-Mizuki POV-
I was happy when Yuki came to find me. I always calmed down when he was around, he made me feel happy.
Tohru and I stood by the lake.
"Looking at this view, you can almost feel your worries melting away" she said.
"Really? I still feel the tension" I said and looked at the boys behind us.
"That jerk, is he gonna stay the night?" said Yuki.
"He's your idiot brother, do something about him" said Kyo.
"Don't you think I would if I could" said Yuki. "I hate people who are so dependant"
"You're the one piggybacking off Shigure. Sounds like dependency is a family trait" said Kyo.
"Shut up! That's none of your business!" said Yuki. "Don't talk to me about my life"
"I don't want to talk to you at all" said Kyo. "The only reason I'm looking at you is because you're in my space"
"In that case maybe you should leave" said Yuki.
"Eh, guys" I said.
"Do you really think I would be at the damn lake with you if I had a choice?" said Kyo.
"Believe me, being here is an exercise in torture for mee too" said Yuki.
"Well, this dumb place..." said Kyo, but they suddenly realised we were standing there too and hearing everything they said.
"It's not that, Miss Hirose" said Yuki.
"I just don't like it that he's here. That's the problem" said Kyo to Tohru.
"Right... heh?" both Tohru and I said at the same time.
"I mean... never mind" said Yuki.
"As long as you understand" said Kyo.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I said, looking at the lake.
"Maybe we should do a lap around the lake so we can see the whole thing" said Tohru.
"Okay" said Yuki.
"Sure" said Kyo.
~
When we came back, Hatori, Ayame and Shigure were waiting for us.
"Yuki! You returned!" said Ayame. "Did you have fun with your friends?"
"I am not his friend!" shouted Kyo.
"By the way" said Ayame, totally ignoring Kyo. "Tori gave me some sound advice, regarding our relationship. I shall be more aggressive in my attempts to deepen our brotherly bond! That is no doubt the best course"
"Sorry, but... what do you mean aggressive?" asked Tohru.
'I have a bad feeling about this...'
"You see, Yuki is my younger brother, and I am his older brother. With that truth in mind! I declare the following!" shouted Ayame. "Yuki! As I am your elder! You must obey me!"
"Oh for crying out loud" I whispered.
"Not in a million years!" said Yuki and kicked Ayame.
~
After our short vacation, we could spent time at the pool.
But, I sat on the stairs with my clothes on, looking at how my friends were playing in the water.
"Mizu-chan!" Tohru ran to me. "Do you have an extra hair tie for Hana-chan?"
I took one of my hair ties off my wrist and gave it to her.
"Thank you!" she said and ran off to our friends.
I pulled my knees up to my chest, I wanted to take my sweater off, since it was so hot... I was happy I put on something light, but still, it would've been nice to swim with my friends...
Suddenly Uotani began to cry...
She and Hanajima joined me on the stairs.
"I don't understand what the problem is" said Hanajima. "You should be used to it at this point. I mean, we see Tohru in her school swimsuit every year"
"Come on, can you really blame me?" said Uotani. "We were stuck with those ugly things in middle school, but we get to wear whatever now. Even you, Mizuki, is that the sweater that friend gave you? You always wear what he gives you"
"His clothes are very comfortable" I smiled.
"I think it's adorable, from both Tohru and Mizuki" said Hanajima.
"Hey! I don't say it doesn't look cute or it's embarrassing or anything like that" said Uotani. "Just, I don't know... seeing them in that swimsuit and sweater kinda gives me the same feeling I get when old people come into the convenient store to buy food. You know what I'm talking about? I mean, it's probably no big deal to grandma and grandpa, but I can't freaking stand the sight of it! It's just too damn sad! And I can't help it. I start bawling and burst into tears right then and there"
She began to cry...
"Well, to be fair" I said. "It doesn't really take much to make you cry"
~
-Yuki POV-
"All right kids" said Uotani when she and Hanajima came to our house.
Miss Hirose and Miss Honda were upstairs.
"We're going shopping for Tohru's new swimsuit and a light sweater for Mizuki" she said. "It'll be a present from all of us so everyone's chipping in. No arguments"
"Heh?" said Kyo. "You can't go around making decisions like that! And anyway, why does it got to be a swimsuit and a sweater?"
"Oh, quit blushing" said Uotani. "Have the rest of you done any housework since Tohru and Mizuki moved in? You might want to show them some gratitude once in a while"
"Swimsuit? Clothes?" said Shigure. "Indeed... I whole heartedly approve. Summer, here we come!"
"There, see. The scribbler understands" said Uotani.
"No he's just a pervert" said Kyo.
"Well, sure. Buying presents sounds fine" I said. "But why a swimsuit and a sweater specifically?"
"Oh, right" said Hanajima. "Suppose you three wouldn't know. The sad fact is, Mizuki only has sweaters from a friend of hers, since she likes wearing clothes that are too big for her and doesn't like shopping for clothes. And Tohru is still wearing her middle school swimsuit"
Shigure spit out his drink.
"What is your problem?!" shouted Kyo.
"Disgusting, Shigure" I said.
"Ready!" I heard Miss Honda. "Sorry to keep you waiting"
Shigure grabbed Miss Honda and Miss Hirose by their shoulders.
"Tohru! Mizuki! You have to! Please! Get one! For all our sakes" he said.
"One what?" asked Miss Hirose.
"Say yes! I'll get down on my knees and beg if I have to" said Shigure. "This can't go on!"
