Seasons of Sorrow

by HelloKat

One act that will bind & divide the family. One act that will sever the bond to their 'God'. In one year, all stood around…waiting on this banquet to end as it was always supposed to end. And this family will tear itself apart to accomplish this.

72. Fading Innocence of Autumn 72

Fading Innocence of Autumn
Chapter 72: As I Make My Way to You

*:*

The words that I remember
From my childhood still are true
That there's none so blind
As those who will not see
And to those who lack the courage
And say it's dangerous to try
Well they just don't know
That love eternal will not be denied...

I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere, somewhere
I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know I'll find you somehow
Somehow, somehow
I know I'll find you somehow
And somehow I'll return again to you

- "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" by The Moody Blues

*:*

"Ayame, go change—there are ladies present."

"The speedo was a nice touch, not gonna lie—it looked good on him."

"I'm still blinded by the hot pink color personally."

(CLICK-Delete)

"Um, Ayame-san, did you order a t-shirt launcher?"

"Yo, Saki, you still have that thing?"

"Certainly. Megumi-kun and I took turns launching the laundry across the hallway into the laundry bins to see who could launch it furthest—it was much fun."

(CLICK-Delete, CLICK-Delete)

"We are NOT filming you coming out of the shower, I don't care how VIRAL the video will be!"

"Tori-san, you worry too much! I wouldn't be the least bit embarrassed."

" Hence_The_Problem."

"Now that's a damn tragedy—you could probably sell tickets to see that clip!"

"Arisa, don't be crass—Tohru would've passed out cold."

(CLICK-Delete)

"Get OFF that chaise, beast! You are NOT welcome here!"

"Pft, since when has that ever stopped me, o' mother from the pits of hell?"

"I tip my drink to that man—but he shoulda flipped her off, too."

"Arisa!"

(CLICK-Delete)

"In the ninth grade, we had such a dire need for funds for the party favors for the class trip so yours truly came up with—"

"She does NOT need to hear about that, Ayame."

"Oho, yes she does! Hold it there, Tohru!"

"Arisa, you're starting to drool."

"It was only a small contest, Tori-san."

"It was a STRIPPER'S POLE snuck onto SCHOOL GROUNDS as part of the CULTURAL FESTIVAL!"

"We were just going to use it as a prop—no stripping was necessary if you didn't want to. And don't forget, it was only down to the undies, not bare bottom nude. Besides, you hauled me off by the ear before I could try for first prize…what a pooper. At least, Gure-san got a consolatory prize."

"I do wonder what that prize was…chocolates?"

"I still wonder what the hell kind of school allowed HIM to be Class President—still wrapping my mind around that one."

(CLICK-DELETE, DELETE)

"Ayame-sama, the Imazu White Snakes Museum in Iwakuni is on the phone. They're requesting a few minutes of your time to go over your sizeable donation to set up a wing in your honor."

"AYAME!"

"Poo, Tori-san, it's for my kin—they need room to be free. Some of us have to be."

"Aw, c'mon! We can't keep this one either?"

"Arisa, we're supposed to be helping Tohru, not distracting her."

"Still…we should stop by that museum—a day trip for just us girls!"

(CLICK, CLICK-Delete)

"Wasn't that fun, Tori-san?"

"Do you want to hear a lie?"

"HAHAHAH!"

"Arisa, you're not well."

(CLICK-Delete)

"C'mon, Tohru, take a break. Anymore video clips being dumped is hurting my sadistic heart!"

"Arisa, not helping. Tohru, this is supposed to be your day off, remember?" admonished gently Hanajima as she set a cup of hot tea next to her zealous worker bee/friend. "Why not have a cup of tea with us for a while? You can always get back to this—it'll be waiting for you."

Tearing her eyes away from the screen, Honda Tohru was one very tired worker bee/friend. Heaving a heavy sigh, she wearily nodded as she stretched her limbs over her head. Twisting every which way she could to stretch sore, tired back muscles, she gave her friends a tired smile.

"I'm sorry, Hana-chan, Uo-chan. I'm not much of a friend to let you make the tea when you're my guests, ne?"

"It's fine. Kazuma-sensei just pointed me to his kitchen—quite immaculate thanks to you staying here, I'm sure. And orderly—I had no problem making hot tea for everyone."

'If only Hana-chan had seen it when I first arrived—I still can't forget the mold that was growing on top of other mold. Plus the ant hill I found in a corner of the cabinet. And an old mice nest under the sink. I still can't figure out why the microwave doesn't work. The poor man literally lived off takeout or leftovers from takeout—reminds me of the…'

Bittersweet nostalgia almost rendered her immobile once again. She mentally shook her head vigorously to dispel the unhappy thoughts. Now wasn't the time to reminisce with her dear friends literally in front of her nose—they'd know if she was upset. Putting on her best smile, she sipped her tea and gratefully felt the chamomile soothe her raw nerves—she was keeping it together, she hoped.

Having them over at her temporary residence wasn't her idea but rather her host's, Kazuma. He had kindly expressed his concern in the past that she was stretching herself thin, and perhaps she was. Her anxiety was at an all-time high these days. Little wonder. Ever since Hatori called her at the crack of dawn that fateful morning months ago, she was living on the edge off a cliff of uncertainty of what's to come.

Her world foundation had been so shaken, so much so she fell to her knees onto the floor when the frantic doctor could only briefly explain what had happened. The attack…the fire…the missing—. At least the fire was a good excuse she used handily to explain to her friends why she was in such a hurry to leave that morning. With her one carry-on that she was able to hastily put together before rushing out the door to meet Hatori and his taxicab, she barely explained to her friends the reason why—it was the worst day of her life up 'til then, and that's saying a lot when she lived through her mother's death years before.

She admitted to fully immersing herself in the video production and editing of Ayame's VLOGs that all else faded away from her foremost thoughts, even her oldest, dearest friends to a certain degree.

'It's how I'm coping, I know. To cope with this…emptiness…the doubt…and I can't share it with them. They can't ever know or else Seto-san would…'

Seto knew of her involvement with the Jyuunishi—who didn't in the tightly-monitored family—and while she cared little of any creature comforts he might seek to deprive her of (homelessness taught her much), it would be nothing for him to tear apart her friend's lives and that of their families if it meant hurting the Jyuunishi indirectly through her.

She'd rather be skinned and raked over hot coals before letting any of her friends suffer in any way because of her.

Letting another internal sigh roll through her, she forced herself to stay in the here and now. If she had to sacrifice her freedom by confining herself to Kazuma's home or by limiting her outside contact to just Hatori and Ayame when shooting video, all to protect her best friends from being dragged into the Sohma's internal strife, then that's what she would do.

'And here they are, coming here with more of my clothes for the colder weather creeping in. The kindest of people I'm so blessed to call friends.'

Being her dearest friends, they also knew not to ask about the obvious. It wasn't true, but it was to their benefit that she let them continue believing the ugly gossip being said in the news of Kyo's disappearance with Kagura and what it implied. She didn't negate the news nor confirm it, so they left the topic as off-limits as she stayed at Kazuma's place to minister to him as a father fraught with worry for his wayward son.

And no one ever brought up again the other young Sohma teen that often accompanied her after she ran out of the room the last time they did. She never spoke of him and neither would they.

"Tohru—will Honda Tohru return to the land of the living? Tohruuuu—?"

"AGH!" she yelped as soon as she felt the hand on her shoulder. Hand over her rapidly beating heart, she looked over her shoulder and laughed softly. "Uo-chan, I'm so sorry! I was, um—"

"A million miles away, yeah, we noticed."

"I'm—"

"And stop with the 'sorrys'—you're getting back to your old habit, sweetie. It's all good. Want to order in? There's some pretty nice places around—"

"Oh, I can cook!"

"Nonsense," cut in Hanjima, "remember, day off. You are due a complete time-out, and we're here to be sure you get it. Sensei's orders on top of that."

'Sensei?'

"You really…um, settled in, Hana-chan," Tohru replied nervously, seeing how her friend had even gone as far as organizing the boxes of paper that surrounded them in piles. "I was hoping to help with all the archive collection, but these videos—"

"No need to worry, Tohru. With the college courses I'm taking, it's actually useful for me to put to good use what I'm learning by going through his collection here. It's an actual favor to me, and I told him so, too."

Smiling widely, Tohru set her cup down and reached over to hug her close friend, hoping her gesture said all that she just could never fully express with mundane words.

She felt a set of arms hug her from behind and while her heart shed her tears of sorrow for her Sohma family, she let the warmth of their shared camaraderie make it all just a little less frightening.

'We'll be okay—we did it before with Okaa-san. We can do it again now. We can.'

"All right," remarked Uo as she settled back from the other two, "now I'm really hungry. Any ideas?"

Releasing Hanajima, Tohru giggled lightly and wiped a stray tear that escaped her eyes. "Um, there's this really good place that just opened recently. The menu is over—ah, here. Please look it over with Hana-chan. I'll go find Kazuma-san and see if he and his guest would like to order with us. I'll be right back!"

Seeing her disappear into the hallway as she closed the door behind her, both ladies looked at her retreating form with growing concern and wistful hopes.

"I swear if I find that Orange-headed thug, he and I will have the largest row known to mankind."

"Arisa, we don't know—"

"Hells yes we do! He SPLIT. For months now—the guy isn't coming back, and if he does, I'll give him the beating he deserves—"

"Do that and Tohru will never forgive you. You know this—her heart beats strongly for him, ALL of them. And besides, Tohru spoke so highly of Kagura-san—"

"Tohru always talks 'highly' of any Sohma she meets—she sees no evil in people."

"Be that as it may, news reports aren't the full truth of the matter, and until Tohru thinks it's okay to let us know what's going on, we'll have to be patient. And wait."

"Yeah, but for how long, Saki? It's eating her up—"

"And we're here. If that's all that we can do, then let's give her this much peace."

Rubbing her face hard, Uo sat down hard on the floor and scowled at the menu pamphlet, her stomach protesting loudly. She really needed to eat or the hangry in her will get the best of her. She then felt Hanajima sit next to her and lean into her.

"I'm scared for her, too, Arisa."

"We should run away with her. That's what her Mom would want."

"But it's not what Tohru wants."

"Yeah…she just loves too much."

As they looked at the menu together but not really, Hanajima wished to share her personal feelings but knew it would help no one, least of all her frantic mother hen friend. If she shared her misgivings, nothing would stop Uotani from taking Tohru by force from here and skip town.

'No, Tohru will see whatever this is through to the end…whatever end that may turn out to be. And nothing I feel right now bodes well for this family. Such despair…and rage. Will it find Tohru?'

Bitter was the answer that rung in her head.

Tohru had slowly made her way down another hallway to a small staircase that led up to the terrace Kazuma had built above the house. It was a means for him to meditate out in the elements, but today it served a different purpose.

Lost in her thoughts, she almost ran into another party headed in the same direction apparently, Kazuma's assistant Tomoda and an unexpected guest.

In that moment, no one would have recognized Honda Tohru just then, especially the grim face she now held when spotting said guest.

-o:o-

"Sir, what precautions should we take when approaching the building?"

"Both teams, I will only say this once. Do NOT underestimate them, least of all the girl. Petite she may be, but she did shatter the faces of her guards at the inn and hours later sent two men three times her size to the hospital, all still recuperating to this day. You know the 'situation'. Handle her FIRMLY but carefully and DO NOT damage her; Seto-sama was explicit in his orders that she be taken whole and mostly well."

"And the boy, Koeda-sempai?"

"Take him down by any means; but hold back on using the taser as a last resort. We still can't locate the medical records for these individuals, and we could permanently damage them—that is NOT acceptable. The boy will be taken directly to Seto-sama along with the girl but in separate vehicles."

"Understood."

"Team A, take the front, Team B the back. Maker sure all exits are covered. They had better not escape this time; it's taken us this long to track them down to their location. No mistakes, UNDERSTOOD?"

"Yes sir!"

"We're going straight in now."

From the front of the building and back, they burst into the building with no further preamble.

-o:o-

'Sale—two for the price of one. I like the color…'

Taking note of the store, she flipped to another page in her magazine. She leaned back in one of the two chairs they have in the sparsely furnished apartment, basking in the late autumn sun from her window seat. She looked over the edge to see if her companion was coming down the sidewalk. Still empty. Just the occasional elderly neighbor rounded the corner after their routine run to the market.

