Words: 361

Characters: Momiji, Kagura

Time: Post-manga

Genre: Friendship, Romance

Disclaimer: Takaya Natsuki owns everything.

"I didn't think you'd be the first one to leave."

Momiji looked up as Kagura slid down the wall to sit next to him. He chuckled humorlessly. "Yeah, well, I can only wear a mask for so long. I hate seeing him hold her hand as he takes her away from me."

Kagura was slightly surprised. "Momiji…" she started, but she didn't know what she wanted to say. The boy turned to her with a sad smile.

"It's okay," he said. "You don't need to comfort me."

But your eyes are so sad, she thought. She remembered waving goodbye to Tohru and Kyo and feeling her heart sink into her stomach, and she completely understood how Momiji felt.

"I understand." She said, then started. She hadn't meant to say it out loud. She laughed. I might as well finish what I've started. "I've always liked him. I may have hated a small part of him, and covered it up with exaggerated feelings, but that small reservoir of love was still there."

"Isn't it horrible?" Momiji said, staring blankly in front of him, his arms curled around his legs. "It's so lonely to see the person you love with someone else."

"It worse when you know that the person you love is happy with someone else," Kagura agreed. "I know that someday I'll be able to forgive her for stealing him, and maybe even him for falling for her. But right now it feels like there's a great big hole inside of me that nothing could cover up. I feel so… alone."

There were a few moments of silence as the two children sat with their backs to the wall and stared at the ground. Then Kagura jumped as Momiji reached over and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He gave her a small smile.

"You're not alone."

Kagura wanted to say something, but for some reason she couldn't speak. Momiji stood and walked away, his hands in the pockets of his jeans and his head bowed. After a moment, Kagura tipped her head forward and let her hair cover the grin and the blush spreading across her face.

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