The FURUBA ROUND ROBIN PROJECT 

Chapter Twelve: A Pink Inspiration with a Red Inclination

by  RJunkie
First Posted Online:  
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"Did you hear that?" Manabe asked, breaking the silence as Yuki continued to scan the papers on the floor. While he wanted to ask Yuki what was the great secret he had uncovered, he could clearly hear footsteps out in the hall. Footsteps that seems to be getting louder and closer with each passing moment.

A grin grew on his face. Whether he was scared orthrilled, he didn’t know. But it was just like those old American movies, where the detective and his cute female sidekick would be near discovery by the malicious enemy and would have to hide in a small closet or under a desk and get into all sorts of compromising positions before continuing with their mission, only after that they’d be filled with hotlust for each other and…

“…are you listening?” Yuki was saying. Manabe looked up to find the Sohma boy standing on top of the file cabinet, holding a metal grille in his hand.

“Wha?”

“Obviously we can’t go out the front door, so this is the only other way out.” Yuki hissed urgently, pointing at a ventilation shaft. “Now, lets go.”

The dark haired teen wanted to protest and look for a janitor’s closet or a desk but the no-nonsense look in Yuki’s eyes promised a world of pain.

Getting in was much harder than he anticipated. “They make this look so easy on TV…” he mumbled. He didn’t want to look like a weakling in front of Yun Yun. After all, it was Yun Yun who needed protection, right? All those cool detectives on TV, they were always looking out for their sidekicks and cute female companions. And while Yun Yun was certainly not female, he was still quite fetching. So, it was his job to keep Yun Yun looking all prince-like and pretty. Anyway, didn’t they agree that he, Agent Black was the leader of this mission?

He had to regain his place as leader.

After getting inside the ventilation shaft.

Yuki gave him a good shove, and if Manabe wanted to protest, Hiroga’s personal folder thrown in after him, or at him, shut him up good. For now.

Yuki climbed in after his friend and Manabe couldn’t help but wonder at the ease with which Yuki moved. It was almost like Yuki had done something like this before. But it couldn’t be. Innocent and pure Sohma Yuki? Could it be? Was Yuki a creature of the night? Was he like those ‘Cat’s Eyes’ girls? High school student and president by day, jewel robber by night?
And he’d get away with it too! In fact, didn’t Kimi say that she lost her silver bracelet? What if Yuki stole jewelry to finance plastic surgeries? After all, he was unnaturally beautiful for a boy. This would explain why the ghost was after Yun Yun. He must be a previous victim who could not live when their precious and priceless family jewels were stolen. Or maybe he
was the manager of a jewelry store that was robbed and he was forced to commit harikiri to clear his family’s name of the shame associated with losing the family’s savings which were invested in the store. He probably died cursing the evil thief who ruined his life and…

The door to the file room opened just as Yuki pulled the metal frame in after them and the lights were switched on.

“I was certain it was this room.” A female voiced said, taking a few steps inside then stopping.

“The filing cabinet!” She exclaimed.

The two boys froze as the speaker came closer.

“Those cleaning ladies.” She muttered, “I have to talk to them. This is the fifth time they do this.”

She took a few more moments to look around the room before leaving. She turned the lights off and locked the door.

The boys let out the breath they’ve been holding, then began to crawl within the ventilation shaft in search of an exit.

“That was close” Yuki said softly.

“Yeah! You almost got us caught Yun Yun! Why don’t you leave the breaking and entering to those with experience!” Manabe commented casually, baiting Yuki with his comment. Even though he couldn’t see his companion’s voice, he listened carefully for anything that would confirm his suspicions. “Kakeru, I don’t even want to think about the kind of experience you may or may not have.”

“Yun Yun you make it sound so bad. But it’s an absolute necessity sometimes!” Like to keep a flawless face like yours, Yun Yun.

“Like when?”

Manabe couldn’t help himself “There was this one time when one of the guy’s at work had his phone stolen by his ex-girlfriend. So we had to break into her house and get it back and while we were there we found that she had actually used the phone’s vibration functions for…”

“Shut up!” Yuki interrupted, appalled. “I don’t want to hear anymore! Not about you breaking and entering nor about anything else!”

