It had been a couple months since the events of the hot spring and the day started out just like any other. The air was starting to grow crisp and chill as we moved into the autumn and winter months.

But what everyone didn't know at the time was that today was the start of something the Somha's could never go back from, the events that would shake their entire existence.

The downfall of Aria Sohma.

It all started when Shigure came bustling into the living room while all of the kids were. He held the phone in his hand and spoke directing towards Aria. "Ari, you have a call!"

Putting her sketchbook down, she looked up, half dreading who it might be. No one really called her so the choices where rather limited.

He must've understood this and eased her worries right away. "Don't worry, it's just Hatori."

She echoed out a sigh of relief and everyone around her couldn't help but see it. Why did she look so tense?

Yuki also saw this and couldn't help but flashback to those terrible visions of the scars and cuts that lined her back secretly. Was it Akito that she was dreading to hear?

Aria stood and excused herself from the group, exiting into the hallway and taking the phone in her hand. She put it up to her ear and waited for him to speak first, like he told her to do. "Aria? Are you there?"

Hearing his voice, she sighed and knew it was safe to speak. "Hey Hatori, what's with the sudden call?"

The air stood quiet, like he didn't want to answer, but then decided to. "How have you been?"

At the question she usually would of given a plain lie but thinking back on it, she actually was happy. Kyo, Tohru and Shigure had given her a home here, even Yuki was starting to become a bit more kind.

Feeling her smile through the line, she answered. "Good. I'm really good."

But this didn't make the atmosphere any lense tense. Aria could sense this. "Hatori, what's wrong?"

Another silence entered and when his voice returned, it was soft. It rang with a sense of pity and she dreaded what he was going to say. It seemed she didn't have to wait for long.

Hatori took a breath and answered her, despite his own hesitation. "Ari, your necklace is almost finished."

At his words, the world stood still. Soon she would have to be silenced again, soon she would have to be mute. Soon she would be chained up once more. The thoughts circled around her head in a tormenting fashion. "How long?"

He answered after a few moments. "A couple days."

A couple days? That's all she had left of her voice?

Trying to reason with him, Aria shuttered. "Well I mean, is that really necessary? I've kept my end of the deal right? So if I just keep that up then I wouldn't have to…"

But Hatori cut her off. "No, I'm sorry Ari, but this was Akitos order. You know we can't go against him. It's too dangerous. You're too dangerous. Our deal was to hold out until it was fixed. That's all I can do. I'm sorry."

Hearing the fact that he was defending Akito rather then her was heartbreaking. She knew he couldn't break his orders but at the same time he was basically condemning her to death. It wasn't fair.

Balling her hands into a fist, she understood. Speaking bitterly and sarcastically, everyone in the living began to hear. "That's always how it is, isn't it? And here I thought you were different from all of those years ago. You are still the same as always Hatori, not wanting to get your perfect hands dirty. Fine. I get it."

He knew he had upset her and tried to backtrack. "Ari, I didn't ask for this. If I could, I would.."

But this time, Aria was the one to cut him off. "You would what? Oh please, don't lie to me. We all know what you would do again. It's fine if it's an order, right? That's your motto, always has been."

The line was silent then, knowing that she was right. He was such a coward back then and even here now. Nothing that changed.

Knowing exactly what she was talking about, he whispered. "If you are talking about what happened with Kyo..I…"

But Aria was done with him, silencing him with an angry hiss. She didn't want hear that day, the day she'd blocked so far from her memories. "Save it. I don't want to hear your half hearted apologies. And just so you know, it's wearing off."

A hint of surprise and worry appeared in his voice then, trying to understand what she had just said. "What? That's impossible…"

Yet, Aria didn't let him finish and instead slammed the phone back on the hook in anger. Who was he to control her life? Who was he to take away the only remnant of happiness she had?

Hearing the phone slam, Yuki and Kyo looked between each other, Kyo deciding to check to see if she was okay.

He opened the door slightly, enough so the two could she her lean against her hands against the wall. Her head was down, covering her face but they watched her grit her teeth in utter frustration.

