The FURUBA ROUND ROBIN PROJECT
Chapter 22: A Curse in a Blessing
by Hello Kat
edited by: Adria

Being in that sterile room proved suffocating to the two forlorn figures, so they promptly made their way to the top of the roof—one in a wheelchair, the other standing off to the side. Puffing away in silence, they watched the view of the late afternoon sun against the horizon until one broke the melancholy mood by asking a single question.

"Why did you bring it up?" asked the dragon quietly to the dog.

Shigure still remained silent while letting the soothing effects of the nicotine calm his frayed nerves. 'The balm of my life is too addictive.' Clearing his throat, Shigure turned to Hatori and remarked, "Only because it's the truth. Did you honestly think that the rest of the story wasn't true? I mean, really, the fact that we can turn into animals should have given you a clue that just maybe the rest of what happened in that story could possibly be true as well."

"That is not what I meant and you know it," countered the doctor testily. "Ren is not known to be in her right mind most of the time. My only concern is that she may have embellished the truth with some of her own twisted ideas of what the truth is."

"Perhaps, but there is truth in it just the same," replied the writer tersely. Standing up to walk to the ledge of the building, he leaned over the railing of the roof, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves further. "Look, it's just that I went through a lot of trouble to get the damn rat out of that house. Hell, it's not easy keeping Akito happy when it's supposed to be the rat's place to do that. I swear, once I'm done getting what I need from the kid, he's going straight back to that beloved 'god' and taking his place back. By then, I will have gotten what I needed in order to be out from under Akito's heel."

"You shouldn't talk like that, Shigure," reprimanded Hatori. "Whatever inconvenience you have to go through to tend to Yuki is not my concern. But you will take care of him for as long as I see fit. You may have everyone believing that you agreed to take in Yuki only because someone called you 'Sensei', but don't you ever forget your place with me. And I don't recall ever telling you that you'll be returning Yuki—we have an agreement and you will stick to it. It's only by my good graces that you can actually benefit from having Yuki with you."

"Well, aren't we just a tad upset?" asked Shigure with an amused air.

"I'm merely reminding you, that is all. You do tend to run off in your little world while forgetting vital details." Letting out a deep breath, he stamped out his cigarette and walked over to Shigure. Giving him a look-over, he leaned against the railing as well, seemingly too tired to carry on the conversation further.

"Hey, look, I'm sorry. My nerves are just really shot right now…I know our agreement. I'm not going back on it," Shigure said quietly. "Still, even you have to admit that what's going on right now goes hand in hand with the other half of the story of the banquet that Ren told us about. If that's the case, all our hard work will be shot to hell. Not to mention we'll have one mightily pissed off 'god' on our hands. I don't think any 'sessions' with Akito will appease the rage this time around."

Hatori turned to him with a deadpan look. "Point taken. That's why now isn't the time to be falling apart. Yuki will remain in your care, and you will continue to show your 'devotion' to our 'god'."

"Always so serious. Fine, I can take a hint." With a wry grin, Shigure turned to his long time friend and noted the fine stress lines marring his brow. 'Hm, I guess I did push him too far this time. I suppose it's understandable…he's been the one taking care of me from the looks of things. Now Yuki and Kyo are in the same boat…it's really not looking good.'

Under Shigure's scrutiny, Hatori finally melted and allowed his strong stance fade into a tired slouch. He rubbed his hands furiously across his face, hoping to alleviate the stress lines he knew to be there. "Let's just get back to the real issue here. You claim that there's something out there taking possession of the Jyuunishi. This in and of itself is impossible considering we already have a vengeful spirit invading our bodies. You know that, right?"

"Yep, but it's happening. I'm telling you, that little side story of Ren's sure makes a lot of sense right about now." Shigure then stood closer to Hatori, keeping his voice low. "Come on, Haa-san, even you have to admit that the logic is there."

