"Ai Shi Teru "

Well, after several difficulties, I've finally completed the thried chapter. I have to start school in a few days so I'm not sure that I'll be able to finish chapter 4 or 5 in a while.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please R & R!

Disclaimer: Again, I do not own FruBa...Me? Creating Fruits Basket? It just wouldn't work!

Chapter 3:

A week past steadily, like everything hadn't changed, except for the scenery outside. It had been raining for the past few days, and no-one was allowed to walk outside since the water had reached higher than usual.

In the kitchens, like every morning, Shiyo was thinking of what breakfast she should cook for Akito.
'Today, I'll give Akito…hmmm…'
Shiyo tied on her apron.
'I'll give her…meat potato Karokke with Gomaae this morning.'

Upstairs, Akito surveyed the rain from the window.

"Outside," Akito said to herself, "full of brainless irrelevant morons."

There was a knock at the door.

"Finally, I was thinking why you were taking so long."

Akito turned around.

"Come in silly."

"It's your doctor here," a man claimed in a familiar tone, from behind the door.

Akito, already annoyed with confusion, stomped to the door and threw it open. Instead of setting eyes on Shiyo with her usual load of breakfast, Hatori stood in front of her.

"Oh, it's you Hatori. I'm expecting someone," said Akito, rolling her eyes in impatience.

"I am here for your check-up, and hers."

Without hesitating, Akito let Hatori in and closed the door behind her.

"She's busy. I don't think you'll be able to attend her."

Hatori set up his apparatus across the square table at the centre of the room.

"Is that so," said Hatori, "if she's busy than I'll have to wait."

He took out a daunting sharp needle. "Or I'll have to find her myself if she takes too long."

Akito narrowed her eyes.
"Don't talk to me in that tone," Akito ordered suspiciously, "and what is the purpose of that!"

She was now pointing at the needle he had taken out.

"Well, I will be taking a sample of your blood," informed Hatori.

There was a slight silence.

"Well not today."

"You're not going to put that thing anywhere near me!" Akito exclaimed.

Hatori instructed Akito to sit down, as he prepared his stethoscope. Hatori listened to Akito's heartbeat, telling her to breathe in and out every few seconds.

It was Hatori's duty to reserve his medical practices exclusively for the Souma's, especially Akito, whose condition was dangerous and unpredictable. Because of this, he was always concerned whether Shiyo was a victim of Akito's uncertainty, and had to make time to specifically inspect her body for any sign of impairment. Although Shiyo's health didn't have many difficulties, Hatori still had to constantly check her as a doctor's responsibility. Akito had been much calmer than usual, and Hatori thought it was to do with Shiyo's influence.
But there was another reason Hatori chose to visit Akito that morning rather than a usual check-up.

"I'm not just here for the usual inspection," Hatori told while inserting the stethoscope back in his case.

Akito looked at him expectantly.

"I must talk to you about her."

Akito's expression changed to sour.

"What is it about Shiyo," Akito mused, "that everyone seems to talk about? She's not anyone's responsibility. She isn't anyone's to have!"

"I understand your management of her," said Hatori, "yet she has worthwhile qualities."

Hatori's speech reminded Akito of what Kureno tried to discuss with her a week before.

"Of course I know. I know that she has these 'qualities'. What does everyone want?"

"What I'm trying to say is that Shiyo should experience and have an understanding of the world beyond the walls of this house, in order to release her true potential, and to perhaps help you."

"Help me?" Akito was confused. "How can she help me by leaving me?"

"I'm not saying that she'll leave you," Hatori reassured, "and perhaps she can assist you. She'll be able to help you more efficiently if she knows what happens around us. I assure you. It will indeed help her as well."

Akito unexpectedly stood up, staring at Hatori with an unpredictable look on her face.

"I…know…" Akito mumbled, though Hatori understood.

She walked over to the window, watching the rain for another time.

"Yes, I've seen her sometimes," Akito began, "reading intently and practicing her instruments, and her self defence. It's as if she was born to be busy, born to consistently serve. I do understand what you are proposing."

Hatori blinked with surprise.

"But whenever I look at her, I feel this strong sense of envy and longing that I can not understand. Perhaps it is the determination I yearn for, and maybe because she is like an inspiration, the way she works so hard yet willingly. I never accepted the fact that she was worth a lot more than I'd expect, but now I seem to think twice on the subject, but still I can't…"

Hatori glanced at his watch. "What is you verdict?" He asked.

Akito looked back at him, slowly opening her mouth to say something.

"If this is to progress," said Akito calmly, "than there are set conditions I need to enforce."

Akito looked back out the window.

"Shiyo is to always live with me, and report to me before anyone else. No-one is to know of her true identity, which includes her name, age and her curse. She is not to have a relationship of any kind with anyone, unless I approve of it. And finally, she must always attend to me everyday. Understand?"

"I understand, but…" confirmed Hatori until he was interrupted by the noise of the door slide open.

Shiyo stood at the door, holding a tray supporting steaming plates, a side bowl and other cutlery, giving off the distinctive scent of Karokke and Gomaae.

"Am I intruding?" Shiyo asked.

