A/N- this idea actually came to me while I was waiting for a good TV show to be on at 3 in the morning. Tell me if you like it! I know the heads will roll when I put up a third story, when I already have two others, but I was thinking of deleting one of them anyway. The POV's are really confusing, so ill tell you-the flash forwards are in he POV of another character. Oh, and btw, I STILL don't think my italics are working, so ill just put thoughts in single quotations. Ok! Let the fic begin!

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Flash Forward

I lay on the floor. Hatori slowly finished the bandages winding up my back. I winced my eyes in pain, but I knew that I had to be strong. For his sake. "Dad..." I felt the small sigh of a word escape my lips, before falling into a restless sleep. Hatori watched the familiar scene, with pain filled eyes.



The wounds would heal in time, but he knew that the only support that was given to the child was through the memory of a father she had never known. He glanced down, and softly ruffled the sleeping child's silver hair. Gently, softly, he picked her up, and left her to rest. When leaving the room he stopped, and stared back at the room.

He knew it was a room that only four people had ever set foot in. The victims, Akito, and himself. He blinked, and pushed back those thought and memories. Whatever happened in that room, it was his job to heal the aftermath. He turned his head away, trying to repress the pictures that were flooding his mind. Sighing, he turned, and finally left, leaving behind a little girl, and buried memories that had stayed buried too long.

End Flash Forward

Present Times

Tohru, Kyo, and I were walking to school, hand in hand. I knew that we would have to split up soon. We didn't want anyone finding out that Tohru lived with us. Or near us, for that matter. I regretfully broke my hand contact, and Tohru did the same, as we approached my fan club.

It was really obsessive, but Tohru told me that they are only trying to express their love for me. I don't see why contorting your body to spell 'love me Yuki' is really necessary, but it certainly is expressive, so I let them. It earns a lot of snide comments from the baka neko, but it makes Tohru happy that I acknowledge them, just like when I notice Ayame. I carefully braced myself, and let them start their acrobatics.

I gave them a smile, the cold one, my prince look superiority. All three girls stopped what they were doing to stare at me. 'Ok, I'm done now. I made the girls happy, I can go to school now.' I walked passed them, slowly, regally, and into the building. I kept my focus on Tohru, who was in front of me. It was almost ironic. I had girls who desperately wanted to be with me, yet the one girl who I actually wanted to be with was the one who wasn't falling all over me, starting fan clubs, or dressing me up like a girl. I knew that she had yet to choose between Kyo or me, and knowing her, the thought to make a decision probably never crossed her mind, but each day I found myself caring more for the one girl who accepted us, loved us all the same. I gazed longingly at her, now approaching her two other friends, and started to talk with them. Sighing, I turned away, and began my student council duties.

Flash Forward

I woke up to find myself in a bed, with my bandages completed. I carefully slid out of the sheets, and made my way down the hall. I crept along, and slipped noiselessly outside. I ran quickly, and silently down a hill, and into the forest that surrounded part of the huge house. I stopped shortly after reaching a small stretch of earth.

Small dark leaves pushed upwards, soaking up sunlight. Deep red fruit hung heavy on the branches, bending the boughs down. I smiled, and plucked a red berry from the plant closest to me. I bit into it, and savored the sweetness. I heard footsteps behind me, and turned to see Hatori coming towards me. I stood up, and brushed the dirt from my cloths.

"Im sorry." I heard him say quietly, "I tried to get you out soon...but..." he broke off, not wanting to make an excuse for letting me be locked in that room. I still faced away from him, not wanting to meet his eyes. I knew I shouldn't be mad at him, he couldn't help it. But I needed to blame SOMEONE, and Akito was too powerful. I felt him take another step forward, and automatically cringed away. He stopped, then turned away, and started walking away. His parting words made me want to follow him, though I didn't.

"When you conquer your fears, come with me. I may have found a way to show you your...father." I waited for him to leave, then broke down in silent sobs. My father...both of my parents had died in a landslide that happened near their house. Someone had said that was where they first met, when my mother was living in a tent.

