Okay, so this write at work thing is really working to get me writing more often. Here is another double update! I'm actually going to keep with this story, because I'm really close to finishing. – Merrow
It was an achingly beautiful day out. The sun was up and there were just enough clouds to make it comfortable to look up into the blue sky. It had progressed into real spring while they'd all been distracted. The trees were filled with green and blossoms. A slight wind kicked through the neighborhood, scattering petals and sweet spring scents.
Kyou walked a pace behind Tooru watching her hair flip back and forth in the slight breeze. A petal had got caught up in it about two streets back and was now thoroughly tangled in her thick hair. He restrained the urge to pluck it out. Barely.
"The weather is nice today." He said, and watched her flinch. It wasn't unusual for them to walk to school in silence, but usually the air between them didn't wear so heavy.
Tooru looked up and around like she just noticed they were outside. "It's beautiful." She said softly, she slowed a pace so they were walking side by side. "So, Kyou-kun does like spring?"
"When it's not raining."
She nodded and smiled. "Yes... I understand Kyou-kun's dislike for the rain." She looked back up into the treetops. "Summer is my favorite, but I like the flowers in spring. Mother used to say flowers are new beginnings."
Kyou peeked to the side. She'd collected more petals. One in her bangs and another working it's way into the hair just behind her ear. The temptation to run his fingers through her hair to cull them out was intense.
"This Sunday," he started awkwardly. "Do you want to come to Shishou's? He asks about you every time I go, and you haven't been for a while. For dinner."
"I'd love to!" She clapped her hands, "I haven't seen Shishou-san in a while!"
"Um... We'd better bring food..." Kyou blushed, "Shishou will try to make something, but he always burns it and I know he doesn't keep enough food in the house. If you don't mind."
"No, it will be fun to cook with Kyou-kun again." Tooru beamed at him, another petal catching in her hair. "I'll look forward to it!"
"You're a mess!" Kyou said stopping, "Here. Stand still." She turned to face him and he flicked his hands through her hair, dislodging the petals and tossing them aside. He maybe let his fingers run through her hair a little bit more then necessary, checking for petals that might have snuck past him. "There all done." He said smoothing her hair and tucking it back past her ears.
She grinned at him, her cheeks dusted with pink. "Thank you, Kyou-kun!" Her fingers traced where his had been.
Kyou nodded. The school was coming into view. The soccer club was taking advantage of the nice weather to have their early morning practice out of the yard. Their noise and shouts added to the pleasant atmosphere.
But it was lost on Tooru and Kyou as they walked into the building. Kyou's neck was so tight it felt like it was in a vise. He tried to loosen it up by stretching his head from side to side, like he was preparing for a fight. Tooru was trying very hard to keep from hunching her shoulders. She straightened her spine, forcing them down.
The sign for 2-D came into view and she swallowed. She glanced at Kyou, she still felt funny about him coming with her this morning but she was glad he was there.
She took a deep breath as she put her hand on the door. "Good morning!" She said as she opened it.
"Honda-san!" Fujitsima stood at the podium laying out the class journal. "I was hoping you'd be able to come." He grinned, and then his face fell as he realized who stood at her shoulder. "Kyou-kun came too?"
"I'm not going to hang out at the house with that damn guy." Kyou blustered and pushed past Tooru to throw his bag down on his desk. He sat down and stared resolutely out of the window.
"That guy?" Fujitsima said looking between Tooru and Kyou.
"Ah, oh, um..." Tooru fiddled with the handle of her bag. "Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun... that is to say... their relationship..."
"I don't have no kind of relationship with that damn rat!" Kyou-kun spat, "If I could make it so we weren't related I would!"
"They don't get along?" Fujitsima coughed.
"Something like that." Tooru smiled, "Fujitsima-san wanted to talk...?"
"Oh, uh..." Fujitsima glanced at Kyou. "Um... I have to pick up printouts from the teacher's office, why doesn't Honda-san walk with me?"
"Okay." Tooru put her bag on her desk and shot a smile at Kyou before turning to follow Fujitsima.
Kyou watched her go and pulled at his lip trying not to think about what that idiot wanted to talk about without him around.
:0:0:
"It's a nice day today, isn't it?" Tooru said awkwardly. "I'm glad it's finally getting warmer."
"It'll be raining soon though." Fujitsima said. "Um...Honda-san..."
"Yes?" Tooru watched him fidget. She clasped her hands behind her back to try to keep herself from following suit.
"Do you think it's a good idea to walk to school with Souma-kun and Kyou-kun?"
Tooru blinked at him. Her head had been crowded this morning with what Fujitsima might want to say to her. That hadn't even been on the list.
"Eh?"
"Um... well..." Fujitsima's cheeks went pink. "It's just that..." He looked at he ceiling, the floor, the posters in the hallway, anywhere but at her. "Well, it just might not be a good idea."
Tooru's brow wrinkled, thoroughly confused. "Eh?"
"Never mind." He sighed. "Anyway... I was wondering... I still owe you dinner, and..."
"Oh, Fujitsima-san doesn't owe me-"
"Honda-san will you go on another date with me?" Fujitsima said in a rush, interrupting her. They stood outside the teacher's lounge. They both jumped when the door opened.
"Are you here for 2-D's print outs?" The teacer looked between them. "You're the last ones, hurry up."
