Author's Note: Long chapter. I have nothing more profound to say.

Chapter 19 (Six Degrees of Celebration)

Kita lazily awoke to the sound of birds chirping just outside the doors of the main house. A bird feeder was dangling from the roof of the building right in front of the large, glass window and Kita could see three sparrows hungrily drinking up the liquid held inside. There had been a fairly light snowstorm last night so the birds were having a hard time finding food but were thankful to have stumbled upon this gem of a feeder. The three birds looked like they had strategically traveled together so that if one were to find food, the other two could also eat. It reminded Kita of Hoshiko and Raidon. It was her birthday so was she allowed to see them?

Kita looked next to her and saw Akito sleeping soundlessly with his body turned in towards her. The covers were pulled up to his shoulders to keep him warm in the chill of the night so she couldn't see his chest and she started to worry. She edged closer to him and ran her hand over his projecting ribcage and down to just above his bellybutton. He was breathing.

Relieved with that knowledge, Kita rolled off the futon and stood up, stretching her arms high above her head as she walked slowly up to the window, trying not to scare away the birds. They looked so free, happy and yet, Kita found that she didn't really envy them. Sure, she hadn't been blessed with total freedom but she had protection and love and there was nothing saying she couldn't get freedom eventually. As for happiness, she had a feeling things might start to turn around.

As Kita watched the birds suck the feeder dry, Akito quietly woke up, his eyelids lifting up only halfway to protect his sensitive eyes from the garish light. His reaction softened when he noticed Kita standing in front of it, dulling the glare. The sunlight pouring in through the window made an outline of white light around her naked body, making Akito smile a bit, remembering how he thought her to be like an angel yesterday. His eyes followed the outline from her graceful shoulders, over the curve of her breasts, into her now slim waist, and back out over her hips. She was beautiful to him and she belonged to him.

He wanted to go over to her, kiss her, and lead her back down onto the futon for a repeat performance of last night, but he was still half-asleep and couldn't bring himself to get up no matter how enticing the thought was.

The three birds flew away from the now empty feeder and Kita sighed, deciding to go get a glass of milk. Her bones ached so she came to the conclusion that she needed calcium and lots of it. Akito closed his eyes, pretending to still be asleep while Kita went over to the futon and kissed him sweetly. He looked so benign, so beautiful while he slept. She then walked over to her clothes which were rumpled from sitting in a pile on the floor all night and started changing into them as she walked to the door, pretty confident in the fact that no one would see her once she left the room.

She slid open the door, still trying to properly adjust her yukata when Kureno suddenly appeared in front of her in that strange, clandestine way of his.

"Oh, Kureno! You scared me." Kita said, trying to smooth out her robes and hide the evidence of last night. She briefly wondered if he got paid a little extra for his surreptitious behavior.

"I'm sorry." he said. "I was just going to see if Akito was awake yet."

"He's not," Kita said, her face turning red, a telltale sign that she had spent the night with him. Kureno half-smiled at her. He wasn't sure yet how she felt about what allegedly happened last night between her and Akito so he figured a half-smile was a safe enough response whether it was out of pity or happiness for her.

"Happy birthday, by the way." he said, cheerfully.

Kita smiled starting to really feel like a rival to the sunshine through the large window and gave him a hug, pleased that she could.

"Thank you, Kureno." she said beaming up at him. "I appreciate that." It's not my first happy birthday though, she thought with an internal grin.

He was a little surprised by her sudden change in attitude. No more mopping around feeling numb. It must just be because it's her birthday, he thought. Unless... He looked at Akito's door. Maybe they've finally gotten through to each other. They're so good together. She could care for him and listen to him when he needs her and he could help her to feel again and experience the short-lived pleasures of life. Whatever the cause, it's nice to see her smile.

"It's nothing." he said, shaking his head. "I'm just sorry I didn't get you anything."

Kita laughed gently. "Don't be. I wasn't expecting presents anyway. I'm just so...content right now. I haven't felt like this since before my father died."

