Momiji hummed as he skipped along towards where his father worked. He paused as he noticed a girl with brown hair in pigtails standing in front of a building, looking a little lost. It reminded him of Haru, who was always getting lost. "Hi." He smiled walking up.
She looked at him and smiled. "'Ello." When she smiled it made her look like she was about ten. Momiji blinked, wondering how old she actually was. She was wearing a high school uniform, but she looked so young. "Are you waiting for someone too?"
"No, I'm heading to my dad's work." Momiji explained. "Are you really in High School?" He asked.
Akemi nodded. "I go to one that is on the other side of town though." She looked at him. "We don't go to the same school."
Momiji smiled. "I guess not…. How old are you?" He asked, curious.
"16." She answered. "Oh and I'm Akemi Kibaru."
"Kibaru?" Momiji blinked. "Are you related to Kami, Natsuki, Miayako and the others?" Maybe she's cursed too?
"You know my cousins?" Akemi asked shocked. "Wow! Small world!" She started giggling and Momiji couldn't help but start to laugh as well.
"I'm Momiji Sohma." Momiji smiled. "I go to the same school as them, plus they are in the same classes as my cousins, so I got to meet them."
"That's cool!" Akemi laughed some more and then glanced off. "I wonder where he is…."
"Who?" Momiji asked looking around.
"My dad… He was supposed to be here a little bit ago…. He knows he's not supposed to make me wait…." She frowned slightly and Momiji decided he liked it better when she was smiling.
"I'll wait here with you." Momiji offered.
Akemi smiled quickly. "I would like that! You're a really nice little boy."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Momiji smiled. "You are only a little older than me! And when it comes down to it we look like we could be the same age."
Akemi smiled and patted his head. "But I'm taller than you."
"Only by an inch or two." Momiji smiled and poked her forehead. This caused the two to start cracking up even more. Akemi almost looked like she couldn't breathe because she was laughing so hard.
People walking by stared at them for a moment, but continued on thinking it was nothing more than two little children playing. Momiji had never felt so comfortable around someone outside the family, even Tohru. "Akemi, how close are you to your cousins?"
Akemi paused, looking a little more serious. "I'm close I guess…. We have our little family group that spends the most time together…."
Momiji smiled. "Then you are like them?"
Akemi's face turned white. "What are you talking about?!"
Momiji smiled. "The curse." Akemi took a step back, she looked really scared. "It's okay!" Momiji said quickly. "I know because my family is cursed as well."
This caught Akemi's attention. "What do you mean?"
"When I'm hugged by a girl outside of our cursed family members I turn into a bunny. That's why I know your cousins so well. We all get along because of our similarities."
Akemi smiled. "A bunny, huh?" She tackle hugged him, but blinked as he stayed human. "HEY!" She frowned, looking frustrated and suddenly she transformed into a small bushy tailed grey squirrel.
"What happened?!" Momiji blinked.
"I got frustrated…" Akemi muttered. "I was looking forwards to you turning into a cute little bunny…. Why didn't you?!"
"Shigure explained it to me." Momiji smiled picking her up. "Since we are both cursed there is a chance that we won't transform."
Akemi smiled and transformed back, wrapping her arms around him. "So it's like a game, will he transform or not…." She laughed.
Momiji smiled and looked at her school uniform. "You keep your clothes…"
"What do you mean?" Akemi asked.
Momiji flushed slightly. "Well… when we transform… we are naked."
Akemi blushed and pulled away. "Maybe I shouldn't hug you then…."
"But you don't?" Momiji asked.
"Not that I know of…" Akemi blinked. "Maybe it's just a part of our curse…. Since it's related to our emotions I guess there are some differences."
Momiji nodded. "I guess so." He smiled. "That's lucky."
"Yeah, but it's not so fun sometimes when you transform back and forth because your emotions are jumping up and down."
Momiji laughed. "That would be annoying I bet."
Akemi laughed and smiled, but glanced over as a car drove up. "Akemi!" A man called.
"I've got to go." Akemi smiled. "I'll tell Kami that I meet you so she can get you my number and we can talk and hang out some other time."
Momiji smiled. "I would like that." He watched as she quickly jogged over to her father's car and got in and they drove off, smiling. Akemi was a really sweet girl who made him smile and laugh. And to top it off, she didn't always make him transform. He happily started skipping towards his father's work, thinking about the next time he would get to hang out with Akemi.