'Guess his therapy session ran long today.'

Alone in their 213m apartment in a small building with very few elderly neighbors who kept to themselves, Kagura knew not to worry. Plus, the therapist's clinic was only a ten-minute walk from there. Really, their current home/hideout couldn't have been better placed.

The gnawing in her gut told her otherwise. Life on the run never was worry-free.

Taking a sip of her cooling tea, she turned her attention back to her magazine, browsing the latest in cosplay fashion. It's what was available in their employee lounge last night after another grueling session of 'wild' party animals—nothing she couldn't handle, but it meant another long night with little sleep. At least today was a day off plus evening. She took the luxury and had slept in while Kyo had taken off to get his time in with his physical therapist—another day slowly coming to a close.

'Another day without…'

While she held herself together fairly well when Kyo was around, which was most of the time, alone…

She could swear that if she closed her eyes, her face tilted to the setting late sun, she could hear his gentle voice…smell him even. She dearly wanted to reach out…hold him. Catch his shy smile as he tried not to laugh at her expense over something trivial—she didn't care so long as he smiled brightly. He was becoming his own man now, taking over more responsibilities at the family's hot springs inn—he made his parents so proud…made her proud. He wanted to wrap up his studies as soon as possible to fully take on his role at the inn, and prove with all he had how capable he can be to look after such a historic branch of the Sohma business and possibly even…

She almost had it. It was within sight, easy reach even what with Akito (and no doubt with Yuki's influence) becoming less intrusive in their lives, not absolutely, but it was better. Incredibly, only something simple as time was standing in the way, and Ritsu hoped to build a bridge in the meantime by speaking with his parents and her mother officially—that's what they last spoke of the weekend before the week of that horrific evening.

She would hate herself to the moon and back for never questioning the odd text she received that day. Overcome with excitement of their upcoming plans, she didn't give the text more thought. It was just so innocent, really, but thinking back to it, it had none of Ritsu's consideration-'Come by the inn tonight-it's important. Ritsu'. Never would the Monkey of her life have ever imposed his will on her by making such a demand. But it completely bypassed her walls of caution and she wound up…

'We had come so far to be remotely happy only for all our hard work to fall apart because of someone's GREED?'

But whose? Did it matter? Either way, greed in this family never helped anyone—old stories about previous Jyuunishi and the family were unspoken truths but still very real. Seto was one thing, but to see this greed in those closest to her…her Jyuunishi family…

Case in point, -her-. That's all she can think to call -her- for now. She didn't trust herself beyond that.

Rin. Isuzu. Her sister in all things, she even happily shared her mother's love and care for -her-, same bloodline, same affliction of the Jyuunishi. They both gave what they could to soothe the Horse's despair in the darkest of times…

Kagura really wasn't sure what she will do when (not if, when) she comes face to face with Rin. The girl did facilitate her escape at the inn, but it was Rin's previous actions with that little video clip that just… She prayed Tohru never heard of how Rin got a hold of her video camera that day at the exhibit hall only to turn it over to Seto of all people—all in an effort to…what? Rin hated Akito with a passion, that much was fact, but to go this far just to stick it to Akito, to see the 'God' of the Jyuunishi brought low…

To be so obsessed with that goal…to want it so greatly…she got greedy in the end, no? And where did that greed land them all? Caged up or on the run—so much for 'freedom' from Akito.

'I should have seen it coming.'

Like Kyo, she could nurse her guilt well. She had known Seto was on the move. Why Seto down to this day was still pursuing them, pursuing her. It was a good plan he concocted to seize Ritsu first and his family, to lead her purposely away from Akito into an isolated location as the inn. What better leverage to get her to agree to his terms—she'd have no choice. She'd do anything for Ritsu and his family, even if it meant walking away from Ritsu forever to start a family with another man she felt no love for.

Tetsuya wasn't evil, but he would obey his father to keep the peace in the family. He is his father's heir in all his business affairs. No member of the council or the family in general would oppose the union with Tetsuya—it was too perfectly packaged. A marriage between a promising young man like Tetsuya to a coveted Jyuunishi—the elders would be all over it, especially if Akito was unable to voice an opinion due to ill health or death. And with Yuki's position being put on trial because of the tournament fiasco…

Ritsu had known this truth—it was plain across his beaten face when they last saw each other under the soft rain that fell all around them. His broken smile…knowing what they would force her to do…his unspoken words…

'For once, there was no doubt in his eyes—he simply acted like no one ever thought he could, all for me. Such fierceness in his eyes…all for me.'

Her mind's eye turned back to the image she could only conjure now…the image of her beloved lying immobile on the ground underneath a pitch-dark night that lit up when lightening streaked across the rumbling skies. The rain coming down so steady…

He never moved. Not after that hit.

That hit was meant to be personal.

Blinking away the memory, she sipped her cold tea and heavily sighed as she reached for her napkin to dab her face. Sure enough, fresh tears still fell as steadily as that rain. Blowing her nose, she willed away her darker thoughts and dried her eyes that knew no end to her tears, knowing it would only worry Kyo once again as he had been at the dilapidated garden when he had found her that day.

'Not my most shining moment.' She was such a deplorable mess then—too far-gone in her misery after having evaded her pursuers successfully after that horrific confrontation at the inn… Those mountain passes were known all too well by her after all her trips up to Ritsu's family inn. And to finally make it to Shigure's place after having driven her getaway van into a ditch to hide it—

She had felt what was left of her small world collapse and shatter, the thinnest thread to her sanity snapped just then when she saw Shigure's place empty and cold. Abandoned.

'What if they were taken?!—What if they were put down and then taken?!—What if they were dragged away?!—What if they were beaten then dragged away, Kyo wasn't well—WHAT IF THEY NEVER MOVED?!'

Each chaotic thought screamed in her head as she had torn through that home all the while screaming for them at the top of her lungs. Her deranged mind took her everywhere and then finally she somehow made it to Yuki's abandoned gardens. Her heart and mind and finally her legs gave way as she tried to piece back together her broken world for hours apparently.

She was certainly not fit to be seen by her oldest friend then. Hell, she didn't even realize she had taken the taser from her getaway car until she was pointing it straight at him. But she was so, so thankful when she realized it was really Kyo there. He wasn't taken, maybe looked a little worse for wear, but he was whole. He was moving. He held her for the longest time it seemed while she broke down and told him what had happened—she had never seen him so frightened as when he had seen her that way.

'And that doofus can blame himself like no other.' It's why she had reigned in her shattered mind then and there and took stock of what they had to do. And while a trip back to his house wasn't what she thought was a wise move, it certainly proved to be 'healthy' for her—she had gotten a chance to release some pent-up adrenaline from her ordeal. Maybe a little more than that.

There's a possibility she might've developed a sadistic streak—she had made absolutely certain to put their guys in the hospital short of the grave. You're welcome.

'Shihan wouldn't be happy to hear that, but really, they deserved it. Calling me a broken doll…I showed them what was broken…' was the errant thought when her eyes caught an article as she flipped listlessly through the magazine. Reading it carefully, she suddenly stood up and ran to her shared living space.

Climbing up the ladder to her loft/bedroom, she quickly started digging through her belongings and found exactly what she was looking for. Many of these 'trinkets' were carefully accumulated over the course of her time on the run so as not to give any semblance of a trail that would lead back to her or Kyo. She was loaded on wigs galore but to put it all together along with Kyo's outfits will require finesse and no small amount of ingenuity accrued from her time with her college crafts club. Who knew that her time spent back at her college festival with Ayame leading the way would come back full circle to help her out now?

Such good memories she had of those times. She remembered fondly of her scrapbook at home that was fairly bursting with those good memories (and very discreetly has those damning eviction papers in a flowery-pink envelope with baby animal stickers all over—who would care to look there anyway?). She should start afresh with all these new things she's collected now—good or bad, these are the times to remember.

'Heh, in any case, Kyo-kun is gonna loooove this!' Happily, she began gathering both her things and Kyo's, his on one end of the futon and her's at the other—it's how they slept together. Admittedly, she kicked his head more times than she wanted to admit, but sometimes it was funny. He didn't think so.

The door opened and in walked in her orange-headed (she had taken pity on him and dyed it back) stubborn boy of her childhood…well, man now. These past few months only gave his physique a fully developed and toned body of a martial artist as he relentlessly kept up his exercises along with his therapy.

'Any girl from his old school would've been beating each other hand over fist just to get him to notice them now. Too bad his current audience can still remember him as an eight-year old peeing his pants when he and Haru laughed their butts off on some comedy show they watched on TV. They both took off for the same toilet and fought over it—now THAT was really funny.'

Closing the door behind him, he turned to see his roommate up in the loft sporting a wide grin while busily packing away their belongings into their shared large suitcase. Setting his jacket on a clothes hook, he dropped his housekeys on a plate by the door and limped slightly over to her. It was a grueling day at PT, but he was making great progress according to his doctor.

This was the most active he had seen her in forever. Not even as they practiced their katas was she this…alive.

"What's up? Are we going somewhere?"

She quickly got down. With a familiar smile that lit up her small world, she thrust a magazine to his face as she reached him.

"We're going on a hunting expedition. What do you think? Up for it?"

He saw her over the magazine to be sure she was all right in the head before he glanced down to the article she apparently wanted him to see. Taking the ugly magazine, he pushed forward to read the garbage…new anime series this winter, a sale on fabric for cosplayers…oh.

"You want us to go to a comic-con? Are you serious?"

"What?! And you were so gung-ho to leave a couple weeks ago—"

"Uh, YEAH, but not to dive into some warped reality as COMIC-CON. It's bad enough I have to wear that damn costume at work. Besides, it's COMIC-CON. A gazillion people will be there—"

"Precisely. Now help me pack! We gotta go if we're to catch a cab—"

"Kagura—"

"Kyoooo."

Her winning smile met his incredulous stare. It was a no-win for him, really, but he had tried. Sighing in defeat, he dragged himself to put his backpack in order.

"Fine…let me take a quick shower then we can go."

"Go for it—be sure to wash off that stink, can't have me passing out now."

He was tempted to flip her off, but her giddy mood was contagious. He settled for a half-hearted glare as he slammed the door to the shower room shut.

"What are we hunting for anyway? More wigs? You got some manga fix you gotta have?" was his question from behind the closed door.

"A way home."

The door suddenly swung wide open as Kyo half-dressed looked at her in shock, only then realizing that she was packing everything of theirs away—no small trip then. She read his unspoken question in his eyes.

"Time to move. Ready?"

With a smirk, he shut the door and quickly shed his clothes and could only think of one thought as he hurried his shower along.

'Damn straight I am.'

It was a shared sentiment as she closed her eyes with a hopeful sigh in her heart.

'Just wait…one more day is one less day. One less day to wait. Somehow, somewhere, we'll meet soon.'

Just then, her front door suddenly burst open.

-o:o-

It's not how she normally would host a guest in a home she herself was a guest in. She would normally strive to be welcoming, gracious, maybe trip over her eagerness to be pleasing to her honored guest.

Not today.

She walked sedately up the stairs, leading her charge quietly up to the terrace. They both needed to see the same man, and since Tomoda was busy putting up the many rooms at the dojo into storage, she said she could do this much for him. But it was a very silent walk, filled with tension from her side at least.

"Honda-san, your friends are visiting?"

Silence now broken. And her mind went into a whirlwind of thoughts, her anxiety now reaching new heights.

"What about my friends?"

Her sudden stop and alarmed tone caught Tetsuya off guard as he gripped tightly the envelope he was carrying.

"It's just an observation—Tomoda-sensei just mentioned it when I arrived."

She never thought she could feel this uneasy with someone she hardly knew beyond the office and chance meetings. He was amicable then but her time behind Ayame and her lens told her plenty of just how far his family has gone to destroy the Jyuunishi's lives…

"Honda-san, it was just a question out of courtesy, nothing more. I had not meant to alarm you."

Well, she's been told her facial expressions are an open book.

"I understand that you don't believe me—"

Too open.

"Gomen nasai, Tetsuya-sempai, I'm not trying to be rude but…I…" Her voice trembled as she turned away, unable to look him in the eye anymore, not when she felt so conflicted. To feel any level of animosity within her was startling and she had no desire to express it any way. Her guilt would be too great afterwards.

"I love them all."

