Homigosh, I haven't updated in forever...-gasp- Since November! I am sorry for making you guys wait for so long, but I'm just so lazy. So yeah, this chapter will be extra long for you guys to make up for it. I'm introducing the made up character that Over Rated has given me, and I hope that I portray them to your expectations! x.Fiddlesticks, I can't introduce your character yet because I don't have her name -sweatdrops- So don't forget to send a name in your review!
The Takamura Sports Tournament is only three days away, with the Winter Formal coming up in the middle of the month, and Utako's Christmas play on the 24th. I think that's right. -nodnod- This chapter it is announced that the High School Division is going to have a Winter Festival, complete with winter foods, winter games, winter sport matches, and lots and lots of snow! This one is going to take place a little while after the Winter Formal. -laugh- Right, so those are just a few things that you can look forward to as I plod forward with this story! -laughlaugh-
I want to thank x.Fiddlesticks.x (Here is your update! Lols, I hope your picky-ness will be sated with the OCs I've recieved, and please send me your character's name in your review. You forgot it -laugh-), keia mizuki (Thank you, I like that part too -grin- Nokoru can be such a lady's man sometimes), Over Rated (Thanks very much for telling me. For both things -laugh-), Koji Shikage (I'm glad you like my story! -squeal-), and reikat (Thanks for the encouragement! I needed it!) for reviewing. It really makes me happy to see so many people who like my story. I'm so proud of it! -huggles-
Don't own, never will own. WHAT DON'T YOU LAWYERS GET ABOUT THAT?
Chibi Nokoru: -fights off the lawyers- Start! Before they drag you to jail so you can't update!
Ehehe...-shifty eyes- So yes! Let's start! Oh, and P.S., I apologize in advance for any of the words bunching together. The QuickEdit or whatever likes to do that, and it irritates me to no end. I'll try to go over it a few times to double check that there are spaces between every word.
I am a Nokoru FanGirl! - Speaking
I am a Nokoru FanGirl! - Thinking
I am a Nokoru FanGirl! - Inner Chibi Speaking/ Creative Thinking
THE UNDERSTUDIES- CHAPTER FIVE:VANILLA SCENTS (THURSDAY)
Utako Okawa tapped a rolled up stack of papers to the side of her head, a distressed frown marring her cute childish features. "What do you mean no one came to the auditions yesterday?"
"I'm sorry Okawa-san, but it's true." Her assistant in the play flushed nervously. He wondered how she would take it. He was surprised when Utako shook her head and smiled.
"I guess no one was that interested. We'll have to cancel it."
"Ah...hai. I'll go inform the Entertainment Committee." Her assistant walked out of the Kindergarden Division Class Board Meeting Room. Utako was silent as he left, and then with slow steps headed towards the Elementary Division Class Board Meeting Room. It was the place she always visited when she just wanted to talk to someone that would listen. Suoh met her halfway as he was heading in from delivering something.
"Okawa-san?" Suoh looked at her curiously, immediately noticing her downcast face. Utako looked up and smiled.
"Oh, hello Takamura-san." She faltered when Suoh looked at her inquiringly. "Oh...Takamura-san, I shouldn't be imposing myself on you, but nobody came to the auditions for the play..."
"Are you sure? Maybe the audition date got messed up or something."
"Iie, I made sure myself that the fliers for the play and auditions were completely correct. I guess nobody was interested..."
"I'm sorry to hear that Okawa-san." Suoh could tell that she had worked hard on it, but what could he do? Force the student population to join? "Perhaps next year," he said comfortingly. "Maybe students are too busy working on the Winter Formal and the Winter Festival."
"There's a Winter Festival?" Utako's brow furrowed with this new development.
"Hai, the High School Division just came up with it." Suoh and Utako came up to the Elementary Division Class Board Meeting Room and the former opened the door to let the latter in. Utako stepped in and immediately noticed a pile of fake snow in the corner where Nokoru's desk used to be. Suoh sighed.
"He must've had that brought in while I was out," he muttered, walking over to his own desk. Utako giggled quietly.
Inner Chibi Utako: That mischievous Imonoyama-sama is always causing trouble! Poor Takamura-san! I wonder if Aki-chan will ever be able to tame him...I'd like to see that happen.
Utako paused a moment to think about it.
Chibi Nokoru, with kitty ears and tail, was sitting on the floor on all fours, sniffling. Around his neck was a jeweled collar labeled 'Nokoru', and the person holding the leash was Chibi Aki. Chibi Aki smiled and patted Chibi Cat Nokoru on the head, and Nokoru dolefully says, "Meow."
