(A/N) So a shorter one this time around, but don't worry, I still have more to come!

I thought that I was going to die on that damn train. Getting off was like a miracle. It was bad enough to be shoved on that damn thing like sardines, but on top of that every one of the students was just so damn exited for the stupid class trip. All of them babbling about class trip romances and whatever else they've read about in their manga and light novels.

I'm sure people were trying to talk to me. I think I was on the train somewhere near Kyou since he was the one who had to drag me out of my stupor. I lost myself in the crowd for some time after, the students broke off into their smaller groups to see what else Kyoto had to offer. I didn't feel like going with any of them, really. But I found myself trailing a ways behind Kyou and Yuki's group. I kept out of sight, not wanting to bother them or be bothered. The bamboo grove was wide and serene. The hikers being spread out enough that I could ignore them. It was something far too rare for me. Even when I was alone in my garden at Sohma house, there was still an omnipresent darkness that lingered there.

Here in Kyoto, I was far away from all things familiar. It was fresh and clean.

But the solace could only last so long.

I caught up a little, seeing that Kyou was hanging back, I approached him, silent at first. He was just watching her walk away, and I saw something. I saw Tohru reflected in his eyes.
"You should be more careful, unless you want everyone to figure it out." I deadpanned.

He started, looking at me angrily. "Wh-wha—Figure out what?"

I grinned at him knowingly. "Kyou, you have always been an atrocious liar."

He grunted, looking away from me awkwardly. "..You won't say anything if you know what's good for you…"

I rolled my eyes. "Kyou, I know what you're thinking. You think it's wrong, and you think it's useless, but the key is not to let the curse control everything."

"Well that's rich, coming from you." His severe gaze turned on me. "Isn't that a little hypocritical?"

"Well…"

"You know it's no different. I can't live in the world for risk of transforming, and you can't because of your ability." He said, sounding a little annoyed.

"I know…that's what I said…but…"

"You're taking it back now? What? Did you meet some guy?"
I blushed angrily. "N-no…well…"
He gave a hearty laugh. "Seriously? I was joking!"
I glared at him. "It's nothing like that! I just met someone with and Aura that doesn't make me want to impale myself. It's not that big of a deal!"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I dare say it is."
I rolled my eyes at him. "So my point stands. I get to be a hypocrite, and you get to be a normal teenage boy. Everything is as it should be."

He granted me a small smile, before his face hardened again. "Not quite. If I get to be a normal teenage boy, then you get to be a normal teenage girl." His seriousness was almost laughable, but I refrained. He was serious about this after all. If he got to be happy, then I got to be happy.

Without much more of a thought, I stood on my tippy-toes, carefully placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

"What the-" He jerked back, blushing out of sheer surprise. "Kanae! What the hell!?"

I tilted my head to the side, smiling girlishly. "Oh c'mon, now you're going to offend me!"

He covered his mouth with his hand. "Well I'm sorry it was just a bit sudden."

"What, have you never been kissed by a pretty girl before?" My expression suddenly became sardonic. "I know you've been kissed by Kagura, so word your answer carefully."

He just looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. "C'mon, it's getting late. We should go back." I nodded.

"You're not mad are you?"

"Why are you asking me? You should know better than I do." He said with a shrug.

"That's the weird thing." I said, "It's becoming more and more difficult for me to read you."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Really?"

"Yeah," I continued wistfully. "It's kinda sad…since you used to be the one I could read the best." I looked over at him as we walked. "But your heart is changing, it is nice, I'm sure it's a good thing…but, it still makes me a little sad." Just a little. "But, I hope…that there will be someone who will be able to understand you even better than I ever could." I skipped ahead of him, suddenly unable to face him. It seemed like now I was having to let get of the things I cared more about. Those things that may have been holding me back all this time.

I don't know how I ended up here, I had originally gone into the store because I saw that the traffic had died down. But as soon as I entered, what seemed like a whole class stored into the tiny shop, drowning me in their emotional chatter. I kinda panicked, not in a proper mind-set to deal with this in such an enclosed space.

I tried to escape, but tripped, bouncing off of someone and then crashing to the ground. I let out a cry of pain, sluggishly trying to stand up, when suddenly, a hand doused in a light-blue glow reached down to help me.
"K-kyouhara-kun?" I grabbed his hand firmly, joining him at his side. He put an arm gingerly around me, I stuck close, maybe too close. But thankfully, he seemed to understand and began guiding me out of the crowded shop.

"Thanks, Kyouhara-kun." This closeness, was something I desperately wanted to hate, but, I just couldn't bring myself to.

He led me to a bench outside, sitting down with me.

"Are you alright, Kanae-san? You're not hurt?"

"No, not seriously." I probably got a few new bruises. "I grew up taking martial arts, I can take a bit more of a beating than that."

He laughed. "And I don't doubt that."

I looked at him, crunching my eyebrows together. "How is it that you were there to help me again? You're not stalking me are you?" I was attempting to make a joke, but I seemed to fail.

"Oh no, nothing like that. How could I ignore you when you crash right into me?"

Oh. "That makes sense."

"So…your fear of crowds can get pretty bad huh? You hardly even seemed aware of your surroundings."

"Yeah…it's also, that and in combination with a tiny space like that. I can adjust when the changes come in moderation. I just wasn't at all prepared. I was also just a little distracted." Yeah, just keep fleshing out the lie, you can do it.

"Well, good thing I was there then, you might have gotten trampled."

I nodded. "Yeah, thanks again."

"Not a problem." He stood up, stretching lightly. "You hungry?"

I nodded, standing up again. There were so many things that I didn't understand. I just wished that I knew how to ask him.

It was easy enough to push out of my mind though, surprisingly. I just let my thoughts wrap around the pleasantness of his aura. Just accepting it for how it was, instead of ruining it with my vexes and suspicions.

If only for a while, it was nice. To just let go…if only of a few things.

"Yuki." I said placidly, as he watched his friends walk away. He looked at me, a little surprised.

"Oh, Kanae, how are you-"

"What are your feelings for Tohru-kun?" I gave him a blank, dead-on look. "You have to be precise about these things."

"Well, what have you been sensing from me?" I couldn't tell if he was trying to dodge or what.

I cast my eyes to the ground. "I'm not sure you would like what I told you…" My eyes flicked back. "Plus, I want you to come to the conclusion on your own. We both know we can't grow if things are handed to us."

He cracked a nervous grin. "So what you're saying, is that you already know the answer…"

I nodded. "But, I have a feeling that you haven't fully realised it yet."

"I see." He sighed. "Well, can I ask you something in return?"

I shrugged. "I don't see why not."

He looked away briefly, his eyebrows creasing slightly. "That…boy you were with earlier, how do you feel about him?" His eyes rose to meet mine, strangely serious.

"You mean…Kyouhara-kun?" I tilted my head to the side. "I don't know. His Aura perplexes me…"

He shook his head lightly. "No…how do you feel?"

"Why, why are you asking?"

He sighed. "I could ask you the same thing."

He had a point. "I don't really know how I feel. I mean, most of the time, my own feelings are over-shadowed by everyone else's. Kinda like how you don't really know how you smell." I shook my head. "No, it's not quite like that…" I clasped my hands together. "But, I still don't really see why you're bringing him up." I frowned.

He gave a small laugh. "Who knows, maybe you're like me, and there's just something there you're not ready to see yet."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Are you saying that I like him or something?"

"I'm not saying anything." He leaned down towards me with a taunting smirk. "Your face says it all, you're blushing!"

I gave a huff.

He turned away. "Come on, we have to go meet at the buses."