Authoress Note: Hey everyone here's the next chappie! I'm so very happy to say that it is soooooo much better than the last one. Really it is! Well...at least I think it is. I hope you guys like it. Enjoy and R and R please!

Kageko sighed as she looked around her room. It was midnight and everyone else in the house was asleep except for her. She'd tried to get to sleep but for some reason she was unable to. Frustrated she jumped off her bed careful not to wake Nixie. After stretching her back legs she headed for her bedroom door. It was open just enough to let her pass through it. Looking up and down the hall she saw it was empty.

'Good.' She thought. The last thing she wanted at the moment was to run in to some one and have them pester her about why she was up. At least in this form she wouldn't be able to answer them.

Kageko didn't know why she couldn't sleep and that annoyed the crud out of her. Both her mind and body were tiered but still here she was awake. Heading out towards the living room she decided to get something to drink. In the kitchen she jumped on to the kitchen counter and walked over to the sink. Luckily the knob for the sink was one she'd be able to turn on and off even in her cat form. When she finished she went to jump down from the counter when something caught her eye.

Looking to the left she saw someone had left the curtain for the kitchen window open. Moving to the window she looked out at the star filled sky. It was a beautiful sight that she couldn't look away from. The stars were so bright that night unlike they normally were.

'Why is it that I can't sleep?' She wondered to herself still gazing at the stars. Suddenly an image appeared in her mind. One that had been long buried for many years.

FLASH BACK BEGINS

Ten year old Kageko sat peering out her bedroom window at the star filled sky. She couldn't sleep because earlier that day she had an encounter with the man in the village who hated her the most (The one from chapter 7 who had grabbed her in the village). He had cornered her in an alley and had beaten her up but that wasn't the only thing he had done. The man had said horrible things to her. That she didn't deserve to live and that she should just kill herself because no one wanted her around.

What he had said hurt even more than the beating. His words cut in to her like knives. Kageko didn't tell her parents what he had said. She didn't want them to know because it would only cause them to worry even more about her than they already did. She already felt she was a burden on them and didn't want to cause them any trouble.

Kageko's mind swirled with thoughts of what the man had said to her. The cruel words that others had said in the past surfaced as well. All that hate was more than she could bare. No one let alone a ten year old should have to go through that but she was. She felt alone. That no one was there for her. Deep down she knew her parents loved her and wanted nothing more than for her to be happy but she couldn't be. How could she be happy when she was such a burden to them?

She didn't deserve to live. The man had been right. His words had hurt so much but she knew they were true. No one should have to put up with her let alone her parents. What could she do? She didn't know.

Looking out at the stars once more she considered running away. 'That wouldn't do any good. I'd just burden anyone I came in to contact with.' She thought sadly. 'No what I need to do is go away. To disappear.' But how could she do that? Where could she go that she wouldn't cause any one trouble? How would she get there?

Then she knew.

Leaving her bedroom as silently as possible Kageko crept in to the kitchen. Once there she stopped and looked around. There on the counter was what she was looking for. The knives her mother used for cooking sat in there holder like they always did. She went to the counter and took a hold of one of the knives handles. She held on to it for a few seconds before pulling the knife out.

The sharp blade shone in the light of the moon coming in from the kitchen window. Kageko stared at it for a minute before reaching out and lightly running her finger over it. She hissed softly as the blade cut in to the first few layers of skin. It was nice and sharp. Just like she knew it would be. Then without a second thought she held the knifes blade against her left wrist. Taking a deep breath she began to push it down and run it across her skin. A thin line of blood soon appeared.

Suddenly someone grabbed her arm that held the knife. Looking up in shock she saw her father. He had a horrified look on his face. "Daddy…." She whispered softly.

"Kageko, baby what are you doing?" He asked in a shocked voice as he dropped down on to his knees.

She stared at him then looked down at her wrist. It was bleeding even more now. Looking back up at him tears filled her eyes. Why did he have to come? She didn't want him there. Didn't want him to see.

"Oh Kageko." He murmured pulling her in to a hug.

Dropping the knife she wrapped her right arm around him and began to sob. Why? Why did this have to happen?

Her father held her for a few seconds before picking her up and setting her down on the counter. Without a word he went a got a dish towel. Running it under some water from the sink he wrung it out then gently placed it over the cut on her wrist. "Kageko." She refused to look at him. With the hand that wasn't holding the towel he lifted her chin so she was looking at him. "Baby I know things are really hard for you. You're hurting a lot but that doesn't mean you should hurt yourself like this."

Tears still streaked down her face as her father spoke. Kageko didn't understand. Didn't he know that she was nothing but a burden to him and her mother?

"Kageko your mother and I love you so much."

Eyes widening in surprise she whispered softly "Really?"

"Yes of course Kageko. We always have and always will love you no matter what."

"I'm sorry!" She cried as more tears streaked down her face.

Pulling her in to another hug he gently rubbed her back in soothing circles. "It's OK baby." He whispered.

FLASH BACK ENDS

Her body shaking from the memory Kageko closed her eyes. She had forgotten about that. Her father had made her promise that she would never try to hurt herself like that ever again. She had kept that promise.

"Kageko?"

Surprised she turned and saw her father standing behind her.

"Are you OK baby?" He asked concerned. He'd been sleeping soundly when all of a sudden he woke up. Not knowing what had woken him he had gotten up to investigate. He'd had a feeling something was wrong. Apparently he had been right.

'Daddy…' Kageko thought as she looked at him. Then without warning she jumped in to his arms.

He caught her easily and wrapped his arms around her securely. "It's OK." He whispered softly in to her ear.

Burying her face in his neck she thought 'Yes everything's OK and it's going to stay that way.'