Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
In answer to a challenge for a Momiji/Kisa fanfic, I have written this piece. ^^ I believe the full challenge was Momiji comforting Kisa after a nightmare. This part is told from Momiji's POV.

Part One - Hidden in the Shadows

I'm trying to figure out why I can't sleep.

I'm naturally hyper. It's all part of the being a member of the cursed jyuunishi. More specifically by being cursed by the Rabbit. But even though I have an endless reserve of energy, I still manage to get a good night's sleep.

My day had been rather normal. Woke up, ate breakfast, went to school, came home, ate dinner, worked on my homework and played a little violin. I'm sorely out of practice these days. I was doing well for some long, but then left it aside to handle other matters in my life.

Perhaps it's because my twentieth birthday is tomorrow. Actually, I guess I'm already twenty seeing as it's past midnight. But if I wanted to be technical there would be another nine hours, forty-three minutes and...fifteen seconds. That's pretty technical, wouldn't you agree?

I'm certain there's no special event planned here at the Honke. Tohru is planning a party at her new apartment, but it's only going to be her and a few of my cousins. My family...or rather, my parents and my sister, are on vacation in America. I'm disheartened that they can't be near for my birthday, but I do hope they're having a good time in America. Papa has promised some nice souvenirs.

It's not a bad thing turning 20. I'll no longer be a teenager, but then I haven't felt like a teenager in...well...years. Actually if I stop to think about it, I've never felt like a teenager. I went from raging pre-teen to young adult in the matter of a year. Maybe less.

Between my second year of high school and my last, I'd gone through some major changes. I no longer wore the girl's version of the school uniform. I suddenly felt no need to. The need to be more practical, more logical, outweighed the need to be cute. I still had my moments, I know, but it was like I'd outgrown that part of my life.

I grew my hair a little longer and I grew almost a foot. The inches I put on practically overnight. Perhaps I outgrew my cuteness simply because the clothes no longer fit, but it's more than that. The urge to grow my hair surprised most of my family and it took some getting used to. But after a few of my fellow classmates complimented me on the new style, I decided to keep it. Maybe I'll grow it to Ayame's length. I always wondered what it would be like to have long hair.

Then again, maybe not.

It gets in my way most of the time as it is now, and it hasn't even grown to my shoulders yet. It takes longer to comb and much longer to dry after a bath. I hate having to pull it back all of the time to keep it out of my eyes when playing the violin but wearing it down also gets old.

Perhaps I'll go get it trimmed tomorrow as a birthday present to me.

Still, none of this explains why I'm walking around the grounds of the Honke at two in the morning.

I've been giving my life a great deal of thought lately. For two reasons. The first is that I'm half way through college. While I'm enjoying my international business studies, I also find myself enjoying other, lighter subjects, such as history and writing. I love writing. I will never be a novelist like Shigure, but I find that it gives me a freedom to express myself I never realized it would. But Papa would kill me if I changed my major now.

The second is because...well I'm getting older. That in and of itself is a big deal. I'm not seeing anyone and quite honestly that doesn't bother me. I almost prefer it that way. Funny, ne? I'm the most jovial and sociable of the zodiac and yet, I don't want a relationship.

Well, that's not entirely true. I do want a relationship, but I'm afraid. Afraid of what the others will think. Afraid of what HE will think.

I suppose that Tohru and Shigure's upcoming wedding isn't helping either.

Actually that would be three reasons, ne? Gomen nasai.

I'm very happy for them although I must admit it's a surprise. It's clear that Hari and Aya knew about the relationship. It must've been going on for at least a few months. Yuki and Kyo took it relatively well, although Yuki really hasn't been the same since. He's buried himself in his studies at school. I wonder if he'll attend the wedding. I hope so, for Tohru's sake. She feels badly for not having told him outright.

Apparently my cousin found out the truth the HARD way.

In some ways I envy him. He was in love with Tohru. May even still be in love with her. I'm not sure if that feeling ever truly goes away. I've never been in love with someone so I don't know for certain.

I want to love somebody.

I want somebody to love me.

To want me.

To need me.

Oh well, perhaps it is time I went back to my room and tried to sleep again.

I turn in place and make an immediate 180 then stop, my ears twitching. Someone's crying nearby. I would've mistaken the noise for an animal had my senses not been keen enough. Maybe I was mistaken and it was an animal. In either case, it needed help and I had nothing better to do.

Listening carefully I make my way around Hatori's house and past the rock garden until I come to a small garden of flowers. Lilies, daisies and roses. I can picture them as clearly as I can smell each and every one.

The noise is getting louder as I approach one of the large oak trees on the estate itself. I circle the trunk twice, not seeing anyone or anything. There's a rustling of leaves that draw my attention upward. Searching through the darkness with my senses of hearing and smell, I know someone is sitting on one of the lower branches of the tree. Squinting I can make out a form in the shadows. Whoever it is, it doesn't want to be seen.

Leaning against the tree trunk, I fold my arms over my chest. Closing my eyes and bowing my head I say to the shadows, "Crying in a tree is dangerous. You could fall and hurt yourself."

I hear a gasp, followed by a loud sob. I've surprised whoever's in the tree. There's a moment of silence and another, muffled sob. They don't say anything, which is fine. I can tell by the sobbing that it's a female. My brain quickly plays elimination. There's really only one person it can logically be.

Sighing, I keep myself against the tree trunk. I don't want to upset her. I want her to talk to me. She's been through so much in her young life. Her friends at school used to pick on her mercilessly. Her mother coddles her, smothering her to death. I'm pretty sure if it weren't for Tohru, and to some extent, Hiro, that my little cousin would not be here today.

And that thought saddens me greatly.

"Kisa-chan, if you want to talk, I'll listen."

~TO BE CONTINUED~