Hatori took Miya's suitcase from her and gently placed it with the other luggage. He closed the limo trunk and reached into his vest pockets for his cigarettes. He lit one, taking a slow drag and letting the poisonous smoke fill every part of his lungs. Cigarettes were cancer sticks, he knew this, but they calmed him down when he needed it.

He observed the two talking bodies a few feet away. For some reason, Akito took it upon himself to invite Shigure along. Probably to keep him company, he figured. Hatori threw his cigarette on the ground and extinguished it. All three were waiting for Akito to emerge with his bags so they could get moving.

"Damn it! Where is he? It's bad enough I have to go on this trip, but making us all wait for his royal ass is getting on my nerves!" Miya resumed her pacing, clearly annoyed.
"He'll be here soon. You know, I've been to the lake house before. It's very relaxing, and you look like you need it."
"Not funny."
"Besides," he got closer to her, "It's a big lake house and we'll be all by ourselves." A perverted glint shone in his eyes.
"Hatsuharu's right. You should be locked up." Shigure grinned like always.

Tired of waiting, Hatori began to walk toward Sohma house to see what was taking Akito so long. Well, speak of the devil. Akito came out dressed in his usual black attire. He wasn't carrying his bags. Hatori passed him, not needing to be told where his bags were, which were right next to the door. Miya wasn't amused.

Too high and mighty to carry his own crap? Prick.

"Perfect day to go to the lake house, isn't it, Miya?"
"Yeah."
"You don't sound too excited."
"Whoo-hoo." Miya waved a finger around carelessly.
"I'm sure she's just tired," Shigure interrupted, seeing the look in Akito's eyes and before the two went at it again.

Hatori returned with Akito's bags and placed them with the rest. After he closed the trunk, Shigure, Miya, and Akito made their way to the black car while Hatori started it. Shigure opened the door to the back seat when a tight grip on his wrist stopped him from going in and caused him to look up. Akito nodded his head toward the passenger door. Shigure had done as instructed. Miya didn't pay any attention to either of them. She just wanted to get this trip over with as soon as possible. She settled into the plush, leather seats, along with Akito and Hatori drove off toward the beginning of, what Miya hoped would be, a calm trip to the lake house.

For an hour, only the sound of gravel hitting the tires penetrated the silence Miya had grown accustomed to. Akito wasn't the easiest person to start a conversation with, but she felt matters would worsen if she talked to only Shigure and Hatori. She glanced at Akito. He kept his head locked to the window the entire ride, as did she. Miya watched as the tall buildings of Tokyo changed to trees that could match the height of those buildings. The rumble of the car lowered until a low drone was heard and then silence. Hatori got out first, followed by Akito, Shigure, and lastly, Miya.

She stared at the two-story building in front of her. Painted in white, the lake house had a window that looked out into a porch and a balcony overhead. A white-tiled roof pointed to the sky. It was in perfect condition. Shigure smiled at her and the four walked up the set of small of stairs. Hatori opened the wooden door. The gust of air that hit them carried with it the scent of lemony Pine-sol.

Someone must have cleaned the place for us before we arrived.

Akito didn't waste anytime in heading down the long hallway in front of them. He entered the room at the end and slammed the door shut. Miya looked at Hatori and shrugged. Akito wanted his arrogant solitude just like at the main house. Miya surveyed the inside. The light reflected on the beige wall and on a small space between the window and a staircase. Two blue armchairs were directed toward each other while a glass table rested between them. On the other side of the room, a small round table sat in front of two potted plants. Above them was a rectangular mirror. Other than that, there was the hallway which consisted of three doors on either side and the one at the end.

"I'll go get the bags," Hatori said, stepping out.
"I'll help you. Miya, you should pick a bedroom. It doesn't matter to us which one," Shigure said as he followed Hatori. Miya watched a bit longer before turning to the six doors.

She closed her eyes for a mere second before opening her eyes. They landed on the middle door on the left side. Walking quickly, Miya opened the door and stepped into the room. Clean, simple, and bright were the words that came to mind. White walls were adorned with some frames. A window was covered by some blue shades while a bed with blue sheets rested below it. Two night stands stood on either side of the bed and an open, bare closet beside the left one. A wide dresser was pushed up against the wall near Miya. A small TV stood on top. Miya saw a wooden door on the right wall which was probably a small bathroom.

A sound erupted behind Miya. She quickly whirled around. There stood Hatori with her bags.

"Thanks." She took them from him and set them down on the bed. "How long are we staying here?"
"About two to three days." Shee nodded and Hatori left her to herself. Miya took this chance to explore the second floor.

Who wouldn't love this? Miya smiled at her surroundings.

Just like Shigure's house.

The stairs led to a small space with a sliding door. It opened up into a kitchen that somehow resembled the one Shigure had. On the right side was another sliding door. Opening it, Miya figured that this room had to be the living room. A large window on the left looked out into the lake and a door on the right led to the balcony. Miya plopped down on a large blue couch that rested adjacent to the window.

I think blue is a recurring color in this house.

Voices coming from the kitchen shook her from her thought. The kitchen door flew open to reveal a grinning Shigure and a stoic Hatori.

"So how do you like it, Miya?" Shigure asked.
"It's cool. Relaxing, for sure. I still have yet to see the outside."
"Why don't we go out now? We'll have drinks too."
"Okay."

