Sorry about the long wait! I had a bad case of writer's block and it wasdifficult to find time when I have to work all the time. I really like the interactions between Yuki and Haru in this chapter.Hopefully, I could focus on him and Machi more in the future chapters. Oh well, we'll see what happens!
CHAPTER 7
"The Festival- PART 1"
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you…
- from The Reason, by Hoobastank
The morning hours came with its calm and serene light, and noise.
BAM! CRASH!
The gray-haired young man stirred as he lifted the weight of his upper body.
What was that? Could it be?
He immediately departed his chambers to the source of the noise. It was coming from the expectant place and the expectant person.
"Yun-Yun!" Manabe called from down the hall. "She's at it again! I think you should go check!"
"M-Me?" Yuki questioned, "Don't you do that?"
"You are the boyfriend and you understood her more!" He pointed to her closed bedroom door. "Cummon! Yun-Yun! She's not going to stop anytime soon!"
Yuki sighed and opened the door. In his view there was a trashed room and a half-dressed girl in it. There was a moment of silence.
"GET THE HELL OUT!" A pillow was tossed at Yuki as he quickly shut the door. His face was beet red with anger marks all over. He grabbed Manabe by the shirt as the boy chuckled at his run-into-a-half-dressed-girl scene.
"You are a true hentai, you know?!" he yelled as he banged the other boy on the head with a fist. "How could you do that to your own sister?!"
"Honestly, I didn't know she was changing! It was a true accident!" he explained with a few laughs in between and rubbing the sore spot on his head.
"How did this started?" Yuki picked up the feathered pillow the girl tossed. He looked at the pillow and frowned a little.
"I just gave her the kimono Sume-chan dropped off and then…KA-BOOM!"
"Mizua-san already came by?"
"Yeah, she had to go because it was the old man who gave her the ride over."
"You'll see her later, ne?"
"Hai! Yun-Yun will watch over Machi too, huh?"
"Of course," Yuki smiled as Manabe walked down the stairwell. He knocked on the girl's door. "Machi? Is everything all right? If you needed anything…"
The door opened. A girl with a floral lavender kimono and a purple obi appeared. Her dark-brown hair was tied back with a comb with lavender flowers and purple butterflies. She looked at her pajama-clad beau, who was standing in the front of her door with a pillow. The boy looked at her with his mouth parted to say something, but he remained speechless.
"I hate dressing up. It's troublesome," she said,looking at the silk, lavender fabric.
"Ah…I understand now. You were having trouble with that kimono…sorry about my intrusion…it was an accident."
"It's all right…I should of known it was his doing."
"Eheh," he sweated."Might I add that your trouble all pays off in the end," he smiled, "You are very beautiful."
"You don't have to say that," she blushed. "It makes no difference."
"I am just telling you what I thought…sweetheart," he smiled as he walked back to his room. "I believe this is yours," he tossed the pillow lightly to the blushing girl.
You really don't have to say that just because we are together.
After Yukigoes through his morning routine, hechanged into his light gray yukata and headed for the kitchen.
"Yun-Yun think Kimi's pretty, ne?" A pink-kimono clad Kimi said flippantly with her cheek rested on the back of her clasped hands. A hint of rose appeared on her cheeks and a sparkly aura begun to appear behind her.
"Um…" The gray-yukata clad boy was at lost for words as he looked from the side of his eye at the pink kimono. There was no reply, only quietness emitting from him in the kitchen.
I don't know what to say. Kimi was always like that, but I has been awhile since she was like that…being flirtatious, not caring what other think. She is so strange.
"Kimi-chan, don't put Yun-Yun on the spot! Although, he should be the one asking that question to you!" Manabe joked whiled nudging Yuki with his elbow.
"That's out of the question." A tone of sarcasm was displayed in his words. Even his face or his voice doesn't show it, from the inside Yuki chuckled at his own pun.
"Does Kakeru-chan thinks Kimi pretty?" she asked
"That is not my place to answer," he said as he walked over to the sliding doors. "Ask someone else at the festival, perhaps?"
"Hmmm…Kimi might…"the girl said with her index finger placed on her chin.
"Don't listen to him, Kimi. There's no need to ask," assured Yuki.
