Chapter 15

Tohru heard distant yells and hurried forward.

Kisa remained unconscious in Hiro's arms, losing some heat.

Hiro suddenly felt something warm press up against the outside of his leg, and he looked down, right into the eyes of a large brown rat. "A rat?" he gasped. "Yuki! Hey!!! Get your lazy asses moving and get over here!"

Yuki began running towards where the voice came from, and in the process almost stepped on a rat. He looked down at it, and it told him it had found two humans. "Tohru! This way!" Yuki said, picking up the rat for directions so they could go faster.

Kisa was still alive, breathing and such, but she was not conscious.

Tohru ran after Yuki with difficulty.

Hiro stiffened up hearing heavy footsteps through the forest behind him. It was too big to be any wild animal that would live in this forest... that could only mean it was someone looking for them.

And it was Yuki who burst through the underbrush. Seeing the predicament, however, he averted his eyes. "I'm suddenly really glad we didn't bring Momiji or Shigure..."

Hiro sighed when he saw it was Yuki. "YOU'RE glad you didn't bring them? I'm the one who's naked!"

Tohru came rampaging behind Yuki and quickly spun on her head, looking away with blush streaks across her face.

Tohru quickly held the clothes behind her, giving them to Hiro.

Hiro looked pointedly at Yuki. "Well, are you going to hold her while I get dressed, or am I going to have to figure out a way to do this on my own?"

Yuki sighed, and kneeled down, hugging Kisa lightly. "What...?"

Hiro pulled his shirt over his head, reveling in the warmth of the wool before looking back at Yuki. "She passed out a few minutes ago... she's injured..."

"How?" Yuki inquired, looking up to Hiro who was currently in the process of zipping his pants.

"A fox attacked me while we were still small and furry," Hiro said, plopping down to put on his shoes and socks.

Yuki looked back at Kisa and sighed sympathetically. "So the tigress had to fight it off...?"

"Yeah," Hiro said, returning to Kisa's side, and grabbing her gently. "But she couldn't scare off the cold, and we both transformed back, and well... this is the result. Yuki? Thanks for NOT having Shigure or Momiji around..."

Yuki smiled back before Hiro looked back at Tohru. "You can turn around now. In fact I wish you would, we should probably get her dressed..."

Tohru turned around slowly, and seeing that is was clear, she hurried over to Kisa, holding her in her arms. "Kisa-chan…" she muttered with a sad look. Quickly, she pulled on Kisa's underwear and bra and then her shirt and pants. Kisa's cheeks were bright pink.

Yuki bent down to look at Kisa. "Here... as long as she's in human form... I'll carry her..." He turned around, still kneeling.

Hiro stiffened a little, but knew he was in no condition to carry her all the way back to the house in human form. "All right..." He moved to pick Kisa up so he could put her on Yuki's back. "One of the few times I'd give something to have Haru around..." He muttered softly.

Momiji, in the house, was pacing nervously back and forth, a really quite dumb looking bandage adorning his nose, which was swollen and purple and angry looking. "Now what's taking them so long...?"

Kisa rested limply on Yuki's back, eyes closed. Tohru looked at Kisa with a very worried expression and then looked back at Hiro. "Daijobu ka?"

"I'm still freezing my... everything off, but I'm warming up," Hiro answered calmly, a lot unlike how he usually would answer Tohru. He looked back at Kisa as they began walking back towards the house. "I'm more worried about her..."

Tohru watched Kisa again and closed her eyes. "Poor Kisa…. And you as well. You two have gone through so much in such little time…" she muttered.

Hiro sighed. "Yeah well... I wish we could catch a break every once in a while. This is overkill... I'm tired... I'm close to the breaking point... if this keeps going on for much longer... I don't know... I wish it would stop for long enough so I could catch my breath, and her too..." Hiro sighed, and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He watched the ground as he walked, thinking of all the things that had been happening lately...

Tohru sighed and looked up at the house came into view. Kisa stirred slightly on Yuki's back. Slowly, she managed to open her eyes. "Y-Yuki?" she asked in a weak and groggy voice.

Yuki smiled, and looked back for a moment. "Yes?"

Hiro smiled softly, letting out a sigh he hadn't known he was saving. "Kisa..."

