I'm really very excited to add another chapter in this story. You see, I really like Yui and Hotohori. Yay! Thanks to XxLadyYuixX for leaving a review. Knowing someone reads and appreciates this piece pushed me to add another chapter before the end of the vacation. I mean, once school starts again, I might not be able to update as much as I can. Thanks and hope you like this one!
Also, can you guys help me think of the names for each chapter? I realized that among all my stories, this is the only one with plain chapters. Chapter names, please? :)
Disclaimer: I don't own FY, I just love writing about it, that's all.
Chapter 3: Just Look Up
By Slavedriver2008
Sometimes I wonder why people encounter accidents while doing what they love doing. In movies, a few days before the competition, the lead character would get into an accident and have to stay at the hospital. In Ice Castles, my favorite skating movie, the lead became blind. I cried when I saw that movie and I cried harder when the male lead helped her stand up after the competition.
In Ice Princess, on the other hand, the lead was backstabbed by her mentor and so wanted to quit. Unlike Ice Castles, I did not cry in this movie, but my back prickled when she danced her final routine and her mother was watching. That's how I've always imagined my victory: falling for an opening jump, still skating, seeing my mom or my dad supporting me on the benches, an inspiring rally, winning.
The thing I realized during these movies was that after the accident or the bad news, the character undergoes a heart-wrenching stage where they almost wanted to give up. And after that, they skate again, and win. But those were movies. In real life, once an accident hits you, particularly in skating, you don't get a victorious comeback. You simply miss the chance. The competitions won't wait for you, you have to run after it while you can.
"Hoy Hongo, are you okay?" I glanced up to see Aki, smiling warmly. His shift was over and so he can relax for a few hours before going home. He sat beside me, still looking straight, expecting a response. Oh, I haven't answered him yet.
"Yes, I'm okay, I guess. I should be okay, right?" He frowned and looked at the skaters in front of us. We were at the rink, but instead of skating, I sat on in the benches, watching others with no talent do the sport I loved so much. "Really, I'm okay. I miss skating, though."
"How long are you going to be in the cast?" He asks nonchalantly. I smiled and punched his shoulder lightly. He looked at me in that thoughtful look he's used to giving people.
"One month. Then I have to use a supporter for another month," I answered, trying to hide the sadness in my voice. When Miaka asked me the same question in school yesterday, I remembered crying. Of course I won't do that in front of Aki.
"Quite long…" he said softly.
"It is long. I can't imagine not skating for that long," I said matter-of-factly. I wanted to tell him something but I don't know how to say it. I sighed. "Just when I already know how to do the Axel…" Was that what I wanted to say? No, there's something else I wanted to ask. But I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Don't worry. Everything will even out soon," He said, smiling, but his eyes were not on me, he was looking around the stadium. "He's not here, today."
"Who?" I asked. My heart beat loudly for a minute.
"Your number one fan," He teased but didn't say anything more.
I laughed. "Fan? I don't even have a skating career to begin with."
He laughed with me as if he knew something but couldn't share it. I hate it when he does that, keeping things from me although he's used to doing it. "No, really Yui, you have a fan. He comes here everyday to watch you skate. Of course he doesn't do what female fans do—he doesn't scream around or bring pompoms and all that frilly fangirl stuff." I laughed harder. "But he comes here everyday to watch you."
I shook my head. I have no idea someone would watch me everyday—and I never noticed who he was. "Well, he's not here today. And he won't probably be back in a while. Not while I'm in this state."
"Can I take you home today?" he asked out of the blue and I didn't miss the light blush on Aki's face. I might have blushed too, I can't tell, but I felt so hot I could have melted the ice on the rink if I came closer.
"Aren't you taking out the Zamboni today?" I asked softly and he looked away. Gods, I should have said yes. I always seemed to say the wrong words at the wrong time.
"I was planning to do it early tomorrow, before I go to class. You know, if you're going somewhere else, its okay. Maybe some other time." He stood up. I stood up as well.
"And what? Miss the opportunity of riding your car? No way," I joked and struggled to walk with my clutch and a broken ankle. He turned and assisted me. "I thought you'd never ask," I teased but I was blushing like hell. Sometimes I think I have a thing for Aki. I couldn't help flirt with him and do things to be close to him—like pretend to be struggling with my walking so he'd lean down to support me. But most of the time, I feel normal around him. Maybe because he's just cute and nice and happy and single. I get attracted to men who always smile; my hunch was because I'm such a loner.
"Hey are you taking Yui home now?" It was Aya. She was out of her uniform and was walking toward us with her duffel bag. "Can I ride with you, onii-chan?" she asked.
"Oh Aya. I thought Touya's picking you up today? I thought you have a date?" Aki asked, there was a hint of irritation in his voice. I was surprised to hear him say that, he's always been protective of his younger twin sister. But now, he sounded like he was willing to give her away.
Aya laughed hard. "What's eating you? Are you two going out on a date?" Aya said and I blushed harder.
"Aya! We're not, okay. I'm just taking Yui home today. Where do you get those ideas?" Aki said defensively and I just laughed with her.
