Chapter 10:
Kureno walked swiftly towards Shigure's house and in past a sleepy Kyo, then into Shigure's office. He was sitting there, staring at his computer screen when Kureno had walked in.
"Can I help you?" Shigure asked, surprised at his sudden appearance.
"Was there a girl here? Dirty blonde? Rather tall?" he demanded.
"Calm down my friend," he said, "Have a seat, relax. Do you want a cup of tea? I think that Kyo is okay with making it for this morning."
"Shigure, I don't have time for this!" he said.
"Well why is she so important?" Shigure asked suggestively.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Shigure." Kureno told him flatly, "If you must know, I've had it up to here with Akito and his rules about dating outside of the family! It's not fair!"
"Ah…so you're in love with this girl?" he asked, "How important is it to you that you know?"
"I can tell by that smug look on your face that she was here," Kureno told him, "All I want to know is where is she now?"
"I believe that they went to Ayame's shop." Shigure told him, and then turned back to his computer.
"Thanks." He said, and then walked to Ayame's shop.
It had taken him twenty minutes, but he made it to Ayame's shop and saw Tohru standing outside of a stall with a dark haired girl clutching a peach colored dress. He strode in and tapped Ayame on the shoulder, receiving a glance and then a nod. Kureno waited for a minute or so, someone was getting dressed in the stall. He sat on a chair, staring at the floor. He heard the door open, and as he glanced at the person coming out, he realized something. Those legs, those hips, those shoulders, he knew that whole body standing there in front on him. He was positive that he knew that picturesque body, and then he saw the face.
Standing with the morning sun behind her head, it gave her the appearance of a halo, was Uotani. He looked at her and tears filled his eyes as she stared at him with a look of confusion. She stood with her hands on her hips and then she recognized the face that was tearing at her sight.
"Kureno?" she whispered.
"Yeah…it's me." He said, "I just wanted to tell you something."
"What's that?" she asked.
"I love you." He said, and he walked over and kissed her.
Uo stepped out of the stall and saw a man, his head in his hands sitting across from her. She looked at him, but the light kept her from seeing his face. His body went rigid when he saw her. He was studying her now, looking her over, then a cloud blocked the sun and she saw his face. It was Kureno! Everything she said from that point on was either stupid, or if it was intelligent, she'd forgotten it, because he had just said that he loved her!
"I love you too." She whispered into his ear after they stopped kissing.
He looked into her eyes, "So long as I live, I will never leave you again."
"Kureno…" she said softly. They kissed again, but this time she felt every emotion in her pour out of her into this one single kiss that lasted a wonderful forever.
"I missed you." She said when they finished.
"As did I." He told her.
"Ahem!" a voice from behind them said. They both turned and saw Ayame there, standing rather awkwardly with two gaping girls on either side.
"Sorry." they both said at the same time, blushing a little.
"All's well." He said, "But I don't think that Tohru and her friend here are used to seeing their friend and such behavior."
"Yes. What he said," Hana said.
"Uh-huh." Tohru said.
"So long as you're a good girl," Ayame said to Uo, "and you're a gentleman, you may continue doing this in my shop, but should anyone come walking in, I expect you to stop."
"Sorry," they said again, grinning sheepishly. Ayame ushered Hana and Tohru into his apartment for tea while Uo and Kureno had some alone time.
Tohru walked up the stairs into Ayame's apartment with ease, and then lost her breath when she saw the landing. There were original designs and descriptions framed on the walls, and everywhere you looked there was clothing.
"I've never seen so much fabric in one area." Tohru said.
"I bet this place would burn quickly." Hana commented. They both turned to her with looks of 'did-she-really-just-say-that?' "What? I'm not saying that I'd torch the place, but with all the fabric sitting up here, it's be and easy target for an arsonist."
"Hana…are you a pyromaniac?" Tohru asked.
"Do I look like one to you?" she replied smiling a little.
"No! Oh, no!" Tohru replied worried.
"Now, Hana, I believe," Ayame said, "Are you really going with Yuki-kun?"
"Yes," she said wearily, "Is there something wrong Ayame-san?"
"Well…yes and no," he told them, and he started to tell her about the zodiac and its story.
"Ayame-san!" Tohru exclaimed.
"Tohru-chan, she has to know if she's to date Yuki-kun…that Uo girl too. Kureno's in the zodiac as well… so she might as well find out." Ayame said with a final tone in his voice.
"But what will Akito think?" Tohru protested.
"Yes…what will Akito think?" a voice said, they all turned and standing in the doorway of Ayame's apartment was Akito. He looked ominous, and it was like a rain cloud was gathering to drench them.
"A-Akito!" Ayame said scared, "I'm so sorry!"
"You filthy, two-faced animal." Akito told him, "You were about to tell her the secret weren't you?"
"No I-" he started.
"It's not that hard to figure out now…" Hana spoke up, Akito glared at her.
"And how is that?" he asked darkly.
"You, have waves of thunder, almost like the gods-" she started.
"I am god!" Akito roared. He walked closer to Hana and Tohru felt her body moving in front of her.
"No," she told him, "Leave Hana-chan alone!"
"You think that you can stop me?" he asked her and then started to laugh. He walked forward and stood in front of Tohru with Hana sitting behind, "Move you, stupid girl!"
"Tohru is not stupid!" Uo said from the doorway, "And any jackass who says so answers to me!" Uo punched Akito on the head, and he was knocked out. They all stared at her, "What?"
"You just hit Akito…" Kureno said.
"And?"
"Even I wouldn't do that!" he told her.
"IS MY APARTMENT A MEETING PLACE OR SOMEHTING?" Ayame screeched. They all looked at him, "Terribly sorry, it just slipped. Heh, heh…"