Petals Upon the Wedding Bells

[A/N: Hiya guys! Today my awesome anime reading skill allowed me to recommend some books to a young girl who is just starting to read anime herself. Isn't that awesome! Of course I recommended Fruits Basket and Kitchen Princess (among others). I thought I'd start her off lightly. Her mom really appreciated it.

At Shigure's house...

Hatsuharu sat across Shigure at the table, mindlessly flipping cards. Shigure looked at him annoyed. "Are you going to play seriously or do I have to throw you out of my house?"

"Yeah, sure, fine. Hey, have you heard from Rin lately? She's disappeared again." He put down a trump card, beating Shigure, and grabbed the loot in the middle. "I haven't seen your editor crying at your door lately."

"One more game, winner takes all." Shigure dealt. "I can't say that I have. Do you know Kazuma is being arranged to get married? They say its for next year."

Hatsuharu shook his head. "Akito has nothing better to do than keep meddling in peoples lives. She better not get any ideas." Shigure smiled slyly and was about to retort when Tohru came bursting through the door.

She was getting big enough now that women in street asked her if it was a boy or a girl. Tohru didn't like the attention. "Shigure! I-I was doing laundry when I noticed there was nothing that belonged to Kyo in there. So I went to see if he had sent them to the dojo but he was gone!"

Hatsuharu nodded. "I would think so. The wedding is closer than ever, I'd make myself scarce too." Haru placed a card on the table and picked up another from the deck.

Tohru shook her head. "No! I mean everything of his is gone. All gone! The bedroom is empty." Shigure stood up quickly, went to his room and glanced inside. It looked like somebody had slept in the bed recently but other than that it looked completely barren.

He nodded. "So he left. Must have left earlier than expected for his training. Now, if you'll excuse me, Hatsuharu has reminded me that I must go harass my editor."

Hatsuharu patted Tohru's shoulder. "Don't worry Tohru. Kyo is fine, you don't need to fret over him. Shigure, wait for me, I need to to talk to you. Ah!" He bumped into Yuki who was standing in the doorway. "Welcome home dear." He kissed Yuki on the cheek and skipped away after Shigure.

"Oh Yuki, what are you doing home so early?" Tohru started taking out pots and pans to cook. Yuki walked over to her and grasped her wrist tightly. He pulled her close to him. "Ah! Yuki, y-you're hurting me!"

"I don't like my future wife worrying about other men. Especially Kyo. You choose me, not him, now remember that and honor the vows your going to make." Yuki let her go.

"I-I'm sorry Yuki. I didn't you were the jealous type." she took out some ingredients to cook with. "I didn't know you cared that much about me." Yuki grabbed her face hard and turned her towards him.

"Don't flatter yourself Tohru. You think I like not having a future? I had my sights set on going to a university far from this place with-" he turned his face and let go of her. Tohru looked at him dejected, tears in her eyes.

"Go on! Say it, say her name! Just say it, damn it!" Yuki mumbled an apology while Tohru stormed out of the room, tears streaming down her face.

At the Sohma Estate

The woman turned to leave the house and bumped into her daughter. "Ah! Momo, darling! What are you doing home early?" she picked up her daughter. "Your father isn't supposed to be back home for another two days."

Momo peeked up at her mother and showed her a box of chocolates. "Why, what is this?" And right around the corner was her husband, waiting with flowers. She put Momo down. "Darling, you're back! I've missed you, what is the occasion?"

Momo stepped into the hallway and knew the door she wanted was right around the bend. "Momma, are we staying here at the Sohma House? Can I go play?" her mother shook her head.

"No Momo, we can't. Momma has a lot of things to do. She's helping out with the wedding." She opened the box of chocolates and popped one in her mouth.

"Is wedding like chocolates?" Momo's father picked her up and laughed heatedly.

