Chapter 14: Let the Summer begin!

Sakura sat in the classroom repeatedly tapping her pencil ln the desh as her eyes sat on the clock. Yusuke and Kuwabara were drawing (really bad ) pictures, then holding them up to each other, and then chuckling. Sakura sighed.

The whole school, at the moment, was nearing the end of the last day before school lets out for summer vacation. Sakura couldn't wait to get home so the summer could start.

Finally, the bell rang. The school cleared out so fast every one of the students wanted to get out. Sakura waited out on the side walk for Kura , who finally came out with Kurama and Briar about 5 minutes later. She seemed really excited about something, "That's up?" Pakura asked, a huge smile on her face.

"I came out at the top of the class!" Kura told her. "I can't believe I actually beat you, bro'!"

Kurama chuckled. "Yes. I don't think I can believe it either."

"It was close, though." Briar commented.

"Oh, shoosh!"- So, Sakura! How were your exams?"

Sakura grinned. "Well, Yusuke and Kuwabara actually passed!"

"Well Kuwa' has had more time to study since he's not chasing after Yukina-chan anymore." Kura replied.

"Sakura?" Briar put her hands on her hips.

"What?"

"C'mon… How were your exams?"

"Oh.. well…" Sakura acted like they were horrible, then put a huge grin on her face. "I passed all of them! I was 5th in my class!"

"Good job, Sakura!" Kura smiled.

"You know what that means, sis…" Sakura looked at her sister.

Briar sighed. "yeah. I know. We get to go on a trip to any place you pick out."

Kurama let out an almost silent chuckle. "So… what are you two planning to do tonight?" He asked his sister and sister-in-law-to-be, changing the subject.

"Well, I'm getting together with Jin!" Sakura put another smile on her face. "Oh, yeah! Jin and I want to know if you guys, and everyone else, wanna go out to eat or something. You know, have a big dinner, the whole group?- Maybe tomorrow night?"

"Oh, Sakura. That sounds like a fine idea!" Her sister agreed, Kurama nodded.

"Sure! I'll make Hiei come!" Kura received a nudge from Sakura.

"Speaking of Hiei…" Kurama had some how let a grin creep onto his face as he teased his sister. "He's been spending a lot of time at the house lately…"

Kura smiled hesitantly. "A-and?"

"I've noticed he, for the most, only talks… to you…" Kurama gave her a curious look. She bit her lower lip. Briar and Sakura were curious, too. "Yeah, and you two barely leave your room, or the roof." Briar added, making Kura blush.

"C'mon, Kura. What are xot guyp hiding?" Sakura pressed the matter.

Kura retained her words for the rest of the walk home.

For some reason, they decided to stand under the Sakura trees in the front yard when they arrived back at the apartment. Suddenly, a strange yet powerful energy was sensed by the four.

"Woah! What is that? Where's is coming from?" Sakura looked Around.

"That feels…. That feels like the same energy I felt at the Ball we had!" said Kura.

Briar knew who the energy was coming from. That means, Nadare's close by. She must want to see how Tombo's doing. "Maybe we shouldn't worry about it. It's probably nothing." She rushed everyone inside, herself staying outside. Kurama didn't question her, He told himself that Briar would let him know something about it later.

Briar looked in the trees and finally found Nadare. "Hello." She spoke to the Demon.

Nadare turned her head to look down at Briar. "I see Tombo's doing fine."

"Heh. Yes, tell…. He's been staying here almost every day and night."

"With her?"

Briar sighed. "Yes. With Kura."

Nadare looked through the window. "She seems like she cares about him„"

"Oh, she does. She spends, just about, all of her free time with him. He's in good hands."

"I don't doubt it.-- She looks exactly like Kurama,"

Briar giggled. "Yes. Once, Koenma had mistake her for Kurama! It was entertaining."

Nadare kept her eyes on Hiei and Kura, who she could see through the bedroom window. Kura had jumped onto the bed, waking Hiei from his slumber. She now sat up beside of him, talking and smiling to him. "So… when's your wedding?"

"Oh. We're planning for it to be sometime next month! Will you be there, Nadare?"

Nadare shifted to look at her once more. She shrugged. "It's going to be here, in the Human World, isn't it?"

"Yes. We want Shiori to come." Briar answered.