Putting a hand out to her, Kyo called out. "Aria,what happened?"

Aria turned to him and Yuki, tears brimming her eyes and muttered. "I'm fine. I just, need some time."

Not really believing that, they watched as she then walked away, up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Sitting down on her bed, Aria thought about everything she had been through with the Somha's and silently wished it didn't have to end. First her voice would be silenced and then, in a half a month she would be back in the main house. It was only a matter of time.

A small knock on the door startled her from her thoughts and when she realized who was on the other side, she could help but feel a little more at ease. "What was that call about?"

Aria looked at Kyo with sad eyes and patted the seat next to her on the bed. He complied and listened. "It seems my necklace is going to be fixed in a couple days."

Thinking about what she just said, he began to understand the meaning very quickly, and he wasn't happy about it. "So that means…"

Nodding once, Aria sighed. "Yeah, soon I'll be mute again, probably for forever this time."

Kyo saw the defeat in her eyes and decided to get angry for her. "What the hell? Why can't they just let you keep it off? It's not like you go around controlling people or anything."

But she just looked at him in devastation. "Because it's his order. You may think things are more complex than that but that's always how it's been. No one can go against him. Not Yuki, not you and not me."

He knew exactly who she meant by him right away. Akito. And the look in her eyes made him ever more angry. Who was he to control her like that? He hated it. "That's just stupid. Why does it have to be like that? I don't give a damn about Akito, and you shouldn't either."

Wishing things were that simple, she reached forward and touched his cheek lovingly. "I wish I could. This is why I've always admired you, you know. Could you do me a favor Kyo? Even when I'm gone, just stay the way you are, okay?"

His eyes widened at her contact and blushed a little bit, pulling her head away lightly. "What are you going on about? I'm not going anywhere and neither are you. Just because you can't speak anymore doesn't mean we won't be friends. Have some sense, will you?"

Aria smiled at this, feeling a little bit of warmth in her stomach from it. "You always know how to make me feel better, you know that?"

Kyo listened to her words and couldn't help but feel a solid sense of deja vu from them.

He suddenly saw her smile and her eyes on a smaller version of herself, flashing in and out, just out of reach.

Blinking and couple times, the room returned to into shape and Aria was looking at him strangely. "Kyo?"

He breathed in once before planting a confused gaze on her. "Those words, you've said them before, right?"

Aria dropped her hand immediately, giving a look of what seemed like fear and laughed. "What? I mean, maybe a couple weeks back. I don't keep track on what I say."

But he ignored her answer and pressed further. That didn't make any sense with what he was seeing. "No, it's not that. As kids, you said the same thing, right? I remember that. But, we didn't meet each other then.."

Thinking a little harder, he watched Aria stand and head to the door, a clouded expression in her eyes. "I have to go…"

Reaching forward, he grabbed her arm and stopped her from leave. There was something she wasn't telling him, something she was lying about. But what was it?

A small headache formed on the base of his temple as he called to her. "Aria, wait. There is something you aren't telling me right?"

Looking down at his hand, she closed her eyes in pain before shaking him off. "I'm sorry, I can't…"

Then she was gone from his sight.

Leaning back against the door, a thousand thoughts swarmed in his head. An intense feeling of sadness and joy reached its way to the surface and he had no idea exactly who he was mourning.

Kyo put his hand to his head and tried to silence the headache. What was even happening to him, and why was it only when he saw her face?

Yuki looked over at Shigure, who was reading the paper slightly and he knew this was his chance to find out about Aria.

Putting his bowl of food down, he began if aqistation. "Shigure, could I ask you something?"

The dog lowered his paper and folded it infront of him. "Why so serious this morning Yuki?"

Ignoring his comment, Yuki continued. "My brother said something to me awhile ago and I want to confirm if it's true or not."

Noticing the atmosphere, he smiled and made a joke about it. "Yes it's true, Aya does use four different types of conditioner. I know, I tell him that can't be healthy but he just never listens."

Grunting, Yuki replied. "Quit it, you know that's not what I mean. It's about Aria.."

