It has been some time. I am so sorry to all of you. I was caught up in a lot of stress from the holiday season followed by finals and when I did have a free moment I was working on homework. I am worn out, but I hope I can get back to updating my fic.s. Thank you so much for everyone who reviewed. Oh, I did spell Akito wrong before. Again, I am sorry. I really cannot spell **sigh** but please read and review, I have worked really hard on this and am having a bad week. I really need people to review, so please.

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Shigure closed the door slowly behind his troubled friend. Everyone knew Akito didn't like Tohru, that he took special pleasure in harassing her, but what did he have planned now? Tohru walked up to him, unsure what to do.

"Shigure?"

He blinked stupidly and turned around to face the worried girl. He smiled, trying to erase all of her fears away.

"Well, it seems, Tohru, that we are all alone and so" He extended his hand gracefully towards the dinning room. "Shall we eat?"

She smiled at him, her soft blue eyes sparkling.

'Shigure is so nice. He's trying to make me feel better. Okay, mom, I have decided. I am not going to let Shigure see me worried or upset!'

"Hai! Do you suppose Yuki and Kyo will get back in time for theirs."

"We best put it in the oven. It might get cold."

She nodded and headed into the kitchen.

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The car ride was long and quiet. Lights flew past the speeding car every once and a while. Hatori kept his eyes on the black road ahead, but couldn't help being deep in though. Akito had been acting strangely lately. He seemed more violent and distant than usual. The wheels in Akito's head had been turning, plotting something. What evil was he about to inflictand on Tohru?

Slowly, the car came to a halt. Hatori opened the door and stepped out. He waited a few moments, but neither boy made an attempt to leave. Hatori knew he didn't have to say anything. They would come. This visit might change them forever; giving them a few extra seconds was the least he could do. Finally, the two side doors opened and wordlessly, they exited the car and entered the gate, unsure of what awaited them.

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The dark haired teenager stood near his room's window staring at the full pearl like moon. It reminded him of her. He hated her goodness, her kindness, her innocence. It made him sick to even think about it, but somehow,it also drew him to her. He wanted her. He lusted for her. He wanted her to beg for mercy from him. He wanted her to crawl and bow before him. He wanted to see her crumble before his fingers and be hisonly his. He wanted to consume her. Fire was blazing in his eyes. No, he still had things to do, but soon, she would be his. And that goodness of hersthat shining goodness would turn dark and decay. Yes, he wanted that girl,Tohru Honda, for his own.

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"Tohru! This is delicious! You have simply outdone yourself."

The two sat opposite each other next to the table. The dishes were in perfect order and everything was beautifully made.

"Thank you, but I don't know about that"

"Of course it is great! You should be a chief when you are older."

She gave a small frown, but then replaced it with a smile remembering what she had promised herself.

"I don't really think I am good enough. People spend years training to cook. I could never match them. SoI am glad I have other dreams."

He playfully moved next to her and held her hands up in front of her pretending to cry.

"Tohru, before you came into my life, I was living in a terrible world of burnt food and a dirty house. What painful memories! You have brought sunshine to my whole being and I am gratefully for you. You must never leave us here. Without you we would be thrown into a dark abyss of despair. Tohru, my flower, thank you. Let me express my gratitude."

He closed his eyes and leaned down to her. He was expecting to feel two fists pound his face across the room

Tohru knew Shigure was just playing around, but then he leaned down to kiss her. Usually, in this case Yuki and Kyo would come and attack him, but they weren't here. It was just the two of them. She didn't know what to do. Should she kiss him, should she pull away, what? Without thinking, she did the first thing that came to mind. She closed her eyes and leaned forward. She was breathless when she met his soft lips against hers. She had never experienced a sensation like it ever before, there was such passion in it. It only lasted a second and then, it was gone. He pulled her away. Like a dream, she opened her eyes and just looked at him as his mouth hung open in shock.

Shigure had thought two fists would come flying at his face. But none came, and instead, he felt the soft warm lips of Tohru meet his. He was stunned for a second and without realizing it deepened the kiss. But, instantly after recovering, pulled her away and stared at her. How could he have forgotten in that moment Kyo and Yuki weren't there? They had only left a short time ago, too. How could he have been so stupid? He had been consumed in the joke to realize it and nowhe had kissed Tohru. He had done what he believed would never happen. He had sworn to himself that he would never let a joke of his get too far. With having a single, not to mention beautiful, spirited and caring, girl in the house there were certaintemptations. Not that he would actually act on them, he did have a large imagination. This wasn't even his fault, really. It was merely a joke, yes, only a joke. No one would know. Tohru would not tell anyone, he knew that, and he would never reveal it to anyone, well, maybe Aya and possibly Hari.

His eyes fell upon her again. She had silently been looking at him. Her skin was slightly red. Her turquoise blue eyes just looked at him hoping for an answer. He avoided her gaze from guilt. He couldn't help stealing a glance at her soft pink lips that he had kissed mere seconds ago. That warmth, that brief passionHe just wanted to

No. Without a word, he left the confused girl there and walked out of the room, down the hallway to his office. He slid the door open and then shut it. Leaning against the wall, he stared into the dark room realized what had really happened in full effect.

