"SO…. THIS IT IT!" Momiji cheered as he walked into Shigure's house. "WE'RE LEAVING TOMORROW…! I'M ALL READY….!"

"Appearing and announcing this so suddenly, what's going on…" Yuki said.

"What do you mean?" Shigure asked, not looking up from his newspaper.

"Remember we did agree on this!" Momiji cheered.

"No, I don't recall." Shigure said tiredly.

"So I rented the Sohma family summer house. And tomorrow we're all going to go on our summer retreat!"

"Wait, tomorrow?" Minami asked surprised. "Isn't that too soon?"

"You decided it all by yourself again…" Yuki said.

"Secretaries…" Shigure said and he looked off in the distance.

"Minami, you can apply leave for your job, right? So this is the best opportunity for us to go on our trip!"

"But leaving tomorrow is a bit too soon! Furthermore, if it rains.." Shigure said.

"No worries!" Momiji cheered. "The weather report says that it'll be sunny all day tomorrow!"

"Ah, ah… I see…" Yuki said tiredly.

"So how about it? Let's go together Minami! We already promised each other!" Momiji said and he happily took her hands. "So how about it Mi-na-mi~" Momiji said happily.

"But…" Minami said, she didn't have enough time to process this information.

"You should just go, Mi-chan! If you really want to go.." Shigure said and now there were eyes on her.

"S-Sure…" Minami said and Momij's eye lit up.

"...Ah! Stag beetles… We can go catches tag beetles!" Momiji cheered and he lifted her up and began to jump up in down. Minami took in a deep breath and smiled, the summer vacation had already started and it was already time for the plot to move. "And play with fireworks!"

"Sounds so fun, even I want to go now." Shigure said and Momiji stopped jumping.

"Really?! Let's go together, let's go together!" Momiji cheered.

"Will your work be alright?" Shigure asked.

"Of course…!" Shigure lied happily.

"I know you're lying, but could you please try to refrain from annoying me, because I'm not in a particularly good mood at the moment." Yuki said.

"Don't worry about me so much, what about your summer school work? I doubt you'll be taking it with you on your trip, right?" Shigure said.

"Relax, I've basically finished it already." Yuki said.

"I'm almost done too." Momiji cheered and Minami felt eyes on her.

"I… was going to do it later…" Minami said. Momiji and Yuki always did their homework too fast.

"We'll help you!" Momiji cheered.

"Might as well get it done now right?" Yuki said. Which was how Minami ended up doing her homework too early.

"You can do it, Minami!" Momiji cheered. "Go for it!"

"I'll try my best." Minami said.

"For the stag beetles!" Momiji cheered. "For the fireworks!" Minami smiled gently at him and began her work. "Eh?" Momiji said and he looked around. "That reminds me, what about Kyo? Isn't he resting in his room?"

"That's right." Minami said and Momiji stood up with his fist in the air. "Then I'll go and inform Kyo of our plans! Since I don't really have anything else to do and I don't want to disrupt your studies!" He quickly made his way to the door and stuck his head out. "Good luck Minami!"

"But Momiji…" Minami said. "Kyo's probably tired-"

"It's alright!" Momiji cheered and shut the door.

"He'll be fine." Yuki said and looked behind her. Minami looked behind and saw the old hat, she grabbed it from the shelf.

"You're staring at this old hat." Minami said and Yuki immediately looked down.

"That cap…" Yuki said and clinched his fists. "That cap… is it yours?"

"No it's not mine." Minami said and her gaze softened. "It stands out doesn't it?"

"Ah… that… I'm quite surprised to see you have something like this…" Yuki said.

"This cap belongs to a small boy…. A boy who helped Tohru when she got lost…." Minami looked up at Yuki who locked eys with her. "I didn't have it at first, but it was important to Tohru, she couldn't even remember what he looked like. She said her old memories were all blurry."

"Why do you still keep it with you…? It's all… worn out…" Yuki asked.

"Because she wanted to treasure that memory.. Because he helped her. She was glad." Minami said. "I am too… I remember this boy… Because he had such sad eyes." Yuki tensed up and Minami smiled at him. "This hat, belongs to Kyo right? He always used to wear it, but he said he bumped into someone and dropped it. That someone, was you. I know this because you remembered me… before..."

"I…" Yuki said but there was a loud sound and the glass broke.

"Ah…"

"Huh?' Minami said in shocked as the two of them stared at the broken glass in shock,

"Thw wind… Minami are you alright?!" Momiji yelled as he ran inside.

"T-The glass... The glass." Minami said as she clutched the hat in shock.

"I know, just calm down. You're not hurt, right?" Kyo asked her and he looked down at the hat.

"Wind, stop blowing!" Momiji said.

