MBP: Yes... I know, it's been a while... I'm so sorry... I got caught up in school, and my mom cleaned up my room and she hid my notebook and then I had no ideas what so freaking ever! But it's here, and I'm even uploading multiple chapters!

Rini: She's crazy, you might have noticed...

Kio: At least she's enthusiastic...

MBP: Well, anyways, for those of you who are still sticking around and reading this after the long wait, I am eternally grateful! You're the best!

Rini: Oh, little side note... OVER 10,000 VIEWS! Boo-yah! Made this little voice very pleased... and almost a hundred views... like she said, you guys all rule!

Kio: Um... no one here owns SA... unless Maki Minami's reading, and then we just hope we never find out...

MBP: Please enjoy!

Chapter 21: U is for...

Countdown until Christmas: 11 days.

Yahiro glared at the sign Chitose had put up. It was tempting, very damn tempting, to feel petty and add a couple days. Say, another month to reach Christmas? Yahiro admitted that it sounded very good, except for the fact that it would be pointless and mean to his younger brother.

It had been three days since the last letter and more realizations about his feelings for the missing girl. Three days since Sota had disappeared and a new, crazy fan-girl of a maid had brought all the mail. Once Sota returned, Yahiro had a plan to get revenge on the boy. The maid was completely useless except for the fact that she had hands and legs with which to bring the mail with.

Eleven days. Six letters. Time was almost up, and now there was another letter.

Eleven more days Yahiro! Are you excited?

He'd be more excited if he could find her! Honestly, how come it was so difficult? She was supposed to be an idiot!

I'm excited! I've got a tree, and decorations... it's very American actually! Haha, I didn't even notice that little fact until I started writing this!

Well, here's your letter!

() () () () () ()

'U' stand for USA. You remember, the States? America? Of course you know, you're not stupid.

Well, I always thought it would be interesting to visit someplace in the USA besides Hawaii. Like New York, or Hollywood, or even somewhere quiet, like some obscure little town that barely anyone's ever heard of! It would be an adventure!

I never told anyone but you, you know? Not even Jun, Ryuu, or Mitsuru know I want to go to the States. Just you. Does that make you feel special Yahiro? Because it's kinda supposed to...

Well, you never treated it like a stupid idea. Sure, you said it was, but you never acted like it was. You encouraged it, bringing me brochures and information about good tourist areas. You even offered to come with me; rudely, but still... at least you offered!

And that made me extremely happy Yahiro. I loved the fact that you'd offered to come with me, even though Akira wasn't involved in any way at all.

Oh, I did some more research though! Sometime, when the time's right, I want to go to Oregon! I heard they have this long season where they put on a lot of theatre shows! (A/N: The Oregon Shakespeare festival in Ashland. Absolutely amazing, and it's not all Shakespeare. I highly recommend going, drama people!) And it snows there in the winter, and has ice skating! I found it all on my laptop... along with other places! Ashland for one, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Chicago, New York... maybe a whole road trip if I get a group to go with me. A big group!

Maybe for the New Year... just take a vacation to go to the States! That would be so much fun, don't you think?

Okay, hint: Where can you find those brochures you gave me?

() () () () () ()

Five letters left Yahiro!

-Megumi

Yahiro sighed wearily. He didn't remember where he could find any stupid travel brochures, it had been years ago!

He did remember talking about a trip though... Megumi had always been excited about visiting the States. Hell, she was always excited about traveling period, especially if she was going with the rest of their friends. Of course, she'd given him a little grief about her "missing" camera the first time he brought brochures, teasingly, and when he'd gotten silent, began to poke him.

But he'd remained silent, and Megumi had let it go after a few minutes, running off with her brochures to make more plans.

She'd been smiling so happily; her smile was so bright, it rivaled the sun. She'd been wearing the same outfit she'd worn on their first fake date, the one where he first heard her sing. In fact, she looked almost exactly the same as she had that day, except she was smiling for real this time, and her hair was in pigtails. He could remember those little details, so why couldn't he remember where in Japan he'd found those stupid brochures?

Yahiro sighed again. Time to research then...

He pulled his laptop towards him and opened it. "Time for another long night..."

() () () () () ()

Sota sat cowered under some blankets in his room, trying to avoid actually having to go back to the Saiga's house and work. Which, of course, meant pretending to be sick like a little boy trying to get out of school. And while it might have fooled his employers, it was too bad it didn't fool anyone else.

And it especially didn't work on the rest of the conspirators against Yahiro. Sota could actually hear them, even though no one else was in his house, not even his twin brothers.

Mitsuru: "Stop being a coward and get your ass to work."

Kenta: "We need you to be there. Are you really going to let Megumi of all people down?"

Twins: "Go back to work so we can play there!"

And Megumi? Megumi hadn't done anything, not even a sad little note, which Sota thought was a lot worse than being ordered around and insulted.

Sota picked up his phone, wondering exactly how just thinking of the girl made him feel like he was trash if he didn't make sure she was happy. "Yes? This is Sota... yes, I'm feeling much better... I'll be back to work tomorrow."

MPB: And this chapter's done... Don't worry, another is coming tonight! Thanks again so much for sticking with me! I'll try to be better about updating the rest, I promise!

Rini: Well, hope you all enjoyed! Please review!

Kio: Thanks for being here everyone! Jaa nee...