Okay, so apparently people really like this story, which I appreciate. Read and Review and all that, but updates are gonna be painfully slow because it takes me forever to get into the mindset and style for this fic and then takes equally as long for me to remember where I'm going with this. I know where I wanna end up, the how I get there is a little iffy.

That's one reason this is on Hiatus so often and for so long.

Also, it's not my main work at the current moment. It should be because it's something I'm allowed to post at the moment, but it's not. Life is a complex series of numbers in the ever expanding universe and I am lost. What is math? What is life? I'm tired.

Last time on The Forgotten:

Lucy and the Sohma family have caught up for the most part! Shigure and Ayame sat down and had a conversation about Little Lucy, their princess. Akito is still infuriated as far as we know, and we got a nice flashback of Kyo and Lucy when they were younger.

The Forgotten - Confessions, Confessions (Chapter Seven)

"So what is it you do for a living?" Kyo asked as he and his sister maneuvered around the girls kitchen. His voice was a whisper as he tried not to wake the other's up. Whether he did or not was of little consequence to him, but he didn't really want to deal with Kagura until Lucy finished cooking.

He also didn't really care to play mind tricks at the moment. Neither did she.

"I take job requests from the guild, go on the missions, and collect a reward for it." Lucy whispered back. "There are plenty of jobs for me to easily make up my rent, and I still have money leftover each month. Cash flows good, and I try not to slack around too much."

"But you haven't really gone all out either, have you?"

"Might be kinda hard to explain how I learned a shit ton of martial arts and hardly use magic in a magic guild. Besides, most of the people I fight are magic users who don't really give you time to throw a regular punch. When you have time, it's a person that won't be too affected." Lucy stated. "I'm used to hiding that part of myself anyways, no point in changing it now."

"You could always come with us and pretend to have learned." Kyo offered, fixing a mug of coffee for himself.

"I guess I could." Lucy agreed. "I'll think about it."

"All I ask." Kyo stated, turning around and leaning back against the counter. For a moment, it was peaceful. Almost like they were real siblings again.

The sun peeked over the horizon, bringing an orange tinge to the sky that drew the attention of both, and they watched in silence as it rose, creating waves of beautiful colors. Soft smiles found their way to each of their faces as light reached them.

It was breathtaking.

Slowly but surely, the other Zodiac children and teens awoke, joining the two in the kitchen as Lucy finished up breakfast. Plates were grabbed and food snatched up as they scarfed down anything they could get their hands on, in a manner strikingly similar to some other people she knew…

'Stop.' Her brother's voice echoed around her head. 'It's not worth thinking about them all the time. If they were really your friends, they would have been more considerate to your feelings before abandoning you.'

'Big words coming from someone who can never say what they mean to.' Lucy thought back bitterly. Her brother had never really been much for words, and his helpful information often came off as rude comments. Still, she could have phrased it better, or just not sent it at all. Regret washed over her like a river, especially after feeling the pang of something it gave her brother. 'Sorry. I'm sorry. Just… I'm not in the mood to argue about this with you right now.'

'My fault.' Kyo reassured her. 'I shouldn't be butting in, but I don't want you to keep letting it consume you. You should just forget about it for now.'

'...Yeah. Okay.' With that, the siblings tuned back into the conversation at hand, Momiji telling her about the time he first met Tohru. Despite knowing what would happen if he was caught, he hugged the girl in a very public place. Lucy had to hand it to him, the kid was definitely gutsy.

Hatsu-Haru had absolutely destroyed the Student council president, and he took care of Yuki when he was sick with Tohru

Kagura had settled into visiting her brother more often. She also visited Tohru a lot, they liked talking to each other.

Hiro's first meeting with Tohru, he'd stolen something from her.

Kisa was treating Tohru like a big sister now.

Momiji had taken Tohru to see his mother.

So much about this Tohru girl that Lucy had to remind herself that these people were her family talking about a girl that lived with Kyo and Yuki, not her guild talking about or to Lisanna. It was a hard connection to shake once she'd made it in her mind, and she had to take extra care to not let the mask on her face show to be false.

