Konnichiwa minna! I'm back again, and I'm ready to update! First and foremost, reviews.

The Forbidden Star: Thank you! I try to update as much as I can, but I always seem to busy with something or another. And now that I'm starting high school, I may not be updating as often as I do.

x.Fiddlesticks.x: Thanks a lot! I've only read the manga, and haven't seen the anime also. But if Akira really doesn't know, then I can't do anything about it. (sweatdrops)

Milky Etoile: Wow, another long review! - I'm hoping you like what happens with Nokoru and Aki later. There is a reason why the genre is romance, you know. (smiles)

Calliope la muse: Here is your update!

Cassandra: I appreciate your views on my fanfic, and I thank you for the encouragement and praise. But I think that Nokoru deserves to have someone to love, because everyone does! People CAN act different when expressing love.

As always, Clamp School Detectives don't belong to me. And...it's seems I've gone and put something in without explaining it. In the last chapter I told you itoko meant cousin. Well, you'll see how that comes into this chapter. Oh, and one more thing...I am looking for YOUR original characters for Suoh and Akira's understudies. Look at the closing notes after you read for information! There is a little poll that goes along with it too! Enjoy!

Edit: February 27, 2007. For those little things.


THE UNDERSTUDIES-CHAPTER TWO: CHOCOLATE ORANGES (TUESDAY)

Aki Mitsui flipped her braid impatiently off of her bosom, sweat trickling down her face as she ran. The girl was dressed in sweat pants and a tank top, and was running around the park inside of Clamp School. She checked the sports watch she wore on her right wrist and smiled. "I'm doing good time," she panted. She rounded a corner of the park, and that's when she noticed something shiny coming her way.

"What?" She dived to the side, and fell onto the wet grass as the shiny object zoomed passed her. "What was that?" Her blue eyes widened when the object stopped right in her face and hovered there. It was a remote-controlled airplane. "Ugh! What is it, Ryu? Can't you see I'm running right now?"

"Okaasan wants you to come home at 9 o'clock tonight," sniffed a child-like voice. "She just wanted me to tell you that. I figured it would be perfect to test out my airplane prototype fitted with the communication radio.

Aki rolled her eyes. "Okay. Next time fly that thing a little more carefully!"

"Whatever." There was a small click, and after that, the airplane flew a few circles around Aki's head before rocketing in the direction it came from. The girl sighed and stood up. "Great. He ruined my time." She sighed regretfully and headed back to her apartment to take a shower and change.

LATER

"Suooooooooooooooh."

"Yes, Chairman?" Suoh prompted.

"Can Akira and I come cheer you on?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The Takamura Sports Tournament, of course!" Nokoru looked at his secretary innocently. Suoh looked at him suspiciously.

"I was going to invite you anyways. It's being held at 10 o'clock at the Takamura main house. My house."

"Okay!" trilled the blonde. "Akira and I will be there on Saturday."

"You aren't going to invite Mitsui-senpai?"

Nokoru just smiled, and then tapped his chin with his folded up fan. "Oh! Speaking of Aki-chan, didn't I tell you two I'd tell you how I know her?"

"Hai." Suoh swiveled in his chair to look at Nokoru directly, and Akira did the same.

"Well...it's like this..."

FLASHBACK

Five year old Nokoru Imonoyama stood alone in his very large backyard. He sighed and kicked a pebble down into the mini lake that was put into the yard. "I'm bored," he complained to his reflection. "I don't have anyone to play with."

"Oof!"

Nokoru snapped his head up at the sound. There, in a now messy and muddy sailor's outfit, was a five year old Aki Mitsui. Aki's eyes started to water when she realized that her knee was starting to bleed.

"Who are you?" Nokoru asked, slowly approaching her.

"Sniff...I'm Aki Mitsui..." She looked up at him, and then her story tumbled from her lips. "I just moved here with my mommy and daddy, and I wanted to visit our neighbors with my mommy, but she wouldn't let me! She left me in the house with my babysitter, but I snuck out and climbed over that HUGE fence so I could meet the Imonoyamas! But now my skirt is all muddy, and my knee is hurt, and I'm sore all over! Plus, I didn't get to meet my neighbors!" She sobbed, big tears coming down her face.

Nokoru came her her side and patted her on the back awkwardly. "I'm Nokoru Imonoyama," he offered helpfully, at least, he hoped.

Aki stopped crying and gasped. "Really? No kidding?" she demanded.

"No kidding." He helped her up and smiled. "Nice to meet you neighbor!"

She smiled and was about to say hello back when she plopped back onto her bottom. "My knee..."

Nokoru looked at it worriedly. "It's bleeding bad. Maybe I should go get your mommy...she's talking with mine in the living room..."

Aki shook her head wildly. "No, please Imonoyama-sama! I don't want mommy to know I disobeyed her!" She started crying again at the thought.

"Okay, okay, I won't tell her," he said hastily. "I'll just go get the first aid kit."

Aki looked at him for a moment before nodding. Nokoru ran back into the mansion and snuck past mother conversing with a woman that looked like Aki. He ran upstairs into his parent's room and into their bathroom. He paused a moment, trying to figure out how to get to the too-high medicine cabinet safely, where the first aid kit was. He then decided to climb onto the sink counter top via toilet top and opened it, grabbing the kit. After scrabbling back down to the floor, tumbling down the stairs, sneaking past his mother and the guest, he hurried into the backyard where Aki was sitting placidly.

"I got it," he panted, much exhausted.

"Thank you Imonoyama-sama," she said quietly. She busied herself with cleaning up her wound, while the male sat on a tree stump, heaving to catch his breath.

"Mommy will still notice that my clothes are dirty, and that I have a boo-boo on my knee, and she'll punish me. But that's okay. I got to meet you, and I'm very glad I did." She stood up and bowed. "Arigato, Imonoyama-sama."

"No problem." Having finally caught his breath, he flashed a smile at her. "I'm sure your mommy will still let you come visit, right?"

Aki smiled brightly. "I hope she does. I don't have any friends here, and I hoped that we could be friends."

"I'd love to be your friend, Aki-chan, but only if you call me Nokoru."

Aki giggled. "Okay Nokoru-kun."

END FLASHBACK

"And that..." sighed Nokoru, "was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We had so many great times together."

"But Mitsui-senpai mentioned you going away..."

"Ah." Nokoru nodded sadly. "It was two years after we met..."

FLASHBACK

"But why?" Aki was bursting into tears. She grabbed a fistful of Nokoru's jacket, sobbing. "Why do you have to leave, Nokoru-kun?"

"I'm sorry Aki-chan." The blonde suppressed a sniffle, and pulled her into a hug. "I want to stay here, but Dad has to move to another part of Japan, and we have to follow."

Aki shook her head wildly. "Noo..." she moaned. "You're my best friend! You can't go!" She started bawling into his jacket. Nokoru rubbed her back gently.

"Aki-chan, I swear I'll call you everyday! And send emails! I won't forget about you, ever," he said firmly.

"How can you be sure? After a few months you'll stop calling and sending emails! You'll get new friends and forget about me...and I'll be lonely again..."

Nokoru felt his seven year old heart twist at the sight before him. "Aki-chan..."

"Nokoru! Time to go!" called his mother, who stood at the airplane gateway. Nokoru bit his lip and undid Aki's grip on his jacket. "Gomen nasai, Aki-chan..." he said weakly.

"Nokoru!"

"I'm coming, okaasan!" Nokoru looked one last time at Aki, and then ran off. Aki let out a strangled cry and buried her face in her mother's leg.

As soon as Nokoru got onto the family jet, he peered out the window and saw Mr. and Mrs. Mitsui waving goodbye to them. He gulped when he saw Aki crying, face in her hands.

"Gomen nasai, Aki-chan. Gomen nasai!"

END FLASHBACK

"I felt terrible for weeks afterward," Nokoru said quietly. "I hated the way we parted, and I have never forgiven myself for making my best friend cry."

"But you did keep in touch, didn't you Chairman?" Akira asked anxiously.

"Yes, but I could tell Aki-chan was never the same after I left. Both of us were thrilled when we found out both of us would attend Clamp."

