Shiane to Tibo: Well, see, I managed to finish it BEFORE Friday! And you better love me since I'm posting it sooner than I promised I would.

Notes and Disclaimers: YYH is NOT mine. But everyone else is.

Chapter 9

Monday came quickly and as it was Autumn overslept. She scrambled from her bed, nearly stepping on Russet who had come into her room, sniffing.

The foxes had slept in the kitchen that night; her dad had put in a cat door and they all had been teaching the three how to use it when they needed to do their business. So far they'd only had a few mishaps, but the foxes were fast learners.

"Autumn! You're running late!" her mother called.

"I know Momma!" she called back. She grabbed the school uniform she had left out the night before and rushed to the bathroom.

When she came out she was dressed, face washed, hair brushed and pulled back away from her face, and a light layer of makeup now enhanced her natural beauty. Dashing back to her bedroom she grabbed the white gloves and her school bag and started to leave her room when a yip caught her attention. She stopped, looking for Russet and found him pawing at her shoes.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed. She went back to get them and her socks. With them she scooped up Russet and carried him and everything else to the kitchen.

"I've already made your lunch." Her mother said, "And breakfast is waiting to be eaten. It's sitting atop the stove. I've got to go to work and your father is coming to check on the foxes in two hours." She continued.

Autumn nodded, setting Russet on the floor with his siblings and then set her gloves and school bag on the table. Her went on the floor by the chair she now sat in. Quickly pulling on her socks she got her shoes on in a record of time.

"Bye honey. I'll see you after work! And I'll come by after lunch to check on our little ones." Nali said as she started for the front door.

Just before it closed Autumn yelled, "Bye Momma!"

The door closed and then the sixteen-year-old heard the car start and pull away from the house. Looking at the clock she saw that she had exactly thirty minutes until the first bell. Just enough time to shove her lunch in her bag, grab her breakfast, make sure the foxes had plenty of water and then lock the door behind her to swiftly walk to school while she ate her breakfast.

Giving the three foxes one last pet she grabbed her gloves and slipped her hands into them as she walked into the kitchen. Breakfast consisted of a toasted bread pocket filled with scrambled eggs and bacon. She wrapped it in a napkin, turned off the lights and grabbed her school bag. She dug out her keys as she went towards the front door.

The foxes bounded along with her, Pouncer trying to entangle himself through her legs. When she nearly tripped over him she gave a little nervous laugh.

"Babies, you're not coming with me." She said firmly.

They looked up at her, cocking their heads to the side. She looked down at them and couldn't' help but smile. They were just too cute and adorable to resist. So extending a feeling of playfulness to them she exited the house and shut the door to the three in a rambunctious romp. Giggling she quickly locked the door and then started hurrying in the direction of the school, stuffing her keys back into her bag. She was also lucky that her purse was also in her bag, leastwise she wouldn't have had a pen for the day. She quickened her pace, taking a bite of her breakfast. It was still hot and now she wished she had thought to get something to drink. She would just have to wait until she got to school.

Halfway to school, her breakfast residing in her stomach, she spotted someone walking ahead of her. It took her a moment but she realized it was Suiichi.

"Suiichi-sempai!" she called out, almost hesitantly. She didn't know if he would actually want to talk to her. She also made sure her shields were firm and a little more strengthened than usual; she didn't want to take any chances, being close to school.

The young man stopped, looking around for whom called him and then spotted Autumn behind him. He waited until she caught up with him before walking again.

"Good morning, Autumn-san." He said as she now walked beside him. "How was your weekend?" he asked, switching to English.

"Eventful," she replied truthfully, a small smile forming on her lips.

"How so?" he inquired politely.

She glanced up at him, flattered at his curiosity. She didn't want to start blushing so she looked forward in the direction they were going. "My father put in a cat door for the foxes and we were trying to teach them how to use it. So far we've had luck." She replied with a tiny blush.

Suiichi was watching her from the corner of his eyes and couldn't help but notice that she was blushing again. He actually liked it when she blushed; she was cute. Realizing that made him wonder if he'd ever be able to do as planned…Before he could dwell any further in his thoughts, Autumn's next words brought him to the present again.

"…But my mother wants me to research on them. We know they're red foxes, and that they're already weaned, but other than that we don't know anything." She said, her confidence rising with the subject. She didn't feel as shy talking about the foxes as she did about everything else.

There had been only one person she could tell anything to, but she lived back in the U.S. last she heard and it had been awhile since they talked.

"I can help you if you would like." Suiichi offered.

Autumn looked up at him and met his gaze, a little surprised. He gave her a little encouraging smile, which she responded to.

"I would like that very much." She said shyly.

"When would you like to set up a time?"

"Uh…I don't really know." She replied truthfully.

He let out a chuckle, and said, "Is there any day this week you are free?"

She considered it and said, "Well, I have to be home straight after school to check on the kits, but I guess if I just check on them and leave them with plenty of food they'll be okay for another couple of hours." She said finally.

He was a tiny bit surprised at her eagerness, but he nodded. "So, today is good?" he inquired.

Autumn blushed and then said shyly, "Is it okay with you? If it's not..." he cut her off, "It's fine."

She looked up at him, meeting his gaze, her cheeks still pink.. He gave her a smile, "The public library is open till late tonight. But I am sure we'll get done quickly." He said and then added, "The librarians know me very well."

She gave a little giggle, hiding it behind a hand.

Suiichi's smile widened, but his gaze went to the large building many other teenagers were drawn to.

"Well, we're almost there." He remarked.

Autumn looked up, a bit startled. In the short time in Suiichi's company she had forgotten they were going to school.

"Oh, you're right." She managed to say. They continued heading towards the school silently.

Once they were on campus grounds they still had just a few minutes before the bell was to ring to signal that class was about to start.

"I will wait for you here after school, if that is okay with you, Autumn-san," he turned towards her.

She looked up into his face, nodding. "I will be here as soon as I can." She said.

He nodded in return and then added, "And do not fret, I will not forget about your kits."

"Thank you Suiichi-sempai." She said, her expression full of warmth.

TBC