[Y/n] blew hot air into her hands. "Man, it's freezing." Uotani said.

"I can't believe how much has changed this year." Hanajima said.

"I know." [Y/n] said, and Tohru walked next to her while carrying grocery bags. "Tohru, hangin' out at your grandpa's place for New Years?" Uotani asked.

"Well, that's what we were planning to do, but it turns out he and the family went to Hawaii." Tohru said, and [Y/n] glared at the ground. "Apparently they had some remodeling money left over." Tohru said.

"They think they're too good to watch New Year's specials on TV like the rest of us." [Y/n] grumbled while clutching her fists.

"Does that mean you'll be staying at Shigure's house instead, then?" Hanajima asked.

"Um, we're still working up the courage to ask him." Tohru said.

"Hold on." Uotani said, "So you two have no idea where you're actually gonna be during the holiday?"

"Nope. Not a clue." [Y/n] said with a sigh.

"Then just come to my place. It's small, but we'll fit." Uotani suggested, "I promise it won't be boring at least." [Y/n] raised an eyebrow. "You're more than welcome at my home, too, of course." Hanajima said.

"Oh no. we wouldn't dream of imposing on the two of you for the entire break." Tohru said.

"If you're not down with staying at one of our houses, we could always grab your tent and take a little New Year's trip." Uotani said.

"Oh, yes. Starting a year off camping out in nature does have a certain appeal to it." Hanajima said.

"We'll be fine. Spend some time with your families for the break." [Y/n] said and took one of the bags from Tohru, "It's getting late."

Tohru smiled, "Yeah, we should get going."

╚═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

Tohru was a little too electric for [Y/n]'s liking. She usually gets like that when she's lying about something or if she was hiding something. This didn't go unnoticed by Yuki and Kyo.

[Y/n], on the other hand, was more on edge than before. She was softening up before, but it's like she to a whole ten steps backward.

"I'm going for a run." [Y/n] said as she entered the living room.

"Hey, you have to help clean like everyone else!" Kyo said, and [Y/n] shot him a harsh glare. "I said I'm going for a run, you damned cat. I'll clean later." She growled and left.

Kyo scratched his head. "What's her deal?" He asked while Tohru smiled, nervously.

Shigure came out of his room with stacks of books, and Tohru decided to ask him something. "Um, Shigure. Uh...I know it's terrible of me to ask this when you've done so much." Tohru said, "The thing is, our grandfather contacted me and...it seems the family's going to Hawaii for the holiday. So would it possibly be okay if [Y/n] and I stayed here in your house for New Years?"

"Course, but is that really what you wanna do?" Shigure asked.

Later that night,

"I'm staying here, too!" The two teen males said in unison.

"I haven't been back in four months, so why should I break the streak just 'cause a new year is starting up?" Kyo said and crossed his arms.

"If I show up for the banquet now, what was the point of me leaving?" Yuki questioned while eating, clearing looking very irritated.

"At least make an appearance, or else you're going to upset--"

"No, I'm not going!" They yelled.

"This is gonna be a pain." Shigure said.

"Are you okay?" Tohru asked while coming into the living room, "It sounds like everybody is upset about something, but I can't figure out what." [Y/n] entered the room with a questioning look and a plate of meat for the hotpot.

"Listen to how unreasonable they're being! The fools are refusing to go to the main house for New Year's, and I'm sure I'll be yelled out." Shigure whined.

"Stop winning like a toddler. Don't you have any sense of self-respect?" Kyo said.

"Why aren't you going home?" [Y/n] asked.

"Momiji told me that New Year's is, like, a really important holiday for the Sohmas." Tohru said.

"You're right about that it's the biggest event of the year for our family. The whole entire clan gathers together for the celebration. And the most significant part is the exclusive zodiac banquet. It is quite the affair I assure you. A few years back, Yuki graced us with a dance that was the personification of beauty." Shigure said.

[Y/n] found herself blushing at the thought of seeing Yuki's dance. "Really? Wow! I wish I had the chance to see him perform." Tohru said.

Yuki threw food at Shigure. "When will you learn to keep your mouth shut?" Yuki said.

"One day." He said.

"This banquet sounds incredible." Tohru said with a smile, "And it's a lot like the one mentioned in the old folk tale, too."

"You have no idea how right you are." Kyo said.

"Uh?"

"Cats don't get to go, so I've got nothing to do with the banquet."

Tohru gasped. "That's so sad. Why not?"

"It's a longstanding tradition that no little kitties can attend." Shigure said, "Which means we keep close to the spirit of the old story, at least."

"How awful." Tohru said.

"I'm the one who can't go, why are you so sad about it?" Kyo said, "'Sides, the banquet isn't why I decided not to visit the main house."

"Oh, no, it's because poor Kagura would likely smother her with adoration." Shigure said.

