Antwone: Hey again! Answering to one of the reviews... Didn't we already allow the anonymous comments?

Suzu: If she said so, I'm guessing not... although I had thought we did...

Antwone: Uh oh... -checks- Damn! Ok well, now it's on!

Suzu: You found how to change it? Wow... I've been looking for it for a while...

Antwone: -stares- It's too easy...

Suzu: Well anyways, We also got commented on our summary writtenthat waydear

Antwone: I know how to spell that!

Suzu: -rolls eyes- wasn't talking to you. But yeah,...

Antwone: If they had read our first chapter they would have seen that, OBVIOUSLY, we don't spell everything that way... It was just a way to put all the ideas in the summary... especialy since they don't give you much space!

Suzu: But not everyone takes the time to read these messages, so they're wrong.

Antwone: No need to go and put bad reviews if you don't even read further on!

Suzu: -sighs- oh well... I'm getting used to people giving us bad reviews... -snif-

Antwone: NOOOO! Suzu! Don't say that! It's not true!

Suzu: You've seen the reviews!

Antwone: Yes, I have, and that's exactly why we have to prove all those #$&# wrong!

Suzu: Yeah... maybe you're right...

Antwone: Well enjoy this chapter while we try to comfort Suzu who now is depressed -whipers: Damn bad reviewers!-

Chapter 6

What's going on?

It is a bright and sunny day as you, Yuki, and Kasumi make your way to kimono shop to pick up your kimono. Yuki looks a little troubled as you turn your head to glance at her momentarily, though you can't for the life of you figure out why.

"Did you two sleep well? You sure slept long enough." says Kasumi with a hint of a smile as you three walk down the busy, dirt road.

Yuki merely shrugs so you answer happily, "Yeah, we slept great! It feels so good to feel so refreshed!"

Kasumi smiles at this and politely makes small talk with you the rest of the way to the kimono shop as Yuki keeps quiet, engrossed in her own thoughts.

Finally, you three make it to the kimono shop and Kasumi holds open the door for you as you walk in second.

"I'm staying out here Kimiko." says Yuki suddenly, leaning up against the right wall of the kimono shop.

You pause in the doorway to shop and gaze at Yuki, frowning a bit. "All right Yuki." You take one, last lingering look at your friend and then walk inside to stand in front of the desk with Kasumi.

Immediately, the old woman from before appears, a timeworn smile on her face. "Are you here to pick up your kimono?" she asks kindly.

"Yes." answers Kasumi, slightly perplexed.

"All right, one moment." The old lady disappears back into the depths of the shop.

"So how do we give Yuki her kimono? She still thinks it's for you, Kasumi." you ask, turning to face the older girl as you lean on the front desk.

Kasumi also turns to look at you and says, "That's what I wanted to talk with you about." Kasumi pauses, lowering her voice as her eyes flicker to Yuki temporarily. "My thinking is this. Just before the Festival, when she thinks everyone is going to leave her, we'll give it to her as a gift, from all of us, to show our friendship."

You smile brilliantly, loving the idea. "That sounds perfect, Kasumi! I bet Yuki will love it!"

"Love what?" comes Yuki's voice suddenly, startling both you and Kasumi. You both turn around wildly and smile nervously at Yuki, who has an eyebrow raised.

"The um...food Kasumi's going to cook for dinner! Yeah!" you say, covering up not so nicely.

"Oh..." Yuki gives you an odd look and then continues. "Well there's an ice cream vendor down the street and I'm going to go get some. Do you guys want any?"

"Yeah, you know what I want Yuki." you say, smiling at your friend. She nods and turns to Kasumi.

"A small cone with Vanilla will be fine Yuki, thank you." says Kasumi, smiling at the girl. Kasumi nods a bit and then leaves, disappearing.

That was too close!- You think anxiously, turning back to give Yuki a relieved look.

"Here you girls are." The old woman suddenly appears, holding your kimono.

Smiling, you take your's, allowing the delicate fabric to fall to the ground. You admire your beautiful as Kasumi asks for her's to be wrapped. Your kimono is violet, with small, white rose blossoms embroided into the fine, silk fabric. The obi is also white, to match the flowers, and it is the perfect fit and size for you. Absolutely gorgeous.

While allowing your eyes to scan the clothing, you do not notice Yuki come back into the shop, looking rather happy and balancing three ice creams.

"Wow Kimiko! Is that your's?" she asks suddenly, ceasing from walking.

Startled, you look up and smile at your friend, nodding to her joyously. Yuki walks over as Kasumi prepares to pay.

"This is really nice Kimiko! I'm kind of sad I'm didn't get a nice kimono like this to go to the Festival in." jokes Yuki.