"Yes, Sensei!" They chorused and quickly picked up their stacks.
They were halfway back when Fujitsima finally coughed and said, "So, um...?"
"Oh, um..." Tooru responded. Go on another date? The first one had been... nerve-wracking. She knew him better now, so it shouldn't be so bad. But still, something made her feel strange for even thinking about it. "I'd... I'd have to ask."
"Ask? Your grandfather?" Fujitsima's eyebrows came together. "Is he that old-fashioned? I mean, I wouldn't think so with him letting you live with-"
Tooru looked at him with big eyes. There were other students in the hall, he wasn't actually going to say-
"Um... you know." Fujitsima finished lamely, noticing her panic last minute. "Uh, sorry."
"That's okay." Tooru said, trying to calm her heart. She paused, and then said, "No, Grandfather doesn't mind that sort of thing..." At least she supposed he didn't, she'd never even thought of asking.
"Then who...?" He looked and sounded hurt.
"Ano... Shigure-san..." She looked at him, already feeling guilty. He looked so disappointed, like puppy who'd had his favorite toy taken away. "The cooking, for dinner, I usually do it, so if I'm going to go out..."
"Oh..." Fujitsima said, looking surprised. "I hadn't thought of that." He chewed his lip a little. "Well, it's not like he'll say no, right?"
"Ummn..." She couldn't imagine Shigure saying no. But she felt terrible for asking, there were already so many nights she wasn't there to cook because of work already. Half the time they ended up eating out, which she hated. "No, probably not..."
"Then how about you ask him about Thursday night?" Fujitsima smiled.
"Oh, but work..." Tooru said. "Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays are my part-time job days."
"Oh." Fujitsima deflated a little. "And you can't miss...?"
Tooru looked down feeling guilty. She had missed work before, to spend time with friends. "Well, school tuition is due soon..." She babbled, her cheeks burning. She had the money to pay her tuition already, but she preferred to have a little extra, just in case.
The boy blinked, and his brow furrowed. "Doesn't Shigure-san help with that kind of thing?"
"Oh no!" Tooru said immediately, shocked. "I could never ask for anything like that! He's done so much for me. I wouldn't have a place to live, or food, or... " She waved a hand. "Shigure-san bought me a bed, even."
"A bed?" Fujitsima looked confused. "But your Grandfather-"
"Grandfather lives on his pension," Tooru said softly. "I couldn't ask him to..."
"Ah, well, then..." Fujitsima said, finally getting a clue that this was making her uncomfortable. "So Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the days when you are free."
"Um... Wednesdays..." Tooru began, hesitantly. She'd never seen Fujitsima look so obviously upset. "Yuki-kun has student council and comes home late, so dinner, I'd like to make it otherwise Yuki-kun will eat take out." He just stared at her. "That's not healthy! And Yuki-kun works so hard..."
"So Friday, Sat-" Fujitsima started. He stopped when he saw her bite her lip. "What?"
"Saturday I do laundry and chores around the house, and homework." Tooru said, shrinking into her pile of printouts. "And Sunday, Kyou-kun and I were going to go see Shishou-san... his father."
"So Friday, Friday you're free, right?" Fujitsima asked desperately.
"I'd have to ask-"
"Shigure-san." Fujitsima sighed, stopping as they reached the door of their classroom.
"Yes." Tooru said at the papers in her hands. Fujitsima was usually very laid back, but he seemed so agitated this morning. She could tell she'd upset him, and she felt horrible for it. He was so nice and considerate and all he wanted from her was some time.
"But," Fujitsima said, brightening. "He'll probably say yes, right?"
"Probably." Tooru nodded.
"Then, this Friday, if Shigure-san says it's ok, will you go out with me?"
"Ooooo, it's definitely spring time!" Tooru and Fujitsima looked to see the several students twittering and whispering inside the classroom. A couple of boys, friends of Fujistima, walked over. "Way to go, Studly."
"C'mon, guys, stop teasing." Fujitsima said flushing red. "Honda-san, I'll take the rest of the print outs."
Tooru handed him the papers; her own cheeks uncomfortably warm. The boys nudged each other.
"So you guys are going on another date?" One of the girls in their class asked, her smile causing her to dimple.
"If Honda-san can get permission." Maseo nodded, ignoring that Tooru hadn't actually said yes.
"Ooooh, when?" She asked walking up next to one of Fujitsima's friends. She looked between Tooru and Fujitsima expectantly.
"Friday, we were thinking." Maseo put the papers on the teacher's desk and walked back over to the cluster.
"Oh! Oh! Maseo-kun and Tooru-kun should come with us!" The girl said clapping. "After school on Friday we're going to view the cherry blossoms. Couples only!"
"Aaah!" Maseo pointed between the two, "Hisae-chan and Akira-kun are dating?
"Un!" Hisae nodded. "Two weeks now." The boy scratched the back of his head and blushed. She looked at Tooru, "It'll be fun, we girls are going to make box dinners and we'll all eat together." Hisae looked back over at Fujitsima, "C'mon, Maseo-kun, you always hang out with Tooru-kun's friends, we never get to see you anymore."
Tooru immediately felt guilty. She'd been wishing for a little more time to herself, she hadn't even thought that Fujitsima was taking time away from his other friends to spend with her. "I don't mind... if I can get permission." She qualified. It did sound like fun more fun then just pairing up alone. She'd never been on a group date before. It would probably be more relaxing; at least there would be more people to talk to. "What kind of food does Fujitsima-san like?"
