AN: I know this chapter is short, but I felt I needed to make it so, so that I could get some things explained.

Once again, don't own, wish I did, never will. sigh Enjoy the story!

Chapter 3: Akito and Rain

Once there we all head to Akito's room. He's standing in the middle of his room with that annoying arrogant smile on his face. 'This can't be good,' I think as we all enter the room. Momiji, Kagura, Ayame, and Kisa are already there.

"Well, now that we're all here I can make the announcement," Akito says with an evil grin. "I know you all heard about Takako's… injuries," he starts with a smirk at me. "I just thought I should tell you that she is feeling much better now."

My heart swells a bit as I hold my breath. 'Could it be true? She's alive?'

"You mean she's alive?" Tohru asks, hope in her voice.

"No," Akito states simply. "She died hours ago. But she can no longer feel any pain, therefore she is feeling much better now."

My heart stopped. 'Dead? No… NO!' I feel like I can't breathe. My lungs have stopped functioning. My heart doesn't work. I can't even speak.

Sachiko chokes back a sob and hugs Shigure to hide her tears.

We all stare at Shigure, waiting for him to transform. It never happens.

"How come he didn't transform!" Momiji asks, voicing the question no one else can manage to voice.

We don't know what to think. How can he still be in human form?

Akito smirks. "When Takako accepted Kyo, the poor neglected cat (another smirk at me), for what he really was, despite the fact that he was hideous, she broke the curse. Of course she had to die for it, but it was worth it don't you think Kyo?" he asks smugly.

I can only glare at him murderously while I hold back my tears and my anger. 'No. It wasn't worth it. Not in a million life times will it be worth it.'

Akito heads back to the chair in the corner of the room he was obviously occupying before we all got here. "By the way, Hatori would like to see you all in the library across from his office before you leave," he says happily with a wave of his hand, ushering us from the room.

With that we all leave, eager to get away from Akito's room and his evil presence.

He's just happy we're not happy. He probably would have killed her himself if he could have gotten away with it. My doing it just makes it all the more enjoyable for him though.

As we walk across the estate it starts to rain lightly.

"It's as if the heavens are mourning her," Hatsuharu whispers softly beside me as he turns his face up towards the sky.

I only nod numbly. I don't know what to feel anymore. I just walk silently through the rain remembering how much Takako liked playing in it.

We get to the library and we wander through the room. Shigure and Sachiko sit down on a small couch against one wall. Momiji sits on a beanbag he had Hatori buy for him and put in a corner the room near his favorite books. He was here often enough to warrant getting his own little spot. Yuki and Tohru sit on another couch across from Shigure and Sachiko. Hatsuharu stands beside the door waiting for Hatori. Kisa goes from standing by Haru to going over and joining Momiji in his little corner. Ayame sits down in a chair between Shigure and Yuki. And me? I wander through the stacks until I get to the window.

That's where I'm standing now. Looking out the window at the few stars visible through the rain, wishing on each and every one of them that I could undo what I did, unsay what I said, and magically, somehow, bring Takako back. But I can't. And that hurts more than any of Yuki's beatings ever could.

AN: How is it so far? Only one more chapter… So review! The more reviews, the sooner I'll get the end up.

CN