I forgot to give the proper credit to the song I used in the last chapter. The song was taken from Final Fantasy 8, and it is entitled "Eyes on Me".

On with the story!

06: Violet

It was just two days before Kisa's birthday. It was a very special day for my girl, so I was busy racking mind for ideas on what to give to her.

Jewelry? Too expensive, and I don't have a job yet.

Stuffed toy? She might think that I'm still treating her like a child, despite the countless times that she asserted her womanhood already.

I decided to ask my relatives for advice on what I should give my girl.

I went to Yuki first.

"A gift for Kisa?" he blinked. "Hmm…how about a book?"

"Um…what kind of book should I give her?" I asked.

"A book of love poems," he suggested.

"But it might just remind her of Hiro!" I protested.

Yuki shrugged. "Why don't you ask Kagura? A girl knows what her fellow girl wants."

So I went to Kagura next. "Can I talk to you for a moment please?"

She sighed. "Can't you see I'm busy cooking Kyo's lunch?"

I shot a brow up. "Kyo's going to eat a burning wok for lunch?"

She sweatdropped when she saw that indeed, her cooking utensils were burning. She ran towards the sink and drowned the poor wok with running water. "I have a feeling that Shigure will not like this."

"He won't," I asserted. "His daily budget is running out already, after you made the stove explode yesterday, and the day before that, you nearly set half of the house on fire –"

"Um, what do you want to talk about?" she asked, not-so-subtly changing the topic away from her arsons.

"What do you think should I give Kisa for her birthday?" I asked.

Her forehead creased. "I don't know…maybe flowers?"

"Too traditional," I protested.

"Geez, that was just a suggestion," she said, sighing. "Well, I'm out of ideas. Why don't you try the others? They might give you better ideas." With that said, she started to work on finding a good place to hide the burnt wok –somewhere Shigure wouldn't find.

Shigure?

Maybe I should ask him. He seems to know a lot about women.

I knocked on the door of his bedroom politely. "Shigure, are you in there?"

I thought I heard a muffled voice, so I decided to come in. I found him lying on his bed, engrossed on a book.

"Hey, I need your advice on something," I began.

He held a hand up. "I have to remind you of my professional fee."

I sweatdropped. "What professional fee?"

He shrugged. "You know, since I'm going to act like a guidance counselor…"

I sighed, then handed him my day's allowance. "Now, will you help me?"

He happily pocketed the money then turned to me. "Sure. What can I do to help?"

"I need a birthday gift for Kisa, and I couldn't think of anything appropriate for her," I explained.

He thought for a moment, then his face lit up. "I know! Let's give her the latest edition of those yaoi doujinshi-"

I snorted. "That doesn't sound something that Kisa would enjoy."

"You're right. That's my wish list," he amended. "How about if we give her a birthday party?"

I tilted my head to one side. "You think she's not too old for that?"

"Of course not!" he said vehemently. "I'm sure she would like that!"

I smiled. Sometimes, Shigure can be really reliable. He is not too bad for a perverted writer anyway.

"Tell you what, I'll start wrapping up a male strip teaser in a box now and-"

My face turned dark. Once a pervert, always a pervert.

I told Honda-san about my idea, and as expected, she was enthusiastic about it.

"I'll start preparing the menu!" she said. "Then I can ask Momiji to handle the invitations."

I nodded, getting carried along with the excitement.

In a span of an hour, I already have arranged the perfect birthday for Kisa.

Yet I was still left with no gift for her.

It was finally the day of her birthday. As planned, I was going to take Kisa out on a date while the people in Shigure's house will prepare for the party. Kisa still has no idea about her surprise birthday party.

"Thanks for taking me out, Haru-san," said Kisa gratefully when we arrived in the mall.

"No problem," I said cheerfully. I steered her towards the fastfood restaurant on the left. "I hope you don't mind if my birthday treat is too cheap."

"Cheap? Haru-kun, you must be kidding!" She smiled gratefully. "You made me so happy by going out with me. Someone actually wanted to go out with me!"

"You're underestimating yourself, Kisa, " I laughed. "A lot of boys want to go out with you, only you don't want to notice them."

She looked away, cheeks slightly pink. "My heart is reserved for someone else…"

Someone else?

Of course, I didn't ask anymore. I mean, it wasn't my business.

But somehow, the thought that Kisa was in love –or still in love , if in the case of Hiro – with someone…

I felt jealousy. Which wasn't right, because there was no reason to be. In fact, I should be glad. Kisa was starting to open her heart again.

But when I think that she's in love with someone else…

I felt like I was driving myself insane.

"Haru-san?"

I blinked. "Y-Yes?"

"I said, what flavor should I order for you?" she repeated.

"Anything's fine," I said, sweatdropping.

I then noticed that there was a new shop on the left of the restaurant. I decided to check it out.

Soon, the four hours that we allotted for the preparation of Kisa's birthday was done. We went home, tired, but I was all smiles.

Because the minute she opened the door, Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, Shigure, Ayame, and Momiji were there to welcome us.

"Happy birthday, Kisa!!!" they all greeted.

"Ah!!" She couldn't speak. She just stared at us, wide-eyed.

Tohru stepped forward and embraced her. "Did you like it?"

She looked at the jovially-designed living room of Shigure's house and sniffled. "Y-You…shouldn't have bothered…oh, thank you so much!"

"She's crying again," noted Shigure, messing her hair fondly. "You are already sixteen years old, Kisa. You shouldn't be a crybaby anymore."

"Grandpa Shigure!" she whined, stomping one foot.

I wrapped an arm around Kisa's shoulder. "I do hope that you won't entertain suitors yet. We still want you to hang around us a bit longer."

She looked up at me smilingly. "Of course!"

"Here's your cake!" announced Kagura, and thankfully, the strawberry cake wasn't burnt.

"Make a wish," instructed Yuki as he lit the candles on top of the cake.

She shut her eyes tight and whispered something, then blew on the candles. Everyone clapped heartily.

"Now let's eat!" said Ayame, pulling Yuki with him excitedly. The latter's face was dark, screaming to everyone, "Tasukete!!!"

As everyone trooped into the kitchen, I pulled something from my bag. "Oh, by the way, my gift…"I blinked. "Um…"

She looked at me expectantly.

"I forgot…" I sighed. "…it in the store."

She laughed. "Ah, it's ok-"

"No, I can not give you a gift!" I protested, then I took off my amethyst lucky charm off my neck. I placed it around her slender neck carefully.

"Haru-kun!" Her cheeks turned pink. "Y-You can't give this away! You had this since you were a child!"

"Exactly," I agreed. "That is why I want you to take care of that always. Will you promise me that?"

"There is no need to promise, Haru-kun!" she said, eyes shining. "I will always do so."

I smiled. "I want you to remember me with that."

"I will always wear it," she said. "I want you to be somewhere near my heart."

"Sounds good," I agreed.

"Haru-kun?"

"Hmm?"

She tiptoed and wrapped her arms around my neck, then laid her head on my chest. "You know what, you're the best birthday gift that I can ever have."

I smiled and smoothed her hair. "Thanks."

However, before I can think of what I was about to do next, I leaned down towards her face and kissed her tentatively.

Tsuzuku

Sorry, I wasn't in the mood to type after all! I'll make it up in the finale chapter! ^^