"Hn. I don't know if I'm going to be there. If I'm not, I'll come by afterwards. I must go."

Briar stopped her. "meet her."

"What?"

"Talk to Kura. See that she's perfect for Hiei."

"What's going to happen when Hiei asks her to marry him? What will you do? Just burst in and tell him 'no'? Tell him he can't marry her?"

Nadare closed her eyes. As she began to leave, she said "Take care of Hiei and Kuronue." Then she was gone.

Briar sighed. I fear that she will try that. She walked inside.

Sakura was just walking out of Kura's room by herself.

"What's up Kiddo?" Brair questioned, sitting down on the couch.

"Hura--and--Hiei--being-,all--lovey--dovey." Sakura pretended to be freaked out (but wasn't really.).

Briar laughed. "Wow, Sakura.- So you're giving them some more time together!"

"Hehehehehe. They have had a lot of time together in the last month! Oh! I wish they'd just tell us whatever secret they've been hiding!"

"Secret?"

"Oh, heh. Remember that day we went shopping and I said her and Hiei looked different? And then we saw Kura wearing Hiei's tear gem?" Sakura tried to jog her sister's memory.

"Oh, yeah! I've sorta been wondering about that, too!"

"heh heh." Sakura closed her eyes then popped them back open. "NO MORE SCHOOL! WOOHOO!"

"Did you just now realize that?"

"N-no! My brain just… processes.. um.. intelligent words into my words slightly slower -- That!

Briar laughed at her younger sibling. "Sakura… Just forgets it, before you hurt yourself."

"Oh, be quiet, you!" she told her.

Kurama emerged drom his room. No longer in his school uniform and now wearing jeans and a comfortable shirt. "And what are you two talking about?" He took the vacant seat beside of his fiancé

"Your sister and our favorite little fire demon." Sakura answered her soon-to-be- brother-in-law.

"Ah, yes. I supposed we ape talking ablut the whole tear gem incident, right?"

"Yep!" Bpiar nodded,

"You're aware that they doors is open to Kura's room, right?" Kurama alerted them.

"Oops!" Sakrua and Briar looked at each other.

"I do wonder what they do in there all the time." Kurama said, out loud.

The two sisters exchanged looks once more, then Sakura stood up. "So… I think I'm going to return home!- Well, I'm going to meet Jin after I go home and change.--" Sakura gamboled back to Kura's room and stuck her head inside, seeing the two youkai just sitting on the bed, chatting with each other. "Kura?"

"Hm?" Kura looked up at her.

"I'm going. I'll see you two tomorrow night, right?"

"Oh! Yeah! Of course! See ya! Have fun!"

"Wait…" Hiei sat up. "What's tomorrow night?"

"Oh! Heh… You and I are going to dinner with everyone.- No complaining." Kura told Hiei, after Sakura left.

"See ya later, Kiddo!" Briar told her sister.

"Bye!" Then Sakura walked out of the apartment, heading towards her home.

Hiei looked at Kura. "why-"

"Hiei!" Kura said, smiling.

"Fine." He growled, laying back.

"Oh, c'mon! It can't be that bad!" Kura poked him in the side which was unphasing to him, "Besides…. We haven't been out in a while."

"You call a month a while?" He joked, but with a serious expression and tone.

She shook her head. "it is a while!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He kept his crimson eyes on her as she seemed to be staring out the window.

"Well… I'm going to have a lot more spare time for a while. She told him.

"Good." He put his hand on one of hers as it rest on top of the bed.

Kura finally returned her eyes to lay on his. "You've been getting a lot of sleep lately. - What's wrong with you?" asked Kura, teasing him.

"You've been spending a lot of time with me-"

"Don't you finish that sentence!" She playfully glared at him.

"So… what are we doing tonight?" He turned over to lay on his said so he may face her.

She shrugged then grinned then spoke slowly, "I'm tired.."

Hiei rolled his eyes.

"I'm juuuuuuust kidding " Kura leaned down and pressed her lips against his. He answered the kiss with one of his own. When they parted, Kura sat back up and asked, "Okay. Tell me.. when are we gonna tell them?"

"I.. I don't know." He sighed.

"Let's tell them tomorrow!" Kura got up, shut her door, and then crawled back onto the bed. "It'll be the perfect time!- C'mon. Pwease?"