"But I still owe Honda-san dinner." Fujitsima protested.
"I like cooking." Tooru flushed. She really wished he would stop saying he "owed" her. "I don't mind really."
"So formal!" Akira said teasingly, "Honda-san, Fujitsima-san. You two have already been on one date, you should act a little closer."
"Yes, yes!" Hisae agreed. "I mean, Maseo-kun calls me Hisae-chan, he should at least call the girl he's dating by her first name."
Both Tooru and Maseo blushed and glanced at each other. Fujitsima had already brought this up before, he obviously wanted to be more informal but Tooru felt uncomfortable. "Umn... Ano... That is..." She stuttered.
"Class is starting soon." Yuki stood by his desk and looked at the group coolly. "Everyone, please take your seats." He addressed the class as a whole, but was looking at Fujitsima and company as he spoke.
As the all moved to obey Tooru wondered when he arrived. He didn't look pleased at all. Had he woken up late? He always felt out of sorts if he did. She hoped he had a chance to eat breakfast. She looked at him worriedly.
Class started and Kyou watched Tooru, clenching and unclenching his hands. She hadn't even looked at him once, not since she'd come back. He'd heard the conversation between the Idiot's friends and her. So the Idiot had wanted her alone to ask her for a date. That was a pretty crappy reason to get someone to come in early, he thought. Stupid cherry blossoms, he knew they were trouble, but at least they wouldn't be alone if they went out. Who did she need to get permission from?
Yuki resisted the urge to turn and look at Tooru. He'd been upset when he'd woken and found both the baka neko and Tooru gone. A note on the table explained where she'd gone. He'd wanted to wake up early and go with her, but as usually his body didn't listen to him about that kind of thing. He'd eaten breakfast alone. Shigure hadn't stirred. He hadn't had to do that in a long time, he'd forgotten how much he hated it. He would've skipped the meal altogether if Tooru wouldn't have been upset when she saw the leftovers. Then he'd come in to see her standing with that guy and talking about making plans for Friday. He'd been able to restrain himself until he heard them try to pressure Tooru into calling that guy by his first name.
She'd gone so red and flustered; he couldn't help but intervene. He could tell she didn't want to. It made him feel a little soothed since she could say his name easily and hadn't seemed to have any trouble right from the first time she'd called him by it.
"Souma Yuki."
Yuki looked up at the teacher, wondering what he'd missed.
"Please read from line 133. I shouldn't have to remind the student council president to pay attention in class."
Yuki stood and held his book out, cursing his fair skin and the red blush marring his cheeks. "Yes, Sensei. Sorry, Sensei."
"I suppose even student council presidents are effected by spring," the teacher smiled. "Now please begin."
Yuki read the paragraph and sat down, ignoring the sniggers behind his back. Today was shaping up to be a rather unpleasant day.
:0:0:
Tooru was distracted from staring at Yuki's back when a little piece of paper materialized by her hand. It was folded in the complicated way notes from teenagers were. She picked it up and put it in her lap. She glanced around, the note couldn't have been from Uo-chan or Hana-chan, they knew how easy it was to unnerve her in class. Yuki-kun or Kyou-kun wouldn't do anything like that either. She noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Hisae, glanced at the teacher to make sure he wasn't looking her way, and then gave a little wave. The note was from her.
Tooru unwrapped it, feeling like the teacher was going to come and catch her any minute. Hana-chan looked back at her with a slight frown. She glanced at the paper in her hand. Eat lunch with us today, we'll talk about Friday. She looked back up at Hisae who gave her a secretive thumbs up and a grin.
She looked back at the note. She and Hisae had been classmates for years, much like she and Fujitsima had. She couldn't recall ever speaking to Hisae, other then in passing. She was a short, cute girl with a curly bob. She claimed it was natural but everyone knew she had a perm. Tooru wasn't able to call up much other information, except she thought she might be on the volleyball team despite her small size. She was pretty sure she'd spoken more often to Mitsuwa Akira, her boyfriend, who liked to tease Kyou and anyone else he could get a rise out of. Tooru hadn't eaten lunch with anyone other then Uo-chan and Hana-chan since middle school.
And if she ate with Hisae, Mitsuwa and Fujitsima she wouldn't get a chance to talk to Yuki at all today. She pretended to look forward at the teacher, but really studied his back. He was acting so distracted today, she wondered if he was feeling well. He was such a hard worker, that she knew he'd come to school even if he was getting a fever. She had her part-time job after school, so she wouldn't see him until he came to walk her home. She twisted the note between her fingers. Her stomach was knotting, and she was pretty sure she wouldn't be able to eat lunch either way.
When lunch finally came around she stood at her desk unsure of what to do. Uo-chan and Hana-chan moved towards her, and Yuki and Kyou, but Hisae got there first.
"Tooru-chan is going to eat lunch with us today." She said cheerfully, linking her arm with Tooru's. "It's really nice out today, why don't we eat outside by the fence?"
"Um." Tooru said looking at her friends. "Why don't we all eat together?" She looked between Hisae and the others, all clumped up together. "If that's okay?"
