Enjoy...

CHAPTER 16

The next morning, Akiko was awake before everyone else, so she decided to take another dip in the hot spring before breakfast. She quietly slipped into the water. Relaxing, she leaned against the bamboo fence. 'My favorite rock,' she thought contentedly. Suddenly, she realized that she'd come into the mens again. 'Well, that's ok. No one saw this time.' She thought, starting to rise.

Kyo suddenly appeared by the edge of the spring, and she quickly let herself sink back down. Giving him her best 'Akito smile', she deepened her voice slightly and said "Good morning, Kyo."

Kyo jumped, startled; he hadn't expected anyone to be in the spring this early. "A-akito-san?"

She nodded, crossing her arms and hoping he wouldn't look too closely at her face. Or at her body, for that matter. This didn't seem to be a problem; Kyo was looking anywhere except Akito. Akiko. Whatever.

"I wished to take a trip to the hot springs. I was quite surprised to find all of you here. I trust you've met my sister?"

Kyo nodded mutely, not seeming to notice anything. Akiko suddenly became aware that Hatori was standing behind Kyo, looking slightly confused.

"Ah, Hatori!" said Akiko in a lower-pitched voice. "Join us, please." If she had been male, that was what she would have said. And since Kyo thought she was Akito, it would be best to act like him. Suddenly, they heard Kagura's voice.

"Kyoooo-kuuun...where are you?"

Kyo was gone like a shot; there were barely even ripples in the water. Hatori and Akiko were left there alone, together. Neither seemed to know what to say.

Okami suddenly called for breakfast. Hatori and Akiko rose at the same time. They stared at each other. Hatori turned away first. Akiko grabbed the first towel she could find. Which, of course, was Hatori's. She took off for her own room quickly. Since Kyo had taken Akiko's towel as well as his own, there was a slight problem. Hatori didn't have one. He sat back down to wait for someone to come along.

Later that day, Hatori, Shigure, and Ayame were in the hot spring. Kyo was hiding somewhere, and Kagura was loking for him. Rin...well, she was locked in her and Kagura's room, evidently sleeping.

Akiko was lying in her own room, usually Akito's, reading. She was lying on her stomache, streched out on her futon, when she realized Yuki was in the doorway. "ah, Yuki," She said in her 'Akito' voice. "She patted the edge of the futon next to her. "sit." Yuki obeyed without a sound. Akiko continued reading. She was wearing Akito's yukata again. Hatori appeared in the doorway.

"Aki-"

"Hatori." She nodded to Yuki and he left, as silently and meekly as he'd come.

"I'd like to talk to you after lunch, in the games room." he said flatly.

"Ok," was her simply reply. He sighed, leaving her to read.

Later, Hatori stood waiting for Akiko in the empty game room. He wanted to talk to her about the way she had come into the mens' baths, twice now. He realized that he shouldn't scold her, but he wanted to know why she would do that. Akiko did have an amazing memory, so she doubted that he had actually forgotten.

Akiko appeared, wearing the yukata, her hair still hanging damply around her face. "Yes, Ha-San?" She asked innocently.

Hatori took a deep breath, staring at her face. He started to say something, but stopped, completely forgetting what he had been about to say. He closed his eyes.

Before he realized what he was doing, his lips brushed lightly against hers. He froze for a moment, then jerked back, turned, and ran. A banging sound was heard from down the hallway.

Akiko stood rooted to the spot, staring at where Hatori had been moments earlier. One hand came up involuntarily and touched her lip. A few minutes later, Rin and Kagura came in and found her frozen in this position.

Kagura waved a hand into front of her face and suddenly realized what must have happened. "Oh my God! He kissed you, didn't he?"

Akiko nodded, dazed. Then she snapped out of it. "And he just ran away! The bastard, how could he?"

"Do you want us to…arrange some alone time?" said Rin, cracking her knuckles.

Akiko nodded. "Please." She said maliciously.

Shigure and Ayame found Hatori banging his head furiously against the wall. It took both of them to haul him away and into his room.

"What happened Ha-san?" Ayame asked. In answer, Hatori sat up, faced the wall and started banging his head again.

"Let me guess." Said Shigure after they got him under control again. "You definitely regret it. And it has something to do with Akiko."

Ayame gave Shigure a look and then said to Hatori "You kissed her, didn't you?"

Hatori's eyes were wide with panic, and he plastered his hand over his eyes.

"Hatori don't use your power on yourself!" Shigure exclaimed, prying his hand away just in time. "Don't you remember the last time you did that?"

Hatori looked blank. "No."

Shigure shook his head, and said "Well, of course not. Let me tell you, it was bad. Just…take my word on it."

"I don't remem-" began Ayame. Shigure just shook his head warningly and winked.

Just then Rin came to the door and asked to talk to Shigure. Some whispered conversation went on, evidently concerning Akiko and Hatori. Shigure nodded and getsured for Ayame to come nearer.

Hatori blocked everything out of his mind.'I did not just kiss Akiko. I did not jut kiss Akiko.' he thought franctically. 'This is all a horrible nightmare. I'll wake up, and everything will be normal. There wasn't a mess up with the medicine and Akito is still male. I am entirely sane.'

Shigure and Ayame left the doorway. Rin had evidently said what she wanted to say. "We'll be back in a second Ha-san." said Ayame cheerfully. "Just going to get some food. Hatori nodded blankly. He was staring at the wall, completely expressionless.

Authors Note:

I thought I made is amply clear last time that this IS an AU (ALTERNATE UNIVERSE!) fic...meaning truths in the manga don't apply here. And that spoilers are unecessary and somewhat insulting. (sighs) on the plus side,I appreciate the reviews containing death threats if I deleted this :P heh hugs all

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Review please! (shameless...I know...)