ume and Sango. Yet she always had kept Misoka the closest.

Hana squealed again and slipped through the door before the others could say another word.

Emiko and Misoka both grumbled as she walked away. The girls continued into the hall and started to their lockers. That's how they met actually, they had lockers right by each other in six grade and had become friends ever since.

Misoka turned the dial and the locker opened to the right combination every time. Emiko quickly grabbed her books and said her byes but Misoka took her time. She had awhile before the homeroom bell rung.

There were three raps on her locker door and the girl leaned back.

Misoka blushed. "…Tamotsu?"

Oh God, she thought. Here it comes.

Tamotsu's lips pulled into a half smile. "Misoka… how was your break?"

Misoka's turquoise eyes widened, "It was nice. I didn't do much. How was your summer?" She shielded her face behind the locker door and squeezed her eyes shut. Stop talking so fast, you dummy! Remember, articulate, enunciate, speak!

Tamotsu leaned against the nearby lockers and sighed. "It was boring."

"Tamotsu, your family isn't boring." Misoka said matter-of-factly. She would know; she's been around them enough times.

Tamotsu shook his head. "We went up to the mountains and I literally face planted every time we went skiing."

Misoka closed her locker, giggling. "I don't believe that."

Tamotsu stood straight. "Why?"

Misoka hugged her books to her chest as if it could hide the fast beating of her heart. "Because I've seen you ski, and you're amazing." Yup, she has, at the class skiing trip in seventh grade.

Down the hall, Hana quickly flipped through her phone but was interrupted by an ear piercing laugh. It made her cringe. There she was, Misoka, all over Tamotsu. Her Tamotsu. Hana squeezed the phone in her hands.

Ume went on about something stupid as always. "So I said, maybe we should like do something fun?" She twirled her curly hair around on her finger. "And he was like, we should-"

"Ume, shut up." Hana spat.

Ume blinked, confused as did the rest of the group of friends. "Wh-"

"I said shut up."

"Alright, alright." Tamotsu continued. "I didn't face plant. But I tripped a few times." He paused to listen to her charming laugh. "Trust me, it was embarrassing."

"Oi! Tamotsu!"

Hiro and Isamu ran up to their friend and hauled him down the hall.

"See ya!" was all he could manage before he was dragged away.

Misoka faintly smiled and lifted a hand. "Bye."

The boys tussled lightly in the hall before walking down together. They passed the girls on their way, and one couldn't have missed the wink Ume gave Hiro and the once over he gave all the ladies. "Have you seen the knockers on Hana lately?" Hiro started once they passed. "They've gotten bigger!"

Isamu scoffed.

"She'll need a bigger ass if she wants to walk with a balance."

Tamotsu shook his head. "Guys, come on."

"Don't tell me you didn't notice! She was literally shoving your nose down her cleavage this morning!" Hiro rubbed down hard on Tamotsu's shaggy hair. "I'm telling ya dude. She wants you bad."

Tamotsu pushed his hand off. "No she doesn't."

Hiro was a good friend and all, but Tamotsu would never take relationship advice from him. Hiro was over confident, self centered, and loud, which seemed to work for him. Hiro had blonde hair and blue eyes, this was weird considering his mother and older brother both had dark hair and dark eyes. This made him a chick magnet and an overall man-whore in the making. He's already had an on-going on and off relationship with Ume since the end of fifth grade.

"You guys would be like a power couple." Hiro continued enthusiastically. He punched Isamu on the arm. "Come on, Isamu. Tell him."

Honestly, Isamu would know the last thing about relationships. He had silver hair which made him stand out amongst a crowd like a sore thumb. Yes, he was good looking like the rest; girls generally didn't gravitate towards him. Though Tamotsu has caught him eying Misoka's friend, Emiko, from time to time.

Isamu nodded. "She's a very nice looking girl-"

"Thank you!" Hiro shouted.

