A new chapter! I'm really surprised. I seem to be on fire tonight. I finished two chapters for two different stories. My internet isn't working, so this is probably up a little later than expected. Man, right now it's Tuesday, at 1:00 in the morning. Let's see what day and time it is when this is actually uploaded…..
I've been asked a few questions. I'll try to answer them without access to my reviews (which are well…on the internet)
Haru is not going to tell Akemi about the curse YET. He WILL be the one to do it, though. Right now, they don't have much of a basis for friendship, seeing as they just met. If he had told her out of the blue, well…there'd be problems.
Also, just a hint, after this chapter, the Kamikara family is going to look a bit more sinister. You'll see what I mean. And BTW, I'm trying to introduce more and more Sohmas. Next chapter, they'll be more, but for this chapter, we're good enough.
Disclaimer: I'm going to try something different:
DON'T OWN:
Fruits Baskets
Characters of Fruits Basket
Amaya Kamikara (she's Paris-rose's OC)
I-Pod
An Island in the Caribbean
Michael Phelps
DO OWN:
Akemi Kamikara
The rest of the Kamikara family
A pair of tie-dyed socks
A Toaster
My little brother's soul (just kidding)
Okay, I think you get the picture…
Chapter 8: Unexpected Happenings
"That's wonderful news!" Tohru cried happily. "I'm so glad that you and Amaya did so well! Now you're going to be famous, I just know it!"
Akemi laughed. "Somehow, I find that hard to believe. This is about as much as I can take."
"Well, this is a small step past pretty damn cool already," Uo said, "I'm impressed. We all are. Even orange top over there."
"Will you stop calling me that you damn bitch?! Stop making fun of my hair!!!" He yelled. Uo just laughed. Akemi couldn't help but smile. Kyo was just sensitive enough to let things like that bother him, but tough enough to defend himself brashly on such things.
"Well, Miss Kamikara, congratulations. Miss Honda informed me about the success of your audition," Yuki said smiling down at Akemi.
"I'm really happy about it!" Akemi said, a very large smile on her face, "It's a nice birthday present."
"WHAT?!" The group chorused in unison.
"Why did you not tell us of your birthday, Akemi?" Hana asked calmly. She was the only one who still had a straight face.
"Damn right! When is it?!" Uo asked, demanding the information.
"Uh, well, it's this coming Friday," Akemi said, cowering back from them. Tohru nearly had a panic attack.
"Friday! Oh, I'm so sorry! I should have found out by now and now I have to go out and buy a present and work more and-"
"Tohru, relax! You don't have to get me anything, I promise! I didn't want to tell anybody because I knew you'd freak out, and since I'm new, nobody knows much about me and all that stuff. It's not a big deal, really. There's no rush. Turning sixteen isn't really that big of a deal."
"Sixteen? Really?" Tohru asked. "You must be the youngest in our grade! I'm going to be seventeen in may!"
Akemi nodded. "Mom and Dad started me pretty early. I just made the cut off. I would've been just fine in the year after you guys, but they insisted I go to school all the same."
"Akemi, if you won't allow us to get you anything, you must come over to our house on Saturday to celebrate if you aren't busy," Yuki said.
"Oh yes, that would be wonderful!" Tohru said excitedly, "I'll make lots of food, and we can have you and Amaya over! Then we can celebrate!"
"Sure," Akemi said, "I'd love it! But you don't have to make tons of food, that's not necessary. If you want I could bring something to share with everyone else, but I don't want to make you a slave to the kitchen."
"You obviously haven't heard of Tohru's cooking," Hana said with a thin smile. "You will soon. She won't mind spending time in the kitchen. In fact, it's hardly any time at all, since she goes so fast."
"Oh Hana, you make me sound like a chef. I'm not that great!" Tohru said modestly. "But really, it isn't any trouble, I'd love to make food for everyone!"
"I'll tell Amaya," Akemi promised, "thank you!"
"I guess," Amaya said shrugging. "We're not busy this Sunday. In fact, we don't start doing shows or anything until a good week or so."
"Amaya, thank you!" Akemi said hugging her sister. It was after school, and they had just gotten home. Their parents were still apparently still at work.
"Hey Akemi, I'm going to pop a hot pocket into the microwave, do you want one?" Amaya asked.
"Sure, thanks." Akemi said, opening her bag and taking out her homework.
"Okay, will do. But Akemi…could you show me where the kitchen is again?" Amaya asked embarrassed.
Akemi rolled her eyes and laughed. "Sure. I'll show you. I wonder though, why we had to live in the main house. Why couldn't we just live in one of the many little houses on the estate. Every one of them is bigger than our old house."
Amaya nodded. "I've wondered that too. I suppose it's because of Grandpa. Even though there are maids on hands to help him and everything, I guess he wants family. I guess dad's feeling guilty that he hasn't been there for grandpa until now."
"You know, I can't even remember a time when we've met grandpa," Akemi said quietly. "You know, before this year."
