A/N: Gomen nasai! Please don't get mad at me! You all should know I am not good with deadlines and stuff now… ;-; I really am sorry for the delay, but I can't help it. Yeah… um, well, I'm updating before I go on my vaca (yes, my winter break is this late). Well, this chapter is dedicated to my reviewers (that's an always… if that made any sense ^^)—thanks for your continuous support!!!
There's one thing I like to say to everyone though—I barely (don't flame me saying that I did use it!) use the Japanese words, even though I put up parts where it goes "Japanese translation dictonary" or whatever. So PLEASE STOP FLAMING ME FOR THAT! Actually, I think that's in my other fic, but same concept here. PLEASE. Flame me all you want for a good, sensible reason, but for that reason, its kinda pointless to me. And yes, I already took out the translations and took all the Japanese words out.
But thanks for those who corrected me—its just too confusing. I get so many reviews telling me I was wrong with the –chan, -kun thing, but every time I change it to what they say, someone else comes and corrects me, so I think I'll leave it.
Err… another thing, I really suck with any cutural things, including my own [culture]. So thanks for those who told me about my mistakes with the Japanese festival thing, i.e: tenshineko.
Again, I thank EVERYONE for your great reviews—everyone perked me up!
Oh, and by the way, its mid-December right now. I think I put in chapter 4 that it was late November, and two chapters passed then, making it seem like a week passed each time, so yeah. Ah, my fic is late—this should be out before Christmas. ;-; Again, sorry.
It does snow in Japan, doesn't it? I hope so.
Well, enjoy!
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"Thanks Akito," Sana whispered as the two stood in front of the Hayama household's door. Both were trying not to look each other in the eye. Akito nodded numbly and his hand unconciously went to his head. "Well… I guess I'll… see you around?" Sana hesitantly looked up. Akito nodded again.
"Call," he said hoarsely and reached for the doorknob. Sana smiled and gave him a "V" sign. Running to Rei's car, she stopped before opening the door and waved. Soon as she got in, the car drove away and Akito stared after it for a few minutes before walking in his own home.
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"Monday, again," sighed Naozumi. "Why? Why was there such a thing as school ever created?!"
"You're just pissed cause Yumi is on a school trip," smirked Tsuyoshi, though he didn't look too happy either.
"Well, they'll be back soon… three more days, right?" Yuta asked. "Fuka had said they'd be back on the 19th and its already the 16th."
"It does give us time to buy them Christmas gifts…" With Tsuyoshi's remark, Naozumi straightened and choked.
"Presents! I forgot to get presents!"
"In that case, wanna go today?" Keiichi asked, finally speaking up. I should get them something too and using this disguise, it'll be great, since no reporter will recognize me.
"Sure, why not?" Yuta agreed happily. "Coming, 'yama?"
"Hm?" the blond tore his gaze from the snow and it fell upon his friends.
"Are you okay, man? Kinda outta it lately, aren't ya?" Naozumi asked, tilting his chair against the wall once more and crossing his arms. "Something happen?"
"Should there be?" an eyebrow went up.
"Out of idle curiosity only," Tsuyoshi smiled. "But if anything did, it musta been good."
"You do seem happier lately," Yuta remarked and then laughed. "Or at least, relaxed. Well, didja want to hit the malls with us?"
Akito moved his left shoulder up a little. "Natsumi would want something."
"Actually referring to your sister by her name for the seventh time in a row this month! We should definitely hand you an award, yanno." Naozumi grinned crookedly.
"Shut up," Akito rolled his eyes and turned back to the snow. Even with his somewhat new attitude, Akito was still rather a feared icon and it showed as the rest of the table grew quiet with an occasional smirk or snort.
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"Do you think Aya would like this?" Tsuyoshi held up a teddy bear.
"Don'tcha think she's a little too old for that?" Yuta asked, wrinkling his nose at all the stuffed animals.
"Well, I'm buying something else too," Tsuyoshi said, defensively. He set back the bear and hmphed. "Fine, let's go somewhere else."
"Get her this first," Keiichi said, picking up an stuffed baby blue hippo.
"This?" Tsuyoshi asked skeptically, turning it over.
"This," Keiichi nodded cheerfully and pushed Tsuyoshi towards the cashier register.
"Where to next?" Yuta asked, fingering his wallet. "I didn't get anything at all."
"Jewelry store?" Naozumi offered, waving Tsuyoshi over as the group headed out.
"Sounds good to me—that okay with everyone else?" Yuta asked, already knowing the answer. They all headed towards the small building five feet outside of the stuffed animal store without any other words. "Hey—that's almost perfect for Fuka!" Yuta grabbed Naozumi by the collar and shook him. "But why is it that color?!?! She doesn't like that color!!"
"Let—GO!" Naozumi got out, choking. "Jeez—ask the freaking saleslady if they got another!"
"Well, pick up your pace, man!" Yuta hurried in front of everyone and nearly pushed an elderly man over. "Sorry!" He cried out and went inside.
