Heheehe. Liked Chapter 2? Well, here's chapter 3!
Naota could barely keep his breathing right. There she was, right in front of him. He had been missing her for so long. Thinking of her for so long and finally she arrived.
"Whoowho! What a day. My vespa gave me crap so I thought traveling in this convient little twister would help. How's my little Takkun?" She grinned. Naota threw his arms around her and held her close to him. "Haruko! I missed you so much!" He shouted happily. Finally he felt happy again, which he hadn't felt for quite a while. Haruko patted his head. "Missed you too, Takkun..." They sat there for a while in a silent bliss as Naota held her. Finally Haruko smiled at him.
"Let's get out of here, kay?" He watched as her eyes went white for a minute and suddenly they were falling to the ground.
"Ahhhhh! Damnit, Haruko! What do we do now?!"
"Hehehehehe..........you screamed like a girl!" They sped downwards as Naota grabbed on to her waist. They were rescured by a familier yellow vespa. They landed softly and then Haruko patted the vespa. "Yay! Good vespa! Who's a good vespa? Yes you are! Yes you are!" Haruko began to act really weird as she snuggled with her vespa, but all Naota could do was laugh. She turned to him slowly. "Oooo. Someone's in a good mood..." He leaned back on the vespa and raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Yeah, you got a problem with it, woman?"
"No punk."
"Good. Thought I might haf ta get rought wit you."
They both cracked up laughing and Naota's whole life seemed to get twenty times lighter. Haruko grasped onto the handles and looked back at Naota. "Hold on tight!" With that they shot off with a sonic boom and sped away down the highway. As Haruko made sharp turns and wheelies, Naota wasn't frightened of her driving like he used to be. Instead, he was just glad to get to ride with her again and hear her high-pitched laugh. A few minutes later Haruko stopped abruptly in front of the bakery and then parked with a screech. They hopped off the vespa and Haruko looked over the bakery as they walked towards the front door.
"This place hasn't changed one bit."
"Predictable?"
"Very."
They walked inside and there was a note scribbled by Kamon that said they went to a nearby shelter to look for him. He threw it away as Haruko came into the kitchen. "Did I scare you with the whole tornado thing?" She laughed. Naota grinned and waved. "No way. You're so predictable.." She raised an eyebrow.
"Predictable huh? Well what if I was to suddenly..." She lept onto the kitchen table and began dancing.
"Please, I saw that coming." Naota laughed. She placed her hands on her hips and then hopped down. She leaned close to him and then surveyed his neck.
"How did you get that?"
"Its just a welt..."
"A welt? That's a symbol."
"Huh?" Naota quickly walked out of the kitchen as Haruko walked behind him. He ran into the bathroom and looked at his neck in the mirror. Where the welt had been was now the same symbol of Atomsk. He stared at it for a minute and then touched it softly with his hand. He winced in pain and Haruko saw him shiver.
"Takkun, how did you get that?" She asked softly. He looked down for a moment, thinking. "Uh, how about I tell you later." He said as they walked out of the bathroom. "Kay..oh I almost forgot!" Haruko quickly raced up the stairs and went in his bedroom. Naota followed and when he came in his doorway she was with her Rickenbacker, holding it in awe.
"Takkun! You've taken such good care of it. There's hardly any dust on this at all! Can't believe it..." She grinned. Naota smiled back and then looked away. When he turned to her again he looked concerned.
"Haruko...do..do..you..."
"Hmmm?" She barely looked up since she was still looking over her guitar. He softly placed his hand on her shoulder. "Haruko..do you love me?" He asked as his face blushed. Her eyes widened and she cleared her throat. "Ummmmm..........Like I said, you did a good job of keeping my guitar clean.." She said nervously.
"Haruko, you didn't ans-"
"What time is it?"
"Haruko, answer my-"
"Hey, its really raining outside, look."
"HARUKO! DAMNIT, ANSWER MY QUESTION....PLEASE!" Naota boomed. She seemed to be in a critical thinking moment until she grinned.
"Maaaybe...."
Naota sighed. "Give me a straight answer."
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Cause."
"Cause why?"
"BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO DAMN PUSHY!! SHEESH!" Haruko yelled in his ear. Naota shivered and then scooted away from her. "I missed you a lot, but you're still scary, Haruko.."
She grinned. "I do my best, Takkun."
Haruko grabbed her guitar and began to strum it a little. Naota watched her intently until he remembered what he had told Michiko.
"Hey...uh...Haruko?"
"Yeppers?"
