Chapter 3
‘the test’
- - at six months - -
Touya gazed glumly at the rack of dresses. He hated shopping, hated places like this, and he didn’t want to be there. But it had to be done.
“How about this one?” Yukito pulled a pink one from the rack. “It’s her favorite color.”
“It’s also way too short. Why don’t we just sew ‘slut’ onto the front?”
Yukito rolled his eyes and replaced it. “Of course. That’s the tenth one you’ve shot down, Toya. Why are we doing this? You could just get her jewelry, or something.”
Touya jammed his hands into his pockets.
“No. You said she’s outgrown all her dresses, she needs a dress. So I’m getting one for her, and that’s final.”
“Well, it’s clear it’s never going to happen this way. I’ll pick up Tomoyo-san this weekend and we’ll get something. She knows what Sakura likes.”
“What? But - ”
“Come on, Toya.” He held out his hand. “Tonight was just recon anyway. We should go meet up with her.” He glanced at his watch. “She’ll be waiting by the food court.”
Toya allowed Yukito to pull him out of the store, though reluctantly.
“But I want to do it.”
“Toya, you’ll never be able to. You know, I know it. So just let me and Tomoyo-san take care of it.”
“How did this happen?” Touya grouched. “How is it that she can be turning fourteen already?”
“Your little girl is growing up,” Yukito teased.
“I am not amused, Yuki. This year is going by way too fast. This constant juggling act between my classes and helping her with her homework has made it a blur. I’m still not sure if her grades are what they should be.”
“Relax, Toya. I finally finished my paper this week, and I’ll be able to spend more time with her on her classwork.”
“You will?”
“Absolutely.”
“Arigatou, Yuki.” Touya flashed him a grateful grin and squeezed his hand.
“Oh look, there she is.” Yukito nodded his head to the mall’s ice cream stand. She was turned slightly away from them, talking to someone that he couldn’t quite see. But he had a funny feeling in the back of his mind, a kind of odd sensation that was really Yue’s, not his. He shook his head slightly.
“Toya, I’ve got this weird feeling…” They drew near Sakura and she turned, her eyes sparkling.
“Onii-chan, Yukito-san! Look who’s come to town!”
It was Hiiragizawa Eriol.
“Konichiwa, Kinomoto-kun.” The teenager made a small bow of respect, which was not returned. Touya was stunned into silence, his eyes a little glazed. “It’s nice to see you again. And hello, Yukito-san, Yue. I hope you’re both well.”
“Fine,” Yukito said automatically. Touya was still opening and closing his mouth, desperately trying to form words but unable to speak.
“It’s so good to be here and see you all again.” He glanced back at Touya. “Allow me to offer my condolences for your loss.”
That seemed to click with Touya, and he straightened a little. “Arigatou,” he finally said. Then he gave Sakura a suspicious look. “When did he get here?”
“Just now. I ran into him while waiting in line for ice cream.” Happily she licked the chocolate ice cream in her cone, and Touya bristled when he saw Eriol watching her.
“What a coincidence, I’m sure,” he muttered. Then a horrible thought struck him. “Wait a second. If you’re here…” He narrowed his eyes at Eriol. “Then that means - ”
“TOUYA-KUN!!”
Somebody bowled into him from his left, almost toppling him. Before he could even react, Nakaru had her arms around his neck and her mouth on his. Enthusiastically she pushed her tongue into his mouth and pressed her voluptuous body up against him. She was actually humming with pleasure.
Yukito raised his eyebrows. Eriol raised his eyebrows. Spinel, peeking out of Nakaru’s purse, raised his eyebrows. And Sakura burst into hysterical giggles.
Touya was gasping for air when she finally pulled away.
“It’s so great to see you again, Touya-kun. You sure look good. Been working out?” She traced her fingers down his biceps, and he tried to push her away.
“Perfect,” he snarled. “Just perfect. I woke up this morning - ” she was nuzzling his neck now, he pried her off, “- and I thought, gee, things sure have been calm lately - ” now she was nibbling on his ear, and he jerked his head away, “- I sure wish some new challenge would present itself. I sure could use the excitement!”
