This one's kind of longish I suppose, but that's only because there wasn't a convenient place to end the chapter without cutting someone's part short, which is evil and I don't often enjoy doing it. Actually though, I think I did cut some parts in chapters 19 and 21... oh well, you'll have to see! For now though here's 18. I promise that it won't take months for me to put up the next chapters -I solemnly swear!

KS:

Life's blood creeping through her veins

Everything's real in her fantasies,

Innocence lost to us all,

But alive within her.

Reality lost in her eyes,

Forgiven by all, but

To us forgiveness is lost.

She liked it. It was an okay start, perhaps for another song. Thinking about how her other verses had been better, she crawled on her knees over to her large suitcase, drawing out a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, foxes and paw prints decorating the black based pants. She drew out an old t-shirt and began to change into her sleepwear.

She tied up her hair and descended back into the living room, otherwise known as the eye of the storm.

Hatori was on the couch, reading a thick book that Shigure must have lent him. All around him was chaos. Kyo and Yuki were squabbling in the kitchen, Shigure was poking at Tohru because she was cleaning, and Kaye just had to stand there and stare, realizing that this was her family and she was stuck with it.

She laughed and picked up a random book behind Hatori. It was beside all the others, ignored and unwanted. Without even looking at it she hopped over to Hatori and stuck her head right in the middle of him and his book.

"Hey there!" she grinned at her foster father.

He smirked and hit the back of her head with his book. She grunted lightly and laughed. Hatori picked up the book that was in Kaye's hands and looked at it, his eyes widening slightly.

"What? What's the matter?" Kaye asked, grabbing the book back before Hatori could throw it into the fire that was against the wall, near his feet.

Kaye looked at it and sighed, 'A Summer Colored Sigh, A naughty love tail unfolds.' By Shigure Sohma.

"Oh God," Kaye sighed and tossed it aside, explaining quite quickly that she had just grabbed a random book.

She picked up another book titled 'The Last Unicorn' and looked at it interestedly, then putting it down, set herself down on the floor and leaned against the couch. She searched for a TV box to turn on the TV and finally succeeded in doing so, finding it under the couch.

Kaye turned on the TV and flipped through the channels, very bored. After flipping through for what seemed like the fiftieth time, Hatori stole the box and went to his own channel.

Kaye sighed and began to watch The Mummy Returns, the only good thing on TV. Eventually, the others filed into the room. Hatori sat up on the couch so Shigure and Yuki would have a seat, Kyo took up the whole love seat and Tohru sat next to Kaye on the ground.

IS:

"It's too bad about the gloomy weather," Tohru mused, looking out the wall-to-floor window at the opposite wall. "I sure hope it clears up tomorrow."

"It better," Kyo muttered, his fist baring into his temple as he lazily witnessed the mummy arising. "I didn't come up here to feel lazy."

"Kyo, this a vacation spot," Shigure said as though the cat boy was terribly stupid. "Why else would you come up here?" Kyo didn't answer stubbornly. Kaye giggled and shoved Tohru who turned to her quite casually, not understanding. Kyo glanced at her quickly before turning to glare at the T.V. instead.

"It seems winter doesn't know about this place," Yuki mused the next morning, referring to the unseasonable warm weather and clear skies. He turned to see Tohru poking around the kitchen, making sure her picnic was all ready. Yes, she'd been so excited about the nice weather that she'd packed a picnic lunch for them to eat at the beach. "You know Miss Honda, you really didn't have to…"

"Oh no, no, I wanted to!" Tohru exclaimed anxiously. "Really, it's such a gorgeous day out, we really shouldn't waste it!"

Yuki could see that he wasn't going to faze her and smiled instead. "No. I suppose we can't."

Shigure's unmistakably sarcastic sigh greeted them shortly after. "It's such a shame that such a wonderful lunch be wasted on those who can't appreciate it. But, I guess only the young and growing are worthy of eating your masterpieces Tohru."

Tohru looked as though her heart had stopped. "Oh, that's not it at all, look!" She flew over to the refrigerator and tore the door open, revealing a vast array of pre-made and delicious looking meals. "I felt a bit guilty, so, I made sure you and Hatori had something to eat! Although, I would much rather you two came with us…"

"Careful Tohru or you'll get him started again," Hatori warned warily as he entered the room. He hid a yawn after his statement had been… stated.

"Oh, good morning Hatori!" Tohru greeted with her ever-popular smile. He smiled back at her faintly and peered past Shigure into the fridge.

"You really didn't have to make all that, Tohru."

"Of course she did, she's Tohru!" Kaye called from the doorway. She was once again riding on Kyo's back, something she seemed to be doing a lot lately. "I don't really know how she made so much out of the little table scraps that were left around here, but, she's just amazing like that." Tohru blushed and Kaye told her ahead of time not to be so modest. She hopped off her brother's back and danced through a few rooms, calling, "When are we leaving?"