"Would you be my...uh.." A silent moment passed as Haruko strummed her guitar and waited for Naota to finish what he was saying. She had been looking at her guitar while he was speaking so when he did not finish, she finally looked at him. He was asleep on the floor. She laughed for a moment.
"That was awkward, Takkun!" She laughed and then poked at him, but he wouldn't wake up. Outside, the rain came down on the house like pellets and the sky thundered. "Takkun?" He shook him lightly on the shoulders and then looked him over. When she looked at his neck she fell backwards. It took her a moment to regain her posture, and she looked again. The Atomsk symbol on his neck was glowing bright red. Haruko shook her head in worry and looked towards the window.
"I guess..I guess he wasn't kidding..." She said aloud to herself. She looked back at Naota who was looking feverish. She put a hand on his forehead and then an idea came to mind. "Someone's trying to..to! Naota!" She threw her head back and her eyes went pure white as her hand held onto his shoulder. Quickly, she was blasted into a world of darkness. She looked around until she found Naota curled up inside of a cage. She quickly flew over to him and grabbed the steel bars and pulled, but they would not budge.
"Takkun! Don't let them take you! Wake up, Takkun! Now!!" She tried to reach through the bars to grab him, but he was too far. She attempted to reach him again until she was blasted back to the regular world. She fell on Naota's floor with a thump and then slowly sat up, rubbing her head. She looked over and saw Naota wide awake with his eyes widened. His forehead dripped of sweat and he seemed to be out of breath. He looked at Haruko and weakly smiled.
"Haruko...I can barely think...my head hurts...." He said in between breaths. Haruko patted him on the back, smiling. "Takkun....what were you going to tell me before?"
"Oh..I was going to..." Before he could finish, Kamon came into the room. He sighed when he saw Naota. "Oh, Naota...I was afraid that the storm had..." He slowly stopped talking when he saw Haruko. She merely grinned, but not a friendly grin. A secret was concealed under it, something that Kamon wouldn't want to find out.
"Haruko-san? H..Hello! Uh...um...."
"Mon-chan, how ya been? Missed ya!" Her yellow eyes glowed. He stepped back and nodded. Then he weakly smiled at Naota and quickly walked out. Even Naota thought his father was acting more weird than usual.
"What was that all about?" He asked, looking at Haruko. She just chuckled and then laid her head on his shoulder. "I missed you.." She said softly. He blushed. "Really?"
She smiled and yawned. "I'm tired...." She snuggled against him and then acted as if that was were she was going to sleep. He blushed more. "You can still sleep in the top bunk."
"Naw..I'm pretty good right here..."
Naota smiled at her and then closed his eyes. This was no dream. Haruko was finally with him...again.
Later on that evening, Naota and Haruko had fallen asleep as the rain still continued to pour down.
"Nao!!! Some girl's at the door for you!" Naota heard his grandfather shout as he mumbled sleepily. Haruko woke up with a yawn and watched Naota walk towards the door and go out. She followed him downstairs until he came to the doorway. Michiko was standing there, looking so upset that she looked like she just wanted to punch him.
"What were you thinking?! How stupid are you?! How could you?! How...how come you're just fine?!"
He scratched his head sleepily. "Dunno..." He mumbled.
Haruko peeked from behind Naota to get a glimspe of the girl and then looked shocked. Michiko looked at Haruko and then looked back at Naota in horror. Haruko gritted her teeth. "Why are you here?! Why the hell are you here!?" She hissed wickedly.
Michiko stepped back quickly as fear made its home on her face. "I..I....N-Noata why is Raharu..." She began to ask, but he looked taken aback.
"How did you know her real name?! Haruko, why are you so, ahhh!" Haruko shoved him out of the way and charged right into Michiko. She hit the ground outside with a thud as the rain poured down her face. Naota got up quickly. "Haruko! What do you think you're doing?!!"
"I thought I got rid of you for good! Don't act like that! I know its you under all that!!" Haruko shouted as she slammed her fist into Michiko. It caused blood to spill out of her nose and Haruko grinned with satisfaction. "Whatever got you back, it doesn't matter now.." She readied another punch, but Naota grabbed her arm. "Haruko! Stop! She's my friend!! Don't hurt her! She hasn't done anything!" Haruko threw him off her easily. She studied him angrily as she stood up.
"How could you call her a friend?!! Takkun! Open your eyes! She's controlling your mind! She's trying to pry inside of you! Breaking all of your memories apart!!"