"Well in a sense. It isn't like chocolates because you can't eat them, but it is like chocolates because everyone loves them." Momo stared at him blankly. "It's when two people get married forever, like momma and papa." Momo nodded in understanding and they led her away from Momiji's room.

"May I have a piece of wedding when we get home then?" Momo's parent roared with laughter as they left the Estate.

Back to Kyo...

Covered in dirt, grime and hunger Kyo finally made it to the dojo. He crash landed onto the front yard where a woman was waiting for him. Once he made it through the threshold he was very wary of the woman who helped him. He eyed her shrewdly.

"Boy what's got your eyes swirling up in your head?" Kyo looked her. She was shorter than him, a little plump, with long hair tied back and brilliant blue eyes. She was pretty, just like the other women. She wore a traditional kimono and had a very motherly feel.

"Huh?" he shook the confusion out. "You aren't a geisha are you?" Kyo squinted his eyes. SMACK. Something hit Kyo on the head, hard. Smack! Another blow to the side of his face. Kyo jumped up with excitement. "AH! You wanna brawl is that it? Come on, let's go!" Kyo jumped to his feet and whirled around. "I'll beat your ass on my first day!"

Standing before him was a girl with short hair, freckles dusting her nose and piercing green eyes. She has her hand on her hips and a dark expression on her face. She grabbed Kyo by the collar. "Don't you ever call her a geisha again. Or I will see to it you become one yourself." she stormed off.

Kyo looked at the older woman. She smiled. "You'd better go after her. She's your tour guide and you start training tomorrow. You can call me Aunty, everyone else does." she smiled wearily, watching Kyo flail as he ran after the unknown assailant.

"Hey chick! Wait up damn it!" the girl suddenly stopped and turned towards him. Crap... I keep saying just the right things to piss her off don't I?

"Listen here match head. I am not a chick. So don't get your pseudo macho man on OK? Just because this is a dojo doesn't make it fine to loose all respect for women." she began walking again.

"Well if you had introduced yourself like a normal human beings I wouldn't have said something like that. So, I'm sorry." the girl nodded.

"Follow me. That's the kitchen's over there, cook whatever you want just clean up. Over here is the living room, read whatever books you want. Your bedroom is over here." She pushed open the door to a rather large room with bunk beds stacked of three. And shelves right beside them to be their bedside table or something. "You and only one other guy share this room." he looked at her. "It goes by age."

"Can I have the top bed?" she stared at him. "Please?"

"Uh, sure. Ken likes the bottom bed anyway. Now-" Suddenly a guy with dark hair that fell over his eyes appeared.

"Did you call for me?" he held her hand. "My darling." the girl smacked him over the head too.

"No Ken damn it just go away!" she turned to Kyo. "You, follow. This is the balcony. Aunty sits her and watches the competitions when we have them. You're free to use it. And this is the bathroom. This is the only bathroom in the house. So exactly 10 minutes after five o'clock. If you want more time, wait till everyone's gone to bed or wake up real early. My room is downstairs and I happen to like baths a lot so don't get any ideas, like Ken, thinking I'm coming to see your match head."

"What about the room across from yours? Is a pantry or something?" Kyo had dumped all of his bags into his new bedroom.

"That room is off limits. Grandfather will tell you tomorrow. You have special training with him, and a lot of people don't ever get that. Kazuma-san talked with Grandfather and explained your situation." Her face turned dark. "He only told Aunty and forbid her to tell me. I'm out of the loop as always. So goodnight. Kyo" she turned away and began to walk down the stairs. "It's Saguri by the way."

Back at the Sohma Estate. The day before the wedding

Hanajima sat with Tohru in the living room of Shigure's house. They had a list in their hands and were writing things down. "And with Arisa that makes a total of four people." Tohru sighed. "I hope it won't be much trouble for them to let you guys in."

Hanajima smiled. "Of course it won't, we're your family. And we love you." the door clicked open and they could hear voices in the hallway. "It seems your husband is here." they giggled.

