AN: Rei ish writing Hiro, Rura writing Ayame. =3 No suey, we no eat Chinese food much -- we mean, we have only author-currency (pocket lint) and we do not own Furuba charas (unfortunately X_x). Flamers will be viciously slaughtered, and we will pee on their smoldering corpses while laughing maniacally. Or we could just spray them with that Slugs B-Gone stuff, should work the same way. ^^;




I'm Really Misunderstood
by Rei and Rura! We alternate. We swear you won't notice.


Chapter 2~ Bleh

~Hiro~

School was off, after what seemed like years of nonstop slaving. Well, it was that way for Kisa, anyway, I barely cracked open a book. After all, what was the point? I knew I'd scrape by with a pass anyway. But Kisa's started high school, wants to make a good impression.
But she's taken a day off, though it was nearly impossible to convince her that she really didn't need to look at her Bio notes for the fiftieth time that morning. She hasn't even got an exam coming up, she's obsessing. I'd be worried, but we've got bigger problems.
Bigger problems, like how we're gonna tell the family we hooked up and not get slaughtered. Any sane person would've just given it up by now, given the kind of crazy unstable people we're related to. Namely Akito, our family head. God only knows how he got picked to be in charge, which means he knows cause he's God, but no ones about to ask him. Any Souma who values their life and sanity, would do best to avoid him.
We're trying to hide it from him until he dies, which will hopefully be before we grow up, because I have every intention to marry Kisa. It will be, he's too sick to survive much longer, or so says Dr. Hatori. Never had a reason to doubt the man, so as I see it, Akito's a goner. We'll probably be able to hide it. We should be able to pretend. If we avoid Akito as usual, if we only show our love in front of people we trust, we'll be okay.
But if Akito finds out...that's when we're dead. That's when he goes crazy.
Kisa said quietly, pulling on her shoes. Where are we going?
I don't know. Any ideas? You're the genius, you figure something out, I said, a little cruelly. So it's not her fault she's so nuts about school, but I do what I can to tone it down.
I'm not, she said, a hint of a glare on her face. But Kisa didn't get angry, didn't smile either. Just because I work...where are we going? Back to neutral, okay. We weren't going to fight. I could never fight with her.
We could go to a movie, I guess. Anything good playing?
Can't, I'm broke.
I'll pay for you.
There's nothing I want to see.
Okay, so it's a bad idea. The park?
It might rain. Hiro, I don't want to go out...I've got to study, and besides...we can't really, what if...
If someone sees us? Kisa, we're not hiding from the whole world. Just Akito. And there's no way Akito will be outside, Hatori's not even letting him out of bed. We're safer outside then we are here in the house.
I know, but what if he sees us leaving together? Or someone who might tell him does...
Who would tell him? Our family...no one here is that bad.
We don't know that, she said, pulling her shoes off. We can't trust them...except Tohru-oneesan, and she's not even a Souma.
You know she's not your sister...and you haven't got three grandpa's either.
I know, but I like to think...listen, Hiro, I just don't want to risk it. You understand that, right? I know most of them wouldn't say anything...but Hatori might, and he's always wandering around the Main House...he might see us, he might give Akito some clue by mistake...you know he's the only one who talks to him.
That's not going to happen, I groaned, tired of reassuring her. We've been over this a million times. No ones going to tell on us.' Yeah, okay, there's a possibility of Akito finding out, but it's very small. Even if he does, right now he's too sick to do anything, so he might not bother to punish us. Stop worrying.
Well what am I supposed to do? she yelled, then blinked, shocked at the strength of her feelings. But she kept going, now that she knew she could be angry. Are you telling me we can just waltz right up to Akito, holding hands and talking sweetheart talk, and he won't do a thing? He'd kill us, Hiro. You know that. He's always sick, do you really think that will stop him? And he will find out...it's only a matter of time, and then it's all over.
Let's go out. I think you need to get away from the Main House for a bit. I know I do...come on Kisa. I didn't want her to be afraid, if she was, I was. I'd learned to match my feelings to hers, which meant controlling her sometimes. I knew I shouldn't, but her emotions seemed so much safer then my own. She was always so calm.
she yelled, kicking off the shoes she'd just put on. You go out, fine, but I'm not coming with you...maybe we could meet someplace later, but we can't leave together.
We need to...
You need to! It's like you want to be caught...do you want everything to be ruined, Hiro? Do I matter that little to you?
Please Kisa, don't think that, I said softly, wrapping my arms around her, knowing at any moment we could be caught, everything that mattered could be gone, if Akito decided to visit Kisa's room...but no, that won't happen. Akito was in another section all together, lying alone in bed.
Don't Hiro! Kisa cried, throwing me away. We can't... she said, choking on unshed tears. I love you...so we can't...just go. If we're found...just go.
I wasn't going to do anything...it was just a hug, Kisa...friends do that.
But we would have kissed...we always do...I want you to leave.

