1Yay here's another chapter! Whoot! *laugh* Anyways, this one IS actually going to be rather serious. Maybe even a wee bit angtsy. Ah well. *laugh* Any who, I will try to include some humour to keep my readers happy ;D

Speaking of my readers, I want to thank each and everyone one of you! *tosses cookies to loyal readers and reviewers*

Anyways, let's get back to the story, ne? XD

"Shigure went out to see Hatori, so do you want to have dinner inside with everyone?" Kyo asked Ana as they headed towards the house. Ana nodded vigorously. "Yes!" She exclaimed. Kyo blinked, wondering what the big deal was.

"I'm so glad that filthy mutt isn't here." She growled, her eyes narrowing. "He's not due back for at least an hour, so you're safe." Kyo said as he opened the door, letting Ana go first.

"Good." Ana sighed with relief, sweeping past him and giving him a grateful smile. "We're home!" Kyo called. "Welcome back! Dinner's almost ready!" Tohru called from the kitchen.

"You haven't met Yuki yet, have you?" Kyo asked Ana and she shook her head. "Good. Otherwise you'll fall right under his spell." He rolled his eyes. "Spell?" Ana echoed as she sat down next to Kyo at the table, waiting for Tohru.

"Yeah. He does some weird things to girls whenever they talk to him; he even has a fan club." Kyo said, an annoyed scowl on his face.

Ana jumped when Kyo's head shot forward as he was whacked on the back of the head.

"Quit talking about my fan club." Yuki growled. Kyo whirled to glare at him. He was about to offer a sharp retort when Ana laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, making him freeze.

"Hello there, you must be Yuki. I'm Ana." She said kindly. Yuki smiled, offering a hand that she shook. "Hi there; I trust this pervert hasn't made you feel uncomfortable?" He asked and Ana laughed. "Pervert? I think not." She smiled. "Though, due to the fact that you're not looking at my eyes right now, I'm gonna guess you're the pervert around here." She smiled sweetly, and Kyo wanted to hug her as Yuki's eyes widened and he blushed lightly before he walked away, muttering something to himself.

Way to go Ana! He crowed silently.

OoO

"So you can really transform whenever you want?" Tohru asked, fascinated. Ana nodded, setting down her chopsticks. "Yeah, it's something that I can do." She shrugged. "Wow!" Tohru exclaimed.

"If you don't mind my asking, where are your parents?" Tohru asked and Kyo winced at the question. "Dead." Ana said flatly, though Kyo didn't miss the pain that flashed behind her eyes.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, please forgive me…" Ana raised a hand, cutting her off. "It's not your fault." She said. "Don't worry about it." Tohru smiled at her. "OK. I am sorry I brought it up though- I didn't know." She said apologetically.

"Would you quit apologizing?! She said it's fine!" Kyo snapped, his short fuse blowing. Tohru ducked her head, whispering a hurried apology for apologizing.

"Aw, is Kyo-kun cranky?" Ana teased, wrapping an arm around Kyo's shoulders. "Methinks someone needs a hug." She grinned.

"I don't need a hug!"

"Yes you do."

"No I don't!"

"Come here and give me a hug!"

"NO!"

"Darn it Kyo-kun, give me a freaking hug!" Ana snapped, crushing him in a massive bear hug. Kyo attempted to wriggle out of her tight embrace while Tohru giggled and even Yuki smiled slightly, though he hadn't spoken to Ana all night.

"We're home!" Kyo looked up as Shigure and Hatori entered the room. Shigure's eyes went straight to where Ana had nearly knocked him to the floor.

"Stop her! She's going to kill him!" He cried dramatically and Hatori rolled his eyes. But Ana froze and looked up, her eyes blazing with rage.

"Well well well, look what the cat dragged in." Shigure sneered, looking down at her. "Look what the cat coughed up." Ana snorted.

"Flea bag."

"Mutt."

"Mongrel."

"Lap dog." Shigure curled his lip, obviously about to retort with something more venomous but Hatori stepped in.