"Yun-Yun thinks Kimi pretty, then?" The sparkly aura returned as she dramatically asked.
"Now we are back where we started," Yuki sweat dropped.
"Hey, Yun-Yun," Manabe called from the sliding doors. "Maybe she prefer you to go fetch her," he pointed to the glass of the door.
"Hai." As Yuki walked over to the sliding doors, Kimi smiled contently at him for his gentleman-like manner to the other girl. He slid the door open and step into the daylight of the morning hour. He closedthe door behind him and headed for the lakside.The girl by the lakeside walked over to his side one she saw him in sight. "Ready to go, Machi?" he asked.
"Let's go," she bleakly said as she started walking to the sliding doors. Yuki put his hand over her head. She froze in reaction.
"It'll be fun. I assure you of it." He smiled when she faced him with her dull expression.
So much fun that you'll laugh and smile. When that day comes…I'd be very happy.
The car ride to the festival was a noisy one due to the chatters of the two in the front seats. The ones in the back remained silent in their contemplative state. The boy looked out of the window at moving roadside lined with fields of wildflowers, with a mind filled with the possibilities he would face at the festival.
Who will be there? Honda-san, baka neko, Momiji, Haru, Kisa and Hiro…Hmm…Shigure might be there too. That means he might be there. I don't think he likes festivals….demo…he would go over there to make everyone miserable. I don't want to face him. It's not that I am afraid…I just don't want him to interfere with everyone, especially my friends and my love. If I have to….
I will defy him again…
During his contemplation, the girl next to him, shifted her eyes from her window to the boy next to her. She watched his worried-like gaze staring out of the window.
You're worried about them? I told you not to worry. We'll go through this together, no matter what happens or what other secrets may be revealed. You were fighting your weakness before and won. You could do it again…
After an hour, the wildflower lined road turned into a sideline of buildings and thousands of people. It was the city of Tokyo. Some of the people were in kimonos and yukatas while others were in city clothing. The car drove into a nearby parking garage. Inside, Manabe drove until he could see a dark blue van parked with an empty space next to it. He parked and immediately exited without a word.
"Kyaaa! Nabe-chan! You're here!" greeted a girl in a light blue kimono with a pattern of butterflies. She exited from the dark blue van and into the arms of her beau.
"Sume-chan…It's good to see you," he spoke softly near her ear. She smiled at him with her arms around his neck. After she let go, she waved to the departing van as it left its space. She lighten more when she saw his companions coming out of the his car.
"Yuu-chan! Kimi-chan! Machi-chan! You all came! Yay!" she gleamed.
"Thanks for inviting us, Mizua-san," Yuki said in his polite manner.
"I am just happy you could come! The girls would be happy to see you again!" she beamed.
"Aaahh…" Yuki sweat dropped at the thought. The last thing he needed was to run into his family with a crowd of girls.
"Asume-chan!" Kimi greeted with her arms out. "Kimi's happy to see Asume-chan!"
"It's nice to see you again, Kimi-chan!" Asume said while holding Kimi's hands in her own. She looked behind the girl to see a solemn one standing.
"Machi-chan! Welcome!" Asume waved at her. "You look nice in lavender! I am glad I picked that one out for you!".
"Thank you for your kindness," Machi bowed
"No problem!" She grinned. "Shall we go joined the others, Nabe-chan?"
"Let's go, hun," Manabe said as he threw his arm around her and lead her exit of the lot. The others followed the two from behind. Yuki held out his hand to the girl behind him, without looking.
"Yay! Yun-Yun wanted to hold Kimi's hand!" Kimi said as she latched on to Yuki's hand with her own.
"Aaaah…that's not…" he nerved.
"Hmm? " She looked at the girl beside her and gave Yuki's hand to her. "Oooh! Kimi's bad! Gomen, Yun-Yun! Here you go, Machi-chan!"
Machi looked at it with a pink face. As she took it, Yuki brought her over to his side while they were walking. Kimi walked up to where they are to join them in their trekking.
After the group exited from the parking garage, crowds of people came into view. All of the people are heading to a huge ballpark nearby. Manabe pointed in that direction as he lead the others to the entrance.
