LOL! based on the last two chapter titles it sounds like I'm writing an unbearably chipper children's series! oh dear. Anyway. I apologize for how late this update is as well as the shortness of the chapter. shortly after I released the previous chapter we experienced a death in the family. I was particularly close to this person, so as you may imagine writing was impossible for a while. But things are healing and I feel able to get back to work again. I debated whether or not to release such a small light chapter or try to write a considerably denser and lengthier one. In the end, I wanted to go ahead and submit something rather than delay the post longer, as a sort of apology offering, meager as it may be. Work on the next chapter has already begun. Anyway, to those reviewers whom I couldn't PM, Lillt-Anne and D-fan, your reviews were very encouraging so thank you for taking the time to respond, I hope you are able to continue reading and that you enjoy what you read. ^^ Fruits Basket belongs to Natsuki Takaya.

Looking for Haru with Momiji didn’t really feel much like looking for Haru. I was feeling so good after my talk with Yuki that I couldn’t help but run around excitedly with Momiji as we looked through the stores. In the spirit of doing a thorough job we visited each store even if just for a brief few seconds. We ran in as a cheerful whirlwind; stopped to admire a particularly nice hat or shoe, ascertained whether Haru was present or not, then giggled our way out, aware that the clerks and patrons were probably wondering why we were so excited.

They probably think we’re obnoxious, and I don’t even care right now.

In the middle of the mall aisle there are statues and fountains and kiosks as well as a giant carpeted keyboard in the floor that you can step on to play music. This occupied us for at least five to ten minutes. Finally, I suggested we move on since we were losing time. I’d noticed a few children standing around eyeing the strange “grown ups,” probably too timid to actually approach and ask for a turn.

We stopped by the candy store to pick up some sustenance. Momiji seemed to want to try a little of everything, but in the end settled for a bag of gummy fish and a giant lollipop. I mixed a bag of sour gummy strips with gummy sharks. I shook the bag so that the sour mix coated the gummy sharks as well. It was my favorite candy store treat. I let Momiji try it too and he said he liked it, but preferred the sweeter treats himself.

We settled into a relative silence as we focused on eating candy for a while. Hm, I’ve already had a pretzel and now candy. I need to save room for dinner. Momiji did not seem to share my concern as he pulled me towards a dip-in-dots vending machine he’d spotted. It was remarkable how light and airy I felt. I hadn’t felt so good for nearly a week. It’s probably because of what happened with Yuki. The majority of my anxiety was probably due to my concern about what Yuki thought of me. Now that that seems resolved, I almost feel like I have no worries. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Yuki seemed to already be taking a prominent place in my consciousness. I wonder how that happened?

“Here, try this!” Momiji smiled and held a spoonful of the rainbow ice cream dots towards my mouth.

I heard a giggle to the side and glanced over at the two young high school girls eyeing us. It surprised me. Do they think we’re together? I looked back at Momiji’s smiling face and was struck by the realization that along with his cousins he was incredibly attractive. His blond gently curling hair and light brown almost-gold eyes were stunning. He still had delicate boyish features but it suddenly came over me that my first impression of him as a “little blond kid” didn’t quite fit.

I allowed him to feed me the spoonful of ice cream, and surprised myself when I blushed. How old is he again? There were supposed to be four guys around my age, and one in Junior high. But Hiro is in Junior high. Does that mean that Momiji’s around my age?

“Um…Momiji?”

“Mm?” He responded, mouth full of dip-in-dots.

“Um…what grade are you in?” I don’t know why I asked that instead of his age.

“I just graduated high school, same as Haru.” He smiled.

I blinked. “Wait! You and Haru are the same age?”

“Yup!” He smiled. “We’re in the year under Yuki and Kyo.”

My mouth was hanging open. But I couldn’t help it. How in the world can he and Haru be the same age!!!!! Momiji seems so much younger! And I could have sworn Haru was older than me!

Momiji giggled. “Surprised? But it’s true! Haru and I are the same age!”

He seemed pretty amused by my reaction. I guess it’s true that Asians age well.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be rude! You two are just so…different.” I was worried that I had insulted him.

He laughed. “Minna’s never rude! Come on, Let’s go!” He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the next store.

