Yuki sighed as he glared at his brother's photo album. Everything about him was just so perfect; he was confident and must have been popular in school. Yuki would even go as far as to say that Ayame was one of the most beautiful people he had ever met. Soon, Yuki was going to be in charge of a lot of things as the new head boy and there was no possible way that he could do the job as well as his big brother had done back in the day. Tohru had told him to do it his own way, that it was the only way that he could be the best he could be. No matter how much you look up to someone, there is no way you can be the same as them or match their achievements. Still…Yuki envied him.
As always in the small Sohma household, Shigure snuck up behind the preoccupied Yuki and was looking over his shoulder to see just what was so interesting.
"Awe, so you do look up to him after all!" Shigure squealed in his loud obnoxious voice. Yuki was completely stunned out of his thoughts and immediately acted as though he was just caught with his hand stuck in the cookie jar.
"Well, I uh…" he sighed before admitting defeat. "Ok. It's just that he's so perfect. Life is just so easy for him. For me it all takes much more effort and for him, there is not a care in the world. Even though he's an out there guy he's so normal." Yuki looed sad, his eyes on the photo of Ayame in his purple leopard skin jacket, as though looking at what he could never be.
Shigure's face turned serious. He sat himself down beside Yuki and put a strong hand on his shoulder. "Everyone has a dark side Yuki; we Sohma's are living examples of that. Ayame is just good at keeping those kinds of things to himself." Yuki looked into Shigure's serious face, surprised. It wasn't often that Shigure gave some relevant advice. That though quickly left his mind, however, when Shigure glomped him and squeezed him tight. "Naw, my little Yuki! You know when it comes to looks you do take after your brother, maybe we should start something naughtier together! I'm sure Ayame wouldn't mind a threesome." He whispered huskily into Yuki's ear. Yuki jerked away, rubbed his hand frantically against his ear to get rid of that tingly feeling.
"You are so gross! Keep your grubby hands to yourself!" he glared before stomping out of the room, intent on going up to his room to study. Shigure sighed, the smile slowly leaving his face. If Yuki had seen the Aaya that he knew maybe he wouldn't be so quick to stereotype him. But then, Shigure also felt at ease. Their relationship could be a lot worse, at least at the moment they stood a chance at improvement, albeit a slim one.
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Hatori sighed, checking his watch for the fifth time in the last two minutes. How bizarre. Aaya was meant to be here by now for his meds and a full body check-up, it was his turn after all. Usually he rocked up half an hour early just so that he could give him some 'company'. More like a headache! For him to be this late was…unusual.
His patients wearing thin, Hatori grasped the phone and dialled Ayame's number. "Where are you?" he whispered, waiting for him to pick up.
"Hello, this is Ayame Sohma!" his voice sang through the phone and into Hatori's ear before he had time to move the phone away. By heavens, next time Aaya needed an operation he was installing a volume dial.
"Ayame, its Hatori. Where are you? You had an appointment with me today, remember? It's your turn for a health check." He stated.
"That was today! Well I am ever so sorry Tori, but I'm out of town on business. If I had remembered I would have told you in advance. Wasn't my appointment on the 6th? I could have sworn it was only the 1st todays. Funny how time flies!" he giggled on the end of the line. Hatori rubbed his eyes.
"Well, when will you be back? I still need to fit you in somewhere."
"I'm not sure. I come back in a couple of days but I'm quite busy at the moment. It's the tourist season you see! Oh yes, and I also have to do some designs for Akito. He wants a new wardrobe. For what I'll never know! It's not like he leaves the house. Anywho, I'll phone you when I can make the time to see you and hopefully our schedules match. Ok ta ta! Hugs and kisses Tori!" click. Did Aaya even breathe, how could he talk so fast. Just hearing him made Hatori feel exhausted.
Hatori pulled open the top drawer of his desk and looked at the meds he had stored there, looking specifically at the bottles with Ayame's name on. He had better not leave it too long or it could cause trouble.
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A few days later Hatori was summoned to see Akito. It wasn't unusual; there was a reason that he lived so close to him. Though, from the way he sounded on the phone, he was sure that it was nothing to do with his health.
As he reached Akito's door he noticed that it was shut, obviously he was seeing another Sohma at the moment. Soon the door slid open and a middle aged woman he didn't recognise walked past, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Hatori, come in."
As he entered he could see Akito sitting on a pile on cushions, leaning against a wooden pillar and looking frighteningly straight faced.
"What can I do for you Akito Sama?" Hatori asked, keeping his standing position near the door, just in case Akito needed his usual medicine from the other room.
"Do you have the snake's phone number?" he uttered the word 'snake' as though it left a bitter taste on his tongue.
"I do, yes."
"I wish for you to give him a message. Tell him that I request to see him urgently."
'Ah' Hatori thought, 'it must be about the wardrobe designs that he wanted'. "I'll do that right away Akito Sama. Is there anything else that you need?"
"I want you to spend the rest of the day with Yuki. I want to be sure that he is healthy living in that hovel. While you are at it, try and convince him to come back here where he belongs." He sniffed, looking out of the nearby window.
"Yes, but will you be alright on your own?"
"I wouldn't have sent you away if I thought I was going to bite the dust this afternoon, would i?" he snapped.
"Understood." Hatori pulled out his phone and texted Ayame the message as he walked back to his office. He said he would be back in town so he should be able to get to this meeting quickly. For a second, Hatori wondered why Akito couldn't let Ayame know himself, and then it hit him. Akito only kept his favourites within reach. Others that didn't matter as much or he openly despised, he tried to avoid as much as possible. That is, unless they had a useful skill that he could take advantage of. Therefore his contact with Ayame.
As he packed his medical gear and left the main Sohma house, Hatori hoped that Ayame didn't keep Akito waiting long. Despite his calm looking exterior, inside, Hatori could sense that he was on edge. Perhaps he was simply impatient today.
Whatever it was, Aaya had better be on his best behaviour. It didn't take much to get Akito angry, he knew that firsthand, and knowing what Aaya was like didn't make him feel any better.