I live! Seriously, who thought I was virtually dead?

(c) Natsuki Takaya

I was so happy when you smiled

Your smile breaks through the clouds of grey

Far from the sunny days that lie in sleep

Waiting with patience for the spring

When the flowers can bloom, renewed again

Knowing there's more beyond the pain~ of today

Although the scars of yesterday remain

You can go on living as much as your heart believes~

You can't be born again, although you can change

Let's stay together always

(2 week jump into the future)

"Okay, I think I got everything." I said with a final stroke of my pen. I looked over the list once and handed it to Tohru to review, "Although I'm wondering if we should really sneak off and go to the party circuit in Shibuya just to Para Para."

Uo sighed and crossed her arms, "Well, there isn't going to be anything better to do. This trip is pretty standard."

Hana didn't look up from her book bout restaurants, "There won't be much fun things to do. There are only temple, shrines, and restaurants." She turned a page, "If we're lucky perhaps we'll find a park with animals that will provide us with entertainment."

I shook my head lightly at this, "This is going to be a terrible trip."

The classroom door slid open quickly, "Tohru! Zakura! Yuki! Kyo!" Momiji yelled frantically running to us, "It's terrible! Terrible!"

"Things are terrible here too." Uo said.

"Huh?" Momiji asked, pulling a cute confused face. Everyone looked at the brooding Kyo next to Tohru, "Uh-oh, what's wrong with Kyo?"

"We were discussing what our groups should do on our trip," Tohru explained to Momiji, "And…well…" She hesitantly looked at Kyo, "Kyo's doesn't like how they're forming."

"Oh. He's with Yuki?" Momiji guessed on his first try. It was fate's way of turning this trip to even more of a disaster by letting those two in the same group.

"There's no way I'm going along with this!" Kyo shouted. "I don't have to stay with the group!" That was true, so why is he still worked up?

Uo smirked at him, "That's true, but it's more fun with you there. That way we can mess with you."

Kyo's shoulders sagged a bit, "What am I a toy to you two?"

Uo and Hana smiled and nodded, riling Kyo up even more. Momiji whined at Kyo bout being selfish for not wanting to go on a trip with Tohru and I. As everyone got carried away with teasing him, no one but me noticed Yuki quietly standing in the door way. Seeing him reminded me that Momiji was calling us for something terrible.

"Momiji?" I called him, getting his attention, "Weren't you calling us about something terrible?" I asked.

Momiji was temporarily confused before his face lit up when he remembered, "Oh! That's right!" He continued to smile as he told his news, "It's terrible! Haru turned Black and is tearing our classroom apart!"

Our faces dropped, "Why didn't you tell us sooner!?" Yuki and Kyo shouted as we all ran out of the class room to run to the first floor where the first year classrooms were. Momiji lead us to the direction of his and Haru's class and Yuki soon went to the front to part the halls where the students and teachers crowded.

While Yuki tried to keep the crowd back the rest of us followed Kyo into the classroom. I looked at the damaged and briefly wondered who was going to pay for all of it, "Looks like he hasn't turned into an ox yet." I said taking Tohru's hand to move her around the overturned desks and broken glass.

"Hey, Haru!" Kyo yelled at the dual haired teen standing in the middle of the room with his back to us.

"What?!" He snapped at us. Tohru and I were taken aback by the intensity he snapped and the dark fire in his eyes. We've never seen him like this.

"He really turned the classroom to ruins." Momiji commented airily as Yuki came in to do damage control. If anyone could calm Haru down it would be him.

"What are you doing, Harau?"

Haru picked up a chair and threw it across the room, smashing it to pieces. Whoa. "What does it look like?! Tearing the place apart!"

Kyo placed his hands in his packets, "Cut the crap, Haru. When you get violent, it just causes me problems."

Haru turned his attention to him, "Shut the hell up, stupid cat!" He snapped, "Your existence causes problems!"

Ouch. Kyo went closer to him, getting in his face, "Is that so? Wanna say that again to my face?"

I could sense another violent fight brewing, "Uh, Kyo?"

Yuki sighed tiredly, "Don't let him bait you, stupid cat."

"Well, why not stop standing there and do something?!"

Yuki looked at Haru, "I don't know what happened, but you can't be violent at school whenever you want…"

Haru covered his ear to block out Yuki's lecture, "Oh stop! You just don't want me to transform because then we'll all be in trouble."

"That's not what I'm saying…"

"Stupid!" Haru snapped again, "You're all stupid! You wanna live your life scared of being ratted out all the time?! Screw that! I'd rather let everyone know everything!"

My eyes narrowed with concern and I stepped forward, "Haru-"

I was taken aback when he roughly grabbed my upper arm, "You agree with me don't you?! You don't want us to live like this anymore right?! So figure it out!" He nearly shook me if Kyo hadn't moved me back and punched Haru across the face.

As he stumbled back Kyo glared murderously at him, "I don't know what made you snap but don't get Zakura involved with your stupid problems." He gently pushed me back to the others, standing between me and Haru.

Haru rubbed his red cheek, "I know your game. Damn showoff for your girlfriend."

"I'm not." Kyo growled.

Haru smirked, "Sure you are. You wanna act tough especially for her. Does she scratch you under your chin if you're a good kitty?" He mocked.

"Shut up!" Kyo shouted, raising his fist.

Haru put is guard up, "What? You gonna break my neck?"

"Why stop at the neck?" Kyo grabbed his collar and Haru did the same, "I'll break every bone in your body!"

"Haru! Kyo!" Tohru and I shouted in concern, but to our surprise someone else stepping in with a bucket of water. We were all taken aback that water was dumped on the arguing teens. The room was deadly silent.

"Teacher…?" Yuki asked when passive female teacher place the empty bucket in one hand and placed a fist on her hip.

"That's enough you idiots. If you want to fight do it on your own time and somewhere else." She said so calmly it was almost scary.

Of course Kyo wasn't bothered by her apathetic attitude, "Dammit! Why me, too?!"
She stared at him, "You lost it too, didn't you?"

Suddenly Haru snapped out of his stupor and he was back to the airheaded laid back Haru we loved, "That was refreshing…"

"Then while you're being refreshed, come with me to the faculty room." She stated before telling the rest of us to come too.

-0-0-

After giving our statements Haru was the last to go in while the rest of us waited outside to hear what would happen to him. Momiji stood beside Tohru, holding her hand as she stared worriedly at the door, "I wonder if Hatsuharu is going to be okay."

"Obviously, they're lecturing the hell out of him." Kyo said, tugging his now dry uniform on. "I doubt he's listening to them."

"What on earth happened to make him snap like that?" Yuki wondered, "Momiji?"

Momiji frowned in thought and looked down, "I wasn't watching him the whole time. I thought everything was normal…but…maybe something happened recently…'cause he seemed down…"

I looked the other way in thought. 'Could it…be about his girlfriend?'

"Ah!" Tohru gasped when Haru finally came out of the faculty room, "Hatsuharu!" Everyone ran over to him, "What happened?"

Haru nonchalantly cracked his neck, "Well, she called my mom. I have to wait for her here."

"What are you going to do until then?" I asked him.

"I'm going to fix up the classroom and then I'm going to get yelled at by the teacher and my mom who will probably laugh."

I shook my head at him, "That's not what I meant."

He looked at me knowingly, "I know…" He lowered his eyes with regret, "By the way…I'm sorry for being so violent towards you. You didn't deserve it." He turned to Kyo, "Hey, Kyo, nice fight."

Kyo glowered, "You're not going to apologize to me?"

Hatsuharu turned his head towards us, "With how my mom is, it's going to take her an hour to get her make up and stuff on. I'm going to kill time until then." And with that he went on his way.

I watched him with concern, "Should we leave him on his own?"

Kyo crossed his arms, "That guy is so damn laid back. He'll be fine."

