Chapter Five: The Enemy Moves
In the next couple of weeks, Takara kept track of Kyoko's progression on her pregnancy. Stephanie told Kaye all the news about her stepfather's sudden involvement and he was very happy for her. On Thursday morning the teacher informed the class that they were going to be working on a major project the first semester that would count a majority of their grade in their senior year.
"I have placed the list of people you will be working with on the chalkboard. The three groups will consist of eight people. Four boys, four girls. Please go up to the chalkboard and read off your name, and then gather with your group. Once you've done that," he continued, "Pick a group leader and then I will pass out your assignments."
The class moved forward to read the list. As it turned out Sakura and Kaye were surprisingly in the same group along with Soujiro and Yuriko, while Reiji and Stephanie were in a group with Kaori, Rei, and oddly enough Seitarou Naoki. Once they had gathered with their group along with two boys named Wataru and Kazuya and another girl named Yoko they then decided that Seitarou would be their leader and the teacher gave him their assignment. For the next hour of class they discussed where they would meet on the weekends. Wataru and Kazuya said that their places were off limits.
"My place is no good" Rei replied, "I live in an apartment."
"Too many people in my family" Kaori said, "We would never get anything done."
"That goes for me too" Reiji nodded although Stephanie knew the real reason.
"Well we could do it at my place" Stephanie replied, "I would suggest that we don't. My stepfathers not too keen about a large group like this due to the paparazzi."
"What about you Seitarou?" Kazuya asked.
"Well under the circumstances" Seitarou nodded with a smile as he folded his hands onto the desk and Kaori along with Yoko stared at his handsome features, "I would have to say my place would be the best option. There's lots of space, plus I am the only one who lives there."
"You mean that you live all alone?" Stephanie asked with a note of concern in her question.
"Yes" he nodded again.
"Oh how lonely" Kaori replied clasping her hands together.
"It's really not that big of a deal" Seitarou shrugged as she and Yoko listened intently.
"Okay then" Kazuya said standing up, "We'll meet at Naoki's place Saturday afternoon. All right?"
They all agreed and then separated for lunch. The entire time during the conversation despite listening to every word, Reiji had been eyeing the mysterious Mr. Naoki. Of course he had his reasons as usual for being so suspicious. He voiced his worries to Kaye over lunch and then promised on Saturday to look after her for him. Katsuya admitted that he thought Naoki was mysterious but wasn't really concerned about him. But if Reiji was worried he simply nodded his head and thanked him anyway.
(Next Scene)
When Saturday arrived Reiji packed up his bag with a bit of a frown determined as ever to keep his word. Rika poked her head through his door as he zipped up the bag.
"Where are you going big brother?" she asked him.
"I told you at dinner last night at the same time as mom and dad Rika" he began, "I have a class project to work on with my group today and I am going over to one of their houses."
"Oh yea. Be careful you don't transform if there are girls."
"I will."
"When will you be back?"
"Uh? No clue" he shrugged, "I'll see you later" he added as he departed from his room and headed for the front door.
(Next Scene)
Since they were both in the same group Reiji had suggested to Stephanie earlier in the week to pick her up so that they could walk to Naoki's place together. So he walked briskly to her house, stood outside her gate for a moment, and then walked into it in the direction of her front door where he promptly rang the doorbell. Sam who was sitting in the sitting room looking at paint samples that he and his sisters had gathered at the hardware store heard it and stood up at once to answer it. When he saw Reiji on the other side he frowned slightly.
"Can I help you?" he asked politely despite the frown.
"Uh yes" Reiji nodded, "I'm Reiji Sohma" he bowed his head.
"Sohma again?" Sam's eyes widened.
"Oh you must know my cousin Katsuya. I'm here to pick up Stephanie. We have a class project we're working on."
"Oh right, right. Yea, yea" Sam waved his suspicion off, "Come on in" he replied as he closed the door, "Wait a minute. You're sixteen?" he asked indicating his height.
"Yes" Reiji nodded his head with a slight frown himself.
"Oh. Okay" Sam said as Stephanie came down the stairs with her bag.
"Hello Reiji" she replied.
"Oh hey" he smiled, "You ready to go" he added with another smile as he saw Sophie appear and smile at him.