"Actually Ana, I'm here because I've been asked to bring you to the Sohma house." He said. Ana blinked, confused. "Why?" She asked warily.

"Akito wants to see you." Hatori replied. Ana's eyes widened with horror. "No! I'm not going to see that… that thing!" She shrieked. She leaped off of Kyo and ran out of the house, leaving everyone to stare after her, stunned.

"I was instructed to bring her kicking and screaming if I had to." Hatori sighed, going after her at a slow, measured pace. Kyo narrowed his eyes, wondering what Akito would want to do with Ana.

OoOoOoO

"I hate you Hatori Sohma." Ana spat from where she sat in the back, glaring daggers at him.

"I know." He replied simply, steering the car towards the tall gates. Her eyes widened with fear and she ripped off her seatbelt, determined to get out. But Hatori pulled over inside the gates, so escape was pointless.

"Come on." Hatori said, getting out. Ana sat where she was, crossing her arms.

"Ana-san, don't make me drag you in." Hatori said calmly. By the look in his eyes, she knew he meant it. Ana rolled her eyes and followed him, scowling at the ground.

"So you do everything Akito tells you to?" She asked finally as they headed towards the house where Ana assumed Akito was.

"Yes." Hatori replied. "Don't you have a spine?" Ana growled and Hatori ignored her, opening the door for her and ushering her inside. Ana stalked past him, stomping on his foot as she went. She was livid; she didn't want to Akito. Not after what he'd done to her.

"Ah, I see you've returned. You've very brave, aren't you?" Ana froze at the voice coming from a dark corner of the room. "Come, sit." A pale hand beckoned her.

Ana narrowed her eyes but she sat down in front of Akito, glowering at the pale figure with utter hatred.

"I know that you and Kyo have developed… a relationship." Akito said, his voice sending chills down Ana's spine. "What about it?" Ana spat. "I can't allow you to love anyone; you know that. Not after what you've done." Akito said coldly.

"What are you going to do about it? Kill me? Go ahead; I welcome it." Ana growled. But Akito laughed a high-pitched, eerie laugh that teetered on the edge of insanity.

"Not you, of course! I want you to suffer." He smiled, like this was a good thing. "No, if you continue on like this, I will kill Kyo. His life is useless, anyway." Akito waved his hand dismissively. Ana's eyes widened with horror. Not Kyo. Anyone one but Kyo.

Akito had her trapped now; she had found Ana's one weakness.

Ana bowed her head, staring at the ground. "All right. I'll leave him alone. Just don't hurt him." She said quietly. Akito's eyes flashed. "I see you understand. Good girl." He beamed. Then his eyes narrowed again. "But of course, there is your punishment for coming out of hiding…"

OoOoOoO

Kyo sat by his window, watching the road for any sign of Hatori and Ana. It was past midnight; where were they? Had Akito done something terrible to Ana?

He shook his head, wondering what he would do if Ana got hurt. He couldn't imagine what he'd do.

But I shouldn't think like that though. She'll be back. And she'll be fine. I know she will; she's Ana. Ana doesn't get hurt easily.

OoO

But after school the next day, when Ana didn't greet him excitedly, Kyo found himself getting worried. Had Akito hurt her? Had he locked her away, like he had Yuki?

If Akito did anything to Ana I'll kill him.

OoO

"So you will be going back to living in those woods by Shigure's house?" Hatori asked Ana curiously.

"I guess." Ana shrugged, then winced. "Hold still a little longer." Hatori murmured. His hands were gentle as he bandaged the lashes across her back.

Akito had whipped her for hours before finally leaving her to Hatori, so she wouldn't die of her wounds.

"I need to be there; I can't stand being away from Kyo." She murmured, turning to look at him. "What am I going to do, Hatori-san?" She asked quietly. She didn't hate him anymore- who could hate the person healing your wounds?

"I don't know." Hatori sighed. He was silent for a long moment. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you." He said quietly. "Don't worry about it; I've had worse, remember?" She asked, making a weak attempt at a smile.

