Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Don't Forget Me ❯ Intensity ( Chapter 11 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

A/N: Believe it or not, this is the longest chapter I've ever written 4000 + words…lol…and a small note: Mild swearing in this chapter only because of …well yea, accidents and stuff. The umm ending bit is focused on one couple and for the next chapter, it'll be focused on the other to show the developments in the story about…well their love and relationships and the changes so okay, enough from me…Enjoy!!
 
Fanfiction:
Mischievouz Angel- Back to my gold medal buddy Kimmy, Yes Karina is currently Kenji's girlfriend, and hint hint…currently…
Moonflower- Thank you, I chose Europe because it will help with my future chapters and plus it's a beautiful country, so I assumed that Tohru and co. would love it aside from the umm… things that are coming their way.
 
Mediaminer:
silver_wolf- Haha, hot-headed protective brother, nice one, I love the phrase lol. And yea…with Yuki and Kenji there, triangles may turn things upside down. Oh and one more thing. This chapter is dedicated to you. I know, sounds cheesy, but yea thank you so much for your reviews on my story, they really have helped and I appreciate it!
 
Chapter 11: Intensity
 
It was early in the morning, roughly 3:25am as the chauffeur hit the brakes on the slender black limousine and stopped outside of Tokyo Narita International Airport. It was a relaxing yet strange ride, as Kyo, Tohru, Yuki and Karina would've thought and if it weren't for the girl's excitement, the journey would've been completely silent.
 
Karina stepped outside and smiled as soon as she saw Kenji waiting for her. He chose to go with his mum instead of the limousine.
 
“Kenji!” She ran forward and kissed him just as Yuki closed the door and winced as he suddenly felt a strong loss of hope, just a few days ago, he thought he had a chance, that maybe Karina would like him…or maybe she wasn't dating Kenji but obviously he was mistaken. Kyo and Tohru almost had the same reaction but for different reasons. Kyo thinking ` Who is that guy? I never knew Karina was dating, If she is, he better be good enough for her.' And Tohru on the other hand. ` So this is her boyfriend? I'm so happy for her.'
 
“Hey guys, come over here, meet Kenji, he's well…my umm boyfriend from Nagoya, and Kenji, this is my great half-brother or if I simplify, just brother, Tohru and you've met Yuki.” She introduced.
 
“So you're the boyfriend huh?” Kyo raised his eyebrow.
 
“And you're the brother, nice to meet you and don't worry, you don't have to doubt me, I'll take care of Karina as much as I can on this trip.” Kenji joked seeing Kyo's surprised expression.
 
“Hello Yoshida-san, it's a pleasure to be finally able to meet you.” Tohru's formality came in.
 
“Just call me Kenji, mind if I call you Tohru?”
 
“N—no problem at all.” Tohru smiled.
 
“Okay, reunions over, we gotta catch a plane, coming?” Akito interrupted the friendly circle and called for his chauffeurs to help take the luggage.
 
As they checked in their baggage, went through Immigration and the scans, time finally allowed them to board the plane.
 
(From Left to Right on the middle, note: large planes have 5 seats in the middle row and about 3 on the right and the left of the plane.) Kyo sat on the left edge, Tohru next to him followed by Yuki, then Karina then Kenji on the right edge. Akito decided to let them have privacy this time as he treated himself to first class, away from the others while they just boarded as an economy class passenger.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
 
A tall and skinny posh lady walked into the plane and sat next to Akito. Her dark purple hair, which was long and straight, tied up in a half-ponytail. Her nails were coated with dark and cold coloured designs with 3 layers of nail varnish on top. She carried a black Prada bag over her shoulder and wore a shade of plum lipstick that matched her Gucci black boots and expensive jewellery. The eyes were the colour of a river at dawn.
 
“Akito Sohma, I presume.” Her voice was feminine but powerful.
 
“You, are Amaya Natsume, I hired you. Correct?”
 
“How much are you willing to pay me for my service?” She ignored his question and asked coldly as the plane lifted off the ground and started to fly upwards.
 
