A/N---Thanks----To my very first online reviewer, Cienna. (If any one else has reviewed, I'm sorry, it just hasn't shown up yet :-(….) You guys make my day! I was so glad to hear someone liked it. Aaaaaaannnnnd….. to my FANTASTIC friend Mary Beth, for helping me so much and letting me know my story wasn't so bad after all! I love you guys!

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A Shadow Reborn- Chapter Two

Ayame closed his eyes tighter and clutched his pillow as he tried to block out the piercing scream. He tried not to imagine his helpless brother at the feet of the unstoppable monster that seemed to control their lives. The cry stopped, but the resigning silence was worse . . . . At least a screaming person in pain, was still for certain, alive.

Ayame gave up trying to ignore it all tonight. Pulling aside the curtain, a sliver of moonlight fell across his face as he ventured a look across the courtyard, to the door of the main wing. Suddenly the door was opened from inside, and a lifeless heap was effortlessly tossed out on the steps.

"Oh, God." As soon as he saw the lights go off in the opposite wing, Ayame sprinted out of his own bedroom, and headed outside. He slowed as he neared the figure sprawled over the pad. Lord, how did Akito manage that to Yuki's arm?

He couldn't help him. Ayame knew his few strengths, and emergency medical aid was not one of them. But something had to be done. However Akito had caused that wound to Yuki's head, it didn't give him much time.

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"Come on, Hatori, answer the Godda-... Hatori? Yeah…. Yes, I know, please, just get over here now!"

"What is it?" On the other end, Hatori sounded tired, unfocused.

"It's Yuki!"

Hatori snapped to attention. He was not necessarily surprised anymore at getting called late at night to tend to his younger cousin, but there was an even more desperate urgency in Ayame's voice tonight.

"I'm there."

Ayame sighed as he hung up the phone. He couldn't believe he could do nothing more now but wait for Hatori, while his own brother lay bleeding to death out in the night. He had wrapped the head wound in an attempt to slow the stream of blood, but he was pathetically clueless as to how to address the distorted arm.

How had things come to this? Ayame knew how- he had let them. If only he was oblivious to Yuki's pain . . .. Maybe then it wouldn't have been his fault. For months, though, Ayame was aware of Akito's 'habits'. How could he not be, when once a week he usually ended up taking care of his brother, the morning after the beatings?

But what had he done about it? Look after him, Ayame. He needs you. Ayame tried to push the voice from the past out of his head.

More than once, Yuki had begged Ayame for help, only to be told that "things would change". Ayame had convinced himself the abuse would stop. Whatever was wrong with Akito's mind would somehow be corrected, and they could all start a normal life in the Main House.

Bull.

Now, after months of turning away, what could possibly be done by him to save Yuki? Akito could not be beaten; they could not win. Ayame . . . . You're his guardian, now.

Yuki would not survive much more of this. What a cruel fate, to see your brother broken, and to be powerless to help.

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When Hatori pulled through the entrance to the Main House's yard, Ayame was back out with Yuki, right outside the devil's door. The ignition was barely off before Hatori was kneeled at Yuki's side. The boy's face was pale and expired, and his hair was clumped, stained with blood. Immediately Hatori stripped away Yuki's shirt- to remove it properly would be too risky towards the mangled arm. Revealed was an enormous, discolored bruise on his back. Ayame was about to inquire on the possibility of internal bleeding, but the look on Hatori's face kept him silent. Not a word was spoken as Hatori performed the proper procedures on Yuki. Initially, the arm had to be relocated again, and the head wound wrapped tight enough. This is going to take a miracle, he thought. I hope he lasts until we can get him to surgery.

"We have to get him inside," he said at last. "We can't take him away tonight. Where does he sleep?"

"Upstairs."

Hatori shook his head. "We can't manage that without hurting him more. Let's get him to your room."

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Yuki lay, still unconscious, on the bed, smothered in coverlets. He had shown no change or reaction since Ayame first found him, but Hatori had said to wait. He had extended a pack of cigarettes to his cousin, but he declined. What Ayame really wanted then was a hard drink, but that didn't seem like the best thing to mention at the time.

Now the two sat facing each other at the small, round, table beside the bed. Ayame had his head bowed in his hands, lost in thought. Look after him, Ayame. Every once in a while his glance flickered over to his sleeping brother, then back downwards. Hatori sat back in his chair with his arms folded. A burning cigarette hung out the side of his mouth. He finally broke the silence.

"When are you going to put a stop to this?" His voice was not accusing, but it was not gentle. Ayame looked up with dead eyes, then averted his gaze.

"I can't do anything. " When there was no response, he looked back up. "I can't, Hatori."

A few moments passed, in which Yuki whimpered slightly and turned his head, cringing from the pain in his sleep. The other two watched him for a moment, then Hatori took the cigarette from his mouth and leaned forward.

"You mean you're afraid to do anything. Afraid of Akito." He spat out the last word as if it were venomous. "You're his brother, for God's sake!"

Ayame looked at his brother, but his cousin's voice still rang through his head. Somehow, hearing the truth was even worse when it came from someone else.

Hatori pushed back his chair and stood up. Grabbing his coat, he said, "This can't go on, Ayame. You know this. You're the only one who can help your brother." He went and slid the door open, then turned back around.

"What would your mother think if she saw how things were turning out?"

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"Hellllloooooooooo! You've reached a Sohma residence!! We're not here, leave us a message!"

Probably my editor again, he thought bemusedly, standing beside the phone.

"It's Ayame. I need your help."

Lord, no. Anything but that. He laughed to himself.

"I know you're there. . . . Pick up the freakin' phone, Shigure."

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AN- So, what did you think? I know this one was a little longer. R/R, give me your input! :-)

Next Chapter- The long awaited Time Skip! All our favorite characters ten years later, including Kyo!