"I never want to forget you.
Even if I'm crying somewhere today,
I'm sure I can smile tomorrow."
Eien (Do As Infinity)

Under the Milky Way

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
Tohru smiled as she sat on the roof and stared up at the stars. Each one blinked at her and she wondered if stars were all that was up there. Her eyes traveled to the young man below her. He was on the ground doing simple forms for his martial arts. She could easily pick out certain moves, despite everything she still studied about martial arts and gardens. Tohru wanted to have a link to this family always. Ever since her father had died, she wanted to keep people close to her. She had failed to keep her mother close to her and it scared her.

"What?" Tohru suddenly asked when Kyou was staring up at her.

"I asked if you want to come and practice with me." Kyou repeated with a small smile. She spaced out a lot and he knew that she was lost in memories. He frowned when he realized she could be thinking about that other guy.

"I'm not any good," Tohru replied with a nervous smile.

"Eh, who cares…I'll help you," Kyou offered.

"I'll be down in a second," Tohru replied as she stood up and stretched.

Tohru was still nervous about the other day. He had kissed her and she still didn't understand why. She had thought about the subject and decided not to bring it up. Tohru wondered if he just had remnants of feelings left over. She loved him, she always would love him, but she didn't know if she could take losing him again. It hurt so much to keep losing everything you held dear. Her heart was shattered, but she was able to pick up the pieces and slowly begin again. She had the hope that you should never give up. Tohru climbed down the ladder and ran over to where Kyou was.

"Ready for my lesson." Tohru replied as she stood at attention.

"Are you going to call me Kyou-sensei next?" He teased.

"Kyou's getting kinky!" Shigure sang from the porch above them.

"Shut up you damn pervert!" Kyou hissed.

"Yuki! Kyou's scaring me!" Shigure whined as he went back inside.

"Leave me out of this," they heard Yuki replied.

"You're so cruel," Shigure sighed.

Tohru softly laughed and Kyou looked back at her. He was glad that she hadn't run away from his family yet. It surprised him that she hadn't run away from him. He thought that he had been too direct in kissing her. Kyou thought about the kiss and knew that it meant something. He wondered if she would be his. The only thing he worried about was that other guy. He didn't want the bastard to show up and then have her run back to him. Kyou sighed; he knew Tohru would never do anything like that. He also knew that there was something else to her.

'I feel like I've known her forever,' Kyou thought as helped ball her hand into a fist. He wanted any little excuse to touch her. It was a wonder that Shigure hadn't commented on it.

"I want you to try hitting me," Kyou instructed.

"Aren't I distracting you from training?" Tohru questioned with a guilty look.

"No, I mean I'll guard against your hits and build up my defense," Kyou explained as she happily nodded her head.

Tohru quickly threw the first punch and he was surprised. She had thrown a regular uppercut, but her stance was well balanced. Tohru bit her lip and decided that she didn't want to draw attention to herself. She had studied some martial arts, but the spirits had carried bits of their memories to her. It was like downloading a program; they had given her new information on things. That also explained why some of Sohma's personalities appeared in her. Tohru grinned as she sent another punch and he merely smacked her arm away. She spun around and aimed a back fist to the side of his face. His arm came up and blocked her move on instinct. Tohru happily smiled as he pushed her away softly.

"Where did you learn that?" Kyou questioned as she took another attack stance.

'You,' Tohru wanted to say.

"A friend," Tohru answered.

Tohru smiled at another memory that floated to her mind. Kyou had also taken time out to teach her defense. He always said he'd protect her, but he said the best thing was if she knew how to protect herself.

"Are you ready?" Tohru asked as she felt another spirit rise within her.

"For what?" Kyou questioned.

"The boar wishes to fight," Tohru answered as her eyes darkened.

Before he could respond, she flew at him. He stepped back and her fist went flying past his face. Tohru held a maniacal smile as she flew towards him again. Kyou dropped to the ground and attempted to sweep her legs out from under him. She saw this and jumped over the leg. Tohru brought her leg around and aimed for the side of his face. He caught her by the ankle and blushed when he noticed her skirt slipping up her thigh.

"Getting hot?" Tohru softly questioned as she took back her leg.

"Where's Tohru?" Kyou growled.

"She's safe and sound. We would never hurt the one that hosts us," Tohru answered with a scoff.

"Let her out!" Kyou growled.

"No…we rarely overtake our host…it is rare and I want to have some fun," Tohru explained with a dark pout.

Before Kyou could react, Tohru had uppercut him in the jaw. His head snapped back and he went flying. She softly chuckled as she watched him fly into the bushes. Her hand went to the bracelet and she laughed.

"Stupid pig," Kyou mumbled as he wiped his mouth.

"Us spirits can access strengths and powers unimaginable. We can make our host's body do much more then she could," Tohru explained as she cracked her knuckles.

"If you weren't in her body…I'd kick your ass," Kyou stated with a scowl.

"There's more things that you would like to do to this body," Tohru darkly whispered as she ran her hands up her sides. "Isn't there?"

"Don't touch her like that!" Kyou hissed as his face turned red.

"We've all seen what's in your soul," Tohru declared with a smirk.

"How?" Kyou questioned with shock.

"Poor innocent Tohru has a secret," she sang with a knowing smile.

"Let her out," Kyou demanded.

"Why? You couldn't protect her before…what makes now any different?" Tohru questioned with a glare.

"Before," Kyou whispered.

"You're the reason she's cursed…its all your fault," Tohru hissed as she chuckled.

"He hated leeks with a passion…he had a passion for hating leeks, Miso, and loving marital arts."