Yuki's frame appeared in the doorway. "What are you girls up to?" Tohru showed him the list. He studied it. "Let's see; Arisa, Hanajima + Megumi and your grandpa are on the list. Is that is?" Tohru nodded. "We'll need to add Kakeru and his girlfriend. I don't think they'll mind" Tohru nodded and scribbled down the names.

"Well, dear Yun-yun goes off the market and all the ladies will now come to me!" Kakeru smiled dazzling but no one paid him mind. He pouted.

"Tohru, I'm going to the main house now. Would you like me to drop off your list?" Tohru looked at her blankly. "Kazuma-san wishes me to pick up some vegetables from the Estate garden. I could drop off the list while I'm there."

Yuki laughed nervously. "I think I'll go with you. Akito doesn't take to well to strangers. Come, we'll be quick. Kakeru guard the garden peach." Yuki pointed at Tohru who was eating a cookie. They left and Kakeru sat himself in Shigure's big chair.

"So Tohru, I guess you finally got what you wanted." Tohru turned towards him. "I never knew you would the kind to stop at anything. I always thought you were sweet and kind but that's exactly what you wanted me to think. So I would never even suspect you. It's always the quiet ones, isn't it Tohru?"

Tohru laughed nervously. "Huh? Kakeru you are so silly sometimes. Would you like something to drink?" Tohru stood up and gave her back to him.

"I saw you that day in the hospital. It was you. And I know you saw me too." Tohru shook her head, tears forming in her eyes again. She whispered no. "It was you who killed Machi, wasn't it?"

"No! It was an accident! I didn't- No! She wasn't supposed to get hurt!" Tears were falling down her cheeks now. "I never meant to..."

"Oh I know the whole incident was an accident Tohru. But it was you who caused her to fall into the coma that inevitably led to her death. You whispering into her ear did the trick." Kakeru stared at her with cold eyes. In the kitchen, hidden from view, was Shigure, listening in with a cup of coffee.

Even the ones coming into the family are corrupt. Shigure shook his head and sipped his coffee quietly.

Tohru shook her head silently. "What was it that you said to her exactly? What I don't understand is why? If you had never even talked to her that day she would have still been alive. Machi finally had the courage to tell Yuki had she felt and you had Kyo. You had Kyo!" Kakeru slammed his hand on the table.

"I-I didn't want Kyo... he came and...and asked me with those pleading eyes. I knew Yuki was in love with Machi and there wasn't a chance for me. But I was still so confused and in the moment I said yes." Tohru sobbed. "I was going to tell her that I was still in love with him and then-then... the car and... Everything happened so fast."

"And now she's dead. Because of your indecision I lost a sister and you hurt two men in the process. Wow, you must be so proud of yourself Tohru." Kakeru stood up and went over to here. "But don't worry, there must be a way of forgiveness. And it's your job to find it now." he tossed her a napkin and she sobbed hard. "I haven't told Yuki."

Tohru's face shot up; she cleaned up her face and dried her puffy eyes. "What? Why not?" Kakeru shrugged. "Thank you Kakeru, thank you." Kakeru kept his back to her. Shigure stumbled into the room, pretending to be asleep.

"Nyah, who's this?" Shigure pointed his finger straight in his face. Kakeru stared at him.

"The Commander's brother! Wow! You must like, be just as awesome as he is!" Kakeru shook his hand. Shigure smiled.

"Well, Aya did learn everything he knows from me." Kakeru looked at him in again. Shigure struck a pose.

"Oh man! I wanna be just like you!" he ran around the living room as Hanajima and Yuki were entering. Shigure smiled quietly. You're more like me than you'll ever know.

Back at the Sunni Dojo...

"What do you mean the university wears uniform? It's college! I should wear whatever the hell I want!" Kyo sighed. "This isn't high school." Aunty just looked at him. "Fine I'll go."

