tampered | Log Part 3: Complete

When; High school curse day (backdated)
Rating; Still PGish
Characters; Hotaru and Archer
Summary; Continuation of the other two
Log;

It was a bold move for someone who had never even been late to class, but somehow he seemed to strike something within her, something that pressed her to let go of a lot of her nervousness and shyness.

Archer gave a slightly startled yelp as Hotaru dragged him away from her classroom door. Despite the image he may project, Archer had never ditched a class before (other than being excused to go to the nurses office). He felt slightly panicked at the thought of it.

"Hotaru where are we going?" he hissed, trailing along behind her. All he could think was thank god that his next class wasn't Intimidation Tactics with Professor Kusajishi.

"It's a surprise, Archer! Please?"

She wasn't one to ditch classes either, but it was a spur of the moment thing, and just seemed right.

"You said you wanted to spend time with me, right?"

Archer bit his lip in thought, some part of him resisting ruining his perfect attendance record. But, more than that, he didn't want to disappoint Hotaru and this apparently meant a lot to her. And he did want to spend more time with her.

"Okay," he said. "You lead the way."

With a smile, she tugged him along, ducking down hallways and through doors until they had made their way out of the buildings. Following a worn path that branched off of the main pathway, Hotaru walked slowly, hands clasped behind her back as she stared up at the boughs that rustled in the breeze, sending the occasional flower swirling down from their leaves.

"I usually come this way when I'm walking to school."

Archer tagged along behind Hotaru, watching the sway of the skirt as she moved, almost mesmerized by the motion. He felt slightly bad about thinking about Hotaru that way, since she was so much more than physically attractive, but he couldn't help it. Because she was physically attractive.

"It's very pretty," he said, although he wasn't exactly speaking only about the path. "I can see why you'd come here."

Glancing back over her shoulder, she nodded at him.

"And that's not the best part."

Coming to a hedge, she frowned, pushing some of the branches aside to try and make a path through, tip of her tongue sticking out in concentration as she navigated a small hole in the verge.

"Gotta get through here...."

Archer was continually amazed at how adorable Hotaru was. Watching her face screw up in concentration made him wonder what sort of face she would make when she was...

"Uhh, that's going to be a tight squeeze for me," he said after coughing, trying to focus on something other than Hotaru calling his name.

Hotaru shook her head, mentally cursing as her skirt got caught on the bush, revealing a good few inches more of leg then she normally showed. She had on her usual black tights, but still. Yanking on the skirt to try and get it free, she glanced up at him.

"It's not so bad, I think you can fit ok. Just try?"

Archer bit his lip and nodded, thanking whatever gods had caused her skirt to get caught.

"Of course Hotaru," he said, giving her a smile. "Anything for you."

Crouching down Archer squeezed through the small opening, grunting as he wedged himself through and to the other side.

Taking his hand, she pulled, biting her lip and planting her feet to try and help him through the small space. Unfortunately for them, this had rather a similar effect to that of a cork on a bottle. In that when the branches finally let go, the momentum sent them flying back, Hotaru landing on her back on the grass, Archer on top of her. Eyes widened and she froze, staring up at him.

"G...gomen..."

Archer wasn't sure what exactly happened, but he was suddenly sprawled out on top of Hotaru in a very compromising position.

"T-that's okay Hotaru," he said, jumping up. Archer so badly wanted to stay in that position but he didn't want Hotaru to think that's all he was after. He offered her a hand up.

With a gulp and a nod, she took his hand, pulling herself to her feet and brushing dirt off of her skirt. Hotaru's head was spinning, and she wasn't sure it was just from the impact with the ground. She knew it wasn't right, but when he was looming over her like that, her thoughts had turned decidedly....graphic, with a most embarrassing effect of her face turning brilliant crimson. Shaking her head slightly to dispel the appealing, yet completely inappropriate thoughts, she smiled at him.

"It's....this way."