It was like trying to disengage with an octopus. How did she have so many hands?
“I’m glad you feel that way, Nii-chan,” Sakura said sweetly. “Because I invited them to stay with us.”
“What?” He gave his sister a horrified look as Nakaru covered the side of his face with little kisses. “You said what? Would you get off me, damn it?”
“Nii-chan, they’re our friends. How could I not?”
“Friends? Did I hear you correctly?” Nakaru was stroking her hands down his shirt and he grabbed her wrists.
“Eriol-kun helped me gain full control over the Cards. Where would I be without him?” Nakaru leaned forward and kissed him again as she pulled his arms around her waist. With some difficulty he managed to turn his head away.
“Sakura, no!”
“Onii-chan!” Those green eyes widened, and she bit her lip.
“Oh no… no, don’t you dare try to use that face. It is not going to work.” Her face fell; she looked so disappointed.
Oh Jesus.
He sighed as Nakaru ran her fingers through his hair.
“How long?”
She perked up again. “Arigatou gozaimas, Nii-chan! They came for my birthday, isn’t that great?”
“Your birthday!” he spluttered. “That’s a week away!”
“I know. Won’t it be fun?”
“Won’t it be fun, Touya-kun?” Nakaru repeated, brushing her fingertip across his lips. He resisted the urge to bite it off.
“Get off of me, already. Christ, you’re messed up.”
“Mmm… you don’t mean that,” she cooed. He would never survive this week. Again he tried to push off the clingy brunette.
“You can stay in Onii-chan’s old bedroom,” Sakura offered to Eriol. “It’s right next to mine.” That was the first time that Touya noticed she was holding Eriol’s hand.
“No,” he snapped. “Absolutely not. Eriol is on the couch downstairs.”
Eriol smiled, a glint of amusement in those blue eyes. “Very well. I thank you for your hospitality.”
“Then I guess you can stay in that room, Nakaru-san,” Sakura continued. “It’s right across the hall from Nii-chan and Yukito-san.”
Nakaru’s eyes lit up as she took his hands and rubbed them gently.
“Ooh… intriguing. I’ll be right across the hall. Do you sleep in just boxers?”
“Oh god,” he whimpered. What in the name of all that was holy did he ever do to deserve this?
“Enough.” At last he managed to get a hold on her wrist and twisted until he had her arm pinned behind her back.
“Hey!” she complained.
“Shut up. Hiiragizawa, you’re in my old bedroom. Akizuki, you can sleep in Sakura’s bed. I’ll be on the couch, and Sakura can sleep in my bed with Yuki.” He directed a haughty glare toward Eriol. Sakura would be safe enough from him if she slept with Yuki. Eriol just smiled that enigmatic smile again and nodded.
“You’re okay with that, right Yuki?” That was the first time he realized that Yukito had been oddly quiet throughout the entire exchange. His boyfriend was looking at Nakaru, and then at him, and then Nakaru again.
“Yuki?”
“Sounds fine to me, Toya,” he finally said. “Shall we go?”
“Please.” He pushed Nakaru away and quickly distanced himself. Yukito held out his hand but Touya didn’t see it, busy pulling Sakura out of Eriol ’s grasp. “Let’s go.”
“Touya-kun… Touya-kun, can you hear me? Wakey, wakey.”
It was an annoying voice, a voice that he knew. He didn’t want to respond to it, and tried to roll over. But he couldn’t move.
“Come on, Touya-kun, it’s morning.”
Something was pressing him down, something heavy. His eyes fluttered open and he found himself staring straight into Nakaru’s mischievous eyes. She was lying on top of him.
“Get off,” he said sleepily.
“But I’m comfortable.”
“I’m not.” Bracing himself against the couch, he managed to push her off and with a squeal she tumbled onto the floor. Unfortunately, she also dragged him along with her, and they landed in a tangle on the floor.
“Ooh, somebody likes it rough.”
“What is wrong with you? Why are you doing this to me?” Her hands were everywhere, and he was forced to pin her wrists to the ground. “Isn’t it obvious that I’m involved with someone else?”