You roll your eyes and lay the kimono on the counter, signaling you want it wrapped. Then you turn back to your friend and find her licking---

You groan. "Yuki? Is that..."

Yuki grins. "Yup! Rare rasberry! My favorite!"

You giggle and take your cone from Yuki; green, mint chocolate chip. "Thanks Yuki."

"You girls can wait outside for me, I'll be there in a minute." says Kasumi. You two nod and then rush out the door, Yuki forgetting her previous sadness, as you do too.

"Remember, the other kimono is a very special one and should be treated with much respect." says the oldester to Kasumi.

Kasumi smiles politely at her and waits patiently while she finished wrapping Kimiko's kimono. -What a strange old woman. She keeps on saying this kimono is special.-

"Make sure you keep it in a safe place." warns the old woman, ringing up the total for the apparel.

Kasumi nods again and then picks up the package. "Thank you." she says.

"One last thing dear!" says the old lady suddenly. "Make sure the other kimono does not get into the wrong hands. It is dear and very unique."

Kasumi nods again and smiles falsely, exiting the shop with the two kimonos. She spots you and Yuki playing around in the street and shakes the old woman out of her hear, thinking, -Strange.-

On the way home, Kasumi deposits the kimono with you, saying she has to stop at the grocery store for a few things. So, you wave goodbye to the young woman and then continue your journey home with Yuki.

"Yuki?" you question suddenly.

"Hm?"

"You know...I was just thinking..." You pause, not knowing how to say this without sounding stupid. "You know that little black pig that came by that one night? Well, it kind of looked like it wanted to stay, don't you think?"

Yuki snorts with laughter and sends you a skeptical glance. "Only you Kimiko, only you."

"But Yuki, when I looked at it, I felt a sense of...recognition. It looked familiar, and it felt like we knew each other." you say lamely.

Yuki laughs out loud now. "Kimiko, are you startingto have feelings for a pig?"

You blush because of Yuki's laughter and the foolishness of this whole conversation. When you do not answer Yuki, she continues to laugh heartily, causing you to blush deeper.

You frown, trailing your violet eyes to the ground in thought. -But it did look that way. They way it looked at me...- You shake your head, feeling foolish. -Pull yourself together Kimiko. It was a pig!-

When you two arrive home, Yuki goes straight into the kitchen to get something to eat and you immediately take the kimono to your room, to stash it away somewhere private and secure. It takes a while, but you finally find a good hiding place that no one will ever dare look.

When finished, you walk slowly to the hallway, identifying two voices coming from the kitchen. One is Yuki's, the other's is Ranma's. Secretly, you stand outside the kitchen door and listen in on the conversation.

"What were you doing in my room anyway? That's my room, you have no right to be there without my permission!" says Yuki angrily.

Ranma was in Yuki's room?- You think, suddenly putting two and two together. -That's who I probably heard her yelling at!-

"This is my dojo, I can be wherever I want." says Ranma smoothly.

Yuki begs to differ. "This is Akane's dojo stupid, so no you can't!"

Ranma opens his mouth to say something when you take this time to intervene, needing to talk to Yuki badly as of now. "Hey guys!" you say cheerily, as if you weren't just listening to their conversation.

Yuki and Ranma both look away from each other and it's now you notice how close they are, only about two feet apart and staring each other dead in the eye. Yuki is the first to take a step back and turn to face you fully; you do not hesitate to note the blush on her cheeks.

"Wanna go for a walk Yuki?" you suggest slyly.

Yuki nods and shoots Ranma one last glare before exiting the kitchen behind you. You two walk outside and into the bright sunlight, and instantly head for the forest, birds twittering loudly and the rays of the sun beating down rather harshly.

You and Yuki both stay quiet for a while, the only sounds are your feet as the travel across the forest floor. You glance at Yuki from time to time, to see her staring at the ground, a pensive look in her eye. You know she is thinking about Ranma.

I think she likes him.- You think, looking away from Yuki and finally mustering up the courage to start a conversation. -Though she'd never admit it because of her horrible past...-

Long ago, before your and Yuki's village was destroyed, everything was different. Yuki was more happy, everything was light-hearted, and overall, things were great. Even great enough, for Yuki to have a boyfriend. For over two years, the 'happy' couple seemed inseperable, caring, and the most perfect couple in the world. Then, to the shock of everyone in the village, they seperated, causing great heartache for Yuki; not so much as for her ex though. He retaliated a week later by starting to date another local girl, that Yuki practically hated for being snobby and stuck up.

How could he just dump her after two years, and then date one of her worst enemies?- You often thought.

