AN: Finally! An update! Sorry about the long delay! When you become a working woman there is so much you could do. This chapter is not as descriptive as my other ones, but it has more emotion in the dialogue. However, I promise that the next chapter would be more shorter and beautiful. I noticed I wrote my chappies too long and readers tend to get lost in the story. Anyways, if you are up to date with the latest in the manga, you'll understand the story more. If not, then the story is still enjoyable.

CHAPTER 8

"Tears of Hate"

Catch me as I fall
Say you're here and it's all over now
Speaking to the atmosphere
No one's here and I fall into myself
This truth drive me
Into madness
I know I can stop the pain
If I will it all away

- From Whispers by Evanescence
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"The day after tomorrow it is. See you then. Ja ne." Yuki closed his cell phone and placed its case hanging on the belt of his yukata. He sighed heavily as he turned to the window on his right side.

Why did I agree to this?

Next to him, Machi was watching him and wondering who was on the other end of the line. She didn't bother to ask since it was none of her business. She turned to her own window and quietly sat through the rest of the ride back to the lakehouse.

When the four finally returned, everyone exited and went inside the house. The phone was ringing inside.

"It must be mother checking up on me!" Manabe called out as he rushed to answer it. Yuki sat in the recliner in the living room, while Kimi and Machi sat on the sofa. All three felt the exhaustion kicking in from the day.

"What a day," Yuki sighed in relief that it has ended. "Did you have fun, Machi?"

Machi gave him a blank look with her tired eyes lowered. "It was nice getting to know your family," she spoke softly. Yuki smiled at her serenely, but sadly. He couldn't believe she was there to witness his former source of fear.

If she stayed with me, what would he say to her? Or what would he do?

"Kimi wished Kimi was there to get to know them more!" Kimi jumped in the conversation.

"You'll see some of them at school anyways," Yuki responded.

"Ah! Yun-Yun's correct!" Kimi beamed. "Kimi also wanted to marry one of them!" She placed her folded hands against her chin and her sparkly aura returned.

"Ugh," Yuki displayed a look of displeasure on his face. Kimi being married to one of his relatives would be a true disaster.

Little to everyone's awareness, Manabe was standing by the main corridor entrance with a serious look on his face. He looked directly at Machi as she looked back at him. She got up from her seat and walked over to the main corridor. Yuki looked at them, confused of what was going on.

"Machi?" he called. The girl just left into the corridor without a word. He turned to Manabe, who was looking down at his feet, unhappily. "Manabe, what's wrong? Did someone call for Machi?"

"That woman called. It was strange she didn't call earlier. I was kind of hoping she wouldn't, don't you know?" Manabe spoke while shifting his socked feet from side to side.

"Kakeru-chan! What are you talking about?" Kimi asked as she went up to him.

"Oh Kimi-chan, you don't know…Machi's my half-sister. We have the same father, but different mothers." Manabe briefly explained.

"Oh my…" Kimi said, somewhat shocked. "Why didn't Kakeru-chan say anything to Kimi?!"

"It was suppose to be a secret…so don't tell anyone else," he frowned.

"Okay, Kimi keeps secret…but Yun-Yun…" she turned to the boy, who was already concerned with the situation.

"I already know, Kimi. He told me long ago. Later on , Machi learned that I knew. It's not something to share with everyone," Yuki stared downward with a apprehensive frown.

"Don't worry Yun-Yun, I'll take care of this, since it's familial matters. You go on and rest up. It's okay," Manabe assured as he patted the boy's back and left to the corridor.

"Sometimes, I couldn't help but worry. Especially,when it has to do with someone I love," he absently told Kimi.

"Things will get better. We still have more days to go," Kimi tried her attempt in comforting the boy.

"Thanks, Kimi," Yuki smiled at her as he departed for his room.

"You are such a boring person. Why are you not normal like the other girls?"

I am the way I am because that's how you made me. Your "perfect" daughter.

"Are you blaming me for what you have become?"

No, I just wanted to know why you treated like the way you did.

"Do you even have friends? "

Would you believe me if I told you?

"Machi? Are you here? I am coming in," Yuki called from the bedroom door. In the darken room, Machi stared at the door blankly as it opened. The pajama-clad boy slowly walked over to her side. As he walked, patterns of shadows and moonlight moved along his form. "Is everything okay?" he whispered.

"She done it again. Always finding ways to make me feel worse than I already am. Never…has she ever forgiven me nor listened to the reason why I was there in the first place." Tears slowly leaked from the corners of her eyes as she tried to hold them back. She placed her hands over her eyes as she quietly sobbed.

I was there because he was cold. Someone needed to cover him. I was there to give him warmth…like an older sister. She still blames me for something I didn't even do. Everytime she finds the time and day to remind me of how worthless I am…to her…even after all that she had done…to make me this way…

Yuki placed his hands on her shoulder and moved closer to place his chin on the top of her head. "There are some people who are blinded by their own interpretation of how they percive everything. They refuse to listen to what's on the other side of their own perception," he spoke softly. He closed his eyes as he continued to console the pained girl.