"Sure am. Uh Sam I'm not exactly certain when I'll be back though" she replied turning to her older brother.
"Oh don't worry about it" he shook his head, "It's a class project. Take your time."
"Okay. Maybe by the time I get home, you and Sophie will have an idea for a paint color," she teased.
"I wouldn't count on it" Sam replied rolling his eyes, "See you later" he said closing the door behind them as they walked out.
"Isn't he nice?" Sophie replied with a smile as Sam stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Yea. But is he really sixteen?"
"Yes. Where have you been?" she added as she walked into the living room and Sam sighed heavily.
(Next Scene)
It took Reiji and Stephanie almost twenty minutes to locate the part of Kyoto that Seitarou resided in.
"Man" Reiji sighed, "All I got to say is that I am glad that we left early."
"I think this is it" Stephanie stopped at a large gate after looking at the small slip of paper that contained his address.
"Huh?" he looked at the size of the gate, "This is it? It's so massive."
"Well let's go inside" she replied pushing open the gate and walking in with Reiji right behind her.
Inside they found themselves in an enormous courtyard filled with flowerbeds and one large fountain in the center. In front of them stood the house. Well technically right above them for the house stood at the top of two flights of stairs and was as large as the courtyard itself.
"Good grief" Reiji replied his eyes wide as he looked around, "I've never seen a house so large. I mean the main house is pretty big but it's surrounded by other houses and lies right on the ground. This is just one big house."
"And he lives in this place all by himself?" she thought as she looked around her and then heard two familiar voices from behind her.
"Hey" Kaori said with a grin as she and Rei joined them, "This place is gorgeous isn't it?"
"Yes. I was thinking something like that" Stephanie nodded.
"Well let's go on up" Rei said moving past, "The others are probably already here."
"You're right" Reiji nodded as the girls began to walk up the stairs and he thought to himself, "I had no idea that the Naoki family was so wealthy" he thought as he began to climb the stairs, "Maybe there is more to this guy after all, just like I thought."
When they arrived at the top Seitarou was the one who answered the door and soon they were all gathered in his enormous sitting room at a large table discussing their ideas for the project. Even though Seitarou was the group leader Kazuya and Wataru were doing most of the talking. Everyone had pitched in their ideas for the project, which was all about the history of Kyoto, and soon they had been talking for nearly two hours. Seitarou stretched and stood up getting everyone's attention at once.
"I suggest we all take a break" he replied, "I'll have some refreshments brought out to us."
"Great idea" Kazuya grinned agreeing.
"Can we have a tour of the house Seitarou?" Kaori and Yoko asked him eagerly.
"Of course" Seitarou nodded, "You can go anywhere you like in the house, except" he took his glasses off to clean them briefly, "That room over there" he pointed to the far off left where a door stood near the door that led to the balcony off the sitting room.
"Why?" Is that your bedroom or something?" Yoko asked flirtatiously as Kaori giggled.
"No" he grinned, "It's not my bedroom but it is my private study, so I would prefer no one to go in there" he added with a serious look in his eyes.
"Oh don't worry we won't" Kaori promised, "Come on Rei. Let's go take a look around."
"Okay" Rei nodded as she stood, "Coming Steph?" she added to the girl who was still sitting next to Reiji, who was eyeing Seitarou quite suspiciously as he in turn looked at Stephanie.
"No I think I'm just going to look out on the balcony" Stephanie shook her head as she stood up and headed in the direction of it while Rei and the other girls left.
Seitarou looked down at the three boys who remained in the room.
"The same thing goes for you three gentlemen" Seitarou said, "Mr. Sohma. You may go wherever you like, minus that room. Now I must go to see to the refreshments," he added politely before departing the room for the kitchen.
"Hmph" Reiji frowned placing his right cheek into the palm of his right hand, "Real smooth" he muttered to himself as the other two boys also excused themselves to go exploring.
(Next Scene)
When the refreshments had been brought out by some servants the others returned and dug in. Reiji snacked on some while he looked over some more paperwork, keeping one eye on Stephanie who was still on the balcony. After getting a cup of tea Seitarou too wandered onto it as shestared at the view.
