Thanks Kikijio for reminding me. Now!

All you Fruits basket lovers!

There is a new story called The Adventures of a Man named Akito- Authoured by Kikijio- whom you know as co idea comeuper for the chocolate scene...

It has been written in turn by myself, (although I'm not such a fan of FB any more,) Kikijio, thecolourofmagic and Plasticbagfreak, all of whom you may know as reviewers of this story.

So please check it out and review it- originally called Akito the Stalker...and yes...its much weirder than this story...

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Wow, my longest chapter ever! And I am seriously stunned by the number of lovely reviews I received- Thank you soooooo much!

Er, slightly more angsty this one.

And I'm sorry.

But you see, in my opinion, just because Naru kissed her it does not mean they can now get together and live happily ever after. Yet. There are still lots of questions to be dealt with. Like Masako. So I am sorry if it seems to be going slightly backwards, but this sort of thing does happen.

Yes, Masako it hiding a deeper reason for hating Mai, I'm happy you noticed. And where would this story be without her stepping in and trying to cause damage?

Also, please don't ask me about details to do with the aftermath of the earthquake, such as, if Mai's staying with Naru, where does she get all her other clothes from?

I seriously don't know.

We'll leave it with that...Ayako is lending her things. Kay? Glad to clear that up!

I could not continue this story if Mr Cullen did not do the soulja boy dance- so I am so sorry.

For floppy haired guy. If only he knew the meaning of the word awkward. Damn him.
No way. Naru's really a player?!?!...(No.)

Mai had now successfully managed to avoid Naru for three days, but she was beginning to run out of new ideas. The thing was, she was scared to have to be with him alone for longer than five minutes, because if he thought that kissing people was just a fun way to get people to do what you want, he was sadly mistaken. Not that she hadn't liked it. A lot. But Mai's principles roared out at her, telling her that if he doesn't like you in that way, then only a sick person would pretend to.

The argument that perhaps it was her that Naru actually liked was absolutely nonexistent. Not for a moment did Mai believe such a thing was ever possible.

Eventually, as she lay in bed the evening after she had left the study, blushed furiously for half an hour and then ran home, and then ran back again seeing as she hadn't been given a new home yet, she began to question her sanity- (it had to be questioned sometime...). Had she dreamt it-(it wouldn't be the first time she had dreamt of Naru ((NOT Gene)) ) or was the stress of her life finally getting to her? Was her conscience merely trying to tell her something-that she had finally lost it?

But then this tangent also didn't seem likely.

Maybe... seeing as she had foolishly stepped so close to him, it had been her who had kissed him without realising; like an act of impulse.

But if that was true, then she would have finished her sentence first.

And with all these thoughts came the large underlying sadness as she forced herself to drown the hope that he actually liked her. It just wasn't real.

And so when she awoke the next morning, she settled with the most likely conclusion. He knew she liked him, and so as he must have really wanted that cup of tea, and also wanted to keep his secret, he had kissed her in an attempt to shut her up.

Was she that easy to control? If so, then all Naru had to do was kiss her every time he wanted something, and she would be his slave. Not a nice thought. The slave bit. Not the Naru kissing her bit. But how many times could you kiss someone you didn't like?

Mai groaned and hit her head. She was thinking too much into this. For the awkward time being she would just avoid him as much as possible, and act as if nothing had happened.

And so three days later, nothing had changed whatsoever. Naru acted like he always did, and so with this Mai determined that if he was so unaffected by it, then so was she.

It would be a lot easier once she wasn't living in the same house as him. The council had told her she would be re housed in a few days, and for some reason Ayako's house was fitting 15 people in it...and Takigawa's house was under decoration. Again. John's house...apparently had a fire, but nothing was harmed in this fire, but he couldn't have people over anyway...yeah.

-

Masako watched Mai's awkwardness for the rest of the week, how she blushed every time Naru talked to her, ran away every time they were left alone and started striking up random conversations with people she never talked to.

It was suspicious. Something had happened between them both, but what was it?

And then as soon as she asked herself such a question, the answer came to her.

Naru had had a BIG argument with Mai. Hopefully he had hit her, but then again Masako didn't date violent guys. So now Mai was embarrassed to talk to Naru because she was so ashamed because she had assumed that Naru liked her and she had been put back in her place. Yeah.

-

Finally, Mai had run out of avoiding methods. How many times could she need to go to the bathroom in one day? She thought it would lessen now that she had been given a nice new flat, but it didn't stop her seeing him at school. She needed to talk to someone. An unbiased person, that didn't talk to her much and so wouldn't tell anyone else.

