Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Sleepless in Sohma House ❯ A Loveable Akito? ( Chapter 12 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Yuki_The_Rat 
Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.16.2003 | Updated On: 11.16.2003 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 943 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Fruits Basket Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Comedy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 11.16.2003 | Updated On: 11.16.2003 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 943 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket or it's characters. It belongs to Takaya Nasuki. Yuki too. That’s just the way it is. I am learning to accept it.
Okay, everyone, quick warning. The characters have, once again, taken over my story. I have no control over what they decide to do anymore. I promise nothing. I want to make all of you wonderful readers happy, but it simply cannot be helped. At this point, I have no clue about who Tohru is going to end up with, flighty little chick that she is. What’s a fan fiction writer to do?
However, I appreciate your reviews, as well as your thoughts, on who you feel is destined to be with Miss Honda… I also, know that I should call her Honda-san or Honda-chan, and that robes should be yukata, (but my stupid spell check wants to change it to Yucatan). This makes me want to apologize to all of the fan fiction purist out there, for not using proper Japanese terms, but I don’t think I could keep it up throughout the whole story, so… opps, lost my train of thought. Anyway, regarding Tohru. Now that we have made it this far, please feel free to continue to vote for who you really think she belongs with. Of course, I will not promise that things will go that way… but I am curious, and you never know. I like you all, a lot, and really want to know what you think. But in the end … we all still answer to Akito, or do we?
Sleepless in Sohma House
PART TWELVE - A LOVABLE AKITO?
HATORI *
Akito was late coming to dinner. Sitting at the large Sohma dining table, Hatori and Momiji waited impatiently. Hatori was feeling an inkling of annoyance. He was overly tired from his long drive into the mountains, and Momiji, as usual, was like a giant pinball full of youthful enthusiasm.
"Hatori, I'm starving. When's Akito going to get here?" Momiji frowned and fidgeted, eyeing the basket of fresh baked bread that sat untouched on the table.
"I'm sure that he'll get here soon." Hatori said, glancing down at his watch.
It was unlike Akito to be late for dinner. The head of the Sohma clan was well known, within the family, for his intolerance of tardiness. It was one of his special pet peeves. Hatori still recalled, quite clearly, one particular New Year’s celebration when Ritsu and his family had dared to arrive late. Akito had taken particular delight in re-educating them on the virtues of punctuality. To this day the three overly skittish Sohma’s served as a reminder to the rest of the clan.
Akito, himself, had never been, unintentionally, late for anything in his entire life, until tonight.
“Is it okay if I have some bread, then?” Momiji pleaded, reaching for the basket.
“No,” Hatori scolded, “You know that Akito will take it as a sign of disrespect if you start without him.”
“You’re right,” Momiji sulked, “I’m sorry, but I’m so hungry.”
“I’ll go find him.” Hatori decided, standing up, just as the dining room door slid open, and a fair skinned goddess stepped into the room.
The moment that Yoshiya entered the Sohma dining room, Hatori was immediately caught. In an instant, he found himself drawn into her beautiful pale green eyes. They left him momentarily speechless. ‘Who is this young woman?’ He wondered, and felt his heart flutter softly as she aimed a smile in his direction. For the tiniest moment, Hatori wondered if there was any chance in hell that he might actually be given a second chance at love, but just as quickly he decided who the girl was.
‘Ah ha!’ Hatori determined, “This must be her, Akito’s new girlfriend,” he felt a familiar disappointment blanketing him. ‘Lucky bastard.’
“Ha’ri, Ha’ri,” Momiji exclaimed excitedly, jumping up from the table and rushing to the girls side. “Ha’ri this is Yoshi, she’s come to work at the main house.”
“Work?” Hatori questioned, noticing the apron that the girl wore over her cute, but too short, floral dress.
“Yes, Hatori. Akito hired her, and do you know what the best part is?” Momiji asked, but before Hatori had time to even consider an response, the small blond boy threw himself into Yoshiya’s arms. “She knows all about us!.”
A loud pop, followed by a sunshine bright flash, left Yoshiya holding a small yellow rabbit.
“Momiji!” Hatori yelled at him.
“It’s okay,” Yoshiya grinned, and hugged the little rabbit tightly. “I have known about the family secret for years now. My mother taught me about it, before she passed away.” Sitting Momiji down she offered her hand to Hatori. “I’m Yoshiya Sohma. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You’re mother?” Hatori questioned, and then it dawned on him. “You’re Yoshiya Sohma?”
“Yes, and you are the great Doctor Hatori Sohma.” Yoshiya grinned, “and you probably won’t remember me, but we knew each other when we were children.”
The thing was Hatori did remember her, in fact, he remembered quite well. She was younger than he was, but only by two years. She was the daughter of Suzumi Sohma. The woman who had been destined to serve Akito’s mother. In effect, her family had been serving the heads of the clan for generations.
Growing up at the main house did not allow Hatori much opportunity to meet normal children. So when Suzumi brought her young daughter to work with her, Hatori had found himself fascinated by the pretty girl. He would sit in the garden, pretending to be studying, and he would watch as Yoshi played with Shigure and Ayame. He had never joined them. Too much was expected of him, even in those days, and playing in the garden simply was not a part of Hatori Sohma’s meticulously scheduled life. Yoshiya had been Hatori’s first crush. She was the first, in a short line of girls, that he was forced to worship from a far. Now, amazingly, she was back.
“No, of course I remember you. I just didn’t recognize you.” Hatori explained, “You’ve grown up.”
“Well, people tend to do that, Hatori.” Akito informed him, as he entered the room.
In a bright yellow burst, Momiji transformed back into his human form.
“Akito!” Momiji exclaimed nervously. Grabbing up his clothes, he hurried to hide behind Hatori.
“Hello Momiji, Hatori.” Akito greeted them with a smile.
Hatori was unsettled by how genuinely warm and friendly he sounded.
“Are we dining naked tonight?” Akito asked, flashing Momiji a fun loving grin.
“No, Akito… I just…” Momiji started, and quickly began to dress himself.
“Momiji, transformed.” Yoshiya informed him, “it was my fault, he’s so adorable, I couldn’t help but hug him.”
Hatori felt his heart stop, and he readied himself for the possible explosion.
“No harm done.” Akito told her, shooing aside her apology with a gentle smile. “Yoshiya, if you don’t mind, I need to speak with you for just a moment.” Akito gestured toward the hallway.
“Of course, Master Akito.” Yoshi replied and nodded a quick farewell.
Still half naked, Momiji peeked out from behind Hatori, “Bye Yoshi.”
“Hatori, why don’t you two start without me. I will be a few minutes.” Akito said, before exiting the room, a wicked grin plastered on his face.
“Um… Ha’ri,” Momiji whispered, as soon as Akito was gone. “what’s up with him?”
