Second chap! I'm really, really astonished at your support, people. *tears of gratitude flow* ^_^ Thanks a lot! BTW, I'm sorry to say that my internet broke down again *kicks computer out the window*. Therefore, I can only update once a week, which is when I go to my mom's office. I'll apologise right here and now for upcoming late updates. Sorry. *pulls sweet face* This goes for the other stories of mine as well. Plz be patient!
Ferohcious: *with a tragic face* People die… But that doesn't mean you can start pulling weapons in my face!
Fiery ice: I hope your eyes are still in their sockets!! Ha ha! ^____^ Things might be a bit murky now, but relax, it'll be explained later on. : )
Devoted2Mitsui: Suki? Rukawa's ex? A nice possibility. ^_^. You people are so imaginative!
Silhouette Panther: Suki? Baddie? I'm not sure yet, actually. Maybe I'll make her the antagonist, after all, eh? *sits down to brainstorm* Thanks for reading, Panther-san!
Super rookie: And what do you know? I decided to get off my even lazier butt and update! Ha ha! *grins at super rookie* Have fun reading!
SLL: *winks* I understand. We're not lesbians now, are we? Ke ke ke! I usually update everything at the same time, so I think you can expect a triple update this time around too. And two more new fics, actually. : ) Sendoh-san? He WAS in the first chapter *smiles bemusedly at sLL* Why don't you try and find him again?
Joy: Suki IS rather irritating… *looks thoughtfully at her new character* but hey, that'll make things even more interesting, don't you think??
Yoriko: Yes, I finished Poor You, which is why this is the sequel. : ) Am continuing!
Hana-lai: I'm glad I fulfilled your wish. ^___^
Kka: Mental? Maybe. Who can say?? *spreads hands as if innocent*
Idiotic Moron: You like Suki?? Yay! One of the first to tell me that! I find her rather interesting myself!
Frozenfemale: Let's just say Akima was depressed at the time she moved from Shohoku to Ryonan and did not really care what was happening to her. Glad you like the story! I've discovered that sad people are like that – in their own bubble, you can say.
Jo-sen7: Kaede has always been insensitive, Jo-chan!
Aianne: Love team? Sorry, but what's a love team? *blush* I'm not very illiterate, you know! Ha ha! Thanks a lot, aianne!
Electric muffin: *squints at electric muffin who is stuck on the moon* You already want chapter 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9??? Are you CRAZY??
Zackire: You and your sister? Why?
Tiran: Thanks for your never-ending support, Tiran! I appreciate it!
Frack: Scary witch! Ha ha! *looks behind at Suki who is steaming and glaring at Frack* I moved Akima away from Kaede to make the readers anxious! Ha ha! What do you think I'm going to do to them, hmm? *evil laugh* Maybe I'm the one who's a scary witch!
Maemi: Now you know I've made a sequel! ^__^ Thanks! Suki? Loony? My, she's getting a lot of attention!
Tensaispira: Suki's nice? *scratches head* why is it that people are confusing me with contrasting opinions of her?? *looks up at the sky* Why??? Heh heh. Hey, now that you've mentioned Fujima, I just wrote a Fujima fic. Check it out if you want. : )
Kawaii sakura-chan: We'll see what I do with Suki-girl. ^__^ Akima? Snap out of what?
Reiko: Wow * stares at reiko in wonder* what you said about Suki was pretty accurate! *eyes narrow suspiciously* Have you been reading my mind using some obscure crystal ball??? *pictures Reiko casting spells under the moonlight* Thanks! Keep on reading!
Patty g.: Absence makes the heart grow fonder… I've never heard that one! : )
Choco_no_baka: some people bottle up when something bad happens. Akima's one of them. : ) Sendoh + Suki? Choco-san, I think that's a splendid idea!! *starts thinking of ways to get Sendoh and Suki together* We'll see!
Sakura Rui: Sorry, what's YURI? Man, I am behind in short terms!
Reika Zelon: Keep you in suspense? Would I ever do that?? *bats eyelashes*
Second chapter
"Akima!" Akira Sendoh roared fiercely, hands flying to his unprotected lunch. "That's MY sandwich!"
"But I made it, so it's technically mine too." She jumped out of reach.
"It's NOT yours, technically, physically, mentally or emotionally. Give it back!"
She popped the last chunk into her mouth and smiled. "Mmm, delicious. I'm such a good sandwich builder." She looked mildly at her glowering brother. "Sorry, did you say something?"
Akira's friends, largely consisted of the school basketball players, exploded with laughter behind him, enjoying the scene very much. Ever since Akima Hanashi had moved into the school, they had never run out of things to laugh at Akira. "One point for the sister," Koshino announced jubilantly. "Your score is way behind hers, Sendoh. You're embarrassing us."
Akima raised an eyebrow. "Were we keeping score?"
"We are now." Koshino winked at her.
Akira muttered a few things under his breath, reached across the table and grabbed his friend's meal. "Thanks, Kosh."
Koshino's face was one of disbelief. He stared mournfully at his now-empty plate. Then he gave Akima an accusing look.
"Ah," Akima murmured. "I better go. Thanks for the free lunch, Akira." She gave him a light pat on the cheek and rushed off in pursuit of Suki who waited crossly across the room.
"She's hanging out with that wheelchair girl?" Ikegami inquired curiously as their eyes trailed Akira's sister.
"I suppose so. Wow, your mom makes the greatest deep-fried food, Kosh."
Koshino snorted sulkily. "Thanks," he said dryly. "It would've been nice if I had the chance to taste it too."
Akira grinned. "Why did you ask, Ikegami?"
Ikegami shrugged. "Nothing. It's just that wheelchair girl isn't exactly a friendly sort. I heard a lot of rumours about her. She has no friends, did you know? I don't wonder why. Her frown in enough to send me squirming to the ground."
"Her name is Suki," Akira corrected him firmly. "It's not Wheelchair Girl. And if Akima wants to befriend her, then by all means, I'm not going to stop her."
"I'm just telling you," Ikegami said defensively.
"Well, don't tell me again."
"You're ALWAYS in a hurry!" Suki screamed loudly, oblivious to the people around. "Is there ever a time that you're not off running for the train??"
Akima glared furiously. "I have an appointment, for goodness' sake!!" she yelled back, just as loudly. "Do you mind?? I'm already fifteen minutes late!"
"Appointment, my blistered foot! It's a damn date! You're going to see him, aren't you? That Kadi guy. You're always seeing him! Aren't you bored of his face??"
Akima let out a sharp breath, clutching on to her common sense. "It's Kaede," she said coldly. "It's my business whom I'm seeing, and if I say it's an appointment, then it's an appointment. And no, I'm not bored of his face and will unlikely become bored of it for the rest of my life. I am, however, bored of your face. Now will you shut up and let me go in peace??"
Suki's mouth clamped shut, and her eyes bulged out in irritation. "Go ahead!" she hissed. "I know you hate spending time with me. Everybody hates spending time with me. Well, I don't care! Go on! Leave me here! Go and enjoy yourself! That's what my mother always did, and who's to say everyone else is different??"
Akima stopped in her tracks. Closing her eyes, she calmed herself down by taking deep breaths. She'd gone too far. She always went too far when it comes to Suki, and always the guilt of hurting her friend's delicate feelings haunted her. "I'm sorry, Suki," she said, genuinely apologetic. "I didn't mean what I said."
Suki was crying by now, great tears welling up in her stony, grey eyes. "Yes, you did," she accused.
Darn. I hate it when she cries. "Certain things, yes." Akima walked back and knelt by the wheelchair. "I'm not like your mother, Suki. Trust me. I don't neglect people just because they have shortcomings. I've been there myself, and I know what it's like. And I'm not bored of your face. But I have to go, you see. It's very important."
Suki eyed her dangerously. "You care more for him that you do for me."
Akima felt like saying: Of course, but wisely refrained herself. Suki wouldn't appreciate it. "It has nothing to do with how much I care." She struggled to find a way to explain. "I haven't seen much of him since I moved, and it's getting really hard. A distant relationship is a constant struggle, Suki, and you're not making it any easier for me."
That's the whole point, Suki thought quietly. "There are so many ramps and bumps on my way home. Who's going to help me?"
Akima raised an eyebrow. "You seemed to do fine alone before I came to this school."
Suki's eyes hardened. "If you can't even be bothered to help me a little, you can just say so. It's not going to matter to you if I have to huff and puff my way to death just to overcome a little bump on the road, will it?"
"You confuse me, Suki. A few hours ago, you snarled at me not to help and now you're begging me to." Suki was immensely pleased at the frown on Akima's face. "All right. I'll walk you home. I guess I would want company too if I were you."