A couple weeks after the break-up, Yuki finally told you the real reason her and her beau seperated. It was because he had cheated on her, with his then present girlfriend. You were devastated, outraged that someone would do this to your friend! You want to confront the bastard, but Yuki prevented you from doing so, still feeling the after effect of being crushed.

Weeks past. Yuki fell deeper into depression and you tried your best to lift her out of that ravine. But it was no use. Yuki didn't want to hear any of your condolences, nor any from her parents. You felt helpless. You wanted to help your friend, but she wouldn't let you.

In reality, Yuki was confused. Her first real boyfriend, the one she loved with all her heart, had left her out on the street, withering in tormenting emotional pain. And then, to top it all off, he ran off with one of her worst enemies. Yuki didn't know what to do, she didn't know how to deal with this kind of pain. So, she shut everyone out, even her best friend, Kimiko.

A few months then past, and surprisingly, you learn that Yuki's ex boyfriend had dumped his girlfriend, and wanted Yuki back. Yuki, who was just starting to get over the heartbreak, didn't know what to do. Finally, she confronted you with her fears, and you did your best to help her out, give her advice. It didn't help though, when Yuki's ex came knocking on her door daily, begging her to come back to him, saying he needed her.

I don't trust him.- You thought.

In the end, Yuki got back with her ex.

For once in her life, Yuki felt happy again. Happy that she had her old love, happy that everything was going back to normal once again. She has a 'wonderful' boyfriend, a loving family, and a caring friend that would do anything for her; you.

Until, that is, a fateful night occured. Yuki's boyfriend got into a fatal accident, that left his life hanging on the line.

Hurriedly, you and Yuki rushed to the hospital where her love is being treated. You two dashed upstairs and when you came to his room, Yuki is the first in there, looking horrified at the site before her. Her boyfriend laid on a hospital bed, nurses and doctors surrounding him, on the brink of dying.

You can remember that night perfectly, as if it were yesterday. Yuki dropped to her knees beside her boyfriend and grabbed his bloody hand, causing him to look at her slowly. Yuki lifted her free hand to caress his cheek gently.

"Hold on." she whispered.

The boy closed his eyes and then turned his head to look at Yuki, opening his eyes once more. "Yuki, I never really loved you."

Shocked, Yuki dropped her hands and stared at the boy, speecheless, inducing him to continue. "I'm sorry, it just wasn't there the second time."

"So Yuki, Ranma was the one you were yelling at last night out your window?" you ask casually.

Yuki instantly snaps her head up to look at you and her eyes widen. "Wh..what?"

Your lips curve into a smile. "It was Ranma then? What were you guys talking about?"

"How did you see that?" asks Yuki, rather panicked.

"I heard yelling and I thought you were in trouble so I opened the door, without you noticing or course, and saw you yelling some stuff to Ranma. So tell me, was he in your room? What were you guys talking about?" you ask curiously.

"He just...we were just talking." says Yuki, looking away from you and turning her gaze to the forest in front of her.

You narrow your eyes at Yuki, somehow believing that she isn't telling the whole truth. -I wonder what she's hiding?- You think, not wanting to press the subject further, but your curiousity killing you.

"Is that all?"

Yuki glances up at you and then back to the ground quickly. She hates lying to you... "Yes, that's all."

You nod your head, signifying that you understand. -Still, I can't help but wonder if anything is going on between those two.- You break the silence and decide to ask, "That's why that red haired girl looked familiar; it was Ranma. I still can't believe it!"

Yuki instantly seems happy again. "I know! He's just like us! Well, him and his father." She smiles.

You nod. "I know. But we can't tell them, remember."

Yuki sighs deeply. "I know Kimiko, I know."

You and Yuki arrive home sometime in the late afternoon and Yuki wanders off, while you go and seek out Akane. You have something to ask her.

You find the young girl in the dojo, practicing alone. "Hey Akane." you say timidly, smiling.

Akane pauses her training and looks to you, a bead of sweat journeying down her forehead before it is wiped away. "Hey Kimiko, what's up?"

You move more into the dojo, wondering how in the world you are going to phrase this question. "Nothing much.. I was just...I just wanted to talk is all."

"About?"

"Well...um...you remember that little pig that came running in the other night? He was so cute and I wanted to know who's he was." you say quickly.

Akane pauses for a moment, thinking. "Oh that's just a little pig that comes around every once and a while. Cute thing don't you think?" She smiles.

You nod. "Yeah..." -And it looked familiar somehow...-

You and Akane stand in silence for a moment and finally, you turn your back, rather hastily. "Well bye!" you say, running out of the dojo.

Akane watches after you oddly, an eyebrow raised. -That was weird.- She thinks as your figure disappears as the door swings shut slowly.