"Hey Mai, you're not looking yourself recently," came a simpering voice behind her. She spun round to face Masako.

They were currently in the form room at break time, Mai's only reason for being there was the fact that Naru was not.

"Masako!" she sighed in relief. "Yeah, things have been a bit awkward lately." Masako nodded sympathetically.

"I can see that. Would you like to tell me about it?" Mai smiled thankfully. It seemed as if Masako had changed from that time before, and wanted to be her friend again. Well that was great!

(I know you're all screaming NO! Don't do it Mai! Tough.)

"Yes please," she answered, and led the way out of the classroom, to the more private and less populated corridor. Mai failed to see the smirk on Masako's face.

"So," began Masako once they were outside, "What's the problem?"

"Naru." Masako's eyes narrowed infinitesimally. "Something...happened between us last week, and I've been trying to avoid him ever since."

"What was it?" Masako asked innocently. If all went well, this would be a perfect chance to lay her trap.

"Well, I found out from Ayako that Naru liked... someone in this school, but she wouldn't tell me who it was. So-"

"Ah," said Masako apparently sadly. "I think I can help you out there."

"You can?" cried Mai eagerly. Masako nodded.

"It's not you is it," Masako stated, looking at Mai with a mixture with sympathy, kindness and pity.

Well, Mai didn't actually know, but she was 99 percent certain that, "No, of course it's not."

"It's me. I'm the one he likes," Masako softly said, trying to look 'guilty for something she couldn't help'. Mai was momentarily taken aback, but then it dawned on her and she nodded sadly. A large weight felt like it had dropped in her stomach, and her heart seemed to sink into the depths of nothing. Her brain reprimanded her heart, scornfully reminding her that she never thought it was she Naru liked anyway, that the idea had always seemed absurd. But that hadn't stopped her liking him, and it was obvious that somewhere, she had held an invisible hope that what she believed was false.

Of course, there was no denying that Masako was telling the truth. Why would she lie about such a thing any way? And Masako was incredibly pretty, and sweet, and kind and cute... so there was no reason why Naru shouldn't have 'feelings for her'. Mai looked back up at Masako.

"Thank you for telling me," she answered sadly. "Seeing as you know that, meaning that he's told you, I hope you'll be very happy together. Have you been out on a date yet?" Masako's brain suddenly had to think fast.

"No. We can't see each other much because he's very busy and around school if we were seen together I thought that other people would get jealous and might do something to stop us." Perfect. What better than to use her own situation against Mai? "But we have met privately around school." That wasn't entirely a lie.

Mai was beginning to hurt inside. A lot. She nodded, and then walked away from Masako and the form room, keeping her head down and not bothering to stop even though the bumped into someone.

Naru.

He scowled and turned to face the person, until he realised it was Mai. Her head still down, she muttered an apology and walked off, faster than before. Naru watched her walk away, frowning. Masako, who hadn't moved, watched the scene happily. Everything had gone according to the way she wanted. And now it was time to get back to her 'boyfriend'. She stood in front of the door, blocking his way, smiling and tilting her face so that it was at her perfect angle. Naru took one glance at her, walked towards her and then turned right at the end of the corridor. She watched him go, dissatisfied. But it didn't matter.

----

At the day's afternoon registration, Mai's class was interrupted by a polite knock on the door. After Mr Cullen grumbled some incoherent words, the door opened and a tall older student with glasses walked in. Everyone knew him in an instant. It was the notorious Yasuhara, student body leader representative person. He cleared his throat.

"Now, as we all know, the recent earthquake has left many people without homes, so being the school's student representative, I've been going round each year to find out what they'd like to do to raise some money." He paused, and Mr Cullen glared at the boy for being able to silence his class without even having to throw something.

"As your year all seems to be serious 'party freaks'," he flashed a smile, "Your year will have an organised disco this Friday afternoon. You still have to wear your uniform, and no, you can't bring a change of clothes. You have to pay a three pound admission fee, which will go to helping." He was met with contrasting comments, (some of which I shall let you sample):

"Yeah baby, it's party time!"

"Oh my god, it's too soon! My manicure not till Saturday!"

"A disco, that's not a proper way to raise money! We should be having a CAKE SALE!"

"Ugh. Disco."

Silence.

From the one and only.

