Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!

...

...

3rd year – Teiko

Mac walked into the house with a smile on her face, she was still thinking about Kiyoshi and the way he smiled at her. Her stomach fluttered lightly as she and she felt a blush warm her cheeks when she remembered how he ruffled her hair when they said goodbye. She glanced down at the phone in her hand that now held his number and wondered if he really was going to call her like he said he would. He was a year older than her, so why would he want to call her?

"You're back, nee-chan," Sayuri said interrupting her thoughts.

Mac blinked and looked at the younger girl standing in front of her, she had a book in her hands and Mac knew she must have been in the living room reading. Sayuri really loved reading.

"Um, yeah," Mac nodded, "what book are you reading?"

"Jane Austen," Sayuri said, "the one you got me for my birthday."

Mac smiled a little and put Nao down on the floor but predictably he kept close by her legs. She had given Sayuri the collected works of Jane Austen for her birthday when she turned 9 the week before when she had been wishing to read her books for a long time. Mac didn't care that Sayuri might be a little young for the books, she loved to read and Mac wanted to encourage that love.

"You like it?" Mac asked following Sayuri back to the living room and sat down on the sofa.

"I like it," Sayuri smiled and started to talk about the books and how much she liked it. Mac sat there listening and thought a little sad that this would end soon. She would move and her time with Daiki and his siblings like this would come to an end. She knew she would still see them, but it wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't be the everyday things or moments with them anymore.

"Mac, you're back," Ayano smiled at her and Mac glanced at the clock, she had been back for 30 minutes already and been talking to Sayuri the whole time. She smiled at Ayano a little sheepishly.

"Yeah, got back 30 minutes ago," Mac said, "just got distracted talking to Sayuri about her book. Sorry, forgot to tell you I was back."

"No problem," Ayano smiled warmly and glanced at the happy smile on Sayuri's face. Just then Shiro and Daiki entered the living room and Shiro beamed when he saw her running over to give her a hug. Nao tensed in her lap but allowed the boy to come close enough to hug her, he had gotten better with Shiro and Sayuri.

"Where did you go?" Daiki asked making Mac look up at her best friend at the tone in his voice. She frowned when she took in his stiff posture and arms crossed over his chest.

"Did you go somewhere, Mac-nee?" Shiro asked curiously.

Sayuri was looking curiously between Daiki and Mac while Ayano sighed softly. Mac glanced down at Shiro and smiled a little at him.

"I went to the court to play some basketball with a friend of mine," Mac said.

"He plays basketball?" Daiki asked, "who is he? He's not one of the guys we used to play with…"

Mac looked up at him with a blank look on her face for a long moment as she deliberated what she wanted to say. It hurt slightly that Daiki didn't even recognise Kiyoshi, but at the same time, she was hesitant in telling Daiki about him. Mac frowned at her thoughts, why would she feel hesitant in telling Daiki? She told him practically everything… but this… it felt weird and almost wrong, but she couldn't figure out why.

"You've met him before, Daiki," Mac finally said.

"No, I haven't," Daiki protested quickly with a deep scowl.

"Daiki…" Ayano said and there was a clear warning in her voice.

"You have," Mac said stubbornly. "Kiyoshi Teppei, he played for Shoei. We played them last autumn and he was the only one who didn't give up playing us."

Daiki got a look of realisation on his face before he frowned again.

"Why did he come to see you today, then?" he scowled. "It's not like we just played them."

"He's my friend," Mac said trying not to blush but knew she failed when she saw the arch brow from Ayano and the way Daiki's eyes narrowed. "We've met and played basketball several times since we played him."

"You never told me…" Daiki said sounding hurt. "And why…"

"I don't need your permission to see my friends, Daiki," Mac snapped getting frustrated by his constant frown and questions. She didn't want to defend her friendship with Kiyoshi to Daiki, but it hurt to see the disapproval in his blue eyes. She got up and made sure to keep a good hold of Nao. "Besides, you don't want to come and play streetball anymore, Daiki. I still like it, and so does he. I'm not going to stop just because you don't want to anymore."

