The next day Kyo sensed something was different about the way Tohru was acting around him. Whenever he would glance at her or look up to say something she would immediately snap her head away as if reflex. By midday he was starting to wonder if she was purposely avoiding his gaze. It bothered him how something small...irked him...He was not usually a person to be irked by small things. He also began to notice his eyes travelled to Tohru every once in a while throughout the day. He felt he was becoming too preoccupied...

However, after lunch he almost forgot about his little irks for a little bit until Hatori called during lunch time and informed them that he was coming over once again to check on Tohru. Kyo was surprised that Hatori was so diligently checking on Tohru's wounds despite his earlier points of dissaproval with involving an outsider with the Sohmas'. He wondered if it was because she was too nice to everyone she met.

Finally, the time when Hatori would arrived approached. Kyo stood next to the window, waiting for Hatori to arrive. He always stood out watching in case Akito happened to be using Hatori as a spy. It wasn't that he couldn't trust Hatori. He just knew that Akito was clever...

He glanced at Momiji who was humming while eating snacks and reading a few books. He had his feet propped on the beige silk couch and was laying on a pillow seeming completely at ease. Kyo almost frowned at Momij's nonchalant attitude. He wondered if he was becoming too strict on himself.

Haru and Yuki had gone out to do errands. So the three were alone in Haru's home. He rechecked his memory and realized Tohru would now be doing laundry or something home related.

Straying his eyes back to the window, Kyo wondered in his mind whether or not such relaxing easiness was allowed for them...Momiji had said no comment about moving back to Venice once Tohru was healed. On the contrary Momiji seemed to enjoy living in Haru's house. However, Kyo knew deep down they couldn't stay there forever...where would they go next? And what would they do about Tohru...?

As his thoughts strayed once again to Tohru, Kyo felt himself feel a mixture of different sensations and emotions. He was glad Tohru was with them...but he was also extremely regretful that he had even talked to her that day in Venice. What would have happened if he had simply ignored Tohru when she had offered to reward him for saving her? She wouldn't have gotten shot...she wouldn't have had to run away from her friends...and she most certainly would not be targeted by Akito. Once again, he was ticking off in his head selfish reasons to not get involved with anyone. However, knowing where they were now, he was in too deeply with his relationship with her to get away.

And the fact that she had taken a bullet for him... the moment he had heard the sound of the gunshot, his heart had almost dropped to the depths of his stomach. Out of all the times he had feared something... he had been scared the most that she had...

He stopped and clenched his fists tightly in his hands. He was going too far with this...he couldn't think of her that way. He knew way too well what Momiji thought of Tohru. He also knew way too well that he was no good for her. He was darkness, she was light.

As Kyo shifted his attention back to outside, he realized with relief that a black car had parked outside Haru's gate. He had been growing a bit uneasy when Hatori had taken longer than usual.

He was about to make his way to the door to open it for Hatori, when he stopped at the edge noticing that someone had come out of the car. However, what had stopped him was not the person...but the color.

Red. Bright red. A kimono that had been woken with strands of deep gold and black, twisting to wrap itself around the silk garment.

Immediately, it was as if someone had lit a fire on his insides that urged his instincts. His heart beat quickened, and he was no longer thinking in normal pace. At rapid speed the location of Tohru was inched on his mind like a navigation. Kyo was gone from the side of the window panel in a flash and was at Haru's garden in an instant. He caught sight of light blue and humming and he was already behind her grabbing her arm from behind.

Before she could even register what was going on, before she had time to even turn around to see who it even was, Kyo had her mouth covered tightly with his hand. Pulling her away from the garden he ran and took her to the second floor of the house. Opening the first door at the end of the hall, he pulled her inside along with him and shut the door quickly.

Holding up his finger to his lips Kyo brought his eyes down to her. Tohru looked up at him her mouth still covered with hand. She breathed fast, her chest rising up and down at a fast rate, and looked at him in alarm. She questioned him with her eyes, panicked and scared.

"Akito...he's here." Kyo whispered in reply.

