(Part Two:)

From inside the baths Shigure and Ayame noticed how down Hatori looked. He sighed heavily as he tried to make himself more comfortable.

"Hari" Shigure spoke up, "Is there something bothering you?"

"Hmm? Hatori looked over, "I was just thinking."

"About what?" Ayame asked.

"Akito mostly. Why on earth would he behave the way he's been behaving lately? Then again. He's always done stuff like this. Maybe it's just now that I started noticing it."

"You mean with what he did with Tohru yesterday?" Ayame replied.

"Yes" Hatori nodded, "What is his interest with Tohru Honda? He had no interest in her before."

"I don't know" Shigure said with a sad nod, "But whatever it is I hope it doesn't get too out of hand. Hari how about going for a walk with me today? It's been awhile since we've been down to the lake."

"Shouldn't Ayame come too?" Hatori managed to smile.

"I'm afraid I have plans already" Aya shook his head, "Maybe I'll join you next time."

"In that case" Hatori turned once more to the novelist, "I would enjoy that."

"Wonderful" Shigure grinned, but inside his own heart was some doubt as well, "Hari's right. Something is up with Akito. How much more can we allow him to get away with?"

(Next Scene)

"On your way back to the house?" Akito finally spoke as Momiji stood as frozen as a statue.

"Huh?" Momiji nodded slowly "Uh yea."

"Then don't let me stop you" Akito moved forward, "Go" he looked up and noticed Kisa and Hiro coming over, "You two as well" he snarled as Kisa's eyes became wide at the sight of him.

"But Akito" Momiji started to say.

"GO!" Akito ordered looking at him deep in the eyes, making Momiji almost tremble, "I'll take care of Miss Honda."

"Uh huh" Momiji nodded once more with a sad face and ushered Kisa and Hiro forward, who began to run, closely followed by him, who also ran.

Akito smiled and as the wind blew his hair around him her figure emerged from the woods, carrying the bouquet of flowers.

"Momiji!" she called as she walked out, "Kisa! You'll never believe what beautiful flowers" she stopped dead in her tracks, "I have."

The flowers one by one flew from her hands and blew around the two people as Akito stared at Tohru directly at her.

"Good afternoon" he replied slowly grinning, "Miss Honda."

(Next Scene)

Kisa and Hiro ran breathlessly behind Momiji as he pounded his feet against the grass, he charged up the stairs and flung open the door, surprising both Hatsuharu and Yuki who were in the room.

"Haru" he gasped as Kisa and Hiro appeared behind him, "Yuki."

"Momiji?" Yuki looked over at him concerned.

"What's the matter?" Haru asked raising an eyebrow.

"It's Sissy" Kisa replied holding onto Hiro's hand that was quite out of breath too.

"Miss Honda?" Yuki and Haru stood up.

"What happened?" Haru said.

"Akito is with her right now, alone" Momiji managed to get out.

"What?" Hatsuharu replied angrily, "Why I'm gonna" he started to move forward.

"Haru wait!" Yuki said holding an arm out, "Momiji I need you do something for me."

"Anything" Momiji nodded.

"Go find Kyo. Tell him what happened and come straight back to the house."

"Gotcha" Momiji nodded again dashing out the door.

"Haru let's go" Yuki replied putting on his shoes quickly as Hiro and Kisa watched them both terrified.

"Right" Haru nodded as the two of them ran out the door themselves.

"Oh Sissy" Kisa shrank into a chair tears forming in her eyes.

All Hiro could do was comfort as he too worried about Tohru Honda. For the first time in his life ever.

(Next Scene)

Tohru stared back at Akito as he moved toward her. She took one step back and then started to remember her promise to Kyo.

"Promise me that you will never be alone with him" Kyo had said.

She closed her eyes as she scooped up the flowers she did have left and began to walk forward.

"Good morning Akito" she managed to smile, "Isn't it a beautiful day?"

"I suppose" he frowned.

"Well" she looked up, "I should really get back to the house. The others are probably wondering where I am."

"They know where you are," Akito said slowly.

"Huh?"

"I sent them off, so I could talk to you alone."

"Oh" she nodded, "About what?"

"Don't play dumb. Far too many distractions have happened. But this time, whether you like it or not" he looked at her dangerously as he moved forward even more, "You're gonna tell me what I want to know."

Tohru gasped in fear as she stared wide-eyed at him.

"What should I do mom?" she thought, "I know. I know you always taught me to see the good in people. No matter how they acted. But my whole being is telling me to run right now. Do I ignore my instinct? Or do I just stand here?"

