The wonderful honeymoon that Haru gave me ended faster than I wanted it to. Haru and I had a lot of fun and didn't have to deal with Akito or any family. My bruises healed without pain and no more showed up, that I could see. When we returned to our house, Hatori paid a visit. He checked my back and chest.

"It seems that the bruises from Akito healed," he said. He pushed on a tender spot on my back. "You seem to have some light ones from somewhere else."

I blushed and looked at Haru. He seemed unmoved by what our older cousin said. It wasn't exactly something I wanted Hatori to know. Haru didn't say anything and Hatori didn't question further. Hatori left shortly afterwards.

"That was embarrassing," I said, putting my shirt back on.

Haru walked over to me. "Now, don't say that. Hatori knows that you were bruised because of my carelessness." He knelt down in front of me and lifted my shirt up a little. He kissed my stomach.

I shuddered. "Don't, you know what that does," I whispered.

He continued to kiss my stomach and I shuddered each time. He finally stood up and hugged me. "You're a wonder, Yuki," he said. He kissed my neck, which also made me shudder.

"Will you stop that? You wanted to go see everyone today." I put a hand on the back of his neck, playing with the part of his hair that was black.

"We can go see them tomorrow, can't we?" he asked between kisses.

"If you keep doing that, we're not going to have a choice," I muttered. It was becoming too much for me.

"Then, we'll go tomorrow," he finalized. He pulled up from my neck and kissed me.

The next day, Haru and I drove south to the main house. I was nervous about Akito seeing me. Hatori wouldn't tell the head of the family about bruises from my husband who had just been careless at night. At least, I hoped he wouldn't tell him. He could tell anyone else, but Akito.

"Welcome back, Yuki," Momiji screamed, jumping on me. "How was your honeymoon? Hatori said..." I spaced him out, as I usually did.

"Oh, Yuki, my dear little brother," Ayame screamed. "Welcome! Did you enjoy your honeymoon?"

I smirked at Haru. "It was perfect," I said.

Ayame went on about something else, but I didn't hear him. Hatori shut him up and welcomed us. He didn't say anything about the bruises. Shigure was the next person to greet us. Shortly after him, everyone else started showing up. Akito was the only one who didn't appear. I was grateful. Tohru and Kyo arrived as lunch was being served. Tohru was even more pregnant than the last time.

"Yuki, it's been determined," Tohru said, excitedly. "We're having a boy." She reached out her hands and hugged me. I turned into a gray cat. She didn't hug anyone else.

Haru picked me up in his arms and I started purring. "I'm taking you've already hugged everyone else?" Haru asked Tohru.

She blushed. "Yeah, Kyo got really upset because I tried to hug him while we were at the ultrasound."

"Where is that rat?" I asked, still purring in Haru's arms.

"He had to see Akito," Tohru said, sheepishly. "He'll be here in a moment to fight with you."

"I'm going to take Yuki into another room before he changes back," Haru told everyone. He picked up my clothes and took me into an empty room, but he didn't set me down. He sat down in a corner and held me. "You make an adorable cat," he whispered to me.

"Thank you," I replied, rubbing against his chin. A moment later, I changed back into my human form. I put my beads on immediately, but didn't move to my clothes on just yet. Haru had an evil look on his face as he pulled me against him.

I blushed. "Haru, we're still in the main house," I said. I kissed him for a moment. "First thing when we get home, I promise." I stood up and started dressing.

"You're such a tease, Yuki," Haru said, remaining in his seat. He smiled at me as I dressed.

"I'm a tease? Do you not remember what happened yesterday? The reason we had to come today was because you were teasing me." I finished putting my pants on and walked back over to Haru. I sat down in front of him, grabbing my shirt.

"It's your fault you skin is so sensitive," Haru said, crawling over to me. He took my shirt out of my hands and pushed me on my back. He held himself over me. He kissed neck and I gave into him.

"Haru," I said, trying to stop him.

He shooed me, pulling his head away to listen. "Did you hear that?" There was a large crashing sound, and Kyo flew through the wall above Haru and me. Akito stumbled through and saw Haru on top of me. He walked over to us and kicked Haru off me.

"So, you're back from your honeymoon, already, Yuki?" Akito said. He kneeled over me and pinned my arms down. "Why wasn't I told?"

