A/N: Sorry for the long wait but my internet is being stupid lately...But anyway onto story!

Chapter Four.

Five o'clock in the afternoon and Yukari was just getting home from work that Sunday. She yawned loudly, picking up her backpack and glancing at her room from the doorway. The whole thing was utterly plain in her opinion with nothing more than the essentials: a bed, a nightstand, a dresser, and a desk. Her frown deepened at the site. Honestly, she could care less if she never had to enter the damned room again...and silently wondered if they'd notice.

"KariMari!" an excited, and not to mention very close, voice rang in her ears. Nearly jumping out of her skin, she spun around to see a tall, dark haired boy, his emerald eyes shining with delight. Letting out a low growl, her arm swung around as her palm made contact with the back of his head painfully. "Hey! What was that for?"

"For using that awful name!" she answered the boy with a glare. "What are you doing here, Koji-baka?"

"Now is that anyway to refer to your elder?" he retorted with a smirk.

She arched an eyebrow questionably. "I seriously doubt, oh brother of mine, that simply because you're older, I should refer to you properly."

"Mom said that you do," he replied, grinning childishly.

Yukari snorted a laugh. "Is mom here?"

He glared and stuck out his tongue in reply.

For a college graduate, he has the personality of a five year old, she thought to herself as she rolled her eyes and walked past him. "I need to go, okay? Don't forget to lock the door on your way out."

"Wait, where are you going?" he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

She stopped and sighed near the entrance where her shoes were placed. "I have to do a school project somewhere."

"But," he began, his expression softening as he caught up to her at the door, "didn't you just get off of work?"

She shrugged, ignoring her sagging eyelids. "So?"

"Why don't you rest and just go tomorrow?" he nearly pleaded, worry etched on his features.

"I wish I could but I can't," she answered with a bit of irritation seeping into her tone, "This project is the biggest I've ever had so far, and I'm not going to blow it."

Slumping his shoulders in retreat, Koji shook his head slowly. "Well, then be safe. I'll lock up here."

Yukari smiled lightly before slipping on her shoes and opening the door. She glanced one more time at her brother before walking out and closing the door behind her.

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Making her way to the front entrance, Yukari stopped short of it to see one of those boys sitting on the grass...she couldn't necessarily remember which one was which, even by this one's bright orange hair, but decided to speak to him nonetheless. "Hi there! Is Shigure home?"

The boy's amber eyes darted to her then back to the sky he had been watching so intently. "Oh, it's you. No, he'll be back soon."

"Okay," she started hesitantly, "do you mind if I wait here?"

Without even a glance, he shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't matter to me."

She still stood in front of the boy, not knowing whether to sit down or not. She stared at him for a second, struggling to place him with a name. "So let's see, you're...Yuki-kun, right?"

Quicker than a flash of lightning, the boy stood, shooting her a death glare while a vein in his forehead began to throb very noticeably. "WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!"

"...So you're not Yuki, then," she answered meekly, eyes wide.

"Damn right, I'm not!" he shouted again, snarling.

Yukari held up her hands in defense. "It was an easy mistake, no need to bite my head off..."

He gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "EASY MISTAKE?!"

"Wow, are you always this hot headed?" she asked cautiously, ready to take her brother's advice and go home and to bed.

The boy growled. "Why you..."

"Yukari-kun! Nice to see you," a voice called from behind her. She spun around to see Shigure, not in his usual robes but in a simple black suit. He looked over at the temperamental boy and spoke to her again. "Don't mind Kyou-kun, his fuse happens to be shorter than most."

She blinked and nodded. "I noticed."

Kyou glared menacingly at the two. "Oh, shut up! Both of you!"

Shigure shook his head in disappointment and sighed. "Now that's no way to treat a guest."

"Like I care," Kyou replied, arms folded as he looked away.

"Whatever," Yukari mumbled, rolling her eyes, "I'm in no mood to fight."

"Then let's begin this interview," Shigure motioned for her to follow as he opened the door and took off his shoes, which she did as well before they began walking to the office.

Stifling another yawn, Yukari glanced back for a moment. "Does he always react like that?"

"Yes would be an understatement," he answered, not bother to look back like she had, but instead loosening his tie.

Sitting down at the extra chair as her 'mentor' sat as his own she took off her back pack and set it next to her. "I don't really mind the arguing at all but yelling out of anger always bothers me."

Shigure stared at the girl for while, slightly taken aback by this sudden piece of information about her but more shocked that she even shared it. "I'll keep that in mind. You know...I didn't notice at first and maybe you didn't either but you're being surprisingly civil today."

"Well, I said I would be, didn't I?" she answered, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes, you did," he confirmed with a smile. "Sorry for doubting you."

Digging through her bag, she pulled out that same thick packet. Don't be rude, don't be rude, don't be rude... "Well, my first impressions are never too good anyway. For some people, it's worse to judge a book by the first few pages than by the cover. Wouldn't you agree, senpai?"

"Hmm, maybe you're right," was all her replied, leaning back in his chair.

Studying the first page of the packet, she found the first question. "And maybe we should get started on this interview."

"Yes, of course," he answered while spinning a pen that he had found on the desk in his hand. "How could I forget?"

"Oh, it's just the reason I'm here today, that's all." She grinned but inwardly rolled her eyes. "Question one...How has the field evolved—past, present, and looking into the future?"

Shigure stayed silent for a second, staring wide-eyed at the girl and blinking rapidly. "Well...um...people have been writing since they knew how...and...presently...there are many novelists all around the world...what would some of us do without a good book?"

"Uh huh," Yukari raised an eyebrow but wrote what the man was saying all the same.

Regaining his usual calm personality, he went on. "And in the future, I think the written word will continue to inspire and provoke millions of imaginations."

"Is that it?" she asked with a flat look. He simply nodded and stayed quiet. She exhaled loudly, glancing back at the paper. "Number two, an easy one...What do you do?"

"I write novels," was his only reply.

Why did I even ask that one? Scribbling the short answer down, she went to the next. "Number three, what do you like best about your job?"

Balancing the pen on the bridge of his nose, he grinned. "Hmm...The hours, all my wonderful co-workers, the salar-"

"Be serious," she cut him off with a glare.

"Ah, there's the Yukari-kun I've grown accustomed to," he said, letting the pen drop into his had.

She gave him a flat look. "You've only known me since Wednesday."

"Your point?" he asked with a smile.

She sighed deeply, rubbing her eyes. "Will you just answer the question seriously?"

"Fine, fine...well I enjoy the freedom I have in my work, not to mention the lack of having to sit in a cubicle all day."

Yukari began to scribble down the answer. "Thank you...Question four, what kind of personal traits, interests, and styles match this job?"

"Well, you should have a definite interest in writing, reading as well," he stared, pausing for a moment. "The other two...I suppose they can vary to avoid common plot clichés..."

"Moving on," Yukari cut off, trying desperately to keep her eyes open.

"Excuse me," a soft voice came from behind them, only to reveal the purple-haired boy from before.

Glancing quickly at the boy, she smiled and turned to Shigure. "Yuki-kun, right?"

He let out a quiet laugh and nodded. Yuki stared blankly at the two for a second. "Am I...missing something?"

"Oh, nothing," Shigure answered brightly. "What were you going to say?"

Yuki blinked as if snapping back to reality. "Oh, there's someone-"

Just then, a dark haired boy burst through the doors, pointing accusingly at Yukari and narrowing his eyes at the two. "Aha!"

To Be Continued.