http://clampfix.fanworks.net/ccd-fix/family3.txt </head><body><pre>Hi! Ok here is where things start changing from one version to another. I think there are now three possible endings, all of which will be made available on my site...For right now, though the "A" parts are being sent to this list ^_^ Please tell me what needs fixed and I'll get right on it. --------------------------------------------------------------- Family - Stage 3: Practice _______________________________________________________________ This is a fanfic. That means that no money was made off using characters that belong to talented people. I wrote this because I wanted to. I didn't ask to use any name's likenesses or anything else. CLAMP holds copy write on all the characters that originate on CLAMP Campus, Hisaya Nakajo owns all the denizens of Ohsaka Academy. Also. This would work better in Japanese, since a person can easily get around using gender specific pronouns, but since this is English I will use "he" when people talk to "Mizuki," UNLESS they know she is masquerading as a boy, because as far as the general population of Mizuki's school is concerned, she is a he. Thanks to M. who gave me the dorm that Masao Himejima leads. I promise to use my passkey often ^_^; Though the characters belong to other people, the story is mine. Thank you to Shara who has been reading the first drafts. Boy did they need fixed. Thanks for reading this ever-expanding disclaimer. ______________________________________________________________ [Why am I so stupid?] Suoh pushed himself through Dorm Two's front door. [I didn't ask about Nakatsu! I didn't even say anything polite!] Practice. No, practice would require a calm spirit and a quiet mind. The swimming pool would be full of students perfecting their strokes. He had already run; he didn't have anyone to talk to. He couldn't get Nokoru's face out of his head. The stricken look. Nothing would make up for this. Absolutely nothing. Suoh slammed his door and sat at his desk. [At least Himejima's not here.] He hit his head against the desk. [Futility.] He looked at the desk, then around the room. Being in Nokoru's room made him realize just how much of the standard furniture Himejima had changed. That distracted him for a moment. Nokoru and Himejima where alike, actually. Not a lot alike, as Suoh was sure that Nokoru was the kinder person, but they did share some traits. Although Nokoru had none of the stubborn self-centeredness, vanity, superciliousness, or plain annoying ways. [This isn't getting me anywhere.] Suoh opened his desk. Then slammed it. The last thing he wanted to see were pictures of Nokoru. Especially of Nokoru and Nakatsu. [If I beat up Nakatsu, he won't be able to bother Nokoru.] He thought about it for a while and decided it might be nice to take his aggression out. [But most men don't stand a chance against me, it would be unfair and plain wrong to beat up that jerk.] He had to find a way to make Nakatsu not want to bother Nokoru. But then, he didn't know what it was about. Nokoru might honestly have antagonized the younger boy. [Unlikely. Nokoru wants everyone to like him.] He stood and walled the room a few times. It wasn't like him to be indecisive. Checking his watch Suoh saw it was getting towards dinner. He wasn't hungry and knew that Nokoru would be there. Maybe. Maybe Nokoru would be there. Suoh sat again, putting his head in his hands. Nokoru might be as bad off as he himself was. Probably not, though. Nokoru had been distant from Suoh. Pulling open the drawer again, Suoh reached back behind all the paperwork. He pulled out a couple CDs in light blue paper. In another drawer he found a portable player with headphones. Usually he used an mp3 player. He was active and CDs skip, but the two he pulled out were home burnt. If he had only used his mp3's of these songs, he would never get to touch the lettering. Feminine handwriting, soft and girly, proclaimed in dark blue ink, "Our Songs," with flowers drawn along the edges of the disks. He put his headphones in his ears and started the CD. Getting into bed, he pulled the curtain and put his hands behind his head. When Suoh closed his eyes he could see stories in the music and feel each change in tempo as a hand massaging his temples. Each crescendo was a call to action. [But in these songs, 'Our Songs,' there is no need to act, just feel.] The disks were a few years old, but Suoh never tired of listening to them. * * * Mizuki lay on the floor. She had had a long day. It was the second Saturday of the month, so they had it off. The girls from St. Blossom had wanted to go in every store on the boulevard, and in the mall. Not that there were many things too look at. Almost everything looked the same, but there were many stores selling variations on main themes. It was summer, so everywhere