Haru came up behind Akito and punched him in the face. Akito, being caught off guard, fell off me and his feet. "He doesn't have to tell you anything, you sick bastard." Haru had turned black.

Akito rubbed his jaw. "You're lucky that I hadn't found out sooner, Yuki," he said. "Kyo was just telling me that I couldn't take his child." He stood and punched Haru in the face in return.

"I wonder why that is," Haru said, after falling to his feet. "Maybe, it's because he doesn't have to give his child to you just as much as I have to give my husband to you."

Akito became angry and kicked Haru in the stomach. Haru rolled to his side and clutched his stomach. Akito kicked him repeatedly. I stood up and punched Akito full in the face.

"Don't touch him again," I screamed. It was almost as if I had snapped and become a different person. "He didn't do anything!"

"Wow, Yuki, I'd never thought you would hit me of all people," the head of the house said. His nose was bleeding. "Why do you care about him, Yuki? What has he done for you?"

"He's done more for me than anyone," I said. "I don't need a reason to love him. I just have to know I do."

Akito caught my fist as I went to punch him again. He grabbed my other hand. "Stop fighting with me, Yuki," he said. "You'll lose in the end."

"No, Akito, you've lost," Kyo's voice said from behind Akito. He had knocked out from his blow from Akito and just now woken up. Akito turned his head towards my rival. Kyo punched Akito in the face. The head of the house released me and turned to try to subdue the rat. Kyo kept punching Akito without stopping to speak. "Yuki, get Haru out of here," he yelled.

I went to Haru and got him to his feet. I put his arm over my shoulder and led him out of the room. "Hatori," I screamed, walking into the visiting room. "Help me."

Shigure and Hatori came to me and took Haru. Haru grunted and clutched his stomach. Hatori checked him out.

"Who else was there?" Shigure asked.

"Kyo," I said, worrying about Haru. "He distracted Akito so that we could get out."

Tohru came up behind me and put a blanket around my shoulders since my shirt had been left in the room. "Kyo will be fine," she said, not very convincing.

Shigure and Ayame left the room. Hatori turned to me. "He has a few broken ribs, but they should heal shortly. Don't let him do any housework or cook. He needs to stay off his feet for a few days, too." He helped Haru up. "Let's get you to the car." I helped Hatori take Haru out to the car.

"Have Tohru call me, Hatori. I need to talk to her," I said, getting into the car.

"I will do that," Hatori replied. "Don't come back here for a while. You and Haru have taken too much from him. We can't protect you if you are alone in this house."

"I'll call you when we're back," I told him, closing the door and rolling down the window, after starting the car.

"Don't," Hatori said. "Akito might come after you. I'll call you around dinner time."

I nodded and drove back home. I helped Haru upstairs and onto the bed.

"So much for sex," he muttered. He laughed and then winced.

"Don't laugh, Haru," I said. "You're hurt enough as it is."

"I couldn't protect you," he said, looking sad. "I couldn't keep Akito from punching you in the face."

"He only laid one punch on me, Haru," I said, rubbing my cheek. "He kicked you in the stomach and broke some ribs. It's my job to protect you, too." I took his hand in mine. I placed the blanket on the bed. "When you're better, I'll keep my promise." I smiled at him.

He smiled back at me, taking my hand. Slowly, fell asleep.

Haru recovered quickly and was back on his feet. He hadn't tickled me in a while because his ribs were still tender. (AN: Sounds like Yuki's going to have him for dinner... Man... I can't do anything right .) He started cooking again because he was sick of take out. I didn't let him clean just yet even though the house was getting bad. Within two months of the incident, Hatori granted Haru safe to clean the house. He had come over to check on him and saw how bad I let it get.

"Shigure always told me how bad you were at house cleaning, but I never thought you were this bad," Hatori said, before leaving.

"That's because he didn't clean at all," Haru said. He wrapped an arm around me and kissed my cheek. "But I love him anyway."

"Tohru's going to be due soon," Hatori said. "She doesn't want to go to a hospital. She and Kyo are going to stay at the main house starting next week."

"Give us a call when the baby is born," Haru said.

"She wants you to come to the main house when she goes into labor," Hatori said. "She told me about what you told her on the phone. She wants you two to help protect her baby from Akito."

"Yuki isn't going near Akito," Haru said.

