GirlWaterShaman: I'm glad you thought so!
Spirit of the Dead: Sorry for the delay! (sweat drops)
Animeprincess1452: I hope you like this chapter too!
Konie Hime: Akito is uber creepy but we love him anyway.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Making up for things
(Midori's POV)
"Um… Hatsuharu-san?" I held the chocolate I had made for him behind my back and I sat down next to him by his locker.
"Hm? What?" Haru looked up at me with his brown eyes, telling me to go on.
"I made you some Valentine's Day chocolate." I showed him the package I had been hiding behind my back.
He looked at my hand as if it were holding a spider and sighed. "You did make some for Yuki didn't you?"
"Huh? Well yeah…" I replied, not knowing where this conversation would be going. "Are you busy this afternoon?"
"Listen…" Haru's tone darkened and he gave me a very serious look. "I think you really love Yuki. I don't know why you're chasing after me now but I swear that if you decide to just leave Yuki for me," His brown eyes narrowed. "I will make you pay."
I sat there, stunned.
He got up and looked at me suspiciously and snatched the chocolate out of my hand. "But I'll take this, thank you." And he trekked out of the school with the chocolate I gave him, not saying another word.
"He's right…" I mumbled to myself and leaned up against the lockers. "I'm acting like someone who goes after any boy she can find..." I pulled another package of chocolate out of my pocket and stared at it. "I should give this to Yuki and apologize for avoiding him lately…"
By the time I finally caught up to him, Yuki was leaving school. "Yuki-kun!"
Abruptly turning around, Yuki's violet eyes stared at me in bewilderment. "Midori-san?"
I stopped short of Yuki and stared down at the ground. "I've been avoiding you a lot lately and I'm sorry for it…" Handing him the package of homemade chocolate, not once did I make eye contact until he gently tilted my head up.
Noble Yuki just smiled at me gently. "Thank you very much for the chocolates, Midori-san."
If that wasn't enough of a surprise (and a relief), he then took my hand and lifted it to his lips, almost kissing it when he paused and met my eyes. Needless to say, I was really blushing now. Yuki truly was like a noble prince. Only a true gentleman takes the hand of a lady to kiss it but doesn't actually do so. I believe this was an old custom originating in Europe…
"I-it was nothing!" I stuttered out, blushing hard. Yuki just smiled down at me. "Hey, Yuki I need to go up to the main house to talk to Pohli and I was wondering if you could, or well if you'd like to go with me." I looked down at me feet and bit my lip terrified that he'd say 'no'… well say 'yes' for that matter too.
For a while he didn't respond, I peeped up at him. He was looking off into space with wide eyes… oh I knew that look all to well. The look of fear.
"Yuki, I'm sorry I-"
"No, its alright I'll come with you. It would be my pleasure," And with that he took my hand into his and together we walked to the Sohma house.
(Yuki's POV)
"So why did you need to see Pohli?" I asked casually as we walked together through the big gates that kept the rest of the world closed to the curse of the Sohma family.
"Oh, you see I have a hunch that she was the one who stole my lighter that she bought me."
I arched my eyebrows and looked at her confused. "She stole a lighter that she bought you?"
Midori shook her head. "Don't ask. I don't understand her either."
I nodded, still confused but it didn't matter anyway. My thoughts soon shifted back to the fact that I might soon be facing Akito again. Every time I run into Pohli… Akito is never far behind…
"So which house does she live in?" I started looking towards Haru and Kisa's houses off to the right.
"She lives in Akito's house."
I about choked when she said it so smoothly like nothing was wrong. "In Akito's house?!" I tried not to sound bothered by this but it didn't work to well.
"Uh huh, she said her room is right next to his, too. That's why Arisa disowned her you know, she called her a slut and everything." Midori explained in that same unconcerned voice.
I couldn't help but keep walking wide-eyed, just following Midori as she weaved in and out of the little pathways.
I personally had never talked to Pohli one on one; she had never seemed to have that time, in between her fights with Arisa and romancing with Akito. When I had first met her I had felt a small very tiny need to help her. I don't know why I did, there wasn't really a reason but the feeling didn't last long.
"Its just over here… I think." Midori jarred me out of my thoughts.
We turned a corner to see the large Sohma house but instead of going to the front door we stopped by a small-unadorned door on the corner.
Midori went up to it and started knocking as hard as she could.
"Pohli is such a heavy sleeper!" Midori explained, banging again but no one ever came. Fifteen minutes later we were still standing there, Midori banging on the door as loud as ever. Then she started the shouting.
"POHLI! IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF BED I'M GOING TO TELL AKITO ABOUT-" She stopped short of the secret and turned to me. "I don't think she's here. Lets go ask Hatori."
I nodded but had no idea about what Hatori had to do with any of this.
Hatori was on his way over to Akito's house now for a check-up and gave us a perturbed look when he noticed us.
"Why hello Hatori, you wouldn't have happened to see Pohli any where have you?" I asked melancholy."No, I thought she was with you." He looked at Midori with a glance that said nothing at all.
"No, I left her to go meet up with Yuki." She turned to me like it was my fault that we couldn't find her.
"She might be up with Akito; here I have to go check up on him why don't you two come along with me?" Hatori showed us his briefcase and together the three of us went into Akito's house.
"So, why do you to need to speak with her, last time I heard from her she was screaming at me over the phone about Akito being sick." Hatori said in a monotone.
Midori looked at him wide eyed, while we waited for Hatori to unlock the door.
"Akito is sick? Pohli's not going to be to happy about that." Midori mused worriedly.
"Akito is always sick." I whispered and Hatori finally unlocked the door and we paraded in.
Midori gaped as we all pulled off our shoes. And Hatori was already up the stairs when we finally stopped sliding on the slick marble floor in our socks and got to the carpeted stairs.
"Hurry up or I'll lock you out." Hatori threatened and we raced up the stairs.
(Midori's POV)
I skidded to a halt next to Yuki when we entered Akito's bedroom. Not only was it huge and fancy and nice looking and all that but… I saw Akito lying on the couch with Pohli wrapped in his arms. Yuki decided to take in the scene of the couch from the front since the couch faced away from the door. Hatori was setting his stuff on a nearby table behind the couch when Yuki's eyes widened in fright and he basically hit the deck!
I froze on instinct and Hatori paused as well. Curious as to what frightened Yuki I leaned over the couch reluctantly to see Akito's dark eyes half-opened and staring at the sleeping Pohli in his arms. All Akito had to do was look in the floor or turn his head to see the three of us watching him… I'd hate to see what he would do if that happened…
Akito snuggled closer to Pohli and I believe I saw him… licking her hand…
Thankfully it didn't take long for him to fall back asleep and Hatori motioned for Yuki and I to leave while he made sure Akito was okay. I tiptoed out of the room and sighed in relief when Yuki joined me. Silence passed between us before there was an angry shout from within Akito's room and a moment later a very sleepy looking Pohli stepped out of the room.
"Hey Midori, can you stop by again tomorrow?" Pohli rubbed her eyes.
"Sure." I nodded, wondering why Pohli would want to see me on our day off from school.
TO BE CONTINUED
Umi-chan: Sorry for the incredibly long wait but Kyou-chan had band while working on this chapter and I had writer's block so please forgive us! (bows apologetically)
Kyou-chan: My brain died…