"Yuki moved out today."

Diana looked up from the tea tray she was setting on the table. "..he did?" Akito was reclining on a stack on pillows she had set up for him, hands laying limply on the blanket he was under. Ever since firing the maid two days ago he had been calm and fairly compliant. It made Diana nervous.

"Yes. He moved in with Shigure…have you ever met him?" His voice was quiet and he glanced at her with little expression. Carefully arranging the china she replied, "A few times, sir." She remembered him being very friendly and a goofball. He appeared to be a favorite of Akito's and he had not been pleased when he moved out of the Sohma house. 'And now Yuki has followed him…'

"…he is an idiot. He has set a bad example for Yuki…" Akito turned to look at frost creeping up the window. "But he will come back. They both will, when they realize their mistake."

A chill went down Diana's back at Akito's tone; pouring the tea she changed the subject, "How is your hand, sir?" "In pain. Hatori put some cream on it but it just made it sting." Scowling he glared at his bandaged hand. "It will heal soon," she said with a smile, which faded as his glare was turned on her, "What do you know about it? You haven't seen it."

Dropping her eyes she spoke softly, "Forgive me, I simply assumed it wasn't a deep wound from what I had-"

"Shut up, I don't care anymore…your voice is giving me a headache," Shifting against the pillows he grumbled, "And you don't know how to arrange these…they're jabbing my back."

Holding in her urge to scold Akito about his manners, she stood to bring him a cup of hot tea. 'He's as old as Rimi…he should know better.' Handing him the cup, she watched him take a drink, relieved when he did not complain. 'Then again, with a mother like Ms. Ren…' She had not met the woman, but if what she knew enough from gossip were accurate, she would rather serve Akito then her.

"Why do you think, Yuki left?" Blinking, Diana realized he was staring up at her, a strange look on his face. She considered telling him what she guessed was the truth. But saying it was his violent and controlling habits that had driven his relative away did not seem smart. "I don't know, sir. I have not spoken with him enough to guess."

Her answer did not anger him, nor did it satisfy him. He looked outside. "I know him better than anyone else, and I do not know why either…" Though he sounded bitter, Diana detected shakiness to his voice. Watching him, she could see the worried and lonely child beneath the unpredictable terror he usually was. 'He doesn't understand at all why Yuki might have left…or doesn't want to understand.'

It was at these rare moments that Diana wanted to wrap Akito up in her arms and tell him it would be all right. Over the past two years she had seen the absolute worst of him and had come close to hating him a few times. Then she would witness moments like these when he revealed his vulnerabilities. But it did not change everything he had done, even if it made sympathy swell in Diana's heart.

Glancing back at his maid, Akito was disturbed by her expression; she occasionally looked at him like that, though he could never figure out why or what it meant. "…I'm tired. You can go."

"Yes, sir. Rest well. Would you like an extra blanket?" Waving her away, Akito did not answer, instead curling up under his comforter. Quietly she left, thankful that today had been uneventful. 'I hope it stays this way.'

And it did for the rest of the winter, though Diana began to see a change in him. He started carrying himself with a new sense of arrogance, as if he knew something no one else did. Though this evened out his temper a bit, Diana found herself growing uneasy in his presence. Something was going on and she was certain it was not good.

Walking back to her house on one of the last nights of winter, her mind was filled with questions about her young 'employer' if you could call him that. She dared not ask about his sudden change, not even to his doctor, Hatori; something in his eyes kept her silent.

Running a hand through her black hair, she suddenly felt exhausted. "…why does it even matter…?" This wasn't her family. Her daughter had been right; in the two years they had lived there, very little effort had been made to integrate them. Though they lived within the 'inner' wall, their house was on the very edge, and they always seemed to left out of the loop. Sometimes when she would walk by a group of women, they would stop talking. Her husband used to assure her it was just a matter of time before they would open their arms to them. But that had yet to happen, even after he had died. Sighing deeply, she blinked back tears. 'Maybe if Gen was still here…'

"Ms. Diana?" Turning, she was greeted by the young dojo owner, Kazuma. She had bumped into him occasionally at Akito's house, but was surprised he remembered her. Putting on a smile she waited for him to catch up to her, "Kazuma, it's good to see you…but what are you doing out so late?" Chuckling, he scratched his neck, "Looking for my son, actually…you haven't happened to see him have you?" Thinking a moment, she tried to remember what he looked like.