“What do you mean?” Hatori asked, pretty much lost within his own train of thoughts.
“Well, Akito, didn’t you notice. He was acting… well kind of… nice, or loveable or something. It was weird.”
“A loveable Akito?” Hatori mumbled, speaking without realizing he was doing so.
Hatori’s mind was simply somewhere else. Walking to the table, Hatori took his seat.
Still jabbering on, Momiji plopped himself down on the cushion beside Hatori, and immediately attacked the bread basket. Hatori didn’t notice, he paid the boy no mind. Hatori was too busy thinking, something along the lines of, how perfect and tiny Yoshiya’s cute button nose was, how pale and lovely her skin was, and how sweet and soft lips might taste. That was when it hit him.
“She’s Yoshiya Sohma, the daughter of the Suzumi Sohma. The daughter of the woman who served Akito’s mother.” This he said out loud, earning him a confused look from Momiji.
That would mean that Yoshiya was at the Sohma house, neither as Akito’s girlfriend, nor as his future wife. Yoshiya was here, as tradition dictates, as the woman who would serve Akito’s bride. THAT MADE HER AVAILABLE!
Suddenly, feeling ravenous, Hatori grabbed a piece of bread, right out of Momiji’s hand, and began to eat. A look of delight covering his face.
KYO *
Kyo was feeling completely discouraged as he exited the forest and stood anxiously in front of Sohma house. ‘I can’t believe that I am actually back here. I, so, never wanted to see this place again.’
As was always the case, when Shigure was home, the front door was slid completely open. Kyo noticed a warm inviting smell coming from the kitchen. After having wandered the forest for hours, searching for Tohru, Kyo was tired, and hungry, and extremely irritable. ‘Wait a minute, someone is actually cooking in the kitchen. Shigure can’t cook? Yuki can’t cook! I’m out here! It must be…’
In an excited flurry, Kyo flew through the front door, as fast as his little furry feet could carry him, and he rushed into the kitchen.
“TOHRU?” He exclaimed lovingly, and this was immediately followed up with, “WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TWO FREAKS DOING?!!”
Standing in the kitchen, Ayame and Shigure were locked in an particularly passionate embrace. Ayame was dressed in a pretty pink apron and matching cooks hat, and he was feeding Shigure a chocolate dipped strawberry.
“Oh, Kyo.” Shigure said, completely unaffected, “have you come home, already? Aya was just teaching me how to cook.”
YUKI *
Yuki couldn’t recall having ever felt quite this lonely.
“What in the hell is wrong with me.” he asked himself, under his breath. “This is unacceptable, why am I feeling so sorry for myself?”
‘If anything,” he decided, ‘I should be feeling guilty.’
In the course of just a couple of days, he had pushed away the only two people who really mattered to him. Tohru was out there somewhere, possibly even living in a tent, and who really knew what kind of trouble Haru might be getting himself into.
Unable to rest, Yuki once again got out of bed. He was feeling pretty hungry, and was wishing that he had asked Hatori to have Momiji bring his dinner after all. Pulling on the robe that Hatori had brought for him, he instantly decided that he hated it. It was obviously from Akito’s wardrobe. Hatori’s robe would have been too big, Momiji’s too small. Akito’s fit just right, but it was god awfully ugly. Bright red with a black floral pattern. Yuki even imagined that he could smell Akito’s scent in the fabric of the robe, which was pretty much insane, as the robe looked to be brand new. Yuki took the robe back off, and instead wrapped a blanket about his shoulders. As summer was coming to an end soon, it was a bit cool outside, and Yuki didn’t want to catch a draft. “I will be going home tomorrow, but not if I catch cold.”
Thus attired, Yuki decided that he would, quietly, sneak into the kitchen at the main house and ask the cook for something to eat. ‘I just need to be careful, so that I don’t accidentally run into Akito.’
TOHRU *
“Is Akito changing, for the better?” Tohru asked herself, as she sat in her private hot springs, gazing up at the stars. “Mom, you always said that people could change if they really wanted to, and you said that the only people who were unable to change were the ones that didn’t believe it was possible to do so. So is that it mom? Is the reason that Akito is being so nice to me, because he wants to be a better person?”
Tohru listened intently, wishing that she could once more hear the cheerful voice of her mother. The voice which used to reside deep inside of her heart. She got nothing. Over the past month, she was finding more, and more, that her mother‘s memory was fading. She missed it.
Recently, there had also been another voice. A voice that had haunted her dreams, constantly, up until today. It was the voice of a very dangerous, very angry, Akito Sohma. It was a voice that she had feared greatly. Often, he would come to her in her sleep, causing her to wake up in a cold sweet, fighting back the desire to scream out loud.
Today, that voice was gone, she was happy to be rid of.
This afternoon, as she napped, she had also dreamed of Akito, but it was a different Akito Sohma. It was not the Akito from her nightmares. This man was beautiful, with warm hands and gentle arms. This man spoke softly, and placed delicate kisses upon her face. This man was someone that she wanted desperately to love.
Tohru had awakened from this dream feeling a different kind of fear. Sitting up in the big soft bed, Tohru let out a tiny sigh of relief. She was still here. It wasn’t all a dream. She had fallen asleep in the garden, next to Akito, and had he really carried her inside? The thought of this brought a soft smile to her face and a blush to her cheeks.
Getting out of the bed, she had decided to use the hot springs. For the last twenty minutes she had been sitting here, watching the stars, and daydreaming about Akito. For some reason, she couldn’t seem to get him out of her head. It was iniquitous, what she was thinking of. While staying at Shigure’s she had sometimes thought of both Yuki, and Kyo in a similar fashion, but this was different. This was Akito. Where her thoughts of Yuki and Kyo had brought about tender fantasies, which often centered around the ability to actually hug and, perhaps, kiss them; her musings of Akito were of a much wilder nature. She didn’t know where such thoughts were coming from, and was not sure if she liked having them, but facts were facts. Akito Sohma was having an considerable effect on her.
The sound of delicate footsteps passing by, on the other side of the fence, caught Tohru’s attention. She was, immediately, brought down from her cloud. Standing, she wrapped a towel tightly around her body, and moved closer to the fence. She had felt certain that she recognized those gentle footsteps, and was not at all surprised upon discovering to whom they belonged.
It was Yuki. Holding her breath, Tohru put one hand to her mouth, her heart racing inside her chest. All romantic thoughts of Akito immediately vanished. It was her Yuki. He moved slowly, apprehensively, towards a small back door which led into the main house. Immediately, the questions grew inside of her. Why was he dressed so strangely. Was that a blanket? Why isn’t he in the hospital? Why is he going into the main house, isn’t he afraid of running into Akito. Why am I still so worried about him?