Utako giggled again. No, she didn't think that even Aki could stop Nokoru's carefree nature. It was in his blood. She stopped her happy thinking to look around the board room. Suoh had marched up to the pile of fake snow and was digging through it, finally emerging grasping the back of Nokoru's uniform and pulling the kaichou out.
"Hi Suoooh!" Nokoru waved from his position. "Someone dumped all this fake snow on the desk while I was working! I didn't even realize it until I was buried!" He laughed, excited, his open fan reading ' What fun!'. Suoh sighed, shaking his head,and sat the president on his chair before digging through the snow again. Presently Aki's dark head popped out, and the girl spat out a piece of fake snow with distaste.
"Ew. Thanks, Suoh-kun!" She wiggled out of the pile and dusted off her uniform. Suoh shook his head again. "You are unbelievable," he said to his kaichou. "Why did you tell them to dump all this fake snow in here?"
"Well, I order it every year, Suoh," the blonde pouted. "It's something called winter spirit! If CLAMP won't let me have the seasons, I'll bring the seasons to us!" he finished grandly, airing himself with his fan. "This year the deliverers just dumped it on us, but that's okay! We're going to sprinkle this stuff all over the room!"
Akira came up with a broom to sweep the snow away from Nokoru's desk, smiling at the idea. "It'd be almost like a winter wonderland!" he laughed. He noticed Utako and his smile widened. "Hi Utako-chan!"
Utako smiled a little weakly, suddenly remembering why she had come in the first place. Perceptive Akira noticed right away and set his broom aside, coming up to her. "Utako-chan? Is something wrong?"
"Oh...it's nothing much. It's just that no one came to the auditions for my Christmas play." She shook her head. "It's nothing."
Akira pouted. "Utako-chan, it's not nothing! You worked hard on that play! And it's a great play too! People should've went to your auditon!"
Utako flushed at the compliment, only slightly aware that the others present in the room were listening. "There's nothing I can do. I can't force people to join." (At this, Suoh sweatdropped, because that was the same exact thing he had told himself earlier) "It wouldn't be right."
Akira paused. His dark eyes were troubled for a moment before he suddenly smiled warmly at her. "Utako-chan, don't cancel your play. Just make it so the auditions are being reheld this afternoon, okay?" Utako blinked at him, confused about this strange request.
"Doushite?" Akira just smiled his reassuring smile again.
"Daijoubu. It'll be fine! Just don't cancel it, and reschedule the auditions for this afternoon at four thirty, okay? I have to go do something!" He waved as he jogged out the door. Utako stared after him as he disappeared. She turned to the others.
"What just happened?" The blonde and the cousins shrugged.
"No idea," they said in unison. Utako sighed and flopped on the couch. She had been wanting to talk to Akira, but she supposed that if he was busy she'd have to wait. Either that or talk with Aki-chan. But the dark haired girl was now busy sweeping the fake snow away from Nokoru's desk in Akira's place. Utako shrugged to herself. I might as well do as Akira-kun says. She pulled a cell phone out of her pocket and dialed her assistant's number.
"Asahara-kun, it's okay. You don't have to cancel the play. Hai, I'm sure. A friend of mine has some plans for it. I think."
After Utako hung up, Aki said shyly, "Utako-chan, if you need someone, I'll join."
Utako gasped, clasping her hands together. "Really? Oh, Aki-chan, that would be so wonderful, thank you! I have the perfect role for you!"
Aki smiled. "What's that?"
"The lead role of the older Yuna Ishihara!" Utako procceded to explain, not seeming to notice the wide eyed stare of the sixth grader, that Yuna Ishihara was a young girl when she met a very sweet little boy, Damien Nakoji. Damien, a total stranger, had helped Yuna home one day when she got lost, leaving only his hat as a reminder of her. As Yuna got older, she would keep fantasizing about being reunited with the mysterious boy, until one day she meets Damien again, but he has changed. Damien has gone through tough times in the time between their meetings, and Yuna slowly tries to soften his heart again.
As Utako finished, Aki opened and closed her mouth in astonishment. "But...the leading role!"
"You'd be perfect! Nice and sweet, totally the type Yuna Ishihara would be!" Utako said, her eyes pleading.
Aki took one look at her and caved in. "Alright...but I don't know if I'll be able to do a good job...the lead role..." Utako squealed and hugged her friend.
