CHAPTER 2- PART 2

"The Day of Freedom"

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"How did you meet him?" Yuki's first words came ever since they left the Sohma compound ten minutes ago.

"Who...Kyo?" questioned Manabe as his one of his hands control the moving vehicle.

"Who else?"

"Oh ho, ho! That! Well, I ran into him after we had our first argument, remember?"

"First argument..." Yuki tried to remember, but it was not clear.

"I made an assumption that he's happier than you are and that he was like Honda-san's boyfriend."

"Oh! How could I forget!" The memory returned to Yuki. He remembered how angry he was that day. That was before we got to know each other. I was such an arrogant one back then. "So, when you said you apologized...you mean that assumption?"

"Mmhmm...I didn't have my head screwed on right during that time."

Yuki smiled. "We all have a few loose screws now and then. Come to think of it, I think my head was screwed too tight during that time," He laughed. Manabe looked over and laughed with him.

The vice-president's black Nissan drove through the main city and into an apartment complex. Yuki stared at the tall building. "Is this your home?"

"Oh yeah, Yun-Yun," Manabe pulled into the front driveway of the building. "You don't mind sitting in the back...huh?"

"No...I don't mind...why?" The dark-haired boy justed smiled and pointed to the window on Yuki's side. The grey-haired boy looked out and saw a girl with dark shoulder length hair appearing in a yellow summer dress. She was heading their way.

"Y-Your girlfriend?" He asked as he prepared to make the switch.

"Yeah. She be pissed if I don't give her the front. Sorry, Yun-Yun."

"It's okay." Yuki moved to back with his small knapsack and watched the girl dashed her way to the car. His eyes widen when he viewed the group behind her. There were five other females in summer attire. They all followed her at a steady pace from the apartment complex. They were chatting among themselves as they walked.

"Manabe?" Yuki sweated as he watched the group approaching to the door of the car.

"Don't worry Yun-Yun! They don't bite!" Manabe pushed the button to open the trunk for the girls to place their things in.

"That's not wh..."

Oh no.

The doors of the front passenger seat and the back seat opened. Yuki squeezed himself at the very end as the five girls piled in. He protected himself from disaster by hugging himself.

"Nabe-chan!" cried the girl in the front seat. She greeted her beau with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I missed you sooo! Why didn't you call this morning!?"

"Because I already called last night, babe." Manabe said as looked behind him. The poor gray-haired boy looked like he was going to die of female contamination. "Jeez. I didn't know he had a trepidation for females," he deliberated. "Everyone, Asume, I would like to introduce you to the prince of Kaibara High, Sohma Yuki! Yun-Yun, This is my girlfriend, Mizua Asume and her friends!"

The girls in the back became quiet and looked at the calm, but nervous boy at the left of them. "Um...Konnichiwa minna-san...Eheh," Yuki waved lightly at the girls.

"How kawaii!" a long brown haired girl said as she viewed the boy beside her. "We should call you Yuu-chan!"

The girls chatted gleefully in agreement and playfully teased at his new name. Yuki smiled at them, but cringed inside.

This is just what I needed...a new unnecessary nickname added to my already long list.

"It's nice to meet you, Yuu-chan!" Asume said from the front. "Nabe-chan said so much about you!"

Watashi Kami-sama...how long...how long....

"An hour and twenty minutes." Manabe answered to the girl by his side. She smiled and rested in the comfort of the front seat.

"Let's get going!" Manabe called out as he started the ignition.

Oh...Kami-sama!

Throughout the whole trip, the girl beside Yuki kept on teasing him about how cute he is. It was more like flirting. She and the others treated him like a new pet by playing with his grey locks. He looked away to ignore them, but they just won't leave him alone. They nagged him to play road games with them and sing a few songs that was playing on the radio.

Manabe...If you don't come back alive...after this...

After a torturous trip, the car finally pulled up in front of a two-story house in a private area. There were already many cars pulled up in that area. Everyone exited the car happily, especially Yuki, whose thankful that he was still alive and human. After the girls grabbed their things, he took his suitcase and head for the front door, following behind Manabe. "Sorry about that, Yun-Yun. They needed the ride too!"

"It's quite alright...I think," The rat said sternly. He was not done being astonished from the event earlier. There was the party right in front of him.

How I am going to get through this?

