Chapter III

Scar twisted fretfully in her sheets. Her night terrors waking her again, she panted and sipped the water she had taken to her bedside table. She looked around the dark room and knew that she couldn't sleep alone. It went against her pride but she needed a hug and she needed one badly. She thought for a moment and decided that Tohru would be the best person.

She stepped out of her bed and slipped on her black silk dressing gown then exited her dark room, shivering at the thought that something might be behind her. She remembered that Shigure said that Tohru was in the room next to her, and knew that the bathroom was on the left so that left the right door. She walked upto it and wrapped her dressing gown tighter around her body before knocking. She heard shuffled footsteps and a bleary eyed Tohru opened the door.

"Miss Fléau? Is there something wrong?" Tohru asked and snapped out of her tiredness a worried look plastered across her face. Scar opened her mouth to speak but felt her words get jumbled up and her throat tighten. Scar stepped in and openly hugged Tohru, feeling her tears flow onto the girls nightshirt. She sobbed as quietly as she could, trying so hard not to let herself go anymore then she already had. Her thoughts flashed to her grandma and she felt her chest heave as a loud sob escaped her chest. Tohru stood there not knowing what to do before wrapping her arms around the quivering girl.

"Please..can I stay with you...I can't-" Tohru had heard enough, knowing that Scar didn't want to reveal the full reason. Tohru shut the door and lead the sobbing girl to her bed, letting her cry freely onto her shirt as she wrapped an arm around her.

"I'm s-sorry..I-" But a fresh wave of tears cut her off again, so she continued to cry openly into Tohru's shirt.

"I don't know what happened Miss Fléau, and I think you'll tell me when your ready, but please don't be ashamed to cry. I won't think any less of you, everyone has their moment of weakness and I'm here for you through yours. I know I can't do much for you, but please, if you need to cry, cry." Scar took a breath and began crying harder onto Tohru gripping her shirt as Tohru soothingly stroked her hair.

"Mercí Tohru-sa-" Again, she couldn't finish her sentence and was taken over by her sobs.

That's how they stayed until morning, curled up against one another, Tohru stoking her hair and back trying to comfort her as much as she could without words.

* * *

Tohru were awoken by a knocking on her door. She got ready to stand up but saw Scar asleep, still clinging to her shirt. Tohru smiled and told the person to come in. Shigure and Yuki entered,

"Miss Honda-" Yuki started but saw the sleeping girl still curled up on Tohru. Tohru placed a finger to her lips and motioned for them to enter.

"What is she doing here?" Yuki asked, slightly worried for Tohru's safety. Tohru continued to stroke Scar's back and hair still soothing her in a motherly fashion.

"She came in last night, she was upset and asked to stay. It's fine Yuki-kun," Yuki stopped looking slightly peeved and relaxed. He had no idea what this girl had been through and Tohru was the easiest person to go to in times of need. Shigure still couldn't help but make a remark.

"I missed highschool girls in bed together!?" Scar's eye's shot open and she glared fiercly at Shigure. He took a fearful step back as did Yuki.

"Ne fais pas ça!" She spoke harshly in french before sitting up and looking at Tohru. Her angry gaze dropped as she remembered last nights events. She pulled Tohru towards her and kissed both her cheeks.

"Mercí Tohru-sama." Tohru blushed but nodded, mouth slightly agape.

"I-it's fine Miss Fléau." Scar smiled at her gently almost realising that she'd never recived a thanks like that.

"Please, call me Scar?" Tohru nodded again and smiled brightly.

"OK, Scar-chan..." Tohru almost tested and Scar gave her a warm smile in response. Scar stretched and turned towards the two Sohma's, watching with their mouths open. Shigure was also staring openly st Scar's choice of nightwear. Scar didn't even blush but stood up and walked past them both, she turned and gave Tohru another friendly wave before leaving. She walked across to the bathroom, but as she tried the door she noticed it was locked. She waited patiently and the door was opened by a shirtless Haru, who was still rubbing his hair dry, just having come out of the shower. He noticed her and looked down then his eye's zinged to her chest. He stared at her practically seethrough night attire and then stepped past her, without saying a word.

"Morning Haru-sama." She practially drawled knowing her soft and somewhat sensuous voice would reach him. He tried hard not to show his composure had faltered but raised an arm in a wave and pretended he hadn't almost stumbled as he walked back into his borrowed room.

Scar giggled and went into the bathroom, stripping off before taking a nice lengthy shower, she felt like she needed one after all that crying. She tried not to think about her distressing problems and focused on how she was going to get out of here. Walking out was kind of out without any money and food, she didn't feel right stealing so both of those were out. She knew that if she got a job Akito wouldn't approve and Akito still held onto her large fortune that her Grandma had left her. She sighed and rolled her head back onto the shower wall. She stared at the ceiling feeling as hopeless as she could possibly feel, she knew threatening Akito would do her no good, they were legal documents and if she threatened or even killed him for them he would probably take them to his grave. She cracked her knuckles systematically and took a deep breath before promising herself that she'd return to this problem at a later date.

After drying and returning to her own room she heard Shigure call her name, she yelled that she'd be there in a minute and quickly dressed in a pair of red hotpants and a white blouse with some thigh length white and red striped stockings. She rushed downstairs seeing what she was wanted for.

