Hello, all. Sorry it's been a while, but had other stuff going on. Let's see how the rest of this goes between Itsuha and Tohma.

Enjoy

Monday came and passed. If Itsuha had to say, she could describe it as the best day of her life so far.

She spent more time than usual in the bathroom grooming and applying light mascara all for Tohma. Her brother threatened with the screwdriver again, his new tactic to speed her up, but knowing that this was the past and she was able to torture him again, it was music to her ears and worth the risk.

Tohma showed up, and not long after found Sayaka was tied to his hip. Itsuha's little sister made it known to them both that she 'fell in love' with Tohma's green eyes and that she was going to marry him. Itsuha was able to distract Sakaya with the new DVD set of her current favorite anime, saying it was a marathon and would give her any junk food she wanted. It was more to distract her so Tohma could breathe than anything, and it worked like a charm.

Itsuha was a nervous wreck with Tohma sitting next to her at the kitchen table as he showed her techniques and tricks. It was not long after that Tohma said he figured out how she learned best and the rest of the day went smooth. She had a long way to go, but at least it was better than stick figures.

They lost track of time drawing and laughing at random stories they would tell each other until her father walked in through the door that evening. When Taki found out this was "the" Tohma Shirukashi, he invited him to stay for dinner. At first, Itsuha was nervous that her family would unintentionally embarrass her, but they all played it cool, except for Sayaka telling everyone to get ready for a wedding that Saturday, of course.

Tuesday came around and Itsuha took her sister to the store with Tohma to buy season two of the same anime to have a new marathon. Sayaka was overjoyed knowing she would get more junk food that day. Itsuha and Tohma would spend the majority of the day discussing the plot he was mulling over regarding Inuman. Some drawing lessons happened, but they were always cut short when one of them thought of a new plot detail to add to Inuman.

They lost track of time again, yet her parents invited Tohma to stay for dinner once more. Sayaka announced her wedding kimono would have pink and purple rose designs instead of the traditional pure white kimono. Tohma chuckled and said he'd more than likely be busy on their wedding day. All but Sayaka found it funny. She asked for a divorce before the wedding even happened.

It was now Wednesday morning. Itsuha and Wabisuke stood at the entrance of their bedrooms staring the other down, silently daring the other to make a move to the bathroom first. This would be when Wabisuke would twist his ankle. He rarely wore socks to bed, but this would be the day that he did and would slide too far trying to rush inside the bathroom.

Itsuha had it planned out on how to avoid the accident. She'd stare him down like in the past, but then tell him to go first while she changed her clothes in her bedroom. It would confuse him to no end, but it was better than having to babysit again.

Not to mention, she did sort of care for her brother deep down inside...somewhere. In a corner. In a dark, small corner.

She waved a hand in the air and walked back into her room as planned. "Just go. You're usually quicker anyway."

She tried to contain her laughter as she caught his confused stare while she shut her bedroom door. That's when everything turned pitch black with a spotlight showing in the far distance. The In-Between!

"Hello?" Itsuha called out as she stood under the spotlight. "Old man?"

"Priestess Itsuha."

Itsuha turned to find the elderly gentleman on the ground in a bow on his hands and feet.

She wore a flustered smile and kneeled in front of him. "You really don't need to bow each time we meet."

"I am but your faithful, humble ser-"

"Uh, yeah, servant," she chuckled. "Got it. Why are we back here?"

The elderly gentleman sat up with concern. "Priestess Itsuha. You've messed with a part of the timeline you weren't supposed to."

"What? What do you mean? Isn't the whole reason for me to go back in time was to not forget Tohma? That's what I'm doing. I mean, I think that's what I'm doing."

"Yes, but your brother is supposed to twist his ankle today."

Her face fell.

"You're kidding."

"Priestess Itsuha, I dare not joke on these serious matters."

Itsuha looked to the side trying not to roll her eyes. It was only an insignificant injury, for crying out loud. "What's the big deal if he does or doesn't?"

"Everything that happens to you and others has a purpose. What doesn't affect you can affect someone else. Did you not remember when I said that your actions will have consequences?"

