✔Summer Rain |Fruits Basket| HatsuHaru Sohma

34- Yuki

I kissed him.

"Mei, are you feeling alright?" Makato asked, leaning over his desk. "You don't look so good."

"I'm fine." I sighed, resting my head on my hands. "Just tired."

"Ah-" He huffed, rolling his eyes. "Just when I thought you were getting better, you're telling me you haven't slept?"

"Makato-" I grumbled, closing my eyes. "I was up late finishing some homework. I got to bed right after, don't worry."

Truthfully, I hadn't slept a wink since I left Haru's place earlier yesterday. My brain was running a million miles an hours, trying to justify my actions. He had been hurting, and I'd yelled at him. Which, to be fair, he did deserve at least a little bit.

But I couldn't stop thinking about how he'd kissed me, or how I'd kissed him back.  It'd felt right in the moment, but now I was regretting it.

  "Miss Chiyu?"  I glanced up, making eye contact with Yuki Sohma.

  "Yuki!"  I coughed, straightening up in my seat.  "What is it?"

  "You were staring at the wall-"  He said quietly.  "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine."  I nodded, giving my attention to the people behind him.  "Who're they?"

  "New members!"  A small brunette girl announced, grinning widely.  "It's nice to meet you Chiyu-san!"

  "This is kimi."  Yuki sighed, slipping into his seat beside me.  "And Manabe, Naohito and Machi." 

  "While you were busy, I found new members for the student council.  I wanted to make sure that you and Sohma-san had assistance when I leave."

  "Oh."  I nodded, looking over the four.  "It's nice to meet you all, I look forward to working with you."

  "You as well!"  The one named Manabe grinned.  "Leave it to us to help you!"

  The bell rang and I sighed, staring down at the table.  "Yuki."  I started, glancing up at him past my hair.  "Can I speak to you?"

  His eyes met mine, soft and curious.  "Of course.  Let me get them out of here and we can head to Shigure's?"

  "Can we go somewhere different?  I don't know if I'm comfortable with everyone knowing yet."  I played with my pencil, hoping he'd get the message.

  "Yes."  He nodded, standing up.  "Alright everybody.  Meeting is dismissed, we'll reconvene next week."  He turned to me.  "Would it be alright if I took you somewhere more private?"

*****

  "Hello dear brother of mine!!"  I watched a man with long silver hair come out of a back room, his eyes trained on Yuki.  "Who's your friend?  A girlfriend perhaps?  It's so nice to meet you Yuki's girlfriend!"

  "Oh I'm not-"

  "Shut up you idiot."  Yuki sighed, shoving the man away from me.  "Miss Chiyu- my brother.  Ayame- Mei Chiyu.  And she's not my girlfriend you filthy snake."

  "Mei?"  Ayame tested my name on his tongue, then smiled.  "Hello!"

  "Hello Ayame-san."  I bowed.  "Thank you for letting us into your shop.  I apologize for the sudden intrusion."

  "That's quite alright.  If it brings my brother to me, I don't mind at all!"  He laughed, waving his hand.

  "If you don't mind me asking-"  I started, watching him walk towards the back before Yuki beckoned for me to follow.  "Are you also a member of-"

  "The zodiac?  You know of the Sohma secret?"  He gasped, turning on his heel.  "Oh my!  Yuki, who is this girl?"

  "I told you on the phone idiot."  Yuki sighed bitterly.  "Just let us use the back room please?"

  "Of course!  Since you asked so nicely, I have to let you use it!"  Ayame giggled.  "Mine!  Be a dear and let these two into the back?  And do prepare some tea if you would?"

  A small girl popped her head out, a grin on her face.  "I thought you'd never ask!"  She saluted, rushing up to us.  "Come!  Right this way!"  She pulled us through the door she had appeared from, plopping me down onto a plush white couch.  "Tea coming right away miss!"

  "I apologize for my brother's behaviour."  Yuki sighed when she left.  "He's an excitable idiot.  This is the only private place I could think of where no one would bother us."

  "You're sure he won't?"  I asked, watching his brother prance around the front of the store.

  "He may be an idiot, but he's not a rude person."  Yuki smiled.  "Now, what'd you have to tell me?"

  "Uhm-"  I bit my lip, looking around the room.  "I met Akito-san the other day!"

  His face dropped, his eyes narrowing.  "What?"

  "Akito-san summoned me to the estate."  I said meekly, watching his face soften. 

  "I'm sorry."  He said simply, hooking his hands together.  "That must have been hard for you."

  "Oh-"

  "Akito finds pleasure in ruining things.  If you're okay with saying, could you tell me what happened?"

  I thought back to what occurred after our meeting, and nodded.  "Hatori, Akito-san, and two others attended the meeting with me."

  "Who were the others?  Members of the zodiac?"

  "I believe so."  I nodded.  "Isuzu-san-"

  "Rin?"  He spluttered, eyes widening.  "You met Rin?"

  "Yea."  I nodded.  "Afterwards- Haru and I- we had an argument."  I mumbled. 

  "That bastard-"  Yuki hissed.  "What was your argument about?"

  "It was about Isuzu-san..."  I sighed.  "Haru told me that he loved her and-"

  "And that you and her were similar to him when you met?"  Yuki guessed.

  I nodded.

  "Damnit.  Mei, listen.  Haru's an idiot.  He says things without thinking about how they sound to others.  He didn't mean it."

  "I keep telling myself that. "  I agree, toying with a pencil on the table between couches.  "But I don't know.  I grew up knowing what it was like to be a cast away, and I had hoped he might be different.  But I don't know anymore.  The things he said really affected me."

  "He really enjoys having you around Mei."  Yuki said, reaching across the table.  "Please don't let the things he says ruin whatever it was you two had?  You and him are too close for this to affect your relationship."

  "I told him I needed to think."  I paused.  "I like him Yuki- a lot.  But after what happened with Akito and him, I don't know how to feel."  I sighed.  "I'm not in the right place to forgive him yet."  He began to say something, but I smiled, cutting him off..  "Thank you for listening, I'm sorry for burdening you with all of this."

  "It's never an issue Miss Chiyu."  Yuki said.  "But I understand your reluctance.  Being involved with the Sohma family already takes a lot of courage, and I commend you for it.  Whatever you decide, we'll be here for you.  And I know Haru will be too."
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Word Count: 1126 Words