The idea came while I was in the shower, almost a year after our wedding. It had never come to my mind, what he told me. He had just graduated from college and started his career: teaching at a karate dojo. He reached his hand over the shower curtain and pulled it all the way open. I jumped up and slipped on the tub floor. Haru caught me before I fell.

"You're so adorable," he said, kissing my forehead and holding me. He stepped in the tub, already being naked, and closed the curtain. "How do you feel about moving to a house on that beach that I took you to on our honeymoon?"

"For the summer?" I asked. I didn't understand what he was talking about.

"For the rest of our lives," he said, holding me close, "where Akito can't get to you anymore."

"Let me guess, you've already bought it?" I asked him.

He laughed. "Am I that readable?" He kissed my neck. "Yes, I've already bought it. They know that we can't move in until after Ahiko's birthday."

I shuttered as he continuously kissed my neck. "Stop that," I muttered. "I have work today." He didn't stop. I pushed his head up and kissed him.

Haru stopped us by the main house before we went out for our anniversary dinner. Ayame got me a present, as he felt it necessary. It was a necklace with a locket on it. Inside the locket was a picture of Haru and me from our wedding, kissing, on one side and the other of the two of us, smiling at my graduation. I thanked Ayame. Hatori got me a necklace with a ring case one it to put my ring on when I needed to. Haru didn't get anything and I felt bad for him.

"Why didn't you get anything?" I asked as we were going to dinner.

"I asked them not to," he replied. "You deserve everything you can get. I got you something for our anniversary, too."

I smirked. "You're not supposed to say that kind of thing."

"Why? Are you going to get it out of me?"

"If we were at home for dinner, maybe, but I'll make you pay later." I gave him an evil glance.

Haru smiled. "Oh, wee," he muttered. We arrived at the restaurant and began dinner. After the main meal was over and we were waiting for dessert, Haru pulled out a small box and gave it to me. I opened it. Inside was a thin-banded ring with words engraved on it. "It's an anniversary band," he explained. "I had something engraved on it."

I put it on the same finger as my dessert arrived. The words said, "One year of life together Yuki." I reached in my pocket and took out a box. "I got you something, too."

"You didn't—"

"I know," I said, smiling, "but I did anyway." I placed the box next to his hand. He took the box up and opened it. It was a thin-banded ring, similar to mine. Instead, it had the words "My Protector" on it.

"Thank you, Yuki," he said. He put it over his wedding band. We smiled at one another. We returned home, having no problems. We "went to bed" early and slept in late the next morning.

Ahiko's birthday came around quickly. The party was at Tohru and Kyo's city apartment. She asked that Haru and Kyo didn't fight nor that I fought with Kyo. Kyo seemed to busy praising and spoiling his son to care that we were there. Tohru was excited to see us. She tried to hug me. Haru grabbed her arm.

"I'd like to keep him in human form today," Haru said, smiling. "He has a few promises to keep."

"Huh? Oh, sorry," Tohru said. She didn't understand what Haru was saying. I just blushed.

"Not in front of Ahiko," Kyo yelled.

"Don't fight," Tohru said, walking into her kitchen. Ahiko reached out towards me. He always wanted to be held by me whenever I was around. He enjoyed pulling on my hair. I picked him up and let him tug on my bangs.

Haru smiled at me. "You'd make a wonderful mother," Haru said. He held out one of his finger's to the baby Sohma and Ahiko took it in his hand. I glared at him. "Wouldn't Aunt Yuki make a wonderful mother?" Haru asked the baby.

"Haru cut it out or I will cut you off," I said, angrily.

"Have I offended you, Yuki?" Haru asked. He kissed my forehead and sat on the couch.

"Like I said, not in front of Ahiko," Kyo yelled again. He took Yuki from me and brought him into the kitchen.

Ayame was the next person to arrive, with his assistant, Mine. He was excited to see me and kept an arm around me. Finally, Haru pulled me away from my older brother and held me. Kyo got upset because he didn't even hug Tohru while in front of Ahiko. Haru didn't listen to Kyo and continued to hug me. Hatori arrived next and kept Ayame in check. Once everyone had gotten to the apartment, we all sat down and ate dinner. After the cake was devoured, Kyo opened Ahiko's presents for him. Tohru told me not to get him anything and Haru enforced it. He got a lot of little kid things and then was put to bed. Tohru remained in the room with him while we all sat in the living room. Ayame did most of the talking.

"Yuki, you never told me how your anniversary dinner went," Ayame asked.

"I shouldn't have to tell you anything," I told him.

"Oh, come on, Yuki," Ayame pleaded. "Give me all the details." I blushed.

"Ayame, leave him alone," Hatori said. "He obviously doesn't want to talk about it."

Ayame changed the subject to Ahiko and how much he has grown over the past year. "Are you and Haru going to adopt a kid, Yuki?" Ayame asked me. The question was so unexpected that I was caught off guard. "You would make wonderful parents, I think. If you do adopt, what would you name the child? I think you should name one after me that way you will always think of me and call me more often."

