Chapter 2 ~Sparks~
"Kisa-chan….did you complete your geometry home work I assigned last week?"
a soft but persistent voice asked the young girl with the strawberry blonde hair sitting at the study desk. Kisa, however, hadn't been paying much attention to the past hour of algebra and geometry with her private tutor. The question eluded her until she felt a soft but firm tap on her shoulders bringing her back down to earth. She looked up with her soft hazelnut- colored eyes to meet the slightly frustrated expression on her tutor's face.
"Kisa! You haven't been paying attention to a single word I said! " Hanajima-san explained in frustration at the young girl's lack of interest in mathematics. She had no problems with Science, Japanese literature or history but somehow math just didn't seem to be her forte.
Hanajima-san didn't feel like scolding her. After all at that age she wasn't much of an academic scholar herself. On the same token she didn't want Kisa to slip back too far in this subject. She had agreed to take up Tohru Nezumi Sohma's request for a private tutor to help home school her daughter.
Tohru had been one of her closest friends since Middle School and she couldn't refuse her this favor especially after hearing about Kisa's ordeal at school which brought back her own painful childhood memories. Kisa had been a victim of classmate bullying; it had gotten so bad the girl withdrew into her own shell and refused to attend classes. Finally her Mother decided to take things into her hands and remove her from the environment that was robbing her of her daughter's smile and home-school her.
The road to recovery was a slow one but Kisa was doing her best…well most of the time at least, in her studies and fighting her own personal demons.
"What am I going to do with you young lady?" Hanajima-san shook her head and smiled wearily.
She didn't have the heart to be annoyed at her for too long. The lovely angel had that effect on just about everyone except perhaps the head of the Sohma complex, Akito. At the Honke he ruled with an iron fist and his word was law.
Hanajima-san always got the worse vibes from that man and was quite upset when Tohru had decided to marry into the family, as she knew she would face his scorn. However, for whatever reason the Head always seem to favor Sohma Nezumi Clan whenever there was a family quarrel in the Honke between the two feuding cousins, Kyou-sama and Yuki-sama.
She had always been curious about the Sohmas but even working for them have revealed very little if anything about the mysterious waves that surrounded them.
"Well.." she continued " the lesson's over for the day and your mother just sent a message reminding you to be in the family main hall by 5:00" .
Kisa nodded remembering the family meeting which was an old custom before the big celebrations for the upcoming weekend. She still got butterflies in her stomach thinking about it. In fact, she had been distracted much of the day worrying over getting her dance moves just right as not to bring shame on her parents or their clan. She was the tiger of the Sohma clan and it was her turn this year to ring in the New Year with the traditional Jyunnichi dance ceremony that accompanies the festivities. She had practiced hard with her older cousin Rin but she still got that twisted knot-feeling in her stomach thinking about her role in the ceremony.
Hanajima-san somehow sensed the young girl's anxiety and placed a comforting arm around her. "You'll do just fine…your mother told me how great your progress are going with the dance routine" she smiled.
"I …I hope so. " Kisa replied shyly.
"Well get moving or you'll be late for the family meeting. " Hanajima-san said hasting the girl to collect her books and be on her way.
Haru and Momiji arrived promptly in the main hall where the rest of the Jyunnishi and other important family members had already gathered. Neither one of the two boys had bothered to change out of their school uniforms. They already knew the routine as they've been through this each year. Both took their place on the opposite side of the room with the other male members who as traditional customs warrant were to sit separately from the females.
Akito made his way into the large room decorated in traditional Japanese décor which seemed to impose an overpowering presence of tradition, rules and hierarchy that could not be broken without impunity.
The members in the room bowed acknowledging his presence and position. He smiled pleased. He looked rather healthy on this occasion despite his constant battle with infections and malaise. He had always been prone to illness, which had created for Hatori Sohma, also present in the room, many sleepless nights and less time to dedicate towards his other profession as a Buddhist monk.
"My dearest family members" he started. "I'm happy to see that everyone could make it this evening as what I'm about to say is an important step in the preparation for this weekend's festivities."
He wasn't quite right. Not everyone was present. The Head of the Neko Sohma clan was not present, as he was not allowed in the inner circle though both his wife and son were members of the Jyunnishi. Haru had become accustomed to his father's absence during these "important family" gathering but he also noted that on this occasion his mother, Kagura, was not present either.
