Part 12

The next several days dragged on for me. Not only was Hatori not available to take me anywhere, but Isuzu was still missing.

I sighed heavily, watching the rain fall. The weather had become rather muggy lately. If it wasn't raining it was cloudy and humid. There were times I'd see Haru enter the main gates covered in mud and soaked. I knew he was spending hours looking for Isuzu out there in the rain. And I knew from his expressions that he wasn't being successful.

I stood up. "Mom, I'm going outside for a little bit."

Mom gave me a startled look. "Kagura—"

"Don't worry, I won't go far. I won't even leave the front porch."

"…All right. But if you start feeling strange…"

"Don't worry, I'll come back inside."

I smiled and went to get my rain coat. Even though I was still recovering and my stitches were still delicate, I was being given more liberties with each check-up. At my last one Hatori said that as long as it didn't cause much strain I could go outside. But I couldn't be outside five feet of my house.

Once I was outside I sat down in front of my front door. The rain was falling in a light drizzle; not a full-blown storm. I knew that it wouldn't be long before a huge rainstorm hit.

"I wonder when I can see Kyo-kun again," I murmured. I hadn't seen him since our small date. And phone conversations didn't feel like enough anymore. "Where are you, Isuzu…"

That was when I heard it. It was faint, but I definitely heard it.

"Somebody! Please help me!"

My head shot up. Someone needed help!

I stood up, but quickly remembered the promise I made to Mom and the restrictions Hatori put on me. I couldn't leave this spot.

"Oh God, somebody help me! Get me out of here!"

That voice sounded so urgent! How could I just ignore it?

"Help! Haru! Kagura! Anybody!!"

My blood froze as I recognized that voice. Isuzu!!!

Abandoning my promise, I zipped up my raincoat and pulled on my hood. I headed out into the rain, desperately trying to follow Isuzu's voice.

Where is she?! I thought to myself. I walked around the perimeter of the Sohma house. Save an occasional relative, I saw no one.

"Isuzu!!" I hissed, though I knew she probably wouldn't hear me.

"Help! Please help me…"

She sounded so far away. But she also sounded like she was still in the compound.

"Kagura!" a startled voice came from behind. I yelped and quickly turned around to see who it was.

It was Kazuma. He was holding an umbrella close over his head.

"I knew it was you I saw out my window," he said. He was calm, but a look of worry was etched in his face.

"I—" I stuttered. I honestly didn't know what to tell him. Seeing as I couldn't find Isuzu, I didn't think he would believe.

"Why are you outside? Aren't you supposed to be recovering from your surgery?"

"Um…I—"

"Never mind. Here, I'll take you home. With any luck your mother won't notice that you left."

I had no choice but to comply. I didn't have enough stamina to run away from him and even if I tried he would probably tell Mom. So I took his outstretched hand and let him lead me home.

I'm sorry, Isuzu. I'll look for you the next chance I get!!

---

My next chance didn't come for a long while. Despite Kazuma dropping me off at home unnoticed, Mom somehow figured out that I had disobeyed her. So she grounded me to my room. She did promise not to tell Hatori about my disobedience since nothing bad had happened to me.

But my grounding not only prevented me from looking for Isuzu, but it also prevented me from talking to Kyo.

I have to say that one good thing came of it. I got a nice visit from some good friends.

"Kagura, you have visitors," said Mom on that day.

"Mom, did you ground me and forbid any visitors?" I asked.

"Yes, but I think you learned your lesson. I'll send them in."

I sighed and leaned back into the pillows of my bed. Moments later, Mom sent in the visitors. I was very shocked at who they were.

"Hi, Kagura-chan!" greeted Tohru. She came over and gave me a warm hug.

"Hello," said Yuki, smiling a little.

"Hey," said Kyo, waving a little. My heart sank a little, feeling that Kyo didn't want to display any feelings towards me while Yuki and Tohru were there. But I felt better when he came to sit next to me and took my hand.