Hisae looked a little doubtful. "If they don't mind us making plans in front of them for Friday, I don't mind."
"Whatever." Kyou said, looking like he did mind. "Lets just go eat. I'm hungry."
They all left as a group and settled on the soft grass by the fence.
"So our Tooru is going on another date, eh?" Uo-chan looked at Maseo. "Gutsy, taking her out with out asking permission."
"I'll be forgotten." Hanajima said, looking blank faced into her bento. "Tooru-chan will forget to call, and I'll be left alone."
"You sound like an in-law." Uo said, "Like you're her mother."
"Oh, no, I'm sure Kyoko-san would have been much scarier then I with a suitor for Tooru-chan." Hana disagreed. "She probably would have set trials, like walking on glass, or through fire."
"Maybe nothing
that bad, but in her place, we'll have to do it instead."
Uo-chan
looked at Maseo. "We made a promise to Kyoko-san to look after
Tooru, so don't think you can get by without asking us for permission
and that you have to answer to us if you hurt her."
"Ha-ha-ha." Fujitsima laughed easily, completely missing their very real menace. "I'll keep that in mind."
Tooru laughed weakly. It was awkward to have people sit around and discuss you while you sat right there.
"So," Hisae said, looking a little nervous, "Friday! It still gets dark early, so I say we leave right after school!"
"Which park are we going to?" Fujitsima asked, sipping from a juice box. "One within walking distance?"
"I thought the one over by Fujiwara bakery. We could stop and get some sticky buns." Hisae's dimples deepened.
"You just want the sticky buns." Akira laughed. Hisae pouted at him and he put his hands up in mock surrender. "That's fine by me. That's not far from here at all."
"So, we'll have to make dinner the night before or that morning. We'd planned to all share. Miki and Akane are coming too, Akane makes great sausages, so that's what she's going to bring. I was going to do sandwiches. Croquettes!" Hisae ticked the different things they were going to make off on her fingers. "I figure all three of us bring tea." She dimpled again, "Because of our class cafe I know Tooru-chan makes great onigiri, why don't you bring that?"
"For six people?" Tooru asked, trying to think if they had enough rice. She'd have to buy more either way, since it wasn't fair to use the rice Shigure paid for to make onigiri for a group date. Did she have enough money this month to cover it?
"Honda-san has to work the night before, doesn't she?" Yuki asked, nibbling at his lunch. "Will you have time to make all that?"
Her brow puckered, she hadn't thought of that. "If I get up early..."
"You're working till eleven!" Kyou said crossing his arms. "You're gonna make yourself sick if you do that."
Hisae looked between the two boys. "I didn't realize..." She wagged her hands to calm them down.
"How does Kyou-kun know that she gets off at eleven?" Akira asked suddenly. He broke into a wicked grin, "Maybe Honda and Kyou have a special relationship?" He winked at Tooru and watched her blush.
"Quit spreading rumors! You're not funny." Kyou said huffily. "Unlike some people," he glanced at Fujitsima, "I listen when people talk. She always gets off at eleven on Thursdays."
"It's just
Honda-san and her Grandfather." Yuki explained, picking at his
food, the lie coming easily. "On the days she works she has to
make breakfast and lunch and dinner all the same time for both of
them. And if she goes out the next day, she has to do it again. It
would be hard to do all that and make onigiri too. I'm afraid we took
too much
advantage of Honda-san when we had our school festival."
"Ah!" Fujitsima said, tapping the bottom of his fist into his palm. "I know, I'll buy the onigiri!" He grinned at Tooru. "I owe Honda-san dinner anyway, so I'll buy onigiri for everyone!" He looked at Akira and Hisae. "I know it's not as good, but at least it's something right?"
"That's fine! That's fine!" Hisae was quick to agree. She looked apologetically at Tooru. "I just didn't realize..." She tried not to glance at the Souma boys. They were intimidating just being themselves. She got the distinct feeling that both of them were mad at her, which was even more unnerving. Especially when that redhead looked at you with those weird crimson eyes. What nationality could he possibly be mixed with that gave those color eyes?
"Oh, no!" Tooru waved her hands quickly. "I really wouldn't have minded, if it was any other day..."
"It's hard to schedule in time!" Fujitsima laughed, trying obviously to lighten the mood. "Honda-san is always working or doing something for her...er... family." He stumbled over the last bit, glancing at Yuki and Kyou. "She practically has no free time at all."
"That's no fun!" Hisae said, slapping lightly at Tooru's knee. "You're young, you should be having fun now. You should quit your part-time job."
"Oh, but I couldn't!" Tooru said, "Tuition and other expenses..."
"Expenses? Honda-san talks like an old lady." Akira said teasingly. "She's so old-fashioned."
"Yeah, like what's with still calling Maseo-kun by his last name?" Hisae latched on to the change of subject. "But, then, you don't even call Arisa-san or Saki-san by their first names do you?" She said, "And you've been friends for years. Why is that?"
"I think it's cute," Yuki said suddenly, "Honda-san's speech." He picked out a few vegetables from his box. "Your Grandfather said you speak like your father, didn't he?"
"That's what he said, and Mother said that father used to speak very formally." Tooru nodded, blushing at the compliment. Yuki said she was cute, in front of all these people! The casual compliment took her completely off-guard, and even though she liked it, it made her worry about him more. He never said that kind of thing in front of other people.
