Putting the out the laundry was probably the highlight of Tohru Honda-kun's day. She adored watching the birds flying around the massive Sohma estate, and the beautiful sunlight lighting up every bit of the beautiful back garden she shared with the Sohma family.

Well… not all the Sohma family…

"I wonder when I will meet Rooster-san," she thought happily to herself, thinking of all the other Juunishi she had met.

"Rabbit-san, cat-san, Horse-san, Ox-san…Rat-san." She smiled, hooking the last bit of washing onto the washing line.

"Tohru."

Tohru jumped, her eyes wide.

"Y-y-yes?" She stammered.

"You shouldn't space out like that. Especially not in this estate. You could get hurt, you know?" Kyo Sohma was sat on the wall beside her, watching her curiously with his cat like eyes.

"Besides…" he thought worriedly. "I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt."

"Y-y-yes, Kyo-kun! I'm so sorry! I promise I will try and be more assertive from now on!" She pursed her face into a look of pure concentration.

"Look, you…" He started, taking hold of her arm.

"Yes?" She looked up at him, smiling.

"…Just… please… be careful, Tohru. I mean it." He smiled softly. "You're hopeless… you know that?"

As he walked off, Tohru watched the back of him until he disappeared into Shigure-sensei's house.

"I don't know… what he's trying to tell me…" She whispered to herself, before turning round to pick up the washing basket, and then started walking back towards the house.

"Kureno. Kureno! I bid for you. Come to me immediately."

"Yes, Akito-san?"

"I wish… for you… to, once again…" Akito looked up at Kureno from his position on the window ledge.

"To meet… Tohru Honda."

"Well… but why, Akito-san?" Kureno looked down at Akito's shrunken form with hatred in his eyes.

"Do not ask questions, Kureno. I wish for it, therefore it shall be done. Besides…" He stood up, smiling gently.

"I am god. And I… above everyone else…"

Kureno's eyes widened as Akito lay his hand on his cheek.

"I… love you, Kureno…"

Kureno sighed silently, fearing what Akito was about to say.

"And that means… that you must stay with me… and never, ever, leave me… not like Yuki did… for that… for that WITCH, Tohru Honda."

"I will never leave you, Akito-san."

"Good." Akito took his hand off Kureno's cheek, with a satisfied smile.

"But I must still test your loyalty to me. As I do with all the Juunishi. You will meet Tohru Honda at my bidding. I do not wish to speak with you anymore."

"But, Akito-san…" He started, faltering.

"How can someone so beautifully handsome… be capable of such evil?" He gazed in fear into Akito's sunken green eyes.

"You are dismissed, Kureno. Go. GO!" Akito swung his fist at Kureno, hitting him squarely on the jaw.

"Argh…" Kureno staggered backwards, nearly falling over a stool in the middle of the floor.

"That… that'll teach you. Now go. You will return on my request." Akito turned and continued to watch the birds out of the window. He could just see an outline of Shigure's house in the distance.

"Shigure…grr…" he fumed silently.

"How dare he bring such a person into this family… my kingdom… how dare he…I am god… not him…"

"Kureno." He said loudly, without turning round. "Kureno, I need you for a moment."

"Yes, Akito-san?" Kureno stepped back into the great, empty hall in which Akito lived, with only a few pictures for company.

"Call Hatori. I am developing a headache."

"You're in luck, Akito-san, he has just arrived." Kureno backed out of the door, and took off running down the long corridor, brushing past Shigure as he walked towards Akito's room.

"Good. He's… frightened." Akito smiled manically.

"Hatori-san…come to me, Hatori-san." He cried out feebly.

"My dear Akito-san, how are you today?"

"You're not Hatori!" He screamed unhappily, stepping down from his window ledge.

"Shigure. What do you want?"

"Nothing special, my dear Akito-san." Shigure swept over to Akito, his brown Kimono billowing behind him.

"I just wish to bid you…"

He leaned down and took hold of Akito's chin.

"…Hello."