A couple of grade school boys ran down the stairs, laughing. Saguri chases after them. "Hey you two! You need jackets!" They replied with 'like hell we do!' Saguri turned and glared at Kyo. "You. If you're going to live here watch you filthy mouth around the children." She stormed off.

"Is she always like this?" Kyo's heart started beating again.

Aunty nodded. "Now, Ken will take you to the University and you can register. Oh and please pick up Guri from school today. Her bike is in the repair shop and it's quiet a walk from there." She pointed to something in the back. "Before you start complaining, you can use that."

Kyo squinted. "What is that...? That's just a souped up old moped!" he hung his head in shame. "Can I at least fix it up a bit?" Aunty nodded.

"You have two hours before Ken leaves. Do what you can." she cackled and left him to his shambles. Kyo sighed.

Two Tiring Hours Later...

Ken walked in and saw Kyo covered in grease oil. He tossed him a towel. "Your hair always been that color?" Kyo nodded. "Heard you get to pick up Guri today. I'd go myself but I don't want to give those girls a heart attack from my good looks."

Kyo stared at him. "Right. Hey, so what time does the university close for registration?"

"Around six. The latest class starts at nine. It's not that far from Saguri's school. Just about ten miles north and 3 miles east. Why?" Kyo grabbed his jacket and jumped on his moped.

"Cause I wanna see what this bad boy can do. See you later." Kyo revved the engine. Ken said something Kyo couldn't hear and he was out in a flash.

The wind whipped through Kyo's hair. This is so exhilarating! I feel so...free. I've never felt like this before! Coming up behind Kyo was a car that was trying to catch up to him. It honked its horn. Kyo looked and sitting in the drivers seat was Ken!

"Pull over jackass!" Kyo did as was told. Ken handed him a black helmet. "You need to wear this. If you don't they'll fine the dojo and trust me. You don't want Aunty being pissed at you. Nails turn up in your breakfast."

"Where did you get that car?" Kyo stared at him and Ken smiled slyly. "How old are you?"

"Twenty three. And a half." Ken flashed a smile at him. He turned the car back on and was soon on his way. Kyo slipped on his helmet and let the engine come to life beneath him. Meanwhile at Saguri's school, Saguri wasn't paying attention to the lesson. As always.

"Guri-chan, what are you looking for?" one her friends asked her during lunch. "Yeah Sagu-chan, you've been day dreaming all day." "Oh, it's a guy isn't it? You finally got a crush on a guy! Is he hot?"

Saguri almost choked on her gum. "Please, it's not a guy. I just know for certain we're supposed to be getting a transfer student today. But I haven't seen him all day."

the girls smiled. "Another addition to the dojo?" "You're so lucky to live in a house full of hot guys!" "I just love visiting Sagu-chan's house! Ah!" "We should go study there today and see the new arrival! And to say to Ken." "Saguri, I heard the year beneath got a transfer student, could that be him?"

Saguri smiled smugly. Ha, so he's younger than me. "Maybe." she ate her lunch in silence while the other girls talked about who was the cutest guy. Ring-ding. Ring-ding. "Class dismissed."

"Come on Saguri, hopefully Ken came to pick us up in his car." the girl squealed with laughter.

"You guys know he uses that car to pick up the younger kids from grade school. And anyway Ken is just a- hey what are you all looking at?" the girl pointed.

"Some guy has been circling the school on his moped." "Hopefully he's hot!" "What's hot about some pervert circling our school." "Come on let's go take a closer look!" The girls rushed Saguri outside where they busted through the doors to join the rest of the school. They came out just in time to see him take his helmet off.

His hair was a mess, flying everywhere and falling in his face. He pushed back the brilliant orange hair to show grease marks on his face. His jacket was slightly open due to the wind, and it played dangerously close to exposing skin. Saguri had her back to him, making faces at her friends when she suddenly turned around and saw him. Sitting there watching her. She couldn't speak and he made his way towards her. He didn't say anything and everyone stared.

