Chapter 7

When Kano finally walked back into the room, dinner was just about over. He took his seat and was more than grateful when no one decided to address him on his sudden exit.

Tohru had somehow managed to get some of her dipping sauce on her nose, and didn't seem to know it.

"Erm, Tohru?" Yuki chuckled to himself, and picked up his serviette.

"Yes Yuki?" He then blushed when he caught Suzu smirking at him. He ignored her for now, and turned to Tohru again.

"You have something on your nose."

"I do!" She blushed madly, and giggled to herself. "Oh, I'm so messy at times."

"Don't worry about it." Yuki gulped deeply, lifting his serviette to her nose, and gently dabbing her clean. "I'll get that for you Tohru."

"Thanks." She beamed at him, and a shy blush rose to his cheeks.

"You're welcome."

"Aww, how…erm…how do you describe that?" Suzu leaned over, until her shoulder leaned against her brother's side.

"Sweet?" He smirked back at her. "Like, how it's sweet you're trying to be Miss Matchmaker?" his dark magenta eyes twinkled at her light ones, and they shared a moment of utter understanding.

"Yuck." Suzu pulled a face, but still smirked. "Only by request, I assure you. Although…it's going rather well." She stated smugly.

"I'd say…but…" Kano held his chin, and smiled comically. "It seems a lot more work is needed."

"And, I'm stubborn enough to see it though."

"That you are, my dear." Kano chuckled, and was about to take it further, when Shigure tapped on his shoulder.

"What's this? A secret conversation in my house? Not including me? I demand to be informed and involved in this conspiracy." He chuckled, and Suzu couldn't resist sending Kano a cheeky look, before turning back to talk at Takara.

"Oh, you're not missing much. Just my sister trying to get Yuki and Tohru together."

"Good luck!" Shigure chuckled into his ear, making Kano blush to himself. "I've been trying to do just that for quite some time now."

"Then perhaps, a new approach is in order? Besides, I bet you have better things to do than give 'het-tips' to little boys, no?" Kano smirked, although trying to look innocent, lifting his cup of tea and sipping it with his eyes closed.

Shigure grinned to himself, and leaned even closer to him.

"That depends." He whispered, and before Kano could try to call him out, he turned to talk to the rest of the table. "Well, I am utterly stuffed. I for one, would like to take off my hat to you Kano for this delectable meal. Not forgetting your two lovely assistants Yuki and Tohru." He mock bowed to them all. "I only wish I have been gifted with the art of cookery, as well as creative writing." He dramatically swooned.

"Is that what you call it?" Suzu snickered to herself, heard only by her brother, who gave her a teasing nudge with his elbow.

"Thank you Shigure."

"Not at all Kano."

"It really was delicious." Tohru beamed, collecting he empty dishes and taking standing up. "I'll just take them to the kitchen."

"I'm on washing up! Takara, drying?" Yoko jumped to her feet in a flurry of cinnamon blonde, olive green and brown.

Takara rose to her feet elegantly, brushing off her dainty little white summer dress (her cardigan discarded for now) and followed her to the kitchen after Tohru.

"I will also help. I don't think those two know where to put everything, and I could help Ms Honda tidy away." Yuki rose to his feet, and quickly followed suit.

This left Kano and Shigure, Suzu, and Kyo.

Oh hell. Kyo grit his teeth, and got up.

"What am I doing then?" He directed at the older two of the household, and they both looked at each other blankly.

"Are your cases still in the car?"

"Yes."

"Then Kyo, you can go and bring them all in." Shigure beamed, and ignored the immediate stream of grumbles Kyo muttered as he stormed out the room.

"I guess I'll go…watch." Suzu also got to her feet, walked into the kitchen, and left the two alone.

"Ah, alone at last, it seems." Shigure began, giving Kano a wily look.

"It would appear so." Kano decided to play it cool, averting his eyes to his green tea as he spoke. He traced the rim of the cup with one finger the other hand holding it just below his nose.

