Interlude-New Year's Hangover

"How is she?" Hatori asked, his voice only cracking slightly on the second word. Kazuma saw him wince, but didn't give any reaction that he had heard it. Hatori had enough problems on his shoulders already.

"Sleeping. I'll take her to my house first thing in the morning." Kazuma informed him as he picked up the tea that had now gone lukewarm and took a sip from it.

"It was a bad break, but it will heal cleanly." Hatori replied as he shuffled through the paperwork that was his task to arrange after the head doctor was done.

"It better. She is only seven." Kazuma replied in a flat voice.

Hatori's mouth thinned into a taught line, but he said nothing. He knew that it was uncalled for, what Akito had done. He had seen it all and was now feeling the effects of his cowardice. He hadn't believed that Akito would have harmed the child. He honestly had believed that she would simply shun the child, but he hadn't counted on how sadistic she had become. He hoped that they would be able to do something about that before she learned how to fully become a cruel tyrant and make their lives a living hell.

Kyoko stirred in the bed and Kazuma and Hatori's attention was diverted to her at that point, but the child didn't stir. The silence grew between them and Hatori shuffled papers before he finally broke the silence between himself and the older martial arts instructor.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Hatori spoke, making Kazuma look at him sharply.

"Take her away from here. Don't even show up for the feasts. Akito hates her with double the intensity now, since she thinks Yuki is fond of Kyoko-chan."

Kazuma raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, since of all people, he would have never guessed that the aloof and somewhat timid appearing dragon would be the one to suggest what was technically treason for any of the junnishi to consider, much less speak of.

"You are playing with fire if you make that suggestion, Hatori-kun." Kazuma told him, his voice quiet as he spoke. He wasn't angry, since he was also toying with that suggestion already. He knew what that look in Akito's eyes had meant when their eyes had met. He also knew that despite the family's objections to the contrary, they would gladly give Kyoko up as a sacrifice. She was nothing more than an unwanted burden, a shameful reminder of a hideous past. If Akito in her childish fits of temper destroyed her, it wouldn't matter.

Hatori only raised an eyebrow, his eyes going as cold as shale as he looked at the older man.

"If you want to keep her in one piece and alive, you will consider the wisdom of what I have told you. Akito is starting to pick favourites, Yuki being one of them. She's fascinated with him and Akito will not look kindly on that. Good night, Kazuma-dono." Hatori replied coolly before bowing and taking his leave of the older man.

Kazuma watched him go, his words still ringing his ears as he did. He knew Hatori was right. He had seen how despite all the stupid prejudices the other relatives and even her own father had poured into her mind; she still had searched for the grey-haired boy possessed of the rat. That was why he had lost her. She had snuck off to see the child that was supposed to be such a taboo for her.

He also knew, regretfully, that she would probably keep on searching for him, despite the danger that was clearly there. He would have to separate them. At least until she was strong enough to face Akito on her own terms.

(Line Break)

Yuki stood outside, his arms wrapped tightly about himself as he shivered from the cold. He hated the cold, but he was willing to withstand it if he could get to see that strange orange-haired girl again. The one that had made Akito fly into a rage over. He wanted to know why she was so provocative. All he had seen was a curious girl that wanted to touch him, nothing more. So why did everyone shun her and slander her?

He wished she could come out soon. The New Year was even colder than the one before and Akito was bound to notice that he was missing sooner than before. She was keeping an even closer watch on him and it was making him nervous. Especially since she was now looking at him with different eyes. Eyes that promised things he was positive he wanted no part of at all.

"Who are you looking for?" A quiet, almost drowsy sounding voice asked. Turning around, he was surprised to see his cousin, Hatsuharu standing there, looking at him with bored eyes that held a hint of animosity. He was the ox and had had to constantly put up with adults joking about him being slow and stupid. Even though he had gotten over most of his anger towards Yuki, the incident with Kyoko had brought some of it back to the forefront.

