Chapter Five: Final Confrontation

Tai stared angrily at his opponent and watched Tohru's reaction as Yuki arrived right behind him.

"Kyo" Tohru said slowly.

Tai took this opportunity to rush over and grab her from behind, pinning her arms behind her back. Kyo gazed at him his eyes burning a deep red.

"Miss Honda" Yuki said in surprise.

"Let her go Ushida" Kyo replied calmly.

"I don't think so. How did you get here?"

"I had a little help from some family members. See unlike you I have people who care about me."

"That explains how you got here but how did you get in my house?"

"I can explain that" Takao appeared next to Yuki with a smug grin.

"Riku?" Tai replied angrily, "How could you betray me like this?"

"I'm not Riku" Takao said throwing off his hat.

"Takao. You posed as your brother?"

"That's right."

"You side with them? When we have known each other all this time. We are almost friends you and I."

"As if I would ever be friends with you Tai Ushida. You're my brother's friend not mine. Now let my cousin go. Or you'll force me to go next door to get my grandfather."

"No" Kyo shook his head not taking his eyes off of Tai for even a moment, "I want to handle this on my own. I don't want anyone else involved. But you can do something for my right now Takao."

"What's that?"

"Go and tell my cousins that everything is under control and we'll see them soon."

"Sure" Takao nodded as Yuki understood as well, "I understand" he ran out of the room.

"You got rid of him awful quick" Tai snarled as Tohru stared at her companions helplessly.

"You know why I did too" Kyo replied, "You have to. I'm sure my father told you about me or you found out some other way. You know what I am don't you?"

"Yes I do" Tai grinned menacingly, "You're nothing but a monster and according to your father you should have been locked up. Which would have been fine with me but it didn't exactly go through."

"It almost did. But with help from the damn rat here and the rest of my family I survived and now my father is on his way to jail."

"And you will be too" Yuki added, "Once we get Miss Honda back that is."

"Do you think you can really send me to jail with my reputation?" Tai smirked.

"Who cares about your reputation" Yuki snarled back.

"Damn rat" Kyo said slowly, "Let me handle this."

Yuki closed his mouth and stared in awe at his cousin who was normally so hotheaded acting so calm.

"I don't know why you know so much about the Zodiac curse but it isn't right to involve Tohru in it."

"But she is involved isn't she? I mean she knows about it" Tai replied, "I'd go as far to say that she knows more than anyone since she's been reading that journal."

"Journal? You know about the cats journal?"

"Of course I know about it. I am the one who has had in my possession all this time."

"What?" Yuki exclaimed, "How's that possible?"

"Because" Tohru said softly, "The journal that was found in the Zodiac archives was a duplicate. It was one that the Ushida clan sent in order to make sure that the Sohma clan never figured out the way to solve the curse or how the curse came to be. They could search and search but they would never find the answer, no matter how many years would pass. That's why Shigure could never find it. The answer I mean. It's been here all this time."

"I see" Kyo nodded angrily, "So the Ushida's have always been nothing but bastards anyway."

"And they're the ones who are responsible for what we suffer through now" Yuki added.

"You're so naïve" Tai said with a smile.

"No Yuki" Tohru shook her head, "It wasn't the Ushida clan. It was Aya Sohma."

Yuki's eyes became wide at the mention of her name.

"You remember from the dream? The older princess is the one who caused the curse. It was a Sohma not an Ushida."

"But why?" Yuki said still in shock.

"Everything you need to know is in the journal" Tai replied, "But you'll never get to look at it."

"All right. I've heard enough" Kyo said angrily, "Let Tohru go now" he ordered.

"I can't do that Sohma" Tai shook his head determined, "I will not allow my family to lose to the likes of the Sohma family again. I will keep their honor. I will not allow the likes of you, a monster to marry her."

"Yea. I figured that much. Takao told me that his brother and you were spying on us that night. But it doesn't matter, because I have a way to make you let her go."

"Oh do you? Well go on then" he taunted, "What is your great idea?"

Kyo stared at Tai with a serious look in his eye as he lifted his left arm up revealing the bracelet.

"Do you know what this is?" Kyo said fingering the red and olive colored bracelet, "If you read the journal I am sure that you know what this is."

"That's the bracelet" Tai stared back at it with frightened eyes, "The bracelet that keeps your other form in tact."

"Correct. If I were to remove this bracelet the other form would appear."

"Kyo what are you thinking?" Yuki said in surprise.

"Here's the deal Ushida" Kyo continued ignoring Yuki's comment, "Either let Tohru go or the bracelet comes off" he snarled snapping the bracelet, "It's your choice."