He was so out of his depth here.

"I wonder. Have you given any thought about…the sleeping arrangements?" Shigure then gave a wicked smirk, making a pleasant chill run down Kano's back. He turned to the side, his grey kimono giving him the appearance of a much maturity, until you looked into his dark brown eyes, and youthful, masculine face. It seemed he had even shaved recently, with a perfectly smooth jaw.

"No…actually I hadn't yet." Kano betrayed his earlier tactic, allowing his dark magenta eyes to lift from the cup, and lock dead on with Shigure's one ones.

Damn, he was trapped there.

"Well, I have." Shigure shifted on the pillow to face him, placing one hand on the table…and 'dropping' his other onto Kano's knee. "Oh, terribly sorry."

"That's alright." Kano gulped.

He wasn't moving the hand.

"So, there is Yuki and Kyo, but then 4 girls. Our resident flower Tohru, your wild child sister Suzu, miss talkative Takara, and madam modest Yoko. They can't all sleep in the same bedroom, and all the girls won't fit in dear Tohru's room." His brown eyes grew a lusty shine to them. "And then of course…there's the matter of what I'm to do with you?"

"I don't know, what do you intend to 'do with me'?" Shigure gave him the most devilish smirk he had ever seen.

"Well, now that you mention it-"

"What the fuck do you have in this thing!"

"Everything I need, ass-wipe, so be careful!" Suzu followed Kyo back into the living room, her case on his back.

"What you got in here? A couple of ANVILS!"

"No…" Kyo lugged in into the room, and dropped it heavily by his feet. "Just the one." At that, he sweatdropped and wanted to snap at something. "Hay, what were you two talking about?" Suzu smirked, and Kano swore she was more aware than she should be at times.

"Sleeping arrangements." Shigure cut in. It was then Kano noticed, that Shigure had removed his hand. His knee suddenly felt quite…cold. Like the pleasant warmth it had been feeling only moments before, had been stolen away. And in a way, it had. "I and your brother here, have decided that Kyo and Yuki may still use their rooms, but all you girls may camp down here tonight. That is, if Tohru doesn't mind."

"Somehow, I don't think she will." Suzu rolled her eyes, folded her arms and looked back to Kyo and her suitcase. "…be careful with that, orange top."

"AAAARRGH! Not ANOTHER one! I swear, your fucking worse than the damn Yanky!"

"Uo? Who is?" Tohru walked back in, stretching and yawning slightly.

"Her!" Kyo left the suitcase, and stormed off to get the next one.

Only to walk straight into Yoko.

POOF

"God damn it!" He hissed, once again in the cradling embrace of Yoko, for the 3rd time that day.

"Oh, hi there orange head. You'd think you'd watch where you were going a little more, right?" She teased. "Not the most graceful of cats, are you?"

"…"

"Alright, I'll finish getting the bags." Yoko chuckled, scooping his blue PJ bottoms up and throwing them over her shoulder. She wanted to be able to throw something at him when he changed back.

"Grrr." Even Suzu chuckled as Yoko just lifted Kyo up and rested him on her head. Kyo fidgeted, but finally just flopped on her head and gave up. He enjoyed the ride as she walked out the room.

"…heh heh." Shigure chuckled. "I do believe, the cat has found someone to relate to."

"I'll be right back." Suzu walked out again, no doubt to watch and commentate as everyone else did their work.

Kano and Shigure were alone again, and Kano couldn't suppress the soft, surprised gasp from tickling his lips, as Shigure returned his hand to his leg.

Except this time, a little closer to 'home', on his thigh.

"You know, we still didn't get to the bottom of what I was going to do with you."

"I'm open to suggestions." Kano leaned with his elbows on the table, a daring quirk tugging at his lips. Although, this would have looked better, had his cheeks not been flush red.

"Well, we are both grown men, adults. I see nothing wrong with us sharing the same room."