"No, Haru, you're not going," I said.

"Yuki's right, Haru, your ribs are still very delicate," Hatori said. "You can go, but if Akito shows, don't get involved."

Hatori left. Since it was after dinner, Haru and I went upstairs to our room. I was facing away from Haru. He put his arm around me and started kissing my neck. I shuddered.

"Haru, your ribs," I muttered.

He continued to kiss my neck. "Aw, come on, Yuki, I know you can't resist me for long," Haru whispered.

I shuttered heavily and turned to face him. "Why do you have to be so good?" I kissed him.

Tohru went into labor not long after Hatori's visit. Haru and I drove down and waited with Kyo. Kyo was so nervous that he didn't even argue with us. I was nervous, too. Tohru was my friend. Haru wanted desperately to take me to another room to calm my nerves, but Ayame stood outside and wouldn't let anyone leave.

"Let me in," Akito said outside the door.

"I'm sorry, Akito," my older brother said, "but they are all nervous wrecks and can barely be left alone."

"I don't care, let me in!" There was a smack and a thump before Akito opened the door. I stood up and stood in front of Haru. Kyo just watched him. Akito came right up to me. "Can I see you alone?"

"I'm alone as you're going to see me, Akito," I told him. I wanted to cower right then, but the fear of him hurting Haru was worse.

"When Tohru's baby comes in here, you will bring him to me, or I will kill him," Akito snarled.

Kyo stood up. "You're not getting my baby for the last time," he said.

Ayame came in and led Akito out. I sat back down next to Haru. Haru wrapped his arms around me and held me close.

Within an hour, Hatori came in and asked for Kyo. Haru and I were left alone in the room. Haru leaned close to me and kissed my ear. I shuttered.

"A little longer, Haru, and we can go home," I whispered.

"Let me at least kiss you," he said. I smiled. He continued to kiss my ear. He moved down to my neck. I turned my head and was started kissing him on the lips. We continued for a few moments.

Someone clearing his throat interrupted us. I blushed and Haru coughed. Hatori had interrupted us.

"The baby is born and Tohru wants to see you two," he said. We followed the doctor to another room. Tohru sat in a bed, holding a baby wrapped in a blue blanket. Her hair was sticking to her forehead, which was covered in sweat. She handed me the baby. He was so small and cute. He was sleeping.

"His name is Ahiko," Tohru said. I handed the baby to Haru. "I want you two to be his godparents."

I looked at her in surprise, but I should have been expecting that. I admit that I did love her. I loved her like a sister. I smiled at her as Haru returned her baby. "Thank you, Tohru," I told her. I kissed her forehead. "We're going to go home."

"Be safe," she said, looking worried.

As Haru and I exited, Ms. Uotani and Ms. Hanajima entered the main house. I gave them the warning of Akito and we left.

School started for Haru and his ribs completely healed. New Year's rolled around faster than it had ever. Haru invited me to the New Year's banquet because he didn't want to leave me home alone. He told me the night before. We were about to go to bed.

"I can't exactly go anymore, Haru," I told him. "I'm the cat."

"I'm not leaving you here by yourself, Yuki," Haru said, putting his hand on my cheek. "I'll feel safer if I know Akito isn't coming up here while I'm gone to attack you."

"For all you know, Akito could be here, right now, waiting for you to turn the lights off," I said. I felt a little hurt. Little did I know, that I was right.

Haru turned the light off and lay next to me. I was drifting off to sleep when a rough hand covered my mouth. "Make a sound, and I'll kill you and him. Come with me." He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bed. I fell on the floor and he dragged me down the stairs and out into the backyard. The place we owned was similar to Shigure's: surrounded by woods. Akito threw me on the ground and tired my hands over my head. He kissed me roughly. "Tell him and he dies." I passed out a few moments later.

I awoke, soar and on the couch. Haru was sitting next to me. He looked worried. I wanted to tell him, but Akito was serious about killing him if I did. I wanted the memory of it to be burned from my mind. Akito knew I was married to Haru, but he didn't care. I wrapped my arms around Haru and cried.

"I called Hatori and he's on his way. I called the police on Akito," Haru said. "You were passed out by the time I got out there. Akito heard me coming and ran. I brought you in here and haven't left the room. He's not getting away with that, Yuki." He held me close. I cried for hours. Hatori arrived after lunch. He found bruises all over my body, including on my neck and arms. Every time Haru looked at me, I felt ashamed.

