"You're truly one of a kind Momiji Sohma."
"I could say the same about you Hinata Honda."
-Momiji and Hinata

Momiji stared at the large gates that stood in front of him. A sense of foreboding twisted his stomach into knots as he broke out into a cold sweat.

"No one can love you but me. So stay with me forever, my rabbit."

Involuntary, he found himself stumbling back.

Momiji stopped himself and took a deep breath. He could do this. He wasn't the same boy as back then. No, that boy was weak, ignorant, and fake.

He had changed, there was no reason to fear this place anymore.

Gently, his pale hand touched the gate and he pushed, flinching at the creaking sound it made.

Just like that, it felt as if he was thrown back in time.

The traditional house was softly lit up by the glimmering sunshine that danced in the murky windows that had hidden horrors over the years as time ticked by slowly, oh so slowly.

To the side of the house was the connecting clinic with the little pond on the side filled with little koi and surrounded by sweet smelling flowers.

The entire backyard was wide and perfect for running, it should have been littered with toys or discarded items, instead it was bare and perfectly trimmed.

Memories flashed across his mind at every single thing he saw.

Momiji sat in on the steps of the home, covered in bruises, his young face was drawn and tired.

Hatsuharu limped out in a similar position. "Are you okay?" He asked the boy calmly.

"I'm tired Haru, I'm really tired." Hatsuharu only sat down next to him, their faces glowing in the moonlight as he smiled.

"Yeah, me too."

Tears blinked to the surface of his eyes but he swallowed them back.

"Yuki wait for me!" Momiji called, a skinny 5 year old as he chased after the older boy.

"No, you stay here Momiji, I need to go somewhere." He said coldly, unintentionally hurting the blonde boy.

"Oh..." Momiji murmured, stopping in his tracks as his older cousin stormed off.

He glanced back at the empty yard, now with flecks of tears barely caressing a piece of grass before being soaked into the soil.

Nothing much had changed, Momiji noted dully.

"Hinata! Hinata!" Momiji called as he balanced on a rock at the pond.

A brunette looked out and laughed, making him beam in pride.

"You're going to fall." She called from the clinic.

"No I-" he squawked as he tripped and fell in the pond, a koi flopping on his lap. "-won't."

Hinata erupted into little snickers and he vaguely heard Hatori tell her to, "get that idiot a towel."

A few moments later Hinata came out, still laughing as he grimaced and climbed out of the pond.

She reached out her hand with a smile and he took it, vaguely he registered that he was almost a head taller than her now.

"So," Momiji began with a cheeky smile, "come here often?" With that they both dissolved into snickers and giggles as she threw a towel at his face and Hatori watched them, an exasperated soft smile on his usually stoic face.

Momiji steeled himself, for everything bad that happened, there was something good too. He could do this. He needed to do this.

Though his heart burned with hatred for Akito, Shigure, Ayame, and Hatori, though he had taken Hinata's memories, Momiji saw him more as a pawn then an antagonist.

When did everything change?

When did he leave this place behind?

When did he leave his family behind?

When did he leave himself behind?

Momiji shook his head and approached the sleek wooden door that was the only thing keeping him from his sickening past.

He took a deep breath and opened the door.

🐰🐶🐲 🐍🚫🐰🐶🐲 🐍🚫🐰🐶🐲 🐍🚫

Shigure sat in the living room, sipping tea, pretending like he didn't have a manuscript to write as Akito stared out the window.

Neither expected to hear Ayame's girlish shriek of joy that sounded suspiciously like a name.

Akito raised an eyebrow and picked herself up and out of the room.

Shigure sighed before following and nearly choked when he saw who was there.

A handsome, tall blond man stood there. Golden curls and chocolate eyes standing out against porcelain skin.

"M-Momiji?" Akito murmured in shock.

Shigure didn't blame her. He went from a cutesy kid who barely reached their shoulder to a full head taller, looking like he stepped out of a storybook.

"Hi Momiji." Shigure grinned, "You're looking hot, how are you doing?"

A maid peeked in and a muttered, "I'd tap that." Was all that was heard.

A little pink blush floated on his cheeks before he frowned and told him, "We need to talk."

"Of course~! Ayame dear, could you call Hatori? He's being mopey again because it's winter."

"Of course Honey~!" Ayame sang and hurried down the hall as Shigure, Akito, and Momiji shuffled awkwardly to the dining room.

"How have you been Momiji?" Shigure asked with a little smile.

"Fine, and you?"

"Everything's been amazing. Even more so now that your visiting again! How long has it been? A year?"

"2 and 1/2." Momiji answered shortly.

"Ah...really?" Akito spoke up, trying for a smile only to be stopped short by his blank, angry eyes.

"Momiji, you need to let go of the past." Shigure said suddenly.

"I have."

"No you haven't, Hinata is gone. She doesn't know who any of us are and you need to accept that. She's in a whole other country for gods sake! Look, you're young. Still just a teenager. You might think you loved her but there's nothing you can do about that now. You can't understand what love is. She was your first love, I understand that, but it wouldn't have lasted anyway." Shigure said firmly.

"Too young?" Pure anger filled every fiber of his being. "You think, I'm too young to understand love?"

"H-He's right." Akito said.

"Excuse me but I'm just in awe of how completely idiotic you are." He laughed emptily.

"Mo-"

"I don't think you really understand-no fuck that, you can't understand. Even if I wanted to, I could never get over her. It's been 3 years and every night I still dreamed of her coming back. Everyday I think about her easy acceptance and happy smiles. About her little habits like rubbing her bracelet when she's nervous. The spirit of the rabbit and I both love her equally. She is my home. I love her more than you could ever dream to understand." He spat angrily. "You might be content with your masochistic relationship but I will never give up on her. That, I can promise you."

"She's gone Momiji!" Akito cried in frustration.

"That's what I was going to tell you actually," his eyes glinted in the pale sun, "Hinata came back."

"What?" A shocked voice made them all slide their eyes to the door where Hatori and Ayame stood, Hatori didn't seem surprised, his wife Mayuko and Momiji had both discussed it with him, but Ayame was completely shocked.

"She's...back?" Akito whispered, hope in her eyes.

"Yes and even if she never remembers me, I'm never giving up on her. Because that's what love is, but I guess people like you wouldn't understand." Momiji said before pushing himself up and out of the room.

"Momiji wait!" Akito cried. "Does this mean you'll forgive me?"

Momiji turned and gave her a blank look. "As soon as Hinata remembers me, I'll forgive you. Her coming back doesn't mean all blame is off you. Desperation won't create forgiveness." He said in disgust.

He stormed out of the home, this damned home, nothing but bad had ever been created here. He hated it here with all his being.

"Momiji." He turned his head and saw Shigure.

"I'm not relenting." Was all Momiji said.

"It's not that. I-I'm sorry, for everything. I just wanted you to let go and be happy."

"I can't be happy without her."

"I know that, I know." Shigure sighed, "I'll support you, just if ever need help, call me and I'll be there. I promise. "

"Thanks." Momiji murmured.

Suddenly Shigure was hugging him.

"You guys grow so fast, I'm getting old. I just need you to remember that no matter what, we're a family. If you ever feel alone or lost, we'll be here- I'll be here. Never forget that okay?"

"Yeah," a tear pricked at his eye, "I'll remember."

"Visit more often too. We miss you." Shigure smiled

Momiji closed his eyes and returned the hug, "Yeah, I missed you too."