Snippet #2374948

The store was, quite unfortunately, filled to the brim with shoppers today, all apparently planning for their weekends. While the little grocery store may hold almost everything that they might need for food and beverages tonight, it came with a risk that most of the members of the Sohma zodiac would be wise to remember. Danger was fully present in the form of those of the opposite sex, all in close quarters. All it would take would be a careless shopper tripping and falling into them or an ill-timed twist towards them in close quarters and everything would go straight to Hell. Still, the older members of the Sohma family had survived this long without exposing the clan's curse and Masaru wasn't going to let an overcrowded store end that streak.

He allowed Kutaki to slip out of his grip, watching her as she disappeared into the milling crowd of shoppers. Then, releasing his own grip on Ichirou, he blew his old friend a kiss before disappearing as well into the depths of the crowd, sashaying past various people clustered around items on sale and squeezing through packed aisles. He grabbed a few things, favorite of his own. Soft marshmallows, creamy chocolates, and, after a moment's hesitation, put back a case of beer in favor of soda. As tempting as it may be, the members of the zodiac had a hard enough time cooperating without the additional hazard of some of them getting drunk.

With his own little errands finished, Masaru looked over the heads of the crowds, craning his neck to spot either of his friends. Ichirou should have been easier to find, reasonably speaking, but it was Kutaki who caught his eye first or, rather, Kutaki's actions. He quickly elbowed his way through the crowd that had spread out around Kutaki and her would-be- well, he had no idea who they were. Bullies? It didn't really matter right then as he finally pushed past the crowd and made his way behind Kutaki, putting a reassuring and steadying hand on her shoulder as he pulled her backwards, towards hi.

"What seems to be the problem here?" His voice came off as friendly and cheerful and the relaxed smile on his face did nothing to shatter the illusion.