Yuki opened the small door, peeked timidly inside, and entered.
Tohru returned to her bath, but found she could no longer relax.
YUKI *
Yuki stood tensely, peering down the long hallway, which lead to the dining room, and the kitchen. For just a moment, he debated about turning back, but a soft rumble in his tummy spurred him on.
“Please don’t let me run into Akito.” He whispered, and crept towards the kitchen. Passing by the dining room, he heard Momiji’s voice from inside. He was talking to Hatori. Yuki felt relieved. They were in the middle of dinner, which would mean that Akito would be with them. As he recalled, meal’s in the main house were taken with Akito, or they were not taken at all. The only exception was when Akito was feeling ill, in which case he would be recovering in his rooms. Either way, Yuki was home free.
As Yuki slid open the door to the kitchen, he was smiling. As a child he had spent a lot of his time visiting with Rikku, the woman who had cooked for the main house for over 40 years. He had liked the main kitchen a lot. With it’s warm oven’s, and inviting scents, Yuki had always found it comforting. Rikku had even attempted to teach him to cook once. Yuki had set the kitchen on fire. Akito had roared, and that was the last of the cooking lessons.
Stepping into the kitchen, Yuki felt his heart literally stop, and then, it went into overdrive. ‘Why, oh why, was Akito in the kitchen?’
“Yuki, what are you doing out of the hospital?” Akito asked him, stepping in front of the large tray of food he had previously been examining. Standing next to Akito, was a woman Yuki did not recognize. Rikku was standing in front of the stove, she had been stirring a large pot of pasta sauce, but stopped when Yuki entered the room.
“I… I…I” Yuki stumbled over his words, and took an unconscious step backwards, desiring escape. “I was hungry.” he managed to spit out at last.
“I see.” Akito said, and smiled warmly as he took a step toward Yuki. “but you shouldn’t be out of bed, yet. Hatori wouldn’t like it.”
Yuki took another step backwards, his eyes as big a saucers, and his whole body shaking. Yoshiya and Rikki both watched sympathetically, but kept silent.
“I… I … was hungry.” Yuki repeated, and closed his eyes tightly, as Akito placed a reassuring arm around his shoulders.
“I know, it’s okay, why don’t you come and have dinner with us, then.” Akito lead the frightened Yuki out of the kitchen, “by the way, Yuki, why are you wearing a blanket? Didn’t Hatori give you the robe that I bought for you?”
MOMIJI *
‘Hatori is acting strange.’ Momiji noticed, ‘He never smiled like that, not ever before, and what is up with him stealing my bread?’ Momiji had just gotten it buttered the exact way that he liked it, and Momiji was starving.
“Ha’ri, what’s wrong with you?” Momiji questioned, and Hatori looked at him as if he had no idea what Momiji was talking about.
Just then, the door slid open, and Akito entered the room with Yuki in tow.
GRAY HARU *
Haru was lost. He had not paid attention to where he was walking when he left the main house. He had been too upset to care where he was heading. Now, he had absolutely no idea where he was. He was glad that it was no longer raining, but that didn’t make him any less hungry. He was also wishing that he had chosen a shirt that wasn’t sleeveless. Even in the summer, at night, the forest was just plain freezing. To top things off, he was miserable. Traveling through the forest, he had flipped from White to Black numerous times. Now he felt neither White, nor Black, he was basically just feeling well… kind of Gray.
“It doesn’t matter.” He told himself. “I can just stay lost like this forever. It’s not as if Yuki is going to miss me. Not as long as that girl is in the picture.
“You know,” whispered his Black side, for perhaps the hundredth time that day, “you could get rid of her.”
“Leave me the hell alone!” Gray Haru screamed. “I would never do anything to hurt Tohru. Who am I? Akito? Besides, if I did, Yuki would never forgive me.”
“Yuki…” His White side moaned, “I miss Yuki, can’t we go back to the main house now? It’s so nice and warm in Yuki’s bed. I love Yuki!”
“You leave me alone too.” Gray Haru yelled, “It’s all over with Yuki, okay. He doesn’t love us, he never has, so just get over it.”
Crossing his arms in an effort to get warmer, Haru came upon a small clearing. Seeing a fireplace and a picnic table he headed that way.
“Now, how do I build a fire without matches again?” he said, and then he noticed the little storm battered tent.
“What the?” Walking over to it, he tilted his head to one side, thinking deeply.
The tent was tiny, just a kids pup tent, really, and except for a big bump in the middle the tent was completely flattened. ‘What is inside?’ Crouching down, Haru found the zipper and pulled at it.
Once he got it open, he pushed aside the plastic flap. Inside was a few shopping bags full of female clothing, and a small picture of a short haired woman. Tohru’s mom. Haru realized. This must be where the girl was living now.
“Yuki’s not going to like this.” Gray Haru thought.
“It’s kinda sad.” His White side added.
“It’s better then she deserves!” His Black side insisted.
“Didn’t I tell both of you guys to shut up?” Gray Haru said.
Taking a deep, and calming breath. Haru set himself to the task of putting Tohru’s tiny tent back in order. He had come to a decision about what it was that needed to be done. He would fix the tent, and wait right here until Tohru returned, however long that might take. ‘I don’t know how to get home anyway.’ When she arrived, he would talk to the girl. He needed to know if it was at all possible. Could Tohru Honda love Yuki even half as much as he himself did? If she did, he promised himself, he would do the right thing. He would step aside. But if she didn’t… if she didn’t…
YUKI *
‘He’s up to something.’ Yuki told himself as he put a forkful of pasta into his mouth. ‘Akito is being way too nice, it’s unnatural.’
For the last twenty minutes, Yuki had sat, bitterly, watching Akito’s attempt at being charming.
Hatori was acting weird too. Hatori was sitting across the table, a big dorky smile plastered to his normally morose face. This alone was cause to be alarmed, but what was worse was that Akito Sohma was acting like a normal human being. He was laughing, telling stupid jokes, really stupid jokes, and he was smiling non stop. It was completely terrifying.
‘Maybe I am sicker then I thought?’ Yuki suddenly thought, ‘maybe I died, and this is hell!’
To be sure this wasn’t the case, Yuki kicked Momiji from underneath the table.
“Yuki, what’d you do that for. Wahhhh… Ha‘ri Yuki kicked me.” Momiji kicked him back, painfully. Rubbing his leg, where a bruise would soon be glowing, Yuki was satisfied that he was still among the living.
“Momiji, I am sure that Yuki would not have kicked you on purpose. It was an accident, wasn’t it Yuki.” Akito assured Momiji.
‘Why does he keep smiling like that?‘ Yuki wondered, anxiously. Yuki had been certain that Akito would punish him creating a disturbance at dinner. Instead he had defended him. What in the heck was going on here?
