"You're leaving again?" asked Horo Horo, looking at me with what seemed like a trying-hard-not-to-cry expression. I felt something pinch within me. Last night was spent on chatting with him about what Horo Horo was. He had a lot of questions about his identity, and I could remember how amazed he was when he learned that he was a shaman.

As for me, it was like discovering once again what my best friend and most favorite person was like; when I enumerated the things that I want and like about him, the things about him that can exasperate me, and the stuff that he enjoys like food and merriment, I felt as if I was getting to know him once again. It would also delight me whenever he says that something was quite familiar about the things I say, like the snowboarding skills he has.

I smiled gently. "I'll come back the day after tomorrow."

"D-Don't leave," he said somewhat beggingly.

I fought the urge to do as he says. I was still needed in Izumo. "I won't leave permanently. I'll be back. I'm sure Pirika would love to walk you around the Tao compound."

"Yes, but I want you to walk with me too," he pouted.

I had to laugh. Some months ago, Horo Horo would never dare speak out loud how much he needs me. I guess this was one of the few things I thank for after the accident- that I felt that he needed me after all. I thought I was the only one dependent on this friendship.

"Tell you what, you can walk me to the plane," I said.

He sighed, the nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I'll walk you there. I don't want you to walk with that boy with pointed  hair-"

"Ren Tao-san?" I laughed. "He's a nice person."

"I have this feeling that I didn't like him. Especially since I notice that there's something about him and my sister…"

"You're being paranoid," I said in an effort to pacify him, but deep inside, I couldn't help but feel that there was something weird between his sister and the Tao. The chemistry maybe.

"So this is where we separate ways," I said, gesturing towards the Tao jet plane. I tried to ignore the lonely look Horo-kun was giving me.

When suddenly, Pirika spoke up. "No…we're coming with you."

I was surprised. "Eh? Aren't you…"

Pirika tried to smile at me, but somehow, that smile didn't reach her eyes. "Now that Onii-chan is fine, the Tao clan has no obligations to us anymore."

Something formed in my mind. "Does Ren…does Ren know this?" I asked quietly.

"He doesn't need to know anyway." Her voice was tight, and I knew at once that she and Ren Tao were involved with each other in some way that involves the heart. I suddenly felt uneasy about meddling in their affairs. "I don't know…"

"Please don't tell anyone about this. Ren will know we're gone soon, but by then, Onii-chan and I are in the forest already…maybe we're in Hokkaido, I don't know." She clasped her hands. "Please, nee-san?"

 I can sense the despair in her voice, as if my agreement to conspire with her was a matter of life and death. But sensibly speaking, I know that she still needs to see Ren-san. "Why don't you just say goodbye to him?" I asked in one last effort to open the communication line between the two.

 She shook her head firmly. "It doesn't matter. But believe me, it's all for the best. I've convinced Pailong already. I just need your cooperation on this one."

I sighed defeatedly, then nodded. I felt bad about being her accomplice for her escape here, but I could feel her urgency. If I don't let her do what she intends to do, I'm afraid of what might happen to her.

She smiled, the first real smile I saw from her ever since she told me that her brother woke up from his comatose. She gave the Tao mansion one last glance before she pulled her brother along. "Let's go, onii-chan?"

He looked at her intently. "Why is it that you look like you have left something there but you don't want to retrieve it?"

When Pirika smiled sadly, I started to walk ahead to give them the time for a heart-to-heart sibling talk. I would just have to wait until one of them tells me about the outcome of the talk. But when I saw them enter the plane hand-in-hand, I knew that everything will be alright for Pirika, someone I've started to think of as a real younger sister already.

I was washing the dishes when Anna, wearing a lovely ivory bridal gown stopped in the kitchen, looking at me, puzzled.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? Won't you attend my wedding?" she asked at last.

I shook my head. "Gomen, but I have to stay here to prepare the reception area for the guests. My best wishes, Anna-okami."

She smiled, one of the rare times I ever saw her did ever since Yoh-sama died. "Thank you, Tamao, but I'll be happier if you make it to the wedding."

"I will do my best to make it there," I promised, although it would be unlikely considering how much work is still left to be done.

Anna-okami nodded. "I'll wait for you. I'll throw the bouquet to you. I'm sure Yoh would both want us to be happy."

I smiled tearfully. "Hai. Arigatou, Anna-okami."