The doctor couldn't bear to look into the dog's piercing gaze. He looked over the railing and stared out at the horizon, slowly recalling that story that Ren had told Hatori and Shigure many years before…

—xxx—

"Come children, sit here in the garden with me. There's a secret that I'd like the two of you to know…but only you two."

Hatori and Shigure were all too eager to learn another secret of the family. It was so much fun to play the role of an adult and be allowed to listen to secrets.

"Good. Now listen carefully. You do remember our story of the family, the one of the Jyuunishi banquet and what transpired? Of course you do. Now remember what I'm about to tell you, okay?"

"We promise," they quietly replied in unison.

"Good, very good. Now, it seems that after the banquet was over, the story continues. It's very sad though, so don't cry too much, okay?"

"Oh, okay," agreed the duo with slight wariness.

"Well, you see, 'god's' blessing was that the rat was now bonded to 'god's' presence in body and soul for all time since the rat was first in line. It was also 'god's' wish that the remaining members at the party be bound to the rat. That way, 'god' could always take care of them all because 'god' would always have the rat. You see, the rat would represent them all because they were all bound to the rat. That way they all shared in 'god's' good graces."

"But as you know, the cat was left out of the dinner. The cat was terribly upset that the rat had betrayed him so he made a bargain with someone else. The cat sold his soul to this being and agreed to do his bidding if only to turn 'god's' blessing into a curse. Since he wanted 'god's' favor for his own, this other being found this to be to his advantage. The being then made parchments for each Jyuunishi spirit, twelve in all, with scriptures that no one save the rat can read and promptly took 'payment' from the cat to finish the curse. Well, as you can tell, that curse has certainly plagued the members to this day. Now remember this part because it's really important."

"Hai, Ren-sama," they both complied quietly.

"You two are such angels. You see, it's important to keep the rat in check now because just as being in 'god's' presence is a part of the bond, so is the bond between the members of the Jyuunishi with the rat. The rat has to be kept away from the prying eyes of the world because he's now the weakness within the Jyuunishi. You see, if the blood of the rat is spilt along with the blood of each member onto his or her corresponding parchments, then the scriptures become visible to the naked eye. Once they are completely restored, then the 11 remaining members forfeit their place to this new being. The rat's parchment will be the last one and when this is done, this new being will then be bound to the rat, and therefore, receive 'god's' blessing in it's true form once the scriptures are read on the eve of the New Year."

"Wow. What's 'god's' true blessing, Ren-sama," asked the young pup earnestly.

"I'm afraid only 'god' and the rat along with this new being will ever find out. That's why I want you to remember, so that doesn't happen. That's why it's better to keep the rat locked away for your protection. The Jyuunishi's weakness should never be made known among the family's enemies...death will befall us all if that were to occur. Remember little ones…"

—xxx—

"And we certainly followed every word down to the letter, ne Haa-san?" was Shigure's sarcastic remark from out of the blue.

Jerking himself awake from the memories of the past, Hatori decided to ignore the barb. "I don't care…I'm not going to have Yuki locked up because of some story that Ren came up with. Does it make sense that we are the only ones to know about this alternate ending to the Jyuunishi story?"

"No, I guess not, but then again, nothing in this family makes much sense," wryly replied the writer. "Well, I can see why Ren gives me the look of death sometimes. Really, Haa-san, why do I always have to take the hits because of your compassion to the rat?"

"You act like you don't deserve it. Don't tell me you started believing your own lies that you actually care about the family…" retorted Hatori as pointedly gazed into Shigure's face.

"Hey, I resent that," Shigure shot back as he leaned on his heels. Blowing out a long stream of smoke, he relented, "Still, blood is blood after all… I'll just have to keep taking the brunt of the consequences for having a rat in my home."

"Shigure, don't push me," replied Hatori coldly.

"Fine, fine, I meant I'll take care of Yuki 'till the end of my days," the writer said as he gestured to the doctor to calm down. "Really, what's in a name…Yuki is a rat. I only speak the truth."

