Thank you very much for everyone who has reviewed and favorite and alerted and given me all of your love! Many reviews have made me laugh and smile! Feel proud of yourselves as fellow readers. And I won't forget those who haven't reviewed and choose to remain anonymous. You're not anonymous! I know you're there! Also thanks to those in far away countries! See you all later! Don't review! Your silence is rewarding enough!

(c) Natsuki Takaya

I was so happy when you smiled

Your smile breaks through the clouds of grey

Far from the sunny days that lie in sleep

Waiting with patience for the spring

When the flowers can bloom, renewed again

Knowing there's more beyond the pain~ of today

Although the scars of yesterday remain

You can go on living as much as your heart believes~

You can't be born again, although you can change

Let's stay together always

Next morning...

"Will you come on already?!" Kyo snapped at me.

When Kyo said morning he really meant it. Before anyone was awake he dragged me out of bed (Literally by my feet) and forced me to get dressed and ready for the beach. Are you all aware how much Kyo turns into a drill sergeant when he sets his mind to teaching me something? It's not as great as it sounds. He's pushy, impatient, crabby, and never uses his inside voice.

"Don't rush me!" I snapped back slowly stripping down to my swimsuit hoping to delay the inevitable. Tossing my shorts and jacket aside I stood on the beach with the waves teasing at my toes, beckoning me in…more likely to drag me to my early death.

"Look," Kyo said his hands on his hip barely above the water, "I don't like being out in the water any more than you." He wadded in so he was in arms reach of me, "But if you do this quick you'll never have to do it again."

"Promise?" I asked.

He nodded, "Yeah, we'll do something else on the beach instead."

"Alright." I whispered taking a deep breath to gather some courage and slowly made my way into the water.

"You're doing good." He assured me when I came up to my knees.

And that was when my legs locked in place. I couldn't move anymore. "Kyo…I can't…my legs won't move anymore."

"That's because you've never gone deeper than that. Your body won't let you." He theorized wadded closer to me and gently grabbed my hand, "That's okay. We'll take it a step at a time, okay?"

I nodded and allowed him to slowly guide me further into the water until we were up to our waists. A big accomplishment for me.

"See?" He smirked, "You're okay."

I let out a shaky breathe, "Y-yeah. I'm okay…and this isn't so bad…" That is until I felt something slimy brush and wrap around my leg. "It's a sea snake!" I screamed leaping into Kyo's arms wrapping my arms tightly around his neck.

"W-wait! Don't!"

Poof!

Splash!

"How can you transform at a time like this?!" I screamed at him the second I resurfaced from the water.

"How can you forget I transform when girls hug me at a time like this?!" He retorted splashing around trying to stay afloat worse than me. "Quick! Grab my shorts and get us back to shore!"

I splashed around grabbing him and his floating shorts, "The snake is still on my leg!"

"Get us out us out quick!"

I walked/swam through the waves as fast as I could to get away from the danger and the second the water came to my ankles I toss Kyo aside and flopped over on my butt. I shook my leg vigorously with my eyes closed so I didn't have to see the snake, "Get off! Get off! Get off! Get off!"

"Zakura! Open your eyes!"

"No!" I shook my leg harder, "I don't want to see the snake!"

I felt a hand grab my ankle, "Seriously. Open your eyes."

I did so and saw a very peeved Kyo staring at me dripping wet. Holding my leg down he took the snake off my leg…however…it…wasn't a snake…in fact it was…

"You made that big fuss over a piece of seaweed." He scowled at me.

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, "Uh…I'm sorry?"

He tossed it aside, "Whatever. Ready to try again?"

"Do we have to?" I complained.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me up and tugged me towards the water, "Stop complaining. If you can get up to your waist in water and master floating then we can stop."

If there's one thing about Kyo he's determined, so there's absolutely no way I was going to get out of this. Holding his hand the entire he pulled me through the water until we were up to our waists again.

"Okay, ready?" He asked facing me keeping a reasonable distant from me so I don't make him transform again. "I'm going to help you float on your back." He placed his hand on my back and gently tilted me back until I was lying fully back. "Alright, relax." He whispers moving one hand in between my shoulder blades and the other to the back of my thighs. It was kinda hard to relax with his hands so close to my… "Relax will ya?"

"A-alright…" I tried to relax but with the skin on skin contact between us it was kinda hard.

"Will you stop jumping around? You're going to sink!"

"Well stop touching me in inappropriate places!"

