Disclaimer: Was that better? Dunno what you think...So please R+R!! I don't own Fruits basket, but I own Kela (she's coming) and Bakaris, the Queen, and one or two poems. I don't own the name Dargaard Keep, or do I own the really creative poems that are in this chapter. They're from Dragonlance. ^.^;;

Yuki and Shigure were walking along the red bank, stained from the bloody waterfall, when all of a sudden, they were standing in the middle of a forest.

"What the-" Shigure yelped, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was, indeed, the dog.

"Quiet...This is the forest of the dead."

Onyx eyes glared at him, "You sound happy. You shouldn't be sounding happy. Don't sound happy."

"Sorry." Yuki laughed, holding the book tight. "But this is the final line of defense between us and Kyo."

Just as he finished laughing, shadows seemed to jump out at them on all sides. Singing a haunting song as they dance and paraded around the astounded zodiac members. They got louder, and in shock, Yuki realized he could understand them!

"How loud your heart is calling, love,

How close the darkness at your breast,

How hectic are the rivers, love,

Drawn through your dying wrist.

And love, what heat your frail skin hides,

As pure as salt, as sweet as death,

And in the dark the red moon rides

The foxfire of your breath."

Yuki shied away from the shadows, only to collide with another. Icy finders touched his skin, making him jump back in fright. Murmurs came from behind him, warnings of an untold fear. Shigure was sweating, his eyes wide as the apparitions began to take a more solid form.

"Y-Yuki...?"

The rat nodded, ripping his arm away from the deadly grasp. "Right."

Both tore through the forest in a frenzy, disregarding the branches cutting and slapping their faces and bodies. Neither knew where they were headed, but they went anyway. That's when Yuki hit a solid object, and was knocked off balance.

"Are you alright?" Shigure asked, steadying his younger cousin. "What did you hit?"

Shaking his head, the rat shrugged, searching the darkness for some clue, some subtle hint of what was lurking there, just out of reach. Then he saw it. A deeper darkness within the shadows.

"Who's there?"

Out stepped a black cloaked figure. The hood was thrown over it's face, and all they could see of the body was black boots beneath the hem of black robes. But when it spoke, both Yuki and Shigure gasped.

"Who are you?" A female.

*

"Well." Hatori sighed, coming in from the guest room and shutting the door. "He's under sedatives, won't regain consciousness for about three hours."

Ayame, unusually serious, looked up from the table. "Are you alright?"

The dragon rubbed his sore neck. "I will be." He all but collapsed next to his friend. "I will be as soon as Shigure and Yuki come back with Kyo."

His gaze traveled to a house not too far away. "For Tohru Honda's sake, they better hurry."

*

Akito opened one eye, cautiously checking to see if anyone was around. Then he quietly slipped out the window, and padded off into the night. He was heading to the only person he could still inflict damage to. Tohru.

*

Kyo groaned as he regained consciousness. Though he almost wished he hadn't, after one look around. He was suspended by his wrists over a chasm of something filled to the capacity with something that was definitely not water. As he watched the green-tinged liquid swirl around, the cat began to try and figure out why it was this Queen, wanted him. What could he have possibly done this time?

"Hello mon chat."

Kyo looked over to a corner of the room he hadn't noticed before. A throne sat there, and sitting on the throne was a woman with purple hair, dressed in a purple kimono. She looked quite smug, and happy.

"I take it you're this 'Queen' every one is talking about?" He shivered, the air colder here than in the cell. His jacket was still there. He was in only his cargo pants and black tee shirt.

"Oui, I am Queen Dianna." She slinked from her chair, and over to Kyo. "And you are, unless my servant failed again, I highly doubt it; Kyo Sohma."

The youth nodded, and immediately felt Dianna's cold hands clasp something around his neck. Looking down, Kyo saw an ornately carved necklace engraved with the entire zodiac. Astounded, and confused, the cat looked back at Dianna, floating in mid-air.

"Good, this will be all too easy." She flew back to her throne, and a lever. "The entire power of the Zodiac will be mine! All in killing you." And she let the lever fall.

Kyo closed his eyes, not wanting to see the greenish liquid rushing at him, not wanting to see his end. Then over his denial he heard Dianna. She yelled again about the power of the Zodiac, and then he knew. He understood everything.

"I swear Dianna," He growled as the liquid closed over his head, "You will not take my curse!"

*

"Tohru Honda." Akito said, loud enough to startle the young girl from her sleep.

In response, she gasped, pulling the blankets up around her, mouth open in a silent scream. He was going to kill her, she just knew it! But all he did was pull up a chair, and stare at her.

"What do you want?" She asked shakily, "What is it?"

Carefully evading her question, the head of the family grinned, "Do you know why it is the cat was never allowed in, even in these times? Or why it is I am here, the head of a cursed family, though I'm not cursed?"

Tohru blinked, startled. Yes she had asked herself those questions, many times. "Why?"

"I am not a Sohma." He shrugged, "Nor am I the true head of this family. Can you, Miss Honda figure out why it is they appointed me? And why they cast Kyo out? No, perhaps not." He stood, his voice rising. "It's because Kyo is the true head of this family! And he would have all the powers of the zodiac were he one person!"

"One person...?"

"He is a twin, only half of the cat. The elders decided they would bring me in, an outsider, and name me head! They cast out Kyo's sister at birth, and to this day, no one knows of this! At my death, or that of both sides of the cat, Queen Dianna will rightfully rule the zodiac!" His eyes blazed red, "Now you know, and for that, I will kill you."

Tohru opened her eyes, stared out at the dawn. Was it a dream? But, there, on her pillow was a note written in Akito's hand. It bore one word. Beware.

"Yuki, Shigure...Kyo..." She whispered, staring out at the rising sun. "Please, be safe."