Two boys stood side-by-side, arms crossed as they glared down at their other companion who had brought them to a department store, a place they had never ventured into without their mothers before.

"You brought us here…"

"Are you shitting me?"

The blue-eyed boy sheepishly grinned a goofy grin, trying to hide his nervousness. He was afraid of how his two friends would react but he was desperate.

"Heh, heh. Well you see, you know how its Rio-chan's birthday soon? I need your advice on what to give her!" He shrugged apologetically.

"Shiro Hanazuki, I hope you're ready to die!" The delicate looking blonde lunged forward, arms extended with his fingers twitching to get a hold of Shiro's neck to wring it…painfully.

Fortunately for Shiro's life, Markus held Sasaki back from performing murder that he would later regret. Maybe…

The boy just shook his head sadly, shaggy black locks hiding his sharp blue eyes. "I don't even know what to say. I had homework to do. This is silly. Shouldn't you know what your girlfriend wants by now?"

Shiro coughed uncomfortably. "That's the problem Markus. She is just too indecisive. It changes every time I talk to her. How am I supposed to keep up?"

Sasaki shrugged off Markus' restraining arm and huffed though his quick anger has fading as fast as it had come. "Forget it. My hands are too good for your scrawny neck."

Shiro finally sensed that he was out of the deep end and thus deemed it appropriate to link up with Markus and Sasaki, dragging them off into the crowd with Markus tripping over his own feet in an effort to keep pace with Shiro.

…

"Last time she said she liked a necklace so we shall visit the jewelers first." He announced as they approached said store.

Markus arched one disbelieving eyebrow in surprise. "How much money do you plan on spending?" He scanned the price tags of the sparkling merchandise from where he stood at the entrance. "Its like $500.00 to get a charm!"

His words fell on deaf ears though. Like children, the other two ran around the store like headless chicken. Sighing, he leaned against the wall, his foot tapping out a harsh beat on the floor as he heard the employees of the store getting involved.

He was getting ready to drag them out forcefully when a familiar person tapped him on the shoulder.

Turning around, he smiled widely. "Hey! What are you doing here?"

"Shopping of course. What else is a girl to do in a mall?" She replied easily.

Markus just continued to grin, blue eyes twinkling in barely restrained mirth.

'Oh this just got interesting…'

…

"Sasaki," Shiro whined, "That gaudy thing would look awful on Rio and you know it."

Turning around to face the displays, he peered inside then pointed to a silver chain necklace with a dark purple gem hanging in a teardrop shape. "This is the kind of necklace that we are looking for."

Unceremoniously placing the necklace he was wearing back on the counter, Sasaki leaned over Shiro to see the most hideous necklace he had ever seen in his entire life.

"Why would you even want that thing? Its total shit. That colour looks so bad."

"What are you saying? That's Rio-chan's eye colour you're talking about!"

"Dude, get you're eyes checked. I'm pretty sure her eyes aren't poop coloured."

"What did you say? I think it's your eyes that need to get checked?"

The two boys stared down at each other, blonde against brunette, blue against green.

"You can't stop me from getting it," Shiro hissed, finally breaking the silence. To prove his point he turned and waved a store clerk over.

"You can't even afford it stupid." The smaller boy grinned triumphantly, thinking he had won until Shiro pinned him in place with a wide and creepy grin.

"I forgot to mention Sasaki, you're helping me pay too!"

Together the two emptied their wallets, one more eagerly than the other, searching through their pockets as they dumped everything on the counter just to pay for one stinkin' present.

Later, the boys left the store, one abnormally happy and the other grumbling to himself.

"Next time we use my money I am choosing the present," Sasaki grumbled, running a hand through his blonde hair.

Shiro just laughed. "Next time I'll buy your girlfriend's gift, at least when you get one!"

"I don't need a girl anytime soon."

The blonde aimed a halfhearted kick at the brunette who neatly dodged it only to bump into someone much, much worse.

A tiny girl with bright auburn hair in pigtails stumbled backwards from where she had been chatting to Markus. Hands on her hips, she tossed her head and stared down at Shiro with a disapproving look though she flashed a charming smile at Sasaki who cheekily grinned back.

'Shiro was going to get it now.'

"Well, well, well. I should've expected that you were here too." The girl giggled.

Shiro just stood in shock, the present hidden behind his back as quickly as he could.

"What no hug?" The girl pouted and instead attacked him, squeezing the breath out of him. Feebly he attempted to return the hug, still trying to wrap his mind around who was here.

"And what are you hiding Shiro?" She released him and reached for his hand, swinging them gently. "A present?"

She batted her eyes innocently up at him, giggling as his face blanched.

"R-Rio?" He stammered, finally finding his voice. "What are you doing here?"