How wonderful for her. She got another 'A+' on her exam. Just what her already spotless record needed-another good grade. She sighed to herself and tucked the 250-question test into her folder and put the folder back into her school bag. She picked up her bag and headed out of the classroom. She went into the bathroom and changed out of her school uniform.

The red, white and blue summer uniform was quickly folded and tucked into her school bag as she pulled out her change of clothes. She pulled on a boat neck, long sleeve shirt and a denim mini skirt before slipping a hoody sweatshirt over her head. She pulled on a jean jacket and swept her hair into a ponytail. She grabbed the high-heeled ankle boots she was going to wear instead of her school shoes outside.

Shouldering her bag and carrying her shoes in one hand, she hurried out of the school building and down to the lockers. She switched her white shoes for her school shoes, which she tucked in her bag. Quickly pulling on the boots on and lacing them up, she left the school yard at a hustle to avoid the shrieking moans of her best friend and hearing how that same said friend had failed an exam-again.

Once far enough away, she slowed to a fast walk, trying to slow her ragged breathing. She turned the corner and slammed into someone who had had the same idea. Both of them were thrown to the ground rather harshly.

"I'm so sorry." She apologized holding her head in a hand as she pushed herself up with the other. "I'm kind in a hurry."

"It's my bad." Who she crashed into told her. "Just trying to avoid somebody."

Wait…I know that voice! She looked up and saw a young man with orange hair and a bracelet of black and white beads dressed in a Kaibara boy's summer uniform. "Kyo Sohma?" He looked up, showing her the cat pupil red eyes she remembered so well." Kyo, it is you!"

"Hotaru Tomoe?" He asked. She nodded with a smile. A grin took its place on his face as he scrambled to his feet. "Hotaru, long time-no see! I can't believe we ran into each other like this."

"This isn't exactly how I pictured meeting up with you again." Hotaru admitted getting off the ground with Kyo's help. "How have you been? It's been, what-6, 7 years since we last met?"

Kyo rubbed the back of his neck with a smile. "Something like that, yeah. Where have you been?"

"Around…" Hotaru answered vaguely. "You know, just stuff to do about…well, you know."

"Yeah, I do…" Kyo looked at her for a moment then gave her a light punch in the arm. "Hey, have you gotten any better? You think you can beat me this time?"

Hotaru laughed and flicked him in the forehead. "It's not like you won last time. We tied remember?"

Kyo put his forehead against hers with a big smile. "Yeah, I remember. I've still got bruises from that fight. Do you still have that cut?"

No, it healed." Hotaru pushed back her sleeves and showed him her right forearm where a faint 2-inch scar ran the limb's length. "Well, sort of." She pulled her sleeves down again. "SO, where have you been? In the mountains with Shishou?"

"I wish." Kyo admitted. "Nah, I have been living with my cousins Shigure and that damn Yuki. How about you?"

Hotaru shrugged as they started to head somewhere. "I'd been living with my 3 friends Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna until a few months ago."

"Where do you live now?" Kyo asked, surprised as they waited at a crosswalk.

"No where, really." She answered with a soft smile. "I've been crashing at Rei's for the last week. The few weeks before that I was at Ami's place then Makoto's."

Kyo took her hand. "Come on-I know someone who could help you with that!"

"Where are you taking me, Kyo?" Hotaru asked, running to keep up with his much longer strides. Kyo gave her a big smile.

"I'm taking you where we spent the most time together-I'm taking you to see Shishou!"