Chapter 9 – Drastic Measures

Shigure sat next to Akito, holding her hand as the chemo was administered. He read to her, sang to her, anything she wanted. They chatted and watched movies to try to distract her from the pain and sickness. Hatori had warned them that Akito's hair would begin coming out in clumps after a few days of treatment.

No matter what, even if Akito went bald, Shigure promised he would still love her. He promised to always be there, and to come every day without fail.

Nothing would stop him. Days and weeks went by. School would start soon for Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru. Uo was almost forgotten in the closet, until Hatori went to get a broom.

"Why, Uo! What on earth?" he helped her up. She had gotten noticeably thinner and paler since the last time he had seen her. She furrowed her brow to the light and shielded her eyes.

"H-H-Hatori-san? Is that you?" she spoke softly, seeing Shigure and Akito sleeping side by side. "What's wrong with her?" Uo pointed to Akito, who had a pained look on her face, and was losing hair every day now.

"Cancer…" he paused, looking at the dirty girl before him. "Still, let's talk outside…" he took her hand and led her out of the room. "Now," he said, "how did you get in there? How long have you been in there?"

"Well, the chick that has cancer was screaming at me, then grabbed me by the hair. The next thing I knew, I was locked in the closet. All because I wanted to talk to Kureno…" her eyes welled up with tears, remembering the man who she desperately wanted to see. "W-where is he? Where's Kureno?"

"Listen, Uo, about Kureno, he's missing…" he ruffled the back of his hair and looked down to his neatly shined shoes.

"M-missing? What do you mean he's missing? He lives here, how can he be missing?" she cried out, and flopped down on a chair in the hallway, with her head in her hands.

"Listen, Uo, I think it would be best if you went home, got a shower, and went to sleep. I'll come and explain everything tomorrow…" he knelt next to her and took her hand. "I promise."

"I-I don't want to go home!" She cried out in despair. "My dad…"

"Uh, Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru should be home, why don't I take you over there? I'm sure everyone will be glad to know you're safe. Come on," he led her away to his car, after making sure Shigure and Akito were still soundly asleep.

"Okay…" she sighed, allowing herself to be led out to the car.

When they arrived, Tohru looked out the window. They were right in the middle of dinner. She saw Uo and pan of baked potatoes. She ran to Uo and hugged her tightly, oven mitts and all.

"Oh Uo! Where were you? Are you okay? Come in!" Tohru gushed.

Uo smiled and followed her friend into the house. Hatori waved and drove back to the Sohma house, where he watched as the last Akito's daily treatment was drained from the IV. He took it out and let them sleep peacefully, remembering his own tragic past as he did.

Back at Shigure's house, Uo and Tohru entered. To Uo's great surprise, Kureno, along with Kyo and Yuki were chatting happily while eating dinner, (the potatoes had been saved thank goodness!) They stopped talking.

"Uo! Oh my god! Where were you? Are you okay?" Kureno jumped up and ran to her. Taking her into his arms.

"Uh, I've, been locked in a broom closet?" she said, hoping they would take her seriously.

"What? Why?"

"Well, because I asked to see you, I guess…" Uo blushed. "Kureno, I have something to tell you."

"I do too, but you go first," he smiled, thinking he already knew what she was going to say. Neither noticed that the two boys and Tohru had moved to the kitchen, to give them privacy.

"I…I…I love you, Kureno, I always want to be with you…" she buried her face in her hands, almost sure of rejection. She felt cool hands on her cheeks. He lifted her face up, to look into her eyes. "I love you too, Uo." He bent down and kissed her tenderly.

If Shigure knew of the exchange of words, he surely would have felt at least a little happier. Still, no one at the Sohma main house was to know about Kureno, for surely Akito's wrath would be on him. Bad news was no new thing to Shigure and Akito. After three weeks of painful, heart-wrenching chemo, Akito's cancer was still not subsiding. It was decided that one month more they would try the chemo, adding with it radiation. If the cancer had not started to be destroyed, Hatori said, they must attempt surgery.

Shigure and Hatori were faithful visitors. Yuki came nearly once a week, even managing to drag Kyo along once. Akito was enraged at this act. Kyo had quickly been removed, and warned not to come back, for the time being. He heartily agreed, not wanting to go in the first place, but feeling it was his duty. Having Tohru visit wasn't even a thought to be considered. It was too dangerous, even though Akito did have cancer. The chipper Momiji had visited a couple of times, as well as Hiro and Kisa. Everyone made a special effort to visit, if only once, just in case she died after all. One month later, all of her hair was gone, as well as most of her hope. She was tested. The surgery would be scheduled tomorrow morning, chance of survival, 65.