Stuck-up Beauty, Reformed Beast, by Raberba girl

Part 6 (Motoko)

YukiYukiYukiYuki!!!!!!

My thoughts are swirling with him, I feel breathless and giddy, my eyes ACHE from wanting to gaze at his loveliness forever and ever.

I thought I was over him! I thought I decided that he wasn't worth all this emotional wringing I'm putting myself through!

The memory of Tohru Honda comes back to me, and angry tears sting at my eyes and run down my cheeks. That witch, she cast a spell on Yuki and now he's going to be chained to her forever.

It isn't fair...it isn't FAIR! Who's the one who spent countless hours worshipping every detail of him? Who's the one who founded his adoring fanclub? Who's the one who spent nearly every waking moment in high school dedicating herself to honoring him and protecting him? Me! What did Honda ever do for him? Blink those big stupid eyes at him and look cute? Does she even understand that Prince Yuki must be treated with perfect reverence?

Why did he choose her over me?

I scream and kick at the pavement. I hate Yuki. I HATE that rat Yuki, with his mocking smile and his cold heart. He never deserved all the love I lavished on him - he's no prince. He's a shallow jerk who's incapable of understanding me at all.

Why, oh why did he choose her...

I fall to my knees on the sidewalk and beat my fists against the ground. Hate, hate him, hate her, hate, HATE...

My heart is breaking.

Someone's laughing.

Still on the ground, I scramble around in shock, embarrassment, and outrage. Who's watching me and laughing?

Oh! That - evil - GUY! The beautiful one who looks like Yuki - the one who ate my ice cream, who keeps smiling at me like he has read my soul and finds what he sees pitiful, and amusing. I hate him, too! So condescending, so tolerant, like he's doing me a favor just by hanging around.

"Go away!" I screech. "My world has just broken to pieces, and I don't need YOU to come grind the shards underfoot!"

"You're so awkward and passionate," he says. "Like Tohru. Only, you make me laugh. She just makes me want to be a better person, and I hate that." Is that an admiring glint in his eye? Oh, he makes me so mad!

"I don't want to have anything to do with you or your wretched family ever agai--"

I blink. He's holding his hand out to me.

"Be gentle," he says. "I'll keel over if you pull too hard."

I stand up, pointedly ignoring his hand.

He shrugs. "Or you can correctly assess that I'm a weakling, and stand up without any help."

"Why are you here, anyway?" I snap.

He makes his voice high-pitched and girly. "Oooh, Akito-san, mebbe you should go after her, she looked up-set--" He switches his voice to an icky snide tone. "Yes, you've changed such a lot, dear Akito, making girls cry and all..." He shakes his head. "Sorry," he says in his normal voice. "But they annoy me sometimes, even if they mean well. Tohru means well, anyway."

I have had enough. I turn to walk away, but he follows me.

"What are you, some stray dog?" He mumbles something that sounds like, "No, that's Shigure." Huh? Whatever. "I'm not taking you home, you stalker!"

"Who's the stalker?" he says sharply. "Who showed up at who's house, demanding to be let in?"

I whirl on him. He has a point, but why does he have to be so rude about it? "Don't you get it? We're finished! Just leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone, and we'll never see each other again and we'll both be FINE!"

He suddenly reaches out and brushes my cheek with his fingers. His touch seems to spread through me, and I can only stand and stare at him.

"I'm going about this all wrong," he says. His eyes are serious, and he is not smiling anymore, which is a relief. "I came out to say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for...that you had to see Yuki again." Then the corner of his mouth quirks. "Sorry that I'm not Yuki. I wish your impression of my home had been a more pleasant one."

His fingers are still on my face. He suddenly takes hold of my chin, pulls me close, and kisses me. I can tell he's never done this before. The realization chills and charms me at the same time.

He moves back a little, and his eyes are soft and wide with wonder. "Very nice. I don't think I would mind running into you again, you fascinating, highly excitable little stalker-girl."

Of all the cheek!

to be continued...