Seeing as most people were now shouting, it didn't take long for a girl to notice that Naru wasn't speaking. She ran to his desk, smiling apparently seductively.

"You'll dance with me, won't you Shibuya?"

"NO WAY! HE'S DANCING WITH ME MORE YOU COW!"

"Shut up and faint, stupid girl," she replied.

"HOW DARE YOU! I'LL RIP OUR THAT FAKE HAIR OF YOURS IF-" she fainted with the excess of stress.

And so the daily riot resumed, leaving Mr Cullen satisfied that this boy wasn't so good at keeping his class quiet. Yasuhara deducted immediately with his excellent skills that this sort of fight over this boy in particular was common. He watched in amusement.

Then Masako approached Naru's desk, flanked on either side by two other girls, which she had specifically selected as the only two girls shorter than her, so that she would look taller.

"Yuki, don't you know anything?" rival girl leaders of their groups levelled each other up, and the class quietened at this meeting.

Yuki and her gang vs. Masako and her gang.

"I know more than you do, Masako," she said through gritted teeth. Masako laughed patronisingly, and laid a hand on Naru's desk. Naru by the way, was ignoring everything, reading a book and wondering where Mai was.

"Then why do you call him Shibuya? Everyone who knows him calls him Naru."She laughed again, and her rival's face grew hot.

"You're lying," she insisted. "Who calls him that?"

"I do. And Mai."

At this, Yuki decided that she couldn't argue with that. Everyone knew that Mai was the only person he willingly talked to, even if they didn't know the majority of his conversation was insults or orders.

Everyone also seemed to assume that the two of them had a 'thing' between them, but that didn't mean Naru was off limits. And anyway, where was his girlfriend now?

But Yuki wasn't going to cave just yet. She stood firm, her hands on her hips.

"Prove it." The rest of the class, eagerly watching could be heard to say "Ooooohhhhh..." Hell, Yasuhara had taken out his video camera and was filming the whole thing. In answer to the curious stares, he easily lied as he explained "It's for a psychology project..."and turned back to the action. Masako had been momentarily taken aback, but then smirked.

"If you're so insecure about it."

"Maybe I am. But even if he is called Naru, what makes you think he'll dance with you more than me at the disco?"

"Because," she replied, praying that Naru wasn't listening and going all out, "I'm going out with him."

Gasps could be heard all around the room, and Yasuhara did a brief sweep of the room with the camera, taking in people's reaction before focusing back on the desk at question.

By now, every student was in some way crowded round, and Mai's empty desk had been overtaken.

Yuki darkened in fury. "That's a lie!" she cried. "I thought he was going out with Mai!" She turned to Naru himself.

And Mai quietly walked in the room, slightly shocked at the crowd around her desk, but made no attempt to break through it. She didn't need anything from her desk, and she didn't want to be anywhere near Naru, so she stayed by the door, knowing the bell was about to go soon anyway. Mr Cullen, only half paying attention to the soap opera, acknowledged her existence with a nod.

"Shibuya, or, if you really are 'Masako's Naru,' tell me straight. Are you going out with Mai?" Mai jumped as she realised the conversation was about her.

But then she heard the voice that could make her blush, or make her heart tear.

"No."

Another riot was threatening to start, but as they knew the bell was about to go, they quickly shushed each other as each student leant forward to see the acction better. Mai crossed her arms and watched the crowd, not trying to find Naru through the amount of people. She briefly wondered if Naru had noticed she wasn't there, but dismissed the hope. She heard Yuki's voice again, more harsh than before.

"Then tell me if you're going out with Masako." The class held their breath...

Naru was bored of this episode.

"I'll leave it to your imagination," he replied, just as the bell rang. He stood up and made his way through the gossiping people to the front of the class. Where he saw Mai, who was determinedly staring at her shoes, a mixture of expressions Naru couldn't decipher on her face. He suddenly wondered how much she had heard, and wished he hadn't said anything at all. When had she come in?

Mai walked calmly out of the classroom, and silently made her way to the next lesson. She climbed the stairs, gripping the rail tightly, as if she was scared she would fall back. Now her heart was officially dead. In terms of feeling, Naru had just said that of course he didn't like Mai in that way, but, yeah, he did have a thing for Masako and they were going out. Not that he had said it in those words, but he could have just said no if it wasn't true. But Mai was a naturally happy person. She had been sad all lunchtime- a personal record. She forced herself to convert her sadness into another form, but conserving the amount. Hey, it seemed as if Physics had helped her after all. Something about energy.

