I awoke the next morning and gasped a little at how long I had slept. I felt horrible because I had fallen asleep in the late afternoon. I knew I was mentally exhausted after everything that had happened. My world had been changed forever changed with Okāsan forever gone and again being in the place that we had run from in the first place. I started regretting immediately my rash decision of deciding to stay here. Okāsan gave up everything for me to stay away from this place and its bad memories and here I was comfortable sleeping in a Sohma's house. I couldn't stop the inevitable tears that fell down my face. I hadn't cried since I was a child and now all I seemed to be doing the past week is cry. My eyes were swollen and sore and the salty tears hurt my face, but they continued to fall as I wiped them away. I changed my clothes and finished unpacking and decided I would start making that homemade food that Shigure was desperate for. It would distract me from thinking about my horrible thoughts. I made my way to the kitchen easily and started learning where everything was kept. I assumed I was the first one up and was thankful for it. It gave me time to collect my thoughts as I began cooking soup and frying the fish. Okāsan always said I made the best miso soup and I decided I should make a good impression with my best dish. It was the least I could do for Shigure for being so hospitable. After a while I was so focused on my task I didn't notice someone walk into the kitchen. "Um-excuse…" a musical voice began.
I screeched in surprise and almost dropped the plate I was carrying. I would have fallen if I didn't feel a pair of arms catch me. I looked up in embarrassment to see who had saved me and the plate. I gasped at the boy. It was him. It was Yuki. I would never forget those violet eyes anywhere. He had grown from a beautiful child to a gorgeous man. I studied that beloved face that I thought I would never see again. His eyes had widen with shock and to my saddened surprised watered with tears that were dangerously close to spilling over. "I thought I would never see you again Anorien-chan." He whispered, "When you left the light went with you. The only time I have been truly happy was when I was near you."
"Yuki-kun," I said weeping, "I could barely stand the idea of leaving you behind. Okāsan told me I had no choice because of Akito-san. You don't know how long I cried at the thought of leaving you to his mercy. You were and still are my dear friend and I am so sorry."
I then quickly hugged him to me and he flinched a little as he did as a child. I knew about the curse and how they changed, but I didn't care. They never changed when we were children and I assumed that he wouldn't now. He didn't and he relaxed into my embrace. He sighed and then whispered into my ear. I couldn't help, but shiver at having him so close to my face. His breath tickled my hair and face. "Even after all this time it still doesn't happen. I still don't understand why not, but I don't care right now. To be this close to you was what I have wished for since you have left."
"You don't know how happy I am to see you again Yuki-kun." I said shyly staring at his gently smiling face. "My reason of even staying here was to see you again. I let the danger of becoming entrenched in the Sohma world again flow past my head at the idea of seeing you again. I can't stay long, but I hope we can spend as much time together as we can while I am here."
He frowned at the mention of my short stay. "Shigure told me that we had a girl staying here for awhile because she was alone. What happened to Kyoko-san? What have you been doing all this time?"
My eyes watered at the mention of her name and I began to tell him everything that happened to since the night I had disappeared. He cried along with me as I told her about her death and he just held me in his arms. I told him about my happy times and my sad times. We laughed and we cried together and at the end I had never felt so close to a being other then Okāsan. We were so wrapped up in each other that we didn't notice as Shigure walked into the room. We both jumped at his voice, "What is that heavenly smell? Is that grilled fish I smell? I think I might cry in bliss! Thank you little flower. I can't wait to taste it!"
"It is." I jumped up giving one last longing glance at Yuki as I ran into the kitchen getting breakfast ready to serve. Yuki and Shigure helped me set the table as I brought the food out. We all three ate voraciously. I couldn't help, but laugh as Shigure was smiling in enraptured joy as he tried the soup. I thought of that cliché quote that said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. If that was the case I think I would have Shigure's never ending devotion. "This is the best meal I have ever had little flower. I will love you forever. The goddess of the kitchen, will you marry me and cook for me always."
Wack! Shigure rubbed his head and looked in mock hurt at Yuki. "You are a pervert Shigure. It's only what you deserve. Eluned-chan the meal was wonderful. We are very thankful for the meal. We are all tired of cereal and bento boxes."
He used my assumed name flawlessly and I just blushed at his words. He was so lovely and compassionate. He knew the right thing to turn me to jelly and I silently wondered that the strange feeling he was making me feeling wasn't the same that I had felt for him as a child. They were more uncertain and it made me nervous to be near him. It began to dawn on me that I was attracted to Yuki. He was beautiful to be sure, but his soul was beautiful too. He had been though so much pain in his short life to be able to smile like he did when he looked at me was amazing. I didn't know where this feeling would get me, but all I knew was that at the end it would end in heartbreak. We could never be together like that. Akito would find out and that would be the end of everything. I had to leave and soon before anymore of these strange feeling caused me to do something rash. I even somehow knew, a woman's intuition that Yuki felt more for me then just friendship it terrified me that I would have to hurt him more by having to leave him again, but I refused to let Akito find me.