"I'm not!" His face flustered, "I'm just trying to make sure you don't sink! Now relax!"

My face burned, "I can't with your hand so close to my-"

"If you can float by yourself for twenty seconds then we'll be done for the day." He interrupted.

"Fine." I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe trying to forget the warmth of Kyo's hands on me. Slowly he moved his hands and before I knew it I was floating on my back on my own.

"10 seconds…"

Besides from the seaweed incident it has been pretty fun playing in the water with Kyo. Maybe I can get him to make a sandcastle or hunt seashells with me after this.

"Alright we're done."

"Oh thank goddess." I cheered rushing as fast as I could back to land. No more water for me! Land good water bad!

"Don't you mean 'god'?" He asked joining me on the beach.

"You worship your thing and I'll worship mine." I retorted wringing my hair out of water before re-braiding it, "So what do you want to do now?"

Kyo shrugged, "We could always enjoy the quite before the brats get here."

"True." I muttered shifting my toes in the sand digging up a broken seashell, "Do you…wannna walk along the shore?" I asked blushing, thinking of all the romance movies that involve a couple walking along the beach at sunset and share a passionate kiss in front of the setting sun.

"I dunno-"

"Zakura!" Before either of us knew it Momiji glomped me and swiftly transformed before Kyo could stop him.

"Momiji!" We scolded the yellow rabbit in my arms.

"This is where you disappeared to!" Tohru chirped walking towards us holding Kisa's hand. Hiro, Yuki, and Haru not too far behind them, "I was worried when I didn't see you this morning."

"I went to the beach to think for a while and Kyo found me." I lied. There's no way I was going to tell them Kyo was teaching me how to swim.

"I see!" She smiled before holding up a small bucket and shovel, "Do you two want to make sandcastles with us? It'll be a lot of fun!"

Momiji hopped out of my arms the moment he transformed back and stood up proud with only yellow smoke covering his boy parts, "Yeah! We're going to make the biggest sandcastle that's going to shock and amaze everyone!" When the smoke started to clear I covered Kisa's eyes, "It's going to be so big that we'll be able to play princesses and dragons!"

Hiro perked an eyebrow, "Isn't it called knights and dragons?"

Momiji continued smiling as he jumped back into his shorts, "Kyo and Hiro are going to help too!"

"What?!"

"Don't go deciding things for other people!"

I looked away to see Yuki and Haru slowly making their way to us. By the somber looks on their face they're talking about something serious. I was concerned for Yuki with his past with Akito and all but he looked fine for now…if nothing else he looked lighter…a bit taller as if a burden has been lifted. Haru looked the same if not a bit troubled. I hope he's alright.

"Kyo." I watched Yuki approach Kyo and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and whispered something to him resulting in Kyo threatening to kill him.

Well seeing as they're back to normal, "I'm going to go take a walk."

Momiji pouted, "You're not going to make a sandcastle with us?" Behind him Kisa and Tohru were already in the process of building the sandcastle that looked more like a little sand hill.

I shook my head lightly, "I think all this sun is giving me a headache. I'll see you all back at the house, ok?"

"Do you want one of us to walk you?" Yuki asks concerned.

I shook my head, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

The day after tomorrow will be our last day here sadly. It's a shame because I'm really going to miss this house by the beach and the fresh air. It seemed like this whole vacation went by too fast but it was fun spending time with everyone while it lasted. Once vacation is over we'll all be too busy to keep in touch with each other…plus it'll be our last year of high school soon. Then we really will have a hard time keeping in touch with each other because we'll soon be living our own lives...with or without the Sohmas.

"Oh!" My head jerked up in time to see a young girl with short black hair duck behind the bushes, "Ow!" She cried out a second later bumping into a tree in attempt for a speedy escape.

"Uhh…" I approached her through the bushes slowly, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She yelped rubbing her red forehead, "If I was going to be sneaky I should've done better than that."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at her, "Sneaking? Why are you sneaking around in the first place?"

Her eyes bugged with fright and she frantically waved her hands, "I'm not a bad person! Honest! I'm family with the Sohmas! I actually know Hatsuharu!"

"Hatsuharu," I echoed, "Oh…are you…Hatsuharu's girlfriend?"

She blinked owlishly, "Yes…but how do you know that?" She started hyperventilating, "Did he tell you that? What did he say about me? Was it bad? Did he sound angry at me?" Then she turned angry, "How dare he be angry at me! How dare he open his mouth about that!" She stood up, "That's it! I'm going to kill him!"