"You. You're kidding right" Tai backed away a little still holding onto Tohru tightly as she watched Kyo with wide eyes.

"I'm serious. Because if there was ever a time that I wanted to take this thing off it's now. If you really want to know what kind of monster I truly am, I will show you."

"You're bluffing" Tai said backing away even further.

"I assure youI'm not. And from the fear in your eyes you know I am not. You know exactly what will happen if I take this bracelet off. Not only from that journal but I'm sure my wonderful father" he added sarcastically, "Told you all about the form. I heard most of what you said to Tohru about Hayoto Ushida. Would you like to see history repeat itself?"

The lightening once more flashed behind Kyo as he took a step forward and continued to move the bracelet up his arm. Tai stared at him with wide eyes remembering what he had read in the journal, what he had heard in the stories. Finally he loosened his grip on Tohru's arms a little. Kyo stopped and stared at him directly as the bracelet reached the very tip of his arm.

"Let. Her. Go" he said distinctly.

Tai dropped Tohru's arms and she ran behind Kyo as he moved forward. Tai fell to his knees cowering before Kyo, shielding his eyes as Kyo looked down at him.

"Now" Kyo replied, "I have something that truly frightens you. A power of my own. It is a curse but today it was a blessing. If you ever attempt to try this again I won't give youthe opportunity to choose, the bracelet comes off. No one will know about this day. Not evenTohru's family, not mine. This conversation, this event stays between us. I will not call the police on you. Instead I will leave you alone with your patheticness and cowardess. That I believe is the best punishment. Do not think that what I said earlier is an idle threat. It's not. Next time I really will make you sorry if there is next time that is. Do we have a complete understanding?"

Tai nodded fervently still frowning but terrified just the same. Tohru picked up the real cat's journal and walked over to Yuki.

"Good" Kyo straightened his shoulders, "We're finished here" he said turning to Yuki and taking Tohru's hand, "Let's get out of this hellish place" he replied walking out the door with Yuki right behind him.

Tai stared angrily at the doorway as they departed and clenched his fist at his fear and cowardess. Then he pounded the ground angrily over and over for his defeat by Kyo Sohma.

(Next Scene)

When Tohru and the others arrived at the van Momiji immediately jumped out and embraced her tight.

"Oh Tohru" he replied happily, "We have been so worried about you."

"I'm okay Momiji" she smiled back, "Thanks to Kyo and Yuki that is," she said looking at them.

"No Miss Honda" Yuki shook his head, "That was all Kyo. I didn't do anything" he replied with a smile as Kyo talked briefly with Takao about not revealing what had occurred that day.

"Okay" Takao said with a nod, "Not a problem. I understand. Tohru" he replied embracing her.

"Takao" she said.

"I'm glad you're safe. And I promise that I will keep this a secret. I understand. You just want to keep this between you guys. My lips are sealed" he winked.

"Thanks man" Kyo replied shaking his hand, "And thanks for earlier."

"No problem Kyo. After all we're going to be family soon."

"Right" Kyo grinned.

"Well we better get going" Yuki said, "Shigure and the others will want to know where we are" he replied climbing into the back with Momiji behind him.

"He's right" Tohru nodded, "They're probably worried sick. Thanks again Takao" she said climbing into the front seat.

"Safe trip home you guys" he waved as Kyo climbed into the van and Hatsuharu after saying hello to Tohru started up the van.

Kyo nodded at him as the van drove off and Takao lowered his hand.

As they drove home Yuki told Hatsuharu and Momiji all that had occurred in the large house.

"Man" Hatsuharu said angrily, "I would have hit him if I were you Kyo. I am surprised you didn't. I thought for sure you would have beaten the crap out of him or fought him or something."

"No" Kyo replied with a shake of his head, "I've done that once."

"And besides" Yuki added, "I think that what Kyo did today had a much better effect then just fighting him. You should have seen Ushida shaking like a baby."

"Yea" Haru nodded, "But I still think you should have beaten the crap out of him" he replied as Kyo placed his hand on the top of Tohru's head since he was right behind her.

She leaned her head against the seat happily as he brushed his fingers through her hair and closed her eyes contently.

"Oh Kyo" she thought, "You defended me. You defended me just as I'm sure Kiyoshi Sohma defended Takara. Just like a knight in shining armor. I am so happy that I have you. I am so blessed" she smiled as the van drove away from the country and headed back to the city.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay you guys! One more chapter of Book Seventeen!

Next Chapter: Safe For Now

Still not telling! Read to find out!