The past two months had been nothing but hell for Tohru. Momiji on the other hand was having the time of his life. The routine in his day was to walk to school and walk home with junior high girls flocking around him in small talk.

Tohru's day was completely different. It droned with depression and suffocated her with wonder. Her grades began to slip and she lacked more and more sleep each night. She had yet to manage any friends but scored herself a job as a busboy at a restaurant down the street from their small apartment.

She was constantly deprived of any happiness. She couldn't answer simple problems in class and tended to fall asleep.

It was until today that her teacher took notice and asked her to stay after class.

"Honda-San, I am worried about these grades, you went from a solid 'A' and now your well on your way to an 'F'. I have had a talk with the other teachers who seem to experience the same conditions in their classes as well." her Sensei spoke his glasses pushed up against the back of his nose "professionally", hands folded neatly on his desk which might I add was extremely spotless, enameling everything else in the room. One word to explain this all would have to be "Obsessive compulsive disorder."

"Huh?. . .oh I'm sorry Sensei but I have to get to work." Tohru said looking at the time on her wrist watch, she bowed in respect giving him a weak smile before disappearing into the halls of the large school.

"Something tells me she didn't hear a word I said." he thought glumly, his head falling into one of his hands that was propped up on his desk, causing one of his pencils to roll out of place and onto the floor.

His face paled as if touched by a ghost with shivers dancing up and down his spine as he bent down to get it almost having a heart attack after seeing all the gum under his student's desk. He ran from his room in horror coming back a few minutes later with an arm full of cleaning supplies along with a mop and broom.

Tohru hopped into her car and sped off downtown to a small coffee shop.

"AYA I'M HERE." Tohru called out as she went into the employees bathroom to change into her work clothes.

"Tohru-Kun how was your day?" a male voice asked his eyes wandering to the opening door.

"Could have been worse, you?" she asked as she picked up her green apron and filled a pot of coffee for table three in the corner.

"Marvelous yet, I still wish to design clothes instead of run this lousy shop." he asked hope in his eyes as he looked at Tohru.

He had long hair that fell down his back in a waterfall of silver, and his eyes were of a ambitious yellow almost gold, they reminded her so much of Kyo's. . .

Tohru shook her head in a foolish way and slightly smiled at his attempt "Aya as charming as you may be. . .I'm sorry I don't have enough courage as you do when it comes to the runway."

He banged his head on the table in a childish way the muffled words she could just hear were "at least think about it before you say no."

"I will Aya, but I just wish to get through highschool on good terms and good grades let alone modeling for magazines." she snorted as she poured a customer a cup of coffee.

"But look at these designs you can't possibly reject them." he said holding out his sketch book once she took a seat beside him behind the counter.

She looked at him skeptically before flipping open the book.

Five Hours Later

She sat there for hours on end flipping through magazine after magazine only hearing "oh only one more," or "wait you can't stop now the next ones are my best work."

But he was right they were gorgeous outfits, yet the person posing seemed to be too masculine.

"Aya. . .are these. . .men. . .posing in woman's clothing?" Tohru asked as she poured herself her ninth cup of tea and then handing another to Aya. Then closing the 'last' of his books or one could only think.

"You see what I have to work with, I am deprived of the true beauty that is so close in front of me yet so cruelly ripped away as if I am a teased like child in a candy store who doesn't have any money." he said acting out dramatically with his words.

"One the child always gets the candy if he throws a big enough fit, and two. . .wait is that. . .a picture of you?" she asked almost snorting out her tea after seeing her boss in a black evening gown.

"Well that one is an exception to the deprived art, and this kid hasn't gotten the candy he want's." he pouted snatching the book from her.

She laughed. "You have this beautiful coffee shop full of books and yet you aren't great full?" she asked as if he were so blind.

"Tohru-kun." he began throwing an arm around her shoulder. "You are a person to say this place is beautiful, yet I am one to speak as though I was in jail, this place entombs me in nothing but drawn out business work something I don't seem to be good at." he sighed blowing his bangs out of his face. "Please take up my offer I am begging you." he groveled going down on his knees cupping his hands like a pleading child, his eyes glazed over as if he were to cry.

Tohru opened her mouth as if to talk but then closed it trying to pull out words that would make sense to speak.

"I have more designs if I could just disappear for a quick second up stairs to get them. . ." he paused as a smile crept on his face ". . .or of course you and I could go up together." he said with a smile.

She then looked at her watch, "uh, thanks for the offer but um, uh, Look at the time, I have to go I'll come back tomorrow." she said jumping off her stool leaving her apron on its hanger before leaving the small building in a quick rush.

"Wait." he said grabbing her by the arm. "Think about it, seriously you could make a lot of money this way." he said in almost a low whisper as he stopped her by the door.

