A/N: I'M SO SORRY! I know I disappeared and stuff.. I'm pretty busy with college and well.. I kind of have an accident and well.. Even though I can't write I can update the chapters I wrote a long ago! Hope you guys like it, aaaaaand sorry for taking so long!

Chapter 9

Haruki neared the two girls, who were laughing about something, and pushed Chitaru next to the wall. The girl's back hit the wall hard and a whimper was heard. Chitaru was ready to defend herself when an arm was firmly pressed against her neck, trapping her against the unknown body and the wall. She looked at the girl who attacked her and recognised her as Haruki, one of the closest friend of Hitsugi.

-You're gonna hear me, okay? And you won't say a word until I'm finished. Nod to let me know that you are understanding me- Chitaru clenched her teeth and growled. She was in a clearly disadvantage, but still tried to resist the superhuman grip that the girl was using on her. -NOD, GODDAMNIT!- Chitaru tried to breath, half panting as she threw a soft laugh in defeat. She nodded. -I know that you're interested in Hitsugi and I must warn you: If you hurt her, I'll make you bleed. I don't even know what the fuck do you want from her but I will repeat it again. You hurt her, and you'll bleed. She's the only good and honest thing around here, so you better not fuck up with her 'cause I've got her back, ya'hear me?- At hearing Hitsugi's name Chitaru's look deepened and turned darker. Now her strenght was coming back and after hearing what Haruki had said she pushed the other girl to the other side, liberating herself from the grip.

-Are you nuts? I'm not going to hurt her! I FUCKING LIKE HER!- Replied Chitaru with a deadly glare.

-I don't fucking believe you, Prince. You're just using her. You're like the others – Chitaru frowned and brought her hands to her neck. She was hurting from the strong grip on the girl. Haru was a few feets away, looking with scared eyes at the interaction.

-You're wrong. I can't promise you that I won't hurt her... 'Cause I don't really know anything about love or feelings, but I know that I will protect her from everything. Even if it's from me. That's the only thing I care... I just want her to be happy – Chitaru spoke after a moment. Haruki opened her eyes in surprise, finding truth and trust in everything that the girl was saying.

-What the hell is going on here? - Tokaku just arrived with the rest of the track-team, who were watching with curious eyes at the two girls.

-Nothing. - Muted Chitaru. She walked over Haruki and gave one last glance from her shoulder. -I love her... - She whispered loud enough for Haruki to hear. The other looked at Chitaru perplexed, who walked away with Tokaku and Haru. Haruki walked to the wall and rested her head on it. "I'm doing everything wrong..." And with that, she punched hard the wall, not even feeling the deep pain of her knunkles ripping and scratching.

The same afternoon, at Isuke and Haruki's soom...

Isuke and Hitsugi we're rummaging through Isuke's closet, but everything that was on her closet looked a little... Slutty for Hitsugi's taste. Not that she cared, it's just that Hitsugi didn't wanted to make that kind of look to Chitaru since it was their first date. But not only that, Hitsugi didn't really know anything about sex or dating, so she really was nervous. Isuke was finding clothes that she didn't even remembered having there, while Hitsugi was looking at the really small clothes that the girl had for being so big. "How does she fit in those?" She thought as she grabbed a skinny black shorts.

-Say, Isuke-chan... Have you ever had sex with a girl? - Asked Hitsugi breaking the silence that filled the room. Isuke turned around from her closet and looked at the other girl with her eyes opened.

-Say what!? Aren't you moving a little forward with your Prince?-

-NO! I didn't mean that... I just wanted to know more about you- Replied Histugi blushing scarlet. She had know Isuke for a long time, but she still didn't know anything about her preferences or her love life. Sure, she could guess that something was going on between her and Haruki, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.

-Isuke hasn't been with a girl, not even once – She turned around and kept searching in her closet for something for Hitsugi to wear on her date.