Then Tohru remembered Kyo's words once more and found the confidence to move. She took off like a gazelle running right past Akito, making him spin around in anger. He yelled furiously for the moment and then took up the chase. Tohru ran as fast as she could, running around the trees, knowing fully well that the house was still miles away.

Meanwhile Hatsuharu and Yuki were doing their best to get to her in time.

"I hope we're not too late!" Haru said to Yuki as he ran beside him.

"Yea" Yuki nodded, "Keep going!"

(Next Scene)

Tohru stopped running when she came to a bunch of trees. She ran behind one and held her breath, waiting for a sound of running feet behind her. But no sound came. Nothing. So she cautiously peered around the tree and saw Akito face down on the ground.

"Oh no" she shook her head anxiously as she came out, "I forgot. Akito can't run for long distances. What have I done?" she cried out as she moved forward and knelt down, "Akito are you all right? Akito please answer me" she shook him, "I'm sorry" the tears began to fall, "I shouldn't have ran. Please forgive me" she placed her hand on top of his left arm.

In one flash Akito's hand clamped down onto her wrist and he stared up into her terrified eyes.

"It's not nice to make me run like that" he seethed angrily as he pulled her up.

"Akito. No please" she begged, "Please let me go" she tried to pull away.

"Not till you answer my question!" he shouted as Yuki and Haru appeared.

"Akito!" Hatsuharu yelled, "Stop it! Let her go!"

"Please Akito" Yuki added out of breath, "Let her go!"

"Yuki" Tohru looked at them through tear stained eyes, "Haru."

"This is not your business" Akito said through gritted teeth, "Turn around and go back to where you came from" he ordered.

"We can't do that Akito" Haru stepped in front of Yuki, "We won't" he replied as Yuki nodded his head.

"Let me get this straight. You would rather stay here and watch as I punish this girl is that it?"

"No Akito please" Yuki stepped forward, "Please don't punish Miss Honda. She's done nothing wrong."

"I offer her the hospitality of joining my family for New Years, and for the Zodiac banquet no less. And she repays me by running away from me when all I wanted was my question answered. It's obvious that she has to be punished" he pulled her arm behind her making her wince in pain.

"What is so important about your question anyway?" Haru shouted, "So damn important that you got to hurt a little girl? What kind of a man are you?"

"Haru" Yuki said in a scared voice, "Stop it."

"I won't" Haru retorted.

"You'll pay for this insolence Hatsuharu" Akito seethed, "Mark my words."

"Fine! But allow me to take Tohru's punishment. I will gladly take it."

"No" Tohru said softly as she shook her head as Yuki stepped forward next to Haru.

"And so will I" Yuki added.

"No Yuki."

"You both will gladly take the punishment for this girl?"

"Yes" they nodded in agreement.

"Very well then. I shall punish you in her place" he threw her to the ground in front of them, "And then you both can watch as I ask my question and she" he stared at the back of her head, "And she finally answers it. Come forward."

"No" Tohru got up as quickly as she could and ran over, standing in front of Hatsuharu and Yuki, "Please Akito. I beg of you don't take my punishment out on them. Please. I will take it."

"Miss Honda" Yuki protested.

"No" she shook her head, "No Yuki. You've done too much for me all ready. I can't ask you to do this. Please Akito" she cried as she fell before him tears running down her face, "I beg of you. Ask your question and I'll answer it. Honestly and truthfully. And then you can punish me anyway you want to."

"Tohru" Haru began to protest as well.

"Just please" she continued, "Don't hurt them. I couldn't bare it" she bowed her head as Yuki and Haru both looked at her with tears in their own eyes.

"Very well then" Akito said slowly as he moved forward ready to strike, "If that is your decision" he swung his hand down.

"NO!!" Yuki and Haru ran forward.

"AKITO!" another voice rang out making them all stop and Tohru's heart skipping a beat.

From out of the shadows stepped Kyo, his fist with the bracelet clenched and his face with a furious frown. Yuki and Haru stopped right in their tracks, while Akito eyed him from where he stood. Kyo looked more angry then Akito had ever seen him, and now the god of the Zodiac wasn't exactly sure what he had in store for him.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay that's one chapter done for the day. See you later for the next one!

Next Chapter: Kyo Takes a Stand

Enough is enough! Kyo has had it and this time he is the one who will be laying into Akito, but not in the way you think! See what happens next time!