Her quiet but firm declaration caught Tetsuya's attention as he waited on her patiently—she deserved no less as he recalled over the past few months her unfailing loyalty to his family's Proxy Head. He respected that. He smiled as he remembered the dutiful assistant endlessly following an eccentric Sohma around with her video camera, recording the Proxy in all his glorious moments. He even saw a few of those VLOGs she no doubt produced tirelessly. Quality work. But more than anything, he could perceive the love and care she gave to those she clearly saw as family.

It's no wonder that devotion is driving her to see him as the enemy.

"I love my family, too, Honda-san." Seeing her look at him in astonishment, because of what he had said or that he bothered to respond to her remark, he didn't know. He was not one to share this, least of all with someone outside the family—but then again, she earned her place with them, had she not? "I do, and that's a problem we both share…being the bystanders that we are and unable to do more than what we're doing now out of our love for them. I'm not here to make it worse, for you or anyone else."

She honestly hadn't known what to say to him until she had said it. And it did surprise her that he bothered to take her words to heart. He may be a stranger to her, but he cared enough to reassure her that he meant no harm. He was Sohma Seto's son and heir, but, thankfully, he had none of his father's bitterness with the Jyuunishi.

There's reason to hope after all.

She tearfully smiled and bowed respectfully to her guest. Dabbing her eyes, she quickly turned to go up the stairs. No more words needed to be said.

When the door was opened, the bright light of the setting sun momentarily blinded them.

"Kazuma-san, Master Haji, we have a visitor."

The elder Sohma men looked to her as she came forward, conversation stopping mid-sentence.

"Ah, Tohru-kun, thank you for bringing him up. Tetsuya-kun, please sit," remarked Kazuma-san as he pulled a pillow for Tetsuya to sit on the floor next to the oki-gotatsu he was sharing with Master Haji. His private conversations with Master Haji were usually done outside, but steadily the autumn days were becoming chillier for the eldest Sohma—the portable low table with the heated lamp underneath was a blessing.

Bowing low, Tohru-kun asked, "Sumimasen, we were going to order downstairs for some food. Would you like for me to order for you and your guests, Kazuma-san?"

"Oh my has the time gone by that fast? Haji-ojiisan, Tetsuya-kun, would you like anything in particular?"

"Anything suits me fine, but we'll be eating it downstairs. Can't let those lovely ladies downstairs feel that they're unwelcome, right Kazu-kun?" was Master Haji's response as he smiled widely while giving Kazuma a firm pat on the shoulder.

Kazuma could only wryly grin at the eldest of Sohmas. 'How Kyo would've loved to yell at this man for his peculiarities.'

"Thank you, but no. I have previous arrangements. Another time," said Tetsuya as he bowed slightly in Tohru's direction.

"Thank you, Tohru-kun, please order for us at your discretion." Kazuma kindly held her gaze as she quietly excused herself to rejoin her friends. Once the door closed behind her, his kind gaze turned solemn as he looked at his two guests at the table.

How had it come to this?

It was the ringing. He was in a land of blissful, uninterrupted dreams after the hellish storm that passed through their rural region earlier that day. He didn't remember what he had dreamt, but it was certainly his last night of restful sleep after he answered that incessant ringing from his phone.

He had never run so hard to reach Master Haji after having heard that phone call from Tomoda.

"The Honke was on fire."

What do you say to that? How should you feel to be told your family seat was being destroyed as you lay peacefully in your bed?

It must have been Master Haji's long years of living through several tragedies that enabled him to take the news at that hour of the night in stride. And yet, as horrific as that news was, it paled in comparison to what came later.

This time it was Master Haji's phone that rang as they waited on word from the airport and whether the plane could be taken immediately what with the bad weather still raging further south of them.

Kazuma saw the oldest and strongest pillar of the family literally crumble beneath the news he received. And he followed right after when Master Haji relayed the news conveyed to him by Momiji's father on the phone.

"The Jyuunishi were taken."

The hysteria on the other line from a distraught father…inconsolable mothers…parents all of them…all looking to Master Haji for help. For hope.

It was a nightmare that started in the dead of night and has not abated since.

Two months on and he along with the other parents have felt each stressful moment pass them, not knowing personally of the welfare of their children. He had vainly hoped he would get calls, texts, emails from Kyo or Kagura, but nothing came to him personally. Thankfully Tohru was able to confirm—she wouldn't say how—that they're fine but nothing more than that.

He should count himself fortunate those two slipped away (or fought their way) from being captured and escaped Seto's clutches. Goodness knows the man is still trying his very best to track them down and hasn't let up on those efforts from what he's heard (last board session revealed that private detectives were now being employed). As for those parents whose children were taken…

His heart breaks for them each day. And there's no end to it for the time being, not with the way 'negotiations' have been going.

"Uncle, I saw that Tomoda-sensei was busy putting up the last rooms to storage. Are you sure you don't want to wait just a bit longer before closing up the dojo completely? This would crush your students—"

"Oh, dear boy, it's no use putting off the inevitable—and I'm sure the dojo's end is quite inevitable. As soon as the council locates those official papers that Akito-san put together ('thank you, Kagura-chan, for hiding them so well'), Seto will have that whole building padlocked." 'And my butt out the door.' Kazuma held back that last bit of cruelty because, really, his nephew didn't need to hear it be said out loud—it's no secret the two Sohma men did not see eye to eye, especially now.

'Just as well, too. I can't think of nothing else but the kids, mine and theirs. And if I see so much as a hair of that man now, what I wouldn't do…'

He supposed his dark thoughts were coming across his face as Tetsuya kept his comments to himself and spoke no more. Deeply breathing in, he let out his rising ire and re-focused to the now of this moment, just as he had been earlier when he was alone with Master Haji.

Poor elderly man. While he remained unusually quiet, his thoughts have not ceased to spin as he worked hard on their behalf. Being on the council, he spoke with Seto and the others who supported him, even PLEADED with the hard-hearted man…nothing came of it.

Except for this delicate tight-rope of 'negotiating'—Seto would send his son and heir, Tetsuya, on his behalf and present their current terms of the week…yes, the week. For the past two months, each week the terms were presented to Master Haji, each slightly different from the previous weeks, for his perusal and eventual delivery to the Proxy who is apparently always too busy to come to those council meetings—you need only see his VLOGs to see what he's been busy with. Nothing official can be conducted or enforced (key word here) unless the Proxy shows up to the council meetings.

After two months, they were more than convinced that this was the Proxy's (and Akito's) strategy…waiting them out. And the branch heads are more than a little miffed since they can't leave until this matter is settled, one way or the other. The feeling of being sequestered was the general feeling now.

'And I'm sure the irony of that is not lost on anyone.'

"Master Haji, I'm sorry to intrude on your evening," remarked Tetsuya quietly as he gathered himself for his routine mission. Begrudgingly he gave the envelope he held in his hand. "These are the latest terms. However, Father wanted to let you know something else in person and away from the council 'so that you can be spared some of the humiliation'—his words exactly. He made me memorize them."

"Oho, something new to turn down would be a 'thrill' to my dull evening, eh Kazu-kun?"

Shaking his head wearily, he turned to his table and began pouring fresh tea for all of them. "I didn't know he cared so much for your welfare, Haji-ojiisan."

"I'm an important old fart, you know…when it suits me. So, do go on, Tetsuya-kun. I'm listening."

"Yes sir…you see, he wants to let you know that he now has the support of the parents of two of the Jyuunishi and that we are to come to terms now while there's still room for him to give Akito-sama and her supporters consideration."

As he nearly choked on his tea, Kazuma looked over to the elder Sohma, certain he would be just as shocked to hear of this break in the ranks. Master Haji only continued to sip his tea quietly as he looked over the documents in the envelope. Slipping them back into the envelope with barely a glance and a snort, shaking his head, he placed the papers next to him and looked at his younger kin who looked at him warily.

"And, of course, you already know."

"They approached me last week about it. It's only natural that they're looking for a resolution to this, just as we are, and are no doubt feeling quite hopeless that they'll ever see their kids again. I have no say on this matter—this really is between them and Akito-sama, but I had hoped they wouldn't cut a deal with Seto-kun. Nonetheless, I told them to do as they wished—"

"Master Haji, with the Tiger's mother and the Sheep's parents siding with my father's efforts to settle on terms, the council will call into question why the Proxy and Akito-sama are purposely delaying a peaceful resolution—"

"Pft, dear boy, the council calls anything and everything into question when they don't get their way. That's nothing new. However…" Setting his cup down after taking a sip, the elderly man leaned back as he scratched his unshaven chin, pursing his lips in thought. "How well do you know the Proxy, Ayame-sama?"

Heavily sighing, Tetsuya looked to Kazuma who had begun to understand Master Haji's reasoning of the matter—his dejected stare on his cup was a clear clue. Yet he waited on Tetsuya to come to that same understanding on his own.

"I've not had to personally interact with him, but even I can clearly see how Father will be spinning this new development to his advantage—"

"Tetsuya-kun, while Seto-kun has had plenty of interactions with Akito-sama on the council board, that will not help him now with the Proxy. Like you, all Seto-kun knows of him is what he's seen transpire these past few months."

"You mean his VLOGs. They're even more fodder for Father to spin—"

"Now those are actually quite helpful to the Proxy's case," argued Master Haji as he sipped his tea further with a wide smile. "What you see on those videos is for the public at large—great for entertaining and shining a positive light on all things Sohma. He makes connections happen, and he's welcomed wherever he goes. Eccentricities aside, in the last few months, he's been able to get most of our internal personnel, business contacts and foreign offices and everyone else in between to ADORE him. So, while there are those that don't exactly 'appreciate' his public persona, he's exactly what this family needs, as a PR head if nothing else. He's not going anywhere."

"Master Haji, I've also observed his behavior plenty of times outside of the public eye around the office and with different council members—he's not the least bit interested in family politics and the family business. Surely he would want to go back to his life and bring this all to an agreeable solution for everyone now that even some of the Jyuunishi's families are agreeing to settle—"

Quickly gulping his remaining tea, the old man guffawed in response. "Hah! Oh, heavens child, if only. As Proxy, I would agree, it'd make perfect sense if he agrees to terms and puts this whole sordid affair behind him so he can move on with his way of living. But the man behind the Jyuunishi curse of the Snake— Sohma Ayame—he will NEVER agree."

"Master Haji, he MUST agree…there's no choice now!"

The stress of this ongoing issue was getting the better of even their polite conversations. Kazuma interjected quickly.

"Allow me, Haji-ojiisan," said Kazuma holding off any retort and coming to his elder's aid. Momentarily gathering his thoughts, he came across the perfect explanation.

"You may or may not know this, but I've been tasked with training each Jyuunishi on how to defend themselves since they started to reappear—all of them, whether they came to me voluntarily or otherwise. With those three especially, the eldest Jyuunishi, they were the 'otherwise'—absolutely no interest in learning self-defense. But it was forced on them, for reasons painfully obvious considering recent events. I only wish I had tried harder with getting the younger children trained sooner, then maybe…"

Kazuma had to pause here as just alluding to their names was enough to grow the hurt inside to unbearable levels. Taking a gulp of his tea to swallow his regrets, he heavily sighed and pushed on. "So, yes, I trained them as a junior assistant in those days, I think they were twelve at the time, somewhere around there. Regardless, given their cursed afflictions, my focus on their training was primarily self-control, restraint, since their transformation could be triggered with stress. Of course, that teaching went over two particular heads. Ayame-kun and Shigure-kun dragged Hatori-kun into so many scuffles with their sempais. A lot of pranks. But there was one, only one, truly alarming situation that they got themselves into."

"Compared to those of Hatsuharu-kun and Kyo-kun?"

"Eh, that's just scrapes between old friends, brothers if only in name."

"Then like with Yuki-sama and the other dojo members this past summer at the dojo…during the matchups?"

Painfully he remembered that time. Nodding grimly, he continued, "Similar…this time it was Hatori-kun. He was being harassed for being quite a studious student—he always had a book. They took his books and ripped it apart in front of him—mind you, I only know this because Hatori-kun told me years later when I asked him about it. So, as I come rushing to the commotion of shouts and such, I saw the three Jyuunishi boys surrounded by their other classmates, some on the floor rolling around with bleeding noses…plenty of bruises, too. Ayame-kun was busy fawning over Hatori-kun and placing his broken glasses back onto his face, and I saw the coldest glare I've ever seen on Shigure-kun's face as he stood guard between the upper classmen and his cousins. Quite the scene, really…Shigure-kun was rather relentless in his protection of the others."

