It was awkward. Having two actual couples living in the same house. It was also a bit more stressful for Yuki and Ren because they were the only ones in the house who would change into animals if they bumped into someone of the opposite sex in the household. And the poor house pet was very confused. It loved its owners desperately, but was completely afraid of Mai and Shigure while strangely aloof when it came to Yuki and Ren.

"Well, I guess Mai and I must still seem like dogs to the poor thing," Shigure had joked, but it appeared to be a true statement.

The world seemed to be moving too fast for Yuki and Ren. Six months went by like nothing and Ritsu and Hana were married along with Leiko and Akito, Kagura and Takeo, and Rin and Hideaki. That left three Sohma/Tomimoto couples to fall in love and four couples to get married. For two of the couples, that meant six months and, for the other two, a year. Ren was always cheerful and never brought up worries with Yuki, which made him wonder if he was the only one feeling the strain. They had become the best of friends, but Yuki wasn't sure of his feelings and he was too afraid to ask Ren about her's. Momiji and Rini had been taking things slow, but it was only a matter of time till things moved deeper. In Momiji's case, he was going to make that time soon.

Hatsuharu had been dragged to multiple stores with Momiji who was in a frenzy. The girls had gone out for a shopping spree that day and Momiji was set on being the most romantic boyfriend/fiancée he could be for that night. Haru had been brought along as the bag boy.

"Momiji, what exactly are you doing?" Haru asked.

They were currently in a flower shop and Momiji was examining the flowers very carefully.

"Looking at flowers, of course!"

"No, I mean…what are you doing that's so romantic?"

Momiji turned and grinned.

"Well, I plan to cover the living room in red rose petals, make an awesome dinner, play the violin for her, and tell her flat out that I love her more than anything in the whole entire world."

The blonde went back to flower shopping while Haru just stood there shaking his head.

"If the world were that simple," Haru muttered, somewhat envious of the shorter boy.

He thought about Amaya at that moment. He loved her and he knew it, but he didn't know how to tell her. Amaya wasn't into the overly romantic stuff, but she wasn't into aggressive expression either. The woman was a complicated mix to the point that Haru felt anything he did would be wrong, but he didn't want to just wait until after they were married. He could imagine how much it would suck to be married without having told your significant other that you love them. For some sad reason, Haru was pretty sure that was where Yuki and Ren's relationship was headed and he felt bad for them. He wasn't going to let that happen to him and Amaya. He'd tell her…eventually.

"DONE!" Momiji said, popping up in front of Haru again with two dozen roses in hand.

As they walked out of the store and headed toward Momiji's house, Haru looked down at him.

"If you were with Amaya…how would you tell her how you feel?"

Momiji got a thoughtful look on his face. Haru didn't like asking for help, but even he knew that Momiji understood people even better than he did.

"Well…I'd compliment her a lot at first. She'd need the reassurance because of how she was before. Build up her confidence and then…I guess just tell her."

It seemed so dry compared to what Momiji was planning.

"Just make sure you and Rini keep this a secret. If Amaya finds out you did all this for Rini my chances will be shot."

He smiled as Momiji laughed. When they got to Momiji's, he helped cover the place with flower petals before leaving Momiji to cook. He was stopped at the door.

"Here," Momiji said, handing him a rose," Give it to Amaya when you tell her."

Haru took it and stared at it for a moment.

"But that means I'd have to tell her really soon…"

Momiji gave a surprisingly sly smile before closing the door and going back to his preparations. Haru went back to his house to find that Amaya was home. She heard the door open and peeked out from the living room.

"Hey, Haru. I only just got in. Rini already headed back."

She went back into the living room and Haru took a breath. He didn't need to be nervous. The worst she could say was that she didn't love him back at the time…but she'd end up loving him later, right?

"If you want it, you have to go for it," Haru told himself before going into the living room.

Amaya sat on the couch reading. He smiled. She read a lot. He was wondering how she hadn't run out of books to read already after a year. He fell onto the couch beside her and tapped the top of her book with the rose. Her eyes looked up in curiosity.

"For you," he said, handing it to her.

She smiled with a tiny blush on her face as she took it.

"Thanks."

Haru took the book from her hands and placed it down the table next to the couch.

"I want to talk to you," he told her, giving her a sincere look.

"Okay," Amaya asked, feeling worried all of a sudden," Is something wrong?"

Haru shook his head and took the hand of hers that was not holding the rose.

"You have to understand that, to me, you are the most beautiful, intriguing, and intelligent woman I have ever met."

Amaya blushed crimson and looked down at the rose she was holding.

"Haru, that's sweet."

"You're those things while being much more. I can't describe to you everything that you are because it would take forever and the list would never end. But, after this year, you've become everything to me."

She looked back up at him.

"What are you-?"

Her words caught in her throat at the look in Haru's eyes as he leaned in close to her.

"I'm going to kiss you," he whispered.

She could only nod dumbly in response before his hand touched her cheek and their lips met. Amaya had never felt like she did at that moment. Butterflies erupted in her stomach, but not from nerves. It was something else. There was also a strange pressure in her chest that warmed her whole body. Her eyes fell closed as she kissed him back. She gasped slightly as his tongue aggressively pushed through her lips. She didn't notice when she was pushed onto her back and Haru hovered over her. His other hand had found its way to the back of her neck and caressed the soft hair closest to her neck. She had wrapped her arms around his neck instinctually as her brain had shut out everything but the feelings surging through her. When Haru pulled back, she could see he was almost as stunned as she was. This somehow made the two of them smile. Haru leaned down and nipped her ear affectionately.

"I love you, Amaya," he told her, his warm breath tickling her.

Amaya pulled him against her in a hug.

"I love you, too."

They both felt as if the last weight, the curse, was finally lifted. She ran her fingers through his snowy white bangs before kissing him again. Haru had just started kissing her back when his cell phone rang. He tried to ignore it, but Amaya picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Oh! Hey, Amaya. Guess you're with Haru currently. I hope you two are behaving! I just wanted to let Haru know that- actually is Haru there?"

Amaya laughed and handed the phone over to its owner.

"Momiji?"

"Rini told me she loved me back. How'd it go on your end?"

"Great, but you're interrupting it."

"Oops! Sorry! I'll let you guys get back to…whatever you're doing. Don't get her pregnant."

Haru could hear Rini squeal in the background at the comment.

"Very funny," Haru said, hanging up the phone.

Amaya smiled at the look on his face.

"What?" she asked.

Haru nuzzled her shoulder before kissing up her neck.

"Momiji told me not to get you pregnant."

"Oh. How nice of him."

Haru smirked and nibbled her ear.

"Yeah. He doesn't have to worry though. I have condoms."

Amaya's shocked face was exactly what he had been aiming for.

"YOU WHAT?"

Haru chuckled before passionately kissing her until she forgot about his comment.