I grabbed her arm quickly before she got out of reach, "Hold on! He only confided in me because he was depressed. He didn't give away too many details."

She blinked for a few moments before calming down, "Sorry," She sighed, "I get so worked up about him sometimes. But as much as he annoys me I can't help but worry about him." She wrapped her arms around herself, "I heard Akito was here so I came here to check on Haru. Akito doesn't just up and go anywhere just because. Even when his body is weak he does things like this for some cryptic reason."

I nodded as I listened, "I had a feeling. Akito does seem to show up at the worse or better of times. Yuki and the others just got back from seeing him last night."

She nodded, "Yeah. Kureno told me. Akito seems to have some interest in you and Tohru."

"Kureno?"

"The Rooster."

"Ah." Another member of the Zodiac, "So, do you know why Akito is interested in us?"

She shook her head sadly, "Like Rin and I he sees you and Tohru as threats to the Sohma curse."

"Rin?"

"The Horse."

"Oh." Another member! "Wait. A threat to the curse?"

She nodded somberly, "Don't let this give you too much hope…but…" She looked around to make sure that we were completely alone, "…there might be a way to break the Zodiac curse." She whispered to me.

My heart stalled for a few seconds. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. "What?"

"The proof isn't concrete but Rin has noticed some changes with the curse and I have as well." Her eyebrows furrowed, "I can't exactly explain it since I'm not cursed like the others but something has definitely changed and I'm certain that Shigure knows."

"Shigure?"

She scowled, "Don't let him fool you. Shigure is a manipulating little shit."

"Ouch." I winced.

"He's practically Akito's favorite toy other than Kureno and Yuki." She punched her open palm, "I want to kick his ass so bad!"

I sweatdropped, 'She's nothing how Haru described. I assumed she was a dainty flower kind of girl, like Tohru. But she's almost exactly like Haru!' "There is a way to break the curse."

"Yes. Rin and I are looking into it at the main house. We're searching Sohma family records and everything."

"Please let me help." I grabbed her hands, pleading, "Please! I'm tired of watching these good people suffer! Please…"

She smiled gently if not relieved, "Rin and I need all the help we can get…I feel guilty letting an outsider get involved but-" She gasped and looked past my shoulder.

I turned around and saw Yuki staring at her in shock, "It's you!"

She covered her face with her arms, "You saw nothing!" She yelled whirling around to run…only to run straight into the same tree from before, "Ow! Damn Mother Nature everywhere!" She stumbled through the forest until she was out of sight.

We only shook our heads.

"I see you've met Lyn. Haru's ex-girlfriend." Yuki sighed.

"Will she be alright? Should we tell Haru she's here?"

Yuki shook his head, "She'll be fine. Leave Lyn to me." He slowly walked in the direction she went, "Don't tell anyone you've met her."

I nodded in understanding and watched him go.

While making my way back to the house I saw Tohru running up to me with tears in her eyes. Great whose ass do I have to kick for making her cry again?

"Zakura! It's wonderful!"

Ok, I retract my previous statement. "What's wonderful?"

"It's Kyo! Akito wants to see him!" She quickly hugged me, "Kyo's finally been invited."

I didn't return the hug. Akito wanted to see Kyo? That couldn't be a good thing. Didn't the God hate the Cat? The Cat has never been invited to anything…why now all of a sudden? "Did he already leave?"

She nodded as she pulled back enough to wipe her tears, "He left with the others. I know it's not a banquet but I'm so happy that he can join the others!" She smiled through her tears. I wish I could be as happy as her, but I didn't have a very good feeling about Kyo seeing Akito. But maybe I'm reading too much into it. Maybe Kyo will be okay. He's a tough guy…

"Zakura? What's wrong?" Tohru looked at me with concern, "Aren't you happy for him?"

I nodded hastily while putting on a force smile, "Yeah, of course." I place a hand on her shoulder, "What I'm not happy about is them leaving you alone."

"Eh? But I'm alright being at home by myself."

Wrapping my arm around her I guided her back to the house, "Tohru may I remind you of a few things that happen when you're home alone?

(And now…are you ready for it?...cause I don't think you are…here it is…the chapter with Kyo and Akito…are you sure you're ready? Cause you can click the little x button in the top right corner at any time…I don't think you're ready…this is not for the weak of heart…you should just turn back now…you're not going to? Fine. I warned you. It's not my fault if you're scarred from Kyo's inner monologue! You have been warned several times! …..continue…)

He felt sick the moment he stepped foot in the door way. Akito had that natural aura that made you feel worthless and inferior. He wanted nothing more than to leave and get back to the house.

