Yuki paced back and forth in front of a fabric store waiting for his brother, Ayame, to finish getting the cloth he needed. He hung his head low in boredom wondering why Ayame made him go everywhere with him. There was no point in him being here, he didn't hold any of the bags, he didn't help Ayame pick anything out; all he did was wait outside. He had been standing and walking around outside of the shop for half an hour already. The sky was growing grey, signaling a rain was going to fall soon. Getting wet wasn't something he liked, he wished Ayame would hurry up and get out so they could go home already.

He sat on the sidewalk for another ten minutes. Feeling a rain drop land on his cheek he stood up and decided to wait inside a nearby store for Ayame. Since there was no way he was going inside that fabric shop with his brother inside, he stepped in the store beside it, a gift shop. Various trinkets and such lined the shelves along with other things girls would like. Yuki felt out of place here but at least it was empty except for the cashier; it was a lot better then standing outside. Subconsciously he walked around the shop his eyes settling on a box filled with ribbons. One in particular caught his eye, a silk hair ribbon. It was hot pink tinted a lighter pink on the edges; he picked it up fingering the soft, smooth texture. It was the kind of thing he imagined would look lovely in Tohru's hair; he smiled, deciding to get it he walked over to the counter.

"How much?" He asked the lady cashier.

She lowered the magazine looking him up and down, popping the bubble gum she was chewing. She leaned forward and looked at the ribbon responding impatiently, "1500 yen."

"I'll buy it…" Yuki smiled to himself as he pulled out the money needed; handing it to the lady he walked out of the shop in a better mood.

Leaving the shop and stepping out onto the sidewalk he was shocked to see Ayame standing there, tapping his foot with much impatience. Yuki stuffed the ribbon in the back of his pocket to prevent any questions from Ayame about it. Funny how Ayame seemed to never come out when he was silently begging him to and when he left Ayame came out in an instant. The situation resembled the saying that a watched pot never boils a little too closely. Ayame flew over to Yuki as soon as he spotted him using one hand to hold onto the bags filled with yards of fabric and the other to grasp Yuki's arm.

"What ill misfortune has drawn you away from the spot where you were waiting for me prior to your disappearance?" Ayame asked over dramatically as usual.

"In case you haven't noticed…. It's raining," Yuki answered half truthfully. He had originally gone inside to avoid the rain. There was no need for Ayame to know the other reason he was inside of the shop for so long.

"Ah yes! By far you are most definitely correct! The clouds above must be requesting us to return home at once!" Ayame cried outstretching an arm to Yuki and dragging him into the awaiting car.

The two of them sat in silence in the car. For the first half of the ride Ayame babbled on about complete nonsense to both Yuki and the driver but after hearing no responses for his elegant voice he quieted down, something Yuki was grateful for. Throughout the rest of the ride home his mind kept drifting to the idea of giving Tohru the ribbon. He wanted to give it to her now, he wanted- no needed to know her reaction. It wasn't like it was something too romantic like jewelry. Someday he wanted to give her that but for now he hoped she'd like a ribbon instead.

"-ki! Yuki!"

"Huh?"

"Do you feel the need to stay in the car all day or are you coming out? We have arrived at the lovely abyss we call home," Ayame responded.

Yuki glanced around at the still scenery; it was true; the car was no longer moving, stopped right by the castle. He said no more as he slipped out of the car and into the house. Right away he climbed the stairs to his room despite Ayame's wishes for them to spend more time together. Locking the door he kept Ayame out of his room as he went back to imagining what Tohru would say to him. Knowing her, the result wouldn't be too horrible.

Tired, as always, he fell asleep on his bed without changing his clothes. In the midst of his sleep he found himself dreaming an odd dream. It felt so real, as if it had actually happened in the past…

He found himself in his six year old body. A bit baffled he looked around; soft cries could be heard from a little girl sitting under a small sakura tree over to his right. Wondering why she was weeping he approached her finding blood dripping down her knee. It had seemed like she had recently scrapped her knee and couldn't walk.

"Are you alright?" he asked in a voice he could hardly recognize. The tone, the sound, it was all so childish, in a higher pitch than he had heard come out of his mouth in a long time.

"I want my mommy!" She sobbed.

"Come on! I'll help you find her!" He offered ecstatically, for a minute forgetting her leg was hurt.

"I can't walk… My leg hurts too much…" She breathed looking up at him with a pair of teary eyes.

"It's okay! I'll carry you!" He told her.

Yuki stared down at his small body and tiny hands not sure if he could carry her. His six year old self believe otherwise, kneeling down on his knees. She nodded and wiped away her tears before climbing onto his back. Shyly she wrapped her arms around his neck. He stood up locking his arms under the backs of her knees to support her as he gave her a piggy-back ride around the town until she pointed out her mother.