Amaya nodded slightly. "Well, I don't have many memories, only one. After you were born. You were maybe a year or so. I was three, or something. Grandfather came to visit our house. To come see you. I'd never met him before, even when I was a baby. When he arrived, I was excited. I wanted to meet my grandfather. But he pushed me aside, to see you. He acted as if it was the greatest thing in the world, to see you. And I just stood there…wondering why I wasn't good enough to get any of his attention. Then he left. Didn't see him until now."
Akemi lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry Amaya. I'm sorry. I would never mean to-"
"Oh shut up. It doesn't matter. So what if grandpa doesn't like me? I really don't give a flying fuck," Amaya said dully. Although she sounded nonchalant, Akemi could tell that deep down, it hurt her sister to know that her grandfather favored herself. Something Amaya could not control, no matter how bright and showy she was.
Akemi grabbed her sister's hand. "Sis, I love you. You've always been there, you know, to look out for me and push me forward. All fifteen…almost sixteen years of my life. Thank you. Thank you so much!"
Amaya smiled at her sister and hugged her. "No problem. I don't regret any minute of it."
"Hey Amaya…where is the microwave?" Akemi asked skeptically, looking around the kitchen. Among the many many drawers and cupboards all over, it seemed impossible to find even the appliances.
"I'm not exactly sure. Maybe there's a separate room for actually making the food? You'd think we'd have realized it buy now. It's nearly been a month that we've lived here," Amaya said aridly. Akemi sadly nodded.
"That's true. We're pathetic," Akemi stated. She fetched two hot pockets and handed one to her sister. "The microwave must be around here somewhere."
"Amaya, wake up!" Akemi said yet again. It was the fifth separate time that she had come in begging for her sister to wake up.
"Nooooo!" Amaya whined, "I'm not going! You can't make me you big meanie!"
"You act like a child!" Akemi argued. "Can't you even try to act like an 18 year old?!"
"No!"
Now she really sounded childish.
"Oh come on Amaya!" Akemi was now the one whining, "Don't make me do the run alone! It's cold and hard and I suck!"
Amaya sat up in bed. "Today's the run?"
"Yes," Akemi said disdainfully. "I hate the run. I thought perhaps going to a new school would change that. Nope. We still have to do the stinking run."
Amaya hopped out of bed excitedly. "Awesome! The mile run! I'm gonna kick total ass today!" She ran to her closet in search of her uniform. She hummed an impromptu melody as she did so, singing things such as 'kicking ass' and 'racing racing racing' as she did so.
When the two got to school, they were to immediately change into their gym clothes. They reluctantly did so, minus Amaya, who was extremely energized.
"Amaya, you're insane," Akemi said shaking her head. Not only was she nearly bouncing off the walls, but she was wearing a short sleeved shirt and shorts.
"What do you mean?" Amaya asked, bouncing over to her younger sister.
"You're wearing summer clothes!" Akemi wailed.
"So? You get hot when you exercise!" She said, smiling at her sibling, who was clad in wind pants and a hooded sweatshirt.
"Not in this cold of weather," Akemi muttered.
"That might be why so many people are sick," Amaya agreed, "did you see how many people were gone today? There must be a bug going around!"
"Amaya," Akemi said sighing, "they're skipping school."
Amaya laughed nervously and answered, "Of course of course! I was just testing you, baby sister! Ha ha ha!"
"You're embarrassing," Akemi said shaking her head and walking away.
The girls went first. Amaya was leading the pack, happily jogging along in front, wasting no energy. Akemi and Tohru trotted along somewhere in the middle, doing more talking than running. Eventually, halfway through, they needed to stop and catch their breath.
"Akemi!" Tohru said alarmed, "there's a person down there on the hill!" She pointed. Akemi squinted.
"I'm not so sure. You can go check if you want, I'll stay here."
"No, you continue on running, I don't want to keep you!" Tohru said insistently.
"Are you sure? I can go with you-" Akemi said, but Tohru objected again.
"No, go on with out me! I won't be long, I promise!"
"Okay…" Akemi said, unsure. 'But it won't take her long', Akemi thought, 'and I won't get far ahead of her, with how slow I run'
She waved goodbye to Tohru and continued on her way.
When she got to the finish line (quite a bit behind her older sister) she felt grateful. She was happy she had actually done so and not passed out on the way there. But what bothered her most was that Tohru had not caught up with her. She was extremely worried, thinking of all the horrible things that could happen to Tohru.
She began to worry even more when the rest of the day went on, and she did not return. Neither did Kyo or Yuki. Just as Akemi was figuring something terrible had happened at home, Kyo came in the classroom, along with Shigure.
"Kyo!" Akemi said, standing up and running over to him. "What happened? Is Tohru okay? Where's Yuki? Is everything alright at home? Wh-"
"Yes, dammit, everything's fine," Kyo said, irritated, "that Damn rat got sick is all. Tohru decided to stay home with Haru and take care of him until he gets better."
Akemi cocked her head to the side. "Haru? As in Hatsuharu? The one with the black and white hair?"
"Yea…wait, how do you know him?" Kyo asked.