“Oh, Touya-kun, surely it could never be like what we had. We had something special, don’t you think?”
“There was no ‘having’ of any kind when you were here last. You assaulted me; I hid from you. End of story.”
She pouted a little, pursing her lips. “It’s not healthy to deny your true feelings, Touya-kun.”
“My only true feelings,” he gritted, “are that I want you out of this house, away from me, away from my sister, away from Japan. Preferably before I go insane.”
She struggled to push him off, but he was too heavy.
“You can say whatever you want, but there’s no denying the fact that it’s you holding me down. Isn’t that right, Yukito?”
Touya looked up to see Yukito standing in the doorway, staring at the two of them with an odd expression. Hastily he rolled off of Nakaru and stood.
“Yuki, there you are. Is Sakura up yet? She’s going to be late.”
“She’s getting dressed. Unlike you.” He had a point. Touya was still in the old T-shirt and flannel pants that he slept in, and behind in his morning schedule.
“Oh jeez, I’m going to be late! Can you make sure she has a good breakfast? I need to go shower.” He rushed past Yukito toward the stairs.
“Want company?” Nakaru called out.
“No!”
- - - - - -
When Touya returned to the kitchen, frantically buttoning his shirt, he found the entire group eating pancakes. Eriol was at the stove, making another batch.
“Ohayo, Onii-chan,” Sakura pipped. “Look what Eriol-kun’s made for breakfast. Isn’t he sweet?”
“Wonderful. Did you drink some milk yet?”
“Onii-chan!” She blushed a little and glanced at the teenager in the kitchen. “I wish you wouldn’t treat me like I’m a little girl with that.” Touya looked at Yukito and Yukito shook his head fractionally.
“I wouldn’t if you would drink it like you’re supposed to.” He poured a glassful and set it in front of her. “You’re not going anywhere until that’s gone.”
“Want some syrup, Suppi?” Kero was grinning wickedly as he poised the bottle over Spinel’s plate.
“Get that away from me, you beast.”
“Now, boys,” Eriol remonstrated. “Don’t start any commotion at the table. Kinomoto-kun doesn’t look like he needs it.” He smiled sweetly at Touya’s glower. “Pancakes?”
“No thank you. I’ve lost my appetite for the morning. Sakura, did you finish your homework all right last night? I forgot to ask, what with hiding from Akizuki all evening.”
“Don’t worry, Nii-chan, it’s done. Yukito-san checked it for me.”
“Arigatou, Yuki.”
“Is that what you were doing when I finally found you in the closet?” asked Nakaru thoughtfully. “I thought you just wanted some privacy for the two of us.” Sakura almost choked on a pancake, she started laughing so hard. Touya ground his teeth.
“Eat up, Sakura. You’re going to be late.”
“Don’t worry, I’m going.” She gulped the last of the milk to wash down her breakfast and stood. “Eriol-kun’s offered to walk me to school. He’d like to say hello to everybody.”
“Oh really?” He turned and snagged Eriol by his collar, pushing him up against the sink. Lowering his voice, he leaned in close, eyes flashing.
“Listen up. You even think about touching my sister, I will put a piece of your hip in your neck, and I don’t care whose reincarnation you are. Got it?”
Eriol nodded. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Kinomoto-kun. And don’t worry.” He extricated himself from Touya’s grasp and sidled away. “She’s in good hands.”
“Son of a b - ” Touya started in his direction, but Nakaru intercepted.
“So Touya-kun, are going to let me come to your classes with you?”
“Dream on. There is no way I’m taking you to school with me.” He tried to step around her, but she moved to block his path. Eriol was holding Sakura’s hand again, opening the door for her.
“Wait, Sakura, don’t - ”
“Bye, Nii-chan!” She was out the door before he could finish, and Eriol slammed it shut.
Damn it!
“Well, what I am supposed to do all day? I’ll be lonely without you.”
“Tough.”
“Come on, Toya, we’ll be late.” Yukito was standing by the door, pulling his bag over his shoulder.