Ayano sighed again as she listened to the two best friends argue, she was not lost to the jealousy she saw in her son but she wasn't sure he was aware that what he was feeling was jealousy. She was worried he would push Mac away if he continued like this; she might have to talk to her son soon. Though, she didn't want to rush anything either. They were after all just kids still.

...

Mac fell back on her bed and closed her eyes. The good feeling she had from her afternoon spent with Kiyoshi was almost gone. Why was Daiki so difficult? She sighed and smiled slightly when she felt Nao lick her chin. She didn't like fighting with Daiki, she hated feeling that he was upset with her. Sighing, yet again, she sat up in her bed and looked at the stable of books on her desk. She had homework, both magical and muggle. The pile didn't look tempting at all, but she knew she had to get started or she would not be able to sleep at all.

Working through her potion homework she was startled out of her concentration by the buzzing from her phone signalling a text coming in. She reached for her phone and opened the text.

Hi Mac! Just wanted to make sure you got home safe? You ok? – Teppei

Mac smiled a little and typed a quick reply.

Hi, I got home safe and I'm fine. Just doing my homework now. What about you? – Mac

She turned back to her homework and had written a few lines before her phone buzzed again making her stomach lurch in anticipation.

Good. I'm also doing homework, had to help grandpa with something after I got home so a little late. I'll let you focus on your homework. I hope we can meet again soon and play some more basket or just hang out. You're a great friend, Mac. - Teppei

The smile on her face grew and she felt her cheeks heat up slightly and was glad she was alone in her room so no one saw her blush again. Why did she blush like this just because of a text? It wasn't like her. She couldn't understand her feelings or why her thoughts lingered on him since she came home.

You're a good grandson. I probably should focus on the homework, although it is boring. I would love to play more basketball with you or just hang out. –Mac

Sending the reply she put her phone down and forced herself to focus on the potion essay again, she knew Sato would not accept anything but the best she could do and being distracted by a boy wouldn't be an excuse good enough.

...

Mac inhaled deeply as she entered the gym for the early practice, she was tired from her magic lessons and felt like just going home and sleep despite knowing it wouldn't be possible. She hid her yawn behind her hand as she sat down on the bench waiting for the coach to show up and for the rest of the team to come.

"You look tired," Tetsuya's voice sounded and Mac glanced to her right to see him sitting down next to her. She hadn't heard him come up to her.

"I am," she admitted. "I wish I could go home to sleep."

"Did you not sleep well?" Tetsuya asked worriedly.

"Not too well," Mac said hating the fact she couldn't tell him the truth. That she had been through a long lesson in magical defence and had been practising duelling and defending herself in duels. Professor Sato had been particularly harsh during the day's lesson and she was now too exhausted to think straight.

"Perhaps you should sit this one out," Tetsuya said referring to the practice. "I'm sure Sanada-sensei will allow you to rest."

"No," Mac shook her head. "I'll be fine, Tetsu."

She refused to skip practices, she wasn't going to start doing it and she would be there even if she were almost falling asleep. She saw the worry in his teal blue eyes and smiled slightly at him to reassure him that she was ok.

"There you are, Mac," Ryota exclaimed as he barged into their conversation and sat down on the floor in front of Mac. She arched a brow at the dramatic model who was watching her with a curious look in his yellow eyes. She noticed the others following at a more sedate pace and soon sat down either on the bench or on the floor as well.

"So I am," Mac said stoically, "what do you want?"

"Who was the boy meeting you yesterday?" Seijuro asked coldly.

Mac looked at him with a raised brow and saw the narrow eyes and the tense shoulders, she could tell he was in his overprotective possessive mood and sighed inwardly. He was almost as bad as Daiki.

"You don't remember him?" Mac asked making them frown.

"He's Kiyoshi-san from Shoei," Tetsuya said calmly and Mac knew he probably had recognised him the day before. "We played him before."

Seijuro's eyes widened before he narrowed his eyes as he looked at Mac.

"I didn't know you were friends," he accused.