The girls whispered all around her excitedly. "He's coming this way! Ah! Is my hair alright?" "Look at his hair!" "He's so tall!" "I hope he goes here!"

He does look super cool... and hot. Saguri stepped forward to say hello. "Yo. Let's go, I'm on a tight schedule." Kyo turned his back to her to walk back to the moped.

Saguri fumed. That's why I don't him! Bam! She threw her school bag at him square in the back of his head. "Ow! What is your problem chick!" Kyo nursed the back of his head.

Saguri placed her hands on her hips defiantly. "Stop calling me a chick you pervert!"

Kyo stepped back in shock. "How am I a pervert when I'm doing you a favor?" Saguri laughed.

"What favor? What you should be doing is explaining why you weren't in class today?" Saguri's friends all looked at her in awe. Who would ever yell at such a hot guy? Saguri, we're gonna clobber you!

In the distance a teacher was making his way towards them. "Now you'll have to explain to the teacher. Ha." Saguri smiled triumphantly. Kyo sighed.

"I don't have time for this. I have to resister for classes!" In one swift move her picked up Saguri and threw her over his shoulder. "You're such a pain." They made it over to the moped.

I totally miscalculated! I'm such an idiot! "Wait, you're a college student!" Kyo nodded and placed the helmet on her.

"Hold on tight." Kyo revved the engine as the teacher closed in on them. "Sorry. Maybe some other time you old stiff!" and with that, the engine came to life and took them away.

Momiji and Kisa's date...

there was a light knock on the door at Hiro's house. His mother opened the door. "Why Kisa! You look so adorable!" Kisa smiled sweetly. "Your mother tells me you got glasses, may I see them?"

Kisa shook her head. "It's not fair. I'm going to the amusement park today and now I have to wear these dorky glasses. Everyone will tease me." she rubbed her eyes.

"There, there Kisa. Everything is going to be OK. Would you like some soda?" Kisa nodded and looked around.

"Oh, is um, Hiro here? I thought he could cheer me up a bit." his mother laughed.

"No dear, he said he had an important thing to do today. Boys are at the age now where they don't want to be around their mothers." she brought out the soda.

"Thank you Mrs. Sohma but I have to go now or I'll be late. I'll see you later. " Kisa ran to the train station where she bought her ticket. At the amusement, waiting for her was Tohru and Momiji. She stopped suddenly. "Tohru, what are you doing here?"

Tohru remembered what Kagura had told her. "Hana is treating me to a day out today. I just bumped into Momiji here. He says you two are going to spend the whole day together."

Kisa blushed. "Ah I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable Kisa."

"Kisa, if you would like, we can have Tohru spend the day with us." Momiji handed her a ticket. Kisa smiled and nodded.

"Momiji, what does this say on the ticket?" Momiji stared at her then burst out laughing.

"Kisa, you won't be able to read anything if you don't put on your glasses!" he fished out the case from her side bag and slipped them onto her face.

Tohru clapped her hands. "Ah! I didn't know you wore glasses!" She beamed at Kisa.

Kisa shook her head. "I look dorky and silly." she turned her head. Momiji touched her cheek. "I won't wear them."

"I think you look cute." Kisa smiled at him. "Oh look there's Tohru's friend, Hana." Momiji pointed and Tohru threw her arms open for her friend. "This is Kisa."

Hana looked at her. "What strange eyes you have. They're beautiful." She smiled at her, Kisa let out a sigh of relief and smiled back. "Hello again Momiji. Kisa, this is my little brother Megumi."

Standing beside her, wearing a purple shirt, was Megumi. "I can introduce myself Hana- chan. Hello, pleasure to meet you. Hello again Momiji." His face showed no emotion. "Shall we?"

"So, Megumi, is there anything special you can do? Because Momiji plays the violin and I can sing." Kisa smiled politely at him. Megumi stared at his hands.

"I wouldn't call it 'special' but so much as different." Kisa looked at him with curiosity. "I curse people with their names. Now come, I want to go on that ride." Megumi walked ahead of them, ignoring Momiji and Kisa.