So now she was equally angry at Naru. How terrible was he to say he like someone, and secretly be kissing someone else! That was just out of line. Perhaps she should tell the whole truth to Masako, that she should be careful of Naru. For if they want to have a successful relationship they have to be entirely open about everything. So that was settled- she would tell Masako that Naru kissed her.

And it had occurred to her while she had been thinking all lunch time, the reason why she lost track of time and didn't hear the bell, (she had taken refuge in her favourite place at school- the roof). She needed to talk to Ayako, properly. Ayako was like a big sister to Mai, and she was sure she'd understand and give her advice.

And so the next day, at lunchtime, with two goals in her mind, she made some plans. First, Ayako.

"Hey Ayako, can I go to your house after school for a bit? I need to talk to you." Ayako could see the hopeless feeling Mai was trying to hide, and instantly said yes. Then Mai nodded and stood up and walked over to Masako's table. Naru, who was getting food saw her walk over, and as Masako was going to say no, she looked and saw Naru glancing their way, and instantly agreed with a smile. They walked out of the canteen. Naru frowned, and left the line to sit at Ayako's table.

Once in the corridor, Masako flipped to Mai.

"Well?"

"Um, Masako, I know that you're going out with Naru-and I'm cool with that- trust me, but I thought I should tell you, because it's really not fair-"

"What is it?"

"Well, it's kind of odd, and I still don't get it, but the other week...Naru...kissed me."

Masako instantly knew that this was the reason Mai had been awkward around him. She was the only one who didn't know Naru liked her, and she still didn't understand. And she had come here to tell her that, to help her? After all that she had done against Mai? She was still just as compassionate as when she hadn't spread rumours around the school about her and her parents?

"Stupid girl," she muttered under her breath. Mai was taken aback.

"What?"

"Do you think you can come here and tell lies, utter lies about what you dream of, to try and stop me and Shibuy- Naru being together?"

Naru decided that those two girls were not to be trusted to be alone together, and stood to leave the canteen. Ayako stared at him, asking where he thought he was going, but he ignored her, and so leaving curious Ayako no choice but to follow him. John was away on a retreat, and Takigawa had a lunchtime detention. There was no way she was going to be left sitting on her own like a loner.

"That's not why I'm telling you Masako!" Mai protested. Masako's eyes narrowed.

"Like he would kiss you anyway."

"I know, I don't know what he was thinking, I mean-"

"Shut up!" she yelled. "Do you even know why I hate you so much?!" she demanded. Mai was quietened. Neither girl saw the canteen door open and Naru with Ayako step out quietly onto the scene.

"No I don't. But I'm sure you don't mean it, and I was only trying to help-"

"Help? You think you can help me after all you and your father did to my family?"

"My father? What has my father got to do with it?" Masako sighed impatiently.

"Didn't that stupid 'father' of yours tell you anything sensible before he died?"

Now Naru knew insults better than anyone, but that was just going too far. Ayako made a small angry noise of protest and was going to charge forward, when Naru held her back, glaring.

"Don't insult my father!" Mai shouted, clenching her fists. Finally her anger at everything was beginning to peak.

"Fine. All I'll say is that that day he was in the car accident? He wasn't alone."

She swung around and stormed down the corridor. Mai was left standing there, looking blankly at the wall. Why was everything always so complicated? What had she meant? Mai's hand reached out to touch the wall, and she made no noise as her hand caught on something sticking out. It was a nail.

"Argh!" she shouted, clenching her other hand into a fist and watching as the tear in her skin drew drops of blood.

Ayako could take no more, and rushed forwards to Mai, who looked up in surprise. Naru had made no attempts to stop Ayako, and seeing that Mai would be ok with Ayako, he walked slowly away. Mai held the cut to her mouth and sucked her palm, frowning at the bite of pain. It was incomparable to the one in her heart, a mixture of loss and new betrayal...but Mai had to forget about that.

Ayako stood in a shocked silence as Mai told her about Naru, and Masako. She frowned, and in her head secretly swore "To get my own back on that scheming bitch." But Mai really was stupid when it came to being attracted to someone. She sighed.

"Look. You like Naru a lot right?" Mai blushed but nodded. The blood was lessening.

But if Mai couldn't listen to herself, then why would she listen to her? Ayako laughed and shook her head.

"You know what? You two will just have to figure it out for yourselves," and she left.

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DISCO TIME- woo.

