OK! this is Alishmagna, I've revised the story and crammed it all into 5 chapters. There's not really any big differences between this version and the original except for maybe a few added sentences here and there. But for all of you who like long chapters, this is for you.

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Kyou Sohma stood in the kitchen of the house he shared with his cousins ... and her. He was watching her prepare their supper like always. It seemed she was part of that kitchen now, it never seemed quite right without her in it. Thinking back, Kyou realized that nothing seemed quite right without her. She was like the dew that washed away all the filth from his life.

"Should I tell her?" Kyou thought silently. "Does she feel the way I do about her?"

This was something he thought of constantly. He tried to find a way to say the things he had in his heart a hundred times a day but he could never find the words to express this strange feeling.

"Hello Kyou-kun... are you feeling alright today? You seem lost in your thoughts"

Her voice entered his mind suddenly. He was caught of guard and didn't know what to say.

"Kyou?"

"Ummm. What are you planning on sooking for cupper?" He spewed forth before he realized what he was saying.

That familiar look of confusion appeared on her face for a moment. She started to giggle "Well...

I was thinking of making..."

"Dammit! What the hell is wrong with me?" Kyou thought angrily "What are you looking for cupper? Now she thinks I'm a complete Dumbass!"

"...But I need to pick up some chicken, rice..."

"UGH! Say something fast before she thinks you are complete retard."

"Soy sauce, and-"

"I love you!"

"Pickles"

"What? Did she not hear me? AHHHH WHAT DO I DO?" Kyou thought as his head was about to implode.

Giving into his impulses he roughly grabbed Tohru's shoulders and planted a kiss on her half opened mouth.

It was not his first kiss, and he was very sure it was not his greatest. It was awkward and uncomfortable; like kissing a sister. It just felt wrong. He could tell that she felt the same way by her response. She stiffened up and didn't know how to break the kiss without hurting him.

Kyou's mouth left hers almost as suddenly as he placed it there. He saw her face and regretted everything. Her expression was a combination of confusion and surprise.

"I'm sorry!" Kyou yelled.

What was wrong with him? This feeling, it was love; he knew it in the depths of his soul but... what kind of love? Was this sweet feeling mere friendship? No, there was nothing "mere" about their friendship. It was true friendship. She was his first true friend and he ruined it by jumping to conclusions.

"Yuki-kun?" Tohru whispered.

Kyou turned around to see a look of sadness and disbelief in those unforgettable violet eyes.

"Yuki-kun!" She tried to explain but it was too late, he had already ran out the door

Yuki Sohma heard Tohru call his name as he ran from the kitchen. "It's too late" he thought as he entered the forest surrounding the small house.

"You are disgusting! No one will ever want to be around you!"

Akito's words swam through the boy's mind.

"He's right you know" Kyou's voice joined in, "You can never belong with other people. You are Cursed."

"But you are too!" Yuki cried out desperately to someone who wasn't even there.

"You said yourself that I'm different. I can never belong to the Sohmas because of what I am. But she accepts me for who I am. That is something you will never have."

"But Honda-san accepts me too!" Yuki replied in his head.

"Oh really?" Kyou's voice was full of sarcasm and loathing, "Then why was it me in the kitchen with her and not Prince Charming?"

"You're right" he whispered aloud when he realized where his subconscious had led him.

XXXX

"Yuki-kun!" Tohru cried out when she was him run out of the house.

Kyou tried to hold her back and accidentally embraced her. A puff of smoke engulfed the kitchen and left a bewildered girl, a pile of clothes and a small orange cat in its passing.

"AH! Oh my goodness. Kyou-kun! I am so sorry!"

"Stop apologizing!" The cat shouted.

Immediately the girl was silent. Kyou, seeing Tohru's urge to run after the gray haired young man decided to keep the talking to a minimum.

"Go," He said, with a faint head nod to indicated the direction Yuki headed. "I know how you feel about me, and I know how you feel about him. I realized just now that I don't love you the way I thought I did before I uhhh..."

"But Yuki-kun doesn't love me the way I love him..."

"Don't be a fool." Bowing out gracefully seemed like the best thing to do. "At least... you'll be with someone who loves you the way I thought I did."

Tohru placed a small kiss on the cat's forehead and ran out the door. She heard Yuki cry out something and followed after. She ran though those woods swiftly, afraid that she might lose him. Branches sprang out at her from all directions, tearing her clothes and ensnaring themselves in her hair. Finally she caught sight of him and tried to call out but the words died in her throat when she saw where she was.

Akito Sohma stepped out of the Sohma House gate and went to greet the frightened boy. A small exchange of words occurred and Yuki was lead into the ominous building.