Momiji give him a soft jab on the side to get his attention.
"Ne he's as boring as ever!" Momiji yawned as Haru nodded in agreement.
Haru's eyes had subconsciously drifted towards the opposite side of the room focusing on the figure of a tall girl with long ebony tresses and lips as red as summer's ripest cherries. It was the girl who was the cause of the sadness and emptiness that filled his heart. He felt his chest constrict as she stared straight ahead not giving him the slightest acknowledgement. She had always been mighty proud and some may even say cold but he couldn't help feeling this yawning loss inside.
"Ah Kisa-chan's here too! " Momiji said gleefully but quickly lowered his voice as not to interrupt Akito who was still babbling on about the rules of conducts and what was expected of each participant in the ceremony. Haru nodded as his eyes temporarily drifted to the smaller girl sitting next to her older cousin. He hadn't recognized her at first as her hair had grown longer over the past summer and somehow she seemed to have grown in other places as well. Momiji had been right when he said she blossomed quite elegantly. Oddly she didn't look so much like a little girl any more. He caught himself just in time to shake off the surreptitious thought creeping in his mind. No other girl could replace the object of his affection at least that was his belief at the moment.
Momiji smiled and give Kisa quick thumbs up wishing her good luck as she looked up
towards their side of the room. She blushed and give him a shy wave and nodded in Haru's direction acknowledging her older cousin as well.
Damn she looked cute with that smile on her face Haru thought catching the exchange between his two younger cousins. He wondered if Momiji had a crush on her. He had only said so jokingly but now he wasn't so sure it wasn't a real possibility. Either way why should it bother him?
Young Hiro Sohma of the clan of Nezumi who was seated next to Yuki two rows back was not too please with the private exchange going on across the rooms from either ends. He hadn't wanted to attend the stupid family meeting in the first place. He didn't much like Akito and listening to him talk was as painful as listen to a broken record player. However, neither upset him as having members of the neko clan getting familiar with His beloved Kisa. He always suspected the damn rabbit had a crush on her and it was bad enough the Ox was smitten by his sister. He wouldn't let this go unpunished as he took mental notes of the situation.
To be Continued :P
"Kisa-chan….did you complete your geometry home work I assigned last week?"
a soft but persistent voice asked the young girl with the strawberry blonde hair sitting at the study desk. Kisa, however, hadn't been paying much attention to the past hour of algebra and geometry with her private tutor. The question eluded her until she felt a soft but firm tap on her shoulders bringing her back down to earth. She looked up with her soft hazelnut- colored eyes to meet the slightly frustrated expression on her tutor's face.
"Kisa! You haven't been paying attention to a single word I said! " Hanajima-san explained in frustration at the young girl's lack of interest in mathematics. She had no problems with Science, Japanese literature or history but somehow math just didn't seem to be her forte.
Hanajima-san didn't feel like scolding her. After all at that age she wasn't much of an academic scholar herself. On the same token she didn't want Kisa to slip back too far in this subject. She had agreed to take up Tohru Nezumi Sohma's request for a private tutor to help home school her daughter.
Tohru had been one of her closest friends since Middle School and she couldn't refuse her this favor especially after hearing about Kisa's ordeal at school which brought back her own painful childhood memories. Kisa had been a victim of classmate bullying; it had gotten so bad the girl withdrew into her own shell and refused to attend classes. Finally her Mother decided to take things into her hands and remove her from the environment that was robbing her of her daughter's smile and home-school her.
The road to recovery was a slow one but Kisa was doing her best…well most of the time at least, in her studies and fighting her own personal demons.
"What am I going to do with you young lady?" Hanajima-san shook her head and smiled wearily.
She didn't have the heart to be annoyed at her for too long. The lovely angel had that effect on just about everyone except perhaps the head of the Sohma complex, Akito. At the Honke he ruled with an iron fist and his word was law.
Hanajima-san always got the worse vibes from that man and was quite upset when Tohru had decided to marry into the family, as she knew she would face his scorn. However, for whatever reason the Head always seem to favor Sohma Nezumi Clan whenever there was a family quarrel in the Honke between the two feuding cousins, Kyou-sama and Yuki-sama.
She had always been curious about the Sohmas but even working for them have revealed very little if anything about the mysterious waves that surrounded them.