Just at that moment, Michiko knocked Haruko off of her with a great kick and wiped the blood off her face as she stood up. She looked at Haruko angrily, even though her legs were shaking with fear. Haruko stood up quickly and growled. She swung at Michiko, who barely managed to dodge. She swung again from the right and plowed into Michiko with such force that Michiko hit the ground hard. She was ready to kill her, Naota could tell as she reached for her, but Michiko grabbed Naota's leg and tripped him onto the ground. He fell beside her and suddenly there was a knife held up to his neck. Michiko looked at Haruko with confidense and grinned. "Don't try anything. I know how much you need this earthling." Haruko trembled with anger and stepped closer, but Michiko pressed the knife closer on Naota's neck. He could feel the cold steel close to piercing his skin. He struggled and looked at Michiko.
"Why are you doing this??!!"
"Shut up!" She shouted as she stood up with his and the blade to his neck still. Haruko's yellow eyes started to glow bright and Michiko looked worried.
"You..You can't do that!! I'll kill 'em!! I will!" She said threatenly. Haruko walked closer to her as Michiko nervously stepped back with Naota. Haruko growled and then reached out to grab her, but suddenly Michiko lifted into the air with Naota and flew off into the sky. Haruko imediatly flew after her. Naota's mind couldn't think straight. All at once the tables had turned and now everything was messed up. Why was Michiko acting so strange? Wasn't she just the shy new girl he had just met?
As they flew rapidly through the sky, the rain soaked into Naota, making him as cold as ice. His body shivered as Michiko flew as fast as she could, trying to escape Haruko who was right behind them. Just as she was inching away, Michiko and Naota were knocked out of the sky with an incredible force. They fell with speed into the dirt. Naota's whole body ached and he tried his best not to pass out from the impact. Michiko groaned beside him and stood up warrily. Her face was covered with dirt, as was Naota's. Haruko landed softly next to Naota while Michiko was distracted, but Haruko seemed to be distracted too. She sat down with Naota on the ground.
"Please...just don't make a sound...." She whispered to him. He looked at her in confusment and then turned to see what she was looking at. He gasped at the figure. It was the same man who was in his dream. He landed softly on the ground in front of a horrified Michiko. His body looked like that of a great eagle's and his wings were slowly tucked behind his back. Naota watched with amazment as his body changed into a human's body, but still looked powerful none the less.
Haruko looked speechless.
"Atomsk........."
Naota could barely keep his breathing right. There she was, right in front of him. He had been missing her for so long. Thinking of her for so long and finally she arrived.
"Whoowho! What a day. My vespa gave me crap so I thought traveling in this convient little twister would help. How's my little Takkun?" She grinned. Naota threw his arms around her and held her close to him. "Haruko! I missed you so much!" He shouted happily. Finally he felt happy again, which he hadn't felt for quite a while. Haruko patted his head. "Missed you too, Takkun..." They sat there for a while in a silent bliss as Naota held her. Finally Haruko smiled at him.
"Let's get out of here, kay?" He watched as her eyes went white for a minute and suddenly they were falling to the ground.
"Ahhhhh! Damnit, Haruko! What do we do now?!"
"Hehehehehe..........you screamed like a girl!" They sped downwards as Naota grabbed on to her waist. They were rescured by a familier yellow vespa. They landed softly and then Haruko patted the vespa. "Yay! Good vespa! Who's a good vespa? Yes you are! Yes you are!" Haruko began to act really weird as she snuggled with her vespa, but all Naota could do was laugh. She turned to him slowly. "Oooo. Someone's in a good mood..." He leaned back on the vespa and raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Yeah, you got a problem with it, woman?"
"No punk."
"Good. Thought I might haf ta get rought wit you."
They both cracked up laughing and Naota's whole life seemed to get twenty times lighter. Haruko grasped onto the handles and looked back at Naota. "Hold on tight!" With that they shot off with a sonic boom and sped away down the highway. As Haruko made sharp turns and wheelies, Naota wasn't frightened of her driving like he used to be. Instead, he was just glad to get to ride with her again and hear her high-pitched laugh. A few minutes later Haruko stopped abruptly in front of the bakery and then parked with a screech. They hopped off the vespa and Haruko looked over the bakery as they walked towards the front door.
"This place hasn't changed one bit."
"Predictable?"
"Very."
They walked inside and there was a note scribbled by Kamon that said they went to a nearby shelter to look for him. He threw it away as Haruko came into the kitchen. "Did I scare you with the whole tornado thing?" She laughed. Naota grinned and waved. "No way. You're so predictable.." She raised an eyebrow.