Shigure stopped at the girl name and smiled internally, wondering since when he had taken an interest in her. This could be a good sign. "What about her?"

Yuki tapped his fingers on the table nervously and began his question once more. "My brother said that, Aria helped me get out of the main house. Is that true?"

Obviously not expecting that question, the dog coughed on his food and immediately started to deflect it. "I don't really think that's something you should be asking me."

Yuki noticed that he was avoiding the question, just like Aya did. Something wasn't right about this situation. "Why can't you just tell me if it's true or not?"

Shigure put down his own food and silence hung in the air for moment. Yuki watched him as he leaned on the table and spoke, evenly. "You need to hear it from her Yuki."

Shaking his head, the rat pushed further, slamming his hand on the table. "Why can't you just deny it?! I know it isn't true, so why can't you just say it?!"

He looked into his cousins eyes and found a variety of emotion, but none of them were ones of truth. It couldn't be, it couldn't be, his brother was right?

Putting his head in his hands, Yuki began to mutter to himself. "No no, it's not possible. She wouldn't do that...she doesn't care…."

Shigure eyed his confusion with sadness and stayed silent which didn't Yuki feel any better. He needed to find her. He needed to confront her in person.

Standing up abruptly, Yuki quickly grabbed his bag and ran outside, towards school.

No matter what, he would find out the truth in person.

When he was gone, Shigure shook his head and whispered sightly. "Leave it to Aya, causing trouble again. What are you going to do know that he knows, Ari?"

The day grew on far longer than Yuki wanted, every second ticking away slower and slower until the time that they could talk.

Finally, the bell ring and all the students filed out of the classroom. A loud thunderstruck of lighting hit the side of the building and everyone gasped. This coming storm sure was brutal.

Once everyone left, Yuki told his moment and walked up to her desk, stopping her from putting all her books in her bag. "Can I talk to you, alone?"

Blinking up in surprise, Aria nodded her head but not before glancing at Kyo first. She silently told him it was okay and moved to follow Yuki.

Kyo on the other hand, wasn't so sure about this. What was he going to do to her? He knew he needed to keep watch just in case.

He lend her into an empty classroom and shut the door behind them. This got Aria curious. "What, you wanna yell at me again, or take a swing? Cause I'm not really in the best mood right now Yuki."

Ignoring that, Yuki balled his fists and spoke. "Shut up. It isn't about that. I want to ask you something."

Aria raised an eyebrow at this. "Oh, really? The great Yuki Sohma wants to ask me something? This is new"

He could tell she was far more on edge then usual but that didn't stop him. "My brother said something to me a while ago.."

Crossing her arms, she smirked. "Yeah? So what, Aya says a lot of stupid things."

Yuki shook his head and looked straight in her eyes. He didn't want to miss anything in her reaction. "He told me that you helped me get out of the main house."

Watching everything she did, Aria raised her eyes in shock before bringing them back to a neutral state. "And, you think it's true?"

Nodding his head once, Aria started a laugh. It was low and sarcastic, almost like Akito's was. She was mocking him. "Me, help you? Yeah right. I could care less about you rat boy."

He almost believed that, until he thought about the past months they were together. Something wasn't adding up. She was lying. "No."

Blinking a couple times, she stopped. "No?"

But Yuki held strong. "No, that doesn't make sense. You helped me when I was sick, you saved me from that fangirl, you brought me that tea. What you just said goes against everything you have ever done here."

Not expecting that, Aria's smirk diminished and all that was left was a look of utter devastation. "Your delusional."

Taking a step forward he asked again. "It's true isn't it? You helped me."

Aria's posture grew more rigid, more afraid. "Yuki, can you just do me favor?"

Not understanding, he answered uncertain. "What are you talking about?"

She took in a shaky breath then, allowing her to gain a little bit of courage. Tightening her fists, she whispered. "Can you, just continue to hate me? Please, it will make everything so much easier."

He couldn't understand what she was actually asking him. Why was she so afraid of him being kind to her? Was she some sort of masochist? "Why?"