"Hi…" she muttered weakly as she managed to smile. But still feeling weak, she closed her eyes again, not entirely asleep.

They approached the house, only to have Momiji burst through the door and come running for them. Hiro stepped out in front, and lowered himself, bracing for impact. One never came as Momiji slid to a halt in front of the entourage.

"Hii-kun!" He looked to the flash of orange on Yuki's back. "And Kisa-chan!"

Hiro rolled his eyes at Momiji, and then suddenly felt himself being pushed in the house. "Alright, in you go..." Momiji said, sounding concerned. Hiro tried to fight back against the hands, but he knew the inside of the house would be warm, and he wasn't about to resist going in for too long.

Tohru smiled and held the door open for Yuki as she continued to smile.

Kisa slowly opened her eyes, her head throbbing and so was her side. But she didn't feel much pain for she was too cold.

Momiji bumped past Hiro, and ran in the house. "They're home!!!"

Hiro rolled his eyes, taking off his shoes, before stepping inside.

Kyo rolled his eyes and watched Yuki as he brought Kisa in. "Well… They're alive…" he muttered as he went upstairs to his room.

"So..." Momiji said, his now nasal voice taking on a sly tone. "How was it sitting naked in the cold?"

Hiro stretched and yawned, now that he was warming up, he was feeling tired. "It was pretty damn cold..."

"How long did you have to sit there?" Momiji asked innocently.

"About half the time I was out there," Hiro said looking Momiji over.

"And she was... in her birthday suit along with you?" Momiji asked, now sounding very sly. Hiro knew what was coming next.

"No, she magically transformed back to her human form with clothes on. And before you ask, because I know you will... No. We're too young to even think about that," Hiro answered, sounding annoyed. Momiji's jaw snapped shut. Ok... so maybe we're not to young to think about it... but we're definitely too young to do that... Hiro added in his mind.

He looked back over at his blonde cousin and smirked. "You look disappointed, Momiji..."

Kisa yawned softly and was set down next to Hiro. Falling over, she fell against his side with her eyes closed lightly.

Hiro moved so he could hold her against his chest. "In fact Momiji, if you want to know... we sat there like this for almost the entire time.."

Momiji looked more disappointed than before. "Ach... verdammt..."

Hiro smirked at Momiji, "And you without your precious camera."

Kisa looked up at Momiji and yawned cutely. Closing her eyes again, she rested her head against Hiro's chest and began to fall asleep.

Hiro smiled back down at her, before looking back up at Tohru and Yuki. "Erm... Uh, thanks..."

Yuki smiled at Hiro, then sat down at his usual place at the table.

Hiro then looked back at Tohru. "Could ya get some tea or other warm beverage over here? I'm still freezing."

Tohru smiled and rushed off to get the beverages ready. Bringing them out quickly, she placed several cups on the table. Kisa slowly opened her eyes again and leaned forward, pouring herself a small cup of cocoa and crawling out of Hiro's lap, sipping it slowly after waiting for it to cool. Yawning softly, she continued to drink. Tohru on the other hand waited for the others to get their tea or cocoa before getting hers.

Hiro muttered a quick "thanks..." before blowing on his tea and sipping it quietly.

This time, Momiji was drinking tea so he wouldn't stay up so late that night.

Yuki nodded and also thanked Tohru before drinking his tea.

Tohru sipped her cocoa and yawned softly, looking over at Kisa, and then remembering what Yuki and herself came upon. Sighing, she smiled.

Finishing his tea, Hiro leaned back on his hands, and sighed, closing his eyes.

Momiji jumped up, and grabbed Tohru with a loud "thanks that was just what I needed!" before Poof!ing into a rabbit.

A rabbit with a bandage on its nose, that made both Yuki and Hiro laugh.

Tohru sat there in shock as she looked down at Momiji, laughing nervously.

Kisa closed her eyes and hunched her back slightly as she fell asleep sitting up.

Hiro peeked out of the corner of his eye, and noticed Kisa sleeping there. He lightly rubbed her back. "Kisa... you should probably go to bed..."

Momiji laughed, as he began climbing up Tohru, trying to lay himself on her head like he'd done so many times before.

Yuki very made a point of not watching. He might become a little jealous of the rabbit. The thought made him sigh. I'm turning into Hiro...

