Yay! Chapter nine!
Yes, this is the chapter in which the new character will make her debut!
Also, this chapter is dedicated to my very good friend, Sarah (JewelStarBeauty) who is really supporting me in this chapter!
And, so sorry for the update delay (the GIGANTIC update delay I should say) but FFN wasn't letting me upload file for a while.
Now, time for the reviews!
Different Child: Oh yay! Thank you SO much Kai-Chan! That sounds wonderful:D
Xxtohruxchanxx: Umm, yeah, well, you're very welcome. '
Kiwadoi seiitsu: Umm, yes, right away! -..-
Mikomi-Chan: Yes ... Sa-Chan is already happy, and this she doesn't even know what's going to happen.
Someone I Don't Know: Yes, it was quite painful. But Sakura has been putting up a strong front. She doesn't like to be sympathized all that much. She prefers to be the one her loved ones depend on - not the other way around.
Reilly: Welcum.
EternalChaosDreamer: Yes, I know that if you were there, they would've been beaten to a bloody pulp. Oh, and thank you for the delish hot dogs!
White Alchemist Taya: Nyo. Thank you for your review! D
Thank you all reviewers! If it wasn't for you guys (and girls, mind you) I would never have any motivation to update!
Also, I DID indeed change my username to 'Dezu-Chan', which is supposedly my nickname (Desi) in japanese. I figure it's much more compatible than 'LilAngelicBaby'. '
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE CHARACTER WHO IS MAKING A DEBUT IN THIS CHAPTER. SHE IS PROPERTY OF JEWELSTARBEAUTY.
Now on with with Chappy nine!
Sakura's eyes opened, revealing her pink pupils to the mild light in the room. She didn't want to get up - just about every fragment of her body was aching. She looked over to her left and saw that Yuki had fallen asleep right there, his arms in a pretzel like position and his chin resting on them. Sakura shifted a little bit so she could be slightly more comfortable. Yuki didn't stir. Sakura glanced at the clock towards her right. It was seven. She had to get ready for school.
With a lot of effort, she managed to step out of bed. Even though she didn't intend to, her movements made Yuki wake up.
"Sakura-San...! N-No...I don't think you should go to school! I mean, um...Good morning..." whispered Yuki.
"Good morning Yuki-Kun." replied Sakura, in a tired almost monotone voice. She noticed there was a small pink note on her small dresser. It read:
-Sakura
You're school
uniform arrived today
in the mail. I ordered
it so that way you didn't
have to get in trouble
with any of the teachers.
It's on the top left drawer.
I hope it fits!
-Tohru
Sakura opened her top left drawer, and pulled out the uniform pieces: long sleeved shirt, small tie, short skirt, navy blue socks that reached the knees, etc. Sakura took out her black school shoes from the closet and left her bedroom to the bathroom to get dressed (Yuki was still by the bed, and she didn't want to be rude).
Meanwhile, at Kawaia High...
"You WHAT?" yelled out Motoko.
"'Scare the crap out of that dirty bitch. Show her not to ever go near Yuki again. Show her that Yuki really belongs to us!' That's what you told us!" replied one of the girls.
"Yeah, I didn't say to beat the crap out of her!" Motoko didn't know whether she enraged as she really posed it. There really were times when she wanted Sakura to feel pain, brutal pain. But still - wouldn't Yuki despise her now? Along with the rest of the Yuki Fan Club?
'I could care less for all those other girls.' Thought Motoko, 'But I can't let Yuki have anything against me...'
"Later girls...I need to confront some serious business..."
Later on during the day, at the time of dismissal...
Sakura, still feeling achey and a little weak too, decided to walk home by herself. Yuki had been exceptionally nice to her today - walking her from class to class, eating with her at lunch, etc. He seemed concerned that someone had wanted to hurt her, and so Sakura felt she should at least head home on her own.
"SAKURA!"
By the time Sakura had whipped her head around at the cry of her name, she was already on the ground with the sudden pressure of weight on her.