she looked Mizuki saw shades of pink and flowers. It was wonderful, but she was glad not to have to bother with the minutia of dressing. She had never told her confidants, but she was glad not to be wearing girls' clothes here in Japan. She had always worn dresses, but she had never seen such shoes, such a focus on purses, such a barrage of 'how to' dress help as she was now bombarded with. It made her dizzy to think of how she would dress if she was trying to impress a boy. She blushed. Of course she _was_ trying to impress a boy. Being with so many girls had also reminded her of what it was like to have girlfriends. Today she had held bags and found clothes suitable for the other girls, but it was the same as if she was one of them. And besides, with Rio-chan's encouragement she had even talked about Sano. A little. And so she was exhausted. It felt great. Nagisa-chan and Utako-chan insisted on dinner out. They were both younger than most high school students, but they came from CLAMP School. Classes were much harder there. Both girls had tested higher than their age groups and made it into high school. CLAMP Students were amazing. [I bet Sano could have gone to that school. He has the perfect, most elegant high jump I've ever seen.] But if he had gone to CLAMP then Mizuki would never have had a chance to meet him. She tried to imagine petitioning to enter the prestigious school. But all the people she had met from CLAMP were really nice. And they seemed to have a lot of fun, too. Well she didn't know Takamura-sempai, but she assumed that since he was Akira-kun and Nokoru-sempai's friend, he must be OK, too. Maybe he was just shy. She sat up. She would help Suoh. Mizuki could remember being new at the school. It was so different form an American school. Ohsaka Academy must be very different from CLAMP School, too. She nodded tomorrow she would start. Sano came in, "Nakatsu and Kayashima're having a party." He looked worried for a minuet, then closed the door, "Are you ok?" He came over to where she was sitting. "I'm fine. I was just thinking that Nokoru-sempai and Akira-kun are doing really well here at the school. They're pretty popular in the dorm, but I'll bet that Takamura-sempai was so quiet just because he didn't have any friends." Sano ruffled her hair, then got into his desk for party provisions. "You are always everyone's friend." Mizuki jumped up and grabbed all her haul of pastries. Many of them were cream rolls and Maron Maron, but no one would be picky. Entering Nakatsu and Kayashima's room Mizuki was struck by how full it was. Akira-kun was there along with the usual party. Mizuki wondered briefly if she had enough snacks. The main event of the evening was a TV movie supplemented with a large bottle of Asahi. Mizuki took a spot around the kutatsu next to Akira. "Thank you for helping me this morning." He beamed, "It was no problem. I think we both needed the practice." Mizuki looked around the room, "Where's Nokoru-sempai?" Noe spoke up quickly, "Oh, he broke up with--" Akira answered, "He was feeling the inspiration to write his poem this evening." Mizuki nodded absently, glad she wasn't in the poetry contest. "It must be hard having to come up with material on demand." She watched as Masahiro Nakai came on screen. * * * Suoh's CD player was on repeat. A flute echoed. In his mind, he saw an empty clearing in the forest. Nagisa stood on grass no one had ever cut, playing to the empty forest. Suoh could see that they were alone. Nagisa was dressed splendidly. She was in a kimono with so many layers and such simple beauty that even the empresses of days gone by would look tawdry and over ornamented next to her. Her hair was up in an old fashion Suoh recognized from books and ancient paintings he had studied. The melody haunted him. It was so sad. So lonely. Like she knew the world's burdens and was using her song to tell him. But his own musical appreciation had only begun when he met her. Now, she was playing only for him. He wanted to walk to her, but stood still, listening and watching. Her face was unlined, but careworn. When the echo pulled, Nagisa closed her eyes, and when the notes dipped, relating the importance of an idea, word, or plan, she opened her eyes and looked directly at him. A lone note held in the air, it's echo adding a harmony. He stepped toward her. To the left and right he saw movement on the fringes of his consciousness. Birds or fireflies, he decided though he never actually saw them. He looked down to check his feet would tread on solid ground, but discovered he had no feet. He looked back at Nagisa. Her eyes were open, pleading. It was dark when Suoh woke. He sat up so fast he pulled his headphones out of the CD player. It's tiny speakers played a flute's solemn note into his dark room. He held his head in his