Sorry for such a long wait. :/ Still, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
'Akane, Hatori on the phone for you.' Shigure dipped his head into the doorway, his floppy fringe covered part of his face and he huffed and flicked his head awkwardly to move it. He was clutching the phone against one ear, the other hand was keeping his balance by gripping the doorframe.
I sighed. Couldn't the canine let me finish my food first? My chopsticks were halfway to my mouth and I could smell the delicious rice and salmon nibble right in front of my face. I stared at it.
'Are you slightly annoyed at his presence?' I said to the riceball quietly. I imagined a little squeak of agreement and nodded. 'Shigure, even the food is frustrated at your arrival, what do you want?'
'Hatori, on the phone.' he gave me a quizzical look at my food comment.
'Don't look at me like that, just because I'm sat in your seat.' I quickly gobbled the innocent onigiri and got up from the table, wiping my hands on my denim shorts.
Shigure gave me a shocked look and quickly threw the phone in my direction before running and taking his seat back.
I shook my head and pressed the phone to my ear. 'Hello?'
'Good evening, Akane. It's Hatori. Could I speak with you?'
'Well, you already are but if you require further permission to speak I grant it willingly.' I joked. Hatori coughed. 'Sorry, just a joke.'
'I meant, are you alone?'
I peered round at the room behind me. Shigure was eating…MY FOOD! I will so get him back for that later…
Kyo was out. Tohru was doing laundry in the side room and Yuki was sat on the back porch doing…something. I frowned at the rat before returning to the phone.
'No, but I can be, hold on.' I said quickly and went upstairs. I sat down on the top step and confirmed I was alone.
'Good, thank you. Its probably safer that way.' Hatori continued. 'Well, Akane. I'm afraid this is a rather serious phone-call.'
'Let me guess, my no-good, sadist of a brother right?' I rolled my eyes.
Hatori cleared his throat nervously. I suppose he couldn't really agree with my description.
'Its Akito.' he continued as if I'd never spoken.
'What does he want?'
'He wants to speak with you.'
'Hell no! I don't want to go anywhere near that-'
'I'm sorry Akane, but you know more than anyone what he is capable of.' Hatori cut in. 'I'm sorry, and I realise this may cause the pains to increase. But I'm sure they'd be a great deal worse if you were to refuse to see him at all. I promise, I will nbot leave you alone with him if that's what you wish.'
I shivered. Hatori was right, I knew very well what Akito was capable of. This was a dead-end. I had to go. There was no other choice.
'Fine, I'll go.' I said weakly.
'Thank you, and don't worry, if you want me to stay in the room I will. And I'm more than certain Shigure will want to join you too.'
'Not if I don't tell him where I'm going.' I thought out loud.
'Well, I think it best if you did Akane. Shigure cares about you you know. He would want to make sure you are safe.'
'What? He doesn't care about me. He's just a perverted dog.'
'Maybe.' Hatori answered. 'But I know there are others that care about you too Akane. I think you should tell them tomorrow morning, even if you decide to wait until just before you leave.'
'The meeting's tomorrow?' I croaked. Crap. Crappity, crap crap. Oh crap.
'Yes. Sorry, I thought I'd mentioned that.' Hatori corrected himself.
'Don't worry.' I managed. 'Thank you Hatori, bye.'
I hung up before he had a chance to respond. Staring at the wall at the bottom of the stairs., I gulped. What did Akito want with me? Stupid, brain-dead, twisted piece of-
'It's about Akane.' I heard Yuki whisper (badly) from the living room.
'What is it? Is she ill?' Shigure answered back, in a just as poor whisper. Man these two were dumb.
'Well, the other day, she was on the stairs.' Oh no. 'And she was about to fall, so I reacted from instinct and grabbed her.
'Yes?' Shigure was obviously listening closely. For a unique and totally unexpected change.
'Well, why didn't I transform?' Yuki said, confused.
I decided it was time to put an end to this conversation.
'Who's in the forest strolling, the birds and the bees sing Momiji.' I sang loudly, skipping back down the stairs and into the room where the two men jumped at my volume level.
Yuki plastered his hands to his ears, he obviously wasn't expecting that level of noise so sudden. Strange considering I've been living here for almost a month now.
'Miss Akane, what are you doing?'
'Singing!' I sang and landed with a thump beside him at the table.
'She heard.' Shigure looked at Yuki and his expression changed from confused to worried.
'Geez, don't worry. I'm not gonna skin you alive or anything.' I laughed and punched his arm. 'In fact, I think I should explain.' I returned to my earlier personality and slapped my hands down on the table making Yuki jump yet again. 'Wow, a little jumpy aren't we?' I invaded his personal space and laughed as he looked uncomfortable. Poor lil rat.
'Tohru Honda. Come hither.' my face made a serious frown as I sat up straight and spoke with a deep voice.
After a few seconds, Tohru appeared at the door, smiling. 'Yes, Akane?'
'Sit. We have a lot to get through.' I gestured to the seat opposite mine, still speaking deeply.
'Akane? What are you doing?' Shigure asked, an eyebrow raised.
'Explaining, duh.' I said like a dumb-blonde.
I was in a strange mood, lets put it that way.
'Its about The Issue.' I said normally. 'You know, the reason you guys don't transform when I touch you?' All three nodded in understanding.
'Dammit!' a loud crash was heard from the hallway and a wet, angry-looking Kitty stood in the door. We all peered up at him, blinking.
'What happened Kyo? Are you alright?' Tohru asked, a little anxious.
'Yeah, I'm fine dammit. Just the stupid rain.' he gestured to outside and we all turned our heads to notice the water thrashing against the doors.
'Wow, some weather huh?' I shook my head and planted my hands on the table in front of me. 'Well, that just won't do. We will simply have to resume this conversation later.' I got up from the table.
'Now then, pussycat.' I ruffled his hair, then regretted it. It was soaking wet. I wiped my hand on his shirt as I spoke again. 'Do you want to be towel dried or blow dried?' I laughed.
He grimaced at my action, although his shirt was damp anyway.
'Shut up.' he grunted and left to go upstairs.
'Oh no you don't!' I sang, following him up the staircase. 'I have a nice fluffy towel for you!' I laughed again and winked at a confused looking Tohru as I disappeared upstairs.
Sorry if this chapter was short. Hope you like it. Please review. =) Thank you!
