But where, where should I start? Tohru silently examined his facial emotions. She saw no trace of doubt and anger. But she knew, once she explained everything, he'll be in terrible shock and she also know that she can't face the truth.

"What is it, Tohru-kun?" he asked.

"I…I'm here to find somebody…"

"Is it Akito?"

"I-I don't really know. I wasn't given a name." She smiled weakly. "But… they gave me a description."

"What is it, then?"

"… a prince." The word slid out from her mouth. Yuki let out a silent chuckle.

"Tohru, you can't really find a prince here. Unless, of course, this guy came from your world…" he stood there completely still as an idea struck in his mind. "But… only Akito came from your world and---"

"Yuki, I was appointed to kill you." She blurted it all out. She expected him to be shocked but she felt his hand holding hers gently and a warm feeling rushed through her veins.

"Why?" he asked calmly. "Did I do something?"

"… Akito's after you."

"Why?"

"I… We still…" she kept her voice soft. "We still don't know, Yuki."

"No, I think you know."

She dared not to look at him but his eyes were so tempting.

"Please tell me."

"I can't…"

"Why?"

"Please stop asking." She pushed him away. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry."

"Tohru."

"I tried… very hard to know why… but you were there and I could have killed you… but I can't." she cried at her own words. "You have something… you have something that I can't take away… that's why I can't kill you. That's why my mother sent Mildred and Lheila just to kill you but I just… stopped them."

Yuki stared at her. So it is true. I should be killed. But I don't know why…

"Please tell me."

"I can't Yuki." She whispered. "I'm not sure why… but I will find another way to finish my mission… so that I won't end up killing you or anybody else."

His heart was pounding as his eyes gathered strength just to look at her. She just told him that she will kill him but he felt no anger or fear. He was plainly confused about everything, since it was left a bit lacking.

"Tohru…" he held her hand. "Do… I need to die…?"

"That's what my relatives say…"

"I see…"

"But I can't kill you." She answered quickly. "I'll find another way. Just… just don't go anywhere, ok?"

"I won't…" his eyes were perceptive but understanding. "I won't leave you, not yet…"

"Thank you." She smiled once more. "Funny, I always want to go back but now… I feel like I'll be losing a lot once I leave."

"I see. Then don't leave." He was startled once he said that because he knew that he was imitating the voice of Akito. He didn't want her to leave but he already promised her. She looked at him calmly.

"What are you trying to tell me?"

Stay with me forever! His heart was crying out and it was pounding furiously. His breath quickened and an unknown sensation feels him, clasping hard on his chest, striking his every strength away. He couldn't do anything more but to hold her close to him, feeling every single heat she gives off.

"I… can't let you go…"

"I understand." She whispered. "But do you know what this means?"

"What?"

"It'll sound more convincing…that I have to kill you."

The door swung open and Uo came in. She pulled Tohru away from him. "If you're planning to do something, I suggest you should do it next time."

"What do you mean?"

"Uotani, what's going on?" Tohru asked.

"Princess, there's an unknown force here. I don't know how it got in but it's very near. I believe this guy had this 'force'" she eyed Yuki. "What are you planning to do now, Akito's descendant?"

"Akito--- what do you mean?"

"Uo, he had skin contact with Akito but that doesn't mean that he obtained---"

"No, princess." She said, ignoring Tohru's explanation. "The royal family sent me to kill you… and I will, even without the princess orders."

"No, please." Tohru blocked the guardian's path.

"Step aside."

"No, I can't! You won't hurt him!"

"Your mother died, princess, and now you're planning to ignore your mission!" Uotani roared as she gathered a large amount of energy on her palm. "You're planning to protect this mortal, even if you don't know who he is!"

"He's not just a mortal!" she yelled. "He's my friend… my family and I love him!"

"Tohru…"

"I don't care if I won't return anymore or I won't get enough praises. All I wanted for this family, the Sohma family, to be safe. Akito already gave them so much burden and I'm here to protect them… especially Yuki." She fell down on her knees. "I don't want him to get hurt… to ruin his life… just because of one pathetic mission."

"It's not pathetic, princess." Uo reminded her. "This mission can affect your life. If you'll spend it by protecting these people, then where can you end up?"

"If I'm going to die for it, then I will."

That was something Yuki didn't expect to hear from her. They just met a few days ago and yet, she sounded like she was always there to protect them. She vowed to kill him but she didn't.

