A/N- Sup guys? I don't really have anything to say, so enjoy the chapter.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, and Kyo growled a few harsh profanities under his breath. He started to get up, but he felt a warm, feminine figure pressed against him. He opened his eyes, confused, when he saw Nimian nestled comfortably in his arms. He remembered last night, and his cheeks turned a flaming shade of blood red. He slowly started to pull away from the Jaguar, but she let out a deep, breathy moan when he moved. She rolled over, and attached herself to him. Her hands tangled in his shirt, almost like she was going to physically restrain him there. She buried her nose in his chest, before tilting her head up and nuzzling his neck. Nim's warm breath fanned over him intimately, and Kyo turned even redder.

"Too early…" She murmured huskily against his skin. "Five more minutes…"

Kyo stiffened body relaxed a little. What was five more minutes, really? He rewrapped himself around Nim's waist, and subconsciously planted a chaste kiss in her hair. His eyelids began to flutter closed as he-

"Oooohhh, Kyo and Nimian are in LOOOOOOOOOVVVE!"

Nim's eyes ripped open as Shigure's loud, annoying voice cut through the air. Kyo shot up into a sitting position, practically shoving Nim off of him. Not that he really needed to, the Jaguar had just about leapt out of her own skin. In her haste, she had forgotten that her bed wasn't exactly big, and she ended up tumbling onto the floor and landing on her stomach with an audible THUNK! She stayed there for a second, her head spinning, her senses on overload, trying to process what was happening. Her reaction time wasn't the best in the morning when she woke up on her own terms, let alone when someone else actually woke her up.

"Shut up, you damn dog, we are not!" Kyo snarled, looking rather cat like as he flashed his fangs and arched his back.

"Kyo and Nimian sitting in a tree-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!"

"K.I.S.S.I.N.G-"

"DAMMIT YOU STUPID MUTT!"

"It's too damn early for this…" Nim muttered as she picked herself up off the ground and crawled back into her bed. Kyo blushed an even more intense red and let out a startled noise that sounded suspiciously like a squeak as Nim collapsed next to him. He catapulted out of bed and Nim didn't even bother tossing him a tired glance as she curled up where he had previously been, taking silent pleasure in the fact that the spot was still warm. Kyo stormed out of the room and down the hall, and Shigure padded after him, still singing loudly. Nimian dozed for another three hours or so, when she finally decided that she should probably get up. She heaved herself out of bed and dragged her body down the hall. She glanced at the clock, and it read 1:34 P.M. That was a much more acceptable time. She walked into the kitchen and opened a cabinet door, groping around inside it rather blindly. Her fingers closed around something, and she pulled it out. She held a glass measuring cup in her hands, and she stared at it blankly before shrugging.

Why the hell not?

She emptied the coffee pot into the measuring cup, and glanced around her to make sure no one was near before spiking it with just a little bit of sake. Nim didn't really drink anymore, as least not as much as she used to, but sometimes she felt like she just really needed it.

Today was one of those times.

Nim drank deeply from her make shift cup and began to wander the house, searching for some form of life. When she padded by Shigure's room, she saw the dog harassing his editor. He saw her and smirked.

"Hi, Nim!" his voice was teasing and sing song, and Nim knew what was coming. Before he could speak, she took another calm draught of her coffee and flipped him the bird with her right hand, not even bothering to stop walking. Shigure's laugh boomed through the hall as Nim walked away, but it was quickly silenced by Mitsuru's frantic and high pitched squealing about five hundred pages. She heard some scuffling to her right and padded toward the noise. Arisa was in the room, and she was dusting.

"Hola." Nim said, walking up behind the blonde. Arisa stopped her cleaning and smiled when she saw Nim.

"Finally decided to get out of bed, huh?" She asked, and then motioned to the measuring cup in the jaguar's hands questioningly.

"I needed a big cup." Nim explained, and Arisa rolled her eyes.

"That's ghetto."

"I've been told worse."

Tohru skipped into the room, smiling as per usual.

"Good morning, Nim!" Tohru chirped brightly.

"Morning." The jaguar replied a little coarsely. Bless that girl's heart, being able to be so damn happy all the time.

"How are you feeling?" Tohru's eyes were concerned, and she looked Nim up and down like she was appraising a horse.

"Much better." She promised.

"Are you sure? You were really sick yesterday…"

"I'm sure. I'm pretty resilient."

"What happened yesterday?" Arisa asked curiously.

"I was sick. Coughing and such. Nothing too bad." Nim waved her hand flippantly. "Anyways, what are you guys up to?"

"We're cleaning for New Years!" Tohru beamed. She held up some cleaning supplies.

"I see. What's next year, Year of the Rabbit?" Nim cocked her head to the left.

"I think so." Arisa agreed.

"You guys mind if I helped?" Nim looked at Tohru for permission.

