A/N: I'm going to write Kagura as 6 and Kyou as 5 in that chapter 68 (just b/c Kyou looked so cute and small, and his mom was still alive. But he made sense when he talked so…)

Chapter 13

Kyou couldn't believe the horrific luck he's been having. It started to rain cats and dogs shortly after he left Kagura's house and hasn't stopped since. While waiting for the rain to stop, he changed into his cat form, got chased by a stupid mutt, was forced to climb onto a brick wall, where he still was. He was one miserable, wet cat, shivering under the protection of a flimsy branch. He didn't know what he was more concern about, being hit by lightning or freezing to death. Maybe he'd die of hunger first, since he's been here for a day now. He can't go back to Shigure's house now, if he did, he'll never hear the end of it.

He sneezed.

"Hey, kitty."

'Kagura?'

"You must be cold."

Kyou wanted to run, but was feeling too weak to do that.

"You want to come home with me, kitty?"

He wanted to say 'no' but that would mean giving himself away. Kagura put down her umbrella and picked him up, "Let's go home."

---

Kagura dried him with a towel and put a dish of milk in front of him. He was so hungry, he quickly lapped it up.

She smiled, "Hungry, ne? You remind me so much of Kyou."

That caught his attention but he continues to drink his milk, after all he was suppose to be a cat, he had to act cat-like, right?

"The same orange hair, well...I guess yours is fur. Oh, that reminds me!"

She picked up the phone, "Yes, Shigure it's me. Has Kyou come back - okay…I see. Call me when he comes back, anytime is ok…Bye."

She hung up the phone and dialled another number, "Hi, Kazuma-sensei. Is Kyou there? - Oh, ok. – Will you call me, if he gets there? – Ok, thanks. Bye."

Kagura sighed and put down the phone. She looked at the cat, which staring at her and picked it up by its forearms, "You're so cute. Do you have a name, kitty?"

It nodded and then shook its head.

"Well, why don't I name you?" she asked and looking at his underside, "you're a boy, ne?"

"…"

"How about Kyou?" Kagura asked, knowing she was being very stupid right now, if Kyou found out she just randomly named a stray after him, he'd probably be pissed off.

Kyou managed to squirm out of her hands and was heading towards when Kagura said sadly, "So you're going to leave me too…"

He sighed inwardly and leapt back onto her lap. She smiled slightly and stroked him, "I'm such an inconsiderate baka."

He wasn't feeling too well, but he forced himself to sit up and look at her.

"You want to listen to me ramble?"

Kyou nodded.

"You're one odd cat, so human," she began.

"…"

"Do you know what happened? Kyou ran away, and left me a message that wished me the best of luck with Yuki. I only see Yuki as a cousin and a friend. I'm so stupid, I never put any thought into what he'd think. I just thought… He must've felt betrayed and hurt, he and Yuki are rivals, you know?"

'Of course I know that.'

"I know it's difficult to regain someone's trust. But I'm willing to spend the rest of my life to work at regaining it. Silly isn't it? My kaasan told me to make sure I like Kyou, now I'm positive. I have never been more worried about anyone, my entire life. But I can't find him, no one can…" Kagura said with a tears streaming down her cheek, "why won't he give me that chance to prove myself. Sometimes one mistake is all it takes to condemn you for the rest of your life."

Kagura was sobbing now with her head hanging over him. Kyou felt like her words just now, were in regards to what happened when they were kids. Even today, he clearly remembers her reaction when she saw his true form for the first time. He remembered how loudly she screamed and ran away. That truly hurt, watching your one and only best friend run off terrified. It was that day he started discrediting everything Kagura said.

"I really care for him…I never meant to hurt him…" she managed between sobs.

He wanted to wipe her tears but thought that might be too human, so he did what he thought was cat-like…well, maybe it was more dog-like, either way it was more animalistic. He gave a lick to the tip of her nose, where the tears were all falling, 'I know Kagura. I've been the immature and unforgivable one. I never thought of how you felt. For a six year old to see her friend transform to a monster…what did I expect? For you to stay and hug me? Comfort me? Your response was natural, it was true. Even a teenager like Tohru could only stare in terror, frozen by fear. Heck, even I can't stand the sight of my monster form.

'Yes, that day I felt sorrow and pain, as I watched you run away. But how many times have I done that to you? Walk away from you, left you stand there, to view my retreating back? What pain and sorrow must you have felt?'

Kagura sniffled, brushed her tears and picked him up, "You're such a sweet kitty. Arigatou, I'm ok."

He felt relieved and exhausted.

She hugged him tight against her chest and said, "It's late, let's sleep. I need to get up early tomorrow to continue my search."

He blushed realizing where his face was.

---

Kyou woke up the next morning feeling much better. He yawned and stretched.

"Awake, kitty? The weather's better today, quick drink your breakfast and then we got to outside together."

He looked at the dish of milk and lapped it up quickly. When he was done she picked him up and quietly snuck downstairs. She looked around and ran out the door.

"Good thing kaasan didn't spot me. Where should I go? I went to the train and bus stations but there was no tickets brought under a Sohma Kyou. So I don't think he left town, but he's not at any hotel or motel I phoned nor is he at any of the parks I checked."

'You don't have to go through so much trouble.'

"He told me he liked read as oppose to watching TV. You think he'll be at the library or bookstores?"

"…"

"All right then! Lets got started!"

---

Kagura was so disappointed, she couldn't find Kyou anywhere. She looked at the cat, "Hey, Kyou's the cat of the zodiac. So like me he should naturally attract cats and be able to communicate with them. Do you know where he is?"

'I should go back to Shigure, just so she won't worry. Running away from home was a stupid idea, but what should I say to her when I see her? Guess I'll think of that later,' Kyou decided and leapt out of her arm.

He began running but she was chasing after him, "Chotto matte! Don't run so fast!"

He ran faster, scurrying under fences and through bushes just to lose her.

TBC