Tohru bowed her head down. "Yes I know, I'll. . .I'll. . .think about it." she said as she was released from his grip to leave.

Tohru began to climb the many flights of stairs to the top floor of the apartment.

"Why are you so late." were the words that were slapped in her face once she opened the door to her old greying aunt.

"Gomen." she apologized. "I was kept a little later than usual at work." Tohru sighed as she stood in place till she was let pass.

"Good evening Kyoko-San." and old man smiled as he averted his eyes from the newspaper he was reading to look at his young granddaughter.

"Its Tohru grandpa." a teenage girl said as she walked out of her room and into the kitchen.

Tohru yawned a quick hello to her grandfather before disappearing behind her bedroom door one that she shared with Momiji.

"TOHRU-KUN" the boy cried as he jumped out from underneath the bed and hugged his foster sister.

"Oh Momiji did I hurt you?" Tohru asked afraid that she had hurt him when she had fallen onto the bed.

The boy shook his head no with a smile and held out a hand.

In his hand he held a small white letter. "I kept it from uncle so he hasn't read it." Momiji whispered.

Tohru sweat dropped and hugged Momiji in a silent thanks.

Her uncle never trusted her for some strange reason and he even went to the trouble of getting Tohru a background check.

"OPEN IT, OPEN IT." Momiji squealed jumping up and down. "I know its from Kyoooooo." the young teen grinned as he sing sang the last of his words.

"Aren't you quite the optimist." she laughed as she tore open the side.

She started to read what it said and smiled. He did miss her, yet her smile formed into a frown as she read on.

I need you to listen to what I have to say

its not that I want to hurt you but right now. . .

But it seems that the one who is hurting me is you

I never want to see you again because if I did,

than it would make things harder for me, don't

call cause I don't want to hear you, I would like

nothing more to do with you aside from this letter,

Please take this into kind terms and I hope that you

will find someone better to love for the rest of your life.

A Single tear rolled down his cheeks as he read over and over what she had written to him. "But why?" was all he could ask himself. "How could I have caused her so much pain if all we wanted to do was be together. . ."

"Poor Kyon-Kyon." a voice snickered. "I told she was trouble from the start."

"Shut UP I DON'T WANT YOUR OPINION!" Kyo growled as he began to throw a fit only making Akito's smile widen.

"Pleasant dreams." were the sickly words as Akito disappeared behind the door once again, locking it.

"Tohru why?" Kyo thought he hugged his knees to his chest ". . .why. . ." were the words repeated in silent sobs. ". . Why. . ."

Tohru sat during dinner only picking at her food as she first arranged it in colors then in shapes and soon in small sections trying to make it look like she had eaten something.

"Is something wrong with my food?" her aunt asked crudely looking at Tohru as if she were dust on her China.

"Oh not at all, I'm sorry I'm just feeling a little tired is all." she apologized.

"Well hurry up and eat your dinner before it gets cold." she scolded going back to her own meal.

There was a long awkward pause after that.

"If you don't mind I would like to be excused." she spoke softly clearly still hurt from her letter she had received earlier.

"No! Now sit down this is a family dinner, no more of your vanishing acts to talk on the phone with this adolescent boyfriend of yours." her uncle growled as he glared at her.

She hid her eyes under her bangs as she continued to speak. "He is not my boyfriend. . .we are no longer together."

It was then that the table had awkward silence plague the ever going voices.

She quietly shut her door leaning back against it as she fell to the floor in a heap of tears.

Her mother's voice ringing in her ears. "There is always a light in the darkest corner you just have to try hard and find it."

Tohru sniffled a moment and then reached for her phone.

It rang a few times before a friendly response tickled Tohru's ear.

"Hi Aya? This is Tohru. . .no nothing is wrong I'm just tired is all. . .good and you. . .that's good. . .Aya!. . .well yes I have something to say. . .do you" she paused starting to rethink her actions but then her gaze found the trash bin on her right and it was then that she knew she had to get out of this place

". . .do you still need me to model?. . ." she held the phone away from her ear as she heard the man shrill in excitement.

"When can you pick me up?. . .oh! And I have someone I'm taking with me. . .no he won't cause any trouble I promise. . .alright I'll have my things packed by the time you get here. . .look for a white limo?. . .okay I will take care Aya. . .alright bu-bye." Tohru smiled as she hung up the phone and strode over to her closet and pulled out only one outfit, the picture of her mother, and then Momiji's things packing them all in one suitcase that was stored in the very back.

"Knock, knock." an old feeble voice rang from the other side.

"Come in." Tohru said shoving her suitcase under the bed.

"Kyoko-San, is there anything you would like to talk about?"