"We should go help that poor lady out before 'kaishi does something to get himself locked up," grinned Tsuyoshi, walking faster with everyone in tow.
"You really do have another color? What other colors??" Yuta pounded his fists on the glass tables. "Tell me now!"
"Please sir—its glass!" The saleslady cried, putting her hands out to prevent Yuta from pounding again. "I'll get you the catalog right away!" She rushed to the back of the store as Yuta turned around and grinned crookedly.
"I guess it worked."
"Sure did," smiled Keiichi, walking over and checking the price. He whistled. "Filthy big amount of money—how are ya gonna pay for that?"
"'zumi, here, is my best, best friend in the whole world, huh?" Yuta cuffed Naozumi by the shoulder who he rolled his eyes.
"You owe me for this."
"Haven't I always paid you back?"
"You said that last time and you never did," grumbled Naozumi.
"That was 'yoshi, you ass!"
"I never borrowed money from 'zumi—don't accuse me of no shit!"
"Deny it all you want, I can wait a lifetime for ya to confess," smirked Yuta, turning back to the nervous saleslady, back with a catalog in her hands.
"Whacha looking at, 'yama?" Tsuyoshi asked, walking over to the bent-over serious male.
"Shit." Akito straightened and motioned for the salesman in the store to come over. He got a necklace and a ring wordlessly. Everyone else busied themselves with their gifts except Keiichi who was craning to see what Akito bought but failed since at that moment, his cellphone rang.
"Hello?" After minutes of silence, Keiichi sighed and murmured a low, "Alright." He hung up and waved to his friends. "I've got things to do—will see ya guys tomorrow, alright?"
"Later 'eiichi!" the three boys chorused, still looking at the jewels. Akito merely gave him a glance.
At least he talks to Sana, snorted Keiichi as he walked out.
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"Tuesday, again," groaned Naozumi. "The days pass so slowly."
"Only when you want the days to go quicker. C'mon, the bell already rung, let's go." Yuta grabbed Naozumi by his arm while Tsuyoshi did the same.
"Good luck in P.E," Tsuyoshi commented to Akito and Keiichi.
"Thanks—I need it," said Keiichi, looking a bit pale. Him and Akito walked to the locker rooms and Keiichi hurriedly took all his belongings. Then running to the restroom, he quickly changed and came back outside, smiling weakly.
The rest of the guys snickered. Keiichi heard one of them say, "Guess new guy's not manly enough to dress out here, eh?"
Keiichi was about to say something, but Akito cleared his throat and shot a look at the person who spoke up. Everyone shut up and left Keiichi to feel warm and confused.
At that moment, Daredei-sensei walked in. "Feeling pumped, boys?!" He rumbled. Everyone cheered and threw their fists in the air except a few people who merely smiled or ignored the man (Akito). "Great! Today's the day we kick ass in class without getting in trouble! KARATE!!!!" They all cheered again and automatically all shut their locker doors at once (except Akito). They all walked out as Akito slowly took off his shirt and rummaged through his locker. A bit blushing, Keiichi ducked his head and followed the crowd.
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"Ok, for the first round, I'm having an experienced fighter who's going to be defending himself," the buff P.E teacher clapped an arm on Akito. "And one who's unexperienced who's throwing all the kicks and punches until the defender decides to stop the little match. Anyone wanna go up?" No one spoke. Daredei-sensei sighed and wrinkled his nose. "Well then, Yamaaki-san! You're up!" Keiichi fell to the floor at the news.
"Ow… um, okay, coming," he cleared his throat and nervously made his way up. Akito got into a stance, looking very bored, and Keiichi followed suit, clumsily.
"Ready…" Daredei-sensei said, waiting for a little while. "GO!" Akito waited for Keiichi to do something. Keiichi slowly stumbled forward and threw a small punch which Akito blocked without any thought put into it. "C'mon!!!" Daredei-sensei crowed. "My momma can do better than that!!" Keiichi nodded a bit and prepared to kick Akito when the golden-haired boy decided to pick the other boy by the waist and throw him.
"Gaaaaaah!!" Keiichi cried out, waving his legs in the air, making it harder for Akito to go through with his plan. He smacked the other unsuspecting boy in the eye who dropped Keiichi and threw a punch at Keiichi's chest. Flung back, Keiichi turned red and he moaned at the pain. The other boys mocked him, thinking his redness was due to embarassment, but it was actually something else. Something only Akito picked up.
Daredei-sensei clapped heartily and gave Keiichi a hand. "Nice—but short—fight. It was good for a first timer." He clapped Keiichi's back a few times. "Alright fellows, who wants to be Hayama-san's next victim?" Everyone all shut up and the teacher rolled his eyes, ending up picking another person. "Alright, fight!"
Even though he was doing all the work in his "fight" with another student, Akito's brain was fixated on what happened with Keiichi. How can a guy have…?
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A/N: I really do love cliffhangers, eh? ^^ Well, please R/R! If anyone sends me an email, I'll reply in two weeks cause I'm going off to vaca! ::cheers::
Ja ne minna-san! Good luck with everything!