"Follow closely...I'll show you your room," Manabe instructed. Yuki stalked him closely behind as he walked through the mass of people.

"Hey, Nabe!" called out one of student reps standing with a huge group of people. Everybody were doing all kinds of crazy things. It was like one of those high-school parties seen in movies. Yuki was beyond shocked of what he has witnessed.

"Yo!" Manabe replied. Many people were surprised that Yuki made an appearance. Instead of greeting him like Manabe, they gazed at him with awe. The boy just smiled at the faces staring his way as he went up the stairs with his suitcase in hand, following his guide closely behind. So close, that he ran into him when they reached the second floor.

"Gomen. There are just too many people around..."

"I know. If you don't like the crowds...don't forget the lake in the back." Manabe said as he walked to the door at the  left end of the corridor. He took out a few keys on a ring and unlocked the door. Yuki looked at him in wonder. "Just so that no one uses that room...if you know what I mean."

"Makes sense." Yuki walked inside a small, but a very neatly made up room. There was a wooden desk besides a window covered by lace curtains. The matching bed was double with a blue quilt neatly covered. Across from the bed was a wooden dresser with a mirror attached. Next to it is a small closet closed by a folded door. Yuki sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'll let you get settled...oh yeah...here's your key," Manabe handed the a silver key to Yuki. "You might want to lock up when you're done."

"Yeah...thanks." Yuki smiled lightly.

"No problem. I'll be hanging around downstairs if you need me." The other boy closed the door as he exited.

I am finally here. Yuki fall back on the bed and breathed in deeply. He closed his eyes as he deemed on the needed rest after an exhausting trip.

THUD! THUD! (Banging door)

"Kaaa!" He shouted in alarm and jumped from where he was lying. "Coming!" he walked to the door in front of him and opened it.

"Yuki-kun!" cried a black long haried girl.

"Um...Do I know you?"

"It doesn't matter! Come to me Yuuukiiiii!" the girl sprang herself to the boy in her view.

With quick reflexes, Yuki grabbed both of her hands and somehow flipped her over his head, to the bed behind him.

What in the....

"Wow! Hee! Hee! That was amazing! I was like flying! Hee! Hee! You're full of surprises, Yuuukiiii!"

"I am surprised too..." How did I do that? I thought I hurt her. I don't usually do that...it was like something 'he' would do. Yuki was so lost in his thoughts, he was not aware of the girl with him.

"I bet you have more surprises, Oji-sama!" the girl shouted as she crazily lunged at him. Again, with his quick reflexes he moved out of her way. Is she crazy?

"Aahh...Gomen...I don't even know you and you just..."

"Excuse me? I am Fugisuya Susuki, the student representative for Class 2-B! And you said you don't know me?" the girl steamed.

Now I remember...she looks so different now....not to mention literally "different".  

"It's just that I don't recognize you, gomenasai," Yuki apologized as he started to walk to the exit. "If you don't mind...I am leaving...so..."

The girl left her spot, walked to Yuki and grabbed his arm. "Then, let's spend time together! Without your fan girls here! It's all fun for us!"

"B-But...I-I don't think..."

"Come on!" she yanked his arm after Yuki locked his door.

"Please let go!" the rat cried as she pulled him towards the crowd downstairs. "Aaahh!"

I am going to transform! I am going to transform! Oh god, I am going to transform!

"Hey! What are you doing to Yun-Yun!" called another girl's voice.

Oh thank heavens, Kimi! Out all the right things you should say...that was one of them!

"Secretary, I am introducing the president to different people!"

"Why Yun-Yun looks like he's going to puke?"

"Puke?" The girls looked at Yuki. He was pale and sweaty all over. Here's my cue! Yuki got up and ran to the nearest bathroom and closed the door.

Nice getaway...arigato, Kimi. What was with that girl? Did she know who she was messing with? She's probably drunk. D-Drunk?

The boy opened the door slowly and scanned the area. Everybody was looking at him. Great. "Ano...I am feeling okay now...and alcohol is bad for you!" he said as he made his escape from the bathroom to the exiting sliding doors.

"The president was drinking? Oh my," one of the student reps said.

"Yun-Yun?" Kimi followed Yuki outside through the sliding doors. She grabbed him by the shoulder. "You didn't did you?"

"Huh? Did what?" the questioning boy was in question himself.

"Drink...that stuff?"

