Hey, sorry for the absence but my computer was being mean to me and died. I've only just managed to get it to turn back on and I promptly came here to update. So here you go, enjoy~! Update: Sorry for taking so long! I'll get the newest chapter up soon, I swear!
~~P.O.V. Kyo Sohma~~
Kyo lies on the roof not an hour after his talk with Yuki, thinking over all they'd talked about. He was completely baffled at how civil they'd been with each other. He just couldn't get over the fact that they'd talked about something other than fighting or beating each other up. But it felt nice, not to just fight the Keso Nezumi for once. He actually learned that the Nezumi had something hidden in his eyes, some secret he was hiding. It was something he'd never had noticed had they been fighting.
But that's not all that bugged him. What also bugged him was the fact that Nezumi seemed to be protective over the rat girl. All throughout their chat, whenever Nezumi talked of her, he heard the protective tone in his voice. Ah, it must be because that girl was raised like a rat and can talk to him in that rat talk. He wasn't fond of it, and he knew that it was starting to Piss. Him. off.
~~P.O.V. Shai Avel~~
It's been a few hours since she'd last seen the cat, and she still sat at the graves of her kin. She still couldn't figure out why he'd stared at her. Why? It's true she will consider him her friend, but she wouldn't stare at him like he had to her. She's still unsure why she'd let the cat come see her kin's resting place, but she knew that she felt better, knowing that someone besides Yuki-san knew about them.
Standing, she bows her head to the graves and turns to go. She should just forget about it. It's probably another human custom she has yet to learn about.
She stops. Not any where's close to 'home' but not exactly near the graves of her kin either. She swore that she saw something moving in the shadows. But looking now, nothing was there. She strained her ears to listen for the slightest sound, one that was not common of the forest. Eyes focused straight ahead, she watches in her peripheral vision for movement, knowing that whatever was there wouldn't move knowing she was looking around, or at, them.
After around an hour of standing there like that, she shakes her head, thinking it really was her imagination , and continues the trek 'home'. Only to have a cloth shoved against her face and an arm wrapped tight around her chest, restricting arm movement. In seconds, she remembered her legs and swung., detaching her would be kidnapper, only to stumble and fall to her knees. She didn't understand, why did she feel so weak? What was causing this? Why? She cast her thoughts back, trying to figure it out as she fell onto her side and conciseness was leaving her. She couldn't think straight, could barely think of her name before she passed out.
~~P.O.V. Third person~~
"Damn girl, nearly broke my leg!" The kidnapper, a male as it so happens, curses, rubbing his knee where Shai's foot had connected. his head turns to the girl and he sighs. "'Least she's out cold now." He says with relief as another person, this one female, comes out into the open.
"Good, the boss'll like her." The woman grins, going right to Shai's side and grabbing her chin, turning her head so she could look at Shai's face. "Yes, a pretty face means a pretty body underneath all those baggy clothes." With a chuckle, she let's go of her face and stands straight. "Antony, bring her to the car. Boss'll want her quick, and perhaps he'll hold her for ransom?" The woman shrugs as the man, named Antony, stands up and tests his knee. he nods with satisfaction and turns to Shai, picking her up as easily as a piece of paper and tosses her onto his shoulder. With the woman ahead of him, they go to the van parked out of sight and he tosses her into the back, climbing in and tying her up so escape would be futile. At his signal, she started the van and drove off, Antony climbing into the passenger seat and acting like a kidnapping hadn't just occurred.
~~P.O.V. Yuki Sohma~~
It's been a while, where could Miss. Avel be? She never missed a meal, but if she doesn't return now then she will. He looks around the table, listening to the squeaks of the rats all around, none talked of her. With a small, barely audible sigh, he looks down at the table, only to look at the door. One of the rat's had just mentioned a girl near the graves of their kin. He swiftly stands. "Miss Honda. I'm afraid I'm not hungry tonight." Tohru looks up at him and smiles, and he smiles back to her his small smile, then turns and walks away, not wanting to worry the others by running off. once he had walked a good distance away, he runs quick as he can to the graves of Shai's kin.
It took him over an hour before he got there, having to stop a couple of times to catch his breath so his asthma wouldn't act up. Once he'd reached the grave site, he called for the rat that had talked about Shai, kneeling so it would be easier for him to talk and catch his breath fully.
