I awoke to see Mokona on top of my blanket, "You were crying." He said, I just hugged him, I guess he knew what I was feeling, because he said nothing, and hugged me back. When I calmed down, I walked with Mokona in hand to the kitchen, only to see Yuko, sprawled over the table. "Uuuuugh, why do I do this to myself…" She then noticed that I was in the room, "Oh, Tsubaki, could you make me some coffee?" Thankfully I had Mokona to help me, because Yuko was down for the count. I soon set a steaming mug of coffee down in front of her. It seemed like the second she was done, she was back on track, and back to business, "You remember when I said that that you had to go to school?" I nodded in reply, "Well," she began, "I signed you up for high school, you will need to go pick up your school uniform from the uniform store, and gather some supplies that you will start off with, they will tell you what you need later," My eyes widened, so much to do… "Alright, is Mokona going with me?" I asked, "No," she stated, "My employee will accompany you, he actually goes to your school, come in!" she sang, I turned my head to face the door, what I saw, made my eyes bug, "Kimihiro!" I exclaimed, he looked at me, and then his eyes bugged! Then he fainted.

Kimihiro's POV

Oh, my head…my eyes fluttered open, my sight was still blurry, my glasses must have fallen off. "Here," said a soft, but familiar voice. I put my glasses on, above me was Yuko, Mokona, and…Tsubaki! "Are you alright," She said, my mouth went dry, "Y-yeah, what are you doing here!" Mokona then said, "Uh-oh." "Waddya mean uh-oh?" I exclaimed, Tsubaki grabbed Mokona, "Oh he doesn't mean anything, right Mokona?" I saw that Mokona paused, "Suuuuure!" he sputtered. All of the sudden, Tsubaki asked, "You ready to go shopping, Kimihiro?" "Yes," I replied, "Good," she began, "Because I just need a minute to get on my kimono." To my embarrassment, I didn't realize she was still in her nightgown, and I blushed and looked at my feet, "O-oh, geez, I am soo sorry!" I couldn't help but feel a little abashed, "It's not like you saw anything," Tsubaki replied with a small laugh, oh, what a laugh.

While she was putting on her kimono, Yuko came to my side, "Here," she said, holding out her closed hand. I put my hand out, she then placed some money in my hand, "this is for her uniform, school supplies, and some clothes, I will deduct it from your pay check." My jaw dropped, "Oh come on! Will I ever get paid a full pay-che-," Yuko placed her finger to my lips to silence me. "Think of it as a date, you're providing for her, so I wouldn't worry about your pay check."

We soon made it to the uniform shop. The clerk came up promptly and asked what high school we were from, I answered that for her. Within moments, the clerk had a few sizes picked out for her, and as well as a few styles of skirt. "Could you help me pick out which would look best, I don't really know the styles here," she asked, as if my day could get any better, she'd probably look good in all three. "Sure," I replied, she smiled and went into the changing room. A few seconds after she got into the changing room, she asked, "Kimihiro, do you still have what I gave you?" I turned around to rummage around in my bag, it took me a bit to find it, but when I did, I picked it up and turned around to see Tsubaki in the school uniform, looking right at me. "Because," she began, "I want you to keep it," she walked toward me, put her hand on mine that was holding the hair ornament, and closed my hand around it, "think of it as a friendship bracelet, in my country, we only give dear friends these tokens of affection." When she said this, I about lost it, she considers me a friend! She went back into the changing room, and soon she came out with the short skirt on, I could see the discomfort in her eyes, "Do the women in your country like to show this much leg all the time?" she asked, periodically tugging on the skirt hem, trying to bring it lower, "Well," I said, "Not all the time, but the majority usually do because it's a little cooler in the summer," she instantaneously closed the door, "That decided it," she said from the dressing room a second later, "I am tired of this kimono in this heat! If I am to go to school, I at least want to be comfortable." I agreed, and a second later she was out of the changing room, "Umm," she said, with a sheepish look, "Did Yuko happen to give you some money?" She asked, "Yep," I replied, "don't worry about a thing," she let out a long breath, "Good," she said, "for a second there, I was beginning to worry." I put my hand on her shoulder, "Don't you worry about a thing," I declared. "I'll take care of it all," "Thank you," she said with a blush.

