this feels rushed, but i also felt like i should write.

piratica: yeah, i know, i'm working on it. newbie, k? and i don't think the dialoge is forced. but thank you for reviewing, it is good to get actual opinions about my writing and not just people telling me they like it.(not that you can't do that! i love getting compliments, don't stop!) however, cringe is an aweful, aweful word. please don't review again with that, it's very discouraging.

everybody else: thank you for reviewing!

'How could everything have been so easy? It seems like so long ago...this was all so easy...'

Haru thought as he started making supper for the three of them. In just three days, their life had been thrown into total chaos.

'Well, at least Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru agreed that it would be best if they cleared out for awhile. There's plenty of room at the hot springs, anyway. Just for now. I feel kinda bad though...Tohru seemed a little bit upset...oh well, she'll be fine. And we really can't have Kyo and Yuki fighting.'

"Do you need any help?"

Shigure called from the other room. He and Kisa were discussing writing. She'd shown an interest, and he was estatic to have some one to ramble on to about books, publishers, editors, materials, etc...

"No thanks, I'm fine. Hey, do you have anymore mushrooms?"

"They're in the fridge, probably behind the milk."

"Put lots in, ok?"

Kisa voice was added to the conversation.

"Don't worry, I will."

After that Haru fell silent and returned to his thoughts.

'Hatori said Akito's pretty pissed...He's been breaking things...God, he better not come after her. Shigure assured me that he won't, but still...I need to chill. Don't freak, that's not what Kisa needs. She seems to be doing ok...We haven't talked about it yet...And she needs to, but I don't know how. I don't know how...I can't yet...Not yet...'

"Is dinner ready yet?"

Shigure called eagerly.

"Mushrooms!"

Haru's discontent left him, and he chuckled softly.

"Ok, ok! Chill, I'm coming!"

A few moments later the three of them were sitting at the table together, laughing at something Shigure had said. When they stopped, the room was quiet, and then Kisa spoke.

"I want to stay here, ok?"

Haru and Shigure stopped eating to listen to her.

"What do you mean? You're staying here, we already talked about this, remember?"

Shigure said.

"I mean...If my mom calls...I don't want to go with her, if she asks. I want to stay here..."

Kisa trailed off, as if her courage had been used up in telling them what she wanted.

Haru and Shigure exchanged worried looks. They had each thought about Kisa's mom, and what she might do when she learned that her doughter was at Shigure's place. Hatori had agreed to do his best to not give her an exact answer about Kisa, but eventually she would find out. And a mothers love is not something to be toyed wih. Kisa's mother was especially protective of her daughter.

It was Haru who responded to Kisa.

"When he calls, we'll tell her that it will be best if you stay here. She'll understand."

"And you can stay here as long as you want, Kisa. As long as you want."

Shigure added.

"Thank you. Thank you so much..."

Kisa's voice was small.

Just then the phone rang, and Haru stood up and went into the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?"

"HARU!"

Haru jerked the phone away from his ear.

"Hello Momiji."

"HI! Hey, is Kisa there?"

Once he was sure he had Haru's attention, he lowered his voice.

"Uhm..."

Haru wasn't sure wether or not he should tell Momiji that Kisa was staying with them.

"Isn't she? Hatori told me she was with Shigure, did she go somewhere?"

"Oh! Ok, yeah she's here."

"Can I talk to her?"

"Uh...yeah..I guess..Just don't say anything about-"

"I know, I know. Geez, Haru, I'm not stupid. I just want to talk to her!"

"Alright, wait a second."

He went back to where Kisa a nd Shigure were.

"Kisa? Do you feel like talking to Momiji?"

"I HEARD THAT! OF COURSE SHE WANTS TO TALK TO ME!"

Momiji's voice yelled through the phone.

"Will you quit yelling? Where are you?"

Haru yelled angrily.

"I'm at my dad's hotel. Nobody else is here, I already told you, I'm not stupid."

Momiji sounded equally annoyed.

Kisa smiled and jumped up.

"Yeah, I'll talk to him. And don't get mad Haru, he's fine."

She took the phone from Haru and went up to her room.

Haru sighed and sat down. Over the last few days, he'd started fretting and worring abou every phone call, or person that came to the house, or anything that could mean Akito had learned where Kisa was.

'I need to chill...How?'

"Haru, don't worry so much. Momiji won't give her away, Hatori will make sure of that. Just let them talk."

"Alright. I'm fine. I'm not worrying."

"Liar"

Shigure whispered.

"What?"

"What?"

"You just said something."

"Me? No I didn't."

Shigure said innocently.

Haru stared at him, and then went back to eating, feeling confused.

Shigure laughed to himself.

and it's also more lighthearted than i meant for this story to be. and that last bit a the end? ok, i'll do better next time. k? i'll make it work. and i'm gonna bring akito in, but i really don't know a lot about his character and i'm terrified to write him in, so if you have any good websites or something so i can get a feel for him, that would be awesome. ideas are appreciated!