"SAKURA, I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!" With this, Sakura got a buckling hug.
Sakura flinched in pain when the sudden, almost furious pressure hit her wounds. But she smiled wonderously when she noticed who gave her this life-threatening hug...
... it was ... Naomi ...
She was a very pretty girl. She was also a cursed one, but very lucky - no abnormal colors of any kind. She had sparkling aqua eyes, and shimmering, onix black hair. She was wearing black jeans, and a red, long sleeved shirt - a combination of her favorite colors.
"Naomi..." whispered Sakura, "It's been ... quite a while."
"Yeah! I got some funds from my bank account, you know, the one I've had since I was, like, five! So, I had plenty for coming here AND even for renting a nearby apartment! Not to mention enough to stay at a hotel for a while until I can get the apartment! Seems I'm more loaded than I thought!"
"Eh? But Naomi, I mean, can't you stay...with me?"
Naomi paused, "Well, it's always good to have a 'Plan B', yeah?" Naomi replied cheerfully.
"Ewww! Look!" yelled out a familiar, unwanted voice, "The American freak is taking a liking to girls!"
Naomi and Sakura looked up from their position on the ground and saw a girl with dirty blonde hair up in pigtails, together with another girl with short red hair - Minami and Mio...
"You are such a bitch, Garnet!" blurted out Minami, "C'mon, Mio, let's leave this lesbo couple alone..."
"Oh, I just got here, you've already pissed me off!" yelled Naomi, snapping into a brutal rage. She snapped a long branch off of one of the nearby trees, and charged at the girls with it.
In sheer terror, the girls ran off, Naomi chasing them.
"Yeah, keep running you filthy vultures!" Naomi yelled, when she tripped over a ledge, and almost fell onto the ground, but thankfully, someone was there to cushion her fall.
Naomi was a little bit dazed, but then looked up to face her hero, and was dazzled by how handsome this strong man was. He had flaring, white and black hair, a few loops and his ears, and these gorgeous eyes...
"You okay...?" he asked, shocked.
"Y-Yeah..." replied Naomi, pushing some of her silky strands behind her left ear, "Umm...who are you?"
"H-Hatsuharu Sohma..." the young man replied, getting Naomi back to her feet.
"Umm, N-Naomi Garnet..."
"Uh, you know, err, you can just call me 'Haru'..."
"Haru..."
"Naomi-San!" cried out Sakura, running up to where Naomi and Haru stood.
"Huh? What's with the 'San'?" asked Naomi.
"Oh, um, sorry...Japanese dialect...it's getting to me..."
"Oh umm, Sakura, this is-"
"Hatsuharu Sohma. I know, I've met him before. Yuki introduced us." interrupted Sakura. Naomi's eyes widened both with shock and with delight.
"Oh yeah...Sakura right? You're the girl he's getting married to!" replied Haru.
Wrong thing to say...
You see, Naomi had no idea about Sakura's engagement. As a matter of fact, she was told Sakura was going to Japan for educational reasons. Being that Naomi can have very strong reactions (ex: scene where she chases girls with branch) Sakura did not want her to know or worry...
"WHAT! A WEEK AND YOU'RE ENGAGED!" yelled out Naomi in shock, "THINK THINGS OVER RATIONALLY! IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!"
"Umm, actually...Sakura doesn't have a choice..." mumbled Haru.
"What!" cried Naomi.
"It is...a forced marriage. My mother was part of this family..." said Sakura, "I don't have a choice, really."
"Oh..." Naomi's glazed eyes peered into Sakura's pink pupils. She was shocked, and a little hurt that Sakura hadn't told her before.
"Well then, since she's here and has no place to stay, Naomi's gonna have to go see Akito." said Haru.
"Who's Akito?"
"No, Haru, I'll talk to him about it." suggested Sakura.
"Who's Akito?"
"He's gonna want to see her eventually!" replied Haru.
"WHO THE HELL IS AKITO!" Haru and Sakura turned, finally noticing Naomi's demands.