We started cleaning the kitchen and as I was cleaning the last dishes I felt an arm grab mine. "I don't know how you know Yuki-kun," Shigure said, "but I have never seen him as peaceful and smiling as much as he is now. He has been through a lot in his short life and to see him so happy, you have my deepest respects and regard, little flower. Oh, and my offer of marriage still stands!" He winked at me suggestively and walked away. I stared at his retreating back in amusement. He was a strange, lovable fellow and I knew I would miss him to when I had to leave. The Sohma's got under your skin and no matter how far you were from them or how much you tried to not think about them they were a constant presence. It could drive a person mad or be there greatest asset. It would have been the latter if not for one person, Akito Sohma.
He was my love, my nightmares, and a constant presence that would never leave me. I cried and cried when I had to leave the gentle, crazed, cruel boy. I hated and I loved him. All I really knew was I never wanted to be near him again. I would be destroyed and I couldn't allow that to happen. There were millions of lives that hung in the balance. If I didn't return to the future, there would be none. The power of the galaxy was dormant in me and I constantly felt its presence along with my thoughts of Akito. My sad thoughts were wiped away when I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Eluned-chan," Yuki said shyly, "I wanted to ask if you wanted to see my secret base. It's were I spend most of my time and I would be so happy if you would go along with me."
I turned around and started smiling mischievously, "Now Mr. Yuki Sohma what kind of secret would it be if you told everyone, but I would love to see your secret base."
He laughed softly and he took hold of my hand. I shivered despite myself at the warm and comforting presence of his in mine. We walked silently hand-in-hand toward his secret base. It wasn't to far from the house, but it was well hidden behind some bushes. I gasped in shock and admiration at what I saw. "Yuki-kun it's positively gorgeous." I said practically drooling, "Are those strawberries! They are my favorite! You have so many lovely plants here. You are an amazing gardener if this anything to go by!"
"I am glad you like it." He was smiling slightly down at me and I couldn't help but blush again. "I thought you would. Please go and try the strawberries. I planted way too many and I know I would never use them all. They will just waste. And please fill free to use any of the plants for your cooking. I would only be too happy to see my plants put to good use."
I went up to him and hugged him. He returned it and as I left his embrace I kissed his cheek. I looked at him long enough to see him start blushing cherry red. It was the most adorable thing I had ever seen. I was laughing as I walked quickly away to where the heavenly things known as strawberries resided. I plopped a few in my mouth and they were succulent and delicious. I sighed in bliss as I looked over at Yuki. He still looks uncomfortable and I smirked a little. I had no idea that a simple kiss on the cheek could make him so flustered and I began to wonder what he would do if I had given him a real one. Most likely pass out from shock I thought evilly. I then shook my head at my treacherous thoughts. I told myself earlier that these feelings would only end in tragedy and I turned dispirited, my attention once again focused on the strawberries.
"Anorien-chan," Yuki asked, "Are you going to enroll for school? It is going to start in a few days and I would be really happy if you were to go to class with me."
"I would love to Yuki-kun!" I said excitedly, "Okāsan said it would be safer if I was home schooled and I basically taught myself everything and ever since I was a little girl I always wondered what public school was like. It will be a wonderful experience."
Yuki frowned when I finished talking. "Anorien-chan you life must have been sad and lonely, but at least you had Kyoko-san. I couldn't imagine always having to hide from the world, even though I have to keep this curse a secret. At least I could still go to regular school."
"It wasn't as bad as all that." I said smiling, "I never really liked socializing much to begin with, and the only person I needed was Okāsan."
"I am truly sorry for your loss Anorien-chan." Yuki said sadly, "It must be so difficult with everything else you have been through."
"It's alright Yuki-kun." I said depressed, "It will get better with time and meeting you again has done me a world of good. I have an idea Yuki-kun! Let's play hide-and-seek! Just like when we were children; and I'll be nice and be-it first."
He contemplated it and before I let him answer I grabbed his hand and we were running into the bushes. I stood next to the tree and yelled at him to go hide or I wouldn't cook anymore. I heard him start running very quickly after that. What began was a long afternoon of chasing each other and finding all the hiding places that had already been used at least twice. It was my turn to be-it and I had a very good idea where Yuki-kun. He preferred a quite large bush that was next to a tree and I stealthily headed towards it. I snuck around the bush hoping I went the right way to scare him. I started walking and I frowned when he wasn't there. So much for the scaring. I decided to turn around and I screamed. I stumbled backwards and arms grabbed me as we both fell to the ground. I gasped hard as my attacker fell atop me. I looked directly up into gorgeous amethyst eyes. He was grinning slightly at are predicament. "I didn't mean to scare you Anorien-chan. You're the one who did that."