hands, remembering the dream. "Nagisa." His voice startled him. Suoh shut off the CD player. He opened it, watching the disk spin down, then touched the lettering again. He let himself experience the dream a moment longer. It was difficult upon waking to remember why such simple images would cause significant emotions, but this one had, and now he was losing it. Suoh got off the bunk, and pulled out his wallet. He pulled out phone card with wild horses running through a field. This was the only preparation he had made to come on this trip other than packing. He had left his phone behind, and knew he would want to call Nagisa. He had seen a phone outside Ohsaka's gates. He pulled his shoes on at the door and walked out into the night. The booth itself was well lit, once Suoh closed the door. There was a dusty wooden "bench" near the phone book. Suoh put his card in and dialed a number he knew by heart. It seemed to take forever to connect, and once the phone rang, three rings were far too long for his patience. "Hello?" It was a voice Suoh recognized, but not the one he wanted. [Her father. Why is he answering her personal line?] Nagisa's father had always been kind to Suoh, but they had maintained a respectful distance. He repressed his impatience. "Azuya-san, this is Suoh Takamura." "Ah, Suoh-kun! So good of you to call." A slight paused followed the words, "Is there anything I can do for you?" To Suoh, the voice sounded icy. He swallowed hard, "May I speak with Nagisa-jou?" "I'm sorry, Suoh-kun, she's gone away on vacation. I'll tell her you called." Now Nagisa's father sounded genuinely sorry. Could it be that her parents had assumed Suoh knew she was not at home? "I'm sorry. May I call her upon her return?" "Of course." There was a slight pause, "Have a good night." Was that pause a hesitation? Suoh made his voice as kind as he could, "Thank you very much, have a nice evening." He hung up the phone and watched his card come back out. Suoh looked at it. The horses in tall grass seemed so carefree, but all he could remember was the empty glade in his dream. In so many of his dreams Nagisa had her hair down. She would never go to school like that. But twice, at her parents home, she had left her long hair hanging behind her shoulders when he visited. He left the booth and began wandering around campus. Suoh realized he was left out in every point of what he had previously considered his life. Nokoru had arranged to stay in a separate dorm, Nagisa left without warning, and now he, Suoh Takamura, had become a threat to the safety of his chosen one. His very presence made people stare at Nokoru...Not that they weren't staring, anyway. The photographs were proof of that, but Nokoru had admirers at their own school, too. He stopped when he reached Dorm Two. He could go and change everything, he was certain. Most of the lights were out. On the second floor he counted and found Nokoru and Akira's room. It was seven to the right from one that had a lot of people walking around in front of the window. Nokoru opened his curtain. He seemed to notice Suoh, at least he pressed his face to the window and narrowed his eyes. When the curtain fell, Suoh's hopes followed. * * * Nokoru stared at his blank page. Nothing was coming out right. He told Akira that inspiration had struck in the afternoon. That was true. He had never felt to miserable in his life. Poets were generally proclaimed as an unhappy bunch. [By all rights, I should be more productive then ever.] Idomu had threatened the school way back when they were in the Elementary Division. He had done it because of Nokoru, but at the time Nokoru had known he could trust Akira and Suoh. He had distanced himself from them to make Idomu think he was being hurt. It was a ploy to draw Idomu out. But Suoh and Akira had never really left him. Even when he had pushed them away to make it look better. He always had his friends. [Suoh was right, of course. If anyone finds out who I am, this school and everyone in it would be in danger. Anything could happen. The whole dorm could be held hostage.] Nokoru got up and looked out the window. It was dark out and he had the lights on inside. He squinted. He could only see his own eyes. By pressing his face up against the glass he thought he could see the tree out front, kind of waving, and the doghouse. He let the curtain fall and walked back to his chair. A blank piece of paper and several miss-starts. He unfolded one of the pages. Grace in strength Judge of hearts That was as far as he had gotten. [No wonder I rejected it.] He grabbed another miss-start to see if he had left anything salvageable in it. If in our bond You cannot see That half of me To you is pawned That I shan't stray But on my knee To you I plea Let me but obey. Nokoru crumpled the pages and threw them into the waste bin. He