They spent the day going on silly rides like the tea cup and the haunt house and eating cotton candy. Momiji made an effort to talk to Kisa even though he only wanted to be with Megumi. That color really does suit him.

Hana pointed to a game stall. "Let us win the baby a prize Tohru." Tohru nodded and the girls dashed to the stall quickly. Megumi, Kisa and Momiji lagging after them.

"Sexy." Kisa stared at him. "That girl over at the other stall. She's very sexy." Megumi pointed and Kisa followed the direction. Dressed in a black lace dress and boots that came up to her knees was Rin. Her hair was tied up revealing the curve of her neck.

"Hm? Oh that's Rin. I wonder what she's doing here. Hey-" Momiji started to wave but suddenly stopped. Appearing as if out of no where was Hiro. He had gotten taller and lankier.

"What's he doing here with Rin?" Kisa mumbled loud enough for Megumi and Momiji to hear. They pushed her away.

"Let's go on a ride." "Yeah! Sounds like a good idea! Which ride?" Shrug. "You are no help! Help me choose!" "Carousel." "Yeah, let's go to the carousel then! Come on Tohru!" Momiji linked arms with Kisa and pulled her away. They gave their tickets to the man.

Hana handed him all the prizes she had won at the booth. Tohru stepped in first and Hanajima followed. He closed the gate behind them. "Only two at a time sweet heart. Alright whose next?" the three of them stared at each other. Megumi turned towards the stairs to leave. Momiji held him off.

"Are you stupid? I'll just wait here and you two enjoy the ride." he smiled brightly. Megumi shook his head.

"No you two go in. I don't like heights very much." Someone pushed passed Megumi and grabbed Kisa by the hand.

"Like I would leave you alone with her." Hiro stood at the top of the stairs handing his ticket to the man. "Two please."

Kisa looked to see Rin, arms crossed, at the bottom of the stairs. Hatsuharu came behind her with ice cream cones. Her face seemed to brighten up when he was near her. So he wasn't on a date with her.

"But what about Momiji-"

Hiro smiled. "He'll be fine. Plus we're holding up the line. Let's go." the greasy man let them climb in and closed the gate behind them. Hatsuharu and Rin boarded then Momiji and Megumi (who looked very uncomfortable) finally boarded.

"Enjoy the magical ride kiddies." the voice on the overhead cracked. And they were off. Kisa flung her arms around Hiro's neck.

"Are we moving?" he nodded his head. "Are we high up?" Hiro untangled her arms from his neck.

"Take a look." the view was breath taking. They could see the whole town, brightly colored and beautiful. "It's pretty isn't it?" Kisa nodded and didn't say anything.

"Hiro..." he looked at her. "Do you think I'm sexy?" he face was burning hot and she couldn't look him in the eyes.

"I think you're gorgeous Kisa." she stared at him. "And you don't have to try to be sexy cause you already are." she mumbled thanks. "Can I ask you a question?" she nodded. "Why did you think I came with Rin?" she didn't say anything. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Hiro! Ah!" He smells really nice and he's so close! Ah! I shouldn't be thinking about that! "I didn't think that all... so there."

"One more question." she nodded again. "Can I kiss you?" she stared at him in shock. "Because I've wanted to ever since I realized that I love you." his face was bright red. Kisa gasped and moved away from his embrace.

"You love me?" he nodded, not looking her in the eye. "Oh Hiro! You can't!" Hiro's face shot up, shock spread across his eyes. "I don't want you to get into any trouble... Akito will hurt you too!" She shook the thought out of her head. "I couldn't live with myself knowing it was my fault that you were hurt...that Akito would hurt you because I -!"

Kisa gasped a little and looked away. Hiro grabbed her by the shoulders. "Say it Kisa, please. You feel the same way about me that I feel about you. Don't you?" she nodded silently, tear drops falling on his hands. He hugged her tightly. "I love you Kisa." Kisa released her arms and wrapped them tightly around Hiro.