Just minutes after she left, Horo came into the kitchen, assisted by his sister.

"Good news, onee-san," said Pirika, face lit up. "Onii-chan seems to remember some of the places here, and he actually remembers how much he fears Anna-okami!"

"That's good." I beamed at Horo Horo, whose eyes were around the room. Silently, he moved to the connecting room to the right. "This place is very familiar…it's very close to my heart…"he whispered.

I laughed. "Of course you would remember this place. It's the kitchen. And you're heading for the…"

Horo Horo smiled. "Refrigerator."

Pirika and I laughed. His memory is coming around.

She then turned to me as her brother scanned the contents of the fridge. "By the way, onee-chan, I heard Anna-okami say that it is imperative that you attend her wedding. Why aren't you dressed yet?"

I gestured to the sink, where plates are still to be washed, and to the buffet table that still needed to be completed.

Pirika's forehead creased. "That's all? But that's no valid reason to defy Anna-okami's wishes. Tell you what, Tamao' nee-san. Onii-chan and I would take care of the things still needed, and you go get dressed."

"B-But…"Before I could protest, Pirika pushed me out of the kitchen. "Go get dressed! Onii-chan and I will be fine here. We can't make an appearance yet on the wedding; I don't want Onii-chan to be pressured to remember all the people who knows him in the wedding."

"P-Pirika…"

"Go!"

I finished dressing up at last. Although what I was wearing – a long white silk sleeveless dress with a slit on the side and white pumps- was not exactly what I would want to wear, it was the only dress I could find in the last minute. I rushed to the garden, where the ceremony would be held. I knew that I was already half an hour late.

Because I was hurrying, I didn't notice that I bumped on someone already.

"Oof!"

"G-Gomen nasai!" I cried panickedly. "Sir, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes, please don't worry…" He got up and smiled at me. His eyes then sparked in recognition. "Tamamura-san?"

My eyes widened. "Lyserg Diethyl-san! Wow!"

He looked at me appreciatively. "Hmm, you're blooming, eh?"

I blushed. "A-Ah…t-that's an overstatement."

He shook his head. "I'm sorry for shocking you with my honesty." He looked around. "May I ask where Horo Horo is?"

I looked down. He was the only one who wasn't informed of Horo-kun's accident because he couldn't be contacted in London. "Ah, he couldn't make it. He's with his sister, right now, resting."

"Ah, I see." His forehead creased. "You have no one escorting you in this celebration, Tamamura-san?"

"Um…"

Lyserg smiled kindly. "It's alright. I have no one to escort, so if you would kindly make do with me…" He offered a gentleman's arm to me. I accepted it gratefully.

Soon, the ceremony was over. Anna-okami's eyes twinkled when she spotted me in the crowd. Breaking the tradition, she placed the bouquet on my hands, then ushered her groom. Hao followed her obediently.

"Give the garter to Horo Horo."

Hao looked around briefly, then shrugged. "Hon, I don't feel the ainu's aura here."

Anna looked at me. "Where is Horo Horo?"

I looked down, debating whether to tell her about Horo-kun's dilemma.

Fortunately, Hao Asakura-sama saved the day. He planted a kiss on the itako's cheek. "Wait here, Ill go tell Opacho to find him."

"Hurry up," she said. "The waltz will start."

Soon enough, Hao returned, and the music began.  The newlyweds started off the cotillion, with couples surrounding them. I was about to shy away from the dancing when Lyserg came to my side, smiling.

"Will Tamamura Tamao-san care to dance?" he asked, bowing elegantly.

I blushed. "Um… I don't know much about dancing."

"It's very easy," he said reassuringly. "Here, let me teach you a thing or two." He took my hand and pulled me alongside the dancing couples around the itako and Asakura-san.

What he said was true; it was actually very easy. All I had to do was move my feet and sway along with Lyserg-san as we moved around the groom and bride in clockwise precision. It went along smoothly, until I spotted a familiar figure seated in the corner of the room. Lyserg apparently had not noticed yet, so I dragged him away with me and led him to the Iron Maiden Jeanne, whose eyes widened when she spotted us.

"It's been a while, Jeanne-sama," I said, smiling.

She smiled back, shyly. "Y-Yes." Her eyes went to Lyserg, whom I could feel was starting to become very uncomfortable.

"Why don't you join us in the cotillion?" I asked.