"You only point out a fact, not the truth. There is only one truth—that we're all human despite the spirits form that we carry within us," shot back the doctor vehemently. "You should know better than to demean another Jyuunishi member by calling them by their cursed name. Or don't tell me you're still being petty and jealous of Yuki's station compared to your own? I thought you gave that up ages ago."

(Sigh) "You really know how to make me feel like a real brat, you know that Haa-san?" Shigure remarked bemusedly. "Ah well, I know when I'm licked…you would make a remarkable enemy, Haa-san."

It took all of Hatori's maturity not to roll his eyes to that so-called compliment. "I'm only here to keep you grounded. Now to get back to the real matter at hand…"

"Yes, yes, of course—to our true enemy. Even I know you can't have too many players in the playing field. I despise competition for what's mine, and I will find out who the hell is trying to move in on what's mine." Shigure turned pensive for a moment as he tried to recall further details from the story Ren had told them, this being the only real clue to their problems. "Well, first thing's first. Yuki needs constant surveillance, or else we can all kiss our collective asses good-bye. Good thing he's unconscious in the room downstairs."

Hatori once again looked down at his patient with an annoyed air. "I don't actually call being too ill to move or respond to verbal inquiries a good thing, Shigure. However, it's important that he stay safe and out of reach. I'll have to think of a damn good excuse for Ayame…he's been wanting to visit you for quite some time, and now if he were to find out about Yuki, there's no stopping him."

"Good point. Aya will move heaven and earth to get to Yuki. He just doesn't understand the meaning of the word 'impossible'. That could prove to be a benefit when the time comes…" pondered the writer out loud.

The doctor nodded in agreement. "Fine. Another thing…it seems that I can detect this 'enemy' of ours. But something tells me that there's more than one enemy to look out for. Whoever or whatever they are, we can't allow them access to Yuki or Akito. We also need to gather all the Jyuunishi, and keep them under house arrest until we can find these intruders. What do you know of these people?"

"I know they can suck you dry of your energy, but still keep you alive. And they can possess another person's body to get what they need. All we really need to look out for is to find someone close to the family that's acting strange." Tapping his chin as he thought that over, he asked Hatori, "Any clues as to who?"

"We can start by asking Hatsuharu. He should know something, even though he did go Black on the intruder. He may have forgotten whom it was that did this to Yuki and Kyo, but he should know something, anything. Honda-kun's kidnapping could also give us a clue as to what went on earlier." Hatori went back to leaning against the railing, thoughts swirling in his mind like a storm while he got another cigarette out of his pocket.

Shigure watched his old friend light up the slender tube and drift back to his own thoughts. Nudging his arm a little, he quietly remarked, "Hey, we'll find an answer to our problems. Their goal is to get to us, not Tohru-kun. So don't worry—I'll do all that I can to be sure that Yuki and Akito remain safe. I did swear that to you years ago, ne?"

Wordlessly the doctor continued to stare out at the darkening sky all around, slowly breathing in the addictive fumes of his cigarette. He took small comfort in the writer's assurances when so much was at stake. 'Maybe so, Shigure,' he thought, 'but ultimately it's my responsibility. And I can't let anyone harm what's under my care…no matter who they are.'

As Hatori's thoughts turned one way, another pair of individuals that shared the same problems with Shigure and Hatori also strove to accomplish their goals, although it was in complete opposite of what the Jyuunishi members were thinking of.

"Did you at least grab all of the parchments before you ran out of the building?" asked Hiroga bitterly. "It's not like we'll be able to go back to that place once this all hits the fan, you know."

"I got them all taken care of—they're in a good hiding place now. No one could keep up with me while I took off with what's rightfully ours. And that Saori woman is taken care of, too. She always got on my damn nerves," remarked Toshizo with a sinister smirk.

"I agree. Now all we need is to get the main ingredient, which should be just around this corner," continued Hiroga as they walked down the halls of the hospital. "Good thing, too. This stupid airhead is beating down my door to try to get back her body. I need a boost."