She told me earlier, this past winter, that her parents kicked her out of the warmth of their home because they thought she tried to sufforcate her baby brother, when all she was doing was covering his cold, little body with his blanket. Such an innocent action was interpreted wrongly because they couldn't see…they couldn't see 'her'…only the person they came up with in their mind: A "perfect" daughter who became replaceable and unwanted. That's how I connected to her…

…I have been there.

In the still of the night, Yuki stayed by his love's side. He rested on her bed as watched her sleeping face, resting on his leg. He stroked her dark-brown tresses as he sank into deep thought of the events earlier with his family.

(Flashback)

As Haru recuperated from his earlier knockout, he laid on one of the benches with one of his arms covering his eyes. Near him, was everyone else recuperating from a short scare of their feared family head. Momiji was with Hiro and Kisa, comforting them and telling them, "It's okay, he's not coming back". Tohru stood near them, oblivious to what Momiji was saying. She was occupied with thoughts of her own. "They have to know. I must tell! Must tell!"

"Yuki-kun," Tohru tugged at the back of the boy's yukata.

"What's wrong?" Yuki asked. He was with Machi, telling her everything was okay.

"…There's…something…I…didn't…tell…you…about…Akito-san," Tohru spoke with hesitations as faced away from him, so he wouldn't see her tears.

"Huh? Honda-…"

"Tohru?" Kyo interrupted as he approached the two. He was watching her earlier and caught her trying to hold her tears back.

"Honda-san, what about Akito?" Yuki questioned. Tohru looked at him with a distraught face and shook her head.

"Aaah…B-B-Betsuni! Did I say something?" she panicked with tears falling out. Yuki and Kyo looked at her with skepticism. Even Machi was looking at her the same way.

"If that damn bastard did something to you, just say so!" Kyo spoke loudly, constraining from yelling.

"He did nothing! Nothing at all!" Tohru panicked again. Yuki frowned.

She knows something. What is it?

"Honda-san, if there is something you want to tell us, please tell us when you are ready, but don't keep on putting it off…especially if it concerns Akito."

"Hai," Tohru said in a soft voice. She sadly looked down on her feet. She felt a soft bonk on her head. Noticeably, it was Kyo, who was just as curious as Yuki when it comes to Tohru and Akito.

"As much as I hate to admit it, the damn rat is right. Don't keep disgusting secrets about that damn bastard from us, okay?" The girl responded with a nod and break her internal struggle with a smile. Kyo returned her smile and nudged her little at her cheek.

Yuki was relieved to see that Kyo could comfort the worried onigiri in minutes. He walked beside his girlfriend, who was watching someone getting up from his space on the bench. Yuki followed the line of her view and saw Haru fully recovered. "I'll be back," he informed the girl. She responded with a nod.

The boy walked over to the black and white- haired boy, who was just starting to sit up. He rubbed the spot where he was kicked.

"Hey Haru, are you feeling okay?" Yuki took a seat next to the ushi (cow).

"Mmhm. I am just tired."

"I think we all are."

Haru placed his hand down from his head and looked over at the girl, sitting with Momiji. "Yuki…"

"Huh?"

"You have it."

"Eh?" the boy perplexed. Haru's way of speaking could make one lost as he was when it comes to directions.

"The ability to stand for one's self, without overdoing it. You also protected your woman."

Yuki was stunned by Haru's words, but felt sympathy for the boy due to his own struggles of protecting his love. "I-I just don't want her to get involved. She doesn't have to deal with our familial problems."

"Understable. Still, you protected her from that."

"It's free will, Haru. It's possible for everyone, if it was possible for me. I believe you could protect her if you believe you could. It's not too late to do so."

Haru stared at the space in front of him as thoughts of his love ran through his mind. "It's done. Damage is already done. All I could do is save that all left of her."

"That's why it's not too late."

"Is it really?" Haru questioned with roughness in voice. "Someday he'll take her from me. If not now, maybe later?" At the end of the last few words his voiced became cracked. Yuki could feel his pain from within. He knew one person could only hold it for so long…their pain.

"As long as you are there, that's not possible. Don't say that, Haru."

"He almost fucking killed her! There's only one breath left in her! He's going take that away! That son of a bitch! The bastard should DIE!" Tears of rage poured from his eyes as he held the other boy firmly, fighting his pain. His fingers gripped the back of Yuki's yukata tightly as he released everything he kept inside.

Don't turn away

Don't try to hide

Don't close your eyes

Don't turn out the light

Everyone stopped what they were doing and witnessed the true pain release of Haru. Tohru and Kisa silently cried along with him in the comfort of the arms of each other, while Kyo was trying to understand the boy, along with Momiji and Hiro, who could relate to his pain. The young boy remembered telling him the horrid secret about Akito and Rin.

Machi also witnessed the hidden pains in Yuki's family. She understood why Yuki was so lonely and distant in the years before. All the pain he had to bear was something he definitely doesn't want anyone to learn of. She gazed upon the two boys as Haru calmed down enough to let go of Yuki.

"As long as you are there, it'll be alright," Yuki whispered in the other boy's ear. "Just stay by her side." He patted the boy's arm and looked over to see everyone looking at them. "It's alright, minna-san."

