"Ayaa wants me to be in the photo shoot…?" Lira asked Tohru when she told Lira the news. Lira was sitting on her desk at school as Hanajima braided her hair when Tohru told her about the photo shoot and Lira had a blank stare on her face when she told her the news.
"Is it bad?" asked Tohru when she saw the look on Lira's face "I thought you'd be thrilled."
"Well, I do like photo shoots because it has to do with modeling and I want to become a fashion designer some day…but Ayame knows I don't like taking pictures." Said Lira
"But everyone is doing it! It'll be fun!" Tohru said happily
"Okay, I'll do it." Lira said smiling "but only because I want to see the look on Yuki's face when he sees you in a dress."
"EH! Oh, he's already seen me in a dress! He was very-um –um"
Lira laughed a little and smiled at Tohru
"It's okay I'll see for myself." Lira eyes widened and her face lit up "Hey! Kyo!"
Kyo was passing the classroom door but stopped and looked at Lira for a moment and anger came across his face and he walked off.
"Hmm he's sure sending of some interesting waves this week." Said Hanajima "especially when he's around you, Lira."
"Did something happen between the two of you?" asked Tohru.
"No…nothing that I can think of…everything was normal until three days ago. I tried talking to him at the house one day and he shut me out…" said Lira
"All done, Lira." Said Hanajima, as Lira got off the desk.
"Thanks…I'll see you at home Tohru I'm going to go by the dojo." Said Lira getting her book bag.
"But Kyo's not going to the Dojo today." Said Tohru
"I know, that's why I'm going." said Lira walking out the door.
Lira walked down the hall to her locker and at the end of the hall she saw Kyo looking out the window. She approached him slowly and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and at first his face was straight but then it filled with worry as he looked at Lira.
"What's going on?" Lira asked looking at him "You've been avoiding me lately even at the house…"
Kyo said nothing and looked out the window.
"Kyo…do you not love me anymore?" Lira asked
"What would give you such a stupid idea?" Kyo yelled finally looking at her again
"Well, for one you won't speak to me. And every time we're together…you don't even hold me..."said Lira
"…You should just go…I'll see when I get home." Said Kyo looking back at the window "We can talk then."
Lira pushed past him and ran down the hall. Kyo looked after her and sighed
"I want to tell you…the truth, but I'm afraid…of what you might do…or what you might say…" Kyo thought as he saw Lira disappear around the corner. "And most of all…I'm afraid that if I touch it…you heart…it will break…"
"Kazuma!" Lira shouted arriving at the Dojo. "Shishou!"
"Hmm? Oh, Lii-san." Said Kazuma coming out to meet Lira at the entrance "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to see you!" Lira said smiling at him
"You…came here to see me?" he asked looking at her
"Of course, we haven't seen each other in a while." She said walking inside
Kazuma gave a deep sigh and looked at the sky and whispered to himself "What have you done now Kyo? Do you really want to lose her that badly?"
Kazuma walked inside to find Lira in the kitchen making tea.
"So." Said Kazuma softly
"So, what?" said Lira walking around the kitchen looking for tea cups
"What has he done now?" asked Kazuma
"…He's been distant lately…." Said Lira finally finding the cups "We use to sneak off together whenever we could at school and when we were at home...we would spend it together or with Tohru and Yuki." She picked up the pot and began to pour the hot water "But…these days…since we've spoken to Akito…we don't sneak off together…and when were at home we still spend time with Yuki and Tohru, but he stays away from me, avoids eye contact and stays close to her…"
Lira's hand began to shake as she tried to steady the pot. Kazuma went over to her and put his hand on hers and she stopped shaking and he helped her put the pot back on the stove.
"Why are you so scared? To be alone?" he whispered in her ear "I'm glad you love Kyo, but if it hurts…then why keep trying?"