"And then…?"

"Tetsuya-kun, from that day forward, they never stepped into the dojo again. When I called Ayame-kun's father over the phone to convince him we're not training hooligans, I could hear quite clearly the young man's voice in the background. His remarks were the ones I remembered best and why it matters now. – What's the point of going back when you can't put the enemy in their place? – His father was livid to put it mildly. I tried to convey as loudly as I could that we show forgiveness to our enemy, and his ardent response was quite memorable: – Tori-san was injured, and I should forgive them? Gure-san, even Tori-san may, but not me. I make my enemies sorry they cross me. What good is being the Snake of the Jyuunishi if you can't have a little fun with it? – Needless to say, his father forbade me from training him ever again."

Seeing Tetsuya finally understand the underlying point to it all, Master Haji heavily sighed as he added, "The point is, Ayame-sama is upfront about his disdain for those he perceives as his enemies—then and now. And make no mistake, your father became his number one enemy when he tried to take his brother into custody. Ayame-sama shares that much with Akito-sama…they can hold a grudge, especially when Yuki-sama is involved. And everyone else be damned."

"Haji-ojiisan, he's not all that."

"Heh, you try giving him these papers—last time, he burned them in the firepit he had by the poolside as he buffed his nails. The time before that, he made origami out of them. Each week it's different—I don't bother saying anything anymore, he never reads them anyway. But I stick around to see what he'd do next with those papers—it's fun being the Snake, you know?"

"Still, we can't expect Tetsuya-kun to know the Jyuunishi as you or I do. At most, it'll be mainly what he's heard from his parents, ne Tetsuya-kun?"

"Yes, to a point. Father doesn't like to talk about his grandfather, the previous Neko, and Mother believed it to be taboo to talk about her father since there is a current…well, the Jyuunishi position is taken."

Kazuma smiled brightly and placed his hand firmly on the young man's shoulder. "The Dragon, or more technically speaking, the Seahorse position is certainly taken. And do not be grieved that your mother chose not to speak of the matter freely. Even amongst our small circle, the subject of past Jyuunishi members is not spoken of…it's considered taboo but more as a sign of disrespect to the current holder of the position."

Tetsuya processed the information and slightly nodded in understanding though he knew he would never fully understand the dynamics of the Jyuunishi. It was all so very…alien…abnormal…surreal. Yet what he saw with his own eyes on that day…to see a human male turn to a rat…it was no lie. It was fact…it was their family's truth that was kept secret from him for so long.

"Uncle, I…I am not sure what to make of this, I really don't. Father and Mother both explained that this…affliction runs in our bloodline. The how's and why's were lost in time, but they made it clear that it will continue on into the future."

Both Kazuma and Master Haji sipped their tea quietly, sensing the internal struggle Tetsuya is going through to try to make sense of it all. They couldn't blame him…it's something everyone directly involved have been trying to do for most of their lives, and personally they're no closer to an answer that satisfied them.

"Rest assured then that you won't have to worry about that for a few generations," continued Master Haji. "We have the complete set of Jyuunishi and 'God'…or Emperor if that's the story you believe. When one passes on, the vacancy is there, and in time, a child amongst our blood line will be 'chosen' and born in precisely seven months and carry the…affliction. All bound together…all bound to the 'Emperor' if he or she is alive. Though the Cat has more of a problem with his transformations and forming a bond with the others."

"Master Haji, how was your brother, the previous Neko?"

The elderly man was silent for a time before he could think of a suitable answer. "He was a man who accepted his position without fighting it. And I was too immature to realize what a sacrifice that was. Too young to realize that regrets follow you 'til the end of your days."

Tetsuya remained silent as he heard those words. They were much like the ones his mother had spoken about her father…how she regretted not realizing or appreciating the great sacrifice a Jyuunishi lives with in that position. Both shared those feelings of remorse…

He will not pry any further on that topic. But he will change the subject to something that had been truly bothering him.

"Uncle, are we chained to our loyalty to Akito-sama…to Yuki-sama?"

With a rueful grin, Kazuma sipped his cooling tea. "Hm, sounds like words from your father. Have you asked your mother this?"

"Yes, but she gave the answer that I knew she'd give me. She's always been a supporter of our clan heads. I wanted to hear a more unbiased point of view."

"Well, I'm afraid there's not a true 'yes' or 'no' answer. Each member that knows of the Jyuunishi may feel guided by the old fable or simply feel inclined to follow family tradition. Everyone has their own interpretation of what drives them to follow the clan leader. The better question to ask would be what you feel about them…do you feel tied to them to the point you'd call it a 'chain'?"

"I…don't know anymore. I question so many things now…"

"And in time you'll find answers. Maybe not all the answers, but some. But most importantly, be honest to yourself. You were never one to teeter or be indecisive, and that'll help you here."

Sighing in defeat, Tetsuya sipped his drink and stood up. "Well, I must get going, I'm taking my little brother out for dinner—to catch up. Still, Master Haji, please give these last documents an overview if nothing else. As for the Proxy, perhaps he'll see reason when a different member of the council visits him later tonight."

Standing up as well, both elder men looked at Tetsuya incredulously. Master Haji was the first to break out with a big grin. "Oh, to be young and full of hope! I need to refresh my youth meter with you, Tetsuya-kun."

"You have enough in your meter, Haji-ojiisan. Tetsuya-kun, who did the council decide to send out to meet with Ayame-san? Last we heard, he was turning away all visitors."

"You're right—but he won't be able to with this one." Hearing his phone's text notification, he looked down, expecting to his brother message him that he was finally finished with his homework. What he saw instead was far more disturbing.

"Master Haji, Uncle," he carefully remarked as he looked up with disturbing news. "It seems Father has located Kyo-kun and Kagura-san."

Both elder Sohma felt the ominous air upon hearing that. Kazuma had to say the words.

"Located? Were they taken?"

-o:o-

The ladies of the building were used to loud groups coming into their place of business. They'd be either a bunch of high schoolers trying to be rebellious—usually a spoiled bunch with too much money to burn—or a group of businessmen ready to blow off steam and have a long night to wash away their cares with enough alcohol to sink a boat.

The group that had invaded their premises moments before were neither of those types.

"Check down that hall!"

"This side of the hallway is clear—no sign of them."

"All exits on this floor are now covered—no one leaves."

"Continue searching each room on each floor—I don't care if it's the hall closet, understood?"

"Sir, these ladies—"

"Hey, I don't know who you are or what you want, but you can't—"

"Stand back and be silent. Your management has already been informed. This will go quickly if you don't delay our efforts further."

The girl cosplaying Atsuka from the popular mecha anime was miffed beyond words as she growled and continued to curse the swarm of suited men and women going door to door and ruining many a karaoke party, all in the hopes of finding the 'runaways'.

Moving away from the main commotion of this floor's bartending area, she discreetly slipped behind a curtain by the window. Looking out to the darkening city view, she quietly called his number.

"Yo, talk to me."

"Hey, 'Mugen', they're still here—two hours and counting. You good over there?"

"Just made it to the airport. Thanks, 'Misato'—I owe you one when I get back."

"Well, you can start by getting me those sweets you promised to bring next time around."

"There's some good ones over in Okinawa—I'll bring you a case!"

"Always going overboard, baka," the girl cosplayer remarked happily. On a somber note, she asked, "So you got to 'Rei's' place okay?"

"No worries. Got a busted lip for barging into her place, but she's good and now gone with the wind. She did want you to know that she wants to thank you in her own way someday, though."

"Oh yeah? Well, I'd settle for a weekend at a hot springs inn—the way these guys are working us over, it'll take me weeks to release all this stress. Seriously, they're like prison guards—no wonder she and 'Tuxedo Mask' got the hell away from their family."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"Sir, the flight is ready to take off. You must end your call now."

"Gotta go, 'Misato'."

"Oh, yeah, the life of luxury awaits you in your private jet."

"Hey, family perks, what can I say?"

"I want two cases!"

"Done!"

Ending her call, she slipped from the curtain only to meet with a stern frown from the man leading these guards.

"Who were you talking to?"

"The candy man."

"Hand over your phone—"

No sooner were those words out of his mouth that she threw her phone down, and with a heavy stomp from her combat boots, crushed the disposable cell phone Mugen/Sawamura gave her months ago. He had said it was a favor to him for her to keep it, and that a time may come that she would need to call him on his matching cell.

Who would ever have thought that Sawamura was hiding THE errant Sohmas from their family? Well, it was shocking to find that out, but more so that he trusted her to keep her word. It wasn't hard…he always treated her and her co-workers with respect and the guy was a whole lot of fun to be around.

And Rei…Sohma Kagura as it turns out…is one hell of a lady.

"Get it yourself," she coldly remarked in defiance.

Just as the man in charge was about to start in on her, her gasbag of a supervisor quickly cut in. "Please, good sir, she's one of my best girls. Look, if you're so interested in your Sohma girl, I followed 'Rei'—the Sohma—one time to her apartment…just to make sure she arrived safely, mind you!"

"Riiiight, says the pervert of the year," grumbled 'Misato'.

"Shut up!" The tall guard then leaned into the quivering mass of man before him. "Where?"

"Of course, I just heard of the reward from one of your other subord—"

"WHERE?!"

-o:o-

"HAHAHAHAHAH!"

"And she's still laughing."

Putting up the last of their bags, Kagura turned to rummage through her shoulder bag for the shower essentials. Not that the concierge service on their train doesn't already provide plenty, but she prefers her conditioner after having worn a wig these last few hours.

"Hehehehe, yes I still am. That couple took one look at you and actually left the luxury suite train car to go to economy class!"

"No thanks to you and that stupid costume you got me in! It's going to the burn pile as soon as I can find one!"

"Heh, it's what I could put together last minute! Sawamura didn't give us much time to come up with anything more to suit your taste. The cab was on standby."

"They could've waited!"

Giggling madly, she stuck her head into Kyo's bunkroom. "Yeah, he could've! I'm going to shower. Be back in thirty minutes."

"Cackling wench…" He made sure she was long gone before he said that; no need for her good mood to go sour. Sighing heavily, he finished dressing into his overnight clothes courtesy of the luxury first class service Kagura paid cash for when she booked the train tickets. How Sawamura fought like hell to change her mind and fly down to Okinawa with him instead.

'Should've saved his breath—ain't no one who can change her mind once it's made up.'

Laying down on his bunk bed, he turned on the radio to hear some music as he waited for the wild woman to return to have their late dinner together. Recalling earlier events was inevitable, especially the memory of coming out of the shower room when he heard the front door burst open. Sawamura sprawled on the floor with Kagura's foot on his neck and sporting a bleeding lip was a moment to treasure. Sadly, the happy moment didn't last and the doofus on the floor explained why he had barged in. News of Seto's people tearing apart their place of work in their efforts to hunt them down only meant that they were minutes away from finding them there at the apartment.

Yet, as all-important as that news was, it paled in comparison to the monstrosity that Kagura put together for him to wear as his 'disguise'. Upon seeing it, he told her straight up he'd rather go out naked as the day he was born…sort of. And she promptly told him she'd kick his pasty white ass with the birthmark all the way to their destination if he tried it.

She won that argument. And so the utter humiliation of wearing such an atrocity out in public will forever be burned into his psyche.

Who knew that there was such a thing as 'old man Sailor Moon' cosplay?

As much as Sawamura laughed his big mouth off at his expense, it felty mighty good to see the big guy wimp out against Kagura's firm protests to look after her in Okinawa. She didn't even let him drop them off at their final stop, only at a far enough subway stop in the heart of the cosplay district, complete opposite of where they ended up in the end. These overnight train services served their purpose well and hopefully taking them far and away from Seto's latest set of goons.

'Gotta keep moving. But how far do we go…and for how long? (ARGH) And what the freakin' hell is the Nezumi up to? Okay, fine, we've had our throwdowns…it's done and over with. What's he waiting for? What's going on over there? Who's in charge now, really? What if they drag Tohru more into this mess—'

He rubbed his torrential thoughts hard from his face. He really couldn't afford to let all his fears come at him at once. Especially the last one—that one always gnawed away in a far dark recess of his mind.

It was hard to stretch his arms above him in this enclosed bunkbed, so he opted to just laying his hands across his middle and deeply breathing in and out. He stared at the ceiling, allowing the soothing rhythm of the train to lull him back to some measure of calm. He had sworn he would not feed his fears anymore with wild assumptions—enough damage had been done by them.