“Hatori!” Yuki finally demanded. Standing up, he pointed an accusing finger at the young doctor. “Have you drugged Akito?”
This caused the entire table to burst into laughter. Yuki stood, looking at the others suspiciously, and feeling pretty sure that he was going insane.
“Yuki, sit down.” Akito said, through his laughter. “It’s not what you think, it’s just, well. I have decided that maybe it is time that this family made a few changes.”
“Oh really, Akito.” Yuki said sarcastically, “and what might those changes be? Perhaps you’re thinking that I should move back into the main house again? Maybe you want me to transfer to an all boys school? Is that it Akito? What kind of sick game are you playing at, this time?”
The laughter at the table stopped. Momiji swallowed hard. The dining room took on an ominous aura. All eyes were upon Akito, waiting. Hatori felt certain that the rat had pushed Akito too far.
“Yuki… You really hate me don‘t you?” Akito’s words were not icy. They held no angry undertone. Yuki dropped back down into his seat, as Akito continued. “I deserve it. I know that I do… but, I wish that things had been different between us. I want things to be different between us.”
“Akito?” Yuki whispered. Still not trusting him, but wanting to believe.
“Anyway,” Akito went on, taking a deep breath and reaching into the pocket of his robe. “This is for you Hatori.”
“Excuse me?” Hatori stared at the envelope in Akito’s hand apprehensively. The entire table was in agreement, something very odd was going on inside Akito Sohma’s devious little head.
“Take it, Hatori. It’s not going to bite you. It’s a present. For all you have done for me. Well, actually, for all you have done for the entire family.”
Taking the envelope, Hatori ripped it open, and removed a pair of plane tickets.
“I’ve decided that you deserve a vacation.”
‘Oh yeah, he’s up to something.’ Yuki ascertained. “and whatever it is, it’s something really big, and really bad.’
“A vacation?” Hatori repeated, he could not have heard Akito right.
“Yes, and I got you an extra ticket, so you should bring someone. I wonder if Miss Yoshiya would be interested?” To this Akito added a sly little wink. That‘s right, he knew that Hatori wanted her.
All this, however, was lost on Yuki, who was still trying to decide what it was that Akito was planning.
“Take me, Ha’ri. I want to go on vacation.” The cute little Momiji chimed in.
“Oh no, Momiji.” Akito cooed, “I think that it will do Ha’ri good to spend sometime away from the family.”
‘He just called Hatori, Ha’ri? We are doomed.’ Yuki sunk down deeper into his cushion.
“Wahh… but I want to go on vacation.” Momiji whined. “Ha’ri you want me to come, don’t you?”
“Momiji, I actually have something better planned for you.” Akito consoled.
“Better?” The little blond asked.
“What have you been begging me for, this last year?”
Momiji thought deeply about this, and came up with his answer. “To live in Shigure’s house?”
When Akito smiled, Momiji leaped up happily. “I get to live at Shigure’s? With Yuki and Kyo and Shigure?”
“Yes, I spoke with your dad, and since he will be traveling a lot this next year, he agrees that it will be a good experience for you.”
“YEAH!!!!” Momiji applauded. Running happily over to Yuki and shaking him. “Did you hear that Yuki. I get to live at your house. Woo hoo! Akito, can I go start packing?”
Giggling like a father who has just pleased his dearest child, Akito nodded his okay. Momiji raced out of the room, singing and dancing all the way. “Gonna live at Shigure’s house, Momiji’s gonna live at Shigure’s house.”
“AKITO!” Yuki had had it.
Akito and Hatori turned towards the angry boy. Yuki’s next words were spoken softly, but firmly. He was not shaking, not nervous, not one bit scared of the consequence. He simply needed to know.
“You tell me, Akito. I want to know right now. What are you planning?”
“Planning?” Akito said, still with a hint of a smile. “Why Yuki, it’s nothing for you to be worried about. It’s just that, as you both know, it’s my time.”
“Your time?” Yuki swallowed, oh yes, he had almost forgotten about that. He looked at Akito, and a genuine sadness touched Yuki’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Akito. I didn’t think. I didn’t realize.”
“Don’t be sorry, Yuki.” Akito told him, and placed his hand on Yuki’s shoulder in a reassuring manner. “I am, actually, very happy about it. You see, Yuki. I believe that I may have fallen in love. She is the most wonderful, most perfect, woman in the entire world, and I plan to ask her to marry me, quite soon.”
“I KNEW IT!” Hatori hooted excitedly, then quickly caught himself. “Sorry, congratulations, Akito.”
“Now, if you will excuse me.” Akito stood up, “I have some business to attend to. By the way, Hatori those tickets are for the day after tomorrow. If you plan on taking Miss Yoshiya, you better get around to asking her soon. I will happily give her the time off, should she choose to accompany you.”
With one last smile Akito left the dining room.
Yuki sat quietly, in complete shock. None of this made any sense to him, and he still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very much wrong.
Hatori on the other hand, was completely ecstatic. His mind was already busy. He needed to convince a girl, that he hardly knew, that she simply had to take a vacation with him, and he only had a day to do it in.
AKITO *
‘That went well.’ Akito determined, as he hurried towards Tohru Honda’s rooms. He was missing the girl desperately, and he had a difficult time keeping her off of his mind during dinner.
In his arms he carried the tray which contained her supper. He would be much happier in a couple of days when she would be able to join him in the dining room for her meals. She must be so bored, sitting alone in her rooms. Akito was surprised at how important it was to him that she feel at home in the main house.
Akito was, also, surprised at how much he was enjoying this rare opportunity to play cupid. Akito had not planned on Hatori taking Yoshiya on vacation when he had purchased the tickets for him. He had originally bought two tickets so that Hatori could bring Momiji along with him. Akito had wanted to get rid of Hatori, and Momiji for a few weeks so that Tohru would feel more comfortable in the main house. During dinner, Akito had concocted plan B.
Akito could not help but notice the way that Hatori had stared at Yoshiya. The young doctor’s desire was written all over his face. Working on impulse, Akito had jumped on the opportunity. Giving the girl the night off, he had also suggesting that she might enjoy spending the evening in the library. Akito was certain that this was the one place where Hatori would be sure to find her. Hatori always read for a few hours after dinner each night. The bait was set, and the rest was in Hatori’s hands.
For the first time in his life, Akito Sohma was finding the needs of others more important then his own. It was a really nice feeling, it was one he was sure he could get used to.
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Wow, that was pretty long. I can’t believe, I have been writing all day. My eyes hurt. If this is a little messy, it’s cause I can’t see to do a proper proofing. Sorry.
I hope you don’t mind me adding an original character. I didn’t mean too. I just needed a servant for the main house, and Hatori needed a love interest… once again I got carried away. I’ll give 3 points to anyone who can figure out where I got the name Yoshiya from. No she isn’t related to the little green dinosaur in the Mario games… guess again.