"Well.." she continued " the lesson's over for the day and your mother just sent a message reminding you to be in the family main hall by 5:00" .
Kisa nodded remembering the family meeting which was an old custom before the big celebrations for the upcoming weekend. She still got butterflies in her stomach thinking about it. In fact, she had been distracted much of the day worrying over getting her dance moves just right as not to bring shame on her parents or their clan. She was the tiger of the Sohma clan and it was her turn this year to ring in the New Year with the traditional Jyunnichi dance ceremony that accompanies the festivities. She had practiced hard with her older cousin Rin but she still got that twisted knot-feeling in her stomach thinking about her role in the ceremony.
Hanajima-san somehow sensed the young girl's anxiety and placed a comforting arm around her. "You'll do just fine…your mother told me how great your progress are going with the dance routine" she smiled.
"I …I hope so. " Kisa replied shyly.
"Well get moving or you'll be late for the family meeting. " Hanajima-san said hasting the girl to collect her books and be on her way.
Haru and Momiji arrived promptly in the main hall where the rest of the Jyunnishi and other important family members had already gathered. Neither one of the two boys had bothered to change out of their school uniforms. They already knew the routine as they've been through this each year. Both took their place on the opposite side of the room with the other male members who as traditional customs warrant were to sit separately from the females.
Akito made his way into the large room decorated in traditional Japanese décor which seemed to impose an overpowering presence of tradition, rules and hierarchy that could not be broken without impunity.
The members in the room bowed acknowledging his presence and position. He smiled pleased. He looked rather healthy on this occasion despite his constant battle with infections and malaise. He had always been prone to illness, which had created for Hatori Sohma, also present in the room, many sleepless nights and less time to dedicate towards his other profession as a Buddhist monk.
"My dearest family members" he started. "I'm happy to see that everyone could make it this evening as what I'm about to say is an important step in the preparation for this weekend's festivities."
He wasn't quite right. Not everyone was present. The Head of the Neko Sohma clan was not present, as he was not allowed in the inner circle though both his wife and son were members of the Jyunnishi. Haru had become accustomed to his father's absence during these "important family" gathering but he also noted that on this occasion his mother, Kagura, was not present either.
Momiji give him a soft jab on the side to get his attention.
"Ne he's as boring as ever!" Momiji yawned as Haru nodded in agreement.
Haru's eyes had subconsciously drifted towards the opposite side of the room focusing on the figure of a tall girl with long ebony tresses and lips as red as summer's ripest cherries. It was the girl who was the cause of the sadness and emptiness that filled his heart. He felt his chest constrict as she stared straight ahead not giving him the slightest acknowledgement. She had always been mighty proud and some may even say cold but he couldn't help feeling this yawning loss inside.
"Ah Kisa-chan's here too! " Momiji said gleefully but quickly lowered his voice as not to interrupt Akito who was still babbling on about the rules of conducts and what was expected of each participant in the ceremony. Haru nodded as his eyes temporarily drifted to the smaller girl sitting next to her older cousin. He hadn't recognized her at first as her hair had grown longer over the past summer and somehow she seemed to have grown in other places as well. Momiji had been right when he said she blossomed quite elegantly. Oddly she didn't look so much like a little girl any more. He caught himself just in time to shake off the surreptitious thought creeping in his mind. No other girl could replace the object of his affection at least that was his belief at the moment.
Momiji smiled and give Kisa quick thumbs up wishing her good luck as she looked up
towards their side of the room. She blushed and give him a shy wave and nodded in Haru's direction acknowledging her older cousin as well.
Damn she looked cute with that smile on her face Haru thought catching the exchange between his two younger cousins. He wondered if Momiji had a crush on her. He had only said so jokingly but now he wasn't so sure it wasn't a real possibility. Either way why should it bother him?
Young Hiro Sohma of the clan of Nezumi who was seated next to Yuki two rows back was not too please with the private exchange going on across the rooms from either ends. He hadn't wanted to attend the stupid family meeting in the first place. He didn't much like Akito and listening to him talk was as painful as listen to a broken record player. However, neither upset him as having members of the neko clan getting familiar with His beloved Kisa. He always suspected the damn rabbit had a crush on her and it was bad enough the Ox was smitten by his sister. He wouldn't let this go unpunished as he took mental notes of the situation.
To be Continued :P