"You're looking so much better!" said Tohru, looking visibly relieved.

"Thanks," I said, smiling. "I'm surprised that you all came to visit. I know that this place isn't exactly a comfort zone…"

"Hatori said that the weather was making Akito sick," said Yuki. "Since he can't do much when he's sick, Honda-san felt that we should take the risk and come out here."

"It looks like you've been cooped up in here," said Tohru.

"I got grounded for a little bit," I answered, shrugging my shoulders. "But Mom feels I've learned my lesson."

"I know what we can do!" said Tohru, suddenly changing the subject. "How about we all go out this Sunday? I don't have to work that day so we can have fun!"

"Sunday's in two days," I said, feeling uneasy. "I'd have to ask Hatori about it."

"I'll talk to him about it," said Kyo, squeezing my hand.

Yuki seemed to take this as a sign. "Honda-san, I'm feeling a little thirsty. How about we go get some sodas?"

"Sure," said Tohru, standing. "Do you two want anything?"

"No thanks," I answered.

"Get me whatever you guys are getting," said Kyo off-handedly.

"Okay!" then they both left. Leaving me alone with Kyo.

"I was a little worried," he said, squeezing my hand again. "When you didn't call me back after several days."

"Mom just grounded me, that's all," I reassured him.

"Why'd she ground you?"

"I wandered too far away from the house."

"You idiot!!" Kyo yelled. "Why would you do that? Don't you want to make a full recovery?!"

"Of course I do. It's just that I heard Isuzu's voice."

"Rin? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her lately."

"She disappeared the same day you took me on that date. I was sitting down and I heard her crying for help."

"So you went to go find her?"

"Well, she sounded like she was still in the compound. I didn't think it would take me too long. But Kazuma found me and took me home."

"So she's gone again."

"Yes."

"No wonder Haru's been so depressed lately."

Silence followed this. I wanted to change the subject, even though this was a very serious topic.

"Um, do you want to go on that double date with Yun-kun and Tohru-kun?"

Kyo blinked. "Yeah, kinda. It'd give us a chance to be together, seeing as we can't be together much. But…"

"But what?"

"Tohru wants to take us to this mini-amusement park that just opened. I don't know if it'd be much fun, though. You can't go on any of the rides because you're still recovering. And if Yuki goes on a ride he might get sick."

"Don't worry!" I said. "Amusement parks are fun! We Juunishi members don't have many opportunities to go to them. I'm sure it'll be fun!"

"I guess so. I think Tohru mainly wants to go because it's full of gift shops and sweet shops, not so much for the rides."

"Really? In that case, I really want to go!"

Kyo laughed. "Okay, okay."

We talked some more for another five minutes until Yuki and Tohru came back. All four of us talked about how we were going to convince Hatori to allow me to go. Kyo kept insisting that he talk to Hatori, but Yuki said that it would probably be better if he did it. This of course sprung an argument with Tohru trying to play the mediator. I couldn't help but laugh. It really looked like the three of them had mended fences.

I saw them off at the front gates, though I had to convince Mom to let me do it.

"Ayame-san's back at Shigure's house," said Tohru. "We'll all try talking to Hatori-san about letting you come."

"Thanks," I said, waving them off. I watched them walk out of sight, seeing Yuki and Kyo break into another argument. I couldn't help but laugh as I closed the gate and headed back to my house.

"Help me! Please somebody!"

I froze in my tracks. It was Isuzu's voice again. But once again I couldn't tell where she was.

"Where are you?" I said absently, staring around the empty compound.

It was then that a raindrop hit my shoulder. I couldn't look for Isuzu at that point. Especially since it was about to rain again and I was only wearing a light sweater.

I'm sorry, Isuzu, I thought as I quickly walked back to my house.

---

"What's this about an amusement park?"

"Eh?" I looked up. Hatori had been giving me a check-up when he suddenly asked me.

"When I went to retrieve Ayame, Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo asked me to let you go to that new amusement park with them."

