A/N: Surprise update, I was in a good mood.

After that, Hiro decided to come over Shigure's, with strangely enough, Masuru following him from behind. Apparently the schools that they went to were very close to each other, though Hiro and Kisa went to richer All-Girl/All-Boys schools. Masuru just went to the closest school to the Orphanage. Whenever Kisa went over, Hiro went over.

"Don't come marching into other people's houses and nag about nothing!" Kyo said annoyed, as he leaned on the door. "Why do you come here every time you want to play?!"

"Hah? What's this, since when did this place become the 'Cat's House'?You have complaints, but have you made any contributions? Are you paying the bills or something? Shame shame! I especially despise the kind of people who complain irresponsibly! If it's just complaining, even a snotty kid can do it!"

"THAT GOES FOR YOU, TOO!" Kyo yelled and was about to hit Hiro when Shigure grabbed him by his face.

"Stop, stop, Kyo-chan. Hi-kun is going through the rebellious phase." Shigure said.

"HUH?!"Kyo yelled and Shigure pulled him farther back. "I don't care if he's in the rebellious or whatever phase… If he wants to play together he should do it at home.."

"It's not that simple… If one of the Twelve Zodiacs wants to get close to someone. Whether it's 'outside' or in the 'Sohma House'. They must have a very firm resolution… right? Just let it go, if you keep getting upset, it proves you're still in the rebellious phase also."

"WHAT?" Kyo yelled.

"See, you're already upset. You must always try your best to be an admirable adult like me…" Shigure said.

"'Adult'...?" A voice asked and they looked over and see a crying woman. Mitsuru, Shigure's poor editor, was young with fair skin and a petite build. She mostly wore dresses in office clothing; a simple blouse, tight skirt, and heels.. She had grey, purple hair that reached down to her ears, with evenly cut bangs that framed her forehead. Her eyes were the same color as her hair. "Someone who doesn't even keep his deadlines is admirable adult…?"

Shigure and Mitsuru had a back and forth until Shigure dragged her out of the room. Minami had already heard about what had happened to Kisa from Shigure, who found out from Hatori. Though she already knew what happened, but hearing it in person made it even sadder. After the hugging incident, Hiro had acted as though Minami didn't exist. Which was fine because the house was already crowded and she didn't feel like babysitting, since Kisa was the oldest she would just come upstairs if something happened.

Masuru and Kisa got along like siblings, which didn't sit well with Hiro. Both children hardly ever spoke, so it was easy for them to get along with each other, Masuru followed Kisa around just like how Kisa followed Minami. It was adorable.

So it was always a surprise when Masuru didn't show up with Kisa and Hiro. The next day Hiro and Kisa were standing outside of the school gates, wearing their school uniforms. "Hiro… wants to Kyo if we can go out to play somewhere."

"And Hiro won't tell me this himself?" She asked and Kisa looked over at Hiro who was keeping his eyes to the ground.

"Why does that kid.. Think so highly of himself?" A girl from the school asked as she and her boyfriend walked away.

"Seen it so often!" The guy beside her said. "Kids that think they're so smart, they're everywhere."

"Destroy his self-esteem, hey!" The girl cheered and Hiro looked over at them,

"That's so rude." Minami said as she looked over at a sad and angry looking Hiro, who looked away from them.

'Yes… I really do… think highly of myself. People like me should get a taste of the ups and downs in life! Sorry, I'm so envious. I will reflect upon this, please don't be angry." Hiro said.

"Huh!? Ah…" The girl said with a shocked look on her face. But Hiro narrowed his eyes and gave them a sarcastic smile.

"I… I said it, now… are you satisfied?" He asked and they looked at him in shock and anger. "Bye bye." Hiro said and the trio walked away until Minami stopped at a park.

"... This place… isn't this a park?" Hiro asked, it looked like he was in a bad mood, since he was willing to speak to her.

"Doesn't it look like a park?" Minami asked and Hiro glared at her.

"Why did you bring us to such an ordinary place? Don't you have ideas like going to a movie, theme park, or swimming pool inputted in your head?"

"Of course, I would love to go there with Kisa, I would spend a lot of money around her. Because she's so cute, but why would I waste my money and time with you?" Minami asked with a blank look on her face and Hiro was about to say something when Kisa interrupted him.

"I… like parks…" Kisa said with a soft smile.

"You're forgiven." Hiro said looking away.

