I didn't know how long I was floating in the darkness. I lost all sense of time. Despite my floating my entire body felt heavy and numb. I wondered why I was here. Why couldn't I remember anything from before?

I felt slight pressure on my limbs and a sharp pain shot up my body. In that instant I remembered why it was that I was floating. I had taken a hard beating from Brad.

Brad. That name sent a fire throughout my veins. I was unable to do anything after all. All the confidence I had in myself, where did it go? I was so sure in that moment that I could have done anything. I could have put up with anything but Devon ... He suffered so much in those short minutes. I couldn't think of anything that I could do. It pained me to know that I had just stood there watching him. Crying out his name like somehow it was going to help him, make him get off the ground, make him smile at me. The fire died and I was consumed with sadness. Another pain went through me. It hurt but not as much as my chest did. It felt as if my heart was going to explode and I didn't care. It would have been better if I never went to that store. If I never let him walk me home. If I had never existed in the first place.

I heard very low murmurs. I felt the darkness start to disappear bit by bit. The more it disappeared the more I heard.

"She hasn't woken up yet?" A small worried voice had said.

"No but there is some change in her behavior. I saw her twitch when I was applying pressure to her wounds. It's a good sign that she will be regaining consciousness soon. What about Devon ?"

Devon. His name sent my heart deeper into despair.

"No, he hasn't moved at all." Now a different voice had spoken. It was smooth, almost prince like.

Prince like. A hazy picture of gray hair and purple eyes flashed before me.

"Do you think it's the morphine?" A harsher voice mumbled as if they were speaking to them selves. His voice was rough. Another flash of an orange blur with crimson eyes.

"No, the morphine should be wearing off. I assume she would be waking within the next few minutes." The second voice spoke again. It was deep.

"She's been through a lot hasn't she." The prince like voice sighed. I hinted sadness in his tone.

"Rose."

My insides froze. This voice was no longer honey smooth. It was in a hush whisper and was so coarse. It created a different kind of burning in my veins.

"Rose." He repeated in a moan that threw knifes into my heart.

I heard movement and shouts. I forced my eyes open with all the strength I could. It was difficult but the concern shouting was pushing me. I had to see him.

"What are you doing you idiot?" The rough voice shouted. "You aren't ready to be moving around. You lost more blood than I did!"

I was getting anxious. I couldn't open my eyes; no matter how hard I tried I couldn't make them open. I felt the heat in my face as I pushed more on the darkness that forced me down.

"Hatori! Rose is turning red." A small but frantic voice called out. I heard more movement and I felt more pressure on my body.

I wanted to tell them to stop. I felt my mouth open slightly but all that came out was a small squeak. Get off of me! I wanted to scream at them. They were helping the darkness keep me down.

"Let. Go." I gasped in a small voice. My throat was burning now. I instantly felt the pressure and the shouts disappeared. I could focus on pulling myself out of the darkness. I pushed again and this time, very slowly, my eyes opened.

I squinted against the bright yellow walls. Everything was unfocused. Disconnected. I also felt pounding in the back of my head. Four pairs of very concerned eyes looked down on me. I tried to sit up but a dark hair man lightly pushed down on my shoulder.

"Rose you have severe muscle bruising, and a broken rib you need to stay still." He wore a white coat. I remembered this scenario from before. He was the Sohma's family doctor.

"Where is he?" I whispered feeling the darkness again as the man's hand touched my shoulder. My eyes searched franticly. "Where is he? Where?" My voice was getting louder and louder.

"Rose." I heard him again but I couldn't find him. I was searching everywhere that was in my sight. Then I realized, I was high off the ground. I was on a soft bed and his voice was coming… From the floor.

I felt tears in my eyes once they landed on him. His skin was pale and glossy. His lips cracked, and his hair drenched with sweat. The clothes that he wore were next to him in a bundle with dried bloodstains.

"Hey." He sighed at me trying to smile. "It's about time you woke up," His voice was so small, "Sleepy head." The tears that had built up now pulled over my lids.

"I'm sorry." I whispered my lips trembling. I couldn't stop myself from saying those words. It seemed like that was all I could do now.

"I'm so sorry." I croaked my throat thick with tears. Hatori slowly pushed everyone out of the room. Tohru glanced back at me with tortured eyes.

"I wasn't strong enough." He whispered his eyes staring at the ceiling. "I'm sorry Rose. I wasn't strong enough." Now his entire face was away from me.

More tears fell across my cheeks. I was loss for words. How could he say that? How could he be sorry?

"It's my fault." His voice even quieter from before.

I exploded.

"No!" I screamed, "It is NOT your fault!" I tried to turn on my side and reach for him. "It's mine! I wasn't strong enough! I was the one that started this! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be here!" A gasp was caught in my throat. It hurt to yell and cry. Who was I kidding, it hurt to breathe.

"You're right." He sighed his face still turned away from mine.

His word slid into my chest like a knife.

"If it weren't for you I wouldn't be here," He turned back towards me and whispered, "Surrounded by friends and lying next to the girl that I love." He gave me a weak smile.

"I… Love you. You know that… Right?" he asked. "I know I just met you and it seems a little weird but it's true. I love you."

" Devon I," I didn't know what else I could say to him other than the obvious. "I love you too." More tears had fallen from my eyes but my sobs had calmed to just sniffles. Then there was a knock on the door.

"May I come in?" I recognized Tohru's voice.

"Yes, the worst is over." I smiled slightly. "Right Devon ?" I turned towards him again and his expression was pained.

" Devon ?" I called to him. "What's the matter?" He didn't answer.

" Devon ?" My voice escalating. I moved my eyes toward the opening door. "Tohru get the doctor! Something is wrong with Devon !"

"Hatori!" She yelled running into the hallway.

Devon coughed and arched his back, his breathing loud and uneven. Hatori was in the room in seconds checking his vitals. From my position I couldn't see Devon 's face but Hatori suddenly stopped.

"Hatori?" I whispered. "Is he okay?"

"Hatori! What happe-" Kyo stopped with wide eyes in the doorway. I tried to sit up and gasped as the pain in my side grew.

Over Hatori's head I saw a small black bird in the place of where Devon was supposed to be. The room was silent.

"How? How could he be?" Kyo muttered.

"How what?" I asked staring at the bird. "Where's Devon ? What happened to him?"

"We might as well tell her. Even though this is a big surprise for the Sohma family as well." The man from the first time I had be here appeared in the door way. His expression filled with sorrow.

"I don't understand. What happened to Devon ?" There was urgency in my voice.

"He's right there Rose. That small little bird is Devon ." Shigure walked to the bed and sat on the edge. He reached for my hand and gripped it tightly as if to try and stop the trembling. "He's part of the Sohma family curse. We'll explain more to you when he regains consciousness."

"As for right now, you need rest also." Hatori was suddenly at me side already pushing the foreign liquid from the syringe into my arm. I could feel the darkness pulling me back again. My eyes close involuntarily and everyone's voices sounded very far away.

"It's unfortunate that this has happened to them."

"Yes as if they hadn't been through enough now they have the burden of the curse on their shoulders."

I couldn't make out any words after those sentences. I didn't know what curse they were talking about all that I know was that Devon was going through a change and made him turn into a small and beautiful black bird. I knew that no matter what happened I would always love him. Even if I could carry him in my hands.