Chapter 5: Watch Him Walk Away

Here, is Chapter 5! I'm glad everyone's enjoying it so much! Continue to R&R! I like knowing what you all think. I'm gonna stop talking now, and let you read.

Everything was packed up now. The room completely empty as if he had never lived there. All that remained was a small dust ball in the corner where his dresser used to be. It truly was amazing, making one room appear as if it were to be sold for rental.

Kyo looked at his bag, which was stuffed with clothes and a pair of shoes. Another, much smaller bag, contained books and things that Tohru made him. In the first bag, of course, Tohru had put that photograph. She briefly hugs Kyo's soft cat form before setting him gently onto the ground. Tohru turns around and the moment she did so, he transformed back to himself and hurriedly put his clothes back on. He picked up the bags with the clothes in it and slung it over his shoulder slowly. The other bag was just being held -by the strap- in his left hand. Kyo slightly smiles at Tohru and leaves the bedroom, not saying another word. No 'I love you' or 'I wish I didn't have to leave' he acted as if he were going on a short vacation or something.

She daren't speak either. Her body was practically in shock and she instantly got weak at the knees the moment she lost sight of him. Tohru fell limply to the ground and pushed her hands to the floor holding her self up a little. It was all over. Their love for each other was getting hit with a large wrecking ball and it rammed straight through the center of them, demolishing whatever relationship they had left. She hated all of it, and it was seldom that she felt the feeling of hatred. The most she's ever had the emotion inside her was her hatred for Akito and the hatred of Kyo leaving. But, isn't that all interconnected? It was all created by Akito's sick mind, her growing, manifesting greed. Nothing would ever allow her to forgive the head of the Sohma family, the equivalent of God in their standards.

He reached the bottom level of the house and looked at Haru and Hiro who were talking to each other like they were the same age. It wasn't that abnormal though, Hiro was almost acting older then he really was. Kyo slowly approaches them, shuffling his feet along the floor knowing that the moment the front door opened and he stepped out would be the last time he'd ever go through those doors again. That thought actually began to make him sadder. He was putting one and two together and made everything harder on himself. If he were to step out the sliding door too early, he wouldn't be able to come back in, even if Akito wasn't there. The feeling of just entering it once again would make him feel glued to the contents of the house. One of them being Ms. Tohru Honda, his one and only love. Kyo walks towards the door and slips his fingers into the place where they were supposed to go; gently he tugged to the side. The mystifying darkness flooded into the house and dimmed the lights; so he had believed at least. At one of the slowest paces ever, his foot lifted up and dropped right past the threshold. By this time, Tohru and Shigure were coming downstairs slowly with grief filled expressions; only Tohru's face was true. Finally, he was standing just outside the house. As he began to glance back, he shakes his head and continues on forward, not wanting any reason to upset himself any further.

Tohru watches him drop down the two short steps and stand still as he stared at the forest. He really was going to leave. There was no stopping him, not that it was his idea to be locked up in the first place. The thought of him not fighting back to regain his freedom seemed absurd, especially since fighting was one of his greatest passions, but he clearly wasn't going to unleash his anger this time. He was ready to be hit with whatever was thrown at him, even if it is the cold, steel coated room he was to be locked in.

She saw him look at the ground, even though she was a good forty feet away from him at the foot of the staircase within Shigure's house. Tohru put her hands to her lips and covered her mouth. She had to keep her mouth shut, or at least muffled if she were to burst out with pleading words. All she could do now… was attempt o support him from afar. Not that she could even do that though. But for the time that she can see him –even if it is from this long a distance- she had to have faith that one day she will be capable of releasing Kyo somehow. She'd try anything and everything just to help him at this point. After all they've been through over then years she's lived in this house.

Suddenly, the wind picked up and she was beginning to see Kyo's hair floating around elegantly in the gusts of air. By the way he was standing, he looked to be relaxed, but his mind was telling him the complete opposite. One more minute and his fate would be sealed by a person who would soon be revealing themselves in front of him, showing him the way to the Sohma Estate.

After that whole minute passed, the wind completely died down, leaving Kyo's hair in whatever position it was in when it was gusty. A woman walks out from the path into the forest, staring at Kyo from a safe distance. "It seems…. that you're coming without making a fuss?" Akito says watching Kyo mildly nod and stare at the ground. Full of sorrow, he takes a couple steps in the direction of Akito knowing that she'd either go over there and drag him along or he'd have to come willingly.

Tohru's teeth were grinding together, not that she even realized it though.

He was a couple of steps away from Akito before she grabbed hold of his hair and threw him to the ground just before the entrance of the forest. Kyo dared not to grumble in pain or curse under his breath, all he knew was that he hadn't done anything to deserve that but he let it slide anyways.