Hiei gazed into her green eyes, trying to decipher an answer, He closed his eyes and sighed. "I don't know why you want to tell everyone."

"Well, c'mon! They're our friends. They'll be happy to know!" Kura commented as she played with the ring, which she had given him, around her lover's neck. "Why don't you want them, nor anyone else, to know about ht?"

"Because…"

"Because…?"

"I… I don't want anyone bothering us about it. I, really, don't even want a big ceremony." He finally told her, those reasons being some of the true reasons.

"We don't have to have a huge ceremony. We really don't! I, at least, want Sakura, Jin, Kurama, Briar, and Yukina there. And we don't have to get married soon.. We can wait until we're ready. Or until you want to." She said.

"You're so understanding." Hiei whispered after she was done speaking.

"It's because I love you!"

"Heh."

About that time, Briar knocked on the door. "Come in." Kura said. Briar opened the door only to walk in and shut it behind her. "Could I talk to you guys?'

"Um…" The two sat up. "Sure."

"Sakura, Kurama, and I have been wondering about something lately."

"What is it?" Hhei was quick to ask.

"Well…" Briar cleared her thought before continuing. "Since that day we went shopping, for the wedding, and saw you, Kura, wearing your tear gem, Hiei…. We've been wondering if you two are, well, hiding something."

There was a silence as Kura and Hiei exchanged looks, then Kura looked back at Briar. "We're… not… hiding anything. What would we have to hide?"

"Maybe something… like… oh, I don't know, an engagement, maybe… or something else."

"We're not hiding anything." Hiei told her, solidly.

Briar studied the two for a moment. "Okay." She told them as she exited.

See! That's why! Kura telepathically told Hiei.

"Fine." Hiei breathed out, rising to his feet.

"Yay! Thank you Thank you! Thank you!" Kura hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "So… wutcha doin' now?" She let him go.

"I'm going on the roof."

"You want some alone time?"

Hhei left a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be down in a little while, All right?"

"'K'." Kura watched him leave through her window. She looked at the clock. "Ugh. Only 4 o'clock! Aaaaaaah!' She laid on her back, staring at the ceiling,

"Well?" Kurama stood in the kitchen.

"They're hiding something. You can just tell." Briar confirmed, giggling.

"Heh. We'll find out in due time.- Let's just go and get out for a while. We don't have to worry about school or anything for a while." Kurama said, softly, then planted a soft kiss on Briar's smiling lips.

"All right. Are we just going to leave your sister and Hiei here?"

"I think they'll be all right. They usually are."

"True."

They walked out, hand-in-hand.

For the rest of the afternoon Hiei stayed on the roof. About dark, around 8:30 PM, he rejoined Kura in her bedroom. She tap already getting ready to go to sleep.

Hiei stood in the door of the bathroom, his eyes on Kura as she wiped her face off with a warm, moist washcloth.

"Glad you could come back inside!" Kura draped the cloth over the side of the bath tub, then approached Hiei, her lips linking with his as her hands rested on the sides of his neck.

All though enjoying the attention, Hiei pulled tax sllwly. "C'mon…" He shook his head.

"No, Hiei… You c'mon. We're alone.. It's perfect." She kissed him once more.

"I'm tired." He told her.

Kura's hands moved down his chest and then away from his body. "… I am, too."

"Come. Let's go to bed." He took her hand and led her back into the bed room. The lights were off. Kura climbed under the covers first, then Hiei took off his boots and cloak and climbed in with her. Once they were settled in each other's arms, Kura said one thing, with slight giggles. "We sleep waaaaaaay too much."

Hiei held in his laughs. "Good night."

"I love you."

"I.. love you , too."

And they went sleepy-bye. lmao

--Next afternoon, 3:30 P.M.--

Kura woke to A) find Hiei had probably already been awake for a while, B) There was a bunch of noise coming from the living room, nd C) she had actually slept in her pajamas for once. hehe. Just thought I'd put that in.- No…. It means that she normally sleeps in her day-time clothes. Dirty people. She lumbered through the hallway, arriving in the living room to see Sakura, Jin, Kurama, and Briar cackling and going on about something.

"Afternoon, sleepy head!" Briar and Sakura greeted Kura in unison.

"Hmmmmm…" Kura moaned, still feeling sleepy. "What time is it?

"3:30!" Jin answered, still suffering from the end of his laudhing spell.