Despite that, Yuki went to follow him after apologizing to Tohru and I for the trouble. Momiji and Tohru held hands in comfort while Kyo remained indifferent. I wonder if there was any point in going back to class after everyone had seen Haru rip the class room apart.

"I'm going home too." Kyo decided as he looked at me, "I'm going to the dojo. Do you wanna come?" While sparing against Kyo usually helps with pent up anger, i wasn't in the mood for it today. I shook my head negatively, but he didn't seem to bothered by the fact that i didn't want to go. "By the way, the next time Haru goes Black stay away away from him. He's dangerous…it can't be helped."

Tohru was more startled than me by Kyo's warning, "B-but that would be rude!"

"Rude?!" Kyo snapped at her, "He was being rude! Don't you get it?!"

Pursing my lips and narrowing my eyes in irritation I reached up and grabbed Kyo's ear and pulled it.

"Gyah! What the hell!"

I pulled it harder, "Don't yell at Tohru!"

Momiji laughed at him, "You are so whipped, Kyo!" He sang innocently.

"Get lost Momiji!"

I pulled his ear harder, "Don't yell at Momiji." I stated simply before smiling at Momiji and Tohru, "We're going to go ahead and leave. We'll be home late, okay?"

Tohru nodded, "Ok." Worry and concern was still dancing in her eyes.

I patted her head with my free hand, "Don't worry. Things will be alright." With one last smile to them I tugged harder on Kyo's ear, "Alright, let's go!"

"Ow! Ow! Will you let go?!"

-0-0-

"Oh, dear," Hanabi placed a tea cup in front of me before sitting down on the couch opposite of the one I was sitting on, "That's quite a commotion from such a young boy. I can't imagine what could've caused him to lose control like that."

I reached for the small cup and took a sip, "It's anyone's guess really. Hatsuharu seems like the kind who keeps personal things close to chest." I stared into the brown liquid, "I'm worried that if he keeps bottling his emotions up like tht, they're going burst like they did today."

"Being as young as he is, he doesn't have a good handle of keeping his emotions under control." She laced her fingers together, "Is there something going on at home or something?"

I fingered the small cup, wondering if I should tell her what Hatsuharu told me. I trusted Hanabi with everything and anything. Like Tohru I can confide in her with anything. I knew she wouldn't just blab Hatsuharu's business if I told her. If anything, she could tell Hatori and Hatori might do something about it. I told her everything that Hatsuharu told me, minus the Sohma curse of course.

Hanabi giggled softly to herself, "Of course there's a girl involved. Young love can do the craziest things to people." She placed a hand to her cheek, "She must be quite the girl for him to tear the classroom apart for her. Sounds like something out a romance book."

I stared deadpanned at her, "Uh, Hanabi, this is kind of serious."

Hanabi snapped out of her daze, "Right, of course." She cleared her throat, "I think Hatsuharu should try talking to his girlfriend to get her to explain why she suddenly started acting so strange. Talking usually solves everything."

I set the cup back on the table on the table after finishing it, "Maybe…I don't want to seem nosy by getting involved so heavily."

Which is what I've been trying to tell you from the beginning." A familiar apathetic came from behind me.

"Hatori?!" I snapped my head around to see him coming into the room with a cup in one hand and a plate of snacks in the other and a red book tucked under his arm, "What are you doing here?"

Hatoari walked around my chair to set the plate and book on the table and handed the cup to Hanabi, "Hanabi received a new shipment of books and suggested that I come over to look at them."

Yeah like I was going to believe that…was he not aware of how close he was sitting next to her and how red her face got? "Riiigght…" I'm sure if it was possible they would be cuddling it up back here. I pouted, 'Everyone else is having romance…when's it going to be my turn?' I know I have to be patient with Kyo…but I can't help but feel jealous how everyone has a budding relationship growing, while I'm stuck as a seed. "So what books are in?"