“Oka-ay,” Nakaru sang in a lilting voice. “I’ll just stay here with the guys. We’ll hang out…unsupervised…” Touya halted mid-stride toward the front door. Already Kero and Spinel were wrestling on the table, making a mess, as Kero endeavored to pour syrup in the other’s mouth.
“Hey!” Spinel protested as Touya picked him up by the scruff of his neck and stuffed him inside Nakaru’s purse.
“Shut up. We’re going to school today.” He pushed the purse into Nakaru’s arms, and nodded toward the front door. “Move it. Kero, make yourself useful and clean up the table.”
“Yeah, right.” Touya gave him an exasperated look, then shook his head and joined both moon beings at the door. There was no time to argue, they were late as it was.
He couldn’t believe he was taking this wench to class with him. But it was just for the day. Tomorrow was the weekend, and then he could figure out what to do with her. Tomorrow would be better.
“Ohayo, Touya-kun,” sang that annoying voice. Even without opening his eyes, he knew she was lying on top of him.
“I refuse to acknowledge your presence,” he murmured. “Just get off of me, and go away. Let me sleep.”
“Sleep? It’s already nine o’clock in the morning, you lazy head.” He could feel her fingertips running through his hair, brushing it back from his face.
“Stop it.”
“Make me.”
“It’s Sunday morning for crying out loud. Would you just let me sleep?”
“Aren’t you hungry? Yukito made breakfast.”
“Good for him. Why don’t you go eat it?”
“Mmm…the only thing I want to eat is right here.” She pressed down on his mouth with an intense kiss, forcing him to open his eyes at last.
With a muffled protest, he tried to push her off, but she was gripping the cushions below him and refusing to budge. Yukito walked into the living room at that moment, swallowed, and turned right around and walked back out. At last Touya managed to get his hands free and he dug his fingers cruelly into her stomach.
“Ouch!” She was forced to sit up and pouted. “What did you do that for?”
“Why do you think?” He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and tried to spit out the taste. “I cannot understand why you keep attacking me like this. What did I ever do to deserve it?”
“Why do you consider it an attack?” She ran her hands lightly over his chest. “Isn’t a kiss just a kiss?” Touya sat up with a jerk and gripped her neck in one hand.
“Hey!”
“Quiet.” He squeezed, and she gave a choking gasp. “Let’s get one thing straight. You are not my girlfriend. You never were my girlfriend. You are not at all supposed to be kissing me, or touching me, or molesting me in any fashion. Leave me alone.” He pushed her off the couch and stood up, yawning.
“Touya-kun, don’t do this to me! It hurts me when you push me out. When have I not been there for you, hmm?”
“You’re joking, right?” He moved to the kitchen, then turned to the front door when he heard a knock. Who on earth would come over at this hour? Tomoyo? “You’re an evil, winged thing that helped your boss mess with my sister’s head for months. I don’t even get why she’s being so nice to you all.” All his attention still on the pest, he fumbled for the knob and opened the door without looking. “You’ve done nothing but screw with Sakura ever since you got here!”
“Ahem.” He turned to see an elderly woman standing on the porch, a file in her hands.
“Hello,” he said uncertainly.
“Kinomoto-san?”
“Yes…”
“Tsujitane Yumi des. From the Office of Minors’ Affairs. It’s been six months, and I’m here to conduct a random check-up on Sakura’s home life.”
Touya stared at her for a long, excruciatingly uncomfortable moment.
“Oh,” he finally squeaked.
“May I come in?”
“Um, of course. Of course you can come in.” Touya had to force himself to back away and allow her in. He was painfully aware of the fact that he was still in the clothes he’d slept in, and that his hair was a scruffy mess. “I’m sorry I look like this; it’s rather early…”
“I wanted to be sure you’d be home.”
“Oh. Right. Um, can I get you something?”
“No, thank you.”
“Okay…” She gave him a measuring glance and marched past him into the living room. “We, uh, have a couple of relatives staying here, you know, for Sakura’s birthday next week. That’s why it’s a little messy.”
“Relatives?”
“Cousins. From England.” She was glancing at the papers in her hand.