Well, anyway, see you in chapter 13...
Okay, everyone, quick warning. The characters have, once again, taken over my story. I have no control over what they decide to do anymore. I promise nothing. I want to make all of you wonderful readers happy, but it simply cannot be helped. At this point, I have no clue about who Tohru is going to end up with, flighty little chick that she is. What’s a fan fiction writer to do?
However, I appreciate your reviews, as well as your thoughts, on who you feel is destined to be with Miss Honda… I also, know that I should call her Honda-san or Honda-chan, and that robes should be yukata, (but my stupid spell check wants to change it to Yucatan). This makes me want to apologize to all of the fan fiction purist out there, for not using proper Japanese terms, but I don’t think I could keep it up throughout the whole story, so… opps, lost my train of thought. Anyway, regarding Tohru. Now that we have made it this far, please feel free to continue to vote for who you really think she belongs with. Of course, I will not promise that things will go that way… but I am curious, and you never know. I like you all, a lot, and really want to know what you think. But in the end … we all still answer to Akito, or do we?
Sleepless in Sohma House
PART TWELVE - A LOVABLE AKITO?
HATORI *
Akito was late coming to dinner. Sitting at the large Sohma dining table, Hatori and Momiji waited impatiently. Hatori was feeling an inkling of annoyance. He was overly tired from his long drive into the mountains, and Momiji, as usual, was like a giant pinball full of youthful enthusiasm.
"Hatori, I'm starving. When's Akito going to get here?" Momiji frowned and fidgeted, eyeing the basket of fresh baked bread that sat untouched on the table.
"I'm sure that he'll get here soon." Hatori said, glancing down at his watch.
It was unlike Akito to be late for dinner. The head of the Sohma clan was well known, within the family, for his intolerance of tardiness. It was one of his special pet peeves. Hatori still recalled, quite clearly, one particular New Year’s celebration when Ritsu and his family had dared to arrive late. Akito had taken particular delight in re-educating them on the virtues of punctuality. To this day the three overly skittish Sohma’s served as a reminder to the rest of the clan.
Akito, himself, had never been, unintentionally, late for anything in his entire life, until tonight.
“Is it okay if I have some bread, then?” Momiji pleaded, reaching for the basket.
“No,” Hatori scolded, “You know that Akito will take it as a sign of disrespect if you start without him.”
“You’re right,” Momiji sulked, “I’m sorry, but I’m so hungry.”
“I’ll go find him.” Hatori decided, standing up, just as the dining room door slid open, and a fair skinned goddess stepped into the room.
The moment that Yoshiya entered the Sohma dining room, Hatori was immediately caught. In an instant, he found himself drawn into her beautiful pale green eyes. They left him momentarily speechless. ‘Who is this young woman?’ He wondered, and felt his heart flutter softly as she aimed a smile in his direction. For the tiniest moment, Hatori wondered if there was any chance in hell that he might actually be given a second chance at love, but just as quickly he decided who the girl was.
‘Ah ha!’ Hatori determined, “This must be her, Akito’s new girlfriend,” he felt a familiar disappointment blanketing him. ‘Lucky bastard.’
“Ha’ri, Ha’ri,” Momiji exclaimed excitedly, jumping up from the table and rushing to the girls side. “Ha’ri this is Yoshi, she’s come to work at the main house.”
“Work?” Hatori questioned, noticing the apron that the girl wore over her cute, but too short, floral dress.
“Yes, Hatori. Akito hired her, and do you know what the best part is?” Momiji asked, but before Hatori had time to even consider an response, the small blond boy threw himself into Yoshiya’s arms. “She knows all about us!.”
A loud pop, followed by a sunshine bright flash, left Yoshiya holding a small yellow rabbit.
“Momiji!” Hatori yelled at him.
“It’s okay,” Yoshiya grinned, and hugged the little rabbit tightly. “I have known about the family secret for years now. My mother taught me about it, before she passed away.” Sitting Momiji down she offered her hand to Hatori. “I’m Yoshiya Sohma. It’s nice to meet you.”
“You’re mother?” Hatori questioned, and then it dawned on him. “You’re Yoshiya Sohma?”
“Yes, and you are the great Doctor Hatori Sohma.” Yoshiya grinned, “and you probably won’t remember me, but we knew each other when we were children.”
The thing was Hatori did remember her, in fact, he remembered quite well. She was younger than he was, but only by two years. She was the daughter of Suzumi Sohma. The woman who had been destined to serve Akito’s mother. In effect, her family had been serving the heads of the clan for generations.
Growing up at the main house did not allow Hatori much opportunity to meet normal children. So when Suzumi brought her young daughter to work with her, Hatori had found himself fascinated by the pretty girl. He would sit in the garden, pretending to be studying, and he would watch as Yoshi played with Shigure and Ayame. He had never joined them. Too much was expected of him, even in those days, and playing in the garden simply was not a part of Hatori Sohma’s meticulously scheduled life. Yoshiya had been Hatori’s first crush. She was the first, in a short line of girls, that he was forced to worship from a far. Now, amazingly, she was back.
“No, of course I remember you. I just didn’t recognize you.” Hatori explained, “You’ve grown up.”
“Well, people tend to do that, Hatori.” Akito informed him, as he entered the room.
In a bright yellow burst, Momiji transformed back into his human form.
“Akito!” Momiji exclaimed nervously. Grabbing up his clothes, he hurried to hide behind Hatori.
“Hello Momiji, Hatori.” Akito greeted them with a smile.
Hatori was unsettled by how genuinely warm and friendly he sounded.
“Are we dining naked tonight?” Akito asked, flashing Momiji a fun loving grin.
“No, Akito… I just…” Momiji started, and quickly began to dress himself.
“Momiji, transformed.” Yoshiya informed him, “it was my fault, he’s so adorable, I couldn’t help but hug him.”
Hatori felt his heart stop, and he readied himself for the possible explosion.
“No harm done.” Akito told her, shooing aside her apology with a gentle smile. “Yoshiya, if you don’t mind, I need to speak with you for just a moment.” Akito gestured toward the hallway.
“Of course, Master Akito.” Yoshi replied and nodded a quick farewell.
Still half naked, Momiji peeked out from behind Hatori, “Bye Yoshi.”
“Hatori, why don’t you two start without me. I will be a few minutes.” Akito said, before exiting the room, a wicked grin plastered on his face.
“Um… Ha’ri,” Momiji whispered, as soon as Akito was gone. “what’s up with him?”
“What do you mean?” Hatori asked, pretty much lost within his own train of thoughts.
“Well, Akito, didn’t you notice. He was acting… well kind of… nice, or loveable or something. It was weird.”
“A loveable Akito?” Hatori mumbled, speaking without realizing he was doing so.
Hatori’s mind was simply somewhere else. Walking to the table, Hatori took his seat.
Still jabbering on, Momiji plopped himself down on the cushion beside Hatori, and immediately attacked the bread basket. Hatori didn’t notice, he paid the boy no mind. Hatori was too busy thinking, something along the lines of, how perfect and tiny Yoshiya’s cute button nose was, how pale and lovely her skin was, and how sweet and soft lips might taste. That was when it hit him.
“She’s Yoshiya Sohma, the daughter of the Suzumi Sohma. The daughter of the woman who served Akito’s mother.” This he said out loud, earning him a confused look from Momiji.
That would mean that Yoshiya was at the Sohma house, neither as Akito’s girlfriend, nor as his future wife. Yoshiya was here, as tradition dictates, as the woman who would serve Akito’s bride. THAT MADE HER AVAILABLE!
Suddenly, feeling ravenous, Hatori grabbed a piece of bread, right out of Momiji’s hand, and began to eat. A look of delight covering his face.
KYO *
Kyo was feeling completely discouraged as he exited the forest and stood anxiously in front of Sohma house. ‘I can’t believe that I am actually back here. I, so, never wanted to see this place again.’
As was always the case, when Shigure was home, the front door was slid completely open. Kyo noticed a warm inviting smell coming from the kitchen. After having wandered the forest for hours, searching for Tohru, Kyo was tired, and hungry, and extremely irritable. ‘Wait a minute, someone is actually cooking in the kitchen. Shigure can’t cook? Yuki can’t cook! I’m out here! It must be…’
In an excited flurry, Kyo flew through the front door, as fast as his little furry feet could carry him, and he rushed into the kitchen.
“TOHRU?” He exclaimed lovingly, and this was immediately followed up with, “WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU TWO FREAKS DOING?!!”
Standing in the kitchen, Ayame and Shigure were locked in an particularly passionate embrace. Ayame was dressed in a pretty pink apron and matching cooks hat, and he was feeding Shigure a chocolate dipped strawberry.
“Oh, Kyo.” Shigure said, completely unaffected, “have you come home, already? Aya was just teaching me how to cook.”
YUKI *
Yuki couldn’t recall having ever felt quite this lonely.
“What in the hell is wrong with me.” he asked himself, under his breath. “This is unacceptable, why am I feeling so sorry for myself?”
‘If anything,” he decided, ‘I should be feeling guilty.’
In the course of just a couple of days, he had pushed away the only two people who really mattered to him. Tohru was out there somewhere, possibly even living in a tent, and who really knew what kind of trouble Haru might be getting himself into.
Unable to rest, Yuki once again got out of bed. He was feeling pretty hungry, and was wishing that he had asked Hatori to have Momiji bring his dinner after all. Pulling on the robe that Hatori had brought for him, he instantly decided that he hated it. It was obviously from Akito’s wardrobe. Hatori’s robe would have been too big, Momiji’s too small. Akito’s fit just right, but it was god awfully ugly. Bright red with a black floral pattern. Yuki even imagined that he could smell Akito’s scent in the fabric of the robe, which was pretty much insane, as the robe looked to be brand new. Yuki took the robe back off, and instead wrapped a blanket about his shoulders. As summer was coming to an end soon, it was a bit cool outside, and Yuki didn’t want to catch a draft. “I will be going home tomorrow, but not if I catch cold.”
Thus attired, Yuki decided that he would, quietly, sneak into the kitchen at the main house and ask the cook for something to eat. ‘I just need to be careful, so that I don’t accidentally run into Akito.’
TOHRU *
“Is Akito changing, for the better?” Tohru asked herself, as she sat in her private hot springs, gazing up at the stars. “Mom, you always said that people could change if they really wanted to, and you said that the only people who were unable to change were the ones that didn’t believe it was possible to do so. So is that it mom? Is the reason that Akito is being so nice to me, because he wants to be a better person?”
Tohru listened intently, wishing that she could once more hear the cheerful voice of her mother. The voice which used to reside deep inside of her heart. She got nothing. Over the past month, she was finding more, and more, that her mother‘s memory was fading. She missed it.
Recently, there had also been another voice. A voice that had haunted her dreams, constantly, up until today. It was the voice of a very dangerous, very angry, Akito Sohma. It was a voice that she had feared greatly. Often, he would come to her in her sleep, causing her to wake up in a cold sweet, fighting back the desire to scream out loud.
Today, that voice was gone, she was happy to be rid of.
This afternoon, as she napped, she had also dreamed of Akito, but it was a different Akito Sohma. It was not the Akito from her nightmares. This man was beautiful, with warm hands and gentle arms. This man spoke softly, and placed delicate kisses upon her face. This man was someone that she wanted desperately to love.
Tohru had awakened from this dream feeling a different kind of fear. Sitting up in the big soft bed, Tohru let out a tiny sigh of relief. She was still here. It wasn’t all a dream. She had fallen asleep in the garden, next to Akito, and had he really carried her inside? The thought of this brought a soft smile to her face and a blush to her cheeks.
Getting out of the bed, she had decided to use the hot springs. For the last twenty minutes she had been sitting here, watching the stars, and daydreaming about Akito. For some reason, she couldn’t seem to get him out of her head. It was iniquitous, what she was thinking of. While staying at Shigure’s she had sometimes thought of both Yuki, and Kyo in a similar fashion, but this was different. This was Akito. Where her thoughts of Yuki and Kyo had brought about tender fantasies, which often centered around the ability to actually hug and, perhaps, kiss them; her musings of Akito were of a much wilder nature. She didn’t know where such thoughts were coming from, and was not sure if she liked having them, but facts were facts. Akito Sohma was having an considerable effect on her.
The sound of delicate footsteps passing by, on the other side of the fence, caught Tohru’s attention. She was, immediately, brought down from her cloud. Standing, she wrapped a towel tightly around her body, and moved closer to the fence. She had felt certain that she recognized those gentle footsteps, and was not at all surprised upon discovering to whom they belonged.
It was Yuki. Holding her breath, Tohru put one hand to her mouth, her heart racing inside her chest. All romantic thoughts of Akito immediately vanished. It was her Yuki. He moved slowly, apprehensively, towards a small back door which led into the main house. Immediately, the questions grew inside of her. Why was he dressed so strangely. Was that a blanket? Why isn’t he in the hospital? Why is he going into the main house, isn’t he afraid of running into Akito. Why am I still so worried about him?
Yuki opened the small door, peeked timidly inside, and entered.
Tohru returned to her bath, but found she could no longer relax.