"Kyoko-chan. I..I..I didn't see her with the other Sohmas…and last year…she was here. I thought maybe she would be here…"Yuki continued, his voice trailing off when he noticed the sympathetic expression on Haru's face.

"She's not coming back, Yuki. Kazuma-dono- She's living with him-he didn't come to the banquet. The grown-ups haven't said anything much about it, but there are rumors that he's not going to come back again. Not as long as he has Kyoko."

Haru felt horrible at having had to be the bearer of bad news when he saw the light of anticipation go out and be replaced by a dullness that signaled utter despair. He honestly didn't want to hurt Yuki, but he also didn't want him to hang onto false hope either.

"Why?" Yuki finally asked.softly.

"Last year, Akito saw her and hurt her. I heard Hatori telling Shigure-san that her arm was broken. Kazuma didn't want her to get hurt anymore, so he's not coming again."

Haru explained. Yuki nodded, his face coolly composed, but inside he was screaming.

Why was another person taken away from him? Was this loneliness the price to pay to be so close to God?

"Here. You're going to get sick." Haru interrupted his thoughts as he wrapped his coat around him.

"Let's go back inside. I know how much you hate being inside, but it wouldn't do to get sick. Come on."

Yuki nodded and let his younger cousin lead him inside.

As they walked inside, Yuki looked back at the frozen pond, thinking back to that New Years Day that someone had reached out to him in honest friendship rather than in calculating greed and then wondered whether he would ever have someone reach out to him like that again in his life.

(Line Break)

Once they were inside, Yuki was torn away from Hatsuharu by the silent maids that acted like sinister bodyguards for Akito. He didn't want to let go of the ox, but they gave him no choice. Akito wanted him to come to her and she wanted him presented to him NOW. He had no choice but to be carried away. He had mouthed a silent apology to his younger cousin, who only nodded, understanding all too well his role.

"Yuki, I want you to meet someone." Akito said the minute he had been shoved in front of the eerie God.

"This is Isuzu. She's the horse. She's going to be living with us now. You will be together with me now. Isn't that good?" Akito asked, her voice trying and failing for warmth and only sounding sinister instead.

Yuki looked away from the God to the long haired girl standing beside her dressed in a pretty dark red dress that made her pale face the more bewitching and somber.

"Nice to meet you." Yuki said as he bowed in front of the terrified looking girl.

"Good. Let us go greet the rest of the guests." Akito purred as she put her hands on their shoulders and led them to a throng of Sohmas.

Yuki sighed and felt as if his world had gone from dark to pitch black and he idly wondered exactly how he was going to survive it. As he wondered this, he felt a small, cold hand slip into his. Surprised, he looked at Isuzu, who gave him a small smile before looking straight ahead. Maybe it wouldn't be so dark after all, with Isuzu around.

He could only hope, since that was all he had left.

Finis

Notes: Sorry my notes have sucked for all chapters. I don't have a comp at home, I work on these after school and a friend always calls when I'm writing notes. This interlude explains the interim years and why Yuki ends up with Rin being his counterpart, rather than Haru.

This story is also going to be fairly dark, with many adult themes and this chapter is a bit of an explanation as to what happens in the later years. It's more of a gothic take on the Sohmas, since they are an old family and would have numerous little dirty secrets of all kinds.

Kyo(ko) is also less bitter as a child because of Kazuma coming to rescue her earlier and also because of Kazuma being more affectionate and Haru being an ally earlier and not forsaking the cat. I have to wonder whether some ofKyo's animosity towards Haru stems from losing Haru to his rival. Also, the rivalry between the cat and rat isn't existent here because Kyoko is already mistrustful of her father (for reasons to be explained later) and because of Kazuma instilling a sense of self-worth in her and because of Haru staying loyal to her in this universe. Chapter four is being worked on and I hope that this sheds more light on what I'm doing. Thanks for reading and all that.