Chapter 11: A Terrible Storm

Life with the Souma family seemed to settle down. Akito stood by his word to allow the Pit children - as they'd become known as - to live at the estate under Kureno's direct authority. He had no fears so long as someone he trusted was looking after the children. Not only did the Pit children stop killing after Omi's last incident at the Hot Springs, but the younger ones became able to go to be put with families within the Souma clan. The older ones, the ones already branded with the Black Scorpion tattoo would not go to school. Instead, a tutor was hired to work with them as it was found that not one of them could even read. It was Ritsu who came up with the winning solution as to what to do with the children.

"It seems to me, I probably shouldn't even say, but," Ritsu paused as if waiting for someone to stop him. When no one did as just waited expectantly, Ritsu went on. "Well…Kureno, you said they're not afraid of killing." He winced when he said it, afraid that he'd somehow offended Kureno. While Kureno was quiet, he wasn't unkind and Ritsu liked him. At Kureno's affirmative nod, "Orcot-san said that we must not be unguarded. He still believes the Black Scorpion will wish revenge against our family. Why not have the older children act as the guards?"

Ayame put a hand to his mouth and Hatori frowned. Hiro closed his eyes and tapped his fingers on his knee. It was the same throughout the room. Akito's unexpected meeting had brought them all together. Even Yuki and Kyou, both lurking together near the door with Kagura close by, had come at Akito's call. He took the threat of the Black Scorpion very seriously, especially since Tohru's discovery at Yuki's garden, and wanted to know what his family thought. In the end, the decision was his alone.

"Sorry." Ritsu wrung his hands. "It seemed like a good idea…"

"It is." Kureno agreed.

"Logically," Hiro spoke up. "It's an excellent idea. Otherwise they'd just be wandering around doing nothing. At least this way, they earn their keep. Don't look at me like that, Kisa! Even we can't afford to feed a bunch of freeloaders for the rest of their lives and unless we want to pack them off to some state-run foundlings home, they have to stay with us. Our people have jobs to get back to. They can't play guards for the rest of their lives and, frankly, when the Black Scorpion do attack, I think these kids will be more help than the accountants and secretaries we've got policing the estate at the moment. It's only logical."

And so, the children of the Black Scorpion became the guards of the Souma family.

Petshop-
Tet-chan-

He'd hunted throughout the Petshop until he'd found it locked in a far off closet. The painting of the elder Count D. With his hands stiff at his sides, fingers stretched out like talons, he stared at the picture. A mirror image of the one Tet-chan had promised to serve, but so different in reality. You're not my master! He didn't dare say the words out loud. I will NOT obey!

"But you are mine." It was no longer just a voice in Tet-chan's head. He watched, horrified, as the painting moved it's lips. The purple tinted lips curved into a smile and the painting reached out a hand. "Always mine. Did you think I did not know where you ran to, my Tou-Tetsu? My precious pet."

"No." Tet-chan licked his lips held his claws ready. "I'm not yours. I belong to the Count."

"I am the Count."

"No! No!" Tet-chan attacked. He attacked with all the ferocity of the wildest of his people and slashed at the painting with his long claws. A madness overtook him. He could think of nothing, but for the thin strips of canvas and paint which he tore into ribbons. Once he'd finished and even the frame had been destroyed, broken into splinters, Tet-chan stood panting over the remains. For a moment, just a moment, he felt satisfied. Then…

"My dear one," A mockery of D's loving endearment. "Thank you for freeing me. I knew I could depend on you." There was papa D standing not more than two steps in back of Tet-chan, smiling.

Tet-chan quaked. He trembled before that smile. It was not like the Count's smile which only served to reassure and comfort his beloved pets. This smile was cold and knowing. It was a smile Tet-chan remembered from nightmares. He could do nothing but stare.

Tet-chan? Chris' voice broke the spell and Tet-chan looked up, terrified to find the child standing so close. What's going on? Chris looked from Tet-chan to the long-haired kami, but frowned. He bit his lip and the smell of fear began to emanate from him. That's not the Count. How easily he realized what had befuddled so many others.

"Run!" Tet-chan howled. He broke from his place on the floor and made to run for Chris, but before he could go more than two paces, a hand seized his long, shaggy hair and pulled him backwards. Tet-chan growled and automatically and put his hands up to free himself before he realized what he was doing. When it struck him, Tet-chan froze. He rolled his eyes to the side to find the kami smiling at him. "He's only a baby." Tet-chan begged. He hated begging. Hated it! "Don't hurt him. Please. Please, don't hurt him."

"He is nothing but a human. He is lower than dust."

"Please." Tet-chan fell to his knees and rolled his head backwards, exposing his throat to the kami - he could no longer think of this creature as Count D - a dangerous move. Submission. "He's done nothing wrong."

