As he reached the top of the staircase, he collided with Yukina, who was just about to go down to prepare dinner, and both of them ended on the floor. Rubbing her head, Yukina looked up confusedly from the ground to see who it was that bowled her over.

Equally bewildered, Yuki stared at Yukina, who was rubbing her head to ease the pain from it hitting the floor. She looked normal, and did not have the signs of someone who had just done what he thought Hatori and Yukina have been doing.

"You…you are here, Yukina-chan?" he asked softly.

"Ah…yes, Yuki-kun. I just finished unpacking my bags, and I'm going to the kitchen to cook dinner. Umm…your face seems quite red, are you not feeling well, Yuki-kun?" Yukina asked.

Hatori heard the crash, and came out of the room, curious to know what it was. What he saw was both Yuki and Yukina sitting on the floor; apparently they had bumped into each other. They looked so amusing with their perplexed expressions that Hatori could not help giving out a chuckle. He strode over and helped them to get up.

"Would you care to tell me what happened here, Yukina-chan?" he asked with a smile.

Yuki cut in before she could open her mouth.

"Actually, I was running up the stairs and I collided with her here, Hatori-kun," he explained and turned to Yukina. "I'm sorry for knocking you over, Yukina-chan." Judging from their appearance, it was evident that Yuki had misunderstood Tohru's words, and maybe they were just resting.

"Oh…never mind. But…are you sure you are okay, Yuki-kun? You look like you have a fever…" Yukina asked.

Yuki smiled and replied, "I'm fine, Yukina-chan. Maybe I just ran up the stairs too quickly, that's all. Well, I'm looking forward to taste your dinner," and he walked into his room.

Yukina shrugged and began to walk down the stairs, while Hatori went back into their room to arrange the futon. After a while, he finished and made his way to the kitchen, guessing that Yukina must have started making dinner.

His guess proved correct, as he saw Yukina's back. He stood in the doorway, watching as Yukina chopped vegetables and meat into slices deftly. He could not help but admire her skills as she finished up and began to heat the pan. Yukina saw him and smiled happily, and he went inside the kitchen.

"What are you going to cook, Yukina-chan?"

She smiled mischievously as she answered, "You have to wait until its dinner time, Hatori."

Hatori smiled back at her and ruffled her hair softly. Suddenly, he thought of something and he asked a painful question, wanting to know the answer although he was filled with grief at remembering his agonizing past, "Yukina-chan, what do you think snow becomes when it melts?"

Yukina paused from her work and looked at Hatori slowly.

"I remember someone telling me a legend that the snow…is actually the tears of two lovers forced to separate from each other. And when it melts, it symbolises that they can reunite. So, to me the snow is the symbol of eternal love…and happiness…" her voice was soft and melancholy, and her eyes glazed over, making her seem like a different person.

Hatori was startled as he had not expected such an answer. He wondered if he had triggered some of her memories by asking that question. Suddenly, he saw a tear run down Yukina's face, and she was motionless. He quickly got to Yukina's side and asked, "What's the matter, Yukina-chan?"

"I…I don't know…but I sense a great deep sorrow coming from you…" her voice dropped to a whisper. "Please tell me…the reason you are so sad, Hatori. Please…I can't bear to have this feeling…" tears rolled down her cheeks and she sank to the floor.

"Yukina-chan…" he squatted and reached out a hand to touch her face gently, "I just remembered a time when I was completely cursed by the dragon, and was punished by the head of the family…" he paused, wondering if it was sensible to tell her the matter, but looking at her face, oddly he felt a little comforted, and a notion came into his mind, hinting that he would be relieved of his years of pain if he told her everything that had haunted his mind for years.

Acting upon his instincts despite his heart, which was filled with anguish, he related to her the incident where Akito had thrown a vase at him, nearly blinding his left eye when he wanted to marry Kana. He also told her of his grief at having to erase her memories of him, and sadness of not being able to attend Kana's wedding for fear that she might remember him.

