My dear Lord, you peeps get THREE chapters! Yes, I know, I'm sexy...rawr.

On with the show, sorry for that cliffy back there...but I love to torture people.

Maddie, you see what you've done to me? -sigh- Oh well, sadism is fun. :) heheh...

ON WITH THE SHOW, MY PEEPS!

The next day, Yuki felt awful, and pulled Tohru aside. "Honda-san," he whispered, tears running down his face, "there's something I need to tell you."

"Yes?" she asked brightly. "It's okay, Yuki-kun, you can tell me anything. Don't cry." She patted his back, and he got it over with.

"Yesterday I had sex with Haru."

Tohru stared at him, struck completely dumb by his confession. "You...what?" she whispered, feeling her heart crack slightly. He began to bawl.

"I'm sorry, Honda-san," he cried. "I had no right to do this. I'll understand if you hate me."

"Oh, Yuki!" she sobbed, kneeling beside him. "I could never hate you!" She kissed his cheek. "People make mistakes. We're only human. And it took a lot of courage for you to tell me that on your own. We'll work through this, I promise. I still love you."

He looked at her with shock. "I...oh Tohru!" he wept, hugging her.

POOF! A rat sat in Tohru's lap, and she petted its soft grey fur. They would be okay - but she couldn't help but wonder about Kyo.

"Haru," Shigure sighed that afternoon, "let me tell you a story. About two years ago, Kyo had a massive crush on a girl in his class. She liked him a lot, too, and eventually they started dating. They grew as close as you are with him right now."

"But Akito -,"

"Yes, let me get there. Akito found out and removed Kyo's bracelet in front of the girl. She rejected him completely, and it got to the point where she only threw words of hate towards him. Her memories were erased, and she never spoke to Kyo again." He looked down at Haru. "That first time, Kyo's anguish almost killed him."

Haru bit his lip as Shigure walked away. He realized just then what he had said. Kyo needed me and I left him. I promised him I'd never leave him and I went back on my word. How could I have said that to him? I spent so much time reassuring him that he wasn't a monster and then I just threw it back in his face. He must have been so scared and ashamed of himself...he didn't want me to see...

He jumped up and ran to the main house, dashing to the cage.

"Kyo!" he cried. "Kyo, where are you?" He looked inside the cage and saw Kyo sitting there, back in his human form. He was crying into his hands and shaking with sobs.

"Yuki was right," he wept. "I'm a monster...I even scared Haru away..." He pounded his fist against the wall until it bled. He was covered in wounds - scratches, scrapes, and bite marks lined his skin. His shirt was torn and laying on the ground, and some spatters of blood were visible on the walls - written in the crimson liquid was Haru's name, a picture of a cat, and random words of sorrow.

How could I have left him and let Akito do that again? Haru screamed in his mind.

"Oh Haru," Kyo whispered. "I miss you so much..."

"I missed you too, baby kitty."

Kyo jumped and turned around, tears dripping from his eyes. "Hatsuharu?" he said, shaking with fear. Haru nodded, but at this Kyo turned back around and grabbed a piece of shattered glass from the ground.

"Why are you here, Hatsuharu?" he asked, pressing the shard to his arm and dragging it down.

"I wanted to talk to you," Haru said softly, cringing at the line of blood trailing across Kyo's skin. "About... what I said."

Kyo gave a small, hollow laugh and dug the blade further into his flesh. "Have you come to mock the monster?" he asked, a cynical tone dripping from his voice.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know very fucking well what I'm talking about," Kyo snapped. "Why the fuck are you here? To tell me how fucking worthless I am? To throw every fucking thing you ever said back in my face? To pour salt in my goddamn wounds! You can't say anything that you, Akito, or anybody else hasn't already said, so get it the fuck over with and leave me alone!" Tears poured from his eyes and ran over the cuts on his cheeks and neck.

"So what's new with everyone else?" he said curiously, the bitter tone never leaving his voice. "Yuki better be treating Tohru well..."