It seemed to have unnerved the whole group. There was a moment of silence. Fujitsima was staring at Yuki, his brows furrowed. Hana-chan smiled and continued to eat her lunch, leaning a little towards the mouse as if basking in invisible rays. Hisae's mouth gaped open, the gregarious girl taken completely by surprise. Akira was caught mid-munch, a sandwich forgotten in his mouth. Kyou was glaring at Yuki and Uo-chan was watching as if it was the best sport ever.
"Um...ah..." Hisae stumbled. "So...how did you start to call your friends by their nicknames?"
"Oh, Mother decided on Uo-chan's the first time they met." Tooru said, eager to move past the awkward moment.
"Yeah, then it was Uo-chan, Uo-chan." Uotani waved a hand, "Never mind if I liked it or not."
"Uo-chan doesn't like it?" Tooru said anxiously.
"No, no, it's fine." She patted Tooru's head like a puppy.
"If she didn't like it, she wouldn't have decided that I would be Hana-chan the first time we met." Hana-chan said, opening a small bag of chips and delicately plucking one out. "As she said "going by mother's standard" I would be Hana-chan."
"Oh, then..." Hisae grinned, "If we went by Tooru-chan's Mother's standard, Fujitsima would be Fuji-kun! No! No! Fuji-san, that's what Tooru-chan should call him!"
"Fuji-san?" Fujitsima rolled it around. "It feels like you're referring to the mountain instead of a person."
"That's appropriate then, isn't it. It's fish, "Uo", flower, "Hana", and the mountain, "Fuji"!" Hisae clapped, proud of herself. She turned to Tooru and commanded cheerfully, "Try it out!"
"Umn... Fuji...san?" She said awkwardly. She glanced at Fujitsima out of the corner of her eye.
Fujitsima blushed bright red.
"See, much better then "Fujitsima."" Hisae grinned. "Don't you think so?"
"I...uh, like it." Fujitsima said. He had a goofy grin on his face.
Tooru bit her lip and looked into her mostly untouched lunchbox. It seemed awfully intimate to call someone by a nickname like that. But it obviously made him happy, and she supposed she'd get used to it.
"Oi! Eat your lunch." Kyou interrupted suddenly, jabbing his chopsticks at her. "You're working tonight, and lunch is almost over."
"Oh, yes! Ok." She said and plucked up a small piece of egg and began eating.
"Kyou-kun is like a mother hen." Akira teased. "You're going to make your girlfriend jealous fussing over Honda like that."
"What girlfriend?" Kyou said sitting up straight.
Akira looked deceptively innocent, wagging his chopsticks between Uotani and Kyou. "Eh? But you two have such a good relationship, like a married couple, I just assumed-"
"You assumed wrong!" Kyou shouted. "Like I'd date that Yankee!"
"Like I'd let you, Orange head!" Uotani shouted back, she turned to Akira, "How could you think I'd be interested in a stupid guy like him?"
"What an interesting variety of vibrations today." Hana-chan commented idly, packing up her finished lunch. "We should do this more often."
"It seems a little noisy to me." Yuki commented, still picking at his lunch, trying to ignore the fight going on beside him. He really disliked the idea of Tooru calling Fujitsima a cute nickname.
"Is Yuki-kun not feeling well?" Tooru asked, her chopsticks pausing. "You haven't eaten very much. Isn't it good?" She looked worriedly back and forth between her lunch box and his. She'd made them the same thing, and hers tasted fine but that didn't mean something hadn't gone wrong when she put his together.
"No, it's fine." He glanced at Hisae and Akira. He'd already let it be known in class that Tooru made his lunch, but it hadn't been really picked up by the rumor mill. He'd planned to let it drop. "I suppose I'm a little tired today."
"Yuki-kun isn't getting a cold, is he?" Tooru wanted to lean forward and test his forehead. He always ate less when he was getting sick. But she was afraid of Akira; she knew Yuki hated being teased.
"No." Yuki gave her a little smile, her concern brightening his mood just a little bit. "I'm fine, really. Thank you for being concerned."
"You are acting a little strange today, Prince." Uotani said, finally finishing her fight with Kyou by ignoring him. "You're not your regular perfect self."
"Oh." Yuki said, closing up his lunch box and standing. "Sorry for not being perfect." His mood plummeted back down. Was he being that obviously upset? Could they tell that he was so jealous he could break something? "I'm going to go back ahead."
"O-ok." Tooru said, following him with her eyes as he walked stiffly back to the building. She wondered if she could sneak a moment with him later on and tell him not to come pick her up from work. He was obviously not feeling well and should rest.
"Wow, so that's Prince Yuki." Hisae said, "I'd always heard he was polite and kind, but he's kind of different in person, isn't he?"
"Yuki-kun is polite and kind." Tooru said, tensing at the implication that he wasn't. Yuki was one of the sweetest, kindest people she knew.
"The Prince ain't bad, once you get to know him." Uotani agreed, finishing up her sandwich. "He's an okay guy."
"But he seems so cold and intimidating." Hisae carefully reassembled her bento box and retied her napkin around it. "I don't know how you ever got to be friends with him, Tooru-chan. I'd be too afraid to talk to him. I don't think he likes other people very much. At least not regular people."
