Intensity Within

(Ah, okay. That makes sense, I guess. You're okay, though, right?)

Kaname almost panicked at seeing the tears falling down her cheeks and he couldn't understand why she was crying. Had he said something wrong again? Why did he always seem to do that around Sakura? Unsure of what really got into him, he quickly moved closer to wipe the tears from her face, being as gentle as he could manage, though he blinked to her questions and nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's why, sort of. It's a bit more elaborate than that, though, which is why I wanted to spend a little time with you after classes tonight," he explained quietly. "But it wasn't just to convince you to go to the ball with me. I just want you to see that I'm not a terrible person."

---

Rina chewed on her lip as she stared in the direction that they had left the others. "Maybe," she murmured quietly, though she honestly wasn't completely sure. She didn't want to interrupt them if they were talking about something important, but she also didn't want her friend to get hurt by anything Kaname might say. "I really don't know, Takuma."

@ momentai.
(Yeah, don't worry about me. It'd nothing I'm not used to by now.)

Takuma chewed his lip and nervously rubbed his thumb back and forth on the smooth skin of the back if Rina's hand. "I don't know either," he finally said. "If they're not caught up by the time the rest of the Night Class start filing out, we go back for them?" He spoke the sentence like it was both a statement and a question because Takuma really wasn't sure what to do because their friends could be in the middle of a break through in their relationship and Takuma didn't want to screw with that.

---

Sakura's skin burned with the most comfortable fire she'd ever felt when Kaname's fingers brushed feather-lightly across her cheeks to collect tears she hadn't realized had fallen. At his words a fire bloomed from within her chest too, it was like she was alight from both the inside and out but no one could see. "Kaname I..." What could she say? That she didn't think that he was a terrible person? Up until just a few heartbeats ago, she slightly did think and feel that way. But now... Standing close enough to him that she could smell the faintest traces of a cologne that made her swoon a little, she really didn't think he was so bad. With just as light a touch he had brushed her tears away with, Sakura lifted a hand to gently take hold of Kaname's hand that lingered by her damp cheek. "You aren't a terrible person."

(Ah, alright. If you're sure. :) )

Kaname was surprised to feel her take hold of his hand and he could feel a warm happiness flow in his veins at hearing her words. Knowing that she didn't think he was a terrible person made his heart lighter, the weight on his shoulders lifting in the slightest. "I'm glad you think that," he murmured honestly, giving her hand the gentlest of squeezes whilst using the gesture to draw her a little closer at the same time. "I still feel the need to prove it, though."

---

Rina couldn't help but find a bit of comfort in the feeling of Takuma's thumb running along the back of her hand. She could tell he was a little uncertain and she nodded, giving his hand a light squeeze in hopes of easing his worries - as well as easing her own. "Yeah, let's do that. It shouldn't take them too long to catch up, after all, so I think that's enough time to let them talk if that's what they're doing," she decided quietly.

@ momentai.
(Sorry it's so short)

"Right," mumbled Takuma. He was worried for both of them, they were both easily his closest friends and the last thing he wanted was for one of them to get hurt by the words and actions of the other. Takuma tried to image what they could be talking about too, it wasn't like Kaname was good at expressing himself and Sakura wanted to make Kaname uncomfortable by not giving him and answer about the ball yet... "What do you think they could be talking about?"

Sakura felt her heart rate pick up as Kaname subtly drew her closer to him. She wanted to mentally scold herself for letting her guard down but in that moment, with his fingers gently on her cheek and Sakura touching his hand to her own, she just couldn't. At his words she felt curiosity flood her system, "And how do you plan to do that?"

(No worries!)

Kaname could see the curiosity in her eyes and he almost chuckled, though he instead shook his head. "Now, if I told you how I plan on doing that, it wouldn't be much of a surprise, would it?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. Not only that, but she might not care for his plan at all, since she had already mentioned something about how silly gifts wouldn't work. Was that true? Would she really not like gifts that he gave her? He only wanted to spoil her, if only a little.