originally wanted to make a non-traditional poem, but there was no telling how it would be judged. [Who cares.] That stopped him. He was truly unhappy. Did he really believe this was permanent? In a few weeks they would be done here at Ohsaka Academy, then they would be in their regular summer at CLAMP School. He would finish up the paperwork he had left undone, and then be free to enjoy the sun, his friends, the parks and lakes around campus. And maybe have a real vacation where he would get to leave campus, leave home and not think of his responsibilities. And maybe his friends would go with him, both his friends. In his mind he had pictured a trip. He had thought that the time they spent at Ohsaka Academy would only be a preamble to their real fun this summer. * Nokoru balanced a dictionary on his head. He was trying to find a word that rhymed with 'hopeless,' but was happier. "I give up!" Nokoru put the dictionary down and was heading out the door when Akira came in. "Kaichou!" Akira was crying. He sat on the floor, knees together, feet on either side, just like he used to when he was a child. "Akira!" He knelt down next to the younger boy, hugging him, "Are you alright?" Nokoru realized Akira had been drinking. Akira's chest heaved as he sobbed. "They all," he couldn't stop crying. He put his face towards the floor. Nokoru pulled out his handkerchief. "Oh, Akira, we'll make it better. Whatever it is." Akira hid his face in Nokoru's linen handkerchief for a moment, then turned his red eyes to Nokoru. "Everyone says you broke up with Takamura-sempai." He blubbered then let out a wail. Nokoru sat on the floor and put his arms around Akira again. No wonder he was so upset. To all three of the students from CLAMP School, they were each other's family. Something that affected one, affected them all. "Akira, I never said I wouldn't see Suoh anymore." "But everyone said," Akira started. "They saw you. In the hall." "Akira." How could he have been so blind to how this would affect Akira? "Akira, Suoh decided it would be safer for me, and for the whole school if no one knows who I am." Akira swallowed and nodded. Nokoru continued, "If people start associating him with me, they could figure out that I am really _me_." He didn't need to say much more, Akira understood. It was an old problem for the three of them. "So, that's why he isn't in our dorm." Nokoru pulled away. "I didn't set up the dorms." Akira looked surprised, "Who--" A phone rang in Nokoru's desk. He turned to look at it, then back at Akira. "I'll be right back. That phone was only for official business. I'm sorry." Akira nodded and got up. He sat on Nokoru's bed and sniffled, trying not to listen. "Hello?" Utako-san's voice on the other end of the line was welcome. "How have you been doing?" "Oh, we're fine, but I wanted to tell you we're all settled and everything is going according to plan." He looked over at Akira, "Good." [huh?] "And to tell you that you three are big news over here. We need to watch out for that." Nokoru laughed. He was being scolded! "I understand." He looked again at Akira. "Akira is here..." Handing over the phone, Nokoru whispered, "The lady wishes to speak with you." The look on Akira's face when he heard the voice on the other end was worth the pain of leaving him crying on the floor. Nokoru pantomimed "see you later" and left. He looked up and down the hall. There had to be something in this dorm to do while your roommate talked to his girlfriend. He knocked on Mizuki's door, but there was no answer. He went downstairs to see Yuujirou. He sat on the ground, petting the dog with both hands. How Utako-san over at St. Blossom had heard of them, was a mystery. He supposed to keep a low profile. That was falling apart. If people here were talking about what had happened with Suoh, he was sure it wouldn't be too long before those he was getting closest to started asking questions. He didn't want to lie. He hugged the dog and let tears come to his eyes. His position was a great advantage, as far as wealth went, but there was so much more. He needed his friends desperately, but Akira was so kind-hearted, to confide in him would cause as much pain to the dark haired treasurer as it eased in Nokoru. He stood and headed for the gate. He needed to talk to Suoh. Nokoru looked up when the front door opened. Nakatsu Shuichi came out and stuck his head under the faucet. "Nakatsu-san!" Nokoru hurried over to help him. "Back off!" He pushed Nokoru. Nakatsu put his arms under the running water and lifted them over his head, letting the water run down his shirt. As soon as he got near he realized Nakatsu had been drinking, too. It might be best not to get to close. "Is everything alright?" "No!" Nakatsu seemed to waver for a moment. "How would you understand?" Nokoru waived for a moment, then decided