Haru flinched, and Kyo glared at him. "What is it?"

"Kyo," Haru whispered, "something happened."

"Is Tohru okay?" he snapped.

"She's fine. But...Yuki...I sort of -,"

"Spit it out, Haru, my life won't get any worse!"

"We had sex."

Kyo's eyes grew wide. "You...and that kuso nezumi...?" Kyo's gaze grew cold, but he couldn't hide the break in his heart any longer. He didn't hold back his tears.

"I'm sorry, Kyo, I'm so sorry," Haru cried. Kyo looked into his eyes.

"Is there anything else that you wanted to tell me before I burn in hell?" he growled.

"Please, don't leave me," Haru pleaded. "I love you."

"How the hell can I trust you again? I gave you my heart, Haru!" He looked down again. "And...I'm not taking it back..."

Haru tried to touch his hand. "Kyo, I -,"

"Go."

"But I -,"

"Leave now...please..." Kyo gazed into Haru's eyes pleadingly. "I just have to be alone, Haru...if nothing else, will you please just...go away?"

Haru sighed and bowed his head. "Anything for you, koneko-chan..." He gave Kyo's lips one last, tender kiss, tears running down his cheeks. Then he turned and left, leaving Kyo alone and screaming.

The next morning, after Akito had nearly beaten the shit out of him, Kyo opened his eyes and looked around. The autumn sun spread light and warmth through his cage.

Maybe I could just die here. If I waste away into nothing...maybe everyone can forget that I even existed at all. And I could just learn to burn in hell...

"And how is my little monster this morning?" came Akito's voice. Kyo didn't look at him.

"Go fuck yourself, why don'tcha?" he said. Akito smirked.

"Why would I do that when all I have to do is tie you up? Who would I be fucking then?" He walked up behind Kyo and shoved him against the wall.

"No resistance today, you wretched creature?" he said, licking the back of Kyo's neck. "Could it be that your heart has nothing left to fight for? After your precious cow deceived you?"

"Shut the fuck up, you son of a bitch."

"You know why he left you, of course," Akito continued, ignoring him. He tied Kyo to the wall. "Because you're the cat. You're a vile, disgusting creature...he knew others rejected you. Why should he be any different, hmm?" By now Kyo's clothes were torn shreds, and in one swift movement Akito ripped them from his body.

"And now, my horrid little monster, I shall make you pay for your existence..."

Soon, a month passed since Kyo and Haru had spoken. Kyo just sat in his cage all day and waited for night to pass, when Akito would beat him and rape him. Slowly, his conscious began to shut down; he had nothing to live for without Haru.

The hot summer sun beat down on a certain black-and-white-haired teen, who walked to the main house with determination. He was not going to leave without Kyo, that was certain. But to his horror, he found Kyo lying in the cage with a bandage over his eyes.

"Kyo!" he cried. "Kyo, are you awake?"

The older teen turned his head towards Haru, who began to weep. "Hello, Haru."

"Please come home with me," Haru begged. "I promised myself I would not leave here without you. I'm not going to break my promise."

Kyo bit his lip. "Why would you save me?" he choked. "You're all right about me. I'm a fucking monster..." He looked away in sorrow.

"Kyo," Haru whispered. "Come here."

Kyo obeyed and moved closer to Haru, who reached through the bars and touched Kyo's face. Tears fell down Haru's cheeks as his fingers stroked Kyo's hair, their faces so close that each could almost taste the other's lips.

"Don't ever say that again," he said, his voice trembling in an effort to hold back his sobs. "We are not right about you. You are not a monster."

Kyo didn't seem convinced. "But..."

"Shhhh," Haru said, pressing a finger to Kyo's mouth. "I did those things because I'm a stupid, shallow jerk, and it took me until now to realize that..." Haru bowed his head and began to cry, clutching Kyo's hands in his own. "I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am and how badly I've screwed up. Please say it's not too late to say that...I just want my baby koneko-chan back! Oh Kyo, I love you and I don't ever want to lose you again! I want you to always be at my side!" He leaned forward and locked Kyo in a hard, passionate kiss on the lips, winding his fingers into his hair and pulling him in deeper with every flick of his tongue.