Mac sighed. "Like I told Daiki yesterday; you don't decide who my friends are or who I'm going to meet. Kiyoshi is a friend and I enjoy hanging out with him."

"I'll crush him if he hurts Mac-chin," Atsushi said glowering down on the floor.

Mac rolled her eyes and was relieved when she noticed that the coach was there and got to her feet. She walked passed her friends without saying anything and stood with the others to listen to the coach.

...

Mac glanced up from her book when she noticed someone sitting down opposite her and arched a brow when she saw Seijuro. He was watching her and she closed her book as he settled down. She had found a quiet table in the cafeteria wanting to read a little in between classes not feeling up to the antics of her friends at the moment.

"May I help you, Seijuro?" Mac asked breaking the silence.

After a moment he sighed and pulled out the shogi board and she smiled a little. It had been a while since they had played. She took it for what it was, an apology without really saying sorry. Seijuro wasn't one for actually admitting that he was wrong, but she was good at reading him.

"Let's play," she agreed and smiled at the small smile that crossed his face.

They played in silence during their lunch break and Mac relaxed as she focused on the pieces and let the sounds from the students around her wash over her and fade into the background. She frowned as she saw him getting the advantage and tried to see a way out of it. She could practically feel the smugness rolling off him, and wanted to shake him for it but didn't.

"Fine, I lose," Mac sighed just as the bell rang signalling the end of their lunch break. "One day, Seijuro, I will beat you."

"You can try," he smirked.

...

Daiki was waiting for her when the day was over and Mac smiled slightly as she joined him as they started to walk home. He had his bag casually thrown over his shoulder and looked more relaxed than before, but there was something in him that had her worried.

"You ok, Daiki?" she asked after a while.

"I'm fine," he shrugged, "are you ready for the weekend?"

Mac sighed and glanced over at him to see him looking at her worriedly.

"You mean ready to move?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded.

"I don't think I'll ever be ready," Mac admitted, "but…it's just something I have to do. I will miss living with you and your family, Daiki."

"We're your family too, Kenzie," Daiki corrected her. "You'll always be our family and it doesn't matter that you can't live with us anymore. You're one of us."

Mac blinked away tears at the honesty in his voice. He wasn't looking at her and a small blush was on his cheeks as he stared at the road in front of them, but she didn't doubt that he meant it.

"Thank you, Daiki," she whispered and he grunted apparently all out of emotional talk and Mac chuckled slightly.

They reached the house and Mac noticed a car outside she hadn't seen before, she exchanged a look with Daiki before entering the house.

"We're home!" Daiki called out.

Mac followed her best friend into the living room and paused when she saw who was seated on the sofa talking to Takehiro just as Ayano came into the room with coffee and tea.

"Hello Mac," her uncle smiled as he got to his feet.

"Kag…uncle Tarou," Mac said surprised, "I didn't know you were coming…"

"No, you wouldn't," he said. "I thought I wanted to meet the family you lived with up until now and see how you lived."

Mac nodded and saw how he looked to Daiki with a curious look in his eyes.

"This is must be your best friend Aomine Daiki that you told me about," Tarou said.

"Yes," Mac nodded. "Daiki this is my uncle Kagami Tarou."

Daiki looked at him for a moment and Mac knew he was trying to read the older man.

"Nice to meet you," Daiki said gruffly.

"You too," Tarou said a little amused.

Mac sat down on the sofa next to her uncle and Daiki sat down in the chair closest to her. She knew he did it to show support and she felt warmth at the fact that he still took note to show her support even when they had argued the day before.

"Here," Ayano said with a soft smile as she held out a cup of steaming coffee.

"Thank you, Aomine-san," Tarou smiled accepting the cup.

They sat in silence for a little bit before Tarou looked at Mac while taking a sip of his coffee.

"How was school, Mac?" he asked.

"Alright," Mac shrugged. "Nothing too exciting happening."

"You almost fell asleep," Daiki scoffed.

"You're not one to talk, Daiki," Mac said.

"You should have skipped practice to rest," Daiki said giving her a look, "or just do the analysing thing and not play. Sanada-sensei would have let you do it and so would Akashi."