“Depends on how well you do, or whether or not you succeed.”
 
“I'm warning you now, you better not be playing with me in these silly games, you will give me my money by the time I start the first mission as I prove to you how dangerous I can be.”
 
“Dangerous? Is that so? I'd like to see what kind of potential you have.” Akito seemed amused.
 
“Oh you have no idea what I am capable of.” The assassin gave an evil grin.
 
“Well before we make any assumptions, shall I treat you to a glass of wine?”
 
“Certainly.”
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
 
“So what are we going to do during this flight?” Karina asked the whole gang.
 
“Watch movies, what else?” Kyo turned on his screen.
 
“I think that's all we can do, unless you want to sleep.” Tohru puffed up her pillow.
 
“Well, I'm going to start browsing the games section.” Kenji spoke.
 
“What can I say? You still love video games.” Karina teased.
 
“Karina, would you like to get a drink first?” Yuki suggested as Karina nodded.
 
The flight lasted for fourteen hours. Kyo fell asleep soon after on Tohru's shoulder, Kenji only slept for 3 hours and spent the rest of the time flicking through the entertainment section. Karina started to get tired very fast, left the screen off most of the time and stole Kenji's pillow then leaned onto Yuki accidentally as she dozed off and Yuki sat still, watching his movie while having his crush sleeping beside him. Their first stop was Paris. Following that would be perhaps Rome, Spain then last of all Switzerland. It was about four countries but they only had eighteen days to do it all plus the travelling.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
 
“Amaya…hmm, your name means night rain, suits your personality.” Akito commented.
 
“Yours means bright, no, definitely does not suit you.” Amaya shot back while sipping her second glass of Chardonnay.
 
“So the first plan, whilst in Paris is due to happen just as soon as they arrive in the hotel.”
 
“Yes, that one is going to be very interesting, I cannot wait.”
 
“Just a few more hours, oh well, Cheers.” Akito raised his glass.
 
“Whatever.”
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
 
Tohru heard and felt a thud as the plane landed in the Airport in Paris, France. She woke up and rubbed her eyes, how long had she been sleeping? She didn't know, but then felt embarrassed and sat up instantly when she saw Kyo still asleep on her shoulder, but woke him up by getting a fright.
 
“Kyo….I'm sorry, uhh….we've arrived.” She pretended nothing happened.
 
“About time.” Kyo didn't notice her blushing.
 
“Hey Karina, we're here…okay, could've at least fallen asleep leaning on me rather than him.” Kenji said under his breath feeling slightly jealous as Yuki woke up.
 
“Hmm? What did you say… Woah! Yuki, did I just….fall asleep…like…nearly on top of you?” Karina looked away and cringed.
 
“Maybe, haha, oh well, as long as you slept comfortably that's all that matters.” Yuki laughed reassuringly while Kenji just gave a look of `What the heck?' towards both of them.
 
Two hours later
 
The clock struck 4pm in Paris as they all arrived at their destination, The L'Hôtel d'Etoile de Paris. Translated as The Paris, Star Hotel. The air smelt like fresh baked bread since there was a bakery nearby situated on the same street as the shopping mall across the hotel. Behind the hotel was a beautiful lake, which was rarely found in Paris since it was an occupied city full of old buildings. The lake probably gave the hotel its name as it originated from the scenery. At night, when the sky was cloudless, the stars would shine onto the lake that reflected everything above it, making it a beautiful sight with double the amount of sparkling stars. It was all written down in the brochure that Tohru was reading.
 
“Kyo, look at this, it's absolutely stunning.” Tohru pointed to the picture as Kyo faked at being interested when really he was just eager to get inside the hotel room and chill out for an hour.
 
“Well, may I introduce you to Amaya Natsume, my, fiancée?” Akito stepped into the hotel.
 
“WHAT?” Kyo said the loudest as the others stopped their actions and stared at Akito.
 