Kisa stirred slightly and nodded at Hiro, quietly excusing herself and escaping to her room. Once upon entering, she fell into the sheets and breathed in the fresh scent of the pillows before curling up, still in her day clothes.

Hiro smiled, watching her leave, and that same smile stayed on his face, as he turned back around to face the table, and sighed, closing his eyes.

Momiji, finally reaching his goal, and plopping back down on Tohru's head, laughed. "Hii-kun Hii-kun, Hii-kun... and to think I thought you had given up..."

"No..." Hiro said softly. "No... I haven't given up... and if you transform back while you're still on top of her head, Momiji, I'm going to take a picture. And then I'm going to laugh for a very long time."

Yuki sweat dropped slightly at Hiro's comment.

"Aww... aren't you going to join her in bed?" Momiji asked slyly.

Hiro shook his head. "Maybe in a little bit... I'm not quite tired enough yet..."

Shigure snapped, spraying tea everywhere, and even through his nose. Coughing harshly, he calmed himself and sat there with his same Shigure smile.

Hiro caught on to what had happened and blushed. "Damn it, I didn't mean it like that!!" He sighed defeated. "Oh well... at least some good fortune smiled on me today."

"Good fortune?" Momiji asked, still in perverted state of mind.

Hiro smirked. "Yeah, I had a naked girl sitting in my equally naked lap for an hour."

Momiji suddenly looked envious. "Darn you, Hiro Sohma!!"

And with that parting shot, Hiro retreated back into the room. As soon as he closed the door, he leaned against it, and sighed. Only now had he started blushing. He really needed to stop hanging out with Momiji and Shigure for as long as possible.

Kisa was still soundlessly asleep on the bed, curled up slightly.

Hiro smiled at her, before taking his nightclothes with him, and ducking into the bathroom to change. He walked back in a moment later, laying on his back on the other side of the bed, close, but not too close to her.

Momiji was still a little shocked, and more than that, he was slightly embarassed. Yuki... Yuki was still quite shocked at what Hiro had said.

If I'm turning into Hiro, then he's turning into Momiji, who's turning into Shigure... Yuki thought, his face suddenly going blank.

Kisa felt the bed move slightly and scooted closer to the warmer presence, wrapping her arms around one of his.

Hiro smiled, and looked at her. "Kisa..." he said softly, leaning over to kiss her forehead. He laid back, and felt his eyes droop shut. It seemed like it had been forever since they were both in human form and sleeping next to each other. It was better that way...

Yuki got up and excused himself, heading for his room to do some homework. If I ever turn into a rat with a wool coat, someone's going to get hurt...

Kisa continued to be in a very peaceful sleep as she slept there, and her bite marks had finally stopped bleeding.

Hiro yawned once more before falling asleep, the last thought he had was sitting naked in a forest with Kisa, and that he was almost regretful they weren't older...

The morning came and just barely shown through the window. Opening her eyes, Kisa remembered. It was Monday. And that meant there was school. And she'd be left alone with Shigure…. Oi ve…

There was a knock at the door, and Hiro groaned in annoyance, inadvertently grabbing Kisa like she was a pillow, and burying his face in the side of her neck, before even figuring out that she was a living thing and not a pillow. "Make it go away..." he mumbled, barely awake.

"H-Hiro-kun, I'm not a pillow…" Kisa muttered as she laughed softly and looked down at him.

Hiro groaned again. "I don't care... you were the first thing that was grab-able..." He sighed. "Miji wants me to go to school, doesn't he?"

"Yes…" Kisa muttered as she smiled softly and pulled her head away from him, still smiling as she sat up.

Hiro reluctantly let her go, before, turning and burying his head under his pillow. The door was once again knocked upon, and another groan could be heard from Hiro. "It's too early, leave me alone...!"

Kisa wandered over to the door and opened it, smiling gently.

Momiji bounded in, nearly knocking Kisa over as he pounced on the bed. "Guten Morgen, Hii-kun! Time to wake up!"

Hiro threw his pillow at Momiji and glared.

Kisa looked over as the pillow bounced off of Momiji and pelted her in the face, actually making her fall over this time. Laying there in a daze, Kisa rubbed her eyes again to see if this was a dream, and obviously it wasn't.

Hiro stared at Kisa, looking slightly shocked. "How did that happen?"

Momiji giggled, bouncing up and down lightly in his school uniform. "Doesn't matter... you have to get ready for school, Hii-kun!"

Hiro stared in horror at Momiji. "You've got to be kidding..."

Kisa's shocked look turned into a sad one for a split second, but she quickly put on a smile before she had hoped anyone noticed. Smiling softly, she looked towards the door and yawned, stretching.

Momiji grabbed Hiro around the neck, and began pulling him out of bed. "Come on, sleepy little sheep... time for school!"

Hiro struggled until he got his head out of Momiji's grasp. "But... I'm still sick, and Kisa... she'll be stuck here alone with Shigure!"

Kisa smiled at the commotion. "I'll be okay…" she muttered with a fake smile on her face. But inside, she didn't want him to go.

Momiji laughed again, and looked out the door. "Excuses, excuses, Hii-kun. You can't escape school so long as I'm here!"

Hiro was running out of options unless... "What if Akito comes to the school?"

Momiji paused, and looked at Hiro. "What if Akito comes to the school?"

"What am I going to tell him... her... it? He... she... whatever, Akito's going to want to know why I've been avoiding him... her... it...!!" Hiro protested, now sounding very enthusiastic. "And if Akito gets a hold of me...! She... he... whatever probably has figured out or is going to blame Kisa's escape on me!"

Momiji sat in silence for a moment. "Good point..."

Kisa snuck out of the room while they were arguing and wandered into the kitchen, where she was greeted by Tohru and cooked some pancakes. Yawning softly, Kisa nibbled on her food and stared at Shigure.

"You know it's not polite to stare" exclaimed Shigure as Kisa bowed her head.

Momiji's silence was broken again. "You... you still have to go! Akito can't take you from the school!"

Hiro walked up to Momiji until he was a scant inch from the rabbit, glaring. He raised a hand, and grabbed the bandage on Momiji's nose. He squeezed on it, until he saw tears in the rabbit's brown eyes. "I'm not going to school, Miji-kun," Hiro said sweetly, knowing their respective positions.

Kisa wandered over to the couch in silence after finishing her meal and curled up on the couch with her head on the arm. Looking around, she noticed that the TV was missing and sighed, closing her eyes.

Hiro walked out to get breakfast, leaving Momiji sniffling with a sore nose. Yuki was already almost done with breakfast, and by the time Hiro had started eating, Yuki was getting ready to leave.

"You're leaving early... I didn't think you had to for another half hour..." Hiro said, watching Yuki.

Yuki sighed. "Student Council..."

"Ahhh..." Hiro nodded, returning to his food, as Yuki went to get his shoes.

Momiji came out a moment later, a hand over his nose, and tears still in his eyes. He sat down, purposely avoiding Hiro.

Kisa yawned softly from the couch area and fell asleep easily. Tohru was all ready, but she didn't need to leave for a half hour. Kyo sat at the table, red eyes scanning the room.

Hiro stretched after finishing his meal, and stood up. He looked down at Momiji and Kyo, before turning back towards the main part of the house.

Momiji's nose was bleeding once again, and when Hiro's gaze passed over him, he flinched.

Kyo rolled his eyes at Hiro and Momiji before standing up and abruptly leaving the table.

Hiro finally found what he was looking for: Kisa laying on the couch in the living room. He smiled, and debated whether to disturb her or not by sitting down.

Kisa slept peacefully on the couch with her arms under her head and her legs pulled slightly towards her chest.

Hiro glanced back once again at the quiet form of Momiji, before walking in to the room, and sitting very softly and slowly on the couch, so as not to wake Kisa up.

"I did it again... why is it me that keeps hurting them? I think... there's something wrong with Momiji... I don't want to be mean to him... but he gets on my nerves so much that I just lash out at him to get him to knock it off..." Hiro whispered, he was talking to himself, but if he pretended that Kisa was awake and listening to him, it would make him feel better. "I guess someone has to act like a kid, huh...? Ah hell... I'm the one acting like a kid... and I think I may have... I don't know... hurt Momiji other than his nose... which was an accident by the way, he shouldn't have been sitting the way he was when he knew I was going to hit him!!" Hiro calmed himself, for he knew his whisperings were starting to get loud.