The two started to walk down the hallway towards the kitchen, the mood only slightly shadowed by Kita's mention of her father. In an effort to keep her in a good mood, Kureno changed the topic, a technique he used on Akito often.

"So Kita, you'll probably have a lot of visitors today." he said, taking a seat at the table once they entered the kitchen. The sunlight appeared to be shining everywhere as it lit up the room, reflecting off the fresh snow to make it even brighter.

"Hopefully." Kita said, sounding like she wasn't trying to get to hopeful. "I just wish I could see Hoshiko and Raidon. I always used to have a party with them every year." she said gloomily as she poured her milk and sat down next to Kureno, this time not afraid of Akito walking in to see her with a guy in a compromising position. Not that sitting next to each other was in any way scandalous.

"Well, I'm sure there's some way for you to see them. Maybe later you can talk to Akito about it." he said, trying to boost her spirits since the topic change backfired. He knew the odds weren't in her favor but if something good did happen last night, he might be more lenient about her liberties.

"I hope so." Kita said monotonously, finishing her milk in only two gulps and reaching for the carton again. "Oh, by the way, make sure you get one of the servants to refill the bird feeder above Akito's porch. I don't want them to starve."

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"Rai, come on. We've tried everything. There's no way we're getting in." Hoshiko said. She lost her patience two minutes ago after Raidon had unsuccessfully attempted to climb the barricade that separated the Sohma estate from the rest of the world but she was now in full rant mode. Another cold breeze blew past them and she shivered, sure her knees were going to get frostbite if they stood around aimlessly outside much longer. She pulled her long, cream-colored coat around her a little tighter and sighed for the tenth time that day. "We could try calling her cell phone again and then just give her presents to her on Monday at school when vacation's over."

Raidon gave her an annoyed look. He was growing tired of Hoshi's complaining and the cold was starting to play on his nerves as well. He kicked at the snow-covered ground with a combat boot clad foot and let out an agitated breath. "Are you kidding? Every year we spend our birthdays together for at least a little while. Remember that year when Kita ran all the way to your house when she was nauseous and her calves were in pain just to see you on your sixteenth birthday? This is her eighteenth birthday. It's a big deal to her...or at least it was."

Hoshiko looked down at her red high-heeled boots, ashamed. Yes, it was true she owed her but there was no way inside. When Rai had said it would be extremely difficult to get into Kita's new residence, he wasn't exaggerating.

"Hey someone! Let us in!" Hoshiko shouted loudly, pounding her fists against the door. Raidon shook his head, his spiky hair getting even messier than it was before.

"They aren't supposed to allow strangers in." he said, remembering how cautious Kita was about letting him go inside that time he had walked there with her after school.

"We're not strangers." she said, acting offended and putting her hands on her hips. "We are friends and we deserve to be let in!"

Hoshi stopped her ranting when the door to the estate unexpectedly opened and Hatsuharu walked out, looking around as if he was trying to find out who was yelling.

"Oh, hello, Raidon." he said, bowing once he noticed the older boy. "I was just taking a walk around Sohma house when I heard someone. Have you come to see Kita?"

"Yes, we'd like to but we aren't allowed in, are we?" he asked. He curiously looked over at Hoshiko because usually she can't stay quiet for more than a few seconds. She was standing very still but was grinning in a way he had seen before. Her honey eyes were inspecting Haru from his white and black hair to his leather chaps, in a very intrigued and altogether lustful way.

"This is Hoshiko." Raidon said, figuring it was the polite thing to do and that Hoshi would be mad if he didn't introduce them.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Haru said, bowing to her. "My name is Hatsuharu."

Hoshiko bowed back, accidentally permitting him to see down her shirt. "It's a pleasure to meet you too and you can call me Hoshi. I insist." she added with a sly smile.

Raidon leaned into her ear. "Don't you have a boyfriend?" he asked quietly so Haru couldn't hear.

"We broke up two days ago." she said, through the side of her mouth.

"As for your dilemma, I could sneak you in." Haru offered as he started walking back towards the door. "You probably couldn't stay long but at least you could see her. Isn't it her birthday?"

The two nodded, practically perfectly in sync.