"He's done nothing right." Papa D gracefully stepped closer, keeping his eyes locked on Tet-chan. "Never fear for your pet - I will not harm it." He reached out and, as he'd often done in the past that Tet-chan wanted to forget, stroked Tet-chan's hair. He couldn't move. "It seems that I shall come out ahead, regardless of my papa's interfering. I will have you and," He smiled so wickedly that Tet-chan felt fear grip at his heart. "I will have the most rare and most powerful animal of the Zodiac - the cat." He smiled and licked at his teeth. "Of course, the current cat is too dangerous to tame. It is best to start with a newborn so they will be used to the collar. The current Cat, Kyou, will have to be killed."

Tet-chan opened his mouth and yelled, "Chris! Run!"

He heard the patter of feet as Chris followed orders without question. It was rare. He seemed to follow orders about as well as his big brother, but this time Chris ran for all he was worth and Tet-chan hoped he had the sense to run to Count D. If anyone could stop papa D, it was the Count.

Papa D kept both of his hands on Tet-chan's head, but gripped a little harder. His eyes locked with Tet-chan's. "No use. He will not stop me. Come," The smiled lightened, somewhat. "Let us go."

Pain lanced through Tet-chan like electricity and he threw back his head to howl, but he couldn't find his voice. His mouth was opened, but he couldn't breathe in enough to draw in the air needed to scream. Instead, he gasped and trembled helplessly while he stared into papa D's eyes and he was overwhelmed.

The last thing Tet-chan was aware of was being taken through the Petshop and he screamed, with all the strength he could muster, "Master!"

Petshop-
D-

D had seen the young Nightingale out of the Petshop before he sat down on his parlor's sofa to think about what had happened just a short time ago. Less than an hour ago Leon had run from him at the airport. No one could blame Leon. It was hardly his fault. For three days everything had gone wonderfully. Leon had slept with him and they'd both been getting used to falling asleep next to someone. It felt warm and safe. They'd gotten so comfortable together that Leon had said something foolish.

"I love you."

At the airport, as they'd watched Jill's remains be taken away, Leon had bravely said the words D feared most. D hadn't wanted to hear those words. What good did they do? Not a bit. All they did was signal a vulnerability and a willingness to be vulnerable. D sat on his bed and thought about what had happened at the airport. How much courage had it taken for Leon to say those words? Poor Leon had probably been working himself up to it all day only to be met by D's silence.

Didn't Leon realize the danger? Of course, he didn't. D hadn't, and wouldn't, tell him.

Leon had been easy to sleep with, surprisingly. He was strong and warm, a big teddy bear for D to cuddle with. He was everything D had hoped for. But…to hear those words, from Leon of all people! D regretted what he'd done. He shouldn't have led Leon along like that. It wasn't fair to him. To say those words in return, even if they were true, would only be encouraging the pain.

I was weak. D admitted, looking at his lap. I knew it was bad, but I wanted him anyway. Worse than weak, I was selfish. And now he's hurt again and just the time when he should be sitting with me while I comfort him.

There were times when D hated what he was for the simple fact that it kept him away from Leon.

"My grandchild," The voice, so similar to D's own, was unexpected to say the least. "You are too hard on yourself. You know that I disapprove of your union with that human, but we, too, are part of nature. Just as all animals have needs and wants, so do we. Your father would have taught you differently, but I know the truth. We are no better or worse than any other animal on the face of the planet. We are merely different." A hand touched D's head and he felt himself relax under the touch of his sofu. "This partner of yours is temporary, that is true. He WILL age and he WILL die. You will not. Consider all possibilities. Are you willing to endure the pain?"

D didn't reply. Unconsciously, his eyes went to a small box he store the Cat's bracelet in. Such a precious thing. The black and white beads of the bracelet had been made from D's own body. His papa had created him solely to be able to create a prison for the Zodiac's cat. He'd done a good job at it, for the bracelet had ensured that not only the cat, but the whole family would suffer for many, many generations. Now, the bracelet was back with D and all he had to do was touch it and it would be absorbed back into his body.

I'll be a real kami. I'll just like sofu and papa. Sofu who was cold to everyone and papa who hates humanity. D felt the despair eat at him. If I become my real self, perhaps I won't care for Leon. Perhaps he'll be just another animal to me. That would break him. If I tell him I love him now, then surely he'll be hurt all the more later. D cursed himself. Stupid. Stupid for raising my hopes. Stupid for giving into temptation. But…it felt so right.

"My grandchild?"

"I am fine, sofu. Everything is fine." He would NOT cry in front of Sofu.

It was at that moment that the door that led to the backroom, the main part of the Petshop, were flung open and a crying Chris burst into the parlor. Count! Count! He shot across the room and threw himself into D's arms. Something's wrong! You have to help Tet-chan! Little Chris took hold of D's sleeves and looked up at him with frightened eyes.