he couldn't let this go on if he could help. Something inside compelled him to speak, "Is it Mizuki-kun?" Nakatsu made a fist and took a step forward. He must have seen something in Nokoru's face because he stopped. "Yeah." Nokoru let go of the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, "She's very special." Nakatsu nodded. "Yeah. Mizuki has stood out since the day he came to this school." There was something wrong here. Nokoru frowned. "I think that Mizuki-kun likes you a lot." Nakatsu sat on the dorm's doorstep. "Mizuki has a girlfriend in the United States." He looked at his hands, "She stayed at St. Blossom for a while, real good looking girl." Nokoru sat next to him. "I'll bet Mizuki-kun has many friends in the United States." Nakatsu nodded. "I met his parents. They were really nice, but can't remember Japanese anymore." Nakatsu looked at the dark sky. They could barely see stars, "I got to stay in their house." He seemed near tears. Nokoru nodded. "Maybe you should talk to Mizuki-kun." Nakatsu's head whipped around, "Can you imagine how hard it would be for him?" Nokoru nodded sympathetically. Nakatsu continued, " For one of his best friends to have a crush on him?" Nakatsu studied Yuujirou. "I can make him like me more and more as a friend. Then maybe love me." Nokoru felt reasonably safe now. "So that is why you grabbed me yesterday." Nakatsu laughed, "Yeah, sorry about that. Once Mizuki told me the whole thing, I figured I should apologize. But I couldn't find you." "I've been working on the poem and room." Nokoru didn't add that he had been avoiding Nakatsu. Nakatsu sniffed, "You really think he likes me?" Nokoru nodded. "You are good friends." Nakatsu stood up and ran a hand through his damp hair. "I came out here before, and just soaked my head. But at the time, I was thinking that I was crazy to like Mizuki the way I do." He appeared thoughtful. "Now I just have to try to keep from making an ass of myself with him." He smiled. "We've got another bottle upstairs, and there's a drama marathon on. A lot of the shows have cute girls in them." Nokoru laughed. [It's so rude! I have to stop.] He couldn't stop laughing. Nakatsu looked offended, "What?" "You like Mizuki-kun, but want to see all the girls on TV!" Nakatsu looked startled, "I guess." Nokoru wiped tears from his eyes, "I've never had time to just sit around and watch a drama." "We do it all the time. Usually there's something better on, but with the Decathlon next week, and all the studying, we'll take what we can get." Nokoru stood up, "Right." [It's something people living in a dorm do!] That and it would keep his mind off other things. * * * Himejima opened the door. "Ah, are you emigrating to the winning team?" "Is Takamura-sempai here?" Suoh turned his head. The voice at the door was one that he knew as well as his own. Suoh closed his political science book. "Ijyuin." Himejima threw the door open wide and sat on his ornate chair with a flourish. Akira's eyes looked relived, but his brows were knit, "Takamura- sempai. Have you seen kai-Imonoyama-sempai?" Sighing, Suoh stood up. He had forgotten that Akira would be in the dark unless someone actually told him what was going on. "No." He looked pointedly at Himejima. The older student stretched fetchingly then announced, "I'll leave you and the boy alone. I'll be in the dining hall if anyone comes looking for me." After the door was closed again, Suoh moved the books off his desk and offered his seat. Akira shook his head, but placed a basket on the spot Suoh had cleared. "I noticed you weren't at dinner last night, and-" Akira stopped and looked suddenly very sad. Suoh sat and let Akira prepare the meal, "I didn't want it this way." Akira nodded, "Kaichou explained." After the meal was laid out, he sat in Himejima's chair. Rather than look for something to say, Suoh bit into a morsel hesitantly. "It's wonderful. Thank you." He ate with gusto, feeling the lack of a few meals. Akira's smile was faded. "I think, though it would have been better for the rooms to have been assigned differently from the beginning." Suoh nodded. "Utako-san called. She likes the dorm at St. Blossom." Akira seemed to really need to fill the silence today. "I didn't know she wasn't at home." Somehow that sounded familiar. "I thought St. Blossom was going to judge our Decathlon." Akira nodded, finally happy. "She'll be coming tomorrow." There was a silence in which Suoh ate. Finally, before finishing his meal, Suoh pulled open the desk drawer. "Since you'll be closer to him than I will. Can you make sure this doesn't happen anymore?" He gave the envelope full of pictures to Akira. The younger student's eyes widened. "Where did you find them?" "Some guy goes around taking pictures of people." Suoh shoveled rice into his mouth as delicately as he