-Why's that?-

-I've never been interested in one, I don't know... I always looked at them as rivals, not like something I could get pleasure from. Men, for example, are something that I don't actually see as rivals and that they can entertain me for a while -

-But, haven't you been in love with someone? -

-Nope – Replied Isuke shrugging. Hitsugi crossed her arms and gave Isuke a questioning look.

-So you were... playing with them? You only play with men? -

-Yes, it's kind of funny -

-Please, tell me that you're not playing with Haruki.- Isuke turned around and watched the sad look on the girl's eye. -I know there's something between you and her, both of you flirt a lot and it's obvious that there's something going on. Just tell me that you're not playing with her like you play with other men- Isuke dropped her gaze to the floor. That's the question she's been asking herself for a while now. She didn't know what she was doing with Haruki, and she cared too much for the other girl so she didn't wanted to treat her like a toy. But that's how Isuke worked. She didn't know anything apart from her games and that scared her a lot.

-I... I don't really know the answer... -

-You care about her, don't you? More than you ever cared about other men-

-Yes... -

-Then why do you play with her?-

-I don't know okay! It just... Happened! She was just so damn stubborn with everything and she kept flirting with me! And in the end I ended up caring about her more than I wanted! - Isuke threw the clothes she had on her hands, stood up and walked to her bed. -I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to her. I want her but at the same time I care for her, but that kind of scares me 'cuz I don't do feelings -

-What do you want from her? -

-Sex. Lots of sex – Hitsugi facepalmed herself. -But I want to cuddle and have heavy make out sessions... It's weird 'cause I've never wanted this with anyone. I don't know. I feel like I'm never bored around her -

-So... You like her?-

-I think so... But I just don't know what I gotta do now -

And with that, the two girls kept talking about Haruki and sometimes compared Haruki/Isuke relationship with Hitsugi/Chitaru's. They were pretty different, the first one didn't have anything clear... Yes, Isuke had admited that she liked Haruki and that she cared about her but they still didn't know anything about Haruki's feeling. Sure, Hitsugi could see that Haruki was interested in the girl but... Haruki was always a box full of surprises. Either bad or good ones, so she decided to keep her mouth closed. The second couple were pretty honest with each others feelings, but they were inexperienced when it came to dating, flirting and sex, while the first one were already used to it and had a lot more of experience.

A few hours passed when the door opened, revealing an exhausted Haruki who had a painful expression on her face. She actually didn't look like her. Sure, you could recognise her as Haruki, but the expression... It wasn't really like her. It was like there wasn't a soul inside her, and she was just a body.

-Haruki? Are you alright?- Hitsugi was the first one to spoke, asking worriedly. Haruki stepped forward and pretend that she didn't hear Hitsugi. She went to the window and opened it, closing her eyes when she felt the wind on her face. -Haruki...?-

-I'm fine, Hitsugi. Did you find something to wear for tomorrow? - Haruki asked with a stoic voice. Hitsugi and Isuke exchanged looks, both of them worried.

-Uh.. No, we forgot. We lost track of time talking! - Hitsugi tried to make Haruki laugh, but the other kept her back on the other girls. -How was your afternoon? -

-Y'know... The usual- She spoke after a long, long pause. Isuke looked down. She knew that something was troubling the girl, but she couldn't find the proper words for comforting her, or even to approach her. She never got the opportunity of getting closer to the girl in that way and now she was kind of sorry. She kept her gaze down when she spotted something red on the floor. "Isn't that... blood?". She immediately looked over Haruki. She stood up all of a sudden and approached Haruki, turning her softly as the other kept her eyes closed.

-What happened Haruki-chan...? -Isuke found the source of the blood and panicked. The girl had her knuckles bathed in blood, and it was slipping through her hand. -Come with me, I'll grab the first aid kit. - Isuke dragged Haruki with her to the bathroom, followed by Hitsugi who was freaking out at the sight of blood. Isuke sat up the girl as she cleaned carefully all the blood from her hand. When the girl's hand was clean, they saw where all the blood was from. Her knuckles. "Who the hell did you hit? Or... what?" The knuckles of the girl were brusied and swollen, and blood had started to flow again. -We gotta take you to the hospital, this doesn't look good-

-NO!- Haruki moved away from Isuke's grip and yelled. -Don't you fucking dare -She threaten with a deadly glare.

