"YEAH! We're going to an osen!" said Momiji as he got onto the bus.
"This is a great surprise for Tohru, Momiji. Are you excited Tohru?" asked Lira taking a seat in front of Momiji
"Yes! My mother and I have never been to an osen before! This will be our first time." Said Tohru sitting next to Momiji
"What's the big deal? It's just an osen." Kyo said as he plopped down into a seat
"Don't listen to him Miss Honda." Yuki said taking a seat next to Lira "he just doesn't like the water."
"You all have fun on your trip!" said Shigure waving to them outside the bus.
"It's a shame you can't come Shigure."
"Hey kids with the black hair sit down." Said the bus driver as he stared up the bus.
Shigure waved goodbye as the bus pulled off.
"Hey! Does anyone want to play a game I heard about?" said Momiji jumping up and down in his seat "it's called truth. We all ask each other a question and we have to tell the truth. No matter what. So do you want to play?"
"I'm in." answered everyone except for Kyo
"Don't you want to play Kyo?"
Kyo didn't answer Lira instead he looked out the window.
"Ok than, party pooper. Um I go first! Lira who was your first love?"
Lira blushed deeply and replied "Akito. It was when I was very young though. Before I really got to know him."
"I thought your first love was Kyo."
"No, Kyo's my second, but that" she whispered in a low voice "that I believe is true love."
The game went on and on until Lira couldn't help noticing that Kyo was all alone.
"Excuse me, Yuki." She said as she got up, she steadily walked over to Kyo and he looked up at her from his seat. "May I?"
He merely nodded and she sat next to him
"Kyo, why are you alone?"
"Because I didn't want to play that stupid game. It's pointless."
Lira started to giggle and Kyo gave her a sideways glance
"I'm sorry Kyo, it's just…its funny how you resemble me when you left. Don't push your friends away Kyo. Don't do what I did."
She took his hand hers and their fingers entwined. Kyo gave her a small smile making her smile back at him.
"You always knew how to make me smile, Lira."
She could feel goose bumps go up her on arm as she put her head on his shoulder.
"You always make me smile Kyo and I love you for that."
Lira didn't see it but Kyo blushed for a moment
"Lira, do you really think Akito is your first love?"
"No, I think you are."
Kyo was about to say something but the bus stopped and everyone got off the bus including Kyo and Lira who were still holding hands.
"It's so pretty!" Tohru exclaimed
"Wait until you see the inside imouto-san." Lira said smiling
"Lira, why are you holding hands with that stupid cat?"
Lira and Kyo quickly let go of each other's hands.
"Kyo's got the hots for Lii-san!" Momiji said as they walked up to the inn
"I do not!"
"W-Welcome to my humble inn…" said a sickly looking woman
"Oh my is she alright?" Lira asked looking at her
"She's the concubine!"
"You mean, concierge." Said Yuki correcting Momiji, but Momiji ignored him
"MAKE YOURSLEVES AT HOME!" she yelled in Tohru's face
"Yes Ma'am!"
Lira pulled Tohru away from the woman
"Okami-san, shouldn't we go inside now?"
"Oh yes, follow me."
Lira let go of Tohru and followed Okami into the house with boys following them.
"So Shigure is not coming no?
"No, he has a deadline to meet." Yuki explained
"Such as shame, well here's your room."
Okami-san slid opens the room and it was a huge room.
"Don't tell me I have to share a room with that damn Yuki?"
"Well yes, but don't worry there's a screen to split the room."
"He's just saying that because he wants to be in the same room as Lira."
Kyo turned a nice shade of red and yelled "shut up Momiji! It's nothing like that!"
"Um I-I think I'm going to go into the osen now, would you like to join me Tohru?"
"Oh yes, I'm coming Lira."
A Hour Later"Ahhh this what I needed." Lira thought as she stepped into her personal private osen. "I wanted to tell Kyo so bad about the kiss between Akito and I, but it just slipped my mind when I was sitting next to him…I wonder if he'll hate me once he finds out." Lira closed her eyes and sighed, "Akito's kiss was nice but…it's not the same as Kyo's. I remember it like it was yesterday, I was only 11 and Kyo was 10 and I saw Hari kiss Kana a million times. I had a mad crush on Kyo at the time and more than anything I wanted to try it."
"Kyo! Kyo! Kyo, I give up where are you?"
10-year-old Kyo in his cargo pants and t-shirt poked his head from behind a tree and frowned at an 11 year old Lira, who was wearing her traditional Kimono.
"Your give up to easily Lira!"
"Your just mad because I beat you in martial arts again Kyo."
"No you didn't! You could barley move in that kimono you're wearing!"
Lira sat on a bench and turned away from Kyo. Kyo sighed and sat next to her.
"Fine, just to make you happy we'll call it a tie okay?"
She gave him a sideways glance and smiled.
"Okay."
She faced him and put her head on his shoulder.
"Do you always have to put your head on my shoulder?"
"What difference does it make? Your shoulder is bony anyways."
"It is not!"
Lira suddenly looked at Kyo with her violet eyes and he looked back into hers.
"Lira, how many times have I told you not to look at me like that!"
"I'm sorry, Kyo." She leaned in towards him puckered her lips and closed her eyes.