XXXX

Yuki looked around at the ominous surroundings. "Why am I here?" He thought as he remembered his childhood imprisonment on these grounds. Suddenly Akito appeared as if he had been expecting him.

"Isn't this a pleasant surprise?" Akito's cold voice echoed through Yuki's mind.

"Akito..."

"Yuki, I think it is time you and I had one of our special talks. I would like to discuss this Tohru Honda of yours."

Immediately Yuki froze, if he didn't comply, Honda-san might be injured because of Akito's temper. But memories from his childhood flooded in and made him hesitate for a moment.

"... Yes."

There really was no contest between the choices. He would rather die than see Honda-san get hurt, especially if it was because of him. He valued her more than life itself and would willingly endure anything Akito could do to him if it meant her safety.

Yuki followed Akito into the house, past the rich paintings and expensive furniture. Yuki's blood ran cold when he realized where Akito was taking him to. It was the little room at the end of the hall. It was the little room where Yuki had faced countless beatings at the hands of Akito.

His pace started to slow and a sadistic smile appeared at the corner of Akito's mouth. "I really have missed your visits Yuki. It would be best if you could find more time for me in the future."

"... I have tried but with student council, and everything going on at school-"

A firm slap silenced Yuki. Terror crept into his violet eyes.

"You know that is not the problem. I am tired of your excuses. I allowed Tohru Honda to stay with you and how do you thank me? By skipping New Years and never coming home!"

Akito's rage was burning hot and Yuki was at the receiving end. He pushed the boy through the door to the room and watched in sick pleasure as Yuki relived everything that had happened there before.

"Please Akito!" Yuki cried as he backed into a corner.

"Please?" He asked incredulously. "How DARE you ask more of me after all I have given to you!"

Akito strolled over to a small table, the only piece of furniture in the room. On the table was a vase and a long willow switch that must have been quite old, it was no longer green and a small layer of dust covered it and the table. Akito grabbed it and held it like a lover.

Akito smiled when he saw Yuki's beautiful face contorted with fear. With a firm shove he sent Yuki to the floor.

"I see how you look at her Yuki," Hearing Akito utter his name sent an icy chill down his spine. "And I see her return your coy glances. This family belongs to me. YOU belong to me Yuki. Nothing happens unless I allow it. If I can't make you see that now then maybe we should invite your Honda-san to your special little room."

"NO!" Yuki was surprise when he heard this word escape his lips. He had never said no to Akito before, but he had never been more afraid, not for himself, but for Tohru.

"No?" Akito's voice was strangely calm and quiet.

Yuki remained silent.

"NO?" Akito's voice could not be controlled anymore. "YOU HAVE THE GALL TO REFUSE ME?"

Akito struck out at Yuki with the willow branch. White hot pain surged through Yuki's body. "What should I do?" Yuki thought as he silently endured each blow. "It is different from before. I was a child then. I am a match for Akito now. But if I strike back what will he do to Tohru when he recovers?"

Yuki's soft blue shirt tore. Faint traces of blood appeared on the branch but Akito continued his rampage.

Yuki could not bring himself to strike his tormenter. He did not wish to try and fathom the horrid things Akito would do to Tohru if he did. Her smiling face flashed before his eyes as the pain overwhelmed him and the darkness swallowed his thoughts.

Seeing that Yuki had passed out, Akito dropped the switch and wiped Yuki's blood off of his hands. He decided he would finish their "talk" when Yuki could feel pain again. Locking the door behind him Akito left the room. He sauntered over to the window where he liked to spend his days. Immediately he saw Tohru Honda searching the grounds for a trace of the handsome young man who now lay unconscious only a few feet away.

Tohru looked up and saw a disturbing smile on Akito's face.

"Hello Tohru-san"

The young woman's skin crawled when she heard Akito say her name. It was soft, but there was something lurking behind those dark eyes of his that made her shudder. Tohru wondered what became of Yuki. She saw him come in here with Akito. True, it did take her a while to work up the nerve to enter the grounds and it took her longer to arrive outside this window. "But Akito wouldn't let Yuki out of his sight if he was on the grounds... so where could he be?" Tohru thought.

"Please come in," Akito implored, "I'm sure you are searching for Yuki."

Fear streaked through her thoughts now. That sarcastic tone in his voice must mean something. That strange fire in his eyes must be a sign. "WHERE IS HE?" A voice screamed in her head.

Tohru remembered something Hatsuharu told her. It was after the day that Akito appeared at their school. Tohru asked why Yuki was so afraid of him.

"Akito has strange feelings for Yuki." Haru explained, "He wants him all for himself. When he was a child, Akito would lock him in a small room and beat him when he did something bad. It was horrible to hear his cries in the night. Sometimes Rin and I would steal away to see him."

