In a few moments, you'll meet Kasumi who is a very minor and original character, but who is also crucial to the story. She has a very tender soft spot when it comes to true love and passion and things like that. So, where normally I try to choose songs that fit the mood of the chapter, this time, I chose "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole because I feel like that's how she would view Kyo's love for Tohru. It would probably be one of her favorite songs of all time, haha!

And, don't forget, if you want this to keep going, share ideas! I welcome them! :)

He stares out the wide window, just stares, adding to the many hours that he's spent doing so during the past four days, lying on his side on the hospital bed. His back is facing Hiro now, who's sitting in the wooden chair and playing some sort of handheld video game, the sounds from it quietly permeating the room. A breeze brushes up some long-dead leaves, lifts them into the air before cradling them back down to the earth. What would that be like? To be lifted by the wind, carried away to someplace else?

"Hey, Kyo, can I ask you a question?" Hiro asks suddenly.

"If I say 'no,' are you going to ask anyway?"

"Why'd you do it?"

Kyo doesn't answer.

"Were you really trying to die? That's what everyone thinks." The video game sounds are becoming increasingly annoying with each personal question that Hiro inquires about so casually.

Kyo sighs. "I already told Hatori about this. Go ask him."

"I tried. He won't say anything. He's super bent on this doctor-patient confidentiality." Kyo scoffs but appreciates Hatori's keeping his word.

"Well, no, I wasn't trying to die necessarily. I'm not even totally sure what happened."

"Mm. Well, I guess that clears it up a little bit, although now I don't get why you did it in the first place."

"Clears what up?"

"Well, we didn't get why you would want to kill yourself if you told Momiji that you'd rather be separated from Tohru in life than in death. Personally, I took that to mean that as long as she's still kicking, you would be, too."

Those clicks and beeps and that stupid music keep gnawing into Kyo's skull like a sadist with a needle.

"He told you that?"

"He figured you weren't exactly telling him in confidence. Said you were more in a rage."

"I guess that's true."

It's quiet again except for the game noises until Kyo sneezes.

"Bless you."

"Thanks."

"You know, they say that whenever you sneeze, it means someone's talking about you."

Kyo scoffs.

o.O.o.O.o

Kyo's caretaker has been with the Sohma family for only four years. She's young, too, only twenty-seven. Her loyalty to the Sohma is slim. It's a gift from God Himself that she was assigned to Kyo, the dirty job that no one else wanted. She's been watching Kyo's downhill tumult for three years now. She'll be easily swayed – hopefully.

Momiji taps his pocket one more time to make sure he still has it before casually strolling into the laundry room. She's alone, folding the clothes of the Zodiac, one of her non-Kyo-related chores. Good; she's alone.

"Hello, Kasumi," Momiji greets her as he closes the door behind him. She turns around, surprised.

"Oh, hello, Momiji-san." The laundry room is a small one-room building made of cinderblocks with a few small windows and a single light bulb dangling from a string. Washers and driers cover the perimeter.

Momiji lifts himself onto one such dryer that's not currently in use next to the washer that Kasumi's using as a flat surface for folding.

"How have you been?" she asks casually.

"Oh, fine. Worried about Kyo." He gauges her reaction. She pauses in her work. It's only for a moment, but it's enough.

"Me, too."

"Why do you think he did it?" Momiji asks, somewhat solemnly.

She keeps her eyes on her work as she shrugs. "I'm not sure. But I can't imagine having to live his life."

"Mm. You should have seen it before. His mom died when he was around five or so, and everyone blamed him for it."

She finally looks up, stunned. "What?"

"Yeah. They said having to deal with the Cat for a son is what drove her to jump in front of a train right in front of him."

Kasumi's mouth drops open. "Really?" she breathes. He nods. "Wow…" She looks far off as if trying to imagine the trauma that would induce on such a small child, wondering what it was like. After a moment, she goes back to folding, slower now.

"Yeah. It's hard on all of us, this curse, but the Cat especially." He pauses. "Has anyone told you about Tohru?"

Kasumi thinks. "No, I don't believe so."

"She's wonderful. She touched all of us in a way that I don't think anyone can explain. She's the same age as Yuki and Kyo and lived with Shigure for a while – you know, while we were still Outside – until they graduated, when she was ripped out of their lives, so she knew about the curse. But for some reason, Akito let her stay there. I'm not sure why… He hates her, you know."

"Really? Why?"

"Because we love her more than him," he answers nonchalantly.

"Oh," Kasumi replies, a little surprised at his bluntness.

"You now Kyo's true form?"

"I've heard about it, yes."

"But have you seen it?"

"Oh, no, I've never had that opportunity."

"Good. Because you don't want to. But Tohru saw it and went after him anyway. She accepted him in a way that he thought no one ever could, not even his own mother." Kasumi's hands slow to a stop. She just listens. "He's head-over-heals for her, and everyone knows it, and no one's surprised. But what no one can figure out is why she's in love with him."

Kasumi's face is an expression of shock that quickly morphs into one that is in direct proportion to just how heartwarming she finds this statement. She places her hand over her heart as if trying to keep it from swelling out of her chest.

"Really?"

Momiji nods, smiling knowingly but trying not to grin. At this rate, the Cat would be released in no time at all.

"That's wonderful!"

"Yeah." Momiji's face falls strategically. "But she's out there," he gestures in front of himself, seemingly encompassing the entire outside world, "and he's stuck in here."

"Oh, you're right." Kasumi's face falls as well. "That's awful."

"I know."

"Wow… I've never thought it was fair for him to be in there, and I've never really understood it, but… I wish I could do something."

Bingo!

Momiji has to fight to restrain his glee. "Do you really want to do something?"

"Oh, yes, of course! Although, there's nothing really I can do."

"Um, I'm not so sure about that."

Kasumi looks at him, confused. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, folded up into a square.

"You can go Outside."

She blinks.

"Will you take this to Tohru?"

Her jaw drops a bit, her eyes wide. But when she reaches for the note, Momiji pulls it back.

"I have to know without doubt that I can trust you," he whispers, his face close to hers. "This is dangerous. We Zodiac aren't allowed any contact to the outside world." Kasumi nods. "If we get caught, we're both in serious trouble. Are you sure?"

She sets her mouth, looks hard at the note, thinks, and nods once. "Yes. Yes, I'm sure."

"Good. But before I give you this, I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"You can't read it."

The very first flash of suspicion crosses her features. "Why not?"

Momiji looks her hard in the face.

"If you really want to help Kyo, then the less you know the better." She narrows her eyes and looks at him warily. "Kasumi. I need your help. You're the only one I can trust to do this. Am I right to trust you?"

Her face softens just a bit. "Yes."

"Then promise me you won't read it."

She looks him in the eye and nods hard. "I promise."

"Okay. Thank you. This is what you need to do…" And he hands her the note.

Told you she would like "Unforgettable." :3