"They'll name their child whatever they want, Ayame," Hatori said.

"We actually haven't thought about that," Haru said, noticing my blush. He kissed my cheek. "When the time comes, you'll know."

"What did Akito say when he wasn't invited to the party, Kyo?" Shigure asked, changing the subject.

"He wasn't happy," Kyo said. "He's still upset that we wouldn't let him choose Ahiko for his successor."

"He wouldn't have been able to come, anyway, because he has a horrible fever," Hatori said. "He hasn't gone after Yuki in a while, either. I fear that his time is running out."

Tohru walked in, she looked sad because she heard the entire conversation. "I hope not," she said. "He can be so nice."

Haru, whose arm was around me, tightened his grip on my shoulder. "He can be," he agreed, "but also has done some not-so-agreeable things. I'm surprised he isn't in jail."

"I can understand why you're upset with him, Haru," Shigure said, "but he is the head of the family. We have to respect him no matter what he does. The police do seem to give him special... 'favors' as it seems. They didn't even keep him in the hospital long."

"If Yuki and Haru don't want to see Akito again, they don't have to," Hatori said. "Akito has been less than kind to both of them. I've seen the bruises."

Everyone remained silent for a little while. Haru declared we were returning home. The trip home was silent. Just before he turned the light out, he turned to me. "What would you say about adopting a child?" he asked me.

"I'd say it would have to be male," I said, sitting up. "It would be difficult to have a little girl running around."

Haru smiled and sat behind me. "After we move, can we adopt?" He kissed my shoulder and wrapped his arms around me.

I laughed. "Of course, Haru, I thought I made that obvious," I replied.

Haru kissed my neck. "I noticed you were caught by surprise when your brother brought it up."

I shuttered as he continued to kiss my neck. I didn't say anything. I yawned, being tired. Haru let me sleep early that night.

Kyo, Tohru, Hatori, and Ayame came over to help us move. I helped with the large stuff and then Tohru gave me Ahiko to entertain while they finished up. Haru didn't quite trust me with the small stuff or cleaning up the house. I didn't mind because Ahiko was fun to play with. He kept playing with my locket and looking at the pictures. He tried several times to chew it, but I wouldn't let him. He started crying towards the end and I went in search of Tohru.

"He's a beautiful baby," a voice said from the nearby trees. "Why don't you give him to me?" I turned around and saw Akito. He looked like he had walked all the way up here.

I held the screaming Ahiko away from Akito. "How about not? Why can't you just leave him alone?"

"You're moving, Yuki? Where are you moving? I think I deserve to know." Akito stumbled forward. He didn't seem himself. His eyes were unfocused or focused on something past me. He stumbled carelessly. "Take me with you." He reached his hand towards me and fell, flat on his face.

I didn't know what to do with him. "Tohru," I screamed, not taking my eyes off Akito. Tohru came running up to me and took Ahiko, who stopped screaming once placed in his mother's arms. "Go back to the house and tell Hatori to come over here." She nodded and ran back towards the house. A few moments later, Hatori ran over. He saw Akito and kneeled beside him.

"What happened?" Hatori asked me.

"He just showed up, stumbled, and fell," I explained. I continued to keep my eyes on him. "He wasn't focusing on anything. It was almost as though he had walked all the way here."

"He did," Hatori said. "Help me get him to my car." Hatori and I carried the unconscious Akito and laid him in the back seat of Hatori's car.

Haru came up behind me after Hatori closed the door. "What happened?" he asked me. "Did he—"

I shook my head. "Everyone's fine," I replied. "Are we almost done?"

"Yeah, go wait in the car," Haru said. "I'll be there in a moment."

I went over to the car and sat in the driver's seat. Haru joined me shortly afterwards. We started on our way to the new house. Haru led me to where our new home was. It was a large house. Hatori had taken his car home to take care of Akito. Ayame, who was driving the truck, pulled in front of the house. Kyo and Tohru parked behind my car. We got all the heavy stuff in the house. Tohru and Haru put all the little stuff in order. The three stayed the night and finished the next day.

Haru and I settled comfortably into our new home. Haru started work in a dojo close by and I started working on opening my own bookstore. I had studied business management in college. I had to work in a small bookstore while I was trying to buy the property. Haru snuck up on me to remind me of adopting a child. It was before I had fallen asleep that he brought it up.

"I couldn't find anyone who was putting a male child for adoption," Haru said, after we had already decided on it for sure. "We would have to have a female."

I smiled. "If it's okay with you, then it's fine with me," I replied. Haru had been dying for a child to spoil since Tohru had Ahiko. I think he just wanted a girl and said that he couldn't find a boy. "There will be a lot of issues, however. We wouldn't be able to hold her or anything."

"You'd have a lot of fun," Haru said. "Children seem to love you." He wrapped his arms around me.