"Well, I met him, and two others the other day, when Amaya and I went to celebrate. We also met Momiji, an adorable cute little kid, and Hatori."
"That doesn't surprise me that Hatori was with them. Lately he's been the one in charge of the both of them. Poor guy, he's in for a lot," Shigure said sadly.
"Hello Shigure-sama, it's nice to see you again," Akemi said with a small bow.
"Oh, so polite!" Shigure said happily. "And it is nice to see your lovely face again, sweet Akemi-"
Kyo let his fist fall hard on top of Shigure's head. "Save it. You're a total pervert, Shigure!"
"Ow! Kyo that hurts. Look's like someone's awfully protective," Shigure said teasingly, "do I detect, dare I say it, a crush?"
Kyo looked about ready to explode. Before he could, Akemi cover quickly, "No, Shigure-san, I think you're mistaken."
He smiled at Akemi. "I hear you're coming over on Saturday! And bringing your sister too, right?" Akemi nodded. "Good! I'm hoping she's just as lovely as you, dear Akemi."
Kyo let yet another large bump atop Shigure's head.
"Ow! Kyo you're really mean! Save me from him, Akemi!" He whined, hiding behind her.
"Don't hid behind her, you idiot! Akemi, you don't have to put up with that! Tell him to go home and take care of that damn rat himself instead of leaving Tohru to do it-" Kyo began to rant. Akemi laughed. Sometimes, the Sohmas seemed to be the cure for everything.
When Saturday came, Akemi was extremely excited. She loved visiting the Sohmas, for some reason. Although she hardly knew them, or Tohru for that matter, they just seemed to brighten her day all the more. She hoped she did the same for them.
"How fancy are we looking here, Akemi?" Amaya asked, scrounging through her closet. "I mean, will jeans work, or better than that?"
"I don't know," Akemi said, stepping into her sister's room. "I mean, I'm sure it doesn't matter, but it's up to you."
"Okay," Amaya said shrugging, "jeans it is."
When they arrived, they were confronted with a large problem: They had forgotten how much land they owned. Grumbling, Amaya parked her car and they walked through the wooded path until reaching the house.
Tohru rushed outside to greet them. "I'm sorry you had to walk all that way, I completely forgot about it. I guess I've been here for so long that I've forgotten what it's like to visit this place."
"It's very nice," Amaya said, "I love the landscaping. I'm sure Akemi likes it." She nodded.
"Yup! I'm hoping that once we get to spring, I can do some planting," Akemi said, sounding somewhat shy.
"Hello! You must be Amaya," Shigure said, smiling at her.
"And you're Shigure, right?" Amaya said.
"I'm flattered! You know my name!" Shigure gushed happily. "I'm sure you've only heard good things."
"…not exactly," she muttered under her breath.
"Akemi! You're here, you're here!" Momiji came running out of nowhere, happily greeting the two.
"Guten tag, Momiji!" Akemi said. "How are you?"
"Happy, now that you're here!" He ran out to hug her.
"Hey," Shigure said, holding him back, "you can't go around hugging people, Momiji. You might get into trouble."
Momiji nodded sadly. Akemi just blinked in confusion.
"Well don't you two stand in the doorway," Shigure insisted, "come inside. Take off your shoes and stay awhile!"
They did as instructed and left their coats hanging in the front hallway. Everyone else greeted them in the living room. Kyo, Yuki, Hana, and Uo all came to say their friendly hellos. Akemi noticed that Hatsuharu was there, standing in a corner of the room, looking uncomfortable.
"Tohru baked you a cake!" Momiji said excitedly, "it's in the kitchen!"
"Tohru, you didn't have to do that!" Akemi insisted.
"But I wanted to," Tohru said earnestly, "So we should all go eat some, right now!"
"Alright, let's go!" Shigure said, leading everyone into the kitchen. The only two who remained in the room where Akemi, in somewhat of a dumb shock, and Haru.
She felt uncomfortable, being alone in the same room with him. Not that he was a bad person, or anything. Something about him just made her nervous. Perhaps it was his calm, stoic attitude or his attire that made her feel so small and weak around him.
"Hey," he said softly, "it's Akemi, right?"
"Yea," she answered, just as quietly, "my name's Akemi."
"You've got a really good voice," he said. "You're very talented."
Lola: Ouch. Cliffie. I'm sorry, but I didn't want to make this chapter that much longer. I HATE to cut off here. If I were the one reading this, I would probably spit on myself, leave a nasty review and pull all my hair out (and I'm telling you, there's not much left as it is, I just got a good 5 inches cut off a few days ago)
Paris: No one cares.
Lola: You're just jealous (cause we're young and in love -tee hee).
Paris: Ooh, quoting Brand New, I'm so scared.
Lola: I hate you.
Paris: wonderful. Why don't you just leave the preview for next time and stop talking.
Lola: Oh Shut Up.
Preview for next chapter:
-Enter Kagura: Things could get messy
-A new friendship will arise! Mwhahaha!
-Amaya's got followers (Oo) why won't the Yuki fan club leave her alone?
