Chapter two! Aina's life starts to get better! Yay! Oh, and please review. This is my first hand at romance, so I wanna know if you think it's any good!

Chapter 2

It had been about a week since Aina had made all these new friends. Now that she'd be seeing Yuki more often, maybe they'd talk a little more and get to know each other better. Aina wasn't going to be his girlfriend, she knew that much, but she was setting a goal that one day, she and Yuki would be best of friends. It was going to be painful to be around him so much without him loving her, but she'd rather have that than not be around him at all. They would have the occasional brief conversation every once in a while, and even when Yuki wasn't talking to her, he enjoyed her company. Yuki thought Aina was nice. That knowledge made Aina happier than she'd ever been.

"That's really good, Akita-san."

Aina looked up from her paper and turned around. There was Yuki, sitting next to her, looking at her drawing. The two of them, along with Tohru, Kyo, Haru, and Hana-chan, were sitting outside after school. Aina and Hana-chan were both waiting for their rides home, and the others were just hanging out with them while they were there. Aina had been so caught up in her artwork and her thoughts that she had almost forgotten there were others around. Yuki's comment had startled her a bit, snapping her back into reality. Even though it was in his nature to say something nice, Aina still felt the shock of being complimented by her crush.

"Thank you," said Aina.

"Didn't you just start that ten minutes ago?" Yuki asked.

"I don't know… I haven't really been counting. I guess so."

"You're pretty fast," said Yuki, "Where do you learn to draw like that?"

"I…" Aina stammered, unsure of an answer. Where did she learn to draw? She'd never really thought about it before. "I don't know. I just kind of picked it up, I guess… Sometimes I get books, though."

"So who is that girl?"

"She's just a character I made up."

Yuki looked at Aina's picture, and then he smiled. Aina couldn't help but smile back. Seeing Yuki's breathtaking smile gave her so much joy… She wanted to take that smile and carry it with her for the rest of her life. It would always make her heart flutter, and with the life she was stuck with, she needed something to cheer her up every day. Something like Yuki's wonderful smile.

Aina felt a sudden strike of stupidity. Love made her think such ridiculous things.

**

Aina skipped across her hallway to the phone. She couldn't remember the last time she made a phone call, but now she had to, because Tohru had asked her to R.S.V.P. once she found out whether or not she could come to the pajama party. Aina had never been to one before, so she was very excited when her mother said yes. Tohru had given her an invitation earlier at school that day, much to Aina's astonishment. That girl was so kind. She had only made friends with Aina a week ago, and already she was inviting her to a party. Aina could tell that tomorrow night was going to be fun. Uo-chan and Hana-chan would also be there, which made things even better. Uo-chan would always make Aina laugh, and Hana-chan said that she would have some great stories for everyone. Aina was surely going to enjoy that. She was so happy.

"Hello?" said a man's voice soon after Aina dialed Tohru's number. It must have been her father.

"Hello," said Aina, "Is Tohru here?"

"She went out a while ago. Who is this?"

"It's Aina… Aina Akita?"

"Oh, you're Aki-chan, aren't you? Tohru said you might be calling sometime soon. Can I take a message?"

"Yeah," said Aina, a bit surprised that Tohru had spoken of her at home, "Tell Tohru that I can come to the party."

"Alright, I—Oh, she just got home. Would you like to speak with her?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Aina heard the faint murmuring of Tohru and her father, and then Tohru picked up the phone.

"Aki-chan?" Tohru asked.

"Hi, Tohru," said Aina, "I just told your dad I'm coming tomorrow night."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Aki-chan! Oh, but… He's not my dad."

"Huh?" Aina asked, "Then who was that?"

"It was Shigure-san," said Tohru, "My… guardian."

"Oh," said Aina, "Okay."

"Anyway, thank you so much, Aki-chan!"

"You're welcome," said Aina, "Thank you for inviting me."

"It was my pleasure!" said Tohru, "I have to go make dinner now. Goodbye!"

"Bye."

Of course that man was Tohru's guardian. Aina felt stupid for thinking that it was her father. She had almost forgotten. A few days after they met, Uo-chan had to explain that Tohru was an orphan, because she'd noticed that Aina would get confused when Tohru would describe her mother in past tense. Aina never would have guessed that. Tohru was always so cheerful. Aina could barely believe it when she found out. It made more sense that Shigure-san was her guardian, anyhow. He did sound a bit too young to be her father.

Setting that aside, Aina went up to her room to decide what to bring to the party.

**

"Hello, Aki-chan!" Tohru greeted as Aina entered her house the following night.

"Hi," said Aina.

"Awesome!" said Uo-chan, "Aki-chan has arrived! Now when's Hana-chan gonna get here with the FOOD? I'm dying of starvation!"

"She said she'd be here any minute…" said Tohru, looking up at the clock.

"Well, she'd better hurry up," said Uo-chan.

"Oh," said a voice, "You're not cooking tonight, then, Honda-san?"

Aina gasped. She knew that voice.

"Nope," said Tohru, "Hana-chan's bringing dinner."

"Yuki?" Aina asked, shocked to see him here.

"Hello, Akita-san," said Yuki.

