"I'm dead from all the loneliness and this is how I feel,
Understanding everything has never been my deal."
The One (Limp Bizkit)


The Vast Ocean

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
Sometimes there were moments in life that just drove you to think. Then there were moments where you just kept thinking because your brain wouldn't shut up. Tohru stood on the porch musing to her self about what had happened. She had explained everything to Hatori. Her tale, or was it their tale; began when she spoke about how she had first moved in with the Sohma's. A soft sigh fleeted across the wind as she remembered all the times. One person now knew the whole story, but she was the only one that carried the memories.

"I sometimes wonder why I just don't go and dive into the ocean," Tohru mused as she stood on the porch. Hatori raised an eyebrow. "Sometimes I like to imagine that I'm under the sea and that the salt is washing away my impurities."

"You mean the spirits?" Hatori questioned.

"Yeah…the spirits," Tohru softly questioned.

Hatori nodded and turned his attention to Shigure. The man was waving madly as he walked up to the part of the house they were in. Tohru sighed and smiled at he came up to them. Shigure reached out and patted her head with a smile.

"How is my flower?" Shigure questioned.

"Pervert," Hatori mumbled.

"Your words sting me," Shigure sighed as he followed the two inside.

Hatori led them back to the library and once again pulled out the book. Shigure raised an eyebrow, but wordlessly flipped through each page. When his eyes landed on the page containing information about the cat, Tohru had shown him the juzu beads. Hatori closed his eyes as he listened to her explain her story once more. She retold it without anything changing. Shigure leaned forward and furrowed his eyebrows when he tried to remember the things she mentioned. Hatori opened his eyes once he heard Shigure close the book. Tohru sort of frowned as she waited for a reaction.

"That explains why we all have blank spots," Shigure mumbled as he looked at Tohru.

"Are you mad?" Tohru softly questioned as she gazed down at the floor.

Shigure's eyes widened at this one and he frowned Hatori to be just as puzzled. Tohru reached up and wiped her eyes. She really didn't want them to be mad at her. A comforting hand landed on her shoulder and she turned her attention to Shigure.

"Tohru, I'm not mad," Shigure assured. "I have no reason to be mad at you. You did what you thought was best and I can never be mad at you for loving us all too much."

"But it was my fault that you all forgot," Tohru softly said as her eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm upset that I forgot and I'm upset that I still don't remember, but I'm even more upset that we left you all alone," Shigure explained with a thoughtful look.

"You were trying to help, we can't be mad at you for doing that," Hatori added with his own soft smile.

"I've missed you all," Tohru confided. "It's hard having to watch the ones you love from a distance knowing that you can never touch them."

"She's matured…and such potential to be a novelist!" Shigure exclaimed with a smile.

"What do you plan to do?" Hatori questioned as Tohru turned her gaze to him.

"About what?" Tohru questioned as she slightly spaced.

"Are you going to tell Kyou and Yuki?" Hatori questioned and Shigure raised an eyebrow.

"I think it would be better if I didn't," Tohru softly said.

"So you'll continue to act like you've just met them?" Shigure corrected.

"Yeah…this will keep them away from the sadness," Tohru firmly said.

"So they know about the curse?" Hatori questioned.

"Yeah," Tohru mumbled with a sheepish smile. "So do Uo and Hana."

"Where have you been living?" Shigure suddenly questioned.

"I have a small apartment," Tohru proudly stated.

"You must work very hard," Hatori mumbled.

"I do…I still work for Momiji's dad and I help teach swimming at the school," Tohru answered.

"In a swimsuit?" Shigure questioned.

"Of course," Tohru cautiously said.

"Tohru…I want you to move back in with me," Shigure suddenly said as Hatori glared at him, "with us!"

"I can't!" Tohru shouted as her arms started to waive about.

"You must…for you see that my house has fallen into ruins," Shigure dramatically sighed.

"It didn't look that bad," Tohru mumbled as Hatori raised an eyebrow at Shigure.

Shigure's face blanked before he began to grin. He grabbed Tohru's hands and began to sob. Her face stilled and she began to panic. Hatori covered his face with his hand and sighed.

"My house is in ruins…all I want is a beautiful flower to come and liven it up," Shigure sobbed as he hid his smirk.

"I might be able to come over and help you clean," Tohru wavered.

"So you'll move back in?" Shigure quickly said.

"Eh?" Tohru questioned.