Still, whenever his dark, polluted thoughts came over him now, Kagura made sure to force him into a sparring session and make him voice his thoughts, the hard way. Shying away from the truth or plainly lying to her was a tempting option. However, the harder he resisted, the harder she went after him.

'Damn woman was a force stronger than any typhoon. Tell her the truth or face her fists…or kicks to the groin. No mercy is her game now.'

At any rate, she did him a favor—she gave him the release he sorely needed. She had learned from the best on that point. And the Neko missed that man terribly.

'Shihan…hope you're not too worried. I know Oyajii is keeping you safe from this family. Soon, Shihan, soon…I know it.'

Turning to his side, he saw the scenery outside his window swiftly pass them by. He hoped whatever Kagura had planned panned out where they're headed. He could only hope at this point.

Speaking of hope, he brought his left wrist up, staring at the beads that have adorned his wrist since he was old enough to remember his earliest memories. After months of constant interference into his life…

'Not a tremble…not a hum…nothing.'

He doesn't 'see' her anymore either. Not even the bratty kid. All these months that he was plagued with images, real/not real, whatever the hell you'd call them…suddenly gone. Ever since that infamous day, not once has there even been a whisper from anything or anyone.

'Just as sudden it all came on, it's over…been over. Maybe 'cause that betrayal she talked of is over and done with. What a real ass-kicker…to think the damn beads were warning me the whole time of being done in by my own kin. But it's done…no more of that headache. Now to figure out how the hell am I gonna dig out of this mess.'

Yawning widely, he laid on his back and stared at the ceiling of his bunk room while holding up his left hand above him, the bracelet glinting dully in the overhead light.

'It has to end sometime, right?'

While his beads told him nothing, his instincts screamed loud. This time, he listened carefully…and the truth revealed to him only then turned his blood cold.

The silence of his inner thoughts was deafening…much like that of his beads.

-o:o-

The creatures of the evening were awakening, the chirping of crickets gaining volume in the still of the hour. As twilight settled over the rock garden, the cool breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees nearby. The full moon was making itself known already, it's large, bright presence unmistakable in the horizon. An occasional car could be heard faintly driving by. It was a serene scene.

'Hold this arm over my head… Kneel down slightly and kick forward. And hold.'

At least, that's what he tried to focus on instead of the chill starting to creep into his bones. He's really pushing it since any given whiff of a chill in the air could trigger a transformation. Yet lately he's been putting forth a concerted effort to build up his stamina against that pesky trigger.

That and it kept his thoughts centered on something other than the love of his life who he had not seen since the start of this insanity.

He had long thought it not worth his while to endure these inane exercises since his body will do whatever the hell it wanted when it concerns their Jyuunishi curse, but, right now, having such a handicap is not one he cares to have this family take advantage of.

And were they itching to find a weakness.

'Now stretch the arm over like this…put the foot here…I think. Hold.'

Another stiff breeze blew from behind him. This time it smelled distinctly of cigarette smoke.

It wasn't from Hatori's preferred brand.

"I thought you found katas too dull for your tastes, Ayame."

He wasn't sure what surprised him more…the fact he didn't transform over the sheer shock that his father is paying him a visit or that said father had actually initiated a conversation with him. Regardless, with his concentration now broken, his form is all off.

'Whatever, the Aragaki ha Sochin wasn't working for me anyway…the 'tranquil force' kata just isn't as advertised.'

Turning to his father, he had a wide smile as he replied, "It has its moments. Besides, when you have your beauty sleep rudely taken from you by a bunch of foul vermin tearing through your home, that changes things. You look comfortable. I don't think I've ever seen you without a tie in years, let alone a suit jacket! Are you alright?"

True, his father sat on the veranda overlooking the garden, his tie and jacket were long gone and even the sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up. He even had one leg up as he draped an arm over it, his cigarette burning steadily. His intent gaze remained on his first-born.

"Is that concern I hear?"

"Well, I'm no heathen—I do have manners. Tori-san drilled them into me long ago."

As he said this, Ayame quickly went over to his belongings he left on the veranda next to his father as he practiced. Wrapping his scarf around his neck to keep the creeping chill away, he swept his braided hair back over his shoulder.

He purposely ignored the folder full of papers on the other side of his father.

His father in turn quietly observed him as he layered on his light outer coat. He can at least say this much about his father…the man never spoke more than he absolutely needed to. Probably why Seto included him in his plans to take over the clan—a man that says little makes little trouble, an assumption that paid off mightily since his father does hold sway over others in the council. 'So long as words spoken serve a purpose, it's pointless otherwise' was what his father had told him one time in his very young youth when he still asked questions. It's why the man never stuck around when his first-born was causing havoc in their household. Nope, those joyous interactions between parent and son were mainly left up to his wife who blamed all her wrinkles and premature gray-hair on her first-born for all the stress he put her through the years, especially in his early years when he easily transformed into his cursed state.

'You'd think she get over it after the first few hundred times it happened. Did she ever scream her head off…still does. Perhaps I should indulge her again soon. But my good ol' sire…what a rock.'

Literally, just a rock.

Even now, in this rock garden ironically, his father sits there perfectly on the veranda, staring at him blankly—a rock against a raging river, the raging river in this case being a Sohma with a cursed son. Neither intimidated nor disgusted by his cursed form—just accepting. Resigned. He could never decide if it was the one and only kind thing his father ever did for him.

Regardless, if he's here, it only means that he has run out of options—the man did hate to have to speak more than necessary. And when it came to his first-born…

"I have papers for you to sign."

His father liked to be direct, to the point, and above all, quick.

"Oh, Father dear, all those papers look the same. Why not tell me about your day instead, hm? It must be better than yesterday's, ne?"

And he, as his dutiful first-born, loved to make it as difficult as possible for him to be quick or to be calm.

'Try harder.' Ayame all but yelled that out loud as he primped himself further, smoothing down his coat after he buttoned it up. The night was quickly descending upon them and with it, the cold. He at least consented to his father's implied wish to remain outside for the moment, settling himself away from his father.

Stretching his legs out between himself and his father, he sighed gently and leaned against a column post. He couldn't help but cheerfully ask, "But really, did you manage to get Seto-baka's massive ego off the floor after yesterday's TV interview? I told him I didn't need any baby-sitting—I'm perfectly capable of handling an interview all on my own. Still, he shouldn't worry too much—it was a daytime segment anyway, no way anyone important saw the dog pee on his pants leg. Poor thing, probably drank too much water before the adopt-a-pet segment. Hope it gets adopted—"

"My day was spent putting those papers together. Just sign them to acknowledge you received them and that you will forward them to Akito. That's all."

"You know, then again, that segment might've made it to the evening news—I mean, wouldn't you want to see a dog raise it's leg and let loose the biggest—"

"The papers, Ayame."

"I don't do paperwork, Papa dear, you know that. They give you paper cuts—very dangerous."

"So I can tell…you have the paperwork of these past few months stashed EVERYWHERE around the house."

"Some of us need reading material on the toilet."

"Ayame."

"Father."

"I'm not leaving without those papers signed NOW."

"Then you're never leaving. Are you sure you want that? That woman you married lives here, you know."

"The council is waiting on these papers TONIGHT—"

"Tell them to piss off—works for me."

"That is the COUNCIL you're speaking of, Ayame—what happened to those 'manners' Hatori drilled into you?"

"Oh bother…fine. Tell them to PLEASE piss off."

"Ayame, you do not want any more to do with this matter between Akito and the council. It will get worse. Sign the papers and you can get back to your shop with that 'assistant' of yours. You've not seen her since this all started, right?"

And he went there. He really did.

There was long, pregnant pause after those words were spoken. Both men stared down the other, neither relenting. A cold smile slowly appeared on the Snake of the Jyuunishi.

"I'll do you a solid, Father, and not mince words. My shop, my 'assistant' are topics off limits to YOU. And if by some shred of a miracle it matters a smidge to you, know this—I would give up ALL that makes up my life outside of this family if it means standing by Yuki's side in this hell YOU and that faction put us in because unlike YOU, I love Yuki with all that I am—he is the love of my life. Mine knows this already, and I've already signed the deed to the shop over to her. So, I'm not going anywhere—and those precious papers can BURN in this tenth level of hell right along with the rest of us."

"Ayame."

The quiet reprimand as his name was said was enough to snap the Snake from coiling further in annoyance. He looked up to the doorway to see his savior from this rapidly escalating conversation.

"Oh, Tori-san, dear!" he yelped as he stood up swiftly to hug the doctor in a fierce embrace. "Make this awful creature go away. He's ruining what good chi I managed to attain from those katas I worked hard on all week."

"He needs to sign these papers NOW."

"See? Let's lock the door, quick!"

"Ayame, I came here because we have to leave."

Seeing Hatori's furtive glance to his father, he could tell his cousin wasn't going to explain any further the reason for their sudden departure. "So, you did come to save me! Such love I don't get from a certain father! Let me get my things!"

Rushing into the house with such speed, he just as quickly stuck his head outside almost running into his father who was actually going after him into the house.

"Father, give my very best to the council this fine evening. And let them know that this is the digital age—they can always EMAIL, text even. Such dinosaurs."

"You can't run away from this—Ayame, come back here!"

Mission 'lose his cool'—accomplished.

"Sure I can, 'cause, darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream'. Adieu!"

With a playful wink, the Snake was once again off and gone into the house. Every female servant in the house that had gathered because of the raised voices quickly parted ways to allow passage for their esteemed Proxy Head of the family.

Just as the head of the house was about to go after his son, Hatori stood in his way with his head bowed in deference.

"Sir, please…if you need those papers signed, I can do that. Ayame will never give anyone the satisfaction of making him do something he doesn't want to do. You know this."

Looking hard at the doctor, the elder Sohma reigned in his anger, shoving the folder to him. "It'll have to do. They need to be taken to Akito. We are all convening in three days time to discuss the terms on those papers, and Akito must be there if she has a hope of regaining the Jyuunishi under her 'care'."

"Fine." Hatori quickly signed the 'receipt' of having received the documents and returned the signed document to the man. He slipped the folder into his coat and bowing, he remarked, "Forgive me, but we must go now. Please excuse me."

"Where are you two going, Hatori?"

Stopping briefly, Hatori replied over his shoulder, "To see a patient."

Ignoring the man's knowing glance, Hatori didn't stay a moment longer as he hurriedly went to retrieve the keys to a borrowed car, his own car having suffered damage from the water hoses during the fire at the Honke.

He pointedly ignored Ayame's rambling remarks of erecting a statue in his honor for saving him from his father's clutches of bad vibes. Once in the car, however, the chatty man dropped all pretense of a flippant attitude, and rubbing his eyes hard, he quietly sat back in his chair, clearly still miffed from his earlier conversation with a man who has been a life-long challenge. He merely stared out the window during the long drive, his fingers tapping his pursed lips in a rhythm, not even bothering to ask why it was taking them this long to get to where they were going.

That was worrying.

"Ayame, his delivery reeks, but your father—"

"Not now, Tori-san."

Letting that age-old issue drop, Hatori moved on to an infinitely more delicate subject.

"Is she doing okay?"

He need not explain of who he was asking about.

"Yes—inundated with new orders every day. I think my plugs of her talent with the needle in my VLOGs may be a little too much."

"She can handle them…and more. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Ayame looked over to his dearest friend and couldn't help but cry inside for all the sacrifices this gentle man did for those he loved. Sacrifices that he's now beginning to appreciate more as time went on and his life along with his loved ones have had their liberty stripped further. He long feared in his wildest imaginations that he'd be in Hatori's position…to push loved ones away just to keep them safe. It had come down to that once it was apparent that he along with the other Jyuunishi were a blatant target for control over the family. And he'd be damned if he'd give those cretins any excuse to go after one other innocent. He told her as much the other day.

It was so hard to have that conversation, even if it was the right thing to do. But it hurt no less.

'She was still optimistic, though, so sure it'll be over soon enough, that I'd overcome this obstacle like I have with everything else. And she'll leave the light on in the shop until then. Woman never lets me get down, her many talents.'

Seeing his cousin look back outside his window, Hatori could sympathize and prayed that for his friend this 'hiatus' of his life would be over soon. He was beginning to worry his friend would disappear in this mess of the Sohma clan.

