By Haruka

Yaten sighed and stuffed meat, cheese and lettuce into another taco. Why does it seem like I'm _always_ here, he wondered. I'm sick of tacos.
Tamahome peeked around the corner. "Extra sour cream on that Super Stuffed Burrito that just came up."
Yaten glanced at the monitor. "_Extra_ sour cream?!" he whined. Those stupid Super Stuffed Burritos were already so full of crap that no one in the store except him could wrap them properly and even he had trouble with it. He put the taco into the pick-up slot and began work on the burrito.
"Hey, Yaten!"
He turned at the sound of his name and saw Tiger Eye waving at him from the other side of the cash counter. He grinned, noticing that the other boy was wearing tennis whites and looked really good in them. "Hi, Tiger Eye," he greeted. "Playing tennis?"
"Yeah, I thought I would - don't suppose you're getting out of here anytime soon?" he asked hopefully.
Yaten was taken aback. Was Tiger Eye asking him for a tennis date?
"Uh ... no," he answered reluctantly. "I'm stuck here until two."
"That's okay," Tiger Eye said brightly. "I'll come back then." He hesitated. "That is, if you want to go."
"Sure," Yaten agreed, even though he'd never played tennis in his life.
"Great! I'll see you later!" Tiger Eye waved and left the store.
Yaten watched him go until he realized someone was making kissing noises nearby. He threw a handful of cheese at Tamahome.
"Food waste! Food waste!" Kuwabara pointed from the sinks where he was washing a chicken bin. "I'm telling on you guys!"
"Yaten has a DATE!" Tamahome called down the aisle to him.
"Really? Wow! Who's the brave man?"
"Shut up you two or you're getting this disgusting burrito down your pants," Yaten growled as he tried for the third time to wrap the overstuffed burrito. His thoughts went back to Tiger Eye and tennis - he wondered how good the other boy was, and if he'd laugh at him when he missed every ball. Physical activity wasn't Yaten's forte.
Tamahome and Kuwabara both appeared on either side of him and looked down at the burrito. "I think it's a lost cause," Kuwabara said sadly.
"I agree," Tamahome said. "You tried your best, but the Burrito was the better man."
"Maybe you're right." Yaten threw the burrito away and took out a fresh wrap. "The guy is getting a normal Super Stuffed - he'll never notice there isn't extra sour cream on it unless he weighs it anyhow."
"Hey, guys!" Haruka greeted from where she stood in front of the cash with her arm around Michiru. "How about some service?"
"Coming right up!" Tamahome said, and walked to the cash register. "But honestly, Haruka, can't you find a better place to take your girl to eat?"
"We're not eating, just having some soda," Haruka said. "I don't have much money on me."
"What about the twenty I paid you back the other day?" Tamahome asked. "You blow it already?"
Haruka looked confused. "But ... you haven't paid me anything yet, Tamahome."
"Yes, I did, you remember," he said. "I told you I was going to drop it off at the garage, but I was out sick from work."
Michiru giggled and looked at Haruka. "I'll bet it was Amara."
Haruka's mouth dropped open. "I'll bet you're right!"
"Amara?" Tamahome repeated. "Who's that?"
"I found out I've got a long-lost twin sister, can you believe it?" Haruka said, shaking her head. "And she must have _loved_ having some stranger walk up and drop twenty bucks in her hand!"
"Well, if it _was_ her, you're going to have other mistakes like that happening," Tamahome remarked. "I could have sworn it was you."
Haruka sighed and smiled. "Not your fault. I won't even ask her about the money - living in a group home, she probably needs it more than I do."
"Here, Tamahome." Michiru said, handing him five dollars. "_I'll_ buy the drinks today." She smiled at Haruka, who kissed her cheek in gratitude.

Amara licked her spoon free of ice cream. "Mmm, that was good."
"Thanks for treating me," Seiya said, draining her float. "Where'd you get all the money - do you have a part-time job, too?"
"Not yet, but I should probably get one," Amara said with regret. "This money was a windfall, but for regular incoming cash ... well, there just isn't that much."
Seiya pushed her glass aside and studied her. "You wanted to talk."
She nodded. "Yeah. Kunzite called the group home this morning and invited me to dinner at their house tonight. I'm pretty sure they're going to try and talk me into moving in with them."
"What are you going to say if they do?" Seiya asked.
"I wish I knew." Amara laughed weakly. "I guess I could have said no to dinner, but I want to spend more time with Haruka and Yui and ...." She shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think fast enough."
"Well, even Haruka told you not to let them pressure you, right?" Seiya inquired, and Amara nodded. "Then you've got nothing to worry about. Just be yourself, and be _honest_ with yourself about what you want."
"I want Haruka and Yui to move into the group home with me." She grinned.
Seiya laughed. "I don't think Zoisite and Kunzite will go for that."
"Hey there!" Hawk Eye greeted with a wave as he and Taiki entered the ice cream parlour.
"Mind if we join you?" Taiki asked.
"Not at all," Amara said. "I was just telling Seiya my tale of woe."
"Woe is you?" Hawk Eye teased as he sat down. "You _are_ Amara, right?"
"Yes," she answered, staring at Taiki. "Wow, so that's your girl form, huh?"
"You know about it?" Taiki glanced toward Seiya. "Yes, I guess you would."
"Are you going to tell Fish Eye?" Seiya asked Hawk Eye, her dark eyes holding a touch of challenge.
"Only if you don't," Hawk Eye replied. "Fishie should hear it from you, but I won't let you keep him in the dark forever."
Seiya sighed and nodded. "I understand. I'll tell him today."
"Fishie had plans to see you today anyway," Hawk Eye glanced sideways at Amara. "I guess he didn't get there soon enough."
"How are you doing, Amara?" Taiki asked, changing the subject.
"Trying to decide what I'll do if my so-called parents start pressuring me to move in when I'm at their house tonight," she answered.
"It's a tough call," Taiki said sympathetically. "You love your group home parents, and yet Kunzite and Zoisite are your biological parents and you must want to get to know them."
"Not really." Amara shrugged. "I don't feel anything for them, except maybe resentment for the turmoil they're about to bring into my life. Haruka is the one I feel connected to." She shook her head, looking thoughtful. "There's so much I want to ask her."
Seiya squeezed her hand. "At least that's something you should be able to do tonight is talk to her without a bunch of people around."
"If her parents will leave us alone long enough." Amara sighed.

Fish Eye trudged past the window of Ice Cream King. He wasn't desperate enough to go home and play with his cousins, and everyone else, including his own brothers, seemed to be busy. He glanced up and spotted Hawk Eye in the parlour with Taiki, and intended to keep walking when he suddenly saw Seiya sitting at the table. It wasn't the fact that he was holding Amara's hand that stopped him in his tracks. It was the halter top Seiya wore, and the way ... she ... was filling it out with no problem.
Fish Eye staggered backwards and was yelled at by an old woman with a shopping cart who had to swerve to avoid him. He didn't notice. He could only stare at Seiya's obviously female figure. Tears pricked his eyes and he turned away, preparing to run all the way home. Then he stopped. No way, he thought, the anger of betrayal building. He ... SHE wasn't going to get off that easily! Spinning back around to face the ice cream parlour, Fish Eye stalked purposefully toward the door and threw it open.

End of chapter 31

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