Welcome to Gaia! ::

Makie ran as fast as she could to the area. Being in a kimono, she wasn't running very fast. But it didn't matter to her. As she ran, she thought of what she would say to Oliver. She had to be quick about it, since the fireworks were setting up. The brunette planned to confess as the fireworks went on. Prehaps a little conversation before confessing? That would seem perfect! Makie giggled slightly, and blushed at the same time. She was excited, yet scared and embarassed at the same time. That was perfectly normal, right?

This is going to be so fun! Makie thought, finally reach the top of the hill. It's... Kind of been a while... Since I've been alone with Oliver... So, I guess. The stage is set up perfectly, huh? She turned to Oliver and smiled happily. The wind blew her brown pigtails slightly, but the rose in her hair did not budge.

"S-So... I-It's been a-a while... S-Since... W-We've b-been a-alone like this..." Makie said, slowly and very softly. "H-How's y-your summer...?" She was a bit unsure of what to ask... But Oliver reminded her of the type of guy to be oblivious to the deeper side of things. Like if she sang a love song, he might not know it was for him unless she said it... The same with feelings of love for him. He probably wouldn't realise if girls loved him unless the girls said it. And somehow, Oliver would turn the darkest situations into a light and happy topic. Somehow... I guess it was his charm.

"I-I k-kind of missed y-you... I-I kn-know it hasn't b-been long... B-But... I-I-I miss talking to y-you... L-Like this..." Makie admitted looking to the darkening sky. The fireworks would be soon. She gulped, but smiled. She remembered when she was trying to ask Oliver to go to the dance with her. Makie had ended up asking the black haired boy if he wanted to climb trees. Then that turned into a competition. And when Oliver was being chased by his fans, and after returning with an Ai-look alike, Oliver found Makie in a tree. The brunette had then asked Oliver to the dance. He said yes.

"Umm... D-Do you... W-Want t-to climb trees...? W-With me?" Makie asked, tilting her head slightly. She wondered if he remembered that time. Makie remembered every single memory with him... They were glued in her head regardless or not if she wanted them. But she liked her memories with him. All of them were precious to her in some way. Just like Oliver himself was special to Makie.

As Oliver talked about his summer, Makie sighed. Her summer had been un-eventful. The letter from her grandpa had slowed down quite a bit, and other wise, she was unable to get back to her home town because of the star test. So, she had merely been relaxing the whole summer. At least Oliver actually had a good summer. Makie has never been to France, but she heard it was a very elegant city with beautiful archutecture. The brunette had always wanted to go to France, but she'd never have enough money to go.

"Ohh! I missed you too! You're one of my only friends here at Ria!"

Makie blushed a crimson. She couldn't talk. It meant a lto to her that Oliver would say that about her. He missed me... One of his only friends... Oh wow... Makie thought, off day dreaming. She felt her heart rate increase dramatically. Wow... I can't believe it... Makie continued to day dream and day dream until Oliver had replied to her tree climbing challenge earlier. Makie blinked her chocolate eyes a few time before realizing he remembered. Makie blushed again, before nodding happily. Another competition.

"A-Are y-you ready..?" Makie asked Oliver, who appeared more than ready. She waited for the signal that he was okay before she started the Ready, Set, Go thing. After Oliver made it clear that he was ready, Makie took a breath. "O-Okie... R-Ready... S-Set... G-Go!" Makie said, flinging her ribbon up to a tree branch and hoisiting herself up.

(It was longer, but I shortened it up, because I have to go. DX)

(I'm going to have to cut to the chase... There's only one day left. DX)

Makie was amazed how Oliver could just climb like that. He was as fast as last time. She continued her own strategy. Although, being in a kimono gave the girl the disadvantage. How unfair. Oh well, Makie didn't mind if she lost, she just glad he remembered. As they went up the tree, level by level, Makie began to catch up to Oliver. She giggle lightly, until she had misplaced her footing. Her ankle kind of hurt, but her worries now was she was falling back. Thinking quickly, Makie grabbed onto a branch with both arms, as her ribbon fell to the ground.

Now that's unfair... Makie thought climbing up onto the branch. It was moments later she could hear Oliver make his victory sound. Makie sighed, only half way up the tree. "Now that's really unfair..." The brunette inched across the branch, and used her powers to manipulate the light, to make a little disc. She climbed onto the disc, which she then manipulated to rise up to the highest branch.

"S-Sorry... I-I slipped... " Makie said, moving from the disc to the highest branch beside Oliver. "W-Wow... I-It r-really is pretty." She let out a breath, looking at the enchanting sunset. Reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and the midnight color of the night took over the canvas of the sky.

"I-If I c-could paint o-or draw... I-I'd p-paint this s-sunset..." Makie paused. "Umm... O-Oliver... W-We're fr-friends right...? A-And friends d-don't k-keep secrets... R-Right...?"

Makie blushed as she looked down at her lap. She bit her lower lip and took a breath. She wasn't going to hold anything back... Makie also had to vent out her feelings... They were bubbling to the surface, and if she didn't get it out now... It would never come out.