“Yes, we're engaged, it's great, okay, now while I get the luggage sorted out, Miss….I mean Mrs Natsume will show you to your rooms on the 50th floor. I hope you enjoy the view because I have chosen the highest floor and the best rooms. “
 
“Oh my god, Akito…we're talking about Akito here…is getting married?” Karina had her mouth open wide.
 
“Seems like it, why what's the big deal?” Kenji finished the last of his lemonade that he bought outside of the hotel.
 
“What's the big deal? I'll tell ya the big deal alright….” Kyo started.
 
“It's just not Akito to do something like that, he wasn't the kind of person that treated everyone nicely.” Yuki interjected.
 
“And he still isn't.” Kyo folded his arms when he remembered that his fiancée was standing behind them.
 
“Umm…Mrs Natsume, I think we can go up now.” Tohru looked up at the tall lady that was frowning.
 
“Oh, right.” She pressed the lift button as the others followed her and Tohru into the lift.
 
“So…Mrs Natsume…”
 
“Amaya, Mrs Natsume sounds way out of my league plus it makes me feel old.” The lady instructed.
 
“Yes…Amaya-san, umm, congratulations, for getting engaged.” Tohru said.
 
“Uh huh, sure.” Amaya didn't sound too happy as her voice showed a strong sign of sarcasm.
 
As soon as the lift stopped on the 30th floor, Mrs Natsume exited but told the others to stay inside and find their own way into their rooms as she gave them the card.
 
“This is my floor, just be happy you've got better rooms than me.” She left without another word.
 
“Just typical of Akito to marry someone like that.” Kyo insulted as the lift door closed.
 
Suddenly, just seconds after Kyo spoke, the lights of the lift turned off and everything was complete darkness.
 
“What the hell?”
 
“Kyo…this is really scary….” Tohru quivered.
 
“Crap.”
 
“Oh my god, Oh my god.” Karina's voice came out distressed as she started to panic.
 
“Karina…calm down….where are you.” Kenji asked a bit worried.
 
“Is everything okay in here?” Yuki spoke.
 
“I can't breathe….we're stuck….i-i-n a lift….no…no, this can't be happening….Kenji….help.”
 
“It's alright Karina I'm here.” He managed to find her and wrapped his arms around her shivering body.
 
“Hey….uhhh, so what's going on?” Kyo felt awkward.
 
“Kyo…I think, we…”
 
Two seconds later, the lift started going up slowly until, they could see a light, they were on floor 50 as the sign said but the door wouldn't open, and then it happened, the lift, went down.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
 
5 minutes ago
 
“Damn you Akito, I am just an assassin, I work alone, I did say I wasn't here to play your stupid games of becoming your fiancée, what the hell are you thinking?”
 
“I am thinking of increasing your pay if you co-operate.”
 
“You better, nobody messes with me, do you understand?” Amaya demanded, her nails digging into the collar of Akito's shirt.
 
“No need for violence, it's just something to get them confused and perhaps to make them believe that I have changed when I haven't.”
 
“So tell me why didn't you just let me kill the lot of them straight away, it would've been a lot easier and better for us all?”
 
“Because, this was just a test, and the beginning of a series of threats, torture and death. There is a lot more to come. And I don't want to ruin the fun. You always need a draft before a final copy, haven't you ever learnt that before? It's the solution and answer to…”
 
“Quit your blabber and tell me where I have to stop the lift.”
 
“Ill tell you when you make your move.”
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
 
“AAAAHHHHHH” Sounds of screaming filled the lift as it went down, it felt like forever, and not to mention the darkness and heart ripping feeling that was beyond imaginable. Yet it wasn't pain, just terrible suffering for the horrifying seconds that were going past
 
Karina clutched onto two people beside her that were trying to protect her even though they knew it was useless, if this lift was going to the bottom, all of them would die for sure. One arm on Yuki and another on Kenji, although, people don't really think of this when their going to die do they? Tohru was holding onto the bar with her head on Kyo's shoulder at the same time.
 