"Umm..." Naomi gave a light blush, "...yeah, err, who's Akito?"
"Well, Akito-"
"She'll find out on her own...or not."interrupted Sakura., "I'll go talk to him about it...Haru, go walk Naomi to Shigure's...if anything, I'll see if there's an extra house on Sohma property..." Sakura then turned and left, walking in the direction of the main house area.
"Is...is she angry at me?" Naomi mumbled unhappily.
"Why would she be?"
"She...never just turned and left...without even saying 'bye' or 'see you later' or something..." Naomi looked down at her fumbling hands, "She's changed...I saw it in her eyes...she's...different..."
"Well..." replied Haru, "I didn't know Sakura before she came here, so I can't agree or disagree. C'mon, let me just walk you home."
And then, Haru quietly escorted Naomi home.
Later on ...
"So ... this is Sakura's cousin?" Yuki inquired.
Haru stood patiently at the door with Naomi, who at the moment was very confused. She didn't know who Yuki was, and this 'Akito' figure had a very vacant description.
"She has no place to stay, and-"
"Don't say that! I was originally planning on staying at a hotel, but Sakura doesn't want me to ..." Naomi interrupted.
"Well, it's not problem that she stays here. But we don't have any extra rooms." said Shigure.
"Don't be an idiot, Shigure. The girl can bunk with Sakura. Easy as pie." said Kyo.
"Well, then it's settled. This house is now one person bigger!" cheered Shigure, "And now there's one more girl to peek at while she's taking a shower!"
Naomi immediatly shielded her breasts with her arms, "WHAT?"
"Jackass!" yelled Kyo.
"Oops!" giggled Shigure, "Did I say that out loud?"
"Well then, I'll be leaving now. See ya!" And then Haru left.
"I hope you'll be comfortable here!" greeted Tohru, "I'll get a futon ready for you!" Tohru led Naomi to Sakura's room, where a futon was to be laid out as a nice little bed.
"So ... this is Sakura's bedroom?"
"Yes! She hasn't really made herself at home with it yet, but it is despite it's plain appearance." replied Tohru, setting up some pillows and sheets.
Naomi looked around, and this Tohru girl was right. There was only a bed, a dresser, a desk, and a wardrobe along with a closet. The room had no decoration in it, so it seemed so empty compared to Sakura's bedroom at home. She was always much more lively and cheerful, but this whole Japanese environment seemed to change not only her surroundings, but her own heart as well. So it was only Naomi's job to make sure to that, in the end, Sakura was happy.
'Even if it would cost my own happiness ...'
"Naomi-San?"
"Y-Yes, Tohru ... err ... San!" replied Naomi hastily.
"You're futon is ready ... dinner is going to be made in about an hour. Sakura should be home rather shortly. So, just make yourself comfortable ... where is your luggage?"
"It's suppose to be delivered here, to this address, by tomorrow morning. In the mean time, I'm sure Sakura wouldn't mind if I borrowed some clothes." Naomi replied with a grin. Tohru laughed and then left.
"Well then," Naomi said, hand and hips, scanning the room, "It looks like I have some work to do."
About two hours later ...
Sakura entered the house to the smell of food. She inhaled the delicious scent. She was hungry.
Upon entering the house, Naomi nearly hit her knee on the small table, raising herself up immediatly once Sakura entered the room.
"Sakura! Where have you been!"
" ... just taking care of business, Naomi ... I see dinner's ready."
"Yeah, Tohru-Kun cooks like ... wow!" Naomi happily exclaimed, "Come on, sit down and eat!"
Sakura hesitated, "No, it's okay. I already ate." Sakura lied. Even though she was hungry, there was just something inside her that made her ... not want to eat.
"Well then make believe you're hungry again." said Naomi, pushing Sakura into a seat at the table, "Eat." Naomi stared at Sakura sternly until she picked up her eating utensils and began to eat her food. Naomi had noticed that since she had left, Sakura looked like she had lost weight, big time.