After he finished, he stared at Yukina, who was still in a kneeling position. Unexpectedly, she stood up and placed her hand over her heart.

"There should not be so much suffering in this world…and especially not for you…" her voice was tender and soothing, and seemed to have the ability to heal. "Please let me ease your pain and sorrow…"

Hatori's eyes were transfixed upon Yukina, who stood still and murmured something he could not comprehend. All of a sudden, a fierce gust of wind blew into the house, although all the windows were closed, causing everyone to wonder what had happened.

Yukina's hazel eyes transformed into a vivid emerald green abruptly, and she was surrounded by a soft white light as pure as the snow which appeared out of nowhere. She looked serene, almost tranquil as she slowly turned to face him.

"Hatori…you deserve happiness…and it was not your fault that it happened…it was just a cruel twist of fate…please let it go…and move forward with your life…and open your heart to accept new things…" she said softly.

Hatori was mesmerised as he witnessed all this, and he could not do anything except to stare at her. Yukina closed her eyes, and the radius of the light that surrounded her became bigger and bigger, until it enveloped Hatori's body too.

Strangely, Hatori enjoyed the sensation that came over him as the light covered the whole of his body. Suddenly, he felt very blissful and contented, and the pain that was in his heart before dissolved into nothing. He still had the memories of Kana, but they had no effect, as they were just memories of his life. Finally, he was able to let go of his past, and the sorrow that came with it cannot affect him any more. Furthermore, his left eye, which had a blurry vision before, was able to see clearly now.

He stared at Yukina, wondering how she had been able to create such a miracle. Gradually, the soft light disappeared; Yukina's eyes returned to their original hazel, her body went slack and she collapsed to the floor in a dead faint.

By now, Shigure and Ayame had sensed that something had happened in the kitchen, with the wind blowing in a closed house and the mystifying light that came out from there. They were startled as it disappeared, and jumped when they heard Hatori's shout.

"YUKINA!"

Immediately, Shigure and Ayame burst into the kitchen, followed by Yuki and the others, for they heard Hatori too. What they saw was Yukina, unconscious in Hatori's arms, with both of them on the floor.

Shigure was the first to open his mouth, "Hatori! What happened here?"

Hatori was still confused and he shook his head. "I will explain it to you later. Please help me get Yukina-chan somewhere comfortable she can lie down and rest."

Together, they helped Hatori to carry Yukina to a couch, and they laid her down on it. She looked like how she was when Hatori first saw her, pale and lifeless. At least she was still breathing, and this relieved Hatori greatly.

"Now…what happened to Yukina-chan? Besides, what was that wind and light just now? It did not seem natural…" Shigure's voice trailed off as he looked at Yukina. Yuki walked forward, and laid a hand on Yukina's forehead. He closed his eyes for a moment and looked at Hatori.

"Her life energy is extremely weak…what did she do?" Yuki, who had learned martial arts before, detected it and asked.

Taking a deep breath to calm down, Hatori began to relate the incidents that happened in the kitchen: the question he asked, Yukina's crying, the disappearance of his grief over Kana…and how it happened.

Everyone was stunned after they heard Hatori's narration, and they found it hard to believe. However, they did sense a small change in Hatori, and the subtle sorrow they had noticed in his eyes before disappeared thoroughly.

"Who actually is…Yukina-chan?" Tohru wondered out loud.

Despite the situation, Hatori smiled and reached out a hand to touch Yukina's cheek caressingly.

"We might not know the answer now, Tohru-chan. But, I'm sure that Yukina-chan is a miracle sent by heaven. Now, I know that it's not necessary to erase one's memories to make them forget their sorrow…we just have to forgive, let go and move on…"

Yuki remained silent as he watched Hatori looking at Yukina with such tenderness. He agreed with the statement that Yukina was a miracle, and wondered whether she was an angel, or maybe a seraph, instead of human. He looked again at Yukina, who was sleeping peacefully after her exertion. However, Yuki knew that there was a possibility that she might not wake up, as her life energy was almost zero.