"Yeah, well, don't overdo it, hot-shot. We need the rat alive and well if we're going to get through this mess," warned Toshizo. "Why can't we wait until nightfall? We'd be less conspicuous than walking right in there in broad daylight."

"By then they'll have the rat inaccessible. We need to move now. Shush, we're just about there. It's a good thing this bubble-brain looks so innocent," Hiroga snickered. He batted his eyes to Toshizo and sweetly remarked, "I'm just a little lady that's bringing flowers to a sick friend accompanied by her cute brother."

"Quit the role-playing. It's creepy with you doing it," replied Toshizo with disgust. "Let's just get in, get out…don't dawdle. You've spent way too much time moonlighting with these freaks."

Hiroga glared coldly at the youngster, clear repulse at the remark evident in his eyes. "Don't push it, Toshizo. I'll do anything I damn well plea—"

His remark was cut short as two doctors walked out of a doorway that led to the rooms the Sohma members were currently housed in. So as not to draw attention to his presence, he calmly walked around the pair, who were conversing animatedly with each other. Glad to be past this obstacle, he all but dashed to the doors with Toshizo close on his heels.

"Help me find the room number," ordered Hiroga as he started looking down one side of the hallway.

"Yes, oh great one," mocked Toshizo.

Hiroga quickly and quietly scanned the rooms. 'Well, I see the damn cat. I should say hello, but alas, my schedule doesn't allow this. Maybe next time…' Hiroga smiled with Tohru's lips at the possibilities.

"Yo, master, come over here." Toshizo then disappeared into another wing that lead down another hallway with one door towards the end. "I'm pretty sure the little rodent is in there…his aura is strong even now."

"Excellent. Stay put and keep on the lookout for his damn relatives. They should be coming around pretty soon." With that said, Hiroga went down the corridor and vanished through the door at the end of the hallway.

"Perfect. Reduced from gopher to guard dog…what's next?" Toshizo bitterly remarked to himself as he leaned against the wall while keeping his gaze trained at the other set of doors that lead to the nurse's station they had passed earlier.

Quiet footsteps echoed in the much larger suite that was bestowed on the Nezumi of the Jyuunishi. The only other sounds in the room were the raspy breathing of the patient in the bed and the intermittent beeps of the monitors that were hooked up to said patient.

'Figures they'd go all out to protect their little rat,' thought Hiroga sardonically.

'Please, Hiroga-san, don't hurt him anymore!' screamed Tohru from the dark corner of Hiroga's mind in while sobbing hysterically. 'Please, leave him alone…he's very sick. If you take him with you, he could get worse. Please leave him alone!'

'DAMMIT, SHUT UP!' Hiroga mentally yelled back with a vengeance. 'Stupid little girl…you don't know how long I've waited for this moment. I'm not stopping now that I'm so close!'

'But Yuki-kun…' she pleaded before being cut off once more.

'I said SHUT UP! The damn rat needs to learn his place anyway. So just sit back and suck it up!' he cried out in anguish to himself as he started to feel his control over her body lessen considerably.

'No, I'm sorry but I won't let you hurt him anymore!' struggled Tohru with control over her body once more. The twitches in her arms and hands were slowly dragging the body towards the emergency switch that would alert the nurse's station. She would have made it if not for the soft, forlorn voice that called out to her with such frailty.

"Hon…Honda-sa…"

Both opponents in the fleshly vessel were captivated by the voice full of melancholy. It actually stirred something in their vessel's heart…a flutter one would call it. Turning in unison, they gazed at the pitiful person that was currently the object of their argument.

Yuki was lost in such dark depths that he found it to be smothering. It was merely voices that he could grasp every once in a while. He couldn't exactly hear what it was they said, but he could tell that they were voices. Though his real concern was actually trying to take a deep breath. It was near impossible to get rid of the vise-like feeling that seemed to be permanent in his chest. He wondered vaguely if maybe he was in his nezumi form…it would certainly explain why he felt like the whole world was on his chest.