Tohru's eyes got even wider at his words and she began to tremble.

"W-What?! Where is he?!"

"He's about to come in the house"

"But...Momiji!"

Kyo shook his head at her. "No time." He whispered back. At that they heard the front door slam open and footsteps enter the house. Kyo and Tohru froze at exactly the same time. The room they were in was extremely small, the side of a closet. And it was almost dark except for the small daylight that crept through the cracks of the door. Kyo immediately grasped the knob of the door with his free hand keeping it firmly shut. His muscles tensed as the two waited in silence.

They then immediately heard a shot and someone hit the ground with a strong thud. Kyo's eyes widened as he became immobile next to her. Tohru blinked once...twice ...and she began to shake.

"It...it's not...him.." Kyo tried to mouth to her. But Tohru only shook her head, her whole body was now shaking as she clenched her hands together. Kyo stared at her. He swallowed not even thinking of moving or saying a word.

"Now, this is unexpected. I expected...Haru and Yuki to be here." They heard the low voice of someone who didn't belong. Someone Tohru had been fearing, and had kept Kyo in his chains. His voice sent a thrill of terror down Tohru's spine. It was slivery, like a feather of venom.

"Poor Momiji. Oh well, where are the maids?"

Tohru shut her eyes feeling tears threaten to spill. She wanted to shut everything out. She wanted Akito to leave...

"If Momiji's here...he wouldn't be alone." Akito murmured. There was the sound of padded footsteps against the bamboo flooring.

"Hatori...get him in the car."

"Yes." Hatori's voice was muted. Unemotional.

"And...Shigure. Want to play a game? Who can find the missing cat?"

"I do like games." Shigure answered. There were more sounds of people moving downstairs. "But I find it strange how uncareful they were...surely they knew you would visit the other Sohmas' one time unexpectedly?"

"Yes...but we have to give Momiji-kun credit for holding out so long." Akito answered in a trill of laughter.

There was more movement and Tohru stiffened in Kyo's arms. She realized at the same time he did, that they were not safe where they were. Sooner or later, Akito or Shigure would open the door, and find the two inside. She turned her eyes onto him in horror.

"What do we do?" She mouthed.

Kyo let go his hand on her mouth and his eyes moved as he racked his head.

"We...have to leave." He murmured against her ear quietly. "Follow me."

Keeping silent, the two waited for a moment before Kyo quietly opened the door half way and led Tohru out into the hallway. The hallway was bright with light, and he closed the door silently behind them to leave no trace. He then grabbed her hand and led her through the house and to the end of the second floor. At the end was a bedroom, and Kyo quietly opened it before leading them inside. In the bedroom was a large window and Kyo led them straight to it.

"We're...climbing out?" Tohru whispered wide-eyed.

"No...we're jumping." He began to creak it open, but by doing so a large sound emitted between the cracks of the sills. The two both froze at the sound.

There was a pause downstairs and Akito commented. "What was that? Did you hear something upstairs?"

"I think I did...it was where Haru's room would be."

"Well...it's probably no mere coincidence." Akito's voice wound its' way into a loud laughter.

Immediately, as if deciding otherwise, Kyo pulled the window all the way open and lifted Tohru by the waist and helped her onto the roof. He then followed after her and grabbed her hand helping her climb up the steep edge.

Tohru heard loud footsteps and tried to hurry and follow Kyo to the edge. As the two finally made their way to the end of the roof, the face of Shigure appeared in front of the large window.

"Ahh...what a sight." He laughed, clapping his hands together.

Kyo didn't stop. He pushed Tohru closer to the edge and jumped before her, landing on the ground with hardly a loud thud. He then sprang to his feet standing fully upright, and held his arms out to her.

"Tohru jump!" He said urgently. "I'll catch you don't worry!"

"But..." Tohru hesitated. Jumping would mean landing in Kyo's arms...that meant she would hug him...She felt a wave of panic at the dilemma she faced.