A thrust rammed against his ribs and he dropped onto his belly gasping in utter pain. Akito was standing over him laughing proudly at what she had done to him. "Do you like that pain my dear monster?" She questions, kneeling down at the end where his head is. "Dare I remind you that you will feel even more pain while you're locked up." Akito glances up after saying this as if she were shooting Tohru and Yuki death glares. Then at the sight of Katsuro she stammered to her feet and her face looked a little calm, but the anger was still flaring in her eyes. Quickly, trying to avoid any further eye contact with Katsuro, she looks down at Kyo and beckons, "Get up…we're leaving…"

Yuki had caught the expression that Akito sent at Katsuro and began to fall through his thoughts in pure confusion. Was…she… Did Akito actually seem afraid of Katsuro? He's only around eleven or twelve years old, just like Kisa and Hiro. What's… how many secrets does Akito really have?

How many things can you have laid upon your mind? Is there a way to have no confusion within your thoughts when you're contemplating about more then one thing? Can you have that pure sense of composure? The things people ponder about sometimes come out the opposite of what they believed it would actually be. Nonetheless, it will happen, no matter how much you dodge it, you'll see it happen right in front of you. Can I just…ignore it for now? Maybe… I can use Katsuro as a way to release Kyo….for Tohru's sake. But… why's Akito afraid of him? How much longer does she have left to live? Will… me bringing Katsuro with me one-day play into Akito's hands. It'll be like me handing over a revolution in Dai Hin Min, I can ruin it for all of us.

Kyo staggers to his feet and looks at Akito curiously, his rib cage still echoing in pain. But before Kyo could look back, Akito had her hand on the back of his neck, nails digging into his skin a little. He staggers forward and starts walking down the trail, Akito's fingers clenched around his neck as tightly as ever.

XxX

All she was able to do was watch him walk away. She had to stand idly by and not say so much as a single word that would involve any sort of interference. There was nothing she could do or say anyway. Any word that she might have said would have either angered Akito further or make Kyo sadder. Things in life that pull the ones you love a part happen for a reason. They bring you to other things, the things in life that you never knew you needed. Tohru began to remember something her mother told her when she was younger. She had asked why she didn't have many friends like all the other children, and her mother had flatly replied, 'The time will come where you have more friends then you can even count. Everything happens for a reason, hun. You just have to wait a little longer then others, because their friendship is temporary, yours will be long term –a lifelong friendship.' Her mother was right about that. But, why was she being forced to give up someone that was practically her life.

Yuki turns to look at Tohru and he gently places his hand on her shoulder. "Its okay Honda-san…" clearly he was going back to not saying her first name, "He'll be fine…just…" he couldn't finish the sentence, anything he'd say would probably make her relive some sort of memory that he doesn't know about.

She blankly nods and faces Yuki sadly. Suddenly she became aware that five other people were still standing in the same room as herself. Shigure, Haru, Katsuro, Kisa, and Hiro were looking at her consolingly. In an instant, Kisa and Katsuro were hugging her legs, not wanting to let go of her. They needed to help her regain her cheerfulness, her love, and warm compassion. The two children couldn't stand seeing her sad, and to be completely honest, they were missing Kyo also; even Kisa was and she didn't have the best relationship with him. Kisa knew that Kyo cared about almost everyone he was around but he wasn't good at showing it. She knew that Tohru had an extremely good reason to miss him as much as she does.

Tohru knelt down and caught them both in a hug. She didn't want to be sad anymore. She had to get over it, just for the time being, only when she is around others that want her to be happy and full of ecstatic joy.

Gradually, Haru approaches Tohru and places his hand on her head while standing behind her. She opens her eyes since they were closed the moment she hugged the two children that she cared for deeply. Turning a little she looks up at Haru and smiles a little. "Tohru…. please feel better soon. And…ignore the fact that he's gone. I promise, you wont be sad for much longer… you can count on me helping Kyo. I have a lot to repay him for…" his voice trailed off after every few words. Then, he walks away from them, waving slightly at Yuki as he leaves the house through the front door –which was still open- that Kyo went through.

She couldn't quite understand what Haru had meant by everything he said, but she knew the only thing she could do was trust him. Slowly, she un-embraced the two kids and smiles at them gently, standing up at a very slow rate. Katsuro and Kisa looked at her softly and then hurried upstairs with Hiro and began to play tag and all different other games in the bedroom that was completely empty; the one that was once Kyo's.

Meanwhile downstairs, Yuki, Shigure, and Tohru stood together silently. Then, at the same exact time, they all opened their mouths and said, "Did you understand what Haru meant by him helping Kyo?" the only thing different about the sentence was that Tohru added the suffix 'kun' at the end of Kyo's name.

Each of them stared at each other until Yuki opened his mouth to voice his opinion. He had the feeling he knew what Haru really meant.

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