Makie gulped hard, closing her milk chocolate eyes soo hard, it almost hurt. She onto her gymnastics ribbon as hard she could, almost to the point she thought she’d break it. She dug her toes hard into her little Japanese sandals, she thought she would break her sandals. The brunette held her breath to the point she thought she would faint or die if she didn’t breathe. And inside Makie was feeling soo many different emotions and feelings to the point she thought she would burst. Tonight would be the night when she would confess. She was determined too.

And then, Makie relaxed. Just let all the tension go inside of her body. Instead of restraining tears from coming, she let them flow down her cheeks. Instead of holding her breath, she took slow solid breaths. Instead of digging her feet into her sandals, she stood, feet apart and just relaxed. Instead of holding onto her gymnastics ribbon with such force, she let it drop to the ground. Instead of shutting her eyes closed to the point it almost hurt, she let them lie shut... And eventually, the girl opened them. They shone with tears of both sadness and happiness. They were filled with both love for Oliver and her hate for herself and keeping this in so long. She smiled sadly. She knew she’d never be able to live this down after. She’d never be able to look at Oliver again without crying. But she wanted to let this all go.

Seriously.

“O-Oliver... I-I-I-I...” She couldn’t say it. Makie was choking on her own words, unable to say it. But she didn’t want to stutter, she didn’t want to be weak... If she seemed weak, her feelings would come off weak... But they weren’t. She was overflowing with different feelings for Oliver, and she did not want her feelings to be taken lightly. Another breath. She was determined.

”Daisuki to omou kara ne! Aishiteru! " Makie excalimed in Japanese. It was a line from her favorite song, Sayonara Solitia by Saeko Chiba. It was also Chrno Crusade's ending song. And every one knew what Aishiteru meant. "J-Je t’aime! I love you!” The tear flowed harder, and Makie kept going on.

“I-I love you… J-Just like t-the p-people wh-who get married. I l-love you soo m-much..!” She took a breath, relaxing herself for the smallest moment, trying not to stutter.

”E-Every time I th-think about you, I get this feeling inside me, and it warms me... A-And when I-I see you, my heart beats really fast, b-but it doesn’t hurt..! A-And when you speak to me, I get butterflies i-in m-my stomach, and I-I c-can’t pronounce w-words right! A-And wh-when you touch me I get d-dizzy, enough to faint, b-but I f-feel safe! T-Then wh-whenever you l-look at me… I-I feel a-as i-if I was on top of the world!” Makie said, taking another breath before continuing to spill her heart out.

“And e-every night... B-Before I g-go to bed... The first a-and last thing I th-think about, is you. A-And wh-when I dream, a-all I can see is you and your sweet, goofy, almost perfect smile. All I-I can hear is your heart warming laugh and I c-can s-somehow still feel you holding my hand. Th-Then when I-I wake up... The first thing I think a-about, i-is you...”

“L-Lordy... I know... I’m as bad as those fan girls th-that follow you around… B-But I-I can’t help it... I’ll always love you... I’ll love you forever... I’ll love you for eternity, Oliver!” Makie let out a breath and smiled softly. Without even thinking, Makie covered her crush's sky blue eyes with her small hands.

“Don’t peek... The fire works will start soon...” Makie said, her soft voice trailed off as she held her breath. "You know... I-I'm not going t-to run away any more... I-I lost m-my ribbon, but... I-I'm g-going to face m-my problems... O-Oh! Th-They're starting a countdown f-for the fireworks..!"

10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

The girl could hear people counting down from ten as she closed her chocolate eyes and leaned in closer to him until she was just centimeters away from his face. "This is my fault..."

5, 4, 3, 2...

“Gomenasai...”

1!

And with that, she let her glossy pink lips brush against his, and then let them connect, the fire works began to go off in the background. The kiss was for a few seconds... And it made her blush so hard she probably invented a new shade of red. It was almost as she had adreniline(sp?) rush through her veins creating a huge energy rush. She never felt better, but she also felt terrible... Makie felt as if Oliver might not like her back.

”Désolé...” She said, after breaking the kiss, but didn’t remove her hand from his eyes. “I’m so sorry!” She turned her head away, as she removed her hand from Oliver's eyes and cried as hard as she could. Her hair covered her crying and pathetic face. She was just fine that way, because she didn't want Oliver to see her, and she didn't want to see him... She was scared of what Oliver's reaction was. She couldn't jump down from the tree. She lost her gymnastics ribbon, where was she going to run? But no, she wouldn't run. She was going to stay, because this was something she had to face...

"I-I'm s-soo pathetic... I-I just... I... I really l-l-love you. A-And..." Makie still had her head turned. "And I hope y-you f-feel the same..."

(If we don't finish in time, we can always continue at Saya Hill in the Off-Campus areas.)

Silence... Absolute silence. Makie knew it was a bad idea the moment she stopped talking. When she stopped talking, all of her regret began to pile up... Although she did feel quite relieved... Getting that off her chest made her feel so much more relaxed. Although, she was a bit unsure why she threw the kiss in there... The brunette supposed she was just 'sealing the deal', or something like that. Makie still had a haunting cloud of fear that hung over her head. There was only one thing she was scared of right now.