"Welcome." His voice always made his skin crawl in the worse way. "It's been a while since we've spoken face to face." Pale thin hands beckoned him closer, "It's alright. Come in." Kyo slowly stepped into the room but still stayed close to the door, "My…my poor little monster." Akito's haori pooled at his arms over his white kimono at he sat by the window. Above him a lone round wind chime dinged in the gentle breeze, "So how's our bet going? The bet you made with me about whether or not you could beat Yuki." He clarified.

Kyo remained silent.

Akito smirked cruelly, "You can't can you? It's impossible isn't it?" He mocked, "You can't win can you? You just can't beat him. I told you, didn't I? From the beginning, the Cat was made such as that…it can never beat the rat."

Kyo's eyes narrowed and his jaw locked. Holding in the anger he so desperately wants to release.

"You will never in your life be able to beat Yuki. That's how you were made from the beginning. It's the course of destiny carved out by those possessed by vengeful sprits." Akito's eyes darken as he continued his verbal abuse, "The fate set by your blood. I've told you…that's just how it is."

Kyo's hands curled into tight fists. He remembered the talk they had before about that fate. He was the one who told Akito that he would change that fate. He was the one who swore that he would beat Yuki. Akito did agree – he even swore that if Kyo did beat Yuki by the time he graduates high school he'll stop calling Kyo a monster and he'll even let him become part of the family…however if he didn't win Akito would put him in confinement sooner.

Akito played with the talisman on the wind chime, "Looks to me that I'll be winning that bet."

"You don't know that!" Kyo yelled, "That's not for you to decide! There's still time!"

Akito snatched the wind chime off its string and held it in the palm of his hand, "You would tell me…that which I don't know." He threw the wind chime at Kyo's face, hitting him in the cheek, "Why do you continue to misunderstand? You need to remember that you're a monster…and because you're a monster…your mother died." Akito stalked closer to him making Kyo back away.

"That-"

"That's why."

Kyo shook his head strongly, "That's not my fault!"

"It is your fault she's dead." Akito said grabbing Kyo's beaded wrist.

Fearing that Akito will pull it off like he did when they were kids Kyo tried to pull his wrist away, "Stop it! Don't touch me!"

"Don't give me orders." Akito said not letting go, "Your poor mother. Even though she gave birth to a monster in human skin, she raised it and protected it but it was still too much for her. The monster killed her. And now that monster, her son, won't even mourn her death." Kyo looked way pained, "You should've been the one to die. Things would've been a lot better if you hadn't been born."

"STOP IT!" Kyo begged as painful memories resurfaced. Painful memories of his mother dead in her own blood…memories of his father pinning the blame of the death of his wife on him. It was all too much, "Please…" Kyo begged. He didn't want to be reminded, "Please…just stop…"

Akito releases Kyo's wrist. Looking at Kyo's defeated form he felt that he hadn't pushed Kyo enough. He wanted to really see him writhe in pain. He wants him to be in the deepest pit of despair with no hope of crawling out of it. "You know I think your false confidence comes from those two girls." He saw something pass through Kyo's eyes, "I've heard they saw your true form…and one of them even fought you in that form…" He chuckled hollowly, "…how funny."

Kyo grew pale. He thought no one knew about that night. "How'd you…"

Akito continued, "I talked with that girl with the long braid…Zakura was it? She's not an angel like that Tohru girl who accepted you right away…she's a monster too…running away when you needed her." Then Akito's eyes narrowed, "She couldn't stand the sight of you and still had the nerve to return to you and 'accept' you? I don't believe it. Am I really supposed to believe that these two girls are really that good natured? It's rather frightening how good they are. They're freaks. Just like you."

Kyo looked up astonished that Akito would say things like that about them when he doesn't even know them. "How can you say that about them?"

Akito turned to him daring him to continue.

"You weren't there!" Kyo continued, his heart pounding in his chest, "You don't know! You don't know how scared they really were!" Kyo's eyes turned watery as he recalled that night. 'He doesn't know…how pale Tohru was when she first found me with Yuki…he doesn't know how terrified she was trying to convince him to come back home!'

Akito covered his ears, irritate by Kyo's yelling, "Shut up."