"Yeah, but his ankle -"

"Do not pretend that it was done for unselfish reasons!" The elderly gentleman's voice boomed with authority.

Itsuha cringed and shielded herself with an arm. He used his cane to stand and barked his message.

"Kami has given me instructions to rewind time enough to allow you to not make that mistake again."

Itsuha stood to her feet. "I don't get it. I'm supposed to change time with Tohma, but not anyone else?"

"Did I stutter?"

"Excuse me, old man!" she snapped. "It's not like I have experience with this."

"Do I have to remind you how imperative your mission is?"

Itsuha crossed her arms at her chest, and voiced her snarky comment. "No. It's crystal clear. I can't help anyone."

The elderly gentleman used his cane to point at her. "Not when the fate of this country is in danger. Listen here, disrespectful girl. I was going to wait until the end of your mission to reveal this, but I'll say it now since it seems you need convincing."

"I get it, old man. No need to drag this on. I'll help twist his ankle."

He ignored what she said and spoke. "The evil spirit that once killed your mother has been biding her time until you rise into power at Hokkaido Jingu Shinto Shrine. It is then where she will send multiple comets that will destroy most of Japan's civilization from the very north until just under Tokyo. In this way the evil spirit will have made sure that all of your relatives and Tohma Shirukashi are destroyed so that the gift that resides in you dies with you.

"In the current timeline, when you forget about Tohma, he becomes a successful mangaka. The love interest for each manga he creates has the reputation to look similar, but they all are you. He never forgets you: A life with you that never happened.

"Tohma is destined to become a priest, just like you, at Hokkaido Jingu Shinto Shrine, but this won't happen," the elderly gentleman yelled the last part of his thought, "if you don't make Wabisuke twist his ankle! So stop being selfish because you don't want to babysit and call Tohma!"

Itsuha forgot how to breathe. All that because of an ankle? How terrifying!

"I'm sorry," she barely managed to squeeze out her apology.

The elderly gentleman took a deep breath to settle himself as he studied her. This unnerved her to no end.

"Can I ask something about Tohma?" She did her best to sound brave, but knew she failed miserably.

"Yes."

"Is Tohma that powerful to stop the comets?"

"Not alone. It will take the combination of both of your spiritual powers to defeat not only the evil spirit, but also divert the comets and lessen the tsunami that will result from the diversion."

"So these comets won't burn up enough to lessen the attack?"

"No. Scientists will not be able to explain how it was possible that the comets were able to create such a grand disaster."

She knew she probably shouldn't ask, but since the elderly gentleman was divulging the future it was worth a shot. "Do I ever date Tohma?"

A gentle smile graced his lips. He bowed with reverence. "Priestess Itsuha, today is Children's Day. Take Sayaka and Tohma to one of the several festivals and have fun. Make it a day that neither of you will forget. And while I'm giving out suggestions, when he asks if you'd like to have his penguin, say yes. Time waits for no one, Priestess Itsuha. Follow the path your heart desires."

Itsuha and Wabisuke stood at the entrance of their bedrooms staring the other down, silently daring the other to make a move to the bathroom first. She shook her head as her eyesight became blurry. Ah, that's right. She was supposed to let her brother twist his ankle. As much as she wanted to avoid this, the fate of millions of people's lives were at stake. This was going to hurt her more than it was going to hurt him.

She raced towards the bathroom, just like last time, dreading the inevitable. Her brother gave chase, but when he tried sliding to a stop with his socks, his left ankle twisted awkwardly.

"AHHHHHH!" Wabisuke screamed, collapsing to the ground.

That scream was just as agonized and cringful as the last time. His eyes were squeezed shut and he breathed sharply through his gritted teeth. Itsuha ran to get an ice pack as her parents raced to her brother.

The past was acting out just as last time. It was fixed.

Wabisuke would go on to stay on the couch for the rest of the day, watching TV and surfing the web with his laptop. His leg was elevated on several couch cushions to keep the swelling down. Taki and Mitsuha hung the traditional koinobori flags, carp fish of different colors representing each family member in a household, before they left for work.

