THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS!!
Um, to R Junkie, thanks! (Blush) I feel like an idiot. I knew my calculations had been wrong, I just wasn't sure how. I'm fixing it now! Okay, it's fixed. THANKS SO MUCH!!
Misaki the Assassin: Thanks for liking my story. The emotion was probably lust if anything. Not love. I don't believe in love at first sight. Probably a little bit of curiosity and dislike to add to it. I really didn't know at the beginning, but it's brought up again, but it doesn't have anything to do with it.
Warnings: SPICY FOOD!!! (j/k) Emotionally painful music and big words. Need I say more?
We get to see Sakura and her impression of her father's clan leader. YEAH!! This is an airier chapter (basically, it has little stuff that actually happens) but it is filled with bonding time. And we get to meet more of Sakura. She's full of surprises.
So, enjoy!
__________________________
Yuki just wanted to sleep. This day was the worst of all; he could feel it in his bones. Today it was going to be bad. Might as well stay in bed.
"Hey, Yuki! Wake up!"
He groaned and turned over. He was not, let me repeat it, he was NOT going to get up. There was no way under the sky that would get him up. Suddenly, the blankets were ripped from his body and water poured on his face. Except, maybe, for that.
He jumped up, water streaming from his hair to mix with his bed sheets. Angrily, he looked around his room for the culprit, but there was no one in his room. Grumbling, he stood up and proceeded to wring the water out of his hair. He would have taken a shower anyway; he did not need one while he was in bed.
The door of his room swung open and Sakura danced into the room on light feet. She carried in her hands a large bowl of water that sloshed threateningly. She smiled at him. "Good, you're up." She stepped toward him and suddenly tripped over a rug in his room and the bowl went flying.
Darn that girl. She had planned to trip! Especially since he did not have a rug on that spot of his floor! In seconds, he was drenched from head to toe. Sakura stood, one hand raised innocently to her lips as she struggled to prevent a smile from rising to her lips.
"Well, at least you won't have to bathe today," Sakura finally said, her smile finally under control. "I made breakfast, if you want it."
"Tohru-dono didn't want to?"
"I didn't let her. She's sleeping in now."
Yuki raised an eyebrow before he grabbed a towel. "So, what did you make?"
At that precise moment, Kyo came running past the room screaming before he came back, his lips the same fiery red as his eyes. "What did you put in those eggs, witch?" Kyo screamed, his eyes glued on Sakura.
"Only cyan pepper, Tabasco sauce, and some small jalapenos. It couldn't burn that much," Sakura said in defense of herself, but still bewildered. "Honestly, haven't you ever eaten spicy food?"
"No!" Kyo shrieked. "How do you expect us to- Yuki? You're smiling!"
Yuki was befuddled for a moment. He was not smiling, but no, he could feel it. The edges of his mouth were twisted upward slightly to create a curve of some sorts. He was smiling.
It felt like ages had gone past since he had last smiled, and it felt good.
"Yes, I am smiling baka neko. Why is that such a shock to you?"
"Just don't eat the eggs! They'll kill you!"
"Then I'll eat some. After all, it was my niece that made them."
Kyo grumbled and then left the room, presumably to find some water. Yuki then went about taking off his soaking nightshirt. "Yuki?"
"Yes Sakura?"
"Can I ask a favor of you?"
"Sure."
"Don't call me your niece."
Yuki looked up in surprise to see total seriousness in her eyes.
"Why ever not?"
"It makes me feel too young."
Yuki smiled slightly and shook his head. "I deserve that, huh?"
"Yep. Another favor."
"What is it?"
"Can we be friends instead of just relatives?"
Yuki looked up at her and saw a light of hope in her eyes. Friends. That sounded good. "Of course, Sakura. That's the way it should be."
_______________________
Yet another day passed, and Yuki felt his body gaining weight already. The eggs actually had been extremely hot, but he found the burning sensation to be pleasant. What surprised him, though, was that he could taste the food. For the first time since he did not know when food was not bland.
Ayame was not being the best of fathers, though. Poor Sakura had poor excuses for shoes, and her hair was wild and too long for her likening. Finally, Yuki had asked Akito for permission to enter the town. After much promising that they would not leave the household, Yuki finally got the permission, and then, it was their day out as friends.
Sakura was excited to go to the town, and Yuki felt like he did not want to let her down. Of course, he took the money they would spend from Ayame's pocketbook.
