It was relatively late, the sun low almost gone beyond the horizon completely, the air cool in the springtime. The quiet neighborhood still sounding somewhat lively, a few passing cars every now and then, dogs barking from behind fences, a few cats meowing, the last birds chirping in the distance.
Four girls were walking down a street, their lulled chatter mixing and disappearing into the night.
"Kami Kagome, how can you read and walk at the same time? Wait. Let me rephrase that. Study and walk at the same time." Eri, a girl with shoulder length black hair held back with a yellow headband peered at the object of her confusion.
"Trust me, since meeting Inuyasha, I've learned to study in almost every situation possible." came a slightly slurred reply, the sound of a page turning quickly after.
"I can believe that. Despite all the school you missed last year, you still managed to keep above average scores." Yuka spoke up, ruffling her pixie cut styled hair. "Though it was touch and go there for math."
Ayumi, a girl with curly black hair stuck her tongue out. "Math was the worst."
A noncommittal 'Hmm' sounded from behind Kagomes book as she continued to study, somehow easily bypassing others that still wondered the sidewalks.
"I'm worried though. After all that studying we just did in the library, and you're still cramming." Ayumi frowned, leaning closer to their studious friend, causing all four of them to halt as she pushed the textbook below Kagome's eye level. "Not only that, you have some serious dark bruising under your eyes. When was the last time you slept?"
Blinking her eyes rapidly, Kagome adjusted her sights to her concerned friends. "A few days ago I guess. These finals have me up all the time."
"Kagome, that's not healthy. I understand wanting to learn and study before an exam, but not getting enough sleep won't help either!" Yuka fluttered about her friend, taking the textbook and stuffing it into her friends bookbag.
"I meditate a few hours each day, which is surprisingly just as refreshing as taking a nap. Besides, after this last exam, I am going to crash all weekend." she pinched the bridge of her nose when she felt the tell tale signs of her eyes being tired.
Her friends watched in mild concern as Kagome simply shook of the tiredness, perked up at seeing a convenience store just ahead and began to march right for it. Their concern only grew when she halted suddenly and narrowed her eyes at the entrance.
"Either I'm seeing things due to sleep deprivation... or... there's a giant rabbit wielding a boomerang in front of that store." she shook her head as the others slowly approached her, taking in the entrance of the store and not seeing what their friend was.
"Uh... Kagome, I think that's the sleep deprivation."
"Ya sure? It... he looks pretty solid to me."
"He?" Eri threw Kagome a questioning glance.
"Well I started with it, but after his initial shock at my apparent ability to see him, he quickly corrected me on him being a he. He's got an Australian accent. Makes him kinda cute."
The three girls watched as their friend giggled as she kept her eyes before her. Though they did move a bit as if she really were watching a 'giant rabbit' move about.
"And this giant Australian rabbit is what, psychedelic pink?" at Yuka's sarcastic question, Kagome snorted to cover up her laughter.
Waving her hand about, Kagome shook her head as she tried to get over the laughter that simply wanted to get out at how offended the rabbit looked. The fact that she wasn't upset at seeing something her friends couldn't was definitely a sign that she needed more sleep. But she was going to defend this rabbit, imaginary or not.
"No, no. Most definitely not psychedelic pink. If I'd have to describe his coloring, then I'd say... steel blue. With tattoos?" she leaned in closer to him, causing him to slightly stiffen under her sudden inspection. She absently raised a hand to see if it was tattoos or a really interesting fur coloration, expecting her hand to go right through him. Instead, they combed right through the softest fur she had ever felt.
Tired eyes widening as far as they could, she truly looked up at the face of the rabbit as her hand slowly retreated from his arm. But then something caught her eye, a twitch from above. Feeling an old and familiar itch return, and being tired failing her better judgement, Kagome went for it.
"Oh they're so soft!" her cheeks bloomed instantly her fingers and thumbs rubbed soothing circles into the long ears of the rabbit as she completely ignored the shocked but quickly dazing rabbit beneath her ministrations.
"Hey Bunnymund, North sent me here to-!" Jack froze at the sight that greeted him at his arrival in the large city.
A girl had literally climbed the giant rabbit... to rub at his ears. When she was apparently done, she snuggled into his chest, cooing about how soft his fur was. Taking a quick glance to the three girls, he assumed her friends, they were confused and slightly shocked at what they were seeing. Which was most likely their friend floating in mid air.
Jack could only stare at the scene before him. Bunnymund was being... cuddled passionately, by some strange girl. Though her friends quickly pulled her off, inspecting where Bunnymund stood, narrowing their eyes when they saw nothing.
His eyes followed the girl as she pouted slightly, shrug her friends off and then walk into the store. Turning his attention to Bunnymund, he could only blink at the frazzled looking rabbit. His ears twitched as the rest of him stood stock still. When the girl came out a few minutes later, carrying a small white plastic bag, she slurred out an apology and bowed a farewell before the girls flocked and steered her in the right direction that could only be towards their home.
"What... was that?"
"I 'ave no idea. Was getting ready for Easter here, when she spotted me. Next thing I know-"
"Wait! Spotted you?! As in, actually see you?!"
Bunnymund twitched and waved his hands in the direction the group of girls disappeared down. "She was just hanging off of me, mate! I'm pretty sure seeing me wasn' a problem with 'er! Besides... she gave a pretty accurate description of my appearance to the others."
"I think... she could be the reason North sent me here to talk to you about." his words caught the rabbit's attention, whom seemed somewhat grateful that it was no longer on him or the situation he had just been in.
"North said there was something... odd going on around here, and since you were in the area, wanted to see if you could... check the place out." Jack scratched his chin, turning sly eyes towards his fellow guardian. "Seems you were the one getting checked out though."
AN: Both of these were written while I myself have yet to see the movie. :| SHAMELESS ADD: fallthrufiction. webs .com Other than that; read, enjoy, and review.