"HURRY!" He bellowed. His eyes burned as he looked at her with urgency and resolution. Tohru bit her lip and glanced behind her. She immediately saw that Shigure was right behind her climbing his way to her. Seeing no other choice, Tohru ounced her courage, lifted her feet off the roof, and dropped to the ground below.

Tohru felt herself fall hard into Kyo's arms and the impact made both of them fall to the ground. Tohru felt herself go completely on top of Kyo and his arms reach out to protect her from the ground. It was as if something had erupted. One second she felt his strong arms grasp her sides tightly against him, and then suddenly there was smoke everywhere. Not only smoke, but a foul smell that she couldn't even begin to describe with her own mouth. Her eyes burned and stung at the smell and feeling of it. She felt her tongue curl with bile and her eyes were blurry with the thick smoke that obscured her view. Once the smoke had cleared Tohru saw that she was now alone on the grass. Looking around her frantically, what she saw standing next to her made her almost have a heart attack of terror.

It was a monster. A large beast that was rotting from head to foot in a dark slime that emitted smells of dark foulness. It wasn't a cat...it wasn't a bear...it was something much larger and distorted. She searched her eyes burning for his eyes and saw that green orbs had changed to yellow piercing ones with red etched on the edges. The monster had large grey claws that dug at the ground, a tail with three sharp ends, spikes surrounding and sticking out of his protruding figure, and slime...slime was everywhere. It was oozing out of him and oozing to the ground...

"K-k...k!" Tohru tried to talk but talking filled her mouth with the taste of the smell and she gagged on it. She covered her mouth immediately with her hands.

"TOHRU..." He didn't look at her. He didn't even seem to hear her. His eyes grew even more red as the forms and spikes on his back intensified to grow sharper against him. He seemed to slowly seem to lose control...

"GO. GO NOW." He bellowed shrieking into the cold air.

"But...go ...where?!" Tohru gasped. She covered her nose with her other hand. "Where will you go?!"

"GO! JUST RUN AWAY FROM HERE! FORGET ME!" He bellowed. His voice was unlike him. It was the voice of something broken and hoarse running across sheer concrete. It was loud...and terrifying. Tohru had never imagined...

But she couldn't move. Try as she might, her legs wouldn't convince her to move. She felt terrified and rooted to the spot.

"How...disgusting."

Tohru noticed with a start that Shigure had dropped from the roof and stood in front of Kyo's monster form. Right behind him was Akito, who made his way slowly to stand in front of the two of them.

Akito held his hand in front of his face pinching his nose and mouth. He looked slightly green with nausea, and he looked pained as if this was the worst pain on Earth.

"What a monster." He whispered.

"NO!" Kyo bellowed. He lashed his claws out and one struck Tohru against the chest. She was lifted off the ground and flown into the air for a brief second before hitting the ground hard a bit more away from where she had been. She couldn't breathe for a moment because of the impact.

"I SAID GO TOHRU. NOW!"

Tohru struggled to get up. She willed herself to obey Kyo's orders, and was about to take off running when Akito threw something at Shigure. He pointed his arm at Shigure, who held up the object. It was a weapon...

He pointed it to Kyo's monster form.

"No..." Tohru's eyes widened with terror. "NO!"

Akito laughed mechanically. "Ah ah not so fast...stay a bit Tohru-kun."

"NO. GET OUT OF HERE TOHRU!" Kyo bellowed, he thrashed his claws against the ground pulling the dirt out into the air. "GO!"

Fresh hot tears poured down Tohru's face as she still sat frozen to the spot. How could she move?! Leaving Kyo meant he would be gone...just like Momiji...

"Kyo...to see you like this...you disgust me." Akito screamed in the air. He waved his kimono against the air as if to fan himself. "Tohru kun. Now you see?! Now you see why you were never meant to be a part of the Sohmas?' A part of him?!"

Tohru stared at Akito, tears still gently falling on her cheeks.

"This is what you get...for loving a monster." Akito bellowed.

Kyo let out a shriek of fury and moved. He lunged after Akito. Tohru screamed as Shigure made his way across the field charging his gun.

