Third chappie! Ika's been getting quite a welcome! Ha ha!
Tensaispira: Thanks, tensai. I'm glad you're willing to wait. : )
Jo-sen7: Kaede – manly and sweet! Ha ha ha ha! Keep on reading, Jo!
Silhouette Panther: If you kick Ika one more time, I won't be able to feature her in this chapter!
Frack: I won't say she really likes Rukawa all that crazily – it's just her ego. : ) Annoying brat fits Suki rather well.
Frozenfemale: Akima caught between Rukawa and Suki? Perhaps, who can say? *grins*
Mimi: Hi, mimi. Happy to hear from you too. And NO! If I don't write yaoi, no way will I write yuyi (that's what you call it, right??) *imagines writing a lesbian fic* I'm just not good enough or imaginative enough to do that.
Unchained: Thanks! I'll try not to go overboard with the mushing! Ha ha!
Joy: Ika planning something? Was there a time that she was NOT planning something? We'll see what she comes up with this time, hmm? And thanks for your compliments – am over the moon about it! Ha ha!
Hime: Hey to you too! Thanks for reading!
Reika Zelon: Joining forces is a great idea, Reika – I think I'm using that one! (don't mind me!) Kaede never snaps – at least, I hope he doesn't! Thanks for being patient with the story!
SLL: Girl, you're everywhere. I think you're reading and reviewing practically ALL of my fics – thanks, you're wonderful. : ) And nothing wrong getting emotional over fics! Makes the authors happy! Ha ha!
Fehrocious / fer-chan: Oh my gosh! I didn't realise I'd misspelled your name! SORRY! A thousand apologies! I really didn't notice until you were telling me to call you fer-chan and I thought: "Why? What's wrong with calling her fehrocious?" So I checked my review reply and realised my mistake! Gomen again, fer-chan!
Patty g: That's okay, patty. You're free to feel whatever you want to feel about Suki – that's what characters are there for – so you can either love them or hate them! Heh heh! Read on!
Tiran: What does NYA stand for, Tiran-san? First fehrocious introduces me to GYA, and now it's NYA! And yeah, Suki baffles me too! At times, I think: What on earth have I created??
Super rookie: You didn't expect Ika to jump into the scene? I'm surprised that you're surprised! I thought everybody kind of knew it was coming– but I'm GLAD you didn't! Nyahahaha!
Kka: Suki? Cow? Somehow, all of my characters' names are more or less linked to animals. I wonder why?
Rei-142: I'm never sick of reviews, Rei-san. But thanks for bothering to do so! I appreciate it!
Lazuli: Hey, I cannot believe you reviewed Poor You chapter per chapter. Must have had a lot of time, eh? And yes, you made quite a flood – I'm still wading in it. : ) I don't have anything against Yaoi, but I just can't write them!
Reiko: Blushing? Nyahahaha! Akima pull Rukawa into a corner?*nothingtodo's eyes narrows* what have you got in mind, Reiko-san?? I dunno about Sendoh – I didn't pay much attention to his development, actually! But I'll try to figure out if he's just a nice guy or not just a nice guy (what do you mean by that, BTW?) And I think you're absolutely right about Ika's bitterness. You never cease to impress me.
Lotus: hey! Got your e-mail. Ika not try dirty tricks? Come on, Lotus, she wouldn't be Ika then!
Chapter 3
"She'll be so pleased to meet you," Akima gushed even as she dragged the reluctant Kaede across the road. "She's been making so much noise about it."
"I'm not so sure –" he broke off when she turned and glared at him.
"Suki's lonely, Kaede." She gave him a pleading look that would've melted the Ice Pole. "Her mother left her with her aunt and uncle because she wanted to elope with a man she had met for three hours." Her eyebrows arched, and her voice took on an edgier tone. "Just a few minutes wouldn't kill you."
He sighed. "I hate meeting strangers."
"She's not a stranger," she said primly, squeezing his hand. "She's my friend."
