Hey, everyone. I am SO SORRY for letting this go so long without being updated. Things have been pretty hectic around here and I just haven't had the time to get to the stories. Well, here it is. Chapter 6. Please R'n'R.
Daelaeyni

A big thanks to Archer-Black, micahskitty, Edakumi, Chibi Silver Neko, Jay Bird12, and Kyoru-KiTTy-ArTist!
Without your reviews, this story wouldn't be as great as it is now!
at the hospital

Shigure and Yuki sat in the waiting room chairs, awaiting the moment Hatori would come and give them the news on how Tohru was doing.

Yuki's head shot up at the sound of footsteps, but was met with disappointment as an unknown doctor walked passed the door. Sighing, his eyes went to Kyo who was curled up almost cat-like on the ground by the door. He sighed in relief to see that at least he had stopped crying. "Well, finally the cat's beaten the rat. It was bound to happen someday….but…I am glad for him. Though I still love Miss Honda…she and the Cat belong together. No doubt in my mind about that. And I shall be content with th-"

Yuki was startled out of his reverie by the sound of the door opening. Shigure straightened in his chair and Kyo jumped to his feet. What came through the door startled them.

There, in the door, stood two young women whom the boys had thought they would never see again. Neither girl had changed much in the three years. Both Uo and Hana had tears racing down their cheeks.

The three boys stood and hugged both girls tightly, hoping to give them some comfort.

Yuki spoke up first. "How'd you two find out?"

"Kisa-chan heard from a servant what happened. She called us first and then phoned each of the jyunnishi. They all should be coming shortly."

Kyo nodded and sat back in his spot on the floor.

Uo looked down at him and smiled. Kneeling down, she pulled out a wallet from her back pocket and opened it. "Kyo, I think you'll be wanting this now. After Tohru disappeared, I found it in her room and decided you didn't need any more painful reminders so I kept it for when I knew she'd return." Slowly, she withdrew something shiny from the wallet and placed it in his hand.

Kyo stared down at the ring that he'd given Tohru the night before the school dance. He'd spent a large amount of his savings to buy that ring for her. The silver band shined under the fluorescents but what made the ring so beautiful was the stone in the center. The brilliant fire opal blazed with orange flames that echoed in its depths, flickering in the light. Kyo felt his eyes tear as he turned over the band to read the words etched upon the silver. "onigiri - neko 20xx" Quietly, he slipped it onto his pinky.

Both Uo and Hana sat next to him and held him close, rocking them back and forth.

Then the door opened.

Hatori walked in, looking weary.

All five people were suddenly on their feet, waiting for the news. Reluctantly, at Hatori's urging they all sat down.

Hatori took his place in a chair and turned to face them. "Well, the good news first, I suppose. She'll live."

His news was met with a collective sigh of relief from the lips of all but Kyo. Kyo waited, wanting to hear the bad news before letting himself get emotional.

Hatori's face grew even grimmer. "As for the bad news…firstly, the tests done on the fetuses in the jars confirm it…they're hers and Akito's children."

Kyo buried his head into his hands and cried softly, his will to hold emotion back completely broken. Yuki gripped the arms of his chair and began to weep bitterly. Shigure simply sunk into his chair.

Hana and Uo, however, both jumped to their feet. "WHAT", they both screamed in unison.

"Girls please calm down. If you'll sit, I'll explain what I've learned from the doctors. Afterwards, you can ask about the circumstances of how she was found."

Hana nodded and, quietly, persuaded Uo to sit next to her.

"This is just the first of many problems we'll face with Tohru. One will be that until she regains her strength, she'll be unable to help herself. The hospital has offered for a female nurse to come to your home, Shigure, every day to attend to Tohru as needed."

Shigure nodded. "When will she be able to leave here, Ha'ri?"

Hatori shrugged. "Honestly, we don't know. We've got her on feeding tubes and three kinds of IVs right now so we'll have to wait and see. Also…because of the trauma done to her uterus and vaginal areas, she will be unable to have children nor be able to have intercourse. It may be best if, even if she could, she refrains from sexual relations due to the mental stress placed upon her during these past three years."

Yuki looked at Kyo and saw he was shaking. "Hatori"

Hatori looked over at him. "What is it, Yuki?"

Yuki nodded towards Kyo. "Does Kyo need to be hearing this right now? Why not let him go to her and be with her alone for now?"

The others were astonished to see the rat being so considerate to the cat.

Hatori stared for a moment before nodding and standing. "Come along, Kyo. Let's go see Tohru. When Kyo didn't move, Yuki stood and walked over to him. Kneeling next to him, he grabbed Kyo's hands and helped him stand. Hatori and Yuki took each of Kyo's hands and guided him out of the room.

Hatori took them to just outside Tohru's room and looked at Yuki. "You can go now, I've got him. Tell the others I'll be back shortly. Yuki wanted to see Tohru as well but decided it best to allow Kyo time alone and walked off.

Hatori opened the hospital door and led Kyo in.