For some reason knowing that he was my age seemed to change the feeling of being with him. I felt flustered when he grabbed my hand. All this time I’ve been thinking of him as a younger guy so I haven’t been careful at all about how I’ve acted around him. Now I’m not sure how to act.

If Momiji noticed my shift in energy he didn’t show it. And his casual attitude put me at ease again. It was too hard to be nervous around him; he was too cute.

“Ah! We have to stop in here!” he said pulling me towards a bright store.

I looked up at the sign. “Build a Bear?” It was a shop I’d looked at many times but had never really visited. In it were assorted plush animal exteriors minus their cotton interior and clothing. A child could chose an animal, watch as the store clerk stuffed it with cotton to the desired thickness and then deck it out in just about any outfit imaginable. I liked the idea but never felt comfortable paying what I considered an exorbitant price for customization.

“Do you really think Haru would….?” My question was cut off when I looked into the store and saw the unmistakable figure of Haru with his studded jewelry and impassive expression standing by the stuffing machine intently watching the clerk pack cotton into a crocodile. I didn’t even know they sold crocodiles. The sight of Haru with his intimidating appearance in the middle of the bright pastel store full of cheerful plush animals was almost as odd as the idea of Momiji and him being the same age. But remembering how Haru had found his way to the toy section in the grocery store I was beginning to feel like this type of behavior wasn’t that unusual, at least not for Haru. It was still amusing though, particularly considering the concerned and fierce looks several mothers were throwing his way as they watched their kids select their purchases.

“How did you know Haru would be here?” I turned to ask Momiji, but he was no longer at my side. I hadn’t even noticed he’d moved. I glanced around the store and finally spotted his blond head near the bin of un-stuffed animals. I started over, “Momiji?” But when he spotted me approaching him he rushed over pushing me towards the entrance. “No, no, don’t come this way! It’s a secret! You wait outside and I’ll make sure to bring Haru-chan with me when I come out!” He seemed really excited so I just laughed and agreed to wait for them outside the store. I glanced back over at Haru before leaving. He was fingering what looked like a tiny black punk-goth outfit complete with dog collar necklace. A goth crocodile? That is…very different.

I found an empty bench in the middle of the walkway near the store and sat down to wait. I couldn’t hold back my smiles. I think I have an idea now what that surprise gift he mentioned will be. But those things are so expensive. I hope he doesn’t spend too much money. Maybe he’ll just pick out a little thing. Or maybe it’s not for me at all. But he’s not particularly subtle. I felt both excited and concerned that it was too much trouble.

Having a chance to just sit and be still left me alone with my thoughts for the first time in a while. I realized that there was a sense of anticipation inside me. I felt very full but I wasn’t sure of what. I sensed that something was shifting, but along with that was the sense that the best thing to do was to not try too hard to understand it. My brain felt full and I knew that I would probably be talking out the entire day with Julie that night, provided she was still up when we got back. But for now I found that sitting quietly was quite enough.

I was surprised how fast time passed sitting by myself. Before I knew it I spotted Momiji and Haru leaving the store together, both carrying the house shaped carrying boxes tell-tale of a “Build a Bear” visit. I waved to them and stood up, and they headed over, Haru stoic as ever and Momiji a ball of energetic smiles. How the crap are those two the same age? It makes even less sense when I see it in person.

“Minna! Look, I have a surprise for you!” Momiji bounded forward, holding out the house-shaped box.

I had very mixed feelings looking into his smiling face. “Momiji you really didn’t have to buy me anything.”

“I know, but I wanted to. Here, open it!” He pushed it into my hands.

His smile was irresistible and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why he would do something like this. I sat back on the bench with the box in my lap. Haru was now standing beside Momiji waiting for me to open the box as well. I decided to go ahead and open it rather than say anything to Haru about his disappearance right away. I pulled the flaps of the roof open and reached in pulling out the softest cream colored plush bunny I’d ever seen. It was decked out in a blue sailor suit complete with hat that had holes for its ears to go through. My delight must have been apparent because Momiji giggled happily.

“You like it?” He asked.

I looked up at him and back at the cute sailor bunny and realized the gift suited him completely. After all, his backpack was in the shape of a plush bunny, and he was so bouncy and cute himself. Wow…Momiji reminds me of a bunny! I looked back at the sailor bunny and smiled wide. “I love it. It reminds me of you!” I laughed.

