Disclaimer: I do not own anything!

Author's note: Yea... I won't be updating for the next 3 weeks... Let's just
say that there is something awfully wrong with the hard-drive...

(sweatdrops)

Ah young love... How sweet. The next two chapters are
focused about Hotaru and (mystery guy). Maybe I should add another
mini-love story #2?

December 18 Month two 4:58 p.m.

Mini-love story #1:Hotaru Tomoe

"Hino-san is Rei-san in there?" I asked softly. I held tightly one of
Rei-san's books I burrowed from her a few days ago.
"Rei? She's with Shun'u in their room." He says. "Come I'll lead you
to them."

"Arigato." I bowed. Rei's house was small and had a homely kindof
feeling, it was nice. Unlike my old home with Papa and Kaori-bitch. I hear
shouting and bickering on Rei's old fashion Japanese screendoor.

"IDIOT!" cried a feminine voice. "How in the world did YOU get
your tessen back?"

"Heh!" cried another, it was a masculine voice. "It's yer fault
placin' it there on the frickin' basement!"

"Hoo boy. Not again." Rei's grandfather muttered. "Hotaru-san can
you go in? I'll be in the bathroom getting an aspirin.."

I nodded and walked in the door. A young man with bright orange-red
hair was swinging the metal fan back and forth. He had a silly look on
his face. Rei slapped her forehead and began muttering under
her breath.

"Ha ha! I got my tessen back!" he hugged his tessen. "Now all I need is
sake and my life is complete!"

"Just four more months. Just four more months.." I hear Rei-san muttering.

"Ano...Rei..." I said.

"Tasuki get off the table!"

"Make me!" The young man cried acting like a little 5-year old. Rei lunged
at Tasuki, knocking him on the ground. She grabbed his tessen with an
accomplished look on her face. I stood there in shock; I thought Rei
would never act this way. "Owww! That fuckin' hurt!" he cried.

Wasn't she cold?

"That's what you get if you dance around my study table!" she scolded.

Wasn't she mature?

"Ya took somethin' away from me fer a fuckin' long time!" the young man
whined.

Rei wouldn't act that way around a man!

"Rei! I'm shocked!" I said out loud. Both Rei and the young man named
Tasuki turned to me in surprise.

"Is she yer long lost sister?" asked Tasuki, pointing at me. Rei
knocked him on the head. "Gawd! Don't blame me you look alike!" he
said, holding his head protectively.

"Rei can I talk to you alone?" I asked. Inside I was furious the way
Rei acted around a man. She told me that she wasn't interested in men
and yet she acted so natural around him! "Rei who is this guy?"

"That idiot is Shun'u Kou also known as Tasuki." She replied cooly. "He
has to work within the four months to pay off some debts."

"Debts?" I asked.

"He burned my guest room on accident." She emphasized the word. Both Rei
and I hear her back door open.

"Chiriko! Is it you're turn to visit me already?" I hear Tasuki's voice through
the Japanese screendoor. He sounded very enthusiastic. Rei and I opened
the door to find Tasuki talking to a little boy.

"Ko-konnichi wa Minna-san." The young boy said. "Ore wa...Chiriko desu."
"Chiriko don't be so formal!" gaffawed Tasuki clutching his tessen tightly.

"Gomen Tasuki! I can't help it!" Chiriko-san was bright red red. "There's
two pretty ladies here and I don't want to embarass myself!"

"Rei, Hotaru. This guy is smart! Espescially Chinese Mythology!"

My ears perked up. Chinese Mythology?

"Uwa! Really? Chiriko-san can you help me?" I begged. Rei
went and whispered to Tasuki. Personally, I don't care. I want my
project to be finished now.

"Hotaru... We'll leave you two alone." Rei grabbed Tasuki. "Tasuki
is helping me prepare dinner... Tell me when you two are done!"

With that she left the room leaving me alone with Chiriko-san.
Silence filled the room. What was I suppose to say to him? I always
did feel uncomfortable being with strangers. Maybe I should break the
ice.

"Chiriko-san can you help me with my project?" I asked. "Tasuki-san says
you know alot about Chinese Mythology." Chiriko's cheeks turned red.

"Ano... If you say so Hotaru-san." He said. "But that book you're holding
isn't that about Chinese Mythology?"

"Yes. But it doesn't mention Mythological background and Constellations."

He turned to me and gave me a peice of paper and pen. Obviously, wants me
to write notes. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"Fen-huang or the Phoenix represents power and prosperity because phoenix
is supposedly known to be the king of birds." He paused a moment waiting
for me to scribble it all down. "The Phoenix as you know represents the planet
Mars."

