Chapter Ten

I should leave forever. Never come back. Why should I? I don't want to be in that stupid family. They don't care about me. They won't care about me even if I beat that damn rat. They'll just feel bad for Yuki and ignore me like always…

Kyo was walking down a forest trail, hands shoved angrily in his pockets.

Nobody ever cares about the stupid cat. Only Tohru ever did, and she loves Yuki. The person who did this to me. Well, Yuki didn't do it to me technically. I'm not that stupid. But it's the rat's fault and Yuki is the rat. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him. He's taken everything from me. He took my rightful place as a member of the family… and he took Tohru…

Kyo glared down at his feet, not able to keep his head up.

He knew I cared about her… like I've never cared about anyone ever before… He knew it… and he didn't care…

No, he did care. He told me that one night he wouldn't make any motions to Tohru if it would totally destroy me. And me in my stupidity… it's my own damn fault… Why did I have to tell him Tohru wouldn't… she did. She did choose him. I didn't think she would. But she did. I should have said something, I should have done something. I should have told her that I… I felt…

Kyo kicked a stick away, feeling sick to his stomach.

It's my own fault. But it's his fault too. He took her. He took her… But I told him to go ahead… because I didn't think she'd really pick him… I thought she… she cared about me…

She does care about me. Tohru does really care about me. But not like how I cared about her. I can't give her what Yuki can. He's better suited for her. He doesn't overreact, beat people up for no reason and spout out complete nonsense. He doesn't insult her. He's perfect for her, and he makes her happy.

Is that what I wanted? For her to be happy? I don't hate her for choosing Yuki. She deserves the prince. She's a princess and deserves the prince, not the…

What am I? I'm nothing. I'm not even part of the court. Yuki's the spoiled prince who everyone bows down to. Everyone loves Yuki. Even his stupid brother, even though he knows Yuki doesn't like him. Ayame's the stupid queen of the court and Shigure's the king. Hatori's the fucking wizard. Momiji's the jester. Everyone has a place in Akito's puppet court. He has his prince and his wizard and his knights…

And me?

Kyo finally looked up, staring at the blue sky.

I'm nothing. I'm… I'm the prisoner in the dungeons. Chained to the walls. Able to hear the royal banquet going on and unable to attend.

I'll never attend…

Kyo began running as fast as he could, trying to run away from his thoughts.

Damn, damn, damn, damn…

0-0-0-0-0-0

"Yuki and Tohru will return before Kyo does…"

"It's your fault."

"I didn't know he'd react like he did. He's unpredictable…"

Akito was curled up in Shigure's lap, breathing with a raspy sound. "He must become predictable," Akito wheezed out.

Shigure rested his hand on Akito's arm. Is that it, Akito? He wondered. You're mad because you can't control him like you can control the rest of us? You want to put a collar on the cat. A little bell, so you know where he is at all times? But what does Shizuka have to do with this? Why do you have to be like this, Akito? I know you have more to you than evil. Deep down, you're just scared, lonely and sad.

"Dog, what are you thinking?"

Shigure gave a tiny smile. "I'm just enthralled at the idea of Kyo becoming predictable. That certainly would make my life easier."

Akito slid his hand to Shigure's stomach and gripped the fabric of his kimono. "Your life?" He hissed out. "Your life? Make your life easier!"

Shigure winced. "I didn't mean to offend you—"

"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Akito screamed, slamming his hands against Shigure's chest. The man didn't move, but the head of the Sohma family did. He slid back, due to his frail body. "YOU CARE ABOUT NOBODY BUT YOURSELF! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE A DOG! LOYAL! TO ME! LOYAL!"

Shigure grabbed Akito's hands, eyes wide in desperation. "I am loyal to you, Akito!" He said, wishing he'd calm down. "Loyal to you and only to you! I always will be your dog, your loyal dog who sits up on your command!" Akito's eyes flashed with anger before he doubled over, consumed by a coughing fit. "Should I summon Ha—"

"No!" Akito groaned out, covering his mouth with his sleeve. "Just leave me alone. Leave me alone like you want to!"

Shigure slowly rose to his feet and bowed. "I do not want you to be alone, Akito-san," he whispered. "But I'll leave as you want me to."

0-0-0-0-0-0

Kyo was sitting on the front steps when Shigure came down the path. He was so surprised, he nearly dropped the bag of carry-out he had gotten for dinner.

"The kitty's returned home," he commented. "How pleasant for me." He dangled the bag in front of Kyo's face. "I brought fish!" He sang out.

"Fuck off, Shigure."

"Ooh, the kitty's mad!" Shigure opened his front door. "What's wrong? Hairball?"

Kyo hunched over, his body trembling. "Yes, a fucking hairball."

Shigure knit his brow together. This wasn't the usual Kyo-reaction. Kyo would have thrown something. He would have run off. He would have attacked a tree.

"Kyo…? What's wrong?"