"Of course! The more the merrier!"

"Alright, what do you guys need done?" Nim put her coffee down on the table, deciding she would finish it later.

"Well, Hana is doing the bathroom, Arisa is dusting… I guess you could help Kyo move things so that I can clean behind them." Tohru decided thoughtfully. Nim felt her heart rate pick up when Tohru mentioned the red headed cat. How would he react to her after this morning? Would he be mad? Embarrassed? Or would he just ignore her all together? She was tentative to approach him, but Nim had always been one to bite the bullet and then spit it at the shooter.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"Ready?" Nim asked, adjusting her hold on her side of the book shelf. Yuki nodded and Kyo gave a grunt in agreement. "Go."

All three of them heave upwards managing to get it off of the ground, but, Jesus, it was heavy. They manage to stumble forward a few steps when Shigure goes sprinting through the room. Nim flagged him down. A few seconds later, the zodiacs even get Mitsuru to help, but Shigure slinks away. The second the editor realizes he left, she drops her hold on the book shelf, and shoots after him. The case begins to sway, and the three panic.

"waitwaitwaitwait-"

BANG!

"Damn…"

"I'm not going." The Three young zodiac members all growled in unison.

"Tohru, none of them will come with me to the celebration…" Shigure whined, sounding like a five year old who had been denied candy before dinner.

"Why not?" Tohru asked curiously.

"I never go. It's easier that way." Nim said flippantly, trying her best to sound careless. "Akito and I don't exactly get along, and let's just say some things are better left swept under the rug."

"I haven't been there in four months. I'm not going back now." Kyo told her irritably.

"I had my reasons for leaving the Sohma household, and they would seem almost meaningless if I went back now." Yuki's voice was calm and relaxed, and Nim could only hope she sounded half as good.

"The cat and the jaguar aren't allowed at the banquet, I suppose that's to keep to the story, too." Shigure mused thoughtfully.

"Oh… I'm sorry…" Tohru looked at Nim and Kyo with sympathy in her eyes.

"Ah, it's nothing to get all upset about." Kyo muttered.

"It's Fine. And besides, can you imagine me being civil and social with other people? It's enough to give anyone nightmares." Nim laughed.

"I think Kyo is just scared that he'll get hurt with Kagura being so excited." Shigure whispered confidentially to Tohru.

"SHUT IT!" Kyo yelled instantly.

"Anyway, the bottom line is we're not going." Nim rolled her eyes at how easily the conversation had gotten off track.

"And besides, if we left tonight, that means we would have to stay at the Sohma house for two extra nights, so Ms. Honda would be on her own for three days." Yuki explained.

"If you're worried about leaving me here, don't be. I'm happy that you two worry about me and I want you to be happy, too. Plus, this will be the first time you see your parents in a while, and I'm sure there are people looking forward to seeing you. And I promise I'll take good care of the house." Tohru told the four philosophically. And then, naturally... "Oh no, I left the bathtub running!" Tohru sprinted out of the room, and Yuki and Kyo reluctantly agreed to go to the celebration.

"I'm still not going." Nim's voice was firm and stubborn.

"Why not? Yuki and Kyo are going." Shigure persuaded.

"Doesn't mean I am. You of all people should know that Akito and I can't be in the same room for longer than three minutes without at least one of us attempting to kill the other! I don't do well in crowds, either, it's too stressful." Nim shuddered. Throngs of people pushing and shoving, laughing and talking. People with fake smiles plastered onto their faces as Nim said hello, and then sighing in relief when she walked away. Women pulling her into pillow-like chests as they hugged her in sympathy. No. She did it once, and she will never do it again.

"Watch out for crowds." Tohru told the departing members firmly.

"Don't worry; no one will be out at this hour." Shigure promised.

"Lock the doors." Yuki reminded the two females.

"We'll be fine." Nim rolled her eyes. "I got it covered."

"Alright…"

Shigure, Yuki and Kyo all seemed reluctant to leave, but eventually the two formers began to trudge down the walkway. Kyo, however, lingered by the porch. Nim glanced next to her and saw Tohru happily waving her goodbyes to Yuki and Shigure. The jaguar slunk up to Kyo silently.

"Good luck." Nim told him gently. Kyo didn't say anything, but if Nim wasn't kidding herself, he did huddle a few inches closer to her. "You'll be fine." Nim soothed, and after a quick moment of indecision, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against Kyo's cheeks briefly, but she still felt his skin heat up dramatically. When Nim pulled away, her cheeks looking similar to Kyo's, Kyo murmured something incoherent under his breath before scuttling away, his cheeks still painted red.

Nim turned and looked at Tohru expectantly. "Now what?"

"We go inside, I guess…" The pair walked inside and Nim locked the door behind her. The house was eerily silent.