"Shut up!" Kyo yelled.

"There are other reasons." Yuki said while putting down his bowl, "If we did return, we'd be expected to stay until January 3rd. In that case, you two would be in this house all alone that whole time." He said to the sisters.

Tohru smiled while [Y/n] silently ate. "Thanks for thinking about us. But we'll be perfectly fine on our own. If it's such a big holiday for your family, you should absolutely go and have fun with them. It'll be your first time visiting your parents in a while, right? I'm sure they look forward to seeing you, and you don't wanna disappoint them."

[Y/n] set her empty bowl down. "Thanks for the food." She said and left the table to go upstairs.

"Don't worry about us." Tohru said while standing up, "We'll take good care of the house while you're away. I'll clean and water the plan-- And water the..." Then she freaked out. "Ah! Oh, no. I left the bathwater running." She ran away.

"You've totally set my mind at ease, Tohru." Shigure said.

"Fine, then." Yuki said.

"Well, I guess that settles it." Kyo said.

"I'll go."

"Have to. After that speech."

"They're never going to see their parents again." Yuki said.

"No matter how much they want to." Kyo added.

"Guess I can put up with Akito. If I must."

"I can handle Kagura in small doses. If I must."

On the day of their departure, Tohru and [Y/n] saw them off. "All set?" Tohru asked, "Make sure you don't lose each other in the crowds."

"We'll be fine." Shigure said, "The streets'll be empty. Most people are watching TV."

"Make sure you lock up." Yuki said, "You should check the windows, too."

[Y/n] scratched her head, "Jeez, we're not little kids. We'll see you when you get back." She said.

"Yeah. See you when you get back." Tohru said. Their looks were soft and saddened which went unnoticed by the three men. "Have a Happy New Year!" Shigure said as they left.

"And you guys, too!"

Yuki closed the door. Tohru stopped waving and grabbed [Y/n]'s hand. "Let's watch tv with Mom." She said with a bitter sweet smile, and [Y/n] nodded.

Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure walked. "You know, a few nights ago, they left their bedroom window open."

"Are you a peeping tom now?" Yuki and Shigure questioned.

"Oh, come on. Get real. I saw it from the yard." Kyo said.

"Miss Honda could really stand to be more observant. She fell down the stairs yesterday, too." Yuki said.

"She's the kind of girl who'd run into a brick wall. Definitely, the type who'd die choking on New Year's mochi." Kyo said.

"Why would you even imagine something so horrible?" Yuki asked.

"You're forgetting that [Y/n] is with her. She'll be fine." Shigure said with a nervous smile.

"Are you kidding me?! She ran into the door yesterday while reading." Kyo said, "She's the type to burn herself with hot water because she was in a daze."

"Miss [Y/n] almost fell off the roof last week. How did she even get up there? Not to mention she nearly burned the kitchen down because Sato called." Yuki said, sounding irritated.

"You're just jealous of that guy." Kyo commented.

"I am not." Yuki said.

Shigure sighed. "That's enough. You should like a couple of new parents fretting over their children."

"Huh?"

"Look, I get it, you're worried about Tohru and [Y/n] being alone. But it was your decision to come to the estate." Shigure said as he made his way in front of them.

"What're you talking about-- They're just fine!" Kyo yelled.

"This is ridiculous. Keep walking." Yuki said and continued to walk with Kyo.

"Oh, now that I think about it, the paper said something about burglaries. There've been a bunch in this area. I think that criminal's still on the loose." Shigure said and the teens stopped walking then they groaned.

"Hey, come on. Get a grip, 'kay? If you stand around in the street like that--"

"You could be killed." Hanajima appeared behind Shigure, scaring him.

"Oh. Hi. I did not see you there." He said.

"Do she always have to make a dramatic entrance?" Kyo questioned.

"Where does one even buy a cloak like that?" Yuki asked.

"Fancy meeting you on the road. Heh. We're on our way home to spend time with the rest of the family." Shigure said.

"I see. So they'll be utterly alone this year." Yuki and Kyo gasped, "They've never spent a New Year's holiday without their mother. And this time, they'll only have each other. Arisa and I both offered to spend the break with them, but Tohru just smiled that smile of hers while [Y/n] never made eye contact. They told us it was important to be with our families. Who's looking out for them, though? Think about it. All of the New Year's specials... All the performers... They're basically the exact same every year, which must bring back memories. How will they feel this time, seeing them without their mother? I wonder, are they really okay with how this turned out?"

Kyo and Yuki started running in the direction of their house, but they bumped into each other. "What are you buffoons doing?" Shigure asked.

"Just go to the banquet! Your precious Akito misses you." Kyo said.

"And what about you? You'll break your precious Kagura's heart." Yuki taunted.