He frowned. "That means just about the same thing, doesn't it? I still don't know her, you friend or not."
"And that's what we're about to change."
He blinked in confusion and helplessly gave up. They entered the fast-food restaurant, and Akima all but sprinted toward one corner of the room. Kaede's eyes widened a bit in surprise when he caught sight of the wheel chair bound, pockmarked girl. That wasn't at all what he had been expecting.
"Suki," Akima called out. "I've brought him to you. Now you see why I talk a lot about him?" She shoved Kaede into view proudly, even taking the time to pinch his butt to get a reaction out of him.
He winced.
Suki's eyes clearly said that she saw exactly why Akima had talked a lot about him. Her lips however remained tightly closed as she scrutinized him. The fact that he had winced made her blood go cold. He winced at me, she thought, he's disgusted with me. He thinks I'm ugly.
Akima was startled at the pensive, almost hurt look on Suki's face. "Say something!" she hissed at Kaede. "You're being very unfriendly."
He wanted to remind her that he was unfriendly by nature, but decided not to bother. Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "Hi", all the while looking at the floor.
He didn't mean it! He won't even look at me! Suki's lips trembled slightly. "Hi."
Akima suppressed the sigh. At this rate, it'll be the turning of the millennium once they get a conversation going.
"I'm so glad you liked him," Akima smiled brightly the next day.
Suki frowned. "I didn't say I liked him."
"Not with your lips, you didn't, but it was quite obvious by the look on your face." Akima pushed the wheelchair over the ramp at the entrance of the school. "He has that effect on every girl, I've noticed. I used to look like that too when I first saw him." She laughed. "I still do, actually."
"You're happy, aren't you?" It was said accusingly.
Akima raised an eyebrow at the tone. "Yes, I suppose I am. Why?"
Suki snorted. "I just don't think it's proper to be so cheerful when your mom hasn't even finished rotting in the graveyard."
Akima stopped the wheelchair. "That's mean, Suki," she said stiffly. "I don't care for the expression of my mom rotting anywhere."
"Oh, really? I'm surprised that statement affects you. I thought you didn't care about your mom. You didn't exactly mourn for her when she died."
Akima clenched her teeth, remembering the sleepless nights and horrible breakdowns she suffered in silence. Only God knew how she mourned. "Don't simply give comments on things you have absolutely no idea about." She muttered bitingly.
Suki hid her exultant smile. It seemed she struck Akima right down to the core. "Sorry." She said shortly, secretly pleased. "Are you staying back today?"
"No." The edge in her voice was still there.
"But Akima, you promised me you'd swap lab partners with me, and my partner is going to do the experiment after school today!"
"I did? What a stupid mistake."
Suddenly Suki wished she hadn't made Akima mad. Akima was very difficult when her head was hot. "You have to stay back. Rudi would be shattered if you don't. He's been looking forward for the experiment."
"He's a genius. He can do it all by himself."
"And you get the marks effortlessly? That's beneath you, Akima."
Damn if she wasn't right, Akima groaned inwardly. Why did I ever agree to swap lab partners?? I hate Suki's smile. From now on, I will NOT fall prey to it. That is truly the LAST time I'll ever do her any favour. EVER. "Fine. I'll stay back."
As Akima moodily pushed her to class, Suki did a little victory jig. Thanks to Akima's absentmindedness, she had forgotten all about her 'appointment' with Kaede Rukawa. Suki's plan was in full swing.
He looked one more time at his watch, suddenly irritated at the non-stopping hands that showed him the hours and the minutes. Kaede Rukawa wasn't prone to fits and tantrums, but lately, he'd been feeling the urge to break something.
He did another shoot, the familiar sequence of movements embodied in his brain. It went in – not that it could go anywhere else. That helped release the tension a bit. Couldn't she be even the slightest bit considerate?? Did she think he enjoyed moping around like a drug addict just waiting for her?? Where was she? Did she get hurt? Did something happen in Ryonan that slipped by him??
