"Thanks so much again for letting me stay here." Uo bowed to Shigure again for the hundredth time.

He laughed. "It was no trouble, I'm glad we're able to help."

"No really, you shouldn't have to go through all this to help me."

Shigure placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Uotani-chan, its our great honor to help a friend of Tohru's. Especially everything you went through, we're willing to help you the best we can."

Uo looked up into Shigure's gentle gaze. "But why? What's so special about me that I'm worth helping for?" She shook her head miserably. "All I ever done was put other people I care about into danger."

Shigure chuckled. "The past is in the past. What's done is done. Don't blame yourself because of your past mistakes."

Uo scoffed. "I wish it could be that easy."

"Easier said than done."

"That's exactly it." Uo responded. "People comfort me with words and sentences that are used everyday to calm someone down. But really its not the words that help, its the actions they do that impact the person."

"And where are you getting at this, Uotani-chan?" Shigure asked.

"That words never helped me." She stated. "It was the actions my friends, my classmates, and even my parents have showed me. That's what kept me strong."

Uo paused before going on. "And I think that's why you keep helping me. Because you're trying to make me see the big picture of all the negative crap."

Shigure nodded.

"Thanks." Uo began to bow then stopped and laughed. "Sorry, I probably have done that too many times."

Shigure chuckled. "Oh its alright." He smirked. "You can go even lower if you want."

"I heard that you perverted dog!! Don't make me come over there and slap the hell outa you!!"

"Tsk tsk tsk Kyo." Shigure shook his head. "That's not what I meant at all."

"Oh yah? Wanna say that to my face?!" He shouted coming from the kitchen.

"Oh no no. No quarrel here." Shigure laughed. "Well I best be off. Toodles!"

He waved to Uo and Kyo then left the living room.

"So I guess I gonna have to get used to living with an annoying cat." Uo smirked.

Kyo scoffed. "And I guess I'm stuck with a foul mouth Yankee from now on."

"You'll learn to just roll with my amazingness." She replied.

"Yeah? Like the way you roll your eyes when you try looking for you brain?"

"Don't you even go there, orange top."

"Try me."

"Would you both just calm down for once?"

Uo and Kyo turned to look at Yuki who stood leaning on the doorway.

"You wanna join the argument, damn rat?" Kyo snickered.

Yuki let out an exasperated sigh. "Nope, I'm just enjoying watching you act so stupid as usual."

"Well not as stupid as your ugly hair cut." Kyo grumbled. "The hell made you cut it that way anyways?"

"Since when are you so sensitive about my hair?"

"I think its perfect the way it is." Tohru smiled walking in the living room. Yuki blushed and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Hey kiddo." Uo greeted.

"Hi Uo! How do you like staying here so far?"

"Pretty good actually. Even though I started staying here two days ago." She replied.

"I'm glad you feel at home already." Tohru grinned. "Well I hope you don't mind, but me and Yuki will be going to the town square."

"Of course I don't. So you guys going on a date?" Uo smirked.

Tohru's face turned bright red. "You can say that."

"Are you ready to go, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.

Tohru nodded gratefully. Yep! I'll see you guys later, bye Kyo and Uo!"

"Bye." They both said as they watched the couple walk out of the house hand in hand, closing the door behind them.

"So what do you wanna do?" Uo asked breaking the cold silence that lingered for some moments.

Kyo shrugged. "I dunno. What do you wanna do?"

"I have a balcony at my... House. That's where I usually spend my time. Other than my room."

"Well we don't have a balcony." Kyo said. "But we do have the roof to hang out on. That's where I spend most of my time."

"Oh. Do u mind if we can sit up there... Together?" Uo asked carefully.

Kyo hesitated then nodded. "Sure, if u want."

-----------------------------

On the roof Kyo and Uo sat next to each other, but not too close that they were touching. The afternoon sun shone over the tall forest trees. White snow still laid flat on the ground but some were melting away and letting spring come through.

"I could get used to this." Uo breathed leaning back against the tiled roof.

"Yeah that's why I love coming up here." Kyo murmered. "It gives me space to relax and calm down. Up here, I feel like I could do anything. Feeling the wind in my hair and breathing in the scent of the woods."