Yuki looked at Kyou, and asked, "Can you help me…" and gestured towards Yukina. Kyou's eyes glittered and asked, "You mean…transfer?" Apparently, they understood each other's unfinished questions and nodded at the other person.

Then, they moved towards Yukina, but were stopped by Hatori.

"What are you going to do, Kyou, Yuki?" he asked.

"Don't worry, Hatori-kun. We are going to transfer a part of our energy to Yukina, or else she might not be able to wake up forever, even though she is alive. We learnt it from our martial arts teacher," Yuki reassured Hatori.

"Is that so, then I will help too," Haru said and walked forward.

The three of them smiled slightly at one another, and put their hands on both of Yukina's, which was clasped together in front of her unconscious body. Then, they gripped her hands tightly and closed their eyes, giving a small part of their energy to Yukina to help restore her life.

After a while, they let go of Yukina's hands, and sat down on the floor, quite exhausted. Yuki smiled at Hatori and said, "Yukina-chan is fine, and should be awake after a few minutes."

Hatori smiled back and replied, "Thanks for helping Yukina-chan, Yuki. How can I repay you for your kindness?"

"You are welcome, Hatori-kun, and please don't mention it. I'm glad to be able to help…" Yuki started and looked at Yukina, whose eyes were slowly fluttering open. She gazed at the worried people who surrounded her and spoke in a whisper, "Hatori…Yuki-kun…Kyou-kun…and Haru-kun…everyone is here…"

Hatori quickly walked to her side and held her hand. "Yukina-chan, did you remember what had happened?" She hesitated for a short while, and nodded wordlessly.

"Am I…a monster?" she asked quietly, and cast her eyes down.

Hatori could not stand it any more, and he pulled Yukina into his arms forcefully, all the while murmuring, "No, Yukina-chan…you are nothing of the sort. I was the monster, holding stubbornly on to painful memories. But, you have changed me, and I can't thank you enough…"

Everyone else remained silent, touched by the sight of the both of them together. Yuki turned away, the picture of Hatori and Yukina embracing each other was too painful for him to see. Shigure noticed it and frowned slightly, as he sensed that Yuki was depressed but he did not know how to comfort him.

With the help of Hatori, Yukina got up from the couch, and she walked to the kitchen slowly, intending to finish her cooking. However, Tohru tried to stop her.

"Don't worry about the dinner, Yukina-chan. I will make it, and please go and rest," Tohru smiled.

"It's okay, Tohru-chan. I'm fine now, thanks to all of you…besides, I promised to cook dinner today," she smiled back. Shigure clapped his hands cheerfully, "Yeah…I can't wait to eat your cooking today, Yukina-chan!"

After a while, the delicious smell of cooking curry spread out of the kitchen, making everybody's mouth water. Hatori motioned towards Shigure, and both of them made their way to somewhere private enough, with Ayame following silently.

At last, Hatori and Shigure sat down in a room. Shigure laid his head on his hand and gazed at Hatori questioningly.

Hatori looked straight into Shigure's eyes and said, "I need you to do me a favour. Please let Yukina-chan stay here, together with you and the rest, and take care of her."

Then, both of them jumped, as Ayame slithered into the room as a snake and transformed back to his human form, dressing himself with a shirt nearby. He interrupted, "Why would you want to do that, Hatori-kun?"

Hatori narrowed his eyes, and spoke softly as not to be overheard by others. "I don't want her to be too reliant on me, because if the time comes when we are forced to be apart, the pain and hurt would be too great to bear…"

Shigure's eyes grew wide, as he had never thought of such a question before. "Why are you so sure that you will have to separate in the future?" he shot back.

