Hello, hello, hello! Here you go, chapter 4!! ::loud cheering:: that's right, I've had so much time on my hands and have felt so inspired, that I'm writing chapter 4 already!

Let me thank those precious few (being one) that have commented on chapter 3:

Sodasgirl678: really? You think this is funny? I was worried that it wouldn't be too funny...freaking out, actually. You added me to your faves list??? Thank you!! I feel honored!!!

And so, without further ado...the disclaimer.

I, Sohma Miyu, do not own any of the characters, places, or things in this story...actually, I do own my character, and her eye color (sorta) but other than that, nothing...and her attitude. But other than THAT, nothing....

So, here ya go! It's a bit longer than usual...like, three pages longer.....

Btw...I'm not gonna write anymore if you all don't give me some reviews!! I don't care if they're bad reviews, short, reviews, whatever!! Just give me some inspiration here!! ::sniff, sniff...::

Well, it had been several weeks since that rather tense moment at dinner, and Akito had yet to confront me again. Personally, if you ask me, he's the most pathetic wimp I've ever seen. But, beyond that, fall had come along and the leaves were falling gracefully of the trees in amber and ruby flashes. Tohru, Momiji, Kisa and I were having a blast raking up the leaves then throwing them everywhere whilst running around.

It was during this little bout of childishness that a letter came for Tohru and I.

"Hey, Tohru, Miyu, you guys have a letter," Shigure hollered from inside the house. We glanced at each other in confusion then dashed into the house, slightly out of breath. "Who's it from?" I asked between gasps.

Shigure shrugged. "Dunno. Find out yourselves."

Grabbing the letter whilst giving him a withering look, I tore open the letter to discover it's gooey contents. "Dear Honda Tohru and Hirano Miyu...it's from Akito!"

Yuki popped up from outta nowhere (I swear, that boy is some sorta ninja freak...) and glanced at the letter over my shoulder. "He wants you two to join him for tea tomorrow afternoon. Wonder what he's planning this time."

"Who cares," Kyou piped up from the corner of the room, where he had previously been immersed in (SHOCK!) a book. "Whatever he's planning, that bitch over there can kick his ass to the moon and back."

As I tried to figure out whether to take that as a insult or a compliment, Yuki shook his head and sighed. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea. I know you can handle yourself, Miss Hirano, but Akito can be...clever."

"So, what, you're saying I'm an idiot?" I retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"No! That's not what I'm saying at all," Yuki sighed in frustration. "I'm saying, he can be devious. He has destroyed many a life by sheer intelligence."

I snorted. "Yeah, well I'd like to see him beat the sheer intelligence of my 8th grade prank." I turned to Tohru very matter-of-factly. "No matter what is happening, the institution HAS to cancel school if someone calls in a bomb threat." I snickered. "It was a bomb, all right. I mean, the shock on those teacher's faces the next day when those kids opened their textbooks...priceless."

Tohru stared at me blankly, as did Yuki and Kyou. "...Nevermind. Don't worry 'bout it, Yuki. I can take care of myself, and Tohru, and all of you, while I'm at it." I smiled and walked up to my room, excited about the next days clash-'o-the-minds.

(I laughed maniacally, to which Shigure replied, "Hey, be quiet up there!")

(later that night...)

I jumped as my eyes shot open, revealing a blurry picture of a starry, autumn sky. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, wondering what poor soul had woken me and incurred my sleepless wrath. (poor soul, indeed.) Crawling out of bed, I wondered out and to the ladder leading up to the roof. Peeking my head over the edge, I saw, to my surprise and pleasure, Tohru and Kyou, sitting together talking. I grinned when I saw that Tohru was wearing the slinky little tank top and short shorts pajama outfit I had bought her earlier in the summer.

"Kyou, is something wrong? You seem a bit quiet."

Kyou sighed. "No..."

I could tell he left the sentence hanging, and considered being a good girl and leaving the two alone...ah, who the hell am I kidding? I listened closer.

"Are you sure, Kyou? If need to talk about anything, I'm more than happy to listen. It feels better if you talk about things." Tohru smiled encouragingly at Kyou, to which he blushed.

"Well...there's something I've...er...that is, I really want...Tohru, I..." I looked like he'd just swallowed a very large rock that was presently stuck in his throat. "I...have come to realize that...I have...very strong...feelings...for you."

Sheesh, Kyou, spit it out already! If ya don't, you're gonna choke!

Tohru smiled. "I have strong feelings for you too, Kyou. I like you very much."

Kyou sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "That's...that's not quite what I mean."

"It's not?" Tohru blinked at Kyou in confusion. "What do you mean, then?"

Kyou took a deep breath. "Well...what I'm trying to say, Tohru..." He turned and gently took Tohru's small hand in his. "You see...I think...no. I know...that...I..." He gulped.