Heading across the small grassy area, she pushed aside the thick heavy fronds of a weeping willow, stepping into the hollow created by the huge trees overhanging foliage.

Archer wondered if Hotaru had any idea how crazy she was driving him. He wondered if deep down under than innocent image there lived some sort of... playful sex kitten.

He felt bad that she was showing him this amazing setting and all he could think about was throwing her to the ground, ripping her clothes off, and having her talk dirty to him and scream his name.

"Wow, this is pretty out of the way," he said, trying very hard to pay attention to this special place she was taking him. "How did you find it?"

Casting violet eyes up above to the overhanging boughs she shrugged. "I...don't stay at home a lot. Nii-sama has friends I....I'm not comfortable around. They stare at me funny. So I usually leave for school as soon as it's light out. Then I just...wander. I found this place one of those times."

Coming to a break in the willow boughs, she smiled and stepped through.

"Here it is."

Archer knew exactly what type of friends her brother had, and he could imagine how they stared at her. The only comfort he took in that situation was that there was no way Itachi would let anyone lay a hand on his sister.

“Well, you're always welcome to come visit me," he told her. "I've got that big house all to myself and..."

Archer broke off what he was saying to look around, his mouth halfway open as he stared in awe. "Hotaru, this is beautiful."

With a nod, she twirled around momentarily and pranced up to the center of the small stone bridge that went across the narrow part of the pond. Leaning forward, she placed both palms on the stone edge, leaning over to point, brilliant yellow jasmine flowers mixing with the sakura that fell from the nearby trees to swirl around her in the light breeze. As for flowers, they were everywhere, from the wisteria and ivy that clambered up the tree trunks, to the climbing roses that burst forth in riotous bloom around the ends of the bridge, hanging down in long trailing vines to brush the surface of the water, white water lillies pockmarked across the surface.

"Yeah, it's my favourite place."

"Hotaru..."

Archer didn't know what to say. Everything was so beautiful and it was obviously a very special place to her. He almost felt guilty at how trusting she was towards him.

"This must be a very special place for you," he said softly. "Thank you for taking me here."

He moved over next to her and wrapped an arm around her tiny waist, leaning over with her to observe the flowers. He had never seen anything like this.

Glancing sidelong out of the corner of her eye, she watched him. She'd never really gotten the chance to just lookreal injury that time -- she'd had a crush on him. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she watched as a cluster of red and white koi twirled their way through the lillies in the water.

"Ne Archer....I remember when I saw you the first time...Do you?"

Archer nodded slowly, unsure if he knew which time she was talking about. He knew the first time he had seen her but he didn't want to sound like some sort of stalker.

"I remember when I first saw you," he said. "It was last year and you were walking home from school. I saw you and the next day I asked around to see who knew you. The next day I got hurt during Archery class. I... I waited for two classes until I knew you'd be in the office..."

"Yeah....and I wasn't even the one who was going to take care of your injury. I was heading out early, but Mia-san was busy and asked me to stay for a few minutes to get you on your way. You...really waited two classes before you came?"

Archer blushed ever so slightly and looked away sheepishly. It really sounded foolish now that he said it out loud. At the time it had seemed so very cunning.

"Yeah, it wasn't a very smart idea," he admitted. "But I didn't know how else to find a reason to talk to you. I didn't think you would want to have a conversation with me outside of a situation like that."

"I...I probably wouldn't have. Not...because of anything you did wrong, just....you're popular. And… handsome, and.....I didn't think I'd have had the right to talk to you. And then....Rin-san liked you and...I didn't want to make her mad."

She shifted slightly, rummaging in her pocket for a small roll, breaking off a few crumbs and sprinkling them over the water, giggling as the koi came to the surface to eat.

"I...went to your archery match a couple of weeks later. I tried to go before that, but...I was too nervous and just stood outside the door for awhile. And then...when I finally got the courage to look inside, some of the other girls caught me. I...wouldn't tell them who I was watching, but they didn't care. They...dipped my hair in paint, and taped signs to me, then locked me in the bathroom stall."

