Author's Note: I'M SO SORRY! I APOLOGIZE TO ALL! I'M SO SORRY! I know I haven't updated in forever, but I started high school on the 8th, and I don't really seem to have time to write anymore, and when I do have time I would prefer to do something else. And I have major writer's block. This chapter isn't even finished. I'm totally completely stuck. If anyone wants to continue this, for some insane reason, you're welcome to, but please tell me if you do so I can post the link on here and so I can read it, but I'm sorry for the wait, this horrible chapter, and not being able to update indefianty.

Chapter Nine: No Title

Tohru took out her schoolbooks and started on her homework, but her mind was refusing to focus on her homework. Her mind kept wandering to the two sleeping boys in the room with her. Both of them had such tragic pasts. She knew that Kyo's mother had died in an accident, and that he and his biological father were cut off from each other. She didn't know the details about Yuki's parents, but he obviously didn't have a very good relationship with them since Ayame had come in their place. She didn't even know the reason why Yuki wasn't talking. Was it because of something his parents had done? Or had it been because of something Akito-san had done to the child? She didn't think it would be considerate of her to ask Ayame, or the others. Yuki might not want her knowing.

All of the members of the zodiac seemed to have something, some inner demon that haunted them. Was it simply because their parents had rejected them because they were possessed by the vengeful spirits of the zodiac, or was it something more? Did all of their problems come from being possessed, or was it because of something else? Had someone, possible the head of the family, made it worse? What power did he have over the members of the zodiac? Why had they allowed Akito to turn the two boys little? What hadn't anyone stopped them? They had to have known what would happen once they were little. Were they able to stop Akito? Were any of them able to disobey him? They all seemed scared of him, yet there were twelve of them and only one of him. They could easily over power him so why didn't they? What was holding them back? What made them endure his abuse and torture? Akito-san obviously was special in all their hearts, but was it a good special? Did their inability to disobey have something to do with the 'curse?'

Momiji said that Hatori didn't blame Akito for hurting his eye, and the reason he didn't was the 'curse.' Were they unable to blame the man for anything? Were they simply his pawns to use? What exactly was the curse and how could it be broken? They couldn't be happy living like this, none of them could. How would it feel knowing that if you wanted to get married you would have ask permission from the head of the family? Hatori had sought permission. Not only had he been denied, his eye had been hurt and he had to erase his love's memories of him. How did they live with all that pain?

The teen shook her head several times. She didn't need to think about all that right now. She really needed to finish her homework and then start dinner. She was halfway through her work when she heard Yuki beginning to move around. She glanced over at the couch. The child was still lying down with his eyes closed, but she could tell he was about to wake up. She quickly finished the rest of her schoolwork just as Yuki woke up. The child sat up and rubbed at his eyes, yawning. Tohru smiled warmly at him while resisting the urge to squeal at how cute the child was. "Did you have a good nap?"

Yuki looked over at her, startled. He hadn't known that she was still in the room, but it didn't bother him much. He trusted Tohru completely and knew that she wouldn't intentionally to do anything to scare him, or make him uncomfortable. He smiled shyly at her and nodded. The child slipped off the couch and sat down next to her watching as she pulled out a piece of paper with a ladder drawn on it. "Do you want to play the ladder game to tell me what you want to eat?" Yuki pointed at one point on the paper. Tohru hummed a tune as her finger went up the ladder. "Crab! Ayame-san bought some with him. It's one of your favorite food isn't it?" Yuki blinked up at her wondering how she knew that. It had always been one of his favorites when he was little, but he had moved on to other favorite foods once he had gotten older. Now that he was little again he found that his old favorite foods seemed much more appealing. He looked up at her smiling face, and nodded. She beamed at him, happiness filling her that he was at least communicating a little with her. "I'll go get it ready! Ayame-san is outside with Shigure-san," she said as Yuki was looking around the room obviously searching for his older.

The child paled as Tohru said the word 'outside.' He wasn't going outside. Why did Ayame insist on going outside? Was he doing it to try to get him over his fear? He shrugged it off and followed Tohru into the kitchen. She hadn't said he could stay with her, but you could get outside from kitchen. If she asked why he was still there he could always claim that. If he had been talking that is. Tohru didn't even notice the child had followed her until she had begun to cook the crabs. She turned from the stove as she heard Ayame call Yuki's name.

The man was reminded of that morning when he had been in the same spot and Yuki had refused to come outside. "Are you going to come outside now?" he asked gently. Yuki stared wide-eyed at his brother and shook his head, sending his long bangs swishing across his face. Tohru looked between the two brothers. Ayame looked hopeful while Yuki looked terrified.

"I can watch him for you," she offered. "I don't have to much preparing for dinner, and you can stay here, Yuki-kun. If you want to, that is, but nothing outside is going to hurt you." The child shook his head again, harder this time. They were all wrong. Something was outside and it could hurt him if got close enough. He didn't want to see Akito-san, or anything having to do with him. "Do you want to stay in here with me? I don't really have anything you can do, but you can watch me if you want." Yuki nodded his head immediately. He didn't care what he had to do as long as it kept him from going outside. Tohru smiled brightly and went back over to the counter to begin chopping some of vegetables as Yuki stood and watched, thoughts elsewhere.

Kisa had mentioned the hat Honda-san had, asking if it was hers. Did she still not have any clue that he was the little boy who had saved her that day? Did she still not know that he was the one who had led her home? She had been him a necessity then. For just that one moment he knew that without him she was lost. Someone had needed him. Of all of the people in the world she had needed him, the most boring, insignificant person of all. It had given him such hope, and such happiness that he had been needed. That without him she would have been lost. He had never had that feeling before and it still meant so much to him.

Author's Note: Once again I'm sorry, but I can't get anymore ideas out and what little I do have here was hard enough, but I don't really see this being updated, or finished for that matter, and I apologize, but if you want it to continue, continue it yourself. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! You have no idea how motivating they were and how much they meant to me. THANKS!