(a/n) *high-pitched screaming* SECOND TO LAST CHAPTERRRRRRR

Spring was on its way by now. I was up and walking again within a few days, just in time to see some of the first Cherry Blossoms come into view. The light pinks and greens springing forth from the winter that was now behind us. The people around, in the streets and at school reflected a similar kind of change. Everyone's' spirits seemed to pick up when the longer hours of daylight came around.

It was universal. Even I was feeling a bit more relaxed and at ease, but I had a feeling, that the reason was quite different.

On the way home, I saw him walking alone. At first I didn't recognise him. I hadn't seen him much since his growth spurt, and there was something else about him that had drastically changed. I knew it was coming, I had felt this shit coming ever since I learned about Kureno, but none-the-less, I felt my heart soar and break at the same time when it fully sunk in.

"…Momiji…?" I was almost overcome, but managed to keep my composure as I quickened my pace to meet him.

"…'Nae-neechan." He gave me a sad but warm smile. "How are you?"

"Momiji…you…your…" I looked…up at him. This was even weirder than when Haru or Kyou grew. "Momiji, who else knows?"

"Just Kyou, I had to tell him."

"But, what about Tohru-san?" I had surmised by now how the now, former rabbit felt about the strange girl, as well as how Kyou felt.

"I'll tell her soon, soon enough."

I walked alongside him. "Momiji…why don't you pursue her?"

"How can I? I would just end up making her unhappy, and that's something that would hurt more than not being with her." Her eyelids fell sadly.

"You feel…" I struggled to grasp what he was feeling. It shouldn't be that hard, since it was the ghostly shadow that had been suppressed for so long. Only now was it allowed fully emerge. "Momiji, you're not alone…" I grasped at his arm, but he jerked away.
"No, I am. The only thing keeping us together was that curse."

"And the only thing keeping you from Momo was that very same thing!" I said, my emotions rising. "Don't forget that! The spirit was a part of you, so naturally you will feel loss, but don't let that blind you to what is really happening!"

"Yeah, I suppose your right, Nae-neechan."

I was ending up in that strangely desperate state of mind, where I could never find the words to help someone I cared about. "I'm sorry…I know we've never been that close."

"It's okay Kanae, I'm not mad at you. I know some people could have found me annoying." Ya think?

"But…" I began to feel tears well up. "The curse…it's really breaking." I brought my hands to my face. "I—I never…" I felt a hand come to gently wipe away my tears. "Mo—Momi—" I let myself relax. Letting a few small happy tears fall.

"Y'know, I'm glad. I always hated that you were so affected by the curse, even though you weren't one of us."

I just nodded, making an affirming sound. I was becoming overwhelmed. In that moment, I could feel the curse lifting all over. The black stain were fading away. Soon they would all be free, and I would be too. "I can feel it…I can hear the spirits saying goodbye…goodbye to each other…goodbye to this world. They could never hold on forever. Nothing can."

I sobbed into my hands pathetically. Unable to control myself.
"Nae! Nae-chan why are you crying?" He said, his voice cracking. Unused to its new deep tone.

"Momi, I'm fine I just." I looked up at the sky again. "I am happy it's gone but I still…I feel sorry for them."

"For who?"
"For the spirits. All they wanted was to be together…" I coughed, tears rolling down my face. I took a step towards Momiji, and he put his arms around me. I felt his hesitation, he probably instinctually feared transforming.

He gripped me rather tightly, beginning to tremble slightly.

"Shh…shh…" I soothed. "We don't both need to be breaking down, do we?"

He gave a small laugh. "Yeah, but…" he sniffled. "I…I feel like crying." His voice broke.

"Then go ahead. I've had my turn, you deserve yours."

"Kyou, what the hell is going on?" I was hoping to visit the house that day and surprise them, but when I arrived, all I saw was Tohru being rushed away to the hospital by Hatori. I did my best to keep back, ending up shoved in a dismal corner with Kyou, who was moping like I'd never seen him before. "Kyou! Say something!"

His face was ashen pale, and he refused to meet my gaze. "C'mon. You look guilty as hell. You couldn't have done something to-"

I caught flash of something else in his emotions. "Kyou, say something. I'm not actually a psychic!" I shook his shoulders, and he only flopped limply.

He really looked like he could use a hug. So at this point, I was completely useless to him.

"She…she…"

I shook my head. "C'mon. Let's get inside. If you're not going with her, there must be a reason. And I get the feeling the uh, literal feeling that you should tell me." I dragged him along by his arm inside to house. Letting him collapse at the Kotatsu while I went to scrounge up some tea.

When I returned, he was just sitting there, his head lulling and his eyes distant.

"Tea. Drink." I commanded. Setting it in front of him and taking my cup into my hands.

I swallowed, allowing for the silence to settle. "I know you're not much for talking. But, I can fill in the gaps if you at least give me some details."