"Kisa do you want some ice cream?" Minami asked and she nodded her head.

"Then I will go buy some." Minami said. "Kisa what would you like?"

"I want chocolate. Ah… strawberry…. Ah… but…" Kisa said and trailed off.

"How about I give you both?" Minami asked with a smile and the girl's eyes lit up. "I haven't gone out to eat in so long. I'd be more than willing to get both."

"Really? That's okay?" Kisa asked and she nodded.

"I'll be right back." She said and looked over at Hiro who had a distant look on his face. Minami wrapped an arm around him and pulled him over.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled trying to push away. "Are you crazy?! Get off of me!"

"Excuse me, two chocolate, one strawberry and also one with banana chocolate." Minami said.

"Okay." She said with a nervous smile, watching their interactions. Hiro ducked his head and pushed himself away with a red face, whether it was anger or embarrassment, Minami wasn't sure. Probably both.

"I can pay for my one food!" Hiro yelled. "I can pay for Kisa's too!"

"Then go and do it." Minami said. "You looked like you were going to cry over there, so I pulled you away."

"I wasn't going to cry!" Hiro yelled. "I don't need your pity! I can do things on my own!" He glared at the ground. "Why is it… How come I couldn't do it when some idiot like you could?!" He looked up with fierce eyes. "Hey! Are you really that powerful?! Can you really solve any problem for anyone?!" He took a deep breath. "Can you really make any pain, any suffering disappear? Can you really save anyone? Do you think just because you're special you can stop everything bad from happening? That just because you can hug me and hug everyone else, that we'll magically feel better? Have you ever thought that maybe we don't need your help? That we're fine trying to figure things out on our own? Have you?"

"I know you heard from Shigure about what happened between me, Kisa and Akito-san. Do you think that if you were in that same situation you would have been able to protect Kisa better?!.. I love Kisa… I wished it could be like this forever… Wished Akito-san would understand my feelings… I'm such a coward. I made Kisa get hurt, I couldn't face Kisa, I couldn't face Akito-san. I ran away and avoided her. I knew she was being bullied but I couldn't help her. Yet I still tell myself I love her, I'm such a coward."

He looked down and glared at the ground. "Why? Why am I such… such a child?... I… I'm such a coward… I know. I just can't admit it to people, conceited, but I couldn't do anything! I'm a coward.. I'm jealous of you who suddenly appeared in Kisa's life. I'm so cheap! I hate myself being like this, not like this, I want to become…. Become a more respectable 'adult'."

There was a moment of silence and Minami grabbed the ice cream. "I'll pay." She said.

"I don't need-"

"Pity… empathy.. Sympathy… I don't really care if you don't need it. Sorry, kid." Minami said and passed him the ice cream. He glared at her with hatred in his eyes. "There's nothing special about being an adult or being older… Adults make more mistakes than kids ever do. They'll say horrible things, or treat others horribly… or do even worse things… But being more respectable, that's more important. Being someone that people like, that people want to be around, is much better. One day, you'll come to the realization, the same realization I've had when I was younger… That although your mother, father, Kisa, your family and friends love you, they don't like you."

His face seemed to drop slightly. "But you already know this don't you? By the way people act around you, by the way strangers react to you…. If you think that getting angry and lashing out at other people because of your own insecurities and failures is going to help you, then you're sorely wrong. But at the same time, being able to openly talk about wanting to change and realizing you're just a kid, is something very admirable. It's something that people five times your age won't say, not until their dying breath."

"I helped you, I hugged you, I let you express your feelings to me… Even if in some ways they hurt me, because I know that it's important for you. That whenever I look at you, I can't think of you as an responsible adult… but a cowardly and angry kid who just wants someone to help him. But knowing that you're faulty or weak isn't something to be ashamed of, but is something you should be proud of. Because letting people in, is the first step towards feeling better."

She smiled at him and ruffled his hair. "Just take it one step at a time, I'm sure you'll grow up to be an amazing person who can protect the people you love, because you're already doing that right now. Talking to Kisa now, hanging out with her now, I think you're already making your first step in becoming the person that you want to be."

"So I'm still an annoying kid huh? Funny coming from you, you're hardly older than me yet you talk like you're my mother's age." He said and then he smiled. "Even so, maybe you're right… But I'm still going to buy ice cream next time." He grabbed Kisa's ice cream and balanced it with his and walked away.

"'Next time' huh?" Minami said.