CHAPTER X: THE BEGINNING OF AN END

Sora's POV: Thrashed

I lay on the ground in shock, taking the blows. "Who is this guy? Why did he say 'wife?' My stomach hurts. Kairi's really upset. …I should've listened to her. But still… this way I know how she's doing. Good or bad. I didn't want to leave her alone." I'll feel it really bad in the morning. I know he's broken a few things. Mainly ribs, but it's worth it. "It's worth it."I roll into a ball, taking the hits.

I hear Kairi's voice scared. I can tell she's crying. "Sora, get up!" I look up to see a foot flying toward my face. I block. The first thing I've blocked this whole fight. I think I'm actually realizing the fact that I'm in a real fight.

"Bastard" I hear him say to me, grunting. I feel helpless, but I'm not. I could probably be a good match for him if I tried.

"Why don't I?" I try to stand up, but am so sore and slow that I'm down, bleeding more on the ground in no time. She's crying really hard. I can hear her gasps and protests. I can also see her flinch every time I take a hit. That's what really gets me. "What's this about anyway?" The police show up, but one of the men from before go talk to them. They don't do anything. I feel life leaving me. My breathing slows and I don't want to move. The pain is so intensifying; I don't know how anyone can survive this. I grunt. I'm so confused. I roll on the ground in agony, but it only creates more pain. "Someone put me outta my misery!" The boy killing me stops and picks me up from my shirt. It was white, but is now red due to the blood.

"Stay away from her. I'm not asking politely again." He drops me and I grunt again. Kairi rushes to me. She takes me in her lap and holds me, careful not to put me in more pain. How could I pay attention to that when she's here, caring for me? I laugh a little to show her I'm okay.

"It took this, just to get you to hold me?" She laughs sadly because of the irony. I grunt again and move to ease the pressure on my body.

"Hey, bitch," I hear the jerk say. "I'm not done with you. Just that dumbass of yours."

She gently puts me down and stands up.

Kairi's POV: Backup

After I lay him down on the concrete, careful not to hurt him anymore, I stand up to face Kazuo. I grit my teeth and clench my fists. No one does that and gets away with it. I'm killing him. "Don't call him that." My teeth are clenched, my heart's pounding, and the only boy I've ever cared about like this is about to die if I don't do something now. The police are watching us. Paramedics come and get Sora. I'll talk to them after they take away Kazuo's lifeless corpse.

"I'll call him whatever I want to." I slap him as hard as I can. It'll leave a welt in the morning. Not that he'll be alive in the morning. He left Sora an inch from death, I'll kill him! He grabs my hand and squeezes my wrist until I fall to my knees. "Finally where you belong!" He uses the same wrist to throw me into the wall behind him. I flinch, but take it. He takes my shoulders violently and kisses me harshly. I try my best to pull away and push him away, but he doesn't let go. It's getting really scary. He's forcing me to make-out with him. What else is he going to do to me? He's taking Sora, forcing me into a life I don't want, and it's nothing like what Sora and I have. He finally pulls back and kisses me lustfully. Again. He violates me by touching me. He kisses my neck. I seethe with hatred and breathe hard because of it. I find my perfect chance for a little revenge. I knee him in the groin and he goes down faster than I've ever seen someone go down before. If I'm on display like this, I'm going to make it worth my effort. But then, I hear a voice I've never heard before call after me.

"Kairi!" A boy with orange hair and red eyes, filled with as much hatred as myself jumps in to protect me. I don't recognize him still, but the men from before aren't doing anything to get him outta the way. He yells at me with his back to me. "Go!"

"Huh?" I feel frozen.

"Go!" I remember Sora and run over to the paramedics. His mom is there, helping him. It's her job, but she's really worried herself.

"You're going to be just fine" I hear her say and she walks away. I nearly tackle Sora with a hug.

"I'm so sorry!" I cry out to him. "I knew this would happen! I'm so sorry! Why didn't you do anything?!"