"Zakura did run away but she came back to me! Despite being scared she came back!" Kyo shouted. 'Her reaction was human! I understood why she ran away! Any sane person would've! It showed that she really looked at me! And she came back!' Kyo never felt such relief when he saw Zakura's haggard form running through the trees screaming and cursing at him and he never felt such happiness when she grabbed and held him begging him to return home. What he wanted most was for her to ask him to return home because if she hadn't he was sure he wouldn't have returned even if Tohru had asked him. Zakura might not have taken all of the pain away but she did just enough to make it bearable. She not afraid to be by his side…to laugh with him…to fight with him…to solve his problems…she's just there. That's all he ever wanted.

'But why?' Kyo couldn't help but wonder. He puts his hands over his eyes, 'Why does she want to be around someone like me? What do I have to offer her? I have nothing to offer her. I don't deserve her kind words, her gentle loving glances when I talk to her, or her warm touch. And yet I cling to her warm light. I don't want to let her go.' Realization dawn him as he pull his hands away from his eyes, tears sitting in his palms, 'I love her. I love her so much!' He almost laughed at himself for not noticing it, 'When did it happen? Was it always there? When did I start loving you so much?'

"Are you crying?" Akito asked feigning shock, "Are you mortified? Could it be that you 'love' her? You and Zakura." He snorted, "The daughter of a whore falling in love with a monster." He snickers.

Kyo felt a heavy weight set in his heart at Akito's insult to Zakura. He can call him a monster all he wants but no one insults Zakura, "…!" His eyes narrowed at Akito with hate and anger.

Akito caught sight of it and back hands him, "Don't look at me like that!"

Kyo whips his head back, not bothered by the sting in his cheek. After all, he's had his face beaten in plenty of times by Yuki, "If you hate them then why let them stay?! You could've said no! What are you-" Kyo stopped when he saw the calculating look in Akito's eyes. It's no secret that Akito's a selfish manipulating bastard. Is he trying to use them for something? But what? What is he – "…scheming?"

"You always make me out to be the bad guy!" Akito shouts, "Do you actually love that woman?! You're even more foolish than I thought! You despicable monster!" He points at Kyo in accusation, "You killed your own mother and now you think you have the right to fall in love?! I won't allow it!"

I won't allow it.

Those words echoed harshly through his mind. Does he have the right? All the crap he's done in life…all the good thing he's trampled on…does he have the right to love someone like Zakura?

Seeing that he had Kyo stalled he continued, "Know that if you continue to love her…it will only end in misery. Either by my hand or yours." Kyo closed his eyes in defeat. "That's right." Akito smiled cruelly, "It's really for the best. You really can't beat Yuki anyway so naturally you'll be confined where you can't bother anyone with your existence." He felt even greater when Kyo kneeled in submission. Yes. This is what he wanted. He felt a lot better now that he has crushed Kyo's hopes. "Don't worry. When you're locked in that room I'll be sure to visit you so you won't feel lonely." Akito lied kneeling on the floor in front of Kyo, "You may despise me now, but I care for your well being, Kyo." He pulled Kyo in a hug that held no warmth. It made Kyo sick to his stomach to be this close to Akito like this, "I really do love you. So be a good boy during the short time you have left living on the outside."

'Kyo is sure taking his time getting back.' I tossed a shell into the lapping waves, 'The others have been back for a while so I wonder what's taking him so long.' I bent down to pick up another broken shell and tossed it. 'I hope nothing bad happened. We could use some cheering up in this place.' I picked up another shell and threw it harder than I did the first two, 'What am I getting so worked up about? I'm probably worrying over nothing! I have no reason to worry! It's not like Akito killed him and that would be the only reason why Kyo isn't back yet….is it?'

"Zakura!" I knew that lovely voice anywhere!

Whirling around on my heel I smiled, "Kyo! You're not dead!"

"Why would I be?" He asked looking blatantly confused.

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, "Oh, no reason at all." I looked him over and immediately noticed that both his cheeks were red and purple, "What happened to your face?"

Kyo reached up to touch his right cheek, "Got into a bit of a fight with Akito."

My eyes widen a bit at that, "Huh, did you win?" Secretly I hoped he did.

Kyo snorted, but smiled nonetheless, "It was a tie." He shrugged his shoulders and looked out towards the ocean with, "He said I didn't have to see him anymore. Tohru freaked out when I told her, but I don't mind. I felt bad since she was happy for me to go but I don't mind not being invited." He turned towards me and I swore my heart skipped a few beats with the at ease look on Kyo's face! I've never seen him so relaxed and burden free since that time on the roof when we talked about his master. "I just don't care anymore." He said.