"Because…Kyo…Kyo is…" Lira felt like something had got caught her throat and her mouth became dry and her voice was breaking and becoming weak. "H-He was m-my first love…"
Kazuma let go of Lira's hand and wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her hair.
"Lira, I've always hoped you and Kyo would always be together." Said Kazuma "because for a long time you were the reason he could smile, but if it hurts you…you shouldn't stay."
"But Shishou…I-I can't-"
"Yes, you can. No one ever said you have to be with Kyo." Whispered Kazuma "And didn't you just say he 'was' your first love? That's past-tense I believe."
Kazuma felt Lira relax in his arms and he held onto her tighter.
"You act like a father, more than my own…" whispered Lira
"I know…but that's because I don't want you to stop smiling." He said softly
Later that night"Has anyone seen Lira?" asked Tohru while folding the laundry
"No, she's been gone since school was over." Said Yuki
"Oh…I know she said she was going to Kazuma-dono's but…" Tohru started but Kyo cut her off.
"Don't worry about her. I'm sure she's just having a good old time with Shishou." Said Kyo before taking a swig of his drink
"Aren't you worried Kyo?" asked Shigure
"Of course not." Said a female voice and Lira appeared in the room "He thinks because I'm older that I can take care of myself."
"Lii-chan your home!" said Tohru getting up and hugging her
"Yeah, sorry I'm late. After visiting Kazuma I decided to um do a bit of training with him."
"Really?" said Yuki surprised "Let me guess you…"
"It was only a short orgasm I assure you Yuki." Lira grinned at him "No one's as good as you, Yuki."
"What the hell does that mean!" yelled Kyo
"Oh, nothing." Said Lira "Tohru, can I talk to you outside for a moment?"
"U-Um y-yes! Of course!" said Tohru
"Now hold on second!" said Kyo getting up
"Kyo, I'll be back," said Lira taking Tohru's hand and leading her out
"Is something the matter Lira?" asked Tohru once they were outside
"No…I just want you to do something for me…" said Lira
"Oh, sure. What is it?" asked Tohru
"Can you look after the Chinese Zodiac if something ever happens to me?" asked Lira
"Huh?"
"They say I'm the one who keeps Akito in line…which I believe is extremely wrong…" Lira looked to the moon "But if something should ever happen take care of my family especially Hatori and Kyo."
"Lira?"
"Yes?" Lira turning around and looking at her smiling from ear to ear
Tohru's eyes widened and she smiled softly
"Okay. I'll do it," said Tohru
"I knew I could count on you Tohru!" Lira exclaimed "Now let's go make sobe!"
"But we've already had dinner!" Tohru said going into the house
"Rice balls, then?" Lira asked following her
"I don't know what it was…" Tohru thought walking into the kitchen to make sobe
"NOW YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN LIRA!" Tohru heard yelled Kyo ar Lira
"But, when Lii-chan looked at me, I saw nothing but sadness…"
"Explain what? Oh you mean, that Yuki gives me better orgasms when I fight him then when I fight you?" Tohru heard Lira say in sarcastic tone
"And when she smiled…it was just hiding the pain" Tohru took out a couple of bowls and poured the sobe inside each of them "But, I know Lii-chan is trying very hard to make everyone happy and make sure they don't worry about her…but how can she do that?"
"Hey Tohru, is the sobe ready?" asked Lira poking her head in
"Yes, it is!" said Tohru handing her some chopsticks
"Thanks Tohru!" said Lira smiling at her and taking a bowl
"Why would anyone want to feel such pain…to make everyone else happy…maybe I don't understand now…"
"Hey does anyone else want some sobe?" Lira asked before eating her own
"But someday I hope to understand and maybe…just maybe" Tohru smiled at Lira and Lira looked at her and her eyes widened "Someone will come and ease at least some of the pain…"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Lira suddenly
"I-I'M S-SORRY! I didn't mean to look at you in anyway!" Tohru exclaimed
"It's okay. You sound a bit like Ritsu…"