The redhead stood up, head still hung. "It doesn't matter, does it?" He shuffled past Shigure and the novelist heard his door shut.

Oh dear, he thought, going inside and setting the bag on the table. He's acting so different… Is he beginning to…?

No, he can't. He needs to stay how he was. Defy Akito, Kyo! You're not free but you're freer than the rest of us. Don't be tied down. Don't let Akito put a collar on you as he did to me…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The three of them knelt around the table, eating in silence. Kyo was obviously much more subdued than usual and Shizuka wasn't bothering with any conversation.

"I know!" Shigure said brightly. "Why don't the two of you take a nice walk?"

Their heads snapped up. "What?" Kyo asked, eyes suspicious.

"It's such a nice evening and I don't think Shizuka-chan has seen all of our lovely grounds!" Shigure waved his chopsticks in Kyo's face. "Show her around!"

Kyo moved a piece of fish around on his plate. "I don't feel like it," he said sullenly.

This isn't good, Shigure thought. He's acting strange, not his usual self. No, Kyo. I must make him mad. I must.

"Why?" Shigure asked, poking Kyo's arm with one chopstick. "Don't want alone time with Shizuka-chaan?"

Kyo's face went red and a sweat drop appeared. "Shigure…"

"Mm, I've been wondering why you went so spastic when Aaya-san was hugging her!" Shigure inched in close, his face a portrait of amusement. "What would you do if I was hugging her?"

"Shi… gure…!" Kyo warned, clutching his chopsticks.

Shigure slid in next to the blushing Shizuka and put his arms around her. Her body was so soft, so tender, so strange… He really didn't want to let go of her.

"Shizuka-chan!" He breathed out, his cheek against hers. "You really are the best assistant I've ever had."

"Arrhhhaaa!" She managed to get out. "Th-thank you, Shigure-san…"

"Shizuka, damn it don't take his crap!" Kyo snarled out, eyes burning.

Shigure rubbed his cheek against hers. "I want to hold you for the rest of my life, Shizuka-chan! You're so soft and warm, it makes me feel so happy!"

"Shigure stop being a pervert!"

"I'm so glad you came to live with me!" Shigure purred out, his lips next to her ear. "It makes me haaaaaaaaa…"

A large sweat drop appeared on his face as he realized his lips were not next to her ear.

Because she didn't have an ear.

"…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…" Shigure moaned out, eyes blank.

Shizuka gave a tiny gasp and clamped her hand over where her ear was supposed to be. Shigure had never noticed before since her scarf normally covered it, but he had been so close he could feel there was no ear there. No ear… no ear… no ear…

"…aaaaaaaaaaaa…"

"What are you going on about?" Kyo demanded. He had broken his chopsticks from holding them so tightly. "You're such an idiot!"

"A tour of the grounds would be wonderful, Kyo-kun!" Shizuka leapt to her feet, arms flapping. "Please do me the honor of showing me!"

"…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…" Shigure's head was tilting from side to side. "…aaaaaa…"

Shizuka grabbed Kyo's hand and dragged him out of the house, shrieking about the grounds.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"You didn't see under the scarf?"

"Ha'ri-san, she has no ear!"

"She certainly does have ears," Hatori said quietly, taking a long drag form his cigarette. "But they're not human."

Shigure gave a whimper of fear. "That's not normal!"

"Of course it isn't, you imbecile!" Hatori grumbled. "She isn't normal and she should leave as soon as possible. She shouldn't be mixed up with this family. Least of all Kyo."

"He's taking her on a tour of the grounds right now."

"Shigure…" Hatori whispered. "Follow them and make sure they don't get close."

'I want to see how this girl and the Cat get along…'

"Can you hear me? Shigure?"

'Try to get them to interact… It's very important'

"Gure-san, are you there? I can hear your whimpering breathing perfectly well. Stop this silence and talk to me."

'…make sure they have some time together… see what the Cat does'

"I'm on my last nerve."

'Jealousy. That is a good sign…'

"SHIGURE!"

"I'm here," Shigure said gently. "I'll follow them." He put the receiver down and went to the door, sliding it open and staring outside as a gentle wind ruffled his hair.

I'm sorry Hatori, he thought, slipping his feet into some shoes and walking down to the path. But I'm Akito's puppy… His loyal puppy…

Author's Note:

Dun-dun-dunnn! –YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY DUNDUNDUN- ahh sorry –rolls eyes- okay too much 'eight-bit theater' I swear… -coughcough- anyway this is the other chapter I'm updating for today :-D I hope you like it. We're getting closer to –what- Shizuka is… hehehe… but first, after living with them so long she really must find out about their dreadful curse! So that's going to be coming up before her secret. Patience is a virtue. Silence is golden. Umm… early to bed and early to rise. Don't put your elbows on the table. Ahh okay, I shouldn't have had that giant lollipop I'm in a weird mood now –bows- I hope you enjoy this!