Chapter 21: Foolish

Hatori watched as Hanajima walked briskly towards him with that ever emotionless face. He said nothing, not wanting to pressure her to answer. Maybe she didn't want to talk about it just yet. Though he was extremely curious.

They entered the car and Hatori drove her home. The whole time Hana had looked out the window since it started to rain. She watched the rain drops splatter onto the window with blank eyes, not saying a single word.

The radio was tuned onto the weather forecast and it said that a typhoon would be passing by their school next week. Precisely at the same time of the Halloween Ball. For Hatori, that didn't bide well.

Hatori walked her to the door with an umbrella. Hana bowed to him, expressing her gratitude and turned to open the door.

"Hanajima."

"…"

"If Yuki said something to you—"

"No."

"…"

She turned to face him and gave him a wan smile. "He asked me to the Halloween Ball."

"S-S-SOUMA-KUN!" Tohru yelled as Yuki entered the house, dripping wet from the rain.

"Oh no! Yuki-kun, look what you did to my lovely floor!" Shigure whined playfully, trying to lighten the mood since he saw the deep scowl on the young boy's pretty face. But Yuki was unresponsive.

"W-w-wait! I'll—I'll get a towel for Souma-kun!" Tohru said, running to get a towel. It was then that Kyou came down from his room and had to jump to the side before Tohru would bump into him. "Ah! G-gomen, Kyou-kun!" she said, bowing then running again.

"What the—" he couldn't finish his sentence when he looked at Yuki. "WOAH! What happened to you?"

Yuki didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he plopped down into the living room, despite Shigure's whining. Yuki sighed and propped his head up on his knuckles, watching the television show Shigure was watching with blank eyes.

The older man looked at Yuki seriously this time, ignoring Kyou's incessant screaming about Yuki's 'rude' behavior. There was something definitely wrong with Yuki tonight.

Tohru came down quickly and gave Yuki the blanket which he wrapped around himself idly as if his whole body was aching. "Thank you...Honda-san…" he meekly said.

"Souma-kun, are you alright? Do you feel sick?" Tohru asked with great concern.

Yuki sighed again and looked up at Shigure. "Do you have Ayame's phone number?"

The whole household had the same expression on their faces; eyes wide and mouths formed into a small 'o'.

Shigure was the first to snap out of it and quickly posted a smile on his face, trying to hide the bewilderment he was experiencing. "W-Why do you ask, Yuki-kun?"

"I need to…talk to him."

And again, the whole household was still, shocked.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OH, YUKI, I KNEW YOU'D ONE DAY STEP UP AND TALK TO YOUR LOVING BROTHER! I KNEW YOU WOULD MISS ME AND FINALLY MUSTER UP THE COURAGE TO CALL! Though I must admit, you did take a while to come out of your shell. BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT! I KNOW THAT YOU'RE QUITE SHY AND IT MUST HAVE TAKEN MUCH COURAGE TO CALL YOUR WONDERFUL BROTHER!" Yuki had to hold the phone away from his ear, extending his whole arm. Unfortunately, even that did not soften the loud ramblings of his 'dear' brother.

"I didn't miss you." Yuki said quietly, returning the phone to his ear.

At Yuki's tone, Ayame quickly quieted. Yuki's eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he heard nothing from the other line. "Ayame?"

"What happened…Yuki…?" his voice held something akin to worry. Yuki almost scoffed at him.

"Nothing." He dismissed. "I just called because I—I wanted you to—I needed a—" there was no way he could ask Ayame a favor. He just couldn't muster the strength!

"Is this about the upcoming Halloween Ball next week?" he asked with an all knowing tone.

Yuki's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You know?"

"Tori-san tells me about things at your school. Are you going?"

Silence met him before, "I wasn't planning to. But…I guess I became irrational." Yes irrational was the word. He had let his anger and jealousy go and did something he wasn't sure was the best way to end things between Hanajima and him. Blackmail. How honorable. He wondered what she thought of him now. Despicable perhaps. A low, desperate, lonely, little boy.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ayame suddenly exploded, making Yuki's ear drums crack under the pressure. "You're becoming more and more like your wonderful big brother every day, Yuki-kun! YES! YES! YES! GO AND FIGHT FOR YOUR LOVE! YES! ROMANCE SHALL TRIUMPH IN THE END!"

"SHUT UP!" Yuki yelled, losing his patience. "What made you think it was for romance anyway?" he mumbled, blushing at his transparency.

"Yuki, Yuki, Yuki…Every reckless thing a man does, he does for love." Yuki could practically hear the special effects of twinkling stars in the background as Ayame went on emoting. He sweat-dropped. He hoped he would never turn into another Ayame in the future. But…his brother did have a point.

"So, what do you wanna be?" he asked.

"I don't know. You pick." Yuki said.

"Wanna be a—"

"Anything except a prince charming."

"Huh?"

Yuki's eyes held loneliness once again and he looked out of the window, gathering his knees into his arm as he sat on his bed. "I…don't want to be a prince…"

"But you would look so—"

"Please…oniisan…"

Silence, and then, "Alright."

"Arigatou…"

"Is Hana-chan coming as well?"

He stiffened and sighed before answering, "Yeah."

"Great."

Yuki's eyebrows furrowed again, "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing! ALRIGHT! LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE TO ME! I'LL DO A GOOD JOB AND MAKE YOU THE CENTER OF ATTENTION IN THAT HALLOWEEN BALL OF YOURS! JA NE, MY DEAR BROTHER!"

"W-wait! I don't want to be the—" but Ayaa already hung up. "center of attention…" he finished, hanging his head low. Damn Ayame.

Water splashed against her body much like how the rain outside splashed against her window. She stared into blank space as her hands lazily washed shampoo from her wavy ebony locks.

Her mind relayed everything that had transpired between Yuki and her. Those eyes of his…held so much pain. Was she the cause of that? Was she…too harsh?

She hardly ever asked herself that. She hardly ever doubted her actions before. But this time…she might have regretted saying those things to him. She might have hurt him.

"So…you're saying I'm nothing but trouble to you?"

She had definitely been too harsh.

"What nonsense." He said softly, "I'm not a prince and you're not a witch. We're both just human beings. Why are you so afraid? What are you so afraid of?"

How could he…how could he say those things so…freely…? She wasn't afraid of anything! She was the one who people feared…

Yuki walked forwards briskly, shocking the gothic girl by grabbing her arms.

Her hands went down to her arms, holding the spots he held onto. The way he held her…It was like he was a drowning man, holding onto a lifeline. So desperate…so…sorrowful…

Her widened, watery eyes stared up at him. At the sight of her eyes, Yuki's fury diminished and was replaced by a deep sadness. "They don't know what makes me happy." He whispered.

"Do you?" she whispered softly to no one in particular. That stupid, stupid prince.

"I cannot make you happy."

"Yes you can and you do! Why is it so hard to accept that?"

What about Tohru? Did she not make him happiest? Was she not the first…to open his heart? Why? Why wouldn't he let her go? Why couldn't he just…let her go…?

"Baka…"

"Don't run away, Hana-chan. Don't hide anymore."

Gently, she fell to her knees and crouched, her forehead almost touching the floor. Her beautiful hair pooled around her as the cold water beat onto her bare back.

"You…foolish prince…"

And the worst thing was that…

"You foolish…witch…"