Meanwhile Momiji was beginning to make Megumi sick. He placed his hand on his forehead. "Could you stop jumping around Momiji. You're making it shake." Momiji looked back at him.

"Or what? If I don't stop being happy, you'll do what?" Momiji veered in close to his face. Almost like he was teasing him; their faces no more than an inch apart.

"Or I'll have to curse you, Sohma Momiji." he gave him a dark look "Then I'll make it look like an accident on an episode of Law and Order." Momiji smirked at him and placed his hands on Megumi's hips and leaned his body against his. "H-hey..."

Momiji giggled. "You should see the look on your face right now." he touched his lips with his finger. "You look so damn irresistible." His voice was barely a whisper.

Megumi could feel his face growing hot. Damn him! Making a fool of me. Megumi turned his face sharply. "What do you think you're doing?"

Momiji slipped his hand into the nape of his neck and brought it closer to his face. "Thanking you for today." Momiji lightly kissed Megumi on the lips and he could see his eyes fluttering. "I need you." Megumi closed his eyes and pulled Momiji in.

Back at the Sunni Dojo...

Bang! Bang! Bang! "Damn it Ken! You know the rules!" the boy banged on the door again. "Get out already, it's after six and other people are waiting!"

Suddenly the door flew open and out emerged Ken wrapped in a towel and drying off his hair. "Don't get your panties in a knot. Some of us need time to get this handsome."

"Obviously it's not working since you still haven't managed to get Saguri." Ken glared at him.

Saguri was in her Grandfather's room with Aunty. She was pacing. "...impulsive and hot headed. He's sarcastic and sassy. We don't know a thing about him! He's so... closed."

Her Grandfather sipped his tea. "A man's past are his secrets. You cannot force him to talk about himself or anything else for that matter."

"The way you describe him, well, he sounds a lot like you Guri- chan." Aunty giggled while Saguri glared at her.

"Please Aunty. And just because he's a little older than me doesn't suddenly make him a man." she placed her hands on her hips defiantly. "Plus- huh? What's all that noise outside?"

"What did you say?" "You heard me! You think you're so damn hot don't you? Saguri doesn't even like you but you still won't give up!" "Shut your mouth you don't know what you're talking about!" "Loser!" "Freak!"

Saguri excused herself from her Grandfather's bedroom to see what the commotion was about. In front of the bathroom, caught up in a brawl was Ken and another dojo lodger. She stomped her foot. "ENOUGH! That's enough testosterone for today damn it!"

The two guys stopped fighting and stared at her. "Saguri- chan, I-I'm sorry. It's been a long day I didn't mean to... are you going to cry!" Saguri smacked him into the bathroom and pulled Ken by the ear.

"I am not about to cry. And you, have you no shame? Put some clothes on!" she pushed him into his bedroom and stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, glaring at him.

Ken struck a pose. "Oh but I would if you weren't so awestruck by my godly physique." he winked at her while she threw a pair of pants at him. Suddenly Saguri was alerted that there was someone else in the room. There came rustling from the top bunk bed and Kyo's little orange hair popped up.

Ken pulled the covers back to reveal Kyo, half awake in a pair of sweatpants. His chest was bare and his hair was falling over his eyes again. "Nyah... Saguri...?" Saguri checked Ken to make sure he wasn't looking at her.

I don't want him to see me! He'll start assuming things. "I have to go." she closed the door quickly before Ken could protest and read her a sonnet or something. She leaned her back against the door.

Aunty walked out of the bedroom and noticed Saguri standing there, dazed. "Why Guri, if I didn't know any better I'd say you were blushing." Saguri looked at her and gave a loud hearty ha. "I get it, Aunty can be crazy sometimes." She laughed at herself and turned.

