Hime no Hana
Pretending not to notice.
I brushed past you,
Yet you held onto me.
And I was drawn to your embrace
As you smiled.
Chapter III: Kurenai
"We're here," Hatori said curtly opening the door. Tohru stepped out lightly and then her eyes danced as she saw her new 'home'. It was a beautiful Victorian mansion set off near a lake. Lush trees greeted her warmly while breathtaking roses climbed the walls. The only thing that ruined the warm, cheerful atmosphere was the fact that there were walls. These walls seemed stern and reproving, confining a young bird's spirit.
Yet, Tohru twirled around happily and clapped her hands. Behind her back, the doctor smiled faintly. It was the first smile in two years. //Perhaps she'll change us..for the better.// Hatori thought as he started up the walkway to the main door. //If only Akito would too.//
The young girl laughed and sighed with awe at the fountain in the middle of the grand lawn. Gracefully, she climbed onto the side and started walking around the momentous figurine of a posing Greek muse.
"Is that her?" a voice asked. It was gentle voice yet as strong as silk, and Tohru couldn't help noticing that the speaker's voice was obviously saddened.
"AAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!" By surprise, Tohru fell into the fountain with a loud splash. She was surprised that the water was much deeper than it seemed. Almost-barely she could feel the bottom of the fountain. Lightly she swam to the side and started to climb out. A pair of hands wrapped around her waist hesitantly and heaved her out. But obviously the person wasn't used to carrying people for Tohru and the unknown person fell to the ground in an undignified heap.
"Oh.." The person groaned slightly and the brunette girl leaned into him by accident. She blushed at the sudden closeness, but he was warm.
"I am so sorry! Gomen nasui!" She squealed, realizing (a little late) that she was basically sitting on the mysterious person. She finally lifted her eyes up and drew back in surprise. The person was a young man perhaps two years older than her. He was a living replica of Yuki, with the raven locks drifting into his eyes. But this person had heartbreakingly sweet gray eyes, filled with morose and hidden sorrow. He was slender and a head taller than Tohru dressed in an all black attire. Her chocolate brown eyes locked with his gray ones and they stared at each other.
Suddenly, he broke away from her tender gaze and stood up abruptly. " Am I truly that horrid looking?" His voice was harsh and the seemingly sweet gray eyes flashed angrily.
"Iie..you're beautiful," Tohru said simply staring up at him. He stumbled slightly obviously surprised at her response. " My name is Honda Tohru. Nice to meet you. Your name is..?"
"Sohma Akito."
"Wow! I love your name- Akito! Aki-kun!" Then Tohru blushed. " I didn't mean to be so forward or anything but please call me Tohru-chan."
"T-Tohru-chan?" Akito tested the new name on his tongue. Her name rolled melodiously and sounded both innocent and sweet.
"Hai! And I'm sorry for staring at you but you truly are beautiful. You look like a prince of shadows and enigma," The young naïve girl said sighing. " You are my new master, I presume?"
"Well, yes," Akito said. He was surprised with himself. Usually, he'd be so calm and cold to everyone. But for some odd reason he felt that he just couldn't ignore this girl's sweet demeanor. Her cheerful optimism was infectious and even uplifted *his* usually depressed personality. //Perhaps I'll keep her after all. Already I think I've found something in her that I have never found. There's something about her like a bubble of ecstasy which glows and brightens inside of her.//
"Aki-kun? Is it alright if I call you Aki-kun?"
"Hai," He said. He hesitated for a moment before smiling. It was a slow and sweet smile which would've made any girl feel weak and faint staring at the ultra-bishounen before her. The edges of his usually cold eyes softened slightly. It made him look almost ethereal, and afterwards Tohru wished she never did what she did. She fainted.