In town, Yuki found that he was very glad that Sakura was with him. Especially since she was his age. None of his usual female admirers tried to talk to him. Actually, many girls gave Sakura jealous glares, but many of the boys gave him jealous glares as well. It was quite nice to be free of them, but also, it was irritating to see some of the looks that the boys gave Sakura.
"Yuki, why are they looking at me that way?"
Yuki could not hide the smile that crossed his face, however slight. "Because they have never seen such a beautiful girl before." Sakura blushed and grabbed his arm, punching him lightly.
"Don't butter me up," she snapped.
"It's true," Yuki insisted. He glanced at her and decided that her outfit added to it. Ayame had actually made a good design this time. The tank top fit well with her body and coloring. Her pants were baggy and long, hiding her legs modestly. These too were well coordinated. There was a delicate design of a dragon in stitching that ran up and down both articles of clothing. "The outfit helps out."
Sakura looked down at herself and shook her head. "I prefer jeans, baggy boys' jeans, and long, baggy shirts."
"What ever for?"
"I like to hide myself," Sakura muttered. "I would have preferred to be named Kazou or something."
"But that is a boy's name!" Yuki protested.
"Exactly."
Yuki decided that following that topic of conversation would end up in a headache, so he backed off. "So, what were you planning to cut your hair to? A trim? Shoulder-blade?"
"Chin-length, or shorter," Sakura answered quickly.
Yuki once again asked why in protest. She only gave him a quick glare. "Same reason I like jeans, baggy shirts, and male names."
Finally, Yuki understood. "Ah, a tomboy, huh?"
"I told you, my mother had the strain of raising a tomboy. You didn't catch it?"
"I was more entranced with the story of what happened to your mother."
Sakura softened her gaze and nodded her understanding. "I'm sorry that I burdened you with her memory."
Yuki was about to say that it was quite all right, but he kept his mouth shut. No other words passed between them of any meaning.
__________________________
"Sohma-sama?"
Yuki looked up and smiled at the manager of the hair salon. "Yes?"
"I think I should warn you before Sakura comes in. You might have a heart attack," the manager said, the smile on his face soft. Yuki blinked wildly at this warning and then saw Sakura approach from behind. He nearly let his jaw drop, but he caught himself.
Her silver hair was shorter than his was; it was a bob cut that reached to just above her chin with light layering. The pesky wild split ends had disappeared. She looked nothing like the girl he had led into the salon. If anything, she looked more mature, looking years older and he nearly reconsidered his assumption of her age, but her birth certificate had confirmed her age to be just younger than his.
"Wow."
"Do you like it?" Sakura asked. Yuki nodded, his smile coming back to his face.
"So much for looking male, Sakura," he muttered before he paid the manager with Ayame's money and led her into the street. Sakura did not hear his comment and followed him to shop for shoes.
Throughout his protests, she refused to get any dress shoes or any shoes that any teenage girl would prefer. Simple tennis shoes she demanded and simple tennis shoes were all that she would get.
Yuki was happier that day than he had been in a long time. With a few hours left before Akito had insisted they return, Yuki let her wander and he simply followed her. He followed her like a bodyguard, and several men seemed to think that of him. Many people approached her, most males, and tried to initiate conversation. At this movement, he would move closer and give them a warning glare. When they took his presence in as a good thing, he relaxed. Any person who grew angry or upset with his presence immediately was warned away.
"Oh, Yuki, look! Pianos!"
Yuki glanced up and trotted on to catch up to Sakura. She was already opening up the door to a very large piano shop filled with every shape and size of pianos that existed. "Sakura, wait up!" She turned and stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
"Oh, the old man is too tired to run a little," she teased and ducked into the store. Yuki nearly let his tongue reply, but those insults were reserved for that baka neko.
Inside the air conditioning was too high and he shivered. If it started to snow in this store he would not be surprised. The shopkeeper looked up and smiled at the two potential customers.
"Hello. May I help you, young lady?"
"May I play these?"
The shopkeeper looked stunned but he nodded. "Of course you can, Ma'am. Just try not to hit the keys too hard."
"I know all about that," Sakura said, sitting down at the bench of a piano labeled as a "baby grand piano" and tested the keys gently. "Yuki? Can I play a song for you?"
"Sakura, we need to be back by the sunset," Yuki protested. Anything to get out of the store. Sakura pouted prettily.
"But it won't take too long, I promise!"
"Akito said-"
"Toodles to Akito. Let him talk, but I won't listen," Sakura snapped in reply. "I want to play you a song."