"I know you did that on purpose." I said enraged, "You were going to scare me. And don't think your adorable smile will get you out of this! You'll be lucky if I ever make another…"
I was interrupted as he was looking down at me in wonderment. "You think I am adorable Anorien-chan?" He asked in shocked glee.
"You're putting words in…" I said blushing as bright as the strawberries in his garden. I stopped talking at the look in his eyes. They were filled with something I had never seen before and they were making me feel those warm nervous feelings again. I gasped a little as he moved closer to my body. "Yuki-kun I don't think…" My words were silenced as his lips were on mine. It was pure bliss as his lips moved on mine. He teased my lips with his and I let his tongue into my mouth. It was an unusual wonderful feeling as we battled with each other's mouths for what seemed like an eternity. We finally stopped kissing and are foreheads were touching each others as we were gasping for air. "I'm sorry Anorien-chan, I didn't mean for that to happen, but I couldn't help myself."
"It's okay Yuki-kun," I said gasping, "If I were honest with myself I have wanted to do that from the moment I saw you. What are we going to do Yuki-kun? I made myself swear that this sort of thing wouldn't happen. I have to leave, and I can't stay here. It can only end badly for both of us."
He bent down and kissed my forehead. "Anorien-chan I didn't lie from the first moment I saw you again that you have always been my light in the dark. I don't care about what the future holds right now. All I know is that I want to be with you like this for as long as we can. Would you be with me Anorien-chan for however long that may be?"
I wept at his gentle words. I realized in that moment that I loved him in the forever kind of way. I wanted to be with him romantically more than practically anything. I was willingly entering a relationship that was doomed before it began. "Yuki-kun," I said tears falling as he wiped them away, "I want to be with you more then anything, but I can't stop thinking of what will happen if he finds out. He'll hurt you and I can't bare to see it again. I just can't do it."
"I love you, my light." Yuki said tears in his eyes, "We'll keep it a secret from everyone. When it comes time for you to leave I let you go at least knowing I loved and was loved in return. It is a painful ending to our story, but it's not a doomed one because our love will still be there in the end."
"I can't deny what my heart wants, dearest one." I sobbed as I kissed his lips gently, "I won't regret it and take this where it will go."
He smiled at me gently as we kissed again more wildly then the first. It was passionate and more then I could have ever dreamed. We walked back to the house wrapped in each other's arms and reluctantly let go of one another as we got close to the door. It would be difficult not showing physical affection after our passion in the woods, but I would endure it for his safety and my own. I knew I loved him dearly and I would do anything to keep him smiling at me so lovingly. Our love affair would be a short one, but I would remember and cherish it always for how precious it was.
Supper was a relatively quiet affair other then Shigure constant compliments on how delicious the food was. I guess it was pretty good since for one reason or other I was inspired to cook better then I have ever cooked before. Being in love really changes your perspective on life, in general. I was so blissfully happy; as well as Yuki if his constant smiling at supper for no reason was anything to go by. We steadfastly refused to look each other in the eyes and I caught a few of Shigure's knowing smirks. I really hope he didn't guess what was going on. It would be horrible if he told the others and it somehow got back to the one I was hiding from.
When supper was over I told them that I was tired and that I was going to go to bed early. Yuki made a move to follow me, but I told him it wasn't necessary for him to go with me. He gave his special smile that he only used for me and I went to my bedroom. I sighed as I closed the door and got undressed. The bed felt wonderful after such a long crazy day. I lay there thinking about everything that had happened to me and how a wonderful dear friend had somehow turned into my boyfriend. It really was interesting world that we lived in. I thought about are kissing in the woods and smiled faintly. I loved Yuki so much that I hated to be away from him. I thought of another boy long ago that I felt like that for and still did.
My heart was strung between two boys that I loved dearly. Yuki loved me so much that he would let me go when I had to leave and Akito who loved me so much that I was the very air he breathed. One of them was the other's worst nightmare as well as mine. It pained me to think of when my demon cried on the floor saying he couldn't bare to live without me anymore. It hurt me from the bottom of my soul to leave him, but I did and I planned on never being stuck in that hole again with him. I told him that I would help him get out of his hole, but instead he drug me into it with him and I was suffocating. Yuki was air. He made me feel free and loved. We would both do anything for each other. I never wanted to part from him, but it would occur sooner than I could want. My eyes started to droop in exhaustion as I fell asleep. Tomorrow would be a new day and I would be starting my job.