"No," Hatori answered, "in fact you're just on time for your check-up."

Shiyo gently placed the heavy tray of breakfast beside Akito then kneeled in front of Hatori as he got out his stethoscope out again.

While Shiyo sat their, she followed the instructions Hatori gave to her. Shiyo couldn't help notice Akito at the back of her eye.

'Akito is ever so quite.'

Akito always used to take no interest observing Shiyo's inspections.

"Now," said Hatori, "are there any disturbances you have anywhere?"

"No, I'm fine," she replied, as she replaced some clothing upon her body.

Hatori packed up then stood up.

"I am finished with you two today. Take care."

Hatori left, pondering over what he had told Akito.

Akito began eating away her breakfast. Shiyo sat watching, listening to the soothing sound of rain decrease with strength upon the roof. It took only seven minutes for Akito to finish.

"Shiyo, go downstairs and do something," Akito instructed.

"Pardon?" was Shiyo's reply.

Akito gulped down all of the water, then pushed the tray to Shiyo's direction.

"I said, take this downstairs and don't come back until I send for you."

Shiyo did what she was told.

That hour, Shiyo sat reading literature outside the kitchens. Most of the people living at the Souma house were in another part of the complex, either exchanging gossip, enjoying themselves, or looking after the household.

'I guess I'll have more time reading and practising. Today's already been quite awkward.'

She flipped over a page.

'Maybe I'll work more on my body today, if Akito doesn't send for me until noon.'

Shiyo practised memorising the last few pages she read for the rest of the morning. Shiyo was concerned about Akito. She usually didn't let her leave before noon.

After eating her meal for the day, she began practising her Biwa skills.

The rain had certainly pacified since the day before. The water had decreased in levels, and people were beginning to stroll outside again. But it wouldn't be long until the rain strengthened again, since the rainy season often brought many unexpected weather changes.

It was already two in the afternoon.

"What is Akito up to? She should be with Kureno by now."

Shiyo finished a melody and was about to return her Biwa back into its coffer, until she noticed a figure standing at the entrance.

"Please, don't stop playing," the man beseeched.

To Shiyo's disbelief, it was indeed a familiar, soft voice.

'Kureno?'

"It's been such a long time since we've exchanged a single glance. You've grown so."

Shiyo was so much in a state of shock that she dropped her instrument. She quickly kneeled down to reclaim it.

"Oh," said Kureno as he moved across the room, "is it broken? Please, let me help you."

Shiyo was penalizing herself mentally as Kureno's hands brushed against hers. Shiyo was amazed to see that Kureno had picked her instrument up instead of her.

"Here you are. I hope it isn't wrecked," Kureno hoped, with a beaming smile.

Shiyo sat there looking at him for a moment.

'Amazing. How long has it been exactly? He doesn't look much the same, nor does he sound it. But shouldn't he be with Akito at this time of day?'

She then realised her current situation and took back her Biwa, observing it.

"No, it isn't wrecked at all."

"That's good. I was wishing that you'd play it again. You're very good at it."

Shiyo looked back at him. She really wasn't experienced at talking to an individual other than Akito. She didn't know what to make with his words.

Shiyo began another melody. Before she knew it, Kureno was sitting closely next to her, the closest someone had ever been for all she knew. He just sat there watching her concentrate and listening at the same time.

-Flashback-

Shiyo sat in a corner, tuning her Biwa. The teenage Kureno entered the room, with a joyous grin.

'Shiyo? Do you mind if I listen to you playing? You must be superb!"

Shiyo blinked, as Kureno sat down next to her. She finished tuning and began playing. Kureno just sat their, watching without a word, to the curiosity of Shiyo.

The first part of the song was going well, until she hesitated on one of the strings and hit another by mistake.

'Sorry,' said Shiyo, 'I'll re-do that part.'

Kureno smiled. 'Its fine, Shiyo. It's natural to do something wrong, so you don't need to apologise, okay?'

-End of Flashback-

Shiyo blinked.

'It's a lot like when I first came here. He's not even talking, just listening. I wonder if he acts like this around other people.'

Shiyo made up for a minor error.

'Akito may want me any minute now and I need to do other things. But it would be impolite to stop. What should I do?'

"Miss Shiyo?" A woman was at the door.

Shiyo stopped playing. "Yes? Does Akito send for me?"

"Yes, right away."

She sighed with relief. Returning her instrument back in it's case, Kureno stood up.

"It was nice to see you again. Maybe we'll bump into one another soon. I look forward to it. Enjoy your day."

And with that he was gone. Shiyo was transfixed in her position.

'He what?'

"Miss?"

Shiyo's thought was interrupted. She had totally forgotten about the woman standing there. Shiyo packed up the rest of her things, and made her way back to Akito's rooms with haste, thinking of what had just occurred.

'I refuse to distract myself. Right now, Akito wants me with her.'

Shiyo paced faster until she reached Akito's door.

Well, thanx again for reading! Hope you liked it. If you have a complaint please review and I'll be sure I won't be so ignorant next time. Oh, and for those who read up to this chapter, I want your opinions of what you want to happen at the end, because I want to know how you'd react to the actual ending.
Thanx again for reading!