Just like last time, Sayaka wanted to go out to celebrate Children's Day. Just like last time, Itsuha called Hikari and asked if she wanted to go. As much as Itsuha wanted to call Tohma instead, she had to follow the plan first.

She met up with Hikari at a nearby festival and bought kushi dango, Sayaka's favorite dessert. There were stations of various activities for all ages to interact with. Sayaka was as happy as a clam fluttering from one station to another. This was the highlight of the little five-year-old's life. Itsuha couldn't help but chuckle. Between watching her sister having the time of her life and constantly texting Tohma at the same time, something they were doing the minute she woke up, she could say it was one of the best times for herself as well.

"Who are you texting?" Hikari peered over Itsuha's shoulder.

Before Itsuha could shield her phone Hikari gasped in joy. "Tohma! You didn't tell me you exchanged numbers!"

Itsuha bit her lip trying to hide her smile, but joy spilled from every orifice. "We spent the last two days together and been texting since this morning! Remember when he used to draw Inuman? He showed me some recent drawings and he's really good."

Hikari took a bite of her own kushi dango. "So then, why isn't he here with us?"

"Uh, well, this is our thing, right? We do this every year. I didn't want to make you upset going with Tohma."

"Are you kidding? It's Tohma. I'd be fine if he joined. Three isn't always a crowd."

"Sissy!" Sayaka called out from yet another station. "Look at this drawing I did!"

"Beautiful!" Itsuha chuckled.

"Make that four," Hikari laughed as she waved at Sayaka.

"Are you sure?" Itsuha asked her best friend.

Hikari hooked an arm around her best friend and led her to one of the stations to watch other kids playing with shaving cream. "If you don't, I'll tell him you pick your nose."

"Hikari!"

"And eat it."

Itsuha gasped in disgust. "All right! All right! I'll ask him."

"Good…Soooo, whatcha doing now?"

The phone screen stared at Itsuha with taunting pressure. How should she ask? Would he think she was asking him out on a date? No, that was silly. He didn't feel the same way, so why would he think that? She was asking as his friend. How would a friend ask? Her mind went blank.

That's when Hikari snatched her phone away.

"That's it. I'm telling him. Boogers and all."

Hikari swayed back and forth to avoid Itsuha's snatches until she finished typing out the message. After the message was sent, she tossed it back to her friend with a smirk.

"How could you!" Itsuha yelled and hurried to read the message. "Why would you tell him that! You saw…"

Hold on. The message wasn't what she thought it would be. That stinker!

Itsuha: This is great and all, but I think we'd have more fun if you'd come out to the festival at Ueno Onshi Park near the Grand Fountain. I think we'll either go to the zoo after that, or hit a museum. My sister and Hikari are here, but I know Hikari wouldn't mind watching Sayaka for a while. Or, stay home and keep drawing Inuman (¬‿¬) lolz

She hugged her best friend. "You're the best. You know that?"

Hikari swallowed the last bit of her dessert and joke. "Oh, wait. Hand that back. I forgot about the boogers part."

She frowned. "I take it back."

Right as Itsuha was placing her phone in a pocket, her phone buzzed. It was a text message from Tohma!

Tohma: Nah. I'll stay home.

Her heart dropped. That was the last thing she expected.

Tohma: Your sister divorced me before we even had a chance to get married. (╥﹏╥) Don't think she'd like it if I showed up without declaring my undying love for her.

Hold on! He was only kidding!

Itsuha: She's already moved on. I told her if she made a wish after her show ended, she could make her favorite character come to life and marry that person.

Tohma: Liar.

Itsuha: Nope.

Tohma: Guess I'll have to show up and prove you wrong.

Itsuha: Guess so.

"Hikari! He's coming!" Itsuha danced a circle around her friend. "He's coming! He's comiiiiing!"

"Sissy, what's going on?" Sayaka asked as she came over to see what the commotion was.

Itsuha took hold of her sister's hands and swung her in a circle. Sayaka laughed in delight and Itsuha laughed along with her.

