I am on an update high today! (dances) Hope you enjoy this chapter!

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Stormy weather was definitely present today. The mood was black and tense, and the air thick with tension. Everyone in the classroom was shivering from the cold. Kyo walked into the room, an angry, annoyed version of himself. Everyone recognized this as a bad thing. This Kyo made normal angry Kyo seem like the sweetest and kindest person on earth.

Everyone conspicuously backed away from Kyo as he entered, even the people who normally came to talk to him stayed away. Mirroring the weather outside, a black storm cloud was nearly visible over his head. There was definitely some thunder and lighting as well, with a little bit of sleet thrown in for good measure.

Only Yuki seemed unfazed. He walked in as he normally did, looking cool and calm. He sat down silently and fixed his gaze in the direction of the front of the class. No one ever came to talk to him. Well, the fan girls came to scream, stare, and babble at him -- but never to talk. Heck, he even preferred the shouting matches he had with Kyo, or worrying about being molested whenever he was with Haru. Even Momiji's hyperness was preferable to the crazy fangirls.

Anyways, back to Kyo. Being in such a bad mood is never a good thing, especially for a hot tempered cat. When one is in a bad mood, one tends to snap fiercely at innocent bystanders, and break, throw, kick, and punch things. If you add Kyo and school to that equation, you have a recipe for a load of trouble. Basically, Kyo was doomed from the start.

People were now talking behind their hands and casting fearful looks at the angry redhead. A few people were even slowly moving their desks away from him. Yuki remained silent and unfazed, still looking rather bored. But one good thing came from Kyo's foul temper for Yuki. The fangirls were too afraid to move in Kyo's presence to stand up and walk to his desk.

'So … the cat has his uses, then?'

The teacher strode into the classroom, ignoring Kyo's mood and the decidedly jumpy behavior of the rest of the class. He ordered them all to sit and the students seemed undecided for a moment, wondering whether they preferred the wrath of Kyo or the teacher. Nevertheless, one glare from their fearsome teacher had everyone scuttling to their seats.

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Kyo was still in a bad mood at dinnertime. The dark storm cloud still hovered over his head, an occasional lighting bolt casting an eerie glow over his furious expression. (Well, the cloud and lightening weren't really there, but everyone could visualize them.) And so it was that every single person avoiding Kyo like the plague that day, even the cats who normally followed him to the roof avoided him.

Kyo was now sitting on a deserted school roof, watching everyone in the yard below. Most people were either sitting on the benches or grass, eating lunch and talking. Kyo sighed. He had calmed down a lot now, although the storm cloud was still present. He let his features relax and his body hang limp. He was so tired and confused. He could still picture Yuki's face, the way he'd asked the question about what had happened to him, as if he really cared. Kyo growled, Yuki was just a good actor: he really didn't care about anyone but himself. Kyo had the sudden urge to cry, cry for something lost, but for the life of him he could not think what. He heard a small mewl and looked down to see a small grey kitten who had been the only one brave enough to approach him. It looked up at him with it big glittering eyes and mewled again. He smiled at it and gently stroked the silky soft fur.

"Hello there, little one," he whispered. The kitten arched his back into Kyo's hand and purred. Kyo could feel all his anger ebb away as he stroked the little kitten.

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Yuki wrestled with the two voices in his head that were tearing him in opposite directions. One was feeling guilty, telling him he should go find Kyo -- see if he was alright, and apologize. The other part of him was screaming "Ignore the baka neko, and let him pout if he wants to!" Yuki growled and wrapped his arms tighter around his legs. Haru sat beside him, trying to keep a hyper Momiji under control. The small boy had eaten one too many pockies, not only had he eaten two packs of his own, but he had also stolen half of Haru's. He was now trying to chase leaves around the playground, and generally scaring everyone. It was rather amusing to watch. Yuki smiled slightly, distracting himself with the silliness of his cousin. But he still couldn't help but worry about Kyo, no one else seemed to want to worry about the cat, so he was the only one to do it. Besides, he felt as if he owed it to Kyo, as if long ago he'd made some promise. Or as if he'd lost something … He just couldn't shake off the feeling no matter how hard the stupid voice argued.

Flashback

Yuki and Kyo sat under the tree, a bag of sweet nestled in the grass between them.

"Yu-kun?" the red haired boy whispered.