Kyou stood there shocked as he heard what Tohru told him a while ago. It was all coming together.

"He was cursed, but I loved him despite the curse."

Kyou reached down to his wrist to feel for the beads that were no longer there.

"He forgot about me."

"Once he was released from the curse, the spirits of the zodiac were full of rage. They blocked his and the other cursed family member's memories for revenge. They then possessed me."

"Our missing memories," Kyou whispered as Tohru smiled.

"We've all got secrets…some are just hidden deeper then others," Tohru assured as she watched him.

"The cat…am I the cat?" Kyou wondered.

"She's taking our body back…ask her," Tohru sighed before her eyes lightened.

She glanced around the area and her eyes widened in shock when she saw Kyou in a bush.

Poof

Tohru sighed as she stepped out of her clothes. She softly snorted and sighed again. The boar had taken over and she didn't know why. There had been another time that had happened, but she didn't think the other spirits could do it.

"Are you alright?" Tohru softly asked Kyou.

"Yeah, but that pig gave me a run for my money," Kyou grunted as he cracked his neck.

"Sorry," Tohru softly apologized.

"It's not your fault," Kyou assured as he stood up.

Tohru walked back over to her clothes. She picked through them by nudging her clothes aside with her nose. Tohru found her shirt first and pulled it out of the pile. Kyou scratched the back of his head and watched her.

"Tohru," Kyou awkwardly said.

"Eh?"

"Who was the cat?" Kyou questioned.

Tohru paused in her actions and shook her head. She knew that he had a right to know, but it didn't mean she wanted to tell. Tohru sat down and decided that she should tell; it wasn't her place to withhold memories.

"Even if I tell you…you won't remember," Tohru sighed.

"I'd like to know," Kyou firmly said.

"Fine," Tohru sighed.

Poof

"You were the cat," Tohru quickly said as smoke filled the area.

She quickly dove into the bushes and began to dress. He stood there a bit stunned as he listened to her clothes rustle. Tohru finally came out of the bushes with a tired look. Kyou didn't know what to say. There were so many questions yet he didn't know where to start.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Kyou calmly asked.

"Would you have believed me?" Tohru questioned back.

"Then why not tell me once I knew about you?" Kyou quickly asked as he felt anger rise.

"I didn't want you to know about me because I didn't want you to feel guilty," Tohru explained.

"Guilty, yeah…I feel bad for leaving you alone, but what else would there be guilt for?" Kyou snapped.

Tohru instantly let her hand cover the bracelet. His eyes caught the movement and he bit his lower lip.

"The monster…I was the monster and now you are," Kyou whispered.

"No…you were never a monster," Tohru firmly assured.

"I left you alone and made you a monster," Kyou whispered with sorrow and anger. His fists clenched as he stared down at the ground.

"Are you happy?" Tohru softly questioned.

"What?" Kyou asked as he looked up at Tohru.

"Were you happy before you knew about this?" Tohru softly questioned.

"Yeah," Kyou unsurly answered.

"Then if you're happy…I would do it again. I would take the curse again without hesitation!" Tohru firmly declared.

"I remember small bits…not a lot, but enough to know you weren't always like this," Kyou began. "Wouldn't you like to be normal again?"

"I'm happy if you're happy," Tohru firmly replied with resolve.

Tohru reached out and took his hand in hers. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and placed his hand upon her heart. He watched the movement with curiosity and smiled at her.

"My heart tells me that I did the right thing…I wouldn't change anything," Tohru softly said.

"Tohru…" Kyou sighed.

"I found my reason to exist Kyou. I was searching and I found my reason with you…for you. As long as you're happy then I am willing to give up anything. Your smile is the reason that I smile. Though I carry anger and bitterness…I was still able to smile because I saw that you were happy. Even if I lost you in the process, I satisfied to know that you were happy. You could finally make your dreams come true…your life wouldn't have been locked away, and I would have happily watched from a distance," Tohru firmly said.

"I was happy…but I felt as if I was missing something," Kyou confided as he paused.

Tohru reached out and cupped his cheek. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she put her hands over his eyes. She blinked and knew that if she had to, she would do it again.

"I can do it again…I can let you go," Tohru whispered to him.

His hand shot up and gripped her wrist. He pulled her hands away from his face and glared at her. She wanted to cry, because she knew that she would never lose these memories.

"No." Kyou seriously said.

"Eh? But you can go on without me," Tohru explained.

"Are you really willing to give me up that fast?" Kyou seriously questioned, almost angrily.

"It's for your own good," Tohru reasoned.

"I want to be selfish," Kyou stated as he weaved their fingers together. "I don't want to forget you."

"No, you deserve to be normal," Tohru fearfully said.

"Don't run from me when we're so close again…don't let your fear cloud your decisions. I may not remember you fully…but I do know what I want," Kyou explained as he felt his face going red.

"I'm a monster," Tohru whispered.

"We have to cope…let me…let me heal you," Kyou whispered as he brought her to him.

A cloud of smoke erupted and he grinned as he felt held her. Tohru blinked and if she could she would have smiled. Her tail wagged and Kyou gently lowered her to the ground.

"I'll stay with you," Tohru promised.

"You won't run from me?" Kyou seriously questioned.

"I can't say that I won't want to run…but I will stay with you," Tohru promised as her ears perked up.

"It would make me happy…if you stayed," Kyou said as he bopped her on the head.

"You have changed," Tohru sighed.

"Is it bad?" Kyou questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"No…change is good," Tohru replied as she wagged her tail.

Author's Note: