This chapter doesn't really take the story forward, it is a brief introduction to some characters I haven't mentioned earlier.

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Chapter IX: Beach Games

Yuki

"You have everything?" Shigure asked. I shook my head.

"No, be patient, it is still early." Hmm, what more should we bring? Ah, yes a blanket. "Why should I do the packing?" I said while folding the blanket neatly.

"Hoh hoh hoh, but Yuki must you ask this?"

"Eh, yes, I don't get it at all," I sighed. The answer was obvious though, Kyo was not a person to rely on such a task (even if it was a simple one) and Shigure was just... lazy.

"But you do get it, " Shigure winked. Why did I even bother trying to have a decent conversation with him?

"Oh, by the way, Kagura called not long ago, she said she would come as well," I said while getting plates.

"OK, great, guess about everyone is coming then."

Kyo entered the room and went straight to the fridge.

"Where's the milk?" he mumbled annoyed while searching.

"I have it," I said while putting some fruits in the basket.

"Well, give it to me!"

"Sorry, no can do." This was just what I needed, an annoying baka neko. Couldn't he bother someone else?

"What the hell do you mean?! Give me the damn milk!" he yelled. "Where did you put it?!"

"Hoh hoh hoh, Kyo-kun don't bother Yuki," Shigure said while chuckling.

"WHY NOT! HE STOLE THE DAMN MILK!" He turned his attention to me again. "GIVE IT! If you don't I guess I'll just kick your girly ass!" I sighed. What a bother.

"Jeez, must you ruin everything?" Kyo looked at me suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" He forced out the words I could tell.

"We are going out," Shigure said, "we are having a picnic to cheer up Tohru-kun." Finally, Shigure to the rescue, I thought to myself with sarcasm.

"Oh..." I guess he forgot all about the milk now.

"We are leaving in two hours, so be home by then!"

I paid them no attention now. I didn't care if Kyo bothered to come or preferred to stay home.

Kyo

I never came home that time Shigure wanted me to, keh, nobody ordered me around.

I closed my eyes and smiled softly, this was so nice... The beach was a great place to be if you wanted to be alone.

It was not that I didn't want to cheer Tohru up, it just... I was feeling rather gloomy; I didn't feel like hanging around all my crazy relatives, especially Kagura.

I would make it up for Tohru though; make her some breakfast tomorrow or something.

"Hah hah hah, what lovely weather we have today!"

My smile faded, I must be imagining things... I thought I just heard Ayame's voice. I must have spent too much time in Shigure's crazy house.

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh, hah hah, I'm so glad I brought my kite here!"

No!!!! This couldn't be happening! I was certain that was Momiji who had spoken. The person who spoke next made me want to die right there on the spot I was standing.

"What is this I am seeing? Oh my God, I-I can't believe it..." I felt chills all over my body. They were here! They all were here! She was here! That was her voice! This can't be true! I started running. "Kyo-kun..." the voice said softly who had spoken recently. "Oh, Kyo-kun!"

My heart was beating loudly, I could hear it clearly in my ears. Get to get out of here, FAST! "KYO-KUN!!!" The voice had now turned into an aggressive shout. The person running behind me jumped at me and I landed painfully on the sand.

"K-Kagura!" I said while spitting out sand.

Kagura embraced me.

"Oh, Kyo-kun! Shigure said you never showed up at your home today, I never thought you would come, but here you are! Oh, Kyo-kun!" She hugged my back and my face was now buried in the sand. Ah, I can't breathe, go away! Aaaaah! "My love..." she mumbled in my hair.

Help me!

Shigure

"Oh, Kyo! I didn't think you would come!" Kyo was lying on the sand with Kagura on top of him, he didn't look so happy about it.

"Hmph, surprise," he said with sarcasm and for the third time tried to push Kagura away.

I laughed and walked away. Better leave the young couple in love alone.

"HEY!" Kyo yelled, "don't leave! HELP ME!"

I rather not, this was more fun.

Tohru

I looked disturbed at the girl who was playing with Kyo. Who was she? I rather wished she wasn't here.

"Who is the wild beast girl over there?" I asked Yuki while pointing at her. Yuki turned his attention to Kyo and the strange nuisance of a girl.

"That is Souma Kagura," he said quietly. I didn't like her, I didn't like her at all. She was cute, how bothersome!

"Is she Kyo's girlfriend?" Kyo seemed quite annoyed with her, but what do I know? Perhaps they were 'playing' or something.

"Girlfriend?" Yuki looked strangely at me. I was disturbed by this, did I have something on my face?

"Wha-?"