"As if the window ill listen to your command, you idiot!" Kyo yelled at him and Kyo grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

"We'll have to cover it up for the time being… Minami, it's not safe in here, so you'd better go out…" Yuki said.

"Go talk to Shigure, tell him what happened." Kyo said and moved her away, looking at Yuki. Minami did exactly that.

"Ah yes, that noise." Shigure said calmly. "So it was the sound of breaking glass.""

"Sorry." Minami said as she took a seat beside him and he passed her a cup of tea.

"It was caused by a big wind, so don't you apologize!" Shigure said. "But it looks like it'll have to be covered for the time being." He scratched his head as he read his book. He placed his book down and moved in front of her as he opened the sliding door toward the backyard. There was Rin… Isuzu Sohma.

She was very slim with a light complexion, sharp, dark brown eyes that almost looked black, and a tall statue. She was very beautiful and had a nice figure, which could be seen easily. She had straight, hip length, jet black hair that she wore in a hime cut; with long, loose strands of hair freely framing her face and evenly cut bangs that covered her entire forehead and framed her thick eyelashes. She wore a low cut white shirt that showed off the top of her black bra. She had on some nice accessories and had on a mostly black, very short skirt, a cross necklace around her neck that wrapped around her neck once. She had on almost ankle high dark shoes.

"... first I'll clarify a few things." Rin said to Shigure. "The person who broke the window. Wasn't me!"

"I know." Shigure siad and moved her toward the side where he knew Rin wouldn't be able to see her. He glanced back at her once and Minami knew that it meant that Rin shouldn't see her yet. "Long time no see. Oh yeah, and congratulations on your fast recovery! Rin." He turned around and Minami made sure she couldn't be seen. "Come in! This kind of weather might worsen your condition."

Rin leaned down on Shigure, her head on his back. "... Rin-chan? You're still wearing your shoes… You know, right?"

"The reason I'm here. My deepest thoughts, and my deepest wishes. Gure-nii… You should know, right?... That… How should I put it! Promise me." Rin said as Shigure walked forward and took a seat down near Minami was hidden. "Whether I can grant you wishes… Promise me. Gure-nii!"

"... Do I look… like such a simple man?" Shigure asked.

"No!" Rin said.

"Hah!" Shigure turned over to look at Rin with a twisted smile on his face. "Are you… an idiot? Or is this stupor of yours all part of your plan?" Rin went down on her knees and leaned closer to Shigure.

"... Well then. What shall we do?" Shigure said with a smile on his face.

"Tell me. You know don't you Gure-nii?" Rin asked. "The way to break the curse? You're at Akito's side… and you are trusted. Because you're his 'favorite.'"

Shigure covered his face with his hand, though you could still see his smile. "... His favorite? His 'favorite!' Haha. That's good. So what sort of secrets would I know being his 'favorite'?" He paused. "If that were true I wonder if I'd tell you anything that could cause Akito trouble. Do you have any collateral?" Rin took Shigure's hand and placed it near her neck and leaned closer.

"I only have 'myself'. I'll give 'me' to you. You can use me however you please for the rest of my life." Rin said and Shigure smiled at her.

"... You're desperate aren't you?" Shigure asked and placed a hand through her long black hair. "For Hatsuharu's sake…. But." He put his hand back down. "In truth, I don't know either. How to break the curse. It's too bad. I was unable to meet your expectations afterall."

"Lie… You lie. Don't evade ths issue!" Rin said and stood up.

"It's not a lie. This is a good time so I'll tell you. You shouldn't put to much faith in guys like me… It's not like I'm especially trusted by Akito neither am I particularly important… I have no strength, little ability. I am good for nothing and I am the worst type of guy…. You should try elsewhere. If you really want to know how to break it." Shigure said.

"Elsewhere… Who else would know?" Rin asked.

"Who knows? Maybe you should try asking God himself." Shigure said.

"... Gure-nii, don't you care about staying cursed?" Rin asked.

"Those who care should do whatever they will. For example, yourself. Me, I'll still reap the benefits." Shigure said and they stared at each other. "I told you. I'm the lowest." Rin stared at him silently and turned around, showing her large scar on her back. She then walked away and closed the door. Minami crawled out form under his desk and Shigure helped her up. Minami clutched his hand and they stared at each other.

"That's not the truth, is it?" Minami asked him and he smiled, a similar one he gave Rin. He leaned closer to her and she could fele his breath.

"For some reason…" Shigure said as they stared at each other. "I think you already know how."

"Maybe I do." Minami said.

"Sometimes, I feel like I already know you." Shigure said and leaned his head on hers. "Or that.. You're someone that shouldn't be here."

"..." She had nothing to say.

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