"What are you going to do now, princess, if you're not going to kill him?" Uo asked. "You're going to kill Akito?"

Now there's another question on Yuki's mind. He knew that Akito was a criminal but why Akito?

"Are there any other options?" Yuki asked suddenly.

Tohru shook her head. "Maybe there aren't any."

"Why are you afraid to kill Akito?"

Before anyone of them could answer, the house shook, like there was an earthquake, but there wasn't. Tohru held Yuki's hand while he settled her on the floor.

"Earthquake?"

"No, it's the energy." The guardian yelled. "It's reacting to something---"

There were sudden screams below them and followed by yells of Shigure and Ayame. Yuki looked out of the window to see.

"What is it?"

"It's Hiro…" he breath out. "And he's… summoning something…"

Uotani disappeared immediately while Tohru ran out of the room.

Outside…

"Hiro!" Kisa yelled as she ran towards him, but arms came to stop her.

"Don't Kisa."

"Oto-san."

"It's not Hiro." Hatori whispered. "Look at him. He's different."

He indeed looked different. He looked pale and his eyes were blank. There was no expression on his face and, surprisingly, he carried a knife.

"Why…"

"This is Akito's fault." Uo appeared behind Hatori. "He transformed this little one into a merciless killer… and I believe he's the one who kill Celeste's mother."

"Killed? Hiro can't kill." Kisa whispered.

"He can't… if he knows what he's doing." The guardian replied. "But right now, Kisa, you're looking not at Hiro… but a killer, somebody who thirsts nothing but blood. He won't listen to any voice but Akito's."

"Very nice…" Hiro whispered. "I was hoping you could educate them more about me."

"Hiro, put down the knife." Hatori said firmly. "You don't need it."

"Really? Then what do I need?" Hiro asked. "Or maybe that's a wrong question. What do you think I need?"

"Hiro, please…"

"DO you have to keep on this Kisa? Will you keep on listening to him every now and then, keeping you away from me as possible. Kisa, we don't have to. We're not young anymore!" he yelled. "It's your birthday today… and you should wish for something more than gifts: freedom."

Kisa looked up to him silently.

"We should be free to do something far more they could expect us to do. We shouldn't be treated as kids anymore!"

"Hiro… I understand." Kisa whispered. "I know that you're trying very hard to prove that you're old enough to take care of somebody… to care of me. But you see, Hiro, I'm not the one who needs freedom here. It is you who needs freedom."

"No!" He shook his head. "You got it all wrong!"

"Look at you, Hiro. You're… ruined already. What happened to the Hiro that I used to play with? The one who was always there for me? Is it you?" she shook her head, imitating him. "No, you proved enough. It is true that people always call me weak… and sometimes they think that I'm helpless, that I need somebody to support me all the time. But the best part of it is that I know that there's always somebody who cares for me, who is there for me."

Hiro accidentally dropped the knife. He didn't bother to pick it up because all of his senses were focused on her.

"Please come back, Hiro… please stop all of this." She smiled. "We can play together again."

"Kisa… I…" he looked at his hands, and soon, dark aura appeared. "I can't…"

"Hiro---"

"I don't have a choice." He held it up. "He'll kill me if I won't…"

Dark clouds rolled in and there was a heavy dark atmosphere within them. It wasn't visible but deep down, the power was indestructible, forcing everybody on their knees, including Uo herself.

"What is this?" Hatori yelled.

"I don't know but whatever it is, it's sucking every power within me." She struggled to sit up but she failed. "I'm sorry… I can't protect you all…"

"Of course you can't…" a whisper came. Hiro found a woman standing in front of him and found no trace of pain on her eyes. "It won't affect me child. You're summoning the element that I conquer. Just let it go."

"Hana-san…"

She reached out to hold his hands. "Let it go. Your life is on the line. Many will cry once you die."

"Who will?"

"Your friend." She glanced on Kisa, who was breathing difficulty. "And of course, I believe this death can kill anyone you know… and also anyone near you, right?"

"This shouldn't affect Kisa…" he whispered.

"I guess you trusted the wrong guy." Hanajima whispered. "He gave you a wrong information. Believe me, you don't want to do this."

Hiro was having second thoughts. I want to kill that doctor who tried to steal Kisa away from me! He felt arms wrapping around his waist and he looked up to see the person behind him.