"Wow," Akira sighed. "I'm glad you got a happy ending, Chairman."

"I am too." The blonde smiled, a dreamy look in his eyes. "I am too."

Suoh stood up and shuffled off to the filing cabinet. "No wonder she seems so fond of you," he said, and stored away the manila folder. An echoing bell sounded, signaling the hour. "One o'clock. I need to go meet my partner for the Tournament."

"Alright, Suoh!" Nokoru replied, a mischievous smile on his lips. "We'll be seeing you soon, then?"

"I suppose..." The fifth grader looked at his superior suspiciously as he gathered his things, then then headed out of the board room.

"Ne, Chairman. I'm guessing you know who Takamura-san's partner is, huh?" asked Akira.

"Yep!" Nokoru's kitty ears popped up, and he smiled his kitty smile. "We'll see both of them in the office soon enough."

MEANWHILE

Aki sat patiently on her seat at the Café Terrace. She gazed around her patiently, and her eyes lighted up when she noticed Suoh walking into the Terrace. "Takamura-san, over here!"

Suoh came over and stood beside her awkwardly. "Mitsui-senpai. What are you doing in the Café Terrace?"

"I'm waiting for you!"

"Nani?" Suoh looked at her strangely. "For me?"

Aki nodded furiously. Suoh hesitated, then said, "Mitsui-senpai, why would you be waiting for me?"

Aki smiled, and Suoh got the distinct feeling that a female version of Nokoru was smiling at him. "Sit down and I'll explain."

After the fifth grade boy settled himself down in the seat across from her, she folded her hands on her lap and watched him for a moment. Suoh blinked in confusion.

"You know the Takamura Sports Tournament is coming up this Saturday, right?"

"Hai, but why would Mitsui-senpai be talking about it with me?"

"Well...because I'm your partner."

"Nani?" Suoh gaped at her. "You're my partner?"

Aki nodded, looking at him nervously. "I'm-uh-your itoko. Your mother's sister's daughter."

Suoh frowned. "How come I never heard of you before?"

"Well...your mother and my mother aren't exactly on the best terms..." She sighed. "I perfectly understand if you don't want me to be your partner, Takamura-san. My skills aren't as wondrous as yours. You are practically legendary in the family. I'm a novice ninja, at best."

Suoh pondered this for a moment. "I don't care," he said quietly.

"Huh?"

"The Takamura Sports Tournament is about everyone getting together to play sports and have friendly competition. Coming to one place to visit and be one big family. It doesn't matter if we win or not, as long as we get to know each other more and have fun." He looked at her with an amused expression. "Although, I would prefer to win my competitions."

Aki beamed at him. "Of course, Takamura-san! I'll try my hardest!"

"That's what I wanted. And don't be so formal, Mitsui-senpai. Call me Suoh."

"Only if you call me Aki," she replied cheerfully.

"Agreed." The secretary looked at his watch. "Lunch hour isn't over yet. How about we eat and then go back to the Board Room? No doubt that man knew about this meeting of ours, and is expecting us back."

Aki giggled. "Okay."

Unbeknownst to the both of them (maybe Suoh knew, but he wasn't saying anything), Nokoru and Akira were hiding in the bushes, having observed most of their conversation. "I'm glad they're getting along," Akira whispered to Nokoru.

The latter nodded and smiled. "I knew they would."

Akira clapped his hands together softly. "The Chairman knows everything!" he said in an elatedly hushed voice.

Nokoru grinned mischievously. "I know I do."


As said before, itoko means cousin.

Nokoru is so cute! (laugh) I couldn't resist putting that last line in there.

Okay, minna. I told you I wanted your original characters for Suoh and Akira's understudies. I will accept the first ones that come in for each. Here is the application:

Name:

Understudy for:

Grade (cannot be higher than 6th):

Age:

Physical Appearance (detailed description):

Personality:

Biography:

The poll: Would you like the original character to get together with their respective 'higher up'? Or would you like Nagisa Azuya and Utako Okawa to get together with Suoh and Akira, respectively? I will keep tallies for a few chapters, and then I'll take the one that has the majority. You can vote more than once! It WILL count! Review, onegai!