Akane stood in front of the mirror, looking up and down her own body and gave a little twirl. She looked good.
Akane was wearing a green altered kimono that she borrowed from Shigure as a favor. She asked him if he had any old yukata's that he didn't use anymore that she could use, and Shigure kindly gave her his old dark green one. Akane facepalmed at his wardrobe. Is there nothing not green? The color doesn't suit her. She always looked good in red (Tohru always told her she does). Shigure offered to buy her a new kimono and Akane just smacked him and said "No, If you do, I'll destroy your drafts!" and Shigure whimpered as he tried to hide his drafts somewhere Akane doesn't know.
She spent the past few days sewing when she had time, and found the Yukata still a little to big for her taste. It fell a little of her shoulders, and the sleeves were long The bottom part was almost dragging on the floor, and she didn't have enough time to continue her sewing. She wasn't a good seamstress, but she tried to salvage it. She wore her favorite red tank top underneath, and huffed, sometimes she has to pull the sleeves back up. She looked like she made a modern day fusion of a kimono.
Her classmates found her attire alluring. The girls asked if they could do some hair and make up on her, and she said "Sure, why not?" because when will she ever put one on again?
Akane looked at her reflection in the mirror and touched her face. Her classmates put on a simple blush, some eyeshadow, and some lip tint. She didn't need mascara because her eyelashes are already long, but they curled it up so it looked more full. Her hair was tied up in a bun-like shape. She didn't know what they did, but she looked pretty. After her transformation, her classmates started blushing and said she looked pretty. She did. She gave a smile in thanks, and they proceed to open their Snack Bar booth.
A lot of people came into their Oriental-themed class and enjoyed the snacks and tea. Some guys tried to take a picture with Akane, and Akane kindly refused as she doesn't want anybody having her picture and using it like a creep. Turns out word speaks fast of the 'beautiful orange haired girl' and a lot of customers came just to see her.
"I wonder if Yuki feels like this..." Akane thought as she rejected another photo request.
Akane found herself relating to Yuki now. She just wished to lay low as a lot more customers came by, and found herself asking for a break. And so, in a break she was. She didn't change out of her outfit and went to Tohru's classroom. She regretted not changing as she got a lot of stares from people.
"Dang it." She mumbled.
Akane got into Tohru's classroom just to see a kid hanging up from the stand.
"Tohru, Yuki, why is that kid hanging on top of there?" Akane asked as she walked in the classroom, worried. Her 'mother-hen' instincts (as Shigure called it) kicked in action as she went to the blonde haired boy. She noticed a formal-looking man, brushed it off, and passed the tree figures in front of the class.
"Aka nee-chan!" Tohru followed her.
"Hello, who might you be?" Akane asked kindly as she got in front of the boy.
"I'm Momiji Sohma!" He said cheerily. Cute.
"Hello, Momiji-kun. I'm Akane Honda." Akane smiled. "It's dangerous up there, can you come down? I'll help you." Akane turned to Kyo.
"Kyo, get him down." Akane commanded. Kyo scoffed and got Momiji down. She wasn't taking any chances of touching Momiji in fear that he will change because of the curse. She needed to watch out for future Sohma's hmm...
"What an idiot!" Kyo grumbled and pulled Momiji behind the screen. Tohru followed after him. Akane sighed and ran a hand through her bangs. Her collar slipped and her tank top was shown a little bit. She heard gushing and glared as she pulled it up again.
A puff of yellow smoke appeared.
He hugged Tohru, huh...
"Hey, those are Momiji's clothes!"
"So weird! Where did he go and why did he leave his clothes behind?"
Akane gave a sigh.
"'Weird'?" Yuki started. Akane slowly turned and watched as Yuki said, "Then I'm weird too!" With a pretty face.
"I'm a boy, and yet..." The whole class blushed as Yuki did this, and some even had drools and nosebleeds. Akane facepalmed.
Yuki, your sacrifice would be appreciated.
Everybody turned to Yuki. Akane went to the screen.
"Let's go, Yuki's distracting everyone."