I could only stare. Where's my camera to capture this moment?!

He waved a hand in front of my face, "What's the matter with you? Been in the sun too long again?"

"Maybe." Because I must be hearing things if you're saying you don't care about not being invited to future banquets when that's all you ever wanted. 'I wonder what changed?' Nonetheless I smiled happily at him, "Welcome back, Kyo."

He smiled back at me, "Yeah. It's good to be back." He took my hand and led me back to the house, "…thanks for waiting for me."

Blushing I looked to the side, "I would wait forever…"

When we returned to the house Kyo excused himself to the bathroom to put cold water on his cheek while Tohru and Kisa dragged me to the living room to show me what Momiji brought with him. Yuki, Haru, and Hiro were shifting through many colorful packets that were labeled 'fireworks'.

"There's so many!"

"You bought all these, Yuki?" Haru asked.

"No." Yuki denied holding a packet of sparklers, "Momiji did. He said we should all set off fireworks tomorrow night since we're going home soon." All all grew quite. I'm pretty sure we don't want this vacation to end so soon. "Momiji feels that we should end our vacation with a good memory. We did leave you and Miss. Kojima alone for a while."

Tohru tears up a bit. Its adorable how emotional she gets sometimes. Wrapping my arm around her in comfort I spoke, "I think what Tohru's trying to convey is that we're very happy to have spent the summer with everyone and we're looking forward to the fireworks."

Everyone smiled.

Haru nodded, "We'll launch them with a big bang that rends the darkness."

I snorted, "Very poetic."

Yuki glowered at him, "We don't have fireworks that big, just so you know."

Suddenly Hiro stood up, "Ah! It's time for the Mogeta Anime Special!" He grabbed Kisa's hand, "Let's watch!"

Kisa nods, "Yes! Momiji wanted to watch too."

Hiro slouched. Obviously he wanted it to just be the two of them. I ushered them to go into the dining room to watch while I volunteered to go get him. I didn't really care for Mogeta…the show was just plain weird. Now if I were an adorable bunny with a short attention like Tohru where would I be? Maybe I should ask Kyo where Momiji could be.

Walking down the hall to the boys side of the house I heard Momiji and Kyo talking.

"I wondered why you would all leave Tohru and Zakura hanging and go see Akito…but if you chose them over Akito…he would get mad and it would put them in danger."

"…"

"…you were all protecting them…" Kyo whispered.

"When you say it like that…" Momiji started to say, "…you make it seem like we're doing something very good. But we're not. We…I was wrong from the beginning. Even though I left Tohru…I still want to make memories with her." I never heard Momiji so serious, "I can't help it. I like Tohru so much." I blinked rapidly, my mind jumping to conclusions, but then I realized that maybe he liked her as a sister figure.

"Well, squirt, I'm selfish too." Kyo snorted.

"Mm?"

"Nothing. Anyway weren't you fussing about some show you wanted to watch?"

Taking that as my cue I stepped from behind the wall, "Hey! You two!"

"Zakura!" Momiji chirped running to me, grabbing my arm, "Kyo was being mean to me! Help me!"

Laughing I waved my finger at Kyo, "Behave Kyo or I'll hug you!"

Kyo's face flushed, "Wha-! What are you trying to pull?"

Later that night…around 2 in the morning…I couldn't sleep! I don't know why I couldn't sleep at all. Even stranger Momiji was still awake when I came into the living room with my sketch book. He was sorting through the fireworks to prepare for tomorrow – er today. With my sketch book on my lap I began sketching a few new cosplay designs for the summer. I could modify a few costumes to match the theme for summer.

"All done!" Momiji chirped, patting the packets of sparklers.

Looking up from my sketch I smiled, "All set for tonight?" He nodded proudly. "Alright then scamp, you better get to bed so you won't be tired."

"Okay!" He merrily trotted a few paces down the hall and stopped to look out the sliding door that led to the front yard. "…"

"Momiji?" I called to him wondering why he stopped.

"Nothing." He sys softly before opening the door, "I think I left something outside. I'll be right back."

"Can't it wait till morning?" I asked him but he already stepped out and closed the door behind him. 'Why would he close it if he was coming back in? Ah well…' I went back to drawing a new summer line of cosplay. I'm pretty sure that despite it being vacation Ayame wouldn't exactly forgive me for slacking off on work. I should at least show that I was thinking about work while having fun in the sun.