“Really distant cousins,” he amended. “But they’ve been to Japan before, and we’re friends, so it’s like, um, they’re close… cousins.” He was flushing, and he clamped his mouth shut before he said anything else too stupid. She was staring at the living room now. No, she was staring at Nakaru, draped across the couch like a Persian cat.
“Touya-kun,” she cooed. “Who’s your friend? Don’t tell me you’ve been cheating on me.”
Touya forced a quick laugh. “Ha, ha, Nakaru. Who is my cousin. Very funny.” He took the woman’s arm and pulled her into the kitchen. “She’s such a kidder.”
Eriol and Yukito looked up when they entered the kitchen. Ms. Tsujitane looked a little confused.
“How many people did you say were visiting?”
“Uh, a couple. Hii- Eriol here is from England, and Yuki is, um, a friend who comes over sometimes…” His voice trailed off when he saw the hurt in Yuki’s eyes.
“Yuki, Eriol, this is Tsujitane-san. From the Office of Minors’ Affairs.”
“Oh,” they both said, and nodded understandingly. She was looking at the table, still sticky with syrup from yesterday.
“Sorry about the mess,” Yukito said quickly. “It’s a little hectic around here. I was going to clean it last night - ”
“That’s fine,” she interrupted. “I know. Cousins from England.” She was looking around. “Is there anybody else that I should meet?”
“No,” Touya said quickly. “That’s everybody.”
“HA!” Kero’s voice carried clearly down the stairs. “I smoked ya! I told you that I owned level 13 on this game!”
“Cheater,” complained Spinel. Touya smacked his hand to his forehead. How many rings were there in this hell?
“I must have left the radio on. I’ll just go and turn it off.”
“I would like to see Sakura-san, if that’s possible.”
“Of course!” he shouted over his shoulder. “I’ll just go and see if she’s up.”
Touya disappeared up the stairs and Yukito began to scrub the table top.
“Can I offer you some breakfast, ma’am?”
“No, thank you. Very kind of you to offer, seeing as how you don’t live here.” She gave him a shrewd look, and he blushed.
“Well, I, uh, I spend a lot of evenings here. I help Sakura-chan with her homework, sometimes.”
“I see.”
Yukito winced and directed a panicky look at Eriol, who only smiled and shrugged. A tense silence followed, broken at last by Touya and Sakura descending the staircase. She looked a little sleepy, but at least he’d been able to get her into some clothes.
“Ohayo, Sakura-san. I’m glad I finally found you in all this crowd.” Sakura blushed a little at that.
“Good morning, ma’am. Sorry about all the confusion. It’s just that my birthday’s next week - ”
“Fine, fine,” she interrupted. “I understand completely.” Sakura wasn’t so sure that she did, but she nodded anyway. “Is there somewhere that we can speak?”
“Dad’s old study,” Touya suggested. He saw Sakura cringe a tiny bit; they’d hardly been in there at all in the past six months, but he couldn’t think of anywhere else.
“That will do. Lead the way.” Sakura gulped and showed her down the hallway, and Touya cast one last despairing look at Yukito before following.
Ready or not, here we go.
- - - - - -
“I couldn’t help but notice,” she began, “that your grades seem to have suffered a decline since the previous year. Are you getting adequate motivation here at home, Sakura-san?”
Touya closed his eyes briefly, wishing he were a hundred miles away from here. But Sakura was gripping his hand tightly for comfort. She needed him.
“Oh yes,” she assured the woman. “Onii-chan insists on checking my homework every night, and he takes an avid interest in my classwork. It’s just that my classes are really hard, and I don’t always understand the material.”
“Do you tell him this?”
“Um, sometimes. And he tries really hard to go over it with me on the weekends. It’s my fault, honestly. I was never really an academic type.”
“I see. It says here that you belong to several clubs…”
“Yes, I do. I’m in cheerleading and gymnastics, and Onii-chan always comes to watch me perform. He believes in supporting my interests.”
“You never feel ignored, or abandoned?”