After eating her fill, Sakura and Naomi headed towards their bedroom.
"You're bedroom was awfully plain, you know ..." said Naomi.
"I know." replied Sakura, "I just haven't been able to decorate."
"You're bedroom back at home was filled with stuff though ..."
"I know, but ..." Sakura immediatly stopped talking upon entering her bedroom. Her white, vacant walls were now coated with photos, posters of various celebrity hunks back in the US, and a sea green wallpaper. And then, her plain white sheets seemed to have magically transformed in bedset featuring a beautiful blue and green pattern.
"Holy crap ..." remarked Sakura, "Did you do this, Naomi?"
"Yup!" Naomi nodded with a grin.
Sakura looked around, dropping her bookbag at the door. It looked ... spiffy.
"You you like it?" Naomi asked in an excited tone.
"Y-Ya ..." replied Sakura almost in a whisper. The room reminded her of her old home, her old country.
Her old self.
Naomi knew it too - the environment caused a total switch in Sakura's personality. She used to be a cheerful, optimistic, and sassy girl like Naomi.
But she had changed in a matter of days ...
"Thank you, Naomi-San ... I really appreciate it." said Sakura, wrapping her arms around her dear friend.
"No problem, Sakura! But after that long hour flight, and all the decorating I've done in here, I'm pooped!" exclaimed Naomi cheerfully, plopping down into her futon.
"Your japanese isn't all that bad, Naomi-San." laughed Sakura, a bright smile on her face.
"Of course it isn't, but ... can you cut it with the 'san'? You talk to me as if I'm some sort of queen."
"Okay, Naomi. But ... I didn't see any luggage. Where did you get those pajamas? Did you-" Sakura suddenly realized that one of her pajama sets were missing, and then noticed it was in Naomi.
"My luggage is being delivered here early in the morning. I figured you wouldn't mind until then." Naomi replied, smiling. Sakura smiled back, turned off the lights, and settled into her own bed.
"What school are you going to?" Sakura suddenly asked out of the darkness.
"Kawaia High, where you're going. Why?"
"... does that mean you'll have to borrow my uniform too?"
Meanwhile, at the main house ...
"Tell me, Akito ... why Yuki is engaged to that Sakura Garnet woman?"
"I have my reasons. I've seen it in his eyes - he's become attached to that monster, Tohru Honda." Akito seemed to stir impatiently in his seat, taking a sip of his hot mint tea.
"Isn't that the same story with Kyo?"
"Of course ... but he will be locked up soon enough anyways - no need."
"This seems of such a minor reason, Akito ... either you're lying or there must be another reason why Yuki is being engaged to a complete stranger."
"Yes, there is ... you see, there is always more than one way to break a curse ..."
"What is your point?"
Akito smiled, "Well, in this case, we will not find any methods in a book ... I found out a way to break the curse ..."
"Why would you wish to do that? The curse is the only reason why everyone gives you what you want."
"That's shit. I'll get my wishes either way, I'll make sure of it ... but there is no way that I will die. Not so that others of non-importance can live."
"Well then ... what's your idea?"
"It will require a great overpower of unwanted emotion ... devastation ..."
" ... and?"
"Sakura has a different kind of curse ... a curse built on negative emotion ... when she goes into a complete sorrowful, desperate, devastated, or agitated state, she turns into a creature ... this creature can, if someone gets to close to it, make someones mind get to a suicidal state. All of their happiness will wither away ... leaving nothing but evil."
"What's the end result?"
"Well, the overpowering emotion can - and most probably will - shatter the bonds of the curse."
"How the hell does that happen?"
"I don't feel like explaining - it's too complicated."
"And ... what does any of this have to do with Yuki?"
Akito smirked, "He's damn your son. Figure it out for yourself.
I know ... really short and even more pointless. I promise a better chapter next time, and I'm SO SO SOOO sorry for the uber delay/\ Please forgive me of my nonsense!
Dezu