Sorry for not updating! The main reason I didn't is because I honestly didn't know how she was going to get out of this one. But DreamTrance14 gave me an idea for it, so thanks for that! Also, you guys successfully made me feel guilty enough to ask for help….I feel horrible for not updating.
It was tense in the small space of the car. I was racking my brains to find out how to get them to drop me off-without spilling my secret, of course. We were in the middle of a crowded road, where a traffic jam was forming. I had told them, in panic, that I lived in the city. Now we were on our way to my 'apartment'. But the traffic jam had given me an idea.
"Um, Yuki?" I whispered in a small voice, hoping that it would have some effect on me getting what I wanted. He looked at me, obviously wondering what I needed. I took that as a chance to continue. "I, um, I have a little sister waiting at home, and she's going to be really worried. We're really close to my building, so I could probably just walk the rest of the way." His mouth opened a little, as if he was shocked that I would ask such a question.
"It's no trouble for us. If you want, I could give you my phone so you could contact your sister. I'm sure she wouldn't be so worried then." Damn. We didn't even own a phone! How would I work my way around this one? Most basic families owned a phone!
I willed an embarrassed blush to my face. "Well, my parents are kind of energy saving fanatics, so we don't own a phone. Or any other electronics." I smiled nervously, hoping it would be enough to get me out of the car.
I thought for sure I would get out, but then the freaking doctor spoke up. "It would be best for you to stay here, Miss Woods. It's still raining, and I wouldn't want you to catch a cold." His voice was quiet, and somewhat cold. I shivered.
"Oh, it's no trouble, really! I'd be horrible if I were to inconvenience you! Besides, I really need to get home-" I cut myself off when I realized that I sounded like that girl. Hatori and Yuki were exchanging amused glances. Traffic shifted, and my fear increased. I sighed, and then dropped my façade. "OK, really. I need to get home, so, bye. I gave them a cheeky grin and a wave before opening my door and stepping out into the now halted traffic.
I risked a glance back at the car I was previously in, and laughed when I saw the shocked face of the doctor. Yuki's expression was equally hilarious. Pure shock and surprise. I turned back, working my way through the narrow cracks between the cars, until I finally passed the traffic jam. I looked at my watch. The face read 8 o'clock. Nia was going to be mad. I reached open city, where I waved down a taxi and told them to take me to my school. As soon as I got there I ran as fast as I could to get home, where I saw Nia's face waiting anxiously in the window.
I burst through the door, slamming it shut and sinking down with me back pressing against it. "Thank God," Nia whispered, pressing a hand to her heart. "Where were you? I was really worried! I thought something bad happened to you!" Her voice sounded odd, a mixture of worry, anger, and …fear?
I stood up, looked at her trembling form, and pulled her into a hug. "Hey," I whispered, "its okay. I'm here, and I'm not going to leave. Something just came up, that's all." We stayed like that until she stopped shaking, and I had nothing left to say.
The next day I didn't have work, and I didn't feel like going to school, not even to stalk…er, check up on the Sohmas. I had explained everything that happened to Nia already, and we'd eaten breakfast. I hummed to myself as I paced around the house. Nia was reading one of the few books we had; we didn't have any before I bought them for her. She wasn't a fan of fiction, like most people. No, she liked nonfiction, especially history. I didn't tell her, but I was saving up money so that she could go to school. If I was lucky, she could enroll next year.
Since she seemed content to continue to read the book she had read a thousand times, I went out hunting. I was just about to pounce on a rabbit when the thought hit me-why did Yuki offer me a ride when I was screaming at him just days before? I'm sure he didn't forget. And then I was tackled.
"NOOO! Don't kill her!" I let out a wolfy grunt, and shook off what ever had plowed into me. My head whipped around, the red fur on my head swishing softly. My teeth pulled back in a snarl, which immediately disappeared when I saw who it was. Momiji. Why did I keep running into him out here? And where was Hatori? I thought he was the overprotective guardian for this kid. The over excitable rabbit could probably get into a lot of trouble without his pet seahorse on duty.
I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Momiji's shocked face. I was extremely confused. Did I look weird?
"I believe Momiji is surprised that you can talk. I am a bit surprised as well, although I think I am more offended that you think I am his pet." I froze at Hatori's voice sounding behind me. Shit. I hadn't realized that I'd spoken aloud.
I huffed, well, as well as I could in wolf form. "I'm soooooooooo sorry," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. " I wasn't aware I was speaking aloud." I turned to face him. "Will you stop sneaking up on me? This is my territory, you know. This is not Sohma land." Hatori nodded, apparently in consent.
"True. But, it sounds like you have knowledge that you shouldn't. And as it concerns my family, you are considered a threat. There is also the issue that you should not be able to speak. I believe that you should at least tell us your name." Maybe not in consent. His voice was calculating, like he was a computer. Then Momiji spoke up. I had almost forgotten that he was there.
"Hari, what if she's like us?!" Hatori shook his head, denying it.
"Impossible, there is no wolf in the zodiac." That made really mad. What did he know? Obviously not much.
"How do you know? Maybe I am part of the zodiac!" I gave him a wolfy grin. "Or…maybe not. I guess you can decide. It doesn't matter to me anyway." It did, I wanted to be accepted so badly it hurt, but that's beside the point. The point was to make him doubt himself. I didn't know if I accomplished it, guarded as he was, but I ran home feeling accomplished. And then I remembered that I hadn't caught anything for-I checked the time-dinner, I guess. Crap. I changed back into wolf form and found some rabbits, but I couldn't bring myself to kill them, not now that I'd run into Momiji. All I could remember was his saddened face when I looked at him after he'd crashed into my side. I was actually pretty sure that I had bruising. I left the rabbits alone and found a nice deer. Nia and I ate it in comfortable silence, and then I fell asleep, smiling at the slight bit of triumph I felt from the earlier conversation.