Shigure shot Kyo in the leg and Kyo doubled over stopping only meters away from clawing Akito's face.

"Kyo!" Tohru screamed.

"You dare..." Akito scrunched his eyes and they were wide with pure fury.

Tohru sobbed clenching her hands to her mouth. "Stop! I beg you! Please!"

"Stop? I'm not doing anything." Akito pointed to Kyo his eyes full of revulsion. "It's all this monster's fault..."

"Please I'll do anything, just don't harm him anymore!" Tohru pleaded. She found she could now stand, and she made her way to Akito holding her hands up.

"NO. YOU STUPID-"

Another shot.

"Urgh..."

"Don't worry two shots won't kill him in his monster form." Shigure said nonchalantly. He waved his smoking gun in the air. "But I wish he could warn us before making this horrid smell." He pinched the bridge of his nose with his hands squinting his eyes at them.

"PLEASE." Tohru made her way to stand before Akito. She felt her tears spill over her cheeks, but she faced him defiant and staring straight into his eyes. Akito smirked at her. He dropped his hand that had been holding his nose and mouth shut. He shot his hand forward and grabbed her neck with his free hand. Clenching it Tohru gasped at the pain of his sharp nails digging into the sides. She couldn't breathe..

Twisting his hold on her neck, Akito made her face Kyo.

"See this? You little worthless bitch?" He whispered in her ear. "That's not your friend. He never loved you. He will never be the same as you. You can never be together, and deep down you know how worthless he is."

Tears still felt around the edges of her eyes. She stared at Kyo pleading to him as well to leave if he could. He simply looked at her, disformed and red. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. She couldn't even tell where he was looking...his eyes were bright and wide glass orbs that were frozen in time..

"Will you give him up? Will you say it back to me Tohru kun? Kyo is a worthless monster"

"Kyo is a worthless monster." Tohru whispered immediately. She shut her eyes closed feeling even more tears now spring in her eyes. She knew she had to or else he would continue to hurt Kyo...he would continue to shoot him...

"Good. Kyo is disgusting. I hate him."

"K-Kyo is...d-disgusting. I-I hate him." Tohru sobbed. She clenched her mouth now feeling her insides burn in pain.

"Fuck him."

"F-...f-.." tohru gasped trying to finish. "him...F-...fu.." She felt Akito throw her to the side, and she felt herself slam to the ground. She rolled in pain, her shoulder bursting with the fresh pain of the impact.

"Let's leave Shigure. Make sure you follow Kyo..."

Tohru heard the clack of something pointed towards her direction. Next thing she knew a large roar had filled her ears. It was deafening and so large that her ears burned at the sound. She knew it had been Kyo. She choked and tried to tell him it was alright but only pain answered her efforts.

She heard thuds, but was unable to haul herself off the ground. She couldn't even make her eyes make out what was clearly happening. She stared as she made out Kyo's large figure. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then in a large burst of speed he sprung into the air and broke the garden fence with his front claws. He then disappeared into the woods running in the opposite direction of the house. Shigure lowered the gun when Kyo was long gone, and Akito smirked in satisfaction. "Let's go. Good bye Tohru. Let's meet again...with Kyo..."

Then Akito and Shigure had left...and soon silence was the only thing remaining in the garden...

Tohru lay on the ground, her cheek pressed against the hard dirt and grass. She tried to move her shoulder several times, but found that it was far too painful to move. So she lay there...and trying again and again to get up, yet failing in the process. She felt she was out of tears...but droplets continued to remain etched as if a reminding memory of what had just happened.

In the midst of her struggles, Tohru replayed the images of Kyo's form in her mind. Akito's words...of what had just happened...had Kyo surrendered himself so that she wouldn't be killed? Like how she had blocked his bullet? He had been shot twice...and in his legs...what did Akito want with his monster form?!

After what seemed like ages, Tohru's energy had been long since gone, and she almost felt herself break out of a trance as two gentle hands went around her arms and began to help her up.