"I'll wish her a happy birthday later." he said more so to himself than to them. "Follow me and stay low to the ground." he advised. "If they see you, there are a lot of things that could happen and none of them are good."

Hoshi and Raidon exchanged worried glances but walked right behind Hatsuharu regardless, copying his motions to avoid being seen. They quickly ducked behind a sculpture and huddled together as someone came walking up the path and then they took off again.

Disregarding the fact that the person might notice them if they make noise, Hoshi starting chatting away. "So Hatsuharu, since you're a Sohma are you Kita's cousin?" she asked, pretending to not notice how close together they were even though their hips were practically touching as they hid.

"No. Just a friend. Kita doesn't have any cousins. And you can call me Haru." he said, searching for a clear path to the next hiding spot as they crouched down behind someone's house.

Raidon rolled his eyes. "You knew that Hoshi. Kita doesn't have any aunts or uncles so how would she have cousins?"

Hoshi glared at him for making her look stupid. "I forgot." she said harshly before turning her attention back to Haru. "So what year of school are you in, Haru?"

"I'm a first year." he said, as he waved them across the path to hide behind another house.

"You know, you remind me of someone." he told her matter-of-factly once they were out of view.

"Who?" she asked, grabbing his arm like she was afraid of losing him as he started running again.

"My ex-girlfriend." he said casually. The similarities between Rin and Hoshi were hard to deny. They both had black hair and bangs although Hoshi's hair was shorter, they dressed alike with their short skirts, heeled shoes, and little shirts, and they both even possessed a quality of strength and stubbornness. "Well, she's not really an ex.." he added.

Hoshi's sly grin faded into a frown. Raidon chuckled and she elbowed him hard in the rib, subtly cursing under her breath. She was quiet the rest of the way to the main house.

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After Kureno said he had to start going about his daily duties, Kita retired to her room, tired from yesterday's events. She was up until all hours of the morning trying to fall asleep but after such an experience, sleep didn't come easily.

She had just sat down on the edge of her bed when she heard a knock on her door. Kita raised her eyebrows. No one knocks in this house.

"Um, who is it?" Kita called out, bewildered.

A deep, raspy voice replied back. "Guess."

"Shigure?" she asked even though it didn't really sound like anyone she knew. It just seemed like Shigure would be the most likely to put on a fake voice and make her guess who's at the door.

"No. Guess again." The voice said. The comment was followed by girlish giggling. A girl?

"Just come in." Kita said, truly not caring anymore.

The door burst open and Hoshi ran in and gave Kita a big hug shouting, "It's me!" Raidon walked in behind her, with a look of disapproval.

"Shhh...Hoshi, someone could hear you." he said whispering.

"Oh right. Sorry." she replied back, mimicking his tone. "Wow Kita, that's a really pretty yukata." she said, touching the smooth cotton of the sleeve.

"How did you guys get here?" Kita asked, ignoring Hoshi's comment and practically overjoyed by the surprise, a nervous grin plastered on her face.

"Haru showed us." she said suggestively. "Damn, he's hot. Why do all the hot ones have girlfriends?" she asked, pouting.

"I think you just answered your own question." Kita said with a laugh.

"I hate to interrupt girl-talk hour but we have some presents for you." Raidon said, sliding between them and holding out a box to Kita. He seemed a little paranoid that they'd get caught but he was right to be afraid.

She took the box, finding that it was a lot heavier than it looked, and ripped off the shiny blue wrapping paper. She lifted the lid off the box and peered inside to see a CD and two bottles of sake. She took out the CD first. The cover had an artistic drawing of a city with people draped randomly over benches and leaning against walls except it looked like all the colors were inverted from what they naturally should be. She glanced at Raidon curiously.

"Trust me. You'll love it." he told her confidently.

She smiled, knowing he was probably right, and picked up the bottles of sake with a questioning look. Rai turned eighteen a couple months ago so there was no question as to how he got it but why?