"-but if Tamotsu isn't interested, why pressure the guy?" As Isamu said this, a group of girls walked by and waved at Tamotsu, he barely waved back. "Find your own girlfriend and stick to her."

"Thank you." Tamotsu said, exhausted from the conversation.

Hiro huffed from the lack of agreement on his part. "Yeah, yeah…" The homeroom bell rang and other kids in the halls began to scramble to get to class before marked late. "Look we got to get to class." He punched Isamu playfully on the arm. "See ya."

…

It really was a mystery to Tamotsu as to why Hiro made it to Honors English, he wasn't stupid but he wasn't advanced either. He should have been put into an academic class or accelerated but Hiro could use his sweet talking skills to get anywhere, even if his grades told another story.

Hiro sat down on the top of the desk in front of Tamotsu. "You gotta like a girl with big tits. Take Ume for example. Big tits, no brains, I like 'em like that."

Tamotsu shook his head at his friend's assessment of women. Yes, definitely a man-whore.

"By the way," Hiro continued. "My brother called your mother a milf."

Tamotsu raised a brow. "What's that?"

"It's a-"

Heels tapped into the classroom and the door shut loudly after. "Alright class. Break is over!" Mrs. Nakano said and plopped down in her chair. "Hand in your prediction essays please."

The class groaned as book bags unzipped and papers were stapled. They all got up and placed their essays in the basket on her desk.

Mrs. Nakano clicked her teeth at the lack of reports on her desk. "They should have been done. This is honors English. You are eighth graders. The high school won't treat you kindly if this is how you act."

Hiro placed his report in the basket, Tamotsu, then Hana, then Sango, a few others, and then Misoka. "Come on, cough it up. Keep them coming." When the line ended, Mrs. Nakano stood and wrote in cursive on the black board. "Now, I assume that everyone has read up to chapter eight, and since my assumption is correct, you all must be prepared for a pop quiz."

Another collective groan rippled throughout the class.

Tamotsu raised his hand. "Mrs. Nakano."

"Yes, Kurosaki." Mrs. Nakano said without turning around.

"How can you assume that your assumption is correct when an assumption is basically a guess, without proof?"

The teacher stopped her writing and turned. "Excuse me?"

Misoka giggled. She knew what was happening; she's seen this trick before. It was a mind game, a reverse psychology of some sort. Tamotsu was a master at it, she honestly didn't know where he got it from.

"Before break, we left off on chapter five. You now assume that we all read up to chapter eight but before we left you gave no indication that we must read on. So you in fact can't base a quiz on the assumption that we all read up to said chapter."

Mrs. Nakano blinked a few times, getting it, but not completely. Her mind hadn't caught up with his words yet. The woman cleared her throat. "Kurosaki, have you read up to chapter eight?"

Tamotsu nodded once. "Yes ma'am, in fact, I've finished the whole book."

Mrs. Nakano placed a hand on her hip. "…And the rest of the class? Chapter eight?"

The room was silent. Misoka has finished the book, a few others too but they daren't raise their hand.

Mrs. Nakano squint her eyes then turned back to the board. "I expect it to be read by tomorrow, and then we'll have the quiz." The class erupted in a satisfied murmur. "As for today, we'll start with finishing chapter six and a five sentence summary to go along with it…"

Hiro gave Tamotsu a quick fist pound. "Nice."

Tamotsu wore a pleased smirk.

Hana, who always snagged a seat behind him, leaned forward, her breasts nearly spilling out of her unbuttoned shirt. "I'm glad someone has brains in this class," she whispered in his ear and sat back down.

Tamotsu twisted in his chair and smiled back.

Misoka continued on her day as if she hadn't seen it.

Later that day.

"Misoka, dinner's ready!" Mai shouted from the bottom of the steps.

Misoka closed her algebra and took a deep breath before shouting back: "I'll be done in a minute!" Algebra was the furthest thing from the girl's mind.