After we paid for a winter and spring uniform, we went off to a school supply sore, and picked up a few notebooks and pencils and the like. When we walked out, it was like a gust of fire, the heat was so intense, I was sweating, even in a tee shirt, I looked to Tsubaki, only to see air, I then looked down to see her hunched over, panting. "Tsubaki! Are you alright?" I asked. I heard a groan from her, "What was that," I asked her. She cleared her throat, "No," she said, "I'm about to pass out." She tried to stand up, but started to sway, "Woah," I said and caught her before she fell. "I think you need a change of attire," I said to her, she looked up to me with her golden green eyes. "I think you would be right," she said with a small grin, "Here," I said, "hold onto my arm while we're walking." She did as I said and we were off to the clothing store.

Tsubaki's POV

The second we walked into the store, I felt like I could breathe again, "Feel better," Kimihiro asked. I looked to him, "Much," I replied, "Do you mind if I do this myself? There's a few things that I need to pick up," I think he caught my drift, because he blushed and said, "S-sure, u-um I'll wait by the dressing room, there's some seats there," I nodded and we went our separate ways. I went over to the female clerk that was closest, "Could you show me where the undergarments are?" I asked, she smiled at me and led me to a rack of the strangest stuff. "If you need any help, feel free to ask me," said the clerk, but before she could leave, I caught her, "I don't know how to say this in any other way, but I need help picking out my size," she gave me a look, "I know it sounds odd, but I am being totally serious."

"Alrighty, but I'll need to measure you," she said

"Sure,"

"You'll need to take your kimono off," she said

"Sure,"

"I need you to take your yukata off," she said

"What."

"It's so you'll have a better fit," she stated, "you will keep your underwear on as well," she said. I nodded warily, but went with it, what else could I do. So while she measured me, I tried to think of other things than the cold measuring tape pressing on my overly warm skin. Before I could even think, it was done, "I'll pick some things out for you to try on, what colors would you like?" I thought for a moment, "Um, could you tell me my size instead, I would like to look around instead." She nodded with a smile and left me to get my yukata on, why put on the rest of it when I'll take it off for the other stuff.

I ended up picking up a plain black and white pair, but the emerald green one caught my eye, so I had to get it. And I picked up a pack of underwear that was in the sizes that she told me I was. After that ordeal was done, I then looked through the onslaught of racks of clothes. I decided to stick to the dresses, there was this one particular style that I really liked called a sun dress. It was always made with a light fabric and felt so free compared to the traditional kimono I am always wearing. I checked the prices on all of the tags, and they were so well priced, just a few dollars, nothing over what looked like five. I picked out some that looked good and that would fit me, and went to the changing room.

There, I saw Watanuki lounging on the benches by the changing rooms, the second he saw me he shot up, "Tsubaki! Do you need any help?" I shook my head, "No, I'm all set after I try them on and see if they fit." I tried them all on, liked them all too, but I really liked this white one; it had lace straps, and the same lace encircled me beneath my chest, and flowed down to my knees. After it was done, we ended up buying all of them. The same clerk that helped me, was at the cash register, "Would you like to put any of these on before you leave?" she asked, "You can do that?" I asked, looking at both the lady and Kimihiro, "Sure," she said, "And so you don't have to wear your geta shoes, I'll throw in a free pair of sandals, my treat." I couldn't thank that lady enough, but she just smiled and accepted my excessive gratitude in the most gentle way.

After changing into the white sun dress, and a pair of white flip-flops (correct me if I'm wrong), and of course under-things. I walked out of the dressing room to see Kimihiro sitting on a bench outside the dressing room. He looked up and blushed a deep red and looked away quickly, I thought something was wrong, so I looked around myself and thought that the hem of my dress got caught in my under-things. Thankfully not, so I asked him what was a matter, "N-nothing," and looked away, as if he was embarrassed, "you look very pretty." Now I was the one to blush heavily, "Thank-you, Kimihiro..."I trailed off, my heart was pounding. "Shall we go?" I asked, and as quick as a whip, he was up and taking my bag gently from my grasp. As he grabbed the handle of the paper bag, our hands lightly touched, but from that slight touch, came the feeling of a bolt of lightning passed through my heart, and not in a bad way.


This puppie is for Ru'a Craine! it's 10:41 PM right now, but i'm on a roll! sorry for the cliffhanger, but i just had to! TTFN!