OMG, I am finished with this story! There are two more chapters coming shortly! Sorry for the long wait, I hope you like the upcoming end. Thanks for sticking with this story.

Shigure was oblivious to the world around him. This in itself wouldn't be too surprising except for the fact that Shigure's distraction came from a strange feeling he could only assume was regret. Shigure had been thinking a great deal about his plans since the previous day, and a gut feeling told him he had moved things too quickly. As the pencil Shigure was carefully balancing on his nose finally toppled to the floor, however, he had convinced himself he had made the right choices. It was always better do to something risky than do nothing at all, Shigure told himself, while crossing his arms and nodding solemnly.

After deciding not to worry too much, Shigure picked up his pencil and began digging through the pile of manuscripts precariously balanced on his desk. With a pleased smile he finally began to work again on the crossword puzzle sitting half finished underneath them. It only took Shigure twenty minutes to finish the crossword, leaving him idly wondering if dinner would be ready soon. He had noticed with slight annoyance that Tohru's cooking schedule had been a little off lately. Shigure easily pinpointed the blame for this on Yuki, though he wasn't bothered enough to do anything about it. He just sat back and waited for Tohru's voice to quietly but forcefully drift through the door and tell him that dinner was ready. Instead, he heard the doorbell ring, and a few seconds later Tohru herself came in white as a sheet.

"Tohru, what's the…"

"Kureno is here," she said quietly. "He says Akito wants to see you and Kyo."

"Oh," Shigure got up from his desk. "I see." Immediately, Shigure's regret twisted in his stomach, and it took some effort for him to ignore the gnawing of another unusual feeling: worry. Tohru looked at Shigure with eyes shining just on the verge of tears, and magically the dog felt worse.

"I don't know why, but…I'm scared. Why would Akito want to see Kyo? Why send Kureno?" Tohru began to shake. "Does he know about Kyo and…"

"Shush, Tohru," Shigure said as kindly as he could and patted her on the head before passing her. "This is not something you need to worry about. Everything will be…fine." Lying was second nature to Shigure at this point in his life. He was even able to smile comfortingly at Tohru. "But be a dear and stay here to guard the house, hmm? We'll be back soon."

Tohru nodded and let her back rest against the doorframe while Shigure quickly brushed some wrinkles out of his kimono. When he reached the front door, Shigure saw a scene that he would never have imagined could happen.

Kureno still stood in the front doorway, seemingly unsure of whether to come in or not. He was calmly examining the interior of Shigure's house while Yuki stood defiantly in the doorway to the kitchen, staring daggers at him. Kyo stood just behind him, and Shigure wondered if Yuki was actually trying to shield the cat from Kureno. The thought almost made him laugh as he fully rounded the corner, but another look at Kyo actually sobered the dog. Kyo stared at the floor, letting his bangs hide any facial expression, but his hands, which hung loosely at his sides, showed his mood sure enough as they fisted and unfisted in nervousness.

Shigure sighed and forced a smile to his face. "Kureno! When Tohru told me you were here I almost didn't believe her! What a delightful surprise!"

"Akito needs to talk to you and Kyo," Kureno said simply and turned around, obviously expecting them to follow.

"Wait! Kureno! Won't you tell us the circumstances of your visit?" Shigure asked kindly and walked towards the other man to place himself in front of the boys.

"Akito needs to talk to you and Kyo," Kureno repeated, a brief look of confusion passing over his features when he turned around to face them once more.

"Yes, I understand that, but there must be some sort of reason." All pretenses at politeness dropped from Shigure's voice. "What is happening?" he asked solemnly.

"You can ask Akito when you talk to him," Kureno answered with a slight shrug. Then, after pausing for a second, he added almost sadly, "It wasn't necessary to tell me why he needed me to get you, only that I had to."

"I see." Shigure looked at Kureno but couldn't find any more emotion in the man. He turned around to look at Yuki and Kyo. "Kyo, pull yourself together. We're leaving."

Kyo's head snapped up, and he looked at Shigure in utter horror, like he had expected the dog to be able to do something. Shigure almost frowned at the stupidity his younger cousin seemed to be graced with. How could he presume such a thing?

Yuki too turned around to look at Kyo, then at Shigure, and again back at Kyo.

"I'm going too," he said, resolve making his violet eyes colder.

Shigure sighed in frustration. Stupidity his younger cousins seemed to be graced with.

"Don't be ridiculous, Yuki." Shigure walked past the rat and grabbed Kyo's hand. "We have to go," he repeated less forcefully.

This time, Shigure couldn't totally ignore Kyo's look of terror. He sighed once again and leaned down to whisper, "You'll be fine." That was already his second lie of the day. After that, he gently patted Kyo's head like he had Tohru and squeezed his hand. The cat actually seemed to calm down at that, and Shigure grimaced to himself while he turned back to Yuki, who still looked like he could kill someone at any moment.

"Do you really want to leave her alone right now?" Shigure asked him quietly and heard Kyo's sudden intake of breath.

Yuki's eyes flew towards the dog's study and then back to Shigure.

"She can handle herself. It's this idiot I'm worried about right now."