"Breakfast!" Scar seemed a bit stunned as she looked around at the short table where everyone was sitting eating an omlette prepared by Tohru. Omlette was one thing Scar knew would taste good and sat down to dig into hers happily. Momiji jumped upto her and sat on her knees.

"Scar-chan! What are you planning on doing today?!" Scar faltered.

"I hadn't thought about it Momiji-sama, I guess I was just going to um...stay in and read. Why is there something more interesting to do?" Momiji looked shocked by her idea.

"Read? But it's so nice out! We should go out and have fun! We could go shopping?!" Momiji bounced and Scar's eyes followed him having trouble keeping up with his early morning spirit.

"Calm down! Shopping sounds great, but I'm afraid I have no money."Momiji smiled again at Scar's soft smile and bounced more as Tohru cleared away the plates.

"Thats fine I don't mind paying for your stuff!" Scar looked at him slightly shocked.

"I couldn't possibly take your money Momiji-sama, I feel bad enough intruding as it is!" Momiji pulled a huge puppy face which Scar was struggling to resist.

"But Scar-chan..." Kyo was getting peeved and punched Momiji in the top of the head.

"Shut up you damn brat! She said she doesn't want to so don't pester her!"

"WAHHH!! KYO HIT ME!!" Scar got annoyed and looked him dead in the eyes.

"Hey, no need to hit the kid! He was being nice! If you want to hit someone try picking on someone your own size!" She stood up to prove a point and the rest of the table stared at her. Kyo twisted his head from her and stated.

"I wouldn't hit a defenceless girl." Her eyes narrowed at the sexist remark and she clenched her fist, crcking her knuckles.

"Stupid little kitty seems to be too scared to hit a girl...stupid, stupid cat." Scar recieted smoothly, venom raidiating from her words. Kyo stood and turned to her.

"I'm not stupid I just don't want to hit a girl!!" Scar quickly rose to the challange and stared him dead in the eye.

"No your right your not stupid. Your pathetic! Your too fucking pussy to hit a girl, your too afraid that heck I might be a match for you or that you think I'm not even worthy of your time! I remember the stupid cat! What cat listens to a rat?!" Kyo had flipped and punched the table, breaking it.

"SHUT UP!" She smirked at him and then grabbed his arm and dragged him outside.

"Come on then you need to let off stome steam!? Take it out on me! I dare you! Or are you still too chicken to touch a girl!?" The others had stopped not sure what to do, they knew Scar was taking it too far, but she didn't care, she knew if she needed one thing today it was a good fight.

"I SAID SHUT UP YOU IDIOT!" He ran towards her to hit her and Yuki and Haru ran in to intervene but stopped as Scar ran upto Kyo also and roundhouse kicked him to the face. Kyo went skidding through the grass as he sat up half shocked but still angry.

"What? Didn't think I was all talk did you?" She fell easily into a well practised stance that none could recognise. Kyo stood again and went in for the kill once more. She ran too and dropped skidding between his legs then doing a handstand and using one leg to lift his back before throwing him over with her other and standing on his chest.

" Is that really all you've got?" He glared again and the fight continued, Scar using his rage against him and Kyo only managing to get a few hits in.

"Scar-chan!! Are you alright?!" Momiji yelled to her after a fierce palm blow to the collarbone, she stood and didn't even flinch at the fact that her shoulder was clearly dislocated. Kyo stopped and looked at her, not sure what he should do. She blinked and grabbed her shoulder and winced only slightly, but soon her wince turned into a smile. She traced her hand down her arm and pulled herself down into a one kneed crouch. She stood on her bad hand andthen stood not removing her hand and pulling her shoulder back into place with a deafening pop.

"Scar-chan!! That is enough!" Shigure yelled to her. She turned and looked at him, her eyes barely registering him. She was more or less blinded with anger now.

"Why Shigure-sama? I wanna play..." She spoke to him, her soft voice reching him with subtle seductive tones. Shigure didn't falter and stared at her hard.

"I know what your doing to Kyo and this has gone on long enough. Stop tormenting him becasue you want to get your own rage out. I don't know what happened to you, but if your that desperate for a fight then go down to the dojo and fight Kazuma. But I will not tolerate you disrespecting my family. Whilst your here you can obey by those rules!" He firmly stated and Scar tilted her head a cute look playing on her features buta maliciouds glare in her eyes.

"But I'm being forced to stay here. I have no choice. Why should I listen to you? What will you do for me? How can you help!? Your useless people, you don't know the meaning of cursed! You don't know what it means to be like you are! You can't touch a girl?! SO WHAT!! I can do even less then you! I CAN'T GET MAD, I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FOUND!! I WAS THE FAMILIES BEST KEPT SECRET FOR A REASON!! LOOK ME UP WHY DON'T YOU! I'M-!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Tohru stood and yelled. Shigure's face dropped and Scar looked at her, her eyes beginning to water, not tears of sadness or self pity. But tears of frustration and self loathing.

"I don't know what happened to you Scar and I don't know who you are but please...taking your anger out on us won't solve anything, please let us help you?" Tohru's faced looked so welcoming and kind as she walked over to Scar that Scar stood still, unsure of what to do, feeling ashamed and wanting to turn and run but needing comfort. Scar felt her head lurch as she felt her knees buckle, she knew what would happen but didn't want them to know and deciding to gather her strength and run into the forest as fast as she could would be her best option. Scar hid up a tree and watched as some of them ran into the forest to look for her. She stopped smothering the feeling that was overcoming her and let go changing into a white peacock.