Scratch what she thought before. This was the best day of her life so far.

Her phone rang again. Seeing it was her father, she answered.

"Hey, Dad."

"Hiya, little dango. I just checked on your brother. How are you and Sayaka doing?"

"Dad! You wouldn't believe it. Tohma is coming here! I can't wait!"

Taki laughed on the other end. "You mean he's coming even after Sayaka divorced him before the wedding?"

Itsuha rubbed the back of her neck and looked at Hikari. The joke was starting to get old.

"Uh, yeah."

"Even after spending two whole days with you in a row?"

"Yep. Hikari is here with me and Sayaka. I think Sayaka would have fun at the zoo and then we'll go home."

There was a pause on the other side. What was her father thinking? He could have gotten distracted at work. Sometimes he would get distracted when he'd call to check on them.

"Do you like him a lot?"

Her cheeks turned pink. It was a good thing that her sister ran to another activity table. She hoped that Tohma would arrive soon. There were about two tables left and then they'd have to go to the zoo. Hikari leaned in to listen to the conversation and Itsuha leaned towards her to give her a better angle.

"Where have you been, Dad? You know I like him a lot. You, Mom, Wabi, and Hikari." She placed a finger on her bottom lip as a thought occurred. "Except him. I don't think he knows."

"Tell you what. I can give someone else the rest of my duties and take a half day. We were given that option today. I'll come by and take Sayaka off your hands. That way you can spend the rest of the day with him."

That elderly gentleman was a genius! She for sure wasn't going to tamper with the timeline anymore.

In the original timeline, her father never took the half day to take care of Sayaka. Hikari and she took Sayaka to the zoo, where they found more activities. Sayaka fell and scraped her knee. She caused such a dramatic scene that Hikari and Itsuha had to leave. It continued the whole way home. It wasn't until they got home Sayaka's personality flipped a switch and acted like the scrape wasn't there.

On top of all that, Wabisuke would constantly ask Itsuha for things. Her head was swimming until her mother returned home. It was enough to skip dinner and go to bed earlier just so she could recharge.

"Dad, I love you! You're the best."

Forget her last thought. This was the best of the best day of her life.

"See ya!" Hikari waved to Itsuha and Tohma as she exited the zoo grounds with a wink. "Don't stay out too late."

Tohma's cheek tinted as he asked Itsuha while waving to Hikari, "What does that mean?"

"Ignore her."

Hikari yelled before rushing out the gate. "You'd be her first kiss. I'm sure she wouldn't mind it!"

Itsuha could feel a vein wanting to pop out of her forehead as she waved goodbye to Hikari with a forced smile. How could anyone love and hate their best friend so much at the same time?

Her father had made it to the zoo before Tohma and gave her cash to enjoy the day. Not long after, as Itsuha and Hikari waited for Tohma near the entrance inside the zoo grounds, he arrived. She was pretty sure her father and sister were already farther into the east side of Ueno Zoo by then. That would leave a nice gap between them for privacy so they could enjoy a few hours there.

Tohma turned to Hikari, the tint on his cheeks darkening. "Kiss? Did you think this was a date?"

"No!" Itsuha waved her hands in front of her with an embarrassed smile. "That's just Hikari being Hikari. Come on. You know her by now."

"I guess," Tohma said looking side to side. He awkwardly turned towards the path beckoning all visitors to travel into the zoo. "She's always saying the weirdest things."

Itsuha nervously laughed. "Yeah, that's my best friend, all right." She hooked an arm around his and pointed down the path before declaring, "Tohma, I have a feeling we're going to end up being really good friends. Besides," she winked, "you need me to help you write out your manga."

Tohma looked at their linked arms and his eyes widened. He looked away with a shy chuckle, but Itsuha wasn't sure what this guy was thinking. She slowly removed her arm.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Itsuha said. For a few seconds she tried to think of what to say to mend the uncomfortable air, but decided the truth was her best option. "When I get happy, I get touchy-feely. I'll try hard not to do that to you."