"Fine. Fine. Look, I'm just riding with you—at the back. I promise I won't do or say anything. You'd think I'm not there at all!" Aya told him and Aki sighed.
We walked to his car, Aki not saying anything much and Aya doing all the talking. She told me what happened to her boyfriend who took her to a pretty restaurant yesterday. What was his name? I couldn't remember, maybe because Aya said everything so fast. It was like talking to Miaka, only, she has more brains than my bestfriend. I mean, you know how dumb Miaka can be right? She can forget what were talking about even while we're talking about it. Aya was different, she doesn't forget a thing. Right now, listening to her, I can't decide which was scarier, being with her or Miaka.
"Oh, Yui. You're a smart ass right?" Aya asked while Aki was helping me put the seatbelt in the passenger seat. We turned to her, she was seating at the backseat. I insisted she sit at the front, but she wanted to stretch her legs at the back.
"Smart-ass?" I asked.
She laughed. "Yeah, a type A student. You know, best student in class, teacher's pet."
I laughed. "I'm not a teacher's pet! But I am the highest in class," I said proudly and Aki smiled. "Why?"
"That's perfect! How would you love to earn something extra?" she asked, screamed I think. Aki started the engine and we sped off from the skating rink.
"Something extra?" I asked, my mind was floating somewhere. I still haven't seen Hotohori. Not that I wanted to see him, I just, well, wanted to know if he was there when I had the accident. Oh God, I wanted to know if he saw me fall. How humiliating. He was probably smirking if he was indeed there.
"I'm supposed to tutor a fifteen-year-old kid tomorrow. But I'm going somewhere really important. Can you fill in for me?" she asked, but she said it as if I already agreed and she's telling me what to do. Aya tutors for the extra money. They can always ask from their super-rich parents but they won't. We're all in the same boat, struggling to be independent from our families.
"But tomorrow's a Friday. Shouldn't you be tutoring after classes everyday?" I asked. I did some tutoring sessions with a neighbor once for extra money. Those parents really pay well, the income was better than working at the café. But I had to stop because I have to skate, that was a year ago. Maybe I should go back to working, or tutoring. I can use the money for college.
"He's a very rich kid who only gets tutored during the weekends. I haven't tutored him yet, but my friends said he's quite smart and he has a hot older brother." Aki smirked and I couldn't help but smile. Aya went on, "The deal is that you'll stay in his house on Friday night until Sunday night to tutor him." Aki made a sound and I laughed at his reaction. "Don't worry, you're not sleeping with super hot brother, you'll be given a room and your own service while tutoring him. And they pay big! What do you say?"
"I don't know. I haven't tutored a kid for a year." I was still studying Aki's reaction, he looked calmer now.
"Come on, Yui. Please? I promised I'd get a replacement but I forgot to ask around!" Aya begged at the back of the car. "Please please please! It'll be just a month! It'll be over before you know it! And you'll have lots of money after that!" Aya said.
I sighed, maybe it's a good idea. It'll keep my mind off things while I heal. I won't see Hotohori or think of him while I tutor this kid. And probably, I'll forget everything there was to remember about him in a month. "The accident almost ate my savings. Maybe I should give it a try," I said and Aya screamed with glee. Aki, on the other hand, was frowning.
"I'm sending you the details now." Aya thumbed her cellphone. We were at the front of my apartment building now. Aki helped me take off the seatbelt and he hurriedly went out to open my side of the door. "Wow, Aki's quite the gentleman today," Aya teased as I get out. "Did you receive the message?"
I took my phone out of my pocket and checked it. "Got it." I smiled at her.
"Aya, I'll just walk with Yui up to her apartment. I'll be back in awhile," Aki said and I shook my head.
"No, it's okay. I can walk from here. Don't worry." I touched his face and looked into his eyes, big luminous orbs of green. "Thank you." I walked away, knowing he was following me with his gaze. If I could come back to that moment, I would have kissed him so everything would be clear between us. But I didn't. It never crossed my mind.
He probably stood there until I entered the building or probably longer. I think I heard Aya's voice from the distance, teasing him about us. I really can't tell and I was stupid to not look back. My head was filled with something else, someone else. I walked slowly, unmindful of the fact that my life will forever change once tomorrow arrived.
--
"Miaka, you don't have to come with me. I'm perfectly fine," I told her. She insisted to accompany me on my first tutoring session. I didn't bring any bags. There were still no arrangements and there's a possibility that I might not get the job. It was offered to her, not to me. They might change their minds once they meet me. And besides, I'm crippling, it would be better if I were to spend the nights at home.
"Come on Yui. You're my bestfriend. I'd gladly take care of you if you ever decide to stay home while your ankle heals," Miaka said.
"Yeah right. You're just saying that because you want to miss classes and eat my refrigerator. Definitely a double treat," I teased.
"That's not true! I'll do anything for friendship!" Miaka screamed. "I won't leave you again. As long as I can, I will support you all the way!"
"Does Taka know you're here?" I asked, it was weird to have her around after class. On normal days, Taka would come on his scooter and drag her away. Today was still a normal day, but absurdly, there's no Taka around.