"Why were you tired?" Tarou interrupted the small argument.

"Just had a long day before school with magic lessons," Mac said casually, "I had to practice defence and duelling, and it's tiring. So, for the rest of the day, I was tired. The practice was fine, I didn't need to skip it."

Daiki huffed but didn't say anything else.

"Sounds like a lot," Tarou commented looking at her with a worried look in his eyes. "You do that every day?"

Mac nodded before telling him more about her magic lessons together with her muggle lessons, feeling better to talk about something concrete and she hadn't really gotten into it last time.

"I must say I'm impressed," Tarou said when she finished. "Not many kids would take on such a full schedule."

"I didn't want to leave my friends," Mac admitted softly.

Tarou nodded and looked at her and over at Daiki who was smiling slightly even as he had a grumpy look on his face as he met his eyes. Amused Tarou arched a brow.

...

They talked for a while and after a while, the conversation turned to the practical aspects of her moving in with Tarou and his son. Mac tensed slightly but knew it was necessary to talk about it.

"I think that Saturday might be the best day to make the move," Tarou said. "It will give you time to settle in with us, Mac."

Mac nodded knowing he was right, but her stomach was in knots at the idea of moving. It was suddenly so real and she couldn't push the thoughts away anymore. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt not looking up. She heard Ayano and Takehiro and Tarou start to discuss the move and make arrangements on how and when's.

A knocking sound interrupted them and Mac blinked startled out of her thoughts and looked around.

"What is that?" Daiki asked speaking up for the first time in a while.

Mac looked down at her bag and felt her eyes widen in realisation.

"Oh," she said and opened her bag quickly. "I'm sorry Nao!"

Nao barked a little looking unhappy and pouting, making Mac smile at the adorable sight but also felt sad for forgetting about her little fox.

"Yow-wow-ow!"

"I'm sorry, Nao, didn't mean to forget about you," Mac apologized. "Shh, don't be like that."

He huffed the way only a fox could and Mac patted him aware that the others were watching them, but ignored them. She smiled when Nao licked her hand and scratched the back of his ear.

"Um…" Tarou was staring at Nao and Mac making her realise she hadn't told him about her pet. She held onto Nao tighter as she hoped that it wouldn't be a problem for him.

"Oh, I forgot," Mac said, "this is Nao. He's mine."

"He's a fox," Tarou stated.

"Yes," Mac nodded, "he's a magical fox, though. He was saved as a cub when his family were killed. He took a liking to me and has been with me for months now."

Tarou looked at Nao who blinked and growled softly as he stood protectively on Mac's lap. Mac sighed and patted him to reassure him that she was fine.

"He's protective of me and not too fond of strangers," Mac explained simply.

Tarou nodded still shocked at the way the fox seemed to curl up in Mac's lap and close his eyes. He hadn't expected her to have a pet but knew he couldn't refuse to let her bring him. He briefly thought that Taiga would probably protest the pet, but if what he could see was correct he wouldn't go near anyone but Mac.

...

The rest of the week went quickly and soon it was Saturday and Mac was packed and ready to move, she was seated on the bed looking over her room that was now empty expect the furniture that had been in the room when she got it. She petted Nao absentmindedly as her mind flashed to all the good times she had in this room with Daiki or just alone.

"Kenzie, Kenzie, Kenzie," Daiki chanted and Mac sighed looking up from her book and saw Daiki standing just inside the door with a basketball under his arm. "Kenzie."

"What?" she asked annoyed.

"Come out and play with me," Daiki said twirling the ball on the top of his finger. "Kenzie…"

Mac shook her head as she closed the book and scoped off the bed. "Fine."

Daiki grinned widely.

That had been at the beginning of her stay when he still liked playing, it was strange to think that it was only a year ago since that happened. It felt much longer.

"I don't understand this," Daiki scoffed and pushed his book away on the floor where he was seated. Mac looked down at him and smiled slightly.

"What don't you understand? Maybe I can help you with it," she asked sitting down next to him and pulled the book closer again.