"Hey, you're eighteen now and I figured that if you were going to have a party without us, it may as well have everything. I was going to put in a cake and balloons but they wouldn't fit. It's the good stuff. Don't worry." he said, them both sharing a moment of remembrance of the party last week and that battery acid passed off as a beverage.

"Thank you, Rai." Kita said, giving him a friendly hug.

"Now mine!" Hoshi said, handing Kita a small white shopping bag with colorful ribbons around the handle. Hoshi wasn't exactly skilled in the art of wrapping presents.

Kita opened up the bag and sifted through layers of opaque tissue paper before finding a red, leather halter top, something Kita would admire but never have the guts to wear. She glanced at Hoshi for an explanation like she did with Raidon.

"I know you're all timid and everything but I saw it and I had to. It will look so good on you. Trust me. Who knows? Maybe some hot guy will take notice." she said, nudging Kita in the ribs.

Kita smiled awkwardly, reminded that they don't know about Akito.

"Thank you, Hoshi. I really do like it." Kita said, wrapping her arms around the hyper girl, thinking to herself, should I tell them about Ak-

"Yoo hoo, Ki-ta!" a voice called out as the door to her room was pushed open. Shigure entered, with his black hair strategically falling in front of his bruised eye, a tip he may have picked up from Hatori, and a present under his arm. His mouth dropped to the floor when he saw Hoshiko and Raidon.

"Do you two have permission to be here?" he asked, suddenly very serious.

"We had some assistance getting in." Rai said cryptically, not fully understanding the severity of the situation but more aware that they were in danger than Hoshi.

Shigure turned to Kita. "Maybe they should leave soon. If you didn't ask Akito first, who knows what could happen."

Hoshiko and Raidon exchanged glances. Akito? Who's that?

"You're right." Kita said, sadly. Even though she now knew he loved her, it didn't instantly make him a less violent, disturbed person. "You guys should go but I'm so glad you came by. Really. I'll see you in school on Monday, okay?" she said, hugging them both again and opening the door. Don't leave, her mind begged but neither of them are clairvoyant.

"Haru says Happy Birthday. I don't know if he'll come by on his own but I think he wanted me to tell you." Raidon said.

"If you see him on the way out, tell him thanks." Kita requested.

"Bye Kita." Hoshi said, cheerfully with a little wave. "Bye Shigure." she said in a joking flirtatious way. It was kind of a running joke between them that they're both such serial daters that they will end up dating each other someday.

"Goodbye to you too, Hoshi." he said huskily. Kita was half-expecting him to slap her on the butt on her way out but he didn't. She watched Hoshi and Raidon until they were out of the main house without being seen. She figured that they'd find their way easily from there and most people outside probably wouldn't have the heart to turn them in anyway.

"Happy birthday Kita." Shigure said, handing her the present under his arm. "And I heard about what happened after I left last Saturday, about Kureno telling Akito the truth." He wanted to ask about what has happened since then. He had found out what happened that day through his strong sense of hearing and stumbling across one of Hatori's prescription pads, but he held his tongue.

Kita took the present and nodded. "Yes. Everything is okay now."

"Hey, you're smiling." he said pointing to her curled lips.

"Yeah, I guess I am." she said with a sneaky grin that answered Shigure's unspoken questions.

"Oh. Could it be that little Kita's not so little anymore?" he asked laughing. Maybe her experience with Akito wasn't entirely negative, he thought. Ah, romance.

Kita blushed scarlet. "Stop it." she commanded, holding the present over her face.

"So are you going to open it?" he asked.

Kita lowered the gift and tore off the wrapping paper. Two books that had been wrapped together were inside, one that was a new 'other stuff' book by Shigure and one that she had never seen before.

"Both books made me think of you." he said. Kita wasn't exactly sure what to make of the statement. "Oh, and I have a card from Hatori for you. He wasn't sure if he would make it here today." he said, handing her an envelope. Kita took it, recognizing it as a typical Hatori present. He was a money in a card kind of gift giver, every birthday and holiday, but she didn't mind.

"Thank you." Kita said, reaching out to hug him and then stopping and allowing her arms to drop to her sides, wanting to slap herself for her idiocy. "Sorry."