"I agree. Noting wrong with that at all." for a moment, they simply stared at each other, weighing the other up to see who made the next move. And it appeared, it was going to be Shigure. It was obvious he was testing the water still, not being completely up front about anything.

"In that case." He leaned closer to Kano.

Kano couldn't help himself. His lips had suddenly gone dry, so he darted his tongue out slowly to moisten them. But, the flush that rose to his cheeks after realising he had attracted Shigure's attention to his mouth, was legendary. A little closer, and he could almost…

POOF

"God Damn it!"

"AAAA! KYO!" Tohru squeaked, the first to run back into the room. Albeit, only because Yuki was pushing her in…

"Put some fucking clothes on, orange top!" Suzu stormed back in, insulted to have had to be in the presence of yet another nude Sohma in the last 24 hours. Thank god she hadn't seen anything. Takara didn't seem phased, but had removed herself anyway, following Suzu back into the living room. Suzu plonked herself down next to Kano, who chuckled at the predicament and noticed once again that Shigure had taken his hand back just in time. He also noticed the frustrated pout he seemed to be wearing immediately after the first intrusion…

Takara and Suzu began their one way conversation again about what Suzu had actually packed in her colossal suit case, while Yuki apologised to everyone on behalf of the 'stupid cat', as he put it.

"I HEARD THAT! DAMN RAT!" Kyo bellowed loudly.

Yoko had yet to make a sound, and only Shigure and Kano didn't know why.

Let's just recap here.

Where had Yoko put Kyo after he transformed?

That's right.

On. Her. Head.

So when he transformed…

He basically flattened her on the floor, stomach down, completely pinned by a very naked Kyo.

"…I'm having the strangest sense of déjà vu…"

"…not funny." Kyo growled, embarrassment oozing off his every pour. Luckily, he had managed to avoid a 'certain' part of him landing on her, but only by landing on his knees painfully.

Ah well, he would get over it.

Shigure had gotten up to investigate, and laughed his head off when he walked back into the kitchen.

"Now Kyo, I've heard of doing it doggy style, but cat style?"

"SHUT THE HELL UP YOU SICK BASTARD!" Kyo yanked his PJ bottoms from her shoulder, glad she was facing the floor, and quickly pulled them on. "DAMN IT!"

"Now Kyo, perhaps you would like to-"

"Save it." Kyo closed his eyes and started to storm out the front door, when Yoko flopped an olive sleeve covered hand on his bare shoulder. At least it wasn't skin to skin, or he would have died!

"I'm sorry Kyo. I thought you would have stayed as a cat longer. Like last time."

"Yeah well, it doesn't work like that!" He snapped, shrugging his shoulder away from her hand and storming off into to the car to finish getting the cases.

"Kyo, wait!"

"Don't, it's ok." Shigure held her shoulders, and guided her back to the living room. He whispered in her ear. "He'll be fine. Remember, he is a fragile teenage boy who just stood in the same room, completely naked, with his cousin, 4 girls, and then pinned you to the floor. I think he has every right to be a little ruffled, don't you?" Yoko nodded, and looked back of their shoulders.

"…what did he mean, it doesn't work like that?" Yoko sat back at the table, and Shigure decided it might be worth telling everyone what he meant.

"Well, each Sohma of the Zodiac curse, will transform into their animal when either embraced by the opposite sex, under a great deal of physical or mental stress, and once I changed when I was dog tired." He chuckled, and Yuki rolled his eyes. "Understand now?"

"Yeah, I guess." Yoko then shut her mouth as Kyo moodily skulked back inside, with the last two cases. At this time, Suzu dragged Takara over to them and they both got out their nightwear. Kyo didn't even look at them.

"Hn, there."

"Kyo-" Shigure tried to talk to him, but Kyo just blanked him and went straight upstairs. "…right, well." Shigure slapped his hands together, and rubbed them. "Who wants to help move the table for the beds?"

