Chapter 9

Sorry for the long wait! I hit a writer's block! Please review.

Runo stared blankly outside the window. Shun had told her the truth, well a part of it.

"Are you coming down for work?" Alice asked gently, Runo was having fierce mood swings lately and she didn't want one right now.

Runo didn't budge, "Did you tell Mr. and Mrs. Kuso?"

"Yes"

"What did they say?"

"Nothing, they accepted it Runo, as it's the truth; you will have to do the same."

"I know Alice, it's just difficult to accept the fact that he doesn't remember any of us and he probably never will." Runo's voice sounded hurt. "I'll come down in a moment." She added.

Alice nodded and left the room. She was present while Shun told Runo the truth and she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't being completely truthful.

LATER

"I don't want to talk about it!" Runo almost yelled at Shun as she did her dishes.

"Runo please, this is important." Shun noticed the hurt in Runo's voice.

"When is it not?" Runo snapped back.

"Dan might come here Runo, please just listen to me"

"Here? Why?"

"Drago might bring him, you need to be… prepared"

"Like how?" Runo said still not looking up.

"You have to pretend you don't know him" Shun said in a low voice.

Runo dropped the plates into the sink, clenching her fists. At first Shun thought that she might start yelling again, instead her voice trembled, "I…I can't Shun, plus haven't I met him already?"

Shun frowned, he hadn't thought of that. "Please Runo, just listen to me."

Runo nodded as she resumed working.

MEANWHILE

Drago, Dan and Lara stood at a junction, considering which road to take.

"We should go left." Drago suggested hoping Dan would disagree.

"Yes, it seems like a lively street, doesn't it?" Lara agreed.

"No" Dan said, his face blank, "We'll go right."

Drago gave out a sigh of relief as they turned right towards the Misaki Café.

AT THE CAFE

"I'd like two cappuccinos please." A customer ordered. Runo smiled as she noted it down.

Just as she moved to the other table Alice caught her by arm, "Are you ok?"

Runo smiled at her friends constant worrying, "Yes Alice, I'm fine. You're right; I'll just have to accept it."

Runo continued her work, smiling at each customer. Alice frowned, obviously Runo wasn't fine. Just as she was about to talk to Runo again someone else called her. "Runo Misaki?"

Alice and Runo turned at the same time, facing Dan.

"Dan?" Alice asked, speechless. What was he doing here?

Dan gave Alice a puzzled look and moved towards Runo. "Your name is Runo Misaki?"

"Y…Yes" Runo managed an answer.

"You know me, don't you?" Dan asked.

"You were once my classmate years ago, that's all about it, now if you'll excuse me I need to run some errands." Runo lied as she almost exited the café when Dan grabbed her wrist drawing her close. Dangerously close.

His eyes pierced directly into hers, he held her wrist tighter and tighter with every passing second, his temper rising. "You're lying."

Dan pulled her face closer to his, he didn't know how many minutes passed, it might have been hours, he didn't seem to realize, and neither did she.

Runo wanted to reply but the sudden closeness had caught her off guard, she pulled her gaze away although Dan still stared at her.

Her eyes sought the ring in his hand and then his fiancé, tears were slowly accumulating in her eyes, and she couldn't break down in front of Dan.

Just as she was about to move Dan slowly let go of her hand and without meeting Runo's gaze ran out of the café as Runo collapsed into the chair besides her.

"Oh Runo," Alice said as she reached for her friend.

LATER

"Are you ok Dan?" Was the only question both Drago and Lara had been asking Dan since the past thirty minutes.

Dan nodded his head, "I'm fine guys" Dan smiled at Lara, "and I'm not lying"

Lara nodded, both Drago and Dan could sense that she was hurt by what had happened in the Café.

"I need some fresh air guys, I'll be back in some time." Dan said as he exited the room.

DAN

The breeze was cold, it almost pinched his skin but that was least of his concerns. Runo, he thought as he continued to walk.

Why had she lied? Dan let out a sigh. He knew she lying to him should concern him but it didn't, he himself wasn't sure if he knew himself. How could he blame her for lying? Probably she didn't feel anything him anymore.

Although he didn't believe it he thought that was the only possible explanation but how was he going to explain himself? He had a fiancé, he thought, then why the hell had he felt the sudden urge to kiss Runo? Why had he felt that he should never let go?

Dan frowned, he knew if he hadn't run away he would've kissed Runo there. He took a deep breath as he walked back towards the hotel.

Although he tried to think about other things, the name kept coming back again Runo Misaki.

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