Rejection.

That was my first kiss... Did I take his without permission? Did he like it? Does her like me back? Does he hate me down? Makie asked herself. Prehaps he thinks I'm just like another one of his groupie fan girls... Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Stupid Makie. Maybe a note would have been better? Or an e-mail... Or maybe I should have phoned him. I wouldn't have to be in this awkward position then...

That's when Oliver began to hug Makie. Fear began to sink deeper and deeper into her heart. Was this one of those kiss of deaths? Where after you confess they'd hug or kiss you back and say 'Sorry. I don't like you back.'? It definately was. She saw it many times in those sad animes, or those romance-y type novels or mangas.

Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. I hate myself right now. I hate myself... Makie thought, before stopping any more tears from flowing. His embrace was something she would often long for. Warm, soft, safe, just like a security blanket Makie had when she was a kid. Oliver the security blanket. Makie smiled softly through her tears.

Then he began to speak.

Makie wanted to shut her ears. He was going to reject her! She just knew it! First love, first rejection. It's all good, isn't it? His voice was warm, sincere, and thankful. Well... At least Oliver's voice was lightening up the mood a bit. The brunette heard every word. She tried to make sense of every word. She repeated every word inside of her mind. The last sentance stuck in her mind like superglue.

Thank you, Makie. Makie repeated those words in her mind. Thank you... Thank you... Thank you for what? I'm just a stupid girl who somehow manage to tell her feelings... It took about 3 quaters of a year...

Thank you for telling me that! Makie thought about Oliver's words. Here comes rejection... Yay..! Oh god. I kind of wish I ran away now. I wish I was weak and cowardly... I would be here in this position now. I would have to hear...

The truth is, that I really like you as well. Makie echoed in her mind, almost swooning over them... Am I dreaming? I must be dreaming. I'd pinch myself, but that would hurt. It was definately reality. Oliver's tightened embrace showed it. Makie slowly brought her hands up, holding one of his arms. It was a bit awkward being hugged from behind. But she didn't mind. It was a hug. From Oliver. She felt one last tear trace her rosy cheeks.

"D-Do you... Do y-you r-really mean that...?" Makie asked slowly, she had to make sure. "I-I mean... I-I'm r-really quite normal... Th-There's n-nothing special about me. A-Are you s-sure th-there's n-no one else th-that you r-really like...?"

***

"Ummm... Wh-Why d-do you keep h-hanging around w-with that boy... Wh-Why do y-you hug him...?" A smaller Makie asked her friend in wonder. Her 'friend' laughed as hard as she could. Her 'friend' wasn't much of a friend. Even if they did their home work 'together' and 'kept' each other's secrets.

"Are you stupid!? God. It's obviously because I love him! L. O. V. E! Ohhh.. But you probably wouldn't understand! Because no one loves you! Not one boy in the whole school likes you! Not even in town! No one likes a small annoying kid like you!" The girl said, twisting her red hair around her finger. "You're really stupid and weak. There's nothing that ANY ONE could possibly like you!"

***

Me. I'm ordinary. Nothing special. I'm just a human. A stupid weak human. I often get in the way... I know I confessed... But is he just saying that? Playing me on? Makie thought, her chocolate eyes watching the fireworks that were still going on. How fitting. Explosions of colors, explosions of feelings. The girl could not see Oliver, so she wondered what expression lay on his face. Hers... Confusion.

"I-I r-really... Love y-you... But..." Makie trailed off. "Th-There's n-nothing y-you could possibly l-like about me..." She let out a breath and closed her chocolate eyes. The girl pulled at Oliver's arms until his embrace loosened, then she turned to face him. She hugged back, laying her head on his shoulder. There. A not-so-awkward position.

***

"They'd have to be UN-HUMAN to like you! No... Not even un-human creatures would like you! If some one said they liked you, it would be because they want you do something for them!" The girl said, with another laugh. "Because you're so loyal, you'll do anything for any one. You're like a little puppet, a little doll. If some one says they like you, it's because they're too tired to do a chore or something, so they'll make you do it for them."

Makie stood quietly and nodded. Her friend was probably right.

"Now... Could I get a copy of your homework? I lost mine early on." The red-head said, as Makie got out a copy of her homework. "Aww. How sweet. What a great -friend- you are!" The girl laughed again, taking the copy and then walking to class. The brunette, Makie, followed shortly after, not saying a word.

***

Rejection.

Makie was always afraid of getting rejected the moment the idea of confessing to Oliver popped into her mind more than three quaters of a year ago. But now, rejection was becomming her shadow. The girl got her feelings out, and Oliver said he liked her back. Even if he was lying, Makie was still content at this moment... Because maybe, just maybe, people did like her and not just because they wanted her to do something for them... Makie would not worry about rejection... At least... Not now.

And hopefully, she won't have to worry about it anytime soon.

(Yay long posts with Oliver! Sorry if this is bad, I only replied to you right after the confession. So I didn't work with much. DX)