"What is wrong with him?" But the words had no sooner left D's lips that he felt it. Like a wave crashing against him, he felt something change within the Petshop. It was powerful, but not unpleasant, and made D's skin twitch. The power concentrated within the Petshop so powerfully that D could almost feel it swirling around and around, like a hurricane around the eye. He, like all kami before him, was intimately connected with the Petshop. It was literally apart of him. The storm of power raged for a few moments in one far part of the Petshop before D could pinpoint it and when he did, he knew what had happened. "Papa." The word left his mouth in a gasp. His papa was free of the painting - sofa's punishment for tormenting the Zodiac family.

D stood, intending to bolt to where he'd hidden the painting, but, before he could move, the storm moved through the Petshop as quickly as lightening strikes. The backroom doors were flung open and a wind so terrible that it threw D back down onto the sofa with little Chris held protectively in his arms blew through. The noise was unbearable, a screaming, angry wind that tore at D's ears. The wind bit at his skin painfully. Things around the room were torn off their shelves, the chandelier rattled from the ceiling, curtains flapped uncontrollably and were torn from where they hung. Through it all, as D held Chris and tried to shield him from the fury of the storm, D heard…something.

A voice.

A familiar, frightened voice.

D's eyes opened when he recognized it and he looked at the storm. It was a mass of power and energy, not a true storm, but a gathering of visible power. The storm itself was red and gray, colored clouds and bright flashes of lightening-like energy. D stared at the rolling storm. He had heard it. He KNEW he had.

"Master!"

D gasped. It was Tet-chan's voice that came from that terrible storm. "Tet-chan? Tet-chan!" D stood, slipping Chris onto the sofa, but the storm was gone, leaving nothing to show it had been there but a messy front room. D ran to the door and up the stairs. He burst onto the street and desperately looked around. He could feel the blood rushing away from his head. He felt faint and weak. Tet-chan…dear Tet-chan. One of his most beloved pets had been stolen away by the one person D had wanted to keep him away from. D stretched out his senses, but there was nothing. It was as if the storm had never been.

"It seems," Sofu's voice whispered. "That my child is sorely vexed with us."

"Tet-chan…"

"Yes. He has stolen something precious. I wonder what he will do with it."

He said he was going to kill the cat. He's going to kill Kyou!

The next day-
Souma Estate-
Leon-

In a foul mood, Leon left the Petshop. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but he was pretty sure it was his fault. For a full day, D had refused to speak to him. Chris would do nothing but mope around in his bedroom or cry to Phillipe or Pon-chan. Something had happened and Leon wanted to know what it was, but no one was talking to him. When he'd ask Chris what was wrong, Chris would just sniffle and hug him and tell him that he couldn't find Tet-chan. D told him that the Tou-Tetsu had gone missing, but when Leon offered to look for the beast that morning D had reacted badly.

"You will keep out of this!" D had snapped. "I do not want you involved at all!"

Leon had snapped right back, "That vicious critter probably just ran off and you're letting Chris cry his eyes out and you won't even let me help? Fine! What do I care about that stupid thing? He's probably just at the animal shelter…"

D's icy glare made Leon stop. "Tet-chan is NOT stupid and no matter what you do, you will not be able to find him. If I can not find him, then you will have no chance. You are only human."

There was a long, painful silence between them until Leon broke his eyes away and headed for the door. "I gotta go."

"You are going to the Souma estate?" D had asked as Leon had started for the door. His voice was softer than before, almost a whisper.

"Yeah." He didn't meet D's eyes. Ever since that day at the airport, Leon had a hard time being in the same room as D. He felt like such a fool. "Time I got started. Ayame said it had been arranged for me to talk to Kureno. He's the one I've been trying to get at. Also said they might have found evidence for me. I haven't got time to waste anymore." If he concentrated on getting justice for Jill and for poor Murakai, then he was sure he'd be able to focus long enough to get this done. Afterwards, after it was all over, then maybe Leon would think about D and decide what he'd done wrong. He must have done something wrong.

"I see." D held a snake on his lap and stroked its head lazily. There was a terrible air of grief around him. "Please, tell them that I will visit their family soon. It was a promise I'd made."

"Yeah. Sure."

That was the extent of their conversation. In fact, that was the most they'd said to one another since the airport. Leon paused at the door and looked back at D, despondently petting his snake. He looked like he was going to cry. Leon opened his mouth, then close it again. He hurried up the stairs to get away from D.

Leon walked to the Souma estate with his head hanging low. For two nights, he'd been sleeping on the sofa in the parlor. Two nights of being cold and feeling utterly alone. He'd find an apartment, soon. He'd have to get a real job, if he could. Leon had left D's Petshop without having breakfast and without waiting to see either Chris or D. It hurt to even look at D after that day at the airport.

