I sat on the train, my head leaning against the cool glass. I knew my brother was definitely going to be mad this time. I had delayed my return for as long as possible, until I had run out of medicine completely. I knew that I shouldn't have just gone away, but I found it so hard to cope with the restraint put upon me by my family, I just needed space. And at least I was returning, I could have simply stayed, but that would have been a suicide attempt for me, I would have killed myself, without my medicine.

I had been n Paris, for nearly 4 months, and I was enjoying myself. I had been staying in an apartment with some fellow artists and musicians, and had been living the high life. I had tried writing, but I didn't know what to say. He didn't even know I was returning, none of them did.

The train reached my stop, and as I climbed off, pulling my bag behind me, I suddenly felt dizzy. I sat down, in the middle of the platform, regaining my balance. I needed some medicine, and fast. The quicker I got home, the better.

I walked down a small street, lined with houses, and entered into the grounds of a large house. All this land was owned by my family, the Sohma's, and it felt good to be home. I walked past the house of Hatori, my close friend, distant cousin, and doctor. I must see him later. I walked past the front entrance to my house, and slid between my house and Hatori's, and into my house through the back entrance. I left my suitcase in one of the rooms, and went to one of the doors. This one lead into my brother's home. He lived in the biggest house, as he was head of the Sohma family.

I entered into a dark room, and saw him sitting in the corner. I bowed low, out of respect, even though he was younger than me. "Akito," I began tentatively, "I have returned."

"You should never have run away."

"I am sorry, Akito-san…"

"You must be punished."

I looked up defiantly, I didn't like conflict. "Must I be punished, cannot you just berate me, and let it lie? Have I really done something so terrible and wrong? I'm 25, for shit's sake, can't you let me live like any other person?"

"You're not like any other person. You're ill, and, well, you know. And you cannot just disrespect my wishes like that. It is rude, and I will not tolerate it." He was standing by now. "You will be punished, Kuroumo. It is your own fault. You must not run away."

I too stood up. "Why not? Why can't I have my freedom? If only you knew what it was like. If only you kn…" I couldn't finish. Akito struck me, and I went flying across the room, and didn't hit the wall. I hit the window, and went flying out, landing on the hard ground outside, unconscious.

Hatori came running out of his house, hearing the shattering glass, and the sound of my limp body hitting the floor. He looked at Akito. "What happened?"

"She was rude, and so I punished her. Take her away, I do not wish to see her."

Hatori lifted me up into his arms, and took me into his house. He laid me down on one of the couches, and made a phone-call. "Shigure…its Hatori…Yes, I know you were just here…Ku has returned…she is injured…out of the window…yes…I'm bringing her over now…yes… I'll be there in about 20 minutes."

Hatori lifted me gently into his car, laying me on the back seat. He strode around to the driver's side, and opened the door, smoothing down his jacket as he climbed in. He placed the keys in the ignition and slowly turned the car onto the road, driving calmly to Shigure-san's house. He climbed out of the car, and lifted me out, as I was still unconscious, and by now bleeding, due to the glass my belly had scraped against as I went through the window.

He walked up to the front door, and knocked urgently. A tall boy, about 15, with grey hair, and purple eyes, answered the door. "Yuki," Hatori greeted him.

"Bring her in quickly, she looks like she's in a bad way," yuki had no greeting in return, shocked at the way I looked.

Hatori carried me into the front room, and laid me on the bed that had already been laid out for me. He had sent Yuki out for his doctor's bag, and as Yuki returned, he was checking for a pulse.

"How is she?" a tall young man entered the room, "will she be ok? Can you make her better, this time?"

"She should be fine. I just need to patch up these wounds, and she'll recover as soon as you or I know it. She may be ill, but she's still very strong. You know that."

Hatori continued to care for me, as the other young man left the room. He walked into the kitchen, and right into a young girl, or rather, she walked into him. "Oh, I'm so sorry Shigure-san, I, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry."

"Don't worry Honda-san…you didn't hurt me…I should have looked where I was going," he smiled kindly, "ignore what's going on in the living room," and he walked off, leaving Hatori to it.

Tohru Honda wandered cautiously into the living room, and saw Hatori, the man she had only recently met, leaning over someone's body. Thinking it to be Yuki, or another friend, Kyo, she gasped, and ran over. "Don't worry," Hatori said, "It isn't Yuki, or Kyo. She is another Sohma. Miss Honda, I would like you to meet Kuroumo Sohma."

I slowly opened my eyes, hearing Hatori's voice. "Bonjour," I said weakly, speaking French, confused at my surroundings.

"No, Ku, you are home now. You have been injured, remember? And this is Tohru Honda, a new family friend," Hatori spoke kindly.

"I am please to meet you, Kuroumo-san."

"And I you, Miss. Tohru Honda. But please, call me Ku, everyone else does."

At that moment a tall ginger haired boy entered, muttering under his breath. Kyo Sohma was once again angry at some wrong against him, obviously by Yuki. "Kyo," I smile wanly, guessing that I must be at Shigure's home. "I am pleased to see you again."

Kyo looked taken aback, "Kuro, is that you? What the hell are you doing here? I though you'd gone?"

"Like you, you mean? You can't get rid of me that easily."

I smiled again, feeling my strength slowly returning. As it did, so did the memories of what had happened. The window, Akito. "Where is Shigure?" I asked, "does he not want to see me? Have I angered him?"

"In what way could you have angered me, ma petite ange? Je pense tu dois rester ici. Don't you agree?"

"Yes," I smiled, glad that I had returned to my family, even if I was injured.