"What have I done?"

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There was silence. No one dared speak, even Kyo. They just knelt there. Yuki seemed almost to petrified to move. Akido still looked out his window at the moon. Finally, he spoke.

"I see you have both come as I asked, you took your time, though." He paused. "Do you know why I have asked you to come here, now?"

There was no answer.

"Kitzumahas gone back into the mountains. You two shall join him for training. You may return in one month, if you don't choose to stay, that is."

All of them couldn't believe their ears. What had he just said? Akito wanted them to go and train? Why? What did this mean?

"II don't understand" Yuki stuttered.

Akito turned to the small group and approached the stiff Yuki. He bent down and placed his cold hard hand on the slightly shaking chin. Their gazes met.

"Then you must be even more simple minded than I thought. You and Kyo, only you and Kyo, shall go and train with Kitzuma for one month."

"But what about Tohru!"

Akito's gaze whipped to Kyo who was on his feet. Akito threw down his hand and stood as well. His patience was wearing thin. That he had to be in the same room as that revolting monster disgusted him. He came face to face with Kyo. He forced a twisted smile.

"The girl, Tohru Honda, will be fine. Shigure shall take care of her."

'Like I trust Shigure with Tohru. Dammit! Better than with Akido I guess, but what the hell has this bastard have in mind?'

Hatori knelt in the back. There was something on Akito's face he couldn't read. Something that scared him, something he was scared of for Tohru. Why did he want Yuki and Kyo to leave?

"One more thing. You won't have any contact with the outside world while you are gone, no television, no radio, no phone, not even letters...we wouldn't want to distract you from your training." The edges of his lip curled up. "You will leave right now. Hatori, drive them to the train station, their train leaves in an hour."

"What?!" Yuki and Kyo's voice yelled in unison. Even Yuki who was scared of Akito couldn't hold it in.

He glared at both of them.

"What about clothing and-"

"There will be things for you when you get there. Now go!"

"No!" Yuki's voice rang out.

With quick steps, Akito walked up to Yuki who now stood.

"What did you say?" His voice was shaking in anger.

"I said no!" Yuki's eyes were filled with determination.

"It is an order!"

"I am tired of hiding!"

Instantly, pain swept across Yuki's face. Akito had slapped him. The boy was almost growling in rage. How dare Yuki defy him! Yuki could feel the pain from all the years rise up with in him. The memories of being a small child and Akito torturing him came rushing back. He could feel his eyes watering.

"Not any moreI am not following any orders from you any longer! You cannot treat me this way! All you have done is cause me pain; it ends now! As of this moment, I am no longer part of the Sohma clan!"

Yuki yelled in rage. He turned around and walked away.

"If you doyou know what it means, don't you?" Akido screamed yet tired to remain calm.

Yuki stopped for a moment, what did Akito mean by this.

"If you leave nowI will erase her memory and yours as well. Of any time you spent with her. And it won't stop there. There are endless things I could do to her even after her memory was gone"

Akito walked silently up behind him and put his mouth to Yuki's ear.

"I'd make her wish she was deadDo you understand now? If you leave, she will pay the price. No matter where you wentI could find you. Do you want that? You care for her, don't you? Do you want to see her suffer allbecause ofyou?"

Yuki couldn't do that. He could never do that to her. But leaving for a month without telling her? Just abandoning her in the house with Shigure. What would she think? Hatori would tell her, right?

Akito turned to Kyo. "Are there any objections from you, or would you like to have the burden of her memory being erased on your shoulders?"

Kyo didn't say a word. It was only for a month. What could happen in a month? Still there was the lurking fear of on coming danger.

Akito lifted his chin in superiority.

"You will go now."

They exchanged worried glances. Finally, the two of them left. Hatori lingered in the room for a moment.

"Akito? What is going on?"

"It is very simple. I may explain it to you later, Hatori. But for now" He twisted his head looking at the older man. There was that twisted mangled smile again on his face; his eyes looked like those of a mad man. "DON'T QUESTION ME!"

Hatori stood there for a moment, then bowed.

"Hai"

He left the room, and Akito was left to his plans.

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Tohru sat there on the ground. This day wasn't making any sense. She was so confused.

'Oh mom, what am I going to do? Shigure kissed me. Shigure! Not that that is bad or anything, well it kind of is. I turn 18 next week, so right now that stuff is illegal. What am I thinking?!?! (A/N: I am not sure at all if Japan has the same rules as America in that sort of stuff, but lets just pretend here. Aragato.) It isn't if I would actually ever go out with ShigureBut he kissed me? Does that mean he loves me? No, Shigure is just playing around. He probably has kissed a lot of girls before. That doesn't make me feel any better, though. Did I do something wrong? Is that why he left like that? Was I a bad kisser or something? I have never kissed a guy so I don't have any practice. Ugggg, that isn't helping either. I must have done something. The way he looked at me afterhe wouldn't even look me straight in the eye. What ever I did must have been really bad. How could I have done something to terrible to Shigure, he has been so wonderful and I just did something horrendous to himeven if I don't understand what that is'

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Please review! Hope you liked! TTFN