By the time the palaver was over, Yuki, Yoko, Shigure and Kano had managed to shift the table to the other side of the room, Tohru had laid out enough blankets for everyone, Takara had slipped out with Suzu to get changed, and were currently nestling in their makeshift beds.

Takara wore a full length nightgown, swaying by her ankles, white, and plain. No frills or lace, just a long, practical nightgown. She was currently combing her fingers through her long golden hair, and half under the covers of her sleeping bag.

Suzu however, wore a blood red negligee, silk, reaching her creamy thighs, laced around her cleavage, and didn't seem bashful about it either. She just sat ontop of her sleeping bag, inspecting her red and black tipped nails.

Yuki seemed to be bashful enough for everyone.

"I, erm, I'll just." He didn't bother to continue, and walked towards the stairs. "Good night everyone."

"Good night Yuki!" Tohru shouted to him, unfolding her light blue Pj's. Yuki paused on the stairs, and turned to look at her with a soft smile.

"Good night, Miss Honda." Tohru beamed at him, and he had to tear himself away before everyone else noticed he was staring at her again.

Yoko gulped, holding her change of clothes to her chest and looking over everyone.

"Erm, Tohru? Can I borrow your room for a second?"

"Oh come on Yoko." Suzu groaned. "We are all girls here, and we don't really-"

"Please." Tohru blinked at her, and nodded. Not quite sure what else to do.

"Sure. It's-"

"I'll find it, thanks." Yoko bowed to them all, caught a stern look from Suzu, before heading up the stairs to change.

"You girls going to be alright?" Kano crouched down, taping his sister's nose with one finger, and a loving smile.

"Yeah yeah, we're not babies you know." He did it again. "Stop doing that!"

"Never. For as long as I live, I will be the annoying big brother." Kano then rocked forward onto his knees, and pulled Suzu into a sudden hug. "Thank you." He whispered, and Suzu knew just what he was thanking her for. Her assist back in the kitchen earlier.

"No problem, now get out of here! Geez, ever heard of 'girl time'?"

"Didn't that used to include me?" He chuckled, teasingly leaning over her.

"I've decided that big brother can't ease drop on everything us girls talk about. So there." Suzu stuck her tongue out at him, and shimmied under the sheets, dismissing him. Tohru still waited for Shigure and Kano to leave before she could change, but enjoyed seeing the exchange. Suzu may act cool, but her brother really loves her. It was moving to see, really.

"Alright. Well, I guess I'll just leave you alone then."

"Yeah, get lost already!" Suzu smirked at him, and started to get comfortable. "Yoko better not be long…I'm tired." She huffed, and Takara chuckled silently at her. "Humph."

"I'm sure she won't be long. Shall I keep the light on for her?" Tohru reached up for the light switch.

"No, she'll be alright. Turn it off, please." Suzu grumbled, completely submerged under her blanket, in a foetal bundle of midnight black tendrils, and cream blue covers.

"Ok." Tohru then looked to the two men. "Good night Shigure, Fukazawa sensei." Kano chuckled.

"Just call me Kano, Tohru. And good night all of you." He then nudged the lump on the floor that was his sister with his foot, and received a very grouchy response. But he got one, and that was all that mattered.

"Let's go to bed." Shigure added slyly to him, in a secretive whisper, and Kano coughed into his hand.

"Yeah, sure."

Yoko held her clothes to her chest, and started peering into rooms upstairs. Maybe I shouldhave let Tohru tell me which one it is…ah! Found it.

From the large pink bed, Yoko knew she had found the right room. She slid the door closed, checked the windows, drew the curtains, turned off all the lights, and hurriedly changed into a pair of overly large mint green Pj bottoms, and a matching button top that was so bug, the sleeves came down to her knees, and the rim of the shirt came over them! But the buttons were tightly fastened all the way up her neck, and she then pulled out the one thing she had been hiding inside her clothes. The sight of it made her smile, and she hugged it tightly to her chest.