"He seems to like Honda okay." Akira grinned. "He thinks she's cuuuute." He drawled out the last word, enjoying the flustered look Tooru got.
Hisae giggled, "I know, that surprised me!"
"Why?" Hanajima asked, sparks cracking around her. "Tooru-chan is cute."
Akira and Hisae exchanged nervous looks. "Of course she is!" Hisae said, "Its just surprising to hear Prince Yuki say that."
Her boyfriend cleared his throat, unable to miss an opportunity to tease. "Could it be..." He said hesitantly, "That Hanajima likes Prince Yuki?"
Hanajima blinked at him in surprise, and seemed to consider the question, turning it over in her mind. "I..." she said slowly. "Have gained a respect for him, since coming to know him. I consider him a friend." She sounded surprised by her own conclusion. "I do not have romantic leanings towards him." She clarified. She didn't blush, fluster or get angry.
"Oh." Akira said, disappointed and a little relieved.
Kyou stood, "Class is gonna start soon. We should get back." He looked down at Tooru's bento, still half-eaten. "Dummy, you didn't finish."
She closed it up and stood, giving him a weak smile. "I had plenty."
"I'll walk you to work today." Fujitsima said, stepping close to her as if claiming a right. "We'll get a snack on the way, so you'll have plenty of energy for work."
"Thank you, Fuji...san" Tooru stumbled over the new nickname, feeling awkward. "But that's okay, I brought a dinner with me today too. I'll be fine."
"We better get back." Uo-chan brushed her skirt off and started off, Hana-chan following.
Kyou glanced at Tooru and Fujitsima before starting back reluctantly. Hisae squeezed between them and linked arms with Tooru. "We didn't get much of a chance to talk, lets you and I walk back together." She grinned impishly at Akira and Fujitsima. "You guys talk about... guy stuff."
"Yes, Dear." Akira grinned. "I'll give Fuji-san some dating tips."
"Cut it out!" Fujitsima blushed, "It's not cute when you say it."
"But it's cute when Honda says it?" Akira teased, running ahead a little making Fujitsima chase him.
"So, when will you know for sure that you're coming on Friday?" Hisae said, taking back Tooru's attention.
"Um... I'll ask tonight." Tooru said, "So tomorrow..."
"Is your grandfather likely to say no?" Hisae asked.
"Oh, no... that is..." Tooru didn't correct her assumption. "I shouldn't have a problem, it's only that I usually cook..."
"You're so domestic." Hisae said enviously, "You always get best marks in home ec. I'm jealous. Guys really like that, you know."
"Eh,heh, heh." Tooru blushed.
"And that!" She pointed to Tooru's cheeks, "You blush so easily! You're so cute! No wonder you've got so many boys chasing you."
"Eh?" Tooru said blinking.
"Kyou-kun, Prince Yuki and now Maseo..." Hisae dimpled. "We all think Maseo's pretty brave to try to compete. But don't add him to your harem unless you really love him, okay? He'd really a gentle guy, he gets hurt easy."
"H-harem?" Tooru sputtered to a stop just before the classroom door. "N-no, it's not like that! Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun... they... it's not..."
"But it is with Maseo?" Hisae grabbed Tooru's hands, and rocked back and forth. "Can I tell him? He likes you so much! We've been friends since forever, we live right next door, you know. He's liked you for ages! Ever since middle school."
"Really?" Tooru said. She hadn't even noticed him. Not once. "Um... I..." She didn't know what to say.
"Oh, class is about to start." Hisae glanced towards the classroom and dropped Tooru's hands. "I'll let you tell him, just don't take too long. He thinks that maybe you don't really like him. He may not seem it, but he can be kind of insecure." She looked at her and grinned. "Let's get inside before Sensei yells." She darted in and settled into her seat.
Tooru followed, a little slower and her mind going a million miles a minute. Hisae thought the Yuki and Kyou liked her the way that Fujitsima did, in a love letter kind of way. Fujitsima had liked her for years. She wasn't able to keep her mind on anything that was going on in class. "We all think..." who was "We all"? She'd always had a small world. First it had been her and her mother, then her mother and her girlfriends, now it was much larger... all the Soumas had filled up little areas she hadn't even realized were empty. Her life had expanded so much, but now she was realizing just how small it still was. She'd never paid all that much attention to her fellow students, other then Uo-chan and Hana-chan. She'd assumed that her fellow students were returning the favor by not paying much attention to her. Obviously, she was wrong.
Everyone seemed to have a different interpretation of what was going on around her. She just wished she knew what was the true one.
:0:0:
She was fretting. Kyou slouched in his seat, ignoring the teacher and whatever lesson he might be teaching. His attention was focused on the back of her head. Tooru was fretting, if she was in a manga there would be dark clouds and little swirls above her head. She was going to make herself sick. He'd at least made sure that she had a good breakfast, but she hadn't eaten even close to half of her lunch. She'd made a stew for dinner; he was going to make sure she ate before she went to bed. He glanced to the side at Fujitsima. Kyou straightened. The idiot was staring at him. He glared back at him. It was all his fault, making her get up early, all that date talk, and annoying friends. If Tooru got sick... his eyes slid back to her seat.
When class went into study hall, Kyou got up to walk to Tooru's desk. He wanted to look at her face, if she was worrying herself into a fever she'd be looking pale and peaked by now. Maybe she could skip work today...