Uo nodded relating to Kyo's reply. "Its like up here you don't have to worry about the little things in life. It makes you feel-"

"Free." Kyo finished. "Yeah. That's exactly how I feel."

Uo looked over to where he was sitting. His eyes closed and the wind blowing his orange bangs. He looked so peaceful.

Uo turned away and closed her own eyes as well.

This is my new life. I don't need to keep depending on my parents anymore. After all, they didn't do anything to help me out, did they?

"Hey Yankee?"

Uo opened her eyes and turned to Kyo who was facing her.

"Yeah?"

"I... Well.. I just wanna say sorry."

Uo felt taken back. "Sorry?"

Kyo chuckled. "Yes sorry, I want to say sorry for being such an ass. For you going through all this pain. For me not being there for you. For me shutting everyone out. For you to find out about your parents... I'm sorry.. I'm so-"

Poof

The smoke cleared and Uo was left hugging a small orange cat in her arms.

"The hell was that for?" Kyo meowed.

"You just need to shut up." Uo laughed. "Don't. Don't be sorry about anything. It already happened and that's all in the past."

"I just needed to let all that off my chest and you interrupted me." He growled.

"You're cute when your mad yah know?" Uo smirked.

"Bringing up that mushy crap, are you now?" But even with the hint of growl in his voice, his face gave it away that he was embarrassed.

Uo laughed even more. "You don't have to hide it orange top." She started scratching the back of his neck and Kyo began to pur.

A few minuted later she let him down and he transformed back into his usual self then changed his clothes.

Yes, all on the roof. With Uo closing her eyes the whole time.

"I'm glad we could spend this time together." Uo blurted out.

Kyo smiled. "Yeah, same here."

Ding dong

"Someone's at the door." Uo said.

"Don't worry, Shigure will take care of it."

They heard the sound of the door opening downstairs and Shigure spoke.

"Akito?"

Kyo stiffened beside Uo.

"Hello old friend." He responded. "How is everything doing?"

"No no." Kyo muttered. "Why is he here??"

"Who's here?" Uo asked. "Who's-"

Kyo suddenly placed a hand over her mouth and signaled her to be quiet. He told her to follow him off the roof but not going inside the house. They both climbed down from a tall tree next to the roof and carefully walked to the back of the house.

"Why are we hiding?" Uo whispered when they both were a couple of feet from the house.

"It's nothing." Kyo said quickly. "That guy who door belled is Akito. He's the head of the Sohma family. And if he's here, then its mostly not a too sign..."

"But why is he here?"

"I don't know." Kyo shook his head in frustration. "But I think he's here because you found out about the Zodiac curse."

Uo gasped. "How did he find out?"

"He's Akito. The gossip bastard." Kyo growled. "He knows everything, about everyone."

"And what happens when he sees us?"

Kyo paused and looked her in the eye. "Listen to me Uo, I need to tell you something about my curse."

"That you're a cat? Yeah I know that."

"No no no.." Kyo sighed. "There's more to my curse. Please listen, I'm a monster. My curse turns me into a-"

"What about your curse, Kyo?"

Uo and Kyo whipped around and saw Akito standing a few feet from them in the backyard. His black hair shone in the sun and so did his black suit. His eyes had a hint of mischief and danger, which made him look intimidating.

"Akito." Kyo breathed out."

His lip tugged into a smirk. "Hello Kyo. Hello Arisa Uotani."

Uo felt her blood turn eyes and she heard him say her name. But what she didn't know is... How does he know her? And why is he here?

---------------------------------

Hi guys! I'm sorry I haven't updated in two weeks... :( :'(

I've just been really caught up with highschool and homework and all the usual crap..

I really hope u enjoyed this chapter :D and again I'm sorry for not updating sooner and leaving you all with a ..... CLIFFHANGER! DUN DUN DUN!

Thank you so much for 2.32K reads!! I love you all so much!! Thanks for all the support!!

*throws random food towards the crowd and "accidentally" hits an innocent bystander in the back with a coconut"

"SORRY!" I call out.

HAPPY READING, CHILDREN!

xoxox

-M ヘ(￣ω￣ヘ)