Chapter 4

"Reina wake up," Shiru says, gently shaking me awake. I jolt awake.

"What time is it?" I say, looking around. We were both sitting on the window seat as the bright morning sun shone in our faces.

"Around eight thirty," Shiru says.

"Oh thank god my parents get up around nine" I say jumping down from the window seat, Shiru doing the same.

"Come on we better get around I don't think your parents will agree on what we did" Shiru says as we both slip on our shoes.

"Yeah I should hurry back before Emily and her friend wake up" I say, hurriedly giving Shiru a kiss on the cheek. "See ya at breakfast" I say as I dash off. Shiru smiles. Thank goodness I got back to our room before my sister and her friend woke up. Getting around I wore jeans with a light blue knitted zip up sweater and my hair in pigtails with little ribbon pom pom hair ties. Then I headed downstairs and saw my mom and dad near the door.

"Good Morning Reina" My mom says "Me and your father are going on a walk before we pack up, so make sure your sister behaves and don't worry we should be back in half an hour". Then mom gives me a kiss and runs off to dad who was holding open the door for her. Leaving the cold doorway I went to the dining room where they were surviving breakfast. Someone grabbed my shoulder. I jumped.

"Miss me" Shiru says. I smiled once I recognized him.

"Good morning" I say, as we walk over to the breakfast buffet. Grabbing a plate, we both have a small breakfast over laughter. Of course we were both exhausted though. After breakfast was like a blur. We all packed up and went home, I said goodbye to Shiru as he gave me a kiss on the cheek. When I got home I just went up stairs and fell asleep. I was so tired that by the time I woke up it was five p.m.

"Oh my god it's five already" I say jumping out of bed and tripping on my luggage I threw on the floor."Oww"

"Reina dinner you can't sleep all day" I hear my mom yell.

"Coming" I yell back, getting to my feet. Running down the hallway to the stairs. Accidentally missing the last step, I slipped and hit the ground.

"Ouch" I moan, I felt so tired and somehow off balance.

"Come on Reina dinners ready you weeb" Emily sneers stepping over me. I swear that little jerk is so demeaning. Getting to my feet I walk to the dinner table. Having dinner seemed so normal since lately I've been so busy and with Shiru around I'm not so lonely anymore. It is nice to just have dinner with my family sometimes, so I guess I enjoyed it. After dinner I went upstairs and just flipped through my favorite manga, enjoying my free time. The next week all the way up to christmas eve I hardly saw Shiru much since both are families where busy with our own traditions. It was around one in the morning on christmas eve. My parents were asleep and Emily. I was laying on my bed with my red scottie dog pajamas that I was wearing when we went to that lodge, watching some figure skating anime with all my christmas lights on giving the room a pretty glow. When I hear a quiet tapping on my window. Looking up quickly I drew back my lace curtains seeing Shiru waving me down. I quickly signal I would be out in a minute as I grab some shoes and hurry downstairs trying not to make any noise.

"Merry Christmas Reina, did I wake you" Shiru says, he was still wearing his clothes.

"Merry Christmas Shiru, and no I was already up," I say smiling.

"Oh I wanted to tell you some good news and to tell you Merry Christmas first" Shriu says giving a shy smile. As the wind picked up and snow was swirling around us. "I found out that, if you like of course, this summer you can visit me in japan with my family after we graduate" Shiru says smiling.

"What, really that would be amazing" I say, getting edited. I couldn't believe I was able to go to japan with Shiru. Of course being a weeb I always wanted to visit japan. I was so happy I wanted to scream with happiness. "Is that okay with your parents though" I ask, wondering if that was fine with them.

"Yeah they said it would be okay" Shiru says, giving me a hug. I hug Shiru back.

"Oh I have to tell my parents, but I might wait till later" I say. Giving Shiru a kiss on the cheek. After that Shiru and I talked for a while, and after yawning a few times we decided to get to bed before it got too late.

"Goodnight Reina and Merry Christmas," Shiru told me.

"Merry Christmas Shiru" I say, Shiru leans in and we kiss as the snowflakes fall in our hair. "Goodnight".

"Reina wake up it's christmas" Emily screams jumping on my bed and pulling my blankets off as she runs downstairs. I lay entangled in my blankets on the floor, my hair all messy. Rubbing the sleepiness out of my eyes. I am happy that it was finally Christmas day. Running downstairs and into the living room. My parents were sitting together in their ussaral spots as always as Emily started opening her gifts. Sitting on the other side of Emily I started handing my parents their gifts and stacking mine in a pile. I got a ton of clothes and manga books that I love for christmas, after we all opened gifts mom and dad started cooking brunch. As for me, I went upstairs to my bedroom to get dressed and place my new manga books on a clear spot on my bookshelf. Putting on my favorite christmas sweater with my hair done with small braids just around my face to help frame it. I also had red ribbons in my hair to give it a more anime effect. Breakfast was amazing, and after that mom and dad started cooking Christmas dinner, and waiting for our family to arrive. I was getting ready to go and give Shiru's christmas gift. I was outside with my hair blowing in my face walking down my walkway to the sidewalk when I ran right into Shiru.

"Oh Shiru I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention where I was going, and funny thing I was just going to see you to you know give you your christmas gift" I say rambling on like a nervous idiot. "Oh and Merry Christmas" I added, giving a nervous smile.

"Merry Christmas Reina, funny thing I was doing the same" Shiru says giving me a warm comforting smile. I noticed he was holding a bag. Seeing me look at the bag he quickly hides it behind him. "Hey no peeking" he says jokingly. I do the same with his gift and smile.