"I remember. I thought you weren't going to make it." Hatori said. "Neither did I. Akito has quite the arm, eh?" She tried to laugh, but it caught her in throat and she swallowed hard.

"I miss Kyo." She whimpered, pressing her face in the pillow she was lying on. Hatori said nothing, merely finished bandaging her, including changing the dressing on her bullet wound, which he said was almost healed, and pulled her shirt back down.

Ana made up her mind that the instant she was "released back into the wild", as Akito had put it, she was going to go to Kyo. She'd keep it as secret as possible, but she wasn't going to live without him. He was the only thing that kept her going now. If it hadn't been for him, she would have just given up and had died back in those woods so long ago.

"Get some sleep. I have to let you go tomorrow." Hatori told her, turning off the light and shutting the door behind him. Ana pulled the blanket closer, closing her eyes. She had missed a bed. She's missed it a lot.

But I'd sleep in that horrible tree every day for the rest of my life if it meant keeping Kyo safe. She thought, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

OoOoOoO

Kyo wandered the woods aimlessly, calling out Ana's name now and again, knowing he wouldn't get an answer.

He found himself by the waterfall, so he sat down on the rock and stared up at the falls, not caring that he was getting wet.

He sat there for a long time, caught up in thoughts of Ana. Where was she? Was she all right? Was she hurt? Was she even alive?

Finally, he stood to go, deciding he'd go check the tree first; maybe she was sick and was sleeping there? He held his breath, crouching down to peer inside. It was empty.

Sighing, he sat down inside, drawing his legs to his chest and resting his face on his knees. Ana had been the only thing that got him out of bed in the mornings; she'd been the only one who'd welcomed home with true happiness, the only one who looked genuinely sad when he left for school. The only one who could make him smile anymore.

He ran his fingers through his hair, about to go insane with worry. Where on earth could she be?

He stood up and left, shuffling back to the house with his head bowed. She was gone. He had to accept that. Maybe Akito had her sent away or something. Whatever had happened, if Ana could find a way to get back to him, he knew she would. She was loyal to a fault. And she was his friend, and he was hers; she'd come back. She had to.

"Kyo-kun!" Kyo's head snapped up when he saw the shining brown eyes peeking out at him from the bushes. "Ana-chan!" Kyo hurried towards her, ducking into the bushes. He engulfed her in a hug, too happy to have her back to care this was much more forward then he usually was.

Ana licked his face ecstatically, her tail thumping on the ground. Finally he pulled back, staring at her with shining eyes.

"Where have you been?" He demanded. Ana blinked, looking suddenly worried. "Talking with Akito." She finally said. "About what?" Kyo asked. Ana's eyes slid to the ground. "Nothing." She muttered, looking torn. "I can't tell you." She breathed, staring at him with pained eyes. "Why not?" Kyo asked, worried about the pained look in her eyes.

"I just can't. Please Kyo-kun; can we not talk about it?" She begged. Kyo hesitated, then nodded. He'd drop it. For now. She would tell him when she was ready.

"Wait, Ana-chan what are those?" Kyo asked, his eyes widening when he saw the bandages on her back. "Eh? Oh! I, um…" She hesitated, as though trying to think of an excuse. Kyo grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Akito hurt you, didn't he?" Kyo asked quietly. Judging by the pain that flashed through Ana's eyes, he had guessed right.

"I deserved it." Ana said briskly, standing up. "I have to go. Please Kyo-kun; I can't be with you very much, but I have to. For now. I promise, I will see you later." She gave his cheek another lick and was gone, disappearing without a trace.

*gasp* Wow! An actually serious chapter! Just like I promised! *laugh* Anyways, don't forget to review on your way out ;D

PLEASE READ:

If you've read my story, "Chasing Love", then you know of a character named "Sibrina"

Well, Sibrina has her own account on here!
"Kisasan93" is her username- she's under my favourite author list. Also, she's written a really good Naruto fanfic and a really awesome Fruits Basket one- please go check them out! They won't disappoint, I promise!

Please review when you're done reading them also, please =D

Speaking of reviewing, that reminds me! Don't forget to review my story! *laughs*

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