As to what took so damn long... Many new manga and anime interests... I'm currently writing 2 Naruto fics... I quit college and now work full-time, which seriously crushes spare time. (since I wrote during class) Not to mention, the Sims 2 is addictive...
Btw, another reason I didn't update.. Last time I read it, I said... "That's a nice place to end. A nice, open ending. Nothing set in stone, but everything seems to be going smoothly." But people insisted, and I must admit, I did need to clear up the deal with Akito, huh? So, here we go!
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Chapter 16 : A Forgotten Picture
A small bird flitted about to land gently onto a pale, thin hand. A cold voice cut through the room, directed at a person kneeling on one of the cushions reserved for guests.
"Really, Hatori. If you want to keep secrets from me, don't let that rabbit talk about them where the servants can hear. Do you have any idea how angry I was when I found you were keeping secrets from me? Well? Do you?"
"Nothing had been decided yet. We didn't want to trouble you with something that might come to nothing by itself."
"Liar!" The bird flapped its wings in fear, taking to the air as the sickly man rose from his place on the floor. "How dare you lie to me! Never forget, I am your God!" Objects began to fly around the room, a vase of formerly arranged flowers here, a small table there. All was destroyed as Akito Sohma, head of the Sohma family, threw one of his famous tantrums. Finally, he regained enough composure to smirk coldly at the doctor still kneeling before him.
"Take me to her. Right now."
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Tohru smiled up at the sun as she made her way back from the secret base. It had been almost two weeks since she had last spoken to Isuzu-san, and though Yuki and Kyo seemed a little quieter than normal, it may have simply been because Hatsuharu and Momiji were at their home almost every day. The only days Haru missed were Sundays and days spent at his Shishou's, with Kyo. On those days, she and Yuki would brush up on her tutoring, which she really was grateful for, seeing as how she needed the help so much. She was horrified at the thought of failing another test. How could she live up to her promise to her mother if she kept doing so badly? If she didn't have Yuki to help her through, she was sure she would have a much harder time.
As she arrived at the house, even before her hand had touched the door, a very familiar laugh floated through the air, making every nerve in her body stand on end. Did the young rat know his elder brother was here? And why was Ayame-san here, anyway? Was he visiting Shigure, or Yuki himself? Though they seemed to be getting along better, she had the feeling Yuki still had to push himself to not hurt his sibling.
Taking a deep breath to relax herself, she slid open the door and stepped into the entryway, pausing to take off her shoes and set them in the appropriate place facing the doorway, beside quite a few other pair. The elegant shoes were obviously Ayame's, the small pair beside them, in a pale blue, had to belong to Momiji, and there was Kyo's beside Haru's black boots. Plus Yuki, Shigure, and herself, that meant a dinner for seven needed to be planned and prepared.
The sight that greeted her, though, was enough to make her forget about dinner.
"Tohru-kun's back!" A delighted blonde ran to her, his brand new apron flapping as he made his way, until it finally fell to the ground due to a certain bunny's transformation.
"Ah! Momiji-kun! Your apron! Or, is it not your apron?" Holding a happily squirming bunny in one hand, she reached for the discarded cloth at her feet, only to be interrupted by the flamboyant creator of said clothing.
"Of course it's his apron, Tohru-kun! Can't you tell by the exquisite embroidery I performed, just because my dear Gure-san requested it? Of course, I made Haru's as well, and I must admit, it came out just as I had imagined it! Truly, I don't see how even Yuki could disagree at how talented I am! But please, feel free to praise me in his absence!" Ayame posed proudly in the middle of the room, knowing his new favorite customer would gush praises as she so often did. He wasn't disappointed.
"You made Haru-kun's apron, too? Ayame-san truly is so talented! They're so cute!" Tohru lifted up the fallen smock, Momiji crawling up to sit on top of her head as she held it out to get a better look at it. The cloth was a pale blue with the occasional white flower, and in the center was a yellow bunny with brown-tipped ears. Momiji's zodiac form. Which meant on Haru's... Her eyes slid over to the one folded up beside the boy. Gray eyes followed hers and he silently held up his own, letting it unfold so she could see. It was black cloth, with odd white spots that seemed to be various sizes of a traingular shape. His didn't have a cow on it, however there was what appeared to be a small onigiri in the corner of the bottom, only obvious due to the umeboshi in the center of it.
"Ah! You've noticed my perfect embroidery! I must admit, I was confused as to why Gure-san insisted on an onigiri design for our beloved Haru, but once he explained, I simply had to make more of them!" Looking closer, Tohru could tell that all of the white spots on the black apron were onigiri, and blinked up at the proud snake in confusion.
"Sensei." Haru finally spoke up, turning his blank look on the innocent-acting author. "Why did you request riceballs? Even cows would have made more sense." The dog smiled brightly.
"Well, I thought you might be helping my little flower in the kitchen sometimes, and I noticed she seemed to like onigiri, and thought she would like to see you in it! I would've given it to Tohru-kun, but Aaya insisted on making her a special one. Momiji's is mostly for looking cute and occassionally helping clean, since he seems to take a little after Yuki-kun when it comes to cooking."
