Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
Fan 101; moon-dragon91011; WhiteStarburst: Thanks for the reviews! Here's the next chapter! Some violence in this one, so shield your delicate eyes - those who have any.
Please review if you read. Comments, helpful criticism, ideas, and suggestions are welcome.
Not much to tell you guys at this point. I slept through the night, and when I woke up the next morning, Tohru had unpacked my stuff for me and was waiting with breakfast. Apparently, Hatori and Shigure were locked up in Shigure's study doing whatever.
"Hm…" Hatori muttered, skimming a book as Shigure searched the internet.
"Hm, what?" Shigure asked, looking up from the computer.
"Hm, as in I'm not sure if I found anything or not," Hatori retorted touchily. Shigure fell silent, and then blinked.
"Hey, Hatori, this might help us out. It says here that this ritual-thing Rayne had done to her, that it can take years for the damage to take its full effect. Maybe that's why her legs became paralyzed so quickly."
"Possibly," Hatori nodded, and then looked up again, "Wait, didn't Rayne say something about 'blessed needles'?"
"I believe so," Shigure nodded, "Why?"
"Because there's something about them in here," Hatori showed him briefly, and Shigure tapped his finger impatiently as Hatori told him what it said. "This author claims that the needles can work fine on their own, but they supposedly reach their full potency when dipped in the blood of sacrificial animals."
"What?" Shigure demanded, slightly green. Suddenly, he paused as a thought occurred to him. "Hatori, why are we the only ones doing this, anyway? It'd go a lot faster if Aya or Yuki helped us."
"Because, as much as I hate to admit it, you're the only other adult in this family capable of serious research for this," Hatori muttered, and Shigure beamed at him.
"Well then!" he nodded, and returned to his computer before Hatori continued to talk.
"Perhaps, this infusion of animal blood into her veins, combined with the magic and trauma…"
"What? Hatori!" Shigure said impatiently, and Hatori waved at him to be quiet for a moment while he thought. After a few minutes silence, he spoke again.
"Maybe this caused her to slowly become immune to the curse," Hatori continued slowly, "At least, with people who she trusts, or cares for, maybe. It would explain why Hatsuharu stopped transforming around her, and why we didn't either."
"That's a good idea," Shigure nodded thoughtfully, "And probable as well – considering the situation we're dealing with, I mean."
"Thank you, Tohru," Rayne said gratefully, as the other girl brought in the freshly-washed clothes into the room.
"I figured after being crammed in that bag they needed a good washing," Tohru said cheerfully, and smiled brightly at Rayne. "It's a lot colder out today, so I'll help you get some pants on, okay?"
"Sounds great," Rayne nodded, and obediently moved around as Tohru helped her. Within a few minutes, since the girls had gotten the hang of dressing like that, Rayne was wearing boots, dark jeans, and a cranberry-colored turtleneck. Rayne carefully moved her left arm back in the sling, and her right arm was still sore.
"Want to go downstairs?" Tohru asked, and Rayne hesitated. She was unsure whether she wanted to face anyone, but Tohru's next words quickly decided it. "I'm going out with Uo and Hana, and Ayame and Ritsu went home last night. I think Yuki and Kyo were going to take Hiro, Kisa, and Momiji to a movie – if they don't kill each other."
"What about Haru and Hatori?"
"Haru's still here – he's really worried, Rayne," Tohru told her, frowning for a minute, "And Hatori and Shigure have been cooped up in the study ever since dawn."
"I guess," Rayne nodded, and looked around, "I need some fresh air, anyway."
"All right," Tohru smiled again, and turned around, "I'll get Haru. Just a sec!"
Rayne continued to look out her window, and gloomily thought the dark overcast skies matched her mood perfectly. Shifting her head, Rayne examined the room with a fresh eye. The carpet, a cream-color, offset the pale tan-tinted walls. Rayne's bed was in the corner opposite the door, and a dresser was across from the foot of the bed. Rayne noticed for the first time that a desk was against the wall near the door was, complete with a lamp and rolling chair.
"I guess I never noticed it because I never use," she mused, and then was shaken out of her reverie when Haru slid the door open.
"Rayne, are you feeling all right?" he asked quickly, striding to the bed in a few steps. She looked up at him in surprise, and then nodded silently.
"I'm glad," he said, and suddenly crouched down to hold her against him. Rayne instinctively stiffened for a second, and then relaxed into his chest. Wrapping her good arm around his shoulders, she hugged him gently before releasing him. She was amazed to see his eyes filled with tears, and her face mirrored her dismay.
"Hatsuharu, what's the matter?" she asked, "I'm fine, Haru!"
"I'm sorry," he shook his head stubbornly, turning it so she couldn't see his face, "I shouldn't have left you alone."