Then just as suddenly he felt the presence of another in this dark realm, this presence radiating so much sadness it was heart wrenching. He tried valiantly to call out to this presence, but since the useful art of speech was currently not at his disposal, Yuki settled for just stumbling in the dark. Somehow he did manage to reach this presence, only to be shocked to sense that this presence belonged to someone who was very dear to him.

"Honda-san…" Yuki clearly but with much effort called out. Prying his lids open, he was able to make out fuzzy pictures of someone standing over him. He honestly didn't know where he was or why he was in the condition he was in, but all that mattered to him at that moment was to see why Tohru was so sad. Grimacing at the tightness of his throat and parched mouth, he repeated, "Honda-san…daijoubu?"

Tohru and Hiroga were struck speechless at Yuki's response. Both concluded and agreed wholeheartedly at how strong the nezumi was to even be able to speak in his condition. They gazed into the eyes of the ill teen, startled even further to see his heavily-lidded eyes pulse with life, almost as if Yuki was struggling against a force to keep him unconscious.

'Damn, you can feel the power of the bond from the nezumi just by looking at those eyes,' thought in amazement Hiroga. He then felt the flutters of his body's heart increase in tempo…be it from fear or elation, he couldn't tell. Still, with full access to emotions not his own, he couldn't help but feel something very unsettling. If he thought about it long enough, he'd recognize this feeling as something he hadn't felt in a long time.

The unmistakable and truly unwanted emotion was guilt.

'No, no, no, NO! Damn these emotions! I can't back down now…I won't give this up now that I'm so close!' Hiroga seethed in dark rage. Turning to Tohru, who was still struck speechless as she gazed at the nezumi, he mentally shoved her away once more to the dark corners of the mind. 'Damn you, bitch, this is all your fault! I'm not giving up my chance to win my treasure from this

cursed family. I'll do whatever it takes to get it…I swear it!'

'NO!' screeched Tohru from her lowly position as she fought back desperately. 'I won't help you hurt the Sohmas…I won't let you hurt Yuki-kun anymore!'

Thus the battle over the fleshly vessel commenced once more. Each side was adamant to get his or her way, though, so inevitably the mental scuffle between the opponents soon manifested itself physically. Tohru's body was wrenched from side to side, her head in her hands as she struggled to move towards the emergency button once more, only to be pulled back by Hiroga's own control over her body.

Yuki could finally make out the blurry images that swirled in his vision since regaining consciousness. It was Tohru…but not. It was then that all that had happened to him before came back to him. Doused in this cruel reality, he struggled to reach out with his senses to see exactly where he was. He could feel the tubes and needles in his arms and hands…it seems that he had a breathing mask attached to his face as well. Moving his arms proved difficult but not impossible, although his legs were a whole different story. Grunting low, he propped himself on his elbows and lifted his head to the thrashing girl. His head bobbed from side to side before he could steady it somewhat to look hard at Tohru.

Wincing at the pain his body was screaming from every nerve cell, he called out, "Hi-Hiroga…"

The external struggle for Tohru's body ceased for the moment as both Tohru and Hirogra heard Yuki speak out once more. They realized then that the sick patient was wavering in his posture in the bed, eyeing them carefully with his unflinching gaze. His breathing was still shallow, but his face gave away all the determination the youth still possessed to get his point across.

"Hiroga…let her go. It's me you're after, so let her be," replied Yuki firmly.

Tohru was breathless for a moment, too glad to see Yuki figure out what was really going on. 'But still, he's not well. He shouldn't be overexerting himself.' With that in mind, she immediately reached out to press the button.

Moments before the delicate digit reached the infamous button, Hiroga cried out, 'Press it, bitch, and I swear this rat will be dead before one nurse steps foot into this room. You know I can suck him dry of his energy here and now, and I guarantee you there's no way he'll wake up from his coma this time around.'

