After a few days, Aya, as I was now to call him, left. I felt a kind of sadness watching him go but Yuki seemed glad to get rid of him. Kyo didn't seem too bothered about him leaving either but he shouted at Aya nearly as much as Yuki did. Kyo was 'sulking on the roof', as Shigure called it. At some point, I guessed Shigure had told Kyo I was staying as he started coming down for dinner. He seemed... not happier, but less annoyed.

"Aya!" I called. He turned, his white hair creating an almost dream-like circle around him. Hurrying down the porch steps, when I reached him, I wrapped my arms around him. Ignoring the pain.

"Goodbye Aya. Promise you'll come back soon?" He grasped my shoulders and looked into my eyes seriously. Then he grinned and laughed loudly like the Aya I had gotten to know.

"Aha ha ha! Of course I will my dear. I'll be back to see you and Shigure and my dearest baby brother Yuki!" Aya winked at me, then at Shigure before skipping away like the madman he was. I was confused, as well as surprised. Yuki was Aya's younger brother!? No one had told me. They were so different, though Yuki did sort of look like Aya. But I shrugged, knowing I should've guessed from the way those two fought while Aya was around.

Looking up at the sky, I realised it was nearly mid-summer. School would be breaking up soon. I closed my eyes, smiling and soaking up the sun. Remembering back a few years, after my mother died but before my dad's illness, as a little girl, my dad had always taken me out for a picnic on days like that. A celebration for the end of school and the coming of a long summer together, he'd said. That was when my eyes snapped open. Dad. Shigure paused before entering the house, noticing I'd stopped. He joined me with his arms crossed.

"It's a beautiful day, don't you think? Almost as pretty as your fac–" Shigure reached out to tickle my stomach but Yuki threw something at his head.

"Leave her alone. It's a miracle you haven't been reported yet..." Yuki said menacingly but calmly, like always, from the door.

Whipping round, I stared at Shigure, my eyes wild.

"I have to go. I'll be back later but not before dark. I might be out all night. I'm not sure. Oh... I'm sorry, don't wait up for me!" I twisted and bolted off. I'd forgotten to visit my dad. It'd been a hectic week; moving in, starting school, meeting the boys, stopping school, moving house, falling for –

There wasn't time for that. I had to get to dad. I couldn't think about the boys now. Since I'd moved, I hadn't told anyone about it. Not even the hospital. If dad had had a turn, they wouldn't have been able to reach me. Dad could be hurt, he could be...

"DAD!"

Upon hearing the commotion as Aya left, Kyo had sat up straight away and watched as I ran off into the forest. Leaving behind a confused Shigure.

"Damnit!" Kyo snarled, leaping down from the roof and following me.

"Emma, wait! He'll be fine! It's only been one week!" Kyo called after me, dashing through the trees and dodging them expertly. That just confused Shigure even more. Who's 'he'? Why did Kyo know? Why did she have to get to him so fast?

Eventually, I tired and slowed to a stop. I bent over, catching my breath. Vaguely aware of someone else's presence behind me, I stared at the forest floor as a feeling of guilt spread through my body.

"You're going the wrong way you know." Kyo stated gruffly from behind me. I laughed breathlessly and straightened up, twisting to meet his gaze.

"You've basically trapped me in your house." I smiled a little.

"It's not like that! You can leave any time you want, I don't care –" He began to say defensively. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Taken aback, he gazed at me with wide eyes and I remembered he'd never kissed a girl. He didn't seem the type to want a girl to kiss him.

"Thanks for coming after me Kyo." I said, grabbing his hand and holding it in both of mine. He didn't pull away. But he didn't hold back.

"Come on... I'll take you there..." Kyo mumbled embarrassedly. But he didn't pull away from my hand as he led the way out of the forest.

"Kyo, I..." What? What had I wanted to say? Did I...? Had I... fallen for Kyo? His shoulders hunched a little, Kyo didn't turn though I could tell he was listening. Waiting for me to speak. I sighed.

"Are you a member of the zodiac too?" Freezing, he squeezed my hand a little too hard. My face twisted, showing the pain he was causing me.

"I'm the cat." He said simply, his voice strained as if he was trying to control his temper.

