Chapter 3B

Yuki forced the decision out of her mind for now, focusing on the man beside her. She simply wanted to bask in the joy this day was going to bring. She wanted to make some good lasting memories with Soujiroh, not let anything ruin it. Whether she was staying or leaving she wanted to have memories that she could horde for herself. She didn't have enough.

In her heart she had always suspected that Soujiroh would never really let go of Sara. Would Soujiroh ever really her as anything more than an occasionally annoying friend? But that didn't stop her from trying or wishing that he would one day realize he cared for her. Her heart and her head were always at war with each other over what really was and what may never be.

Glancing at Soujiroh, she watched him as he waved at the guard at the gate, sailing past. Yuki tapped down the butterflies in her stomach as they approached the beautifully manicured lawns and the tall elegant buildings of Etiudo. She knew that this was a world completely different than what she was used to. It was a world of self indulgence, gratification and superficial beings. She could already see the designer clad boys and girls walking around the school. Everything on them was nafme brand. From their hair ties to their shoes, everything was only the best that money could buy.

People would assume that since she was friends with F4, she would be more acclimated to this world. The truth was even though her best friend had married into it, Yuki still felt vastly inferior to the beautiful people around her. Makino seemed to have made some adjustments and Yuki knew in time she would fully be able to accept everything. Yuki just didn't know if this was something she could ever get used to.

They raced past the front entrance at a speed that would terrify most girls, but she was used to it by now. A few girls pointed, giggling behind their hands, while others simply stared in awe as Soujiroh drove past. Finally, they pulled into a covered garage that had four spaces and the F4 symbol on the top. Without waiting for Soujiroh to open the door, she got out.

A group of giggling, screaming girls had followed them to the garage. Yuki rolled her eyes as they fawned over him. To his credit he didn't even seem to notice. Simply walking around and then holding his arm out to her as her escort. Ignoring the glares and the harsh whispers, she placed a hand on his arm allowing him to lead her away.

She felt the angry, pouty stares boring into her back as she walked. Yuki silently sighed to herself. It was going to be a long day. What had she been thinking? She knew this was a bad idea.

*********

Yuki stubbornly admitted to herself that the school was very impressive. It was kind of twisted the way everything looked so elegant and refined, but yet behind these doors the people who were so beautiful on the outside, were so cold and ugly on the inside. She tried to imagine Makino in a school like this, her best friend with her out stated opinions and fierce sense of justice, but it was hard. She couldn't see Makino fitting into the elite and knew that it must have truly been fate that linked her life to that of the four princes of Japan. What else could have taken a hold of Makino's life so completely and thoroughly? Forcing her into a direction she never imagined?

Yuki peered over the railing on the fire escape. The view was really pretty out here, almost serene in a way. She could spend hours standing here just watching the people scurry down below.

"Makino used to hide out here according to Rui," Soujiroh told her laughing as he leaned over the railing. "Something about screaming at the top of her lungs about Domyouji and various other things."

Yuki smiled as she imagined Makino here yelling at the top of her lungs about the injustices of the world. "So you all knew that she was here, yelling her head off about you?"

"No, we didn't know until we all graduated. I mean we knew that Rui would sleep in the stairwell, but we never knew he had company. Just one day he was staring at the landing and we asked him why and that's when he told us."

"Oh I see."

"He said that one day he had been trying to take a nap and was jolted awake by a girl screaming unbelievable at the top of her lungs. He was so startled he almost had a heart attack"

"Poor Hanazwai-san. But, you know, I admire Makino that way. She's always been so loyal and true to herself. She never lets anyone push her around when she believes she's right. I wish I had her kind of courage."

Soujiroh stared at Yuki. He knew that when it came to self confidence, she may have doubts about herself, but truthfully the way Soujiroh saw it, it was her vulnerability, her child-like innocence and fierce loyalty that made her such a wonderful person. He was surprised sometimes that they had become friends. He was more surprised that she didn't see in herself what was so obvious to those around her.

He wasn't really good with lasting relationships with women, whether it was friendship or otherwise. The ones that he seemed to steer clear of the most were good girls like Yuki. Their hearts were different than the simpering, manipulative females that he made his usual conquests. The women he dated had a very clear understanding of the situation from the very beginning. He and they were both there for a fun time. There was no promise of anything lasting and no promise commitment. Occasionally there were women that would want something more than he was willing to give and they never got a call again.