"Haru, I'm sure Hatori told you what he told me," she began, "It wasn't anyone's fault – at least, not ours. Please don't feel bad, Haru. I'm the one who made you go in the first place, anyway."
He turned back to face her, and his eyes narrowed in thought. After a moment's silence, he nodded, stood up to pick her up.
"Mm…this feels nice," Rayne grinned, lifting her face to catch the breeze. "It's a lot hotter in that house than I thought."
"Yeah," Haru agreed, swinging his legs. The teens were seated on the porch, with Rayne in-between Tohru and Haru.
"I think Shigure's cold-blooded," Tohru laughed, and then stood up as her two friends approached, "I'll see you later, okay? I left food in the refrigerator, in case you get hungry."
"We'll survive somehow, Tohru," Rayne jokingly assured her, "Have fun, okay? We'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye!" Tohru waved as she rushed to meet her friends. She was also sleeping over Uo's house with Hana, and then meeting the Sohmas at school.
"Should we tell Rayne?" Shigure asked, as the two men considered their theories. Hatori thought for a moment, and then shook his head.
"No, there's no need for her to know any of this now," he decided, "She has to concentrate on healing right now, and we'll deal with things as they go. Including those damned parents of hers."
Shigure looked mildly surprised – and amused – by Hatori's swearing, and then nodded his agreement.
"All right. Oh, could you pick up Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru after school tomorrow if the weather's nasty like it's supposed to be?"
"Of course," Hatori returned to a book, and then paused as a thought occurred to him. "What are we going to do about Rayne's schooling? This is her last year, after all. She can't afford to fall any farther behind."
"She hasn't gotten that behind," Shigure assured him, "Haru and Tohru have been bringing her home schoolwork for her to do. But I was thinking of tutoring her myself, to keep her moving."
Hatori raised his eyebrow skeptically, and his look plainly said what he thought of that plan.
"Hey, I wouldn't be that bad!" Shigure protested indignantly, and then relaxed, "Besides, she just needs some direction. At this stage in the game, she's quite capable of handling most things by herself."
"I suppose the only other option would be to hire a tutor, and I'd rather not," Hatori mused, "We don't need any outsiders knowing about this, or we could have certain accusations against us at someone other than that couple."
"Good point," Shigure agreed, and stood up. "I already borrowed the books from the school, which was more than willing to help us out," he continued, and looked around as he stretched, "And I'm famished right now. Hungry?"
"I could use something right now," he admitted, and followed Shigure out of the room.
"They finally emerged," Haru commented dryly. The two looked up as the adults strode down the hall, and Shigure made a beeline for the kitchen.
"How are you feeling?" Hatori asked her, pausing for a moment.
"All right, I guess," she nodded, and he copied her movement.
"Well, if anything starts to trouble you, let me know immediately," he told her, before disappearing back into the house. Within moments, Haru and Rayne heard the two of them breaking things in the kitchen – or rather, Shigure breaking things, and Hatori lecturing him.
"Poor Hatori," Rayne shook her head, "It seems like he has to keep everyone in line – particularly Shigure and Ayame."
"Don't forget Momiji," Haru reminded her.
"Well, he's still a kid – we can all lecture him," she pointed out, "But Shigure and Ayame are adults – well, physically, at least. I wonder how Hatori puts up with them?"
"Practice," Haru commented, as they heard another bang echoing through the house.
"I'm okay!" Shigure called, and Hatori groaned loud enough for them to hear over Shigure's yells as he burned something a moment later.
Haru shook his head, resigned to the fact that he was stuck among crazy adults, and Rayne began to laugh.
"Food's ready!" Shigure called, after almost an hour later. Haru helped Rayne into the room, where they saw a blackened mess on the table.
"What the hell is that?" Haru demanded, and Hatori picked up the phone.
"I heated up some food Tohru left us," Shigure replied indignantly. Bravely tasting it, Rayne gagged and quickly drank a glass of water.
"Um…maybe the stove is still broken," she offered, and exchanged a wince with Haru. Suddenly, the group heard a knock on the door, and Shigure stood up.
"I wonder who that could be?" he muttered curiously, as he strode to the door. Hatori finished ordering take-out and moved to the doorway of the room. Haru shrugged when Rayne glanced at him, and she sighed.
"Hello? Yes, I am Mr. Shigure Sohma, and this is my house…what? I can assure you, that hasn't happened here – no, she is not! Excuse me, this is unbelievable!"
"What's going on?" Hatori demanded, stepping out onto the porch. Two policemen turned to him, and the older one inclined his head respectfully.
"You are Mr. Hatori Sohma, correct?"
"Yes."
"We've had a complaint lodged against you for abuse of a minor," the man continued, "A Miss Rayne Helton. We're to return her to the custody of her parents until further notice."