"Tell me about the girl who was here." He ordered, not really in the mood to be polite. he was really worried and wanted to be sure Miss. Avel was fine. As ordered the rat told him about what he saw, explaining that he'd followed the girl and saw the kidnapping, how he also didn't think to much of it and went on his way. Yuki's aura went dark when he heard that she'd been kidnapped. "Bastards, they'll pay for this." He muttered with dark promise, standing up. All the rats that were near him scurried away in fear. Yuki looks around, and spots a wolf nearby. The wolf was cowering slightly at his dark aura, and Yuki took a few deep breaths to calm himself. He remembers, 'those whose minds are clouded will fail in their quests' and does not wish to fail. He cannot afford to, Miss. Avel is in need of him. He opens his eyes, his aura no longer dark and menacing...for now. He turns to the wolf, who by now was able to catch Yuki's scent and was sitting, waiting for him to be calm again. Yuki approaches it.
"Go to Shigure and tell him that Miss. Avel was kidnapped, and that I am going after her." Nodding like it understood him, which in fact it did, the wolf turns and lopes off to the house to tell Shigure. He deduces that Shigure will tell the others and Tohru will start fretting, Kyo would growl and stomp after him. Shigure will stay in case Shai escapes and comes back, not one to get directly involved. Hatsaharu will definitely come to help him, not wanting to leave "his love" -he definitely did not like that- to face whatever dangers alone.
He chuckles, and turns to follow the trail. According to the rat that informed him, they went through the forest. Alright, that's a good starting point. With a small, unseen smile, he walks to the nearest tree and pulls down three branches, then lays them in the shape of an arrow, showing which way he'd gone.
~~P.O.V. Third Person~~
Shai wakes in a dark room, the air damp. Everything was fuzzy, and she couldn't focus on anything. Words escaped her, and hearing failed her as someone walked to her side and nudged her. That got her more alert and she struggled to roll away. Her senses sharpened and the cloudiness in her head dissipates. She looks up and growls in warning at the female who reeked of danger. The female laughs. "A feisty one you are! I wonder how long you'll struggle to fight us knowing what the Boss has in store for you~" The woman purrs, grabbing Shai's jaw roughly and pulling her up so that she'd have no choice but to stand or break her neck. "You're a very pretty young girl, and you'll be a very good bargaining chip." Shai yanks her jaws away and bites her hand, hard enough that blood rushes out. Cursing, the woman yanks her hand away and backs off, holding her hand close to her chest. "Damn bitch!" With that, she raises her other hand, knowing that young girls like her don't fight once they're struck one time.
To The woman's surprise, Shai had ducked and launched at her, ramming into her stomach and knocking the wind out of her. She didn't understand at first, then realized, this girl is a fighter, and a skilled one at that. She snarls and shoves Shai away. Shai stumbles back a few steps and falls into fighting position, the ropes knotted around her wrists keeping her hands out of the fight, but still knowing how to fight without them. Her teacher taught her well, despite being a completely different species than her.
~~Switch to Shai Avel's P.O.V.~~
She keeps her eye on the female, working at the ropes on her wrists, trying to free them. She has to get away, she can't stay, Yuki and the others will worry... she blinks. Why should she be worried what they'll think, though. She's new, and not close to them...besides Yuki. She know's they like her, but they shouldn't fret with her suddenly gone. She mentally slaps her self and returns her attention to the female, who now has a male next to her. She immediately recognizes the male as the one who took her, having only gotten a glimpse but knows it is him by his scent. Alcohol, it makes her nose scrunch up in distaste. A rumble sounds low in her throat, dangerous to all who could recognize her anger.
"Why kidnap me?!" She demands, her voice sounding very dangerous and ticked to her. She see's them flinch at her anger, then the female sneers, recovering quickly.
"The boss wanted us to. So now you're the property of the boss." As she said that a male walks into the room. He wore no shirt, though she didn't doubt that shirts might not fit him, considering his size. He was huge! And not in the fat way, but more like the muscular way. It frightened her a little, and she backs away, noting too late that she was up against the wall. Instinct was kicking in now, fight or flight, and boy is her will to fight strong.
"You are the one they brought?" The man says, looking her up and down, as thought studying her. She nods and spits at their feet.