-Your hand doesn't look good Haruki... -Spoke Hitsugi soflty, trying to convince the girl. Haruki growled and gritted her teeth. She hated hospitals. That was the place were her mother was dying and the doctors kept asking for more money for her treatment. What a bunch of thieves. They could give her a decent treatment, but since they didn't have enough money they just kept her in the hospital, trying to survive day by day. The doctors didn't even care that her mother was suffering. Haruki clenched her hands hard, bruning from the physical and psychological pain.

-I don't fucking care. I just wanna be alone – Haruki went straight to the door, but a soft hand grabbed right hand, the one that wasn't wounded.

-Stay – Pleaded Isuke with a soft squeeze. Haruki didn't meet her eyes but obeyed, feeling too tired to even fight her. - I'll stay with you but I'll let you alone, you can do as you please... I'll say goodbye to Hitsugi and then I'll return, 'kay?- Haruki nodded lightly and went to her bed as she free herself from the soft hold of Isuke. Hitsugi followed Isuke and left the room. They went to the main entrance.

-Will she be alright?-

-I don't really know... I don't even know what happened- Both girls shared a worried look. Isuke sighed and Hitsugi hugged her, trying to comfort her. -Don't worry, if something happens I'll let you know-

-I'll kept my phone turned on then-

-Good luck with your date tomorrow... But i'm sure you won't need it. Your prince really likes you- Isuke tried to lighten the mood. Hitsugi smiled sweetly and hugged her tighter. -Okay, that's enough. Isuke isn't really the soft type and I'm already have my dose of sweetness talking with you about feelings -

-You're a real softie, aren't you? -Hitsugi laughed and moved away. She waved goodbye and started walking away as Isuke kept waving and smiling.

-What happened, Haruki...? I wish I could know how to comfort you... -She whispered as she hugged herself. She was afraid of returning to her room, but she had promised to the girl. Isuke never used to face this kind of situations, she usually ran off and hide until any of the involved remembered the problem. But this time was different. This time she cared for the other person.

She ran up to her room, opened the door slowly and stepped in, finding the room in complete darkness. Haruki was on her bed, and once Isuke adjusted her eyes to the darkness, she realised that Haruki was lying on her stomach, with her arms folded under the pillow where she rested her head. Isuke laid on her bed softly and waited in silence. Minutes passed and Haruki still didn't say a word. Almost an hour they had spend without saying a word, only hearing their own thoughts and wondering what the other was thinking. Isuke opened and closed her mouth, trying to say something but she remember her words and shutted herself again, not wanting to disturb the other girl.

-I'm doin' everything wrong... - Said softly Haruki, loud enough for Isuke to hear. The girl looked over Haruki's bed, not sure if she had to say something or just listen. "I'm not really good with words..." Isuke thought. She wanted to tell her that everything was going to be all right, that she was by her side and that she could count on her. But no words came out from her mouth. Instead, she got up from bed and went to Haruki's bed and laid down. Haruki felt the sudden change of weight on the mattress and felt Isuke's arm embracing her from behind. Isuke rested her head on Haruki's shoulder.

-You're not alone, Haruki... - Whispered softly Isuke. A shiver ran down through Haruki's spine that brought to life Haruki's soul. She felt how her heart skipped a beat or two and smiled lightly. She turned to face Isuke, who looked at her with curious eyes. Haruki's honey eyes were sparkling with fire. She leaned closer and, just when their lips were brushing, she whispered:

-You're not making things easier...- And then, Haruki covered Isuke's lips with her own, tasting the sweet flavor of the other girls mouth, getting addicted at the first taste without noticing.