"Because I feel sick!" I heard someone yell from outside.

Instantly dropping my sketch book I bolted to the door, concerned for Momiji. Whoever was out there – Momiji shouldn't be out there with them. Opening the door I rushed outside, "Momiji?!" I called out to him and let out a small shriek when I saw him doubled over holding his face with Akito standing over him. "You bastard!" I screamed pushing Akito away with all my might. "Get away from him!" I stood in front of Momiji blocking him from Akito with my body.

Akito glared at me, brushing off his black shirt from my touch, "How dare you…" He took a threatening step closer to me, but I tried to remain unafraid. The dead look in his eyes…it showed me that he wasn't afraid to hurt me. I've never fought another person besides Kyo in training, but I'm prepared to fight Akito to keep him from harming Momiji again. "You're such a brute…an ugly, violent, ill-mannered, mouthy girl." He took another step closer rising his arms up and I brought my arms up too, to block him if necessary. "Listen…" Then he moved quicker than I anticipated when he lunged at me. I had managed to grab his left wrist but his right broke through my guard and he gripped me hard my my roots, "…you conceited whore." I grabbed the wrist holding my hair to prevent him from pulling, "Don't get so arrogant that you think you'll be able to save the Sohmas. There's no way to break the curse." He gave me a sharp tug as a warning but I dug my nails into his left wrist as a warning too. "Yuki…Kyo… and the others are mine to toy. I am their God." He spat at me, "Continue to mess with me and I'll be sure to make your life just as meaningless as theirs. Kyo will be confined once he's out of High school. He'll be locked up until the day he dies and Yuki will return to the main house with me and the others. They'll live and die with me. Forever. An endless banquet…a happy future…forever unchanging…and I won't let you or Tohru Honda ruin it."

"How is that a happy future?" I asked him through tight teeth, "Locking people up…forcing people…making their lives miserable just so you can be happy- What kind of life is that?!"

"You say it like it's a bad thing." He retorted, "Say what you will but I am God. I am the master of their souls. The one who controls the Zodiac."

"Akito!" A deep voice calls from behind. A grown man with light brown hair approaches up. His face didn't give anything away…he doesn't even have a reaction to us being locked on each other like this. "I've been looking for you. It's time to return home."

Akito and I remained still, neither one of us released each other. I didn't want to give him the opportunity of a lucky hit if I let go first.

"You're right." Akito said, slowly releasing his grip on my hair, "I was just saying hello." As he released my hair completely I let go of both his wrists and took a step back away from him. Akito walked back to the light brown hair man, "Well, since I'm aware that you and Tohru Honda are interested in matching Sohma to their Zodiac animals let me introduce you to Kureno Sohma." Akito purred wrapping his arms around Kureno's neck, "He's the Rooster."

Never thought I'd see yaoi in real life like this…only the Sohma family I guess with all the incest. "Nice to meet you." I murmured to him.

"A pleasure." He replied back before wrapping his arm around Akito and guided him away into the darkness.

My nerves felt shot once they were out of sight. I stepped back until my back connected with the house and slouched against it with a sigh. 'This is too much b.s for one night. Wait.' I paused when I realized that Momiji wasn't behind me anymore. I stood upright and started for the door but as soon as my hand reached out for it Hatori and Shigure popped up. "H-hey…"

Hatori reached for my head and run his fingers through my loose hair and rubbed along my scalp. I flinched when his fingers came in contact with a wound. "Seems he got you after all." He withdrew his fingers and little specks of blood were on them.

Touching where Akito's nails got me I pouted, "Yeah, well, I got him back so I guess it's even." I dropped my hand, "Where's Momiji?"

Shigure jerked his head towards the living room where Momiji was standing, "He came to us looking desperate and scared." He explained stepping aside so I can go in.

Nodding thanks to them I approached Momiji and bent slightly to his level, "Are you ok?"

Momiji looked at me with red rimmed eyes, tears ready to fall, "Za…" His voice caught in his throat. He turned his head away the second his tears spilled over. I've never seen Momiji so broken.

"It's okay my little bunny." Without another word I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close.

*Poof!*

'I don't give a damn what Akito says or what anyone else tells me. I'll fight and protect these wonderful people from the pain of the curse. I will lift the burden off these delicate shoulders.' I felt Momiji nuzzle into my neck as I stroke his back, 'Akito can do and say what he wants to me…I refuse to stand by and watch these people suffer any longer.'

