Chapter Four: Spending the Afternoon with Akito

On Monday afternoon Kandis hummed as she grabbed her bag. Her cousin stared at her as she packed a few things in it.

"You're in a awfully good mood" Rebecca observed, "Are you going out?"

"Yep" Kandis nodded excitedly, "I'm meeting someone. I'll be home later. I hope that's okay?"

"Sure" Rebecca said with a smile, "I am helping Ritsu hunt for apartments this afternoon so I won't be home anyway."

"Okay" Kandis nodded again with a grin grabbing her bag; "I'll see you later!" she called as she closed the door behind her.

"Have fun!" Rebecca said crossing her arms, "She met someone," she thought as she smiled.

(Next Scene)

Kandis hurried to Sohma house at a fast pace thoroughly excited. She knocked on the main gate door, and it was answered by none other then Kureno who just happened to be walking near the gate at the moment. He stared at her confused for a moment until he smiled.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm here to pick up Akito Sohma" she replied with a grin.

"I'm sorry" he looked at her even more confused.

"Akito Sohma" she repeated, "Is he ready?"

Before Kureno had time to reply he saw Akito coming towards the gate, dressed as if he was going out.

"It's all right Kureno" Akito said with a frown, "She's here for me."

"Master Akito? Are you going out?"

"Yes" he nodded, "I'll be back later. Don't worry about me" he walked out of the gate followed closely by Kandis.

"Bye!" Kandis waved as they departed.

For a few moments Kureno stood there his eyes wide and his mouth hanging somewhat open.

"Master Akito has a date?" he said out loud, "Is the world coming to an end?"

(Next Scene)

"Okay" Kandis replied as they walked, "I got a whole lot of things planned for us this afternoon."

"I can hardly wait" Akito said frowning his arms crossed as they walked, "Where are we going exactly?"

"You'll see," she grinned happily as they got closer to an open field with lots of flowers, "Well we're here."

"Where are we?" he asked frowning even more.

"It's a field silly," she giggled.

"I can see that" he grumbled, "What are we doing here?"

"I thought this would be the perfect place for an introduction to the outside world. Smell that fresh air" she breathed it in deeply.

"So what" Akito grumbled again, "I get fresh air at home."

"True. But you can't get it in this wide-open space" she held out her arms enthusiastically, "Hey you know what?" she said excitedly.

"What?" he asked grimacing and his eyes becoming wide as she smiled widely.

"Let's roll on the grassy hills."

"What?" he looked at her like she was crazy, "Get serious."

"Come on! It'll be fun. Didn't you ever go crazy and roll down hills when you were a kid?"

"Uh no" he shook his head, "Not really."

"Okay" she nodded giggling, "Well I guess it is a little childish. Okay you win. Let's sit on the grass instead."

"I guess" he frowned sitting down next to her and sighing heavily, "So far I got to say I am not impressed" he closed his eyes.

"But we just got started" she smiled, "There's a lot more to see and do around here."

"Oh yea. Like what?"

"Like" she gazed around and then spotted a cart, "Oh wait here" she stood up, "I'll be right back."

He frowned a little as she walked over to the cart. She came back over carrying two delicious crepes in her hand.

"Here you go" she handed one to him.

"What is this?" he asked staring at the crepe in his hand.

"It's a crepe" she replied taking a bite out of hers, "Tohru turned me onto them. Yours has strawberries in it. Do you like strawberries?"

"Yes" he said.

"Then you might like it. Give it a try."

"Okay" he replied a bit uncertain as he took a bite.

"Well?" she asked him eagerly.

"It's a bit too sweet" he said.

"Oh well would you like mine instead" she offered, "It's chocolate flavor."

"But you took a bite out of it already" he grimaced.

"Oh that's all right" she switched them, "I won't give you germs or anything," she giggled, "Go ahead and try it."

"All right" he consented, "If you insist" he took a bite out of it and licked the chocolate from his lips.

"And? Do you like it?"

"It's fine. I like it better than the other one."

"Good" she nodded happily taking a bite out of the strawberry one, "Mmm. Yummy."

He looked at her face and noticed that she had some ice-cream on her chin.

"You uh" he said smiling a little, "You have some ice cream on your chin."

"Oh do I?" she giggled again grabbing a napkin, "How embarrassing."

"Yea" he turned away and ate the rest of his crepe in silence.

(Next Scene)

After they finished their crepes Kandis stretched and looked at Akito as he wiped his chin with his napkin.

"So you have to admit that was pretty good" she replied, "And not something you can get inside the main house huh?"

"Yea I suppose," he nodded, "But I don't know."

She smiled and then she heard a sound from a nearby pond. Her eyes sparkled as she turned to him once more.

"Hey I got an idea?"

"What?" he looked at her once again nervous.

"I just thought of something else we can do," she said taking his hand, "Come on" she led him over to the pond.

As they approached it they noticed the ducks swimming around in it.

"Aren't they cute?" she smiled happily, "Good thing I brought some bread for them" she reached into her bag and pulled it out, "Here you golittle guys" she said as she through the crumbs into the water and the ducks swam to eat some, "They like it."

