(Warning: Time jump)

Kyo woke with the sun, he groaned and rolled over, his eyes caught the wall, the small tally marks working over themselves. 'nearly two years huh?' He rested an arm over his face. 'Can't believe I'm still alive.' A breeze slipped through the small barred window, gently reminding him of the fall weather coming on. "Winter is coming huh?" Kyo sat up. Winter last year was… hard to say the least. Akito only allowed the smallest of blankets and Kyo tried to sleep without it, hoping the winter would take him away, it never did, only reminded him of his harsh realities. The good news was the cold seemed to numb… it.

'Thinking about me?'

'Good morning, don't worry, you won't be here long.' Kyo thought bitterly, every morning around this time Akito came in to give him his "treatment" on rare occasion Hatori was the substitute when Akito didn't feel like messing with a monster.

Kyo stood, going to the small window, if he stood on his toes he could just see the tops of the trees. The leaves russeling in the wind, turning colors. The soft brown reminded him of something.
Oh.

A shard of pain slipping through his heart, but he quickly ignored it. He tried not to think about things like that.

He tried not to think at all.
'You could go back, you could escape, you could be free.'

'Free to kill the people I love?' Kyo chuckled. He had the same conversation every morning. Then

again, if he didn't have someone to talk to he might go mad.

Though
He guessed this was a sign of his madness.

'What people? No one has come to save you, no one has come to visit you, you are alone. There's no one to protect.'

'No, I thought you might be right once, but now I see that they stay away to protect me, to protect me from you.'

'You mean from you? I am you.'

'You keep saying that.'

There was a tap at the door, Kyo went to sit on the small wooden cot, to prepare himself.
As Hatori entered Kyo let a sigh of relief escape him. Today was a lucky day.

"Arm." Was all Hatori said and Kyo presented his. Hatori grabbed the sleeve and pulled It up,

Kyo was greeted with the disgusting flesh, mutilated beyond recognition with deep cuts, bandages covering the lower part, it was, as Akito said, "The only way to punish the monster and get it to behave"

Hatori produced a surgical blade and a restraint, he quickly strapped Kyo's arm a pole designed for that exact reason, he strapped both arms, to keep the monster from fighting back. "Do it quickly, he is strong today," Kyo breathed, clenching his fists. Hatori nodded and dipped the blade in a small vial, some sort of poison that kept Kyo only half there, only half human.

"Wait,"
Hatori paused, glancing at the cat.
"Please… just…." Kyo looked down, his clenched fists couldn't hide his tremors.

"You know I can't do that." Hatori said coldly, and with exact precision made the slice.

Kyo screamed, and then the poison kicked in.

_

"Kyo, I missed you so much!"
"Tohru?" Kyo looked up, "Tohru is that you?"
"I'm here." Tohru ran to him, grabbing his hands. "I'm finally here."
"Tohru, I-"
"I know" She smiled, her eyes so bright, the most light Kyo had seen in a long time. "me too-"
"I love you." Kyo held her, breathing in her hair."

A small blush fell over her cheeks. "Kyo I…I.. I love you too." She giggled covering her mouth.
The bright light in her eyes dim

Her pupils dilate as her eyes widen.
"Why…" She breathed, dropping to her knees.
"No!" Kyo screamed, reaching out to catch her, but where hands should be there were claws. She looked up at him clutching her stomach, blood seeping between her fingers.

"I'm sorry Kyo." She whispered.
"No! Tohru, I'm sorry, please don't go, I'm sorry."

_

"Hatori, How is he?" If Hatori was surprised to see Yuki in the main house entryway he didn't show it.
"Same." Hatori said dead pan. "It's been a while Yuki." Hatori made his way down the hall, gesturing Yuki to follow. "Tea?"
Yuki followed, keeping up with the older man. "I've been busy, school has kept me… distracted." Yuki brushed his hand through his hair. "I should come more but,"
"But it doesn't really matter." Hatori finished, they had reached the small room Hatori used for his medical needs. "Sit, I've been thinking." Hatori made his way to the small hotplate and put on a pot of hot water, Shigure would scowl at such tactics but it was efficient.
Yuki sat, he looked thin, pale, but that was normal. School had done good for him, but he lost a lot when he chose to leave. "Hatori, has there been any change?" Yuki pressured, Hatori shook his head.
"Akito makes sure that the inner cat remains restrained, and Kyo in the process."

"Hatori, can I see him? Like I know I can't see him but if someone were to see him without Akito knowing how would they do it?" Yuki leaned in, staring Hatori down. "It's important Hatori, it's important I see him soon."

Hatori sighed. "Calm down Yuki, I might not seem it but I'm on your side." He waved his hand, "You don't understand, even if you were to see Kyo he wouldn't be… Kyo. The only times he's himself are the hours before his… injection. He might not even recognize you."
"Then let me see him in those moments."
Hatori shook his head, getting up and grabbing a couple mugs. "That isn't easy, it's only on rare occasion that Akito isn't there, and if he catches you-"
"It's worth the risk."
Hatori placed a couple mugs of steaming tea on the table. "Look, stay here tonight and I'll do my best to convince Akito he is unwell in the morning. You'll only have a few moments with Kyo if this does work. If it doesn't it will make things much worse."
Yuki nodded, taking a sip of his tea.