Misoka got up from her bed and examined her self from head to toe in her full length mirror. She wasn't ugly; she knew that because she's been asked out before but turned them down. And she wasn't athletic or fat. She was normal, though she thought her hips were a little too big for her age.

Besides that, why did Tamotsu seem so interested in Hana? Yes, she was pretty with perfect, straight hair and money coming out the wazoo because of her father's business. But what was so special about her?

Misoka sighed. "What does she have that I don't have?"

Misoka stood to the side.

Of course.

The girl stood up straight and pushed out her chest. She looked ridiculous.

Misoka deflated. She could never compete with that. It wasn't like her A cups breast were nonexistent, but they weren't developing as fast as Hana's dumb D cups. It isn't like she could speed her body along and wake up with breasts? Well she could wake up with breast but it wasn't likely to happen tomorrow.

"Misoka?!" Her aunt shouted again.

Misoka sucked teeth and headed for the door. "Coming!"

If Tamotsu was interested in her why should she care? Everyone said they'd look good together anyway.

And Misoka didn't want to continuing being just like every other girl in her grade, hoping, praying for a chance to talk to him, to say hi to him.

But what girl in their right mind could resist staring at him? Watching his fluid movements? He was so smart and talented and adorable. His laugh was golden. His hair was still as floppy as ever, through a little more trimmed. And just under his shirts one could see the muscles he's obtained from the various sports he played in and out of season.

Who am I kidding? Misoka thought as she sat down at the dinner table. Her aunt and uncle waited and began as soon as she picked up her fork. I'm in love…

…

It wasn't unusual for Tamotsu to go to bed straight after finishing dinner and his chores. His days consisted of school work and early mornings, after school practice, homework and eating. Everything else fell to the wayside with the exception of hanging with friends occasionally.

That night, however, was different from the rest. He came from baseball practice, they had a game in three days, had dinner, washed the dishes and swept the kitchen floor and trudged his heavy body up the steps to his bed.

His dreams weren't very memorable, just a few were if it was weird, like floating in clouds before a big game or eating a giant squid. So it wasn't out of the ordinary that he couldn't remember his dream that night, it was what happened when he woke up that blew him out of the water.

Tamotsu's chest heaved up and down quickly. His eyes fluttered open from the weirdest, yet most liberating dream he had ever had.

He felt some sort of sticky substance trickle down his thigh and then some.

…

His cheeks hued a deep red as he realized what he'd done.

Tamotsu sat up and blushed even more when he saw his "friend" protruding from under the sheets.

The boy was even more embarrassed when he lifted his blankets to see what all the stickiness was.

…

Thick, sticky wet stains littered his boxers and T-shirt. Some of it was clear and some of it was white and gooey. Tamotsu shuddered. The most pleasurable feeling washed over the thirteen year old's body. It felt as if every nerve in his body was amplified. From the tips of his fingers to his core, and surging up to his erect "friend", his body tighten up, jolted, and released once more.

He had never felt this way before… it was the best feeling ever!

Tamotsu laid back down at let his body finish its delight.

His "friend", stiff from all the attention, began to go flaccid and limp, lowering itself back down to its original dimension.

The boy laid there for two or three minutes, reveling silently in the buzzing aftermath. Bright spots appeared behind his eyes and his brain whirled, danced, and hummed.

Tamotsu knew he couldn't lay in his ejaculate all night. So the boy took his wet sheets and crept downstairs. He was busy shoving the dirty sheets under a bunch of other dirty clothes in a laundry basket when he heard someone clear their voice.

"Ah-hm…"

Tamotsu froze.

His father stood in the doorway, arms crossed, frown on his lips. There was no escape!

Tamotsu stayed frozen in his spot, afraid to move or turn. He hadn't changed his boxers because the thought of his mother finding his dirty sheets were mortifying. But now, Tamotsu couldn't find himself in an even more humiliating situation in his thirteen years of life.