Both Momiji and Haru started a bit when I said that. Oh crap! Was that an insulting thing to say? After all he is out of high school. Of course he wouldn’t want to be compared to something like a toy bunny! “I’m sorry! That was rude!” I blurted out.

“No, don’t apologize, Minna!” Momiji said his smile quickly returning and he sat down beside me on the bench. “I got it so that it would make you think of me.”

“Besides,” Haru said, looking off into the distance and stretching his arms above his head. “It’s accurate. Momiji bounces around a lot.”

“Yup!” Momiji giggled. And I felt relieved, but still wondered at their initial reaction. Are they just trying to make me feel better for saying something rude? I suddenly feel like I’m missing something.

Momiji’s suddenly perked up on the bench beside me, “Look! There’s Yuki!” He was looking past me and waving.

I turned and saw Yuki approaching us and felt a little jump in my heart. Wow, that was an interesting reaction. Is that gonna keep happening? I waved and Yuki waved back smiling.

“Yuki!” Haru perked up and was at Yuki’s side in an instant.

“Haru, where did you disappear too?” Yuki was stern. “We’ve spent almost an hour looking for you!”

“You missed me?” Haru smiled. “That’s wonderful. I missed you too, Yuki.”

I clapped my hands over my mouth trying to keep in my laugh. Yuki’s annoyed expression made it difficult but necessary to contain my mirth. Haru seems so tough but around Yuki he acts so cute! Yuki is older. I wonder if he looks up to him?

“That’s beside the point, Haru.” Yuki sounded a bit exasperated. “You might have missed dinner had we not found you. Why didn’t you just go back to Momiji?” Haru’s face became thoughtful and he looked up at the ceiling. Yuki must have realized Haru was about to make another elaborate explanation of his adventure like he did in the grocery and he quickly cut in. “Never mind! It doesn’t matter what happened. Momiji, do you know how long we have until dinner?”

Momiji checked his watch. “Hm…20 minutes. We could walk towards the restaurant and see what kind of fun things there are on the way!”

“That’s a good idea,” I put in. “It will take at least 15 minutes just to get the restaurant from here.” I was now hugging my new bunny close.

Yuki noticed the addition to our party. “Oh, did you buy yourself something, Minna?”

“No, actually Momiji…”

“I gave it to her!” Momiji bounced up off the bench. “I made it myself in there as a special present!” He said pointing towards build a bear.

Yuki seemed confused. “You made it?”

“I made one too.” Haru pointed out lifting up the house box he had set down beside the bench earlier. I eyed the box, wondering whether Haru had chosen the dark ensemble he’d been considering for his plush friend.

“Oh,” Yuki said, looking at the store thoughtfully.

I wasn’t sure how to read his energy, and I wondered what he thought about Momiji giving me a present. For some reason I felt anxious about that. But Yuki turned from the shop with a smile and suggested we set off for the restaurant.

Walking with the three of them through the mall was a little surreal. They were all attractive, but the combination of the three different personas was turning a lot of heads. I’m invisible amid them. But that’s okay. I’m not invisible to them.

Yuki and Momiji were on either side of me, and Haru walked a step behind me and Yuki. I was hugging the bunny tightly unable to suppress my happiness. Yuki didn’t get as close as Momiji, but I could feel his warmth as he smiled and talked with me. Apparently he had run into Shigure getting a massage from some Asian men at a booth in the middle of the walkway.

“Idiot,” Yuki muttered. “He was nearly asleep when I ran into him. He’s more likely to miss the dinner reservation than Haru.”

A bit short but not unpleasant I hope. After all the last chap was pretty dense as the next chapter will probably be. Anyways as I said above, work on the next chapter has begun. School will be starting soon as will rehearsals for the show I'm in; so posting may be erratic, but I will do my best to post as often as I can. Updates on the status of new chapters will be posted to my profile, and don't feel afraid to PM me or drop a review if you think I've died or something and are annoyed at the delay. LOL! I hope everyone has gone out and bought vol 23 btw! T_T Over...it's all over. Enough of that. These author's notes are getting long winded this time. So I will say thanks again for the support, see you next chapter! and all reviews are appreciated and responded to.