Author's note: Well, the first chapter was short. Very short. But that was because it was a Prologue. Forgive me… -bows-. Normally, I will tend to be very slow when it comes to writing and putting up my work, but hopefully I'll get it done quickly. And just a quick comment. I know that Kana and Hatori didn't really meet until she took up the job of being a doctor's assistant. Just go along with it, please? ouo;;

All characters belong to Natsumi Takaya, except Rei. She's mine. All mine. Hehe.

You were always there.

Waiting for me at the door.

But there's something different about now and how we used to be.

Or maybe it's just me?

Give me a sign... Please.

Chapter One: Many Meetings

"AH!"

"Ayame! Noooo!"

"Hehe~"

"C'mon, Shigure, you too! Stop it!"

"Why don't we all be nice?"

"…."

"How 'bout we play spin the bottle?"

"Ah! No! We're all only twelve! And even worse! Rei's only six!"

"Are you crazy?"

"BAHAHAAH! … ! Oh my…"

"…."

"Hatori! Don't stare us down like that! Get over 'ere, you loner!"

"…."

"Oh yeah! After school tomorrow, let's go out to the Treehouse as well as today!"

"Good idea…! "

There was laughter as the five Sohma children and Mayuko played with one another. Or teased, rather. Just plain stupidity that all children had when they were messing around. After they agreed to go to the Treehouse, Kana took her younger sister's hand and pulled her off with Mayuko behind them with Shigure. There was nothing that was really going on between the two, but they seemed… like a couple. To Rei, at the least. However, they never held hands, hugged, or kissed. The relationship was oddly mutual. It wasn't that they were kids, because Rei knew good and well that Shigure had kissed far too many girls in his life time… Never hugged, just being practically playful.

Rei blushed as she saw Hatori tagging along with Ayame - his pet? That was what it was sort of like. Ayame followed his every order, but Hari let him roam free most of the time. Perhaps he didn't feel like scolding him often… Rei was in a trance for a moment until the boy with long, silvery hair stopped, stared at her with a sly smile, and took her teddy bear. The little one stuttered in her spot and whimpered, only to take off after him as he took off with her treasure.

"Ayame-kun! Ayame-kun! Give Teddy back! Give him back!" she cried, her shoe laces flapping in the wind as she ran.

"Ohohoh, young one. You cannot catch me if you're that slow!~" Ayame replied with a sweet tone. He was always the one to do that. "Gure-nii, take this off my hands, will you?"

The boy's smile reappeared as he left Mayuko's side. "Shigure, don't start that too. You know better - for darn sure!" She scowled at him, her hand on her hip, foot tapping as they bunch began to play in the grass once more. However, he resented such rules, and decided to disobey anyways. So much for getting to the Treehouse…

Rei's eyes began to become bloodshot and tears ran down her cheeks. "Ayame-kun, Shigure-kun, give Teddy back! Please!" The boys ignored this and began to throw the bear to one another. The girl watched the stuffie's patched sides fly back and forth, the array of colours blurred by the wetness of her eyes.

Hatori almost at once frowned at the two. "Stop that, Ayame. Shigure. Give her the stuffed animal back, before you force me to drag you back to the house." His tone was almost as cold, perhaps colder than his piercing eyes. Hatori having had enough of those tears, frowned at the two. It wasn't that Rei, or her tears, were annoying, but the young teens' actions were far more irritating. They were not being good role models, even though they were merely playing around.

Mayuko had her mouth open, but had closed it since Hatori had already protected Rei's right. Kana looked bemused, but smiled and hugged her younger sister as she clutched the returned animal to her chest. Her older sister wiped away her tears and kissed Rei's forehead as Mayuko cooed at the scene. Taking Rei's hand and walking close, Mayuko gave Shigure an evil eye, who only shrugged and smiled.

She was embarrassed. But couldn't help it. Breaking free of her sister and her friends' grips, she walked up to Hatori, who was already walking ahead again, and tugged on the back of his shirt. ".. H-Hatori-kun… Thank-you…" she blushed. The tall, solemn boy stopped, a bit shocked, but then gave a smile - it looked somewhat pained. What was he keeping in? "You're welcome, Rei-chan." The short girl nodded hurriedly, scurried quickly to her girl group, and huddled in between the two's hands. Hatori… maybe he is kind…