Tohru collapsed against Akito, and Akito stared blankly down at the girl. His heart began to beat faster than usual and he reprimanded himself sternly. Sighing heavily, the Clan Head bent down to pick her up. She was light in his arms and almost instinctively drew her arms around his neck. Akito was surprised that Tohru's head fit perfectly on his shoulder as if the two were meant to be in the position. //Baka!// Akito flinched inwardly while telling himself that he was stupid. //She fainted that's all! But..then why am I feeling this odd feeling?//
He carried her towards the house and kicked the front door open. Akito nearly ran upstairs towards his bedroom. He grimaced at the dark colors which he favored so much- the crimson curtains and large king-size poster bed. The room was lavished with dark roses, petals strewn on the ground, and numerous flowers in glass vases aligning the room. The Clan Head had almost an obsession with roses and the shadows. Then, he gently laid her on the bed watching Tohru intently.
She was beautiful.
He had to admit that.
Against the scarlet pillow, the young girl's face was delicate and pale. And her skin seemed to be so soft and milky-smooth. Unconsciously Akito reached out a hand to stroke her cheeks. They *were* soft. And her lips were pink and looked like they would be nice if someone kissed her..
//ARGH! I truly think that I'm turning into Shigure.// Akito drew back his hand and blushed crimson. //That pervert! Yes! That's it- Shigure visited me yesterday and influenced me with his perversion. After all, that Tohru is nothing but a little girl. And she's going to be my maid!//
He knew that he was lying to himself but that didn't matter. Anything to get him away from the fact that Tohru looked like an angel. Perhaps an angel from heaven to punish him.
Tohru interrupted his train of thoughts when she stirred slightly. She opened her dark brown eyes groggily and then suddenly sat straight up.
"Oi! Akito-sama! What just happened?" Then she started babbling, " I'm so sorry that I fainted! Did I faint? Wahhhh! This is my first job ever since taking care of Shigure-san's house and I really don't think that I fainted back then. But then again, Kyo-kun did hit me with that beam of wood and it hit me on the head. But Hatori said that you didn't like nursing people, and I really don't think this is the fountain outside, is this your room?"
"Yes, Tohru," Akito said before suddenly throwing his head back and chuckling. " My, you talk a lot don't you?"
"Huh?" Then her face flamed.
"Don't worry. Ayame is getting your room ready. For the time being, you can stay in my room. And please don't use 'sama' after my name."
" Okay, but where will you sleep?" Tohru asked with worry.
"Don't worry about me. I'll just sleep on the sofa. Wait here while I'll go and get you lunch. You look famished." With that Akito strode away from her room and shut the door behind him leaving Tohru sitting on the bed. She blushed faintly at Akito's kindness.
"Why did Yuki-kun and the others say that Aki-kun was evil?" She wondered aloud pulling the blankets closer around her. " He is so nice! I think I'll enjoy being here as his maid after all."
TBC
=:::Author's Note:::=
I luv everyone so much for reviewing! *huggles* Hime no Hana is my biggest success yet. I hope you ppl will forgive me for updating so late. I tell you, it's all the freakin' academic competitions that's catching up and haunting me. -___-;; But I truly luv you guys though! ♥_♥ You've probably noticed that I've made Akito much sweeter than he usually is. ^-^
=::Replies to Reviews::=
Little Red Dragon: I read your fic..it's really good! I didn't know about the 'u' either but oh well.
Clow Angel: Ah! You're so funny. ^^ Well, Akito isn't *that* uh,er..insane. At least we hope not. You're right- the whole Sohma family has pretty depressing pasts so I decided to elaborate on Akito.
Ohimesama: I know. From most of the FB fics so far, it's mainly either Tohru/ Kyo or Tohru/Yuki or whatever and Akito's the main bad guy. Well, I really like Akito cuz he's a bishie so..^_~
BlueTiger, SierraFalls, Silent Sage, Unknown Person, Feve30, Unseen watcher, Space Chick, and yoyo: Arigatou for reading this fic and reviewing! I'll continue. Or you can threaten me with mallets! Eep! ::remembers the last time when a reviewer did that:: I'll try to update faster for you guys :D
Starian Princess: Bwahahaha. *evil laugh* Well, you'll just have to wait and see, ne? Besides those two won't be *that* innocent by the end of this fic. Blagh. That didn't sound right. Anyhow, thanx for reviewing.
Makogurl48: *preens* Well, you're welcome for saying thanks. Hehe. Okie, okie, I'll go back to writing. *winces as she hears the whip crack*