'And this evening is only going to get worse.'

"Ayame, I'm sorry for not telling you sooner."

Turning back, he saw his friend's apologetic face as he drove them down the winding road. Unsure of what he meant, he suddenly recognized the area around them.

"Tori-san, are we—"

"Yes, but listen—"

"We're at the Gardner's place! We're going to see Yuki? Truly?! After all these months—"

"Ayame—"

"Why didn't you say so sooner?! Trying to surprise me—oh, there's the gate! Hurry!"

Giving up explaining for the moment, Hatori drove up to the gate and rolled the window down to show his ID and to tell the wary guards they were expected. But really, one look to his prominent passenger and the guards immediately let them through with no further delay down the driveway.

"Tori-san, you're taking much too long—"

"Your brother is in trouble."

The words were no sooner out of his mouth that Hatori found his hands full with an excessively anxious Snake.

"WHAT? What are you talking about, what happened? Is he ill—no, DON'T TELL ME THOSE MONSTERS—"

"Ayame, STOP. None of that is the case, but he is in trouble—look, we're here and—"

And out went the Snake with the wheels still in motion leaving the car door wide open.

"Dammit," muttered the remaining Sohma as he put the car quickly in Park and turned off the engine. He had anticipated the anxiousness of his cousin upon being told of the situation, but even he can't predict what Ayame's spontaneity would lead them to.

"Hatori-niisan!"

Shutting the car door behind him, Hatori quickly made his way to the house where Kureno was waiting patiently.

"Thank goodness I caught you. Ayame-niisan is already in the house—"

"Where's Yuki?"

"That's just it—we lost him. He was in his room one moment—"

"Show me, go."

The house was in a turmoil, servants running through the halls and opening each door that existed in the house, all in search of the missing teen.

"TAKE CARE EVERYONE—WE DON'T WISH TO STARTLE HIM."

Hearing that said aloud, Hatori turned to see the owners, the 'Gardner's of the family estate, Yamagi and Keiko, both looking harried and worried as they directed their household in this hunt for their missing Heir.

Bowing low, Hatori greeted them, "Please forgive my intrusion, Yamagi-ojiisan, Keiko-obaasan."

"No, please forgive us. We're responsible for the boy in Akito-sama's stead, and he's now vanished. How unforgivable—"

"Wait—Akito's gone as well?"

"Yes, since this afternoon. We were only told to provide discreet transport for out-of-town travel and that was all."

"Where to?"

"We don't know, Akito-sama was going to give the travel plan directly to my personal assistant—I absolutely insisted that he must go in order for Akito-sama to be escorted at all times. Our dear Head relented at least that much."

Hatori was about to turn on Kureno for not letting him know sooner when he suddenly remembered a small detail.

"Wait, where's Ayame?"

"Ayame-niisan just went right past us—"

"Out the side door here."

"Find him."

"Sensei, we're focusing our efforts to find Yuki-sama—"

"Ayame will know where's his brother—follow him."

And that was just what one elder brother was hoping for as he ran through another garden landscape. Déjà vu was his trailing thought as he called out for his brother, his feet never ceasing its quick step and careful to avoid tripping over rocks, flower beds…why do Sohma homes have such large greenspace?

There. This is the path his brother took. The ever-familiar pull compelled him to run at full speed. He vaguely heard Hatori shouting his name, but he was deaf to all else around him as he fixated on the presence of his brother just ahead.

Why the hell does his brother always finds himself trying to leave the premises?

That's where Ayame found him finally, impressively kicking down a rather large iron gate that led to the front of the property. Shoving the gate open, breaking it more like it, he resolutely continued his trek to who knows where. But even in the dark, the elder brother could tell that he was carrying that thing again.

Déjà vu can't fully describe what he's feeling now. It's like the worst possible scene in a horror movie stuck on loop, over and over… It filled him with cold dread as he recalled vividly that this was how his last memory of being with his brother ended. With his brother in a catatonic state, then unconscious afterwards. And then the disaster at the Honke…

"YUKI!"

In his self-induced panic, he had paused long enough in his chase that Hatori and Kureno along with the head of the house arrived by his side. Kureno quickly ran after the youth ahead of him, and it prompted him to give chase once again.

Yet as Kureno arrived by Yuki's side, he was thrust back by the very thing that was in the youth's hand. The penetrating gaze of the Nezumi of the Jyuunishi was on full display, and it alone kept the Bird from attempting to get close to him again.

"I'm not going back."

"Yuki, please listen—"

"I'm leaving, so don't try to stop me."

"Yuki—"

"STAND BACK."

"Precious…"

The quiet endearment was enough to shock the younger Sohma from whatever tirade he was going to get into with his concerned caretaker. It was only upon hearing his brother speak that he realized they had an audience. His kind host, Hatori…his brother…Akito was gone, that much he forced himself to remember.

"What are you doing here, Nii-san? You're supposed to be back home with Okaa-san!"

"Sweetheart, where are you going? We can take you where you need to go, but here is still safest for you—"

"Stand back!" As Yuki kept pleading for his brother to stay where he was, he secretly rejoiced upon seeing him. But terror quickly took over the brief elation.

"Yuki—"

"I'm going…I have to…I…Nii-san, please, go home…it's not safe…"

"Ayame-niisan, don't—"

Ayame brushed aside Kureno's arm. He took a step forward.

"NII-SAN, PLEASE STAY BACK! IT'S NOT SAFE!"

The tip of the sealed sword's saya was now thrust towards him, trembling ever so slightly.

Ayame only paused momentarily, his solemn eyes never leaving the teary and frantic wide-eyed stare of his brother's.

'So much like before…so lost.'

Slowly he lifted his arm as he stepped forward, his heart pounding with each deliberate step taken. And gently the intricately carved scabbard was being turned away.

Finally, he was face to face with the love of his life after so much time apart. He was home. And though he felt immense joy to be by Yuki's side, it tore his heart apart to see the uncertainty and FEAR in his younger brother's eyes.

"You're not safe," was Yuki's broken, low remark as he cast shamed eyes down, his dejection apparent.

Gently taking hold of his beloved's chin, he lifted that beautiful face that always sent his heart soaring, carefully wiping away the tear tracks on his cheeks.

"We're safest when we're together, not apart. Never apart."

The whispered words were lovingly said with absolute certainty. Yuki held onto those words as his anchor in a sea of chaos that was his mind.

It was one heartbeat after another, everyone holding their breath unknowingly, waiting for the youth to lash out once again and readying themselves to react at once should he do so. But the younger Sohma remained as still as ever. And ever so subtly, the tension could be seen easing from the uptight youth. He still, however, kept the sword close to his side, never letting it drop. It didn't go unnoticed.

"Yuki, why do you say it's not safe?"

"Ayame-niisan, Yuki's confused, he hasn't slept in days—"

"I can speak for myself, Kureno!"

The sharp rebuke definitely wasn't missed. Nor could you mistake the youth's glowing, steely gaze set on the timid man, daring him to speak up again. Hatori was just thankful that their host had already gone inside to call off the search, leaving the four of them alone. Good thing, too, because the youth was not stopping.

"And besides, you don't believe me! Don't deny it! Now my Nii-san's here and it's not safe and you tell them it is and that I'm just crazy—I WON'T LET YOU RISK MY BROTHER'S SAFETY!"

"Whoa there, that's a mouthful—my dear, come, look at me," interjected Ayame calmly, blocking Yuki's view of Kureno with a shift of his body. His gentle hands then held his brother closer, drawing his little brother's sharp gray-violet eyes to meet his compassionate golden-green eyes. The tension was back ten-fold. "Never mind Kureno, I'm not listening to him. I'm asking you why you say it's not safe."

How do you explain to someone, without sounding certifiable, that what you are seeing and hearing are not what they appear on the surface? That it bleeds into your reality…literally.

Yuki set his jaw as he struggled to put into words the chaotic mess of his thoughts and the very REAL threat he feels in his fast-beating heart and how being in the house just makes it more pronounced, and he also needed to leave and—

He looks over to the large home. The house was pitch black, a suffocating void—but it was also brightly lit with servants wandering about. The few people he sees that aren't his hosts or Akito or Kureno…people he knows nothing about…such nauseating distrust. And around every corner or sometimes right next to his ear…words that he couldn't make out whispered over and over…

"Rooms."

Ayame wasn't sure he heard right since Yuki barely forced out the word. "Rooms? Those inside the house?"

The slim youth clenched his eyes shut, his hand fisting around the hilt of the sword he refused to surrender. These damnable thoughts won't let up and they keep spinning round and round…

'MAKE IT STOP!'

"Yuki, please look at me." The intense desperation in the youth's eyes was clear. "The two of us will go back inside—"

"NII-SAN—"

"Let me finish, love," he quickly pushes on as his heart still wrenches further to see the dejection in his brother's eyes. He held firm to the younger's shoulders as he made to pull away. "It's too cold to be without a jacket, and Tori-san will never forgive us if we catch colds tonight, ne?"

The hurt was still clear in the Nezumi's eyes.

"So, we'll go inside and warm up a bit. Then, together, we'll go through this place from top to bottom…each and every room will be searched. Every living area, hall closet, toilet room…all of them. We won't leave one room unturned unless you say so. And you'll tell me when to move on to the next. If after all that, you're still not convinced, you say so, and we'll leave, no questions asked."

"Ayame-niisan!"

The Snake's abrupt raised hand stayed any further remarks.

"No questions, promise. You say the word at the end, and we go. Will that work for you?"

Yuki looked at his brother in aghast—NO! Going back there…THAT HOUSE WAS PITCH BLACK! A BLACKNESS FOUND IN DEATH! But his brother can't see that, right? He can't possibly see the brightly lit house bleeding away into this pitch darkness—

He looks warily back at the house, and it took him a full minute to see that his eyes were not deceiving him, in a way. The blackness…it was fading. Is it enough to risk going back in? What if it was just a lure to get him to go back inside that dark nightmare—he suddenly feels the firm grip of his brother's hands on his cheeks, making him LOOK at his brother, truly see him. It was so clearly there, the profound devotion Ayame always gave him, daring anyone to go up against him. He couldn't help but trust it. He desperately needed to trust it.

Nodding in assent to the arrangement, the elder brother widely smiled and quickly removed his scarf around his neck only to swiftly wrap it around the youth's cold neck. The younger was immediately inundated with his brother's warmth and scent. He didn't know it, but he huddled closer into the scarf, taking in deep breaths.

Draping his arm around the slim the shoulders of his brother, Ayame guided them carefully back through the broken gate.

"Yuki, you can give me the sword—"

"He can keep it. Be a dear, Kureno, and tell our host to have everyone outside in the next five minutes. And to leave their belongings behind."

"Ayame?"

"Nii-san?"

"Trust your Nii-san," whispered the elder brother with a knowing wink.

"But, Ayame-niisan, this is looking—"

"Just tell them I'm demanding it as Akito's Proxy. And anyway, as Yuki's elder brother, an inspection of the premises isn't out of the realm of normal demands."

"But…at this hour?! It's late!"

"Hardly. Besides a late dinner sounds good about now, don't you think, Yuki? You're much too thin for my tastes. But first, have the house cleared, Kureno. Five minutes. Shoo-shoo!"

"Ayam—"

"I wasn't asking, Kureno," was the sing-song response.

At a loss of words but also left with no choice, Kureno hurriedly went ahead of them to give out the order to be followed in the next five minutes.

"You may have already learned this, my sweet, but you must be patient with those that aren't as enlightened as you or I. I tell you, they can try your patience, but we must humble ourselves and show them our way is the better way to get things done. One time, I had this rather obnoxious client who insisted the bias cut I made on his outfit made him look fat—is it my fault he had one too many Pocki underneath that girth? And he sent the outfit back THREE times for alterations! I was ready to just stab him with my needle—"

He let his brother's barrage of words roll over him, scantily paying any attention to the details, but the smooth timbre of his voice was enough to make it seem and feel normal, something he's not felt in months. The terror in his thoughts ebbed just a bit with each word said. Just knowing he wasn't alone for once in his beliefs was an immense relief, even if he can't articulate what those beliefs really were.

Hatori was just glad that his two easily sickened patients were now returning to the warmth of the house. If he focused on that, he won't have to read into what was blatantly wrong with Yuki.