'You…you wouldn't!' stammered Tohru in her reply. 'You couldn't have him dead…it'll ruin all your plans…'

'Silence! I can and I will! Nothing was ever really stated that the rat has to be cognizant during the rituals.' Sensing the heavy silence from the girl, Hiroga smirked in triumph. 'Yes, now you understand. I'd rather not take that chance, but I will if I'm forced to. So stay out of my way!'

Happy to sense her reluctant defeat and subsequent absence in the more prominent part of her mind, he carefully turned to face the object of his desires… or at least, the conduit that would guide him to that ultimate goal.

"My very precious Yuki. What a nice surprise it is that you could join the land of the living so soon. It's true what is said about the rat…the strength of 'god's' most blessed one combined with the strength from the bonds with the other Jyuunishi is unequal to anything, second only to 'god's' bond with you. How it must feel to be you…" Hiroga trailed off enviously.

"I said let Honda-san go. She's nothing to you or to our family's curse," Yuki reinforced his point once again.

Ignoring the demand from the nezumi, Hiroga continued in his musings, "To be you. Hm, that does sound enticing…to have all that control, and you don't even use one ounce of it. What a waste. What I would have given to feel all that and have use of it. (Sigh) Even when I was in your body, I could only feel a tingle of what it must be like. I guess I'll just have to see this project through to the end in order to find out what it must really be like to have 'god's' favor."

"LET HER GO!" bellowed Yuki, which he immediately regretted upon feeling the vise in his chest tighten even more so than before. Panting heavily, he nearly keeled over his bed when he felt Tohru's arms steady him and lay him back in bed.

"Tsk, tsk, such a temper," chided Hiroga as he further tucked in the nezumi into the covers. At such close proximity he couldn't help but gaze longingly at Yuki's face which despite the sickly pallor, he still looked beautiful. He softly traced all of Yuki's best features—his cheeks, lips, eyes—all the while speaking quietly. "You know, it is a marvel of creation to look like you do. Seriously, have you ever considered modeling as your career? You'd make even girl models jealous of your looks."

It took all of Yuki's waning will power to keep his determined gaze on Hiroga. No matter how repulsed he felt with Hiroga's 'caresses', he knew he had to be strong for Tohru's sake. 'I can't let him take advantage of her anymore. I have to figure something out…but what? God, where the hell is everybody!'

'Little rodent still fighting me…how cute.' With a sarcastic smirk, Hiroga leaned over Yuki even closer than before, the tips of their noses barely touching. "I swear that anybody can very well lose themselves in your large eyes. Did anybody ever tell you that you could pass yourself off as a girl? Really, you do…you should try wearing the part. I'm sure no one would be able to tell the difference."

"Is this all you wanted to do? Bait me into some sick argument of yours?" Yuki seethed in barely concealed anger.

Grinning widely, Hiroga finally saw that Yuki's indomitable spirit was very much intact. 'Good, that's exactly what I'm needing, little nezumi.' Giving him a quick peck on the nose and all the while removing the medical instruments from his arms, Hiroga remarked silkily, "There is so much more in store for us, my little rat. But unfortunately it can't be done here. Why don't I take you somewhere more suitable to our needs, hm? We can then continue our…discussion there."

Yuki closed his eyes tightly at this point and turned his head away from Hiroga's almost leering gaze…and coming from Tohru's own face, it really made him uneasy. He let his arms lay like heavy lead at his sides, truly feeling too tired to move even a finger. He was also getting tired of the double-entendre that Hiroga was plying him with, and he could only pray that somehow his family would get wind of all that was happening. If only to retrieve Tohru and free her—that's all that mattered to him at the moment. Let his curse be his alone…

Hiroga smiled evilly at the reluctant mouse. Sensing the mouse's air of defeat, he inwardly jumped for joy and quickly scooped the ill youth into his arms. Letting out a breath in blessed triumph of his small victory, Hiroga nuzzled his nose into the Yuki's hair, breathing in deeply the fresh scent that lingered in the silky hair. 'Damn, can't this guy ever have one bad flaw? Not that I mind at the moment…'

In a poof of smoke, the door opened to reveal a highly agitated youth. Hiroga turned to the lad with a knowing smirk.

