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"Aren't you dressed up, going somewhere?" Shigure asked as Suzu came down the stairs, dressed in the coat Ayame had gotten her and black slacks.

It was the afternoon and everyone was seated together at the table, even Kyo, who hadn't left for his date with Kagura yet.

Everyone was staring at her, and Suzu felt mildly unsettled. "Just exploring a bit. I haven't left the house since I got here."

"Have fun," Shigure said.

"Be careful," Kyo added.

And Tohru gave her pause as she asked, "Will you be back in time for dinner?"

She gave Tohru a nod and the group a final wave before walking to the door to slide her shoes on. Suzu didn't have a destination in mind; it really was just idle strolling.

So far being back hadn't been as big of a change as she had first thought. Shigure hardly bothered her, and Yuki stayed away from her for the most part. The biggest changes came about due to Kyo and Tohru; Kyo was obviously trying to get close to her again, spending time with her and such, while Tohru tried to get to know her. It was clear Tohru felt the need to take care of people. The outsider seemed to constantly work to make Suzu feel included in their little family they'd made at Shigure's house. Tohru also worried about Suzu's health, even more now that Shigure had told her about Suzu's weak constitution, thankfully he'd left out the reason why.

Steps quiet on the sidewalk, Suzu clasped her hands behind her back.

None of the other zodiac members had been by to visit yet, but Suzu knew they often frequented Shigure's house. It wouldn't be difficult to stay away from them, but Haru was sure to seek her out. He was also still mad at her about the Akito thing back at the villa, so that reunion was sure to be fun. It was almost a bit annoying, his attitude. Haru wasn't her doctor, Hatori was; Haru should just back off.

She paused with a resigned sigh; Haru was determined to go against the curse in all ways possible. He wouldn't just back off, and honestly, Suzu didn't want him too. She was getting frustrated with him, sure, but he had become a constant, like Aya, Hatori, and Kyo. All important people she hadn't been able to keep out. Haru was just on the brink, on the edge of getting what he wanted, but Suzu pushed him away just enough to keep him there.

Letting him in completely, would definitely just cause him pain in the future. She didn't want that for anyone, but she knew Aya and Hatori would be able to handle it. Kyo, on the other hand…. If Suzu hadn't met him so early in her life, she wouldn't be as close to him, that's for sure.

Back then, before she had really felt or understood her fate, she just needed someone. Hatori was constantly wrapped around Akito's finger, and Ayame wasn't the same person he was now. So, Suzu had sought out refuge with Kyo, the other terribly cursed Sohma. When he wasn't with Kagura or Shishou, they would be together. She leaned on him, until the pain got worse and she was so close to death by Akito's hands.

Instinctually, a hand came to lightly touch her throat as she walked.

After that mess, Suzu had gotten her leverage and left. She cut ties with Kyo, not that he seemed to notice or care, probably because he still had Shishou, who Kyo had always seen as a father figure.

She knew every Sohma with the fox spirit died early in life, but it had never felt real until Akito almost killed her in a craze. Now that she'd had a taste, realized how cold it felt, she didn't want anyone to be attached to that pain.

Suzu just didn't want anyone to get hurt, which seemed easy enough. Most of the zodiac members couldn't stand her, or at least didn't care. Kyo had been a mistake, but she'd taken care of that.

She also did well enough to keep Haru at bay, not quite giving him what he wanted.

The problem was maintaining her distance, especially now that she was back. Tohru made the whole thing even worse due to her insistence to heal all cursed Sohma's.

The sound of laughing children tore Suzu from her thoughts. Without even realizing, she'd walked her way to a park. She could see a group of children crowding around one in the center. Suzu could pick up the name-calling, and the laughing she'd heard wasn't as playful as she'd first thought. Edging closer, she could make out orange hair that reminded her of Kisa. Due to some of the kids shifting around she realized that the hair didn't just remind her of Kisa, it was Kisa's. Some kids had cornered her in the park and were picking on her for whatever reason.

Suzu glanced around a bit, searching for some Sohma adult figure, she'd even settle for Momiji at this point, but with no one in sight, Suzu guessed Kisa was alone. Suzu had always just wanted to protect the zodiac members; she had just assumed Akito was the only threat.

Without a second thought, Suzu's expression fell into a glare as she made her way to the kids. "Oi, brats!" she called earning most of the kids' gazes, Kisa's included, and once Suzu was close enough, she wasn't afraid to push some kids aside to grab Kisa and place the tiger cub behind her. "Knock it off."

"We were just messing around," one of the girls protested, getting angry as well.

Suzu scoffed in disgust. "How about you get out of here and leave Kisa alone before I mess with you."

Some of the kids seemed to take the threat seriously, as it should be taken, since Suzu wouldn't hesitate to beat some of these kids up, younger or not. While others just played it off, but took off all the same.

Once they were well enough away, Suzu turned to the younger girl and let out an annoyed huff. "You okay?"

Kisa just nodded silently, and Suzu let the matter go. If Kisa didn't want to be honest then that was fine.

"What were you doing out here alone anyway?" Kisa finally looked up towards her, teary eyed, but didn't say anything. Suzu raised a questioning brow, but let it quickly fall with a sigh. Bringing her hand up, she ran her fingers through the girl's hair, startling her but seeming to calm her as well. "It's okay now," she told Kisa in her most soothing voice, the girl relaxing even more.

"Kisa!" a boy shouted, and head turning slightly, Suzu could see Hiro running towards them with two crepes in his hands. "Are you okay?" he asked, probably noticing her obvious distress. Then he rounded on Suzu, sending her glare that didn't even faze her, Akito had given her worse. "What did you do?!"

Suzu hadn't even opened her mouth before Kisa jumped to her defense. "Suzu-san protected me."

She could still see the other's distrust and just shrugged. "Believe what you want, kid, just be careful in the park," she told them before giving them a wave and beginning to take off.

Once at the edge, she looked back towards the two as they conversed, each with a crepe in hand. Suzu had heard Kisa was having a hard time, but she seemed happier around Hiro. Hiro hadn't been in time to save her in the moment of torment, and he may be angry at himself for such a thing. However, he was there for her afterwards, and that was admirable, it was just as important.

Hiro was angry and pouty, but he seemed so sweet as well; Suzu couldn't help but think he was a bit like Kyo, bit of an attitude and harsh exterior with just fluff underneath. It was good to see Kisa and Hiro had each other, that they weren't alone. They were both so young, and sure they had the other Sohma's, but it wasn't the same as having a partner. Not that Suzu would know the feeling.

She had older zodiac members that looked after her, and Haru, who she kept on the edge of close, but there wasn't anyone who really knew her. She seemed so passive and uncaring, and she didn't doubt she could be obvious in her affection for the other Sohma's. However, no one seemed to look deeper than that. They all seemed to think that she was fine dying, that she'd accepted it, come to terms.

But who really accepts death, especially one because of some dumb, ancient curse. How could she possibly be okay with that?

She accepted in the way that she probably wouldn't escape it, so why try and make connections, make a life, but she was still so angry.

Even if Akito hadn't tormented her when they were younger, Suzu probably would have still hated them. Akito-God was the reason she was going to die an unfair death. Even though it didn't seem to matter to her either way and even though she acted so indifferent towards the way her body was falling apart, she didn't want to die.

She didn't want to die….