"…bright orange hair?"

"Indeed. All natural too."

"…about this tall?" she held up her hand a few inches above her head, causing Kazume to grin.

"Just about."

"An explosive temper?"

"So you have seen him!"

"No, but I am surprised how much he has in common with my daughter," grinning up at him, she was glad to see him laugh. It had been awhile since she made someone outside her children smile. "But really, I haven't seen him, at least not tonight. I'm sorry." Waving a hand, Kazuma shook his head, "It is alright. Kyo has a tendency to go into hiding when he is upset. He'll show up when he has calmed down." "Ah…I hope he turns up soon." "As do I."

After a long pause he asked, "…so are you heading home, Ms. Diana?" Nodding, she pointed down her street, "Yes, just at the end of that road. Hopefully both of my children will be there." Kazuma chuckled again, and Diana thought it pleasant.

"If you wouldn't mind, I will walk you to your home; I need the fresh air."

"I don't mind. It will be nice to have company for once." With a smile, they headed down the street, chatting about their children; the more Kazuma spoke of Kyo, she became shocked how much he really was like Ryoko. "I'd suggest having them meet, but I'm not sure if they'd get along or tear each other apart," she giggled, and Kazuma nodded with a broad smile. "We won't know until they meet, I suppose…" Diana nodded in agreement, wondering if she misheard the sadness in his voice. But the conversation quickly moved on and her worry was forgotten.

As they reached the house, Diana saw two pairs of curious eyes peering at her from the window. Waving at them, she bowed to Kazuma, "Thank you very much for walking me home. It made my day." And it really had; made her week actually. Straightening, she smiled, which Kazuma returned with great warmth. "It was a pleasure. You are very good company Ms. Diana." "You can call my Diana…since I've been calling you Kazuma," she said, a bit embarrassed at realizing how informal she had been. He chuckled kindly, "Very well. You have a good night, Diana. I am sure your daughters are wanting you inside."

"You too. And good luck finding your son."

"Yes…thank you very much," bowing, he smiled and turned back down the street. Making her way up to the door, Diana was not surprised to have it flung open as she reached for her keys.

Before her daughters could open their mouths to ask the questions that burned in their eyes, she stepped past them, "He was just walking me back to the house, darlings. We met on my way back, he is looking for his son, I barely know him, and I am not having secret rendezvous with him or anyone else. Those answer your questions?"

Ryoko and Rimi stared at her without a word for a moment. Clearing her throat Rimi, who was peeking from behind her sister, tossed her bangs to the side, "Uh, no. I was going to ask if you wanted the leftovers in the fridge, not about your handsome man friend."

"Suuure," Diana rolled her eyes with a small smile before heading into the kitchen. Ryoko was not nearly as cheery about the situation as her sister, stalking after her mother. Waiting for her to get out the leftovers, Ryoko eyed Diana, "…so who was he?" Glancing up at her, Diana replied, "He runs the dojo here; his name is Kazuma and he has a son your age named Kyo. I have met him a few times before, but I do not know him very well." Sticking the pre-made plate into the microwave she smiled at her daughter, "…it really was a coincidence, Ryo. I have no desire to date anyone…" trailing off, she looked away. 'And I don't know if I ever will…'

Knowing she had caused some sort of hurt within her, Ryoko's apprehension vanished and she wrapped her arms around Diana. "…sorry, Mom." Embracing her back, Diana smiled softly, "It's okay. I don't blame you…" Suddenly another pair of arms wrapped around the two of them and said, "And I forgive both of you for leaving me out of this group hug."

Ryoko shoved her sister away, "Get outta here, this is a special moment!" Diana laughed, even though she was caught in the middle as her girls struggled to hug her individually. Long after the microwave's high pitch beeping had stopped, the three of them were on the floor in a heap, tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks.