Kyo had finally taken up going to Shishou-san's dojo again. As did Mei, who was actually a very good fighter, but 'not very disiplined' according to Shishou. They walked hand in hand, to the dojo.

"You're smiling." Mei said softly

"I am?"

"Yep. Are you happy?"

Kyo shrugged.

"What made you come back to the dojo anyways?" He asked "I thought you hated it here."

"I don't hate it." She replied "I actually like it here. Shishou is very kind and wise. And he makes me laugh. It's not that I don't like the dojo it's self..."

"It's that you don't like martial arts?"

"I don't like all the rules. There's too many of them. You have to be too disiplined, but I'm not. I'm to hyper for all that sitting and concentrating. Which is why I imagine I'll never prosper."

"Why Mei-chan, is that anyway to talk?"

They both turned around. Shishou stood behind them, carrying a bag of groceries.

"If you don't believe in yourself. Or motivate yourself, you'll never prosper."

"I know." She replied, almost cheerily "How are you Shishou?"

"Good. I happy that you two finally decided to start comming. Kyo. It's good to see you."

Kyo smiled.

"It's good to see you too Shishou."

When they got to the dojo. Kyo helped Shishou put up his groceries.

"You're buying more cod? Do you remember what happened that one time..."

"Yes, I almost set the kitchen on fire. I know."

"Just be careful this time."

"Perhaps I should let Mei-chan prepare lunch."

Kyo shrugged.

"I don't think that such a good idea either."

Shishou laughed. He then looked out the window to where Mei was sparing with one of his students. The fight was starting to get interesting, but then Mei ran off after something shinny.

"Maybe not."

There was a silence. Shishou looked down at his 'son' who once again seemed different. Different from the time when he had seen him with Tohru. Different from the morning after that night when she had seen him in his true form. When she had 'healed him'. If possible, Kyo seemed even more carefree. Even more full of life and light. It made him happy to see Kyo that way.

And then he saw why Kyo was smiling. He was looking at Mei.

"Kyo... you and Mei... are you..."

"Yes." Kyo said bluntly, not looking away from Mei, who was jumping, trying to catch a butterfly, much to the dispair of the student she was sparing with.

"And how are things?"

"Good. They're great." He said distantly, then looking at Shishou "I really love her."

"I'm sure you do." Shishou said, then sighing and pulling a chef's knife out of a drawer. Mei spotted the glimmer and came running towards the window. She stopped suddenly, nearly crashing into it.

"Oh... shinny." She said

They both looked at her, shocked. Mei then turned her attention back to the student and once again got into a fighting stance.

"Kyo... does she know? About you true form?"

"Yes." Kyo replied "She asked and I showed her."

"And how did she take it?"

"Surprisingly well. She thought it was awesom."

"What did she say?"

Kyo turned to look at him, and was smiling softly to himself.

"She... she put her hands over both our eyes... and she said 'If both of us are blind... then neither of us can see?"

"Huh?"

"I didn't get it either. But then she explained. She meant that if we both just acted like we were blind, then she couldn't see my hideous form... and I couldn't see her... selfishness, she called it. And we could still be together."

Shishou nodded.

"Mei-chan is truely wise beyond her years. Although I think what she said had an even deeper meaning."

"What? What is it?"

"You'll figure it out." He said, lifting the knife to the cod.

"Jeez Shishou, are you planning to stab the fish?"

Mei looked in on Shishou and Kyo talking. She had stopped sparing with the student, and was now simply sitting on the ground, waiting patienly. Why she had decided to come today, she dind't know. There was never much done today, but still she wanted to go.

She smiled at Kyo. He looked so happy. And to the casual observer, one would assume that they were father and son. But Mei knew other than that. They weren't father and son. Not in blood anyways. But their bond went even deeper. So deep not even Kyo's real father could break it. Mei smiled at them, at their warmth and thought of her own parents. Her own home. Her own father.

"Family." She murmered

"Yo Mei!"

Mei looked up. Kyo had opened the window.

"Do you know anything about cooking cod?" He asked

"No." She replied bluntly, looking away

A moment later. Kyo joined her, sitting on the ground.

"Are you alright?" He asked

"Yes." She replied "I'm fine."

"You seem kinda down."

"I'm fine Kyo."

Kyo touched her chin, and brought her eyes up to his.

"Mei... don't... don't lie to me. If there's something wrong... tell me."

"Nothings wrong... " she said "I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Why?"

"Because I wanna know what made you sad."

"Why?"

"So I can beat the crap out of it."

Mei smiled and stroaked his hair back.

"Kyo.. I ooohhh shinny!"

She took off towards the kitchen, after the sunlight reflecting off of Shishou's knife.

"Weird..." Kyo said, scracthing his head

"That was fun." Mei said, walking side by side with Kyo

"Yeah."

"I missed the dojo."

"Me too."

Kyo sighed.

"What's wrong?" She asked

"When you left... where did you go?" He asked

"To Domino."

"Why?"

"You know why."

"No. I don't."

Mei scratched her head.

"Kyo.."

"Was it to see him? Seto?"

"Yes."

Kyo stopped walking.

"Oh, baby it's not what you're thinking. Nothing happened."

"I don't know that." Kyo replied

"Yes you do. You know it because I'm telling you. I want you to trust me Kyo. Not to... to think it'd cheat on you."

Kyo sat down on a bench and sighed.

"Mei... I just feel like we're falling apart."

"Kyon-kyon--"

"And I feel like you enjoy Seto more than me."

"Of course I enjoy Seto... but in a different way. I like being with you because you're my boyfriend. Because I'm in love with you. But I like Seto because he's my friend. And because he's a lot like me."

"Do you love him?"

"Not in the way you're thinking. But yes, I do care about him. He... he somehow feels like... like a big brother."

"Mei... I want you to tell me the truth."

"Okay."

"Today, what was making you sad?"

Mei almost smiled.

"Well..." She said "I saw you and Shishou together... and it made me think about my... my family... my own father..."

"Shishou isn't my father."

"Isn't he?"

Kyo looked at her strangely.

"Maybe not in blood, but he's your father none the less. A father is someone who raises you, takes care of you... loves you... nurtures you... protects you. And isn't that what Shishou does?"

Kyo looked away.

"You see Kyo." Mei said "All these years, you've been trying to find somewhere where you belong... and... you have it..." She put his hand over her heart "Here." She pointed to the dojo "And there."

"Mei..."

"Kyo... you're always going to be in my heart... and in Shishou's... and nothing you can say can change that."

"I killed my mother."

Mei let go of his hand and raised an eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"I killed her."

"Kyo... you were like six..."

"Not physically... mentally... I made her so sad... gave her so much misery... that she killed herself... You see, Akito is right... I am a monster."

"No... you're not."

"Mei, don't."

"Kyo... you can't help being cursed... being born what you are... just as you can't control how people will react to it. If your mother was so saddened by you... then that's not your fault. You couldn't control her pain... and you couldn't make her not be sad... or miserable... you were a child, there wasn't much you could do for yourself... let alone others."

For a moment, Mei looked sad, her eyes lowered. Kyo reached out to touch her.

"Mei--."

"So please Kyo... don't blame yourself."

There was silence.

"Mei..."

But she didn't hear him, her mind wandered far back. To memories long hidden and burried deep.

Dammit Mei! Why can't you do anything right?

Daddy?

You think I wanted this! To give birth to you?

"Mommy?"

I wish I had a normal child!

STOP IT!

I WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN!

"STOP IT!"

"Mei?"

But she fainted without another word.