"Thank you Aki-chan! You're the greatest! Now if we could only find a good Damien..." The kindergardener shot a hopeful look at Nokoru. The blonde blinked and pointed at himself.
"Me?"
"Yes!"
"Well I don't know Utako-san," Nokoru laughed. "It would be very hard for me to act gloomy and hateful of the world. I'll have to decline."
Utako looked a little crestfallen, but she nodded. "You're right, Imonoyama-sama, as always. You're too happy to be Darien Nakoji!" she laughed. She turned to Suoh. "Takamura-san? Would you be willing to do it?"
Suoh shot the girl a smile. "I probably fit the personality, but it would seem a bit odd to be playing male opposite to my cousin. I apologize."
Utako shook her head. "It's alright."
"Why not be the lead role yourself?" Suoh suggested. "I'm sure Akira would be a nice Darien Nakoji, and you two are very close, so it would be fine, right?"
Utako flushed deeply. "Ah...I don't know. I'll have to ask him later...and besides, Aki-chan wanted to be Yuna Ishihara."
Aki giggled. "It's a good idea though. I'd be willing to play a lesser part."
"Well..." Utako hesitated. "I'd still have to ask Akira-kun, but if you wanted, you could play Nami Rukta. She's the best friend of Yuna Ishihara, gentle and shy. And she has a love interest too."
"Really?" At this Aki shot Nokoru a side glance. "And who would that be?"
"Horoshi Endo. He's the funny type." Utako was now looking at Nokoru too. The chairman looked up from his document and blinked innocently.
"Me?"
"Yes!" Utako clapped her hands. "Okay, so it's settled. Or somewhat settled." She blushed again at the thought of confronting Akira about being the lead role. Hopefully he would take it well...
It was nearly one in the afternoon when Akira came back very excited, but then a little bit disappointed when he had heard Utako had to leave to do other things. He kept a mysterious silence about what he had done for six hours, merely saying that he had done his work well and that Utako-chan would be so happy. The others noticed a fierce blush on his cheeks whenever he said this. Nokoru couldn't help but tease his treasurer about it, and for the next three and a half hours Akira's face was permanently a tomato red.
"Ne, Nokoru-kun, you tease too much," Aki scolded lightly, watching Akira fumble through his reports after the 78th sneaky comment the kaichou had made. Nokoru laughed and tapped the top of his fan on his chin.
"I can't help it Aki-chan! Akira is so fun to tease!"
Aki just shook her head and smiled lightly, reaching over him to get a file. "Nokoru-kun, you're hopeless!"
Nokoru's blue eyes twinkled as he leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Aki immediately fell over onto his lap in shock, a healthy red color blooming over her face. Nokoru laughed and flipped her over so she was sitting properly in his lap. "Now now Aki-chan! No procrastinating! Let's get to work!" he cheered, pumping his arm into the air. Aki murmured something, still red, and reached for the file again, starting to work, but not moving from her position. Nokoru chuckled to himself and reached for a document himself to read.
Suoh noticed and shook his head. Honestly, that man has no sense of private space. There was a knock at the door, and Aki hopped off of Nokoru's lap to open it. The blonde pouted as she left.
A girl entered, dressed neatly in the CLAMP female uniform. She had a serious smile on her lips, as if she knew more than you did. Layered lavender hair framed her small face that held astonishing violet eyes, with interesting white streaks going down parallel from the top of her head and trailed all the way down to her waist. As she came in, she bowed her respects to her sempais and stepped aside to let herAki close the door behind her.
"Hitori Sania reporting for duty, Ijyuin-san," the lavender haired girl said to Akira. "I'm pleased that you've accepted my application to be your understudy."
Akira smiled and shook his head. "It wasn't a problem, Sania-san. You were the most accomplished out of all the applications sent in to me." Hitori merely smiled in gratitude. Akira quickly introduced everyone to her, and then took her around the room and then out toward the other offices to show her around the inner workings of the Division board rooms and such. Aki bounced up and down on her current seat on the couch, giddy.
"Now there's another girl understudy! It'll be so fun to work with her!" Nokoru smiled at her childishness and turned to Souh.
"Still no understudy for you?" he grinned cattishly. Suoh rolled his eyes at the kaichou.
"I'm nearly done looking through the applications, and I have a few girls in mind."
"Very well, I'll take your word for it," Nokoru sang. He glanced at the clock on the wall and turned shifty eyes back to his secretary.
"Suoooh."
Suoh twitched. Whenever the kaichou decided to drag out his name like that, it meant trouble. Trouble for him, anyways. "What, Chairman?"
