Chapter 4: Observations

"You're late again." She cringed at my voice but a smile was plastered on her face all the same. I found myself wondering if her face hurt from smiling all the time. Why did she bother when there wasn't anything to smile about?

"I am so sorry. You see I made some sweet rolls and they took a little longer to cook then I expected. I hope you like them. I suppose I should have asked if you liked sweet rolls before making them but..."

"Quit rambling and sit down." She stepped in and set a basket on the floor as she slipped off her shoes. The smell of the sweet rolls was overpowering and to my annoyance made my stomach growl. Hatori had tried to get me to eat earlier but I hadn't been hungry then.

"Right." She took a seat and set the basket in front of him. "Here."

I took a roll from the basket and looked at it closely. I hadn't ever had nor heard of them. They smelt good and I wanted to try it right away except there was no way I was going to show my interest in front of her.

"Take one then." She sighed and took one herself. I wasn't going to eat any of it until she did. She didn't seem to sense my agitation and took a bite with an unguarded smile.

"These are really good, if you like sweet things. Do you like sweet things Akito?" There was something about the way she said my name that made me uneasy. She was just so different. She didn't fear me as the others did but was uneasy. I didn't understand her at all.

"And if I didn't it wouldn't matter because you already brought them." There was no way I was going to make things easy with her. She may feel hurt about her precious little family taking off but it was her fault they had the nerve to do it in the first place.

"I guess I didn't think about it. I'm really sorry. I really do just want to make you happy, Akito." I took a bite of the pastry and it was surprisingly good but I wasn't going to tell her that.

"What would make me happy is if you had something of interest to say." She flinched again but didn't seem too upset. Honestly what was the deal with her?

"Forgive me but... it's hard to know what you want or like when you don't tell somebody. I know you probably don't like me much and that's okay I just really hope to get to know you, you know?" She smiled again though this time it was a bit more genuine. She faked smiles a lot. I had to wonder if Yuki and Kyo noticed this. I doubted it. The cat was just stupid and Yuki was probably too busy dealing with that stupid fan club of his to see the truth.

"No, I don't." He ate a second one and her smile grew.

"I'm so glad you like them."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to. I can see it."

"Is that right?" She nodded and folded her hands on the table. "You're strange."

"You think so?"

"I don't waste my words." She was strange. How could someone value others above themselves? It just didn't seem possible.

"Well I guess I am a little strange. You aren't the first to say so though most people think I'm mostly clueless. I tend to miss things that should be obvious and... I'm rambling again. I'm sorry." She was honest to a fault it'd seem.

"I think in a way I see it, why they liked you so much."

"Huh?" She acted a fool yet seemed to hold more of an understanding for people then I originally believed. She accepted those around her simply because they were there and held no expectations but I had to wonder if that was enough. Surely there was something she wanted but what? I wasn't going to ask her, no I suppose I liked a challenge. Besides this arrangement was proving more amusing thn I anticipated.

"It doesn't matter. You're finished aren't you?" She had only eaten one sweet roll while he had eaten three without a thought.

"Yes." He set the basket aside. "Um...."

"Let's go for a walk." He stated simply and she looked a little confused but nodded.

"Okay." I slipped on my shoes and she followed suit. In all truth I liked the walk particularly because it was away from Sohma house and when my health was frail I wasn't usually allowed to leave or at least they put up a fuss when I did.

She looked around as if she hadn't been here before. In a sense it was annoying but I didn't complain. It really was a nice day outside though chillier then I'd have liked.

"Why did you stay with that dog?"

"Shigure?" She clasped her hands behind her back and for a moment I thought she wouldn't answer. "I guess I thought he might feel lonely which was probably stupid because the one who felt lonely was me. Shigure said I needed to go out and live a little. He really is a nice person."

"Lonely, so you admit it. You didn't want them to leave."

"Well I..."

"Did you ask them to stay?" Now that I had her rambling about something actually worth hearing I wasn't just going to let it go.

"I couldn't possibly. Yuki really wanted to go to college and Kyo loves his master. If I asked them to stay it would have been selfish." She had tears in her eyes as she had two years ago and for the second time I was confused. Was she crying over them? "I guess I just never expected the house to feel so empty... not to say Shigure isn't good company. It's just everyone is so busy and..."

"Enough." She looked at me surprised. I wiped her face with my thumb with a frustrated sigh. Weakness was something I took advantage of but with the girl it was different. She wasn't weak, easily broken though at times that's what it appeared. "They are just stupid animals not worth crying over in the least. Now shall we sit down?"

She sniffed a few times but managed a nod. We took a seat beneath a tree in the park and in truth I liked the silence. I stared off at the sun and after while I felt pressure on my shoulder. "Stupid girl, what..." She was asleep. What a fool. I was tempted to move but didn't for some reason when I looked at her something stirred within me I just wasn't sure what.

(A.N. Next chapter is reactions but since I start college on Tuesday. It may be a bit before I update. Please R and R. )