I missed them both, but everyone always said how much I looked and acted like my father. I wish they wouldn't. It was like putting a spotlight on the fact he was gone. My mother was someone who everyone had loved. Needed. But no one more than my dad. His 'third love' Haru called her. 'Sister' Kisa called her. 'Lectures worthy of a crepe' Hiro muttered.

She had helped them all. But...everyone always said it was my father she was meant to be with. When I was old enough to ask why, Hatori paused before answering, "She was our spring. Always warm. I asked her, myself. I was sitting out on the front porch...and it started to snow. I remembered something Kana once asked me...so I turned around, and asked, "what does snow turn into when it melts?" ... And she replied..."it turns into spring! Isn't it amazing? No matter how cold, snow always melts."

My father was snow...my mother was spring. The only thing I remember about them was a song my mother used to sing to me every night. I guess when all you have of your parents is a lullaby, you don't forget it easily. I've clung to that song for 10 years. I don't even have a picture. Not one single one. But that's my fault...I didn't want one. It would be like confirming the fact they are dead. I mean, I know they're dead. I've known it for the past 10 years. But I didn't want to believe it. I was told the strongest bond between my father and I was our curse. Know one knew how my curse was delayed, but it doesn't change the fact that it was.

More to the point, when I inherited the curse of the mouse, I was placed immediately into the custody of Akito. He always told me that the mouse what special, the mouse was...different. That my only friend was him. And that it would always stay that way. I had lessons in pain and torture, lessons meant to break my will. What Akito didn't realize was that in trying to break me, he made me stronger. I distanced myself from everyone. If they got close to me, they could hurt me. So no one could get close to me. I practiced holding everything in, keeping my face placid, blank, regal. My expressions were automatic. I regarded everyone, and everything around me with a calm ease and grace like flowing water. I was admired, respected, and envied. I was perfect. I was the mouse. But inside the ice mask, I had a cracking heart. One that needed help from ones so long deceased that I could only remember a comforting song. And when everything gets to be...too much, I go out to my garden, curl up into a ball, and start to sing myself to sleep.

And when I heard the words coming from Hatori's mouth, I did just that. I tucked my knees up to my chin, leant against a tree, and started to sing, my clear soprano voice quelled to a trembling song, as I felt my lips form the words that had never been forgotten.

I was so happy...

When you smiled at me...

With a smile that melts away everything...

Spring is still far away...

And the earth is still cold...

Waiting for the first sprout to come out...

And even though today is painful...

Even though yesterdays scars remain,

If I open my heart that wants to believe...

I can't change being born...

But I can change as I go along...

Lets stay together

Forever

The last word rang in the nearby trees. I gathered all my strength, and stood up. Mustering enough willpower to keep walking, I focused everything on the next step forward. I finally reached Hatori's door, and slid it open.

I saw Hatori sitting at a desk, smoking. I walked over, not wanting to talk, and knowing he would understand why I came without words. He looked up, and spoke. "Ready?" he asked, in a soft voice that he only used after I had been taken out of my room with Akito. The voice he used when he was telling me that he would try to get me out soon. The voice reserved for bracing a person for the best or the worst.

I couldn't bring myself to speak. Instead I just nodded. He carefully handed me a thin, square package, covered in brown paper. "Read that. I don't know the exact effects...or the duration of time you will stay there. But I know that, one way or another, you will be transported back into a time where your parents and Kyo were all living in Shigures' house, as 16 year olds. It shouldn't be too hard to find them. And...this way, you will at least know him. You are so much like him; sometimes it's hard to believe. But...please. Until you find your own spring, use this. Don't tell anyone else. Go to your room now, and if anyone asks, tell them its doctors orders for you to take the week off. Ill think of something to tell Akito. And...good luck."

A/N-whew! A long chapter! I wanted to make this one chapter long...I could have easily written this story till it was done in one chapter, but I wanted some reviews first. k! now review, all ye reviewers!