So this is another chapter to my first story ever. For those people who have already reviewed my first 2 chapters thank you so much. You really motivated me and it really got my creative juices going. You guys rock!

Chapter 3

Traveling

"I'd love to go, Yuuichirou!" the two blondes cried.

"But we don't even live with you, Yuuichirou. Why would you want to bring us," Makoto asked, indicating Ami, Usagi, Minako, and herself.

"Because I see you guys over here so much that it feels like you do," Yuuichirou replied. "Besides, I figured if I had more people over, my parents would be less inclined to insult me. They are very polite whenever they have guests over. And, it will give me some brownie points for bringing a group of beautiful girls along with me," Yuuichirou added as a side note. He hoped his flattery had persuaded them to come. All the girls blushed.

"If your parents want to meet us all, then we would all be happy to go," Grandpa stated. With that, he got up and left the living room.

"I wish they had asked you in the winter. I really want to go skiing," Usagi whined lightly. Everyone agreed, except Rei. She had yet to say a word.

Rei couldn't believe what was happening. Yuuichirou never mentions his parents and now, all the sudden, they were going over to his house? His parents house, actually. It was almost inconceivable.

"Skiing? What are you talking about?" Yuuichirou asked, thoroughly confused.

"Your house in the mountains, remember? You took us there to go skiing. Man, Yuuichirou, you must have been away from home for too long if you can't even remember your own house," laughed Minako.

"Oh yeah, that's right. We aren't going to the house in the mountains," Yuuichirou replied. "Sorry I didn't mention that before. My parents mostly live in the outskirts of Tokyo around this time of year. They only go to the mountains when it's winter. You guys are lucky, actually. The house is beautiful this time of year. It's my mom's favorite house as well as her favorite season so she's gonna be in a good mood. If she could, she'd stay in that house all the time, but my dad is the one that wants to switch houses every now and then. He likes the change in scenery." Yuuichirou was rambling. Talking about his home made him nostalgic. He didn't notice five jaws lying on the floor.

Later that day, Rei lay on her bed contemplating what had just happened. Everyone had already gone home, eager to ask their parents' permission to go on the much anticipated trip. The day and the length of their departure were already set and everyone was excited for the school break to come. They had decided to leave this upcoming Friday and stay for the week. Everyone was excited to go, expect Rei. She didn't want to meet Yuuichirou's parents. She was reluctant to meet the people who made Yuuichirou so uneasy. If that was how they treated their own son, then she could only imagine how they would treat other people. She was not looking forward to it.

She let out a sigh. Oh well, Rei thought. I'll do this for Yuuichirou. This is the first time he's ever really asked me to do something for him and I'll do it. I'll even help make his parents see that Yuuichirou is a good person. Rei stopped dead in her tracks. Had she really just thought that? But she found that she really meant it. She let out another sigh. At least all my friends will be there, Rei continued her train of thought. Then she thought about Usagi.

Yuuichirou's doomed.

Friday had approached all too soon for Rei and Yuuichirou, and not soon enough for everyone else. Rei sat in class, mindlessly tapping her pen on the desk, watching the seconds on the clock count down to the start of an awful week. The bell rang.

Whoops and hollers came from all around her, celebrating the week-long break of school. Rei began packing her things.

"Come on, Rei-chan! Let's get the heck out of here!" called Rei's friend, Mai, at the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Rei replied with a smile. At least some of her friends were excited about the week. Rei picked up her bag and headed towards the entrance of the school with Mia.

"So what are you doing for the break? You still haven't told me. I thought we were friends?" Mai faked a tear at the last statement. Rei rolled her eyes at her. She had met Mai a few years ago and Mai loved to tease her. It was nice being friends with her, since her other friends went to different schools.

Rei hadn't told her about her plans because she had hoped that they would magically go away. But it hadn't. Now it was Friday and she really couldn't get out of it, so she explained to Mai what she was doing for the week.

"Well, that sounds like fun, actually," Mai remarked. "Honestly, Rei, I don't know what you're so afraid of. It's not like they're gonna whack you. Wait, are they? Because, you've been kinda mean to him all these years. You better watch out, Rei-chan." Mai was laughing at her own joke. Her sarcasm cut Rei like a knife.

They had just walked out of the school, when a tall man carrying a small bag came jogging up to them. He had short brown hair and wore jeans and a t-shirt.

"Rei-chan, hey! I came here just in time. I was around the block earlier and I figured I could walk home with you," the tall man panted, face filled with eagerness.

"Yuuichirou-kun?" Rei stammered. This can't be him, she thought.

"What? You don't recognize me?" Yuuichirou laughed.

He was only teasing her, but Rei really didn't. This wasn't the Yuuichirou she knew. This Yuuichirou looked completely different. This man standing in front of her had short hair for one thing. It was shorter than Ami's and it flowed gently over his forehead, showing off his brown eyes. But she recognized those eyes. Sometimes, he'd bush his hair out of his face and she'd see them. She also noticed that he hadn't shaved either, which gave him a rugged look.

"I got a haircut today down the street. I figured that since we're going to see my parents, I should look presentable," Yuuichirou explained.

"Well, Yuuichirou, you succeeded. You look hot!" Mai said impressed. Yuuichirou blushed, putting his free hand on the back of his head. Rei shot Mai a death glare.

"Thanks, Mai-san. By the way, I almost forgot." Yuuichirou reached into the small bag he was carrying and pulled out a long red ribbon. "When I was in the barber shop, I saw a girl wearing one of these in her hair and I thought of you. I thought it would look pretty on you."

Rei looked at the ribbon dangling in his hand. It was a deep red. It looked so delicate, yet sturdy at the same time. She ran her fingers through the material, gently pulling it out of his hand.

"It's beautiful, Yuuichirou-kun. Thank you," Rei said in awe. She began to toy with it. She never usually wore ribbons but this one was the prettiest one she'd seen. Even prettier than the ones Minako would wear in her hair.

"You're welcome," Yuuichirou replied, watching her play with her new ribbon. "We'd better get going though, Rei-chan," Yuuichirou suddenly realized, looking at his watch. "We have to meet everyone at the train station before the train leaves. We don't want to be late."

"You're right," Rei said, packing her ribbon gently in her bag.

"Wait, you guys are leaving today?" Mai asked shocked. She got nods from two people. "Oh, I was hoping Rei and I could hang out after school, but it's alright. I get it. You two want to get a jump start on your week." Mai nudged Rei in the ribs. Both faces began turning the shade of Rei's ribbon. "So, Yuuichirou, you're finally bringing Rein home to meet your parents?"

"It's not like that, Mai!" Rei shouted. She turned to Yuuichirou and began pushing him in the direction of the shrine. "We have to go. Like you said, we don't want to be late. See you later, Mai-chan!" Rei called over her shoulder.

Rei could hear Mai laughing on the school steps.

The two walked in silence. Yuuichirou would sometimes walk Rei home from school if he had errands to do in town. This was one of Yuuichirou's favorite things to do. Whenever he saw her walk out of school and see him, his day would instantly brighten. As they walk down the street together, he would see other men look at Rei, and although it would make him insanely jealous, he would get a new level of high when they looked at him with envy. He couldn't help but fantasize that they were really a couple.

They eventually reached the shrine. Grandpa was waiting patiently for them, bags and tickets ready to go. As soon as Rei changed out of her school uniform, they left for the train station.

An hour later, the train and its passengers zoomed through Tokyo. All of Rei's friends commented on Yuuichirou's hair. When they looked at him they all seemed close to drooling, except for Ami. The second the train left the station, her book was only a few inches from her face.

Rei stared out the window, watching the buildings pass by. This is going to be one long week, she thought.