"Nothing... Sorry, no, she isn't his girlfriend..." He seemed to be uncomfortable around me, had I said something wrong? Could it be... Was he jealous? I grinned, OK, guess I won't talk about Kyo then, not with Yuki at least.

"So... What do you think about my bikini?" It was aqua colored with dark blue roses on it, it was absolutely adorable!

"Ehm... Nice... Where did you get it?" he mumbled without looking at me.

"I ordered it on  internet." ^_^ "Such a great invention, right?" Yuki blushed.

"You mean internet or the... bikini..." he whispered.

I laughed, how could I not? He was so sweet. "Look," he said, sounding alleviated. "Ritsu is here." Ritsu? I turned my head to the left. I gasped, such a beautiful woman!

This was not good!

Kyo

I was finally free from Kagura, she was now talking with Haru about something. I sighed. Just my luck. Of course they would have a picnic here...

"Kyo!" Shigure called. "Help us set everything up!" How annoying!

"Keh, fine."

Hatori had taken out the blanket and it was lying neatly on the sand, I started to take out some plates. Oh man, I felt like a wuzz, I wasn't a maid for God's sake! This wasn't mans' work.

"Oh, Kyo, you're such a sweet little sweet heart!" Shigure said and ruffled my hair.

"SHUT UP! I won't help you if you do that again!" I pulled my right hand through my hair frustrated.

"Stop bothering the poor boy," Hatori said with his calm voice.

"Hmph, you two are no fun!" Shigure turned his head to the left, then to the right, "where is Ayame by the way?"

I grunted. "Who cares where that idiot is?"

Shigure grinned. "I do!"

"Keh..." Stupid idiot. "Hmph, where is Tohru by the way?"

"With Yuki," Hatori said, he pointed to the left. I couldn't see them very well but I saw a blur of brown and gray hair. "I believe Ritsu is walking towards them."

"NANI?! Is Ritsu here?!" Shigure gave away one of his so annoying giggles.

"Yes! Me, Hatori, Ayame, Kagura, Ritsu, Haru, Hiro, Kisa, Yuki, Tohru, Momiji and you of course!" ^_^ Aw man!

I took out the final thing in the basket and then lied down on the blanket.

"All I wanted was some time alone..." I sighed. Guess I didn't need to make it up for Tohru tomorrow after all.

Yuki

Ritsu bowed to Honda-san and smiled nervously.

"Hello, s-so glad to see you again, you look fine..." he whispered shyly. Ritsu was wearing a pink kimono with red flowers on it, his hair was braided today. Hard to tell it was a guy, made it even harder to see with those clothes...

"Really?" Honda-san said coldly. I turned my head slightly and looked at her full with wonder. Her stance showed every sign of abomination... Why was that?

Ritsu looked sadly at Tohru and what came after didn't surprise me.

"GOMEN NASAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" he yelled. Honda-san backed obviously surprised by the apology (rather loud apology).

"Why?" she said full with disgust.

Ritsu sniffed. "W-what d-do you mean, 'why'?" his soft voice whispered.

Honda-san rolled her eyes. "Why do you apologize?"

Ritsu blinked.

What an unusual thing to see... Why was Honda-san acting this way? It almost was like she was threatened by poor timid Ritsu.

"Because of my rude behavior," he said while he didn't dare to look at her face.

"Yeah, absolutely," Honda-san agreed while nodding.

"Oh no, what have I done?! I shouldn't have come! SUUUMIMAASEN!! I'm such a fool! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! GOMEN NASAIII! Just kill me, kill me right now! I don't deserve to be here! GOOOOOOMEN NAASAIIIIIII!"

What Honda-san did shocked us both, she was laughing, actually laughing. Ritsu became quiet, "I'm sorry..."

She licked her lips and studied Ritsu. "It's all right. Hmph, to think you were a threat to me, how foolish! Well, well, nice to know you."

He blinked again not sure what to say or think. "Threat?"

She shook her head. "Never mind."

I watched the scene disturbed but still I couldn't help feeling amazed by this.

What was the meaning of this?

Momiji

I watched the kite fly in the air and laughed full of joy. I turned to Kisa and saw her smiling softly as she was also watching her kite soar in the sky. Hiro was behind Kisa all the way but wasn't flying a kite, he had said it was too childish, he had hastily added that it was OK for a girl to do such a thing though.

Kisa stopped running and the kite landed not far away. She was breathing heavily, her face shaded with the color of soft pink.

"Onee-san, where is she?" she whispered breathless. I had by now stopped flying my kite as well.

"By the bridge with Yuki, she's talking with Ritsu," I said softly.