At another time, he can assess Yuki's overall health. For now, he just concentrated on trying to keep calm as his cousins led them back into the house. Upon entering through the side door they exited from earlier, it was clear that the whole household were striving to keep up the quick pace they were told to use to exit the premises, their soft mutterings of how unusual this all was and that the VLOGs were truthful after all about the Proxy being a little off-kilter.

'Well, better they think that than the alternative. If word ever got out about Yuki's current state…'

"Ayame-sama, the household will be waiting out front as you requested. Would you like us to show you around the house, perhaps point out our security measures—"

"No need, Yamagi-ojiisan," remarked the affable Proxy as he waved off the offer. "We're perfectly fine as we are. Why don't you and your lovely wife sit here and relax? We shan't take no more time than necessary to go through the place. Come along, gentlemen—Yuki, lead the way, show us how wonderous this building is."

The Nezumi was transfixed with his surroundings. He was sure those dark corners of the room hid eyes that watched him, knowing more than he did about the darkness that was bleeding all up and down the walls and floor—

A peck on his cheek brought him out of his dark reverie. His brother was smiling down on him, waiting.

That's right, his brother's here now. He tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword that he refused to let go. Taking in a deep breath, Yuki set his shoulders back and walked ahead, moving forward across this room into the next room into a kitchen in disarray from a dinner that was prepared earlier into another room that housed pantry items then back down to a utility room with half-done laundry and still further—

Room after room. Baths. Toilet rooms. A library with an office attached. A solarium overlooking the garden. One floor completed. The one above is tackled in much the same manner. One room after another, the Nezumi went in, his entourage following diligently. No one said anything other than Ayame making observations all the while.

Nothing. Well, something obviously—the rooms were full of belongings of a normal household, but at the same time, with each room they go into…nothing. It's just a room.

He could feel his heart speeding up, his despair growing with each passing room with nothing to show for this lunacy—even he can admit that much. They now faced the private living quarters on the third and final floor, the last area to search. Whilst his room was on this level along with Akito's, Kureno's and their host's, this side of the house had the remaining guest quarters along with a few live-in servants to tend to every need at all hours. He could faintly hear his brother speaking but it was muted now, the words holding no clarity for him. Just the sound of nothing in his ears…

And that's what was bothersome—the silence. There were always mutterings of words that never really reached his hearing, but he knows they're being said. Off and on, over and over, not always the same mutterings, he knows, but they persisted. Now…just silence.

'NO! What if…what if I was wrong?! They'll never trust me—'

He hadn't realized he stopped until his brother once again held his face in his hands.

"Yuki, is it still not safe?"

"It's just…I…it's so quiet…these stupid rooms, they're just…nothing! Just—"

"Never mind that. Do YOU feel it's still not safe?"

Uncertain, Yuki anxiously looked over his shoulder, seeing the doubt in Kureno's and Hatori's eyes. His hand reached up to pull at his hair in crushing defeat—

"So, you think I can stay here safe and—"

"NO! It's not…no…"

There may be no more mutterings to be heard, but his blood as the Nezumi SCREAMED that it was not safe in the least.

"That's all I need to hear. We press on, no worries, okay? We're almost done. Remember, after all this is done, you just say the word—we stay or we go, no questions. All right?"

It was a lifeline in the tumult of his tired mind. Swallowing back his anguish once more, he heavily took in his next breath—curse these LUNGS. He needed to get this all over with before he convulsed right there on the dark wooden floor—

Wait. This hallway…the home's modern halls of doors with doorknobs and ashen-colored wood flooring were nowhere to be seen. It was dark wood all around, shoji doors along his right closed shut.

It was bleeding back into his reality. If his brother weren't with him, he'd be running full speed in the opposite direction. He should at least be thankful for small favors that those RED splotches on the walls were missing—

"Betrayal is the deadliest of blades…"

Words spoken…always muddled before…like hearing words underwater…

"Hidden in the deepest of shades."

Softly whispered, like a breeze that passes through his garden in the dead quiet of night…

"Smell it…feel it…fear it…"

After so long…finally…he can hear them clearly.

"But above all…"

His feet moved forward, one step then the next, compelling him to go down this hall then the other—

"Above all…"

The pitch blackness before him was terror-inducing. Eyes of malice…he can feel them watching him back from that darkness. But he was no longer alone. And he wasn't wrong.

"CONQUER IT."

'And I will not fail.' Yuki agreed with his Nezumi spirit on this.

The door he opened bled back as a normal, regular door. Someone's bedroom, clearly.

"Ano, Yuki, we shouldn't be going through personal quarters—"

'Pft, says who?"

"Ayame, Kureno's right. We should at least reach out to Yamagi-ojiisan—"

(THUMP. THWAK.)

"YUKI!"

(THWAK)

"Well, I must say I wasn't expecting my little brother (THWAK) to beat the floor with that thing."

(THWAK)

"Yuki, stop this!"

(THWAK)

"No, no, no…" Ayame was quick to hold back the other two Sohma men from reaching his brother. He went forward to stand by his brother's side, careful not to trip over the area rug Yuki had flung to the side. His brother paid him no mind, remaining on his hands and knees intent on pounding each floorboard with the hilt of his sword.

The youth barely dodged the wide-plank board that flipped upward.

Ayame quickly sank down to his knees, pulling his brother away.

"Nii-san, don't!"

Looking at his frantic sibling, the elder brother placed his hand on the youth's shoulder, silencing him. "I can do this much for you. Let me be your big brother in this, hm?"

The protest was still clear in the Nezumi's eyes, but he relented, sitting back as his brother, cautious as his cursed form, stuck his hand in the opening of the floorboard. Apparently, these floors have a crawl space beneath them, not very big but enough for a small child to crawl under—talk about claustrophobia. He could make out cables, pipes of differing variety—stiff foam padding beneath it all, matching the same padding that the floorboards have—quite a bit of soundproofing went into this part of the house. The Gardners were known for having high security and valued privacy above everything—it's why Ayame felt secure up until today to leave Yuki in their care.

It does beg the obvious question: why was one board cut loose? Carefully feeling his way in the darkness beneath, he began going in deeper, a frown forming on his delicate features.

"Ugh, you can feel webs down here and about a few decades worth of dust—I may need a tetanus shot if I scrape myself against a nail, Tori-san."

"Ayame, get your hand out of there—"

They were startled when the determined Sohma swiped a lamp from the nightstand and held it down beside him to light the dark space as he tried to reach something that held his undivided attention now.

"Ayame-niisan, is there something—"

And everyone was shocked when this man promptly took his brother's sword and brought the hilt down HARD against the subfloor repeatedly.

(THWAK, THWAK)

"OH MY GOD, AYAME, STOP IT!"

(THWAK, THWAK)

"No way, I'm this close," was the petulant response.

(THWAK, THWAK)

"Ayame-niisan, be careful, you can damage—"

"Ow, damn that burns! Oh, I have a splinter…but look at this."

Within his injured hand, he pulled out something that should never be found in the flooring of one's room, let alone the subfloor.

"I don't understand, Hatori-niisan—a cell phone wrapped in plastic?"

"Ayame-sama, Yuki-sama! What's with the—GOOD GRACIOUS, WHAT'S HAPPENED IN HERE?! THERE'S A HOLE IN THE FLOOR!"

"Keiko-obaasan, don't fret, it's all repairable."

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT—WHY?!"

"We'll get to that. For now, Yamagi-ojiisan, I need you to secure the gate now—no one leaves."

The man was smiling as he said it, but plainly he was not asking. And much like Kureno felt earlier, the homeowners felt they had no other choice but to obey another strange demand from their family head's Proxy.

Heaving a heavy sigh as they left, Ayame pocketed the phone inside his coat. He turned to his anxious brother with a kind smile. "Yuki, dear, why don't you go wait for me in your room—"

"NO, it's not…"

The younger sibling abruptly stopped, looking lost for a moment. He then quickly took note his surroundings. This room…before steeped in a death-like gloom you couldn't see beyond the blackness. Now…it was only a room, just another simple room.

One moment with bated breath led to another moment. The very real mutterings he's heard all through the week…seeing what he knew in his bones to be dead real… It all now completely faded back into the shadows of his mind once again.

It no longer bled into his reality.

"Yuki, is it safe now?"

Looking back to his brother, the Nezumi was visibly worn, not realizing just how exhausted he'd become once the threat was gone and having to shoulder by himself so much doubt over this past week alone. It shone in his eyes, the tiredness but also knowing how right he was all along. He simply nodded—no words needed to be expressed.

Caressing his sibling's face softly, the elder brother smiled gently in return as he gave back the sword, then helped the youth to stand up on exhausted legs. It seems the adrenaline sustaining the boy is now all but gone from him.

"Kureno can accompany you while—"

"No, I should go with you! I have to see who it is and—"

"I can take care of this—"

"Nii-san—"

"PRECISELY. You've trusted your older brother this far, right? Right?"

The elder brother held fast to the younger's shoulders, forcing him to look his elder brother in the eye as he spoke the next few words.

"Yuki, you have to trust me all the way if we're to make this work. I know and understand that is a lot to ask of you, and I've no right to it, but I'll beg, I will! Please, trust your Nii-san in this, alright? I can do this."

He wanted to push ahead, the teen really did. Akito wasn't present, so if there was some underhandedness going on in this household, he should see to it. But…looking into his brother's eyes as they implored that he leave the matter to him…the only one who believed him without a doubt when the youth certainly gave every reason to be doubted.

He smoothed his hand over the scarf that cradled his neck, it was a comforting smell in this thankfully passing storm.

Looking down, he remarked lowly, "Fine. (Abruptly looks up) But you tell me everything later, okay? Don't keep the truth from me; I get enough of that from these two here."

"Ouch, that's a burn, Tori-san," whispered the Snake none too quietly when he turned to his quiet companion.

"I'm well aware, Ayame," was the deadpan response.

Turning back, the elder brother replied with a quick smile, "I promise—now, please, go wait for me in your room. The quicker I get this done and over with, the quicker I can return to your arms of wonder and beauty, and did I miss you gain an inch or so in height, the TRAVESTY—"

"I'm going," cut in Yuki before anymore could be said. But just as he was out the door, he suddenly stopped, Kureno quickly backpedaling to keep from crashing into him. The younger Sohma then swiftly went back and before anything else could be said, he hugged his elder brother fiercely.

"Thank you for coming to me…for believing me."

(Pause)

"Always."

The quiet exchange of words between brothers and its subsequent warmth stayed with Yuki and gave him the needed strength to break away. He still felt apprehensive, his nerves were driven to its most raw point tonight, but he won't give cause to worry and let on. He can do this much for his elder brother and wait for him.

As he walked back to his room, Yuki realized that this long nightmare was the most vivid episode (and he'll only refer to them as that—he's honestly not strong enough to think of it as anything else) he's ever had, and he remembers it all. Will more come? Will they be just as hard on him…or harder?

His grip on the sword didn't relent.

His elder brother stood still watching him go out the door, seeing Yuki barely hold himself together and will no doubt force himself to stay alert until his brother returns to him. Selfishly, it felt good to be so wanted, as he had often hoped…dreamed…begged for. Not that in a thousand years he thought it would happen in this way, but hey, beggars and all that…

'Some hot miso soup then a bath…that should do it for him tonight. I'll have Keiko-obaasan get that ready as soon as I see her.'

"So…what do you want to do, Ayame?"

He answered by calmly and silently walking out, going down the halls and finally the stairwell. Down each stair and still no word. Reaching the ground floor, he continued his silent trek through the house until he reached the side door to the garden. With his hand on the front door handle, he shifted and turned to his companion.

"Ayame?"

"I don't know what bothers me more, Tori-san…that Yuki has been suffering so and NO ONE tells me or that someone had dared to make him suffer AT ALL."

The hard stare the Snake pinned the doctor was not one he was used to being on the receiving end. The untold question was quite apparent.

"I only knew of his nightmares giving him a hard time sleeping. Not this."

It was a moment or two long, but it felt cold being stared at by the Snake of the Jyuunishi.

"Yuki's right."

"…About what?"

"You and Kureno hide too much."

Hatori was ready to plead his case that he really had no knowledge of all the facts, but Ayame had turned away with a disappointed sigh as he opened the door wide and strode out.

Walking down the stone path onto the grass, he had to ask, "Ayame, I know you like making them wait, but—"

"Ssh, ssh…I'm trying to listen."

"…To who? We're the only two idiots out here."