“Mou”

The boys went on their way in silence.

I’ll find out your secret, Yun Yun.

“What do you mean Yuki needs help?” Kyo asked for the 3rd time. “Damn it you stupid cow, answer me!”

“Daiya called me cause he wanted to hang out after summer class. I heard some girls in the background talking about Yuki’s pink barrette and how the student council had a Captain Planet conference.” Haru replied.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Kyo yelled, confused and enraged as usual.

“I tried calling his cell and I’ve sent him text messages.” Haru tried to explain, calm as ever. “Yuki wouldn’t ignore me.”

“So this whole deal is because he’s not picking up his phone?” Kyo asked, “Maybe he’s busy! Or maybe, he just doesn’t want to talk to you!”

“No, he always picks up the phone or texts me back, even when in a meeting. He knows that I could need directions. Yuki always gives me directions when I need them.” Haru paused dramatically. “Because Yuki is my first love.”

Kyo struggled to keep his dinner down. “Listen you sicko! I don’t care what it is you and that Kuso Nezumi do together but leave me out of it!” The redhead began to stomp off, muttering all sorts of colorful phrases.

“He went back to that building.” Haru suddenly said, “Maybe Honda San would know why Yuki would go back there when he didn’t have to work.”

Kyo stopped in his tracks.

“Its a ghost. That’s what Yuki’s says. I’ll ask Honda San if she’s seen something like that before at work.”

“You leave Tohru out of this!” Kyo roared.

“But, she would want to know where Yuki is and help him out…”

“Why you!” Just as Kyo’s fist was milliseconds from connecting with Haru’s face, Tohru joined them.

“Kyo Kun! Hatsuharu San!!”

“Uh…”

“Hello, Honda San.” Haru was quick to speak.

“Ano, is anything wrong?” Tohru asked, noting Kyo’s unease.

“No, Honda San. Me and Kyo were just talking about Y…”

“Yellow Monkey!” Kyo suddenly interrupted.

“Yellow… Monkey?”

“Er…” The redhead realized how stupid he must look
now.

“Ah. Kyo means The Yellow Monkey. Right, Kyo?”

“Wah! I had no idea that Kyo Kun liked The Yellow Monkey. Hana-chan has all their albums and even went through a jumbo glasses phase with Megumi-Kun when…”

“Yeah well, we gotta go to the zoo!” Kyo stated, confused again but wanting to leave before Haru said anything or he made a bigger fool of himself. He grabbed Haru’s arm and ran off in a random direction.

When the dust cleared, Tohru was still standing. “The Zoo?”

“Agent Pink! We’ll go down the first vent we come across, ok?” Manabe called over his shoulder as he crawled towards the opening. He will regain his place as mission leader.

Yuki sighed, and promised himself to hurt the other boy when this was all over. “Sure. It’s not like we have a choice.”

When Haru and Kyo arrived, the building was dark and silent.

“Kuso Nezumi.” Kyo swore, “When this is all over I’m going to break his legs and make sure he never goes out again.”

“I want to take Yuki shopping.” Haru stated absently.

Kyo looked over at his cousin and found himself unable to come up with a reply. Instead, he decided to focus at the task at hand. They would find Yuki and then he’d break both his and Haru’s legs.

That thought put a smile on Kyo’s face; he then motioned for the other to follow him. “Follow me and don’t get lost!”

The president and Vice president of Kaibara high school continued to crawl within the duct’s confined space. It was getting tiresome.

And finally, a ray of hope. “Yun Yun! There it is! I see light up ahead. Its dim but still…”

“Good.” Yuki replied with a smile.

Not even 2 minutes after they entered the building, Haru got himself lost.

Now, Kyo’s only hope was to find Yuki and have him call Haru.

Forget breaking their legs. I’m going to maim the both of them!

And so Agent Black, after struggling with the grille for a few moments, psyched himself and jumped down to the ground with agility equal to that of James Bond.

With one tiny difference.

James Bond did not land face first into a flowerpot.

Haru wandered through the hallways, lost and dazed. He focused his thoughts on Yuki, hoping that his love would help guide him.