Inside, there were lines of different food stands and booths. Also, there were a group of kimono-clad girls near a ball-tossing game booth, waving to Manabe-tachi.
"Sume-chan, that's them right?" he asked.
"Mhmm!" She waved her arms in the air to the group. "Look whose heeerree!" she shouted out.
The girls dashed towards them with excitement on their faces. "Konnichiwa, minna-san!" Rina greeted.
"Konnichiwa, Rika-chan!" Kimi greeted in return. "Kimi's happy to see friends again!"
"We so happy to see you again, Kimi-chan," Mika said. "We are more than grateful to see Yuu-chan!" she added.
" Arigato, minna-san," Yuki said with a gentle smile.
"It's always fun with Yuu-chan around!" Akira said, grinning a huge smile. Yuki blushed at the praises he endowed with.
"Alright!" Manabe shouted, scaring a few people. "This is where we go splitty!"
"Splitty?" Yuki questioned.
"Yeah, we agreed to split up, ne?"
"Huh….oh…" Yuki tried to remember when did they agree.
That time….
"…Yun-Yun will watch over Machi too, huh?"
"Alright then, have fun…Manabe," he smiled. Manabe waved and smiled back as he walked with an arm around his girlfriend.
"Have fun with seven females, Yun-Yun!" he snickered. Yuki nerved again once he was reminded.
Please don't let me see them…yet. Not with them…
"Hey, Yun-Yun," Manabe called out, "Isn't that Honda-san over there? She's with a blond-haired kid. Hmm…Don't just stand there, introduce everyone to her! Sorry I couldn't stay for a second intro! I have to go! See ya, later! I'll call your cell when we are ready to view the fireworks!" The boy fled the scene with his girlfriend, whose waving to her friends and his.
Oh no.
" Honda-san?" Kimi asked, "Who is that? Oh…wait a minute! She's the girl whose rumored to be very close to you, ne? Former girlfriend?"
Yuki was stunned that the girl who changed him as a person, better yet, his life, was actually there. "N-No. Just a good friend."
"You heard Nabe-chan!" Rina gave a slap to Yuki's back. "Introduce us!" She shoved the boy to the girl's direction. From behind everyone, his slient girlfriend stared at the girl from the distance. She sighed softly as she followed the crew and the reluctant boy to the brown-haired girl in a yellow floral print kimono.
Nearby, a brown-haired girl and a blond- haired boy were playing the ball-tossing game. The girl missed everytime she tried to hit the three bottles stacked together. The boy on the other hand, managed to knock the top one down, with the other two standing. While the girl was playing, he saw a familar face heading their direction.
"Yuki! Hey To-ru! It's Yuki!" a blond-hair boy informed his companion while pointing to a grey-haired boy, who was followed by seven females. "He's got many girlfriends with him too!"
"Did you say Yuki-kun…" the girl cut off when she turned and saw the boy and his many companions. "EH!? Y-Y-uki-kun?!"
"Heh…Um, konnichiwa, Honda-san," Yuki greeted with presperation on his forehead as he walked up to the girl. The girls with him stood from behind, each with a smile…except Machi.
"This is amazing!" the girl enthused, "I never thought that I run into you! How are you?"
"I am doing well. How are you?"
"Everything's okay, demo…we missed you, Yuki-kun!"
"Yeah!" her blond companion added. "Even Kyo missed you!"
"I don't think that's possible, Momiji," Yuki sweated at the thought. Then, a reminder popped in his head. "Oh yeah…where are my manners? Honda-san, Momji, I would like to introduce you both to my friends. Minna-san, this is Honda Tohru-san and my relative, Sohma Momji."
"Nice to meet you Honda-san!" Rika chimed."I am Sujaki Rina!" She bowed to the two. Her friends followed her manner.
"I am Isira Akira!" Akira introduced with her big smile.
"Wantabe Noriko here!" Noriko added with a bow. There was a hesitation in the greeting. Noriko noticed that Miki was in her daydreaming state. She poke her arm with her elbow. "Miki -chan!" she whispered.
"Oh..." Miki came out of her daze. "Gomen! I am Omasui Miki!" she bowed profusely.
"It nice to meet you Honda-san. I am Tatuma Suisuki," the quietest and most polite girl bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all!" Tohru said in her most cheerful tone.