"It's okay, Kairi. Are you okay? I couldn't do anything because I didn't know what was going on until I already had three ribs broken." I'm practically in his lap now, hugging him. I'm never going to let go. "What is this all about?"

I sniff and finally let go. "Sora, I lied to you. I remember everything. About where I was from… Everything. The only thing I don't remember is my dad and brother."

"Okay?"

I'm scared. What is he going to say? What is he going to do? "I don't want to lose you."

"Kairi, if I would've known he was going to do that, I would've fought back. I didn't want to sit there and do nothing."

"That's not it!" He reaches out to hold me again and flinches from the pain. He still reaches out anyway. I shake my head. "You're hurt."

"Just a little. C'mon. I'm not about ready to give up on us."

"Did he just say that? It doesn't matter anyway. He's going to change his mind after I tell him." He still reaches out for me. I shake my head again. "This is my fault. I never should've told Kaiyo about you. If I wouldn't have he wouldn't have told dad and dad wouldn't have gone off."

"What are you talking about, Kairi?" I look over my shoulder, letting the noises from the fight enter my head. I watch the fight a little. Kazuo and that boy are still at it.

"That boy… Now that I see his face…" My eyes widen. I'm about to yell out to him, but I don't want to give Kazuo any chance to hurt another loved one.

"Who is he?" I hear Sora ask me.

I turn back to him. "The boy with the orange hair is my brother. It's the first time I've ever seen him in person. The only reason I know it's him is because he sent me pictures."

"And the other one?"

"I guess you'd say he's Prince Kazuo Zimri. He's my fiancé…"

"What?"

"I don't want to…" I shake my head.

Sora's POV: Taking it In

I know she's telling me the truth. She's really supposed to marry this guy. She really doesn't want to. The idea scares her. I can see it so clear in her eyes. Almost on the verge of hysteria. I feel frozen. I can't move. "My dreams…"Is it possible to be hurt more by this than the beating? I feel like my insides were just shattered. I'm sick to my stomach all of a sudden, but my heart's too far up in my throat for regurgitation.

"I want you, Sora. I hate him." She's crying now. "I have no choice!"

"It's arranged? How?" I find myself saying, now not sure how to feel. I still feel sick, but now she has me thinking.

"Sora, my dad is King Diz. The king those men were talking about."

"So you're… a…" I can't finish my sentence. She knows what I'm saying. My stomach twists a little more.

"I'm from Radiant Garden, Sora. I'm supposed to be going back when I turn 18."

Her fear turns to a different place. "You're leaving?" So Kazuo broke my bones. Now he's breaking something even more precious to me. And taking it away. "I don't know when it happened, Kairi, but you have my heart, how else would I feel so empty?"

"I don't want to." She shakes her head.

I don't know what to do. I want to hold her, but isn't that like adultery? I'm hurt physically and torn emotionally, but I'm more worried about her. I don't want to touch her because I don't want attacked again the way I was. But how can I not comfort her? Is it hopeless? Is every dream I've had about a future with her hopeless? I can't play myself, but I can't crush her either. I'd be crushing myself. She gravitates to me and I let her. I don't care if it is hopeless. She needs me. I need her. I need her more than anything. I'm not going anywhere. "I'm not going anywhere."

Kairi's POV: Meeting a Loved One

I cry on him all the more. He's being so soft. I need this. I need him here. He's not going anywhere. I trust that. He kisses my head softly. I want to look up and kiss him myself, but… I don't care what Kazuo says or does. I'll stop him. In fact… he's coming now. I feel him behind me. I feel a hand on my shoulder. "It's not his grip."

"Kairi?"

"That's not his voice."I look up, tear-streaked to see Kaiyo. I let go of Sora and practically tackle him, crying more. He just hugs me. I lean back. "You came?"

"I had to run away." He smiles at me, then sobers. "I wasn't supposed to."

I hug him again. "I figured." I let go and turn to Sora. "Sora, this is Kaiyo. Kaiyo, this is Sora."

