Chapter 14! Enjoy!

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When Hana turned around, there stood Yuki gazing at the big snow- rat Hana had made. Hana blushed for a moment and then said to Yuki that she made the snowman for him. "That was very thoughtful of you, Hana. I find it very cute."

"Is it cute? Really, Brother Yuki?"

Yuki gave her a big, sweet smile. Later, everyone was enjoying themselves at the patio with their hot cups of cocoa. Kyo sat on the fence with Kagura clinging onto his arm every darn minute. Tohru and Hana sat on the steps together and Yuki stood close by.

"Alright now . . . the inside's finished . . . your meals are done . . . are you satisfied?" whimpered Shigure because he was made to do so much work in the lake house.

"Yeah, Shigure. I'm more than satisfied; I'm glad! Thanks a lot! I knew we could count on you." said Hana with a smile. For a moment, Shigure felt proud of himself but was too exhausted to show it and just gave a weak smile. Then he collapsed anime style.

Inside, everyone was having their hot bowls of noodles they ordered out. They had their funny conversations, jokes and old stories of many other memories, not by them but, by Shigure and the other adults too. Everyone looked like they were having fun.

In a separate room, Shigure and Hatori were relaxing with some sips of sake. "At least she's getting along fine, isn't she? Even though she acts as if she met you yesterday, Doctor Hatori."

"It's none of our concern anymore, Shigure. I know you can't help feeling worried for a teenaged girl."

"Yes, I'm very worried for her. What if Akito heard the news of her ice skating breakthrough? What would he do then?"

"I don't think you should worry about his actions, for now. If Akito was actually planning something, I would know."

"Yes, quite true. It also seems that Kyo's taking this pretty well ever since she dropped by."

"Don't be too sure. Kyo may look undisturbed, but you don't know anything about him more than I do."

"I suppose you're right. You'd have to be, to be Doctor Hatori!" chuckled Shigure, teasingly. "Stop calling me that."

Still enjoying the warmth inside the lake house, everyone rested awhile with their full stomachs of noodles and soup. Hana and Tohru kept on talking. "See there?" Said Hana, pointing out the window next to them. "After Winter, there'd be cherry blossoms in full bloom in every tree around this house, I think; though I've never seen them myself."

"Really? Why is that Hana?" asked Tohru.

"It's only because I get to visit Japan in Winter and not in any other seasons. Sometimes mom and dad get so uptight in work, they don't really have time for vacations. I'm almost the same with my ice skating parts."

"Then what about your flat your parents are handling right now? I thought you'd stay there?"

"We all do, whenever we drop by Japan. I just like visiting Shigure and the others a lot because they're my family too! I get a lot of free time because my folks are usually working and I'm left bored stiff. It's a good thing I have you and Kagura to keep me company this time!"

"So does this mean you'll be going back soon? Back to your real home? When will that be, Hana?"

"Yeah, that's right. Me and my folks are going back to the states. My mom's side of the family live there so it's a must to move back in. It'll be pretty soon, after the whole ice skating competitions over, which is more than a week for now."

"Oh dear! Why didn't you tell us sooner?? We could've done so many things yesterday! And the day before! And the day before that! I should make you a parting gift! No; we should all make parting gifts! For you and your parents! Come on, Hana! Let's go!"

But with a grab hold onto Tohru's coat, Hana stopped her from joining the others in their group on the other side of the room. "Wait! Don't tell the others, not just yet! Please Tohru?"

Confused, "Why not?" asked Tohru.

"Well, first of all, I'm not really sure when I'm leaving and second, I just don't want to surprise them this much at first. But anyway, just don't tell them anything, please Tohru? At least not yet; I'll tell them myself."

Pleaded Hana and Tohru then agreed with her decision. 'Maybe it would have been too sudden for Hana to leave this soon. After all Yuki did say that Hana would stay for the whole winter until days before new years. Although I wonder . . .' Suddenly Tohru had a thought.

It was almost time to go home but Kyo and Hana were too caught up in their snowboarding races up and down the same hill, over and over again. Everyone else was left aside to cheer for them. Kagura, of course, took Kyo's side.

"Um . . . Yuki . . . I hope you don't mind me asking this." whispered Tohru, away from Kagura's attention.

"What is it, Miss Honda?"

"You did say that Hana and her family would usually leave sometime before new years to celebrate with her family in the states, right?"

"Yes. Why? Is there something wrong?" Now feeling concerned.

"No! No! Nothing at all! It's just that . . . uuuh . . ." Now feeling a bit nervous. "It's just that . . . isn't it tradition for all the Sohmas to celebrate their new years at the Main House? So why would Hana rather spend her new years with her mother's family in the states?"

Just then, Yuki froze, which then made Tohru realize something was about to come out. There was a true reason why Hana had never spent her new years at the Main House; why Hana would only come back to Japan only in Winter and no more.

"It's because she doesn't know anything about the main house."

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Please R&R!!