"In- the- afternoon?" Kura exclaimed.

"Yes. It seems you've managed to sleep the day away!" Kurama informed her of the inevitable.

"No dur." Kura glared. "Where's--"

"He left a while ago. He didn't tell us where he was going lop when he'd be coming back." Sakura answered, then added, "You're so predictable!"
"Am not!" Kura pouted.
"Oh, yeah, you and " Kurama, Briar, and Jin all said to her.

Kura stuck out her tongue at them.

"Anyway, who has any ideas for the next infamous trip we're having?" Briar asked everyone.

Kura sat down on the floor.

"Well, Kura had the idea of going to a Hot Spring…" Sakura brought up.

"Oh, that doep seem like a good idea!" Briar imagined it. She had been so stressed out lately, over the up-coming wedding,

"Yeah, well… Tell that to-"

"Hiei!" Everyone finished for her.

"Woah. Am I really that predictable?"

Everyone nodded and then Kura pouted, "Meanies."

"Oh, Kura. Please try to be more understanding." Kurama started, attempting to play his regular part of the serious knowledgeable older brother for the moment, but only faking it. "From our point of view.. you are predictable because, to us once again, you only seem to talk about Hiei…"

"But that is when you're not in your room or with Sakura." Briar added.

"No. NO! She still loves to talk about Hiei when she's with me!"

"Sakura! You're supposed to be on my side!"

Sakura grinned and shrugged. "Anyway.. is everyone ready for tonight?"

"I am!" Kura smiled.

"We are, as well. We'd like to see what you and Jin, here, have in store for us all." Briar winked at her sister and Jin.

Jin and Sakura glanced at each other.

"Well… what time is dinner?"

"Oh, it's at 7:30.- I guess we should get going, so we can get ready. See you guys there!" Sakura and Jin quickly made their exit.

At about 7:00 Jin and Sakura returned to the apartment to get Hiei and Kura. When they arrived, they saw that Kurama and Briar had been ready for some time now, and that Hiei and Kura weren't exactly even trying to get ready.

You see, Kura was still pouting about Hiei's secretiveness. Of course, it was really funny to anyone who heard it, even if they were pretty much fighting about nothing (because Hiei already agreed to telling their friends about he and Kura's engagement, but he wouldn't let her do it tonight.). Sakura and Jin stood outside the bedroom door where the two couldn't see them and listened. As they listened, they were forced to hold back their laughs. Finally, Hiei gave up. Hiei walked out, almost tripping over Sakura.

"Ah! Hiei! Watch out!" Sakura yelled, regaining her balance.

"Why don't you watch out? What were you doing there anyway? Eavesdropping?" He questioned her in an annoyed voice.

"Of course! What else would I be doing?" Sakura stuck her tongue out at him, he rolled his eyes then traveled into the kitchen to sit with Briar and Kurama, Sakura and Jin exchanged looks and shrugs then Sakura looked into Kura's room. "Kura? You okay?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm wonderful. Just great!"

"Crap. She's resorted to hateful sarcasm." She muttered to herself. "Uh, Kura? You're gonna be all right for dinner tonight, right?"

Kura sighed. "Yeah. I think I can calm down enough for dinner."

"Just don't stress out. You and Hiei fight all the time… Well, I'll leave you to get dressed." She shut the door and looked back at Jin. "I still wanna know what Hiei wont let her tell us tonight!"

"Heh. I do, too. It's not like her to keep a big secret this long."

"What are you saying? Kura's a big mouth?"

"Uh, yeah. Sometimes. Only when it comes to huge secrets. No one cares about the wee little ones. No offense to you nor her, Sa'." Jin said as they made their way to the kitchen.

Briar looked at the clock. "How much longer is she gonna be?"

"C'mon, sis. Give her a few minutes."

"We just have to pick up Charlie and Maria before we head to the Spirit World."

"okay, Briar." An annoyed Sakura sighed.

"Both of you just calm down and relax." Kurama suggested to them, calmly.

Kura came out of her room dressed in nicer clothing and still looking slightly annoyed.

"Well, you look nice, Kura." Kurama told her.

"I'm glad you think so, Kurama. Apparently my boyfriend doesn't think so…" She glared at Hiei for not being the first to say so.