Even though Kisa was asleep, she seemed to be half taking this conversation in. "I-It's okay… Hiro-kun…." She mumbled in her sleep as she rolled over slightly, still light on her injuries.

Hiro sighed, and stretched out on the opposite side of the couch. "No... It's not all right at all... I've hurt more people worse than that so-called 'monster' that is the Cat... I wonder... did the previous Ram Juunishi have the same bad luck that I do? I should hope not..."

Kisa made no sound and breathed softly in her sleep.

"I'm really kinda glad you won't remember this..." Hiro muttered softly, looking over to where the television should be. "Maybe I should apologize to Momiji... hell, maybe I should apologize to everyone for being such a pain in the ass... Naw, then I'd sound like that idiot Ritsu... well... Miji's overdue for an apology from anyone lately... maybe if I don't feel like wallowing in self-pity, I'll at least give a quick sorry for breaking his nose. Oh man... he's going to try and jump me after that..." Hiro groaned, holding his head. "I hurt people and I can't even figure out a way to apologize for it... I really am bad at this living thing..."

Kisa stirred slightly in her sleep and slowly cracked open her eyes, but not enough to notice.

"Kisa... too... you deserve something for me being pathetic enough to try and kill you in my sleep, and then three days later having you save my life from some stupid thing that I should've been able to handle... I wish I wasn't such a kid..."

There was a thump, and Hiro looked up. It was Momiji, kneeling there in the doorway, looking at Hiro with teary eyes. "Stop it, Hiro. If you keep thinking like that, it will only end up making you think of worse things..."

Hiro scoffed and looked to the side. "What, you mean like suicide?" he laughed. "Only weak little lambs think of suicide..."

"Hiro..." Momiji said, growling angrily. "You haven't...!"

Kisa's ears twitched slightly as she listened to the conversation going on between Momiji and Hiro.

Hiro laughed, and shook his head. "Do I look like I'm capable of doing that?"

Momiji crossed his arms and tried to look stern. "But you've thought about it..."

"Oh the possibilities..." Hiro said softly. "Relax, Miji-kun. There's two Juunishi who I would think in any way have a reason to do that. There are two more whom I think would do it, and there's one that I want to do it. None of those include me."

Momiji was suddenly curious, but a glance at his watch revealed that it was time to leave. "You're explaining this when I get back!" he called, running down the hall.

Hiro just kept his head resting in his hand, and stared at the empty space that used to contain the television.

Kisa closed her eyes again, her thoughts full of curiosity. Tohru and Kyo rushed after Momiji.

Hiro cast a sidelong glance at Kisa. "Having fun listening?"

"Yes.." she muttered, knowing she had been found out as she opened her eyes and rolled onto her back. "But I don't understand…"

"Don't understand what?" Hiro asked calmly, his voice sounding oddly monotonous.

"You always say it… is IT suicide?" she asked with a slight tilt of her head.

Hiro gave her a blank stare. "You're kidding..." His mouth opened a little before he closed it and laughed. "Yes, what did you think I was talking about?"

"You are thinking of doing suicide are you?" Kisa asked with a somewhat serious face. She didn't answer his question, for she had been around Shigure for too long.

"No... It's more along the lines of 'what if?' I like thinking of the possible outcomes. Gives me something to do when I'm feeling morbid and a little self-loathing..." Hiro replied with a wave of his hand.

Kisa's look softened slightly and she sighed, closing her eyes. Yawning slightly, she turned over and laid down to where her head was facing Hiro.

"I wonder why the rabbit brought that up in the first place...?" Hiro asked softly, looking down at Kisa, and smiling lopsidedly. He stretched from head to toe. "Meh, it makes for a very uncomfortable topic anyway..." he continued to stare at the wall, wishing like crazy Shigure would replace the television soon.

Kisa yawned softly again and closed her eyes. "Yeah.. Uncomfortable.." she murmured as she began to fall asleep again.

"Well, today's looking up to being a perfectly boring day," Hiro said, yawning after Kisa. He closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep as well, but he could tell it wasn't going to be easy.

Kisa fell asleep easily, curled up into a ball as she slept there, murmuring things every now and then in her sleep.

Hiro finally fell asleep as he was, after managing to find a comfortable position.