In about what felt like forever, the lift stopped, just like that and the lights came back on to reveal floor 3. They had just fallen 47 floors from the top of the hotel. Tohru's face appeared along with Kyo's. Karina's tear stained face was shocked and dead petrified as she kept her arm linked to the people next to her.
 
“Are we dead?” Kenji was the first one to speak and then he realised Karina's expression of horror and saw blood on his wrist, her nails had dug into his skin and he hadn't been able to notice it. Then with hope, Karina turned around and looked at Yuki who on the opposite arm, had the same problem. She whispered an apology then fainted.
 
“Karina, oh shit.” Kyo shouted as Tohru started to cry as well.
 
“It's okay, she's just fainted.” Yuki said, holding Karina's hand relieved that they were alive.
 
“We have to get out of here, now!” Kenji got up and looked at the buttons as Tohru got up to help him. Kyo sat beside his sister and looked at her with despair then looked at Yuki.
 
“Yuki, look after her.” It was the weirdest moment of their life as Yuki noticed that Kyo had just call him by his name rather than the usual `damn rat'. He took it that Kyo was serious and really protective of his sister. `Of course, why shouldn't he, after all, she's the only family he's got.' Yuki shrugged and took pity on him for the first time.
 
“Try this button.” Tohru looked at the numerous icons and pushed the open door button.
 
“It won't work.” Kenji cried out and called Kyo for help.
 
“I think we gotta use a lever.” He suggested.
 
“Yea but where?” Yuki asked.
 
“Here, grab this.” Kyo handed Kenji the handlebar on the lift as he broke it off with his strength.
 
“Thanks.” Kenji placed the handlebar through the doors and used it as a lever as Kyo broke another one off to help Kenji. At last the doors opened wide enough for them to get through. Yuki carried Karina in his arms and passed her to Kenji on the other side after he had gotten through as they left the lift safely and collapsed from using so much energy.
 
“I am so suing this hotel.” Kyo commented as he took a deep breath.
 
“I'm going to the bathroom, I…feel a bit sick.” Tohru staggered towards the hallway.
 
“Karina…is she okay?” Yuki looked at Kenji who was currently supporting her.
 
“I hope so…you know Karina, she's, well, scared of getting stuck in small spaces you know? Claustrophobia? It's kinda sad cos normally you see her so calm but strong, you hardly ever get to see her cry. After all she's been through, the family issues and the deaths of the closest people in her life, Karina's still able to stand up and experience everyday life with a smile on her face. But now I can understand what it feels like to be suddenly confronted by your phobia, I mean, come on, this is meant to be a holiday.” Kenji replied.
 
“I've….never seen her cry either…It.”
 
“Reminds me of Tohru.” Kyo interrupted.
 
“You mean, with the whole, loss of parents and how…”
 
“She's still living like she's the luckiest girl I the world, I don't know how they can both cope but they do have such courage to be able to do what many other people can't, to move on and accept everything as it is. That's why, I just want to protect them, Tohru, and my sister, because I don't think they deserve to have bad things happen to them anymore, they've suffered enough and they should be granted more that just sorrow.” Kyo explained. It was strange to see him talk from his heart to Yuki and Kenji, whom he had just met yesterday.
 
“You're right, I wanna protect Karina as much as I can, but sometimes, I have to give her privacy and space, like to distance myself from her even though I'm eager to know if she's safe all the time.” Kenji agreed.
 
“So…how did you two meet?” Yuki felt speechless in the previous conversation.
 
“She was a new girl at my old school, probably one of the few girls that didn't take interest in me…not to be bragging, but uh, I had a well…reputation cos apparently, I was popular…and well, I started to like her cos she wasn't like other girls, she was…determined, kind. Plus, don't tell her this but I was attracted to her hair colour, and her attitude. She's also really good at sports.”
 
“She's good at sports?” Kyo repeated.
 
