Pride and Prejudice – Part 18

By: Ghostwriter

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Standard Disclaimers Apply.

[23 February 2003 8:34:11 PM]

First, I must thank all my readers for bearing with lazy old me. I know I've been totally horrible, starting fics everywhere but never really finishing them. Never fear, all your encouraging reviews, and yes even the not so encouraging ones have made me get a move on.

 

I don't think I'll continue rewriting, coz I really want to finish this off. No point leaving everything undone.

This is a chapter to show appreciation to all my readers out there that did not give up hope of me updating again. Thank you for your unwavering faith to those that still read and will review.

***

Where the heck is she? Mitsui cursed silently as he tore down the halls in relentless pursuit of the one that got away.

***

Mitsui: You IDIOT GHOST! SHE DID NOT GET AWAY…calms down a bit I just lost track of her…temporarily.

Ghostwriter: Uh…yeah…-.-''

***

"Mitsui-san," a voice choking with forced pleasure called out, "What a pleasant surprise."

Mitsui groaned in agony. Of all people to bump into, it had to be him.

Vice-principal Miyamoto. That man has blamed Mitsui for the downfall of the basketball team. He blamed Mitsui for getting injured and thus jeopardized the school's chances of winning any tournaments. Sometimes, Mitsui believed that Miyamoto thinks he purposely got injured just to spite him.

"I'm sure that you do know by now that it's forbidden to run in the halls. After all, you've spent three years in the school," Miyamoto continued, his eyes twinkling with sadistic amusement.

The tall sharpshooter eyed the paunchy, balding middle aged man that only came up to his shoulder warily.

"Of course, you spent more time out of it than you were actually in it," Miyamoto quipped, "and I'm sure you've made it your sacred duty to break every school rule that was ever made."

"I'm sorry, sensei. I forgot," Mitsui apologized with a low bow. In his heart, he was screaming profanities at the man who took gratification in handing out detention. But now was not the time to bother about petty matters. He was on a mission and a man must do whatever he must to succeed it.

"I see, memory problems," Miyamoto said sympathetically. "Practically the entire student body has them. They forget their homework, their gym kit, the school rules and etc. And do you know what the best medicine is for it?"

"No, sensei," Mitsui replied humbly.

"A healthy dose of detention, that's what," Miyamoto replied with such cheerfulness that it was all Mitsui can do not to strangle him on the spot. The (in Mitsui's opinion) villainous vice principle took out the dreaded pink colored pad along with his pen and scribbled something on it before tearing the page off and handing it to him. He already knew what it was.

The Detention Slip.

Mitsui glanced at the time as the man departed and started to protest, "Sensei! We have to prepare for tournament…"

Miyamoto turned back and wagged a finger in Mitsui's face. "I'm sure you're good enough already. After all, this is the MVP, Mitsui Hisashi. But even if this MVP breaks down, we still have Rukawa-kun, don't we?" he hissed at him.

Mitsui kept quiet as the man added as he walked off, "Remember to come with your partner. I'm sure she'll just be so pleased." Vicious laughter filled the hallway has he walked away.

Akane, Mitsui suddenly remembered and groaned. She wasn't going to be pleased at all, to get detention with him again.

But looking from the bright side, at least she can't disappear anymore and he'll get to talk to her.

Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

***

Akane took a deep breath through her mouth and held it, trying to avoid smelling the foul stench of a typical public toilet.

We pay them so many thousands of yen a year for the school's upkeep and the toilet still stinks this much! She grumbled inwardly. It's all Mitsui Hisashi's fault! If it wasn't him, I won't be hiding here! She scowled heavily as perched precariously on the toilet bowl.

Being alone in a foul-smelling toilet isn't anyone's favorite way to spend their lunch period. Akane fumed every time she thought of Mitsui Hisashi. A slow smile crept onto her face as she remembered how aghast he looked when Hanamichi made that announcement.

And when the memory of him kissing her flooded through her mind, she couldn't help but feel the tingles shooting up her spine. It was her first kiss and it had been – magical. Not the perfect setting, but the person had made it memorable and worth while. Akane hugged her knees tightly as she savored every memory she shared with the handsome sharpshooter.

The door outside banged open and a small troop of people marched into the bathroom noisily. The sounds of faucets being turned filled the room and gushes of water followed muffled the voices outside. But nothing could mute the hysterical shrieks beyond the door.

"EWW…there's mashed potato in my hair!"

"My make up is all messed up!"

"I stink of miso soup!"

Akane hurriedly stifled her giggles by clamping her hand over her mouth. They sounded so aghast as if some huge misfortune has just befallen on them and their entire families. But what the girls outside said made her keep quiet and strained to listen to them.

"I can't believe Mitsui-san did that!"

"It's disgraceful, chasing after that fat oaf that way."

"Who does she think she is anyway?"

"Mitsui-san has bad taste. Our Chieko is way better than that Godzilla."

"Only God knows what Mitsui-san is thinking."

"Enough!"