Jeanne looked down. "Iie, I do not know how to dance. Besides, I just asked Marco to drop me here because…because I want to give my personal congratulations to the newlyweds." Her scarlet eyes went to Hao and Anna. "The devil Asakura looks so different now, doesn't he?"

I nodded. "You will be amazed at how much he had changed." I gave Lyserg a small push, and the dowser fell helplessly down on the untaken seat beside her. "A-Ah, gomen nasai, Diethly-san!" I cried, pasting a panicked look on my face that Horo-kun said made Tamamura Tamao a classic.

He winced. "Don't worry. I'm fine, Tamamura-san."

"Ah, that must mean you can't dance anymore," I said fretfully. "Jeanne-sama, will you please keep him company?"

"W-Where are you going?" they asked at the same time.

"Master Chocolove is calling me." With that, I hurried away from the two.

It was so much fun dancing; I had danced with Chocolove, Ryu, Faust, and even Hao Asakura-san. Manta turned down the offers to dance; he just sat down good-naturedly in the sidelines.

Now it was time for the ceremony of placing the garter. To my surprise, Horo Horo was already present, dressed in a handsome black tux. He also looked a little surprised when he saw me.

Everyone applauded when I sat down the chair and Horo-kun knelt down in front of me. The admiration I saw in his eyes was gone; I could see that even though he refused to look at me. He just mechanically placed the garter around my ankle, careful to avoid skin contact. However, when I lifted my leg a little higher, I saw him hesitate.

I smiled at him. "It's alright to touch me, Horo-kun. I trust you."

He suddenly looked up at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw the old twinkle in Horo-kun's eyes whenever he was delighted with me. But as sudden as it came did it disappear; he went back to the garter business.

Soon, the garter was in place. We both got up for the customary kiss. But when I turned his way, he looked confused. Perhaps he wasn't briefed about what to do; that was what I guessed when he turned to Hao Asakura helplessly.

I sighed; I better be the one to do it. I tiptoed and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek, at the exact moment that he looked back at me.

It was only a second- no, a quarter of a millisecond, but it was a kiss. We broke apart in surprise as everyone cheered around us. But I didn't notice it anymore. I was engrossed in looking at Horo-kun's equally stunned face.     

Through his clear handsome eyes, I could see myself with wide, surprised eyes. I know my eyes reflect the same look on his face.

I instantly knew that I would never ever forget this moment.

That evening, I was rinsing the dishes while Pirika was wiping them.

Crash! I blinked when I heard something shatter underneath me.

"Tamao' nee-san?" asked Pirika, looking at me intently. "That was the third plate you broke."

"G-Gomen nasai," I mumbled.

"Why? What happened in the wedding? Or the party? Onii-chan looks as distracted as you are, you know," she said.

"He does?" I echoed.

"Of course," she confirmed. "I didn't know why Opacho suddenly called for my brother, bringing a garter and a box of tux. But when she said that you are waiting for him in the reception, I let him go there. D-Did something happen?"

I shrugged. "He…placed the garter on my leg."

Her blue eyes full of youthful romantic excitement widened. "Hontou? That's so cute! What happened then?"

I wasn't able to reply, for a plate yet again slipped from my hands, making the official count for my damages four.

"You know, I'll talk to you later. Maybe you should go up to your room and rest. I can handle the rest from here," she said, giving me a gentle shove.

"B-But you had been working since this morning!" I protested.

"No problem! I had my rest this afternoon when you came home. This is nothing compared to what you do everyday for this house." Her voice meant period. That was one of the traits she shares with her brother; they could both be authoritarian-sounding.

"Thank you, Pirika," I said softly. I wearily climbed the stairs and opened the door of my room.

Only to find Horo Horo seated on my bed, looking at me as if waiting for me.

"Hi," he said quietly.

"H-Horo…kun," I whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm not used to falling asleep without seeing you first," he explained. He got up. "Now that I saw you…I guess I better go sleep." He tried to walk past me when I suddenly grabbed the tail of his shirt.

"M-Matte, Horo-kun!" I looked down. "Are you…are you mad at me?" I asked softly. "You didn't talk to me in the wedding reception."

He exhaled audibly. "Hai."

I looked at him, eyes shaking. "Doushite, Horo-kun?"

He laughed sadly. "You danced with so many men…but you didn't…you didn't dance with me." With that, he left my room, leaving me astounded.

tsuzuku