Argh. The holidays are almost over. That sucks most horribly. Well, one thing that I *have* accomplished these holidays: I borrowed the 3-set of Weiss Kreuz DVDs off a friend, and then had an anime marathon with my sister. The first few are rather dodgy, and the subtitles were funnier than the rest of the anime combined because they were seriously on crack, but besides that, one and a half thumbs up. I don't know if that possible, but hey. Okay, she's shutting up now.

I really wish I could have just told Shigure and Tohru that Yuki was sick, so he could avoid the dinner entirely. But that would have been stupid. Shigure and Tohru would have gone to visit him, and knowing those two, they would have called Hatori. The doctor would have come round, and then everything would be blown from here to China. I don't want to try wiping the memories of someone who can wipe memories. That's just weird. That and Shimo was proud to inform me that Yuki was hungry.

And so we troop downstairs when summoned, and I clasp Shimo's hand firmly in my own, but let him lead me downstairs. This allows me to yank his hand back to remind him of how he has to balance now that he's not burdened down with a giant pair of wings.

We settle across the table from each other, and I sprawl cross-legged so that I can kick Shimo into attention if I need to.

I glare a warning at Yuki, Yuki stares blandly across at me, Shigure raises an eyebrow at both of us, and Tohru has the same sort of expression on as one of the musicians who played while the Titanic was sinking.

"So Yuki, how was school?"

'Yuki' continues to pick at his rice until I boot him, at which point he blinks, looks up, and replies "Fine."

"Ah, that's good."

I think they can tell there's something wrong. It's quiet. Everyone focuses on their meals. The silence hangs around us thickly, and I feel a growing urge to break it, but don't know how without seeming out of character.

I boot Shimo again, and he sends me a warning glare before asking for the salt. Not precisely what I was hoping for, but it's something.

I can't help but stare as Yuki starts shaking salt on his rice. And doesn't stop. Shigure's head turns to watch the rain of salt continue onto Yuki's hapless rice, and Tohru attempts to strike up conversation.

We don't mean to, but her words pass in one ear and out the other.

I lean across the table and snatch the salt out of his hands. "It's dead, already," I mutter, scattering a smidgen of salt over my chicken before firmly placing the shaker out of reach of my strange guardian.

'Yuki' shrugs, then continues to eat his rice. Eew. Sodium overload and a half. Well, I guess that's Shimo preferences coming through. I didn't know that he had any.

Everyone finishes eating, and I quickly steal all the plates, bowls and glasses, hopefully banishing all thoughts of friendly chatter.

I bustle back into the dining room, and give Shimo a significant look. He nods once, then stands up and excuses himself. I have to use every ounce of self-control I own not to run back up the stairs.

Shigure murmurs something about a lover's spat as we go, and I growl. I hurry back into my room, and Shimo follows, so I close the door.

"Got salt?"

Shimo smiles and shrugs. "That's the way I like it."

"You're sick, you know that right?" I ask, collapsing onto my bed. This evening has me wound up tight.

Shimo shrugs again. "To each their own."

"Dude," I say, turning to face Shimo as he leans against the wall opposite me, "A little salt is fine. The amount of salt that you put on your rice could smother a small European country."

Shimo throws me an exasperated look. "Now that's a bit of an overstatement."

"Is it just?"

Shimo rolls his eyes. "So, when are we going to look for that thing?"

"Thing? Oh. Right. The jerk-off that switched you and Yuki around. We have school tomorrow, so we'll start after school."

Oh, damnit.

"Shimo, we have school tomorrow. You'll need to act like Yuki again."

Shimo frowned. "Yes, that could pose a problem. Can't I be sick?"

I shake my head. "Nah, that would only draw attention to yourself. Your health has always been an issue, and if you start claiming that you need a day off to recuperate, then Hatori will be called. Hatori knows his stuff."

"Mm. True," Shimo murmurs. "Well then, there's nothing for it dear one, I'm going to have to play-act Yuki at your school." He pouts in his well-mannered way. "How ever am I going to cope with your classes?"

I shrug, feeling no sympathy. "The same way normal students cope, I guess."

"Which is?"

I smirk. "They don't. School is the main source of stress and agony in a normal teenager's life. We barely get by class to class. The breaks in between are where we complain bitterly, stretch our limbs, and try to dredge up enough sanity to deal with the next class."