"Great! I'll send the boys over to help you pack!" Shigure quickly said and ran out of the house.

Tohru sat there with her eyes wide and confused. She let her hands drop and she sighed. Hatori simply smiled and silently thought this may help the girl.

"This will help you out," Hatori calmly said as Tohru looked at him. Her expression was one of pure sorrow. His eyes widened at her expression.

"No it won't…I'm cursed and nothing will help," Tohru wistfully said.

"I mean that you won't be alone anymore. Even if they don't remember…they still care," Hatori assured as she glanced at him.

"It hurts to be around them, and yet I'm happy around them," Tohru sighed.

"Tohru," Hatori softly said.

"Eh?"

"You can always make new memories," Hatori seriously said.

"Hatori-san," Tohru softly questioned, "what does snow become when it melts?"

Hatori smiled and her and replied, "Spring."

Kyou grumbled as he glared at Yuki. They had been practicing-glaring-with each other for five hours. There was a scene in the play that Kyou didn't like, it was the scene where Tohru died, and he transformed into some monster. Yuki and him had agreed to rehearse the scene without Tohru to see how it all came along. So far, they had just insulted and glared at each other for the entire time. Kyou bit his lower lip as he felt a vein pop out. Yuki calmly watched his cousin with an indifferent look, or what Kyou considered a glare.

"Can you not read the script? You are to talk first," Yuki pointed out with a calm look.

"You're supposed to read first! We're starting before Tohru comes in," Kyou growled.

"Stupid," Yuki mumbled.

"What was that?" Kyou shouted as he stood up.

"Now you're deaf?" Yuki taunted.

"Just read the damn lines!" Kyou hissed as he tried to calm down.

"I've hoped you made the right choice," Yuki calmly said as he read the lines.

"I have," Kyou firmly replied with a smirk.

"Then what is it?" Yuki asked.

"I'm going to stay with her," Kyou answered.

"You can't!" Yuki hissed.

"I am," Kyou replied.

"Then you lose your place as a guardian of the zodiac!" Yuki coldly said with a smirk.

"I lost my place when your spirit betrayed mine," Kyou hatefully said.

"You still haven't gotten over the fact that you're just stupid." Yuki haughtily said.

"My spirit and I lost the zodiac…but we will not give up her," Kyou dangerously said.

"Yuki and Kyou!" Shigure sang as he threw open the shoji.

"What the hell do you want?" Kyou growled as he glared at Shigure. The play had made him agitated.

"I bring an offering to you," Shigure slyly said as he pushed Tohru towards them.

"Eh…hello," Tohru simply responded with a confused look.

"Honda-san?" Yuki questioned as he glared at Shigure.

"What did you do to her?" Kyou accused.

"I'm hurt that you would think that low of me," Shigure sighed with a fake sob.

'What is he up too?' Kyou and Yuki thought as they both glared at him.

"I better get that spare room ready," Shigure suddenly said as he took off for the stairs.

Yuki and Kyou both blinked and looked at the stairs. They turned to Tohru and she shrugged. Kyou was the first one to actually clear his throat. Tohru smiled at him and he found a small smile forming on his face.

"He didn't do anything to you did he?" Kyou questioned as Tohru quickly shook her head.

"You know you could tell me, don't lie to protect that bastard," Kyou grumbled as Yuki raised an eyebrow.

"Shigure-san was very kind. He's allowing me to—"

"Tohru!" Shigure's voice sang. "You're room is ready!"

"Room," Yuki mumbled.

"I hope you don't mind that you're across from Kyou's room," Shigure sighed with a charming smile.

"You're staying here?" Kyou questioned as he kept the excitement from his voice.

Tohru's eyes widened in shock at his question. Yuki watched as she suddenly grabbed Kyou by the front of his shirt. Yuki took a step back figuring that Tohru could handle herself. Tohru began to shake him back and forth, as she sobbed.

"A least get a room," Shigure mumbled with a smirk.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't know that my staying here would bother you! Please forgive me! I'll leave immediately!" Tohru sobbed as she dropped Kyou and made a dash for the door.

"Freeze," Shigure said as he poked Tohru in the side.

She yelped and passed out. Yuki caught her-Poof- and a cloud of smoke exploded. They all coughed and Yuki's eyes widened in surprise. He was holding a small brown monkey with a white belly. It's green eyes blinked before she sighed.

"Just like Ritsu," Shigure mumbled.

