AN: One little spoiler ahead concerning the relationship between Machi and Kakeru.

/lost memories/

Yuki held the note in shaking hands. Could it be that finally, after all this time, Kisa had done what no one else could do and found the answers? Maybe there was a happy ending after all. Could he afford to hope?

Kisa said earnestly, 'I've read it over and over again, and I still can't make any sense of it.'

Yuki read those precious words again.

Mom

I'm running out of time

and I want to say goodbye but you're the only person I can say it to.

I know that this is the only choice I have left, and I'm happy to do it if I can save Kyo-kun, but I can't stop feeling so scared.

At least I'll keep my promise to you.

Please help me to be strong.

It wasn't signed or dated.

Yuki said quietly, '"I'm running out of time"… did she know what was going to happen, do you think?'

'She must have done, if she wrote this.' Kisa frowned. 'Or it might be about something completely different.'

'No, it can't be.' The rat scanned the note through again. What secrets were hidden in those words? 'It can't be, because she talks about saving that damn cat, and that has to mean what happened to him after graduation.'

Kisa murmured, 'If it does, then whatever Onee-chan did didn't work.' She saw Yuki's questioning glance. 'Well Kyo-san was still locked away, wasn't he? So Onee-chan's idea didn't work.'

Yuki said, 'Yes. Maybe it was about something different then. Although she does mention keeping a promise – a promise to her mother. To graduate from high school?'

'I guess so,' the tiger replied. She sighed. 'Oh, I just don't know.'

They sat there in silence, both feeling a little depressed after the false hope they'd had before. Kisa thought of the smiling face that had made her feel loved when she thought she was all alone. Yuki remembered a yellow ribbon and a sweet voice calling his name. How could they have been so naïve as to think that the happiness would last forever?

Kisa said finally, 'Can't you think of anything else she might have meant?'

Yuki sighed. 'Maybe I'll think of something in the morning.' He saw the sadness in his cousin's eyes. 'I'm sorry, Kisa. I'm sorry I can't do better, for Tohru and for you.'

'It doesn't matter,' the tiger said in a small voice. 'I couldn't either.' She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Yuki said softly, 'Is everything else okay? School, and everything?'

She looked up, surprised. 'Yes – it's fine.'

'How's Hiro?' Yuki asked. 'I haven't seen him in a while. Not since New Year's, in fact.'

Kisa's face flushed slightly. 'I… I'm not sure. At least, I think he's okay. I just haven't seen much of him lately.'

'What!' Yuki gasped. It was common knowledge amongst the juunishi that Kisa and Hiro were inseparable. If they were drifting apart… 'Have you had an argument, or something?'

'Not really,' Kisa muttered. 'It's just – well, he doesn't really have time for me any more.' She saw from Yuki's stern look that he wasn't going to let this go. In a very small voice, she added – 'He has a girlfriend.'

Yuki's eyes widened. 'I see.'

'Yes,' Kisa said defiantly. 'So he's too… busy… to waste his time on me now.'

Yuki said consolingly, 'I'm sure it's just a fling. Don't let it worry you.'

'Who said I was worried!' Kisa cried, rising from her chair. 'I don't care how many girls he tongues!' If she knew about the tears that were leaking from her eyes, she didn't say anything.

Yuki felt a bit embarrassed. 'Well…' he said, 'if you ever need to talk…'

'Thank you,' she sniffed, looking away.

Yuki asked, 'How are you getting back? Do you want me to drive you?'

Kisa nodded her red-gold head. 'If… you wouldn't mind… that would be good.'

'It's okay,' Yuki said. 'It's the least I can do, after what you've done today.' He indicated the piece of paper still lying on his desk. 'I'll have a look at this again when I get back, and if I think of anything I'll let you know.'

Yuki dropped Kisa off at the road leading to her house. As he turned the car round to drive away he saw her reflection in the wing mirror; a tiny shadow swallowed by the night. The rat shook his head and turned back onto the main road.

What were their lives coming to, his and the other juunishi? There were so few people left now, so few he could talk to and know that they cared. Momiji was constantly away – like Yuki he'd been provided with a convenient profession – although Momiji's job took him away from the Sohma house, rather than kept him there. It wasn't a secret that Momiji was not one of Akito's favourites. Yuki was happy for his cousin, that the energetic young man could escape Akito's clutches rather than be tormented in them, but he missed the rabbit's company.

Hatsuharu, of course, was not around anymore. It had been a terrible shock, one year ago, when Hatori had told him. Somehow Yuki and Haru had always understood each other without always needing to put their thoughts into words. After his first encounter with the ox those many years ago, anyway. Yuki smiled at the memory – the small boy with startlingly white hair contrasted with ebony black, almost spitting with anger. Somehow Yuki hadn't imagined a world where he couldn't talk to the younger boy when he needed to.

His friends from high school had long since disappeared. It was difficult to maintain contact with someone when you were kept as busy as Yuki's job kept him. As he drove past the bright green traffic lights, Yuki wondered what they were all doing now. He was sure Kakeru Manabe had a very successful job somewhere where he managed to annoy the hell out of anyone who strayed into his path. Arisa Uotani was probably doing well too. Yuki had always thought she had enough determination to do anything she set her mind to. Likewise with Saki Hanajima, another one of Tohru's – and Yuki's high school friends.

And then of course there was Machi Kuragi, Kakeru's half sister. How long was it since Yuki had seen her? A sudden recollection flashed into his mind and he smiled – it was two weeks. Yuki had gone out one early afternoon about a fortnight ago; having finished all his work for the day he'd taken advantage of the extra time and gone to a local park where he just wandered round, enjoying for once the freedom of being able to just let the time go by. And then he'd seen her, across the lake, her brown hair drifting free in the spring breeze. The sight of someone from his old life had taken his breath away, and he would have gone to her were it not for the young man who possessively held her left arm.

Yes, they would all be moving on… all of them… leaving the memory of Prince Yuki and the boy Uo used to call Kyon-Kyon in the past.

But what about Tohru? Yuki thought. Has she been forgotten by them, like she has by Akito? Has she vanished from their lives as cleanly as she did from ours? Or do they still see her, does she know them just as well now as she did before? Like a malevolent whisper, a line from Tohru's note floated into his mind:

I want to say goodbye.

No, Tohru was not living a happy life in a far away city. Because a terrible injustice had been done to her, three years ago, and now Yuki might just be able to find out what it was.

He just had to hope he wasn't too late to set things right.

/end of part 6/

AN: No Rin in this chapter. After the cliffhanger I left you with last time, I'm sure you all wanted to know what happened! But I'm feeling mean. You'll find out in chapter seven though, I promise! (which is called, my own destruction. See, I'm planning ahead for once!) Please review!