Tamotsu saw his father's right eyebrow go up. He turned around and said over his shoulder: "Come with me."

…

Orihime leaned on her elbows then sat completely up. She listened intently for a moment before nudging her husband a few times. "Ichigo…" He grunted but made no move to wake. "Ichigo!" she hissed and kicked him.

The man opened a sleepy eye. "Huh?"

Orihime shrunk into the covers, like she was trying to hide. "I heard something… I think there's someone in the house…"

Ichigo rolled his eyes. This had to be one of Orihime's motherly paranoid things. Everything had to be double checked for locks every night so another kitchen fire accident wouldn't happen. Orihime believed that some else started the fire, but she didn't have any direct proof. And Ichigo didn't put it past her either. I didn't make sense that he was jumped and his house would catch on fire on the same night… but there wasn't much evidence to link the two and after much nagging, the police told them to drop it. It was just better if they gotten on with their lives… Nevertheless, she had gone completely manic when she found the front door unlocked one morning. It was one of her fears that would never go away.

"Maybe it's just one of the kids?" Ichigo suggested. He was positive he checked all windows and doors and the security lock was on. No one could have gotten in without them knowing.

Orihime blinked her big, gray eyes. "Go check."

What Ichigo really wanted to do was close his eyes and fall back to sleep, but to soothe her worries, he check the children first.

Ichigo gently opened Tamotsu's bedroom door. The blanket lay on the floor and his bare mattress sat in the middle of the room.

Ichigo pursed his lips. Knowing full well that it was his son downstairs, he still checked on his daughter.

He smiled at Hitomi's sleeping arrangement. She had managed to shove every stuffed animal onto the bed, a few fell off but many held tight, determined to secure her every exit out of the trapped bed.

Downstairs, Ichigo watching his son stuff his sheets into the bottom of the laundry basket. The man couldn't help but notice the rather large, wet stains in the front of his boxers. Tamotsu was obviously too old to be wetting the bed.

Ichigo shook his head. It was time for the talk.

"Ah-hm…"

Ichigo saw the boy's whole body freeze. Every muscle in his body locked and his throat contracted as a large gulp passed through.

Ichigo waited for the boy to look at him before turning his back. The fear was evident in his eyes.

"Come with me," Ichigo demanded and cocked his head to the living room.

…

"Have they taught you about the birds and the bees yet?"

Tamotsu glanced up. "Like health class? Just a little."

"As in?"

"Sex is the process of reproduction to produce an offspring?" Tamotsu offered. Another one of his many talents, repeating texts verbatim.

His father nodded. "Yep, pretty much." Ichigo placed a hand on the back on his neck and rubbed his hand there. "Obviously you know that sex is what got you here..."

Ichigo looked down at the pillow Tamotsu had propped against his pants. "And you just had a wet dream didn't you."

Tamotsu blushed and looked away.

Ichigo smiled. "It's completely natural. All boys your age go through it in one point in their life. Sometimes you might get an erection in public, sometimes in your sleep. It's the beginning of becoming a man."

I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not going to sit here and say that sex is bad and you can't do it. Sex feels good, it's great for the body, and it's fun. But this is the time for you to step up to the plate." Ichigo leaned up and his voice became serious. "I don't want to hear about you doing things you aren't supposed to be doing at this age. Being a man is about knowing when the time is right. At this age, you just aren't ready yet."

Tamotsu nodded. "I understand."

Ichigo leaned back again. "The rest they'll teach you in class." He stood and began walking away when Tamotsu called for him.

"Um, dad?" Ichigo turned. "What's a milf?"

Tamotsu watched his father arch an orange brow and he quickly scrambled for an explanation. "It's just that Hiro's older brother said something like that… about mom… and I wanted to know…"

For a second Tamotsu thought his father would yell or get mad but instead his father smirked, almost laughed. "You'll know when you're older."

When Ichigo returned to his bedroom about a half an hour later, Orihime was still wrapped in the blanket though her eyes were slowly drooping.

