Okay, this is probably the longest I can do in this fic.

I had a bit of trouble in this one. I wasn't sure what call Tohru's relatives. So to avoid confusion, I stuck with English for most of them. I called her cousin 'onee-san.' I think it's what you call a girl – close (family) friend - who's older than you. Along the lines of 'big sister.' That's how some other Asian languages work, so I'm assuming this works just as well in Japanese. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I hope I'm still keeping Tohru in character. This one feels a bit different. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 6: Old and New

I'm back in Grandfather's house, Mom.

And I'm glad to be back here - really! It's just so…

Aunt, Uncle and onee-san were already here when I arrived. The renovations made more rooms, but I share the other big bedroom with onee-san. It's a bit difficult, but I'm trying my best to remember all the rules she said to me on the first day.

I only do some of the chores now. Aunty made a timetable for that – which I just lost. I think she put one on the fridge though…

Oh! And I also mixed up the laundry the other day. Uncle got upset. I guess I'm getting a lot clumsier. There really is no excuse for it…

I'm doing okay in school so far. The exams are still months away, but I'm preparing myself! You can never start too early, right?

But… with Sohma-kun and Kyo-kun…

It feels so awkward. I can't really explain it.

There's something… and I can't find a word for it.

But I do know…

That each time I get scolded by Uncle for making more clumsy mistakes, I remember how Shigure-san would just laugh and brush it away…

That every time I cook dinner, I remember the vegetables Sohma-kun and I gathered from his secret base…

And when I look up at the night sky, I remember Kyo-kun's smiling face when he told me about his training…

Then I would remember how I wanted to know them better.

What is this feeling, mom?