"Hmmm," Yuki said as he ate a sweet. He stared off into the distance but turned his head slightly towards his friend.

"We'll be friends forever, right?" the taller of the two boys said, looking worried, his eyes pointed towards the grass as if it held the answer he desired.

"Of course, Kyo-kun!" the silver haired child smiled as he gave his friend a big bear hug. "Friends forever, I promise!" Yuki smiled brightly as Kyo smiled and returned the hug. Then, all to soon for the two friends, Kyo had to leave before his mother got home.

A few weeks later, that promise would be broken forever.

End Flashback

The rest of the school day past uneventfully. Yuki and Kyo walked home in their usual stony silence. They always walked home together. Why? Neither of the could say. Yuki would always wait outside the school gates for Kyo, and Kyo for Yuki. Neither could remember who had started the waiting first, but neither want to be 'in debt' to the other. So they always waited for each other. The fact that they lived in the same house was irrelevant.

Haru and Momiji were with them today. Momiji, still a little high on his pocky overload, was now chasing the poor birds who were brave enough to land nearby. He would run up to them, flapping his arms and cawing in a rather un-bird like fashion. Haru was desperately trying to look as if he wasn't related to the hyper rabbit in any way.

"So what are we going to have for dinner!" Momiji asked excitedly. Momiji had invited himself for dinner at Shigure's, and of course Haru had come too. Not that Yuki minded. Kyo, on the other hand, remained strangely quiet and calm -- which was never a good sign. He also walked a few steps ahead of Yuki and Haru, although no one could keep up with Momiji, who was still awaiting an answer.

"What would you like?" Yuki asked. He liked Momiji, the boy was one of the few people who could bring a smile to his face without even trying. No one could hate the boy either, his happiness was infectious.

Momiji screwed up his nose for a second in thought, then he pointed at Kyo.

"I want Kyo to cook!" he said happily. Every since Yuki had accidentally let it slip that Kyo was a good cook, the rabbit had wanted to taste the cat's cooking. Kyo merely glared at Momiji and continued walking.

"Doesn't look like Kyo's in the mood," Haru said, continuing devilishly, "Or maybe … he just can't do it."

"SAYS WHO! I could cook if i wanted to!" Kyo said angrily. Haru just smirked -- "Prove it" written all over his face. Momiji latched onto Kyo's arms and gave his best 'I'm so cute, LOVE ME' look.

"Please Kyo-kun," he said sweetly. Kyo tugged his arm away from the rabbits grip.

"No," he said, irritation evident in his voice. Momiji screwed up his face and sniffed, the tears already coming.

"KYO, YOUR SO MEEEEEEEEEEEAN!" he shouted. He then ran at Kyo and tackled the taller boy, holding him firmly around the waist. This caused Kyo to nearly loose his balance and grow even angrier.

"Please, please, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeease!" Momiji said, still glomping Kyo for all he was worth. Kyo's hand twitched and a vein throbbed in his head.

"OK! FINE! JUST SHUT UP!"

Momiji blinked up at Kyo, all traces of his tears gone. He smiled warmly, then jumped up to glomp Kyo around the neck.

"Thank you!" Momiji yelled before letting go and running ahead, smiling. Kyo just shook his head. Momiji had definitely had way to much sugar. Kyo didn't really mind cooking for the rabbit, Momiji was one person Kyo felt he could relate to. They both had went through similar experiences with their mothers, and experienced the feelings of sadness and of not being wanted.

"I'm not cooking for any one else, though!" Kyo shouted after the happy boy.

Haru just snorted. "Like I want to eat anything you cooked, it would probably poison me."

Kyo glared at the ox. "Shut up, you stupid cow!" He stormed off after Momiji, leaving Yuki and Haru alone.

Yuki sighed.

"I knew he'd give in sooner or later," Haru laughed. Yuki didn't say anything. Kyo had given in far too easily for his liking. Almost as if Kyo was slowly giving up on everything that made him -- well him. Yuki sighed and shook his head. Its wasn't healthy to be thinking of the cat this much.

Yuki had spaced out so much he jumped when Haru poked him in his side to get his attention.

"Look, its snowing," he said in an almost bored tone. Yuki watched as the first frail flakes began to fall. They were so small and delicate it was hard to imagine that soon they would be covering the land in a blanket of white, adding to the thin layer of snow already on the ground. Yuki smiled.

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Kyo had been begged, threatened, beaten, pleaded with, and conned until he finally agreed to cook for everyone. He was not a happy kitty, oh no. He stood alone at the stove cooking, the vein in his temple throbbing in a worrying manner. He could hear the chatter of the others from the dinning room. He had had to throw Momiji bodily out of the kitchen five times already, he sighed.

"How do I get into these messes?" he muttered questioningly to himself as he stirred the pot. Again, the cooking wasn't anything fancy. In fact, any one of the boys in the dinning room could have cooked it. It was a simple mix of soup, vegetables, and noodles with a few spices strategically mixed in. He really wished Kasuma hadn't taught him how to cook -- what he would give for the gift of being able to burn any food he touched, including peas. In other words, what he wouldn't give to have the cooking skills of Shigure.

Deciding the food was ready, he scooped the concoction into five bowls. He then poured the rest of the soup into a big bowl which would be placed in the middle of the table in case anyone wanted more.

When he got into the dinning room everyone was already kneeling at the low table, and the only space left was between Yuki and Shigure. Everything was against him today. He set the bowls in front of his waiting cousins and then kneeled down at the table to eat his. Momiji began eating, chattering away between mouthfuls. Shigure smiled sweetly and tried to keep up with Momiji's constant stream of words. Haru poked at the food, glaring at it as if it had insulted him, Yuki ate in silence, enjoying the taste of fresh food and not the take away he was used too.

"Kyo is a very good cook!" Momiji said happily, smiling his brightest smile at Kyo. Kyo just nodded back and gave Momiji a small smile that no one else noticed.

"Oooooooh, Kyo-kuuuuuuun, I never knew you were such the domestic," Shigure said, grinning like Christmas, Easter and his birthday had suddenly all happened on the same day, "First you clean up and now this delicious meal..."

Shigure didn't have time to finished as the big bowl that had been sitting in the middle of the table was suddenly dumped on his head by a very pissed off cat. Kyo stormed out of the room, Shigure's screams echoing in his ears.

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Kyo sat on the roof, his only refuge. He liked heights, the higher the better. They made him feel free, as if he was away from the world and its problems. With the wind blowing coolly and the atmosphere so calm, he couldn't help but feel as if all his problem were just blown away, if only for a little while.

It was quite cold now, still snowing slightly, sprinkling the ground like a dusting of powdered sugar. He smiled, even though he was shivering. The snow clung to his hair and clothes, slowly turning him white.

'Maybe if the snow covers me enough ... I can disappear forever ... in the never-ending white.'

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"Ne, Yuki," Haru's voice was quiet and thoughtful as he gazed at the opposite wall.

"Hmm," Yuki muttered absently to show he was listening.

"Does Kyo seem different to you?" Haru asked.

Yuki made a huffing noise and scrunched his face up.

"Why would you worry about that stupid cat?"

Haru grinned. "It's no fun picking fights with him anymore ... it as if he's given up. Besides, he is my cousin."

Yuki just snorted and shook his head.

"Isn't it about time you went home?"

"Where would the fun in that be?" Haru grinned as he stood, "I'm bored, I'm gonna go see if I can get the cat riled up …"

Yuki shook his head, Kyo may never be able to beat him, but he was more than capable to beat Haru. Not that Yuki was saying Haru was a bad martial artist, Kyo just seemed to have better control whenever he was sparring someone else. He didn't seem as distracted, or worried as when he was sparring Yuki. After so long observing Kyo, Yuki had begun to notice these things. It annoyed him immensely.

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"So this is where you're always hiding!" Haru grinned proudly, as if he'd just found the lost city of Atlantis and not Kyo in the most obvious place on earth.

Kyo didn't reply. Haru frowned.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his voice a little gentler. He tried to imbue some sort of reassurance into his voice. He didn't hate Kyo. None of the Juunishi really hated Kyo, it was only the fear of Akito that made them keep their distance from the cat, that stopped them befriending him.

Haru sighed. He hated this. Hated all of it. It was just so much sometimes, living a life full of hate and fear -- how he longed to be normal. No wonder he had both a 'black' and a 'white' side, he'd go crazy if he had to act normal all the time.

Meanwhile, Kyo continued to ignore Haru.