It took her a moment to finally realize that the person who was helping her up was Yuki. He said nothing, but simply swung her into his arms and carried her inside.

Haru silently waited in front of the garden watching the two, and helped her inside to the living room along with Yuki and the two took her to her room laying her on the futon.

"I'll call a doctor." Haru said quietly and left the room.

Yuki nodded and gathered the blankets around Tohru and moved her hair out of her face. He looked down her body and noticed it was heavily bruised, but that her shoulder was once again bleeding.

"Honda-san...where's Kyo and Momiji?" He asked seriously.

"A-Akito..." Tohru gasped quietly. She clutched her rib feeling the pain of talking. She thought maybe her sides hurt because of the impact of Kyo's claws.

"Did he kill them?" Yuki asked hushed.

Tohru shut her eyes tightly. She didn't answer him, but merely shook her head, fresh tears now spilling. She felt a bit delirious because of the pain..

"I see..." Yuki knelt down putting his face near hers. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "Rest...we're calling Hatori for advice on your shoulder. We'll figure this out."

Tohru nodded trying to convey her gratitude. She felt Yuki get up and leave the room after quietly shutting the door behind him.

"She's in pain. What did Hatori say?" Yuki asked urgently as he met Haru in the hallways.

"He's coming." Haru said looking worried. "Did she say where Momiji and Kyo went?"

"I think they're alive for now...she said Akito was here."

"That explains all the ruckus.." Haru took an intake of breath in anger. "Stay with her...I'll go to the Main house."

"No..Haru." Yuki grabbed Haru's arm. "That's illogical. In a situation like this Akito will only use you to.."

"I know. I don't give a shit." Haru yanked his arm out of Yuki's hands. "I'm not waiting for Kyo to come home again. I'm not making the same mistake as I did with Rin with Momiji."

Yuki swallowed and let go of Haru's arm in defeat.

"Ok..."

Haru left. Tohru closed her eyes and felt herself drift off. Her mind went hazy and clouded. After what felt like hours, Tohru opened her eyes and saw that the room was the same as it always had been, except now Yuki was in the corner, slowly drifting asleep.

She then heard the front door slam open. For one crazy moment, she thought it was Kyo, back from running off, and hope swelled into her heart. However, it wasn't Kyo but Hatori. As soon as he was inside the house he was at Tohru's side, pulling her blankets away and examining her wounds.

"H-hatori." Tohru coughed. She began to frantically try to get up. "A-Akito! Did he use you?! Did he trick you?! Please don't tell me you gave us away-!"

Yuki awoke at the sounds of the ruckus and he immediately went to sit next to them keeping silent as he watched Hatori get out medical materials.

"Calm down." Hatori pushed her back down so that she was laying down fully. His voice was full of strained patience and regret. He began to pull her shirt out of the way to examine her shoulder. As he began to snip away the bandages it was silent for a moment, and Tohru tried to regain her composure at the fresh pain in the wound.

"No, he wasn't supposed to come." He said finally. "No one knew."

"Did you bring him?" Yuki asked hushed.

"I didn't...I couldn't do anything." Hatori answered. "I was about to leave when Akito went inside my car. He asked me where I was going, and I replied my clinic. He then said he would follow me to the clinic. However, the driver didn't take us to my clinic, but directly to your house. Before I could stop him, Akito was out of the car and he had a key as well...He knew I had been lying.."

"Did he suggest something?" Yuki asked seriously.

"No...I think he was genuinely guessing that you guys were here. He makes regular rounds to the others homes, especially Kagura's and Ayame's. He just happened to choose Haru's home today...and he was suspicious I was going out so much to visit you guys..."

"Where's Kyo and Momiji then..." Yuki asked.

"Kyo ran off. He was in his second beast form, since he was catching Tohru while trying to escape. And Momiji...he was taken to the main house."

"He's not dead?" Tohru gasped and she felt Hatori straighten her back with the palm of his hand.

"No...he's alive. They only stunned him."

"Thank goodness.." Tohru whimpered. She trembled but felt immense relief.