"Utako-san's reheld auditions are being held right now. Let's go to the theatre room and watch!"
"What about your paperwork?" Suoh protested. Nokoru's paperwork had once again returned to enormous proportions, regardless of the fact that Aki was there to help him sort through it, etc. "You've still got mountains and mountains of it."
"Mou, I'll do it later. I swear! Let's go!" Nokoru jumped up and tugged on Aki's hand to follow him, which the girl did obligingly. "Come on Suoh, you slowpoke!" the blonde laughed. The secretary sighed deeply. He himself had already finished his work, so he didn't see the problem with it. Besides the fact that Nokoru hadn't finished his. But there was no stopping that man. He trotted off after the two sixth graders.
The three of them met up with Akira and Hitori at the theatre in the front seats, Akira looking deeply excited and Hitori blinking around at the multitude of kindergarden to elementary students around them auditioning. Nokoru, Suoh, and Aki could only stare along with the girl as they jostled each other, lined up on the walls, quieting as Utako came up on the stage.
The kindergardener, upon seeing all these people, nearly teared up. "Y-You guys are all here to audition?" The affirmative calls of the students along the walls confirmed her theory, and with wonderous eyes she turned to look at Akira, sitting right in front of her in the front row.
"Akira-kun, what...?"
Akira beamed at her. "I went around the school and asked people about joining. A lot of people did actually want to join, it's just that your fliers got covered by the High School Division's Winter Festival fliers." Akira paused to remember what he had done that morning:
FLASHBACK
Akira had just talked with the Entertainment Committee (who took care of things such as fliers and announcements) about the hidden fliers belonging to Utako, and the Committee assured him that they would repost Utako's fliers next to the other fliers, not under. Happy with this news, and carrying a small packet of the said papers, he walked around to visit some friends, asking them to consider joining.
It was nearly twelve now, and the treasurer knew that he shouldn't be taking too much time from his work, so he finished up a circle around the kindergarden and elementary area and started heading back to the Elementary Division Class Board Meeting Room. As he did, he noticed a bright poster posted on the outside of a classroom's open door. It said: "Nokoru Fan Club". Deciding to talk to the girls (at least it wasn't his fanclub), he headed in and was immediately greeted with gasps of awe.
"Welcome to the Nokoru Fan Club, Akira-san," Misha Tanme, the president, said humbly. "What brings you here to our club?"
"Um...I just want to talk to the kindergardeners and elementary students for a moment."
"Whatever for?" the girl asked.
"About a Christmas play. My friend Utako Okawa worked really hard on this play, but no one came for the auditions. I was hoping some of you might want to try out at the new audition at four thirty in the afternoon today," he said earnestly. A few girls came up with interest. One girl said that "Nokoru-kun might go to it, since Utako-chan is a friend of his", and the whole legion of girls pounced on Akira to grab a flier. After a moment of touch-and-go, Akira managed to escape the horde of rabid fangirls with only a tousled uniform and mussed hair. Misha called after him.
"Akira-san, I can guarantee that every girl in this club will join and work for the play if you do something for us."
Akira couldn't help but agree to the terms. Nothing would stop him from getting people from Utako's play, even if it involved...
END FLASHBACK
"You want me to do what?" Nokoru asked faintly. Akira bowed continuously in apology.
"Gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen..." The treasurer would've continued on forever if Nokoru didn't hold up a hand to stop him, smiling a bit weakly.
"A deal's a deal, Akira. I will gladly offer myself to the fan girls for a day if they will all work in Utako-san's play. It is for a good cause...and I can only hope that I am not too broken at the end of the day from their ministrations," he finished dramatically, flinging an arm out and putting his other wrist to his eyes. Everyone but him and Aki sweatdropped.
"Ah! Arigato arigato arigato arigato arigato arigato arigato arigato arigato..." Nokoru held up his hand again.
"It's alright Akira. Really! So then, it's the day after Utako-san's Christmas play that they have me? Christmas Day?"
"Hai...I'm sorry if I have interrupted any of your plans."
"Nonsense." The blonde waved his hand in dismissal. "I don't think that I have anything to do that day, so it's fine." He glanced over at Aki, but she had gone to talk with Utako. At least, I didn't think I had plans...
Inner Chibi Nokoru: WHAAAAA! I WANTED TO SPEND CHRISTMAS DAY WITH AKI-CHAN! -throws tearful temper tantrum-
"Okay, thanks to everybody that auditioned! We'll be posting the results in two days, so look forward to it! We'll notify you when we'll be starting rehearsals." Utako's cheeks were pink with excitement. After a good amount of people had gone, she literally jumped off the stage and into Akira's arms.