Shaking her head she began to ramble. "Cause then everything I did...everything that happened…"

His eyes started burned into her soul, so much so that she couldn't take it anymore. They looked sad, they looked understanding. She couldn't take it. "Stop that, don't do that."

Turning his head in confusion, he spoke. "Do what?"

She was shaking now. All the walls she had build up in her mind were coming down. He saw right through her, and she hated it. "Stop looking at me with such kind eyes. Stop talking to me with that understanding voice. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve your forgiveness so don't' you dare do that."

Watching a girl who had always been so stone cold break down before him was something he would have never expected. Thinking back to what she had just sad, Yuki realized he felt bad for her.

Taking a step even closer, he took in her eyes and knew the answer to his question. She did help him, somehow, someway or another she told Shigure about his living arrangements. He just knew it.

Aria on the other hand, saw his understanding stance and grew even more frightened. His next words didn't help anything either. "Why, why didn't you tell me? I've been so terrible to you for months and you didn't stop it. If I just knew…"

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his jaw and turned his head to the side. Yuki put a hand up to the red area and gasped. She just hit him, just like the past.

Raising her hand, Aria began to shout at him. "No! How could you forget everything I did? I watched you get hurt, I hit you and manipulated you. That's how I am. I'm a monster Yuki. I'm just like him. Acknowledge that!"

But Yuki didn't want to. He didn't want to hurt someone who was practically breaking apart in front of him. He only felt pity for her, which only made Aria even more angry. "Why do you want me to hate you so bad?"

Gritting her teeth, she realized that this was useless. Living here and being happy, she couldn't have it. It was only a matter a time before she was sent back, and that time was today.

Aria opened her eyes, the irises glowing red more than ever. She would show him that she was a monster, she would make him hate her again, no matter what.

Speaking low and commanding, Aria hissed out. "Kneel."

Yuki felt his body move on it's own, his own legs falling behind him to the floor.

Complying to her command, she laughed empty. "Now you see, now you remember? I can make you do anything I please. Send me back Yuki. I broke the rules after all. Go run and tell that dog of yours to come get me."

Feeling physical pain to continue kneeling, he knew what he had to say. Yuki lifted his head and answered her back, just as commanding. "No."

Aria was falling apart at the seams and that last word broke everything inside of her. Clouded by the need to be hated by him, she growled and reached down.

Her hand wrapped around his throat in absolute anger, shouting at him everything she had. There were tears there now, pouring down in a devastating line.

Squeezing tighter, she heckled. "Why?! Why don't you hate me like everyone else?! Why are you not afraid of me?! You don't understand, if you forgive me then everything I did to you back then...I WON'T BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH MYSELF. DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!

Yuki eyes widened at her words, realizing what she meant. She was fine until this point because he hated her, she could justify all the abuse she gave. Now, she couldn't.

Her anger, quickly turned to one of devastation, losing her grip and sobbing brokenly. "Please, say you hate me, say that I'm a monster. Akito says it, everyone says it, so why can't you?"

Yuki stood silent at her cries and honestly didn't know what to do. Her hold on his throat was strong but not enough to cause any real damage. He slowly understood that she didn't want to hurt him, she never did.

Whipping her face, she took in everything she had done and hung her head in shame. "Well, that's it, isn't it? I really am like him, aren't I? Guess I already knew that though."

Turning away from him, she started for the door, but not before smiling sadly at Yuki. There were tear stains across her face now. "Goodbye Yuki."

He wanted to reach out for her but nothing he could have said would of fixed this conversation. Yuki didn't know what to think, he didn't know what to do.

Seeing he wasn't going to react, Aria just sighed and shut the door behind her, walking away from the boy so had hurt so many times over. She really was terrible.

Watching her from the opposite classroom, Kyo saw Aria run down the hall in deviation and gasped. What had that damn rat done to her?!

But one thing was for sure, he was going to find out.

Walking slowly at first, her pace quickly picked up, bursting through the school doors and into the pouring rain outside.

But Aria didn't care, she knew that she didn't have home anywhere anymore. The Somha's didn't want her and the main house would only control her. She had nowhere to go.