Hanabi perked up a bit, "Well, I got a new shipment of Sherrilyn Kenyon books, Shigure Sohma, J. R. R Tolkien, and Hayao Miyazaki."

I cleared my throat awkwardly and stood up, "I'm going to go take a look at them." I walked over to the door, "Excuse me." I slipped out of the room, clutching my shirt, 'is that what its like when you're in the room with your mom and her new boyfriend?!'

I ventured to Hanabi's new selection and fingered the hundreds of spins of novels, reading the titles to see which one would trigger my interest. I found one and pulled it from the shelf, 'Dance with the Devil.' I scanned the summary on the back and decided to get it along with the red book next to it, 'Acheron.'

"Zakura." Hatori called me walking into the room with his doctor coat on his arm, "Shigure called. Apparently Tohru hurt herself."

"Again?" I quirked an eyebrow. I left the girl a few hours ago, how could she hurt herself in such a short amount of time.

"Yes, if you want a ride home come with me."

"Alright." I complied, following him to the door with Hanabi rushing in tow to see us out. She gave us her love and I wasn't completely surprise when she brushed her hand against Hatori's shoulder. He gave her a slight nod and walked around to the driver side while I got into the passenger side. With a promise to visit again we went on our way.

-0-0-

When Hatori and I walked into the living room I shouldn't have been surprised to see new company. Shigure and Tohru were sitting at the table having snacks as Tohru tried to comfort a light orange hair young man. Hatori sat in front of him and took a look at the young man's injury while I sat next to Tohru and had her explain to me what exactly happened when I left her.

So this guy was the Ritsu Sohma, the hot spring lady's son, and the monkey of the zodiac. Strange how he looked nothing like his mother, but he looked beautiful nonetheless and kind hearted too from what I could tell. Maybe I'll get a chance to talk to him when he's done apologizing and spazzing for nothing…and here I thought Tohru was the jumpiest person I ever knew.

"Um, Shigure?" Ritsu spoke softly to Shigure when Shigure handed his new book to Hatori, "I was wondering…if it's not too much trouble…if I could spend the night here?"

Shigure seemed surprised by this, "This is unusual. Being assertive for once, are you?"

Ritsu fiddled with his fingers, "Um, yes, I just thought…" He looked softly at Tohru, "I wanted to ask…"

"Well, I don't particularly mind." Shigure said, turning into the table to help himself to the snacks, "Make yourself at home."

Ritsu sat timidly between Tohru and me, "Yes…thank you."

I held a cup of fresh tea to Ritsu, "Would you like some tea? Tohru made it."

He was startled a bit, but he took it nonetheless, "Thank you very much."

"It's no problem." I smiled at him, "You look very pretty when you smile. If I didn't know any better I would think you were a girl." He grew flush, "I bet I could make great clothes for you!"

"Y-you make clothes? Just like Ayame?"

I nodded, "Yes, he's my boss actually."

"Oh, he truly is a wonderful person isn't he?" Ritsu grew steadily excited, "I aspire to be as confident as him."

"You know that's not possible." Hatori and Shigure butted in, making Ritsu jump at their blunt statement.

Before I could scold both adults, Kyo came walking in looking a bit put off by all the company, "What the hell are Ritsu and Hatori doing here?!"

0-0-0-0

The next morning during breakfast Tohru and I dragged Hatori to the kitchen to taste test the food to see if it was to his liking before dishing breakfast out. I handed him the saucer after Tohru had filled it and we waited anxiously to see how he would respond.

"It's quite good." He complemented blandly. Geez he's hard to get an emotion out of this guy. "Just right."

Tohru sighed with relief, holding the ladle close to her chest, "Oh, thank goodness. I didn't get a chance to ask you how you liked your food."

I nodded my head and went to set up his plate, "We were worried that it would be too salty or spicy."

"Don't worry about stuff like that." Hatori said, only to have his concern drowned out by Shigure's perverted giggling when he came into the kitchen.

"Aren't they the perfect housewives?!" He gushed, "I bet you want to steal them away, don't you?"

