Author's note: Eh heh heh… I guess I should have updated a while ago. I am SOOOOO sorry for not updating; I feel so guilty ;; please forgive me. I've been so busy but I did this anyway!! -Red Tail

Freedom in a Cage

"W…What…?" Hatori questioned in mild shock that grew as the words slowly sank in. What Kyou wanted him to do… could never be reversed. Could never be undone. In fact, he had never before repressed memories of any of the Zodiac members, only human'' outside of the family.

"I want you to erase my memories." He said, more strongly this time as he clenched his fists at his side, waiting for the answer.

"No."

Kyou closed his eyes, his entire body rigid and tense. "…Why?" He whispered, the strength leaving him. He didn't want to live this cruel life anymore. Everything looked coldly on him.

Kyou… He clenched his eyes closed. "Why?" He shouted, voice hoarse and riddled with tears that he refused to shed. He had at least that little glimmer of pride. He would have laughed at himself; the irony to those words at this situation. He was practically relying on Hatori to stand, too much blood lost from his body.

"What do you mean 'why'?" Hatori questioned behind a cool façade. Underneath his mask, he was seething with anger. He wanted to slap the young teen, wanted to comfort him, he wanted… he didn't know. These mixed emotions would drive him insane!

Kyou looked up, the glimmer of fire in his crimson eyes dulled and extinguished now. "Why?" He whimpered and whispered at the same time, collapsing to his knees despite Hatori's firm grasp on his arms.

Why did he want Hatori to erase his memories; why did he want her to leave him; why this had happened to him? Why was his life so fucked up? So insanely fucked up? He was so lost in questioned not answered that he didn't even notice that he was sobbing, his fingers digging into the earth.

"Kyou…pull yourself together." Hatori said, kneeling as he grasped onto the quivering teen's shoulders. His frail body was ghostly colored; thin also as if he hadn't been fed wherever he had been. He looked like glass; as if he might break if the wind blew too hard.

"Don't touch me!" He screamed, pulling away with surprising speed. His fingers shook as he dug his nails into where Hatori's hands had been, acting as if acid was on his skin. Hatori stared, eyes slightly widened. "Don't look at me!" Kyou sobbed, hugging himself as he tried to get away from Hatori's stony gaze.

"Kyou…" Hatori breathed, sliding up from his sitting position in the dirt and taking a small step towards the broken cat.

"Get away!" Kyou stood up, taking a few steps back, stumbling slightly as some bloody stains appeared on the mud. He pivoted on his heel, turning away as he rushed for the gates that would et him leave. He was running away, again. And he would keep on running until the day he died.

"Kyou!" Hatori shouted, rushing after his should-be patient. Wind rushed at him, pushing his cry back into his mouth. He looked towards the darkening sky. A storm was brewing; that wasn't good at all. He looked back at the distant form of the running, or more like stumbling, Zodiac member.

"I had better call the others." He said to himself, turning on his heel and rushing back indoors to call Shigure and the others. Hating it as much as he could, he had to call for help. He couldn't handle this on his own.

"You keep on running Kyou." He whispered into the receiver, which was still ringing on the other line. Thunder responded to this statement, the slow pitter-patter of the raindrops beginning to fall echoed in the silent room.

"Hello?" The person, Tohru, on the other line questioned as the phone was picked up.

"Get me Shigue please, Miss Honda. This is Hatori." He said in a grave voice.

TBC