The anger in Chieko's voice hushed them up at once. They conversed with each other in low tones after that. Akane couldn't hear a word they were saying.

"Hisashi-kun was just playing with her," Chieko's malicious voice filled the almost silent stinking toilet a minute. Only the sounds of dripping water could be heard. Akane's heart skipped a bit as she held her breath, waiting for the girl to continue.

"He just wants to show the world he can have any girl he wants – including the oh-so-smart Katsura Akane," Chieko continued. "You know – male ego. Something to do with making her love him and breaking her heart… If you don't believe me, I'll be very happy to show you what I mean."

The sounds of the door creaking and diminishing footsteps assured Akane that it was safe to leave her cubicle. On, shaky legs, she opened the door and leaned against it's frame.

Oh God, had he been playing with me all along? Every caress and the kiss, all those idiotic things he did…

"No!" Akane shouted – her voice rebounding on the cool tile walls.

To show the world that he can have any girl he wants… male ego…I'll be happy to show you what I mean…

Chieko's voice continued to haunt her. Steeling herself, she calmly walked out of the toilet, in the direction of the incessant giggles.

They turned the corner and Chieko caught hold of a first year boy. Smiling sweetly at him, she whispered something into his ear. The adoration in the boy's eyes was plain for all to see before he scuttled off to do whatever she bade him to do.

Chieko then smiled triumphantly before heading towards the exit leading to the gardens.

***

Mitsui hurried down the stairs leading to a secluded pavilion. According to the school rumor mill, it was said that the pavilion was there for a few hundred years and is haunted by a female ghost, waiting for her lover to come. They wanted to demolish it when they started building the school but all the heavy machinery within 100 meters of its radius mysteriously breaks down. After a series of eerie coincidences, they decided to let it be.

And now, it was the prime destination for courting couples to have their secret trysts.

Puzzled, but strangely pleased that Akane had finally given up the futile game of hide-and-seek and conceded to meet him in a secluded place, he walked briskly down the winding path expecting to find her under the quaint shelter and punishing her with a few passionate kisses.

Make that a lot of passionate kisses.

The bushes behind him rustled slightly and Mitsui turned around joyfully, expecting Akane to emerge and end this awful game of hide and seek. Instead, it was Hamada Chieko.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

"Why, Hisashi-kun, weren't you the one who issue me an invitation to meet you here?" Chieko replied innocently as she stepped forward. "I was so happy when I got your message. I was hoping we can…" she let her sentence trailed off as her gaze rove down Mitsui's body appreciatively, "get to know each other better."

Mitsui was not fooled by her imitation of a woman innocent. He watched her guardedly as she sashayed up to him, trailing one manicured fingernail down his winter uniform. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, but her eyes were shining with something else.

Triumph.

"Since we're here all alone, and I'm sure we're both cold, why don't we try to warm each other up?" she put in suggestively.

Mitsui understood perfectly what she hinted. "If you're feeling cold, allow me to suggest that you return to the school building where it is warmer."

"I would much rather get my heat from you," Chieko murmured huskily as she tipped her face upwards till their faces were only inches apart – their breath mingling with each other. She sealed the gap by placing her lips on his.

Mitsui forced himself not to react when he felt the warm tongue wetting his cracked lips. Her hands began to caress him, sliding down his chest. He caught her wrists before she could go any further.

Chieko released his lips, and smiled as she draped her arms around his neck. "Surely sexual preferences have not changed."

"I'm not kissing you because I don't like you," Mitsui said forcefully.

Chieko laughed. "Since when have you started kissing only the girls you like, Hisashi-kun?" she murmured as she kissed him again. This time, Mitsui resisted her advances completely and tried to extract himself from her embrace by grabbing her by the shoulders and pushing her away.

He won the battle but lost the war when Chieko suddenly released him and looked victoriously to her left, towards the stairs.

Akane was standing on the top of the stairs, with her hand on the snow covered railing. Her face was pale and she didn't even have her coat on. Realization dawned on her and the shock wore off as she turned around and ran towards the school building.

"Akane, WAIT!" Mitsui shouted as he started towards her, but the clawed hand grabbed his hand and hung onto him.

"Do not even think of going after that oaf!" Chieko hissed at him. "Don' you see, she hates you now."

"You better let me go this instant," Mitsui threatened menacingly, "Or you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"What' so good about that fat bitch?" Chieko cried. "She's nothing."

"She's a thousand times better than you," Mitsui retorted. "Hurt her in any way again, and I'll make you pay. Now, LET GO!"

The force in his voice and the fire in his eyes made Chieko release his arm. Without a second glance at the wily female that created all these turmoil, Mitsui ran towards the school building.

***

Mitsui: Won't you just give me a minute to explain?!

Akane: I'm not talking to you.

Mitsui: It's not MY fault she staged it up.

Akane: shrieks YOU ALLOWED HER TO KISS YOU!!!

Ghostlie: And she said that she wasn't going to talk to him …

Akane and Mitsui: SHUT UP!