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To be more honest, the disco was more of a 'school party'. But it didn't stop people from having fun.

People excluded from this statement were Naru, Mai and Masako.

Naru hated parties.

Masako was still angry.

Mai was just plain damn confused.

Finally, Naru couldn't take it anymore. Right in the middle of Mr Cullen doing the soulja boy dance, (sorry...) he stood up and went to the corner Mai was drinking lemonade in.

"Come with me," he said, and turned to walk off. Well, what else had Mai to lose? Taking her cup with her, she walked through the people crowding round a gangsta Mr Cullen and followed Naru until they were outside, on the school grounds. Naru sat down at a bench.

"Sit," he ordered. Mai complied, absent mindedly fingering the empty cup. Then Naru turned fully to face Mai.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked bluntly. Mai gave him a look of confusion, which quickly turned to anger.

"You! Stop being so confusing!" she ended up saying.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Yes you do! Why the hell do you go round saying you like people, while secretly hiding the fact that you kissed other random people, and then always being in the wrong place when-and the tea- and my father- and Ayako-" She gave up and lifted her hands in the air exasperatedly.

There was a small silence.

"I don't understand you."

"Yes you do! Why did you kiss me if you like Masako and why bother when you never liked me anyway and if tea was that urgent you should have just...shouted at me or something!..?"

"Wait. You think I like Masako?" for once, he looked genuinely surprised. That just made Mai more confused.

"Well duh, she told me herself."

"And you believed her? After she spread rumours about you and your parents?" Which, by the way, he still didn't know the content of.

"...Yes...no...I don't know!" Naru sighed.

"You really are more stupid than I thought," he concluded. Mai found her eyes stinging with tears. Fine, he didn't have to like her, but would he ever stop insulting her? A few tears started to roll down her cheeks, but she brushed them away angrily.

"That's a horrible thing to say! What have I done-"

Unexpectedly, Naru leant forwards towards Mai, holding her reluctant gaze.

"How many times do I have to kiss you before you get the message?" he softly demanded. Their faces were suddenly only inches apart, and Mai could feel her heart beating faster.

"...eh?" was all she could manage, before Naru had tilted his head and his lips were on hers again, moving them slightly apart as his hand went into her hair.

For the first time ever, Mai felt, that if she were to die at that second, she would be very, very happy.

But still, her brain didn't understand. She wanted to hit her brain for what she was about to do, but Mai was a very principled person, and she broke away from the kiss, gasping slightly.

She glared at Naru, who was staring back at her.

"WOULD YOU STOP DOING THAT PLEASE?!?" she shouted.

"Doing what?" he asked calmly.

"THAT- " she took a deep breath. "How could you be so unfair to Masako?" To her surprise, Naru snorted slightly.

"What, so you want me to go out with every girl in this school who likes me? Sorry, but I'd die before I got through all of them," Mai scowled at his arrogance.

"But Masako's different!" she protested. "You like her!"

"Do I?" he asked. Mai stared at him blankly.

"Eh?"

"I never said I liked her."

"Yes you did! - oh, no you didn't," she realised.

And then, finally, it hit her. Naru saw the flash of understanding as it dawned in her eyes.

"Ooh." He sighed in relief.

"Thank God. If it took you any longer then I would have had to hit you unconscious."

"Wait- so- you like me...?"

"Duh."

Mai had the strangest sudden urge to jump up, run back to the hall and join Mr Cullen in his fabulous dancing.

But that urge was over taken a stronger desire, to fling her arms around Naru's neck and kiss him.

BUT!

How could we let this story end here?

She was just about to let her heart take over, when they were interrupted by somebody who shouted Naru's name and ran towards them. Naru turned slowly to see who it was.

It was Lin.

"What is it?" Naru asked irritably.

"I've found Gene."

Cliffie..!!!!

I almost cried when I finally realised that yes, I've nearly finished this story- it's been so fun to write and come up with ideas! And everyone's been so nice about it!

If I get lots and lots of reviews, who knows, perhaps a SEQUEL may come!!!

I know I said at the top about how they couldn't be together yet, but something had to happen!

Coming next: All secrets out in the open and a few final confrontations

Ah! In accordance to our lovely Lin, I decided that maybe after I finished the story I'll do a few short stories about him and Mr Cullen and other characters who don't feature as much as I want them to.

REVIEW MY LOVELY PEOPLE, OR FACE THE HORROR OF WATCHING MR CULLEN DO..THE MACARENA!!!