"It's okay."

"And tell Hatori thanks too. I was actually hoping to see him because I wanted to ask him about something."

"What is it? I could tell him if I see him first." Shigure offered.

"Well, I wanted to discuss enrolling in a driving school this April or this summer. Whichever one I can because he can drive and thus can help teach me and I need someone to help with asking Akito if I can. I don't think he would like me having the freedom of a license."

"You may be right but I don't think you'll have any problem learning how to drive. I heard that you drove your father to the hospital after the...the accident."

Kita nodded but didn't say anything. No one had ever called it 'the accident' before especially since no one could be sure of how accidental it was.

Her father would have loved teaching her to drive. He already had been teaching her how since she was fifteen but he had only let her drive illegally a few times.

"So, any plans for today?" he asked, hoping he didn't upset her.

"No. I was pretty much just going to hang out with whoever was around. Kureno's working. Hatori's working. Akito was asleep the last time I checked. Haru is around somewhere but I don't really know where. You're here."

"Yeah." he said, distracted. She needs to be with her friends, he concluded. She can come home later and spend time with the same people she spends time with every day but right now, she needs to go with her friends.

Shigure turned and walked out the door without another word to her.

"Hey, where...?" Kita didn't finish because he had already vanished from the hall and blithely slipped into Akito's room so she sat on the floor in front of the door and waited.

After a few minutes, Shigure emerged from the room looking quite proud of himself.

"Call them." he told her.

"What?" she asked, feeling like she missed something.

"Call them. Call Hoshiko. Call Raidon. Call Haru. Even call Momiji if you want. You talk to him too, right? Tell them to meet you at the movies or something. Just go."

"But...how?" she asked stunned.

Shigure put his hand under his chin like he was deep in thought. "It was just as I had predicted." Kita looked at him confused. He's doing the drama thing again.

"Akito is allowing you to go out with them but you have to be back before seven." he explained. "Apparently he's in a good mood too but I wouldn't get used to it. In fact, it may be part of your birthday present."

Kita couldn't believe her ears. I have permission to go out from Akito. This is a once in a lifetime event. She smiled so hard her eyes started to water."Thank you, Shigure." she said overwhelmed.

"I seriously owed you. Don't mention it."

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The 'party' was a hit. After deciding that there was nothing worth spending money on at the theaters, they all decided to go to a restaurant, order a cake, and loudly sing Kita a few rounds of "Happy Birthday" until everyone was sick of them and started yelling obscenities so they'd be quiet.

Raidon and Haru had found common ground in discussing music and Hoshi had thought Momiji was so adorable that she wanted to paint his nails and take him to the park in a purely platonic way. It was the most fun out Kita had experienced in such a long time that when seven rolled around, she was sad to say goodbye to them.

She drifted through the main house looking for Kureno to make sure Akito was in the right mood to see her. Luckily, he appeared within the minute racing into one room from another.

"Wait, Kureno!" Kita called out to him. He stopped in his tracks and looked at her. His brown hair was mussed up into an odd but cute shape that kind of reminded her of how Akito looks most days and he was clutching some sort of portfolio like it was his means of survival.

"He's resting. While you were out his fever spiked and we had to get Hatori over here. He's under strict orders to try to sleep it off so he probably won't be ready to see you for another hour or so at least." he informed her.

"Oh." she replied a little sad. She was kind of thrilled at the prospect of seeing him, since she hadn't all day and after getting over that shock, she admitted to herself that she wanted to see him. She rocked back and forth on her feet, kind of hoping Kureno would offer his company. She wasn't feeling so numb anymore and what she had discovered as a result was that she missed spending time with people.

"Are you busy?" she asked him, hopefully.

"Not really. I'm just about wrapping up this evening's work. Why?" he asked, even though he knew why. The lonely gleam in her eye gave it away. Almost like Akito.

"I was wondering if you wanted to have a drink with me, talk, at least until Akito wakes up. I feel like we haven't talked in a while." she said, crossing her fingers.

"I'll see you in the kitchen in two minutes then." he said, trying to get the papers that were falling out of the binder to stay in.

