Prince Yuki

Chapter 5:

Yuki walked briskly along the hall, searching for a certain someone when she heard something the new fan club members were whispering to each other. They didn't see him from behind and they were snickering rather loudly.

"Ne, ne, did you hear about Hanajima, Saki?"

"That she seduced our dearly beloved prince?"

"Where'd you hear that one? Of course it's not true!"

"It isn't?"

"No, it isn't! First of all she's not pretty enough to seduce even a monkey!"

Yuki felt enraged as if he was just given a slap on the face. And to think that Hanajima-san was only a few feet away, with her back turned to them as she spoke to Honda-san and Uo-san. The insolence!

"And second of all, she's a witch! She probably put a love potion on Prince Yuki's drink or something."

"Or maybe she voodoos him! To make him do the things he does?"

"SHE'S NOT A WITCH!" shocked. Everyone was shocked. Everyone in the hall was staring at him, incredulous that the great Prince Yuki could sound so…violent.

Yuki realized this soon and blinked, not believing what he just did! He totally lost control of himself and yelled at the new members. They all stared at him with fear in their eyes, Honda-san was wide-eyed and Uo-san had her mouth open.

"Yuki-kun…" Tohru whispered with surprise, taken aback at Yuki's explosion.

Slowly, almost painfully, Hanajima turned to look upon him with parted lips. As if she just heard her name being called.

So ashamed was Yuki that he bowed his head and whispered low, "Gomen." Before he ran to the next hall, disappearing from sight.

Hana, Tohru and Arisa all wondered, like everyone else, what had gotten into the prince. He would never shout at anyone but earlier…he just bellowed at three of his new members! What was that all about?

Strange, Hana thought, the prince Yuki was acting stranger than normal ever since he came back. She wondered what caused it to happen

Kyou was sitting on the rooftop like always, after throwing away the pesky cats that kept following him around. He sighed, something strange was happening with that damned mouse and he couldn't figure out what. Ever since Yuki came back, he's been absorbed in his own little world. He couldn't understand. Wasn't he happy, now that he was back in Tohru's company? Wasn't he happy Tohru was paying more attention to him than before to make him feel better?

He sighed again. Everyone seemed to worry about the mouse. Shigure kept talking to Ayame about it but no one could figure out what was wrong with him. Even Tohru expressed her own worries but of course she hadn't had the chance to ask yet. She was too nervous about Kyou being jealous. Of course He was a bit insecure, after all Tohru was His girlfriend. But he had no doubt that Tohru would stay loyal to him. She would never do anything to hurt him. He knew that now.

"Kyou." He heard the familiar call and saw the shadow from behind him. He turned to scowl at him for intruding but was stopped when his fist connected with his face.

"Ow! What the—Baka nezumi! What do you think you're doing!"

Yuki stood icily, obviously seething. He covered his angry eyes with his bangs and shook with fury. "How could you?" he asked in a low voice.

"How could I what?" Kyou asked, completely forgetting his anger and becoming dumbfounded.

"You told Shigure, didn't you!" Yuki yelled, lifting his gaze to reveal malice in his eyes.

"I told what!" Kyou asked aggravated. He didn't know what the hell the baka nezumi was talking about at all.

"You told him about finding me in Hanajima's house, didn't you!" he accused. "Now Hatori told Akito!" he said furiously.

"I didn't tell nothing to no one!" he said.

"Liar!" Yuki bellowed.

"Shut up, you baka nezumi! Why would I tell that damned dog anything!" Kyou yelled back. Wordlessly, Yuki attacked. Kyou evaded almost all of his punches and kicks but was caught when Yuki kicked him at the side. Kyou was thrown to the railings of the roof deck, clutching his aching side.

"I trusted you with one thing!" Yuki said, stalking towards his prey.

"I'm telling you, I didn't tell anyone!" Kyou defended still.

"He didn't tell Shigure!" Yuki and Kyou both turned to the door to see Haru there. "I told Hatori." He declared.

"Haru?" Yuki asked.

"I didn't know—how to explain your strange behavior, Yuki…" Haru explained. "So I asked Hatori."

Yuki's fists turned white knuckled at his sides and he shook more with fury, "You could've just asked ME! And it was none of your business to begin with!" He said. Before anyone could say anything anymore, he passed Haru and ran down the stairs. "I won't be back tonight." He declared before vanishing from Haru's blank gaze.