"Ah. I see. Sounds like a real blast," Shimo replies dryly.

"Oh yeah, you'll love it."

I walk into the school gate behind my charge, watching his every move suspiciously. Is he being Yuki enough? Would anyone notice that he wasn't quite right? How on earth would my poor guardian cope with being harassed by the Prince Yuki fan club? I wish that I could properly organise things and actually plan ahead for the worst, but it seems that all I can do is watch. And pray. And beat Shimo over the head if he gets it wrong.

He gets it fairly right. Well, I'd hope he would, after all the time that he was living in Yuki. There's still a few problems with balance, like when he accidentally hit his head on the locker above while changing his shoes, or when he was walking downstairs, and had to run the last few to not tumble over onto his face, before sliding into the wall opposite, but he was remarkably convincing. He had the polite to all, but acting like they were only slightly more important than bugs thing down-capped, and, when the situation called for it, used his own brand of biting wit in the place of Yuki's (though they are remarkably similar to the untrained ear).

But now, lunchtime. The ultimate test. Is Shimo cousin-worthy?

Tohru, Shimo and I settle down for lunch with Uo and Hana, which is, of course, invaded by Momiji attempting to glomp Tohru and Haru wandering along in the background. Oh god. I forgot about Hana's creepy-ness. She could tell there was something up with me, and she's almost certain to do the same to Shimo.

Hana walks docile over to where she usually sits, her Gloomy lunch box held carefully in her pale hands. She pauses a few moments short of sitting down, then turns her piercing gaze at Shimo, then at me. She puts down her lunch box, then walks over to where we sit. I don't look up from my chopsticks, but Shimo holds her gaze.

"There's something…"

Tempest once again has a go at her. I feel it more than I see it, a tiny little bolt of electricity hitting her hand. Once again, Hana blinks, and walks off like she's in a trance. I give Tempest a mental thumbs up as Tohru and Uo run off after her.

Haru raises an eyebrow. "What's up with her?"

I shrug, keeping my face nearly buried in my obento so people can't see the smirk running across it. "Who knows what the hell is wrong with that space-case?"

'Yuki' ignores us all, reaching into his back-pocket for a little twist of paper, which he then dumps all over his rice.

"Aw, fuck, not the salt again!"

Shimo uses his chopsticks like salad scoopers to toss the substance in, then sucks briefly on the tips of his eating utensils. "Yes, salt. Baka neko, people don't have to like exactly what you like, you know."

"Ne, Yuki, do you have low sodium levels? Did Hatori prescribe that?"

Trust my little cousin to ask such a stupid question. Then again, this is the guy that wears the girl's uniform because he thinks it suits him better. That, to me, does not seem like a healthy male. Asking stupid questions just seems to come with the whole 'too cute to be entirely real' package. I know that he's smarter, and a lot more mature than he acts, but I just can't seem to catch him in the act. It infuriates me.

Shimo raises an eyebrow at Momiji. "No."

Eep. We're bordering on rude here. My foot 'slips' a little, and I kick Shimo in the ankle. His eyes meet mine for a fraction of a second and I raise my eyebrows slightly, then we both go back to eating.

Silence takes over the group while everyone concentrates on eating. The same thing that happened to the dinner table is happening here. No one's completely comfortable.

I am starting to wish the end of break bell will just ring and end my anxiety.

I slip the lid back on my half-eaten lunch, and abruptly stand up, hauling Yuki by one arm with me. "Well, Yuki and I need to--"

I am cut off as Shimo drops his lunchbox, and is abruptly surrounded by an ethereal golden glow. I start to swear like a sailor as the wings wrap around the form of my cousin, and the body of Shimo appears. It looks like Yuki's found the same ring-tab that I used before.

"Kyo? I got bored of waiting so I… Oh, shit."

Two more lunch boxes hit the ground.

The only thing I can think of saying is: "Your timing sucks."

Hee hee. Oh dear. Bad cliffie-girl. That was mean. But intensely satisfying. Well, we'll see what happens when I post the next part. Oh yeah, about Hana's lunch box. I don't mean Gloomy just like, depressing, I mean at as in this really cool brand I found in Japan. These really cute cartoon grizzly bears with huge claws performing WWF-style moves on people. I think it's cool and cute, and it just seemed appropriate. Well, maybe that's just me.