"It's bread" Akito replied, "Of course they do."

"Now you don't have any ducks at the main house do you?"

"No" he shook his head, "But it's no different then feeding my birds at the main house."

"True there are some similarities. You want to try?"

"What?"

"To feed the ducks."

"Oh I don't know about that" he shook his head crossing his arms.

"It's very easy" she replied taking his hand and placing some crumbs in it, "Here. Just toss it in the water."

"All right" he said in a huffy voice, tossing the crumbs in the water.

"Nicely done. Here's some more you can give them" she handed him the remainder of the bread.

"Fine" he took it and began to break the pieces off.

She knelt down and gazed at the pond.

"You were right about the bird feeding similarity" she replied, "But there is a difference between the ducks and your birds."

"What's that?"

"Your birds live in a cage."

"Huh?" he stared at her surprised.

"They're not free like the ducks. They don't get the chance or the opportunity to ever spread their wings and fly. It's kind of sad really. Being a bird and not being able to fly. I'dmuch ratherbe like these ducks. Free and happy and able to spread my wings any time I want. You know what I mean?"

"Uh" his face fell a little as she looked up at him, "Yea. I guess" he looked up into the sky, "It looks like it's about to rain" he grimaced.

"Oh you're right" she nodded seeing the dark clouds beginning to form, "Well that's no problem."

"What are you talking about? We're gonna get wet."

"Not really" she reached into her bag, "I have this" she pulled out a large blue umbrella.

"You really haveeverything in that bag don't you?" he asked surprised as she opened it and the rain began to fall.

"Well like I always say," her eyes twinkled, "Always be prepared. Hey you know what would be fun?"

"I'm afraid you're gonna tell me anyway. What?"

"We should go splash around in the puddles while it rains."

"Do I look like someone who does that to you?"

"No you don't. But it's fun. And you have tried all sorts of things today."

"Look can't I just admit that you were right. That there are some things outside the main house. You win the deal, let's just leave it at that" he crossed his arms.

"What are you talking about? We're not done yet."

"Huh? What do you mean we're not done yet?"

"It takes more than just one day to show a person all the things there are in the world. It takes at least a week."

"A week? Are you crazy?"

"Mnm" she shook her head, "Unless you're not having any fun?" her face fell a little.

"I didn't say that" he grumbled again once more crossing his arms, "Those words didn't come out of my mouth."

"So you don't mind spending time with me then?" she asked smiling at him once more.

"It's not that bad."

"Does that mean that you will tough out the week with me?"

"Why not" he sighed frowning.

"Great. But it is raining now. And it is getting late. I should take you home."

"All right" he nodded and the two of them walked back to Sohma house both under the umbrella Kandis talking to Akito about her days as an actress.

(Next Scene)

When they arrived back Kureno rushed to the door as Akito came in. The rain had stopped and Kandis put down her umbrella.

"Well I had a great day today with you Akito" she said with a smile, "See you tomorrow afternoon!"

"Yea. See ya" Akito replied turning as she walked away.

"You're going out again tomorrow afternoon sir?" he asked surprised.

"Yea what of it?" Akito asked eyeing him.

"Nothing."

"Good" Akito walked back inside and into his room to change intohis kimono.

He sat on his bed after he finished changing and thought back over the day. But mostly he thought about something Kandis said that would just not leave his head.

"It's kind of sad really. Being a bird and not being able to fly. I'dmuch ratherbe like these ducks. Free and happy and able to spread my wings any time I want. You know what I mean?"

He pictured her smile and laid his head on his pillow lying on his back and contemplating if her words had any deeper meaning, which he was quite certain that just maybe they did.

(Next Scene)

When Kandis arrived home Rebecca was already there waiting with dinner.

"Hey you're home" she replied.

"Hey there!" Kandis said putting her bag down, "Sorry I am so late. I got caught in the weather."

"That's okay. Your dinner is on the table."

"Thanks. But I think I am gonna take a bath first. I really am cold from being out in all that rain."

"Okay. Did you have a fun?" she asked as she walked into the bathroom.

"Mhm. Lots of fun. Oh by the way Bec" she added, "I'm gonna be going out the rest of the week in the afternoon. I hope that's okay?"

"Yes it's fine" Rebecca nodded as her cousin disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door, "She definitely met somebody" she thought, "I'm so glad."

(Next Scene)

As Kandis lay in the bath she thought about the days events ands smiled. She leaned back on the tub and closed her eyes.

"Akito Sohma" she thought, "He's definitely nothing like I thought he'd be. True he frowns all the time, but there is something about him that makes me believe that he is capable of smiling and I've got the rest of the week to figure out what that is."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay guys! That's it for this week! You know when I set out to make Kandi's character I had no idea what sort of impact she would have on the story but as it developed I came up with this idea and I really like it because I think she is a great character and she fits with the whole story too. But there is much more to come so keep reading and I will see you all next week!!!

Next time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:

Chapter Five: A Week of Surprises

For several days Kandis and Akito spend time together and through it all they are going to discover more parts of themselves they never thought existed and also that they really need each other. See what happens next time!!!