“Far from it. Onii-chan is extremely overprotective, and he’s always worrying about my safety. I have to be home by sunset every day, and he makes sure that I call and check in if I ever go anywhere after school.”
“So you might say he’s stifling.”
“No! No, he lets me do fun things too. He knows how to relax and have a good time.”
That didn’t come out quite the way she intended. “Not that he does that very much. He’s very focused on his schoolwork.”
“To the point of shutting you out?”
Sakura sighed. “No. He’s just a very hard worker, that’s all. I know that if I ever need help with anything, he will put aside his own work give me his complete attention. He’s a very good listener.”
“Do you have a lot of problems?”
“Not really, no. Just minor things. You know, every day teen girl stuff.”
“Do you never feel a little isolated, a young girl growing up with only a man in the house? Whom do you talk to about female issues?”
“Tomoyo-chan. I mean, my best friend and her mother. They’re both really great for that kind of thing.”
I don’t even want to know, thought Touya.
“Does your brother have no serious relationship with anyone? No female interest?”
“No,” Sakura answered truthfully. “He’s got his hands full with me, I think.” Touya saw her looking at him, and he quickly assented.
“Nope, no girl on the line. Sakura’s the only woman in my life for the time being.”
“I see.” She placed her papers on the desk. “May I speak to Sakura alone for a moment now?”
“Of course.” He hastily stood and exited the room. The door to his father’s study was very thick and solid, and whatever it was, they were speaking quietly. He gave up trying to listen and leaned against the opposite wall.
- - - - -
“Are you comfortable, Sakura-san? Do you always have enough to eat?”
“Definitely. My brother and I share the cooking, and he always makes sure there are plenty of groceries.” Actually, that was Yukito’s job, but she knew better than to say so. “He’s really good with money. There’s always plenty if I need something like clothes or books. It helps that he never touches alcohol or anything.”
“Good to know. Do you feel like you’re eating the right kinds of foods?”
“Yes. Onii-chan’s been cooking for years, he knows how to make a really good, well-balanced meal. And he makes me drink a glass of milk every morning, no excuses.”
“Mm-hmm. Last but not least, Sakura-san, are you happy? Do you ever regret choosing this situation over the other that was presented to you?”
Sakura hesitated. “I’m content. I miss my dad a lot, but I’m learning to live with the fact that he’s gone. And there’s no way that I would be any better off living with Daidouji-san. She’s wonderful to me, and I know she has a lot of money, but my brother loves me like nobody else does. He watches over me with such devotion that sometimes it takes my breath away. I know he’s a little young for it, but he was born for this. He likes to protect people, and that means me. We’re happy together.”
Tsujitane-san seemed satisfied. She nodded, and began to gather the papers together into their file.
“Well, it doesn’t seem to me that you’re holding anything back. I would concentrate on improving those grades, but other than that, it seems as though you’re doing quite well. I hope your cousins aren’t staying very long.”
“No. No, I think they’ll be gone after my birthday. I know it’s a little noisy here, but I kind of like it. It’s fun.” The older woman nodded and stood.
“Not so much fun for your brother, I think.”
Sakura giggled. “Probably not.” She opened the door and gave an encouraging smile to her pacing brother.
“That will be all for now, Kinomoto-san. We’ll be continuing to monitor Sakura-san’s well-being, but it seems as though you have everything fairly well in hand. Unless any disasters occur, expect to hear from us in about six months.”
“Okay,” he said, trying not to let the relief in his voice show too much. “It was good to see you, I mean, I’m glad you approve, I…” Oh, what the hell. He shrugged and gave it up. He’d passed, and that was all that mattered.
By the time he’d escorted her out the door, he was limp with exhaustion, and he threw himself onto the couch.
“I’m going to get some breakfast, Onii-chan. You want anything?”
“No, go ahead.”
“Okay.” She leaned over and kissed him on his forehead, which made him smile, and turned to go into the kitchen. Presently he heard someone else approach and sit in the chair by the couch.
“Go away, Akizuki.”
“She’s not here at the moment,” Eriol answered. “I could go and get her for you.”
“Please don’t.”