"Kazuma-sensei!" He was surprised to see him despite that his body was getting frail.

"Hiro, I want you to know that Akito also made me this away. He also gave me enough power to finish every one I know. But I realized that I was making a mistake, a huge one. So I gave everything up and started all over again." He grinned. "Hiro, you don't want to end it this way. Just let it go."

Kazuma started chanting and another colored aura appeared. It was overcoming Hiro's power and soon, it died out. He sighed as he sat still on the ground with the young Sohma on his arms.

"Nice." Uo stood up slowly and gazed at them. "I didn't know that Magic Sealers still exist."

"Forgive me, but I'll spare the praises, ok?" Kazuma laid back against a tree and held Hiro up. "He should be fine. I just sealed the power."

"What about them?" Hana pointed at the other Sohmas who were unconscious after that massive dark curse.

"They'll be fine after a few hours." He whispered. "I've never sealed a power that great. No wonder why your people are afraid of Akito."

"And it doesn't stop there." Uo sighed. "That's only about a quarter of Akito's power. Once it is completely unsealed, the whole continent of Japan can break apart."

"Now can you imagine if he would pass that to Yuki." Hanajima said. "Then Yuki would be the one who will use it uncontrollably."

"SO that's why you're after Yuki. You don't want him to cause so much trouble." Kazuma concluded.

"The elders kept on telling that Yuki will obtain the power soon enough. So we should keep our eyes open to him… and Akito."

"Wait a minute. It doesn't make any sense." Kazuma sounded confused. "Do you have to kill Yuki? I mean, you can kill Akito."

"Yes, that's right."

"Why won't you kill Akito?"

"First of all, the power is sealed in his body. Killing him might set it free." Hanajima answered. "And there's one more other thing."

"What is it?"

"Tohru is still in love with Akito."

"But she loves Yuki, right?" Kazuma asked.

"Yes… and that's the hard part. She should choose one of them, or else," Uo sighed once more. "She might end up killing both of them or killing herself."

"Herself?"

"What do you mean, Mildred?"

"She's taking chances. She won't Yuki obtain that kind of power, instead, she will obtain it."

"But that would kill her!" Hanajima yelled.

"I know… and we can't do anything about it."

Tohru was running deeper towards the woods. Everyone's getting hurt… all because of me. I should have killed him if I had a chance.

But Yuki captured my heart. He loved me more than anything else. He was deeper than a friend. Maybe my love for him prevented me from killing him.

Now, I'm decided which is which. I don't know but I believe my heart has still room for Akito. But I won't go anywhere if I'm like this…

I had to choose one… but who?

She felt herself being pulled back and her lips caught in a bruising kiss. She laid back forcibly against the tree as the kiss was deepened, more passionate and sucking every inch of her, like she was being swallowed whole. She tried to push him back, but the grip was too tight.

"Finally…" a voice came after the kiss broke. "You decided to come back to me."

She looked up and tried hard to whisper. "Akito…" she breathed out.

He laid his head down to kiss her neck. "God, my name sounds so good on your lips…" His hands stared to wander on her waist but her hands protested his.

"Please, don't. I came here to talk."

"But I came here to love you again." He kissed her once more but this time, it was softer, just like what he did years ago, and she felt her strength leaving her.

"I wanted to see you." He whispered.

"Akito, please, I want you to give up the power."

"What do you mean?"

"You have no other reason to ruin Yuki's life." Her eyes begged. "Please, don't give it to him."

"…Celeste, remember the thing that I want you to grant me? Have you decided?" he asked as he trailed his finger on her face down to her neck.

"Akito… I don't know…"

"You don't need a master to grant that. I may not be cursed but I'm Sohma so you should grant me my wish, right?" he bent down to kiss her lightly. "I just want you to be with me, as Celeste, not as a goddess."

"Akito…I can't… kill Yuki."

 He stared at her. "You love him." he said blankly.

She slowly nodded, hoping that he would understand but---

"You disappoint me, Celeste." He grinned evilly. "And you know perfectly and clearly what happens when I'm disappointed…"

She watched him in horror. She shouldn't have said that.

But she was too late…

She was too helpless and cannot do anything anymore.

Yuki, wherever you are right now, stay away from him…

-------

Ahh… the end is near. I hope it's not that confusing. It will all be explained soon. See you In the next chapter. Sorry if I left you all hanging…