Daiki huffed but pointed out the math problem he didn't understand and Mac looked at it for a moment before starting to explain it to him. He scowled but started to work on it again.

"I see you're hard at work," Takehiro commented from the door where he had paused on his way to his and Ayano's room to change after getting home from work.

"We try," Mac smiled at the glare on Daiki's face as he looked up at his father.

"Just listen to Mac, Daiki," Takehiro laughed, "I'm sure she'll get you through school."

"Whatever," Daiki muttered but looked back at the book. Mac met Takehiro's eyes and smiled when he mouthed 'thank you' to her.

Mac smiled as she remembered just one of many study session they shared in here, while Daiki always complained and dragged his feet he would come and ask for help or allow her to drag him into the room so she could be sure he did his work. Who would do that now? Mac frowned slightly at the sudden worry that sprung up in her mind. She had to find another way to make sure Daiki did his homework and actually tried to do it.

Finally getting up she put Nao on the ground and picked up her bag as she started to walk toward the door but paused and looked over the room once more with a sad smile on her face. She would miss it.

"Are you ready, sweetie?" Ayano asked from the door and Mac turned to look at the older woman. She saw the way Ayano tried to keep calm and smile for her, and Mac knew she had to do the same. Takehiro was right behind his wife and smiled a little as well but there was something sad in his eyes.

"Yeah," Mac nodded smiling a little, "just…remembered my time here."

"Good," Ayano sniffled slightly before reaching out and pulling Mac into her arms hugging her tightly. Mac tensed slightly before allowing herself to hug Daiki's mum back.

"You're always welcome here, Mac," Ayano said when she pulled back but kept her hands on Mac's shoulders as she met her eyes. Right then and there Mac couldn't help but think that Daiki resembled his mother greatly. "No matter what, you're a part of this family and I expect frequent visits, alright?"

Mac swallowed the lump in her throat before she nodded making Ayano smile and gently push a strand of Mac's unruly hair away from her face.

Takehiro gave Mac a quick hug as well and echoed his wife's words and Mac could only smile and nod in acceptance and promise she would come and visit.

...

"No!" Shiro glared with his arms crossed over his chest. Sayuri was standing next to her twin and looked sad but not as angry as Shiro looked.

"Come on, Shiro," Ayano looked at her son, "you have to say bye to Mac."

"She can't leave!" Shiro yelled. "She's my sister! She lives here!"

Mac winced at the hurt and angry tone in Shiro's voice and wished she could fix this. She blinked away tears that threatened to escape as she looked at the stubborn tilt of Shiro's head and the way his lips trembled in withholding sobs.

"I'm going to miss you, Mac-nee," Sayuri said quietly having moved from her brother's side and was now standing in front of Mac. Her blue eyes were sad and tears had escaped her eyes. Mac reached out and dried her tears with her fingers before pulling the girl into a hug.

"I'm going to miss you too, Sayuri," Mac murmured quietly in her ear, "but I'm always going to be there for you. You can call me anytime you wish, ok?"

Sayuri nodded and smiled a little as she pulled back.

Mac looked to Shiro who refused to look at her and saw the apologetic look from Ayano. Mac walked over to the little boy and put her hands on his shoulders feeling how tense he felt.

"Shiro," Mac said quietly. "I will miss you. I'm sorry you're sad and upset with me, but this is something I have to do. I have to move in with my uncle and cousin. But I will always miss you and be here for you when you need me. I hope we can still go out and play football together like we have before, and maybe you could come and visit me sometimes?"

She could feel the struggle inside of Shiro before he suddenly launched himself into her arms and sobbed against her shoulder. She held him close and stroked his hair as she whispered comfortingly into his ear.

"You won't forget me?" he whispered when he calmed down and had pulled slightly out of her arms so he could look at her.

"I'll never forget you, Shiro," Mac said surely. "It will be impossible to forget you."

"Promise?" he asked.

"Promise," she promised and reached out to dry his tears as well before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "I'm just a phone call away, ok?"

...