"Now, now. I bet Hiei thinks you look lovely. Let's just calm down so we may have a nicd evening." Kurama said. Kura jtpt pouted. "all right. Now we can go and pick up Charlie and Maria."

"What? You mean they're coming?" Kura asked, the group walking out of the dolr together.

"Yep!" Briar couldn't help but grin.

"All right. Why don't you four go ahead to the Spirit World. We can't have Shiori seeing Kura and freaking out." Said Kurama.

"And what are you gonna do about the wedding? She's gonna have to see me then!"

Kurama just laughed and shook his head, "We'll figure it out when the time comes. Now, off with you!" He and Briar walked atay from the group.

Jin, Sakura, Kura, and Hidi made their way to the Spirit World.

The Ball Room of the Imperial Palace was turned into a nice dining room. The four were the first to arrive. Jin and Sakura were sitting at one end of the table, talking, while Kura and Hiei were standing right outside the door, in silence.

"Jin. I'm kinda nervous." Sakura confessed.

"Oy, don't be. It's all right. Tonight's s'pposed to be fun." Jin kissed her forehead.

"I just hope that Kura will be okay. She seems to be under a lot of stress lately. And it all seems to be caused by Hiei-kins."

"They'll be fine. Just worry about yourself for a little, Sa'."

"I'll try." Sakura told him as their friends entered the room.

The group included:
Yusuke, Kayko, Kuwabara, Shizuru they actually convinced her to come, Touya, Yukina, Rinku, Botan, Koenma teenage form, Kurama, Briar, Charlie, Mapha, Chu, Kuronue Sakura and Briar had to threaten him, but that barely had any effect, so they begged and pleaded., Kura and Hiei

Everyone took their seats. The only two that absolutely had to be away from each other were Shizuru and Kuronue, because Shizuru wasn't exactly happy with him right now.

They talked together through their delicious dinner. Then, Sakura and Jin got everyone's attention,

"Ahem." Jin cleared his throat.

Kura looked away from Hiei and to the two down the table.

"Jin and I have great news!" Sakura couldn't contain herself. "We're getting married."

"Oh, Sakura! That's wonderful!" Briar hugged her sister.

Kura smiled and then saw Kayko and Yusuke across from her. Kayko looked to Yusuke. "Why can't we get married!" Yusuke just rolled his eyes.

"Congratulations, Sakura!" Kura called out.

"Thanks, you guys!" Sakura and Jin thanked everyone.

After dinner, everyone gathered out in the gardens. Jin and Sakura were being surrounded by part of the group from dinner. Touya and Yukina went for a walk, Rinku was busy being overjoyed about Sakura and Jin's engagement, Chu was also; Botan, Shizuru, Briar, Koenma, Kayko and Kurama were all talking to Jin and Sakura; Yusuke and Kuwabara were in the middle of an interesting thumb war game. Kuronue had somehow detached himself from the group to wonder through the gardens.

In the shadows, Nadare crept, watching him. And, of course, Kuronue felt it, even though he didn't act like he did. Every now and then, he'd look out of the corner of his eye, catching a glimpse of the gradually moving demon in the darkness surrounding him. He finally stopped walking to stand there, calling upon what ever was following him. "Who ever you are… You've been following me for quite some time now. Why don't you show your face… Come out, come out…" His eyes were closed, he didn't move at all.

"Heh… You're not as dumb as you used to be…" Nadare finally stepped out from the shadows.

"Well… Hello Nadare. I didn't think I'd be seeing you so soon."

"Hn. Don't say things you don't mean, Kuronue." She told him. "You're looking well.."

"And you're still looking as vile as ever." He grinned, complimenting her.

"Thank you." Nadare accepted the compliment. "What entertaining occasion has brought you to the Spirit World?"

"My sister and her boyfriend are engaged and they decided to tell us."

"Sakura?"

"Yes. I'm sure Briar had already told you of her and Kurama's engagement a while ago."

"Yes. She did. We've spoken since that Ball Sakura and her… friend threw," Nadare refused to say Kura's name.

"Hm… seems as though you have something against Kura." Kuronue said, but got now where else before he heard is name being called. "KURONUE!" his sister, Briar, called for him. Kuronue turned back to Nadare. "I guess I'll be seeing you… Or in this case, waiting in the shadows for you.." Then, he returned to the droup.