The following month, the baby we were adopting was born: a healthy baby girl. We named her Saline. Time seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, Saline was five. She had short, boyish, black hair and wonderful black eyes. She knew that Haru and I changed into animals. She thought it was funny to change me into a cat all the time.

"I want a cat just like Father," she told Haru while she was holding me in my cat form. "Can I, Daddy? I want a cat."

Haru smiled and took me from her. "We'll go out this weekend, Saline, and get you one."

"Yay!" She jumped up and clapped her hands. "I can't wait!" She reached towards me. "Can I hold Father a little longer?"

"I have to get to work, Saline," I said. I jumped out of Haru's hands and changed back. I dressed quickly.

"When you get back from work then?" she asked me. She looked so cute pleading at me to let her hold me as a cat.

I put a hand on her head and smiled. "Why not?" I asked. I knelt down and kissed her forehead.

That weekend, Haru and I took Saline to the pet store to buy her a kitten. She was determined to find one the same color as me as a cat.

"I want a gray one," she yelled at the clerk.

"Saline, it's not nice to yell," I said, kneeling next to her. In the far corner of the cat cage, a small gray cat was curled in the corner. I pointed it out to Saline and was determined to have it.

"I'm sorry, but he's sick," the clerk said. "We're not selling him."

"But I want that one," she yelled.

"Sir, we'll take the sick cat," Haru said. "If she's not happy with him, we'll return him."

I stood up and reached for the gray cat. The other cats raced towards my hands as I picked up the cat. The cat purred, but didn't move much. "He's not sick," I said, "just young and weak."

Haru paid for the cat and I carried him home. Saline wanted desperately to hold him. I wouldn't let her because I wanted to get him fed and warm. The pour kitten was shivering.

"What do you want to name him, Saline?" Haru asked our daughter.

"Um… Tsuke," she said.

I looked at the cat, still in my arms. It looked back at me with purple eyes. "You're name is Tsuke now," I told him. Tsuke meowed and purred. "He likes it."

"I can't help but think of the rat problem Kyo and Tohru must be having," Haru said, laughing.

"Daddy, that's not nice," Saline said. "Why do you always fight with Uncle Kyo, Father?"

"It's a long story," I said. "I didn't used to be a cat, Saline. I used to be the rat."

"And I used to hate him," Haru said, giving me a side glance.

By the age of ten, Saline knew all the Sohma family. She started school and became very popular. She never had a complaint against her and never had problems with her schoolwork. Tsuke was allowed outside and it didn't take much to bring him back. Saline would just call his name and he'd run inside the house. Saline kept her hair short.

"I would like to meet Akito," Saline asked one night at dinner. She seemed very determined on the fact.

"I'll call Hatori tomorrow," Haru said. "We'll go this weekend."

I kept my eyes on my plate.

We drove down to the main house. Hatori wasn't happy that Saline had made the decision. Akito's health was failing and his time was running shorter and shorter. Hatori respected Saline's wish, however. We arrived after lunch and entered Akito's room.

"She's beautiful," Akito muttered. "How many boyfriends has she had so far?"

"She hasn't had any," Haru answered.

"I've heard stories about you, Akito," Saline said. She sounded so much older than she really was. "You raped Father and beat up Daddy. Why?"

Akito seemed taken aback. "I... was jealous of Yuki," Akito responded, talking more to me. "I had abused your father before he went to high school and met Tohru. No matter what I did, I couldn't get him to come back to me. He had been happy and I didn't like it. I was jealous that he could be happy and I couldn't." He looked at Saline and smiled weakly. "It was nice to meet you, Saline. I hope you and Haru will excuse me a moment." I nodded to my husband and he took Saline out of the room. "Come here, Yuki." I hesitated, but stood and walked to him. "I'm dying, Yuki. Hatori says I won't last another week. I think he's wrong. I don't think I'll last the hour."

I was shocked. "Why do you think that?" Why do I care?

"I feel weaker than normal," he mumbled. "I want you to know that I'm sorry. I regret everything I did to you. Will you forgive me?"

"I shouldn't," I said, "but I do." My eyes watered.

"Don't cry for me. I don't deserve it."

"Everyone deserves to have someone to cry for them. Tohru will cry for you, too, she told you that."

"She is a wonderful woman," Akito said. "I am no one, Yuki. I am dying. Save your tears for those who you love." He closed his eyes and his head went limp.

Tears slid down my face. I didn't know what to feel, but I still cried. I stood up and left. Hatori walked into the room. Haru put his arms around me and I cried into his shoulder. Saline's hand slipped into mine. Hatori walked back out.

"He's gone," Hatori said.

Saline cried. "I want to go home, Daddy," she whimpered.

Haru let go of me. I knelt down in front of Saline. "You want to carry me home?" I asked her. She nodded, rubbing her eye. I wrapped my arms around her and changed into a cat. Haru gathered my clothes and my ten-year-old daughter carried me home.