"Yes, against my will." She glares and inconspicuously feels for a sharp object on the wall, hoping for anything. She steps lightly, keeping her gaze on the three to make them believe she was only worried for her own well being and not trying to untie her hands. She finds nothing on the wall, and nearly droops with disappointment, but does not and resumes trying to get the rope off. All the while she'd been ignoring what they said. Not hearing the fact that she is just a bargaining chip to get to the Sohmas and a toy for him to use until she's recovered and the bargain payed.
It's only when she succeeds in freeing her wrists, that the shirtless male comes at her. She snarls, baring her teeth at him in the universal 'stay back!' He stops and raises his hands, obviously humoring her. She brings her hands in front of her, ready for a fight, only to stiffen in surprise. She'd heard Yuki, and he was right outside. To close. What if this male hurts him? She had to get his attention, distract these three so she could escape! But before she could, someone charged into the room and jumped onto shirtless man, fists flying and curses being shouted. She blinks with incomprehension, then realizes that that someone is the cat. Kyo came to get her too?! She couldn't believe it, couldn't understand why they actually did care this much for her. Shouldn't they be glad that she's out of their hair? She shakes her head and focuses again, cursing herself for getting distracted, and tackles the woman. She hears yells and thumps, but doesn't think much of it, having the knowledge that Kyo is a very skilled fighter. She's worried for Yuki though, what with his asthma and this cold weather. She can't focus on that though, she has to focus on defeating this female.
Her foot connected with her leg, a crack. She knows that woman's leg is broken, unable to be used. They go down, Shai having been dragged. They roll around on the floor, fists flying and teeth bared. Shai puts hers to use, used to doing what it takes to survive. She latches onto the woman's throat. Screams fill the air. Fright, she's frightened for her life. She doesn't want to die. She snarls, nails dig into her skin, trying to get her to let go. She doesn't. Then fingers and pushing on the hinge of her jaw, forcing her mouth open and consequently making her let go of the woman's throat. She's yanked backwards, and the woman scrambles away, coughing and shaking with pure and utter fear. She sees the cat in move in front of the woman, keeping her from getting to her.
Her mind's in turmoil. Can't make coherent thoughts. Fight, fight, fight, FIGHT! It's all she can think, all she can feel.
Words. She can't comprehend them. Unknown. Fight! Being held back. Thrashing, trying to break free. Not strong enough. Never strong enough. Fear. Fear takes over. Too weak to fight, too weak to resist. Fear, fear, fear, FEAR! Have to get away. Thrashes, tries to kick. Unsuccessful. Yanks, trying to free her arms. No such luck. Restraint, tight hold, too strong.
"SHAI! CALM DOWN NOW!" She blinks. Yuki? Why is he yelling, he never yells. She stops thrashing, just barely calming down. "Shai, it's Yuki, remember? Calm down, I won't hurt you. You're safe now." Safe? She hasn't felt like that in forever. But now that she's calming down, she realizes that it is Yuki who restrains her. Confusion washes over her senses, her gaze wandering the room, which is in shambles. Did she do that? "Shai, look at me." She obeys, looking up at Yuki, who no doubt sees her confusion.
"Yuki..? What happened?"She's not fond of letting others know how she feels, but right now, she just doesn't care.
"You lost control and destroyed the room. You nearly killed her." He replies calmly, hoping to keep her calm. She doesn't let herself lose control again, keeping calm by reciting the human words in her mind. Her subconscious is working faster at interpreting the human tongue, and she understands.
"I...did...?" She questions, and looks around again, fear coming back. "I did...this?" She can't understand. Panic, she did all this? She couldn't of, not that strong! Panic, panic-
"Shai, you need to just calm down, got it?" Kyo, the cat, he's in front of her. She looks up at him, he's looking down at her with an unflinching gaze. Her gaze hardens. Her normal self comes back. Pulling out of Yuki's grasp, she crosses her arms and defiantly stares back at him. A couple minutes pass, in which neither back down. Then Yuki gets involved.
"Perhaps you can stare each other down another time? Right now the cops are on their way. I have already made a note for them explaining what happened. We should leave." Kyo nods at Yuki's words, for once not arguing over being ordered around. Shai casts her gaze at Yuki, then turns and all but flees the room to get away from the destroyed room, courtesy of her.
"Come. We go now." She states, and hears their footsteps following her. "Thanks. Yuki and Kyo."