Yuki awoke with a start, wondering who that girl was. There was no doubt that it was more then a dream, it was a faded, forgotten memory. Her identity was something he wanted to know but it wasn't likely he would find out who she was no matter how much he longed to. That was over ten years ago, both of them had most likely changed too much to recognize each other. Little did he know Tohru, a few miles away just had the same dream. Her memory was just as hazy as his; she could hardly make out his face. She rubbed her eyes sleepily falling back to sleep without another thought. Staring up at the ceiling, Yuki was not able to go back to his nap.

"Everyone wishes to be a prince or princess, wanting to be royalty but never realizing how difficult it really is. They don't realize how little freedom we actually have. Our lives are planned out for us from our birth. We don't have any choice, not in our spouse, out friends, not in anything. That's just another reason I'm glad I had the chance to meet Tohru…"

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Tohru got out of bed early that Sunday; not to meet Yuki though. She had already called him and told him she'd meet him around noon. Today was a part of her plan to keep everyone from noticing that she left every Sunday morning. During this week she had come up with this idea, she'd hang around all morning making her presence well known, leave at lunch and be back before dinner time. She was beginning to think she got up too early; she sat at the dining room eating her breakfast alone.

"No one is up…" Tohru muttered after taking a bite out of her pear.

Kisa sleepily trudged downstairs for breakfast to satisfy her empty stomach. She figured it'd be another Sunday of eating breakfast alone. Even though Tohru hadn't actually left the house several times yet she had gotten used to it already but it didn't stop her from missing or worrying about Tohru. That's why she was surprised to find Tohru at the table eating. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

"Good Morning!" Tohru greeted Kisa cheerfully.

"Onee-chan?"

"Who else? Would you like some breakfast?" Tohru suggested.

Kisa nodded, taking a seat next to Tohru. They both smiled, enjoying breakfast together, something they hadn't done by themselves since before Kisa's birthday party. A light conversation passed between the two sisters all morning until an hour before noon, when Tohru made an excuse to leave to get ready to go see Yuki.

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Yuki sat on the palace steps obviously bored out of his mind. Resting his chin on the palms of his hands, Yuki stared blankly ahead of him at nothing in particular. Sundays were his day off, a day he now usually spent with Tohru but this morning since she wanted to meet around noon, he had nothing to do.

"Did the ever so cruel sun disturb your slumber and force you to awaken dear brother?" Ayame asked as he plopped himself down beside Yuki.

"What are you doing here?" Yuki asked dully.

"I, who am number one at spending time with a younger brother, am here to grant you the honor of being around my presence all day!" Ayame announced.

Hearing these words Yuki grimaced not wanting to spend a whole day with Ayame. Ten minutes was too long for him to listen to Ayame, he'd die if he spent a day with him. Kyo walked past holding a rather large bag across his shoulder. He appeared as if he was leaving, this was something Yuki was jealous of, Kyo's freedom to come and go as he pleased without consulting anyone when Yuki had to sneak out.

"Kyo, are you going into town?" Yuki questioned spotting the big bag.

"Yeah, what's that gotta do with you?" Kyo responded.

"I'll join you," Yuki told him.

A golden opportunity not to see Ayame, he couldn't let slip by him. It was perfect! He hated Kyo as much as Ayame, maybe even more, but it wasn't like Kyo clung to him as much as Ayame did. Besides he needed to go to town to meet Tohru later anyways. This way he wouldn't have to sneak out or even make up an excuse.

"Whatever, just don't get in my way," Kyo muttered,

"Yuki!! This day is meant for us to spend together, a most perfect opportunity to learn about each other!" Ayame whined.

"Why don't you spend the day by yourself and you can tell me about it later? It'll be like we spent the day together," Yuki suggested.

"Fine idea! I shall fill you in with the details of my glorious day after dinner!" Ayame decided.

"Whatever…" Yuki mumbled following Kyo out of the castle.

At the center of town Kyo emptied half the contents of the bag onto the ground. They both stood as the center of attention. Jewelry gleamed, along with gold coins and other valuables tossed messily in a pile. Easily people grew interested looking at them. Their good looks, not to mention the riches loitered in front of them, got the attention of everyone around. Yuki moved his eyes from the riches to Kyo wondering what he had planned.

"Did they actually let you take all of this?" Yuki asked staring at the pile.

Kyo shrugged not really caring one way or another.