"You knew what happened just now…I'm sure that Yukina-chan is not just another ordinary girl, and the people who know her will come and find her eventually. If we get too close, I know that I can't suffer losing her…"

"If you could just accept her into your heart, you wouldn't need to lose her, Hatori," Shigure's voice was quite hard, for he was aware that leaving Yukina here would cause her greater pain than letting her stay with Hatori.

"But…I don't deserve someone like her, who is pure and untainted, and having such an adorable face…"

Ayame's hands had balled itself into fists, and he grabbed Hatori to shake him by the collar. "What had got into you, Hatori? Can't you see that you need Yukina-chan as much as she needs you? If you desert her here, it would just kill her slowly and agonizingly, don't you know that?"

Shigure held Ayame back, and said firmly with an air of decisiveness, "I won't agree to let you leave Yukina-chan here. However, I can help you to take care of her when you go to work, and you will pick her up after you have finished, and that's final."

By then, Ayame had relaxed, and he sat down glaring at Hatori. "Just go and tell her that you love her, and want her to stay with you even if somebody else comes to claim her, idiot."

Hatori could not think of a reply to this, as his heart was full of conflicting desires. Part of him wanted to keep Yukina with him; another part told him that it was impossible. Suddenly, he recalled their first meeting, and his promise to her to be responsible for her, and he looked at Ayame and Shigure, who were watching the subtle expressions that flitted across his face, and guessed that he had made the correct decision.

"I won't do that, but I will not leave her here either. I'm thinking of sending her to school next year…what do you think?"

"It's a good idea, but are you sure that she can read and write?" Shigure asked ponderingly.

"Yes, but I don't know what her levels are…so I might bring her for a test before school reopens. Except for Haru, the others are in their senior year, right?"

Shigure nodded and suddenly sniffed the air. "I think Yukina has finished cooking dinner. Let's go out and eat." and he bounced out, happy at the thought of having great food to eat.

Hatori and Ayame tailed behind, with Hatori making plans to bring Yukina to the school Yuki and the others were studying in, and make arrangements so that she could study there too. They, as well as the other teenagers, were taken aback when they saw the food laid on the table. There was a bowl of boiling meat curry, a hot pot of tofu stuffed with loads of vegetables, braised fish with appetising garnishes, chicken soup and steamed rice balls. There were also glasses of fruit cocktail served.

Each of the dishes looked so tempting that their mouths watered involuntarily. Yukina was laying down the cutlery, and invited them to start eating. Everybody sat down around the table, and started to dine. They could not help but praise Yukina's skill at cooking, to which she beamed happily, glad to serve all of them.

Within an hour, all the food on the table had disappeared into their stomachs, and they thanked Yukina again for the dinner she had cooked. She accepted their thanks graciously, and they cleaned up the table. After that, everyone went back to deal with their own affairs, while Ayame returned to his own house.

Hatori and Yukina went to the living room, and sat down on the couch. After a while, Yuki came and join them too, and they chatted together at ease. Then, Hatori remembered the decision that he made a moment ago, and decided to go on it.

"Yuki, how are your studies?" Hatori asked.

"I'm progressing quite well. Why did you ask?" Yuki was puzzled, as Hatori never showed concern in his studies before.

"Ah…I'm thinking about sending Yukina-chan over to Kaibara High next year. What do you think about it?" he directed the question to both of the teenagers.

"School…?" Yukina asked apprehensively, while Yuki smiled at her and said, "That's a great idea, Hatori-kun. But, which year are you going to let her into?"

To this he replied, "I'm not sure yet, but I think it would be either Haru's year or yours, as Yukina-chan is about sixteen years old. I would have to discuss the matter with the principal later on."

"Oh…I know. I will let Yukina-chan have a look at my textbooks and see whether she understands it. Please wait here while I go and fetch them," and Yuki went upstairs to take his books.

Hatori turned to smile at Yukina and asked, "How do you feel about going to school, Yukina-chan?"

She shrugged, "Um…I'm not sure…"

Just then, Yuki arrived carrying a small stack of books he studied. Curiously, Yukina flipped through the pages for a while and raised her head to look at Hatori.

"I think…I have already known all these things, but don't ask me why…" she said diffidently.

Inquisitively, Hatori took one book and flipped through it too. Then, he stared at Yukina. "It's Yuki's senior year at Kaibara High, and if you knew these things…you should have already graduated from high school…Yukina-chan." and Hatori put the book down, "I have made up my mind. You will go and take the qualifying exam so that the school can arrange for you to be studying there, and judging by your intelligence, you should be able to go to the final year. It will be good for you to mix around with many people about your age, and get used to society, Yukina-chan."

Yukina hesitated for a while, and Yuki interrupted. "Don't worry, Hatori-kun. I will take care of Yukina-chan while she is at school, which, by the way, starts on the first week of summer."

Hatori nodded gratefully, and Yukina smiled, reassured. "Then, the matter is settled. Yukina-chan, in these few days I will bring you to meet the principal and take the test, so you should prepare yourself."

"Okay, Hatori," Yukina promised to study for the upcoming test, and Hatori smiled at her, glad to see her open up to accept new ideas.

"Uh…Yukina-chan, would you like to study together with me? I too want to do some studying before school reopens," Yuki asked shyly.

"Sure," Yukina agreed cheerfully and opened a book in front of her.

After a while, the two teenagers were engrossed in the book, and not wanting to disturb them, Hatori left to find Shigure. He found him sitting in the garden with a faraway expression, which was quite unusual. Hatori walked over, and plonked a chair beside him.

"You don't seem quite like yourself today, Shigure," he stated.

Shigure was jolted from his thoughts, and looked at Hatori.

"Nah, I was just thinking…do you love Yukina-chan, Hatori-kun?" he shot suddenly.

Hatori was shocked, and stared at him for quite a while. Then, he perceived that Shigure was serious, and he sighed.

"It doesn't make much difference whether I say yes or no, does it?"

"You are wrong, the decision you make will affect the whole family, whether you like it or not, Hatori," Shigure asserted.

His answer shocked Hatori, and he narrowed his eyes at him.

"Is that so? How would it affect the others?" he inquired, sensing that Shigure was going to tell him something.

Shigure looked at Hatori straight in the eyes, and told him his suspicions that Yukina might be able to rid them of the animal curse completely, and also about his worries that Yuki and Haru also had a crush on Yukina.

"I agree with you that Yukina is not another ordinary girl. But if there are people looking for her, there might also be enemies after her life. If you love her, you must be prepared to face any difficulties that might come in the future. And for the sake of Yuki, let him give up earlier to avoid him suffering by declaring that you love Yukina-chan." he said gravely.

"I have told you that I won't get involved with Yukina-chan too deeply…when the time for separation comes, it would be too heartbreaking to bear, Shigure."

"Do you think if Yukina-chan has a choice, she will choose to leave you now?" he shot back. "I have seen the way she looks at you, and the manner you talk while you are with her. Open your eyes to see how you have changed her, and the other way round, Hatori."

Hatori shook his head. "I can't do it now. Give me a few weeks to sort out my feelings, only then I would decide what to do…"

Shigure sighed, knowing that Hatori could be very stubborn at times. "All right, have it your own way, but only for a few weeks," and he left the table.

Slowly, the sky became darker, and Hatori too retired into his room. There, he found out that Yukina was studying inside, and he assumed that Yuki must have gone to sleep. He walked to Yukina's side softly and asked, "How are you doing, Yukina-chan?"

She took her eyes off the book and smiled at Hatori, "I think I already known all these, and I just needed to review some of it." Then, she closed the book and snuggled up to Hatori. "Are you going to sleep now, Hatori?"

He smiled and stroked her cheeks fondly. "Yes, but only if you are coming with me," he grinned and both of them laid down on the futon after switching off the lights.