I held my breath. This was the moment of truth. But his next statement surprised me.

"Do you want to go?"

"I-uh-um, yes I do," I stuttered, amazed that Hatori didn't immediately shoot down the idea.

Hatori sighed. "Your stitches are still looking great. You should be rewarded for taking such good care of yourself."

My heart burst with joy. "Thanks, Hatori!"

"I'm afraid you might have a good time though," he added. "Sunday's forecast says rainfall all day. And we're scheduled to get the worst rainfall yet close to this evening."

This sunk my spirits. And sure enough, Sunday came with muggy weather and on and off rain. The park was definitely going to be closed.

"So much for a fun Sunday," I moaned, lying facedown on my bed.

A knock came at my door. "Come in!"

Tohru came in, all smiles. "Are you ready?"

I looked at her. "Tohru, the park's probably not open."

"I know. But that doesn't mean we can't have fun. I know a sweetshop not too far from here. Since we can't go to the park, I'm treating us to some sweets."

This did help to raise my spirits. I got loaded up with warm clothing and Tohru helped me out the door. Even though I had enough energy to walk on my own, I knew she wanted me to save it.

As we headed to the front gate, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I turned to see Akito at his window, eyeing Tohru and me with a strange.

I didn't know why at the time, but a cold sensation flooded over me when I looked at him. Like a premonition of some sort.

But, I brushed it off when I saw Yuki and Kyo waiting for us outside the gates.

Even with the disappointed of no amusement park, I still had fun at the sweetshop. It had been awhile since I had eaten sweets; I barely ate the ones my relatives sent me as a get-well gift. But it was fun to be there and to be around my friends. I even forgot about Isuzu's disappearance and Akito's strange look while I was there.

At one point Yuki and I were left alone at the table. Kyo had gone to the bathroom and Tohru went off to admire some plush toys on display.

"I take it you and Kyo are a couple now?" asked Yuki.

"Yes," I said. "Um, are things better with you guys?"

Yuki nodded. "We were making amends anyway but after that time Hatori and you stopped by Kyo apologized to us." Yuki sighed and stared at Tohru. "He's an idiot, but he did love her. I wasn't exactly nice to about it. But…being with you seems to make him feel better, so it makes Honda-san feel better. Not to mention he's not as much of an idiot as he was before."

I laughed. "I'm kinda glad things worked out this way. You love Tohru and she loves you back and you're together. I've always love Kyo-kun and I think he's growing to love me, and we're together. It feels like nothing can go wrong at this point."

Yuki laughed a little. "It seems that way."

It seemed like the outing was too short when we all decided to go home. They walked me home to avoid any complications and I was happy for it.

"Do you need me to walk you to your house?" asked Tohru.

I shook my head. "Thanks for the wonderful day." I went up to Kyo and gave him a quick kiss. He turned red, but responded to it. "I'll call you later, Kyo-kun."

Kyo nodded. "I'll talk to you later."

I nodded. "Bye guys!" I entered the gates, gave them a wave, and then closed it.

I hummed a little tune as I walked to my house. I was definitely feeling better than I had in days.

"Help!"

I stopped short again. The desperation in Isuzu's voice was impossible to ignore now. Throwing caution to the wind I ran home.

"Mom, I'm home!" I yelled, throwing off my sweaters and jackets. It was then that I noticed a note. I picked it up, reading that Mom was out buying a new set of dishes.

This is great, I thought, running to get my on raincoat on. I was only wearing a thin long-sleeved button down white shirt and dark blue loose jeans, but I didn't care. If Mom comes home and I'm not here, she won't worry because she'll still think I'm out.

I pulled on my raincoat and yanked on a pair of boots. Then I took off outside.

It was overcast, but the rain hadn't restarted up. I was careful this time in my search to make sure no one spotted me. I looked around each of the house, trying to follow Isuzu's voice. My hope grew as I got closer, hearing her cries get louder and louder.