Something about the way she had been crying that night had touched some deeper part of him that he hadn't known existed. The sudden urge to protect the innocent girl on the sidewalk had been uncharacteristic. He remembered the tears streaming down her face, her shoulders shaking with her heart ache and the fierce need to punish whoever had made her feel that way. With only a little self doubt, he had stopped the car and gotten out to try to help the best he could.

Ever since that night, she had become a part his life. He knew that her feelings may be something more than friendship with him. He chose to ignore that. It was better the way it was. If he truly ever thought that she might want something more, he didn't know what he'd do. But one thing was for sure, he would never treat her like the other women in his life by casting her aside.

"Well, Yuki-chan, would you like to see the F4 lounge? Or where I studied?"

"You studied, Nishakdo-san?"

"Yes I studied, you sassy girl. It is a school after all and I did need to graduate. Money and my good looks can't get me everything."

"Well then I must see this place of miracles. Please take me to your study room."

"It would be my pleasure."

Yuki once again placed her hand on his arm to be lead away. It was nice to walk side by side with Soujiroh, down the empty hallways through the elite school. They stopped in front of a room clearly marked, "F4 Private Classroom- general people not admitted".

Soujiroh stopped and stood to the side letting Yuki into the classroom first. Following behind her, he took a look at the classroom he never really cared for. School had been another social engagement he had merely kept to pass the time. It wasn't that he didn't value the education he received, he just knew that his role in life was already set and there was no detouring from it. Most of the time he could just see it laid out in front of him in horrifying clarity. With each passing year, he knew that his carefree days were numbered.

He watched Yuki idly walking around the room. Sometimes he really marveled that he got along with Yuki so well. It was funny the way common things held appeal to him when they were alone. He didn't have to be over indulgent or wave around his money and status. With Yuki he could simply just be. He didn't have to put on a show simply because she wasn't impressed by those things.

She was the total opposite of what he was. Where he was rich, she was poor. Where he was devilish, she was innocent. But the things that he was lacking most she seemed to over look or actually make up for the gaps that he lacked in character. She never really asked for anything in particular. She didn't whine when he didn't call. Except for the occasional friendly bantering, they didn't fight or argue. He knew he could simply be himself when he was with her. It was a nice, refreshing change from the role he had made for himself. Money and status didn't really mean anything to her or Makino. Both girls wouldn't hesitate to put him in his place should they feel it was necessary. Smiling he leaned against the wall, his eyes following Yuki as she walked around the room and took everything in.

Yuki kept her back to him as she toured the surroundings of the classroom. Calling it a classroom seemed to do the room little justice; it was far from any classroom that Yuki had ever been in or would ever be in. Four desks were seated in a half circle around the room, all with new laptops perched on them. She noticed that the walls and its corners were equipped with high end speakers for surround sound. A 52 inch plasma TV sat on one of the walls as well. She marveled at the clean lines and majestic appearance of the room as a whole.

Fresh cut roses were on each desk, each vase holding a different color. On Domyouji's desk the vase contained blue roses, rare and impossible to find. On Hanazawa-sans' were white roses, the most beautiful and delicate ones she had ever seen. On Mikamasa-san's desk were beautiful, bright yellow roses. The yellow roses were happy and cheery just like his personality. On the last desk there were pale peach roses. The roses were so beautiful in there simplicity. She ran her fingers along the petals, across the shiny desk silently hoping that the day would only get better.

Turning back to Soujiroh, she raised an eyebrow in question. "So I assume that all of the instructors are male?"

"Why would you think that?"

Yuki smiled at the superficial innocence on Soujiroh' s face. Stifling a giggle she said, "Oh I don't know just a hunch I guess. So where do we go next?"

"Lunch." Soujiroh held out his hand for Yuki.

"Lunch?" Yuki stared as Soujiroh held out his hand instead of his arm this time. Was she supposed to hold it? Unsure, she walked forward slowly, placing her hand his. She could feel warmth spreading to her cheeks. She shyly looked up at him as his large hand closed around her small one, her heartbeat kicking up a notch in response. "Ok, you lead the way."