"You can't do that!" Haru shouted, and Rayne gripped his arm tightly. Shooting a glare Haru's way, Hatori turned back to the policemen.
"I can assure you, Miss Helton has been treated with the greatest care in this household, due to her condition. My family are not the ones who abused Miss Helton – it was her father who beat her, and inflicted tortuous acts on her when she was young," Hatori told them coldly. The younger man looked confused for a moment, but the older one remained firm.
"They have legal custody of her until she's eighteen, Mr. Sohma," he replied, and tried to peer past him, "We have to take her with us, or we'll arrest you for obstruction, kidnapping, and abuse of a minor."
"Haru!" Rayne whispered. He glanced down, and his spirits sank to see her face so pale. She clutched to him tightly as Shigure reluctantly let the policemen into the house, and scooted closer to him when they came nearer.
"Don't be afraid, Miss Helton," the older one said comfortingly, and reached a hand out to her, "We're not here to hurt you. You're going back to your parents now, where you'll be safe."
"No!" she shook her head, and Hatori was forced to pull Haru back to prevent him from choking the policemen. "I'm safe here! Don't make me go back there, please!"
The two policemen exchanged a pitying glance as Ryane's cries continued, and Shigure had to go help Hatori subdue Haru as the younger man picked Rayne up, and began to carry her out the door.
"Don't make me go!" she begged, but they held firm.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Sohma," the older man said, turning back. "Her parents agreed to not press charges as long as she was returned safely, so I hope this is the last we see of each other."
"Likewise," Hatori said, barely managing to be civil. Once the car had driven away, they released Haru.
"What in hell are you doing?" he demanded, a mixture of anger and panic controlling him. "She's dead if they get a hold of her! We have to go get her!"
"We can't do anything legally – yet," Hatori told him sternly, "I'm afraid the police were right – they have legal custody of her until she's eighteen."
"Her birthday's not for months!" Haru protested, but Shigure silenced him.
"She has keys to her house in her room, correct?" Hatori thought. Haru paused for a moment, and then nodded silently. "Good. We have to wait for a bit, but don't worry; we won't let her be taken away."
"Rayne!" Carla rushed to her daughter, held by the policeman, as they arrived at the door. In a dramatic show of affection, she hovered over her as the man placed Rayne in her bed.
Rayne clung to the officer's jacket, her last hope of safety quickly escaping from her. Carla ushered the officers out of the house, and then returned to Rayne's room.
"You didn't really think I'd allow you to stay at that house, did you?" she asked calmly, "Especially after what that doctor did to your father."
"Where's Leo?"
"At a friend's house for the night," Aaron replied, coming up behind her mother, "We need to teach you a lesson in obedience and respect, and it's better if he's not around."
Rayne gazed at her parents in terror, and squeezed her eyes shut as the first blow came towards her.
"Rayne!" Leo rushed into her room the next morning, and his face was filled with fear. "Rayne, are you okay?"
Unable to talk from her beating, Rayne barely managed to nod her head, and then involuntarily gasped from the pain.
"Rayne…I saw what Aaron did to you," he whispered suddenly. His eyes glanced toward the door fearfully, but neither of their parents were home yet. "Rayne, Haru came up to me today and asked if I would tell what happened."
Rayne looked at her brother, and her eyes filled with tears when she realized that he was risking his own safety to help her.
"They said they have a plan to help you," he continued in a rush, "I'm going to sleep over someone's house tonight, so I'm not in the way, Haru said. Will you be okay, Rayne?"
She remained silent, and Leo hugged her tightly. Ignoring the pain, she managed to wrap her arm loosely around his waist, and rested her head on his shoulder. They remained still for a few moments, each giving comfort to the other, until the door opened.
"Leo!" Aaron called sharply, "Leo, where are you?"
"Just saying hi to Rayne, Aaron," he called back, and ran out the room. Rayne heard her father telling Leo that he was going to stay with a friend tonight as well, and mentally shuddered at the thought of another beating.
Soon after dinner, her mother arrived, and quickly left again to drive Leo over his friend's house. Rayne, left alone with her father, couldn't eat, and received a slap across the mouth for her ungratefulness.
"You still haven't learned anything, have you?" he hissed in her ear.
"What happened to him?" Rayne wondered, as he began to twist her arm painfully. "He wasn't like this before…or was it because I remembered him the way I wanted it to be? Was he always like this, and I'm just seeing it now? Was my father always a monster?"
Trying to block the physical pain by retreating into dreams, Rayne was sharply returned to reality when she felt a snap in her arm. Unable to keep back the shriek of agony, her eyes welled up with tears as another crack followed. Bearing the pain for a few moments more, Rayne was grateful when she passed into unconsciousness.
It's kinda disturbing, writing about abuse like this, so I'm trying not to get to descriptive. Please review!