Finally, it was only Daiki left and Mac already felt exhausted. He was standing leaned against the wall and had watched her say goodbye to his family in silence.

"I guess it's my turned now, eh?" Daiki gave her a small smile and she chuckled slightly.

"Yeah, but it's not like I won't see you soon," Mac said trying to put on a brave face.

He smiled slightly but she knew he saw through her but appreciated that he didn't call her out on the front she put up. She smiled back and suddenly he was hugging her. She hid her face against his shoulder and allowed a few tears to escape when no one could see it.

"Remember what I told you," Daiki said quietly, "you're a part of this family. No matter what."

"Thank you, Daiki," Mac said pulling herself together and smiled at him. "I'll see you Monday, ok?"

"Of course," he smiled but there was something sad in his smile and she felt he held something back from her but she wasn't sure what.

...

Mac sighed as she placed her last bag on the floor of the room that was now hers, it was almost the same size that the one she'd had at Daiki's, but a little smaller. She liked the large window that overlooked the park outside and the city in the background. There was a knock on the door and she turned around to see her cousin standing in the door looking awkward with his hands in his pockets and eyes shifting over the room before landing on Nao who was resting on her bed.

"Woah!" Taiga exclaimed loudly and took a step back.

Mac smiled slightly at the reaction and walked over to the bed and put a hand on Nao's head when he raised his head at the loud exclamation and growled slightly.

"He won't hurt you," Mac said quietly, "he's wary of strangers so he growls a lot, but as long as you don't try to attack him, he won't hurt you."

Taiga looked at her and then back at Nao.

"Why do you have a fox?" he asked.

"A friend gave him to me," Mac shrugged with a fond smile. "He was just a cub then and had just lost his family at the hands of humans. He liked me and wouldn't let me leave without him, so my friend gave him to me. Said I was the best to take care of him."

Taiga grumbled slightly and eyed Nao suspiciously but stepped back into the room. Mac couldn't help but notice how he kept looking at Nao.

"May I help you with something?" Mac asked bringing Taiga's attention back to her.

"Dad said to offer my help," Taiga shrugged, "and said that dinner will be ready soon."

Mac looked at him, she wanted to say she had it under control but something stopped the words from coming out. Her cousin looked uncomfortable and it was the first time he had talked to her directly and without his dad in the same room. Perhaps she should take this opportunity to see what he was like and try to get to know him.

"Um, alright," Mac said a little unsurely, "I…I could use a little help with putting my books up if you want to do that?"

Taiga nodded and Mac pointed to the box holding her books, she started to put her clothes into the dressed while he worked on the books. Nao had put his head back on his paws but kept an eye on Taiga.

"Dinner is ready," Tarou called from the kitchen slash living room and both teens stopped what they were doing to look toward the door.

...

Mac was the first one up the next morning and padded into the kitchen in her pyjamas with Nao right behind her. She found something to eat for Nao before pausing looking at the clock. It was almost eight and she knew the others would be up soon. It felt strange not expecting Shiro or Sayuri to come into the kitchen with her and not having to wait for Daiki to finally wake up. She opened the refrigerator and started to take out the food she would need to make breakfast.

"You made breakfast."

Mac jumped before spinning around to see Taiga standing there already dressed as he stared at the food placed on the table.

"You scared me!" Mac grumbled holding a hand over her heart. "Make some sound or something!"

"I did," Taiga protested as he sat down at the table. "You just didn't hear me."

Mac shook her head and turned back to the coffee machine just as it finished dripping and she poured the coffee into three cups and placed them on the table just as her uncle entered the room and looked surprised when he saw the breakfast already finished.

"You cooked," he said surprised. "Thank you, Mac."

Mac smiled slightly and sat down feeling Taiga watching her. She started to eat in silence and was aware that the others did the same.

"It's good," Taiga commented after a while.

"Thanks," Mac said softly.

"You like to cook?" Taiga asked.

"Sometimes," Mac shrugged looking up and met his eyes. "I liked it better when I lived with Daiki, but not so much when I lived with the Dursley's."

Taiga frowned slightly, "why?"