“You don't know? Wow, and you're her brother, well take a look at her old home, take one glance in her room and you'll know she's a sport athlete. Her room is full of gold and silver medals and awards for orienteering, soccer, tennis, badminton, basketball everything. She's the captain of the girl's teams, and I'm the same but for the boys. Doesn't she attend any sports in Kaibara High?”
 
“Well…not that I know of.” Yuki answered.
 
“Ok, well here's Karina, you obviously don't know much about her.” Kenji looked at the girl lying in his lap then at Yuki who was looking down.
 
“No, I don't, I never noticed that.” Yuki sighed as Kyo stood up to see Tohru coming back.
 
“I'm sorry I took so long…what do you want to do now…I mean…we could've been killed, it's not an event that we could just…complain to the receptionist about.” Tohru said as she took out a cold wet flannel and placed it on Karina's head.
 
“Thanks Tohru.” Karina spoke as the others got a bit of a fright, thinking that she was still unconscious when she might've been listening to their conversation.
 
“Kenji…where are we?”
 
“Outside of the lift, we managed to get out, are you alright?”
 
“Yes…I think so, I'm sorry….Yuki, Kenji about, your wrists.” She struggled to sit up and leaned against the wall still a bit weak.
 
“Damn it Karina, you're the one who fainted, Kenji and that damn Yuki are fine.” Kyo snapped as he went back to his `damn Yuki' phrase.
 
“Shall we go back to the hotel room then?” Tohru asked.
 
“NO! I'm never going on a lift in this hotel again, please I'll take the stairs to floor 50 if I have to.” Karina's eyes shot open and showed fear.
 
“I'm sorry, we'll ask for a room on the bottom floors.” Tohru held Karina's hand and gave her a reassuring smile.
 
“Tohru, are you still feeling sick?” Kyo turned towards her.
 
“No, I was, but now I'm fine, we should get going.”
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
 
“Floor 3, are you happy?”
 
“Yes, thank you Amaya, you're doing quite well for your first….”
 
“Where's the money?”
 
“Right here.” Akito handed her a pile of 10,000 yen notes.
 
“Hmm…80,000 yen, okay I'll take it, I expect the next payment to be better.”
 
“Of course it will be better, for it will require more invisibility and strategies.” Akito snickered.
 
“Shut up and have a glass of wine.” Amaya shoved the bottle towards Akito and sat down on the lounge chair smoking a long cigarette.
 
“So are they dead?” Akito poured himself a glass.
 
“Why? Your instructions clearly said…”
 
“Good, good, you didn't kill them. After all, my intentions were only to scare them a little.”
 
“What's with the anger towards those loser teenagers anyway?” Amaya wondered.
 
“Private matters shall not be discussed with a client even if you are a professional assassin.” Akito ignored her.
 
“Whatever, what's next?”
 
“Nothing else for today.”
 
“So that's it?”
 
“No, tomorrow, we'll visit the glorious Eiffel Tower.”
 
“Sounds like a good idea, you have something for me to do, right?”
 
“Of course, it's what I hired you for.”
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
 
“So did you get any contact with Akito?” Karina entered Yuki's room.
 
“Yes, he umm, said we could exchange rooms so yea, floor 2 is for us and so Kyo's gone down with Tohru and Kenji to book the rest of the rooms.” He explained.
 
“Does he know…about the lift?” She shivered.
 
“Yea.”
 
Flashback
 
“Akito, we umm, have just been through an accident with the lift. It went down 47 floors and we were in it and the lights were off and I don't think we'd like to be on the 50th floor anymore.” Yuki said seriously.
 
“Holy shit, are you alright?”
 
“Yea…barely but everyone's in a bad mood and shocked.”
 
“This is…incredible, I'll go have a word with the manager about their lift although…well…is there anything else I can do for you?”
 
“No, just fix the lift.”
 
“Of course, this damn hotel is meant to be a 6 star.”
 
“Goodnight Akito.” Yuki didn't feel like speaking to Akito.
 
“Yes…goodnight indeed.”

