Konnichiwa, minna-san! To the one who corrected my spelling, Arigato! I tend to be careless in these minor mistakes. Oh well, enjoy the next chapter!

CHAPTER 2

Winter 1992

To hold her

Few days after she was released from the hospital, she moved in with Kagura-neechan and her mother. Despite the warm hospitality, she was unhappy and still fighting the hurt that woman left inside of her. I knew I had to do something. I don't want her to drown in her pain.

"Hey," I knocked on the glass pane of her window. I could see her sitting by her bed with her head resting in her arms. It looked like she's been crying again. She turned to look at me and then, lifted her head. She got up and met me at the front door. She was wearing a red scarf along with the black dress she was wearing earlier.

"Haru? What are you doing here at this hour?"

I just took her hand and lead her to the patio. "I brought some takoyaki...want some?"

I sat down and she followed. "...Is it warm?"

"Yes. It's still hot," I said as I held out the takoyaki towards her mouth. She took a small nip. "You know you could eat more than that," I said. She just gave me an blank expression.

"Thank you for you kindness, Haru," she said, "And for that time too...I feel a little more better...thank you."

I just looked at her, saying nothing. I wanted to tell her that I don't want her to cry anymore or be alone...that I'll stay with her. The words won't come out...I don't know why... I was just a cowardly kid. Afterwards, we took a small walk around the Sohma compound. She tried to start a conversation with me by asking me questions.

"You're nine years old, ne, Haru?"

"Hai."

"That means you're two years younger than me."

When she speaks, she speaks in a small voice. I don't think she could speak any louder, it was a cold winter night. Our breaths could be seen in forms of little clouds of air.

"Do you like school?"

"As long as people don't say anything about my hair, it's okay."

She smiled a little. It was the first time I seen her smile since that day. "I really like your hair Haru. It really suits you."

I stopped walking. We were a few yards away from returning to Kagura-neechan's house. She stopped and studied my face.

"What's wrong Haru? Did you not like your hair?"

"It's...not that..."

"Oh...okay. I think I should go back now...thanks for the takoyaki and spending time with me."

She gave me a little hug from behind and dashed off. "Ja ne, Haru."

I didn't say goodbye because I knew I was going to see her again. However, I was relieved that she didn't notice me blushing. I don't know why I was blushing. Nobody has said they liked my hair...but it was something more than that...

It was close to New Years when I saw her again. We met at the playground after school to hang out. I dragged Kyo along because he was walking with me, plus we're going to Shihan's before practice. I would of brought Momiji too, but he stayed home sick from school. Hatori said he couldn't go out until he feels better.

"Why do I have to go with you! You could go by yourself! I'll just go straight home!"

"It'll be no fun without you , Kyo."

"Eh?"

We arrived at the play ground where she stands waiting. She was wearing a dark blue overcoat over her school uniform.

"Hey ...What's he doing here?" She pointed her finger at Kyo. I didn't know that these two aren't on good terms with each other.

"You..." Kyo seethed as he stared straight at her. She stared at him back with the same expression. Come to think of it...they looked pretty funny.

"Am I missing something here?" I asked, being clueless and all. The two of them said nothing just staring sharply in each other eyes.

"This one," Kyo finally broke the silence and lost the staring contest, "Always barging in my house! Always forgetting to take off her shoes! She's an annoyance to Shishou!"

"I am not! I was by myself! Kagura had other things to do and we're not close!" Rin defended herself. It's true that she an Kagura-neechan aren't close...especially when she only focused on cat over there.

"It's not my fault that you're such an antisocial!"

"It's not my fault that you're a brat!"

I just stood there with a stoic look on my face. Those two could rant for hours if they wanted to, but luckily it ended with a little bang.

"Did someone mentioned my name?"

Kagura-neechan has arrived. She must of seen us walking this way or she must of followed Kyo...

"Ahh!" Kyo started running out of the playground. I never seen him so freaked out. It was definitely a sight to see.

"Kyo-kun! Where are you going, my love! Come back!" Kagura-neechan skipped happily chasing her beloved.

"Hell no! Ahhhh!" Kyo ran a little faster. He went down the hill from the playground with his fearful lover on his tail.

"Come BACK! KYO-KUN!" Kagura-neechan tackled him like an American football player. They rolled around to the bottom of the hill. It seems like she won again...not that they were fighting. Kyo gave up as Kagura snuggled him like her doll.

"She doesn't give up, does she?" Rin got my attention after watching the scene in front of us.

"Mmhm. She had her eye on him since they were tots."

"Doesn't she consider his feelings? Not that I cared."

"I don't know...does she?"

We both didn't say anything afterwards, just walked down the hill from the playground. Kagura-neechan still latches herself to the cat's arm, much to his annoyance.

"Don't worry, you'll live." I encouraged Kyo as we left the premises.

At Shihan's house, we had a snack that one of Shihan's assistants prepared and hanged around. Kyo has to deal with two girls he doesn't get along with. One who despises him and the other who loves him too much. I think I have sympathy for him.

Afterwards me, Kyo and Kagura-neechan went to the dojo. Rin stayed a little longer at Shihan's place before she goes home. We agreed to meet again before the new year's banquet.

"Over here, Haru," she called softly from her room's window. I went over to her window.

"I'll have to leave from my window because Kagura and her mom is still here. I can't stay out long."

"I know," I said as I helped her from her window.

We stayed near Kagura-neechan's house, talking.

"This year Ritsu and Kureno would be dancing in the banquet," she said.

"Hai." I responded.

Shortly after, we saw Kagura-neechan leave with her mom. I bet she wanted to leave early to see Kyo. I went up to them and asked her mom if Rin could go with me later. She gave her okay as long we're not late. They walked over to the main house, leaving me with her.

She stood close to me with a frown. "I don't want to go Haru," she started sob, "I don't want to see them.."

I put my arms around her and tried my best to comfort her, "You won't have to. We could go straight to the juunnishi banquet."

She put her head on my shoulders, "Let's do that."

"Okay." My heart was beating slowly but every beat sent a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. Rin was the first girl I could get close to. The first one I could hold. I held her in my arms until it was time...

AN: AWWW! How cute was that? I love that takoyaki scene in CH 79. It was short, but it was cute! Well, this will make up for all the angst later. Read, review and enjoy!