Prince Yuki

Chapter 2:

Shigure dialed the phone…ring…ring…ring…

"Hello?" Hatori answered.

"Hey, Har'i-chan!"

Hatori's voice was displeased and bored, "What is it, Shigure?"

"Well I just wanted to let you know that our precious Yuki has come home!" was Shigure's cheerful reply, looking back at the dining room where Kyou, Tohru and Yuki were eating together. Tohru was so happy to see Yuki again that she made a large dinner to celebrate his return. Of course, she had to reassure Kyou a bit, but Kyou soon helped out.

But what disturbed him the most was that…Yuki was quiet…too quiet. Wherever he went, it must've been a grand place to live in. Why else would he be so sad? Wasn't Tohru's happiness enough to make him smile again? This was really strange…

"I see…" was Hatori's reply. "That's good news. I'll let Akito know right away."

"Ah," Shigure said, sounding disappointed, "Won't you come over and celebrate with us first? I'll let you compliment my little wife's cooking." Shigure teased. Out of nowhere, an empty cup hit the back of his head and he doubled forward, almost crashing into the phone with his face. He turned, rubbing his sore bump and saw that it was an irate Kyou.

"Who's little wife!" he yelled angrily.

And the chaos went on throughout the night, but Yuki's mind was somewhere else. He looked out into the sky, watching the moon play hind and seek with the stars, hiding behind clouds and peeking. It used to be that he would be looking out into the night sky, back in Hanajima's room, thinking of Tohru. But now that he was out of that beautifully dark room, he could not stop thinking about Hanajima!

What would she think when she wakes up? She'll think he ran away! And what about that project he had to help Megumi with! Can he do it without his lab mouse? And what about Hanajima's morning kiss? She relied on him to wake her up every morning so she wouldn't be late for school because her stupid clock wouldn't work! And what about Hanajima's favorite cheesecakes! She could never finish a whole one on her own!

She needed him! He thought so. But then, he had to admit to himself: he needed her. He just couldn't forget about her. That week had been the only time he had ever really gotten to know Hanajima. In moments when he saw her, all he thought of her was; Tohru's friend, the goth, creepy. But when he actually opened his eyes to see her, she was so much more than that!

She was the epitome of contradiction! She was silent in words but her actions were loud. She was beautiful but wanted to be ugly. She was kind but heartless. She was whole but hollow. She was weak and yet strong. People surrounded her yet she was so very alone. She was grounded but a dreamer. She was so…unique and yet wanted nothing more than to be like everyone else! He wanted so much to know absolutely everything about her.

He knew some of her likes; like cheesecake, the color black, Tohru, Uotani, her father and Megumi. Hanajima didn't like her mother because she always referred to her as the 'cursed one'. Yuki hated her too. From what he heard from Hana, he found out that she had always hated Hana because her father loved her more and their marriage was going down the drain. Hana's mother hated her for selfish reasons and called her hurtful names ever since she was a child, scarring her for life and never giving her confidence in herself. Yet Hana still tried her best to win her mother's affections. Even though everything she does resulted in vain.

If only he had talked to her more before! He wished he had known Hana even before he met Tohru. But wait—something sparked within him. He could still get to know her! It wasn't too late! He could still talk to her, not as Prince but as Yuki! Then she would be able to recognize him as Yuki Souma, her…friend. Not just as Prince, her pet mouse. She had opened up a part of her to him unconsciously, showing him her true self. Now he wanted her to see him, his true self.

The next day, Yuki walked the school halls, alone and alert. He peered outside, not there. He peered into rooms, not there either. Then he saw, straight ahead, Hana talking to—ugh! His fan club members! There were yelling her way and she was taking it all in until her dempa revealed itself. The girls froze and ran away! Yuki sighed of relief but wondered, why were they picking on Hana of all people?

Yuki walked over to her, nervous but straining to calm himself. Hana turned to him, sensing his strange waves getting stronger. She looked up at him blankly, like always. Yuki smiled calmly, assuring himself that he had talked to more than enough girls to know that he was suave. But he wasn't. he was uncharacteristically sweating, nervous and his hands were trembling. Damn it! Why was he so nervous! She was just staring blankly at him, expectant and silent. And beautiful.

"O-ohaiyo, Hanajima-san, nice weather huh?" he smiled. Damn it, of all the things to talk about, why the weather!

Hana looked blankly at him, "It's 35 degrees outside." She answered.

"aha," he laughed sheepishly, "ahahaha. Yeah, uh, I noticed. So—uhm…I was just wondering…if you had any plans for later this afternoon?"

Hana raised a delicate brow at him, clearly wondering. "Why?"

"I was—wondering if…you would like to get some…cheesecakes later on?" he asked, hoping she would say yes. Hana stared at him for a moment longer, still Yuki felt himself wondering what went on in her mind.

He wanted so much to know what she was thinking, what she thought of him, and what she felt about him. She hated him, he reminded himself. She said it herself; she hated him. But he hoped it was not yet too late for her to get to know him and change her feelings towards him. Aside from the fact that he didn't want Hana to hate him, he also didn't like hearing her toneless empty voice be filled with such malice. It wasn't like her.

"I'm sorry." She said, "But no." he felt his heart ache at that. He looked down with disappointment.

"I see." But he smiled up at her, "Maybe tomorrow?" he hoped.

She stared at him again, contemplating. "Maybe…" she answered then walked away with grace. Yuki felt himself brighten, 'maybe' was a positive answer! 'Maybe, maybe, maybe!' he kept repeating in his mind joyfully! He had a chance!

So glad was Yuki that he didn't notice 2 big brown eyes staring wildly at him. Momiji turned from the sight of the wistful looking Yuki and then to Haru, walking towards the cow from the door where he stood, witnessing the whole thing. Someone had to explain to him Yuki's strange actions! And who better than the now found cow that openly declares his love for the mouse.

Review Responses:

flyingcat inc. : hai! Hai! I've updated as you have commanded!

Cerii-chan Kawaii: haha! That's true!

Leihko: oh, don't worry, it's not.

Hana: oh it won't be Haru he'll be jealous of. It's someone I really, really like.

Ria: yes, I see the spelling errors. I'll try to fix that!