"Predictable huh? Well what if I was to suddenly..." She lept onto the kitchen table and began dancing.
"Please, I saw that coming." Naota laughed. She placed her hands on her hips and then hopped down. She leaned close to him and then surveyed his neck.
"How did you get that?"
"Its just a welt..."
"A welt? That's a symbol."
"Huh?" Naota quickly walked out of the kitchen as Haruko walked behind him. He ran into the bathroom and looked at his neck in the mirror. Where the welt had been was now the same symbol of Atomsk. He stared at it for a minute and then touched it softly with his hand. He winced in pain and Haruko saw him shiver.
"Takkun, how did you get that?" She asked softly. He looked down for a moment, thinking. "Uh, how about I tell you later." He said as they walked out of the bathroom. "Kay..oh I almost forgot!" Haruko quickly raced up the stairs and went in his bedroom. Naota followed and when he came in his doorway she was with her Rickenbacker, holding it in awe.
"Takkun! You've taken such good care of it. There's hardly any dust on this at all! Can't believe it..." She grinned. Naota smiled back and then looked away. When he turned to her again he looked concerned.
"Haruko...do..do..you..."
"Hmmm?" She barely looked up since she was still looking over her guitar. He softly placed his hand on her shoulder. "Haruko..do you love me?" He asked as his face blushed. Her eyes widened and she cleared her throat. "Ummmmm..........Like I said, you did a good job of keeping my guitar clean.." She said nervously.
"Haruko, you didn't ans-"
"What time is it?"
"Haruko, answer my-"
"Hey, its really raining outside, look."
"HARUKO! DAMNIT, ANSWER MY QUESTION....PLEASE!" Naota boomed. She seemed to be in a critical thinking moment until she grinned.
"Maaaybe...."
Naota sighed. "Give me a straight answer."
"No."
"Why not?!"
"Cause."
"Cause why?"
"BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO DAMN PUSHY!! SHEESH!" Haruko yelled in his ear. Naota shivered and then scooted away from her. "I missed you a lot, but you're still scary, Haruko.."
She grinned. "I do my best, Takkun."
Haruko grabbed her guitar and began to strum it a little. Naota watched her intently until he remembered what he had told Michiko.
"Hey...uh...Haruko?"
"Yeppers?"
"Would you be my...uh.." A silent moment passed as Haruko strummed her guitar and waited for Naota to finish what he was saying. She had been looking at her guitar while he was speaking so when he did not finish, she finally looked at him. He was asleep on the floor. She laughed for a moment.
"That was awkward, Takkun!" She laughed and then poked at him, but he wouldn't wake up. Outside, the rain came down on the house like pellets and the sky thundered. "Takkun?" He shook him lightly on the shoulders and then looked him over. When she looked at his neck she fell backwards. It took her a moment to regain her posture, and she looked again. The Atomsk symbol on his neck was glowing bright red. Haruko shook her head in worry and looked towards the window.
"I guess..I guess he wasn't kidding..." She said aloud to herself. She looked back at Naota who was looking feverish. She put a hand on his forehead and then an idea came to mind. "Someone's trying to..to! Naota!" She threw her head back and her eyes went pure white as her hand held onto his shoulder. Quickly, she was blasted into a world of darkness. She looked around until she found Naota curled up inside of a cage. She quickly flew over to him and grabbed the steel bars and pulled, but they would not budge.
"Takkun! Don't let them take you! Wake up, Takkun! Now!!" She tried to reach through the bars to grab him, but he was too far. She attempted to reach him again until she was blasted back to the regular world. She fell on Naota's floor with a thump and then slowly sat up, rubbing her head. She looked over and saw Naota wide awake with his eyes widened. His forehead dripped of sweat and he seemed to be out of breath. He looked at Haruko and weakly smiled.
"Haruko...I can barely think...my head hurts...." He said in between breaths. Haruko patted him on the back, smiling. "Takkun....what were you going to tell me before?"
"Oh..I was going to..." Before he could finish, Kamon came into the room. He sighed when he saw Naota. "Oh, Naota...I was afraid that the storm had..." He slowly stopped talking when he saw Haruko. She merely grinned, but not a friendly grin. A secret was concealed under it, something that Kamon wouldn't want to find out.
"Haruko-san? H..Hello! Uh...um...."
"Mon-chan, how ya been? Missed ya!" Her yellow eyes glowed. He stepped back and nodded. Then he weakly smiled at Naota and quickly walked out. Even Naota thought his father was acting more weird than usual.
"What was that all about?" He asked, looking at Haruko. She just chuckled and then laid her head on his shoulder. "I missed you.." She said softly. He blushed. "Really?"