"Tohru...your wound is starting to bleed again...at this rate maybe you should go to the hospital. Akito already knows you're here...

"No.." Tohru said immediately. "I have to go the main house. We have to get the police. Or find some way to get Kyo and Momiji back..."

Hatori finished re-bandaging her shoulder, helped her pull her sleeves back down, and helped her sit upright.

She breathed fast as she sat upright and clutched at her shoulder. "We have to-"

"Tohru." Hatori looked straight into her eyes. "There's nothing left to do...Akito has them."

Tohru froze and she stared at his eyes for any sign of hope, of reassurance or lies. But there was nothing. Nothing but emptiness in the dark orbs that reflected her blue ones.

...

Haru arrived at the main house knowing the weather had changed while he had been mobile. It was always chilly when he came here...

He made his way to the buzzer and stuck out his finger at it.

"Hello?" A female voice asked.

"Haru Sohma." He stated nonchalantly. He was already starting to get pissed...this was not good.

The buzzer immediately sounded, and the gate opened. He stepped inside almost expecting a bunch of guardsmen grab him...but there was none. It was eerily empty and quiet. This was better still..

Making his way all the way down the vast Main house garden front and to the front door gates, he opened them and made his way inside the large mansion.

Several servants bowed welcoming him inside, offering to take his coat, but he refused their gestures and made his way directly to Shigure's office.

Slamming it open he frowned in disgust at the smell of smoke in the air. Shigure was in his office chair, casually leaning against it with his feet propped onto his desk. His glasses were on and his hair swept as he held a small novel between his hands.

"You look casual." Haru commented coldly.

Shigure didn't glance up from his novel, but he spoke his mouth curving into a smile. "So I'm guessing you're here for Momiji...or is it Kyo?"

"Neither. I'm here asking for what Akito wants."

"What Akito wants?" Shigure sighed and took off his glasses. Setting them down onto the table he glanced at Haru who still stood at the door, with his arms clenched to his sides.

"You know what he wants Haru. Surely you're not so dumb as to think Akito was a poor aim in shooting the gun?"

It was dead silent for a minute. Haru glared at Shigure, his eyes frozen and hard. "What do you mean..."

"Think...he doesn't need Momiji. So Momiji was taken out. What about Kyo?"

"He's using Kyo's third form later isn't he." Haru finally said. He had known it. He had just dreaded and wished it hadn't been true.

"Yes.." Shigure frowned. "Now that I think about it it's been a while since I've seen it as well...ever since he killed his moth-"

Immediately his words caught as Haru's hands clenched around his neck. He spit and choked turning red. Several servants cried out in alarm and threw themselves onto Haru trying to stop him but failing at his great strength.

"Die. Don't say anything more out of that filthy mouth of yours." He warned in a chilling tone.

He then let go of his hold on Shigure and began to shrug his way out.

"One more thing." Shigure calmed down the servants who were rapidly easing him back to a standard sitting position. He massaged his neck but otherwise looked a bit amused.

"Akito wants Tohru to come by tomorrow night...for dinner. Tell her that for me would you?"

Haru stopped walking away, but didn't turn around. He clenched his fists tightly feeling the veins in his arm pound. "Where's Momiji..."He asked instead.

"Fine fine. Resting. In his room. You will tell her right? Haru-san..."

"What are you going to do with Momiji..."

"If Tohru comes we'll tell her that as well...she'll be safe."

"Of course." Haru turned and smiled mockingly at Shigure. "Of course you'll keep her safe..." His mouth curved downwards and he glared at him in fury as he spit out the words. "Like how you did with Rin.."

Then Haru turned his back on him and left. He didn't see anything. Not the maids, or the servants that were trying to ask him to stay for a goddamn cup of tea...

"Haru...I will protect you.." Her words rang in his mind once more. As if she had never left to begin with.

...

Hello readers! This is Diane. Sorry for the slow updates. I'm in college, and of course the studying does take up most of my free time i have so many ideas and new things in store, but i will assure you to keep updating as much as i can~! Thanks for your patience and until then (: