The Phonecall

A month had almost passed already. Akito's words repeatedly rolled around in everybody's heads, keeping all of them tensed at the edge of their seat. Even so, this didn't affect the group's charm at all and soon, they were number one in Japan.

Kyou leaned lazily on his side, his head propped up by the palm of his hand. He flipped the channels lazily. Commercials. Commercials. And more commercials. On channel two, Momiji grinned brightly, holding up a huge red lollipop, and crowed, "Hi! I'm Momiji of Jyuuni! To keep up my sunny smile everyday, I make sure to make Hani Lollipop a crucial part of my diet...coming out in so many different -" Flip. A vein throbbed in Kyou's forehead as he went on to the next channel. And then the next. And the next. And the next. "What the hell?! How come we're on everything?! Isn't it enough that I see the brat, the rat, and the yak almost everyday now?! Can't I even get a little break from them?!"

Shigure grinned, "Now, now, Kyou-kun...you should be happy you guys are so famous now!"

Flip. Haru intoned monotonously, "Getting lost can be dangerous to your health and sanity. For more information on maps, please call -"

Flip. "Wanna get the super shiny voluminous hair of Jyuuni's Yuki? Then try our new Yukiness Shampoo...sponsored by Princess fanclub-"

Flip. "Okay kids. Here's a treat today!! Instead of Barney, we've got Momiji on our show!! YAY!!! We love -"

Flip. "Last week around noon, Sohma Kyou of Jyuuni was sighted walking through the streets, drinking from a bottle of milk. Look at his style, his flair, the way he holds his posture. Sporting a black t-shirt and gray cargo pants, his casual style exemplifies his down-to-earth personality. For more information about Celebrities and Fashion -"

Flip, while grumbling about invasion of privacy. "Today's debate: Which is more important to our society now? Foreign wars or Jyuuni? Statistics say...Jyuuni. How do you feel about this, Dr. Yamiko? Oh, I definitely concur! Jyuuni's superlative members and their prodigious melodies have captivated our whole scientific department, thus I quite expect that the common citizens of today would also -"

Flip. "Today's forecast is bright and sunny...just like Momiji. Tomorrow, we'll expect things to cool down...much like Yuki-"

Flip. "HAHAHAHA!! Yes, yes, I am Yuki's older brother, Ayame. And yes, yes, I am the genius behind their wonderful clothes and styles!! Please come visit my shop one day! It sells the most darling -"

Flip. "HOHOHOHO!! Yes, yes, I am Jyuuni's young, delectable manager and cousin, Shigure. And yes, yes, I am the genius behind their songs, the mastermind behind them all, and last but not least, the most famous talented best-selling author in Japan!! Please, all young ladies out there, contact me with the following email addresses: Puppylove111, DoggieTreat123, Chewtoy246, -"

Flip. "Oh Miguel! Oh Gabriella! I love you! I love you too but alas, I'm so sorry! It appears that I'm not really Gabriella! *Gasp* You're not? No, I'm not. Then who are you? I'm actually Gabriella's twin sister's cousin's niece's friend's long lost- We interrupt your daily soap opera program with an important message. Jyuuni has reached a record-breaking high...taking number one in all of Asia -"

Click. Kyou cursed and stomped out of the room. Shigure pouted and quickly switched the television on again, flipping back to the channel he was on. He beamed as he admired himself. RING RING. He furrowed his eyebrow and trudged to the phone. 'Who could it be? Mit-chan? No...she just came crying yesterday...Aya? No...too busy making new costumes...Tori! No...he'll shoot himself before he calls me...oh wait!! I know!! Must be some cute stalker girl who tracked down my phone number after seeing my handsome self on TV!! Yes, muahahaha, it must be!! Hello, my darling? This is Shigure speaking! Now, tell me...are you a brunette, a blonde, or a red-head? But of course it doesn't really matter as long as you meet my criteria of being in high school!! So are you, sweetie?"

Silence. Then a frigid voice spoke sharply, "Darling? Sweetie? High school? Shigure...what is the meaning of this? And you know very well I have dark hair..."

Shigure instantly turned serious. "Oops. Oh hey Akito...didn't know it was -"

"Silence," Akito snapped. He sighed, "Shigure, you really do try my patience sometimes...but I'll let this pass...this time..."

Shigure sighed heavily, "Thanks. So...what gives me the honor of your phone call today?"

