They never talked about it, but he knew that she knew. It was a shadow that loomed in the back of his mind, never forgotten for long. So he did his best to act like his normal self, and tried so hard not to fall even more in love with her. Days past in a blur, some of the happiest moments he could remember, despite that grim shadow that haunted him.

Then Akito called him, the night before graduation.

"I have heard a disturbing rumor, dear Kyo. That you might rebel against me. We cant have that. So I'm am going to give you a warning. Come along quietly, or you wont like what I will do. Especially to her. I gave my approval before, but that could always change. I could even force her out on the street if I chose."

The cold emotionless tone caused terror to twist painfully in his gut. It had hurt him more than he had though possible when Akito had scratched her face that terrible night. He couldn't bear to even think of what it would be like if Akito focused his full cruelty on her.

Please, ANYTHING but that!

"Wait! I wont fight, I wont ever try to leave, nothing. Just let her stay at Sigure's. Don't mess up her life." It took every ounce of will power to keep his voice from shaking. He already knew that he couldn't let Akito realize how he truly felt about Tohru.

"Hmmm. I am not certain that is good enough, Kyo. You almost sound like you are trying to tell me what to do. I will make you an offer. For every day that you remain confined, never argue with me, never try to leave, never interact with the outside world, and do everything I say, I will let her stay there. Be ready. Tomorrow. I will be waiting." With that, the Head of the Sohma family hung up, leaving Kyo listening with dread to the faint dial tone. Slowly he set the handset down, dimly noticing that his hand was shaking.

You knew this was coming. You got to spend the last days of freedom at her side. It is better this way. He scolded himself, trying to ignore the heavy weight that was crushing his heart. Shaking his head slowly, he felt a mocking smile twist his lips. I was never worthy of her anyway. Not after what I did to her. Not after what he had let happen, to her and her mother. Gritting his teeth, he picked up the phone and made one last call before walking slowly back to the kitchen where cheerful voices filled the room.

"Where have you been, you stupid cat? You are lucky Tohru-san saved you some dinner." That blasted Rat taunted him when he walked through the door. For a moment he felt the familiar anger burn away the shadows consuming him and let his old habits help him hide his pain as he launched himself at his old rival. The sight of Tohru laughing was all support he needed to keep up the facade. He would have to hurt her again soon enough, but for tonight, everything was ok.

The next day...

They were walking home as a group, even the Yankee and the Wave girl, their diplomas tucked away in the protective tubes that each of them carried. Momiji was teasing Tohru while her two friends laughed and Kyo watched them walk ahead of him with a sad smile.

"Kyo." He stiffened when Yuki spoke his name softly, deliberately trying not to draw the others attention.

"What is it, Rat?" He growled half heartedly, refusing to look at his cousin and rival.

"What is bothering you? Tohru-san is worried, she told me that you have been acting odd all day. And I agree with her." Yuki murmured, keeping his voice low. Kyo saw Hanajima glance back at them but no one else seemed to notice that they were lagging behind. The cat cursed under his breath, his heart squeezing in his chest. He should have known that they would notice, that she would notice. She couldn't help worrying about all of them, it was her nature.

"Its nothing, Yuki. Tell her not to worry." Kyo assured him, while deep inside he knew Yuki wouldn't have the chance to tell her before it was too late. They turned the corner to Sigure's house, and his fears were confirmed at the sight of a slick black SUV parked in front. A small part of him panicked, but he knew he couldn't run. He would protect her, even if he had lost that right on that terrible day years ago.

"Who?" Yuki muttered, his grey eyes narrowing as he stared at the car. Ignoring him, Kyo followed the others as they walked around the car to the walk way.

"There you are, finally!" Kyo's heart dropped into his shoes at the sight of Master walking towards them, a proud grin on his face. He should have known that he would be here for the celebration dinner Sigure and the others had planned. He had hoped to spare him what was coming. Especially because Master would not just stand by and watch him go. His gut clenched at the sound of the car doors opening behind him and he turned to see Akito's best Bodyguards step out. The Head was not far behind his men, a smug twisted smile on his lips.

"I was getting tired of waiting, Kyo." The cat shivered at the thinly veiled venom in the man's voice. Swallowing hard, he refused to look at the confusion and fear on the other's faces as he bowed his head to the man.

"I am sorry, Akito." There was a stunned silence before Akito chuckled evilly, his black eyes gleaming with smug pleasure.

"You are serious about this, aren't you, monster? Good!" He waved his Guards forward and Kyo forced himself not to fight as two of them grabbed his arms, forcing him to his knees. The rest blocked his friends from getting close as they rushed forward, demanding answers. Akito ignored all of them, turning around and strolling back to the car, the Guards dragging him along behind.

"WAIT! Kyo, what is this?" He flinched at Tohru's frantic question and Akito paused glancing over his shoulder at the cat with a slight smile.

"Go ahead, Monster. Tell her." Kyo clenched his jaw and glared at the ground.

"She already knows, Akito. You were the one that told her about it, after all." He growled, wincing as the Guard's hands tightened on his shoulders warningly. He heard Tohru suck in a breath in horror and couldn't stop himself from glancing at her. She was staring at him with horrified wide eyes, those beautiful orbs filled with tears.

"Akito, I thought you had agreed to rethink this corse of action!" Kyo squeezed his eyes shut at his Masters vehement cry, wincing at Akito's pleased laugh.

"I said that I would rethink it. I never said I would change my mind. Every cat has been confined, you know that better than anyone. It is now Kyo's turn." The Head of the Sohma's stated gleefully. Kyo glanced up to see confusion and anger on Yuki's face and realized that the Rat hadn't known. Which meant none of the younger Zodiac knew what was happening.

"Oh, Yuki, don't give me that look! Didn't you know why Kyo was trying so hard to beat you? I promised him that he could return to the Zodiac if he bested you, but if he couldn't, he would be confined. Pathetic, isn't it?" Akito laughed and Kyo hung his head in shame, refusing to look up again. This was hard enough without Akito gloating.

"I wont let you lock him away like you did my grandfather, Akito!" Kyo's heart skipped a beat at his Master's yell and nearly lurched to his feet before he caught himself.

"Master, Don't!" He screamed, watching in horror as the Guards slammed the martial artist to the ground, keeping him there only with the extreme effort of three seperate guards. The others hesitated in their rush forward when they saw how easily their teacher was taken down. Akito smiled at them for a moment, deciding that his point had been made and stepped up into the car, Kyo's Guards dragging him forward.

"Kyo, wait. Why didn't you say something? Why didn't you let me help you?" Tohru demanded, and his heart ached at the sight of tears streaming down her cheeks. Forcing himself to look away, he ground out the one thing he had kept hidden from her.

"I lost any right to ask you for help the day I let your mother die because I was too freaking scared of revealing the curse to pull her out of the way. I let her die, and this is part of my punishment. I am the cat, the one who is rejected, the fool. I had more happiness than i deserved this last year. So let me go." She lurched away from him, hurt filling her eyes. Satisfied that she wouldn't interfere, the Guards dragged him to the car and threw him inside, kicking him out of the way so that they could get in. Curled around the pain in his stomach, he forced himself not to strain for one last glimpse of the girl that he had no right to love, the father he had no right to have, and the friends that he had left behind. Closing his eyes, he held back the tears that tried to escape, biting back a cry when one of the guards kicked him, his face still a stony mask.

Goodbye, Tohru. I love you.