A/N: Since I got no reply in regards to Kagura mom's name, I'm going to make one up for her b/c I'm too lazy to type Kagura's mom all the time, her first name will be…Natsuko.

And I got a request to remind ppl who the characters in Shigure's books R in relations to the actual Furuba characters. And I thought I should to reduce confusions so…

Rumusa Akago Souma Kagura

Samo Yuuko Souma Kyou

Maki Youso Souma Yuki

Dan Ohuruto Honda Touru

L Yes, they're anagrams (which is Y most of these names aren't even real Japanese names)

Chapter 9

Kyou frowned as he put down the novel; it was blatantly obvious that the story was based on him, Yuki, Tohru, and Kagura. But why did Shigure have to portray him as such a…bastard? Shigure did seem to have a pretty good insight, at the very least into his character.

Kyou wondered if all the stuff Shigure written were true, 'Did Kagura really phoned everyday while I was training, to see if I was back; constantly worrying that I might be injured in the middle of nowhere? Did she really take marital arts just so she could be with me and better relate with me, even though she hated violence? Does she carry that teddy bear backpack everywhere because I gave it to her, when we were kids?'

Kyou believe Shigure's novel had some merit, since he did give her that backpack which Kyou totally forgot about. And he did remember commenting to Kagura how she looked nice in green; of course in Shigure's novel, some details were changed, like Yuuko commenting Akago in the color blue, instead.

'Guess I should return these books to her tomorrow.'

Kyou knocked on the door, Kagura's kaasan, Natsuko was the one to open the door, "Kyou-kun?"

"Ohayou, Auntie. I came to return something to Kagura."

"Oh, come in," she said and cried, "Kagura!"

"Nani!"

"Kyou's here!"

"Oh, Kyou come up!" Kagura called back.

He went up the stairs and found Kagura in her room on a ladder. Her room was as uniquely as she mentioned, with the ceiling painted blue with white clouds and her walls were painted to give the feeling that one shrank and is now surrounded by grass, higher than one's head.

"Kyou can you help me hold the ladder?"

He went over and held it, "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get that spider," she said.

"Don't you have a broom? Just use that to kill it."

"I don't want to kill it, just to capture it, so I can toss it outside," she said with a smile, "after all spiders are helpful in catching mosquitoes and bugs, ne?"

"I suppose."

"Oh, you're still holding onto the books?" she said, "you can put them-"

As she waved her hands towards a bookshelf, she lost her footing and slipped. With his cat like reflexes, Kyou caught her. Kyou looked at her and felt really odd, he felt…very comfortable, and warm. Kagura was blushing slightly and at that moment he saw her differently…he found her beautiful…

"Arigatou…" she said softly.

He blinked and let go of her waist, "Be more careful next time."

"Uh…hai."

"I'll help you get the spider," he stated, putting down the bag and grabbing the cup for her hands.

Kagura nodded, "Arigatou…again."

"Don't mention it," he said climbing the ladder, and placed the cup over the spider.

Kagura held out a coaster to him, he slid it between the cup and the ceiling, trapping the spider inside the cup, "Here."

"Well, done," Kagura said and went to the open window where she place the cup against the outside wall and waited for the spider to climb out.

'I never knew she was such a kind-hearted person.'

She closed the window and turned to him, "Done reading so fast? Good wasn't it?"

"I guess…"

"Who are you rooting for?" she asked.

"No real preference…" he said, "you?"

"Akago and Yuuko," she said without hesitation.

'Go figures,' he thought, "then you must hate Dan."

Kagura shook her head, "I like Dan, it's not his fault that Yuuko likes him, and he is really likeable, ne?"

"Yuuko doesn't deserve Akago's love…" he said.

"I disagree," Kagura said, "I don't think love can be judge as deserving or not. Akago can't help but love her. Love isn't something that can be controlled or rationalized."

Kyou looked at her, she seemed worked up, "If you were Akago would you persist?"

"I don't know if I can persist like him. Liking someone that doesn't like you is tough. Knowing they like another is tougher, but the worst thing of all…is knowing they don't need you…that to them you're nothing more than an annoyance…"

Kyou noticed her eyes were rimmed with tears. He searched around her room and pulled a tissue from the Kleenex box on the dresser, "Don't cry."

She brushed her cheek with the tissue, "I didn't even realize I was crying. I cry way too easily. But you really shouldn't hate Yuuko, he has his own pain."

"He?" Kyou said.

"Did I say he? I meant she…" Kagura said.

'Is Kagura starting to remember?' I wondered and decided, "I…I got to go! Bye!"

"Bye, Kyou!" she called after him

"Sayonara, Auntie," Kyou said.

"Sayonara," Natsuko said and went up to check on her daughter, she got up there to find her daughter blowing her nose, "Kagura."

"Kaasan, nani?"

"Were you crying?" Natsuko asked.

Kagura nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, just a little though."

Natsuko frowned, 'I got to have a talk with Kyou.'

Later that Night:

Yuki climbed onto the rooftop.

"What are you doing here?" Kyou demanded.

"Kagura's mom is here to see you."

'She's here? Why?' Kyou wondered and grunted in acknowledgement, before climbing back into the window.

He found her in the living room talking to Shigure, "Um…you wanted to talk to me Auntie Natsuko?"

Natsuko looked up, "Yeah. You want to go for a walk with me?"

"Sure."

They were walking in a very uncomfortable silence, and Kyou felt extremely nervous.

"Kyou-kun, I hope you can leave Kagura alone," she said softly.

Kyou was surprised by the request.

Natsuko turned to him and continued, "I know you don't mean to hurt Kagura, but that's what you do. I'm her mother but I feel completely helpless. I can't share in her pain. I can't help her with her curse, it something she has to deal with herself. I can't even bring her happiness; all I can do is stand by and watch my daughter suffer.

"For the past decade, I never seem her truly happy, with a genuine smile on her face. All I see are those sorrowful smiles or those smiles she puts up to comfort me. But as useless as I am, I'm not blind, I can tell she's not happy, and that there's nothing behind those smiles.

"But the past month I've seen her more lively and happier than she's ever been. When she smiles, I can actually feel the joy behind it. She's less shy, more talkative, and more willing to share her feelings with people, including me. That was when I realized the cause of her pain and sorrow was never the jyuunishi curse, it was you."

That hit him like a ton of bricks, he felt like he's just been slapped in the face.

"I beg you, Kyou, please let Kagura be. Don't cause her anymore pain. Kagura always told me you're a nice person, so please prove her correct. I believe, like me, you don'twant to see her cry, right?"

"Right…"

"Then promise me, you'll leave her alone. You'll stay away from her."

Kyou nodded and vowed quietly, "I promise."

TBC

A/N: Bwahahahaha! Now Kyou will be wallowing in his own guilt. L Alright probably not, I'm not that mean. I'll be updating on Aug. 6.