"Yay! Kimi finally meets Tohru-chan! Kimi heard a lot about Tohru-chan!" Kimi beamed.
"R-Really? I-I didn't know…" Tohru perplexed over the girl's words as she lost the last words of her sentence.
"Kimi, you're suppose to introduce yourself," Yuki sweated. "Honda-san, this is Toudou Kimi-san,the secretary of the student council."
"Nice to meet you , Toudou-san!" Tohru bowed. "Thanks for being a good friend to Yuki-kun!"
"Kimi's the bestest friend of Yun-Yun!" the girl beamed.
Momji noticed a familiar face in the crowd. He walked over to her.
"Machi-chan, you're here too?" he asked.
"Machi's in the student council with me, Momji," Yuki explained. "She's the treasurer, remember?"
"Now it makes sense! It's nice to meet you officially…although we have been in the same class," he smiled while the girl greeted him with a bow.
"Nice to meet you."
Yuki smiled when he saw the two getting acquainted. "And Honda-san, this is Kuragi Machi-san,"
"Nice to meet you Kuragi-san!" Tohru bowed. The other girl bowed in response.
"Iie (No), it's nice to meet you, Honda Tohru-san," she spoke in a dull, but polite manner. Tohru smiled at her kindness.
As Yuki watched the two getting accquanited, he remember something from Momji's mentioning of Machi being the same class as him.
Haru told me about that last year. They are still in the same class? That I didn't know. Speaking of Haru, where is he? It's not the only thing I should be wondering about…should I tell them?
"Yuu-chan," Rina brought him out of his thoughts. "Let's go an enjoy the festival with Honda-san and Momji-kun. It'll be fun."
"Okay." Tohru and Momji cheered as their company grew. They all went over to the gaming booth nearby.
"Where did she go? One minute I turned around, she's gone!"
"She probably took Momji to one of games around here. Keep searching."
A pair of unique-looking boys walked all over the park in search of their missing party. They avoided walking in the middle of the crowds due to their discomfort. There were also eyes from the crowds staring in awe of their uniqueness. From booth to booth they had no luck. However, a screech of excitement has signaled them where the missing persons might be.
"Wheeeee!"
"Momji! Get down from there! That's not a ride!" Yuki called out. People stopped and stared at the boy riding a huge floral decorated float passing by. The paraders frowned at the sight, for it would delay their parading time on the streets.
"Momji-kun! Please get down!" Tohru called.
"You damn brat! Get the hell down!" called a voice from behind. Yuki-tachi turned to see an orange-haired-teen accompanied by a black and white haired one. Yuki sweated at the arrival of the two.
Oh great, the cat has arrived.
"Oooh, whose are those people?" Rina pointed to the orange-haired andblack and white hairedteens to Kimi, who was entertained by Momji's actions.
"The orange hair is Sohma Kyo, Yun-Yun's cousin! And Kimi thinks the other is Sohma Hatsuharu, Yun-Yun's other relative!" she cheerfully answered.
"Hmm…" Rina thought to her self, "I didn't know that he had such handsome looking relatives…"
"Kyo-kun! Over here!" Tohru called as Kyo passed through the crowd of girls. "He's going to get hurt like that!" Kyo looked up with his teeth gritted.
"Oi! Damn brat! We're going home after this!" he yelled to the float. "We couldn't go anywhere without you causing a ruckus!"
"Awwww…I just want to have fun, Kyo! You're being an old man!"
"You're the one whose being the brat!" he retorted. He sulked and crossed his arms in frustration. "Keh, anyone got better ideas?"
"Does Momji-chan like…candy? Huge lollipops, to be exact?" Noriko asked. Her friends looked over at the girl behind them as well as the Sohmas and Tohru up front.
"Hai! Momiji-kun loves candy!" Tohru enthused. Noriko took a huge, rainbow flavored lollipop from her bag and showed it to her.
"Here it is!" She lifted the candy towards the float. "Oi, Momji-chaaaann! Loook! It's yours!" The blond-boy squealed in delight as he climbed down from the decorated contraption. The paraders and the crowd cheered after he reached the ground. As he reached for his prized a fist banged his head. Noriko jumped at the action.
"You damn brat! Why do you have to be so damn annoying?" Kyo snapped.
"Waaah! Kyo hurt me!" the childish teen cried.
"I am sure Momiji-kun didn't mean to do anything wrong," Tohru said, in an apologetic manner.
"It wouldn't be that way if you both just stayed close!" Kyo yelled unintentionally to the girl.
"AH! Gomen! Kyo-kun!" she frantically apologized. Kyo came into realization to his actions.
"Ahh…you don't have to.." he assured, his hands reaching out to her.
"It's okay now, Momji-chan is down now. That's all that matters, ne?" Norkio interrupted, mimicking Tohru's calm, apologetic manner. She handed the lollipop to the boy. "Shall we see the parade, Yuu-chan?"
"Hai," Yuki replied. Kyo also came to realization of the gray-haired boy's presence next to Tohru.
"What is he doing here?" he asked Tohru, in annoyance of the other boy.
"Oh! We saw Yuki while we were playing games!" Momji answered for her as he smiled cheerily.
"Whatever," he walked away from three and stopped when he eyed Machi and Kimi. "Oi, Aren't you two in the student council?"
"Yes, we are," Machi said in a monotone.
"Kimi's in the student council!" the secretary chimed in a cheeful tone.
"I thought you all went to lake or something?" Kyo questioned, eying Machi. Yuki spotted his cousin questioning the girl and he stepped over to her side.
"For you information, we are staying by the lake," Yuki spoke in a sarcastic manner. He was blocking Machi, as if he was protecting her from something. "Please don't bother them no longer." Kyo switched glances between Yuki and Machi, then frowned. He walked away with hands in his pockets. Yuki took note of his gesture. It was very unlikely of him. Tohru also noticed Kyo's behavior.
"Ano, Kyo-kun, ja matte (wait up)!" Tohru ran up to him and continued walking with him, away from the group. "Please go on without me! I catch up to you soon, Yuki-kun!" she called out to Yuki. The boy smiled at her as he watched them disappear into the crowd.
"She likes him, ne, Yuu-chan?" Rina asked.
"Hai. Very…so dearly," he closed his eyes in his moment of serenity.
"EHHH?! To-ru likes Kyo?" Momiji asked loudly as he ran up to Yuki.
"Take a good look next time you see them," Yuki smiled at the younger Sohma. "Shall we go enjoy the parade?"
"Let go," Haru solemly said as he started walking. He was still registering the thought of Kyo and Tohru together. All long, he thought Yuki would be the one who would capture her heart. However, when he looked behind him, he saw Yuki beaming at the girl whose holding his hand. His classmate, who he never thought would go far into loving Yuki.
After the parade, playing more games and eating a lunch and a few snacks in between, the group with seven girls and three boys rested at the benches in the park. The girls and Momiji chatted about some of the celebrities they thought they saw and some of the most beautiful kimonos they seen. The two boys sat in another bench sharing about what been happening during the course of that summer.
"How has everything been?" Yuki spoke first in the midst of slience, while watching Momiji chatting with the girls.
"All's well," the black and white-haired boy answered dully.
"That's good to hear. I was worried…especially after what happened last summer…"
Last summer, he came and took us away from her and left her alone with that baka neko. Then, tormented her. We failed protecting her from him. However, we were fortunate that she only left with a few scratches…it could have been worse.
Haru looked into the space in front of him with a mix of tranquil sadness and intense anger in his eyes. "He better not come. I'll kill him."
Yuki frowned as his eyebrows furrowed as he remembered that incident between the feared Sohma leader, Haru, and his ex-girlfriend, Rin.
A few months back, he tortured his love beyond belief. I felt a stab through my heart to know what she has been though and what Haru is going through. Although, he still sees her from time to time. He's still hurting…because she is still recovering back at home.
"Haru, as long as no one's hurt again…it'll be alright. I will see to it that no one gets hurt again. Even, that baka neko," Yuki assured him.
"I know for Honda-san, you would," he changed his expression to a lighter smile.
"You're right. For her, I will," Yuki smiled back as he returned his gaze at the energetic rabbit and his female companions.
"Yuki," Haru called to get his attention back.
"Hmm?" The boy turned back to his relation.