That didn't stop Kyo from noticing it. Thankfully, when it came around to her brother's turn, the topic switched rather quickly. Kyo had trained more with Shisshou in order to finally beat Yuki, but still had yet to succeed.

"I'm sure we could team up once we get back. He can't take both of us at the same time, right?" Lucy offered, laying her chin against the back of her hand as her elbow on the table supported it.

"Damn right!" Kyo was grinning now, eyes lighting up at the prospect of fighting with his sister by his side once more. They'd missed this. Lucy was the other half of their set, the more reserved one with better social skills. Kyo was brash and harsh, never one to be quiet or sit still for too long.

The two couldn't reach harmony without both being present and accounted for, separate souls restless and even more exaggerated in their traits. Shigure had once likened their state of mind together as dulled and muted colors clashing to bring together a watercolor masterpiece, and apart they were loud acrylics each trying to color over the other in chaotic strokes of separate brushes.

It was a wonder they were ever able to live on their own.

"Haven't you two fought him together before?" Haru leaded further forwards as he asked, eyes searching the two's faces like he was trying to figure something out. That was another thing, Haru tended to be good at reading her.

It was a good thing she'd already figured he would. She could hide it from him, it just took a bit more effort.

"Didn't you lose?" Hiro commented, giving her new focus.

"Hey!" Lucy turned to face the young boy fully. "I was about your age back when we did that. Don't underestimate how much Kyo and I have grown in our fighting skills."

"Just cause you were young doesn't mean you didn't lose. Besides, you'd both lose to Dark Haru."

The thought caused a shiver to run down the twin's spines, and the two shared a look. No, they couldn't.

"So how long is Big Sis staying at the estate?" Kisa asked. "Before you move in with Kyo and the others I mean."

"Umm…"

Do you guys even have room for me there?

You could ask Akito if we could get a temporary house for the time you're staying. That or you would need to bunk with one of us.

Do I need to go to school?

According to Shigure, it depends.

On?

Didn't say.

"2 days or so?"

Hiro squirmed a bit in his chair, pulling his eyes up to look at the girl before looking down again. "Are you gonna go see your mom?"

That was one question she could answer with absolute certainty. "Of course."

"So that's where Kyo went." A brunette stated to herself, face going from worried to relieved quickly. "I'm glad."

"Yes, he and Lucy have been out of contact for quite some time. It's only natural that he would want to see her in person shortly after lettering each other."

"I suppose that means the quiet won't last much longer." Yuki commented coldly. It wasn't that he didn't like Lucy, quite the opposite actually. Lucy was quite a bit like Torhu in that they were both so kind and caring, but the first would always follow her brother's example. Kyo had a problem with Yuki, and though Lucy had no problem accepting the rat she would side with the fiery ginger.

Afterall, Lucy was still a cat with a curse.

He had missed his cousin.

Shigure sat in the comfortable silence as he watched the two soak in the news, a smile on his face. Princess was quite the joy to be around, and he wondered how long she would be able to stay with the family. Kyo hadn't been very specific in that.

"Umm-" Two sets of eyes turned to Tohru as she spoke. "-What's Miss Lucy like?"

Shigure and Yuki shared a smile before turning back to their curious housemate. Shigure was the first to answer.

"Well, Lucy is-"

"Akito is really that furious about it, huh?"

"It's rare to see him in such a state."

"That it is! How do you do it Hori?" Ayame asked, patting Hatori on the back as he did.

Hatori didn't answer. He never did.

"Do you think she even knows?" The snake asked instead.

"If she did, I doubt she would have agreed to come back to this place. The cursed that are here would never do so willingly either."

"You would. If it were for Akito."

"... She's still family, and she's my patient."

"And you're still loyal to her. Where most of us gave up a long time ago, you continue to look for the good in our dear Akito. You know, you and Miss Tohru are quite similar in that aspect. Princess is the same."

"You don't really think she's loyal to the person that ordered her to be banished."

"On the contrary. I don't think she remembers any of it."

ZELRU IS OFFICIALLY BEATING NALU!

HarLu at 4
ZerLu at 2
NaLu at 1

It's because Nalu is shorter and therefore not right for the time gaps between updates.