YUKI *
Yuki stood tensely, peering down the long hallway, which lead to the dining room, and the kitchen. For just a moment, he debated about turning back, but a soft rumble in his tummy spurred him on.
“Please don’t let me run into Akito.” He whispered, and crept towards the kitchen. Passing by the dining room, he heard Momiji’s voice from inside. He was talking to Hatori. Yuki felt relieved. They were in the middle of dinner, which would mean that Akito would be with them. As he recalled, meal’s in the main house were taken with Akito, or they were not taken at all. The only exception was when Akito was feeling ill, in which case he would be recovering in his rooms. Either way, Yuki was home free.
As Yuki slid open the door to the kitchen, he was smiling. As a child he had spent a lot of his time visiting with Rikku, the woman who had cooked for the main house for over 40 years. He had liked the main kitchen a lot. With it’s warm oven’s, and inviting scents, Yuki had always found it comforting. Rikku had even attempted to teach him to cook once. Yuki had set the kitchen on fire. Akito had roared, and that was the last of the cooking lessons.
Stepping into the kitchen, Yuki felt his heart literally stop, and then, it went into overdrive. ‘Why, oh why, was Akito in the kitchen?’
“Yuki, what are you doing out of the hospital?” Akito asked him, stepping in front of the large tray of food he had previously been examining. Standing next to Akito, was a woman Yuki did not recognize. Rikku was standing in front of the stove, she had been stirring a large pot of pasta sauce, but stopped when Yuki entered the room.
“I… I…I” Yuki stumbled over his words, and took an unconscious step backwards, desiring escape. “I was hungry.” he managed to spit out at last.
“I see.” Akito said, and smiled warmly as he took a step toward Yuki. “but you shouldn’t be out of bed, yet. Hatori wouldn’t like it.”
Yuki took another step backwards, his eyes as big a saucers, and his whole body shaking. Yoshiya and Rikki both watched sympathetically, but kept silent.
“I… I … was hungry.” Yuki repeated, and closed his eyes tightly, as Akito placed a reassuring arm around his shoulders.
“I know, it’s okay, why don’t you come and have dinner with us, then.” Akito lead the frightened Yuki out of the kitchen, “by the way, Yuki, why are you wearing a blanket? Didn’t Hatori give you the robe that I bought for you?”
MOMIJI *
‘Hatori is acting strange.’ Momiji noticed, ‘He never smiled like that, not ever before, and what is up with him stealing my bread?’ Momiji had just gotten it buttered the exact way that he liked it, and Momiji was starving.
“Ha’ri, what’s wrong with you?” Momiji questioned, and Hatori looked at him as if he had no idea what Momiji was talking about.
Just then, the door slid open, and Akito entered the room with Yuki in tow.
GRAY HARU *
Haru was lost. He had not paid attention to where he was walking when he left the main house. He had been too upset to care where he was heading. Now, he had absolutely no idea where he was. He was glad that it was no longer raining, but that didn’t make him any less hungry. He was also wishing that he had chosen a shirt that wasn’t sleeveless. Even in the summer, at night, the forest was just plain freezing. To top things off, he was miserable. Traveling through the forest, he had flipped from White to Black numerous times. Now he felt neither White, nor Black, he was basically just feeling well… kind of Gray.
“It doesn’t matter.” He told himself. “I can just stay lost like this forever. It’s not as if Yuki is going to miss me. Not as long as that girl is in the picture.
“You know,” whispered his Black side, for perhaps the hundredth time that day, “you could get rid of her.”
“Leave me the hell alone!” Gray Haru screamed. “I would never do anything to hurt Tohru. Who am I? Akito? Besides, if I did, Yuki would never forgive me.”
“Yuki…” His White side moaned, “I miss Yuki, can’t we go back to the main house now? It’s so nice and warm in Yuki’s bed. I love Yuki!”
“You leave me alone too.” Gray Haru yelled, “It’s all over with Yuki, okay. He doesn’t love us, he never has, so just get over it.”
Crossing his arms in an effort to get warmer, Haru came upon a small clearing. Seeing a fireplace and a picnic table he headed that way.
“Now, how do I build a fire without matches again?” he said, and then he noticed the little storm battered tent.
“What the?” Walking over to it, he tilted his head to one side, thinking deeply.
The tent was tiny, just a kids pup tent, really, and except for a big bump in the middle the tent was completely flattened. ‘What is inside?’ Crouching down, Haru found the zipper and pulled at it.
Once he got it open, he pushed aside the plastic flap. Inside was a few shopping bags full of female clothing, and a small picture of a short haired woman. Tohru’s mom. Haru realized. This must be where the girl was living now.
“Yuki’s not going to like this.” Gray Haru thought.
“It’s kinda sad.” His White side added.
“It’s better then she deserves!” His Black side insisted.
“Didn’t I tell both of you guys to shut up?” Gray Haru said.
Taking a deep, and calming breath. Haru set himself to the task of putting Tohru’s tiny tent back in order. He had come to a decision about what it was that needed to be done. He would fix the tent, and wait right here until Tohru returned, however long that might take. ‘I don’t know how to get home anyway.’ When she arrived, he would talk to the girl. He needed to know if it was at all possible. Could Tohru Honda love Yuki even half as much as he himself did? If she did, he promised himself, he would do the right thing. He would step aside. But if she didn’t… if she didn’t…
YUKI *
‘He’s up to something.’ Yuki told himself as he put a forkful of pasta into his mouth. ‘Akito is being way too nice, it’s unnatural.’
For the last twenty minutes, Yuki had sat, bitterly, watching Akito’s attempt at being charming.
Hatori was acting weird too. Hatori was sitting across the table, a big dorky smile plastered to his normally morose face. This alone was cause to be alarmed, but what was worse was that Akito Sohma was acting like a normal human being. He was laughing, telling stupid jokes, really stupid jokes, and he was smiling non stop. It was completely terrifying.
‘Maybe I am sicker then I thought?’ Yuki suddenly thought, ‘maybe I died, and this is hell!’
To be sure this wasn’t the case, Yuki kicked Momiji from underneath the table.
“Yuki, what’d you do that for. Wahhhh… Ha‘ri Yuki kicked me.” Momiji kicked him back, painfully. Rubbing his leg, where a bruise would soon be glowing, Yuki was satisfied that he was still among the living.
“Momiji, I am sure that Yuki would not have kicked you on purpose. It was an accident, wasn’t it Yuki.” Akito assured Momiji.
‘Why does he keep smiling like that?‘ Yuki wondered, anxiously. Yuki had been certain that Akito would punish him creating a disturbance at dinner. Instead he had defended him. What in the heck was going on here?
“Hatori!” Yuki finally demanded. Standing up, he pointed an accusing finger at the young doctor. “Have you drugged Akito?”