Nadare quickly fled from her spot, into the trees and then shd spotted the full group. Touya and Yukina had returned. She's found someone, too. Nadare thought, then quickly found Hiei and Kura. Hiei had one arm around Kura's shoulders and his other hand in his pocket. Briar and Kurama were still talking with Jin and Sakura, mostly about the upcoming Hot Springs trip they were about to take.

"Well, everyone… Good night and we shall see you guys lext Friday." Sakura told the remaining party members: Yusuke, Touya, Yukina, Kayko, Kurama, Briar, Kura, Hiei, Chu, Rinku, and Botan.

Everyone then dispersed to head off to where their "homes" were. For once, Kurama went with Briar, Sakura, Jin, and Kuronue to Kuronue/Briar/Sakura's home, leaving Hiei and Kura to "watch the apartment for the night".

--The Next Day--

Everyone was getting ready for the huge Hot Springs trip that was scheduled to start that afternoon.

"Which Hot Spring are we going to, Sakura?" Kura asked, loading her one bag of luggage into the van they were taking.

"The Sohma Family Hot Springs!" Sakrua grinned.

"Oh! Really! That's so awesome! Maybe Kyo-Kyo and Yuki will be there!"

"Yeah! That'd be awesome! We haven't seen thdl in forever "

"Do you think Jin and Hiei will be jealous of them?"
"Of course!" Sakura giggled, climbing into the van so she and Kura could get the back seats, Kura following her. "Woah! This van is huge!"

"Yeah.. No kidding. It sits 20 people!" Kura said, claiming the furthermost back seat.

"Woah…" Sakura plopped down in the one in front of Kura's. "So… Hiei's seating with ya, right?"

"Of course!- And Jin with you!"

"Dur. And then, I bet Yukina and Touya will sit together."

"Yeah. But with our luck… we'll have to sit, like, three to a seat!"

"So? I will just squeeze back there with you and Hiei!" Sakura told her.

"And that's what you're gonna have to do, kiddo." Briar's voice was heard from the open side door.

"Arg. Fine. But Hiei needs to get in before I go back there." Sakura whined.

"Fine.- Hiei… get in the van." Briar ordered him.

"Don't order me around." Hiei told her, solidly, then clilbed in the van. He sat beside of Kura, then Sakura sat beside of him, saying to him, "Don't touch me..". Jin got in, having to sit in the seat in front of Sakura, Hiei, and Kura's. Touya and Yukina soon joined him. Chu, Rinku, and Botan climbed into the next seats; then Yusuke and Kayko got the remaining once closest to the front. Kurama, of course, tap driving and Briar would be the skipper (hahaha). "Can I trade seats with Botan?" Sakura whined.

"No!" Kura and Briar told her, then Kurama started the van and they were off.

Since it was still slightly early in the morning, there really wasn't that much noise being made, so no one got annoyed. For the most part, everyone just fell back to sleep, expect for Rinhu who was wide awake and Hiei who just didn't want to go back to sleep (then Kurama who was driving. LoL.)

The journey to the Hot Spring only took 3 and a half hours, which wasn't that bad of a ride. Then van stopped and everyone sat up. They filed out of the van and saw a young blond haired boy coming towards them. Kura and Sakura instantly smiled at each other. "Momiji!" They called out.

OOC: we've decided that the curse over the Sohma family has been lifted somehow, so now they don't transform into animals when they're hugged by members of the opposite sex.

Momiji ran up to the two girls and threw his arms around their necks at the same time. "Oh, it's so good to see you guys! I haven't seen you in forever!"

"We know!" Kura and Sakura said, at the same time, as they hugged him back.

They released each other. "So…" Momiji started. "Who are all of your friends?"

"Oh, heh. I guess it would make sense to introduce everyone." Sakura said, then began telling Momiji who everyone was, but he already knew who Briar was (and Sakura and Kura. Dur. Lol)

"Hi everybody! I'm Momiji Sohma! We're glad that you all could make it!" Momiji introduced himself, then received some sort of acknowledgment from everyone. "C'mon… I'll take you guys to your rooms! Oh, Sakura! Kura! Yuki and Kyo are here, too!"
"Awesome!" Kura and Sakura said, once again, at the same time, as they walked into the Hot Spring's Main edifice.

Once everyone was settled Kura and Sakura decided to wander around with Momiji.

"So… Momiji, how have you been?" Sakura questioned.

"Oh! I've been great! High School's so much fun!"

"Oh, yeah! I forgot! You're a 2nd year in High School." Sakura giggled.

"yeah! And it's so fun because Kyo, Yuki, Haru, and Tohru go there, too!" Momiji continued being his hyper self.

"Oh. Sounds fun." Kura commented.

"Oh, Yeah! It is!-- So... How are you guys? Whatcha been up to?"

"Oh.. Well... my boyfriend and I got engaged!" Sakura smiled.

"REALLY!" Momiji's smile seemed to widen. "That's awesome! What's his name? Is he here?"

"His name's Jin. And, yes, he's here with us." She answered.

Momiji smiled to Sakura for a moment longer, then looked to Kura.

"Oh... My turn? Um... Well, my boyfriend Hie-" Kura spotted Hiei in front of them and then quickly ran to him, then pulled him over to Momiji and Sakura. "Momiji.. This is Hiei.."

"Hi! Nice to meet you!" Momiji said to Hiei.

Hiei looked at him, like he was crazy, too happy for him. "Hn." was his "nice" reaction.

Kura elbowed him in the side. "Be nice." She said to him.

"Can I be on my way now?" Hiei asked, through his teeth.

"Yeah.. I guess..." She rolled her eyes.

As Hiei walked away, Momiji and Sakura were giggling.

"Do they always fight like that?" Momiji questioned.

"Yep! Always!" Sakura started, then whispered. "That's how Hiei shows he loves her!"

Momiji giggled again. "Well... Didn't you and Kyo like to fight before--"

"No!" Kura cut him off, blushing.

"-- Before you admitted that you liked him!" Momiji finished anyway.

"Be quiet!" Kura said, covering up her red cheeks with her hands.

Later that Evening

Everyone was gathered in the main room out of the few they had reserved for the huge group (minus the Sohma family). They were all finishing up dinner when Momiji knocked on the door then came in once allowed entry. "Hi guys! I was just wondering if Kura and Sakura could come with me?"

Kurama and Briar looked at each other, then back to Momiji. "Sure.. That is, if they want to.." Briar told him.

"Of course we want to!" The two said, in accord. Then they hopped up, onto their feet, and made their way to the door, but Kurama stopped them with "Don't forget.. We're not staying up all night, tonight. Got it, girls?" They shook their heads, remembering on the way over, just before everyone fell back asleep, that they were all to rest up for tomorrow. Kurama and Briar had 'planned', sort of, the day... But who knows what they're planning to force the best friends to do... XD. Kura and Sakura then resumed walking out the door with Momiji as they rest of their posse stayed behind, chatting.

"What are we going to do, Momiji?" Sakura could barely contain herself.

"You'll see! I know you guys will love it!" He grinned, then they turned the corner. Sakura and Momiji collided with the body first, then Kura fell back due to the falling Sa' and Momiji. Kura, of course, was the one who hit the floor, laying under the two. "Owies! You guys! That hurts! What did you do that for?-- Eee! Get off me! I.. can't move..." Kura struggled.

Momiji opened his eyes and looked up at Kyo. "Oh! Hi Kyo!" He hopped up. Sakura and Kura quickly maintained their standing positions.

"What where you're going, brat.." Kyo said, then looked at Sakura and Kura. "oh.. Hey guys..." He spoke, still glaring at Momiji.

"Hiya Kyo-Kyo!" Sakrua greeted him.

"Hiya Kyo-chan!" Kura was brave enough to call him that, a grin residing on her face.

"Hey! I thought I told you never to call me that, shorty!" Kyo said, seriously, then put a grin on his face.

"And I thought I told you never to talk to me like that!" Kura couldn't help but maintain her smile.

"And what are they calling you now, shorty?" Kyo questioned.

"Strawberry Shortcake!" Sakura let out.

"Oh really? How did that come up?" The orange head was quite confused.

"Heh.. It's a looooooooong story." Kura assured him.

"I've got time..." He said.

"Uh... Well.. we were just.." Kura wasn't able to say what they were going to do because Momiji had never told them.

"Actually.. I was coming to take you guys to Kyo and Yuki!- Where is he anyway, Kyo?" The blond hyper being asked.

"The hell if I know."

"You should. You two share a room when ever we're here!"