could. "Takamura-sempai! This one of the two of you is great can I have it?" Suoh choked. Coughing, he responded, "I think no one should see it." Akira nodded. "Right." His face was resolute. Suoh looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. He knew he could trust Akira to care for Nokoru, but didn't like the idea of leaving anything to chance. Even if things went wrong Suoh felt it was better to be there and know what was happening that to live in the dark. * * * Akira and Mizuki bound into room 207, and found Nokoru and Sano had papers and books spread over the floor. Nokoru looked up, happy for a distraction. "This is great!" Mizuki was studying the ceiling. He reached out to touch the walls. "Is this a table cloth??" Akira pulled it so Mizuki could see the back. "We thought that they weren't very nice as a tablecloths, but they made great tree stumps and vines." Nokoru watched Akira put a large envelope in his desk. "Is that your secret project?" Akira blushed. "I guess it's a secret..." Nokoru jumped up and offered Mizuki a seat. Mizuki sat, but he leaned over Sano's book. "Always working." Sano nodded. "It's difficult." Nokoru smiled, "Sano's giving me a run for this physics competition. If we were on separate teams I don't know who would win, but as long as we are both with Dorm 2, there is no chance of another team winning." Sano's pencil began moving again, "Dorm 1 has Himejima." Mizuki's mouth dropped, "He can do physics?" "He thinks that movement is beautiful." Sano stood and stretched. "I still have my regular homework to do. Mizuki looked at him with puppy dog eyes. "I have to go to work. Akiha said there will be a very important model in tomorrow." Nokoru spoke excitedly, "You mean you model?" Sano grabbed Mizuki's cheeks, "Mizuki is playing errand boy for Akiha." Mizuki's words were garbled under pulled cheeks, "Ifh I get ith all dhone todhay, den Akiha cun wok duwing schule. Ven he cun cum to dha Decatlawn." Nokoru looked delighted. "Your boss wants to see the karate? That's so considerate!" He flipped a page on his notebook and began scribbling. "If more employers took interest in the extracurricular activities of their high school employees, it would make a great impact on job satisfaction." Mizuki sweat dropped. "Actually he said something about seeing Umeda-sensei..." Sano looked bored. He picked up his books. "I'll help you get everything done. You shouldn't have to worry the day before a meet." "Well we won't keep you." Nokoru gathered his books. "I still have other work to do before tomorrows games." Sano and Mizuki left. Each of the ex-CLAMP students began working on their projects. Nokoru with a dictionary and blank notepad, and Akira with his hands in his lap staring at the wall. Nokoru looked over at the dark head, "I guess it must be hard to come up with an original project." Akira smiled. "I can't work on it until the day of my competition." Rather than be offended at the uncommunicative nature of the statement, Nokoru tried again, "Well, I for one can't stand looking at this blank paper anymore." Nokoru stood and walked what had become his usual circuit. He went to the door, past the beds and stop at the window. Opening the curtain, he looked out. "Sometimes I think I can see someone watching." His voice was distant. He realized that Akira had moved behind him and was studying the courtyard. Akira rested his hand on Nokoru's shoulder. "Takamura-sempai and I are both on campus. We can handle anyone." Nokoru turned around. "I wasn't serious." Akira's gaze was still out the window. "But you are worried." The door opened. Nokoru saw Nakatsu and Mizuki's eyes widen. The blond Imonoyama stepped around his friend, "You're back already!" Mizuki blushed, "We were wondering if you wanted to come with us. It wouldn't be hard work." Nakatsu smiled, "We're getting dinner out when we're done." Nokoru's smile radiated, "Sounds great!" Akira continued looking out the window. When he turned, his eyes seemed far away. "Maybe next time. I still have some work to do before morning." They seemed to understand. Nokoru pulled on an extra sweater. "I'll see you later, then, Akira. I hope your project turns out well." Akira nodded and as the door was closing, he was sitting at his desk. * * * Suoh got the door. "Injuin. Is everything alright?" Akira nodded. "I think that I need your help." Suoh opened the door wider, but glancing at his smirking roommate, he led Akira into the hall. He whispered, "Is Kaichou alright?" Akira nodded. "He understands." Akira looked down and spoke more quietly, "Utako-chan is at St. Blossom." Suoh didn't understand. "You mentioned that before. It's great." he smiled. He realized Akira didn't see it as great so he matched Akira's seriousness. Akira took a deep breath and spoke as close to Suoh's ear as he could, "Kaichou did not