"Its Tohru Grandpa." Tohru said giving him a weak smile as he closed the door and then came over to sit next to her on the bed.

"Isn't that what I said?" he asked as he held her hand in his.

Tohru just laughed.

"You sound just like your mother, yet you look so much like your father." he said still smiling at her.

"No only you grandpa." Tohru said giving him a weak smile.

"I heard of your little plans on the phone, funny story actually, I was just going to call, um, um, well that doesn't matter anyways I heard about your little escape plan tonight so I wanted to give you this." he said handing her a debit card.

"Oh grandpa I couldn't take your money I wouldn't feel right if I did."

"It's not mine it was your mother's and she left all her money to you, so it is your money."

"Thank you so much." she said as she hugged the old man tightly.

"Please take care Kyoko-San I'm sure you will give your daughter the life you always wanted." the old man said as he hugged her back.

Tohru giggled as she pulled out her suitcase and talked with her grandfather as she continued packing. She never knew why he always called her, her mother's name, but he started ever since they began to live with her aunt and uncle.

Unknown to them there were a pair of ears that had heard Tohru's whole charade and planned to destroy what ever Tohru had. He laughed to himself as he set a pot of tea in the kitchen on the stove.

"Hey can Momiji have some too?" the little boy asked as he bounced into the kitchen.

"No."

"Please!"

"I said no"

"But that's not fair why do you always get to drink it and I don't."

"Cause you won't like it."

"Yes I do."

"No you don't"

"Do too"

"Do not"

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"I SAID DO NOT YOU LITTLE RUNT AND WHAT I SAY GOES!"

Momiji looked at him as if he were crazy.

". . .please?. . ."

"Ugh! FINE." the man said pouring the younger boy some adding three sleeping pills to Momiji's before handing it to the smaller boy. "Happy?"

"Mhm." Momiji smiled. "Hey Tohru-Kun you want tea too?" Momiji asked as he waved to the invisible person behind his uncle.

As gullible as the old fool is the man turned around to find that he was facing a solid white wall.

"And he think's I'm the stupid one." Momiji thought as he quickly switched the cups of tea so that his uncle had the one with the medication in it.

"There is no one there." the older man growled through gritted teeth as he turned around.

"Oh that was the imaginary Tohru." Momiji lied but hid it with a wide smile.

"Oh, well drink up." the man said with a wicked grin.

"Mmm this is good." Momiji said as he dawned the last of his cup. "Well I'm gunna go play with Tohru."

"Have fun." the older man grumbled as he sipped his tea and hid his satisfied grin behind the newspaper on the table. "In less then an hour he should be out for the next three days or so.

"Yeah right, wow guy doesn't give me enough credit." Momiji thought to himself as he rolled his eyes, entering his and Tohru's room.

"Are we going on a trip???!!!" Momiji asked excitedly as he saw the suitcase on the bed.

"Yes but it's a secret so don't tell anyone."

"Oh is Grandpa coming???" the boy asked looking at the feeble old man.

"No momiji I have to stay here for a while, but I promise to come visit once you get to your new home."

"new home?" the boy asked confused.

"Yes you and I are going on an adventure." Tohru said beaming at the boy's delight

"Really?!?!" Momiji cried.

"Really, now you have to stay quiet when we leave though."

"Okay." Momiji agreed with a smile as he bounced on his bed.

One Hour Later

Tohru and Momiji crept their way to the door passing the kitchen Tohru saw that her uncle was past out on the table snoring, and knowing well that her aunt had gone to bed early.

"I will walk you two down to the entrance door." the old man smiled as he guided them down the many rows of stairs to the large glass door.

He first embraced Momiji and whispered into his ear, "I want you to take care of Kyoko-San and her daughter, I am counting on you now." he smiled and then embraced Tohru. "Now Kyoko-San I know it will be hard at first, but im sure you'll give your little girl something to smile about everyday that she opens her eyes."

"Aw Grandpa your going to make me cry." Tohru smiled as she hugged him back.

She and Momiji both knew that it was his memory that was getting Tohru and Kyoko mixed up and thought maybe this is how Kyoko started life as well, besides Tohru wasn't pregnant.

Laughing at the thought Tohru stepped away and took hold of Momiji's hand.

"Goodbye. . .for now." were the girls last words as she and Momiji slipped into the white limo and were off into the highlighted city.

-Blood-

okay first off I want to say thank you to the two people that reviewed and I'm glad you like it so much well second to answer all of Edd Edd's questions my answer is that the story I am writing is well. . .I call it warped see I am making it so that Tohru can hug the male zodiacs and Momiji's story, will come up in one of my later chapters I'm glad you people really like my story

-Blood-