"This is so weird…" Nim decided. "It's actually quiet. In all honesty, I had forgotten what that sounded like." Tohru giggled, and Nim noticed a radio on the counter. She walked over to it and turned it on, and then began to hum with the music.

"I like this song." Nim decided aloud before turning to Tohru. "Dance with me."

"Huh?" Tohru looked at the jaguar in confusion.

"Dance with me."

"Oh, no, I can't dance…"

"Nonsense. Anyone can dance; you just have to have the right partner." Nim stepped forward and took one Tohru's hands in her own, her other hand rested itself casually on her waist. Tohru tentatively put her free hand on Nim's shoulder. "Now just sway with the music."

Nim began to rock gently, and Tohru followed her lead. The girls started out slow and casual, and Nim could feel Tohru becoming more confident in her movements. Nim began to lead a little faster, and her movements became more complicated, but Tohru kept up with her.

"There you go, you got it." Nim praised. Tohru smiled at her, and the song on the radio changed, becoming faster and more exciting. Nim looked down at Tohru for permission, and she beamed excitedly at the jaguar. Without any warning, Nim swung Tohru out swiftly, before pulling her in again. The rice ball squealed, and Nim laughed. The two girls then began to melt into the music.

Yuki and Kyo were panting heavily as the

y both shot through the door, but both boys froze when they saw the two girls laughing and dancing. Tohru had her usual slightly ditzy grin on her face, but Nim had a wide ear-to-ear grin, looking happy and, for once in a long time, at peace with the world. Like nothing was bothering her. She always acted careless and light hearted, but Kyo saw that dark glint in her eye. The look that showed that she had seen things that most people only hope to experience in their most demonic nightmares. But, then again, they both carried that burden, didn't they? Nim and Tohru disconnected, and Nim began to dance on her own, using an exotic grace that she had never used in front of them. Tohru clapped in time with the music, and Nim's lanky legs moved in a complicated fashion, performing what almost seemed like some sort of tribal dance. The music finished with a dramatic flourish and so did the Jaguar. At the end, Nim bowed deeply, and Tohru clapped for her. They noticed the two boys in the hallway.

"Hey, guys." Nim grinned, her chest rising and falling rapidly from dancing; she was clearly out of breath. "Why aren't you at the celebration?"

"We decided we couldn't let you and Ms. Honda spend New Years alone."

"Alright. But if you guys are gonna be here, we're still celebrating." Nim grinned mischievously and motioned for the two boys to step into the room. They did so obediently, but tentatively. Another slow song came on the radio.

"Yuki, Tohru's your partner. Kyo, you get the honor of dancing with me."

"Hey, wait a second I don't wanna-"

"I don't believe Ms. Honda-"

"Would you two rather dance together?" Nim smirked with amusement and cocked her head to the right. The two boys glared at each other in disgust, before Yuki gently took Tohru's hand in his own and placed the other on her waist. He kept an arms length between them so that he didn't transform. Nim stepped forward and placed her arms around Kyo's neck. Instinctively, he put his slightly calloused hands on her waist, and then blushed when he realized what he did.

"Come on." Nim purred gently.

"I don't know how to dance…" he mumbled, refusing to meet her eyes. He was afraid he would seem clumsy and awkward compared to Nim, especially after seeing her move so easily before.

Nim sighed. "Why do people always think dancing is something that has to be taught? It's natural. Just do what I do." Without waiting for his response, Nim began to sway her figure and Kyo followed her movements, still blushing. As they danced, they slowly drifted closer and closer, until Nim was resting her hands against his chest and her head on his shoulder. Kyo had his arms encircled around her waist, holding her as close as possible, breathing in Nim's intoxicating smell. The song ended, but the pair didn't stop moving, both perfectly content with their current position. Nim glanced outside the window and noticed that it was almost morning. They had been together all night. Tohru's head peeped through the doorway.

"Me and Yuki are going to go watch the first sunrise of the year! Do you two want to come?"

"Yeah, that sounds nice." Nim pulled away from Kyo, linking their arms and dragging him as they followed Tohru. The trio clambered onto the roof, Yuki was already waiting for them patiently.

"Have you decided what to wish for yet?" Tohru asked as we all get comfortable. "I've got mine all ready to go."

"Hmmm… I think I've got mine!" Nim grinned.

"This year, I'm gonna beat that damn rat!" Kyo leapt off his feet.

"Ah, I see, your wishing, aren't you?" Yuki sneered.

"It's gonna be a good year." Nim laughs, resting her amber eyes intently on Kyo. "I can already tell."

A/N 2- More proof that I'm nothing more than a hopeless romantic at heart. Don't forget to R&R, when I first started this story, I was getting 20 reviews a chapter... now I get like five... I don't want to whine or badger you guys, BUT PLEASE! I'll see you guys soon. Bye!