Akito ignored his question. "Yuki...how is he? I really miss him."

The dog responded, "He's fine...Tohru's been really helpful...they're out working on his garden now..."

"Tohru...I see," Akito whispered coldly. "You know, Shigure...you really do need to look after him more...he's neglecting his duties, his past...me..."

"I'm sure that's not true-"

"He's no longer on his toes anymore! A year ago, as soon as I even approached him, he would sense me and back away, as scared as a little baby. Now? Ever since that little girl came disrupting our lives, he's become vulnerable...I got so close to him and he didn't even jump...I even wrapped my hands around his neck and he still didn't know it was me! He's become weak...that girl's polluting his mind, breaking his guard...mark my words, he'll get hurt one day by that girl...much more than he ever did by my hands..."

Shigure was silent. "Maybe sometimes people have to get hurt to start truly living...it's a sign that once upon a time, they cared enough to allow themselves to get -"

"That's rubbish!" Akito snarled. The other man didn't respond. Akito continued calmly, "Shigure, let's not talk about unhappy things. The reason I called today is about my surprise."

"Oh, really? Do tell."

"I can't, Shigure...it'll ruin everything...all I can say is that at the last day of this month, come to the Grand Central Square Ballroom...bring everyone, including the girl...and make sure to get dressed up; it's formal attire. Yuki will be so pleased..."

"Aki-" Click. The boy had already hung up, leaving Shigure extremely curious - and apprehensive.

* * *

The last day of the month had arrived. Shigure had informed everybody and in the main house, the tension was no less. Akito had gone ahead and Hatori, Momiji, Haru, Kisa, and Hiro buzzed around the huge place busily.

Kisa came into Haru's room just as he finished zipping his jacket. Dolled up in a small pink dress, the girl frowned a little at the boy. "What?" he glanced over at her.

"Haru-kun...shouldn't you be a little more dressed up?"

"I am. This is new."

"Yes but...Akito asked specifically for formal wear...he'll get angry if you show up like that," the girl spoke timidly.

"Ah, but you see...my wardrobe don't consist anything like that..."

"No, I remembered you bought a suit..."

The boy blinked slowly. "Well, it's really very weird, I also seem to recollect that I, at one time, had a suit...but then again, it seemed to happen so long ago, that everything's completely hazy to me...and struggle as I might, I just can't seem to break through the fog -"

"Demo...it was only a week ago..."

Silence. The girl smiled a little, "I'll help you look for it." After rummaging through his closet for fifteen minutes, she finally popped out, holding up a black tuxedo. "Found it!" She beamed.

"Thank you, Kisa, for your much appreciated help," he responded gravely. He took the suit and began to walk out the room. "I'll go get dressed now."

"Haru-kun...this is your room," she reminded him slowly.

He paused at the doorway and looked around carefully. "Ah, that would explain why everything looks so familiar..." He came back in and set the suit down on his bed, unzipping his white jacket. Kisa smiled and started to turn to leave when something on his arm caught her eye.

He raised an eyebrow at the girl when he realized she was still standing there. He was struggling to pull his black sleeveless undershirt off. Kisa reddened and pointed to his right arm where five neat circular scars formed a half moon shape. "Haru-kun...did you get into a fight again? You really shouldn't..."

He furrowed his brows as he tried to remember. He smiled at the girl as he recalled where he received it. "I couldn't help it...the person attacked me first..."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "But - but why?"

He shrugged, grinning. "She was in a bad mood, I guess..."

"She?" the girl frowned. "She doesn't sound very nice..."

"Oh, but she is! She's really cute and sweet and extremely shy..."

"Then why -? Who exactly is she? Do I know her?"

He nodded, bemused. "Yea, she's really a close friend of yours...at least I hope you like her..."

"Who? It can't be onee-chan!" the girl exclaimed, wondering if there was a side to Tohru she had never seen before.

He chuckled. "No way! You think she'll bite me?"

"A bite mark?! Who is this person?!"

"You." He reached for his white button-down shirt.

"Me? What? When?"

"When you still refused to speak and I found you lost on the street in your tiger form," Haru responded calmly.

"Oh," Kisa fell silent as she remembered. "I - I'm sorry."

