Just a short little part with an idea that I thought was cute. In fact, I think this is one of the shortest parts I've written so far. I'm training myself to not be so long-winded XD Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. Next part is Christmas themed, and may or may not involve mistletoe XD Thanks guys, you're great, as always :P

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fruits Basket. Nope. Life's harsh.


Machi turned over again in her bed, coming back to facing the wall. She sighed. Why couldn't she sleep? Was her bed always this uncomfortable? No, she usually managed to escape into unconsciousness the moment her head hit the pillow.

She sat up resignedly. She's been lying there for hours, and was no closer to getting to sleep. Tomorrow was a Sunday, so she didn't have school. It seemed pointless to continue wrestling with her brain to keep quiet and let her sleep. She swung her legs off the side of the bed, and made to get up, glancing at the illuminated numbers of her alarm clock. 11.59.

She paused where she sat. It would be a new day in sixty seconds. It was a strange thought, a single minute dividing two whole days. So much could happen in a day. But then again, sometimes even more could happen in a minute.

Machi shook her head impatiently, clearing the thoughts. Sleep deprivation was making her mind annoyingly philosophical.

Why was she watching the clock? Surely she could find something more productive to do with the long space of time between now and daybreak. Clean up her apartment, perhaps…

12.00. The changing of the numbers took her by surprise a little. She'd gone off in a daze. She really should make another attempt at getting a decent night's sleep. Her mind was so vague when she was tired.

Machi stood up, easing her leg muscles into operation after their couple of hours of rest. An icy glass of water would do her good. She was about to make the, rather hazardous in the dark, trip to the kitchen, when a sudden shrill ringing burst through the calm silence of the night.

Machi almost tripped over a long since broken lamp stand in her effort to rifle through her discarded schoolbag, and pull out the offending buzzing, flashing contraption. Even though she lived alone in the apartment, and it was doubtful her elderly neighbours would hear a thing, she felt conscious of just how loud the phone was. Who in their right mind would be calling her now? Even insurance sales people had to sleep, didn't they?

"Hello?" She answered. She had no idea why she was whispering, but it felt somehow wrong to be talking at normal volume at this time of day.

"Uh, Machi? I've got the right number, haven't I?"

"President?" She hissed, "Wha-?"

"Oh, good, it is you." He sounded like he was smiling on his end of the line, "You sound weird."

"It's late."

"Or early. Depending on how you look at it."

Why was he joking with her at, she glanced back at her clock, 12:02 in the morning?

"Is… is everything alright?" She asked cautiously, though he certainly didn't sound like there was any emergency.

"Of course. I just stayed up so I could be the first to talk to you today."

"E-excuse me?"

He laughed.

"Do you even know what the date is today?"

"No." She replied. Rarely did she know for sure. She did have a calendar. Somewhere.

"I'll give you a clue," He paused, for dramatic effect, "Happy birthday, Machi!"

"Huh? Oh…" She had noted a few days ago that it had been coming up, but birthdays had never really been a big thing for her, so…

"You… stayed up just for that?"

"Yeah," He sighed, "I wanted to be the first to say it to you."

"… thank you."

He really was unlike anyone else she knew. She was sure she hadn't even told him when her birthday was.

She heard a muffled yawn.

"You should sleep." She instructed him. "You'll get sick if you don't."

"Okay." He agreed compliantly. "Goodnight, Machi."

"Goodnight." She pressed the end call button.

What a weird person.

A/N: If you're an Asian drama fanatic, you miiight possibly recognise where I got inspiration for this chapter from... Though it's kind of obscure. Pink Panther, Rainie Yang and mushroom-head haircuts are the only clues I'm giving XD