Miya got up from the couch and headed towards the door. Once outside, Miya gasped. Beautiful described the view from the balcony. Trees all around for miles and miles and the lake glistened in perfect brilliance under the sun.

"It's beautiful."
"It's okay," Hatori said, coming up behind her.
"I can see why Tohru likes this place. It's so peaceful."
"She told you?"
"Yeah, when you, Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, and her came for Golden Week. I believe Ayame was also present at the time." Hatori smiled at the memory.
"Here we are! Some nice, hot tea." Shigure's singing voice rang out as he carried a tray with three cups.

Miya grabbed one while Hatori took the other. It was only then she noticed the table next to them. She sat down, Shigure next to her and Hatori across. The three drank their tea in comfortable silence. It seemed that the tiniest word would break the beauty of nature that surrounded them...or someone that could darken it. Like the person who walked onto the balcony.

"Hello Akito." Shigure smiled at him.

Damn. He's up.

Miya kept drinking her tea as if he wasn't even there. Shigure and Hatori started a conversation about Tohru and the boys while Akito parked himself near the edge of the balcony. Miya finished her drink and dropped it in the sink. After that, she laid back down on the couch, slinging her arm across her eyes. Being in a car for over an hour and not having anything to do would have a toll on anybody. Her eyes drooped and her breathing became a little steadier. Maybe a nap would do her some good, if it wasn't for the door slamming and the footsteps that prevented her from sleeping. Miya opened her eyes to see Akito walk past her. They guy had been acting weird all day, weird for Miya, at least. He hadn't once said anything to her since they arrived.

Thank the lord for that, Miya thought as her eyes drooped again and sleep washed over her.

"Miya. Miya." A faint voice rattled her from the sleep she was consumed in. Gentle hands shook Miya as her eyes slowly drifted open. A blurry figure turned into Hatori looking down at her.
"What time is it?" she said, her voice still sleep-ridden.
"Nearly eight. Dinner's ready."
"No, thanks. I'm not hungry." She hoisted herself off the couch and stretched. "I think I'm gonna go down to the lake for a swim."
"Okay. The food will be on top of the stove if you want any."
"Thanks, Hatori." She smiled at him and strolled downstairs to her room.

Miya walked out of her bathroom dressed her favorite bathing suit, a two-piece white bikini with red and black polka dots. She threw her clothes on top of ther suitcase, grabbed a towel from the bathroom, and made the long trudge down to lake. By the time she got there, the stars were already out, twinkling their hellos to her. Miya set her towel down on a nearby rock and dipped her foot in the lake.

"Not so bad," she mumbled to herself. She stepped in and screamed. Water splashed around her as she landed her bum. "Damn it." The dirt wasn't as firm as she first thought. "Oh well, since I'm already in..."

She held her breath and ducked underwater. Pushing off from the dirt, Miya paddled out further. She spent quite a while just swimming around the lake and enjoying the night. Once in a while, the trees rustled as a light wind blew in between them.

Miya swam to the edge to catch her breath. She had swum a couple laps in the lake, staying near the lake house. She slowed down her breathing to the point where she wasn't almost breathing. Her tingling senses wouldn't let her. They warned her. Miya was aware of the growing uncertainty in her chest. Something was out there. Something...

She pretended not to notice, but wouldn't completely ignore it. Miya swam back out, alert to whatever it was and what it might do.

Eventually, Miya grew tired and swam back to the rock where her towel was. She wrapped it around herself and sat down. Her senses weren't on the high anymore, but they were still there. Another wind blew, throwing her hair away from her face. She wrapped the towel tighter around her. She sat for a few more minutes before standing up and heading back to the house.

"Holy shit!" Miya scrambled backwards.

The back of her foot slammed on the rock. She toppled backwards. A hand shot out and grabbed her arm, setting her on her feet.

"You should really be more careful," Akito said.
"Yeah, thanks." She looked down at her foot. The back of it was lightly scraped.
"What are you doing out here so late?"
"If it wasn't so obvious, I would tell you," she said, still looking at her foot.

She felt his eyes staring a hole into her and it made her uneasy. She avoided his eyes for as long as she could until Miya couldn't stand it anymore. The staring contest began.

Miya tried her hardest not to let Akito's glaring eyes intimidate her. Apparently, this guy was a natural at intimidating others, but it had proved worthless to Miya, like on that first day. The corner of her lip tugged itself into a smirk, a small sign to Akito that she had no intention of letting him win, even if his eyes were hauntingly beautiful...

WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT! Oh, my god, I thought his eyes were beautiful. Oh shit...

Miya shook her head and closed her eyes. A low chuckle brought her attention back.

"It seems I won, Miya."
"Yeah, I guess...you did"
"Something the matter?"
"Just tired."

GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF!

"I'm gonna head back."
"You do that."

Akito's eyes followed her to the house until her form disappeared in the house. He then sat down on the rock she recently occupied. He couldn't get the look of surprise in her eyes out of his head, that moment where she obviously thought something that made her nervous. Perhaps it was about him, perhaps not. But Akito felt it was, making him smile. He knew she wasn't as tough as she made herself appear. His smile turned into his signature smirk.

Perfect...