"OK..." I patted her gently on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, we'll talk to her as well, let's do it when we eat, OK?" ^_^

She smiled. "OK." The reason I wanted to talk to her then was that everyone else would be around us, I was certain (and I hoped) she wouldn't brush Kisa or me away as easily as she had done me before, when I had been alone.

Ayame

I took a deep breath and laughed out aloud, oh my, how marvelous this was, this fresh air!

Before the party started I wanted some quality time alone (this may sound surprising but sometimes even I want to be alone). I had brought with me an air mattress and was now floating peacefully on the water.

I opened my eyes and marveled at how lovely the sky looked, why did we humans take such wondrous things for granted? I was amazed.

Hah hah hah hah, but tomorrow I would be back to my 'rough' job and I would forget about all this, ah, but what the hell, that did not matter now!

I lifted my head slightly and nearly fell out, I sighed with relief when the mattress regained balance.

I tilted my head to one side and then to the next, I gasped, OH DEAR! I panicked and fell down from the mattress down in the cold water, I quickly reached surface and grabbed the mattress for support.

There was no land in sight! Where was I?! OH LORD! I was lost! I was in the open sea! I had drifted too far from shore!

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"

Yuki

I sighed.

"Oh, Yuki, my beloved brother, thank you for saving me!" Onii-san sniffed and opened his arms to me.

I ignored the gesture.

"You were not that far from shore..." I mumbled.

"But, Yuki! There was no land in sight!" he shouted terrified, "I could have died!"

"Did you bother to look everywhere?"

He looked baffled at me. "Well... I did look to the left and then to the right..." Was this stupid creature really my brother?

"Did you ever consider that there is not only left and right but also back and frontward?" He scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"Well, now that you mention it... I didn't."

Honda-san who had been watching the whole time quietly started to giggle softly. Onii-san seemed to realize that he and I was not the only people there.

"Oh, my, how unforgivable! I forgot about you!" He reached for Honda-san's hand and kissed it softly.

Honda-san smiled and blinked innocently with her large eyes.

My brother started to flirt with her and Honda-san listened with great intensity at his words. Damn them (even Honda-san) did they not know about manners!? I couldn't take it no more. I heard him landing in the sand after I had punched him in the face.

Honda-san looked startled at me. "What did you do that-" I took her hand and lead her away from my brother.

"He's a pain, Honda-san, you'll see."

Akito

I squinted when I gazed at the rays of the sun. Such lovely weather, perfect for a picnic... I laughed quietly to myself.

They didn't think I knew about this little... event taking place.

They thought that just by being near that wretched girl she would become their wonderful Goddess again knowing all answers, hah, this truly showed what fools they were who desperately needed me for guidance.

Everyone would be so upset when it finally entered their weak minds that she was... nothing, that she could give them absolutely nothing but suffering.

They would be crushed when they realized they had given away their secret to such a weakling. They would come to me for consult, for comfort, but I would not show compassion to them, they deserved the misery she gave them! Why should I show them kindness!

I lay my right hand on my chest, just above the heart and breathed heavily. I hoped she would feel the pain I felt, she would never come close though, but if it couldn't last forever I wanted her to feel it for a moment at least!

I closed my eyes and was surrounded by a calm serenity.

A white little bird flew and landed on my hand that I had stretched out.

How marvelous this creature... Obeying me so calmly, so peacefully without the need to argue or upset me.

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O_O Long note time…

About Tohru, I have already thought out an ending (if she will remember or not), anyway, I won't mind changing it at all. Please tell me if you want her to regain her memory or stay this way. I believe most want her to remember but I could be wrong. If you don't know it's OK, I still would know what to write. ^_^

In the next chapter I will try to introduce Haru, Kagura and Hiro (as in this it was Ayame and Ritsu). I was sick as I wrote this (blame the sickness). I guess it turned out a bit odd... Anyhow I'll still keep this chapter, I won't change.

Another thing very stupid of me was to forget Kagura in chapter eight! At first I hadn't thought about introducing the rest of the character but when some people wanted me to include others I finally decided to put them all in.

Kewie: Hi, so glad you're still reading! ^_^ Thanks for everything (including the muffin). Also thanks for the encouraging words. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

PatSuki: Oh gosh, thanks! It can be very hard (or annoying) to read about someone you don't like, still you did it! Thanks! So glad you liked it! ^_^

Carla: Thank you!

Arrei: Oh my God! *dies out of happiness* I'm delighted you found it funny! THANK YOU!!!!!

Sakura Avalon or Kinomoto: Ah, that makes me so glad. ^_^ Hope you will continue liking it! =) I did read one of your stories, you'll see for yourself what I thought of it. ^^

Miiimi: Hi hi, thank you!