Yumi walked slowly next to Gen with her arm wrapped around his. It had been early three weeks since the surgery and he was making very slow physical progress. His health was fine but he still struggled to move on his on. It took nearly a two weeks for him to be able to dress himself.

Hoping to be able to get his body used to more strenuous activity, she had him walk around the courtyard at least three times a day or even more if he was up for it. Of course she had to hold him steady just in cause he fell but he was making better progress than he was just laying down.

" How are you feeling Gen-san? Are tired yet?" she asked

" No dear on the contrary I feel more energized than I did this morning. I think I'll do another lap if you don't mind."

Yumi hurriedly wrote on her notebook. She had been documenting his progress ever since the operation; something she saw other doctors do as well. While it was embarrassing to admit, she was super proud of herself. This was the first time she had ever done something this complicated without any supervision. Sure, she had performed operations before, but, there was always some other medical professional in the room carefully watching her. They didn't trust her. But if she were them; she wouldn't either.

As Gen walked another slow lap around the courtyard, Yumi sad down on the stone steps and pulled out Great Expectations. It was one of her favorite books and she had probably read it around thirteen times. The reason why it meant so much to her was because this book was the first book she could ever read by herself in English. Yumi basically didn't have any time to rest once she got to Britain, as her Aunt Telula rigorously began forcing as much education as she could down her throat.

Math went easy for her because all you had to do was memorize the numbers and formulas. If you did it correctly you got a fixed answer and everything was black and white. She loved math so much. It gave her exhilaration everytime should could compute an equation correctly in her head. However, English and medicine was the opposite as there was no solid answer and when you thought you were right...you were wrong. And when you thought you were wrong...you were sometimes right. Only sometimes...

Overall, it took almost three years to kick her accent and she struggled the most with remembering to pronounce "r" vowels without using "L vowels". Basically, if she ever said right it came as light. Wrong was said wrong and rabbit was labbit. When she said it, all her R's became L's but that was just purely how Japanese worked. It was hard to get used too. Her English wasn't perfect yet but it was as good as it could be.

" Mah mah shouldn't you be paying attention the patient?"

Okita sauntered over with his trademark fox smirk. Yumi fought the urge to glare him and shot back a nonchalant smile. " Gen-san is making immense progress so I think he should be fine with light exercise. If anything's wrong I know he'll give me a holler."

Returning her eyes back on the words in front of her she tried to shift her focus away from the man that made her vein want to pop, and onto the "fine literature" she was holding. Suddenly the words became a blur as she realized that he grabbed the book from her hands.

" Okita-san what are you doing?!"

He looked puzzled as he flipped it over attempting to read the bold golden text on the dark forest green cover. " You're reading gibberish?"

" Give that back Okita!"

Yumi attempted to grab the book back to no avail as he held it high in the air. She even tried jumping to reach the height of where her poor book was being carelessly dangled.

His face held no emotion other than pure amusement as his eyes shined with an evil sheen. A sadist. He's a bloody sadist.

" You enjoy seeing me struggle don't you?" she muttered obviously annoyed

A sharp chuckle escaped from his throat as his eyes started to shine more maliciously," My dear it took you long enough to figure that out. And I thought you were pretty smart for girl."

" Excuse me sir but I'm 100% sure that being female doesn't limit my ability and that experience and knowledge outranks gender."

She heard another chuckle which made her ball her fists up. Her short temper was reaching its last straw. Suddenly she felt a tap on her head and sure enough Okita had placed the book on top of her head. " Watching you struggle and get angry is always amusing but I've had enough for today."

He walked off leaving the book still balanced on top of Yumi's head. At least posture lessons paid off? " Oh and remember McCarl, a girl with a temper better watch herself or trouble is sure to follow you."

Okita sauntered off the same way he had approached her leaving the poor girl flabbergasted. " Who the bloody hell does he think he is?" she muttered angrily to herself," Besides I don't even need a temper to have trouble crush on me. It just comes no matter where I am and what I bloody do."

Chizuru and Yumi sat on the steps in the warm afternoon sun with a stack of mandarins between them. They had chatted for nearly two hours while snacking and the sharp nostalgic smell of fresh citrus hung in the air. Both girl's fingers, sticky from mandarin juice, also smelled strongly of the fruit as the scent seemed to envelope them. They did this too when they were younger. Chat and eat whatever fruit was in season. But they personally always preferred mandarins.

" It's not that he doesn't like you. Okita-san is just like that. Don't get me wrong he's a good and honorable man but he just likes his fun ,too."

Yumi frowned slightly and mumbled," So a good man always threatens to kill you eh?"

The brown haired girl blushed and shook her head," T-That's not what I mean Yu-chan. He doesn't do it to everyone. He just-"

" Does it cute girls" a deeper voice finished.

Both girls looked up to find the red haired Harada grinning at them. " Harada-san h-how l-long were you listening to us?!" Chizuru stammered.

The grin turned into a smirk as he nonchalantly replied," Long enough Yukimura."

Both girls turned towards each other; a wave of embarrassment and shame surrounding them. They were gossiping. And they had been found out.

" Sorry about that Harada-san. We didn't mean to-" Yumi was cut off.

He shook his head," No need to be. I understand," he knelt down," Souji can sometimes be a bit crude but he has good intentions. Only teasing you two cause he likes you guys. That's all. It's his way of showing endearment."

The blue eyed girl pursed her lips together and nodded as a specific name floated through her mind Thomas… She fought the urge to roll her eyeballs at the thought of that idiot's name. The only cousin she hated. That son of a -

" Yumi? You there?"

Chizuru tapped her shoulder gently. " Huh? I'm sorry I was thinking of something. You were saying?"

" Harada said exactly what was on my mind. Don't worry about it. It's just his way of showing his friendship."

" I see I see."

" Feel better about it now?"

Yumi's crystal sapphire eyes twinkled as she popped a mandarin piece into her mouth as she nodded. The small plump buds of juice burst in her mouth as the sharp sweet acidic taste bloomed on her tongue. Acidic yet sweet. Much like a certain someone.

This chapter was meant as a filler chapter ( a little glimpse into their lives...something a bit more cutesy and fun) so it was relatively short. Hope you guys liked it nonetheless and please leave a review if you can! Love you guys! Next chapter will be up and running soon.