Finally, they were at their loudest. But I was in an empty area, save a single house at the back of the compound. My hope sank as I looked around the empty area.

"Kagura!! Over here!!"

I blood froze. She saw me! But I didn't know where she was!

"Isuzu?" I yelled, throwing caution to the wind. I didn't care who saw me at that point.

"Down here!" this time the yell seemed more precise. I looked down towards the ground and shrieked.

Isuzu's pale, sickly face stared up at me from the ground. Rather, just underneath the house.

"Isuzu!!" I ran over, slipping in the mud. I knelt down and grabbed her outstretched hands through the bars. "Oh my God!! What happened to you?!"

"Akito found out," she gasped, her voice weary. "He found out Haru and I were seeing each other again. When your mom and you left he sent a bunch of cronies to kidnap me and bring me to him. He tried to beat me to death, but I fought back. I beat him just as hard as he beat me. But his cronies came in and knocked me out.

"When I woke up, I was here. Akito sat where you are now and taunted me; telling me he was never going to let me out of here. And just a few days ago, he stopped feeding me! Kagura, he's trying to kill me! You've got to let me out of here!!"

"Don't worry," I assured her. "I'll get you out of here. I'm going to go get something to break you out of there."

Isuzu weakly squeezed my hands. "Thank you so much, Kagura. Be sure to get something powerful. My door has a lot of locks."

I gave her a reassuring smile and got up. Ignoring Hatori and Mom's warnings I took off at a run across the complex. I immediately felt the strain in my stitches, but I ignored it. If I didn't get Isuzu out of there she was going to die. That took higher priority at the moment.

I ran to Hatori's house, completely out of breath. "Hatori!! Hatori!!"

His door opened, but it wasn't Hatori that answered. Momiji did.

"Kagura, hi!" greeted Momiji, smiling.

"Momiji, I have to talk to Hatori right now!!"

"I'm sorry, but he's not here now. He said he had an errand and would be back." His face suddenly became worried. "Is something wrong? Do your stitches hurt?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I couldn't get Momiji involved in this. At least Hatori would be able to survive Akito's wrath.

"N-no, I'm fine," I said, throwing on a fake smile. "Just wanted to ask him something. Bye!"

I left, my heart pounding like crazy. How was I going to get Isuzu out of that place? All the adult Juunishi, with the exception of Kureno, weren't at the house! And Haru was still out there looking for Isuzu!! Who was going to help me?

Then I remembered the tool shed. It had a sledgehammer in it.

That was strong enough to break the locks.

I ran to the tool shed, still ignoring the pain in my lower back. Once I broke Isuzu out, I would see Hatori about it.

I dug through the tool shed for ten minutes looking for the sledgehammer. I was worried that someone had taken it when I finally found it under a garden hoe.

"Yes!" I yelled yanking out the sledgehammer.

"What are you doing?!" asked a cold voice behind me. I turned around to see Hiro in a raincoat.

"I-uh-I-um—" I couldn't think of an excuse for the sledgehammer.

"Aren't you suppose to be in bed?!" Hiro demanded. "What are you doing with that sledgehammer?! Are you crazy?!"

"I—"

"You really are stupid!!"

"I—"

"I'm going to get someone." Hiro started away.

"No Hiro!!" I rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "It's Isuzu!! Akito has her locked up and is starving her to death!! If I don't get her out she's going to die!!"

Hiro stared at me, shocked. "Are you serious?"

"Yes! So please don't get someone!"

"I'm going to help you."

"Hiro, if Akito—"

"I don't care!" he snapped. "Let me see Rin!!"

I sighed heavily, reluctantly accepting Hiro's help and showed him the house at the back of the compound. Overhead, thunder boomed loudly.

"Isuzu, I'm back!" I said as I knelt by her window. Her face appeared seconds later. Hiro freaked out when he saw her.

"He really is starving you!" he yelled, grabbing one of Isuzu's hands that were resting on the bars. "What the hell are you waiting for?! Get her out of there!"

I nodded and stood up, sledgehammer ready. "Hiro, keep a watch out for anyone. Give a yell if someone's coming."

"Yeah, yeah. Just get her out!"

I hesitantly stepped into the house. It was completely empty. There wasn't anything in it.

"Why did the family build this house if no one uses it?" I wondered out loud. There didn't seem to be an entrance to downstairs. I looked around until my toe hit something. I looked down to see a tiny latch.

"Bingo," I said, pulling on the latch. A square of floor came up, showing a flight of stairs leading downward. I started down the stairs, holding the sledgehammer ready in case a guard was down there. When I reached the bottom what I saw shocked me.

I was standing in front of a narrow path that had door lining the walls. The doors had multiple locks on them.

"I don't believe it," I breathed, walking along the path. "Is this some kind of prison?! On our own family compound?!"

I came to a door with numerous locks on it. I stupidly tapped on the door. "Isuzu?"

"Kagura!! I'm in here!" Isuzu responded.

"Stand back!" I yelled, swinging down the sledgehammer, taking out several of the locks. I gasped in pain from the strain on my lower back. But I didn't give up and swung again, taking out the rest of the locks. I fell against the door with the force of the swing and tried the doorknob. It was locked too. But I wound up for one last swing, taking out the doorknob entirely and falling to the floor. I climbed back to my feet and pushed open the door.

"Kagura!!" Isuzu weakly rushed forward and hugged me tightly. I noted with disdain just how small her prison was and how thin she was. I looked up to her tiny barred window to see that the storm I had been anticipating finally struck and that it was pouring outside.

"Here Isuzu," I said, tearing off my raincoat and putting it around her. "We've gotta go right now!"

Isuzu leaned on me for support as I led her out of her prison and up the stairs. I was in plenty pain myself, but Isuzu could barely walk. I had to get her out of the Sohma compound.

"Rin!!" Hiro shrieked, rushing forward and hugging her tightly.

"Hiro, we have to go!" I said urgently. "Akito's gonna find out Isuzu's out and he'll try to kill her!! We have to get her out of here!"

Hiro nodded, helping me support Isuzu as we left the house and set out into the rainstorm. Within seconds I was soaked to the bone. The lack of jacket was really taking its toll.

But we had to get Isuzu out of there. Her life was at stake!

The mixture of rain and the blackened clouds overhead didn't help us with visuals. Especially since we were so far away from the gates. But we continued on, practically dragging Isuzu.

Then it happened. We were no more than twenty feet away from the gates when a loud yell rang throughout the compound.

"SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE CELL HOUSE!!!!!!! WHO DID IT?!?! WHO LET THAT BITCH ESCAPE?!?!"

I turned to Hiro. Even though he helped us greatly I did not want Akito to see him with us. The results could be catastrophic. "Hiro, Hatori might be home now. Go get him and tell him Isuzu needs help."

"But—" said Hiro.

"Go Hiro! Isuzu needs help and Akito knows she's out!!"

Hiro slowly nodded and took off running. That left me to drag Isuzu to the entrance. It was then I realized just how much pain I was in. All the strain I put on myself that day was causing me so much pain!! My back hurt so much! I wailed from the pain and collapsed, taking Isuzu with me.

"WHERE THE FUCK DID SHE GO?!?! I'M GONNA KILL HER!!!"

I weakly nudged Isuzu. "Get up!! You've got to get out of here!!"

Isuzu managed to sit up weakly. "But Kagura—"

"Listen!! I have money in one of the pockets of that coat. It's not much, but it should be enough to get you away. If Akito catches you he'll probably kill you. You've gotten run!!"

"Kagura—"

"Go!!!" I weakly shoved her.

She sniffled and hugged me tightly. "Thank you so much! I'll never forget your kindness!" she kissed me on the forehead and struggled to her feet. With a loud sigh she took off at a run for the gate.