Ichigo got back into bed as Orihime yawned and looked down at him. "What was it…?"

"A raccoon knocked over a garbage can." Ichigo said without missing a beat.

"Oh…" Orihime yawned but didn't lie back down. "I heard talking..."

Ichigo turned in the bed and wrapped his arm loosely around her waist under the blanket. "Tamotsu was looking for a midnight snack."

Orihime finally relaxed. "Oh…"

"Orihime, we're safe," Ichigo said into her hair once she lay back down beside him.

"Oh…" she mumbled again before falling back to sleep.

Ichigo felt her body against his' and he couldn't help to chuckle.

Sure she was thirty-six, but she didn't look it. Milf was definitely a term he wouldn't use, too vulgar. He made a mental note to kick that boy's brother in the nuts next time he saw him.

The next day.

"Hey Tamotsu."

Tamotsu looked over and Hana hopped right into his view.

Tamotsu smiled. "Hey."

The hallways were empty and they both had hall passes in their hands, both coming out of honors English, most likely heading towards the same place. "I hear you have a game coming up." Hana grinned. "Good luck."

Tamotsu looked the girl over. Her tight hugging shirt was unbuttoned way too low as always and her hair was tied in high pigtails today which swayed from side to side when she walked. "Fortunately, we won't need it." Tamotsu said, walking without looking at her. "Thanks anyway."

"Tamotsu… What have I ever done to you?"

Tamotsu stopped. He hadn't realized that Hana stopped too sometime ago, since she was standing a few feet behind him. "…What?"

Hana waited until he turned around to speak again, this time her voice was much quieter, softer then normal. "Nothing, I just… you're so nice and sweet to me, but that's about it." Tamotsu's eyes enlarged. This was the first time Tamotsu had ever seen Hana like this. He had never seen her other then her loud, supercilious self. "Don't you want to be something more?"

In Tamotsu's attempts to not think about it, he has thought about it once or twice. Tamotsu was aware of the piles of girls who threw themselves at him, but he just wasn't interested. He was more focused on school then sex.

But since everyone's told him he should date Hana, he's been unintentionally avoiding a moment like this…

Tamotsu's body locked as she took a few steps closer. "I don't…" "I've never had a girlfriend."

And it's not like he didn't like Hana. She was a pretty girl… it was just… something wasn't right. Even if he tried to imagine them being together, something always blocked the vision…

The person he wanted to be with never showed interest… She was just a friend.

Hana wrapped her arms around Tamotsu's shoulder, her chests rubbed against his own. "There's a first for everything," she whispered and leaned in.

Down the hall, Emiko walked across the corridor to the water fountain. Before she bent down for a slurp, two figures caught her eye.

"Oh no…"

When the couple's lips parted they embraced, and on the girl's face was a triumphant sneer. Like a jaguar sinking its teeth into its prey.

Hana's violet eyes gleamed bright; slicing Emiko through the bone like amethyst.

Emiko returned to her class. Misoka wasn't in that day, but what about tomorrow? She would know… And as her friend, Emiko needed to tell her first.

So the next day, Emiko immediately attended to her duty as being a friend. "Misoka I really need to talk to you…"

Misoka had woken up late the other night so she had her aunt call in sick. Misoka was never one to miss class. She normally had perfect attendance but her head has been so fumbled lately she just couldn't get out of bed that morning. So she took a day off to clear her mind.

"Emiko, we're going to be late to social studies." Misoka closed her locker and scurried around the corner where Emiko was following close behind.

"I know, but it's really urgent…" Emiko tried to keep pace but Misoka was always on edge when she missed a day of school, it was one of her pet peeves. The girls headed down the hall. Other kids still lounged about since the first bell hasn't rung. Across the hall a boy named Isamu smiled at Emiko which made her blush.

Still, Misoka continued to walk fast which made Emiko angry. She was trying to protect her! "Can you just slow down for a second!" Emiko said and suddenly bumped into Misoka's back.