Reaching up, she fingered her short hair.

"That's...why I got it cut. I couldn't get the paint all out.."

"I'm sorry they did that Hotaru," he mumbled, reaching out to run a finger through her hair. "I remember your long hair, it was very pretty."

Archer felt bad that anyone would have hurt Hotaru just because she took an interest in him. Rin had been a jealous and bossy girlfriend but she hadn't been mean, so it must have been some other girls. Archer wished he had a sister that he could go have kick the ass of whoever hurt Hotaru.

"It is kind of convenient though," he mused, leaning down to kiss along the back of her neck. "I'd say they almost did me a favor..."

She nodded, thinking back to how traumatic it had been for her. She'd grown her hair out since she was 7 or so, and had loved the long thick locks that used to hang down her back in a single braid. When she'd had to crop it short, it had been like losing a part of herself.

"It's...it's ok. It's just hair, right? I mean..it'll grow back..."

Hotaru felt a shudder run up her spine as his lips pressed against her skin, causing the skin at the back of her neck to prickle as she bit back a surprised whimper.

"A...Archer...."

Archer couldn't deny that he felt a thrill at feeling Hotaru shivering beneath him. He could feel his temperature begin to rise in response and his stomach seemed to flip flop.

"I... I'm sorry Hotaru," he said, pulling away from her. "I just got carried away."

"N..no, it's.....I liked it...."

She was embarrassed to admit it, but she'd enjoyed the sensation, unused to any sort of romantic tactile contact.

Archer moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. He took in her scent, noticing how much it was like the flowers there.

"I just like being close to you," he said. "It's crazy. I... I've never felt this way about someone before. I just want to hold you and... "

With a sigh, she closed her eyes, leaning back against him. He was so tall, completely different from her diminutive size, and the crown of her head rested at the center of his chest, right over his collarbones. Relaxing into the comforting embrace, she smiled and nodded slightly.

"I...I like being close to you too, Archer. And I....don't mind if you hold me..."

"That makes me very glad to hear that Hotaru," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I still can't believe this is real."

Archer was being honest, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine this would happen. Well, in his wildest dreams they were together, but not like this.

"M..me neither..."

Leaning her head back, she turned slightly, nuzzling her cheek against the front of his uniform, hands sliding up to rest gently on his arms where they were wrapped around her torso. He wasn't the only one who had never actually thought this turn of events would come to pass. She hadn't figured that he would want her. Little sister to Uchiha Itachi, one of the most feared people in the school, known for the strange occurrences and injuries that seemed to happen around her, a "creepy goth" to some of the girls who didn't like her, painfully shy to the point where she could go whole days without speaking to or interacting with anyone..It was....surreal, almost.

"Hotaru," he said. "I... I don't want this to dampen things but... I'm going to college after this summer and..."

Archer frowned, sensing how the mood suddenly soured a bit. He didn't want to make her upset but... he wanted to be honest.

"I want to still date you but I want you to know that I'm not going to be in town..."

Biting her lip, she seemed to shrink a bit, grip on his arms tightening fractionally. She didn't want to think about that, not now, when things had finally turned out right.

"I....I know.."

"But I promise Hotaru," he whispered. "I'm going to come back as much as I can. And you can come up and see me too. It's not too far away."

Archer held her tighter, as if he could some how get enough of her now that it wouldn't hurt later when they were seperated. It was odd, just thinking about being away from her for that long was unsettling. He'd never felt that way about someone before.

"But we have the whole summer before then to be together. We'll go to the lake and hang out, see movies, do whatever you want," he said.

Snuggling tighter into his embrace, she turned around to face him, resting her forehead against his chest.

"Let's....don't talk about you leaving. Ok? Just....hold me.."

"Hmm, that's an excellent suggestion," he said, leaning down to nuzzle the top of her ear. "I think I could do that all day long and never grow tired of it."