She felt something soft presses against her lips. She opened her eyes and realized it was his cheek instead of his lips.
"Ahhh!" she screamed backing away "oh I can't believe it!" she thought blushing "I can't believe I missed!"
"L-Lira?"
"Oh no, he probably thinks I'm a complete idiot!"
"I'm sorry Kyo, I have to go help Hari!" she was about to run off but Kyo caught her wrist and pulled her into a sweet innocent kiss.
They separated both blushing as red as tomato's.
"Uh…I think Hatori needs you Lira." She nodded ad ran off her heart soaring as if she walking on clouds.
"Hey." Said a deep voice.
Lira snapped out of her memory and saw sitting on the opposite side of the osen was Kyo.
"Kyo!" Lira's heart was pounding as she looked Kyo up and down his washboard abs were perfect and his upper body seemed had gotten sexier. She couldn't remember ever seeing Kyo without his shirt on. "Uh, should you be in here?"
"Lira, I have something to ask you.," he said in a very serious tone
"Oh…well okay."
"I heard over the phone Shigure talking to Hatori. He said that Akito had kissed you…is it true?"
"Yes…it is. I was meaning to tell you but I never got the courage to do so…" Lira hung her head.
"Did you enjoy it?"
Lira nodded her head afraid to look at Kyo. Lira felt Kyo's hand on her wet shoulder and the other hand lifted up her chin slowly to look at her.
"Did you enjoy it as much as when I kiss you?"
"No…I told you Kyo, you're the only one who makes my heart soar…"
"Do you want to find out if I still do?"
"Kyo…" the hand that was on Lira's shoulder reached up to pull out pencil that was holding up hair. It fell all over the place and Kyo smiled
"I told you I like it when your hair is down. You look so much more beautiful." He began to lean in towards her his eyes closed "I wonder if you let it keep growing for me." He was so close now that Lira could feel his breath on her lips.
"Lira!" yelled a voice, Kyo backed away and they saw yuki with a towel around his waist.
"Yuki! Where's your robe?" said Lira looking away
"Okay I know it's wrong but Yuki looks so hot!" she thought getting out
"You damn rat! Can't you see we were having a very serious talk!"
"It doesn't look like you were doing much talking you stupid cat."
"GAH! Don't call me stupid!" Kyo said climbing out and as he climbed out his towel slipped off his waist.
"Ahhh! Kyo!" Lira now was hiding behind a tree at this point
"Lira, when are you going to get over seeing us naked?" Yuki asked taking her had and leading her inside the inn.
"Yuki, I don't think I'll ever get used to it."
"I'm sorry to have disturb your moment but I had to give you something." They went into Yuki's room and Yuki pulled out of his suitcase a small bag.
"Since I didn't give you chocolates in return for valentine's day…here."
"Yuki! I hope you didn't spend your money on me."
"Don't worry this didn't cost me a dime."
Lira reached in the bad and pulled out a gray cat. Lira's eyes filled with tears and a big smile erupted on her face.
"Yuki! This is Aoshi! I thought I lost her years ago."
"Nope, as it turns out she was left at my house. My mom found her recently in my old things when she was cleaning the house."
"Oh Yuki…thank you so much!" she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried.
"Uh Lira, please your going to make my towel come undone."
Yuki said patting on her on the back blushing deeply.
The Next Day"What! Haru and Momiji are the same age!"
"Yes, Tohru. Didn't you know? They'll be starting school with me in the spring."
Lira explained as they waited for bus.
"I-I always thought Momiji is in elementary school."
"Oh no! I forgot Aoshi!" Lira ran back inside the Inn and found Aoshi on the futon she slept on. "Oh, Aoshi I almost lost you again."
"Lira, what are you doing? The bus is about to come!"
"Oh I'm sorry Kyo, I just had to get Aoshi! See!"
She held out the stuffed cat to Kyo and he smiled a little.
"Isn't that the one I gave you? For your birthday?"
"Yes it is! I was so disappointed when I lost it…"
"Lira would it be alright if I gave you my valentine's gift to you?"
Kyo stepped forward and leaned in towards Lira. Lira tossed aside Aoshi and wrapped her arms around Kyo's neck and kissed his passionately. Kyo wrapped his arms around her slender body and pulled her close to him as he kissed her back their tongue's meeting each other. There was a honk outside followed by Momiji voice.
"Come on Lira before we leave you behind!"
Kyo and Lira separated and Lira picked up her doll.
"Are you coming Lira?" Kyo asked holding out his hand to her.
"Yes, I'm coming Kyo." She held onto his hand and they both walked back to the bus and got on. Lira sat next to Kyo and fell asleep on his shoulder.
"I don't care if she ever falls for someone else. As long as I'm with her, I'll be alright, but I pray she keeps her promise."
"I promise you Kyo! I promise I'll never leave your side!" yelled Lira's voice in Kyo's head.
"I will never leave you behind Lira. I promise."
"But why would she keep her promise? When I could not keep mine…"
Kyo felt Lira grip his hand tighter and he smiled at her.
"Sleep well, Lira." He whispered as he kissed her forehead and put his head on hers.
Okami meaning hostess
Futon a bed
Osen a hot spring