A Day to Relax

For the first time in eight years the cottage was lively again! Sen decided that she would clean up the place a bit, since they weren't leaving till tomorrow and soon the cottage was spick and span. She made herself at home and proceeded to cook everyone lunch too.

ShuShu stuck very closely to Yuko. She was only a one year old when Shushu left to live on his own so he was very excited to see her again, and Sen too! It wasn't until he was about three years old himself when he left, it was a year after being a hermit that Inuyasha had sought his help years ago to fight Kyoufu Oni. Kazuki was also hanging out with Yuko and Shushu and really enjoyed himself riding Shushu around. "Man I wish you were around when I was a kid!" Kazuki exclaimed as they were flying over the cottage. "This is so much fun!"

Nira was playing a friendly game of chess with Kaya who was more than content to have a worthy opponent. The Empress had played chess with her father quite a lot because it was her favourite pastime (aside from reading) but after a while she began to beat him easily at it so having Kaya as an opponent was a welcomed challenge.

Riku was happily drawing on his own, in fact he proceeded to draw the cottage with Nira and Kaya playing chess out the front, and he drew Kazuki flying over head on Shushu. He still couldn't speak or read or write since he was too busy trying to find Kyoufu Oni with his sister and Shushu to have the time to find a master to teach him. But somehow he always found time to draw, since it was his only way of communication and it was also his passion!

While everyone was at the cottage having a great relaxing time before their long journey Amaya took Tanaka to the meadow.

"So is this where you and Kazuki used to hang out?"

"Yeah! And Hotaka."

"Who's... Hotaka?"

Amaya looked at Tanaka shocked... all these years she had never mentioned Hotaka to him? She guessed she never mentioned him at first because she was so upset about having to leave him behind when they moved but why hadn't she mentioned him later on? She thought about it for a while and realised that she hadn't thought about Hotaka much in the last few years, but being here in the meadow where they played, it was hard to forget.

"He was a friend of Kazuki and me... in fact." She paused, blushing slightly and then continued. "He and I weren't JUST friends..."

Tanaka stared at her. The shock on his face was evident and he was silent for a few moments before saying. "Why didn't you mention him before? We've been friends for years and you never told me about him."

"I guess after a while... I forgot about him." She admitted shamefully. Hotaka meant so much to Amaya when she was a kid but somehow being so close to Tanaka made her forget him and she felt bad for it.

"Amaya." Tanaka said suddenly turning towards her. "Haven't you thought about what happens now?"

She looked back at him, an innocent look in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean with us... After yesterday we're... not exactly JUST friends anymore right?" He grinned.

Amaya blushed furiously but didn't answer.

"What I mean is... Will... W-w." He stuttered but couldn't get the words out. "Will you b-be my girlfriend?"

She froze when he said this because she wasn't expecting it and if she was honest with herself she would admit that deep down she had liked Tanaka for years without ever having consciously acknowledged it.

"I- U-um." She said without looking at him and started nervously fiddling with her hair. "O-ok."

A broad smile spread across Tanakas face and he began to blush.

Amaya was so shy that she said nothing after this so they kept walking through the meadow silently until Tanaka picked a flower and put it behind one of Amayas white dog ears.

"Thank you." Amaya said shyly and smiled sweetly at him. He was still smiling like a dork and when she said this he began to blush more furiously.

In the meadow there was laugher all of a sudden and they both turned to see Kazuki running towards them holding Sens hand and pulling her behind him.

"I thought you guys would like something to eat." Sen said and offered Tanaka and Amaya some lunch.

The four of them had their meal right there in the meadow and talked energetically about all the wonderful memories Kazuki and Amaya had when playing there as kids.

"Yeah! I remember when Amaya was mad at me she'd come here and always made daisy chains to cheer herself up. Wasn't that right baby sister!"

"I keep telling you that I'm not a baby Kazuki! Quit calling me that!"

Kazuki laughed. "You still have the same temper as back then! You know Amaya." He grinned evilly. "You won't get a boyfriend one day if you have a temper like that!"

"HEY! For one!" She began, "YOUR temper Kazuki is WORSE than mine!" Sen grinned and nodded at Amaya behind Kazuki so he wouldn't see her. "And secondly... I do have a b-boyfriend!"

"What? SINCE WHEN?"

"Since today!" Tanaka said smiling. "I'm her boyfriend now! And I don't mind her temper!"

"Well." Kazuki grinned cheekily. "It was about time!"

"What?" They both said together.

"I mean it was soooo obvious that you were into Amaya. I knew all along!" He said smugly.

"Y-YOU DID!" Tanaka exclaimed.

"Yeah! I mean you always gave her these 'lovey dovey' looks when she was around!"

Tanaka smiled goofily. Clearly he had always been oblivious to the signs of affection he had shown, but of course Amaya wasn't very observant about such things.

"When were you planning on telling my sister how you felt about her anyway? I mean you guys have been friends, about what, seven/eight years?"

"I...I..U-m... Couldn't find... the right time..."

"It's more like you were just a coward!"

Tanaka glared at Kazuki. He wasn't the one for aggressive outbursts when he was angry. After a few moments he smiled and said, "But then again WHO was it who confessed first out of you two again? Hmm?"

"It was me!" Sen chirped. "Kazuki was too scared!"

"I WAS NOT!"

"Yes, you were! I noticed you liked me for the longest time." She put on a sad puppy dog expression. "But you never said anything to me. So I decided that if anything was going to happen I would have to make the first move." She finished her sentence and began to snuggle Kazuki. "And now here we are a year later being the cutest couple!"

"Oh? Well I was the one who confessed to Amaya. So now who's the coward Kazuki?" Tanaka grinned.

"I-U-U SHUT UP IT'S NOT LIKE THAT! I WAS GOING TO CONFESS FIRST BUT SEN BET ME TO IT OK!"

"Sure, sure!" Tanaka said to Amaya who started laughing.

"SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU!" Kazuki yelled feeling embarrassed because now all three of them were laughing at him.

"Awww! My Babe is sooo cute when he gets mad!" Sen said poking Kazukis nose with her index finger.

"I...am...not!" He said in an aggressive tone.

"Yesss you are!" She grinned and kissed him on the cheek. Kazukis face turned scarlet.

Amaya giggled because it was funny to see Kazuki so flustered.

"We better go now, see you later Amaya! Bye Tanaka!" Sen said holding Kazukis hand and they both walked away.

"You know." Amaya said after a while. "You never actually did tell me how you felt."

"Yes I did... Didn't I?"

"No, you kissed me but you never said I love you."

Tanaka grinned and took both Amayas hands into his and while looking into her eyes he said, "I love you, Amaya."