"Kyou-kun."
He glanced to the side at the idiot. "What?" he asked, watching Hanajima walk over to Tooru and begin to finger comb her hair. Tooru started and looked up at her as if she hadn't even noticed her come over. She was definitely out of it. Uo-chan and Yuki were crowding around now too. She'd be trying to hide it if she wasn't feeling well. He cursed to himself. He'd missed his opportunity.
"Can, uh, we talk for a minute, after school?" Fujitsima fiddled with his tie.
"About what?" Kyou asked, finally turning his attention fully to him. "Let's talk now." He didn't want to have to waste his afternoon talking to the idiot about some stupid TV show or something.
"We can't... here." Fujitsima looked around at the other students significantly. "It'll just take a couple of minutes. I promise."
"I thought you were walking her to work." Kyou jutted his chin at Tooru.
"We can talk while she's getting her stuff. It'll be that quick." Fujitsima said, and then repeated. "Promise!"
"Okay, fine, whatever." Kyou said watching Uo-chan scold Tooru. She was obediently opening up her bento again and eating under Uo-chan's watchful eyes. At least the Yankee was good for something.
"Over behind the lockers then?" Fujitsima pressed.
"Fine already!" Kyou said, exasperated.
"Fujitsima-kun." The teacher called. "Please go get the study materials from the copy room. Bring someone with you, there is a lot to carry."
The class groaned, a lot to carry usually meant a lot of work.
"Yes, Sensei. Souma-kun." Fujitsima said looking at Yuki, "Would you please help me?"
Yuki looked up from Tooru's desk. She looked between Fujitsima and Yuki. "Of course." Yuki replied. "I'll talk to you later, Honda-san. You can keep looking over my notes." He handed her his notebook. "We'll go over them when we study."
"Thank you, Yuki-kun." Tooru smiled. "I'll study hard." As an afterthought she turned to give a weak smile to Fujitsima.
The two boys walked out the door. Yuki gave a little sigh to himself. He was already in a bad mood. Was Tooru's useless suitor going to try to "make friends" the way he had with the stupid cat? If so, Yuki planned to put a quick end to that idea. The other boy kept sneaking glances at him, but it wasn't until they'd gotten the boxes from the copy room and were halfway back that he finally got the courage to break the silence.
"Um... Souma-kun," Fujitsima began, looking at him nervously out of the corner of his eye. "I...uh..."
"Yes?" Yuki prompted impatiently.
"I think you shouldn't talk so much to Honda-san in school." Fujitsima said in a rush.
Yuki stopped and stared at the other boy. "What?" His fingers dug into the corners of the box he was holding.
"And, maybe, not be so... friendly with her, like eating lunch and stuff with her." Fujitsima continued, not meeting his eyes. "Or walking to school."
"Who Honda-san spends her time with is her business." Yuki said turning and starting back before he gave into the urge to rip apart the other boy.
Fujitsima caught up with him just outside the classroom door. "But don't you see you're causing problems for Honda-san?" Fujitsima puffed. "No one understands that you're just like a brother to her. They think you're, you know, interested in her. A lot of the other girls are jealous, and everyone talks about how you're nicer to her then you are to anyone else. I know you aren't-"
"You're wrong." Yuki interrupted. "Honda-san is not like a sister to me. And I am not her brother."
Fujitsima swallowed. He'd never seen "Prince Yuki" so angry. His purple eyes, usually bland and noncommittal, were snapping. His mouth was a hard line and his whole body stiff and straight. The way Yuki looked down at him, even though he couldn't have been more then an inch or two taller, made him feel like a bug.
"Not a sister...?" Fujitsima repeated faintly. "But-"
"Honda-san is very important to me." Yuki said icily. "But that is my business, not anyone else's." He broke eye contact with Fujitsima allowing him time to remember how to breathe. "Mine and Honda-san's." He said softly.
"But..." Fujitsima started.
"I don't care what the other students are saying." Yuki said, "Honda-san is very important to me, I will not be dictated who I can and can't speak to. Not by someone who has no right." He opened the classroom door and marched to the front, firmly placing his box on the teacher's desk before spinning on his heel and walking back to his desk.
Fujitsima followed slowly, shell-shocked and looking like he'd seen a ghost. He put his box down next to Yuki's and walked back to his desk, sliding into his seat.
"As you know we have a test next week, these will be your study guides." The teacher said reaching into the boxes and pulling out packets of papers. He handed them out to the class. "We'll be spending a hour each day reviewing the contents." The class groaned again, their study hall was usually used as a relaxation period, but it looked like that was coming to an end.
Tooru looked between Yuki and Fujitsima. She hadn't seen Yuki so angry in a long time. Not even Ayame or Kyou got him that upset. He was still sitting ramrod straight at his desk; he was so stiff that it looked like he'd shatter if he tried to turn his head too fast. She glanced back at Fujitsima, he was looking confused and upset, and his readable face was a picture of disappointment. What was going on?
"Honda-san, eyes on the board, please."
Tooru jumped and blushed, turning back to face the teacher. She shoved thoughts of the two boys out of her mind and tried to focus on the class at hand.