"So? Like we stay in it all the time! Dammit, Momiji. He's probably out in the gardens or something. I don't know..." Kyo rolled his eyes, annoyed once more by Momiji's pubescent undertakings.

"Fine. I guess Sakura and I will have to go and find him! C'mon Sakura!" Momiji tugged at her sleeve, fervently.

"Okay, Okay. I'm coming.- See you later, Kura! Remember..." Sa' began 'mocking' Kurama's words. "Don't be up too late!" Then she and Momiji disappeared.

"So..." Kyo broke the ice between them. "We haven't seen each other in... forever.."

Kura giggled. "Yeah. That's true. What? It's been.. nearly... 6 or 7 years, right? I think.. Heh... I have a sucky memory..."

"That's okay.. I do, too."

"Ehem." Hiei cleared his throat, making them both turn in his direction.

"Oh. Hey Hiei.-- Hiei, this is Kyo. Kyo, this is Hiei." Kura, awkwardly, introduced each other.

Hiei made eye contact with Kyo once then moved his crimson watch to Kura. "What were you two doing out here?"

"Nothing. We're just catching up. We used to be, like, best friends... Sakura and Yuki used to be best friends, too. Her and Momiji went to find him..." Kura realized she was rambling a little.

"Uh huh." Hiei sounded doubtful of her.

Kyo, not knowing Hiei at all, stepped him. "Look, punk, she said we're doin' nothin'. You should believe her 'cause that's all we were doin'."

"Heh.." Hiei laughed. I can't believe this guy... "Look, orange top," Hiei began, not 'playing nice anymore'. "Leave her alone if you know what's good for you..." Then, he simply walked away.

"Damn. Who was that bastard?" Kyo sighed, once he was gone.

"That 'bastard' is my boyfriend..." She told him, looking down at the ground.

"Oh. Sorry."

"It's all right. Most people think he's a 'mean son-of-a-bitch' anyway.. He only gets along with certain people.- But, hey! At least we've gotten to see each other before we totally forgot about each other!"

"Heh. Like we could forget about each other!" Kyo punched her, softly in the arm.

Momiji and Sakura finally found Yuki. He was by himself out in the Gardens, where Kyo had 'guessed' he was. "Yuki-chan!" Sakrua called, happy to see one of her best friends!

Yuki turned around, Tohru turning with him. "Sakura?" Yuki called, questionable of the identity of the girl who had just spoken his moniker. Once he had grasped reality and comprehended that it was, in fact, Sakura, she and Momiji were already standing in front of him. "I didn't know you were coming here today... I didn't even know there would be other guests staying here.."

"I thought Momiji would've told you guys! My sister, her fiancé (Kura's brother), and me planned this little trip! Besides, Briar owed me one since I passed all of my exams!" Sakura explained.

"Congratulations on that." Yuki smiled his, ever-so charming, smile. "It's nice to see you again! Last time I saw you... we were quite smaller than we are now!"

"yeah! True!"

"Where's Kura anyway?"

"Hehe. She and Kyo are catching up!" Momiji giggled.

"Oh. I see.-- He isn't going to be the source of any trouble for her, on your vacation, his he?"

"Oh, no, Yuki! Don't worry about it!-- She'll be fine... But.. I don't know if Hiei and Kyo will get along..." Sakura thought.

"Hiei?" The bewildered Yuki requested an explanation for who 'Hiei' was, for the reason that he had no earthly clue who he was.

"Hehe.. He's Kura's boyfriend!" To Sakura, it sort of seemed a little strange, even though Hiei and Kura had been 'going out' boyfriend and girlfriend for a little while now, calling Hiei Kura's boyfriend.

"I see. Well, Kyo must be disappointed to hear that one." Yuki noted.

"Why do you say that, Yu-chan?"

"Well... He does have that little crush on her... Hm... I really do wonder how he'll react. Probably mope about Shigure's house once we return home. Unless Kagura has something to do with it..." Yuki grinned with Sakura and Momiji.

"I wanna see everyone else, too!" Sakura said, excited.

"Well.. I think we're all spread out through out the Hot Spring.. So.. Have fun searching for everyone before dark..."

"Oh, you're coming with me!" Sakura grabbed him by the sleeve and he, Sakura, and Momiji set out through the hot spring to search for the rest of the family.

To be continued in the next chapter (which will most likely be short..)...