"Kyo..." My voice seemed to be cracking with the pain.

"I don't change when I'm with you." I couldn't tell if that was a good or a bad thing but I let him talk. "I don't... I don't feel like I have to worry all the time when you're around. About transforming. I don't want you to be alone because you're sick. And I don't... I don't want you to be sick because of me." His voice was slower, calmer, his tone relaxed but hard at the same time.

"If being well means I have to leave you then I don't want to be well." I smiled. "I'll learn to live with being sick. And if I don't... It doesn't matter because I'll be with you."

"Emma... I –" He seemed to struggle to find the words to say and I realised that he liked me, even if he couldn't say it. As he gazed down at the forest floor, his cheeks began to glow a slight red colour, matching his scarlet eyes. I bent down to meet his eyes and he looked away.

"You're the only person I've ever –" I pressed my finger to his lips and smiled as his eyes opened wider.

"You don't have to say it Kyo." I straightened up and put my arms around his neck. This time, he held me back.

The hospital seemed unfamiliar when Kyo and I arrived. I found myself missing the hospital back in England, with its bright and welcoming corridors and the friendly, helpful staff. My Japanese had improved immensely since I began living with the Sohmas and I always had a chance to practice. Yuki had even helped me learn some more as he spoke English too. As we entered the reception area, a cool breeze hit me and I breathed in. Dad wouldn't notice I hadn't been to see him for a week. At least, he hadn't remembered when I had last visited while we were still in England. Kyo approached the front desk and turned, frowning as he realised he didn't know my father's name. I stepped up beside him.

"We're here to see Riku Matsumoto? He's my father; he was admitted a couple of weeks ago." The nurse behind the desk nodded, smiling warmly. She called over an orderly and he bowed. I copied him, though Kyo just stood there looking moody with his hands shoved into his pockets.

The orderly led us down the bright corridors and I was reminded of the hospital in England. I think Kyo was on edge a little. Perhaps he didn't like being in hospitals. As we reached my father's room, the orderly bowed again and told us where he'd be if we needed any help. I thanked him and stepped into the room, Kyo in tow.

I spotted my father immediately; the colour of his hair and his pale face clicking instantly in my head. He didn't look any different to when I'd last seen him. He was sitting in the same chair in the same position with the same look on his face. Blankness. Absentness. I approached him slowly with a weak smile, bending down at his side and touching his hand. Then he did something I hadn't been expecting. Something I'd never dreamed he'd do. He turned to me, a kind look in his eyes and he whispered something.

"Emma...?"

"Dad? Dad, I'm here..." I whispered too. My eyes filled with tears and I gasped as he took my hand in his own frail ones.

"I'm sorry Emma... I never meant to..." His eyes glazed over and he looked away slowly, his hands sliding from mine.

I cried. Uncomfortable but willing to comfort me, Kyo bent down and patted my shoulder awkwardly. I threw my arms around him, thankful of his being there. Crying for what seemed like an age, I couldn't look at my father, who was sitting in the same position as when I'd first entered the room.

"Kyo... he's getting better... He's not said my name in five years... He remembers my name Kyo..." I sobbed. Kyo seemed to understand what I was going through and he stroked my hair softly. Though when he spoke, his voice was sad but gruff at the same time.

"Yeah, he's getting better. And he'll keep getting better. You finally have someone." Sitting up, I glared at Kyo.

"Does that mean you want me to leave?" I asked suspiciously, tears still stinging my eyes. And there I was, thinking that he might have actually fallen for me. He held his hands up defensively but with a growl on his lips.

"Of course not, you stupid girl! I want you to stay, I don't want you to leave, I want you to live with me, how many other ways shall I put it!? Damni–" I cut him off with a kiss. His body tensed; he didn't pull away but he didn't kiss back. He was sitting on the floor, leaning back on his hands. I had my hands either side of him and I was leaning in to kiss him. As I sat back, I bit my lip but remembered Hatori telling me not to. I felt a little guilty thinking about Hatori and I bit my lip again. Kyo was too shocked to say anything. Shaking my head, I knelt up beside my father and smiled warmly at him.

"This is Kyo, dad. I live with him."