Attention: TheKnightsOfThePentagonalOttomen Do Not Own Fruits Basket or any of the included characters. We do however own the Taiyou Family! Enjoy!
Author's Note: Gomen! Sorry it took so long for me to edit this chapter so it could be posted! I was booted off my network the last two weeks of school and I just now got my computer hooked back up to the net. Blah, blah, blah. Excuses, excuses, excuses. The rest of TKOTPO have been hounding my ass about it. Gomen! I am not worthy of the page space I am taking up. Gomen! Gomen! Gomen! - Editor of TKOTPO
This chapter is dedicated to SpiffyElf, Nessa, Chibi-Chan, Toitie, the Minion, the Queen Of Bad Comebacks, Heather's Amazing Technicolor Hair and the Goddess Of Lesser Table Scraps. Without your constant nagging, invisible chop-sticking, and mock dueling, none of this would have been possible. ; p P.S. I love you guys!
Chapter 5: Ideas and Pride
Over the next few months the Taiyou girls and the Sohma guys dealt with each other. Tempest and Haru still got into useless annoying fights. Momiiji continued to pester Caira (to his great delight). Hanajima became fast friend with Aiden through the vocal fights they got into for the most stupid reasons. Alarice was still the model student, getting along with anyone and helping where ever she could. She got along great with Yuki and never revealed anything of her sinister side to him.
As the time had gone by, the other students had learned to just deal with the weird feeling they got when ever a Taiyou came along; just as they had with the Sohmas. The time for the annual School Festival was fast approaching, and people were planning for a fundraiser. The computer lab needed more up-to-date computers. So the main point of the fair was to raise money. None of the Taiyous had problems except for Alarice. Her first problem came when someone decided to start an Alarice Fan Club. She was always being watched and never lost a chance to show off; even to Yuki. But that just started cause more trouble for her and when the 'Prince Yuki Flan Club' started to pester her, working with Yuki became an even bigger challenge.
A Senior Board meeting was held for all the class room representatives to attend on the topic of the Festival and any old or new business that needed to be discussed.
"Well, as you all know, we have the school festival coming up. The main event is still unknown. But what we want is an idea that will raise enough money to pay for at least 25 of the new school computers. Any ideas? We are open to any suggestions." Proclaimed the president of the school board.
"How about a bake sale?" some one asked. "No that was done two years ago." Some one retorted. "How about we sell thing we make, like a bizarre or something?" "Yeah or an auction of some sort?" some else piped in.
The debate for the main event was never finalized. All the ideas went down on a sheet and the board asked all representatives to discuss the ideas with their classes. The president also asked to take new ideas for other fundraisers, not just the main event. They were to report back in a week with a list. Everyone gathered their things and some people went up to the president to ask questions and such. While getting ready to go, Alarice spotted Gechi talking to the president of the board: Seeing the president nodding his head very vigorously and writing something down, on a piece of paper.
'Well I guess he had a good idea. It is sweet, I mean, he is the President of my fan club. Power is good' Thought Alarice smiling sweetly.
"You seem happy, do you enjoy going to thiese meetings?" Questioned Yuki ever so nicely, in his sweet caring voice.
"Oh, yes. Things such as this give me a feeling that I am needed among the other students. It…..it makes me feel…..wanted." Alarice stated sweetly, ending on a quiet note (hoping Yuki could not hear). However, Yuki did hear what she said, but he said nothing about it.
'I had no idea, she is so smart, sweet, caring, and well…pretty. I had no idea she felt that way. I think she might understand me, in a way no one else could.' Yuki thought.
"You know, you are really helpful something. I am glad you came to this school; without you I don't think I could handle all the meetings." He said aloud with a true caring smile.
"Thank you so much……Oh I forgot my journal." Alarice announced and dashed back towards the direction of the meeting room to retrieve it, when her wrist was gently grabbed. Alarice stopped dead in her tracks, and turned to see a warm smile on Yuki's face. "I will go get it for you, I don't want you to be late home, and if you would be able to wait…" Yuki was cut off very suddenly.
"NO! I will get it. You don't know what it looks like. Sorry, but I will see you tomorrow. Okay? Bye!" Alarice ran down the hall, turned the corner, and disappeared.
'That was weird; I guess she thought I would read it or something. Oh well. I might as well get going; I have to pick up Miss Honda tonight.' Yuki thought to himself, as he began the long walk to Shigure's house.
Back in the meeting room Alarice grabbed her journal and let out a long sigh as she held it to her chest. "That was close; if some one took it I would so be dead." Continuing to cradle the book for dear life. "What's worse is if Yuki saw it and LOOKED IN! But, his kindness and gentle concern do move me. Oh my Kami, when he grabbed my arm, I felt myself going red in the face. What if I had transformed in front of him. What would I do? What would he do?" She wonders out loud while walking down the hall. 'Don't think about it or you will get embarrassed. Don't ask …Don't….' She told her self, but her thoughts suddenly ceased when she saw the three girls who were blocking her way through the hall. All of them were standing with their arms crossed and their legs parted. 'Obviously they wanted to be in my way. Wait! Do I know the middle girl?' Alarice thinks annoyingly to herself.
"Miss Taiyou, we need to talk. As you might know I am Matoko Minagowa, President of the Prince Yuki Fan club." Matoko snootily said. "Yes, I have heard of this fan club. How may I help you?" Alarice asked sweetly. "As you might know, the club is here to protect the prince from anything or anyone who could pose a threat to him." Yes, I believe I understand your goal." Alarice replied as politely as possible. "But what does this have to do with me?" President Minagowa chose this time to make her point clear. "We want your involvement with the prince to cease by the end of the week. We can find your replacement and we would like for you to never talk to the prince again, do you understand?" Matoko spouted out fuming more and more.
Taking in a breath Alarice looks directly into the taller girl's eyes and calmly but flatly states, "No." "No?...What do you mean no, we are protecting Yuki and what he needs is protection from you." Matoko says while stepping forward in protest.
"Yuki does not need protection from me, he needs protection from you. Your club is so obsessed about him that he feels like he can never be himself. Try talking to him. Be his friend. What is wrong with you? I did not know talking to someone was illegal. I will continue to fulfill my duty to my class. I am sorry if this throws a wrench into your little plans but, quite frankly I don't care. I will NOT follow your rules. Especially if there is no good reason behind them." The three girls continue to stand and gawk with a look of pure shock written on their faces as Alarice bows slightly and walks right past them. She continues her walk down the hall. "What makes you so special to say you don't have to follow the rules of the club, are you saying your better than Yuki? Who the hell are you?" Matoko yells down the hall at her. "How dare you!" shouted another girl beside her. "What do we do now?" The third girl asked ever so quietly.
Alarice turns around with a very calm and proud expression on her face. "I am Alarice Taiyou, and I never said I was better than Yuki." Stepping out side and looking strait into the clear, vast sky, 'I will prove to the entire school that I am, in fact, better than Yuki.' She thinks to her self as she smiles sweetly and heads towards home to plan for the next day.