Mi-chan and Chibi had already arrived home, since Mi-chan's dirt bike was faster than Neko's motorcycle. She looked at Neko as she pulled out her wallet. "Where are you going?"
"Oh, I'm going shopping with Jian-kun."
Mi-chan stood up. "With Jian-kun?"
Neko looked at her innocently. "Uh huh."
"Oh, Neko!" Mi-chan practically crushed Neko with the hug she gave her.
Neko blushed. "Well, I couldn't keep punishing the boy�." She trailed off. They both knew that Neko was trying hard because Mi-chan had fallen in love with him. That, and Neko felt a little hypocritical holding his betrayal against him when she, herself, had been turned evil by Tanzanite the other day.
Besides, Neko had already taken out most of her anger about it on Tanzanite anyway.
"I wish it could go back to the way it was before," Neko confessed to Mi-chan.
But Mi-chan shook her head. "Iie, this time it'll be better."
Neko smiled at her, grateful for the encouragement. "Anyway, whatever you do, stay away from the mall today." She ran out the door.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
About half an hour later, the vid-phone rang.
"I'll get it!" Kimahou ran to pick it up. "Hey, Tenshi-san." She blushed. Tenshi had been extremely charming the first time they met. "Neko-chan's not here."
"Oh," Tenshi looked disappointed. "Where is she?"
"She went shopping for Mi-chan's birthday with Jian-san." Suddenly, Kimahou was worried that he would be jealous of Jian-wa.
"She's with Jian-kun?!" She needn't have worried, for Tenshi was smiling. But then he frowned as he put two and two together. "Ne, her birthday's coming up?"
"Hai. It's in a few days."
"Oh, she didn't tell me."
Kimahou smiled sympathetically. "Well, let me get you her birthday list." She ran to the fridge and pulled it off. Upon returning she said, "Let's see, she wants some books, a new helmet for her motorcycle, some new music, some clothes-"
"Um, Kimahou-chan? Arigatou, demo I need specifics here."
"Oh, gomen. You know, how about if I get Mi-chan? She's better at this than me." Before Tenshi could answer, she ran upstairs to get Mi-chan.
Mi-chan soon was in front of Tenshi. "Hi," she said nervously.
"Hey," Tenshi answered with equal apprehension. They both still felt a little weird about what had happened the day before.
"About yesterday�," she started.
"It's forgotten." Tenshi answered, eager to put the incident behind them.
"Oh good." Mi-chan was relieved. "So� what's up?"
Tenshi suddenly looked a little embarrassed. "I just found out you and Koneko-chan were having a birthday soon, and I need a little help with shopping for her."
Mi-chan grinned. That was so kawaii! "Sure, where would you like to go shop for her?"
Tenshi was grateful that Mi-chan was willing to help her. "Ano, maybe the mall? I wouldn't know where else to start."
"Great! Let's� Oh, wait. I can't-" Mi-chan had almost forgotten that Neko had told her to stay away from the mall.
"The mall?!" Kimahou had been listening from the doorway. "Can I come?"
"Ano-"
"Onegai? I need to shop for you guys too. And Chibi can come too."
Mi-chan didn't see anyway out of it. "Fine. Can you come pick us up?"
Tenshi looked pleased. "Sure. Thanks, Mi-chan!"
Mi-chan sighed. Neko was going to kill her. But� it was a big mall. Maybe she wouldn't run into them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jian-wa fidgeted as Neko dragged him through the department store.
"Is this necessary?"
Neko giggled. "Clothes is the number one thing on Mi-chan's list. Number 2 is shoes, if you want to go to that department." She showed it to him.
1. Clothes
2. Shoes
"What's number three?"
She looked.
3. Sword
"Iie!" She pictured how many ways Mi-chan could find to hurt herself with a real sword. "If you get her anything sharp and pointy, I will be forced to kill you."
He gulped. He hoped she was joking, but he believed she actually might.
"So you want to go to a different department?" she quickly changed the subject.
"No, that's fine. It's just� I don't know her size."
Neko gave him a weird look. "Well, let's see. I'm sure we could figure it out somehow."
His eyes widened. "Oh, yeah," he said sheepishly.
"How about if you pick something out, I'll try it on, and we'll see how it looks?"
"Yeah, that'll work." He gave a nervous laugh.
