"Akio and Juri: Based On a True Story"
Chapter Three
By Angel Sentier and Pandari
Akio laughed and held open the garden door for her once more, indicating without words that they should continue their walk. "Ah, onto the other conversation. There is nothing to make this person look to you with favor?"
Juri shook her head gravely as she preceded him into the courtyard. "Nothing. S-- He doesn't see me that way." She used the word 'he' to shield herself. 'She' would have been too obvious since she'd already said it was someone she knew as a girl. "It's driving me insane. I can't love him the way I want, and because of that, I can no longer be the friend I was to him. Things can't ever go back to the way they were."
They were passing the kendo room at the moment. Rather than offer her an answer, Akio went to the window and peeked in. Grinning like a little boy, he beckoned Juri closer.
"What is it?" she asked. "Is Saionji practicing late again?"
"I'm not sure if 'practicing' is the word for it. Although I'm sure his --ahem-- sword is involved somewhat."
Raising an eyebrow at his peculiar wording, she stood on her toes to look through the window. Her eyes widened in shock, if not surprise, at what she saw.
Saionji was in there, all right, but he wasn't practicing kendo. He had a camera on a tripod set up and he had a kind of photography session set up in the middle of the studio, complete with black velvet drapes wrapped around his presumably nude body, rose petals strewn about, and a giant electric fan to make his emerald hair dramatically blow around. Juri had to fight down the urge to laugh and give away their position as she realized what Akio meant by his "sword" comment. She was sure this was a big ego-trip for Saionji, too, as well as another stupid attempt to win Anthy's heart. If nothing else, he could sell the pictures off to his many female admirers.
Akio looked at her with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Should we go in?" he whispered.
While the thought that startling Saionji in his current position might inadvertently reveal more of the man than Juri ever cared to see, the prospect of humiliating him was too great to pass up. She grabbed the handle of the door and pulled.
Locked. And the noise must have alerted their prey within, because a loud shout came forth, "Go away, or find my sword lodged where you wouldn't care to find it!"
Akio offered Juri a Gallic shrug. "Ah, well. Another time, perhaps?"
"I hope so. I'm sure the rest of the members of the student counsel would love to see."
"You know, Juri, you're quite lovely when you smile."
His comment startled her, almost as much as the fact that she had been smiling. She was trying to think of something to reply when he continued.
"I knew I could get you to forget your troubles for a moment."
So that had been his aim. And, even more surprising, it had worked. "T-thank you." Even if the sentiment sounded a bit awkward coming from her, his grin said he appreciated it.
He glanced down the hall, and then looked back at her, sudden inspiration lighting up his expression. "I have an idea. Come with me."
This time when he began moving off, Juri didn't hesitate to follow.
To be continued...