After they broke away, Kyo lifted Haru's chin and touched his face. "I have one more thing I must do."

"What's that?" Haru asked. Kyo reached for his wrist and pulled off the bracelet, and within seconds Haru was once again face-to-face with his full curse.

"Kyo," Haru choked out, reaching for Kyo's hand. Tears fell from Kyo's blinded eyes, and tentatively he touched Haru's fingertips.

"This is who I am," he said softly. "If you're going to run, then go now."

Haru began to sob, but his fingers entwined tightly with Kyo's. "I'm not going anywhere without you ever again. I promise."

At this Kyo let out a cry and pulled the bracelet back on, rushing towards the bars to see Haru again. Haru leaned down and placed a soft, sweet kiss on Kyo's lips, his tongue brushing against his mouth.

POOF!

Kyo was now a little kitten, and he crawled to Haru slowly. "I've been nothing without you," Haru said, lifting the kitten into his arms. He kissed his soft orange fur and held him close. "I've missed you so much, love, can you ever forgive me?"

The koneko looked up towards him. "I hate what you did, Haru..." Kyo leaned forward and licked Haru's cheek once - it was a cat kiss. "But I love you and I never want to be away from you again."

Haru began to weep, and he buried his face against Kyo's warm fur. "Thank you so much," he cried. "I'll never do this to you again, I promise. Come on, I'll get you out of here." Haru placed the koneko in his pocket and took him back to his house; he brought him into the bathroom and placed him in a small basin.

"I promise I won't let you drown," he said softly. Kyo nodded as the basin filled with hot, soothing water, and Haru washed him off gently; he was covered in injuries and was very docile in his current condition. Kyo began to purr as Haru stroked his back.

"I'm not hurting you, am I?" Haru asked worriedly.

"No, of course not," Kyo said. Haru rinsed him off and wrapped him in a towel, but while he dried him off he transformed again. Before him stood a very wet - and very naked - Kyo, who looked at him in horror.

"...please, don't look at me," he cried, trying to hide himself. Haru was astonished at his self-consciousness - but then he saw the fading wounds on Kyo's body, and it all fell into place. He walked closer to Kyo and sighed.

"Did Akito do this to you?" he asked quietly. The other didn't let out a response other than a single falling tear, and Haru touched his face, only to see him flinch.

"It's alright, little koneko-chan," he whispered, stroking his cheek. "Don't be afraid." He reached out slowly and put his hands on Kyo's slender, delicate hips, nudging his nose against his forehead.

"This," Haru said, touching a festering, raw slash on Kyo's chest, "is not your fault. You didn't ask for it to happen." He pulled Kyo gently against his own body, his fingers sliding up and down his hips, and kissed his cheek. "Don't ever listen to a word that he says. It's not true about you. All that matters -," Haru laid his hand over Kyo's heart, "- is what's in here."

Kyo broke down sobbing. "I'm so afraid," he finally confessed, burying himself into Haru's chest. "I'd rather die than go back to him."

"He'll never find you. There's no way in hell I'll let him get to you again." Haru pressed his forehead against Kyo's and gazed longingly at his soft, pink lips; slowly Kyo's head came to rest on his shoulder, and Haru kissed his lips once.

"Never again will he hurt you," he whispered, stroking Kyo's cheek. "I'll die ten thousand times and still never let him do that." He wrapped Kyo in a towel and laid him on his bed, burying his face in his neck. Kyo reached up and clutched Haru's shoulders tightly, holding him close and never letting go.

"I love you Haru," he said softly.

"I love you too Kyo."

Well, what do you think? Too long? Too short? Too...freaking weird? Hope you likey, there be lemon ahead! Within about two or three chapters, I believe...ah, shower lemon! Rawr! Sexy!

Okay, peeps, I gotta go. I'm so tired...

-kat-