It was a little lion, with the golden tanned colour, only slightly scuffed, considering its age, one eye missing, with a fluffy ball at the end of its tail and chest. It was a girl lion, with no mane, but stitched on fangs and pink nose.

"Binky." Yoko hugged her tightly, and completely relaxed.

Yes, she was 16, and still sought comfort from a stuffed toy. But she didn't care. "Wait right there." She placed her on the bed and sat on the floor. When the door slowly slid open behind her, she just had time to hide her underneath her discarded clothes, before turning to see her visitor.

It was Kyo, still in just his blue pyjama bottoms, and looking quite sheepish.

"Yo." He cleared his throat, and looked away. But he also stepped inside the room, and slid the door shut behind him. "I thought you were…you know…sleeping down there with the others."

"I am."

"Oh…" He ran a hand back through his messy orange hair, and seemed to be struggling to talk to her for some reason. "Listen, about before. I didn't mean to, well that is, I was really pissed off and-"

"I'm about to do my sit ups." Yoko chuckled, catching him off guard. Kyo just stared at her, and slowly smiled. She wasn't going to make him apologise, and didn't seem to care if he did or not. "Remember? I do 100 before bed. Didn't you say you do press ups too?"

"Yeah." He lowered onto all fours next to her. "I could do them here while you do yours, if you want."

"Sure." Yoko laid back, and placed her hands at either side of her head. "…but I finish mine first."

"No way!" Kyo laughed, hastily getting into the press up position. "I'll beat you, believe it!"

"Yeah right. You're just sore because I beat you this morning…" Yoko teased with a cheeky smile, and Kyo growled.

"Did not! I would have so kicked your ass if-"

"If you hadn't gone all fur ball on me." She then chuckled. "Fluffy."

"Oh no, HELL no!" He dropped to his, and pointed at her. "Don't even THINK about it!"

"…fluffy…" She snickered, and started doing her sit ups. "1, 2, 3, are you even gong to get started, 6, 7, or just stare at me as I kick your ass? 11, 12."

"Bring it on!" Kyo pressed on, bolting through his press ups until he caught up with her counting. "20, 21."

"22, 23."

"24, 25."

"26, 27."

They started counting together, both going at the same rate, and both secretly smiling.

When they had both reached a hundred, Yoko keeled over, and Kyo just sat up.

"What's wrong Yoko? Are you a bit of a wussy girl after all!"

"I could do another hundred!" She snapped up again, and for a moment, he thought he was looking at himself. She certainly had the same pride as he did. "Wanna prove it!"

"Nah." Kyo chuckled, and got to his feet. "I better get to bed. Before Tohru comes and checks on us. She will if she thinks I can't sleep."

"Oh, ok then." Secretly Yoko was happy about that, but didn't let him know that. She didn't really want to do another hundred sit ups. Although… "Kyo, wait a second." He was just about to vanish around the corner, when she scuttled after him. her long cinnamon ponytail swaying with the turning action of her head, and her amber eyes sparkled at him. "You said you run in a morning. Can I come with you tomorrow? See, Takara isn't really a sporty kinda girl, and Suzu? Not a chance in hell in getting her to do anything like that. She'd rather just wait for you at the finish line, and poke fun at how awful you look afterwards. Although, she dance a lot…"

"Sure." Kyo shrugged, his back to her. But he was grinning like a maniac. He was on the school track and cross country running team. He'd be able to show off to her big time! He suppressed how eager he was, and responded coolly. "If you want."

"Sure, good night then." Yoko beamed, turning back to get her clothes and Binky.

However…Kyo was still there when she came out, and saw a flash of something that didn't look like clothes in her arms. Something small and golden. He dismissed it however, and bid her goodnight again.

Yoko plodded happily down the stairs, to find that all the lights were out and she couldn't see a thing. Consequently, she ended up putting her foot right ontop of a certain grouchy lump…

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

"Oops, sorry Suzu."