His hand stopped her arm from pulling away. He still didn't look her in the eyes, but that tint in his cheeks returned while returning her arm to link with his.

"Then be your touchy-feely self."

Itsuha smiled while admiring how shy he became. She liked this side to him. It was different than the usual outgoing and confident boy she'd always seen. She guided Tohma down the path while tightening her hold. What could she say to bring him out of his shell?

"Just so you know, I don't need your help with Inuman," said Tohma with a raised brow and leered in good nature.

Look at that. He didn't need to be rescued. Even better. She went along with the ruse.

"I think you do."

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?"

"The action parts are good, but it needs a woman's touch. The love interest is too masculine."

"And what's wrong with a strong female lead?"

"Nothing. I like a strong female lead, it goes against stereotypes, but, geez, have her eat some cake, hug a cat, kiss a guy, buy some shoes. Something! She doesn't have to eat, breathe, and sleep fighting against demons. That's what Inuman is for. Let her symbolize life and Inuman represent the hero."

"Life and the hero," he muttered in thought. "You know, that's not a bad idea."

"See?" Itsuha gave Tohma a side hug. "You need me."

A smile grew on Tohma as he returned the hug. "I guess I do."

"More than ninety percent of birds are monogamous animals," explained the zookeeper at the twelve-thirty p.m. penguin show. "Some that you may know are turtle doves and swans; though none of them show affection quite like macaroni penguins.

"These adorable couples dance when they see each other. They puff up their chests, swing their heads side to side, and make a gurgling-like sound. Once they choose their mates, they mate for life, loyal as ever."

Itsuha clasped her hands together interested in the show. She whispered to Tohma, "Penguins have always been my favorite animal. They're so cute! And finding out they stay with the same partner is so romantic."

"How can they be your favorite?" he joked. "Penguins look so weird."

She gasped, pretending to be offended. "I didn't hear that from you. Hey, look!" she motioned to an activity table near the show. "Are they letting people make penguins?"

Itsuha could swear it looked like staff were handing out clay so that people could create their own penguins, or carp fish in celebration of Children's Day. She whooped in joy, not caring it interrupted the show, and dragged Tohma with her to the table.

"Two clays, please!" she asked. After receiving them, she handed one to Tohma. "Will you make a penguin or a carp?" Before Tohma could answer, she warned, "I swear, if you say Inuman, I'll slap you silly. You only get two choices."

Tohma laughed. "Says who?"

"Penguin or carp!"

"Inuman!"

Her excited facial expression faltered. "A little obsessed there, aren't ya?"

He laughed. "Fine. Which are you doing?"

"A penguin. Duh."

He shrugged. "Then I guess I'll do that too."

"You don't have to do the same. Make a carp."

"Nah. Can't have a penguin without its mate," he said shaping his clay into a penguin.

As she shaped her piece of clay, she wondered what else could she do to make this day special. The elderly gentleman didn't exactly confirm if they ever ended up together. When she drew her fortune yesterday from the omikuji box, it did give her a choice of great good luck or great bad luck. She wondered if that meant she could create her own future.

Or did he confirm? He did say to follow her heart. This is why she always preferred black and white answers.

Itsuha paused from making her penguin. She was supposed to remember Tohma and pictures were the perfect way to remember him just in case things didn't turn out the way she wanted before the move! Or, it could be another way to remind her why there was no point to crushes.

No point in being negative. It was now or never because time waits for no one.

Itsuha took her phone out and turned the camera on. She leaned in to take a picture with him. "What comes after 'ichi'?"

Tohma looked up confused. "What do you mean? Ni."

Snap went the camera. The final product showed Itsuha smiling, tilting her head towards him giving a peace sign while Tohma was looking down to her puzzled.

"Give me that," Tohma laughed and took another picture of them.

They would spend the rest of their time at the zoo taking pictures, some silly, others normal at different animal stations. The last one they took was at the lemur area. Itsuha took the picture and immediately went to send it to Tohma when she sensed he was gone. She turned around, searching the area among the crowd of people, but it was like he disappeared into thin air. Where in the world could he have gone that fast?