I'm frightened by what I see

But somehow I know
That there's much more to come
Immobilized by my fear
And soon to be
Blinded by tears
I can stop the pain
If I will it all away

Passing everyone, he walked and held out his hand to the girl, who was dazed by this sudden occurance. She took his hand and moved close to him. "Gomen, Machi."

"No need for apology. I understand now."

"Arigato."

Yuki went over to Tohru and Kisa, along with Machi. "It's alright, he won't come back, as long as you stand on your two feet. We won't give in, okay?"

Tohru smiled at him with tears still coming from her eyes, while Kisa shyly nodded and wiping her tears.

"Honda-san, we won't lose, ne?" Yuki reminded of their converstation before the summer break.

"Hai," she agreed. "Yuki-kun's strong. We will try our hardest," she added. Near her, was Kyo still registering of what happened.

"You won't give up, right Kyo?" Yuki asked. "As long as you're alive, you won't give up, ne?"

Kyo looked up at him and frowned. He looked over at the girl beside him, who was holding up her folded hands to her chin and looking directly at him.

"No way. I won't."

As long as she's here I won't.

"Good. We should put this behind us and move on…"

That's all we could do….

Fallen angels at my feet
Whispered voices at my ear
Death before my eyes
Lying next to me I fear
She beckons me
Shall I give in
Upon my end shall I begin
Forsaking all I've fallen for
I rise to meet my end

Haru walked behind Yuki and hugged him from behind. Machi was quite bemused of how affectionate her classmate could be. "If I known you'd be this strong, I could of loved you more…." Yuki was shocked by his actions in front of everyone, but at the same time he was thankful that Haru reverted back to himself. Haru held on to the boy, until the boy's cell rang…

Thank you for catching me when I fell…

…and almost gave in.

( End of Flashback)

The soft, gentle sunbeam radiated through the window and on to the wet face of the young, gray-haired man. As his eyes opened, tears were still leaving his eyes. In his view, was the one he wanted to see. She took a hankerchief from her drawer and wiped his face with it.

"It was sad. Last night was very sad," she said, while dabbing his face with the soft cloth. "We all cried." Yuki sniffed a little and reached to touch the girl's face. "Helplessness is a sad thing."

"Indeed it is," Yuki whispered. "We all have to fight our weaknesses. You too, Machi. Keep fighting."

"I will as long as you won't give in," she said.

"Then, I won't," Yuki smiled. Machi placed a tray of food in front of him.

"We had breakfast, but I couldn't disturb your sleep," she said.

"Thank you, love." The boy leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. The girl reacted with a blush and stayed with her love as he ate.

"Hey, Yun-Yun!" Manabe called from the kitchen. He spotted Yuki heading out to the lake with his sister.

"Ohayo, Manabe," Yuki greeted.

Kimi was cleaning morning's dishes when she saw them. "Ohayo, Yun-Yun!" she greeted.

"Ohayo, Kimi," Yuki greeted in return. He was headed out the door, but was stopped by Manabe's questioning.

"Yun-Yun, I noticed that you didn't sleep in your own room last night…any explanation?"

Yuki and Machi instantly became firey red in the face, when they noticed what happened last night.

" Nothing happened!" Yuki fumed with embarrassement. Machi slid the silding door open and exited with humilation. The boy followed and slid the door behind them.

"Now, now Kakeru-chan, if Yun-Yun wanted to share his experience, he would tell Kimi too!" Kimi said, shamelessly.

"Not when it's with Machi. No way," he shook his head and smirked. "However, this means something's bound to happen. Machi had developed a sense of trust with Yun-Yun. If she trust him, I do too."

Out by the shimmering lake, the couple walked along the bank, hand to hand. The peacefulness of nature has settled within them as they strolled.

"Yuki," Machi broken the silence, which was rare.

"Mmhm?" Yuki looked at the girl by his side.

"I don't mean to intrude, but who were you talking to last night…on your cell phone?"

"Huh?" Yuki thought for a moment of what she was talking about. "Oh that! That was the photgrapher for the magazine shoot I was suppose to do."

"I almost forgotten about that," Machi said.

"Me too. Anyways, he said that a limo would come over here to pick me and you all up to the site of the photo shoot."

"All of us?" Machi stopped walking and stared at Yuki, with hidden exictement.

"Yeah, I told him that we are in the middle of vacationing and I don't know if we have anything planned. Then he said, 'Bring them all with you.' So, that's it. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning for my photo shoot."

"I couldn't believe that you are actually going to do it," Machi was still amazed at her boyfriend, who was a reluctant one back then.

"I am doing it for the same reason I joined the council," Yuki smiled at her.

"Why did you joined?" Machi never really thought of asking him.

"Because I didn't want to," Yuki leaned in a beamed in at her. The girl looked at him in awe. "Now, because I did, I am here with you, my girlfriend. My love." He leaned in more and brushed his lips across hers gently. She fell into the deep kiss as his right hand rested on her back and the left at the back of her head.

Yuki annouced tommorrow's plan, during dinner, to Manabe and Kimi, who were both amused to watch Yuki in front of a camera. After dinner, the evening ended quietly with thoughts of tommorrow.