This caused the entire table to burst into laughter. Yuki stood, looking at the others suspiciously, and feeling pretty sure that he was going insane.
“Yuki, sit down.” Akito said, through his laughter. “It’s not what you think, it’s just, well. I have decided that maybe it is time that this family made a few changes.”
“Oh really, Akito.” Yuki said sarcastically, “and what might those changes be? Perhaps you’re thinking that I should move back into the main house again? Maybe you want me to transfer to an all boys school? Is that it Akito? What kind of sick game are you playing at, this time?”
The laughter at the table stopped. Momiji swallowed hard. The dining room took on an ominous aura. All eyes were upon Akito, waiting. Hatori felt certain that the rat had pushed Akito too far.
“Yuki… You really hate me don‘t you?” Akito’s words were not icy. They held no angry undertone. Yuki dropped back down into his seat, as Akito continued. “I deserve it. I know that I do… but, I wish that things had been different between us. I want things to be different between us.”
“Akito?” Yuki whispered. Still not trusting him, but wanting to believe.
“Anyway,” Akito went on, taking a deep breath and reaching into the pocket of his robe. “This is for you Hatori.”
“Excuse me?” Hatori stared at the envelope in Akito’s hand apprehensively. The entire table was in agreement, something very odd was going on inside Akito Sohma’s devious little head.
“Take it, Hatori. It’s not going to bite you. It’s a present. For all you have done for me. Well, actually, for all you have done for the entire family.”
Taking the envelope, Hatori ripped it open, and removed a pair of plane tickets.
“I’ve decided that you deserve a vacation.”
‘Oh yeah, he’s up to something.’ Yuki ascertained. “and whatever it is, it’s something really big, and really bad.’
“A vacation?” Hatori repeated, he could not have heard Akito right.
“Yes, and I got you an extra ticket, so you should bring someone. I wonder if Miss Yoshiya would be interested?” To this Akito added a sly little wink. That‘s right, he knew that Hatori wanted her.
All this, however, was lost on Yuki, who was still trying to decide what it was that Akito was planning.
“Take me, Ha’ri. I want to go on vacation.” The cute little Momiji chimed in.
“Oh no, Momiji.” Akito cooed, “I think that it will do Ha’ri good to spend sometime away from the family.”
‘He just called Hatori, Ha’ri? We are doomed.’ Yuki sunk down deeper into his cushion.
“Wahh… but I want to go on vacation.” Momiji whined. “Ha’ri you want me to come, don’t you?”
“Momiji, I actually have something better planned for you.” Akito consoled.
“Better?” The little blond asked.
“What have you been begging me for, this last year?”
Momiji thought deeply about this, and came up with his answer. “To live in Shigure’s house?”
When Akito smiled, Momiji leaped up happily. “I get to live at Shigure’s? With Yuki and Kyo and Shigure?”
“Yes, I spoke with your dad, and since he will be traveling a lot this next year, he agrees that it will be a good experience for you.”
“YEAH!!!!” Momiji applauded. Running happily over to Yuki and shaking him. “Did you hear that Yuki. I get to live at your house. Woo hoo! Akito, can I go start packing?”
Giggling like a father who has just pleased his dearest child, Akito nodded his okay. Momiji raced out of the room, singing and dancing all the way. “Gonna live at Shigure’s house, Momiji’s gonna live at Shigure’s house.”
“AKITO!” Yuki had had it.
Akito and Hatori turned towards the angry boy. Yuki’s next words were spoken softly, but firmly. He was not shaking, not nervous, not one bit scared of the consequence. He simply needed to know.
“You tell me, Akito. I want to know right now. What are you planning?”
“Planning?” Akito said, still with a hint of a smile. “Why Yuki, it’s nothing for you to be worried about. It’s just that, as you both know, it’s my time.”
“Your time?” Yuki swallowed, oh yes, he had almost forgotten about that. He looked at Akito, and a genuine sadness touched Yuki’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Akito. I didn’t think. I didn’t realize.”
“Don’t be sorry, Yuki.” Akito told him, and placed his hand on Yuki’s shoulder in a reassuring manner. “I am, actually, very happy about it. You see, Yuki. I believe that I may have fallen in love. She is the most wonderful, most perfect, woman in the entire world, and I plan to ask her to marry me, quite soon.”
“I KNEW IT!” Hatori hooted excitedly, then quickly caught himself. “Sorry, congratulations, Akito.”
“Now, if you will excuse me.” Akito stood up, “I have some business to attend to. By the way, Hatori those tickets are for the day after tomorrow. If you plan on taking Miss Yoshiya, you better get around to asking her soon. I will happily give her the time off, should she choose to accompany you.”
With one last smile Akito left the dining room.
Yuki sat quietly, in complete shock. None of this made any sense to him, and he still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very much wrong.
Hatori on the other hand, was completely ecstatic. His mind was already busy. He needed to convince a girl, that he hardly knew, that she simply had to take a vacation with him, and he only had a day to do it in.
AKITO *
‘That went well.’ Akito determined, as he hurried towards Tohru Honda’s rooms. He was missing the girl desperately, and he had a difficult time keeping her off of his mind during dinner.
In his arms he carried the tray which contained her supper. He would be much happier in a couple of days when she would be able to join him in the dining room for her meals. She must be so bored, sitting alone in her rooms. Akito was surprised at how important it was to him that she feel at home in the main house.
Akito was, also, surprised at how much he was enjoying this rare opportunity to play cupid. Akito had not planned on Hatori taking Yoshiya on vacation when he had purchased the tickets for him. He had originally bought two tickets so that Hatori could bring Momiji along with him. Akito had wanted to get rid of Hatori, and Momiji for a few weeks so that Tohru would feel more comfortable in the main house. During dinner, Akito had concocted plan B.
Akito could not help but notice the way that Hatori had stared at Yoshiya. The young doctor’s desire was written all over his face. Working on impulse, Akito had jumped on the opportunity. Giving the girl the night off, he had also suggesting that she might enjoy spending the evening in the library. Akito was certain that this was the one place where Hatori would be sure to find her. Hatori always read for a few hours after dinner each night. The bait was set, and the rest was in Hatori’s hands.
For the first time in his life, Akito Sohma was finding the needs of others more important then his own. It was a really nice feeling, it was one he was sure he could get used to.
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Wow, that was pretty long. I can’t believe, I have been writing all day. My eyes hurt. If this is a little messy, it’s cause I can’t see to do a proper proofing. Sorry.
I hope you don’t mind me adding an original character. I didn’t mean too. I just needed a servant for the main house, and Hatori needed a love interest… once again I got carried away. I’ll give 3 points to anyone who can figure out where I got the name Yoshiya from. No she isn’t related to the little green dinosaur in the Mario games… guess again.
Well, anyway, see you in chapter 13...