"I'm going to miss this weather…" Kaye sighed as the four of them walked down toward the beach. "I hate winter."

"Really?" Tohru asked, tilting her head in pure curiosity. She stood between Kyo and Yuki as always, the picnic basket flanked between Yuki and herself. Kaye was a little ahead of them. "But winter's really pretty Kaye! The first snow, school vacation, and the new year!"

Tohru had struck a nerve there. Both Kyo and Yuki stopped walking at almost the same instant, looking at the ground instantly. Both girls turned to look at them, Kaye sighing, Tohru looking intensely distressed. "I'm sorry!" she cried in haste. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to upset you…"

"Don't worry about it…" Kyo mumbled.

"It's not a big deal," Yuki tried to reassure himself just as much as Tohru. "We'll just skip out like we did last year." Yuki's insides still squirmed at the thought of what Akito might do. He hadn't thought at all about New Years.

"A-are you sure?" Tohru asked timidly, looking from one Sohma to the other. "I mean, I don't want you to stay home this year just because of me… I mean, not after the trouble I caused last year… Shouldn't you at least go this year?"

"What? You stayed home last year?" Kaye asked in disbelief. No way, impossible. She looked between Yuki and Kyo proudly. "Finally standing up to Akito, eh?" There was no response. "But, it is cute that you two stayed home last year… Just to keep Tohru company…" Kyo and Yuki perked up slightly and both glanced at Tohru, then turned away. "But can't you stay with a friend this year, Tohru? I'm actually looking forward to the party and seeing everyone!" She nudged her brother. "Don't you want to prove to them that I didn't dye my hair because I was ashamed of being your twin?"

Kyo smirked slightly, half amused, half annoyed. "Despite the joy that would bring me there's no way I'm stepping back through those gates." He remembered how he'd stood on the roof that day when Tohru went to go see Akito, how he hadn't been allowed to go inside and help. New Years was a joke. It was all… 'Oo, family, family. Big happy family…' All bullshit.

Kaye watched Yuki carefully; he'd become very, very quiet. 'He's unsure of what he should do,' she thought sadly. 'Akito must have scared the piss out of him last year if he'd skipped out… I wonder what Akito would do if he missed the banquet a second year?' "But hey, why are we even talking about that? It's over a month away. It's only November." But, alas, the end of November. It was closer than they thought.

Thankfully the air had cleared of the tense subject by the time they were settled down with their picnic. Tohru handed out the plates of food and sandwiches to everyone and then sat back on the sand and thought.

She'd missed a day of school, and hadn't told Uo or Hana that she would be absent. She sank slightly, hoping they wouldn't worry. But, then again, they might, considering the three Sohmas were amiss as well. Uo would ask Haru or Momiji, though, she knew she would. Content upon that Tohru enjoyed the rest of her meal without cares, happily chatting away with Kaye and the boys.

Just as they were nearing the end of their meal angry clouds blew in above them, setting the wind chill down to at most 50. Kaye shivered slightly. "Knew I should have brought a hoodie," she growled, smacking her hand. Kaye observed that her brother had laid himself back on the sand, eyes closed, not looking eager at all to get up. "Looks like rain?" she asked, leaning over him. He nodded, grimacing.

"I'm too tired to move."

Kaye's grin grew mean. "Aww, c'mon Kyo-Kyo! Get up, get up!" She tugged at his arm and sent him flying into Tohru where he transformed into the cute little orange cat.

Kyo turned and glared at his sister. He'd knocked Tohru over and now sat resting on her stomach. "What the hell was that for!"

"You said you couldn't move and it would have only gotten worse if we'd waited, so, we'll carry you!" Kaye giggled. Kyo was about to retort but he felt Tohru stand and quickly jumped off her.

"Just until we get up to the house, okay Kyo? I wouldn't want you to waste your energy," Tohru urged. She gathered his clothes and stood straight, holding her arms out and Kyo reluctantly jumped into them, sitting curled and glaring over her shoulder for the whole ride up. Yuki and Kaye carried the picnic basket, walking a little behind Tohru and Kyo.

"Kaye, what are you trying to do?" Yuki whispered to her. Kyo watched them suspiciously, unable to hear.

Kaye smiled at her brother in his cat form and winked. "Just trying to make him happy," she replied in a soft undertone. "That's all I care about."

"Kaye… you… you know that giving him false hope is not going to make him happy in the end, don't you?" Yuki muttered, looking at her sadly. Kaye didn't answer, thinking hard, contemplating the situation.

Shigure had a field day when the four of them walked in. "Oh Rakki-Kyo, what did you do to poor Tohru to land yourself in such a situation?"

"It's not what you think you damn dog! It was Kaye's fault!"