"With Daiki and his family, they would appreciate that I cooked and I could eat with them," Mac said quietly, "I liked that. It was different with the Dursley's."

Mac wouldn't say anything else about it and Taiga seemed to realise that so he didn't press the matter, but he did frown and saw the same frown on his father's face. Though, Tarou was also looking pleased to see the two cousin's talk and interact.

"Can you cook?" Mac asked bringing the conversation from her and over at her cousin.

"A little," Taiga said, "but not too much."

"I see. Do you like it?" Mac looked at him and saw him nod.

"I could show you some if you want," Mac offered shyly.

Taiga looked startled at her before he smiled slightly.

"Sure," he said.

Tarou smiled when he saw his son smile properly for the first time since they arrived back to Tokyo. He looked at the girl who had made it possible and saw that she was focused on her breakfast again and was slipping some pieces of fruit to Nao.

...

Mac was still trying to get the room the way she liked it when her phone rang and smiled when she saw Kiyoshi's name on the caller-id.

"Hi Kiyoshi-san," Mac greeted when she answered the phone.

"Hi Mac," Kiyoshi answered. "How are you?"

"Alright," Mac said settling on top of her bed leaned against the headboard.

"You don't sound so sure," Kiyoshi said a note of worry in his tone.

"I'm fine, Kiyoshi-san," Mac smiled even if he couldn't see it, "promise."

"Ok," he sighed, "are you busy?"

"I'm just settling in," Mac said looking at the mess in her room, though it was getting better.

"Settling in?" he asked confused.

"I didn't tell you?" Mac asked surprised, sure she had told him. "I moved in with my new uncle and cousin yesterday. I am now in the process of getting my stuff in their new places."

"Oh, no you didn't tell me," Kiyoshi said, "are you ok with the move?"

"It's strange, but… I think maybe it could be ok," Mac admitted, "but I miss Daiki and the kids, and Ayano and Takehiro…"

"I can understand that," Kiyoshi said. "Let me know if you need to talk, ok?"

"Ok," Mac blushed lightly. "Tell me about your week."

Kiyoshi laughed and complied as he started to tell her about the latest practices he'd been through and how crazy his coach was. She laughed at the antics of his team and thought they reminded her of how her team was before.

Mac looked up when there was a knock on the door and saw Taiga standing in the doorway looking at her.

"I have to go, Kiyoshi," Mac said, "my cousin is here and looks like he wants to talk."

"Alright," Kiyoshi said easily and she could hear the smile in his voice, "I'll see you soon, Mac. Take care."

"Sure, see you," Mac said and hung up ignoring the way her heart beat a little harder.

"Boyfriend?" Taiga asked with an arched brow.

"No!" Mac protested but wondered why it felt like someone clutched her heart. It wasn't like she wanted him to be… She shook her head and looked at Taiga. "Did you need something?"

"I hoped you would help me make dinner," Taiga admitted. "Dad is on the phone and I thought…um, never mind…"

He turned around and Mac smiled a little amused.

"Ok, I'll help," she said and Taiga turned around and smiled at her.

...

Mac had fun making food with Taiga and she couldn't help but compare him with Dudley. While Taiga was bigger and taller than her, he was fitter than Dudley had been and stronger. He didn't scowl every time he saw her or sneered, which were different. He looked like he enjoyed himself too, so she relaxed a little as she worked side by side with him.

"No, don't cut it like that," Mac corrected him, "you should cut it into smaller pieces, they will cook better."

"Alright," Taiga nodded and did as she said making her nod in approval.

"So, tell me something about you," Mac broke the silence and glanced at him. He looked at the meat he was cutting and she noticed the way his hand tightened on the knife. "Or not… I just thought it would be good to get to know you a little…"

Taiga sighed and glanced at her.

"It's not much to tell," he said with a shrug. "I like sports, I don't like school."

Mac shook her head but didn't force him to elaborate knowing it wouldn't do any good and it wasn't like she felt like pouring her soul out for him either.

...

...

AN: Thank you for reading! Hope you liked it.