"Emiko…"

There they were, walking down the hall hand in hand. The rest of the hall almost seemed to stop too.

"Misoka…"

Tamotsu looked aloof as he always did, but it was Hana who wore the biggest smile.

Misoka's heart seemed to sink somewhere down below, into an abyss, and her throat became constricted.

He looked perfect, she looked perfect… they were meant for each other. Like everyone said.

Tamotsu's soft chocolate eyes seemed to flicker around when he noticed everyone was staring. They went around every face and stopped when they encounter turquoise, but not for long. Turquoise flashed down and away, submissive and weak.

The chocolate hardened, for he saw the brightest of droplets leave her eyes as she turned away.

…

Misoka never cried so hard in her life. She had run straight from school to her house, up the stairs and locked herself in her room.

She had never felt so empty, so stupid! Of course he wouldn't like a girl like her. Why she ever thought otherwise was behind her now.

Aunt Mai softly rapped on her pink door from the hall. "Misoka… Misoka honey, are you okay?"

Misoka dug her face in her pillow. "Please, Aunt Mai… just go away…"

Mai leaned against the door, daring not the open it. "Misoka you can always talk to me… I'm here if you need me…" She didn't want to pressure the girl too hard. Every thirteen year old had a broken heart at one time or another.

Misoka dug her head further into the pillow but came back up for air.

The next day at school, those of her friends who knew made no comment, especially Emiko. Seeing them walk down the hall was painful, but like she said. She couldn't be mooning after him forever.

Boys weren't spontaneous, especially Tamotsu. It took time for them to realize what they want, and Tamotsu had made his decision. It wasn't like he would wake up one morning, pop up and be there in front of her.

Misoka sigh, closed her locker door and there he was, standing there.

So much for spontaneity.

His face didn't look happy at all, eyebrows knitted, mouth turned down- quite upset actually. "Misoka, we should really talk."

Talk was the last thing she wanted to do with him or with anyone for that matter. Hana won. What more could anyone want?

"Misoka-" Tamotsu was slammed into the lockers and into a kiss before he could finish.

Misoka looked away like before when Hana tugged him away from the lockers.

"Tamotsu, I have a hair appointment after school, I need you to come with me. Afterwards we can go over my place…" Hana smiled and wrapped an arm behind his neck. "How does that sound?"

Tamotsu nodded distractedly. "Yeah… sure…"

…

Misoka slammed her math textbook close harder then before.

Who cared about Pythagorean Theorem, lines and integers?

Nothing mattered when… when…

Misoka couldn't put it into words. She didn't own him. He could do whatever he wanted. But why did she feel this way? Like part of her was ripped off and now she was trying to live without it, it was impossible.

There was four knocks on her door and Misoka sighed for what else could she do? "Aunt Mai, I'm fine."

The door cracked open. "I'm not Aunt Mai…"

Turquoise clashed angrily against chocolate. Tamotsu closed the door behind him. "Misoka- I-"

"Go away!" Misoka shouted and threw a pillow which he grasped with ease. His reflexes only made her angrier.

"Misoka, please." Tamotsu begged and sat down on a nearby chair. "Hear me out."

Misoka shook her head and pointed to the door. "No. Get out! Who let you in?"

Tamotsu's slowly gave a sheepish grin. "Your uncle."

Misoka threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "Ugh!" She would definitely fill her uncle in on who to invite and not invite into the house.

The room was silent for a while. Tamotsu looked around the blue room, her room. Her world. Many things changed, as did his own. Kiddy things were replaced; posters of Barney or Spongebob were traded for posters of boy bands or pictures of family or friends.

Tamotsu frowned at a photo of him and her together on the playground; their faces were smashed together, cheek by cheek, as if they were trying to become one.

He didn't frown because he didn't like it, but because he was disappointed, disappointed that he let their relationship get to this point.