"Okay." Kita said, as she skipped off to her room to get the sake.

Soon the two of them were sitting at the table taking sips from the sake bottles, discussing everything under the sun, or at least under the rain-cloud that hung over Sohma house. All topics were resurrected ranging from Arisa, the convenience store girl, to Akito's temper to Haru and Rin and everything else they could think to say.

"You know, Kureno?" Kita started, carelessly running her finger around the rim of the bottle. "I think this is what cements our friendship." she said, her now common grin shining brightly back at him.

"I'd say so." he agreed, taking another drink. "Hm, I don't think Akito is allowed to drink sake." he said, reading the label.

"I figured." she said. She was pretty sure alcohol was not part of a healthy diet and that Hatori would ward him off it.

"So what changed your relationship with him anyway?" Kureno asked, wondering if he was overstepping their boundaries but figured that they were now good enough friends to talk about it.

"He proved that he really does love me." she said vaguely as she finished the last of her bottle. Her brain felt as if it had accumulated a layer of fur that would rub against her skull every time she moved. It was like artificial numbness which she really wasn't sure how she felt about.

"Was it...his wrist?" Kureno inquired, feeling like he was walking on eggshells.

Kita nodded. "You knew?" she asked.

"I don't know if he wanted me to but I found out. I caught him cleaning off a knife in the kitchen and since then he's become very clever about hiding it."

Kita could feel the pressure in her eyes again but now it was mixing with her light head, making her feel like she could potentially explode into nothing but air and water particles.

As if he had heard them talking about them, Akito sauntered into the kitchen eyeing the bottles of sake suspiciously. He looked like he was still tired but luckily he didn't look upset by the party that was going on without him.

"Akito." Kita murmured as she stood up and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him. He responded stiffly by asking, "What are you two doing?"

"We were just having a conversation. We're officially friends now." Kita said, making sure it sounded as innocent as it was.

He glanced acutely at Kureno who seemed unfazed by his presence. There's nothing to worry about. Akito chose to believe her and slipped his hand into hers.

"Come." he said, his tone calm but strong as he led her out of the kitchen towards his room. She waved at Kureno over her shoulder who looked a little uneasy. Kita didn't really know why but she was hoping it didn't have to do with Akito's attitude. Everything was going so well...

Once they had entered the room, he pulled her into a torrid kiss as she attempted to shut the door, having to try to close it three different times before it was fully shut.

"I hope you had fun with your friends today." he said in a hushed tone as he broke away from her. His words contained a sharp tang that made Kita shudder.

"I did." she replied simply, her yellow-green eyes locked with his steel ones.

"Good. Because I don't think I'll be able to let you go out anymore." he told her as his hands encircled her waist possessively. "I couldn't stand being away from you for so long. And I was sick on top of it."

Kita felt a part of her die. No friends. Now that she had tasted what it was like to be out again, she wanted to do it again. And what about college? She wanted to make something of her life, learn more in school and become a psychological therapist, although caring for Akito was like unofficial training for it anyway. I'm grateful Akito has helped me to be happy again but he only wants me to be happy with him, she thought.

Too stunned to speak, Kita merely stood still as Akito ran his hand up from her black pants to the strap of the halter top Hoshi had bought her. His fingers then made their way onto the onyx and silver necklace her father had bought her for her birthday last year. "You look very pretty today." he told her.

"Thank you." she answered calmly.

Akito smirked and walked over to the table on the other side of the room and picked up a box that had been placed on it. He handed the box to her and whispered in her ear, "Happy birthday... again."

Kita took the present and opened it to find a jewelry box inside. It was silver and embedded with gems that Kita knew could be real what with the riches the Sohma family was endowed with. She slowly pulled the box out of its confines and traced the eight-pointed star patterns on the lid with her fingers. The exquisite cut of the gems poked the pads of her fingers in a way that was almost painful but very gentle.

"Thank you, Akito. It's beautiful." she said with a smile. One of his hands went back to touching the onyx necklace while the other stroked her hair.

"So you can have a safe place to shut away what's important to you."