"Hey come on, it's cold out here you can come over to my house and we can exchange gifts. How's that sound" I say grabbing his hand and leading him towards my house. "Mom is it okay if I invite Shiru in for a moment" I ask my mom who was talking to her sister.

"Sure sweetheart that's okay with me, but not too long dinner should be ready in a few hours" She tells me, before her and her sister start talking again.

"Okay thank you mom" I replied. Pulling Shiru over to the stairs. He was looking all around. "Wait, you've never been in my house before, have you" I ask.

"No not really, It's kinda cool though" Shiru says as I lead him up to my bedroom.

"Is it just me or do you think it's kinda fun seeing other peoples homes?" I say to Shiru.

"Yeah I do say it's fun" Shiru says smiling."I can't wait to see your face when I show you your gift" Shiru says smiling.

"Vice versa" I replied, opening my door to my room. Quickly kicking my dirty clothes laying on the floor under my bed. I forgot to clean up. Oops. Turning on the lights to my light pink room.

"Wow this looks just like my little sister's room" Shiru says laughing.

"Sorry it's a bit messy" I say embarrassed.

"Ah that's okay, my rooms a dump," Shiru says smiling. Sitting down I handed Shiru his gift.

"Here's your gift" I say, handing Shiru's gift to him. Shiru sits next to me and gently grabs his gift.

"Thank you Riena, I love it," Shiru says, holding up a Christamas ornament of a snowy reindeer with Merry Christmas Shiru engraved in the bottom. "It reminds me of home, thank you Reina," Shiru says, giving me a hug and kissing me on top of my head. Then handing me my gift. It was a purple paw printed bag with black mesh on the sides. Curious I unzip the top of the bag and to my surprise I see ichigo looking up at me.

"Ichigo" I say, grabbing the little fluffy kitten and holding her close to me. She started purring instantly in my arms.

"I told you, you were going to be surprised," Shiru says, petting Ichigo.

"Aww thank you so much Shiru" I say, setting Ichigo on the ground and hugging Shiru. Shiru leans in and brushes my hair away. Leaning in, he kisses me. I blush. Ichigo then started meowing for attention. It was fun having Shiru over. We talked about our favorite mangas, as Ichigo played around my room trying to chew on anything she could get her teeth on.

"Ichigo we have to get you some toys" I say pulling Ichigo away from my stuffed animals, who she was attacking with her claws. Shiru and I played with Ichigo as she hopped around my room chasing anything that her little fluffy but saw.

"Ichigo over here" Shiru says waving a piece of string around. Ichigo jumps on it immediately as Shiru and I laugh at her fluffy tail. Shiru left around four-thirty.

"Bye Riena and Merry Christmas," Shiru says, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Merry Christmas Shiru and thank you so much for Ichigo" I say giving Shiru a hug, "Oh I almost forgot" I say handing Shiru a napkin full of warm chocolate chip cookies. "There still warm too".

"Thanks Reina," Shiru replies, taking the napkin of warm cookies. Smiling, we part ways promising to meet up again tomorrow.

"Mom so you knew the whole time about Ichigo" I tell my mom as I help her set the table.

"Yeah Shiru's aunt asked me if it was okay, but you got to promise to take care of Ichigo okay" My mom warns.

"I promise" I reply, as I finish setting the table, and then putting dishes of food in the empty spots. Basically all of my family was here and the kitchen was cramped. After Christmas dinner I got to talk to a few of my cousins and show them what I got, but they didn't really even notice I was there it seemed like. Somehow even when I was surrounded by people I felt lonely. With Shiru though it seemed different like he actually cared about my thoughts and opinions. Kinda like he accepted me for who I am. Just thinking about him made me smile. After ten- forty a lot of the kids were playing in Emily's bedroom, the men in the living room, the woman in the kitchen chatting. I decided to say goodnight to everyone and get to bed. I texted Shiru goodnight not even touching my phone that I played games on, which I was lying dusty on my bed stand. Know that I think about it, I haven't even touched that since Shiru appeared. Falling onto my bed I gently pet Ichigo as she laid asleep on my pillow purring. Smiling, I kiss Ichigo on top of her soft head, falling asleep. The whole few days up to new years most of my family stayed over and celebrated. Since my family was hosting Christamas at our house this year our house was up at all hours and it was hard to see Shiru since we were both busy. Finally new years eve came and it was around eleven-thirty. I couldn't find Shiru anywhere, when he said he would come. So I quickly grabbed my coat and managed to slip past my family. Running outside to find Shiru. Checking my phone as I ran. Time was running out and I couldn't find him anywhere. Turning the corner I ran right into someone.

"Ouch" I moan as I try pulling myself out of a snowbank.

"Reina, are you okay?" Shiru asks worriedly, giving me a hand and pulling me out of the snow bank.

"Oh Shiru I was looking for you" I say out of breath. "It's almost midnight," I say shaking snow out of my hair.

"Where you worried about me," Shiru says, teasing me. "Well don't worry i'm here now" Shiru tells me. "I wouldn't break my promise".

"Thank goodness it's almost twelve" I say looking at my phone as me and Shiru stand together in front of my home. We both look at the clock for a few minutes waiting for it to turn to twelve. Together we watch as it slowly turns twelve. Looking at each other.

"Happy new years Reina," Shiru says smiling.

"Happy new years Shiru," I say to Shiru, as we both kiss. The snow falling onto us. It was like shattering glass. Like a curse was broken. I fell into Shiru's warm gentle embrace.