"Alcohol?"

"Mhmm."

"No way! You got it all wrong! I thought that student rep was drunk...the one who held me captive!"

"Oh! Her! That makes sense! Don't scare Kimi like that okay? Kimi has to go find that girl and question her! Don't worry Kimi will clear Yun-Yun's name! Yun-Yun just stay outside where it is safe!" the girl said as she went back in through the sliding doors.

Yuki smiled lightly. Now I know what friends are really for. Thanks Kimi.

The view outside was majestic before the boy as he walked closer to the lake. There was a mountain gracing itself with its snowcapped tips and imposing presence. Its view reflected upon the quiet body of water that sits in front of it. Nearby was a single Sakura tree giving off its petals to the view described.

This is so great. It's like I am in a different world...on my own.

Yuki closed his eyes and savor the atmosphere around him. His moment was disturbed by the sound of breathing and kissing. He gagged at the sight nearby him and he headed further down the lake. He stared at his reflection walking along the banks of the lake and stopped. He noticed that his hair was a disheveled and his clothes was mess from the struggles he had earlier .

After all that idiocy, I am sure to appear this way. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

"Exhausting...is it not?" a voice called his left side.

Could it be?

Yuki turned around to face the one girl he wanted to run into after all that chaos. "Machi...you're here..."

The girl was sitting under the Sakura tree and reading a book. She was dress in simple attire compared to the other girls. She had on a regular, plain white, buttoned shirt and a long blue skirt. Her hair was tied like it always have been, with a clip to hold the hair on top while the rest flowed on the bottom. She gave Yuki a blank look and went back to reading. The boy could think of nothing, but sit next to her, enjoying the view of nature.

"It was exhausting...getting over here and being pulled in all kinds of directions. I never want to go through that again."

"You survived didn't you?" the girl said as she lifted her eyes from the book.

"Yeah...but nearly got killed in the process," Yuki joked. He glanced at the girl beside him and smiled. "I am glad that somebody decided to show up...now I know my obstacles are worth it at the end." The girl looked at him and blushed.

"Don't flatter me," she coolly steamed in redness.

"It's true..."

The girl frowned with her reddened face and crossed her arms. Please don't do that.

"Machi doesn't like compliments? Or it's emabarssing? Whatever it is...I am not sorry that I said it."

"That's not necessary, Kaichou-san."

Yuki's eyebrows lifted at the last word. "Kaichou...no, not here...we're not in school . Since I called you by your given name for quite awhile, please call me by mine."

She looked away from him to the mountainous view in front of them, still red and frowning. "Gomen...Yuki...kun."

He smiled and put his hand on the top of her head. "It's alright, Machi." She hesitated for a moment and quickly turned her head to remove his hand. He moved it back to his side and sat quietly.

The two returned to the house for lunch, which was twenty boxes of pizza ordered by Manabe (every one pitched in to pay for it). They returned to a calamity along with the party attendees: pizza boxes lying all over the place, soda cans and bottles (a few was beer) scatted on the floor of every first floor room, knocked down house plants, broken screen doors, crooked picture frames and many more.

It looks like Kagura has ran through here during her "Kyo" stage.

The boy and the girl at the sliding door back entrance were stunned. Yuki had an bemused expression on his face while Machi stood and crossed her arms displaying stoicness.

Manabe walked up to greet the newcomers of his disas-terrific shindig. "Surprise!" he yelled into Yuki's face.

"I won't ask," the rat said sternly as he walked headed for the kitchen. The girl behind him walked past her half-sibling and trailed behind the boy. When he walked in his jaw dropped at the sight before him, even the girl behind him was surprised. The floor in the kitchen was soaked with the mixture of water and soap over the plastic trash bags. Some of the male student reps were sliding the on the soap suds trash bags like sleding. Everyone stood around cheering them on while Yuki and Machi tried to swallow their shock. This should be expected...but I never seen it in front of me before...so this is the true color of the student representatives, huh? Interesting.

"Whoa! What is this?" Manabe called as he passed through the crowd of people. "Ah! My kitchen! What have you all done to my kitchen?!"

Yuki stared at the boy with aggravation. "You of all people...should know..." Machi eyed her brother from the side. "What would father say?"

Manabe sweat dropped and walked into the kitchen carefully, so he won't slip. "Alright everyone!" he yelled as he climbed to the countertop to get everyone's attention. "This is going too far! My parents will kill me if they knew what happened here! So please..."