Haru didn't go back to the main house for New Year's and neither did Hatori. Hatori stayed in the extra bedroom. Haru held me throughout the night. Before sunrise, Haru pulled me to the roof to watch the sun come up. Hatori seemed to be in his room still.

"What did you wish for?" Haru asked me after the sun was finished rising.

"I wished that Akito would leave me alone," I said.

"Funny, I wished the same thing," Haru said, giving me a hug.

"What happened the night before won't put anything between us, will it?" The one thing I was afraid of was losing him because my problems.

"No, Yuki, not if you let it." He held me tighter. "Do you want to go to bed now?"

I yawned and shook my head. "I'm not tired."

Haru laughed and stood up. He helped me up and we went downstairs. I crawled into bed and fell asleep once Haru's arms were around me.

I woke up while Haru was getting dressed. I stretched. "Good morning," I said. I was fully awake for some reason.

"I didn't mean to wake you," he said. He knelt down next to me. He ran his fingers through the hair on the back of my head. He barely touched my neck and I winced. "Yuki, you're bleeding." Haru got up and left the room. Hatori came in with his suitcase. He opened it and took out a gauze strip. He applied it my neck were Haru and touched.

"Yuki, you're skin is very sensitive. These bruises are worse than the ones before the wedding." Hatori placed a hand on my forehead. "You have a fever, too. You're not leaving this bed. I'll stay a few more days until his fever goes down." He stood up and left.

Haru sat on the bed next to me. "I'm really sorry, Yuki," he said, pulling me off the bed to hold me. "I feel responsible for this. You were right that he could have been waiting and he was, just like you said. I didn't listen to you. Instead, I ignored the truth. I didn't protect you."

"Don't leave me, Haru," I said. "That's all I want from you." I felt weak and tired. "It's too early." I fell asleep shortly afterwards.

It was a whole month before I could get out of bed. My fever was caused mainly by the trauma. The bruises were gone at the same time as the fever.

"Since Yuki is all better, I'll head back to the main house," Hatori said. "Tohru needs another check up even though she is very healthy and so is Ahiko." Hatori left.

"It's nice to see you up and about, Yuki," Haru whispered in my ear, then kissed it. I shuttered. "It's also nice to have Hatori gone, too." He began kissing my neck. I turned around and rested my head on his shoulder. He continued to kiss my neck. I suddenly felt very tired. "Yuki, are you okay?" Haru said, holding me up while I became limp.

"Tired..." I mumbled.

"You haven't been sleeping well, Yuki," Haru said. He picked me up, being suddenly strong enough to do so. He carried me upstairs and put me on the bed. "You haven't eaten much, either. You're really light. You go ahead and sleep. I'll make you food when you get up."

"Hold me."

Haru lay down next to me, wrapping his arms around me. I fell asleep quickly.

I woke up the following morning and slumped downstairs, to the table. Haru greeted me with breakfast and a kiss on the cheek. I woke up fully after the kiss and began eating. I was so hungry. I ate two helpings a breakfast. Haru and I spent the morning watching T.V. I ate just as much at lunch. Haru took me out to a movie and to dinner. He kissed me as soon as we walked into the front door of our house. He took my shirt off me and I took his off, kissing each other the whole time. We made our way, clumsily, up the stairs and to our bedroom. He laid me down on the bed and lay on top of me. He started kissing my neck.

"Everything seems to be going back to normal," Akito said, stepping out of the darkness in our room. We hadn't turned the lights on so, it was possible that we hadn't seen him at all.

Haru looked at Akito. "Leave, you son of a bitch," Haru said, getting off me. "Leave, or I'll throw you out."

I closed my eyes. This is all a bad dream, I thought.

"Open the window, Yuki," Haru said, not taking his eyes off Akito. I went over to the window and opened it. Haru grabbed Akito's arms and threw him out the window. "Leave my husband alone, Akito." Haru walked to me and wrapped his arms around me. "Just as Hatori leaves and your bruises are healed, Akito shows up. I'm sorry, Yuki."

I kissed his shoulder and wrapped my arms around him. "I just want to forget, Haru," I whispered.

"I can do that." Haru started kissing my neck again. "If that's what you want."