"I told him I'll accompany you in meeting this employer," Miaka said matter-of-factly. "I want to make sure they're trustworthy enough and that they won't hurt you," she said sincerely and I laughed. There's no stopping Miaka once she decided to do something.
"We're here," I said and we stopped walking in front of a very big gate. "Yes, this is the address." I put the piece of paper in my pocket and pressed the doorbell. The security system on the wall buzzed and a man appeared on the screen.
"Who are you?" he asked and I smiled sweetly.
"Yui Hongo, the tutor? Aya Mikagi asked me to come today. She gave me the address." I said.
"And who's the girl beside you?" the bald man asked and I looked at Miaka.
"Oh, I'm Miaka Yuuki! Yui's friend. I came with her to check if I can trust you with Yui," she said at the screen. "Wow, are you really on the other end?" Miaka asked and tapped the screen. "Missssttteeeer!" Miaka screamed and I winced.
I pushed Miaka away. "Sorry for that."
"You can enter now Ms. Hongo but your friend can't," the man stated and I heard Miaka grumbled.
"But why?" Miaka asked, almost a scream.
"Because obviously Ms Yuuki, you're dangerous," the man said and the system went blank. Miaka kept on screaming and tapping at it but the man did not return, showed no sign of wanting to return.
"Looks like we have to part now, Mi-chan," I told her and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I'll just see you on Monday."
"Awww…and I promised to keep you safe." Miaka frowned. "Oh well, I'll miss you over the weekend, Yui. Call me when you can." She smiled and started to walk the way we came. I sighed when she took a cab and was gone. I rang the doorbell again and the side gate opened.
I entered the unlocked gate and was greeted by a man in a coat and tie. He was wearing dark shades and his get-up reminded me of Will Smith in Men in Black. I smiled at him and he looked at me, expressionless. Maybe this tutoring was a bad idea. Oh Seiryuu, please let something good come out of this.
He bowed and motioned me to follow. I did, what was there to do? I gasped when I saw what was behind him: a humongous mansion and a beautiful rose garden that in a way reminded me of the Queen Victoria's famed garden in old England. It was breathtaking. I never thought such a place could exist in Tokyo.
The man walked toward the side of the house and I saw a boy sitting on a table. He was alone. He did not glance up to look at me. He was busy writing something down on his notebook and he was muttering something. He has short brown hair and pale skin. I walked toward him and looked at his notebook. In there was a sketch of a flower. He was busy coloring it and I had to admit it was perfectly made.
"Is that a daisy?" I couldn't help but ask. He looked up to me and I noticed his hazel eyes. They looked familiar but I can't remember where I saw those. I focused on the flower instead. "And you drew it perfectly well."
There was a look of astonishment in his eyes. "You knew these are daisies?" he asked and I nodded. He was a handsome kid, I can imagine him being pampered and loved by his mother. I mean, any mother would, right? He's so cute.
"Yes, of course. I love daisies. They are probably the most innocent flowers in the world," I said and he smiled at me.
"Innocent flowers…" he mumbled and continued to color his drawing. "Are you my new tutor?"
I smiled, although I know he couldn't see me. "Yes, I guess. I just need to talk to your guardian about some details."
"Like the payment?" he asked glumly. I can sense an edge in his voice.
"It's really the tenure I'm worried about," I said honestly. "My friend said I have to stay until Sunday night but you see, I'm not in a good state so that might be harder for me," I told him. When I said I was crippled, he immediately looked at my foot and winced.
"How did you get it? The cast still looks fresh," he said and I realized he was a sharp boy. People seldom know when a cast is new. And there's this boy who probably never had an accident and he knew I had a fresh wound.
"I just had some accident. I used to skate," I told him. I was in a way telling myself, reminding myself what I used to do before everything else happened. I had a life before this tutoring job, I wanted to tell him. "How did you know…"
"I wanted to be a doctor," he said flatly and I smiled at him.
"That's great. I wanted to be a doctor too," I said and he looked up.
"Why do you want to be a doctor?"
I looked away and sighed. The smell of the roses filled my senses. "Because they're strong." He raised an eyebrow and I somehow saw a familiar face in his gesture. "They can look death in the eye and find life," I whispered. Those were the same words I said when mother asked me what I wanted to pursue in college. They wanted to know if I was worth their efforts and if they should still give me money after high school. She laughed when I said that, and I was expecting him to laugh as well. But he did not. He smiled and nodded.
"If you're looking for my brother, just look up," he said. Puzzled, I looked up and saw a familiar figure—the Prince, standing in the balcony above us, watching our every movement. I gaped at him then closed my mouth when I realized it was open. I looked away and then swallowed hard. I'm working for him?!
"I'm glad to meet you," The boy said and I blinked at him. "I've never had a tutor who can differentiate what a daisy is from a chrysanthemum or other similar flowers," He said and smiled, a genuine smile. I now remember where I saw those eyes and the face. An almost similar younger face to the man who had been filling my thoughts for the past weeks.
In the humidity of the afternoon, I felt chill ran through every part of my body. Footsteps came closer and I shivered when I turned to find Hotohori looking intently at us—at me. His perfect lips curved, not to a smile, but to a smirk.
I wanted to faint.
A/N: Please do leave reviews!