"She…fell." Kyou said without touching his tea.

"Was it an accident?"

"…yeah…"

I took another sip. "Your guilt is pretty overbearing though. You didn't push her or anything, so what are you moping about?" I set my tea down. "Drink it now. It will make you feel better I swear."

"I don't like black tea."

"That's why I made you green tea, asshole." I glared at him over my tea cup.

He just grunted, taking the tea into his hands reluctantly.

I set my cup down, watching him. I really wanted to know what was bothering him. I wanted to understand why his arms were ridged, and his leg was jittering. I was meant to be able to understand, and yet, the answers eluded me.

"I could ask Yuki later…" I began. "But Kyou, I want you to tell me."

He turned away, stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Just go ask Yuki then."

"Kyou. Are you even listening-" I snapped my mouth shut. Realising that I wasn't helping in the slightest. The last thing he needed right now was for his guilt to be rubbed in.

I sighed deeply, standing up.

"Idiot." I mumbled as I threw a blanket around his shoulders. He hardly reacted, h just kept sitting there. "Do you want me to stay?"

His shrug caused the blankets to slip a little. "Do what you want."

Which was Kyou-speak for "yes".

"I'll…I'll just make you something to eat."

I heard a small grunt in reply. I smiled, still glad that he was at the very least responding to me. I would ask Yuki later, and I would get those answers. But for now, there were still something that only Kyou could truly help me understand.

"So…it was a curse…but now it's broken." Tamaki said in belated understanding.

I nodded. "Seems a little anti-climactic, huh?"

"I…suppose." Tamaki said, blinking slowly. "I'm just, glad that you trusted me enough."

"Well," I began. "There really isn't anything stopping me now. The Sohma Family has lost its power over me."

"I still don't fully understand why you were affected though. You aren't, weren't-"

I placed a hand gently on his forearm. "It doesn't really matter now, because it's over."

"I suppose not." He consented.

"The only annoying thing is that without my extended empathy I won't be able to tell if people are approaching me."

He gave me an odd look. "You still have eyes and ears don't you?"

"Yeah…but those are quite limited in comparison."

He seemed to be on to something. "Here, what does that sign say?"

"What sign?" I looked out the window at the street, all blurs and shapes at this distance.

"The one across the street, on that blue building."

"Blue? They all look grey to me. And how do you expect me to read anything this far away?"

"…it's hardly 6 metres…"

"That sign is a bastard."

He sighed his a small grin. "First order of business is we get you to a good optometrist."

"What, you think I need glasses?"

"Yes, I do. If you can't read that big bold-lettered billboard from 6 metres. You may very well just need robot eyes."

I scowled. "Then what the hell have I been going to Hatori for all this time? 18 years he never once gave me an eye exam. I'm gonna kick his ass."

"Well, come on. You can kick his ass better when you can see it in the first place."

I huffed. "Fine. But I'm still sending the bill to the Main House."

"Suit yourself. You just have to let me help you pick out the frames."

"Hell no." I stood up, waving to the waitress. "I'm getting contacts, if anything."

"Aww…I think you'd look cute in glasses!"

"Exactly." I turned on my heel. Walking to go pay for our meal. "Don't even try to be gentlemanly, Kyouhara, I'm paying."

"Very well." I couldn't tell his feelings right away, not until he re-joined me at my side.

"Tamaki." I grumbled. "Don't stand so close."

"Oh, so now you're calling me Tamaki."

"So what if I am. You've been calling me by my first name since we first met."

"That's the point."

We left, walking out into the busy streets. I found myself walking freely. My face turned towards the sky.

"I suppose, things are really changing."

I glanced back at Tamaki. Smiling at him. "I'm still thankful you know." I jogged back towards him, taking his wrist gently.

"For what?"

"For noticing, and helping me; and for not pressing for answers."

"No problem." He took that opportunity to interlace his fingers with mine. "You don't need to thank me, Kanae."

I rolled my eyes playfully at him. "I don't need to do a lot of things." I squeezed his hand. "Same with you, I think. It's not like you needed to help me when you did."

"But…" he began, pondering my meaning.

"You did anyway, and that's the point." I nudged him lightly. "It's a curious thing. And I'm glad."

His mouth screwed up. "You're still not making much sense."

"I know." I admitted. "Hopefully I will in time. There's still so many things that I need to understand." I said wistfully.

"Well, good." He replied. "Because, when you run out of things to understand, that means you're dead."

I gave him an odd look. "I rather…curt way of putting it but, I see your point."

He grinned. "It's something that my uncle used to tell me."

Questions suddenly blossomed in my head, but I thought it best to post-pone my inquiries for now, opting instead to just smile, and pull my stride a little closer. "Your uncle sounds like an interesting man."

"…so he was."

(a/n) yeah shh I only thought of this recently, it's going in the next revision. But Kanae is blind as a bat and needs glasses.

And 6 metres is about 20 feet.