"You know, you live near school," Namie said, settling into the bus seat and folding her cream dress around her legs. "You don't have to escort me home."

"Nope, I'm coming. Jien would kill me if anything happened to you." Momiji plopped down in the seat in front of her so they could both stretch out sideways.

Namie rolled her eyes. "So that's what he was saying. I wondered."

"Among other things," Momiji murmured vaguely. "But I'd be sad too if you got hurt."

Namie contemplated him.

"Do you really want me to go?" he sighed.

"No," Namie conceded with a slow smile. Momiji grinned back.

"Besides, I have to make sure you don't drop your shoe and you get home before the bus turns back into a pumpkin."

"So I'm Cinderella?" Namie raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Anii did say you were a princess."

"What does that make you then, in the fairytale? The rabbit prince?"

Momiji frowned at her. "The what?"

"Like the frog prince, but he turns into a rabbit."

"I like that," he nodded. "But I'm already human. No one's kissed me!"

"Maybe it's backward, you turn into a rabbit when kissed. Like your story about the zodiac."

Momiji leaned his head back against the window and laughed until his sides hurt. "I never thought of it that way," he said when he finally got his breath back.

Namie grinned in return.

"So," Momiji began more seriously, after a pause, "what'd you think? Did you have fun?"

Namie smiled at him warmly. "Yes," she murmured. "You?"

"Yeah," Momiji said softly, beaming.

The bus squeaked to a halt. The two friends hopped off and started walking down the pavement, breath coming out in puffs in the night air.

"You look cold," Momiji said, noting the goose bumps dotting Namie's arms. "Here, take my coat."

"No!" Namie protested as he started to shrug out of his jacket. "Then you'll be cold!"

"I'm wearing more clothing than you," replied Momiji astutely and draped the coat around her shoulders. Namie pursed her lips, then tugged it a little tighter, turning her head as if to hide her tiny smile.

"And," Momiji went on, "I'm the rabbit prince. I have bunny fur to keep me warm." He wrinkled up his nose and pretended to hop down the sidewalk.

"You certainly are an animal at least," Namie chuckled.

Their laughter echoed across the empty street as they passed underneath lamp after lamp, throwing their faces into shadows and making Namie's eye shine. Momiji couldn't stop grinning, a glow warming him from inside. Everything was absolutely perfect.

But all good things have to end. All too soon, they reached the door to Namie's building.

"Well," she said turning to face Momiji.

"Well," he mimicked her voice, rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Thanks you for the wonderful night," Namie smiled.

"You're welcome. Thank you."

Silence spiraled around them as they stood looking at each other. Momiji felt that he wanted to do something, to say something more, but he wasn't sure how to proceed. His stomach was tying itself into knots as her green gaze bored into his and his heart was going fast again. He seemed to be having some trouble thinking properly, or even breathing.

Then suddenly, Namie took charge of the situation. She grabbed his shirt in a fist, pulled him close and kissed him on the lips.

It was soft and very short, but before she could even finish letting go and stepping back, Momiji had one hand on her hips, pulling her back to him, and the other cupping her face and raising it to his. This time the kiss was longer, as his arms slid around her waist and the back of her neck and her fingers got tangled in his hair, both pressing as close as they could.

As the kiss went on, Momiji only had enough mind space for two thoughts: One, Yuki was right. You just knew. And two, it was actually kind of difficult to kiss and smile at the same time, but Momiji didn't seem to be able to stop doing either.

OOO

"When I said don't break her heart this isn't exactly what I meant."

At the sound of Jien's wry voice, Momiji and Namie leapt apart. He was standing in the doorway with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, and Anii behind him beamed at them with wide eyes.

Namie cleared her throat awkwardly while Momiji ran a hand through his hair. Her face was flushed, and Momiji could feel the color rising in his own. He couldn't stop a small embarrassed smile though, and Namie was struggling too with giddy laughter.

"What—" she began, hurriedly, turning to her siblings, "what are you doing down here?"

"We saw you coming down the street," Anii chirped.

"And we were wondering what was taking you so long," finished Jien, still smirking. "I guess we know now."

"What's going on?" Now Namie's father appeared behind Anii.

"That's it," Namie pushed through the door, grabbed Jien's hand and dragging him and Anii up the stairs. "Come on, it's late. Upstairs. Now."

"Aw, but what about the show down here?" Jien mock whined while Anii giggled.

"Shut up!" Momiji watched amused as Namie succeeded in forcing her siblings up, out of sight.

"I—" her father began, watching the proceedings with bewilderment. "Well," he turned to Momiji. "Did you two have a nice night?"

"Yes, sir," he said, trying not to laugh. "Very much."

"That's good." Namie's father replied distractedly, leaning back to look up the stairs. "I should go make sure they don't injure each other. Thank you Momiji. Have a safe trip home."

"You are very welcome sir," Momiji grinned.

Thank goodness for fathers who come in and tell everyone to calm down and go to their rooms, Namie thought as everything quieted abruptly, and she was left alone in the sitting room. It was then that she suddenly remembered poor Momiji.

Smiling at the familiar gesture, she quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Momiji's number.

"Hello?"

"I'm sorry."

There was a smile in Momiji's voice. "For what?"

"I left you at the door."

A hint of laughter. "You were busy."

"I forgot to say good night."

There was a pause. "Look out the window."

Namie moved to one of the windows, phone still pressed against her ear. Down below, there was a figure standing on the other side of the street, his arm in the same position as hers. Namie smiled, and Momiji beamed up at her.

There was suddenly so much Namie wanted to say. But as she looked down at him, she realized that she didn't have to say it now. There would be plenty of time for talking tomorrow, and the day after and the day after, face to face, or on the phone. So for now, Namie didn't say anything. Only raised her hand and pressed it flat against her chest, just over her heart. Momiji seemed to get the message though, because his goofy smile changed into a warmer, more incredulous one that crinkled up his eyes. And he raised his hand to his lips then pointed up at her.

"Goodnight Namie. Sleep tight," he said softly.

"Goodnight," she replied, and they hung up as he turned to start walking up the street.

Namie stayed where she was through, reaching out to touch the glass so she could watch him as he moved farther out of sight.

"Goodnight," she whispered again. "Sweet dreams Momiji Sohma."

Disclaimer: Fruit's Basket and its characters belong to Natsuki Takaya.