Greetings, all! I am back from vacation and ready to bring you your next chapter! Yeah! Here I go!

Unleashing the Monster

Chapter 7 – Decisions

"What!" Akito hissed, spinning around to glare angrily at his rooster.

"Yes. Yuki was there." Kureno answered, bowing his head. "He was talking to Kyo. I saw him."

Akito stared at him for a moment before slamming his fist off the wall. "Dammit! What the hell do they thing they're doing. That makes five of them. Five of my zodiac members have visited without my permission!" He ticked them off on his fingers. "Haru, then Momiji, then Kagura, then Hatori….ok, I told Hatori to go….but now my Yuki has disobeyed me! Why! Why are the so disobedient! What is making everyone-" His eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously. "It's her, isn't it. It's that stupid, interfering, little bitch."

He back turned to Kureno. "Why? What is it about her that effects you all so much? Tell me!"

Kureno tentatively raised his head. His eyes were glowing with admiration. "Miss Honda … she … she's special. She accepts us for who we are, no questions asked." A far-off look passed across his face. "She makes us feel … normal."

Akito's pale lips drew up in a snarl and he raised his hand. Kureno flinched as it came down to strike him, stopping inches from his face. "But you aren't normal!" He bellowed, spit flying from his mouth. "None of us are normal! We're all freaks! Abominations! Tiny scraps of human filth! That is why we Have to stay together! You all have to listen to me!"

"But Miss Honda…"

"That monster doesn't understand! She could never understand us! She-" Akito suddenly groaned, cutting off his tirade as he clutched at his chest. He sunk to his knees, gasping for breath, clinging to Kureno.

"Akito!" Kureno yelled, bending over him. "What's the matter? What hurts?" Akito opened his mouth, but all that came out was a wheezy hiss. "L-let me get Hatori!" He said, making to stand up. But Akito grabbed him by the front of his shirt and dragged him back down. Not knowing what else to do, he just kneeled there as Akito got his breath back.

"I-I'm fine." He stuttered after a few minutes, pushing himself back to his feet. His legs were shaking so badly, Kureno was surprised that he could stand.

"Akito, do you want me to get Hato-"

"I said I'm fine!" The god yelled, gathering back some of his steam. "It was just a little pain, nothing to worry about. Now get out."

"But-"

"OUT!"

The rooster stumbled back, startled by Akito's sudden outburst. He bowed and exited the room without another word.

Tohru shivered as an oddly cool wind brushed across her face. She pulled Kyo's old hoodie closer around her petite frame. His sent still emitted weakly from it; the distinct smell of sweat and the outdoors and the wild. She let the familiar smell wrap around her as she fell back against the smooth, cool roof tiles to look at the stars.

It was a very clear night. There was no moon, so the stars twinkled in the sky alone. Tohru saw a cat-shaped pattern of stars and thought immediately of her own angry cat. 'Kyo loved sitting out here. I wonder if Kyo is looking at the stars right now.' Then another thought occurred to her. 'Can Kyo even see the stars? Oh, wait, Haru saw him. That must mean he has some type of window.'

Tohru shook her head as her vision suddenly blurred. She made no move to wipe the tears away. She was used to the tears now. They always came when she thought of him.Though, she found it weird that she didn't cry like this when her mother had died.

'You had to be strong.' She reminded herself. 'You had to find a new home, a job, and everything. Then you had to go off on your own. There just wasn't time to feel sad. And by the time there was, the hurt was already scabbed over.'

"And now Kyo leaving has reopened that wound. I guess I've been crying for both Kyo and Mom. But what am I going to do now?"

She never applied to any collages and after graduation she had started working full time at her cleaning job. For now it was ok, but Yuki was going to university in the fall and Tohru… Tohru would be left all alone.

She had offered to move out of Shigure's house in the fall so she wouldn't be a burden, but the dog had broke down into great big tears and begged her on his hands and knees to stay. Finally Yuki had whapped him upside the head to shut him up.

Once, a few days after Kyo had left, she had thought of just running off. Just going somewhere far away and starting over. She had immediately stomped out the idea. Running away couldn't be the answer, right? But now she was considering it again. Hana and Uo had also applied to Universities, and although they had promised to visit when ever they could, she still felt left behind.

"Miss Honda?"

"EHHH!" Tohru screamed, nearly jumping from her skin. She spun around and saw Yuki's head peering over the edge of the roof. "Oh, Yuki! You scared me!"

Yuki half-smiled. "Sorry, I just heard a noise up here. I was just checking."

"I was watching the stars. I'm sorry if I woke you."

He shook his head. "No, Miss Honda, I was already awake. Sorry for bothering you." He looked away and started to climb back down.

"W-wait! Yuki?" He stopped, fixing her with his purple gaze. "Umm, would you mind staying up here for awhile. I mean, if you aren't sleeping. It's just it's kinda lonely by myself."

Yuki blinked at her question. Then he smiled and climbed the rest of the way up. He crawled over and laid down next to her to stare at the sky. They sat in silence for a moment before Tohru looked over at the rat. He was biting his lip and frowning rather guiltily. "Yuki? Is something the matter?"

He looked over at her, and his frown deepened. "…."

"Oh! It's alright if you don't want to tell me! I don't-"

"I saw Kyo." He blurted out. Tohru's brain slowed and her heart skipped a few times.

"Wha-what?"

Yuki sighed. "I saw Kyo two days ago."

Tohru's brain sped up again. "You did?" She asked, sitting up. "Is he alright?"

Yuki sat up as well. "He's fine. We…we talked. I mean, he's not happy or anything, but he's ok."

Tohru nodded and drew her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them. Kyo was….ok. That was good news.

"He wants to see you." Yuki whispered quietly.

She jerked her head up to look at the rat. "But I...I can't. I can't be let into the main house unless Akito invites me."

"So what?" Yuki countered, leaning back on his arms.

"I'll get into troub-"

"You love Kyo, don't you?" He asked suddenly. Tohru blushed, but nodded.

"Yes." She said, "Yes I do."

"Then go to him. If you both love each other as much as I think you do, which is a lot, then you can't just give up on him."

"But Akito…"

"Screw Akito. Don't worry about him. Don't let him stand in your way. All that matters is that someone in this family makes it. You two deserve to be together."

Tohru smiled. Yuki knew just what to say sometimes. She stood up and took a deep breath. "Thanks, Yuki. I… thanks."

Yuki stood and grabbed her hand. "Come on. Let's go in Miss Honda."

"Tohru."

He turned back to her smiling face. "What?"

"We've been friends for over two years. I would like it if you called me 'Tohru'."

"Alright…Tohru."

Ummm… Am I imagining things again or is that almost the same ending as the last chapter? Whatever. Yeah I finished! I was halfway through typing this chapter when I was called out side. When I went outside, I tripped and hurt my wrist very badly. So I'm showing ultimate devotion to you, my readers, by typing with a sprained wrist! OUCHY!

Oh, yeah, My favorite line in this chapter is "Screw Akito!"I've wanted someone to say that in the manga forever. But I want them to say it to his face, like "Screw you Akito!"Sogo Yuki!

Two More Chappies!