He knew he hurt Yuki's pride. To sniff around on Yuki's personal life was an insult to the mouse and Haru knew that. And yet he didn't want to be left in the dark. Especially when it concerned Yuki of all people. He felt like Yuki was leaving him out of everything. Yuki was leaving him.

Hana watched as Motoko and her gang of Yuki fan club members ran away from her at the sight of her dempa with her blank expression. They have been threatening HER frequently ever since Yuki came back. She didn't know why but they kept telling her to keep away from him. Why would she want to stay beside the prince anyway? He was not one who belonged in her circle of friends. Everybody loved him; no one but Tohru and Uo-chan loves her. To stay beside the prince would just be bringing trouble to her. And as much as possible, she wanted to spend her years without trouble.

Speaking of which, Hana turned around to see a disturbed looking prince walking the halls. His lips were fixed into a deep frown and he stared down at the ground he walked upon in deep thought. Strange. Anger, she felt anger in his waves. Something displeasing must have happened. Was he unhappy about his cousin being the school doctor? It seems they don't get along well.

When Yuki caught sight of Hana staring intently at him, in front of him, he put up his usual smile; the one he used whenever he didn't feel like actually smiling. Something about Hana's stare made him feel queer all of a sudden. As if she didn't believe what he was saying; but he wasn't saying anything.

He didn't feel like talking much so he just passed her by, striding his way down the hall.

"Yuki." He froze. That was…the first time he had ever heard her say his name. Yuki, Yuki, Yuki, Yuki! He felt his heart suddenly lighten and he didn't even know how to describe it. He didn't know what to do, seeing as he felt his face grow hot.

"H-Hai?" he trembled. Why was he trembling?

"Don't ever smile at me like that again." She said. That was when he turned to her, completely startled.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't," she started in her blank, queer way. "Want to see your lies." She said.

Yuki stared at her for a moment, not knowing what to say. Again he felt naked before her. How? How could she see right through him? Was he that obvious? Of course not! He had mastered this art of façade ever since he was a child! And yet she saw right through to him! How!

"I-I…" he tried to create an excuse, apologize, say anything. But the words never came to him. He was just frozen in front of her.

"Ja ne." she bowed respectfully and passed him by.

"Hanajima-san." He uttered low, fearing his voice might tremble again.

"Hai?" Hana stopped but simply turned her head to him.

He turned to her fully with a real smile this time, "Would you like to go get cheesecakes with me?" he asked.

Hana turned back to the hall and answered, "You are…strange…for me." She walked away with that and left Yuki feeling happier than he should be, considering what just transpired between him and his cousins.

Yuki sighed as he neared Hanajima's house and saw the window with the lights on. Hanajima's window. He was in his rat form and smiled to himself, happy that he finally had the time to be with his master again. He climbed up the tree with the branch that reached over to the windowsill. When he got there, he saw that Hana had her back turned to him as she was staring in blank space again.

Perfect! He thought as he started to feel the same tingly feeling he got whenever he was just about to change back. Without hesitation, Yuki jumped to her, Poof! He turned into a boy again but not for long. As he landed behind the oblivious girl, he quickly wrapped his arms around her. Poof! And he was a mouse again!

Hana stiffened at the feeling of someone hugging her with the same wave as Yuki. She turned around calmly and was relieved, not that it was obvious, to see her pet Prince again. It seemed that whenever Prince decided to make his presence known to her, he would release a strange wave that enveloped her in a form of a hug. Only, the strange part was that she could swear she felt skin.

She let out a ghost of a smile and leaned down to pick up the happy mouse. "Prince-chan…where have you been? I've been worried." She said in her usual deadpan tone.

Prince just squeaked and hugged her thumb happily, delighted that he was back into Hana's care. He was back where he felt he actually belonged!

Review Responses:

Yuka Kitsune: Yes, I undestand. I couldn't update either. Thanks for the review!

Hiei's Kat: thank you! I'm flattered by the compliment and actually happy that someone cared how the authoress felt. Don't worry, even if you do ask me to update, I won't mind. I'm happy you think so.

tohru-honda14: thanks!

Keybordist: thank you, I'm glad you liked it.