send her there. He was as surprised as I was." The door opened behind Suoh. He took Akira by the arm, "We could...check...on her, if you want." Akira smiled, relieved. "That's what I was thinking." He looked over Suoh's shoulder, "But it would look very bad if anyone caught us." Suoh thought quickly [Like a juvenile panty raid. But Ohkawa- san would understand, after we explained it to her. Assuming we get caught.] "Very bad. But we should check." * * * Mizuki looked around the warehouse-sized space Akiha-san used as his stage. There were boxes everywhere. "Akiha-san! Ebi-san! It's Mizuki!" She looked around [It's so scary in the dark, I never noticed]. She stepped closer to Sano, "I brought help!" Akiha stepped out from behind a wardrobe. Mizuki screamed and held Sano's arm. "You're such a girl." Akiha had his long hair tied back in a bandana. The necklaces around his neck and arm glinted in the darkness, "Ebi, get the lights." He surveyed the group, "Look at how many people you brought." Mizuki turned on the main lights, the ones at the set. She introduced Nokoru to Akiha. As Nakatsu had predicted on the way over, Akiha was immediately entranced. He grabbed Nokoru's chin and pulled it up. "You have good bones. I have need of models occasionally. Have you ever thought of becoming a professional?" Nokoru was too polite to pull Akiha's hand away, "Actually, I thought I would go into education." Akiha-san put his hands on his head, "Such a waste. Here we have Sano, Mizuki, Nakatsu, and now YOU, and no reason to shoot!" Sano looked vaguely upset, "I thought there was work to do." Akiha-san's head turned, "Oh, right." He pointed to a large box of flowers, "First I need those distributed as evenly as possible. They're just silk. The real ones arrive tomorrow to go as near the model as possible." They nodded and got to work. Mizuki was always amazed at Sano's sense of proportion. Nokoru seemed to know exactly how each type of flower should fall. Mizuki watched Nakatsu for a minuet. He noticed and began throwing the flowers into place quickly. She laughed, "You really want me to work hard at the Decathlon rather than at work tomorrow." Nakatsu smiled, "You are meant for more delicate things than karate, but I know you will do well." Nakatsu seemed to bite his tongue, his face turned so red. "I mean...You do really well in karate, but I hear that between Dorm 1's new student and Dorm 3, we will be relying on the delicate things in our dorm, like art and ..." He trailed off. Mizuki's eyes crossed slightly. "I think we should get back to work." Soon enough the whole backdrop and the stone benches and wall on the white cloth were covered with flowers. It looked realistic, to Mizuki's eyes. Akiha-san and Sano were talking near a group of stools. As she walked up she only heard Izumi Sano's angry voice, "...gave them to me." She stopped [It's probably better not to interfere.] But the two had already noticed her. Though Sano seemed angry, Akiha looked more amused than upset. Mizuki timidly said, "I think we're all done Akiha-san looked over the setting. "Looks great. We are done for the night!" The group sat on the floor, deciding where to grab dinner. Once they agreed it was a night for curry, they said their good-byes to Akiha-san and Ebi-san. Mizuki walked tiredly next to Nokoru, with Sano and Nakatsu slightly ahead. Nokoru spoke politely, "Mizuki-san how did you meet Akiha-san and Ebi-san?" Mizuki smiled. "Akiha-san was a lower-classman of Umeda- sensei's. Ebi-san was his wife at one time. Now they are just friends." Nokoru nodded, "I see. They seem to do well together." Mizuki stumbled. Nokoru caught her as Nakatsu yelled. Nokoru studied her, "Are you alright?" Mizuki nodded. "I'm fine, just tired." Nakatsu offered to give he a piggyback ride, but she refused. "I'll just be sure to get a lot of rest after classes. I want to be at my best." Sano ruffled her hair, "You'll do fine. What you need is some food." He took her arm and led them to a curry shop on the way back to school. * * * Akira and Suoh walked confidently to the front gate of St. Blossom Academy. From there they followed the fence around the facility. Akira leaned near Suoh, "Takamura-sempai, do you see any security?" He looked around, "I mean besides the cameras." Suoh inhaled slowly. "The cameras are spaced, and they probably only have one or two guards total. If it isn't just a house mother somewhere." He looked over the edge of a fence. "The security is actually rather lax. If we go in near that tree, our only problem will be which dorm she's in. If she's in the one nearest that pond, she's fine." Akira nodded. "And if she's in the one closest to the main entrance, we could have gotten to her already." Suoh inclined his head, then smiled. "Do you know where she is?" Akira shook his head miserably. "And it's