"Akira-kun! You're amazing! I never imagined the play to be this big of a success! And it's all thanks to you!" the girl squealed. Akira turned red at her closeness and shook his head shyly.
"I just wanted to help you, Utako-chan. It was nothing."
"Nothing? Without you, my play would've been a flop! You're the best, Akira-kun!" She kissed him soundly on the cheek, then blushed heavily. "Ah...um, Akira-kun, I have a question to ask."
"Nani? What is it?" Akira had blushed too at the kiss he had gotten, but recovered as she posed the question.
"Would you be the lead role of Darien Nakoji?" the little girl asked seriously. Akira stared at her openly, mouth sagging.
"Huh?"
"Please?" Utako looked at him with big, dark pleading eyes. Akira couldn't help but hug the girl.
"Okay Utako-chan."
"That's great! 'Cause I'm the lead female," she said in a rush, before scurrying off when her assistant called her over to check something. "Thanks again, all of you! Since Akira-kun said yes, Aki-chan, you're Nami Rukta, and Imonoyama-sama, you're Hiroshi Endo. I'll see you guys later!" she called over her shoulder.
Akira steamed with embarrassment. Suoh shook his head, and Aki and Hitori were like twin Siamese cats, giggling away. Nokoru laughed, his fan saying 'How cute!'. "How about we all head back to the board room, hm? I'm up for tea."
They had royal milk tea and vanilla cake-a favorite combination of Akira's- for tea time. Akira was explaining to Hitori about what she would have to do, and she was diligently taking notes as she ate cake.
"And the last and most important thing to do..."
Hitori nodded eagerly, her pen poised in the air to underline and bold this next statement.
"Is to make sure the Kaichou does all of his work. When Mitsui-sempai isn't here, when Takamura-sempai isn't here, and when I'm not here, your job is to make sure he does his work," Akira said half seriously.
Hitori smiled widely and wrote it down. "I won't fail you, Ijyuin-san!"
Nokoru pouted from his seat on the couch. "I do my paperwork!"
"Hardly," Suoh said dryly.
Aki glanced at the clock and stood up, her cleaned plate and empty tea cup in hand. "Suoh-kun, it's nearly six, we should start heading home and practicing."
Suoh looked at the time keeper too, and nodded. "You're right." He finished filing the rest of his small stack of papers and gathered his things. "We'll see you all tomorrow," he said as he and Aki headed to the door. Nokoru waved sadly.
"Good bye Suoh, Aki-chan." Aki blew him a kiss and headed out. Nokoru pretended to catch it and swooned dramatically. Akira and Hitori sweatdropped.
"Ne, Kaichou, what did you say to Mitsui-sempai earlier this afternoon?" Akira recalled the little scene where Aki had been sitting on her lap, and the blonde had whispered something to her. He had been curious about it at the moment, but then the thought had drifted away when they had gone to Utako's reheld auditions.The question now came back up, bobbing in the middle of his mind, not resting until it could be satisfied.
"Oh, that? You know how she said I was hopeless?" Akira nodded.
"I merely said that I was hopelessly in love." Nokoru played with his fan, a small and happy smile on his lips. Akira 'aww'ed, and Hitori shook her head in amusement, now quiet in organizing her new desk in the corner next to Akira's. The lingering scent of the vanilla cake wafted around them as the light began to fade from the horizon, turning into night.
Okay, that last part is just sooooooo sappy, but I couldn't help it. -sweatdrop- I'm sorry that I didn't include Hitori much in the conversations, Over Rated, but I'm kind of brain dead as to what she can do at the moment, what with the Takamura Sports Tournament so close. That chapter is mainly focusing on Suoh and Aki's relationship, with some NokoruAki later. I'll think of something though, don't worry! If you have any suggestions, or if any of you, have suggestions, I'm willing to take them into consideration.
This chapter was mainly focused on AkiraUtako again. Kinda. Sorta. There was fluff, okay? Kinda. Sorta. Anyways, I hoped you like it. There are a lot of AkiraUtako fans out there...-ogle- It's like...you guys are ready to pounce on me if I don't put it in. -laugh- So I'll be on the safe side and put some in every chapter. -sniff- Happy now? -laugh- But I should start putting more NokoruAki too. I mean, it's about them too! -pouts-
Anyways, leave a review for a kitty?