He continued to describe the terrors of Yuki's childhood. Tohru was horrified by this tale, but curious for more information she asked, "If Akito didn't want to share Yuki with the rest of the world, then why did he agree to let him live with Shigure-san?"

Haru sighed, this was obviously very painful for him, "Akito was adamant about keeping Yuki at the house, but he finally consented after I... convinced him that it was best for Yuki."

Tohru could tell he was not being completely truthful about the last part but decided not to push it. He was already telling her things Yuki wouldn't want her to know.

Tohru's fear grew when she entered the house. "I have to find Yuki and get him out of here; he might be hurt somewhere." Tohru thought frantically as her eyes scanned the house for a sign of Yuki.

Akito repeated, "Please come inside."

His voice said more than his words. It was threatening and dangerous.

Tohru complied and entered the house. She knew Yuki was inside.

"Sit."

Tohru kneeled down on the soft tatami floor. She watched as Akito took a seat directly in front of her.

"I'm quite sure you are looking for Yuki here, and I would like to let you know that he will not be returning to Shigure's house."

"What?" Tohru could not comprehend this information. "Why!" Not living with Yuki would be unbearable. She prayed Akito was lying.

"He simply does not wish to be around you anymore." He stated coldly.

"Could he be telling the truth?" Tohru thought. "Did Yuki misunderstand that kiss?"

"Can't I just speak with him?" She pleaded. "Kyou's kiss didn't mean anything. I..."

"Now that is interesting. The cat must have finally confessed his feelings for her and before my Yuki had a chance. And then he saw them kissing." Elated, Akito thought, "I can use this and get Tohru Honda out of Yuki's life forever."

"I'm sorry Tohru-san, but Yuki does not wish to converse with anyone right now especially you."

"Please Akito!" Tohru exclaimed.

Instantly Akito remembered Yuki, who said the exact same thing less than an hour ago. His wrath flamed up quick. He rose to his feet and stared down at her.

"I have given you a year of Yuki's life and still you ask for more! I can't stand you and your happiness. I will not allow Yuki to be happy without me. He belongs to me and he will do what I command him to do."

"But I need him!" Tohru shouted. It was the first time she had ever said these words aloud. Instantly she realized it was true. She needed Yuki; she could no longer start her day without him.

Akito was eerily quiet. Tohru saw him make a tight fist. He was shaking. A small trail of blood oozed from where he dug his nails into his skin. Suddenly, Akito grabbed her by the hair and began to drag her down the hallway toward a door.

"You NEED him!" Akito shouted mockingly. "You LOVE him! You don't deserve him! You will never be good enough for him you selfish bitch!"

Tohru desperately tried to escape but his grip was like iron.

"You two DESERVE each other!" Akito screamed as he threw her into the room where Yuki lay, silent and motionless.

"Yuki! Are you okay?" Tohru asked as soon as she laid eyes on the man.

Yuki's mind slowly came into focus. He heard the door behind him and froze as he heard Akito yell.

"Yuki will never go against me! You have better say Goodbye now because this will be your last chance!"

Yuki heard the door slam and lock. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Tohru's touch instantly relived his fear. Yuki rolled over to gaze upon the face that so often filled his dreams. He saw the worry in her eyes and felt more loved in that one instant than he had in his entire life.

"Toh- Honda-san." Yuki whispered. "What are you doing here? I thought… you and that cat…"

"Kyou-kun? I don't know what you're talking about?" That familiar confused look appeared on her face.

"Well, I thought that you wouldn't come after me," Yuki started, embarrassed, "Now that you have him for a boyfriend and everything…"

"Ah! I'm sorry Yuki-kun! I tried to explain to you but you ran off so quickly. Kyou-kun kissed me; I didn't know he would do it. It didn't mean anything to me. Yuki-kun…" Tohru did not have the words to express how much he meant to her. She looked at his wounds and placed her hand on his chest. She looked into the endless purple of his eyes and hoped he understood what she was trying to say.

"Then, you aren't in love with Kyou?" he asked hesitantly.

Tohru smiled. There was room for only one love in her life, and all of this helped her realize it. Instead of words, she softly pressed her lips against his. She saw Yuki's eyes grow with surprise. She quickly pulled away, afraid of what it would mean if Yuki pulled away first.

Yuki was speechless. Many times he had dreamed about her lips on his but he never knew how sweet it could really be. His euphoria was uncontrollable.

"I love you... Tohru." It was such a relief to finally say it.

He reached out and touched her face tenderly. He drew it towards him and kissed her more intensely than before. She responded enthusiastically. She passionately grabbed Yuki's side. Immediately he stiffened up. Tohru sensed this change and broke the embrace. With a quick examination she noticed that his hand was covered with blood.