not like we can check all the windows." "No we can't." Suoh turned his head. "There was a group of girls in the shadow of a tree." Akira held his breath. "Back there by the middle dorm." "Neither of us can pass as a girl, though." [I wish Kaichou was here. But I doubt he would allow such an invasion of privacy.] Akira tugged Suoh's shirt. "We could just check the nearest on here, and make sure she's not in any immediate danger." Suoh suppressed a sigh. "Right." He jumped the fence, not check if Akira came after him. He hid from the quarter moon's light in the shade of a large willow and was gratified to feel Akira's heat behind him. "Head over quickly, since there's no cover. I'll keep a lookout." They crouched and ran. Suoh didn't think it odd that Akira could keep up with him. He didn't think of it. He just wanted to check the rooms with lights on and get out. He was starting to feel less like he was helping and more like a peeping tom. He stopped, watching the area as Akira got close to the building. Akira came back, taking Suoh's arm. "I could see her." He frowned. "She left the curtain open." Suoh looked up. He could see an open window on the second floor with a light on. "She wears it to bed?" He hadn't meant to say it out loud, but he had been surprised to see a lady in a bathrobe with her hair in a large bow. Akira was nodding next to him. "It's important to her." "She has a roommate. She seems to be talking to someone." Akira must have seen and recognized the second girl. He looked at Suoh with large eyes. "I'll tell Kaichou when he returns." Suoh turned on Akira. "He's out?" Akira's skin was luminescent in the dark. "He's with Mizuki, Sano and Nakatsu. I'm sure he's fine." The CLAMP School secretary inhaled noisily and started back towards the wall. Getting back wasn't as easy. This time they were on the same side as a hedge that ran around the school's fence. The two investigators took a few scratches, but were overall quiet as they negotiated the branches and climbed the fence. Landing on the other side, they headed back to Ohsaka Academy in silence. * * * Suoh watched from the shadows as Akira turned off the bedroom light. It hadn't been long from the time he had closed the curtain to prepare for his shower. Suoh guessed Nokoru wasn't back yet. He got into a good posture for waiting, then concentrated his thoughts. Suoh was next alerted when he heard a group walking from the school gates direction. He saw Nakatsu hit Nokoru's head. He stood and clenched his fists. When Nokoru swatted the hand away and Nakatsu didn't retaliate, Suoh relaxed. [It was a small thing. Just disrespectful.] It didn't mean he had to like it. Once Suoh saw that Nokoru wasn't planning on following the others in, he stepped forward. He heard Nokoru's murmur, "Suoh." "Kaichou." He looked up at the windows. [He should be in bed. Safe with Akira] Nokoru didn't look up. "I'm fine." "What's happening?" Nokoru shook his head, keeping his eyes on Yuujirou. "I wish I knew." Suoh knelt next to Nokoru, "I'm confused. What is this assignment?" He meant to ask many more questions, but Nokoru sagged slightly. "Rijichou-sama needed us," Nokoru waved his hand vaguely. "It is an easy enough assignment." "And Utako-san is handling the girls school?" Nokoru smiled with his mouth only. "I think so. Ladies have different needs." Suoh could understand that, but still. "Why weren't you told?" Nokoru seemed to shrink a little. "I think I may have asked for her to go there, accidentally." Suoh waited. Nokoru's hands drew in towards his stomach. "I told Rijichou- sama that I needed my most trusted associates. It only makes sense that Utako-kaichou was included." He shook his head. Suoh put his hand on Nokoru's shoulder. "Injyuin and I checked on St. Blossom's tonight. There isn't much security, but I doubt there is any association between us and that school on a personal level." Nokoru put his head down, his breath shaky. "I'm sure it's as you say." Suoh moved his hand down Nokoru's back, rubbing slightly. He put his left hand on the blond's forearm. "Breath. It's fine." Nokoru pushed his head into Suoh's chest. He seemed about to speak, but stopped. He took a deep breath. "You're right, of course." He pushed against Suoh's chest and rose gracefully to his feet. "I'll see you in class tomorrow." Nokoru entered the dorm. Suoh went back to his hiding spot in the shadows and waited until all activity in Akira and Nokoru's room ceased. He watched the dark window. [I'll see you at breakfast.] _____________________________________________________________ End part 3 A --------------------------------------------------------------- Wow! this is gettin long! ^_^ thank you for reading this far! miai http://www.geocities.com/sakurazuka_no_subaru/fanfics.html</pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>