Yuki, too cold to reply, nodded as he rubbed his hands up and down his arms, telling himself that he would need to talk to her about what she had said. Sakura placed her hands carefully, checked the pedal she was touching, and then slowly played.
Yuki could not remember if he had ever heard a piano being used so masterfully. The song was haunting, plaintive, begging for mercy from something. Yuki found he could relate to the sadness echoing in the tune. But underneath the heart-wrenching sound was a softer undercurrent that was strong, hopeful, lifting. It sounded like a person pouring out their sadness but still retaining hope and courage to go on.
How did she know to play that? It echoed in his mind, resounding long after the final note was touched and the pedal had cut off the hold. There was silence before the shopkeeper applauded wildly and the door opened as a young couple stepped in. Before Yuki knew what he was doing, he had Sakura by the arm and was outside.
"Yuki?" Sakura asked, surprised.
"It was too cold in there. Besides, we need to talk. You need to respect Akito, Sakura."
"Why? He doesn't respect me; you saw the way he was looking at me."
"He is our clan leader."
"Two things Yuki: one, I am not a part of your clan. Two: bombast."
"What?"
"Bombast. Big pretty words that seem to mean a lot and in all actuality mean nothing at all," Sakura snapped. "He's been feeding you all bombast to get you to treat him like some deity or something."
Yuki nearly collapsed. He knew he had said many things about Akito behind his back, but never did he speak about it so openly. He was so speechless that he grasped for words for a full minute before he said the only thing he could think of. "Sakura!"
"You know it; don't deny it."
"I'm going to do nothing but wonder about you," he replied. Where did she get this courage? Certainly not from Ayame.
Sakura's narrow eyes widened slightly before she shook her head. "Men. They speak the same language, I'm sure, but they are impossible to understand."
_________________________
I always feel like that. I agree with Sakura beyond a doubt. I can never understand men, though I am certain they speak what language I speak . . .
And that is the definition of bombast; it is a real word. And I truly believe that Akito is an evil man. EVIL!!!! EEEEEEEVIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!! I think he's Naraku's descendent. If you know Inuyasha, you know what I'm talking about.
If you read my author's note, put "shark" in your review. It will help me know how many people read my notes. That's all! Thanks! Don't ask why it's shark. I don't know.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading my story!!! ^_^!!!!!
~ Kay Kylo
Um, to R Junkie, thanks! (Blush) I feel like an idiot. I knew my calculations had been wrong, I just wasn't sure how. I'm fixing it now! Okay, it's fixed. THANKS SO MUCH!!
Misaki the Assassin: Thanks for liking my story. The emotion was probably lust if anything. Not love. I don't believe in love at first sight. Probably a little bit of curiosity and dislike to add to it. I really didn't know at the beginning, but it's brought up again, but it doesn't have anything to do with it.
Warnings: SPICY FOOD!!! (j/k) Emotionally painful music and big words. Need I say more?
We get to see Sakura and her impression of her father's clan leader. YEAH!! This is an airier chapter (basically, it has little stuff that actually happens) but it is filled with bonding time. And we get to meet more of Sakura. She's full of surprises.
So, enjoy!
__________________________
Yuki just wanted to sleep. This day was the worst of all; he could feel it in his bones. Today it was going to be bad. Might as well stay in bed.
"Hey, Yuki! Wake up!"
He groaned and turned over. He was not, let me repeat it, he was NOT going to get up. There was no way under the sky that would get him up. Suddenly, the blankets were ripped from his body and water poured on his face. Except, maybe, for that.
He jumped up, water streaming from his hair to mix with his bed sheets. Angrily, he looked around his room for the culprit, but there was no one in his room. Grumbling, he stood up and proceeded to wring the water out of his hair. He would have taken a shower anyway; he did not need one while he was in bed.
The door of his room swung open and Sakura danced into the room on light feet. She carried in her hands a large bowl of water that sloshed threateningly. She smiled at him. "Good, you're up." She stepped toward him and suddenly tripped over a rug in his room and the bowl went flying.
Darn that girl. She had planned to trip! Especially since he did not have a rug on that spot of his floor! In seconds, he was drenched from head to toe. Sakura stood, one hand raised innocently to her lips as she struggled to prevent a smile from rising to her lips.
"Well, at least you won't have to bathe today," Sakura finally said, her smile finally under control. "I made breakfast, if you want it."
"Tohru-dono didn't want to?"
"I didn't let her. She's sleeping in now."
Yuki raised an eyebrow before he grabbed a towel. "So, what did you make?"