Suki smiled. "Finally you're acting like a friend." She settled comfortably on her wheelchair, and then slyly asked: "What about Kaede?"
"Hmm?" Akima was already pushing the wheelchair. "Oh. I'll explain to him... I guess." She didn't feel very secure about that, though. She doubted Kaede would listen long enough to her excuses to understand.
She winced at the look he gave her. Kaede had a remarkable talent, she discovered. He could silence you, scold you, hurt you and reprimand you with nothing more than a look on his face. Words weren't even needed. "I'm really sorry. I know this is the third time, but… well, you see, Suki sprained her hand and she had trouble wheeling herself around and …" she stopped. "Okay, you're not listening. Fine."
He turned his back on her and bent in a pretence of checking his bike. Akima found that even his rigid movements seemed to scream curses at her. His clenched fists only went further to show her the depth of his anger.
Helplessly, she closed her eyes, reminding herself to make a stop by Suki's residence before heading home and choke her friend to death for making her endure this torment. "So," she attempted a casual conversation. "What's happening in Shohoku?"
"Nothing."
"How are your basketball practices going?"
He straightened, and for some reason, Akima tensed. "They're okay," he muttered dully. "Not that you'd know. You haven't been coming around lately."
Akima sighed. "I did try," she defended herself lamely. "But Suki –"
He turned on her so sharply that she stumbled backwards. "Who is this Suki?" he demanded furiously. "Her name crops up from your lips every two minutes or so."
"My new friend," she explained calmly. "And she said the exact same thing about you." She smiled when Kaede stubbornly refused to be flattered or charmed by the meaning of that statement. He turned around again and solemnly stared out over the heavy traffic just beside the public basketball court where he had been practicing earlier on.
It had been one of their many compromises. He'd practice there instead of the school gym on every other day that the group practice wasn't held. It was easier for her to drop by since the court was in her way home. However, that system had not been working as nicely as they would've liked it to.
Having had enough of the silent treatment Kaede was giving her, Akima casually stepped up behind him, sparing a moment to admire his incredible height (and the rest of him as well), and slipped her arms around his waist. He didn't respond, seeming more embarrassed at the open affectionate gesture. "What are you doing?" he asked almost suspiciously.
"Nothing."
"Well then, why don't you take your hands off me?"
Ah, the annoyance was still there. "No."
"No?" His tone was incredulous. "It's my body, isn't it?"
She grinned, though he couldn't see it. "Yes it is, and a very nice one at that too." He mumbled something under his breath. Holding back the laughter that would undoubtedly annoy him furthermore, she rested her head on his broad back. "I've missed you," she said simply.
She felt her first surge of triumph when his muscles softened and his body relaxed. The second one came when he placed a hand over hers. And the third enveloped her totally when he quietly asked, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
That was always his line when smoothing things over. He never said anything sentimental like 'I love you' or 'I miss you' or something in that category (and even if he had, Akima would have fainted in shock anyway). Just that little line. They could argue and scream for hours, but when he asked her that particular question, everything was automatically okay. It wasn't the least romantic, not at all like the lengthy loving speech heroes tell heroines in books, which is why Akima found it puzzling that it worked like a charm. But it reflected the person that he was, and it was his intentions that mattered after all.
"I really like holding you like this," she started. "But I'll be a lot happier if you'll hold me too. Why don't you do that? And why not add in a kiss or two while you're at it?"
He smiled briefly, and then turned around to do as he was told.
Everything was all right again – for the time being.
Ika pushed back her sunglasses in place, even though there was no sun to blind her. Following Rukawa – she refused to use the word 'stalk' (Kiranis don't stalk!) – had been her most absorbing activity for the past few weeks ever since the troublesome Akima moved away. She had been delighted at watching them grow apart with less than a few hours of contact with each other, and was convinced that things were falling apart.
She wasn't so sure now, though, watching the obviously sick twosome doing their stuff right out there at the basketball court. Akima had, if anything, grown more and more outrageous as the days rolled by.
So what if she's a pauper turned princess? Nothing to strut about, in Ika's opinion. Once a maid's daughter, always a maid's daughter, as far as she was concerned, even if the maid was dead.
The memories of the catfight between her and Akima always made her boil. She had carefully planned her revenge with Rukawa as her vessel, but things are not going exactly as she wanted it to.
Oh well.
She remembered what her father used to say. When you don't like something, fix it so it's likeable to you, one way or another.
She definitely didn't like Akima.
The return of Ika! Ha ha ha!