"So you want answers, huh?" she muttered. "What do you want to know?" Her body began to relax as the scent of wolves faded. They knew her location now and would be back. She was sure of it.

Hatori looked out the window, and after a few minutes, hastily drew the blinds shut. "How old are you? I've heard that werewolves are supposedly immortal."

"We aren't immortal," Tarja mumbled. "We just live a very long time. I'm over 700 years old."

"700?" She nodded.

Sauntering to the couch and taking a seat on it, she began to tell her tale. "I was only fifteen, when the attacks first started. You'd hear about it, in hushed whispers and morbid gossip. People were being slain, brutally.

"Naturally it was a full moon the night they struck my family. We were gathered around the fire when the howls started. They were so close." Tarja began to choke up a bit at the memory.

"I was holding my younger sister, and my father went out with his rifle to drive them off. We heard him screaming, and my sister was crying. Mother sat staring at the door, a calm look on her face. She knew we were doomed, and had accepted it. She was next."

Hatori watched her carefully, the emotions changing on her face, from amused recollection into deep horror.

"He tore my sister right out of my arms and ripped her in half. Just like that. Then he approached me. I don't know what stopped him from killing me. Maybe it was the way I glared at him, like I was challenging him to kill me.

He took me away. All it took was one bite and I belonged to them. To the Lycans." She hung her head and Hatori put his hand on her shoulder. It had to be hard to relive such a painful past.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

She brushed a tear off her face. "Oh it gets better. The monster that destroyed me was named Claudio, an evil man. He wanted me to be his bride. I refused. We had our scuffle and finally I couldn't take it anymore. I had to leave."

"And they followed you?" Hatori guessed.

Tarja nodded. "He won't let me go. He thinks he owns me. But I belong to nothing, save for my curse."

He understood now. They were more alike than he originally thought. Both were chained to their existence by the tainted aura of their souls, but also by a master. Slaves.

She stood up and grimaced a bit at the pain in her shoulder. She sat down at the table and rested her head on the hard wood.

Hatori made her tea and brought it out to her.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"I knew there was something odd about that girl," Kyo mumbled the next morning. "Something was off about her."

Yuki nodded. "She's strange, but then so are we."

"So! Was I asking you, you damn rat?"

"Then stop talking to me, stupid cat!"

Tohru just grinned at their antics. She figured it was better they fight than not interact at all. At least this way they communicated their feelings to each other, no matter how negative.

"You three better hurry," Shigure muttered around his newspaper. "Or you'll be late for school."

"That's right!" Tohru jumped. She took both Yuki and Kyo's hands, pulling them out the door with her. "Goodbye Shigure. Have a great day!"

Shigure waved absently; glad the house would be quiet for a few hours. He needed to think over last night's events. Should Akito be warned? That was the thought that ran through his head. He'd call Hatori first and ask if he found anything else out.

"Hari!"

Hatori stared down at the receiver in shock. It was only seven in the morning and Shigure was bothering him already. That man was starting to rise with the sun just to torment him, Hatori was sure of it.

"I don't have time for you right now."

Shigure snickered. "Awww, you don't love me anymore? I bet you were up all night with that charming wolf…"

Silence.

"Hatori," Shigure's tone grew serious. "We need to talk about her."

"I figured you were up to something. Does this have to do with Akito?"

It was Shigure's turn for silence. "Hari, you spoil all my fun!"

"You want to tell him about her?"

"He should know," Shigure mused. "Maybe she's the one to break the curse."

Hatori sighed. "I've had enough of your scheming, Shigure, goodbye." He hung up the phone before the dog could utter another word.

Now isn't a good time for this, he thought, gazing over at Tarja's sleeping form.