"Tell me about your girl. Kuragi-san."
"Umm…well…" Yuki blushed and grinning sheepishly.
How did he know? Were we that obvious?
"I-I confessed to h-her that I like…no…love her," he stuttered. It was very odd of the boy to stutter because he had perfect speech. To make Sohma Yuki stutter, it was something anyone would jot in their memory bank, like Haru was doing at the moment. He smiled more as Yuki got through his words.
"She must of really effected you more differently than Honda-san," Haru concluded.
"Actually, she treated me like another person. Another normal person. It was something I longed for in another, besides Honda-san," Yuki smiled softy as he spoke, "When I first saw her, I saw myself in her. She saw the same in me. She knew who the"real" me was. Ever since then, we became emotional support to one another. It was inevitable that we would fall in love." His smile faded when he saw Haru with a slightly, pink face. "Haru, are you…are you blushing?"
"I never seen you in love before. I get this funny, warm feeling inside. It's a mystery."
"It's called happiness. Although, I still don't understand why you are blushing," Yuki chuckled lightly.
"Yuki in love is something I love," Haru said with the blush deepening.
"Now, that you put it that way…it's understandable," he said with a blush of his own as he looked at the his feet with embrassment.
"Oooh! Yuki got the hots!" Momji called as he approached his relatives.
"Oh great, now he joins," Yuki redden in the face more. While Haru and Momiji enjoyed their fun with their learning of Yuki's girlfriend, the girl watched them and smiled from the inside as she watched, also blushing slightly.
The sunset quicky shifted into the dark, starry night as Yuki, Haru, Momiji and the girls headed for the main grounds to view the fireworks. Yuki recived a call from Manabe earlier to meet him and Asume there. Rina saw Asume at a food stand and left with Kimi and her friends to join her. Manabe, who was with her came to greet Machi, Yuki, and his relatives.
"Oi! Yun-Yun! Welcome back! Did you have fun?" Manabe asked.
"It was great. How about you?" Yuki asked in return.
"I had the best time, arigato," Manabe noticed that there are two extra boys accompanying him. "Hi! I am Manabe Kakeru! I seen you two at school. It's nice to meet you officially!"
Yuki noticed he had an introduction to do. "These are my realtives. Sohma Hatsuharu and Sohma Momiji. They are second-years."
"Nice to meet you," Haru bowed, "Thanks for taking care of Yun-Yun," Yuki cringed a little when his sacred, student council-only nickname is used.
"Don't call me that," he whispered to the other boy.
"Your daughter has been very good. Although, she could be quite naughty at times…" Manabe extended the joke. "I am glad to make her happy!" Momiji was oblivious to it as he waved to the couple with two children heading his direction.
"What!? Say that again and I'll hit you!" Yuki fumed. Haru smiled at his reaction and took notice of the couple.
"She's here. Let's go see the fireworks."
"Who's here?" Yuki turned and saw Tohru and Kyo with Hiro and Kisa. "Oh, Honda-san!"
"I am back like I promised," Tohru said as she walked up to Yuki with Kisa close to her. Yuki patted Kisa on the head when they approached.
"Manabe, this is my younger relation, Sohma Kisa and that boy over there is Sohma Hiro."
"Nice to meet you," Manabe greeted with a little wave to Kisa. The girl gave him smile in response. Kyo and Hiro came to group and trading threatening glances at each other. "Are they siblings?" Manabe asked about the two boys.
"No, but sometimes it seemed that way," Yuki explained.
"Nice to see you again, Kyo!" Manabe called to the cat.
"Oh! It's you again!" he spat. Manabe grinned at the cat's greeting.
"It nice to see you again, Manabe-san," Tohru said in her courteous manner.
"Same is to you, Honda-san," he replied.
Yuki's family joined Manabe's crew as they headed for the main grounds. However, lurking from a distance stood a dark figure watching the group.
Welcome back, Yuki…
I would be looking forward to meeting your friends...
AN: How was that? There are a few references from the manga if you could point it out.Like, Yuki defied Akito in CH 95. Akito did torture Rin in CH 104, butI am not telling you what Akito has done.That's a spoiler. Alright, part two will be coming as soon as I could work on it.