Hey! Phew. I managed to pick up from where I left off. Sorry for the long wait, minna. Anyway, I just want to alert everybody about something that has been happening. One particularly lazy and cunning author has stolen 'Poor You' and reposted it in the Card Captor Sakura section under her name. Everything's pretty much the same, though she was hardworking enough to lift her hands and change the characters' names and places. In Rukawa's place is Syaoran Li who plays soccer instead of basketball. And in Akima's place is, of course, Sakura.
Smart.
This was reported to me by Linnette, and I'm very grateful to her. I just want to express my disappointment that someone would actually go to such means to get reviews. It would have been okay if the author had asked for my permission, but she didn't. And I absolutely can't stand people who take credit for other people's sweat. I work hard on my stories and I expect other respectable authors to do the same and not take shortcuts.
So, AngelYingFa, if you're planning on stealing the sequel as well, let me just say I'm not going to make it easy for you. Please stop being a fraud, and a disgusting one at that too.
Okay! That's about it. Sorry if I was harsh, but you really don't want to get on the bad side of me. ^_^
Miracle*me: Updating! Updating! Don't be mad!
December Owl Morning: Next update up and coming! Sorry for the long wait! My horribly busy months have ended and now I'm free. ^_^
Iluvenis Telperien: Since when was Rukawa fast in the brain area? ^_^
Unchained: Thanks! Keep on reading!
Tiran-2366: Sorry! I guess I was either busy/half-dead/out-of-ideas then! But this chapter will be longer, I promise you!
Hana-lai: Updating! And thanks for the good luck! I survived well enough, I suppose. Well enough to come back to ff.net. ^_^
Fiery-chan: ha ha! Sorry for driving you crazy with a short chapter! This one's slightly longer. Slightly. ^_^
Mitchy: Thanks! Enjoy reading this chap!
Crazy4u: Sorry lar….Anyhow, I'm back and free so I'll try and write loooooong ones. The love story between your friend is so kawaii!!!
Scarlet Rayne: Thank you! Sorry! Short chapters occur when author is stuck with homework! How to put italic in fanfcition? Well, I use Microsoft word to write my stories, and obviously you'd know how to use the Italics there. Then you upload and the italics come up.
Whitesiren: I could leave the story at any point because I own it. Wahahahahaha! *sobers down* Ehem, sorry about that. How can you jump straight to the last chapter without reading anything else????
Angel-leigh: Thank you! Updated!
Lil*funky: Thanks! Very nice of you to say that!
Unquestionable: Rukawa? React? Ha ha ha! Yep, me PTS girl. Did you fail everything? Wahahahaha! I'm sure you didn't.
Frozenfemale: Me? Cruel? No lar… I like the word sarcasticness. ^_^ Thanks for inventing it!
Patty g: Ha ha! Fear for akima's safety!! I bet! You never know what Rukawa'll do!
Reika Zelon: Akima appreciates you lighting candles and praying for her – though she doesn't see how that will help her face rukawa's wrath! Ha ha! Thanks! You're the first who hasn't trashed me for short chapters and slow updates!
Kiss Is the best: Hey, sorry, but I don't know Karen.
Tensaispira: Hei!! Thanks! Keep on reading!
Bloody Vixen: yep, that's it! Sorry if it was too short!
Kate: Thanks for reviewing, kate-san. No, you don't sound dumb. *reads the part where Kate screams at her* Actually, I changed my mind… Ha ha! Enjoy this chap!
RKA: Updating! I'm sorry I kept you waiting!
Jjj: Updated!
Kylie: Thanks a lot for your support! My SPM is OVER! Muahahahahaha! Of course, now I'm agonizing over my upcoming results. Brr… I did not meant it to rhyme – it just did! Now that I think about it, it sounds so stupid!
Kka: Ha ha!
SLL: Suki and Akira, sitting on a tree….
Jo-sen7: Thanks! I still have to think about Suki and Sendoh!
Bloaty Kitsune: Cool nickname… he he he… You're not the only one who hates Ika, I can assure you. Go form a We-Hate-Ika club if it makes you feel better!
Sey Lee: Yep, I left, but I'm back now in good ol' Malaysia! This story will be finished, don't worry!
Lady Kai: Sorry for the wait! Have fun reading this chap!
Imbecile: *looks nervously at Imbecile's evil grin* Have I lost my touch? You judge. ^_^
Seonaid Mist: Congrats on being registered!! Welcome!
Ryuko: Continuing!!
Mitsujir: We shall see about Suki and Akira. ^_^ Ha ha, did you really fall off your chair?
Paper n pen: I'm continuing! Again, sorry for the long wait!
Sweet Usako: Thank you, usako-san! You're in luck cuz you didn't have to wait as long as the others!
"This is Akira reporting from the lawn," Akira murmured quietly into the walkie-talkie as he crouched underneath a window and peered into the living room. "Currently, the two subjects are staring at each other."
"Roger!" came the reply, quite clearly Mr. Hanashi's voice. "We await further news from the garden shed, Spy Akira."
"Yes, Captain Dad."
"Your seat in Ryonan is barely warm," Kaede began, "and you're already moving? Again?"
Akima scratched stupidly at her scalp. "It just happened."
"It just happened," he repeated. "Just happened."
They stared at each other again.
"This is so boring," Akira reported dully. "They just stare at each other. Kaede Rukawa is an utterly boring fighter when it comes to words."
A sigh came from the other end. "That's my son," Mrs. Rukawa muttered. "Never passed a single oral exam."
After what seemed like years, Kaede stood up. "Well," he shoved his hands into his pockets awkwardly. "it is just happened, I guess there's nothing I can do about it."