End of Flashback
 
“So….I guess I should be..”
 
“Are you okay? I mean…you, your, I mean, the phobia….”
 
“Oh…that, yea, I uhh overheard you guys talking and…, umm…”
 
“Kyo's just worried about you; you're the only family member he has apart from Kazuma.”
 
“He's quite…protective of me and Tohru…”
 
“Yea, and Kenji is too, I can tell he…really loves you.”
 
“L-l-loves me?” She stuttered.
 
“Well of course, why wouldn't he anyway? I can tell from his eyes that he's always watching out for you and worried when you're hurt so I'm sure he does.”
 
“Oh..”
 
“This is the most impolite and obvious question I've ever asked….but ….do you ….umm…well….love him?”
 
“I-I-I…I-I….I uhh , I've never actually…thought a-about that…big….answer….b-b-before.”
 
“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that….”
 
“I like him…I mean, a lot, and I really really do care for him, but I've never thought of it as….that kind of love…and I feel so so stupid and I hate myself for saying that cos I mean, well he's my boyfriend for gods sake and Kenji's done so much for me and look at me now? This is all I can say after all we've been through, I feel so lame right now….and annoyed at myself.” Karina cut him off, relaxed a little and just said it out in front of Yuki while struggling.
Yuki was, speechless and he didn't know what to say, he just sat there and was lost in his thoughts. `Does that mean, she likes…somebody else or, she doesn't love Kenji, or…maybe she's just plain confused.'
 
“Umm, I'm such a dork for telling you that, please don't tell him, I mean I trust him but, I don't even trust myself anymore.”
 
“Karina…”
 
“It's just hard you know? Trying to figure out where your love life is actually going.”
 
“Karina…”
 
“And how much it all means when the answer is put together.”
 
“Umm…”
 
“You just don't know anything.”
 
“Karina?”
 
“Oh, I'm sorry…umm…what were you saying?”
 
“Just relax, I'm here for you and I'll try to help you as much as I can…okay?”
 
“Yuki, your making me blush.” Karina admitted and put on an embarrassed face.
 
“Oh…uhh….sorry.”
 
“But thanks…a lot for, your offer, but I'll try to figure it out on my own okay? I mean…this is my personal…well problem or issue and I don't want you to get mixed up in this either.”
 
“Desperate times need desperate help though.” Yuki replied.
 
“True, but I don't feel like I deserve a boyfriend like Kenji, it's so awkward, we grew up together basically and went to the same school, shared the same memories, attended the same sport classes, everything…I actually, and I mean actually, loved him once…back then and then I picked that idea of moving and everything changed.” Karina sighed and continued to ramble on.
 
“So what you're saying is that you shouldn't have moved?”
 
“Well…”
 
“I don't think you should regret moving because if you hadn't then, Kyo wouldn't have found his half sister and I wouldn't have been able to meet you.”
 
“…..umm…Again, Yuki, your making me blush…but….I'm glad because…that's the absolute sweetest thing anybody's ever said to me.” She bit her lip.
 
“Your welcome.”
 
“Hey, you two in there! Me and Tohru have booked the rooms so unless you wanna share a room together, one of you, get out here and choose a room!” Kyo shouted.
 
“Yea, come on Karina!” Kenji's voice gave her the goose-bumps. How long had they been outside there? Did they overhear her and Yuki's conversation?
 
“I-I'll be right out.” Karina smiled at Yuki nervously then ran out of the room.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------

A/N: I know….you can kinda see where this is heading or the uhh minor sparks in that ending thing majig. I, like really really apologise to those who voted for Kenji….Really, Really really sorry! Because I've decided on making it Yuki after a long period of thinking and some other reviews and messages that influenced me on making that decision. I hope you won't mind, really sorry about that!!!!
 
But Thank you for reading and Please, please, please review!!! *I need an encouragement boost so I can write the next …long *cough*…more *cough* action packed *cough*…. romance… chapter.
 
CYA :+) Angelite-Phoenix (+: