Sorry I'm a little late, but here's the next chapter!! Also go check out my new fanfic, you'll like it if you love the anime Diabolik Lovers.
Akako's POV
I feel tears stream down my face, but soon hear a voice that can comfort me. "Akako?" I look up and listen to make sure that I heard correctly.
"Ruka-pyon?" I whisper, not wanting unwanted people coming near me. "Akako, are you in there?" I hear a muffled knock and I take the barrier down.
"Ruka!" I cry in relief as I jump on him. I hold onto him tightly, not wanting to be left alone. "Ne, Akako? Are you alright?" He pats my back and I take a step away.
"Hai." I smile at him, he smiles back and starts to turn away. I panic slightly and grip onto his arm, "D-don't leave me alone." I stutter, and don't let his arm go.
"I'm here, Akako-chan." He pats my arm and we walk while I cling to his arm.
"We have to find Natsume and Mikan-chan." He says and I look at him in shock, "They aren't with you?"
"No. We all got separated." He says and we walk down another corridor as others see us. "Akako-chan!!" Class rep comes up to me, "Eh? What's wrong?" He looks worriedly at me.
"Nothing..." I trail off, my eyes must be slightly red and puffy.
"Hey, I think they're over here!" Hotaru calls out. Me and Ruka fast walk over there, but I still haven't let go of his arm.
I don't want to be left alone in here. We come to a wall where we hear noise coming from behind. Me and Ruka push the wall and it falls, a gust of dirt flows up from the ground and I leach myself onto Ruka. As soon as the air is cleared we look and see something very disturbing. Mikan is on top of Natsume on the ground in a very inappropriate position. We all freeze and stare in shock.
"What... are you guys doing?!" Ruka asks. Mikan looks confused and then looks down at Natsume, "Eeeeh? No!" She says and gets off of him.
"Geez polka-dots, stop trying to seduce me when no one is around." Natsume says and sits up.
Mikan's face goes red and she screams at him. I ignore the noise and look at the ground.
"Ruka-pyon.... can we leave now?" I look up at him, he looks down in shock and remembers how I don't want to be in here. He nods and I keep leeched onto his side, as we exit the haunted house. As we walk away, I can feel eyes on my back.
I don't let go and I don't want to. I know I keep repeating this, but I can't stand to be alone, and right now Ruka is the closest life source that I can cling to.
We walk into the forest and we sit down. "Akako... what happened?" He asks. It takes me a while, but I finally answer him.
"Someone locked me in a small dark closet... there was no light. I fainted from hyperventilation." I say as tears well up in my eyes.
My heart rate increases and he hands me his bunny friend. It hops onto my lap and I lean onto Ruka and start crying. He side hugs me and we stay like that.
Eventually my eyes dry out and my head hurts from all of the crying. "Akako." Ruka grabs my attention, but he's not looking at me, he's looking at the ground. "How long ago was this?"
"A long time... I was seven." I try my best to push those memories to the back of my head. I see a tear fall from his face, "Ruka-pyon?" I look at him in worry.
"I'm sorry, Akako-chan. You suffered this and I wasn't able to help or protect you at the time." He says as his face twists into one of anger and sorrow.
"I should have been there. I should have been here." He hits the ground. I look at him wondering how I deserved such a good person in my life.
Sakamoto-ObaChan always told me that actions speak louder than words. I get onto my knees and wrap my arms around Ruka. He goes stiff, but I don't let go, "I'm so happy to have Ruka-pyon in my life." I say as I tighten my hug on him. His arms slowly wrap around me and we hug for a while.
I stand up and hold a hand out for him, "Let's head back, Ruka~pyon! We don't want anyone worrying about us. And crying won't change the past, it's not good to dwell on things that can't be changed." I smile at him.
"So let's go have fun, okay?" He looks up at me with a shocked face, but it soon morphs into a smile as well.
"Hai."
"Everything is better when we smile. Let's keep the day happy and laugh through it." I say as I pull him out of the forest.
I see Mikan, Natsume, and Hotaru standing by a building and I wave at them, "Akako-chan!" Mikan calls out.
"Here we are!" I giggle.
///
"Today was the best I think it's ever been." I smile as the sun sets. Ruka and I are walking while I look at the golden orb that's so far away.
"Even though we all fight and bicker, it makes me happy to have everyone around." I smile at the thought of everyone arguing earlier. "Even if they may fight and cause a lot of ruckus, it's amazing how you can be happy just my people's presence. Even if they scream and insult each other."
Ruka chuckles at the last comment.
"After you left... me and Natsume talked about my dream of becoming veterinarian." He says. "We would live somewhere that no one could bother us. A place that had a lot of space for me to take care of animals."
"Someday.. in the future..." he looks at the sun with shining eyes.
"That is such an amazing dream!" I exclaim, he looks at me in surprise as if he forgot I was there. "It's sure to become a reality." I smile at him.
"I know it." We stand there for a moment before I hear someone shouting. I turn and see my friends standing and waving at me.
"Akako-chan!" Mikan waves at me. A goofy grin spreads across my face, "Are you coming, Ruka-pyon?"
"No. I will in a little." I nod and run towards everyone. Hotaru, Mikan, classrep, Koko, Anna, nonoko, even sumire! I catch up with them.
"Hey, let's go get dinner!" Mikan suggests. "Hai! I'm very hungry!" I giggle and hold my growling stomach.
"You two should really stop eating so much. It's like it goes down and disappears." Sumire scolds.
We all laugh as we walk, heading off to a place where we all can stay together, happy. Even if it's not the safest place, it's the place that we hold our happiness in.
///
"Wait." I raise my hand to get everyone's attention. "Isn't today the somatic classes play?" I put a finger on my chin in thought.
"Hai! You're right, Akako-chan!" Class rep exclaims at my statement. "I wonder what it's gonna be this year..." others agree.
I see Ruka in the hall way and then quickly leave, "Ruka-pyon!" I say and chase after him. Others follow me and we all stand behind him as he glares at us.
"Don't come to the play." He says and starts to walk away. We nod, not really promising anything and follow him as he takes a few more steps forward. "I mean it! You guys better not come!" We nod again and he runs off.
"Let's go!" Me and Mikan cheer.
We make our way to the auditorium and walk aeound backstage, looking for the dressing rooms. "It has to be around here somewhere." I say as we all look around the hall signs.
"There!" Mikan points to a sign that says staff only.
We open the door and all peek in, "Oh, wow!" We all exclaim.
"Ooh! That dress is pretty!" I point at the blonde in a beautiful dress. "I bet that's the person who's playing the princess." Mikan says as she walks forward.
"Excuse us, ma'am. Do you know where Ruka-pyon is?" I put a hand on her shoulder but she walks away, "Umm. No!" The person says.
"Eh? Ruka?! You're playing the princess?!" I shout in surprise.
"Get out! I told you guys not to come!" He shouts as his face becomes red.
There's a flash beside him and he looks over to see Hotaru holding a camera.
"Hello everyone, I'm glad you all could make it!" We turn around and see Narumi-Sensei standing in a directors outfit. "Narumi-Sensei, this is for the actors." Koko says as he hands him sweets for them to snack on.
"Thank you, Koko-kun." He smiles.
"Ne, Ruka! Can I take a picture with you later?" I jump at him. "Me too!" Mikan comes up to us.
"S-Shut up!" He shouts at us and stomps away. "Aww. He gave us the cold shoulder." Mikan pouts.
"Hey! I told you to stop taking pictures!" Ruka shouts as Hotaru keeps clicking away. "Stop that! Imai, get backs here!" Ruka chases her as she keeps taking pictures of him dressed as a girl.
We all walk around backstage and see the set for the play. "Wow, this is amazing! I've never been backstage before!" Mikan's eyes sparkle as I giggle at the little boys playing as the dwarfs.
"What kind of play is it?" Nonoko asks Narumi-Sensei. "Hai, I don't even know the plot." I walk towards them.
"Well, as you can see... the play is basically a cross between sleeping beauty and Snow White." He explains.
"That sounds amazing!" I coo. I look around and start to play with the little boys who are playing the dwarfs. Narumi Sensei explains to Mikan about the girl who is playing the prince, but I'm having too much fun with the little boys. "We've worked really hard, I hope it comes out a success." One mumbles.
"You aren't scared, are you?" I bend down, his face turns pink and I giggle, "It's okay to get jittery. But you said that you've worked hard, so it's bound to work out!" I pat his head.
My head turns as I hear Ruka yelling at Hotaru. I start to walk over to try and get them to calm down when there's a collision, "Gimme a final check on the fans, please." Someone says.
The fan starts to blow and the slime balls fly everywhere, they start to hit people causing them to get stuck to each other and other things, as one comes my way I use a gust of wind to protect myself.
Everyone struggles and I try and help a guy who is stuck to the floor. "Sorry, my bad for bringing the slime balls." I hear Koko apologize.
Him and Kitsuneme apologize and I walk over. "Hmm. This isn't good." Narumi-Sensei sighs. "Looks like it got Yuri as well." He refers to the prince who has fangirling Anna and Nonoko stuck to her.
"They won't come off." She states as Anna and Nonoko smile in glee, "Please stay by our sides like this forever!" Anna pleads.
"Why would you bring something like that in here?" Mikan turns to Koko. He doesn't answer, seeming guilty.
"It seems to have hit other actors as well." Sensei looks at all of the mess. "Isn't there any way we can get it unstuck?" Hopeful, I ask.
"Sadly no. The slime ball has effects for about two hours." He explains. "The performance slot will be over by then."
"Oh no." I look around.
"Hey, Naru." We all turn around to see Natsume holding hands with one of the dwarfs. "It's a slime ball." Narumi tells him. "This is bad... Hey, Natsume-kun! He is one of the seven dwarfs, so could you go on stage as an animal who lives in the forest?" Narumi asks, trying to fix everything.
"Screw you and your cat idea. I should beat you senseless." Natsume glares at the older man.
"But Natsume, this kid has worked so hard! The least you could do is this." I walk up towards him.
"No way. Why should I help that creep out?" he refers to Sensei.
"How harsh. Well then... I guess we'll have to have the seven dwarfs changed to the six dwarfs." He looks at the little boy with a comforting smile, "You'll have to watch the play from the audience with Natsume."
"But I practiced so hard..." he starts to cry. I look at the boy in pity and rub his shoulders.
Natsume starts to walk away when Mikan runs up as well, "Natsume, you jerk! You could be a little more helpful!" She hides behind me, as if she's scared he will harm her.
We gather all of the students that weren't hit with sticky balls and Narumi-Sensei starts assigning parts.
"Looks like it's all going to work out okay." Mikan smiles, "I will play the part of the hunter." Sensei states.
"And you two..." he looks at me and Mikan. "Oh no, we couldn't possibly..." I start to back away.
"Stop trying to chicken out." I look over and see something I never expected.
"Natsume... that outfit?" I look at him.
"The vicious Hyūga Natsume... wearing an adorable outfit!" Other girls coo.
I smile and look at Natsume who is dressed up as a cat with whiskers and a tail.
All of a sudden the other girls get scared, "He'll kill us if we laugh." They all say, but I'm too busy enjoy the moment.
I giggle as I walk up to him, Mikan right behind me, smiling while holding onto my shoulder. I start to laugh harder and I start to pet his head, "Natsume, you look so cute!" I shout.
"You and Ruka-pyon are equal in cuteness!" I say as Mikan giggles as well. "Cat ears, cat ears!" I start to fiddle with the ears on his head.
All of a sudden a hand pops up in front of my face. I get flicked and hold it while I go to the ground. Landing on Mikan, I hold my forehead as it stings, "What was that for?!" I shout.
"Never call a guy 'cute'." He says. "That aside, you better get dressed as well."
I look up in confusion, "Huh?" He ignores me, "Hey, Naru. She'll play the prince. Got it?"
"Good thinking! What a nice idea!" Narumi comes up to us. "We can split the play in half and Mikan can play the first part while Akako plays the second part!" He exclaims.
"Eh?!" We both scream. "How did I get pulled in?!" Mikan points at herself.
"Well, it'd be too hard for Akako to learn such a big role in a small amount of time. So to make it easy, you two only need to learn half." He explains. "We'll need to change Akako-chans hair color though." He points at me.
"Why can't we change Mikan's?" I pout, pointing at my sister for her to go through the trouble.
"Mikan's hair color may be light, but it's darker than yours, which is a blonde. So yours will be easier to dye." He says and shoos is off to get ready.
Ooooooooh, great.