"You must not know me that well then Aunty." Saguri laughed and headed down the stairs where she sat in the living room a long time. After getting lost in her thought she found herself on the roof. When did I come up here? Haven't been up here in a while.

Kyo's little head popped up with a rice ball in his mouth. "Hey, in need of some company?" He swung himself over the edge. He looked at the rice ball in his hand. "Want some?"

Saguri stared at him with her mouth gaping just a bit. "How did you do that? No normal guy could ever follow me up here! I- I don't get it..."

Kyo laughed and sat down beside her. "Well maybe I'm not a normal guy." Saguri punched him in the arm and a cool breeze swept by them. Kyo rubbed his arms. "How do you not get cold up here?"

Instinctively Saguri reached for the little box of stuff she kept up there. She fished out a blanket and tossed it to him. Kyo wrapped it around himself. "How are you not even a little bit cold?"

Saguri shrugged. "I was born in the winter, so I guess what you find cold, I find cool." she laughed lightly. "Weird huh?"

Kyo watched her. "Not really, makes sense I guess." he was silent. "You have a nice laugh." Saguri looked at him blankly.

"Well that's a weird thing to say match head." she took our a little notebook and stared up at the skies.

"You're a weird girl. What are you doing in a dojo house full of men?" Saguri didn't say anything; the tension in the air was palpable. "I'm kinda intimidated to meet your Grandfather." he stared straight at the stars, Saguri tried hide not to laugh. "Everyone respects him so much and he never says anything but everyone knows what he wants. And he lets off this aura... of pure bad ass. Almost like he's yakuza or something."

Saguri smiled. "That's because he is." she laughed lightly and Kyo relaxed a bit more. "Or was. I'm supposed to be asking you the questions." Kyo watched her play with her hair as she began to retell her life story. "Because Grandfather and my mother were yakuza we were always heavily protected and heavily targeted. Mom knew how to protect herself but I was only four when it happened. Like an idiot I wandered off the grounds. Just so happened that I ran into our rival family. Aunty said that they planned to hold me hostage to bait Grandfather, then they would kill him. If only I hadn't been such a dope."

"You were only a kid though. So, it's not like you did it on purpose." Kyo looked straight at her but she avoided eye contact.

"I know, but I still can't help but feel responsible. I guess my mom figured it out because even though help was on the way she sacrificed herself for me. She told me to run but I hid and watched. It was horrible. I don't remember anything after that; they say they found me wrapped in her arms, reciting a bed time story. It sounds so gruesome, I know." Saguri wrapped her arms around her legs. "But she did something bigger for me that day. It finally opened Grandfather's eyes. So he moved us out here and started this dojo in her name."

Something clicked in Kyo's head. "There's a geisha house not far from here that has the same name as this dojo." Kyo blurted. "At first I thought it was the dojo but then I got sexually attacked and ran out of there."

Her face darkened and she looked darkly at her toes. "My father." Kyo stared at her in disbelief. "He was bought by the okiya when he was very young and was loyal to the former owner. So loyal that he inherited that cursed place." she jumped to her feet and paced a little. "He met my mother, enchanted her with his words and then poof! She had us; Grandfather said that they would each keep one. He named me and mother named her. After they had us for a couple days Grandfather said they had to switch."

Kyo's head was spinning. "Us? Who the hell is us? What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that it's OK to be born in the winter but it's bad luck it you have two." a shiver went through her. "Kyo, I'm a twin. And I think you've met my sister." Kyo stared at her in amazement as her hair whipped around her.

End

Get out your fancy gloves and iron that pretty dress of yours! It's time for a wedding, escapades and secrets. I know everyone is super excited for the wedding [I know I am!] so it won't be long. Sorry if you didn't want Momiji to be gay, but it just feels so right. For you Haru- Rin lovers, I have a special chapter for them, maybe. Let me know, OK? Author+ No/ Crappy Feed back= longer wait for chapter. Evil smile. So, author+ good feed back= amazing (quicker) chapters!