Kaede blinked her eyes open to see Hanabusa and Ichigo's face looming over hers. A sharp pain stabbed her heart, incredibly disappointed that Henri wasn't there.

"Kaede! Are you okay?" Ichigo asked.

"Uh… yeah… I guess…" Kaede muttered, pushing herself up. She looked around herself to see that she was in Ichigo's room, on her bed. Realizing that she was being rude by taking up someone else's sleeping place, she tried to climb out of the bed but ended up on the floor, her face flat on the wood, "Ow…"

"You should rest… you've been delirious for three days," Hanabusa smiled, helping her up.

Kaede stumbled for a bit and then sat herself on the edge of Ichigo's bed and whispered, "Sorry… I keep making you fuss over me…" Small drops of tears welled up around the edges of her eyes, her pink cheeks and apologetic expression making one of the cutest faces Kaede ever made in her life.

Ichigo and Hanabusa blushed, both of them thinking she was awfully cute and said, "It's fine! It's fine!"

"Really?" Kaede sniffed. Now she was overwhelmingly cute. Sadly, she was making these cute expressions unconsciously, without meaning to.

"Yup!" Ichigo smiled.

Hanabusa cringed to himself, thinking, Henri-sensei is so lucky…

"Uh… where's… where's Henri?" Kaede asked softly.

"He… had to go…" Ichigo answered, a bit reluctant to lower her friend's spirits.

"Oh…" Kaede muttered, and then crept back into Ichigo's bed, pulling the covers over her head, "I'm going to sleep some more…"

"Ah.. okay then," Ichigo said.

Kaede glanced over at Ichigo and smiled, "You actually want to go on a date with Kashino, right? Today… is… the 23rd of December, right? The day before Christmas Eve? You two should go make some happy memories."

Ichigo blushed, "Really? Is that okay with you? I mean…"

"It's fine. Just because I'm in a tight spot doesn't mean I have to drag everyone else down. Thanks for taking care of me," Kaede muttered, then turned her back to them, snuggling under the covers.

Ichigo nodded, then left the room along with Hanabusa, shutting the doors and lights behind them. As soon as they were out of earshot, Kaede let the tears flow, cursing herself.

"Dammit… dammit… dammit! And I got sick at the wrong time… I have to stay strong… stay strong…" she breathed.

"Kaede! Kaede! Kaede!" A few voices called out to her and Kaede could feel a gentle breeze on her cheeks and hair.

"Oi! Kaede!" A vicious, familiar voice yelled and whacked her on the head with something small and spiky.

"Ow!" Kaede growled and pushed herself up, waking up at the same time. She blinked rapidly at the sweets spirits who were circling around her head, "Oh.. it's you, Glâce… Café…"

Glâce huffed and shoved a bouquet of flowers in her partner's face, "Here! From Henri! He's still thinking about you, so don't go off flirting with other guys!"

"Flirting…?" Kaede muttered and she took the flowers, her brain still muddled as she breathed in the scent. She blinked rapidly again and focused on the flowers which were red camellias and blue salvia. Kaede smiled, "Blue salvia… meaning you think of me… and red camellia… meaning that you love me…"

"Feeling better, Kaede-chan?" a familiar voice called out.

Kaede froze, startled, then looked over at Hanabusa who sat on the edge of the bed, smiling at her.

"Uh… hi.. and yeah…"

"Good!"

Kaede stared at him for a long moment and then smirked, "Hey, Hanabusa let's go somewhere…"

"Huh?" Hanabusa blinked rapidly, thinking, Is she asking me out on a date?

Kaede viciously grabbed Hanabusa's long hair and growled, "And get you a haircut! Your hair is even longer than mine, and I'm a girl!"

"That's because your hair is just too short!" Hanabusa exclaimed, thinking, Oh… guess not…

"Kaede-chan, are you sure you don't want to go back? You're sick and all…" Hanabusa trailed off.

Kaede wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck and lower face, covering her nose then stuck her hands in her pockets, "Yeah, I'm sure. I feel much better now, anyways, and I want some fresh air. I hate staying inside all the time. Besides, your hair was bothering me in so many ways."

The red haired female delinquent stared down at her boots as she walked wishing that there was some snow for her to step in. Suddenly, a loud voice called out to them.

"Hey! You! The couple over there! Want to take a special Lovey Dovey picture for Christmas? It's really cheap!" A man yelled at them, waving signs with hearts all over and bubbly words.

Kaede glared at the man with her fierce eyes while Hanabusa was silently happy, thinking, They think we're dating!

Kaede burst his happiness bubble by creating a dark, gloomy atmosphere around her just with her feelings and yelled back, "We're not dating!" and stomped off.

Satsuki trailed after her and the two of them continued walking in silence, using the park nearby as a shortcut. The aura around Kaede didn't cease until ten minutes later and she sighed, stopping in her tracks. She stared up at the sky full of white, fluffy clouds, then turned around, "I want to go back now."

"Don't just decide everything yourself!" Hanabusa exclaimed, but with one glare, he obediently followed like a puppy.

They continued to walk in silence, Hanabusa trailing behind the red haired girl. Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Look, Kaede-chan! It's snowing!"

Kaede looked up at his words and her whole face brightened as she saw the small, fluffy snowflakes drifting down from the skies. She opened her mouth, letting one of the snowflakes land on her tongue, then melt. She grinned, "It's so pretty…"

Hanabusa looked over at Kaede and smiled, starting to feel a strong attachment to the short tempered girl. As the two of them were gazing at the snow with awe, a boy around Hanabusa's age, but taller walked past them, his shoulder only centimeters away from Kaede's, nearly grazing past it. As the boy passed by them, Kaede's smile disappeared along with her bright, cheerful eyes, sucking away all the happiness that was left in the aura surrounding her.

Suddenly, Kaede spun around quickly and flung a punch at the boy's head, her eyes dark and full of anger. Surprisingly, without looking, the boy dodged the blow, ducking his head before the girl's fist could smash into it. The boy turned around to face her as he jumped back, staying one meter away from Kaede.

"Kaede…" he greeted, his voice sad and full of regret.

"Eh? Kaede-chan, who is he? How does he know you…?" Hanabusa asked, confused.

"His name is Dai. He's my ex-boyfriend and a traitor," Kaede growled.

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