He opened the first unlocked door he came across.

When Agent Black was through spitting out soil and wood, he saw Yuki’s legs hanging out of the opening as her attempted to jump down.

“I’ll help you Yun Yun!” He cheerfully volunteered and got to his feet with arms wide open.

As the leader of the operation, it was his duty to help his side kick with such difficult tasks.

“What are you doing??” Yuki hissed, outraged at being held so closely.

““Just helping you down Yun Yun!”

“Kakeru, if you don’t let go of me this instant I’ll…”

“But …” Manabe began just as the door to room opened.

The room may have been dimly lit, and Haru could only make out Yuki’s face and not the other person’s but all he knew was that someone was holding his dear cousin in a way that displeased him.

He lost all semblance of speech.

“DIE!”

Black Haru met Agent Black and Agent Pink.

The two boys froze as a figure entered the room. The dim lighting left the new comer’s face shrouded, but they could clearly tell that he was coming their way, fast.

“Run!”

The two scrambled to the back door.

Kyo was sure now, someone was following him.

Was it the ghost from the file room?

No. There was no such thing as ghosts; it had to be someone trying to scare them. And he wasn’t as pathetic as that scaredy-cat Yuki.

Kyo grinned despite himself. He hoped the person caught up with him eventually. It will be a good way to relieve the stress of the last hour or so.

“Lets split up.” Kakaeru suggested at the two ran, their chaser still in hot pursuit.

“No! He hasn’t caught up to us yet.” Yuki replied.

“But he probably will, and besides, I think he’s after me.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The ‘Don’t touch him you bastard’ seems to indicate so.” Manabe replied, “Look Yun Yun, one of us has to get help. I’ll be the decoy.” He hoped Yuki couldn’t tell how excited he was about the prospects of a solo mission.

“Agent Pink, I’ll see you later. Be careful.” The dark haired teen stated seriously, leaving no room, or time, for argument as they came to fork in the hallway and he suddenly turned to run in the opposite direction.

“No, wait!” Yuki began, slowing down for a moment before realizing that he would be caught if he didn’t start running.

Damn.

Meanwhile, Manabe continued to run. His mind filled with visions of a tearful, grateful Yuki. He wondered how Yuki would thank him for his bravery.

Black Haru just ran. He couldn’t even find his voice to call out to Yuki and let him know that it was he, his beloved cousin who was here to protect his honor.

He would break the person who was molesting Yuki in half, then find Yuki and go shopping for something red and sexy.

Kyo’s confidence about the counterfeit ghost began to fade as his sensitive ears began to pick up more than one set of footsteps.

Were they trying to surround him?

Yuki opened the first door he came to. Realizing that he no longer was being chased, he picked up his phone and began to dial for help.

Though the lack of cellular reception quickly put an end to that.

Kyo put on more speed and decided that hiding wouldpossibly be a good idea. He stopped and reversed directions, trying to shake his pursuer or pursuers and hoped the door at the end of the hall was open.

He would ask Yun Yun to wear that pink barrette to school again. Manabe decided happily, Yun Yun really was too pretty for his own good.

And the Prince Yuki fan club members would owe him one. How would he collect?

“I’ll kill him”. Haru stated as he realized that he had lost sight of his target. Calming down, he slowed down and made his way inside a room.

It would suffice to say that the 4 boys were surprised to find themselves facing each other in the large meeting room.

“Haru?”

“Yuki…”

“Yun Yun!”

“Kakeru!”

“Kuso Nezumi!”

“Kyo?”

“Yuki…”

“Yun Yun’s cousins?”

“Welcome.” A new voice joined in. “I’m so glad you all finally made it.”

End of Chapter 12
Return to Chapter 11  
Continued on Chapter 13 

This in no way indicates that Manabe has the hots for Yuki. But, if you had someone as pretty as Yuki with you, wouldn’t want to have some fun with them? I know I would. Also I know that I cheated. I probably should’ve made up something about Hiroga. But my brain is floppy. So apologies to whoever is next and on that note, my challenge is to expose the actual conspiracy that Saori is executing.