Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is NOT in my ownership! If it was, why would I have THIS pen name?

To Readers that Skipped Chapter 5: You didn't miss anything – Kyou and Yuki just had a... sexual... encounter in the shower... Yuki displayed a fiery, in charge attitude never seen before!

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Later, at around three o'clock pm, everyone returned home...

Except for Shinkei.

Shigure, Kyou, Yuki, Panda, Hatsuharu, Tohru and Seijitsu crowded around the table, contemplating where Shinkei could be.

"He was so sad yesterday..." Tohru said, "But why would he leave?"

"Shinkei will probably return," Seijitsu said, "But when... We wouldn't know."

"Does he usually run away like this?" asked Yuki.

"Ever since I can remember, Shinkei was very emotional," Seijitsu said, staring into her tea cup, "He displays his emotions but keeps everything locked up inside... It's quite sad... Maybe it's his self esteem. I mean, having Haiiroguma, Yokuguma and Panda as siblings... Looking up to them... Haiiroguma is the perfect athlete, he is strong and the ladies love him... Yokuguma gets straight A's in all her classes and is incredibly smart... Panda is really pretty... I suppose Shinkei was just the odd one out."

"Well," Panda said, "Shinkei should come around soon... I hope..."

---

Shinkei sat on the outcrop in the forest clearing, twisting a flower in his fingers. His face was stained from tears.

'Why am I reacting like this?' thought Shinkei, 'I've been crying since last night... Do I really like Haru that much?'

The sun was slowly setting and hiding behind the mountainous horizon.

'Well... I suppose Hatsuharu has his own crushes... And who he loves is not for me to decide... Even if it means letting him go and watching him kiss another person...'

Shinkei then heard the jingle of his cell phone. He hesitated as he picked it up.

"Hello?" said Shinkei, trying not to make it seem like he was in tears.

"Shinkei!" said the voice, "I'm happy to hear from you! I finally found your number..."

"... Haiiroguma!"

"Yeah! Want to talk to Yoku?"

"Sure..." said Shinkei. He heard the phone on the other line shift.

"Shinkei?" Yokuguma said in her cheery voice, "Guess what? I got an A+ on my science exam!"

"... That's nice..." said Shinkei. Hearing good news from everyone else made him even more angry and sad.

"Well, I have to go do my homework! Here's Haiiro," said Yokuguma. The phone again shifted to Haiiroguma.

"So, good news!" said Haiiroguma.

"What is it?" Shinkei said flatly.

"Well," said Haiiroguma, "Yoku and I are moving by you! I'll even be attending Kaibara High!"

Shinkei suddenly felt even worse than he already did. "That's nice, Haiiro, I can't wait..."

"Unfortunately, Yoku is going to be attending a prep school. But we might move in with you guys!"

Before Shinkei could say a word, Haiiro had already hung up on him. It was now getting even darker, but Shinkei did not want to depart for home... Not yet...

---

Panda sat on the empty swing in the park by the forest. It was nighttime, almost ten o'clock. The park was quiet and rid of any people whatsoever except for Panda. The only sound was the gently creaking of the swing.

Suddenly, Hatsuharu's calm voice broke the silence, "You look glum..."

Panda looked up to see Hatsuharu leaning on a tree.

"Don't worry," said Haru, "I just now came. To check on you. So tell me, why so glum?"

"It's nothing..." Panda said, "I just... I wonder where Shinkei could be..."

Hatsuharu sat on the swing next to Panda. He looked at her, but she was preoccupied with staring at the ground.

"He'll come around," said Haru, "We can't assume the worst, now can we?"

"I suppose not..." Panda said, looking at Hatsuharu, "I just don't want him to get hurt..."

Panda stood up, walked over to the slide and sat on the end. Hatsuharu followed, crouching on his knees in front of Panda. She turned her head in shame.

"Panda, it'll be alright," Haru said, placing his hands on her shoulders.

The young girl turned to look at Haru, staring into his gentle eyes. She felt his hands move down her arms to her elbows.

"It's just... Shinkei and I both... We were always under our sibling's shadows... And I think... That makes him feel inadequate as it does me..."

"Inadequate? Panda... You're beautiful..."

Panda felt a tear come to her eye. Haru pulled himself closer to Panda, kissing her on the lips. She lied down on the slide, still in a soft lip lock with ox.

She placed her hands on his shoulders as he held her tight.

'Hatsuharu... He's treating me so wonderfully...' thought Panda.

Haru looked into Panda's eyes, wiping away the only tear on her beautiful face.

"You're not inadequate, Panda," said Haru gently, "You're the only one I have ever loved so much..."

"You mean that?"

"Every word."

"Haru... I've never been treated like this... Ever..."

Hatsuharu again kissed her softly, his hands on her hips. Panda closed her eyes, fighting away the tears that desperately wanted to come out. Because of Shinkei, because of Hatsuharu...

Because of everything.

"Haru, shouldn't we be getting home by now?" whispered Panda, looking into the man's eyes.

"I suppose we should," said Haru, lifting Panda up. She wiped her tears away with her sleeve.

Panda felt Haru's hand clasp hers. She looked at him, staring into his innocent eyes. They walked home, holding hands.

'Haru...'