"It seems like he has a weakness for Tohru and Mizuki as well" said Hanajima.
~
-Mizuki POV-
They dragged us to a mall.
"Okay, why are we here?" I asked and they pushed us into a shop with swimsuits. "Eh, no way in hell. I'm out"
I wanted to leave but Uotani grabbed my wrist.
"Relax, this stop is for Tohru" she said and I frowned. "Deciding on one is gonna be harder than I thought"
We looked at all the swimsuits and I sighed.
"There's a lot to choose from, heh" said Tohru.
"Perhaps a one piece would suit you" said Hanajima.
"I think so too" I said.
"Hey! Morons!" shouted Uotani to Kyo and Yuki, who were facing us with their backs. "What's cuter? One piece or bikini's?"
She walked closer to them, while I helped Tohru looked for a swimsuit.
Eventually, we finally found a nice swimsuit for Tohru.
"You guys bought this for me?" said Tohru when they gave her the swimsuit. "Like a gift? I don't understand"
"It's our way of saying thank you" said Hanajima.
"But, I didn't even do anything" said Tohru.
"Come on, just take it already" said Kyo.
"Really, we want you to have it" said Hanajima.
"Please accept. Okay?" said Yuki.
"This means so much, thank you guys. I will treasure it. Forever and ever" said Tohru with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Tohru" said Uotani and she hugged Torhu, with Hanajima soon joining her.
"Now it's Mizuki's turn!" shouted Uotani.
"Heh? What?" I said.
She had dragged me to a clothing store, even here were the boys kind of flustered.
"I don't understand. Why are we here?" I asked.
"To pick out a nice light sweater for you" said Hanajima.
"But I have loads of sweaters" I said.
"But none of your own" said Uotani. "You only have those your friend gave you"
"Yes, because they're nice and comfy" I said.
"Okay, boys" said Uotani. "What colour does Mizuki suits best?"
"Red" said Kyo after thinking.
"Dark blue I think" said Yuki and even the girls were surprised.
"You're right, Prince" said Uotani.
"Mizuki does look best in darker colours" said Hanajima.
"This one looks great" said Uotani and she held a sweater in front of me. "It's big, light and still gives off a summer vibe"
It was very pretty...
"Go and try it on" said Hanajima.
I sighed and went to the changing rooms.
I took off my shirt, but in changing rooms, there were mirrors all around... so I could see every scar...
I quickly put on the sweater, it was indeed big, and I could let my shoulder bear if I wanted to. It was one of the few places where I didn't have a scar. Only the part on my back was a scar visible...
"Mizu-chan? Are you okay?" asked Tohru and I snapped out of my thoughts.
'You can't keep hiding them forever, Mizuki. This could be a start...'
I stepped out of the changing room and Uotani and Hanajima both raised their thumbs.
"I like seeing the shoulder, Mizuki" said Uotani. "What do you think, Prince? Mizuki, turn around"
"Do I have to?" I sighed and she nodded. "Fine..."
I slowly turned around and I saw Kyo staring at me.
Yuki had seen some of my scars, so he was just smiling.
But Kyo... he was just staring at me.
"I think you look very cute, Miss Hirose" said Yuki and I blushed.
"Carrots" said Uotani.
"It looks good" said Kyo eventually...
~
They gave the sweater to me as a gift and I thanked them.
"Kyo" I said while we were walking to the restaurant. "Can we talk?"
Yuki looked at us and I smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Yuki. It won't take long, we'll be right behind you" I said and he nodded.
When they were inside Kyo didn't dare to look at me.
"Want to talk about it?" I asked and he kept looking down. "You can ask me about it, you know"
"Did your dad do that to you?" he asked.
"Yes" I said, his head snapped at me and his eyes were big and shocked. "I thought you knew about it"
"I heard about the abuse, but... not about the scars and how bad it was" he said and I sighed.
"Only Tohru and Yuki have seen most of them" I said. "It's why I always wear clothes that are too big for me. I don't like being pitied by others when they see them"
"I'm sorry" he said.
"What for exactly?" I asked.
"Staring, and making you feel uncomferteble" he said and I chuckled.
"It's fine" I said. "I'm trying to get better. I'm talking about it a bit more and that helps. The children at the orphanage too. Even living with you, Yuki and Shigure has helped me. I'm trying to get better, it'll just take a while"
He just stood there silently.
"Come on, before the others get worried" I said and we walked into the restaurant.
~
"Which swimsuit did you end up getting?" asked Yuki to Tohru.
"You'll find out when she wears it" said Uotani. "I mean, you'll probably go to the beach, right?"
"I hope so anyway" said Yuki.
"We ladies should take a trip of our own sometime" said Uotani.
"We should" said Tohru.
"I would enjoy that" said Hanajima.
"Sound like a good idea" I said.
"You're so close, like you've been friends a long time" said Yuki. "Did you meet in elementary school?"
"Oh no, middle school actually" said Tohru.
"Hanajima, you started at our school like in what, 8th grade?" asked Uotani.
"Yes, I had to transfer in. I caused some minor problems at my previous school" said Hanajima.
"Uotani, weren't you still part of that gang when we first met?" I asked.
"Sure was" said Uotani. "I started running with them in 5th grade"
"You always ran around with that mask on" said Tohru.
"Don't forget the super long skirts and thin eyebrows" said Uotani.
"No mask now, but the last two are still true" said Hanajima.
"Oh, guess you're right" laughed Uotani.
She began to tell the story of how she was back when she was in a gang. And the story of how we met...