"Okay weaklings! Whichever one of you can beat us will get everything here! Use whatever you want! How many people… Whatever! I don't care. I'm looking for a challenge, so don't hold back. For now we aren't anyone special! Just try and beat us! Come like you're ready to kill!" Kyo declared.

Yuki almost fell over when he heard this along with everyone else around. Kyo glared at Yuki with a look like this wasn't anything new. It was anyways, something he did on an almost regular basis. About every other week he'd head out to a town nearby on a Sunday afternoon with the same bag of treasures laid out in front of him daring anyone to challenge him. Because no one could even lay a finger on him throughout the hundreds of cities and towns around them, he never needed to get any new shiny items people liked. If he was lucky someone worth fighting would be within this place but he doubted it.

"That seems like a good deal…" A buff man muttered as he cracked his knuckles confidently.

"All we have to do is beat the scrawny rich boys?" mumbled another bulky man.

Seeing how caught off guard and shocked Yuki was by what Kyo said they naturally assumed he couldn't even defend himself. They both looked too thin to be as strong as Kyo made himself out to be. Kyo's eyes filled with burning fires, angry at what the men said about him while Yuki shook his head with half confusion. Fighting wasn't his hobby; he wasn't fond of hurting people unlike Kyo who considered this part of his training to defeat Yuki.

"Hey! Be careful! That's prince Yuki and his orange haired cousin!" exclaimed a thin, frail-looking woman.

"He said to fight them and not to hold back," Argued another muscular man.

"That's right! So c'mon!" yelled Kyo.

"Fine! Remember you asked for it!" the powerful looking man shouted whilst charging at Kyo.

Kyo smirked dodging all of his attacks easily before kicking him in the gut. The wounded man groaned and collapsed. The other men and women around stared in shock, surprised that Kyo had won without even breaking a sweat. He scanned the crowds frowning when he didn't find anyone who appeared strong enough to last five minutes in a fight, except for Yuki but then he would be the one who couldn't last five minutes.

"Don't hurt them too badly. If all the men are hurt then who'll do their jobs?" Yuki reminded coolly taking a look at the now unconscious man.

Kyo didn't respond, he walked over to the bag and pulled out a pouch overflowing with gold coins. He tossed it onto the pile asking, "Is that the best you got?"

The rest of the men sneered pounding their fists against their palms as they stepped forward. More gold seemed to get them worked up but neither Kyo nor Yuki got scared.

"We won't fight dirty. We'll take each of you on one by one. Just don't go crying home to mommy," The buff man warned them.

"Fight dirty… Take us on all at once… It doesn't make a difference to me…" Yuki replied standing there calmly with his eyes closed.

"Don't get cocky pretty boy. I won't go easy on you just because you're the prince. In face I'll rub your defeat in your face every time I see you," threatened the guy.

The man ran towards Yuki attempting to kick him. Yuki sighed as he stepped towards the right and flipped the large man over. He landed harshly on his head, his legs straight up to the sky for a full minute before he fell backwards. That was an interesting defeat, Yuki stared at the ground where his head had been wondering how he had been upright for so long. The dirt beside the sidewalk had a dent in it, which Yuki assumed was what kept him up for a little bit. He hadn't meant for him to go that far or harshly but it was better then having him land on the concrete he had to admit.

"Remind me why I'm here again…This is boring…" Yuki muttered to Kyo.

"I never asked you to come! Just go back and spend you day with Ayame if you're so bored!" Kyo snapped as he punched a guy twice his size in the face.

The guy fell over clutching his nose in pain. Most of the men who had originally come to fight backed away forming a circle to watch instead of fight at this point, not wanting to get hurt. Kyo got pissed that he had just lost most of the people that would have fought had chickened out. He was beginning to think he should have picked a different place to get his training at. Too late to go anywhere else now, his lessons with Kazuma would begin in an hour. There wasn't enough time to go elsewhere if he wanted to be on time.

"Maybe I will… Your hobbies are boring," Yuki yawned.

"Shut up! Stop insulting me!" Kyo yelled.

"I was just stating the truth, Fighting these men are a waste of time, they're even weaker then you. If anything my senses get dulled from fighting you," Yuki breathed.

"Do you wanna fight?!" Kyo shouted.

"What? Did you not hear a thing I just said?" Yuki asked.

"Bring it on sissy boy!" Kyo cried.

"I thought you'd get tired of losing all the time but I guess not…" Yuki retorted.

"I'll kill you!!!" Kyo screamed.

A tall, lean man decided to attack Yuki from behind. He pulled back his punch preparing to punch Yuki in the head. Yuki turned around, grabbing his arm before he made contact, lifting him up and tossing him over his shoulder at Kyo, knocking both of them down. Dusting off his hands he smiled when he spotted Tohru a good distance away. She was right on time; it was a few minutes before noon. No point in continuing this here if he could be with Tohru instead.

