Together

Ruby and Ryoma made their way to the Echizen household. They stopped waving their hands since Ruby got tired after 5 minutes of it. Now they were just walking hand in hand. And Ryoma didn't care, they always did this when they were younger.

When they made it, Ruby noted that it was a shrine. She looked at Ryoma, eyebrow raised.

"Don't ask," his face looked annoyed. Ruby giggled. They made it to the front of the house and went in. "Tadaima!" Ryoma said and then footsteps were heard.

"What took you so long, practice ended a while ago, you better have a good reason for-" Nanjirou Echizen stopped talking as soon as he saw Ruby. His eyes widened. "Rinko! Nanako!" he yelled, and more people came.

"What are you yelling about Nanjirou?" then her eyes widened as she saw Ruby as well. Then Nanako came behind her and was about to say something but when she saw Ruby she stopped immediately. They all stared at her with eyes wide as saucers.

"Ruby-chan!" Nanako and Rinko exclaim and ran at me and brought me into a bone crushing hug.

"How are you Ruby-chan, we haven't seen you in so long, when did you get here? How have you been since we left America? Has anything changed? Are you still playing tennis?" Nanako and Rinko ask a bunch of questions together.

"Uhh lets see, I'm good, I know, this morning, I've been good, not much, and DUHHH!" Ruby laughs and Nanako and Rinko chime in.

"So your still going at it huh?" Nanjirou smirks. Ruby smiles at him.

"Once again. DUHHH!" she exclaims. Then starts laughing again. And then to show that even though he annoying she missed him, Ruby runs at him and jumps in his arms, giggling.

Ruby is like family with the Echizen's, they all have a bond with her. But this is the 3rd time she has hugged Nanjirou since they met. Once when he agreed to train her, again when they all had to move, and now, of course. Nanjirou was always surprised each time, and this time is no exception. At first he didn't react but then he just smiled and hugged back.

Even though he would never admit it, he loved the girl like she were his own daughter. The whole family loved her. They saw her as family. And they let her stay over any time. In America, she practically lived with them.

"Would you like to stay for dinner, Ruby-chan," Rinko asks her. Ruby always stayed over for dinner, and when she denied, she always ends up staying anyway. And this wasn't exception.

Ruby sat next to Ryoma and ate with the family. Everyone chatted happily and talked about things that they missed, or things that have changed. by the time they were done it was really late. And it was Friday so there was no school tomorrow. But Ryoma still had practice. So they told Ruby could stay over for as long as she would like. Like she always did.

After they cleared the table Rinko started washing the dishes. Nanako stayed with her, and Nanjirou started reading his perverted magazines. Ryoma went to his dresser and took out a plain white shirt and a pair of his shorts.

Ruby then went into the bathroom getting ready to take a shower. Ryoma sat on his bed changing. He noticed that his old man hadn't said anything about him and Ruby, like he usually does with other girls. But he never pushed it with Ruby. He cared too much about her.

Even though they messed with each other a lot he cared for her. Just like he cares for Ryoma, he's the same with Ruby. Rinko always saw the girl like a daughter. She always stayed by her when she needed a mother to teach her things. Since Ruby's mother was always over seas. She occasionally checked up on her and trusted Rinko to stay with Ruby.

Nanako looked at Ruby like a sister. They gossiped and did each others nails. Talked about guys. And sometimes when Ruby needed a sister, she was always there for her. Like a big sister should be.

Then there was Ryoga. Ryoma's older brother that left some time ago. But he and Ryoma met up a while back on a cruise, that ended up very badly. But he used to be around for when Ruby came into the picture. She would always jump on his back and he would give her piggy back rides. And when he picked on Ryoma she jumped on him and they started wrestling.

And when he left, she wasn't very happy about that. But said that one day Ryoga and him would meet again. And then soon she will see him again. And she was right about the first part, but he still hasn't come back.

Ruby came back into the room, her long hair wet and dripping, but she didn't bother touching it. The girl could go a weak without brushing her hair, and it would look like she styled it. Her hair was magical in a way. Her red eyes looked just like rubies. Her mother actually thought of the name the day she looked into her eyes. Red like rubies.

"Your turn!" she said, indicating that he has to take a bath now. "Its too bad that we're too old to take a bath together now. We used to when we were younger," she pouted.

Ryoma twitched a little.

"Don't ever repeat that out in public," he warned. She smirked.

"Why? Afraid your image would be ruined," it wasn't a question. Ryoma knew that she was joking around and Ruby knew he knew also. Ryoma gave her a playful glare. "What are you gonna do if I tell? Huh?" she pressed. Ryoma smirked. He got ready to pounce.

"This," then he jumped. Ryoma landed on top of her and started tickling like a mad man. Ruby was laughing and giggling and screaming. When she got up she ran down the stairs and ran around the kitchen, where everyone was gathered. But then were distracted by the commotion.

"Get away, away foul creature of the night!" she screamed laughing.

"Forget it, you asked for it!" Ryoma even smiled a bit, but everyone noticed. Ruby ran out the door to the yard and they started running around like crazy weirdoes.

I haven't seen Ryoma so happy in a long time Nanjirou thought to himself and smiled warmly at his son and the only girl that put a smile on his features.

Soon the two were tired and both collapsed to the cold ground the soft grass cushioning them. They stared at the night sky and then turned to each other.

"I really missed you, when you left I felt so empty, like a part of me was missing," she said, sadness visible in her eyes. Ryoma gave her a sad smile.

"Well now we're together again, and I felt the same way, I'm glad your back, I really missed you Ruby," and now Ryoma did something unexpected. HE HUGGED HER.

At first Ruby was a little surprised, but then she thought about the happy boy she had known in America, who always jumped up and down in joy, who jumped on Ruby when he hugged her. So she sighed and hugged him back. Then realized they were outside, and Ruby had just taken a bath so she was dirty again. So she had to take another bath.

"Oh come on!" she whined. Ryoma laughed silently. Finally he felt happy.

FIN!

Vamp: oh yah! Ryoma is so gushy! Haa!

Ryoma: you're the one that's making me do all of that…

Vamp: oh shut up, you love this

Ryoma: *twitch*

Vamp: haha payback, I win this round XP