Shigure cradled his chin in thought, "So she knows." he had been able to pick up her last comment due to his heightened hearing.

Everyone went pale and their eyes grew wide.

Carmen shook her head and desperately waved her arms, "Um no I don't know what your talking about. I don't know anything about a curse or whatnot. Nope not a thing."

Kyo face palmed himself, "Nice Carmen."

Carmen slumped over defeated, "Sorry."

Yuki asked politely, "How did you find out?"

Carmen embarrassed answered, "Well I gave him a hug and he turned into a cat."

Shigure noted, "We'll have to let Akito know about this but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. What I want to know is why were you hugging Kyo?"

Everyone stared at her as she blushed Scarlett and tried to not look at Kyo, "Well he was just being so nice to me and calmed me down while I was upset that I just hugged him out of thanks."

She then changed the subject, "So are all of you apart of the Chinese zodiac?"

Shigure answered, "Everyone except for Tohru."

Kisa stated, "I would have told you but I couldn't. I am a tiger."

Carmen's eyes glowed, "Really a tiger! That's like my favorite animal! Wow!"

Kiss beamed and hugged her friend.

Shigure went on, "Yes and I'm a dog and Yuki's a rat. Tohru is the only outsider who knows are secret until now."

Carmen dropped to the floor and literally rolled on the floor laughing like crazy.

Tohru asked concernedly, "Uh is she okay?"

Carmen whipped a tear at her eye and stood up chuckling, "Sorry but it's hilarious. A dog, cat and rat all living under one roof? How have you guys not killed each other it's like Tom and Jerry come to life!"

Shigure smiled, "Heh never thought about it quite like that. Yuki and Kyo sure fight enough for the title to fit."

"What the Hells Tom and Jerry?" asked Kyo puzzled.

"It's a cartoon about a cat and a mouse who always fight. I used to watch it when I was 4."

Tohru exclaimed, "Well I'd better get dinner started would you two ladies care to join me."

Kisa smiled brightly, "Sure!"

Carmen tensed up, "Ah I'll pass. I wouldn't want to ruin everyone's dinner. I can't cook to save my life."

"Well I'll stay then." stated Kisa.

Carmen shook her head, "No go ahead I'll be fine. Promise."

Kisa reluctantly left the room with Tohru leaving Carmen with Kyo, Yuki and Shigure.

Shigure clapped his hands, "Well then why don't we get to know you better tell us why did you move here."

"Oh my father got a job at the hospital here. He's a radiologist."

Shigure smiled, "That's great! So what about the rest of your family?"

A dark shadow swept over her face it had been hard enough to talk about it ounce but again it was unbearable the agony still left in her heart. The grief and the blame that she could have stopped all those mean kids. That's why she just didn't think about them it was just too much for her broken heart.

Surprisingly she felt an arm thrown around her shoulders that belonged to Kyo, "Hey Shigure why don't you mind your own damn business I mean she just found out you were a dog for Christ's sake."

Shigure dramatically "wept", "Oh Kyo why are you so mean? All I asked was a simple question!"

Yuki stared at Kyo and her knowing they were hiding something. Carmen's voice cracked as she announced, "Thanks Kyo but it's okay I can tell them. It's just that my mother and brother died last year. So it's just me and good old dad!"

Yuki looked surprised while Shigure apologized, "I-I'm sorry I did not mean to bring up bad memmories. It's just quite the coincidence. Tohru's mother died last year as well. Since then she has been living with us. It's sort of weird but it works."

"Well she's lucky to live with you guys. I can already tell your really nice people. I hope I don't get my memory erased and get to know you all better."

At that next moment Tohru and Kisa came out with 6 bowls of soup. Tohru smiled kindly, "Dinners ready! Carmen, Kisa told me your favorite food was chicken noodle soup with dumplings, yes?"

"Oh yes thank you very much! And I'm sorry about your mom. Trust me I know all about it and more."

Tohru tilted her head, "What do you mean?"

Carmen took in a deep breath it was hard saying it again believing it was true but with Kisa and Kyo it felt like they could help carry the burden.

"My mother and brother died this past year."

Tohru gasped, "Oh you poor thing I am so sorry!"

Tears welled up in her eyes and she began crying. Carmen got up and hugged her. She sniffed and replied, "Hey don't. Your going to make me cry!"

And soon she was bawling into her shirt. All the memories of Josh and Mom and their happy family.

Kisa soon joined the hug and got teary-eyed as well. Yuki got up and place a hand on Tohru's shoulder while Kyo just leaned against the wall sympathy evident on his face. And of course Shigure who was watching the whole scene unfold.

Ounce all the girls stopped crying Kyo exclaimed, "Damn I'm hungry can we eat yet?"

The comment put a smile on Carmen's face but Yuki didn't seem to appreciate it at all.

"How insensitive can you be you stupid cat?" loathed Yuki.

Before Kyo had the chance to fire a nasty comment back.

"Okay look Yuki I don't know who the Hell you think you are but you had best not insult my friend. He was making a light hearted comment to ease the atmosphere and you have to mock him and loathe him for it? Well guess what? You aren't so perfect! Not to say I think your a horrible person or anything but why do you have to be so mean to get your point across? You could have simply stated "Well that's not exactly the way I would have stated it but I agree. Let's eat." Would that be so hard? I hate any kind of bullying or teasing but god so help me I will kick you ass if the need comes because no one and I tell you know one hurts someone I love." glared Carmen icily.

Everyone stood frozen. Yuki appeared to be in total shock violet eyes as wide as plates.

Kisa sighed, "Nice try Carmen but I don't think even one of your speeches is going to get them to stop."

Carmen asked, "Really you think so? I thought that was one of my best this year."

Kisa nodded, "Definitely charismatic but ineffective for a pair of knuckle headed boys."

Both of them shouted, "Hey!"

Yuki then apologized, "I am truly sorry I upset you so Miss Vey. I'll try to get along with him. For now."

Carmen beamed, "That's all I ask!"

Kyo wide eyed at the speech asked, "So what the Hell are you two going on about?"

Kisa informed, "Well Carmen makes a speech like that almost everyday and is usually sent to the principals office for interrupting the class. But she continues. The principal decided to put her determination to good use and made her the president of the Non-bullying enforcement and I the vice president. Now we can write up anyone bullying a student and give them detention so no one bullies me anymore and bullying has gone down quite a bit for Carmen is a bit ruthless."

Carmen sighed, "I'm sure you all think I'm annoying for not liking the tiniest bit of bickering. The sad thing is I used to be a lot worse but I'm doing better and hopefully someday I won't be so annoying but I'm never going to put up with bullying. But I apologized for getting so worked up over a little fighting."

Kyo replied gently, "Hey it's cool. I'm tired anyway. So before our food gets cold lets eat!"

Everyone nodded and Carmen felt right at home sitting between Kyo and Kisa. For some reason though she was slightly jealous of Tohru who sat on Kyo's other side and Yuki.

Did he LIKE LIKE her? It was hard to tell. But she was pretty sure Yuki and Tohru had a thing for each other.

So maybe just maybe their was a spot for a certain middle schooler in his heart. Oh what was she saying she just met Kyo and now she's talking like she's madly in love with the boy. Maybe she was. It was just all so new for her this feeling she had but she liked it. And Lord did she like him.