---

Rina thought over his question, remaining silent for a long time. What could those two be talking about, if they were talking at all? For all they knew, the two could have gone their separate ways entirely. Sighing, she pushed the thought aside and tried to concentrate on the actual question before she shrugged. "I don't know. The ball, Kaname's behavior, there's really a lot that they could be talking about," she murmured quietly.

@ momentai.

Takuma began walking to the tree line and gently pulling along Rina by her hand, "It's killing me not to know, let's go find out." Takuma was really worried one of them was getting hurt by the other so putting his natural curiosity beside he really wanted to know because he cared about the two of them so much. "If we see them and they're still standing together we can hide in the bushes to watch and make sure they're okay."

---

Sakura instantly pouted and, although she didn't let go, she dropped their hands in annoyance to stop touching her cheek and to just hang down connected loosely by their sides. "Surprises are only fun for the one planning it," she complained as she stayed close and looked up at him with her big blue eyes. "Can't you give me a hint? Just a tiny, little one?"

Kaname blinked, mentally wondering if it was true that surprises were only fun for the whoever was busy planning the surprise. He found himself doubtful, though, because he was pretty sure that the one on the receiving end of the surprise generally had fun with it, too. The only problem was that they usually weren't aware that there would be a surprise in the first place. "If I give you a hint, you'll figure it out," he said with a shrug, because he knew that she was smart enough to do so. "That wouldn't be very fair, either."

---

Rina blinked as she followed after him, though she was a little cautious about the idea. "So... We're going to spy on them? What if they're kissing or something?" she asked with an eyebrow arched in slight curiosity. Of course, she found it doubtful that they would be kissing, but it was actually a possibility since Sakura clearly liked Kaname (as much as she refused to admit it) and Kaname clearly felt the same for Sakura (even if he was an idiot about it.)

@ momentai.

"Don't think of it as spying," said Takuma quietly as they moved. At her following comment, Takuma looked at Rina like she was insane when she voiced the possibility of them kissing. "Rina, I didn't think I'd ever say this to you and please don't take this the wrong way, but up that's the craziest thing I've ever heard you say." He picked up the pace, his worried thoughts only getting the best of him. "They can hardly stand to be in the same room with each other for too long a time, I highly, highly doubt they're kissing."

---

Sakura pursed her lips and subconsciously she pulled her hand away from his, almost like she was punishing him, and put her hands on her hips. "That's annoying. You know, I still haven't given you an official answer, being annoying isn't going to help you get anywhere with that." Her tone was annoyed but there was a hidden bit of playfulness there too as she spoke. Sakura still stood close to him and if she were honest with herself, wanted to get closed but there was no way she'd A. Actually admit to that and B. Actually do it.

Kaname lifted his shoulders in just the slightest of shrugs. "Well, I can guarantee that you won't be nearly as annoyed once we get through with the surprise," he said simply, though he was fairly certain of it. Or, at least, he hoped that he was right, anyways. Otherwise, he'd feel like he'd need to find another way to prove himself, a better way - and he wasn't sure how to do that because he didn't usually go through things like this. "I'm sure it will be well worth the wait, regardless of if you find it annoying or not."

---

Rina rolled her eyes slightly in response to his words. "Am I the only one who heard Kaname say that Sakura was beautiful?" she asked bluntly. "Besides, if you knew what I know, you'd be agreeing with me. Of course, there's no way I'll ever give up that information." She shrugged slightly before turning her attention ahead. She was serious about keeping the information to herself, though - because Sakura had yet to fully admit her attraction, for one. And then there was the fact that it was Sakura's business, not her own, to tell.

@ momentai.

Takuma shook his head, "I'm afraid Kaname might have only said that because I was poking at him." They were getting close enough so that Takuma could faintly see two figures, one with their hands on their hips and Takuma that one most certainly wasn't Kaname. "What information do you have and what do I have to do in order for you to tell me?" They got close enough that they could see the incredibly annoyed look on Sakura's face before they hid in the bushes to listen in. "See?" Takuma whispered. "She's annoyed."

---

Sakura exhaled in a huff, clearly annoyed before she threw her arms up in defeat. "Oh, you guarantee it do you? You're a piece of work, Kaname Kuran," she then turned and began to take a step away from him and instantly felt colder and secretly wanted to circle back or have him move closer like he had last time. The closer Sakura let herself get to Kaname in the physical, mental and emotional sense of the word, the more she didn't want to put the distance back between the and the more she refused to admit it to herself.

Kaname frowned slightly as he eyed her. Had he already ruined it, without even meaning to? He had only been trying to get her to see that he was sure she would like the surprise he was planning. So why had it been ruined so quickly? And so easily at that? "I didn't mean it like that, Sakura," he murmured as he tried to move closer to her, hoping she wouldn't distance herself further from him. "I just wanted you to know that I really tried with this surprise, so I figured it would be worth it."

---

Rina rolled her eyes slightly and smirked over at Takuma. "Hey, I'm not telling you anything that I know," she decided with a serious nod before she turned her attention towards the other two. "That's hardly saying anything. Kaname annoys everybody, anyways." It didn't mean that there wasn't obvious chemistry between the two, regardless of how they could annoy each other.

@ momentai.

Takuma frowned at Rina's denial to tell him anything and he had to fight in a laugh at her comment about Kaname annoying everyone because it was sadly true whether or not people actually said it. "I wonder what they're saying," he whispered as Sakura turned away from Kaname only to have in almost instantly try to close the space again. "What if he hurting her feelings again? Should we step in?" Takuma began to worry again and he felt anxiety flood his system.

---

Sakura was surprised to hear the soft tone in Kaname's voice again and she didn't move away from him anymore when she say him trying to come close again. Instead she turned and crossed her arms to stop herself from succumbing to the hidden desire to hold his hand again. As she looked into his eyes she could see he really was telling the truth, "You've put a lot of thought into his haven't you? Why?"

Kaname watched her quietly, though he soon nodded. "Of course I have," he told her honestly, tilting his head in the slightest. He wished she could see just how much effort he had put into everything. What if it still had no effect on her, though? Or if she thought that he was still trying to just win her over because she was a challenge - when she wasn't to him? With a sigh, he let his head hang as he tried to think of proper words to use in response to her. "I just want to earn your approval. I don't want you to just hate me because of my lack of knowing how to properly act around others."

---

Rina watched the two with curiosity, though she shook her head slightly as she watched Kaname's movements, his body language clearly looking both determined and... Was that a bit of insecurity, too? She wasn't sure, but that's what it seemed like. "I don't think he's hurting her feelings," she murmured quietly, "Or, if he is, he's not trying to. Look, Sakura's posture is guarded, whereas Kaname's is more open as if trying to get her attention - that's not something somebody who's trying to hurt somebody else does."

@ momentai.

"Are you sure?" Takuma just couldn't imagine what would happen if one of the two of them hurt the other because they were both so close to heart, and so was Rina. The three of them were who he held closest and he couldn't even begin to fathom the idea of them hurting each other, whether it be on purpose or by accident. "What do you think they're saying then, if what you said is true?"

---

When Kaname hung his head, Sakura instantly felt a need to embrace him and make him feel better, though if course she shoved that feeling in a back corner. When he sighed and spoke Sakura heard what she thought were hints of something she hadn't from him before. "Hey," she cooed softly before she slowly unfolded her arms and gently put her delicate finger under his chin. Sakura made him look at her by moving chin and when she finally caught his eyes she slowly dropped her fingers from his chin to let her hand rest softly on his chest. "Listen to me and trust me when I say I do not hate you."

Kaname, admittedly, was rather surprised by Sakura's actions. Though she had already said that she didn't think he was a terrible person, it still worried him that he could say just one thing wrong and that it would ruin absolutely everything. It wasn't something that he wanted to think about, but he knew it was likely because he was terrible with talking to people unless he had no worries of what they thought of him. He actually cared what Sakura thought, though, and he sighed before lifting his hand to place over hers that was on his chest. "You say that, but I can't help but feel that I keep saying the wrong things," he said honestly.

