Hotaru Sohma

"So you came on your own free will, Hotaru?"

"Yes, Akito."

I looked at him from where I was, on the windowsill, having just climbed in undetected by his household staff. He was smirking as he rose, ready to begin that dance that I had seen the "master" perform with his "subjects".

Only I was determined not to be led in this dance.

So I leaped up, and we began circling each other.

"So I take it that you are hear to ask… no to beg me to let you keep your pitiful memories of this family and the curse, aren't you?"

I looked at that irritating smirk that lay on Akito's face and wished I could get rid of it; It was beginning to get on my nerves.

Instead I broke formation and took a step forward, causing Akito to take a slight step back. I was terrified of being in the presence of the Sohma's "master", but I knew that would never help my cause; the reason why I was here.

So I closed my eyes as I answered his question, knowing there was no time for formalities, no time even to say much, as someone would find me here eventually, and I needed to get out of here remembering…

"No Akito, I'm not."

"So you want to lose your memories, is that it? You want to forget this hideous curse and all those under it? You want to return to that blissful ignorant life you led before? You want to forget that dreadful day, ten years ago, when my pet showed his true self to all your friends, and yourself? Is that what you came here for?

How could he know about that day? How could he have known about then, and kept it from the rest of his family, and stopped them erasing my memories… unless he had another reason…

"You want to waste that chance your mother sacrificed herself for…?"

I froze while circling then, in shock and Akito moved forward, so that I could feel his breath on my ear as he carried on at a whisper.

But what could he mean, When I told mother, she started getting ready, straight away! I didn't see her leave the house… I didn't, she couldn't have said anything to anyone…

"…She came to me as soon the incident happened, to find out the truth… just like you are at the moment…"

What? It can't be… Mother hated that house even more than I had feared it… she'd hated it when we sneaked in to play…

"… She worked here Hotaru… she saw what had happened… she saw you run… as did I…"

But Mother worked in the one of the offices down town… that's what she had told me…

"…She knew what I would do, and so offered herself to the Sohma's… even though she wasn't one herself… just to keep an unworthy child like you free with her memories… those dirty memories of the rat-boy and the bond…"

But… but we had run… my mother and I… we had run so far away… and they had never found us… We never saw any of them…

I didn't know anymore whether my thoughts were spoken out loud… or screamed in my head… either way, he knew what I was thinking…

"… Hotaru, you still don't understand do you…?" I felt the dance start up again, the rhythm moving faster, as my thoughts flew away, and I forgot why I was here… why I had come here to challenge the head… why I had wanted to lead this… to break free from his iron grasp… "… You were never found because I didn't want you to be found!"

"W… what!?"

I couldn't understand, couldn't comprehend why I had been let to keep my memories… It was like a sick joke.

"You heard me correctly, Hotaru, you know you did…" He moved closer as he whispered threateningly in my ear… into my soul. "It was me who told your pitiful mother where to hide you, it was me who didn't order a mass search for the children, who said that only those children were there, that I only saw them, and it was me who let you return here, to go to that school, and to find out the truth on what had happened that day… so I could finally complete my mission, while pretending to be the 'good guy'…"

I was terrified. Even when the doors slammed open and Yuki and that Doctor rushed in, and pulled Akito off me, before flinching back from his touch, I realised what was happening, who this person really was…

…and who he was to that child…

… Who I had been to that child…

… The one who I had stayed with during my 'escape'…

… He had sent me to be a playmate to her…

… A friend…

… A companion…

… A Jailor…

… That was the truth of it…

… The complete and utter truth of it…

But I knew one thing for certain.

That he was frightened.

That was why he had sent us over there, so she wouldn't escape.

And I knew then what I would have to do…

… To save Yuki-san from his nightmares…

… To save my mother from bearing the guilt I had brought around…

… And to save myself, from being frozen…

…But why was there blood on my cheek…?

… And why was darkness spreading through my mind…?

…And why was I falling--…

AN: Thank you all who are reading my story, and reviewing, I really appreciate all your comments, and it makes me motivated to keep writing.

However, the Melting snow is drawing to an end, with only maybe one or two chapters and an epilogue left…

However, I really want to write a sequel to this, so please say If you want to find out why all these mysterious ties and references to "the girl" are about, and if you want a sequel.

Thank you yet again…

Kaytii/