As Itsuha followed the path that led towards the Vivarium, she found Tohma standing in the middle of the walkway frazzled in silence. His hair was messy at all angles and there was dirt on his knees. Itsuha ran to him with deep concern.

"Oh my goodness! What the heck happened?"

Tohma's eyes snapped wide at the sound of her voice and he took a few steps away from her. Alarmed, she paused after reaching out to Tohma. Something wasn't right. Could it have been supernatural?

"Tohma?" Itsuha said slowly. "Did you go somewhere?"

All he could do was scrutinize her until he nodded in response.

"Did you want to talk about it?"

He shook his head and took another step back. "I, uh, need to get back to the shop."

"Tohma," Itsuha said, not believing him.

"They let me come, but I know they need my help. It's a holiday. More customers and all."

Becoming upset with how he was acting, she pulled him to the side to avoid the passing people. Her voice was lowered so no one else would hear.

"Were you in the In-Between? Did you talk to an old man with a cane?"

"I was in the In-Between, but there was a guardian dog, not an old man." His question sounded partly relieved. "How did you know?"

"Because I've been there."

Why would Tohma be pulled into the In-Between? She was doing what she was supposed to, wasn't she? Something was off. Why wouldn't the elderly gentleman be there for him at least? And why a guardian dog?

"Look," she hooked an arm around his again and directed them north, "let's find a restroom for you to clean up. Tell me everything after."

Tohma spaced out while letting her guide him. "You wouldn't understand. I don't even understand."

"Believe me. I'll understand."

They exited through the Ikenohata Gate and walked south until they spotted the Shinsui Deck. Tohma rested his arms on the metal railing that overlooked the Shinobazuno Pond. Itsuha did the same and waited patiently for Tohma to get his thoughts together.

"It didn't talk to me," said Tohma. "It showed me pictures."

"Pictures?"

"Yeah. Pictures. I think it was trying to show me two paths I can take. Like, if I choose one path I'll end up a successful mangaka, but alone for the rest of my life until I die from a random explosion. If I choose the other, I'll be a Shinto Priest and save millions of lives and have a happy marriage."

"Marriage?"

That flame that was barely extinguished came to life. Could it be to her? Again, not black and white. This was killing her.

"Yeah, marriage." He wrung his hands as if nerves were taking over. He gave a sideway glance to Itsuha until it looked like he shook a thought away. "Itsuha, I'm Shinto, but I rarely practice. I have no interest in being a priest. I want to create manga."

Now it made sense. She was doing her part, but Tohma wasn't budging with his part on the future. That's why kami intervened.

"Tohma, I don't know much about the In–Between and all that sort, but I'm sure it's safe to say that if something supernatural reached out to you, it must be pretty urgent, right? I mean, it showed you an explosion."

More like the destruction of half the country, but she didn't want to freak him out in case he didn't know that.

He grimaced. "Yeah, but why show me that now? I'm just a kid."

"I think because there must be powerful spiritual power inside you and the guardian dog was trying to point you in the right direction. Besides, why can't you be a priest that draws manga on the side?"

Tohma laughed and turned a bit to face her. "For someone that doesn't know much about this, it sure sounds like you do."

Should she take that risk? Why not?

"Because it happened to me."

"No way," Tohma pushed off from the railing surprised.

"Yeah. A few days ago. It told me I was supposed to be a Priestess, but I needed to remember someone."

He frowned, staring her down. She couldn't tell if he believed her or if he knew more than what he was letting on.

Itsuha tugged on his sleeve and urgently asked, "The In–Between is pitch black. There is only a spotlight where you spoke to the guardian dog. And if you happened to run away from it, you were always brought back to the spotlight."

Tohma stilled, listening to every word. Itsuha kept going with another confirmation.

"If the conversation was taking too long, the In–Between shook because it was trying to put you back to the present. Does that sound right?"

"Itsuha?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this the past or present for you?"

She gulped. The guardian dog must have told him just about everything.

"The past."

"How far in the future do you belong?"

