"Hey Tohru," I chirped into the cellphone as the taxi driver drove down the street.

"Nariko-chan! How are you?"

"I almost fractured my ankle, but besides that, I'm fine."

"You what? That's horrible!" I could almost imagine the look on her face - widened mouth, shocked eyes - and I smiled.

"No worries, Tori-nii has looked at it already and given me a brace and whatnot."

"Oh, phew. So how is your plan working?"

"Well, I've already tackled Yuki, Tori-nii, Rin, and Momiji. Tori knew straight away."

"Hatori-san would. He's very smart."

I nodded, though she couldn't see me. "Yup. Hmm, what else? Oh, yes, what have you been doing today?"

"Kagura-chan came to the house to visit! I love seeing everyone again, it's such great fun!"

"Kags, eh?" I chuckled. That would explain the heated voices I could hear in the background. "I'll see her later. I think I'm gonna take a break from all this interrogation, though. Hey, can you stop over here?" I asked the cab driver.

"That'll be 50 yen," he said gruffly.

I paid the money as I cradled the phone between my shoulder and my ear. "So I'll talk to you later, huh, Tohru?"

"Okay! Goodbye, Nariko-chan, and good luck!"

I hung up and stuffed the phone in my pocket, taking a look around me at the beautiful park. The steady stream of water from the fountains filled my ears. Two young boys raced past me on roller-skates, laughing. An elderly man fed the pigeons that flocked at his feet. A couple stood at a stand, buying ice cream. I hobbled into the park and sat down on a bench with a sigh.

"OH MY GOD, I'M SO SORRY!"

I recognized those high-pitched, crazed, apologetic tones.

"NO, NO, IT'S TOTALLY FINE!"

I raised my eyebrows. He'd found someone as crazy as him? I thought it was an impossibility. But then again, Yuki and Kyo were friendly, and pigs weren't flying. Yet.

"BUT THIS BLOUSE WAS NEW!"

"I LIED!"

"Oh." He chuckled, and I tilted my head to one side. He had snapped out of it that fast?

"Um, yeah. I don't get that much money."

"Should I ask Shigure to re-employ you?"

What the hell? I jumped out of my seat, wincing as I put weight on my ankle, and turned around. There was Ritsu Sohma, as suspected, and a young woman with short hair standing next to him. A chocolate colored spill stood out from her light blue blouse.

"Excuse me, hey, you two!" I yelled, limping over to them as fast as I could.

"Nariko! Gure-nii told me you were here!" Ritsu greeted excitedly. The woman looked back and forth from him to me quickly, as if watching a tennis match in high speed.

"Who's she?" She asked, an eyebrow raised.

"She's a family friend!" The Sohma quickly amended.

"Fujioshi Nariko. And you are?" I stuck out my hand, hoping to avoid calamity.

"Akamura Mitsuru." She shook my hand quickly.

"You used to work for Shigure?" I asked casually, tilting my head to the side.

"I… I used to be his editor…" The woman zoned out for a minute, trembling slightly. I raised my eyebrows. What had Gure-nii done to the poor woman?

"I feel sorry for you," I told her frankly, turning to Ritsu. "And why would you even think of having Gure-nii re-employ her? She'd die! He'd kill her!"

"Well, it's been a little hard for her to find a job…"

"You should become a psychologist, like me!" I said proudly, putting my hands on my hips. I laughed at her shocked expression. "Don't worry, I'm not a psychologist yet, I just got my bachelor's degree. I'm not even thinking of working yet. There's so much more I still have to learn!" I looked at the couple and smiled, albeit a little sadly. "You're happy together, aren't you?" The two blushed and nodded, glancing at each other. I repressed the urge to squeal. They really were oh-so-cute! "Hey, Ritsu, can I talk to you? Just for a minute, trust me, I feel awful for stealing him from you in the middle of a date," I told Mitsuru.

"Sure… you don't mind, right?"

"What? Of course not!"

"Are you sure?"

"Just go!"

"Alright, you two, shut up," I said exasperatedly, dragging Ritsu away. I stopped after a few meters and stood in front of him, arms crossed. "Your curse is broken. You happy?"

"Um… yes, I am," he admitted, watching me curiously.

"That women, Mitsuru, she's good for you," I told him, punching him lightly on the arm. "Stay with her, okay?" I gazed at him. "Hmm. For some reason, I thought you'd need the most help." Shaking my head, I shrugged. "But you're already making a new life for yourself. So don't mind me. Go back to your date."

Ritsu stared at me. An awkward silence prevailed.

"Well? Go! I don't need you anymore!" I pushed him towards Mitsuru, and he started to hyperventilate.

"Sorry! I'm so sorry! Would you like me to break up with her? Dye my hair black? Write angry poems? I'm so sorry! I don't deserve to have such a good friend if I have a good life without her advice! I apologize to the-" Ritsu collapsed as I jabbed him in the side.

"Nice seeing you too," I muttered, walking away as Mitsuru fussed over her fallen boyfriend. I envied the two, honestly. They were lucky, to have found one another in this sort of world. With 6 billion people crowding up this planet, how were you supposed to find your soul mate? And even if you did… he might not be the one for you. I knew that feeling too well.

"Hey, you. Woman. What're you doing here?"

I turned to see two kids, a girl and a boy, who were around my shoulder height staring up at me. I looked at them, squinting my eyes. Then it hit me.

"Kisa! Hiro! You've grown so much!"