"Are you quite done, now, Hiroga-kun?" asked Toshizo irately. "We do have a whole slew of Jyuunishi members that are on their way here. The little mouse certainly has some pull to be able to lure the others here unconsciously. The hallway is practically teeming with his aura."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you loud and clear. Help me with his hospital gown. Also bring that blanket with you," ordered Hiroga brusquely. "We can't have our cherished nezumi getting a cold. He's much too sick right now to chance it."

Rolling his eyes at his companion's definition of caring, Toshizo hurriedly grabbed the items and stuffed them into a school bag he had 'borrowed' from one of the kids lingering in the hallways. He finally turned to the girl…guy in the room.

'This is getting really confusing,' he mused to himself. He did note, however, that what struck him as odd (as if the whole situation wasn't classified odd already) was Hiroga's expression on his/her face. 'Damn the confusion. Still, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he's starting to get too close to the rat. Hell, it figures this might happen…the body he's inhabited has strong ties to the nezumi. No will power in the world can suppress the emotions of the one they possess. He'll either need to finish this job soon or find a new body.'

"Come on, Hiroga-kun. There's a back way we can go through to avoid the crowds," called out Toshizo from his position at the doorway.

Nodding in consent, Hiroga smiled down at his key to all the glory that he'd be taking from the Sohmas. Already Yuki was slipping into unconsciousness once more, no doubt due to his overexertion just now. Tucking the frail diminutive body of the rat against his chest while using the flowers as concealment, Hiroga marched calmly after Toshizo down the corridors and out of sight.

'Let us start our new journey together, my little nezumi. Soon you will take your place as the traitor that your spirit was branded to be by taking everything away from your family…even 'god' will reject you.'

And just as these two individuals made their way across town to finish what was started years ago, the original two that were brainstorming earlier on the hospital roof finally came down to check on their ill relatives.

"Come on, Haa-san, we need a better plan than just sit around and wait until the leech of a ghost decides to make his move," replied Shigure impatiently.

"We're not just sitting around. Investigating involves gathering information on your enemy before you make a move—it'll do no one any good if we jump into a situation we know nothing about," explained Hatori for the umpteenth time. "What we have now is not enough. Let's check on Yuki and Kyo first before contacting Hatsuharu…"

"Sohma-sensei!" cried out one of the nurses.

Hatori's blood chilled at the immediate sense of foreboding upon hearing his name called out like that. "Yes, what is it?"

"Your patient…I mean, your relative… (Huff, huff) He's…I can't…find…" the nurse stammered in shock.

Blood freezing now in his veins, Hatori rushed out to the corridor assigned to his family should they fall ill and require the confinement of a hospital.

"Hey, Haa-san, wait up!" cried out Shigure as he wheeled his way past the astonished glances of bystanders and doctors alike.

Hatori barely registered any of his surroundings, let alone a patient of his that tried to keep up in his wheelchair with the doctor's long strides. The thought of the mere possibility that anyone of his relatives would turn up missing was too much to comprehend at the moment.

'No, please no,' he pleaded within himself over and over, praying that somehow it would come true. However, the Sohma family rarely got a break and now would be no different it seemed…

"Kyo, Yuki!" cried out Hatori as he lunged himself into the first room down the restricted corridor. He saw with relief that Kyo still remained much the same as before. However, a flurry of activity coming from Yuki's suite brought his heart to a standstill.

"No…" he breathed out quietly. It seemed like everything around him slowed to a crawl…funny how that is possible in a moment of crisis. Walking, breathing, walking some more, breathing a little more…such processes were slow-going in his mind. Yet once he reached the doorway of Yuki's room, his whole world truly did come crashing down.