"Do you hate me?" Tamotsu said abruptly. "Cause I hate myself."

Misoka's brain rattled in her skull. He hated himself? Why would he hate himself? If anyone had the appropriate right to hate, it would be her.

He was doing it again. The reverse psychology or smooth talking or whatever he did. Misoka has seen it in action and knows it works wonders. She couldn't let him get to her, not now she couldn't.

Misoka tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. "Why are you here?" she whispered.

The boy thrust his left hand through his shaggy dark hair. "To apologize..."

The girl frowned, confused. "For what?!"

Tamotsu took his time and stood, wandering around her small, blue world. "I told myself I would never make you cry." Tamotsu stopped at her dresser and fingered the frame with him and her inside as preschoolers. "I promised that to you. But you don't know that…" He turned, shoving his hands back into his jean pockets. "…Well didn't at least."

Misoka stroked the tassels on her intricately designed throw pillow. Everything he was saying made sense and no sense all at the same time. "But… but you like Hana… You always liked Hana…"

Suddenly two fingers were lifting her chin up ever so gently. He was close. He smelled of freshly split wood or the scent cut flowers and cool mint chocolate- a complete contrast to the warm breath wafting over her face.

His swirling eyes flickered down to her lips and back up to her eyes, his fingers still tilting her head up.

Tamotsu licked his lips slowly, whispering: "I never liked Hana."

It started slowly, then grew, and grew, and grew into something more. Something hungry. Misoka read books, romances. They always describe kisses as something ravenous and passionate.

That was an understatement.

Tamotsu's dad hadn't prepared him for this feeling. He didn't notice it at first until it touched up against his clothes, hard and swollen.

He took a deep breath against her mouth and dipped back into the kiss, pushing her back and pushing his body against her own. His hands roamed her sides, searching for skin until he found a opening at the bottom of her shirt, tugging the fabric away to feel her flat belly and rounded hips.

His lips were smooth, firm, and wide, and she didn't want to part with them but she didn't want this to go too far. Misoka leaned back but he advanced and she succumbed all over again. The new angle only made his "friend" want more.

Finally Misoka broke free. "My aunt's downstairs…" she managed through labored breath. Her back was now completely on the bed and Tamotsu's body lay on top of hers, hovering so his weight didn't crush her.

Tamotsu used his arms to lean up. He had never seen, or thought of Misoka in this way. She looked so beautiful now, even with her flushed face and puffy red lips. And not to forget her shoulder length hair and fanned out around her and lids were heavy over turquoise eyes. God, how he loved her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her once more before edging off the bed.

He hadn't caught his breath yet before he said: "Will you wait for me?"

Misoka adjusted her shirt a little while he did the same with his pants. "Yes, of course."

Tamotsu grinned. "Great, that's…. Great."

The duo turned their heads towards the door when it quickly opened. Misoka's uncle stood in the doorway. His eyes flashed from the boy to the girl to their ruffled clothes, labored breathing and flushed faces. Her uncle stood the side, his face stern. "I think it's time for you to leave."

Tamotsu looked back at Misoka and grinned wider. "I was just going."

When Tamotsu dreamed that night, he knew exactly who it was about. He remembered it until morning, and the day after and the day after that.

All he could imagine was touching her soft skin over and over again. And kissing her lips over and over again. He tried, but failed again and again to imagine what it would feel like inside of her. It was completely unfathomable.

He wanted her, badly. But not yet. The time wasn't right. Of course when he broke up with Hana the next day she was furious, but he didn't care. All he could do was send Misoka a quick, heart-melting wink from across the hall.

I really hoped you liked this chapter. I think there are about 2 chapters left and Aizen will definitely come into play in both of them.

I hope to hear from you guys next week!

Rocka.

P.S. I hope I don't get banned for this chapter for the content and language. Hopefully it doesn't cross the T-rating. But hey, guys at that age are a little vulgar and uncouth! :P