Kaiyo teases Sora, which I think we ALL appreciate. "You uh… held up your side of the fight well."

Sora shrugs. "Well, what can I say? He snuck up on me."

"What happened anyway? I got here late" he says.

I pipe up. "He was talking to him. I expected it, from what you've told me… but… he was just talking to him and took a gut shot."

Sora laughs. "I think he was going for something else."

Kaiyo smirks, unamused. "Wouldn't surprise me." Sora's mom comes back.

"Are you two done now?" She looks between us.

I pipe up again. "Oh, Miss Fischer, this is my brother, Kaiyo. He lives far away."

"Oh really? Where?" She's curious and friendly. We all love her.

"Radiant Gar—" he starts to say, but I elbow him.

"You probably don't know where it is exactly. It doesn't matter." I smile innocently. Sora smiles at me. She takes the hint and looks back down at Sora.

"Well, you seem to be doing better."

"Yeah." He looks up at his mom reassuringly.

"Well, I'll tell you right now" she says sternly, "you're not going anywhere after school. You're not even going back to school. You're going home."

"How? We live on the island." He's trying to go back to school. I can tell.

"I'll row him home" I volunteer. "Kaiyo can come with me, right?" I turn to him.

"I should be getting back, Kairi."

That must be hard for him to say. After dad finds out he left… What did he do with Kazuo? "What happened to…?"

"Akan and Shane took him back before he got too bad."

"Who?" I ask

"Those two guys… they're like our bodyguards. Except I shouldn't be here, so I don't have any this time."

"What do you think dad will do?"

"I don't know." He shrugs. "If he tries anything, I'll shut him up."

I plead, "Kaiyo…"

He smirks at me. "I'll be okay. Don't worry." He looks to Sora. "You have enough to worry about."

"I love you." I hug him.

"I love you too, Kairi." He lets me go. But I need to get outta here. "Later. Nice to meet you Miss Fischer. Sora." He waves and runs off. I turn to Miss Fischer.

"Ma'am?" I ask. "Is it okay? I'll take care of him. I'm not going back to school either."

"Why not?" She asks worriedly.

I look away. "I wouldn't concentrate. Too much to worry about. My mom understands. She'll let me come home." That last part was a lie. Sora knows that. "I'll go straight home after I drop him off if you want." I figure he's told her how we feel about each other.

"No. If you're not going back to school, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep an eye on him." My jaw drops slightly.

"Okay, maybe he didn't say anything to her. Yes ma'am." I nod. "Do you want me to go back home when Yuna and Aerith get home?"

"If you want. I trust you two."

I look down, flattered. "Thanks."

"I'll call your mom and tell her not to worry" she says and leaves.

Sora looks at me shocked. "You're gonna stay? After you drop me off."

I blush. I can tell. "Yeah. Do you mind?"

He stammers, "No. Not at all. Just… yeah."

I smile. "Cool. Let's go." I hold out my hand. I'm in a better mood now. I don't see how, but I feel safer somehow. I let him lean on me and I walk him to the docks. I let him get in the boat first. It's a tight fit for us both to be in one boat, but we suffice. I row us back there. It's a lot harder when I'm taking two people instead of my normal one person. Myself. He offers to help a few times, but there's no way I'm letting him do any kind of physical labor.

Author's Note: So that's Chapter X. tear I almost cried. Not really. C'mon, I'm the author here! lol. So… you met Kaiyo. And for all of you out there that know Fruit's Basket. I stole Kyou. Kinda. Kaiyo is my Kyou, or Kyo. The spelling's close too. But if you noticed, Kaiyo has orange hair and red eyes. And immediately translated, Kaiyo, or Kaiyou literally means "ocean," so yeah, it fits perfectly. So for all you Kyou lovers out there, here you go. tomatoes come flying past me No!!! Sorry Yuki fanclub!!! Don't kill me! KYOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hides behind an angry Kyou YAY! Bye!!! (Review please)