A/N:

It took me fifteen minutes to decide who I was going to write next.

But here it is.

The Rabbit.

It was early morning, 10am; the usual ritual of school had started three hours ago. He sat silently on the wall, warm from where his buttocks had been sitting for hours, days, what felt like years but really was an eternity. He watched a paper bag flutter in an updraft, soaring over buildings, bushes and gliding beside people who didn't dare shoot him a glance. He, after all, was skipping school.

He, after all, had been released from the curse, his curse, the family curse.

He never did find out why he was released before all the others. He, at the time, did not realise Kureno and Hiro had already been freed, but it didn't take a rocket scientist to notice. It only took a Sohma who'd suffered their whole life to notice.

"Kyo... I've been freed from the curse."

Momiji remembered the look on the Cat's face that day. The look of terror, of shock, complete and utter horror. Was is that secretly, that's what he truly wanted? To be able to hold Tohru, without the chains of a beaded bracelet in the way? Was that it?

The ex-Rabbit had always let people walk all over him. Whether it be tending to the every whim of Tohru or assisting other Sohma's with trivial things they needed help with, Momiji was always there, on call. Every ridiculous request, it didn't matter. He'd do it. But, it's not as if Momiji was forced, oh no, not at all. He needed to help people.

He needed to see Tohru's smile after he helped her with dinner, he needed to see Hatori's grin after he found his lost packet of cigarettes time and time again and he needed to see the twisted smirk of Akito as he allowed her to pound him, break him with her fists.

He needed their smiles, grins and smirks to get through another day, another lifetime of being cursed. Making others happy, cheerful, made him feel the same way. Without seeing another person smile, Momiji could never, ever smile for himself.

Twisted? Maybe so.

He shifted slightly from the wall, moving forward and surprising himself with the extreme heat of the wall where he'd been placed for the past few hours, just thinking. Just thinking.

"Yo, Momiji, what are ya doin' out here?" The blonde's heart sped up; who had come to bother him? Who's smile would he see today? Who's smile would brighten his day?

"Oh," The glee faded slightly as he saw who it was. "Hello, Kyo."

"What are ya doin' out here?" The Cat repeated. "Shouldn't you be in school, or somethin'?"

"What, can't I just sit out here?" Momiji snapped, brown eyes wide. "Shouldn't you be in school? Why are you out here?"

Kyo seemed shocked by the questions he was being asked. Since when had the dumb, old Rabbit been so bold? Taken aback, he turned in the direction of Shigure's house.

"Whatever... are ya coming...?" He trailed off before walking off, swaggering slightly with his hands in his pockets. Momiji ignored the Cat's question, staying positioned on the wall.

Why am I so pathetic? The blonde asked himself, brown orbs staring directly at his feet as the school bell rung and his friends began hoarding out of school. He could only hope no Sohma's saw him; what would Akito say? At least I'd see her smile if she slapped me.

Why do I need other peoples happiness to fuel my own? Why can't I make myself happy? Questions pierced his mind, scorching his memory for answers, he begged for answers! He needed to know why. Why? Why! I have no idea...

As night hit, and the clock ticked to 8pm, thirteen hours upon the wall, he shifted once again, but this time managed to hop down, his legs numb and limp from being still in thought, almost in suspended animation, for so many hours. He rubbed his temples as he began to stumble home.

You're pathetic! Pathetic! PATHETIC! Momiji tore at himself, grimacing.

And as the day drew to a close, ex-Rabbit realised; he hadn't seen anyone smile today.

A/N:

It took me ages to write, though.