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Just a little thing to point out, even though both Kyou-chan and I know about the secret of Akito in chapter uh... whatever it was, we've decided to ignore it for this story.

GirlWaterShaman: Yeah, I took forever posting because I haven't felt up to speed lately and I have to edit everything on top of my own stories as well...

Faerie-kittie306 animelover: Yeah, even though Akito loves Pohli he's really pissed off now.

Spirit of the Dead: Akito being mad is an understatement (sweat drops)

Konie Hime: Sorry for the long delay.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Arrival of White Day

(Pohli's POV)

"I swear I'll kill you right here!" Akito shouted and pulled a kitchen knife out of the drawer. I turned away in fear of what I might just witness even though there was a loud clatter as a struggle broke out between them.

No one truly loves me... Akito is just like everyone else...

"Do you think that just because my life ends soon that you can just take my place?! Well you can't! I'll murder you before you can!!!" Akito exerted as much force as he could and Jack was struggling to keep the knife from being driven into his throat. I looked up and saw the panic in Jack's eyes. I knew I had to tell Akito or he'd really kill Jack.

"Akito!" I shouted and scrambled to my feet. Even though he ignored me I threw my arms around his neck and leaned against his back. "I love you, Akito!"

Akito instantly froze and began stuttering to get his words out. "You... you don't love... Jack?" His body relaxed suddenly and the knife slipped from his hand to land on the kitchen floor with a clatter. I pressed my face into the small of his back and started to cry.

"No, I love you. I love you so much, I want to be with you, that's why..." I choked out through my tears.

He lowered his hands down to his sides and looked at the floor. The robe he was wearing was disarrayed, falling off his left shoulder and threatening to fall off the other as well.

"That's why I stayed. But if you don't want me..."

Akito pulled away from me and my throat tightened to the point of when I thought I would faint...

Aki was rejecting me...

I buried my head in my hands and tears trickled through my fingers.

Akito started to speak in a very quiet and dry voice, as if still struggling to get his words out. "I would sell my soul to the devil if it meant I could be with you for one more day." He whispered into my ear and slowly wrapped his arms around me. I threw myself into him. Right now I just wanted to be held by him, praying this moment when I was in his arms would never end.

I looked over Akito's shoulder and saw Jack. His face was cast down towards the floor as he walked past me and grabbed his bag off of the counter,leaving without another word.

After what seemed an eternity Akito asked in a small, quiet voice. "Why is there rice all over the floor?" I let out a small laugh and held him tighter. "Pohli..." He whispered into my ear, "I'm sorry." He rubbed my back and kissed my forehead gently.

I knew now that I had seen the true other side of Akito and I wanted to see it again someday. If not only for his sake but also for mine...

"Akito... Why do you hate Jack?" I whispered so that it was barely audible.

"Jack... Jack isn't going to die. Jack's going to live and he's going to take you someday. He's going to get everything." He kept stuttering and stumbling over the simplest words, choking over anything.

"No. No he won't, you aren't going to die! I won't let you. I'll save you, get you away from here forever. We'll just run away, leave them behind." I ran my fingers through his hair.

But the only response he gave was, "I'm so sorry..." Slowly he pulled his face back far enough that I could barely see his cheeks. Tears had stained his face just like mine.

"Pohli, you're crying." He lightly brushed a tear off of my face.

"So are you." I laughed quietly and stroked Akito's face. "I'll find a way to break the curse... even if it kills me."

"That wouldn't be good. I'd miss you." Akito smiled his creepy smile and drew me close before kissing me gently.

(Midori's POV)

I lay there in bed, too lazy to get up and go downstairs to face my sister and her scolding. Not only that but it was the morning of White Day and I wondered what Yuki was doing...

Staring at my plain and bare ceiling, an image of Tomo came to mind and I shook my head vigorously, repulsed by the very sight of him. Deep down he may be a nice guy but he acts like a wanna-be bad ass on the outside!

Wait a second... Tomo means twin... so who's his twin?

"Midori, you better get out of bed!" Megumi warned from outside my door.

I sighed and sat up with much effort. Ever since Pohli told me to meet her at the Sohma estate, I've gone everyday to visit but she either hasn't been around or won't answer the door.

I can't help but feel a little forgotten...

I feel totally cut off from my friends because I haven't seen a single Sohma since Valentine's Day... I just haven't felt like going to school... don't ask why.

So Akito could've murdered Pohli for all I know and I never would have found out.

"Saki is going to get angry if you don't go to school today." Megumi muttered as he walked past my bedroom door again.

What else is new? Can't say I really blame her though... after all, I've been missing school for about a month now and it's a wonder why I haven't been kicked out of the high school yet. But sometimes it does seem like her only hobby in life is ruining mine. Then again, with a friend like Tohru I guess it would make you want to take out your pent up frustration on someone else.

"She's coming." Megumi added as he passed my door for the third time that morning.

Immediately I sprang to my feet and threw on my school uniform, not even stopping to comb my bed hair before I quickly entered the hallway outside of my bedroom. Saki was coming up the stairs and paused when she saw me standing outside my door instead of locked within.

"Go to school." Saki ordered dryly and added in an undertone. "You've developed a bad habit of skipping school ever since last year."

That's because you sealed away my personality into Tsuka...

I walked past without giving my sister a second glance and headed outside to school. I could go a morning without breakfast anyway...

The weather was starting to warm up some, which was very nice indeed. The fact that it was White Day only made the day seem brighter!

"Midori?"

I paused and looked over my shoulder, smiling warmly at Yuki who returned the smile. "Hi Yuki. How have you been?"

"Well..." He trailed off as we walked side by side to school. "Hatori says Akito will probably die soon..."

"What?! But I thought Pohli said Hatori told her Akito was getting better!" I pointed out in confusion.

"Yes... that's what he told her. But Hatori knows better... Besides, if Akito can go a day without coughing up a lung it's considered 'doing better'." Yuki shifted his violet eyes to stare down at the ground. "Kyou is counting down the days until Akito dies and is even going to purchase fireworks to celebrate his passing."

"This'll break Pohli's heart if she finds out..." I mumbled sadly.

"That's why Hatori decided not to tell her yet. Even Akito himself doesn't know... but to be realistic, Pohli was lucky Akito even lived this long." Yuki sighed and glanced at me for a second, making me self-conscious of my messy bed head. "Normally the head of the family doesn't even live to be seventeen years old. But Akito got lucky since he will be twenty-one soon if he lives that long..."

"I see..." I trailed off in thought.

Yuki glanced over at me curiously. "Midori, I've been meaning to ask you..."

I instantly perked up. "Yes?"

"Why haven't you been in school for the past month?" Yuki wondered, shooting down my false hopes that he would ask me something a bit more... romantic!

"Well, you see..." I mumbled quietly and turned away.

Stay away from Yuki. He does not belong to you!

I shook those horrible words out of my head and smiled sweetly at Yuki. "It was nothing really important. I was just uh... sick for a long time."

"Oh! Are you feeling better now?" Yuki asked with concern.

I nodded. "I'm fine. In fact, I've never felt better!" Looking down at the ground, I figured I might as well go ahead and mention to him that it was White Day, just to see how he would react. "You know Yuki, today's-"

"Hey Midori!!!" Pohli shouted and ran up to us to walk alongside us both.

Don't get me wrong, I love Pohli like an older sister but sometimes she had the worst timing ever...

The school came into view and I started to feel really nervous, as if I had to tell someone what was on my mind before it drove me crazy. "Pohli, can I talk to you?" I asked, pulling her away from Yuki so we could talk in private. "Pohli, there's something I have to talk to you about..."

TO BE CONTINUED