He kicked his ball aside, and then, as if it just occurred to him that the ball was part of his property, he picked it up and headed for the door.
"Alert! Alert!" Akira hissed into the walkie-talkie. "Kaede is leaving the room! No, no, he's leaving the house!"
"What about Akima?"
"She's standing up too! Will she go after him, or will she not? Who wants to take a guess?"
"AKIRA!"
"Don't go," Akima said nervously as she tailed Kaede to the front door. "It's not going to solve anything."
He snorted. "What's there to solve?"
He opened the door, and then quite abruptly turned to face her. "It's irritating how things are just not working out."
Akima frowned. "That's not true –"
"This is why," he continued, ignoring her, "I never bothered with relationships before. I'm not good with people, and I know it. But I tried my best with you, and it's still not good enough."
"Kaede –"
"Being with you," he cut her off, "is tough, because it gives me pleasure and also pain, very often at the same time."
Akima's fuse blew up. "What's that compared to the things I put up with you?" she nearly yelled, temper in full swing.
"Akima's yelling!!" Akira reported excitedly.
"Do you know how long it took me to actually have you call me by name?" Akima drilled a finger in Kaede's chest. "Every single day of my first year in school, I spent watching you and thinking about you. I didn't think we'd cross paths then, I didn't know there was even a possibility of you being with me. And that is more aggravating than everything that you feel right now combined together!" She almost punched him. "Do you know what it's like to want something that you can never really have?"
He used his ball as a shield from her clenched fists.
"And then by some miracle I did somehow managed to get your attention, though God knows why. And after all that I've put in to keep us together, I will not stand here and listen to you preach to me about the failure of our relationship!" She resisted the urge to use her legs instead of her fists. "WE HAVE NOT FAILED!"
Then she attempted one last punch and then stepped back in exhaustion. "Have I failed you?"
Kaede cautiously lowered the basketball. His tone softened slightly, "I was saying that I was the failure –"
"I'm asking you if I've failed you. Have I?"
He shook his head. "No –"
"And I say you haven't failed me either." Akima rattled on. "So both of us haven't failed, and we'll try harder. Won't we?"
They stared at each other.
"They're staring again!!" Akira moaned.
After some time, Kaede spoke up. "I care about you."
Akima relaxed fractionally. "You don't have to tell me that," she murmured. "Nor do I have to tell you what I feel either." She unclenched her fists. "I don't want to go anywhere other than here because here is where you are. But what can I to do?"
"Let's elope."
"I don't know what happened," Akira told his superiors. "But Akima's mouth is wide open in shock and Kaede looks a little wide-eyed."
"Kaede?" came Mrs. Rukawa's voice. "Wide-eyed?"
"What does that mean?" Mrs. Hanashi asked anxiously.
"He needs to get his eyes checked."
Akima stood frozen where she was. "Did you just say that?"
Kaede looked ruffled and vaguely scandalized. "I meant you should find a way to stay," he quickly explained, suddenly wishing he could punch himself out cold. "You can move in into the house at the back of my house."
Akima's face was dull. "Kaede, that's your tree house."
"Can't you squeeze yourself in?"
They looked incredulously at each other, and then, as if sense just came knocking by, Akima burst laughing and Kaede stood shaking his head at himself. "You're crazy," they said simultaneously to each other.
"Now they're laughing," Akira scratched his head. "I don't get these people who claim to be my stepsister and my rival."
"Sometimes, Akira," Mr. Hanashi muttered, "we don't get you either."
"Ha ha ha – urk!"
"Akira? What's wrong?"
"Um, Dad, Akima has just opened the window and is now glaring down at me."
"Oh no! Emergency evacuation! Ladies, run for your lives! Akira, we'll rescue you later!"
"Dad? Akima says she wants to hold a little discussion with all of us."
The walkie-talkie buzzed as Mr. Hanashi sighed. "Armageddon is here."
"I know what you're trying to say," Mr. Hanashi considered, studying his daughter. "You want to stay here, but who will you stay with?"
"That's why I'm discussing with you around this chipped table," Akima told him.
"She can stay with me," Mrs. Rukawa offered. "It'd be nice to have a girl around the house other then the usual two boys. No offense to you and your father, dear," she assured Kaede.
Mr. Hanashi shook his head. "I appreciate your offer," he said, "but I don't trust Akima and Kaede being in the same building at night. Who knows what sort of mysterious force would pull them together into some secluded room and –"
Akima had thrown her sock into his face. "I don't know who's worse," she said furiously. "You or Akira."
"Hey, that was offensive," Akira protested, "and just when I was about to help you out."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, really." Akira clasped his hands together and looked at his stepfather. "Dad, I wanted to tell you this earlier… but never mind. I just got an offer from the University of Kanagawa. They've got the top basketball team in the region. Did you know that, Kaede? The most famous player apparently scores an average of 25 points every –"
"Yes, yes, yes," they cut in. "You were saying?"
"Oh, right. So I'm thinking of accepting, and since I'll be old enough to be able to own a place of my own, I was thinking I'd buy an apartment somewhere and move in there while you go off to Spain. And," he glanced at Akima, "if my stepsister stops accusing me of being a pervert, I might just let her stay with me."
Akima's eyes were shining as she smiled adoringly at her hero.
"Well…" Mr. Hanashi thought about it. "I suppose…"
"All right," Mrs. Hanashi finished for him. "That'll be fine."
"Another thing," Akira held up a hand. "Since the apartment that I have my eyes on is far from Ryonan, I'm afraid Akima will have to move to another school which is nearer."
"What school is that?" Akima asked.
"Oh, I don't know." Akira pretended to try and remember. "Some school called Shohoku."
Hope you enjoyed that!
nothingtodo