I bit my fingernails.

"You..."

I bit my fingernails more.

"I..."

My fingernails began to bleed. (well, ok, not really...but they may as well have, seeing how long those two were taking.)

"I'm in love with you."

I screamed...oh, come on! I'm a better snooper than that! Really! I would have thought you'd know better than that!

Tohru's eyes grew wide. "You're...what?"

Kyou took hold of both her hands and stared deep into her eyes. "I'm in love with you. I guess I always have been, but I never realized it...never wanted to realize it. But I am. I am crazy in love with you."

I paused for a moment. Did he steal that from a song? Ah, who cares. The meaning is the same.

"I...I don't know what to say," Tohru gasped between quickly forming tears. "I wondered what you were doing that day this summer before you got hit with that baseball."

Tohru, you idiot...you are so smart except when it comes to love. But that's why I'm here.

"Kyou, I...I love you too. I do...I love you." Tears began to fall from her eyes as she smiled at Kyou. She hugged him and, thanks to my lovely powers as a witch, was able to continue hugging him without the small detail of an orange cat getting in the way. Not that the orange cat isn't likable...

They broke from the hug, and stared down at their intertwined hands.

I waited...and waited...and waited...but all they did was look at each other, then something, then back at each other, than something else again. Oh, for sobbing out loud...

At that point, I realized there was a blanket beneath Tohru. Ever so slowly, I crawled over the side of the roof, inched toward the blanket, and gradually grabbed the end in my hand. Keeping quiet, I prepared myself...

Then RIPPED the blanket out from underneath her, then grinned as she fell forward, right into Kyou's lips.

Congratulating myself ecstatically, I flung myself over the edge and back onto the ladder. I am the PERFECT matchmaker.

Peering over the edge again, my eyes widened, and quickly ducked behind the side of the house.

And that, dear friends, would by my cue. I'm going to bed. I have done my job...I am NOT a pervert. I know what they're doing...doesn't mean I have to watch!

(the next day...)

"So...Kyou. Ya know...I really didn't sleep too well last night. I was wondering if maybe you heard all these strange sounds coming from the roof," I smiled at Kyou. "Odd, really...sounded a lot like—"

"NO!" Kyou slammed his fist onto the table. "I didn't."

Shigure sighed at Kyou. "Do you mind not breaking my table? I'm getting a little tired of having to buy a new one all the time." He then returned to his newspaper.

Leaning in close, I leered at Kyou. "By the way, Kyou...people are usually supposed to be in a good mood after that. Maybe you weren't entirely...satisfied?" I snickered as Kyou went bright red. "Speaking of which, where is the freshly-bloomed...flower...this morning, anyways? I'm sure she's quite the blossom, just ready to open up and let in the...sunshine?"

If possible, he became more red.

At that point, Tohru came bounding down the stares. "Good morning, everyone! I hope we all slept well?"

"I know someone who did," I replied, casually removing a speck of dirt from beneath my fingernail as Kyou ducked his head low.

"Well, how about I cook us all a big breakfast today! Is that ok?" Tohru smiled cheerfully, heading towards the kitchen.

I chuckled. "Well, at least SOMEONE is playing the part right." I glanced over at Kyou.

I finally looked at me. "Would you be quiet? Last night is none of you business, and there are certain people I don't want finding out." He nodded his head towards the half-dead looking Yuki, who was just entering the room.

I smiled and shook my head. "Hon...if you keep repeating that noise last night, everyone's gonna know." I sipped my tea and sighed contentedly. Now, I've just got to work on Yuki.

(later that afternoon...)

Tohru and I walked peacefully down the brightly colored walkway towards the Sohma main house. It was cool day with an invigorating breeze, reminding us of the snow that was on its way. I breathed in the crisp, country air and smiled up at the cloudless day.

Tohru smiled at me. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Perect!" I smiled back at her.

Before long, we reached the huge gate guarding the Sohma house. "Holey mother-of-the-earth, this is big!" I gasped, staring up at the lovely architecture. "I mean, wow!"

Tohru smiled at me, but with somewhat less...enthusiasm?

We headed into the house, myself following Tohru since, well...I had no clue where I was going.

We were eventually lead into a dark room with a table, the likes of which I can only assume was meant for the tea. Actually, I could assume a lot of different, less normal intentions for the table...but I'll stick with the tea thing.

We sat beside each other and waited for Akito.

"Hello, Miss Honda, Miss Hirano," Akito said, coming outta nowhere, causing me to jump about a mile. What is it with people in this family and their sneaky-ninjaness?

"I'm sorry, Miss Hirano, did I startled you?"