-0-0-0- few hours later -0-00-

"Do we have to get up so early?" Hiro whined as we made our way to the beach.

Today…er this morning was our last day and instead of waiting until later tonight to do the fireworks we decided to do it early morning for the sake of the long drive back in the dark. Momiji and I haven't gone back to sleep after what happened…the others had wondered what happened to Momiji's cheek and we both made up such an exaggerated lie that even Hatsuharu was proud of.

"So we're going to start these things or what?" Kyo asked, dropping a small bucket of water down on the sand. We brought it just in case of a fire hazard.

Momiji raised his hand excitedly, "I wanna start!" He went to Yuki and took one of the firework packets from him, "I pick the Top Batter!" He tore open the packet and handed the firework to Hatsuharu to light since he's not old enough to play with a lighter.

Haru sets the snake like firework on the sand and lit them up…only to have them fizzle out the second they were lit.

"Are they…" Kisa mutters her face showing disappointment.

"…supposed to do that?" Tohru asks.

"I don't think so." I replied deadpanned, "Well that sucked."

I went over to Yuki and grabbed another packet from the bucket he carried. I wanted to play with the sprinklers. I grabbed two of them and held out the tips for Hatsuharu to light. Once they were lit and sparkling I backed away from the others and started doing a small modified version of glowsticking; waving and crossing the sparklers around and across my body, doing figure eights and circles.

By the time the sparklers burnt out the little ones, including Tohru, were clapping loudly. Each saying that that was amazing, they've never seen anything like that before, if I could teach them how to do that, where have I learned how to do that, and if I could do it again.

"You're coming with me to my next rave." Haru told me before holding up a packet to Yuki, "I wanna try these." The packet read Bottle Rockets.

"What kind are those?" Yuki asked taking the packet from Haru after he opened them, "Do they fly?" He wondered before reading the instructions, "Put it in a bottle, pointed away from you, and light the end of the fuse. Warning: Do not hold it in your hands or point it at people or buildings."

Unknown to him Haru did everything the warning said not to do. He pointed the rocket at Kyo and was ready to light the fuse.

"Don't point it at me!" Kyo yelled, grabbed the rocket before Haru had any chance of setting it off.

"It's alright. I'm sure you can dodge it, Kyo." Haru said, "I believe in you."

Kyo snapped the rocket in half, "Don't believe in me!"

I snorted. It would be funny watching Kyo dodge it, "Think of it as dodge-ball but with a rocket."

"That doesn't matter! Don't point them at people!"

"Uh, um…" Tohru looked unsure on whether or not to get involved. Thankfully Momiji resolved the little banter with…

"Fire crackers!"

"Not so loud!" Kyo tried to yell over the loud popping. Probably doing major damage on his sensitive kitty ears.

"Well they are fire works." Haru replied deadpanned.

Pretty soon we were setting them all off at one time, enjoying the explosions, the vibrant colors, and just enjoying the last precious moments we have until we have to go face reality again.

"Are you okay, Zakura?" Tohru asks me while sitting down next to me on the steps, "You seem a little down."

I smiled softly at her, "Just not looking forward to going back to school."

She nodded, "Right. It's our last year…everything's going to be harder."

Couldn't disagree with her there since it is true. Final year is all about growing up and figuring out where you're going to go in life. "It's going to suck that's for sure."

Yuki soon joined us sitting next to Tohru as he offered her a sparkler, "Enjoying the fireworks display, ladies?" We both nodded. "I have to say thank you to you girls. We've never gotten together like this before. Summer comes every year but you can never have the same summer twice." He gazes fondly at the others lining up the Bottle Rockets, "I'll never forget the wonderful time that I've spent here with everyone."

"We won't either." We said in unison.

"Are we ready for the finale?!" Momiji cheered sitting at Tohru's feet with his arms in the air.

"Yeah!" We all cheered, huddling as close as we could together while Hatsuharu set up the last of the rockets.

I saw Kyo standing off to the side and beckoned him to come sit next to me. He tried to play it off that he was fine where he was but with a little coaxing and teasing from Yuki and I he finally sat down with a huff.

"Alright. Here we go." Haru set off rockets one by one and we all cheered at the wonderful display. It was almost like being at an actual festival.

"Tamaya!" The little ones cheered as the colorful rockets soar through the sky and exploded with beauty.