"You fucking WILL be when I get my hands on you!"

Tohru and Takara watched happily as they broke down on the floor into an all out scrap, Yoko on her front, Suzu sat on the small of her back and twisting her arms behind her back. "Say it! Say it!"

"Uncle!"

"Right." Suzu growled, and let her squirm away into her own sleeping bag. Luckily, Binky was hidden underneath her baggy Pj shirt to her chest, so she could cradle her underneath the blanket secretly.

Even though Takara and Suzu knew she was doing it. But Tohru didn't know, at least.

"It's been so long since I've had a girly sleep over." Tohru chuckled through the silence suddenly, and Yoko sat up.

"Really?"

"Yeah. The last time, it was Uo and Hana-san. But that was a long time ago. We've just been so busy with exams recently. I'm so glad they are over." Tohru chuckled. "I got a good mark, but I had to study really hard for it. I wish I was like Yuki, he just remembers everything."

"Oh great, we have another Takara." Yoko chuckled. When the said golden raised her head, all their eyes accustomed to the dark now, Yoko poked her arm. They had all pulled their sleeping bags together in an odd circle, their heads all together. Yoko shifted onto her front, and Tohru and Takara followed suit. It seemed, only Suzu had no intention of chatting for a while. "You just remember everything. Usually, it's Takara who helps me and Suzu with our tests."

"Have you got a photographic memory?" Takara shook her head with a smile. "Oh, how old are you three? I know you're 16 Yoko, you told me in the car."

"Takara is 18. Suzu 17. I'm the baby, so I'm not 17 yet. But I'm still in the age band, so I'm in the same class as Suzu."

"Then, why are you in their classes Takara if you're 18? Aren't you legally old enough to have finished school now?" Tohru rested her chin on her hands, looking intently at the blonde. Yoko shuffled on her elbows closer to the two, and waited for Takara to nod, before elaborating for her.

"Well, Takara didn't go to school at the same time as the rest of us. She lived her younger years at an old folk's home in secret. They kinda adopted her there, but didn't tell anyone she was there. See, it was either that, or the orphanage." Takara nodded. "And where we all started school around 4 or 5, she wasn't enrolled until 6 or 7. so she had to start a year below her age, to catch up. And went right through school a year behind. Even though she took all the main exams at the same time as the year above…" Yoko grumbled. "Super smart brainy pants." Takara giggled silently, and rested her head on Yoko's shoulder. "I know I know, I still love you, don't worry." She laughed, and then looked back to Tohru, who seemed generally interested. Odd.

"So you lived with the elderly in a folks home before you came here? Do your parents work there?" Yoko frowned, and leaned her head back against Takara's.

"No, her…her parents died when she was little. Before we met her." Takara smiled softly, as Tohru started waving her hands around.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I thought before I-" Takara placed a finger over her own lips, and shook her head with a smile. Tohru seemed to understand this, as her way of saying, don't worry about it. At least, she hoped that was what she meant. Takara then crawled over to her, knelt up, and lifted her pink silk collar from underneath her long white nightdress for her to see. Tohru took one look at the golden oval pendant there, and pushed up to her knees quickly. "That looks beautiful, may I see?" Takara nodded, and Tohru gently traced her fingers over the ivy patterns on the front. Tohru was in a trance with the delicate little object, and no one noticed that one of Suzu's magenta eyes was watching them through a gap in the blanket, smiling happily. "Oh, does it open?" Takara nodded, and carefully clicked it open for her to see. Inside, there was a woman with long mahogany hair cascading down her petite face like a soft women frame for her worm, wide emerald eyes and rose petal smile. She looked like an enchanting woman, Tohru thought. And the man in the other window, had short messy golden blonde hair, and chestnut brown eyes, with a twinkle of mischief in them, as well as maturity. They reminded her of Shigure's eyes, and so did his kind smile. They both looked like very attractive, and very nice people. But they are dead…like my parents. Tohru frowned, and raised her head to look directly into Takara's emerald eyes. she had inherited her mother's warm green pigment, and her father's kind smile. And just like Tohru, she keep a picture of her parents close to her, and had lost her parents just like she had. Takara's eyes widened with surprise, as Tohru pulled her into a hug. "You look like them. They would be proud."