Shigure smiled, a real smile for a change, and Yuki's face eventually softened before he looked away in embarrassment. Shigure really had hoped that the younger Sohmas might one day grow as close as the Mabudachi Trio. It made it so much easier to survive the family's circumstances. Shigure's smile stretched into a sly grin as his regret from earlier in the afternoon melted away. If two enemies were being forced together, at least some things were certain to turn out well.

Finally, Shigure faced Kureno with the cool confidence he had mastered from years of facing unpredictable situations. "Looks like you'll have three Sohmas riding back with you to the main house."

Kyo wished he could stop shaking, but he couldn't, even when he was wedged in between Yuki and Shigure, both of whom had chosen to ride in the back seat with him. He hated that the rat was sitting next to him and looking so fucking cool and composed. Of course, he wasn't the one about to have his ass handed to him by Akito. Kyo also hated how Shigure was now wrapping an arm around his shoulders, resting his head on top of his and shushing him quietly.

"Get off me, you pervert," Kyo hissed but perversely wished Shigure wouldn't stop. It was oddly soothing to have him there, being comforting in a way Kyo didn't expect Shigure capable of, with no sign of teasing or malice.

Yuki glanced at Kyo when he spoke, and the cat glared at him from under his bangs. "Got something to say, damn rat?" Kyo said as gruffly as he could, which turned out to be a hoarse whisper.

"Yes, when we get home, I want to fight," Yuki responded simply and then returned his gaze to the passing scenery outside.

Kyo eventually gave up trying to convince himself that the other Sohmas were annoying him.

All too soon the car was slowing down as it entered the drive of Sohma house. Kyo finally controlled his shaking and noticed out of the corner of his eye that Shigure was repeatedly dialing on his cell phone with his free hand and making a pained face when no one answered. At least someone else was a little worried about this, but Kyo hadn't expected it to be Shigure.

Yuki had just started drumming his fingers against his knee when the car stopped, and Kureno got out, opening the door for Shigure first, then going around and opening the opposite door for Yuki. Kyo sidled out, following Shigure, who was ignoring him now as he tried again and again to get an answer on the other line.

Kyo idly wondered whom exactly he was trying to reach and then immediately thought of Haru. He pulled on Shigure's sleeve as they started to walk towards the house.

"Did…did you try to call Haru?" Kyo whispered, but Kureno, leading the group, didn't seem to care he was speaking.

"I'm afraid it wouldn't do much good…Do you know Momiji's cell number? I called his home, but no one is answering."

"Um, no? Can I call Haru?" Kyo looked quizzically up at Shigure, deciding not to worry about what Momiji had to do with any of this.

"I told you it's not going to do any good. Yuki, what's your opinion on the situation?"

Yuki, who had slowly been loosing his composure the closer they got to the main house, startled. "It won't do any good," he said tightly. "I'm sure he's there already."

Hatsuharu knelt respectfully in front of Akito, allowing his eyes to flick to each of the exits every so often. He wasn't particularly worried about this. He had realized as soon as his mother answered the phone and told him it was the main house that he was in for some trouble. Haru had been through this before, and he guessed nothing that Akito did to him would really faze him.

Haru was only worried about his Kytten.

Glancing back to Akito, who was lazily leaning opposite him against Hatori, Haru briefly wondered what role the doctor was playing in all of this. The man's face was as unreadable as ever as Akito wound his tie between ivory fingers.

Akito finally spoke when Haru's eyes settled on him.

"It seems you've disobeyed me again, Hatsuharu." After unwinding himself from Hatori, Akito crawled closer to Haru and reached a careless hand out to flick a bang from Haru's face. "I just don't know what to do with you."

Haru managed to keep his face a blank slate. He counted to ten, thought of Momiji, of butterflies, and of kittens. No, he couldn't think of cats, or he would think of Kyo…

"Why do you do these things to me? I don't want to hurt you, Hatsuharu, but you just don't seem to understand." Akito's hand moved to Haru's cheek and rested there.

"Understand what?" Haru whispered evenly when Akito paused for an answer.

"I am here to protect you, and yet you fight me."

Haru didn't even think before he replied.

"I don't see what Momiji sees in you." Haru supposed this wasn't a smart thing to say, and Akito's tightening grip on his face confirmed it.

"Did it make you feel powerful being with the cat? Is that why you chose that creature? Or did you really think you could love someone? You are cursed, Hatsuharu. You don't deserve love, even what I give you." Akito released him with a shove, and Haru couldn't help but rub his bruised cheek. After standing up, Akito turned around.

"I can't bear to look at you." Akito glanced over his shoulder but kept his eyes on the floor. "You know he will be the one who is punished."

Haru tensed, and his eyes flew to Hatori, but the doctor was letting no emotion through as he stared at his hands on the floor.

With a sneer, Akito crouched down again. "Kyo will be put away. You will never see him again. You will never touch him again, and all the while, he will know it was your fault and hate you for it."

Haru's vision was slowly blurring. His hands fisted in front of him, his pulse pounded against his ears, and his mouth became a tight line. He couldn't remember how to count anymore. Hatori looked up for the first time, but Akito continued on blithely, caught in the moment. He leaned to Haru and whispered in his ear, "I hope you made him feel very special, because then perhaps he'll forgive you one day."

Haru closed his eyes and was surprised to feel tears run down his bruised cheek.

When he opened them, everything had turned Black.