Go away or I'll...I'll break up with you! It's better that way. You'll be safe.
I don't want to be safe! Kisa...
She pushed me out the door, locked it behind her, fell on the floor and cried. I went home to do the same.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~Ayame~

Ah, Hanatsuki-san! I see you've returned... again... I said, hiding my distaste for him well. Hanatsuki was one of the brothel's regulars, a high-class businessman well into his sixties, sporting the typical leathery, oily skin, wide, sweaty nose, and large horn-rimmed glasses. He chuckled nervously, adjusting his Superman tie.
Of course, he squeaked out. I wondered briefly if this man, at any point in his life, had ever been attractive and/or young. I doubted the former very much. Where's my Yoriko?
I sighed. Poor Yoriko; this filthy man with a ring on his finger had taken a distinct liking for her young-looking body, and always wanted her awaiting in a Japanese schoolgirl's outfit, with the shortest skirt, lowest neckline and loosest socks. She's just getting her clothes on, sir, she'll be out for you in a minute.
Hanatsuki snorted. She won't be needing clothes once she gets into a room with me... His eyes took on a faraway look, and I suspected the old man of seeing himself as an absolute stud.
Take a beer until she comes out, Hanatsuki-san? I offered, biting my lip in disgust.
he affirmed, sweat pouring into his collar. God, that's nasty.
I pulled out a glass mug, filled it to the brim with ice, and put it with a can of Sapporo (Hanatsuki's favorite) on the counter. Two hundred yen, sir.
Hai, hai, the old fart replied, dropping the money on top of the bar.
Yoriko suddenly appeared, dark brown hair brushed back into a high ponytail with an obscenely big red bow. She sucked noisily on a lollipop, eyeing Hanatsuki with what anyone else could see was reluctance veiled thinly with false lust. Hanatsuki downed the last of his beer, face crimson, and gulped as Yoriko led him to the back of the brothel.
How could I end up in a filthy place like this?
It started when my precious shop went out of business, and Mine moved to Okinawa. She, apparently, had not been splurging her money as I had always done, but had saved up quite a tidy sum. With said tidy sum she was now living the good life on the southern beaches, but I needed to keep working.
So... here I am... *sigh*
a high-pitched trill suddenly sounded.
Eh -- oh! Madam Seiko! What is it? I responded as a middle-aged woman wearing a hairnet and apron trundled out of the back rooms and into the bar. She puffed angrily on a cigarette that was a good percentage ash.
Nikka's got a cold! she squawked over the hubbub. None o' the punters wanna catch it, but Nikka's got an appointment to keep! So, you keep it for her! Let's move it, mister! With that she stomped back out, smoke trailing in her wake.
was all I could muster at that point. But I had no choice, so I took off the bartender's apron and minced off after Madam Seiko.
In Nikka's room, where buxom Nikka was consecutively sneezing, I took off both shirt and pants, knowing Nikka wouldn't care. She'd seen much worse than my pasty body. Replacing my normal clothes was... well... a choirboy's robes. Only they were open in the back, and had a huge collar. The hem did actually reach the floor, but that seemed to be the only redeeming point as far as I was concerned.
Danks, Ayame-kun, Nikka said blearily. Sorry you godda taeg by shift, id really blows... Guy loogs alrighd bud he's really violed, I'be heard.
No sooner had sniffling Nikka scurried out, but what I assumed was Nikka's customer also entered. He was tall, of bleached hair and tanned skin, and looked to be nearing his forties. He watched Nikka go by with a bit of surprise, and looked at me momentarily.
Didn't I make an appointment with...her? he asked slowly.
She got sick, no one wants to catch it, I'm filling in, I informed him dully.
When I looked up, he was standing in front of me, crotch in front of my face. Well, you could at least seem a little more enthused, he growled, the words followed by an unexpected backhand to my pale cheek.
A choirboy, eh? he sniggered. Then am I the big, bad priest? Fine. I wanted to molest a fine girl on the subway, but a choirboy's just as good, I guess.
Oh god, what have I gotten myself into...?