---

Rina was about to reply to Takuma but blinked when she spotted Sakura's movements, eyeing the two carefully. "I don't know," she eventually murmured. "But, by the fact that Sakura's hand is now on his chest, I'm pretty sure something's definitely going on." Maybe she was interpreting too far into everything, but she was pretty used to having to read body language. When her family took care of former-human vampires, it was especially important to pay attention to body language to see how close they were to falling to Level E.

@ momentai.

Takuma's senses went on high alert as Sakura first touched Kaname's chin and then his chest. What the heck were they talking about that prompted her to do something like that? Takuma would have easier accepted Sakura slapping Kaname on the face then gently caressing it. "Yeah, but what is what I want to know."

---

Sakura sighed and let a worried look cross her face, she didn't want him to feel that way. Maybe she'd been too hard on him at first but now was different whether she wanted to admit it or not. "Then tell me what to do to change that," her voice turned into a soft whisper. "Because I'm telling you the truth, I don't hate you. I..." Sakura let her eyes drop from his, she slipped her hand out from under his and hugged herself as she suddenly felt overwhelmingly insecure and unsure of herself. "I couldn't hate you even if I tried to, Kaname."

Kaname blinked several times to her words as he turned his gaze to her. What could she do to change it? Anything that he could offer as an answer would seem too selfish. He could request her to just agree to going to the ball with him. Selfish. He could request her to give him a chance outside of the ball. Selfish. Really, what could possibly be done to fix anything? Sighing, he watched her as she hugged herself. "I don't think I could bear you hating me, Sakura," he told her gently, tempted to take a step towards her and engulf her in his arms, but refraining from doing so because he didn't want to invade her personal space any more than he already had. "I wish I could just get you to see that I really do care for you, that I'm not making it up."

---

"You're really nosy, aren't you?" Rina asked jokingly as she grinned over at him. Shaking her head, she returned her attention to the other two, though with just the moment that she had glanced towards Takuma, they were already away from each other again, Sakura with her arms around herself and Kaname looking conflicted over what to do. She almost wanted to rush out and push the two together in hopes of getting them to realize that they were attracted to each other, but she refrained from doing so.

@ momentai.

Takuma held in a chuckle, instead he just smiled widely, "You're one to talk. You look ready to launch yourself over there. What are you thinking in that beautiful head of yours, Rina?" Takuma moved his eyes from Kaname and Sakura to look at the stunning girl beside him, he was so caught up in his worry for those two he'd abandoned thoughts of Rina and just forced her along.

---

Sakura sighed, a little in frustration. Sakura knew deep down that she should take most of the blame for their really rough relationship to date. If she could have just pushed aside her big ego and stubbornness and just treated Kaname like everyone else did they wouldn't be where they were now. She could help but to raise her voice a little from it, "And I wish I could get you to see that I just can't bring myself to hate you, I'm not making that up either."

Kaname was a little surprised with the raised voice and he eyed her carefully, blinking several times. "Not for lack of trying, I assume?" he asked, his tone light and slightly joking, because he was merely teasing. He didn't want to put more bad blood between them, so he offered her a small smile - a major feat for him - and he moved to approach her slowly. "I could never bring myself to hate you, either, Sakura. I just want to prove to you that I really care, that's why I want to surprise you."

---

Rina blinked a few times, a light blush tinting her features - both because of the compliment and because she was a little embarrassed with getting caught with her thought process. "Ah, I'm just... debating on trying to find some magical way to just get them to realize that they're attracted to each other, that's all," she murmured quietly, offering a slight nod, though her eyes remained on the other two.

@ momentai.

Takuma smiled at seeing Rina blush but at her statement he sighed and turned his eyes back to Kaname and Sakura. "You really think they're somehow attracted to each other?" Takumas voice was extremely doubtful and a little confused but he went along with it. "What makes you say that though? Because nothing I've picked up on has said that they're attracted to each other in any way."

---

Sakura rolled her eyes with a smile playing on her lips in response to his joke, "Oh shut up." When he moved closer again Sakura's heart picked up speed and she found herself leaning toward him, anxious and excited to see what his next move would be. "Okay," she said softly in reply to him talking about his surprise. With a small laugh and smile she added, "But just so you know, it's killing me to not know what it is."