A/N: Ok, I finally got those replies out there, so check my profile. And this is again an extended weekend so that's why I'm able to update. So you can thank Halloween and teacher-only days for that! Which reminds me, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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"Hahahaha, you can't catch me!"

Yuki was bewildered by this game. What was this girl doing, prancing around and urging him to chase her?

Abruptly, the girl noticed his confused stare and she giggled again, "Come on, silly. Don't you know how to play tag?"

"T—t—tag?" What's that, he wondered.

The girl's expression changed from amusement to curiosity.

"So you really don't know?"

He shook his head, a bit embarrassed since it seemed like this "tag" that she was talking about was something everyone should know how to play. Yet he honestly had never heard of this game before. The only games he knew how to play were the ones that Akito had taught him. He didn't like those games very much.

The girl stared at him incredulously, but then smiled and said, "I'll teach you."

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Five minutes later, two deliriously happy children were chasing each other around the playground. Yuki had never felt so free. Faster and faster they ran, the scent of jasmine flowers filling his senses until he thought perhaps this was what Heaven would be like. His legs ached a bit, and he gulped for air, but still, he felt as if he could go on forever like this until…

POOF!

The little girl had tripped and instinctively, as Yuki reached out to steady her, she fell towards his arms. The impact left them both breathless for a second, but when the girl finally was able to look around, she realized her playmate of only seconds ago was no longer to be seen.

Yuki had, in fact, turned into a rat. He had taken advantage of her moment of confusion to scuttle behind a nearby bush. His cheeks burned in shame. Now she would never want to be his friend. He was a freak, just like Akito had said. A freak who didn't deserve friends.

The soft sobbing of the girl reached his ears. Yuki was baffled. Why was she crying? Chancing a peek from the safety of his bush, he glimpsed the girl, stumbling a bit as she got up, but paying no attention. Instead, she was gazing around, staring into the inky darkness, looking for something…for him?

With a stab of remorse, Yuki realized that the girl was crying…because of him. He had made her cry. Without any further thought of the punishment Akito was sure to inflict on him or the possible scorn he would receive once the girl caught sight of him, he scampered to the girl's side as quickly as his short legs could carry him.

The girl flinched at the touch of something furry on her bare ankles and blindly felt around her. She touched a soft furry ball and picked it up in her hands gently. Bringing her soft furry ball up closer to her eyes, she found that a pair of violet eyes stared back at her.

She gasped, "It's…it's you."

Yuki nodded sadly, knowing what was to come next. She would toss him away, and run home. He would never see her again.

Instead, she whispered, "Is it really you?"

Before Yuki could reply, POOF!

He turned away and quickly pulled on his clothes while the girl turned her back to him.

Yuki straightened up and said, "Now you know why no one wants to be my friend. I'm a freak."

The girl whirled around and exclaimed excitedly, "That's not true. I'm your friend, aren't I?"

He gaped at her in amazement. This wasn't at all what Akito said would happen.

"I…I thought you wouldn't want to be my friend anymore, now that you knew."

She looked at him in confusion, "Why?"

Her simple question floored him. Why? He didn't know either.

…because Akito said so.

…because no one else has ever wanted to be my friend.

…because…why?

And suddenly, Yuki's face was covered in tears. The girl knelt down beside him and took his hand in her own.

She whispered softly, "My mommy used to say that when a person cries, his tears are like rain, washing everything away, until all the pain is gone. And then the rainbow comes out. The rainbow will always come out."

FLASH!

Yuki clutched his head in pain and had to bite his lip to keep from crying out. What were these feelings that flooded over him? He felt like there was something important that he knew, but was hidden from him. A thin veil cast over something…darker. It hid from him. Frustration overtook the pain, and Yuki found himself desperately clutching for what he had almost touched with this fingertips. But it was all slipping away.

Sighing in defeat, Yuki rubbed his hand over his tired eyes and resolved to get more sleep. "This lack of sleep is driving me nuts."

Yet the last thing he thought of before slipping into a dreamless slumber was, "The rainbow always comes out…"

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Akito was restless. He called for Hatori. As always, the faithful doctor arrived promptly. Akito smiled insidiously and beckoned with a pale finger. Hatori reluctantly approached closer until Akito's cold hand grasped his hair and pulled his ear next to his mouth.

"Tell me, Hatori, how is my dear Yuki doing? He hasn't come to visit me in so long. Is he well?"

Hatori inwardly shuddered at the icy hate of Akito's voice, but replied fluidly, "Yes, Yuki is well, but he has been occupied by homework and so he—"

Abruptly, Akito shoved Hatori away from him with surprising strength, "Did I ASK for a reason? I know you're all eager to see me die so that you don't have to come up with such excuses anymore. I know you're all eager to—"

Hatori interrupted, "No, that's not true, we just—"

"SILENCE!" Akito roared in rage.

Suddenly, he calmed down and smiled again. It was disquieting.

"But perhaps…perhaps I should visit my dear Yuki, since he is too busy to visit me. I am a reasonable man. I'm willing to make sacrifices for my family. If only you could all remember that…the sacrifices that I am willing to make for you. All for you."

Hatori nodded, "Of course, Akito. We know you do everything for the best of the family."

"Good." With that, Akito flicked his hand and dismissed Hatori, but not before adding, "So, it's settled then. I'll be paying them a visit tomorrow."

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A/N: UH-OH! Whenever Akito comes on the scene, nothing good ever happens. Eek…I'm scared to think of what might happen next. Oh well, we'll see. Anyways, I'm glad to be done with another update, and as always, any suggestions, criticisms, etc. you have, just review and I will have the replies up…eventually.