"You damn brat! Do you have any idea what you've done?" Kyo scowled. They were on the rooftop. Akane took Momiji from Tohru's arms. Momiji was so CUTE. He turned into a CUTE yellow rabbit! Akane held her squeals as she hugged Momiji a little too enthusiastic.
"I'm scared, Tohru!" Momiji whined as Tohru patted his head.
"So, you're the Rabbit." Tohru smiled.
"Unbelievable." Akane heard the guy talk. "It's a good thing Yuki distracted everyone this time." He was for sure a Sohma... Their genes are so superior. He looked like he was as old as Shigure, and handsome as well. Unlike Shigure, he looks very mature.
Yuki came to the rooftop and fought with Kyo again. She gave a chuckle as the man got the two of them in a picture.
"Akito told me to take a picture. See you." He said dryly as he put back his camera. Who is Akito? Is he one of the zodiacs?
"Hatori! Wait!" Oh, his name is Hatori.
"Wait! Momiji-kun, would you like to come see the booth my class made?" Akane stopped Momiji from jumping. She stood up and patted her bottom with one of her hands, while the other was still holding Momiji.
Momiji's Rabbit eyes' widened.
"Can we?!" He said delightedly as he turned to the man. The man turned back and studied her.
"Sure. But we're going back after that." He accepted. Momiji gave a delighted "Yay!" and clung on tighter to Akane.
The three of them went out of the roof with an angry Kyo following behind, screaming obscenities.
"Our class made a Japanese Snack Bar. We serve Japanese snacks along with tea." Akane explained as she lead the way. Midway, Momiji turned back and went to the men's room to get dressed. Thankfully, the hall wasn't that full and they were near the toilet. Hatori and Akane waited outside.
"Hello, I can't believe I have properly introduced myself." Akane said to the man.
"I'm Akane Honda." She held out her hand. Hatori stared at it first then shook it.
"Hatori Sohma."
"Nice to meet you, Hatori-san." Akane gave a small polite smile.
"I guess you're one of the zodiacs as well?" She asked after looking around them. People couldn't hear what she asked.
"Yes." His straight to the point answer made her sigh. Just as Akane wanted to ask again, Momiji went out of the men's room.
He instantly held Akane's hand and swung them happily. Akane didn't mind, she secretly loved holding hands. The only people that have ever held hers was Tohru and their mother.
People looked at them though, and Akane caught on a whisper that said "What a pretty family..." and cringed. She's still a second year high school student!!!
They finally got to her class after all those stares. She found them a table. It was pretty empty.
Akane was still on break, so she sat in the table with them.
"Here's the menu, you can order what you want." Akane said and Momiji enthusiastically ordered for them. Akane kept looking at Momiji fondly as he rambled on about things or gave her questions and she answered with a kind smile. Momiji was so CUTE.
She didn't notice the curious stare from the silent man as the younger ones got to know each other better.
"Shigure." Akane asked as she walked Shigure out of the house. The kids were inside playing 'Rich Man, Poor Man' together. Akane would join in another round.
"I didn't know you were a writer." Akane pouted.
"You didn't notice from the books I had?" Shigure asked back. Akane sometimes cleaned Shigure's room and found his bookshelf amusing. She would like to borrow his books one day.
"I have doubts..." Akane sighed. Shigure didn't look like a man of literature...
"Also, We met Hatori-san and Momiji-kun today."
"Ah? How did it go?" Shigure stopped walking. Akane stopped as well.
"Momiji-kun is lively and... cute. Hatori-san is... I don't know how to word it." Akane thought deeply with a hand on her chin. Shigure smiled.
"Haa-san is the doctor of the family. He's also one of the zodiacs."
"I know that, I asked him." Akane glared at Shigure.
"Who is Akito, though?" Shigure stilled. Akane felt his demeanor change.
"Is he one of the zodiacs? Is he sick? 'Cause Hatori-san said he couldn't come. Or is he something else-"
"Akane-chan." Shigure cut off her ramblings with a pat on her head. Akane stilled.
"Yes...?"
"You're rambling." He smiled.
"Oh... Sorry."
"I've got to go now."
"Okay... See you soon?"
Did Shigure just avoided answering her questions?
"Shigure... Just what are you hiding?" She whispered to the night as she watched him go further away, into the darkness.