Chapter 36

TT: Well, here we are again, with a new chapter for everyone! Just so everyone gets this straight, there will be no real description of what the cats do to Akito – I think it's most effective if I just leave that to your imaginations, seeing as you'll probably come up with better ideas than me. That, and it acts as a good effect.

Okay, everyone have their ears blocked? Good. 500 REVIEWS! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST; 500! I LOVE YOU ALLLLLLLLL!

Seriously, when I wrote the first chapter, I never imagined I'd get anywhere near 500 reviews, or so many loyal reviewers. I want to thank you all, for all your help with this story, giving me inspiration for so much of what I've written, and for simply taking the time to read my work.

BlueSilver-Soul – You've dreamt about phantom cats? That must've been pretty interesting. I don't get interesting dreams like that – though that's probably a good thing, I get too many weird ideas as it is.

Essence-of-Dreams – Be bothered no more!

Mikhyel – Nice to meet you, oh reviewer 500! To answer a question of yours, Kyo acts really paranoid with ouiji boards, but his aggression towards 'threats' is greater than his fear. That and he just messed up.

Chaos Tears – You love how my mind works? I'm just scared of it.

SillyLittleNothing – The God may be reincarnated, but god or not a young child can be easily intimidated… Especially by Eris in her 'You want to do what to NeKyo?' mood.

Klove – Kisa sees the supernatural in flashes. Yes, she spotted the cat ghosts, but she doesn't understand their significance or that they were anything more than simple cats.

Oh, and while I'm at this; there won't be an 'Easter Special', sorry everyone, but I have assignments that I need to do. But, so she doesn't make it hard for me to work, Eris still gets to pass on her Easter Message:

Eris: Happy Crucifixion Day!

TT:…Err, right.

Eris didn't jump when they heard a hoarse cry from outside. She casually grabbed Hatori's wrist when he moved to go outside, "I wouldn't. They've been after this for a long, long time."

Hatori looked at Kyo – no, he reminded himself – Eris. It was probably the most bizarre thing he'd ever experienced, dealing with a ghost – something he hadn't believed existed up until a few months ago – who was in control of his cousin's body, having to remind himself that this wasn't Kyo acting strangely, this was a whole other person. And considering how close he'd been, and was, with Shigure and Ayame, claiming this was the strangest thing he'd ever experienced was saying something.

Kisa clung tighter to the possessed cat's arm at the sounds from outside; half of which only she and Eris could actually hear. "I didn't know there were so many of them..."

Eris glanced down at Kisa with Kyo's blood-coloured eyes, "That's because they've never been able to move on – every cat since the very first never moved on from that cage. Maybe they keep the following cats company so they weren't alone or wanted to see the next walk free, I don't know. But mostly, I guess they were also angry, they'd had a long time to dwell on the unfairness of everything before they died – those who feel angry and cheated can never move on until their appeased.
"Usually it only takes a little while before the anger fades, but they just saw the same thing happen again – they got angrier. It was an endless cycle that they can't truly accept. And I don't blame them."

Kisa watched as Eris tilted her – er, his? – head back, looking at the ceiling. There was some strange emotion Kisa couldn't identify in the ghost's expression, and it suddenly occurred to Kisa that she knew practically nothing about when and how the ghost died, or what she'd seen after.

Hatori cleared his throat, attempting the change the subject. "When exactly is Kyo going to have his body back? I really should treat his wounds." He tried to ignore the strange sounds from outside, or think about what kind of injuries Akito might gain.

Eris blinked, "Eh, body back?" She paused, and looked down at the body she was in. She jumped to her feet, "Ahh! I'm a guy!" She had the impudence to look sheepish, "I'd… kinda forgotten about that."

Simultaneously, everyone in the room except the ghost began to sweatdrop.

Kyo felt like he was sleepwalking. He could feel his body moving, though he wasn't making it. Though he could hear sounds they were washed out, as if being heard underwater, but without the sound of his heartbeat in his ears. And he could see, but he couldn't focus, he didn't take in what he was seeing. It was like walking around in a dream, one he'd quickly forget. He didn't even feel cold, not now.

But what he did feel was vulnerable.

So vulnerable; he had absolutely no control whatsoever. He was a passenger in his own body, watching, watching, endlessly watching and without the power to do anything.

It brought trust to a whole other level, one that no other human could even begin to fathom. Simply stepping back from control, and allowing someone else to control his body, his every movement, everything. It terrified him.

But what terrified him more was that he still wasn't afraid of what Eris would do, while she lay in possession of his body. His level of trust in the ghost was unbelievable, even to him.

"I think that Akito's gotten the hint, now." Kyo could hear his own voice, marred with an accent that Kyo had grown so used to he didn't usually notice. It was so easy to forget that Eris was actually American, until her accent was suddenly noticed.

'Gee, you think?' Inwardly, Kyo found himself recoiling slightly as he freaked out for a moment. He was nothing but a voice inside his own head! It wasn't actually surprising, he'd spoken several things to Eris while she'd been in control of his body and dealing with Akito, but it was only now that the danger was over that it was actually registering. He was by no means scared of what Eris might do while she was like this, but that didn't stop the experience of being a passenger in his own body being a terrifying one.

And, somehow, he was sure Eris knew how freaked out he was. She couldn't read his thoughts; only hear what would have been spoken. Nor could Kyo read hers – he could feel her thoughts, her consciousness, but feeling their presence was the only contact. They simply covered his brain like a blanket, blocking out any signals he was giving his body and replacing them with her own.

"Okay Kyo, lets see… Umm, brace yourself?"

And, with that simple warning, Eris released her possession over the cat. A familiar icy coldness filled Kyo as he returned to his senses. And, along with his control, came the pain and his body's exhaustion. Kyo didn't even have time to blink before he lost his balance and the floor came up to meet him.

To the majority of the people around the cat, all they saw was the tiniest bit of colour return to the cat, as he abruptly fell to the ground, clenching he red eyes shut and clutching his ribs.

Kisa was the only one who saw anything vaguely difference. She watched as Kyo fell forward – and Eris remained still, standing in place. She wasn't completely sure how, but Eris had come back.

Hatori didn't take long to react, shifting the cat onto his back and trying to get him to open his eyes so the doctor could check for a concussion.

Obediently, the cat opened his eyes, wincing at the light. He blinked once, focus swimming. Leaning over him anxiously, just near Hatori's shoulder, was a face that, not really that long ago, he'd been afraid he'd never see again.

Kyo smiled weakly at Eris, before his eyes closed again and he was lost into the depths on unconsciousness.

Outside, there was silence.