She smiled and yawned. "I'm tired...." She snuggled against him and then acted as if that was were she was going to sleep. He blushed more. "You can still sleep in the top bunk."
"Naw..I'm pretty good right here..."
Naota smiled at her and then closed his eyes. This was no dream. Haruko was finally with him...again.
Later on that evening, Naota and Haruko had fallen asleep as the rain still continued to pour down.
"Nao!!! Some girl's at the door for you!" Naota heard his grandfather shout as he mumbled sleepily. Haruko woke up with a yawn and watched Naota walk towards the door and go out. She followed him downstairs until he came to the doorway. Michiko was standing there, looking so upset that she looked like she just wanted to punch him.
"What were you thinking?! How stupid are you?! How could you?! How...how come you're just fine?!"
He scratched his head sleepily. "Dunno..." He mumbled.
Haruko peeked from behind Naota to get a glimspe of the girl and then looked shocked. Michiko looked at Haruko and then looked back at Naota in horror. Haruko gritted her teeth. "Why are you here?! Why the hell are you here!?" She hissed wickedly.
Michiko stepped back quickly as fear made its home on her face. "I..I....N-Noata why is Raharu..." She began to ask, but he looked taken aback.
"How did you know her real name?! Haruko, why are you so, ahhh!" Haruko shoved him out of the way and charged right into Michiko. She hit the ground outside with a thud as the rain poured down her face. Naota got up quickly. "Haruko! What do you think you're doing?!!"
"I thought I got rid of you for good! Don't act like that! I know its you under all that!!" Haruko shouted as she slammed her fist into Michiko. It caused blood to spill out of her nose and Haruko grinned with satisfaction. "Whatever got you back, it doesn't matter now.." She readied another punch, but Naota grabbed her arm. "Haruko! Stop! She's my friend!! Don't hurt her! She hasn't done anything!" Haruko threw him off her easily. She studied him angrily as she stood up.
"How could you call her a friend?!! Takkun! Open your eyes! She's controlling your mind! She's trying to pry inside of you! Breaking all of your memories apart!!"
Just at that moment, Michiko knocked Haruko off of her with a great kick and wiped the blood off her face as she stood up. She looked at Haruko angrily, even though her legs were shaking with fear. Haruko stood up quickly and growled. She swung at Michiko, who barely managed to dodge. She swung again from the right and plowed into Michiko with such force that Michiko hit the ground hard. She was ready to kill her, Naota could tell as she reached for her, but Michiko grabbed Naota's leg and tripped him onto the ground. He fell beside her and suddenly there was a knife held up to his neck. Michiko looked at Haruko with confidense and grinned. "Don't try anything. I know how much you need this earthling." Haruko trembled with anger and stepped closer, but Michiko pressed the knife closer on Naota's neck. He could feel the cold steel close to piercing his skin. He struggled and looked at Michiko.
"Why are you doing this??!!"
"Shut up!" She shouted as she stood up with his and the blade to his neck still. Haruko's yellow eyes started to glow bright and Michiko looked worried.
"You..You can't do that!! I'll kill 'em!! I will!" She said threatenly. Haruko walked closer to her as Michiko nervously stepped back with Naota. Haruko growled and then reached out to grab her, but suddenly Michiko lifted into the air with Naota and flew off into the sky. Haruko imediatly flew after her. Naota's mind couldn't think straight. All at once the tables had turned and now everything was messed up. Why was Michiko acting so strange? Wasn't she just the shy new girl he had just met?
As they flew rapidly through the sky, the rain soaked into Naota, making him as cold as ice. His body shivered as Michiko flew as fast as she could, trying to escape Haruko who was right behind them. Just as she was inching away, Michiko and Naota were knocked out of the sky with an incredible force. They fell with speed into the dirt. Naota's whole body ached and he tried his best not to pass out from the impact. Michiko groaned beside him and stood up warrily. Her face was covered with dirt, as was Naota's. Haruko landed softly next to Naota while Michiko was distracted, but Haruko seemed to be distracted too. She sat down with Naota on the ground.
"Please...just don't make a sound...." She whispered to him. He looked at her in confusment and then turned to see what she was looking at. He gasped at the figure. It was the same man who was in his dream. He landed softly on the ground in front of a horrified Michiko. His body looked like that of a great eagle's and his wings were slowly tucked behind his back. Naota watched with amazment as his body changed into a human's body, but still looked powerful none the less.
Haruko looked speechless.
"Atomsk........."