Maybe there had been a fire.
Maybe Akima was trapped in a room.
Maybe she's screaming for help right now and nobody's around to help her.
He shook his head. That was the problem where you're apart. You never know what's happening or could be happening to your other half, and you're left constantly worrying about her. Kaede didn't like worrying. He wasn't used to it just yet.
"She's not coming."
He turned to see a familiar girl standing just outside the court. "Suki."
She glowed slightly. He remembered! "Hello, Kaede. Just wanted to tell you that Akima's not coming."
He dribbled the ball lightly, frowning. "Why?"
"She forgot."
He stopped dribbling. What a terrific excuse. "Forgot?"
"Yeah." She almost grinned at the annoyed look on his face. "She's with Rudi at the moment."
She watched his eyes narrow dangerously. "And who is Rudi?"
"Oh, nobody. Just one of the class' best chemist ever. They're working on a project, you see. Twenty-five points."
His eyes cooled a bit. That's something Akima would do. Dropping everything else to complete a school project without even thinking if the things she dropped were breakable or not. "I see."
Suki fingered the edges of her wheel chair tentatively. "Rudi's very smart." She started. "He's one of the top students in the school. Last semester, he got straight A's and managed to win himself a scholarship."
Kaede grunted dully. "Hmm."
"He's also rather good-looking, you know. In a way. He has big dreams. He has big plans for his future. All of us can practically guarantee that he'll be a big hit when he grows up."
Why was she telling him this? It's not like he was related to Yuhi.
"I would think Akima's the type who will go for smart, ambitious guys."
He stopped in the act of throwing the ball. Eyes narrowed suspiciously, he looked directly at Suki. "What are you trying to get to?"
She shrugged innocently, looking all the more helplessly angelic and small in the wheelchair. "I know Akima. I've been friends with her long enough to read her mind." Yeah, well, almost. She gave him a pointed look. "I'm just saying you should be careful and watch your back. You never know when she might strike."
He stared at her dumbly. "Of all the –"
"Think about it," Suki advised him, already wheeling herself away. "I know couples tend to blind to each other's flaws until it's too late. You wouldn't want to make that mistake."
He still looked mightily confused and startled as she left. Slightly rejoicing, but painfully controlling her face, she calmly went away. When she turned around a bend in the road, she finally allowed a huge grin to grace her face.
She had expected him to believe it totally – he didn't look all that intelligent – but his hesitance surprised her a bit. Still, she'd planted the idea in his brain, and ideas tend to grow – more rapidly with some outside help.
She was gleefully pushing herself along the pedestrian walk when one mini-skirt-clad girl stood in her way. Suki glared irritably at the girl and wished wheelchairs had honks installed. "Get out of my way."
The girl ignored her and instead boldly stopped the wheelchair with one extended foot. "Hello," she said brightly. "I saw what happened there, and you've sparked my curiosity. I'm Ika Kirani, by the way."
"I don't care about your curiosity, Ika. Get away."
"I assume you're acquainted with Akima Hanashi?"
Suki scowled. "Yes. Not that it's any of your business. Now take your filthy leg off my wheelchair. It's dirty enough without you adding to it."
Ika turned red, but firmly maintained her self-control. "You and I can be partners, Suki," she whispered excitedly. "Since both of us hate Akima, why don't we work together at making her miserable?"
Suki raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? I like Akima."
Ika looked startled. "But you're plotting against her."
Suki shrugged. "I have my reasons." She kicked Ika's leg away. "Goodbye."
"No, wait!" Ika grabbed the wheelchair with both hands. "Look, whatever your reasons are, you can keep it to yourself. But I'm serious about the partnership. I see you already have a plan in mind. Why not let me help?"
Suki thought about it. Her plan was slightly difficult to carry out alone. She nodded grudgingly. "All right. I'm Suki Fukuka."
Har har har! Partnership of the year! Thanks to Reika Zelon for the great idea!