Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. If I did, I'd be filthy stinkin' rich.

Kyo was running. His heart was beating fast, his breathing heavily labored. People on the sidewalk moved out of his way until he moved onto a well-worn path onto Sohma property.

I can't believe that just happened. I can't believe that just happened.

Tears were streaming down his face blocking his view, but he knew the way by heart. Shishou's dojo wasn't far away, and he knew that only Shishou would understand. He had to go to Shishou. He had to go home. The adrenaline was pumping hard, propelling his faster and faster away from the nightmare that had just happened in front of his eyes.

When he saw the walls of Shishou's dojo, relief hit him so hard that he suddenly changed back into his human form. Naked, he continued to run straight into the dojo; he could care less if anyone had just seen him change.

Kazuma was practicing by himself in his dojo, allowing his body to warm up for teaching his early lesson. Kyo burst through the paper doors, throwing them sideways with such a force that Kazuma was startled from his routine.

Kazuma took one look at Kyo and knew what had just happened.

"Shishou… she saw… I panicked…" Kyo cried, his movements jerky and tears streaming down his face. He was sweating from head to toe, and naked as the day he was born. Kyo was visibly shaking, his eyes wide and pupils dilated. Kazuma knew that he was at a point where he could run and never return. Moving ever so slightly, he calmly took a breath.

"Would you like to tell Aki—"

"NO!" Kyo yelled, his body shaking harder. Sweat began dripping onto the floor, he clenched both his fists and stepped away from Kazuma. "If he found out… NO!"

"Okay Kyo. It's all right."

Kazuma took a small step forward. Kyo's head swiveled up quickly, suddenly looking at Kazuma full on. His face began to distort, and his frame crumpled. As he began to fall forward, Kazuma took three large steps and caught Kyo in his arms. Kyo sobbed loud, hard, his body shaking not just from fear but from pain of what he had just gone through. Kazuma's eyes began to well with tears for his adopted son, realizing that there was nothing he could do for Kyo at the moment.

Allowing Kyo to cry for a moment longer, Kazuma came to a decision.

"Kyo. I have a dojo up in the mountains that I've been meaning to visit for a while now. It's empty, but there are repairs to be done. I will have to take you out of school but—"

"Please, Shishou. I have to get away from here. Please…" Kyo shuddered against him, his tears and sweat soaking into Kazuma's clothes. "If Akito finds out… he'll lock me up without a second thought… please take me away."

Kazuma gripped Kyo tightly. His need to protect his son was greater than his respect for the head of the family. This was one of the first times that Kyo had ever cried so heavily in front of him, the last time was when Kyo was just a small child. He would do whatever it took to keep Kyo safe. Kyo continued to sob against him, his body shaking with every cry that was released.

Kazuma eased off his outer robe and wrapped it around Kyo's sweating form; he knew that Kyo could get ill from being naked and sweating in the air.

"Don't worry Kyo, everything will be all right. Just give it some time. We'll leave for the mountains today, and I'll cancel my classes. Don't worry. I'll protect you."