"I didn't mean to intrude," Tohru sincerely said, her voice came out a bit squeaky.

"I was just surprised," Kyou quickly said since he didn't want her to panic.

"I'm making everyone miserable," Tohru sobbed as her tiny paws wiped her eyes.

"Do not weep, the boys are just stupid," Shigure sighed.

"Hey!" Came their indignant cries.

"Then you don't mind if I stay?" Tohru questioned Yuki and Kyou.

"Do whatever you want?" Kyou mumbled.

"Honda-san, it would be wonderful to have your company," Yuki calmly said with a smile.

"Since that is settled," Shigure interrupted as he clapped his hands. "Aya! Bring in the bags!"

Yuki paled and Kyou slightly tensed. Tohru tilted her head to the side and watched as her bags flew through the door. One hit Kyou in the face and sent him to the ground. Yuki dodged the bags and Shigure watched as a book flew through the shoji behind him.

"HAHAHA!"

"He'll see me!" Tohru panicked.

"What is he doing here?" Yuki questioned.

Yuki suddenly felt an arm draped around his shoulder. He stiffened and listened to the laughter as his right eye twitched. Tohru jumped onto Kyou's chest to examine the bump on his head. Kyou grumbled and turned a glare to Ayame.

"Why my little brother," Ayame began as he put a hand to his chest. "I heard there was a beautiful princess in distress and had to help!"

"Leave now!" Yuki growled.

"I came to the princess's call and helped carry her bags…which I might add were quite light," Ayame explained.

"Are you okay?" Tohru softly asked as she held her paw on Kyou's head. His garnet eyes focused on her and then he looked away.

"I'm fine," Kyou asked.

Poof

Ayame raised an eyebrow and waved the smoke away from his face. His soft golden eyes lit up with surprise as he stared down at Kyou and the 'damsel'. Yuki looked over and covered his eyes as the last bit of smoke cleared. Ayame's smirk grew and grew while Kyou's face turned red. Tohru had remained frozen hoping that they wouldn't see her. Her hope fled out the window.

"Lucky Kyou! Your luck has changed if you are already fondling the princess!" Ayame stated with a sly smile.

"Pervert!" Kyou growled as his face turned red.

"You couldn't even wait to get her up to her or your room!" Ayame scolded with a wave of one finger. "To think that Lucky Kyou has become Dirty Kyou."

"Aya, don't scold them," Shigure wisely said. "You remember how hormones were?"

"Please leave," Yuki growled as he glared at them.

"Shigure! You're right! I remember that one time at camp…"

"GET OUT!" Kyou shouted as he sat up.

Tohru clung to his shirt desperate to hide her naked chest. Her face was pure red in embarrassment.

"If you want privacy then you should go to your room!" Ayame laughed as Tohru groaned in embarrassment.

Tohru grinned and wrapped her arms around Kyou. His eyes closed as smoke surrounded them. Ayame raised an eyebrow at this and watched at Kyou stood up. Tohru was nowhere to be found. Kyou scratched the back of his head in confusion before his pupils widened.

"What the hell!" Kyou shouted as he began to dance around the room.

"Dirty Kyou is dirty dancing!" Ayame laughed as Kyou continued to move about the room.

"He's not very good," Shigure pointed out.

A brown snake slithered out of Kyou's shirt and wrapped around his neck. A soft flicker of the tongue made him grimace. Yuki's face was blank and Shigure began laughing. Ayame walked over and studied the snake.

"HAHAHA! Talk about having a snake in your pants!" Ayame laughed as Kyou's face went red in anger.

"Pervert," Yuki growled as he hit Ayame.

"I'm so sorry!" Tohru softly hissed as the embarrassment laced her words.

"It's okay," Kyou grounded out as he fought the blush forming on his cheeks.

Sure, it was snake that slithered around his leg and body, but it was still Tohru. He wasn't embarrassed of himself or anything; he had never had a girl that close to him. Kyou could feel the blush becoming more intense as he realized that she slithered her way up his boxers. His hand covered his face as he felt the blush reign. He felt the tongue flicker again and he wondered if he would ever be able to look her in the eyes again.

Author's Note:

I'm so happy, I was able to update because my finals ended and I did really good.
I already have the next chapter in progress...it surprises me that I haven't finished this story already, but it is taking time to write.
Thanks to all the reviewers, I love reading your comments!
Please leave a review and I'll try to update as soon as I can!