"Take whatever you'd like," Yuki gestured to the pile of valuables on the ground.

"HEY! Don't just give them away! I worked hard to get them!" Kyo snapped jumping to his feet.

"Well, get them again…"

"Maybe I will!"

"I don't care… I'm leaving…" Yuki muttered, pushing his way out of the crowd. The group of people moved away letting him through. When he got through they closed back the gap cutting Yuki off from Kyo's view.

"Get back here! We're not done fighting! Where do you think you're goin'?" Kyo yelled.

"That's none of your business," Yuki responded continuing to walk away.

Kyo scowled angry that he had missed his chance at a fight. When he looked back all the valuables were already gone and the crowd had vanished, going back to what they were doing before. He couldn't remember who was in the fight nor could he seeing any traces of the treasures. He gripped the empty bag in which he had carried everything in shouting, "HEY!"

Looking around again he found Yuki nowhere in sight. Kyo angrily stomped back to the castle fuming. Yuki spotted Tohru looking around side to side for him. He snuck up behind her, covering her eyes with his hands. She gasped falling backwards slightly hitting his chest with her shoulders. He kept his balance, helping her remain standing.

"Guess who?" He whispered into her ear.

"Yuki!" She guessed, recognizing his voice. She grasped his wrists with her hands trying to pry them from her face. It sounded like him, and who else would approach her in the market? Tohru hoped it was him, if it wasn't she'd feel extremely guilty not only that but if they asked her who Yuki was she wouldn't have any clue what to say in response.

He slid his hands from her eyes smiling as he said, "Boo…"

"You scared me!" Tohru cried releasing her hold on his wrists.

"I'm sorry… Will you accept my gift as an apology?" Yuki asked as he slipped a small, silky, white, draw-string bag into her hand. That was one way to give a gift, but it wasn't an apology gift, he hoped she knew that. He realized now that he never actually knew how he would of given this to her if he hadn't frightened her. This worked out just fine for him. Tohru stared at the present instantly feeling reprehensible for not having a gift in return.

"You didn't have to-!" Tohru exclaimed trying to hand to silk bag back to him.

"I wanted to," Yuki replied firmly, silencing her protests and closing her fingers around the bag securely.

Tohru stared into his warm grey eyes for a minute before looking back down at the present. It was sweet and considerate of him, she had to admit but how could she accept a present for no occasion. She wanted to take it but her guilt grew for feeling that way. But seeing the way he looked she didn't want to disappoint him either. Her choices were limited; if she accepted it she'd feel bad but if she didn't he'd be the one feeling somber.

"Open it…" He told her with a smile.

She glanced down at the bag; her decision was made, she couldn't bear to see any amount of sadness in his eyes. Slowly she drew the pink ribbon out her lips curving up happily. Tohru pulled her hair back holding it in place with the soft ribbon immediately. This would be something she'd cherish forever, not only was it bewitching but it was also from Yuki. If she could she'd wear it everyday but that'd make Haru and Kisa suspicious.

"It's so beautiful! Thank you…" Tohru beamed twirling around. Her hair danced around with the wind flowing around her. Tohru giggled brightly feeling her spirits soar.

"I'm glad you like it. It matches your dress nicely as well," Yuki added noting the pink dress she had on.

"Thank you…" Tohru repeated softly after subconsciously planting a gently kiss on Yuki's cheek. Tohru flinched, blushing withdrawing quickly and looking away. She turned away from him, too embarrassed to face him. His cheeks flushed a light pink though he was still smiling. Yuki came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her thin shoulders.

"Thanks…" he murmured into her ear.

His lips brushed against her skin, his breath ticking her ear. The soft touch sent shivers down her spine. Her cheeks turned a darker red making her stare down at her lap in attempt to keep him from seeing how bashful she was. Yuki laughed lightly moving out of her comfort zone and sitting down on the grass beside her. He peered up at her, lacing his fingers with hers he tugged her down to take a seat with him. Tohru's eyes widened from his touch, realizing her over modest actions her cheeks flushed.

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Yuki sat on the steps, half listening to Ayame's stories of his day. He began to regret suggesting this to him. Ayame babbled on for the slowest hours of Yuki's life. With the urge to run away he forced himself to sit there, trying to focus on the fading sun. His attempt to drone out Ayame's words was not going as well as he hoped. Yuki gripped the ends of his hair wondering how Ayame could have so much to talk about for one day. He did tend to over exaggerate things but this was just too much.