"Mars represents love and passion, right?" I interrupted. Chiriko again blushes
bright red, he nodded slowly. "But tell me what does Suzaku's plumes mean?"
"It emphasizes how rare and beautiful it is." Chiriko said. " Also its worth as
a guardian deity."

"Yatta! Halfway there!" I smiled at Chiriko-san. Who turned away with his cheeks
still burning bright red. "What are the constellations?"

"Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Chichiri, Tasuki, Mitsukake and Chiriko."
Chiriko. Why did he named himself after a constellation? I wanted to ask him that
yet it seemed rude. Should I ask him?

"Chiriko-san why did you name yourself after a constellation?" I asked softly.
He had a surprised look on his face. Chiriko looked uneasy and began to sweat
profusely.

"Hotaru-san... I like...that...name!" He replied uneasliy. "Why is your name
firefly?"

"Because that's what my father named me." I said, in a monotone voice. "Why
are you acting so weird?"

"A-a-aaa...I.." Chiriko-san stuttered. A smile slowly crept up to my lips;
Chiriko-san looked really cute when he is all flustered up. I giggled.
He looked like a tomato. So bright red.

"It's all right Chiriko-san... Let's get back finishing my project."

"Yes." He nodded. "Lets."

"Byakko. What is its Mythological background?" I asked. I placed my
pen and paper ready waiting for Chiriko-san to speak. "Chiriko-san?"

"White tiger." He replied, twirling his hair.

"Yes. I know that..." Chiriko-san looked at me and looked down. He
had a surprised look on his face and began to run out of Rei's room
"Chiriko-san what's wrong?" I asked, I was so surprised the way
he acted.

"Me come tommorow 'kay Hotaru-chan!" He replied.

Me come tommorow? Hotaru-chan?

"Chiriko-san!"

Too late. He was already gone. But what questioned me was why did
he suddenly speak in bad grammer? I went outside of Rei's room.
Rei and Tasuki started arguing. Again.

"WHY DID YOU BURN THE CURTAINS?" Rei screamed, holding
a charred curtain peice. Tasuki looked at it curiously.

"What makes ya think I burned this?" he asked. "I don't remember
burning--uhh---I didn't do it." Tasuki quickly said, turning away and
looking innocent.

"Tasuki give me your tessen..." Rei whispered.

"Eh? I ain't givin' it back to you!"

"You asshole!" She pulled out an ofuda scroll. "I will give you the
count of three to give it to me..."

"I ain't givin' it to you woman!"

"One."

Tasuki looked hesitant for a moment.

"Two." Rei pulled out three scrolls. Tasuki began to flinch.

"Th--"

"All right! I'll give it to you!" Tasuki threw the tessen to Rei. "Just
don't scratch it..." he murmured. I giggled. Minako was right these
two fighting are entertaining.

"Hotaru... Are you and Chiriko done?" Rei asked. She must have heard
me. "Tasuki and I are getting decorations for the Christmas party."

"Christmas party?" asked Tasuki and I.

"Yes. All of us are having a party at Christmas eve, we got some old
decorations at the basement."

"Can I help you decorate?" I asked. Rei nodded and went to the
basement. Tasuki followed. I looked hesitant for a moment and
entered in the room.

But I couldn't help but wonder about Chiriko-san.

Minako: Operation R an T is a gogo!

Kouji: Will you stop saying that? It's getting really really annoying!

Minako: Gomen. I just wanted to get in the mood. So are you ready to do the battle plan?

Kouji: Ya told me we were goin' to do that later! After Hotaru's and Chiriko's story...

Minako: Shush! The readers don't have to know that!

Kouji: I thought you said that they usually skip this part and review the chapter?

Minako: Okay. I was wrong! Just don't spoil anymore what's going to happen!

Kouji: (turns to the readers)Hey readers! Wait till ya'll see what Genrou-sama's gonna do after the mini-love story#1! It's so fuckin' funny! Ya see he---(covers mouth)

Minako:(Holding Kouji's mouth) Kouji! The authoress trusted us not to tell what happens afterwards! Or else she will fire us!

Kouji: Hehehe Just kidding! I just love seein' ya get all flustered up. Ya look so adorable! (pinches cheek) Anyway, the author of the story says we'll be there on the next chapter. If you read carefully you might know what we are plannin'!

Minako: Yea right! The authoress wouldn't do that! It would ruin Operation R and T!

chibimars098524: (pops in) Oh... I don't know... It sounds very tempting...

Minako: Oh come on! PLEASE!

chibimars098524: (ignores Minako)TUNE IN NEXT TIME IN KINDRED SPIRITS!

Minako: Hey wait!

Kouji: Minako... (pats Minako's head.)

Next Chapter:

Mini-love story#1: Chiriko