She looked to the ground uneasy of sharing too much. "I-I don't think I should say."

"Itsuha," Tohma stepped closer to her. "How far?"

Closing her eyes, Itsuha swallowed again, and then looked him in the eyes. "I'm two months ahead. My dad got a job promotion and we all had to move to Sapporo."

There was silence as he eyed her until he placed his hands on his hips and faced the sky thinking with a sigh.

"Tell me what you're thinking," Itsuha pleaded.

Tohma let out a frustrated grunt and crossed his arms. "That what's happening to us isn't fair. I want to be a mangaka and from what I saw, Inuman would be successful. You wanted to be...what was it again? A fashion magazine editor-in-chief?"

She smiled. "Yeah. I can't believe you knew that."

"Of course I'd know that," he sighed with a relaxed smile for once. "Just because we haven't talked until now doesn't mean I didn't pay attention to you."

Her eyebrows raised at the statement. "You paid attention? To me?"

He held the back of his neck and blushed. "Well, yeah."

"Why?"

She needed to hear him say it. Was he going to say what she thought he was going to say?

He stayed in his same position as before. "Remember Inuman's love interest?"

"Yeah?"

The hand on the back of his neck tightened its grip as he winced looking towards her. "I wish we would've fixed that misunderstanding in fourth grade when it happened. I always wished we could've worked on Inuman together these past three years. And I wished...I wished you would've noticed me like I've always noticed you."

It was as if a peaceful hush fell over the area as Itsuha took a step closer to Tohma. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He confessed to her!

"Why Sapporo?" his face fell again.

She mirrored his action. "I didn't have a choice, but Tohma, there's one thing you've got wrong."

He looked up with curiosity. "What?"

"I've always noticed you." Itsuha moaned, rubbing an eye out of embarrassment. "What I said back then was a lie. I told you that drawing was stupid and to stay away from me because I realized I liked you and I didn't know how to deal with those emotions. I can't tell you how much I regretted saying that and how much I wanted to take that back."

"For real?" He was stumped. "This whole time?"

"Yeah."

"Running away whenever I reached out?"

"Yeah."

"Staying on the bench across from my parent's crepe shop while you sent Hikari to buy you a crepe?"

She cringed. "Oh, man, you saw that?"

He smirked. "Every time. What about the person you're supposed to remember? Is it me?"

Itsuha chewed on her inner cheek while her right foot fidgeted back and forth. She nodded.

"Is that why you smiled at me when we cleaned the classroom? Was that the future you?"

She blushed. "No, that was the past me. I guess it was one of those right time and place kind of things."

That gorgeous smile grew on Tohma. "That definitely was the past you, not the future you on a mission?"

She tilted her head to the side curious. "Yeah. Why?"

Tohma took his penguin out of his pocket. It was almost hardened, but a part of the body was squished. Itsuha could only assume it could have happened during his experience in the In–Between since he returned with dirty knees.

"Itsuha, do you want my penguin?"

She chuckled. "Why?"

He chuckled himself. "Stop asking questions and answer one, will ya?"

She took hers out and held it out to him with a grin. This was what that old man said to accept and by now she was no fool to deny it. "I don't know. Yours is all damaged."

Both children's grins softened while they stared at the other. Before Itsuha could say something, Tohma said something she would never forget.

"Your wedding dress in the future was beautiful."

She held a hand over her mouth. She could almost cry. This gave her the answer she was seeking all this time, but that compulsion to hear things directly was pushing her to ask.

"So we do get married?"

Tohma placed a hand on the side of her face and caressed it once. He offered his squished penguin again. "I think the zookeeper said they mate for life."

Itsuha sniffed back happy tears as she took his and placed hers in his hand.

"Only if you'll take mine."

Hope you guys enjoyed that. I just now realized that the ending was like when Sakura and Syaoran exchanged teddy bears at the end of the original Cardcaptor Sakura. There's one more chapter to go after this.

All the credit for this chapter goes once again to Music Chick. She wrote all of it.

I'll be back around much sooner. Hope you all have a good holiday next week if I don't come around yet.