Hatori moved away from Shigure, "You should think twice before you say stupid things like that or else someone is going to send you flying through the roof." And by that he was talking about Kyo who came walking in, glaring murderously at Shigure.

"Who are you calling your housewives?! If you don't knock that crap off I'll break your neck!"

"Oh my! Kyo's scary!" Shigure giggled, practically dancing out of the kitchen away from Kyo's rage.

"Good morning, Kyo!" Tohru said brightly.

Kyo whirled around on her, "And you! Stop smiling and tell him to knock it off! The only reason that stupid dog keeps saying things like that is because you let him get away with it!"

I waved my hand in dismissal, "Oh, it's only harmless fun, Kyo. Shigure would never actually do anything perverted to Tohru." I fixed a cup of sweet Asian pear white tea for Hatori and gave it to him to take to the living room.

"There's no reason to take your jealousy out on her." Hatori commented when he walked past Kyo.

"I'm not!" Kyo denied, "What are even doing here?!"

"Ask Shigure." He said, holding his cup out of Shigure's reach.

"If Hatori's not here then Ritsu's leg could possibly get worse." Tohru tried to explain to Kyo but it seemed to her that he was ignoring her as he went through the fridge looking for something to drink no doubt.

"That has nothing to do with me." He glowered when he saw nothing to drink, "Great, just great, we're out of milk." Kitty needs his milk after all.

"I forgot to tell you, I gave the last bit to Ritsu for his cereal." I said after a beat.

"I kind of figured that!" He yelled at me, "Why didn't you say so before I opened the fridge?!"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I wanted to see the disappointed look on your face because it's cute?"

Tohru took this time to apologize, "I'm sorry, Kyo. I forgot to buy some yesterday on the way home. I'll go buy some more right away."

For once Kyo looked guiltly for opening his mouth, "No, it's okay- you don't have to."

Tohru shook her head, "No, no! It's my responsibility to make sure we're stocked in the kitchen!"

I nudged Kyo in the ribs, "Way to go…"

"I didn't mean-"

"I'M SORRY!" Ritsu screamed, running into the kitchen with his full bowl of cereal, "IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT! I ALWAYS HAVE CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST SO I HAD ZAKURA MAKE SOME FOR ME USING THE MILK THAT MUST'VE BEEN YOURS! I'M THE ONE WHO DRANK THE LST OF THE MILK! I'M THE SINNER! I'M THE EVIL ONE!" All his spazzing was causing milk and cereal to fall in the floor. At least when Tohru spazzes she doesn't make a mess.

"Oh right, you're still here too…"

I grabbed a paper towel and started to wipe up the mess, "Ritsu, please put your cereal down if you're going to go on a rampage."

"Oh! I'm very sorry, Miss Zakura! I just don't know how to make it up to Mr. Kyo!" He apologized quickly before holding his bowl out to Kyo, "Oh, I know! Please use the milk from my cereal. I've barely touched it."

Kyo glared off to the side in disgust, "I'd rather die."

That set Ritsu into another tizzy, "Noooo! What can I do?!"

"Go to the store and buy more!" Kyo yelled. Oh sure it's not okay for Tohru to go, but send and socially unstable cross dresser.

Yuki stumbled sleepily into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes of sleep, "Good Morning…"

"Oh, Yuki," Tohru turned to greet the sleepy teen, "Good morning. You're up late."

Would you believe that that sent Ritsu into another spaz fit? "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY I LET YOU SLEEP I LATE! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE BECAUSE OF ME!"

"Ritu, what the heck are you talking about?"

"YOU'LL BE SUSPENDED FOR BEING LATE AND THEN YOU'LL BE EXPELLED! SORRY!"

All his screaming woke Yuki right up, "Don't go deciding the future of my schooling!"

Shigure poked his head into the kitchen again, "I see he's at it again." He said with a sigh, "You kids watch me; this is how to calm him down." He walked over to Ritsu and poked him in the side. Ritsu froze for a moment before slumping over in a heap. "It's the magic touch!"