He finally have some common sense. 

"...Just remember to clean up before tomorrow!" he flashed a dashing smile as he jumped off the counter and slipped head first into the vinyl floor.

Idiot.

"Nabe-chan!" a female voiced over the the rambling of the crowds. Asume appeared and slid to her man. She sat on her knees and held the unconscious boy to her arms. "Somebody help!" she cried. Kimi noticed the scene and left to get the first aid.

"Manabe!" Yuki called from behind the crowd. Machi took note that Yuki's having a hard time getting through, so she pushed through the crowd to let the boy gain an entry way. They both approached the kitchen with caution and went by Asume's side.

"What should we do?" Asume cried. Tears came from her eyes as she starts to cry. However, the sound of snoring took over her coos.

"Zzzzz"

Yuki and Asume looked over at the unconscious figure. A look of disbelief appeared on their faces. The girl lifted the figure by his collar with intensity, "KAKERU! WAKE UP YOU IDIOT!"

The boy finally opened his eyes to face a group of angry people. "Babe...Yun-Yun...Machi...you all are here!" The crowd around them became quiet.

BAM! Asume angrily dropped him back on the floor. "DON"T YOU DARE SCARE ME LIKE THAT MORON!" She stormed out of the room and kicked the door down. Yuki sweat dropped. Now, that was Kagura-like. He looked back at the boy getting up and rubbing his head.

"Owie...now I have to go apologize...to her."

"I have to admit...that was pretty stupid what you done awhile ago." Yuki stood to help the boy up.

"I know...I can't help it."

Kimi came in with the medical kit and slid to the middle counter. "Kimi got it! Where's the injured person!" She scanned for the injured boy, only to see that he's up and alright.

"False alarm, Kimi," assured Yuki. "Thanks anyways."

How long do we have to put up with this?

The crowd resumed to their party as Manabe and his fellow council left the scene. He went to find Asume to apologize. Meanwhile, Yuki went back out to the lake to escape the craziness again. Machi managed to get some pizza for them and returned to the lake. The two ate in peace with a beautiful view in front of them.

Inside the house, Asume watched from her window in her room of the two eating. She sighed and leaned against the window. "I didn't know they are together."

"Hey...babe...what were you talking about?" Manabe appeared at her open doorway. He walked over to where she was standing.

"You have no right to speak," she said crossly. "What were you thinking? I thought you were hurt!"

"I'm sorry...I just just got caught up...you know."

"Never mind. Just don't do that again," she frowned.

"Okay, Sume-chan." He gave her a hug while she still stare outside the window.

"How come you never told me? I would of told my friends to back off of him."

"Huh?"

"Yuu-chan, I mean...you never told me he's going out with Machi-chan." She pointed out the window. "Ever since we got here today...he's been by her side the whole time."

"Wha--" Manabe looked out the window to see the scene. His eyes widen. "What in THE HELL! PERVERT!"

"Ah...Nabe--"

"I am sorry, babe. You're mistaken...those two are not going out with each other. Yun-Yun...is just extra NICE to her...WHY? I don't know..."

"Nabe-chan...you're yelling for no reason...again."

"Gomen...it's something I am not used to...yet."

As the evening falls, Yuki and Machi returned to the house to find a more subtle, mellow crowd. Most of them prepared to stay overnight, while others went home. The boy gazed at this scenery and smiled, "I thought parties starts at this hour," he said to the girl next to him.

"Pitful people," she responded somberly as she headed for her room up the stairs. Yuki looked up as she walked away. It seems like she didn't have fun at all. The party was interesting...but what fun it is...if we are not part of it? It was fun to watch...though.

He went to the kitchen and the other first floor rooms to check if there's anything that needed to be cleaned, but there were already people in each area cleaning. They told him that he doesn't need to help since he did not make that mess. He left and walked to his room.

After he showered and changed into his pajamas, the boy gazed out of his window. The moonlight covered the view below. Over the lake, over the meadow of wildflowers, on top of the mountain was its light. The light reflected in the boy's eyes as he watched the natural masterpiece.

Thank you for the first day of survival. First-time away from being trapped in his cage. I thought I wouldn't make it...there were so many close call...but I made it. Thank you so much...for this day of freedom...