"We're not idiots…trespassers, maybe, but certainly not idiots. Now shush, I'm trying to listen."

As they both stood in the dark garden lit by the soft glow of the house lights, the air growing chillier than before, the doctor had to press his companion again.

"No one else is here, Ayame, and you're just as bad as Yuki in the chill. You need to—"

The hand on his mouth was not welcome but before he could voice his strong annoyance, the man's hand pulled away and he went forward with a quick step. He then leaped over the large koi pond on the far end and went to a nearby rosebush.

What he pulled out was not Hatori's preferred animal species nor Shigure's which was why they hardly saw them around. It wasn't fair to Ayame, they knew, but really, no one tolerated the slithery species, especially his brother for obvious reasons. Yuki never knew it, but his elder brother even went so far as to make regular rounds around the Honke's gardens to ensure the snakes stayed far and away.

"Ayame, put that back."

The man merely looked up with a wide grin, much like a child that found his favorite toy in the world. Hopping back over the water, he came up to Hatori with a gleam in his eye, holding up his new companion for the other to look at up close. The gesture wasn't appreciated as he stepped further away to allow space to breathe…space to avoid a strike.

"Quit it and return it to where it belongs."

"Tell me, Tori-san, do you think they will ever let up?"

His cousin was caressing the snake's head gently as he asked that loaded question, paying little mind to its tongue that tested the air.

"They being—"

"Those that would rather see us behind stone gates or dead, that sort of 'they'."

Sighing heavily, he went to stand as close as he dared. He's not petrified of them as Shigure, but he'd rather not be close to them either.

"We are loved and hated in equal parts, Ayame…you know this as well as I do."

"Yes, but why now? It makes no sense after all these years of existing—'living free' sure is pushing it—to start all this clawing for each other's throats just to get on top—they had better chances when we were way younger. So…what's changed?"

He could only answer that with a simple but cold fact. "Nothing's changed. We're still the Jyuunishi and this curse has its consequences. Always has, always will."

Fact it may be, but it would not suffice for his companion judging by the skeptical look he gave him when he looked up from his petting.

"Consequences? It's not enough that we gut it out each day with this 'blessed' blood in our veins, right? So that's what you call all this…a 'consequence'?"

"Ayame, you know me better than that!"

"I do…but if you say it like this, imagine what they think! To say it like that, it's perfectly dandy to leave it all alone and let kids be ripped from their families and have what little remains of their innocence be culled even further from their souls while we just wait for the next 'consequence' to come bite us in the ass! And yet with all that they've accomplished…it's not enough. Like tonight… They won't ever let up."

The trailing remark softly spoken lit a fire under Hatori's tired shoulders. "Ayame—"

"Screw it. Consequences be damned like the rest of us."

Said man was true to his word as he slipped away from his friend's reach, his quick strides taking him into the garden and retracing their steps back out to the front. Cursing remarkably under his breath, Hatori was hot on his heels, especially when he heard the tell-tale rustle of the leaves littering the grounds from behind them.

"Ayame, wait!"

He called out vainly to his companion to stop but the man always could navigate through crowds with little trouble. It was his gift to weave through it all with no one stopping him once he got it into his head to go. And did he go without letup…

One loving memory after another goes by in his eyes…

A broken smile.

A beseeching unspoken plea.

A satisfied, accomplished look as he stood at a podium before many eyes, and they listened to him.

Happily smiling as they both shared a peace that no other could intrude.

He was not an easy man to get along with—not on a personal level. He is A LOT to take in. He's learned that about himself as he gets to know Yuki more. He does try to restrain himself so as not to overwhelm his younger brother, but he does fail rather spectacularly as Hatori and Shigure point out many times.

And yet his younger brother bears his insufferable presence with remarkable patience and love. He understands that now…he fails and will fail, but his dearest will always forgive him because of that same love.

Tonight, his beautiful brother was tortured to the brink of insanity, however it came about. And all that worried him was that his elder brother wouldn't be safe being near him.

And, for the first time as his elder brother, he was here for him. He will not hold back on protecting Yuki as he should have since the beginning.

Reaching the broken gate and going past it, they were at the front of the house in record time. He only needed to see the expressions of rising apprehension and confusion on the Gardner's faces, who stood by their home's front steps, to know he was being counted on to at least explain what's going on.

Not that he was being given any details himself.

"What are you doing, Ayame?"

Standing before them both on the driveway was the whole household, bewildered as they have ever been seeing the Proxy Head of the family with a snake in his hand.

"…Making the peace my own way."

He didn't need to see it…he felt the full chill of Ayame's smile as he slowly pulled out the plastic-wrapped cellphone from his jacket and held it up for everyone to see. The man then gave a small peck to the snake's head. Truly, he would be the only man on this planet that could caress the skin of one of the most poisonous snakes in the world without a care that he would ever be bitten.

He did have to strain his hearing to hear the next words Ayame whispered to his newfound pet that only amplified his panic to sky-high levels.

"Find me the viper in their midst."

He released his snake…and all the others that followed him.

Not one scream that followed moved the Snake's heart.

-o:o-

"Kumiko-sama, your cell is pinging. You must have some text coming in."

"Thank you, Masako."

Upon seeing it, she ordered Masako to pack her things and her younger son's.

She left the house that night with her half of the house.

:

The branch heads were shaken and perturbed at the image, especially a few that knew the truth behind it.

They that knew quickly erased any history that would link them to the truth of the matter.

:

Yuki's father read the message and the short video that was attached.

He erased both.

:

At the apartment he keeps close to the office for when he works late hours, Tetsuya received a text from his mother of her sudden departure to the south isles for the foreseeable future with his younger brother.

He could not unsee what he just saw in the attached video/text his mother sent him. It so shocked him that he sat down heavily into a chair.

He will never underestimate a Jyuunishi again.

:

Momiji's father was on the phone with Kisa's mother and Hiro's parents after receiving the text.

He soon shared the news with Ritsu's parents.

:

"Seto-sama, we're all getting the same message."

"We stay on course, no matter what."

"Sir, we just received a message that the families are no longer participating in any negotiations."

In short order, Seto slammed the phone that received the video into the wall where it shattered to pieces.

:

"I don't care which of you sent a pit viper into my brother's private residence, just know it will be the last. To your peace! – Signed, the REAL Snake of this family"

"I do like the 'To your peace' part. Gets the point clear across Asia and Europe and back again."

"Haji-ojiisan, was this entirely wise?"

"No, but it sure is fun, eh?"

"Haji-ojiisan…"

"Kazu-kun, it's done. Enjoy the fallout…well, not all of us can. That stupid fool who Ayame-sama caught spying sure is regretting it."

"Well, he is buried underneath all those snakes in that pic. How did Ayame-kun manage to get a mamushi viper to just lay around that man's neck without biting him is beyond me."

"Well, he IS the Snake of the Jyuunishi. I've just never heard of him using this particular skill on anyone in the family. At least he was 'peaceful' about it…maybe. Let me watch it again!"

"Haji-ojiisan!"

-Video clip starts-

(Screams of various people in the background—Gardner's voices heard telling them to calm down.)

"Now, tell me everything clearly one more time…for the record, as you can see."

"(whimpers) Mm-mmy name—"

"I don't care about your name. And speak LOUDER. We still have screaming banshees over here."

"I…they were…(whimpers) it, uh, please—"

"Say that word one more time, and I just don't know if my little friend here will take well to it."

"NO, NO—"

"Where did this cellphone come from?"

"A co-contact, (whimpers) I don't know his name just that he was se-sent by some mm-me-members of the council."

"And you can prove this?"

"GODS HELP ME! (whimpers)"

"Not a chance. Focus…"

(Snake lifts head close to the eyes of the sniveling man.)

"I CAN PROVE IT! NOT NAMES BUT THEIR NUMBERS ARE IN THE CONTACT LIST! JUST TEXT MESSAGES!"

"What did you say to him? Them? Or her, sleaze doesn't discriminate."

"(whimpers) Only updates on your brother, that's all, nothing on the clan head, I swear! (whimpers)"

"And that should make me feel better?!"

(Snakes hissing louder and coiling tightly all around the prone man on the floor.)

"I'M SORRY, I'M SO SORRY, AYAME-SAMA—"

"I don't know if I can believe you—are you really sorry or you're apologizing just because you got caught with this phone and tried to frame an old lady servant, which by the way, that was truly stupid of you. She's legally BLIND. (Taps the man's head with the cellphone.) Tsk, tsk no respect for the elderly. Your shame has no end."

"Ayame-sama, (whimpers) I beg of you—"

"Oh my, begging now, are we? Let's see if your friends will beg for MY PEACE, too."

-Video clip end-

"That's some 'peace'."

"Master Haji, the fool kept evidence of his treachery on him. That cellphone should be brought in so we can analyze it further."

"We don't have all the details yet, Kazu-kun, but I'll call Yama-dono tomorrow. He must be livid. What an embarrassment."

"And to have it all recorded…thank goodness Tohru-kun was spared having to edit THAT. But did that text and clip really go out to ALL the board members? The exposure alone—"

"—will deter any sane person from ever crossing the Proxy again. Make no mistake, my dear boy, this council was just put on notice. The Proxy is no one's fool. (Lowly whispers) Good play, Akira-sama…"

:

She stared outside her private cabin's window, sleep now long forgone as her phone constantly rang or pinged with incoming messages.

It was the most discreet transportation to be had at this hour, but the ferry couldn't sail any faster to its destination no matter how much she wished it. She needed to get to him NOW. Time has run out.

'I have to see him NOW. I must know…I must see it. If it's true…if the worst has been done…'

For the time being, Akito made a call.

*:*

[…] Tick then tock,
the mouse went up to him,
this cat is known.

Tick then tock,
'why are you out,
rainy is the night'.

Tick then tock,
'I am waiting,
waiting for so long'.

Tick then tock,
'of course you are,
waiting to be let in'. […]

- Excerpt from Sohma Junichiro's 'Book of Olden Poems'

*:*

---

Author's corner (09/20/21-minor edit later in the day):

(FYI - I edited a little towards the end with Ayame/Hatori scene so please go back if you're reading this same day it came out (^_^) I couldn't help myself! You'll love it!)

Good day/evening to all! Thank you for making it this far. I keep going through this chapter, and I'm finally forcing myself off of it and releasing it to the wide world of cyber reading. It's a lot longer than I thought it would be, but I'm happy with it. It did take us down this plot twist even further and placing our dear Jyuunishi in situations that are so unique and distressing. I hope I did the characters justice on how they would react/respond to the circumstances surrounding them now.

If you haven't already noticed, I'm pushing this story along with more action than words and thoughts. It's my aim that the story up 'til now has built a solid foundation that the actions taken make perfect sense and not much explanation needs to be provided. Yeah, many things are coming together in full circle. It's exciting times!

I did struggle to put some parts of the chapter together. But music moves me, and I finally was able to find a theme in this chapter that spoke to me and the perfect song to bring it together. "I know you're out there somewhere" by The Moody Blues was a solid choice; be sure to listen to the studio album version since the verse quoted at the beginning is from that version. Also in my listening queue, "Every time you go away" by Paul Young; "Everybody wants to rule the world" by Tears for Fears; "Stand by You" by Rachel Platten.

Ayame's interaction with his father really threw me—I have no solid basis for their relationship, so I had to wing it. Then I heard Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space' over the radio recently, and just like that, their conversation came together for me. The one lyric I used in the story–'Cause, darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream–is precisely how I think Ayame sees himself when he's at his worst. I hoped it prepped my audience for what happened later.

With his conversation with Hatori, another stumbling block, "Royals" by Lorde was just right and welcomed. To me, the song conveyed outcasts as never being fully accepted; maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it spoke to me. In this case, the Jyuunishi are in that position—coveted and yet constantly hidden so much so that they have no say over their lives. Basically, they have to accept their outcast role and all the consequences that come with it. Again, these are new circumstances, new twists in my plot—here's hoping my story up until now makes this all perfectly believable.

And lastly, "Invisible" by Pat Benatar wraps it all up. If not for the first song, this would be the theme for this chapter, too. It perfectly conveys the bottled-up frustration the Jyuunishi share, and how one action will lead to another and so on. Are you ready for this ride?

Thank you all again for your reviews and for stopping by my corner of fanfics. Please come by my review bin to let me know if you're enjoying this as much as I am. Take care lovelies, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

HelloKat (^_^)!