-0-0-0-

I've noticed that something seemed to be on both Ritsu and Tohru's mind over the past three days since Ritsu started spending the night. Every now and again they would smile the same way before their smile dropped slightly and then have a daze look on their face. Looking at Tohru now, I can see that she was thinking deeply about something.

"What's on your mind, Tohru?" I asked her as we walked home alone for once.

She was startled out of her thoughts by my sudden question and looked away unsurely, "Um…I'm not sure exactly…" She mumbled, "It's Ritsu…when he smiles it's so very gentle but he blames himself for everything." Kind of like someone else I know. "Before he asked why was he born into this world…and that made me think about mom and how she was happy to have me born into her life."

Smiling softly, I rubbed her head, "I'm happy to have you in my life too, Tohru." She looked at me with a look of awe, "You know that with out you, I would be miserable and unhappy. Being with you has made me happy."

She smiled sweetly at me, "I'm happy to be with you too, Zakura!"

We were going to share a sisterly hug until a high pitch scream tore through the air down the corner from us. "NOOOOOOO! I'M SORRY!" Huh…that scream sounds familiar.

"Ritsu?" Tohru asked curiously when we reached Ritsu seeing him on his knees, tugging a plastic bag from the mouth of a little cat.

"I'm sorry, kitty! But you can't have this! It's for Shigure!"

Taking pity on the poor guy I reached into my bag and pulled out my left over lunch. Taking out my left over salmon I tossed it to the cat who immediately abandoned the whiny man for the lovely piece of fish.

"Thank you, Miss. Zakura." Ritsu held the bag close to his chest, "You see, if Shigure doesn't eat Takoyki his writing slows down…or so he says…"

"I see…" Tohru said as we started walking towards home again. The first 15 minutes of the walk was comfortable until I felt the awkward feeling comes from both sides of me. Ok if these two have something to say to each other then they should come out with it!

"Um!" They said in unison, causing me to quirk an eyebrow. I didn't mean at the same time!

"Y-yes, Ritsu?" Tohru stammered, inviting Ritsu to speak first.

"N-no, what do you have to say?" Ritsu blushed, letting Tohru go first.

"N-no, you should go first!"

"No, I couldn't, please!" They continued to go back and forth.

Oh for the love of- I clapped my hand loudly, drawing their attention. Closing my eyes I hummed and twirled my finger in the air seven times before I pointed to Ritsu, "You speak first."

He was startled of course, but eventually he spoke, "Um…well…there's something I wanted to ask…"

"Yes?" Tohru said politely.

Ritsu fiddled with the plastic bag handle, "Well…my mother…when you met her, she didn't say anything, did she?" We haven't seen her since we went to the hot spring, "I mean about me," He clarified, "She didn't sound ashamed or anything?" When we didn't say anything right away, he tried to backtrack, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't bother you with such questions." He said sadly, "I know it's my fault for being such a useless son…I'm really am hopeless…I'm cursed by the zodiac like everyone else but unlike the others I don't have an outstanding talent. I have to study twice as hard to be able to keep up with everyone else. I'm weak and clumsy…on the 'inside' they often talk about how worthless I am and my poor parents; all they can do is apologize. Ever since I discovered by chance that wearing women's helps me keep my nerves but that only added to the number of things my parents had to apologize for." He shook his head lightly, "I thought I could be stronger and stop dressing like a woman but I don't have the confidence to do something so simple…that's why I'm so worthless." His eyes misted over, "Maybe it would be better if I didn't exist…I'm sure there was no reason for me to be born."

Doesn't that sound familiar…I knew exactly how he felt…when I was younger a few weeks after my dad died and my mom started neglecting me I had wondered what was the point in being alive when my father was gone and my mother wanted nothing to do with me. If I didn't have Tohru and her mother by my side back then…how would I be now? "You're trying to find, aren't you?" I asked him quietly, "Don't give up, yet. Maybe you are born without a purpose or a reason, but maybe you haven't found it yet. Your reason for living could be anything. A lover, family, and friends…a dream or a place you love most." I smiled at my reason for living, thinking of Tohru, Yuki, Shigure, Hatori, Momiji, Hatsuharu, Hanabi, Ayame, Kisa, Uo and Hana…and of course Kyo. "We're all searching for a reason for living…me…I'm hoping to find my reason for living inside someone…" I thought about Kyo's smiling face and how happy I was that I made him smile, "Someday…when I'm brave enough I want to tell that person that 'you're my reason for living.' I want to tell them that I went through a lot and I made a lot of mistakes but those mistakes led me to you and I'm happy that you're my reason for living."

Tohru smiled softly at me, holding my hand, "Me too…" she turned to Ritsu, "And you…even if you're shameless, if you stay true and live your life boldly, someday you might meet your special person and they'll want to eat Takoyaki with you more than anyone!"

Tears spilled from Ritsu's eyes, "…..Thank you…" He choked, holding the plastic bag closer to him, "I wonder…if I can find my reason for living…and if it's possible to find it in someone else…I want to eat Takoyaki with them!" He blushed.

-0-0-0-0-

"Mother, Father…I realize that no parent wants to bury their own child…" I can't believe what we walked into this time, "…but your daughter Mitsuru can no longer bear the harassment of a certain author…" It was Miss Mii writing another suicide letter.

"Excuse me…Mii?" Tohru bowed slightly to meet the woman's face.

Mii jumped up, holding her note pad close, "Please don't stop me! I mean it this time!"

Poor Ritsu looked frighten and confused, "Eh?!"

I shook the woman by the shoulders, "Snap out of it! Shigure's not worth dying for!"

Speak of the devil, he came to the door smiling as if nothing was wrong as usual, "Hello! Did you get my Takoyaki?"

"Shigure!" Mii screamed, "Where were you?!"

Shigure took the plastic bag from Ritsu and took out his Takoyaki, "I went for a walk."

"The manuscript! I need the manuscript! You don't have time for a walk!"

Shigure took a piece of Takoyaki out and before he put it in his mouth he replied, "The manuscript? What makes you think I possibly finished it?"

"Eh?!" Mii and Ritsu gasped, thunder struck.

"Yes, a certain someone names Ritsu showed up and kept me from writing." Shigure sure knew how to rile people up.

"I'M SORRY!"

"YOU COULDN'T FINISH?! THAT'S TERRIBLE! WE'LL HAVE TO DRO PTHE STORY!"

"DROP THE STORY?! THAT WOULD BE DREADFUL! SHIGURE YOU MUST WRITE WITH TAKOYAKI POWER!"

"YES! Write with…"

Shigure turned his back to their screaming and yelling and offered Tohru and I Takoyaki.

"…Takoyaki…power?" Mii mumbled the past part and looked at Ritsu shyly, who in turn did the same.

"?" Shigure, Tohru, and I watched the blushing duo twiddle their fingers.

"Ah…um…what is Takoyaki power?" Mii asked.

"Well, that is- When Shigure eats Takoyaki, he transforms into a great writing warrior."

"No I don't." Shigure stated.

Hearing his voice, Mii turned her attention to him again, "Oh right! Shigure the manuscript!"

"That's right! The manuscript!" Ritsu echoed.

Feeling that his fun was over, Shigure nodded, "Yes, yes."

When we went inside and after introducing Ritsu and Mii, Mii began to tell Ritsu how she came to deal with Shigure on a daily basis, "He ignores the deadline, he writes something completely different from what he promises, he disappears without warning for days at a time…because of him, I've lost all confidence in this job!"

Ritsu's heart went out to the woman, "Oh no! You poor woman! I didn't realize a writer could be so cruel!"

Shigure nodded at his computer screen, "Yes, it's true. We writers can be quite a handful."

I think Shigure speaks for all us authors