At that precise moment, Kyo came running past the room screaming before he came back, his lips the same fiery red as his eyes. "What did you put in those eggs, witch?" Kyo screamed, his eyes glued on Sakura.
"Only cyan pepper, Tabasco sauce, and some small jalapenos. It couldn't burn that much," Sakura said in defense of herself, but still bewildered. "Honestly, haven't you ever eaten spicy food?"
"No!" Kyo shrieked. "How do you expect us to- Yuki? You're smiling!"
Yuki was befuddled for a moment. He was not smiling, but no, he could feel it. The edges of his mouth were twisted upward slightly to create a curve of some sorts. He was smiling.
It felt like ages had gone past since he had last smiled, and it felt good.
"Yes, I am smiling baka neko. Why is that such a shock to you?"
"Just don't eat the eggs! They'll kill you!"
"Then I'll eat some. After all, it was my niece that made them."
Kyo grumbled and then left the room, presumably to find some water. Yuki then went about taking off his soaking nightshirt. "Yuki?"
"Yes Sakura?"
"Can I ask a favor of you?"
"Sure."
"Don't call me your niece."
Yuki looked up in surprise to see total seriousness in her eyes.
"Why ever not?"
"It makes me feel too young."
Yuki smiled slightly and shook his head. "I deserve that, huh?"
"Yep. Another favor."
"What is it?"
"Can we be friends instead of just relatives?"
Yuki looked up at her and saw a light of hope in her eyes. Friends. That sounded good. "Of course, Sakura. That's the way it should be."
_______________________
Yet another day passed, and Yuki felt his body gaining weight already. The eggs actually had been extremely hot, but he found the burning sensation to be pleasant. What surprised him, though, was that he could taste the food. For the first time since he did not know when food was not bland.
Ayame was not being the best of fathers, though. Poor Sakura had poor excuses for shoes, and her hair was wild and too long for her likening. Finally, Yuki had asked Akito for permission to enter the town. After much promising that they would not leave the household, Yuki finally got the permission, and then, it was their day out as friends.
Sakura was excited to go to the town, and Yuki felt like he did not want to let her down. Of course, he took the money they would spend from Ayame's pocketbook.
In town, Yuki found that he was very glad that Sakura was with him. Especially since she was his age. None of his usual female admirers tried to talk to him. Actually, many girls gave Sakura jealous glares, but many of the boys gave him jealous glares as well. It was quite nice to be free of them, but also, it was irritating to see some of the looks that the boys gave Sakura.
"Yuki, why are they looking at me that way?"
Yuki could not hide the smile that crossed his face, however slight. "Because they have never seen such a beautiful girl before." Sakura blushed and grabbed his arm, punching him lightly.
"Don't butter me up," she snapped.
"It's true," Yuki insisted. He glanced at her and decided that her outfit added to it. Ayame had actually made a good design this time. The tank top fit well with her body and coloring. Her pants were baggy and long, hiding her legs modestly. These too were well coordinated. There was a delicate design of a dragon in stitching that ran up and down both articles of clothing. "The outfit helps out."
Sakura looked down at herself and shook her head. "I prefer jeans, baggy boys' jeans, and long, baggy shirts."
"What ever for?"
"I like to hide myself," Sakura muttered. "I would have preferred to be named Kazou or something."
"But that is a boy's name!" Yuki protested.
"Exactly."
Yuki decided that following that topic of conversation would end up in a headache, so he backed off. "So, what were you planning to cut your hair to? A trim? Shoulder-blade?"
"Chin-length, or shorter," Sakura answered quickly.
Yuki once again asked why in protest. She only gave him a quick glare. "Same reason I like jeans, baggy shirts, and male names."
Finally, Yuki understood. "Ah, a tomboy, huh?"
"I told you, my mother had the strain of raising a tomboy. You didn't catch it?"
"I was more entranced with the story of what happened to your mother."
Sakura softened her gaze and nodded her understanding. "I'm sorry that I burdened you with her memory."
Yuki was about to say that it was quite all right, but he kept his mouth shut. No other words passed between them of any meaning.
__________________________
"Sohma-sama?"
Yuki looked up and smiled at the manager of the hair salon. "Yes?"
"I think I should warn you before Sakura comes in. You might have a heart attack," the manager said, the smile on his face soft. Yuki blinked wildly at this warning and then saw Sakura approach from behind. He nearly let his jaw drop, but he caught himself.
Her silver hair was shorter than his was; it was a bob cut that reached to just above her chin with light layering. The pesky wild split ends had disappeared. She looked nothing like the girl he had led into the salon. If anything, she looked more mature, looking years older and he nearly reconsidered his assumption of her age, but her birth certificate had confirmed her age to be just younger than his.
"Wow."
"Do you like it?" Sakura asked. Yuki nodded, his smile coming back to his face.
"So much for looking male, Sakura," he muttered before he paid the manager with Ayame's money and led her into the street. Sakura did not hear his comment and followed him to shop for shoes.
Throughout his protests, she refused to get any dress shoes or any shoes that any teenage girl would prefer. Simple tennis shoes she demanded and simple tennis shoes were all that she would get.
Yuki was happier that day than he had been in a long time. With a few hours left before Akito had insisted they return, Yuki let her wander and he simply followed her. He followed her like a bodyguard, and several men seemed to think that of him. Many people approached her, most males, and tried to initiate conversation. At this movement, he would move closer and give them a warning glare. When they took his presence in as a good thing, he relaxed. Any person who grew angry or upset with his presence immediately was warned away.
"Oh, Yuki, look! Pianos!"
Yuki glanced up and trotted on to catch up to Sakura. She was already opening up the door to a very large piano shop filled with every shape and size of pianos that existed. "Sakura, wait up!" She turned and stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
"Oh, the old man is too tired to run a little," she teased and ducked into the store. Yuki nearly let his tongue reply, but those insults were reserved for that baka neko.
Inside the air conditioning was too high and he shivered. If it started to snow in this store he would not be surprised. The shopkeeper looked up and smiled at the two potential customers.
"Hello. May I help you, young lady?"
"May I play these?"
The shopkeeper looked stunned but he nodded. "Of course you can, Ma'am. Just try not to hit the keys too hard."
"I know all about that," Sakura said, sitting down at the bench of a piano labeled as a "baby grand piano" and tested the keys gently. "Yuki? Can I play a song for you?"
"Sakura, we need to be back by the sunset," Yuki protested. Anything to get out of the store. Sakura pouted prettily.
"But it won't take too long, I promise!"
"Akito said-"
"Toodles to Akito. Let him talk, but I won't listen," Sakura snapped in reply. "I want to play you a song."
Yuki, too cold to reply, nodded as he rubbed his hands up and down his arms, telling himself that he would need to talk to her about what she had said. Sakura placed her hands carefully, checked the pedal she was touching, and then slowly played.
Yuki could not remember if he had ever heard a piano being used so masterfully. The song was haunting, plaintive, begging for mercy from something. Yuki found he could relate to the sadness echoing in the tune. But underneath the heart-wrenching sound was a softer undercurrent that was strong, hopeful, lifting. It sounded like a person pouring out their sadness but still retaining hope and courage to go on.
How did she know to play that? It echoed in his mind, resounding long after the final note was touched and the pedal had cut off the hold. There was silence before the shopkeeper applauded wildly and the door opened as a young couple stepped in. Before Yuki knew what he was doing, he had Sakura by the arm and was outside.
"Yuki?" Sakura asked, surprised.
"It was too cold in there. Besides, we need to talk. You need to respect Akito, Sakura."
"Why? He doesn't respect me; you saw the way he was looking at me."
"He is our clan leader."
"Two things Yuki: one, I am not a part of your clan. Two: bombast."
"What?"
"Bombast. Big pretty words that seem to mean a lot and in all actuality mean nothing at all," Sakura snapped. "He's been feeding you all bombast to get you to treat him like some deity or something."
Yuki nearly collapsed. He knew he had said many things about Akito behind his back, but never did he speak about it so openly. He was so speechless that he grasped for words for a full minute before he said the only thing he could think of. "Sakura!"
"You know it; don't deny it."
"I'm going to do nothing but wonder about you," he replied. Where did she get this courage? Certainly not from Ayame.
Sakura's narrow eyes widened slightly before she shook her head. "Men. They speak the same language, I'm sure, but they are impossible to understand."
_________________________
I always feel like that. I agree with Sakura beyond a doubt. I can never understand men, though I am certain they speak what language I speak . . .
And that is the definition of bombast; it is a real word. And I truly believe that Akito is an evil man. EVIL!!!! EEEEEEEVIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!! I think he's Naraku's descendent. If you know Inuyasha, you know what I'm talking about.
If you read my author's note, put "shark" in your review. It will help me know how many people read my notes. That's all! Thanks! Don't ask why it's shark. I don't know.
That's all for now. Thanks for reading my story!!! ^_^!!!!!
~ Kay Kylo