:0:0:
Kyou peered around the corner of the lockers and watched Tooru talk to the Denpa chick and Yankee before they left for the day. She was still looking frazzled but she'd calmed down some since lunch. He glanced around looking for the idiot. He flexed his fingers; they'd healed up enough for him to start working out again, at least in his opinion. He'd go to the dojo and talk to Shishou today, to tell him Tooru was coming to visit Sunday and see if he'd be allowed to hit something. He really, really wanted to hit something.
He saw Fujitsima coming his way and mentally revised that. He really wanted to hit someone. One particular someone. Really hard. Repeatedly. He took a deep breath as he braced himself to deal with him. He wasn't a bad guy, he was just dumb... and annoying. The other boy was deep in thought. He looked worried, depressed and pensive.
Idly, Kyou wondered what had gone one between the Rat and the Idiot when they were in the hall. Yuki had looked like someone had taken the stick up his rear and shoved it up further, right through his spine. Normally Kyou was all for that, but the Idiot looked like someone had just run over his puppy. Not that he felt sympathetic, but if the Idiot was upset he'd probably find a way to upset Tooru too.
"Hey, Kyou-kun." Fujitsima said, looking distracted, "Um, thanks for coming."
"Whatever." Kyou said, "Just hurry it up, you don't want to make her late." He looked at Tooru, she was packing up her bag for work.
"I won't." Fujitsima snapped.
Kyou looked back at him in surprise. The Idiot had just snapped at him. The Idiot never got snappy. "What's your problem?"
Fujitsima looked instantly apologetic. "I'm sorry. It's just... um... promise you won't get mad at me?"
"What?" Kyou asked, confused.
"Souma-kun got mad at me when I brought it up with him." Fujitsima said, not meeting his eyes. He took a deep breath, clenched his fists and looked at Kyou's shoes.
"I think that Kyou-kun shouldn't be so friendly with Honda-san." He said. He took another deep breath and continued before Kyou could interrupt. "People notice that Kyou is always looking after her. And you're always eating lunch with her and walking to school with her. People talk." Fujitsima looked to the side, "And they don't say nice things. She doesn't deserve that. How does Kyou-kun see Honda-san?"
Kyou blinked, this conversation was surreal. He'd barely processed that the Idiot was asking him to stay away from Tooru. "What do you mean?" He glanced nervously at Tooru. How does he see her?
"Souma-kun said he doesn't see Honda-san as a sister." Fujitsima said miserably. "He got really mad. I think he likes her."
"He said what?" Kyou yelled. "Did he say that?"
"He said..." Fujitsima shrank back from Kyou, "That Honda-san was very important to him." Fujitsima looked down at his feet. "I don't understand. Why Honda-san? Souma-kun has everyone chasing after him, why her? I don't understand." He scratched the back of his head.
"Why not her?"
Kyou said focusing in on the last part. His mind wasn't ready to
process that Yuki had essentially declared his feelings for Tooru.
Their feelings for her had been something hidden, something kept safe
from other people's attention. Especially since it wasn't as if
anything could come of it, in the end. He'd be locked up and the Rat
would
be just as trapped with Akito. And she'd be alone. He shoved
his despair out of his mind, choosing to get angry instead. "Are
you saying you don't think she's good enough?"
"No, no!" Fujitsima said quickly. "It's just-"
"Just what? She's not pretty enough for someone else to be interested, or smart enough?" Kyou jabbed a finger at him. "I thought you liked her? You should be able to think of a ton of reasons why anyone would like her! She's loyal, and kind, and nice to everyone... and pretty too!" Kyou advanced a step on Fujitsima, and he retreated, his hands up in surrender. "Just 'cause, you know, she's not a beauty queen, doesn't mean that she's not pretty. And she's a good listener, and works hard, never whines or complains even when she's having a problem. She worries herself sick over people who don't deserve it, and-"
"It's just that I can't compete with Souma-kun!" Fujitsima interrupted. "He's perfect! He's smart, and good at sports, and every girl in class has a crush on him! Practically every girl in school! Hisae told me that she thought he liked her, but I thought he was different with her... because of... you know. But he said that he wasn't her brother. So now, I think Hisae is right." He looked up at Kyou sullenly. "I think you both like her like like her."
"So what?" Kyou said angrily, refusing to think about it. "What does it matter if we do or don't? She's the one who matters. Quit worrying about what everyone else is thinking! And the Rat isn't so great." He fell onto his favorite subject with relish. "He can be an ass, and he's lazy, sloppy and clumsy. He's breaking stuff around the house all the time."
Fujitsima stared at him. "So you're saying I shouldn't give up?" He broke into a grin. "You are a real friend! It's good to know I can count on you."
"What?" Kyou said, caught off-guard. He'd only been saying that Tooru's feelings where what mattered, and complaining about the Rat. He hadn't said anything about wanting the Idiot to keep chasing after her. Especially since it seemed that Tooru wasn't entirely enjoying his attention.
"So you'll help me?" Fujitsima asked eagerly. "Honda-san is so nervous when we talk. Maybe you can ask her how she feels about me? I think she likes me, but it's hard to tell. She's so much more... relaxed around you. Thanks!" He turned and saw Tooru waiting patiently by her locker.
"I've got to get going. Thanks again Kyou-kun!" He ran over to her and smiled. She smiled back and they left the building together. Kyou saw him take her hand as they reached the doors.
"Dammit." Kyou said under his breath. He hoped that Shishou would say his hands were healed enough to use the punching bag.