"Hanajima's bringing our food?" asked Kyo, walking into the room behind Yuki, "Do we even know if she can cook?"

"Don't worry, Kyo-kun," said Tohru, "Her mother made it."

"Right… Can she cook?"

Aina was speechless. Tohru had said the only ones invited were Uo-chan, Hana-chan, and herself. So why exactly were Yuki and Kyo both there?

"You never told her, did you, Tohru-kun?" Uo-chan asked.

"Oh…" said Tohru, "Well, the subject never really came up…"

"Umm…" Aina stammered, "Why are they at your house? I thought…"

"They live together," said Uo-chan bluntly.

"Wha…?" Aina asked. She knew Yuki and Kyo were cousins, but Tohru wasn't related to them in any way. Why was she living with them? That raised so many questions…

"I guess that sounded kind of weird how I said it…" said Uo-chan, "Yuki and Kyon have lived here this whole time, with Shigure-san, their cousin. But Tohru had been living by herself in a tent, apparently near their property, for a while. Then some time later, they found her in the tent, didn't want her living in those conditions, and took her in."

"And they all lived happily ever after," finished yet another voice.

"Hana-chan!" said Tohru.

"FOOD!!!" said Uo-chan.

Hana-chan closed the door behind her and went over to the kitchen with dinner, Uo-chan following closely behind. Hana-chan set the food on the table.

"I smell leeks," Kyo complained. Aina smiled, as everyone knew how much Kyo hated leeks.

"What are you smiling about?" Kyo asked.

"Nothing," Aina said, turning away, trying not to giggle. Kyo made a face.

"Don't get all offended, Kyon," Uo-chan ordered, "She's not making fun of you or anything. She's just happy. Now be nice or this gets stuffed in your mouth," She held up a leek onigiri. Aina couldn't keep from laughing any longer.

"And now you're laughing!" Kyo snapped, "Why are you laughing?!" Aina's teasing response surprised him.

"I'm just happy."

**

"After falling instantly in love with Cinderella's beauty, Prince Charming asked the fair maiden to dance."

"No way!!"

"Yes way, as per the narrator. Now hurry and go."

Aina and the others laughed as they watched Kyo as Prince Charming storm over to Hana-chan as Cinderella on the TV screen. The four of them were watching "Sorta Cinderella," the school play that was performed when Aina was away. She had wanted to go see it, and was ecstatic to hear that Momiji filmed it all. She was greatly enjoying it so far. Hana-chan was a brilliant Cinderella, and seeing Yuki as the fairy guardian was pure gold.

"Oh, my…" Cinderella murmured, "They have yakiniku."

"Hey! You! Get over here and DANCE WITH ME!!"

"…Eh."

"She turned me down…" Prince Charming said.

"Don't kill yourself looking so upset," said Uo-chan as his fellow prince.

"Try again, Prince Charming," said the narrator.

"You don't know what I'm going through, so stop pushing me around!!!"

"Just can it and go, ya big baby!!" the fellow prince commanded.

"You're watching THAT?!" Kyo yelled. Aina looked up. That wasn't coming from the TV. There was Kyo, standing in the doorway holding a carton of milk, with a horrified expression that was too funny for words.

"Embarrassed, Kyon?" Uo-chan asked, and evil smile creeping onto her face.

"Turn that off!!" Kyo demanded, "Akita does NOT need to see that!!"

"Oh, Akita does," Aina chimed in. She didn't know why, but always found it easier to speak when she was teasing someone.

Kyo reached for the off button, but before he could press it, Uo-chan grabbed her pillow and smacked him in the face with it. Kyo gave her the evil eye. Aina saw right away where this was going.

"Oh, it's on…" said Kyo, grabbing another pillow.

Uo-chan and Kyo held up their pillows threateningly. Aina, Tohru, and Hana-chan stood by as war broke out, Aina laughing her head off, Tohru nervously staring, and Hana-chan taking the opportunity to watch the rest of the DVD.

"I'm afraid that's not my slipper."

"TAKE THAT, YANKEE!!"

"Are there any other young ladies living in this house?"

"Oh ho ho! Not even a mouse!"

"GAHH!!"

"Fine. Let's get out of here…"

"Oh! Please wait! You haven't yet seen Cinderella-san!"

"DIE, YOU ORANGE-HAIRED FREAK!! DIIIIEEEE!!!"

"That was unnecessary information."

"AAGH!! THAT'S IT!! NOBODY MAKES FUN OF MY HAIR!!!"

"Just a minute, Prince Charming! That information was very necessary."

"DON'T TOUCH THAT BUTTON!! NYAHH!!!"

"Calm this violence. I will never forgive he who harms onee-sama."

"IT'S MY TV, YOU BLONDE-HEADED DEMON!!!"

"Cinderella-san!"

"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!! GRAAGH!!"

Aina couldn't decide which was funnier—the play or the pillow war. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard.

I recently read volume 15… I loved Sorta Cinderella so much that I just HAD to put some of it in here. I also just had to have some Kyo and Arisa banter. Muahaha. Chapter three shall be posted soon (at least I hope it will… I might get stuck like I usually do…).