"Well, seeing as I didn't expect for you to be hiding in the shadows, yes. But I'll be sure to be more prepared next time." I smiled silkily.

"I apologize. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Oh, I'm sure you didn't. Hiding in the darkened corners of this room was simply to keep from getting in the way. Right?"

Akito's eyes narrowed at me. "Of course."

I stretched long and deep, making sure to show my stomach. Either I could fight him with my mind, or fight him with my body. I wanted to see which he was more susceptible to.

I saw him briefly eye my slender stomach before allowing myself to relax again. Well, he's definitely a man. But, could I use that against him? I wonder...

"Um...thank you so much for inviting us here, Akito. We very much so appreciate it," Tohru warily interrupted our miniature mental sparring.

"On the contrary, I appreciate your accepting my invitation," he replied smoothly.

"Which reminds me," I interrupted and tossed the conversational ball back into the battle field. "Why did you invite us here?"

Akito pretended a hurt face. "Can I not invite you for the sake of tea and conversation?"

"No. Well, you can, but you don't. Perhaps you wish to keep that small piece of knowledge a secret, in which case, I am afraid we must be going," I moved to get up.

"Sit down."

Ooh. Pushed a button.

"Oh. Are you going to enlighten us as to your reasons for this meeting?" I paused.

Akito stared at me for a moment, than smiled. "Well of course. What kind of host would I be if I didn't?" He took a sip of tea. "I was wondering what your relationship with Yuki, Kyou, and Shigure is like."

"Oh. Is that all?" I laughed softly. "Well, that's simple. We are very close, very intimate...lovers."

Akito blinked in surprise, and Tohru's jaw dropped as she whipped her head around to stare at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, come on. I'm joking. We're friends. That's all." I smirked at Akito. "Why. Are you interested?"

Akito stabbed me with his eyes. "Do you think that's amusing?"

"Yes, quite."

"Well, it's not. And I would appreciate it if you'd answer me honestly, without joking immaturely."

I laughed, much harsher this time. "Immaturely? You want to talk about immaturity? All right. Let's talk about immaturity. How immature is it to stab one of your family member's eye out all because he wants to marry the girl he loves?" I smirked again at Akito's shocked face. "Yeah, that's right. I know all about your 'maturity'. Or how about nearly hurting Tohru because she thinks differently than you, because she says something you don't really want to hear? You want to talk about maturity, fine, but make sure your slate is clear before you cast the first stone." I calmly took a sip of my tea. "Mmm, this is lovely."

Akito jumped to his feet. "I will not have you talk to me this way in my house! You don't seem to understand the power I hold. You're dangling on a string over a fire, and I'm standing next it with a pair of scissors!"

I pondered my next move. Maybe I should just take a step down to his level.

I stood up and got right into (or...I guess I should say up into) his face (I'm short, so sue me.). "And don't forget that I know where you live, and that you, no matter how godly you think you are, do sleep, and I'm standing next to your bed with a pair of scissors right by your manhood. Snip, snip, Akito!"

His eyes widened for a moment, than immediately narrowed to sheer slits. "You bitch."

I grinned viciously. "Damn right."

Suddenly, his hand came flying out of nowhere and straight into my face. I flew to the other side of the room, and was able to look up just as he was about to smash his foot into my face...and caught it just in time. With a sharp twist, I sent him right off his feet and onto the floor. Rolling onto my knee, I stood up and stepped over Akito, standing with one foot on each side of him as he lay flat on his back. He looked up at me in surprise, and I kneeled down until I was sitting right on top of him, and place my hand, open and without touching him, just below his chin, fingers spread wide. "News flash, Akito. In case you weren't able to figure it out last time we met, I've got a bit of a secret myself. I've got power. And not only can I knock you into a wall, but I can also use my power to turn your brain into mush." I leaned down until my face was hardly an inch from his. "Think about it."

Standing back up, I kept my eyes on Akito. "Tohru, I think we have worn our welcome. We should be heading back."

Tohru slowly nodded, unsure of what to say, and simply stood up and headed out.

I walked over to the door, but paused to glance back before leaving. "Remember, Akito. This isn't a game. You haven't 'won', and neither have I. This is a lesson. I'm not like everyone else. You may be able to hit me...but I hit back. Hard."

I left without a smile, but rather a straight, accomplished face.

Akito knows now. He has finally realized that solitary fact that I've been trying to teach him.

Don't play with fire unless you wanna get burned.

Well, that's it! Hope you guys liked it! Once again, please review!!

Oh, and I'm not sure when chapter 5 will be up...I'm pretty busy this weekend, and in serious danger of failing Japanese. (go figure...it's the kanji that's killing me. The hiragana and katakana are easy, but that blasted kanji!! Gah!!!) so...here's hopin'! ::crosses fingers::