“Very well. How do you think you did?” Touya shrugged his shoulders against the cushions.
“I don’t know. Marginal, I guess. Your circus crew didn’t exactly help with that.”
“Most unfortunate timing.” Eriol leaned back in the chair and gave the man on the couch a measuring look. “You were really worried, weren’t you?”
“Don’t you start analyzing me,” Touya threatened.
“Just observing.”
Observing… Something occurred to Touya, and he opened his eyes.
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? You’re watching me, making sure that I’m doing a good enough job.”
“Perhaps.”
Terrific. That was all he needed, the bizarre reincarnation of the world’s most powerful wizard, here to judge his parenting ability. Suddenly the government wasn’t the threat anymore.
“What are you going to do if I don’t pass?” Touya was remembering all the things that this kid had done, all the powers that he had at his disposal. It was a little scary. “I’ll die before I let you take her away from me. It’s not going to happen.”
“Worry about that bridge when you come to it, Touya-kun. I’m here to wish her a happy birthday, and extend my sympathy regarding your father. That’s all.” He stood and left the room, and Touya groaned.
- - - - - -
Hiiragizawa wouldn’t really take Sakura away, would he? Sakura was the one with the Cards now, she wouldn’t just let Eriol separate them, right? Assuming, of course, that she really did want to stay with him.
Touya fretted the rest of the morning, his fraying mood not helped by the rowdy inhabitants of his house. Finally he took a book outside in the hopes of getting some peace and quiet, not to mention distracting himself from his worries. But it was futile, and he flipped through the pages of his textbook without seeing them. He hadn’t made it this far just to lose her now.
It was a few moments before he realized Yuki was crossing the yard, and looked up wearily.
“There you are. Sakura-chan sent me to find you. She was wondering if we could all go out to the movies or something tonight.”
“Hmph.” Touya rested his head against the tree’s rough bark and tried to swallow another groan. “That’s all I need. More opportunities for Akizuki to assault me. It never stops; I don’t think I can take it anymore.”
“Uh-huh.” Yukito wasn’t looking him in the eye. “She’s pretty.”
Touya gave him a puzzled look. “Yeah, I guess.”
“And she really seems to like you. You’ve hardly been apart since she got here.”
“What?” Touya’s thoughts were still lingering on Hiiragizawa and his sister, not particularly paying attention to the conversation, but finally something in his boyfriend’s tone clicked. “Oh my god. You’re jealous!”
Yukito blushed faintly and stared at the ground. “No I’m not.”
“You are! I can’t believe it – you’re jealous! I can’t think why, you know I hate that witch.”
“Well, I - ”
“Do you know what this means?” Touya’s eyes were sparkling with excitement, and he jumped to his feet. “It means that I get to be the level-headed one for once. Not you, me!” All this time, while Touya was on the brink of possibly losing Sakura, Yuki had been worried about something as trivial as this. He should be annoyed, but for some reason he was enjoying this. “How could you ever think that I don’t love you the most?”
His lover flushed. “I just -”
“There’s a time to stop being paranoid,” Touya declared firmly, telling himself as much as Yuki. “If someone tells you they love you, then trust them already.”
Sakura would never leave him for Hiiragizawa. How could he have been so stupid?
“Toya?” Yuki looked a little taken aback. It wasn’t Touya’s nature to be so open, but the taller boy felt as though some great weight had tumbled from his chest. Neither Hiiragizawa or Akizuki would ever come between him and the ones he loved. It was a revelation worth celebrating.
“Never mind. Let’s not talk.” And before Yukito could demur, he’d pushed him up against the tree.
They started to kiss.
Up in Sakura’s bedroom, a teenager with calm, mysterious blue eyes watched the scene unfold through her window. The smile that he wore was just barely detectable.
“Nakaru.”
“Hai?”
“I’ve learned what I wanted to know. You don’t need to pester Kinomoto anymore. We’ll be leaving after Sakura-san’s birthday.”
“Aww… are you sure? It was so much fun.”
“I’m sure. The relationship is real. They’ll both be there for Sakura-san. That’s all that matters.”
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters
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