"Beautiful isn't it?" he replied softly startling her a little.
"Huh? Oh Mr. Naoki. Yes it's very beautiful. I imagine that seeing sunsets from here must be amazing."
"And the sunrises too. If you get up early enough."
"Mhm."
"Tell me Miss Kamiya" he replied, "I'm sorry for asking you this, but I couldn't help but notice on the first day that I met you, but you're not really from Japan are you?"
"Uh no" she shook her head, "Not originally. I'm from America."
"Ah of course. I thought so. Which part of America are you from?"
"Chicago, Illinois."
"Oh. Beautiful city."
"You've been there?" she said surprised.
"Once. Only briefly" he nodded, "I do have to say I'm quite impressed with your Japanese. You speak it almost perfectly."
"Oh. I'm still learning" she blushed slightly at his compliment, "I have only been here a year after all."
"I see. And do you like it here? In Kyoto I mean?"
"Oh I love it here. I can't imagine not ever coming here now. What do you think about it Mr. Naoki?"
"Kyoto? It's actually quite nice compared to Tokyo in my opinion. I do prefer it."
"But doesn't it bother you living here all by yourself? What about your family?"
"Well let's just say that I don't exactly get along with them" he said staring out at the sky, "I'm better off on my own."
"Oh."
"But you seem to be adjusting quite well to your new surroundings for only a year. You've made a lot of friends and even have a boyfriend. Must be nice."
"Oh well" she replied not really knowing what to say.
"Ahem!" Reiji interrupted them loudly as he appeared behind them.
"Mr. Sohma?" Seitarou replied, "Have you come out here to look at the view?"
"Something like that" Reiji frowned, "But actually one of your servants asked me to get you. There's a problem in the kitchen."
"Oh I see. Please excuse me Miss Kamiya" he bowed his head departing.
"Of course" she nodded as Reiji took his place, "Reiji what's wrong?" she asked when she saw his face, "Why are you frowning?"
"I wouldn't trust that one if I were you" he warned.
"What do you mean?"
"I wouldn't be alone with that guy. There's something not right about him."
"How do you know?" she asked interested.
"I can feel it. I can always sense when something is wrong. I have very strong intuitions. Maybe it's because I am the dragon or something. I've also been watching him too and I've noticed."
"Noticed what?" she asked lowering her voice.
"He's been watching someone too. Lately his eyes have been on you."
"Me?"
"Mhm. I've been watching him. Since the very first day he came to our school he's been looking at you. Following you around even. I've seen it."
"So you've been following him too?"
"Look I am just trying to keep the promise I made with the oath. He can't be trusted," he added with a frown as Seitarou came back into the sitting room.
"Reiji" she replied gently, "I appreciate you protecting me like that but it's not like I haven't noticed it too."
"Huh?" he said a bit surprised.
"But if it makes you feel any better, I promise I'll never be alone with him if I can help it."
"Okay."
"Hey Reiji!" Kazuya called, "Come on in you two! We're finishing up in here!"
"We're coming!" Reiji called back, "Ladies first" he replied as she walked ahead of him into the room and he still could feel the worry in his heart.
(Next Scene)
Later that evening after everyone had departed; Seitarou walked to his study and closed the door behind him. He turned on his computer and saw the brown package that sat on his desk so he took his knife to open it. As the top came off he pulled a small leather book from out of it, blew off the dust, and grinned as he saw the title.
"Just what I have been waiting for" he told himself with a menacing smile.
Then he placed the book onto his desk and walked over to his bathroom, moving past a bed, to go take a bath. The sun was setting outside and the light shone on the cover of the book revealing the words:
Yotaro SohmaThe First Rat's Journal
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Sorry this is two days late. I've been real busy with work issues so I finally got this one written. Due to not enough time this week I am only giving you two chapters and the other one I will write tomorrow. So see you guys then!
Next Chapter: Alone with a Conspirator
Another week has passed and Reiji and Stephanie's group prepare to gather for another meeting at Seitarou's house. But with Reiji's symptoms of a cold and a sudden thunderstorm, Stephanie could find that she has no choice but to break her promise to him. Is Seitarou Naoki on the level or should she be mindful of Reiji's warning after all? Find out next time!