"No need to be," he turned around, grinning down at her. "It's okay. I don't like the idea of you keeping your emotions pent up...you'll lose your voice again. Whenever you need to vent out your anger, you're always welcome to bite me again. It'll be worth it to hear you talking everyday."

Kisa's eyes welled up with tears and she threw herself at the boy, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you so much, Haru-kun! I'll make sure to bite you everyday!"

He laughed. "Now, now, no need to go to extremes, do we? It wouldn't be nice if my Black side pops out, would it?"

"Ahem." They looked up to see a dark faced Hiro. "Kisa, what are you doing with the dumb cow?"

"N - nothing. Helping him find his clothes," the girl stuttered. "I'm going to see if I forgot anything..." She ran out of the room.

Hiro folded his arms in front of him and regarded the older boy evenly. "Well, well, so you lost your clothes? I'm not surprised."

Haru's eyes flashed a little and retorted just as calmly, "I'm sorry, I can't hear you from way up here. Either you speak a little louder or find a ladder to stand on."

The boys stared at each other coolly.

* * *

At Shigure's place, the cat and the mouse were engaged in a similar battle, sending lethal glares at each other. Yuki had already gotten dressed in a crisp white suit; Shigure was in his gray one and Kyou had on a black one. The only person they were waiting for was Tohru.

Kyou drummed his fingers on the table top, resting his chin in the palm of his hand.

"Stop that, baka neko," Yuki snapped. His nerves were already on wire in apprehension of Akito's "surprise".

Kyou narrowed his eyes and he began tapping his fingers harder against the glossy wooden surface. Yuki twitched but before he could send his foot into the cat, Tohru appeared. She smiled shyly at them in a baby blue dress with transparent sleeves. Her hair was pinned back and adorned with daisies. Kyou felt his jaw dropping and Yuki falter beside him. Shigure danced around, "My precious flower looks even more like a flower today!!" Months of experience had taught the dog to quickly retreat out of the room after making comments like that and he hastily put his knowledge to use. As the boys advanced on him, he leaped out of the door, popping his head back briefly to cry out cheerfully, "Time to go now!! Wouldn't want everyone waiting, would we?"

Yuki avoided Tohru's eyes as he coughed slightly, walking speedily out the door. Kyou closed his mouth and he cleared his throat, prepared to follow the mouse out. To his surprise, Tohru's hand shot out and touched his arm. He reddened and stammered, "W -what?"

She blushed and murmured, "Ano...Kyou-kun isn't wearing a tie...it's formal wear..."

He flushed, "Yea, well, I - I actually...don't know...how to...and I'll be damned if I'll let that dog help me...and I'll sooner chop my head off before I go to that nezumi either..."

She smiled softly, "I see...can you give me your tie, Kyou-kun?"

He blinked and nodded, fishing his crumpled black tie out of his pocket. She plucked it gently from his hand and to his shock, leaned up closer to him. He backed away, startled. "W - what are you doing?"

She blushed. "Um...do you mind if I help you with your tie?" She waved it in her hand flimsily.

"Oh...yea, sure," he relaxed and tried to calm down his racing pulse at the girl's close proximity. She chewed her lip thoughtfully as she looped the cloth around his neck. He stared down at her tenderly, his mind swirling as her sweet fragrance engulfed him. Her fingers deftly wrapped the tie in and out, her fingers brushing gently against his chest. He suddenly snapped out of his reverie when he realized too late that she had finished and was talking to him.

"Huh?"

She furrowed her eyebrow. "I just wanted to know if the tie feels uncomfortable...is it too tight?"

He lowered his eyes and gently ran his fingers along the black silk. "No...no, it's perfect..." He raised his eyes to meet the girl's and she flushed rosily under his gaze.

"Honda-san, are you ready?" Yuki's voice broke the moment. The mouse stared at the cat frostily. "We can always leave the baka neko..."

"Shut up!" Kyou snarled and stomped out of the house. Tohru followed dazedly with Yuki by her side.

~ ~ ~

OMG!! You guys are all so sweet!! The reviews you gave me...were wow. Rokusan and Kyo's Angel...u're so nice!! And of course, thanks to SeraphAngel, kcarrie, capheine, Helen, Azn chibisweetpea, Alexandra-Kyoko, and Tiva...

Keep reading and reviewing!! Almost 100!! O...and by the way, I know this story is getting really long but I promise! There will be an ending soon!!

~Maeven~