Yoko beamed, tears coming to her own eyes as Takara collapsed over Tohru and held her tight. But none smiled, as much as Suzu, hidden in her bed.

Good. You deserve that, Takara. You deserve kindness…like you never got from your parents. Suzu closed her eyes, happy her friends were safe and happy.

Until tomorrow…I'll see about that!

Kano was last inside, sliding the door closed. Why did he feel so cold, so grief stricken.

Oh yeah, that's why. They were going to have their memories wiped tomorrow, and lose everything they had gained from meeting these people. It was as if large weights had been put on each of his broad shoulders, and he sighed deeply.

"Kano?" Shigure stepped out of the bathroom, changed into his grey sleeping yukata, and tied his belt around it. It was very similar to his kimono, but thinner, and obviously meant for sleeping in.

"Oh, nothing." He said grimly, slumming himself over to his case and opening it. He pulled out a pair of sleeping boxers, black, and sighed again on his way to the bathroom. He truly looked like the face of despair.

And it made Shigure feel…small. He couldn't help but feel this was his fault.

His instincts were telling him to bite back, and stand up for his friends. For Kano and his sisters. Damn it, we will never beat this curse if we just hide away from the world forever. What if this is it? What if getting more people to accept us for who we are, is the ticket to getting the curse lifted? We will never know if we just sit back and hide away like cowards! Shigure grit his teeth and clenched his fists in his yukata. Dog's weren't meant to be spineless, they weren't meant to defend and protect. He felt like h was betraying himself, as well as Kano and the others by just running along as ordered and tattle tailing to Hatori and Akito. It wasn't Hatori's fault, but he would come and do his job, because of Akito. He wouldn't stand up to Akito, and he was the Dragon?

I…I can't be obedient anymore. I can't…I just can't. "Shigure?" Kano snapped him out of his thoughts, and he quickly recovered himself with a forced chuckle and well versed smile.

"Oh, forgive me. My mind was elsewhere. I-" Shigure opened his eyes, to see Kano, stood, more than half naked, in only a pair of black boxers. His sculpted broad shoulders, his perfectly toned, muscular pecks and abs, and his shapely waist were all on show, and under his scrutiny. And then of course, there were those two thick, pumped thighs of his.

If he was in his dog form, his tail would be wagging. "I…I mean never mind." He chuckled nervously. "The pull out bed is laid out ready for you."

"So it is…right next to yours." Kano chuckled, and slipped into his bed with a smile. "What a day." He yawned loudly, and gladly let his head hit the pillow. "Ahhhh."

"You must be dog tired." Shigure chuckled, walking round to the other side of the beds to get into his own. "I know I am."

"Yeah, you could say that." He laughed, and shimmied further under the blanket. A habit he shared with his sister, it seemed. Shigure couldn't help but chuckle at this, and smiled. What has he ever done to deserve having his own memory wiped with, simply by learning more about us than most other people? What is so wrong with being able to open up to more people we can trust?

"Kano."

"Hmm?"

"I won't let him do it." Kano opened his eyes, dark magenta meeting determined brown. Kano took a second, but he realised what Shigure was talking about.

"…I understand why you have to-"

"No, we don't have to. Tohru knows and she has never betrayed us. In fact, she has probably helped cover our tracks even more, simply by knowing. So why can't you?"

"But Tohru lives with you."

"And why can't you?"

Kano blinked, and sighed.

"Because…"

"You're running from something, aren't you?" Kano gasped, his eyes wide. "I remember what you said. Something happened to you yesterday that would be dangerous to forget?" He had him, Kano knew that.