"Agh! Screw you! You can take that insane girl for all I care." Kyo said. "And you can have Akito." Yuki said as the two boys began to walk down the steps. They took off running.

'We've lived together for four months...and I still don't fully understand them. Miss [Y/n]...always says what you want to hear most. She's selfless...she's always putting those dearest to her before herself. So why didn't I see it? She was grieving.' Yuki thought while running home with Kyo, 'I should've known she didn't wanna be alone! She never wanted to be left alone!'

"I just want....to go home!" Yuki remembered her crying face. That was the first time he saw her cry, and that was the last time he ever wants to see her like that. 'I want to go home!'

Yuki and Kyo opened the door to the living to see the two girls crying. Their head snapped in their direction. "What happened? Wh-What're you doing back?" Tohru asked as Yuki walked closer to [Y/n]. He wiped a tear from her eye. She looked down, hiding her face, and wiped her eyes on her sweater sleeves.

Kyo and Yuki groaned and fell on the floor, making [Y/n] and Tohru more worried. "Ah! What's happening? Are-Are you two okay?!" Tohru asked. [Y/n] crawled to Yuki's side.

"We're okay. Just excited to watch the first sunrise." Yuki said. "That's right, but I wanna eat New Year's noodles first." Kyo said and looked at Tohru. Yuki looked at [Y/n] with a smile. "We're home." They said in unison. [Y/n]'s eyes widened a bit and teared up. "Welcome home, you two." Tohru said.

"Idiots..." [Y/n] muttered, and Yuki smiled more.

[Y/n] and Tohru made New Year's noodles for everyone. For some reason, the two males were watching the girls closely as they ate. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at us like that?" Tohru asked.

"I need you to eat slower." Kyo said.

"Hm? But I'm pretty sure I'm eating at a normal rate of speed." Tohru said.

"Mochi is best when you take the time to savor it. Just make sure you're chewing it well." Yuki said, and [Y/n] chuckled. 'She is the type to choke on mochi.' She thought.

"You guys are being weird." [Y/n] said. The phone began to ring. "Oh, that weird. Who's calling so late?" Tohru questioned and went to answer it.

"Whoever it is, they got pretty crap manners." Kyo said.

"What if it's someone from the estate?" Yuki asked, and Kyo gasped. [Y/n] casually at her noodles. The boys looked worried and went to listen to the conversation. "You guys are really weird..." [Y/n] muttered. 'They're not supposed to be here....' When Tohru hung up, Yuki and Kyo came running to their seats are if nothing happened.

"That was Uo-chan calling." Tohru said with a smile, "She was just checking in because she was worried about me and [Y/n] for some reason."

"Really?" [Y/n] questioned while continuing to eat.

"Oh. I see." Yuki said.

"But that's nice, isn't it?" Kyo asked.

"Of course."

"Speaking of friends, we saw Hanajima earlier on our way to the Sohma Estate." Yuki said, and [Y/n] raised a brow. "What a coincidence." Tohru said.

"Indeed." He said, "She was really concerned about the two of you."

"She was? I'll be sure to call her first in the new year." [Y/n] muttered to herself and set her bowl down, "Is it really okay for you two to be here with us instead of at the big banquet? We're grateful that your here, but we don't want you to get in trouble."

"It's fine. We'll drop by and wish them a happy New Year at some point." Yuki said, and [Y/n] hummed.

After they ate, the four teenagers went to the roof to watch the sunrise. "Here. Please be careful." Yuki said as he held out his hand to [Y/n].

She blushed a bit. "Thanks." Yuki helped her on the roof.

Tohru smiled while standing next to Kyo. "Look, guys. The sun is coming up." She cheered. [Y/n] smiled brightly as she looked at the city.

Yuki stared at [Y/n] fondly. 'I feel strangely at peace. I don't feel guilty either.' He thought.

"Are you ready?" [Y/n] asked with a grin, and Tohru nodded with a smile.

"You only get one chance for a New Year's wish. I've already got mine figured out." Tohru said.

"So do I." [Y/n] said. The sun peeked over the horizon. [Y/n] closed her eyes and made her wish.

'Deep down...all I really cared about was greeting the new year at her side.' Yuki thought while looking at [Y/n].

"Hey, Kyo, Sohma. I just wanna say happy New Year! I'm looking forward to the next one with you." Tohru said, and [Y/n] blushed slightly while looking away. "Same here." [Y/n] muttered.

"The feeling is mutual." Yuki said.

"Uh. Yeah, same." Kyo said while blushing a little then scratched his head, "This is the year I'm gonna beat that damn Rat!"

"Uh-huh, sure. Good luck with that." Yuki said, and [Y/n] chuckled then looked at Yuki. It seemed like every time [Y/n] looked at him he got more handsome. 'This year may not suck as bad as I think.'