Mei's eyes widened.

"You said it right, you're not a little girl anymore." Her father continued "The only reason why I didn't do this when you were a child is because I hoped you would grow up right."

"Get off."

"I hoped that you would... but no, you're a freak! A whore!"

"Stop it..."

Mei's mother was grabbing her father, for the first time in Mei's life, stopping him. The door burst open.

"MEI!"

The voice sounded familar, but it wasn't Hatori's, not Kyo's either... who...

Before she could figure out he answer, she passed out.

"Mei?"

Hatori's voice. It was soft and gentle. She felt a cool touch on her forehead.

"Mei?"

And there was that voice again, it sounded so familar... but different.

"Can you hear me?" Hatori asked

Mei nodded.

"Good, can you open your eyes?"

Mei opened her eyes, and found Hatori's face looking down at her. She realized that she was in his bedroom at the main house. It was pretty plain. Not surprisingly, and very neat. His bed was warm and soft.

"Tori-nii..." She murmered "What happened?"

"You passed out."

"Yeah, after that bastard attacked you."

Mei's eyes darted up.

"Seto?" Mei murmered

And sure enough it was him. He looked different, somehow. He was smiling at her. His blue eyes seemed to glow. He reached down and stroaked back her hair.

"What... what are you doing here?"

"Aren't you happy to see me?"

"I am... It's just... a surprise..."

He stroaked back her hair.

"I kinda followed you today... I just... I wanted to see you."

"Oh?"

"To... to thank you for.."

"Mei," Hatori interrupted "I've already called Shigure. He and Kyo should be here shortly."

Mei looked up at Hatori and nodded.

"Thank you."

I guess he realized that things were going to start to get a bit uncomfortable between Seto and me... Reminding me of my Kyonkichi... that helped a lot.

"Mei!"

Hurried footsteps ran down the hallway towards the room. A second later, the door tore open and Kyo entered. He ran to her side.

"Are you alright?" He asked, taking her hand

Mei nodded.

"Yeah, I'll be fine..."

Kyo was so preoccupied with Mei that he didn't even appear to notice Seto, as he brushed past him and left the room. A moment later, Shigure entered.

"Mei." He said softly "Are you okay?"

Mei nodded.

"Yeah... I'm fine..."

Kyo hugged her tightly. He was breathing heavily, even sweating. She ran her fingers through his bright orange hair.

His hearts racing...

"I'm fine Kyo." Mei replied "Calm down."

"Mei." Hatori said "Did you happen to see where Se--."

"No I didn't." Mei interrupted "But we'll take care of that thing later okay?"

Hatori nodded, comprehending what she meant.

"What thing?" Kyo asked, not releasing her

"Nothing you need to worry about." She replied

"Well, lets get you to the car." Shigure replied, moving to help her stand.

But Kyo, in a moment of pure undetermined macho-ness, hefted her up off the bed and carried her out of the room.

"Kyo. I think I can walk." She said

But he wasn't listening, his arms were trembeling. Mei noticed that there were a pair of tire tracks leading out of the driveway. Mei sighed softly. Kyo put Mei in the back of Shigure's car (I'm not sure if he actually has one... but again, it's my fanfiction so I can do whatever I want). He climbed in back with her, and once again held her tightly.

"Kyon-baby... I'm fine... just..."

But then his lips were on hers, and she melted into his kiss for a moment.

"I was so scared." He whispered in her ear "I thought... I kept feeling like..."

"Shs." Mei said "I'm here, I'm fine."

"But you almost weren't. You were almost hurt... and I-- I wasn't there to protect you, someone almost killed you and I wasn't there to stop them."

"Kyo. You, you are my boyfriend, not my bodyguard... It's not your job to keep me safe... I'm a big girl, and I'm responsible for myself."

"But still..."

"And besides, you couldn't have know that my father was going to try and drive a steak knife through my heart..."

"You say it so calmly."

"As much as I've been through Kyo... nothing really surprises me anymore."

She reached up and scratched behind his ear. He purred.

"Did you just purr?"

"No."

"Yes you did!"

"No! I didn't!"

"You did! You did purr!"

Kyo blushed.

"Don't be embrassed," Mei said, climbing into his lap, bringing her face close to his "I purr to sometimes."

"Oh yeah? When?"

"Well, for one thing... when you..."

She kissed him.

"When I what?" He asked

The front door opened and Shigure slid behind the wheel. Mei slid out of his lap.

"Shigure, do you even have a license?" Mei asked

Silence.

"Of course I do."

Mei sighed.

"I'll drive."

"No!" Kyo said

"Why not?"

"Remember that time when I took you to the go-carts?"

Mei scractched her head.

"Hmm."

Turning the corner on two wheels... cart flipping over... nearly hitting that baby... that pregnate woman and her grandmother... horrible horrible screaming...

"I vaguely remember..." She said softly.

"Exactly, that's why you can't drive."

Mei sighed and buckled her seat belt.

"We are gonna die."