"THERE SHE IS!!! SOMEONE GET HER!!!!!

"No!!!!" I cried, painfully sitting up. But through the rain and my tears of pain I saw her reach the gates. With a quick shove she pushed one of the gate doors open and took off into the night.

Relief washed over me as I realized she made it out. I stood up on wobbling legs as I stared at the front gates slightly gaping open.

I never heard the fast approaching footsteps until it was too late. Unconsciously I weakly turned around.

"You fucking bitch!!!!" I felt fire across my face as a fist struck me. I found myself flying and landed with thud on the ground.

"You just had to go and interfere, didn't you?!" a foot came out and kicked me in the ribcage. I gasped in pain, unable to cry out. I tried weakly to stand up and get away from Akito and his wrath. But all I could manage to do was be on my hands and knees.

"Having cancer does not give you the special liberties to OVERRIDE MY DECISIONS!!!!!" he kicked me hard in the side, sending me rolling over in the mud until I stopped on my stomach.

"That bitch caused enough problems for me!!" he kicked me in the side again. "All you fucking Juunishi cause problems for me!!" he kicked me again. "I try to do the world a favor by erasing that problematic whore and you have to go and let her out!!!" I could sense that he lifted his foot, and half expected him to kick me again.

But he didn't. Instead, he brought his foot down as hard as he could on my lower back. Exactly where my stitches were.

I saw stars as agonizing pain sliced through me. The shock of the blow prevented me from screaming.

"You just had to act like a big man didn't you?!" he stomped my stitches again, warranting a cry from me. "That's a decision you're going to regret for the rest of your short life!!"

Suddenly I heard a whoosh of air and seconds later Akito implanted both feet into my back. He literally jumped onto me! I shrieked in pain, helpless to his assault.

"That hurts, doesn't it?!" he dig his heels into my back and did it again, causing me to scream in agony. "I don't care!! Keep hurting!! It's what you get for crossing me!!"

Akito started yelled incoherently as he stomped my back. I was crying hysterically under the attack, trying and failing to get away from him.

"Help me!!!" I shrieked. "Somebody help me!! Mom!!!!!!"

Akito's yells and my cries did get some attention, though I was surprised that there wasn't any attention up to then.

"Akito!!" someone shrieked. Through my pain I recognized Momiji's voice. I heard a struggle and Akito was pulled off me. I lay there, too weak to even move. I couldn't touch my stitches, but I could tell they'd been torn because of the assault.

"Stop it!!" Momiji cried, and I realized he was trying to restrain Akito. "She's still—AGH!!!"

I heard another punch and I knew Akito struck Momiji. I heard his footsteps as he came back over to me. But I was too delirious from the rain and the prolonged exposure to the rain.

"I shouldn't have wasted family funds on you," he growled, and I knew he was going to do it again. "I should've just let you rot along with the cancer!!!"

Suddenly, I felt a body on me and arms circled me.

"I won't let you hurt her!" cried Momiji. "I won't let you!!"

I would've been gratified to Momiji at that point if Akito didn't resume his assault. He still stomped, but Momiji was shielding my back so he was stomping on both Momiji and me.

Finally, more people came responding to Akito's yells, Momiji's sobbing, and my weak moans. Voices overlapped in my ears, but it seemed like I could no longer make sense of them. I didn't know how badly injured I was, but I knew it was really bad. My vision was blurring up and I knew I was going to fall unconscious shortly.

The only things that seemed to make sense were Momiji's crying, Mom's hysterical sobbing and Hatori. I heard him next to me as he tore open my shirt to see how bad the damage was.

"Oh no. Somebody called an ambulance!!! Now!!!!!"

I moaned weakly, hearing the commotion grow weaker and my vision fading. I had passed out before, but it felt so different this time. So much stranger.

I didn't know if this was the last time I would be awake. I only regretted that I never got to call Kyo back.

"K-K-Kyo-k-k-kun…" I gurgled as everything turned to black.