"…it's a long story."

"I'm not that tired." Shigure sat up, very focused on target. He was like a dog with a bone. He might not rag the truth out of it straight away, but he did eventually, and never forgot about where that bone was buried.

"…if I were to tell you, that I'm on the run with my sister and her two friends, because I've kidnapped them, what would you say?"

"I wouldn't say anything, until I learned just why you kidnapped them."

"Are you…giving me the benefit of the doubt?" Kano sat bolt up, one eye brow raised, but smiling like a fool. "You would listen, and not judge me?" Shigure nodded, and Kano did too. "Well, alright. I'll tell you." Somehow, I just know I can trust you.

oo0oo

Kano's jaw was jutted out angrily, his fists clenched in the blanket, and didn't say a word. He had said all he needed to now.

Shigure's eyes were wide, lips parted in shock.

He hadn't expected that.

Yoko's father…beat her? And she never told anyone? but she seems like such a happy care free girl…but she is really haunted by her father…by her family. Shigure knew all about having family members haunting your every move, all too well. But…he was never physically beaten. And it seems she was scared too, mentally.

Kano had told him everything, everything. From Yoko's past, and even…his.

Dear God… Shigure realised, he would never look at Kano the same way again. He and his sister had been through so much, and he was forced to…

Kano was much more than he appeared.

And yet…Shigure wasn't frightened by this darker side of him. Because he too had a darker side, that only reared it's ugly head for the same reasons as it had Kano. When his loved ones and in danger.

"You can stay here." Kano's head shot up, it was obvious he hadn't been expecting that. Get out, sure. I'm calling the cops, definitely. But…stay here? Shelter? "We won't go to the police station to find out about you, they don't need to know. You can all stay here, in my house, for as long as you like." Kano searched his face for any sign that he wasn't serious. He couldn't be, could he?

"But…but I…we…" and he closed his mouth, only to smile brilliantly. Kano then knelt up on his bed, bent over, and bowed as low to him as the bed would allow. "Thank you Shigure Sohma-san. You are too kind." He heard shuffling, and looked up. Shigure had swung his legs over the side of the bed, and placed both hands on his shoulders like an older brother would. Or a very close friend.

"You will always be welcome in my house, with all your memories." Shigure nodded. "You are a good person, I knew that from the first moment I met you. I could smell it." He tapped his nose, and Kano laughed.

"Thank you."

"No problem. Besides…" he beamed. "It's better to have two chefs in the house, then two, right? And you said you're a teacher, you can get a job at a school around here, and the girls can be enrolled at Kaibara High School, with Tohru and the boys."

"I'll pay for our rent, I swear."

"I know." Shigure nodded, and slipped back into his bed. "Then it's settled, you'll all stay here."

"But…I thought that Hatori person was coming tomorrow to-"

"No he isn't. I'll ring Aayame in the morning to stop him. Trust me, Aayame has his ways…" Shigure laughed, and closed his eyes. "Taught me everything he knows, that man. he can even scare me at times."

"I see." Kano grinned.

Finally, things were starting to look up. He only prayed to God that everything would be as easy as Shigure made them sound. If only.

Well, look at it this way. According to the most up to date map, their home and town didn't exist, hell, even the local monumental LAKE, a whole LAKE, didn't exist! Neither did the place they woke up this morning, and if they were lucky…

…they would hide here without being found.

But this Akito person, the head of the Sohma household. He seemed damn right reluctant to allow anyone else in on the Sohma secret, no matter how accidental their initiation was. And if he sent Hatori to wipe their memories…would Shigure truly be able to stop the head of his own house?

He would have to see. But for now, he needed sleep. He hadn't had enough sleep, he had been driving for hours, had a lot of mental stress to boot, and was exhausted now. And if he had to back up Shigure tomorrow, he would need his rest. Please let us stay here, please. Please…