Hearing the commotion of doctors and nurses babbling about a possible kidnapping of a Sohma under their care, Shigure wheeled himself around the bumbling idiots, careful to not knock into anyone he'd rather just avoid for the moment. Finally reaching the wing where he was housed in, he suddenly was jerked to attention at hearing a distinct crash coming from Yuki's room. Taking a quick peek into Kyo's room and seeing that all was well there, he wheeled himself over to Yuki's room. The sight that beheld him truly reminded Shigure as to why no Jyuunishi ever dared to truly raise the ire of 'god'…

"One last time. And it had better not be an 'I don't know'. Where the HELL is my YUKI!"

'Dear me, now hell really has let loose.' Clearing his throat, Shigure replied calmly, "Why, Akito, your presence is always refreshing."

Almost as if 'god's' calling could be heard across miles, the nezumi finally awoke in a stupor. Once again deprived the use of his vocal chords along with an almost swollen tongue, Yuki tried opening his very heavy lids so that his eyes could at least see what's around him.

'It smells…musty, old…like old wood. Still, I feel like I'm on a futon…that's what smells musty.' Satisfied with his initial findings, he next decided to see how much of a use his body proved to be. 'Move legs…nope. Toes…nope. Fingers, hands…no to both. I can shrug my shoulders, though. Thank heaven for small favors.'

Breathing as deeply as he could, which wasn't much considering the now constant vise on his lungs, he slowly lifted each lid, first the right, then the left. Finally he blinked them both to open fully at the same time. Seeing very blurry, he could make out a dark ceiling and faint rays of what he thought was light dancing across the creaking boards.

'Boards? Old wood…maybe a cabin…maybe,' he thought while gazing downward. Finding the old ritual of thinking too much to handle at the moment, Yuki opted to just close his eyes momentarily. Of course, it then struck him that he was now in his human form once more. What was his clue? The nice draft underneath the hospital blanket that was no doubt 'borrowed' gave him all the evidence he needed to confirm his current state of undress.

As if reading his thoughts, he heard the melodious voice of the sinister Hiroga call out to him close by. "I'd get you real clothes, but then again, leaving you with no decent clothing can serve as an insurance that you won't try to escape me. Your hospital gown will have to do."

Gritting his teeth in quiet rage, Yuki turned his head ever so slightly and just as gradually opened his eyes to glare at his warden in this cell. "You'll never get what you're searching for…that's a promise."

Smirking at that response, Hiroga replied, "You really are in no position to make declarations, you know. Your stubbornness is quite useful for me." He stretched his borrowed body sinuously against the wall he was leaning against. "Now, get some rest. You have a lot ahead of you…these scriptures all around us will be needing your helping hand."

Finally realizing what he meant by that, Yuki looked over at the walls around them. Sure enough, they were all neatly displayed, waiting to be viewed like in an art museum. Yuki could only shudder at the idea that he would be used to strike against his family…to become the traitor the old story made him out to be.

'What can I do? What? I need to think…' was Yuki's last trailing thought as he slipped back into oblivion, desperately trying to cling to some hope.

'Sleep, little rat, take a nice long sleep. It'll all be over with soon…very soon.'

Author's Blurbs (05-18-05):

Ohayo minna!

Finally done after much delay. It's late, and I'm dead tired. I tried catching all my mistakes…if you find some, let me know por favor!

As you can tell, I made Hatori a little more forceful in his dealings with Shigure. Since Shigure was already a nervous wreck, I had Hatori take control of the situation and also take control of how Shigure behaved. Seeing how the manga currently has Shigure in a not-so-friendly light, I tried to convey that sense in this chapter. Also, I tried bringing in some small elements of Yuki's treatment early in life and how maybe Hatori was an influence in getting Yuki out of the house. Too OOC? Maybe, maybe not. Judges, please?

I left plenty of openings for anyone to pick up on. You can continue with Shigure/Hatori/Akito confrontation or Yuki's dilemma with Hiroga or try going outside the bubble and bring back the other relatives. Take your pick—my only challenge is that the story moves forward! And just to shake things up, have Ayame make some kind of appearance!

This is H'kat, signing off!