"Ah! Speaking of my dear Yuki, here he is!" The snake made his way to his shocked little brother and embraced him. "Admit it, Yuki, you're so delighted to see me, it's made you unable to speak! But there's no need to worry! I know how much you really missed me!" Without even realizing it, Tohru moved to sit down next to Hatsuharu, her mind already going back to what she could possibly make for dinner... Oden? Tempura soba? Maybe unagi donburi?
"You made Tohru a special apron?" Momiji's voice broke into the conversation, and the annoyed rat made his way to his cousin, lifting him from Tohru's head and setting him down on the floor in the next room. "But Yuki! I wanna see Tohru's new apron!" Ayame sighed dramatically and sat back down by Shigure, looking pained.
"Mine insisted upon double-checking the measurements and add a nice touch or two. I did warn her not to do too much, since I don't want our poor Tohru-kun, overwhelmed, but Mine just loves to dress her up. You simply must come by more often, or else Mine might decide to begin making house visits!" He smiled at her from across the table. "Now, how about some tea?"
Immediately she was up and bowing in apology before racing off to the kitchen, a loud noise alerting them to Momiji's return to normal before he called out an offer to help while Kyo and Yuki yelled at Ayame for treating Tohru like a servant again. Minutes later, each Sohma member was receiving their own cups of tea, not even bothering to look surprised when the doorbell rang. Shigure simply smiled at the rest of them.
"Haa-san's early tonight! He must want to share in your delicious food as well, Tohru-kun!" Aaya immediately stood, delighted.
"Ha'ri's here! I simply must tell him how Yuki greeted me so warmly today! He never did answer when I called earlier!" With that, the snake made his way to the front door while Momiji began begging for Tohru to tell him what she was planning to make for dinner, and offering suggestions.
"Ha'ri! I've been waiting all day to tell you-" The fact that something was able to cut off even the persistent Ayame Sohma was something to worry about, and so Yuki stood and made his way to the entryway, only to freeze at the sight that greeted him. The rest of the group, waiting for the return of the brothers and new guest, weren't paying full attention, but it was obvious from the quiet tension that they were listening. So when Yuki gasped in shock, they all heard the name that accompanied it.
"Akito!"
Shigure's easy-going demeanor was gone, and he was givingKyo, Hatsuharu and thenow-frightened Momiji a penetrating look.
"Seems like the secret's out. Tohru-kun, would you mind going with Kyo-kun, Haa-kun and Momitchi to Yuki-kun's secret base? You and Kyo are the only ones who know the way, I believe. Haa-san, Aaya and I will try to calm down Akito, and we'll send Yuki out to you as soon as we can. Don't worry about dinner, we can order something. Now hurry!" Shigure stood and put his hands in his sleeves, a polite smile appearing on his face as he left the room, heading for the entryway. Instantly, Hatsuharu, Kyo, and Momiji headed with Tohru out of the back door, leaving their house shoes and socks behind, not being able to put on their normal shoes.
They had only just gotten into the wooded area behind the house when a soft voice spoke up.
"He thought this would happen." The group spun to see Kureno Sohma, watching them try to sneak away. "He said he was sure one of you would try to spirit Honda-san away in hopes of protecting her." The rooster stepped toward them and looked at the girl for a moment, glancing at the cheek that had already been a victim of Akito's anger. "Try to move quieter. Momiji and Honda-san can't help it, but shouldn't your martial arts training have helped you at least know not to make loud crashes through the woods while making an escape?" They just stared at him, as he turned around and walked back towards the house, leaving them free to run.
They hadn't gone far before the sounds of an Akito tantrum began.
"Yuki-kun!" Tohru spun around, wanting to help her friend, only to have Kyo grab her arm.
"Idiot! If you go back there, Yuki'll end up even worse. Akito's here to find you, after all!" She still stared worriedly in the direction of the house, and finally the cat sighed. "Fine, I'll go back and try to drag the damn rat away!" He glared at Haru in warning before spinning around and running back to the house. Momiji looked up at Tohru nervously.
"Maybe we should go to Kyo and Haru's shishou's house? Akito won't look there, right? Or maybe one of Torhu's friends?" Tohru instantly shook her head.
"I don't want to trouble anyone! We should be fine at the secret base, right?" Hatsuharu nodded and took her hand, leading her and Momiji farther into the woods before finally asking for directions to find out which way the base was exactly.
"I wonder why Akito-san is looking for me..." Tohru looked down, distressed, and Momiji gripped her hand comfortingly.
"Is this the base?" Haru asked, looking around at the small vegetable field. When Tohru nodded, he sighed and sat on a nearby tree stump. "Then I suppose... we should just wait."
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Akito knows about Tohru and is coming after her! Noooo! Will she escape the head of the family's wrath, or will Kureno spill where they are? Will I update this again in less than a month! I sure hope so! See you then!