"Damn it! Stop ignoring me!" Haru shouted, startling a few birds from a nearby tree and sounding very much like a pouting five year old. Still, Kyo did not say a word. Haru was slowly turning black out of sheer annoyance.

"OK, THAT'S IT! YOU ASKED FOR IT!" Haru yelled. He flew at Kyo, paying no attention to the fact that he was on a roof. And was currently flinging himself towards the edge where Kyo was sitting. Also, he seemed to have forgotten the light layer of snow on the roof that made footing very unsteady. Kyo easily evaded the attack and grabbed onto the back of Haru's shirt to prevent him from falling.

"Idiotic Ox," he muttered as he pulled Haru back onto the roof and headed for the ladder. Haru humphed angrily and sat there sulking. It took him a few moments to realize Kyo had left.

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And so another odd day past in the home of Shigure Sohma. Shigure was still nursing a few burns, which he insisted were infected and going to kill him, (but were actually just a few red marks that would fade by morning.) Yuki was already asleep. Kyo was doing his homework. And Haru and Momiji had to share the spare room since they had insisted on staying over. They were currently speaking to each other in whispers.

Worry shone in the rabbit's eyes. "Do you think Kyo-kun is ok?" asked Momiji.

Haru sighed. "I don't know. It's strange, he used to be so angry all the time, so full of life. And now ... he seems to be slowly giving up. It's like he doesn't care anymore."

Momiji looked at the floor, his eyes bright with the light of quiet tears.

"I hate it ... this curse ... Akito," the small rabbit spoke in only a whisper, his voice hard and angry. Haru patted the smaller boy on the head. He and Momiji may be the same age, but the small rabbit always gave off an air of childish helplessness -- as if he was constantly begging for the compassion of a parent.

"Don't worry kid, he'll be okay," Haru said as he smiled reassuringly and Momiji sniffed.

"Why does everyone hate him so? Just because Akito tells them to? Or is it something else …? I don't understand," the smaller boy sighed unhappily. Momiji lay down on the futon, curling up into a tight ball like a hedgehog. His arms were wrapped tightly around his body, as if he were trying to protect himself from some unseen enemy.

Haru lay down as well. However, he didn't bother to try to sleep, though it was very late. He stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering. There was no answer to his cousin's question. No reassurance, nothing he could say to help Momiji, because they were all in the same boat. No one truly understood anything of the curse.

Haru rolled over so he was lying on his side and closed his eyes. It was very late and he was tired.

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The next morning, the snow was so thick and the temperature was so low school had been cancelled. So Kyo, Yuki, Momiji and Haru had a blissful Saturday free to themselves. Yuki was still sleeping. After finding out he had no school he had gone to back to bed at once, and fallen asleep just as quickly.

Kyo was currently curled up on the sofa in front of the T, reading. Momiji had gone home, saying his father would be worried. But everyone knew he'd really gone to that place, to secretly watch over his mother and sister.

Haru had been kicked out by an angry Yuki, after the foolish ox had tried to drag Yuki out of bed to help him build a snow man.

Shigure was locked in his room, 'working'.

So Kyo was alone, he realized, sighing. The cold had penetrated the house, although the heating was on full blast. Kyo shivered and tugged the blanket tighter around his body.

'I'm sick of this ... I'm running out of time ... And I just ... Don't seem to care ... Why?'

Kyo dropped the book onto his lap, giving up on his pretense of reading. He hadn't read a single word, hadn't even bothered to try. Instead he now stared at the TV screen. Much more interesting than a good book, especially when the it was off.

Kyo returned to his musings, thinking about his mess of a life -- if you could even call it a life. It was more of an existence. He merely 'was', (and didn't want to be.) Kasuma thought he had gotten over this, gotten over the period in his life when he had been so distant he had almost given up on living. Kasuma was wrong, and Kyo was a very good actor. Sure, the pain had dulled and he didn't think about it so much. But now, with his time running out, he was quickly returning to his old self-loathing self.

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Only the thought of his poor garden turning to ice dragged Yuki out of bed. Although many of his plants had stopped growing long ago, going into their usual winter sleep before blooming again in spring, the garden still needed tending. And Yuki would not let it suffer. He'd worked too hard taking care of it to let all his 'toil' go to waste now.

So the day was a pretty normal one, to begin with.

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Well di you like it, did ya, did ya did ya?

Review if you did! Review if you didnt! I can take it (hugs everyone) thank you for reading.