*Hello all! So, I get the privilege of going to anime Midwest on July 6th! This'll be my first con and all... I hope I see some fans of the Tough Love saga while I'm there! I'm HOPEFULLY gonna be dressed as Misuzu from 'The Refreshing Battle in Karuizawa'. Cosplay is like, 95% done. If I'm not cosplaying, I'm gonna just go in a sweater and shorts(for some reason I can handle cold legs, but not cold arms). Lol. Anyway, If anyone is dressed up as Mori, I want pics. I want pics bad. BAD I say! :P*

The beautiful canopy I loved so much cast a shifting golden dapple pattern on the moss strewn ground. I kept hold of the ferns that blocked the entrance, thick tangles of bushes, trees and other plants forming a makeshift circular wall around it. There was a humongous willow tree swaying gently above us, it's roots sticking out of the ground, mottling the earth and forming natural seats among the knots. I grasped Rebekah's hand and led her over a tricky patch, stopping a few feet into the large natural dome. The shade from the canopy kept us cool, but let in enough light to reveal a sparkling, completely clear pool of water, a few feet deep at best, with no fish or plants. The colored pebbles scattered at the bottom shined from years of water wear, making the swaying pool look that much more inviting. There was a gap in the tangled wall where the inlet was, flowing gently into the pond, and an outlet somewhere to the left of it.

Rebekah's hand loosened around mine, and she walked over to the pond, glancing back at me with a grin before throwing off the slippers and splashing her way into the middle of it. She laughed wildly, flung her arms out and spun in a circle, cloth shorts showing off perfect legs.

I stood back and watched her mess around for a while, just enjoying being there with her.

"HEY!" I let her splash me, "Get in here, handsome!"

Smiling, I kicked off my own slippers and joined her in the chilly water. For a moment she stood and just looked at me, and vise versa. Then I splashed her, and the war began.

Twenty minutes later, we sat breathless, soaking wet, and completely carefree on one of the willow's roots. Basking in the sun was much, much easier when we were on break from school with no work or clubs or family to worry about. She laughed when I pointed this out to her, though at first I didn't understand what was funny.

"Oh, it's just that... It's winter break!" She explained, "I mean, back in the states, if you went for a dip in a cold pond during winter break, you'd probably end up in the hospital with hypothermia!" I laughed with her. I guess growing up in a different climate made for quite a change when you move.

After a moment of quiet, my hand absently tracing circles on her knee, I spoke quietly, "Hey... About what your dad told me and all... I'm sorry I never told you... I knew when he told me that it wasn't something to take lightly."

"Nah," She waved a hand casually, "I suppose you had to know eventually. I would have rather you heard from me, but heck... If I hadn't told you by now... Who knows when I would've, right?" She beamed at me.

"Right. You know, it's nearly lunch time, want to head back?"

She nodded and stood. We slid out sandals on, and I hoisted her onto my back, shrieking, before speeding off into the forest.

Back at the house, Rebekah had her small, green iPod plugged into some speakers, playing an American song I didn't know. Not that it mattered. Hearing her sing along was okay by me no matter what the situation.

"Make ya say- 'Oh my! Feels just like I don't try!'"

I whipped lunch together, smiling faintly as she danced behind me.

"Look so good I might die! All I know is-"

I watched her hips sway and arms wave in the reflection of the glass from the window in front of the oven.

"Everybody loves me!"

Waiting for the food to cook, I stood with my back to the counter, lounging and watching her dance and sing.

"Get down, swayin' to my own sound, flashes in my face now-"

I stepped into her erratic dance, taking hold of her hands and swinging her around.

"All I know... Everybody... Ha ha! Takashi!" She shouted delightedly as we swirled around the kitchen, not caring for the rest of the world.

Five minutes and some hurried eating later, my living room couch was occupied by yours truly and his fiance. Rebekah rested her head in my lap while I drew circles on her neck with her own hair.

"Did you ever think this would happen?" She sprung suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Did you ever think that you'd meet a girl who made you weak in the knees? Want to sing? Sporadically dance? Did you ever imagine us?"

"Not really... Not until my first year in high school. It was then that I first looked around at people who were 'couples' and thought that I'd be in that position some day. But I never thought about how... Great it could be. Then you came along... You changed that."

She smiled and lightly hit my cheek. "Cheese ball." I rolled her off the couch and sat on top of her, tickling her sides until her mad giggling became embarrassing spurts of laughter, then shrieking.

"OKAY! OKAY, I GIVE! I GIIIVE!" I kissed her, dropping the attack. "Ah heh... Jerk..." She kissed me again and slid her finger from my belly button down in a smooth, quick stroke. I froze, then scrambled off of her.

She laughed at me, trying to do it again.

She'd found my only weakness in the world when we'd spent the night in Tokyo... Funny thing was, that was the same night that weakness developed. It was crazy how much this ticklish, tremendously beautiful girl could change me... Could influence me...

Could love me.