Disclaimer: No, I still haven't gotten Takaya-sensei to sell me Fruits Basket, but I'm working on it!
A/N: Well, since I'm working on another Fruits Basket fan fiction at the same time as this one, I've started a new policy. If I update one, I HAVE to update the other. That way, I won't neglect either of them. So, here goes.

(And okay, I used American store names, but how am I supposed what stores they have in Japan?)


The morning of their trip to the city came, and those staying in the Sohma summer home awoke and got ready for the day.

"KIMI, HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IN THERE?" Manabe hammered on the door to the bathroom, in which Kimi had been locked up for the past half an hour.

The door finally opened, and Kimi stepped out, practically glowing. She wagged a finger at Manabe. "It takes time for a lady to look so pretty."

Manabe snorted and Kimi huffed and walked past him. "Finally!" Manabe sighed and quickly rushed into the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Machi was dressed and sitting in the living area, watching the TV as the news reports the weather. It was going to be sunny and fair, perfect weather, she noted. She sighed and peeked out of the doorway into the hall, to the door that was right across from the living area. It was the room Yuki and Manabe shared. She sighed and stood, brushing her long jean skirt and straightening the pain, button-down white shirt she wore. She walked across the hall and knocked on Yuki's door.

No answer.

After knocking once more and getting no reply, she slowly turned the knob. Yuki was lying in his futon; sheets curved gracefully around him, lying perfectly still, his breath even.

Machi leaned on the doorframe and watched her prince sleep. Wait… her prince? She blushed and shook her head.

"Yuki?" She knelt in front of him and tapped his shoulder. Yuki gave a soft moan and shifted around. "Yuki!" She said a little bit louder, now shaking him gently.

"Mm?" Yuki rubbed his eyes and sat up. His eyes locked with her, and he turned red. "MACHI?" He quickly sat up straight and smoothed out his pajamas. "Um… what…?"

"We're leaving soon." She replied. "So… wake up."

"Oh… uh… thanks for waking me."

It was quiet as they both thought of the conversation Yuki had had with Haru the previous afternoon.

Finally, Yuki snapped out of it. "Um… I'll just go to the bathroom then…" Yuki said unsurely.

"Yeah…" Machi got up to go back to the living area, leaving the two feeling empty.


"OKAY!" Kimi hopped into the front seat. "This time, I'M DRIVING!"

Groans echoed through the rest of them, which consisted of Yuki, Machi, Hanajima, Manabe, Uotani, Tohru, Kyo, and Momiji. Haru, Hiro and Kisa, as well as the Trio, were staying behind, leaving it a teenage outing.

Manabe got into the seat next to Kimi, and after a few minutes of battling with the tuner, they decided on a station.

Tohru was on Kyo's lap again; Yuki next to them, and Hanajima was in between Uotani and Machi in the back. For reasons unknown, Momiji ended up on Yuki's lap.

The drive to the mall was a short, 20-minute one, filled with Kimi loudly singing some J-pop song.

When they reached they tried to decide what to do first. When they finally decided they would go shopping first, Kimi insisted that the girls and guys split, so that the girls could show all the guys their purchases when they got home.

So after the girls went off, the guys were left deciding what to do. Finally, they spotted an arcade and headed in.

Meanwhile, back with the girls, four of them blinked at Machi, who was staring back at them emotionlessly.

"Are you sure you don't want to buy ANY of these?" Tohru asked nervously.

Machi shook her head.

Silence.

"Well, then, lets move on… I want to check out Pac Sun and Hot Topic!" Uotani said excitedly.

"Yes, Hot Topic…" Hanajima grinned.

"EH?" Kimi sweated. "Those stores scare me!"

Tohru also looked down. "I… don't really feel welcome there…" She admitted.

Uotani sighed. "Fine, I promise I'll make it quick."

They went into Hot Topic, Kimi and Tohru looking nervous, and Machi, although unfazed, definitely did not fit in very well.

Uotani picked up a few things with chains and Hanajima picked out a very gothic dress.

Machi eyed the store while everyone watched carefully, not sure what to say.

Next they went to other stores where Tohru and Kimi searched around while Hanajima and Uotani shuddered.

Kimi looked around. "Where's Machi?"

The others looked around too, but Machi had disappeared.


Yuki looked around bored, as Manabe and Kyo battled it off on some videogame while Momiji cheered them on.

He saw a small crowd forming around a videogame as people gasped and cheered at someone playing a bloody shooting game.

Yuki curiously pushed his way over to see who it was. When he saw it, he almost burst out laughing. Machi was sitting there, playing the gory game with quite an indifferent look on her face, as people's heads were being ripped off in front of her. She was soaring through the levels easily, like an expert gamer.

Yuki leaned behind her and laughed. "You're pretty good at this game, Machi."

Machi looked up at Yuki and a shot rang through the game and "GAME OVER" flashed in red letters on the screen. Groans echoed through the crowd, as the onlookers departed disappointedly.

"Aren't you supposed to be shopping with the rest of the girls?" Yuki asked as Machi stood up.

Machi shrugged. "They were taking me to stores that I didn't really like, so I got bored and left them."

Yuki smiled. He knew something like this would happen. With Kimi and Tohru's sunny style and Uotani's punk and Hanajima's gothic, it's not a surprise that Machi would stray away with her simple style. "They're probably looking for you, you know." He said. She shrugged. Yuki continued. "Well, I'm getting bored with those idiots too," he jerked his head to the other three, still playing the game like zombies. "So, what do you say we get out of here, and see what we can do ourselves?"

Machi blushed a bit.

Yuki chuckled at the expression on her face. "Don't worry, it's not a date… unless you want it to be?" He raised an eyebrow playfully.

Machi blushed even deeper.

Yuki laughed. "Just kidding. Come on, let's go." He took her hand and the two left the arcade, looking around various stores.

They stopped at a bookstore first.

Machi looked absentmindedly through the shelves, and picked up a book. She flipped through it and read a few lines, but instantly turned red and put it back.

Yuki looked at the book and sweat dropped. It was by another one of Shigure's pen names.

He looked back at Machi to see her contently reading a romance novel. He went to her side and laughed softly. "You like romance novels, huh? I guess you learn something new everyday."

Machi blushed and quickly closed the book, checking the price. Her eyes widened and she hastily put it back.

Yuki also checked the price. It was quite expensive. Yuki looked at her and sighed. "I would buy it for you, but at the moment I don't think I even have enough cash on me for that."

Machi shrugged. "It wasn't that good anyway."

The two left the bookstore. Yuki looked down at Machi. "Liar."

As they walked, Yuki noticed that Machi had stopped a few steps behind him. Yuki turned back to rejoin her as she looked at a dress inside a store.

Yuki smiled. "Do you want it?"

Machi looked down and shrugged, blushing.

Yuki walked into the store and flipped the price tag, Machi following. Yuki picked it off the rack. "It's in the budget. Besides, I think it suits you. I can't wait to see you in it." He gave her one last flirtatious grin and walked to the counter to purchase it.

Machi blushed, not knowing what to say.


OHHH! You don't get to find out how the dress looks until next chapter. And is Yuki being flirty?

Yuki: I can't believe you. I don't do the flirty stuff.

N-Chan: Of course you do! (Smile) This is my fan fiction and I can do whatever I please with you.

Yuki: Do you have any idea how sick you sound?

N-Chan: Yup! (Stupid grin)

Yuki: … (Sweat drop)