­­­Alright, I've had this chapter done already, so I may as well put it here now. Enjoy!

I do not own Hana Kimi or The Nightmare Before Christmas. You'll understand why I said that later.



"Sano, stop it!" Ashiya giggled. Sano had her in a headlock and was messing up her hair. "That's what you get for trying to tickle me," he stated, his hands moving all over her head to create a great imitation of a classic case of bed head.

"Ah, Sano, how the heck am I supposed to have dinner with your family now with my head looking like a bird nest? And not a very pretty one, I might add."

"I'll just explain it to them." He simply said. Mizuki pouted and was about to say something when someone behind them sneezed.

"Ah, bless you! Oh, Shin, I forgot you were with us. You're awfully quiet." Mizuki said, facing the boy who was wiping his nose with the sleeve of his shirt. He murmured something unintelligible.

"Remind me again why SHE's coming over," Shin grumbled, kicking a loose pebble on the ground. The pebble shot across the road, hit a lamppost, and then landed straight into a puddle. Score, he thought.

"Cause she's having dinner with the family, idiot. I know mom's making something with shitake mushrooms, so I'll ask her to give you extra." Izumi smirked at Shin's sudden grimace. "Don't do that. You know you need to eat your vegetables. Don't you want to grow up to be a man?"

"Sh-shut up! Just 'cause you're my older brother doesn't mean you can treat me like a child…" Shin took a glance at Ashiya. There she goes again. That stupid, silly smile. The one she always gets when the Sano brothers act like this. It's been going on for about a few years. It still amazes him that just a simple brotherly argument is enough to make her happy. But still…Shin thought. I guess I sorta like her for that…seeing her happy…that's enough to make me happy…but…it also makes me want her…I just want to move on…

"Well, well, well, look at what I found! Taiki's friends!"

Huh? I know that voice…it sounds familiar… Shin spun around and saw a girl standing a few paces away. She wore on her head a small, purple/black striped beanie with a round winking skull on it. From underneath it, her hair swayed lightly in the breeze. Dark ripped jeans showed slices of her light skin, and an old classic hoodie hugged her close, as if she was the one providing the warmth from the cold. She does seem so warm…if I could hold her close to me…would I feel her warmth? Shin shook his head. Damn, what's with these weird thoughts I'm having lately? He then took his hand out from his pocket and half waved, turning his face away to appear uninterested. "Hey Nishi."

Mizuki gasped when she realized who she was. "Nishi! Hello! What are you doing out here?" She ran over to the other female, holding Sano by the wrist and dragging him along. Shin walked as casually as possible towards her. Nishi stared at him, a slightly confused look on her face. I bet she's reading my aura…he shuddered. Damn, I wonder what she's seeing? He noticed her chuckling slightly.

"Hey there, Sano brothers, Ashiya. Do you live around here? I was with a friend, studying. Since it's a short break, I had a feeling that some professors will bomb us with pop quizzes. "

"Oh yeah, that makes sense. Wait…is that…is that Jack Skellington on your hat?!" Ashiya demanded.

Huh? Jack Skellington?

Nishi grinned. "Yeah, it's Jack. I bought this last summer when I visited Nevada. You're from California, right? Have you been to this store called 'Hot Topic'?"

"Of course I have! I used to be afraid of it when I was a kid, though," Ashiya giggled. The girls started talking about American malls and stuff while the brothers just stood around.

Shin peered at Izumi. "What's a Jack Skellington?"

"He's the pumpkin king of Halloween Town." Sano saw Shin's blank expression. "It's from this movie that came out a while back. 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'.

"Oh…" I didn't know that…so I guess she likes skeletons? Is she a goth?

"It's pretty much a children's movie on how a skeleton is bored with Halloween so he decides to take over Christmas. In a nice way. And no," Izumi whispered. "She doesn't strike me as goth. So don't think that." Shin's eyebrows went up. What, you can read my mind, too? Alrighty then, I'll use this to my advantage. I'm thirsty. Go buy me a mineral water.

Sano shook his head. "Buy it yourself."

WTF?!

Izumi shook his head again. "Your face pretty much tells me what you're thinking. You're my little brother. Duh. Hey," He said, turning to Nishi now. "Are you American? I mean, you're Japanese, but I'm just wondering if you were born there or something."

Nishi nodded, her waist long hair shining in the small moment of sunlight before it was hidden away by the clouds. "Yeah, I am. My father is Japanese, but my mother is from Nevada. They met during my one of my father's business trips over there. They married three years later, and then, when they lived in the states for a while, I was born. We stayed there until I was old enough to go to school, and we moved back here in Japan. We go back every so often to visit."

"Nevada?! That's so cool! Have you ever been to Las Vegas? I really want to go one day!" Mizuki babbled, slightly jumping up and down while still holding Sano's hand.

Nishi smiled again. "It's not as great as you would think." She faced Sano to avoid being bombed by Mizuki's questions. "Would you mind if I steal your brother this evening? I already have my books, so I may as well tutor him right now."

Wait, what?

Izumi peered at his younger brother. "Sure, unless he rejects…oh, what am I saying, just take him. It'll save us a lot of trouble." Shin stood there gaping at his brother. What kind of brother are you?!

Sano shrugged. "Don't worry. I'll tell mom to save some leftovers. Unless, of course, you want to come home anyway. Mom would love to have you home, and you know how she gets when guests grant us their presence." Shin shuddered. Holy crap, he's right…The males in the Sano family know that the stepmother's craziness is legendary when guests are over. Shin looked back at Nishi, who was shaking with silent laughter. Chuckle while you can, you haven't met Mom yet! Wait…why am I thinking about her meeting mom…? Well, she is my tutor, Mom would want to meet her…but what if they got the wrong idea? Huh?! I'm confusing myself…

Ashiya stood still, observing the conversation. "Well, their step mom is a bit…weird…" she muttered to herself. "But she's not THAT bad…is she?" No one heard her, as they were occupied with their own thinking.

Shin sighed and turned back to Nishi. "If you can, could you please tutor me? I'll buy you dinner, of course."

Nishi smiled. "Sure."

Sano breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, now that that's settled, take him. He's in your hands now." With that said, he grabbed Ashiya and, with such a quick motion, got her on his back and started jogging to his house. Ashiya merely squeaked in surprise before the couple went around the corner and disappeared, leaving Shin and Nishi by themselves.

"…So…do you know where's a good restaurant or something? I don't know what's around, so I'm gonna need you to decide where to eat.

The younger Sano scratched the top of his head, thinking. "Yeah, I know a pretty nice spot. They make good beef bowls, and I'm in the mood for one." Unconsciously, he took her hand and starting pulling her. "Come on, it's this way."

Nishi starting blushing, but it went unnoticed, as he was already walking away. She shook her head, grinned, and began sprinting before him. "Bet I could find it first! If I beat you there, you owe me dessert, too!" Shin stopped in his tracks. Dessert, too…?!



So that's it for now. Questions, comments, anything? If so, click that lil box and write a review please! It'll make me happy!

~ Kimi, Gama-Kiwi