Thank you to the reviewers who encouraged me! Even though there were only a few, you made this second chapter happen! I hope you all enjoy this one just as much.

Disclaimer...is the same...They never change! I'm wondering why I'm ever bothering to write one...Hmm...

Oh well, on to the story!

Captured

I couldn't sleep. Although, I was sure that she had escaped, the worry was still there. Any number of things could happen on her way back home. I shake my head to clear my mind. I was being paranoid again, just because she could be a space case sometimes, didn't mean she wasn't smart enough to plan this ahead. Even if she hadn't planned it, Momiji had. There was no way he would let her get caught, even at his own expense. I close my eyes again, again attempting to sleep, but the thoughts don't stop coming. A low rumble escapes my throat as I get up.

As I pace my room, I hear something. It's the sound of footsteps over gravel, moving towards my room. I glance at my window, wondering who it could be, when a golden head pops into view. "She made it out, so you can stop worrying," he whispered, grinning.

I snarl at him, angry that I was that transparent. His grin widens, as he turns away, winking at me. "She said, that she'll be back. You two have much to talk about," he said, as he walked away. "See you, Kyou-kun."

I turn my back on him, trying not to smile. He knew I would be worried, so he came back just to bug me about it. "Damn kid," I whisper, wishing I wasn't that transparent when it came to her.

I make my way back to my bed again, and crawl under the covers. This time when I close my eyes, I am able to sleep without a worry.

I feel it. There is something missing, but I can't figure it out. There's a terrible sadness connected to it. What is it? I feel as if I would know if I could just wake up. The more I try to open my eyes, the more I can't. I feel lost in the darkness. I try to move my arm, try to make the muscles respond to my brain. Nothing happens. I'm swirling into sleep, being dragged back against my will. I want nothing to do with those dreams. Those are what brought me this feeling in the first place.

I fight it. My brain struggles, trying to pull me away from the surreal place that is my subconscious. My finger twitches, my eyes snap open, I won. I sit up, gasping for breath. My ordeal is over, but it still scares me. I've never had to fight a dream before, and now that I'm free, I find the feeling of something missing is gone. The struggle was for nothing.

Angry and annoyed, I stare at my window. The sky is tinged orange and yellow, as the sun is just peeking over the horizon. Birds swoop past my view, twittering their morning songs, and breaking the silence of the Sohma house. It seems my body is still used to its old routine, despite the fact that I fell asleep later than usual. I had paid for it with that dream though. The dream, that was now fading away to nothing but dulled fear. What had it been about? There had been something missing that much I was sure about. After trying to recall the dream for a couple of moments, I give up, and tear away the covers.

Jumping to my feet, I stretch to awaken my muscles, and I start my morning training. I jab at invisible enemies, and shadows, as I recall blocks, throws and attacks. Flowing from one thing to the next, I leap around my room, my mind focuses on my movement, trying to keep everything going from first jab to last. I may not require this knowledge anymore, but the repetition keeps my mind from the darkness that is now my life. Breathing heavily, I finish with a blow that would have knocked anyone to the ground, had they been standing in front of me. Sweat runs down my face, as I collapse to the floor, finally letting my mind go over last night's events.

I lean my elbow against the window sill, staring at the wispy clouds as they made their way across my field of vision. Behind me, I hear a bit of the commotion. Some woman was objecting to someone else coming into my room. The locks are opened one by one, and the door swings open, but I don't turn around. A quiet, gloomy voice sounds, telling the woman that it was best if he examined "the cat" privately. I spin around to see Hatori setting down his black bag, as the servant hovers behind him, trying to talk him out of staying. I wonder if he was truly just there for a check up, or if he had some questions to ask about last night's visit. Momiji probably pretended he knew nothing of it, but hinted that I may know something.

The servant leaves after running out of her lame excuses, closing the door behind her, and complaining about nobody listening to good advice. I watch as Hatori sits down, sighing and placing a hand on his head. He seems so wrapped up in his thoughts, that I figure that I had to say something before he spent all thinking. I'm not curious about what he has to say, not at all. "Oi, what'd you come here for?" I growl. "'Cause you are obviously not here to examine me."

He glances up at me, seemingly shocked. "Ah, forgive me. That woman's been following me for quite awhile trying to tell me I couldn't come in here," he says, after composing himself again. "She's given me quite the headache. Either way, I heard that Tooru came to visit you last night. Momiji couldn't tell me why she would do such a foolish thing, but said that she had talked to you for quite awhile until she was forced to leave."

I snort. "You know her, she only has everyone else's happiness in mind," I say, acting indifferent. "She thought that maybe she could cheer me up."

Hatori studies me for a moment, his single grey eye sweeping my face. "She succeeded then?" he asks, his voice level, calm, knowing.

I'm taken aback. Were my emotions that apparent? Had I done something to give away how happy I truly was? I glare at him for revealing something I was trying to keep secret, but this just makes him smile. "She does that for everyone. You know she still comes to visit the rest of us as well. It took her awhile to come see you, but she doesn't have very many nights off where she's working."

I don't answer, as I turn back to my window. I am bored as hell. I would've figured that having someone to talk to would be a lot more interesting, but I hadn't thought that that someone would Hatori. "She thinks that she may have found a way to break the curse."

That got my attention. I whip around to face him again. "What?" I roar.

He smirks, as he stands. "I think this has been enough time to convince people of my lie. Good bye."

He is out to annoy me, and it has worked. I jump to feet, as he makes his way to the door. "Oi! Is that true!" I rush over to the door, and stand in his way, a determined look set on my face. "Did she really find a way to end it?"

"She has."

I let him go, and head back to my spot, questions swirling in my head. I hear the door click closed behind me, as I sit by the window again. My eyes stray to the sky, not taken in the fact that there were now no clouds in view. She had found a possible way for the curse to be lifted. I wonder how she could have found it. There weren't many ways to find out the details of our curse. She must've risked sneaking in many times just to find out the details of the curse. She had found out enough to form some kind of idea of how to break the curse, she must've wanted to test it out, so why hadn't she yet? Was there a danger in it? Was there something that someone wouldn't agree to?

A thought dawns on me. Maybe that was what she had come here for last night. To tell me how the curse can be broken, and I had been as ignorant as ever, kissing her and distracting her from her task at hand. After that, there had been no time to tell me. I almost beat myself for my stupidity, when I remembered that she'd be back. I just had to wait patiently for her to show up again. I sigh, as I realize that with the way I am that there'll be no waiting patiently.

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Ahaha...I really have no clue how she can break the curse...I'm thinking...something to do with breaking him free...Ah! I really have no clue...I want it to be original...but something that goes with the things already revealed...If anyone has any suggestions or any facts that can help me please tell me!Anyways...I'm not too sure about if I portrayed Hatori correctly...I hope I did, cause he's a pretty cool guy...

Kyou: He is not.

-grins wickedly-I think someone needs a hug! -pounces on Kyou-

Kyou: Ack! -a cloud of smoke surrounds us as he turns into a cat-

-holds up Kyou-neko triumphantly- You really should be expecting that by now...

Kyou: -growls- shut up!

Heh heh...anyways...please review! I must know if I should write more chapters...