"I seriously doubt that, Kyo," Hatori muttered. Kyo leapt from Tohru's arms in his angst-filled decision to harm both men severely, but didn't get very far before transforming. Tohru gave a slight shriek and covered her face in a 'see-no-evil' kind of fashion. Kaye laughed, taking his clothes from her and tossing them to Kyo who threw them on in record time.

Shigure slid his hands over Tohru's playfully. "Poor Tohru, always subjected to such tasteless actions." Kyo stomped away without retaliating.

KS:

"That's unusual, guess the rain's really getting to him." Kaye spoke softly to herself.

Her watch began to beep loudly and she ran to the T.V room, grabbing the box and taking Hatori's previous seat on the couch.

"What's got her in such a hurry?" Yuki asked, watching as she plopped comfortably down on the couch.

"Well, anyone joining me? Super Nanny's on!" Kaye put her hands in the air elatedly.

"Super What?" Shigure walked in to the T.V room with Kaye, curiosity overcoming him as he sat down next to her.

"The show that makes you never want to have kids, and if you do have kids it makes you appreciate how, even slightly, mature your kids are… unless your kids are as bad as the ones on TV." Kaye tried her best explaining, knowing it wasn't quite going right.

Eventually, all gathered in the room, except Kyo, to watch the American T.V show, subtitled in Japanese.

"Oh my God… those kids are terrible! Are all American kids like that!" Shigure asked, aghast.

"Yeah, they are terrible, no, not all American children are like that…" Kaye replied stoutly.

"Wow, that Jo Frost nanny is really good," Tohru put a finger to her lip in thought.

"Yo, where is everyone?" Kaye ignored Kyo's voice in the kitchen.

Eventually, the orange haired boy found himself in the T.V room with everyone else, gasping at the children's antics. For a few hours they watched episodes of Super Nanny, laughing at what some of the parents thought vulgar and what they thought was an improvement.

At the end of the marathon, Kaye stood up and stretched, smiling and saying what a good show it was, most agreeing.

Kaye turned when she heard only Hatori, Shigure and Tohru agree. Kaye looked around the room to see Yuki leaning against the back of the couch, eyes closed and breathing heavy with sleep. Across the room lay Kyo, asleep on his stomach on the love seat, one arm hanging off the side.

Kaye smiled. She turned and left the room, ignoring her brother and cousin, letting the others handle waking them up.

"I see Kyo isn't the only person affected by a rainy day,"

Kaye turned slowly towards the voice with a smile, "What makes you say that?"

"Well, if it were any other day you would have immediately attacked Kyo to wake him up," Hatori took a cigarette from his pocket and a lighter from another.

"I didn't get much sleep last night," was her excuse, "Besides, what's up with Yuki suddenly falling asleep when it's raining?"

"It's probably just a coincidence. Maybe he got as little sleep as you did." Hatori began to walk out of the kitchen and towards his room when a yelp was heard.

Kaye turned towards the TV room, where the yelp was located and rushed in while Hatori continued walking. Kaye entered in upon the scene- Shigure down and out for the count, Tohru spazzing out, Yuki, just waking up and Kyo, awake and seething in anger.

"Kyo! You're awake!" Kaye smiled in greeting to her brother, and then began to walk out of the room.

Deciding it wasn't worth her troubles to enter in upon the fiasco Shigure had caused, she had casually left the room and headed towards her own room.

Kaye stepped inside her room, closing the door behind her. She took a brush to her hair and got ready for bed, knowing it was early but feeling unusually sleepy all the same.

She looked at the bed warily, knowing dreamless sleep lay ahead of her. She sniffed and secretly went to her suitcase, unlocking a secret compartment with a secret key around her neck. She reached inside the compartment and took out something stuffed and orange.

Kaye lay down on the bed with a smile, snuggling up to the orange plush eagerly and anticipating the next day with a smile on her sleeping face.

Tohru walked in some time later, having made sure everything was set for the next day, for breakfast and that Kyo didn't kill Shigure along with making sure Yuki made it to his bed.

She also began to comb out her hair and put on long pajamas. Tohru braided her hair and kicked off her slippers, falling eagerly onto the bed across from Kaye's. Kaye was facing Tohru as she sighed. Tohru looked over awkwardly as she saw Kaye chewing on the ear of what looked like a large orange cat.

At first, Tohru thought, "What's Kyo doing in Kaye's bed! And in cat form no less!" But then, the brown haired girl realized the orange cat in Kaye's arms was merely a plush form of Kyo.

Tohru smiled, having never thought of Kaye being the kind of person to sleep with a stuffed animal. She seemed so mature on the outside.

Tohru got under the thick covers of her bed, her face a set frown as she thought.

But it seemed that on the inside, there was something or someone on the inside, crying to get out.