Her breathing picked up as heavy drops mixed in with her own actual tears in a fit of self hatred for herself and her life.

Running a couple more feet, she stopped when she realized someone was calling after her.

She paused for a moment, only for her heart to sink.

Standing in front of her was Kyo. He was equally as drenched as her and looked absolutely terrified. "Aria! Wait, hold on a minute!"

Aria closed her eyes in pain and began to run away from him as fast as she could. She didn't want him to see her like this.

But Kyo had other plans, and soon enough caught up to her, grabbing her arm to halt her steps. "Hold on, where are you going?"

Trying to shake him off, she shouted over the pounding of the rain. "I can't..I can't do this anymore Kyo."

Not understanding, he tightened her grip. "Wait, can't do what?"

Aria looked around her and through her hands out to slowly make her point. "This! I can't live in that house and pretend everything is fine. I can't look at your faces without knowing I've hurt both of you so much."

At the term "both" of you, Kyo softened. "What are you talking about? You've never hurt me Aria."

She couldn't help but scoff at this,recalling those terrible memories. "Not that you can remember."

This caused his eyes to widen. What was she talking about? "What the hell does that mean?"

But Aria was silent, and with one big tug, she was able to break away from him. "Just forget it, it's not like it will change anything. I'm sorry Kyo. I'm sorry you had to deal with me, I'm sorry I gave you such terrible memories."

He watched her turn away and something inside him couldn't help but feel an intense anxiety. She couldn't do this, she couldn't leave him again.

Wait, again?

Desperate for her laugh, her smile and her voice, he didn't understand it, but found his feet moving on their own.

Reaching forward, he shouted out words even he didn't understand. But somehow, he knew they were right. "Aria, wait! I don't know what's happening but I don't want you to leave. Maybe we met before a long time ago but I have this strange sinking feeling that I'm losing you again. I don't want that damn it!"

Freezing in her steps, Aria gasped. "Kyo..don't force it. You are going to hurt yourself."

The headache returned as usual in his mind but Kyo didn't care this time. "I don't care, I don't care what happens to me. I just...I only...care about you."

At this words a heavy blush landing on her cheeks and coughed. "Quit joking."

But Kyo was serious, and to show her, he took a step forward and whispered. "I'm not."

Suddenly, the cat grabbed her hand and pushed her close to him, before placing his lips on hers in that cold, uncertain rain.

Still standing, a couple feet apart, he made sure he wouldn't transform in this moment and held his ground.

Aria, on the other hand, was frozen but his action, trying to register the idea that he was kissing her right now. She closed her eyes in reaction and couldn't help but lose herself in this moment.

His lips were scared and uncertain, in more ways than one, hoping that she wouldn't pull away from him, to which she didn't. She didn't know why but this moment felt so right, wishing that time would stop then and there for the two of them.

But as it progressed, Aria couldn't help but get flashes and imagines from another, more terrifying force.

Akito's lips on hers, his hot breath in her ear, recalling the words she claimed she would never forget. This is your fault you know. That poor cat. If only he didn't know you, then he could've been happy.

How could she be so stupid, so naive to forget that terrible day that changed her forever? And what was she even doing right now?

Opening her eyes, Aria noticed that Kyo's were closed and knew what she had to do.

Reaching out, she lightly placed her hands on his back before pushing his body onto hers

A puff of smoke appeared shortly after and Kyo was transformed into his zodiac form, looking rather confused and flustered.

That's when she took her chance and turned away, but not before whispering under her breath. "I'm sorry."

Kyo reached out to her but being a cat, he found it rather difficult.

He then opted for a shout instead, watching her back disappear through the rain. "Aria, wait! Come back! I'm sorry….just come back…."

But his words didn't reach her in time and soon enough, she was gone from his sight.

Oof we got some spice. This chapter is a two parter with the second one getting even more spicy. Yes so explanation time. In Aria's mind, the reason she's been okay for so long is because Yuki had hated her, but now that he is forgiving her, she realized all the terrible things she did and doesn't want to face them. Also next chapter we find out what Kyo can't remember, and why that's a thing.