All during his walk to the Souma estate, Leon felt his frustration growing and growing. He was angry at D, but also angry at himself. If D didn't tell Leon what he'd done wrong, then how could Leon fix it? After all, something must have happened and Leon just didn't notice. Perhaps he'd made D mad. Perhaps, he'd just misinterpreted something. But D had been the one to invite Leon into his bed. D had been the one to reach out. Leon was pretty sure he hadn't done anything stupid. He hadn't insulted D in ages and he hadn't broken anything for a long time. Sleeping with D had been nice, even better than nice! Leon had liked it. To sleep next to someone and feel their warmth while he drifted off to sleep had been…

"And now he barely looks at me. What am I doing wrong?" Leon asked with a sudden burst of anger. "I must be!"

"Like what?"

Leon hadn't really been expecting anyone to hear him, so he jumped when he was answered. "Ayame? What are you doing up there?"

"Getting an outside point of view." Ayame didn't seem to be the type to hang around in trees, but that was just what he was doing. Leon hadn't even realized that he'd gotten to the estate until he looked up and saw the great wall that surrounded the estate. Right next to the main gateway there was a large tree that overhung just over the wall and one a branch sat Ayame. "Kyou gets a lot of therapy from climbing trees, so I thought I'd try it. It doesn't seem to work for me. I just keep thinking about…things." His eyes opened wide and Ayame rolled with such suddenly that Leon thought his friend was falling until Ayame twisted in mid-air and landed easily on his feet right in front of Leon. He moved close enough to Leon that Leon took an involuntary step back. "I'm not being at all considerate." With that, he put an arm around Leon and led him through the main gateway. "He's with me." Ayame said briefly to a couple of teenagers dressed in loose black suits.

"Hey," Leon looked over his shoulder at the teenagers as Ayame pulled him away. "Aren't those the kids? Those Black Scorpion kids?"

"Yes. They've been made into our security force." Ayame said it as if there were nothing unusual about it. "Kureno is the head of their little team and Omi answers directly to him. Do you like the uniforms? I made them myself, but I'm not entirely pleased about it. Ha'ri said black is dignified. I was thinking yellow. Bright, canary yellow. Maybe I'll embroider some sunflowers on the backs of the jackets."

"You're using wet-behind-the-ears brats for security guards?" Leon asked, amazed. It was true. They'd passed the two kids at the front gate, but as they walked, Leon would catch a glimpse here and there of another black clad teenager. "Aren't you worried about, you know, what they went through before?"

"Kureno said that is exactly what makes them perfect guards. Besides, what else could we do with them?" Ayame's eyes fell. "Even Ha'ri says he's not sure if the older ones will ever be able to integrate back into society. He doesn't believe they'd ever find a decent foster home or that they could be safe at schools. The little ones have been put with people in our family so they can all stay together. Ha'ri says separating them would be bad for them."

They went through the estate to a fine looking house with a well-taken care of garden. Not that Leon really knew what a well-taken-care-of garden should look like. All the while Ayame held onto Leon's arm and led him, but even Ayame was depressed. His smile lacked its usual brilliance. "How are you holding up?" Leon asked when Ayame paused for breath outside the house. "I mean…your shop and Mine-chan?"

Ayame's face fell tragically, then instantly brightened. "I'm fine. Just fine. Mine-chan…well, she's…she's doing alright. All things considered. Ah…yes, I think she'll be alright. She's staying at my home for now and I'm going to rebuild my shop. It's to be called Jill's out of respect for Mine-chan's lost love. You don't mind, do you? Hatori told me that it's good and respectful. It'll be Bigger and better than ever, you know." His arm tightened around Leon's. "What about you? I thought you'd have stopped by before now. It's been days."

At the door of the house, Leon stopped walking. "Don't worry about me. Look, you should be taking care of Mine-chan. Are you sure she alright? She'd the one who's really suffering." No, Leon wasn't alright. Jill had been one of the pillars of his life. How could he live without her to confide in? Who was going to tease him about D? Who was going to browbeat him into throwing out old clothes and splurging on new stuff? He hated shopping. It was only Jill who made it bearable. How was he supposed to watch football without her? "I didn't mean to bother you. I just came to talk to Kureno-san. Didn't mean to trouble you."

Ayame blinked, looked confused, then put a hand on Leon's arm. "Come inside. Have some tea." He smiled angelically.

Twenty minutes after being let into the house and plied with tea that was too sweet for Leon's taste, but would have been perfect for D, Leon found himself babbling. God knows he tried to carry on a decent conversation. Leon talked about this or that, but it all seemed to lead back to Jill. What didn't lead to Jill and the memory of what Leon had seen in the morgue, led to D and that was just as painfully fresh. He didn't want to think about D or Jill or Chris crying for Tet-chan. He didn't want to think about much of anything. "This is a nice place."

Ayame fanned himself with a bright colored fan and smiled proudly. "It's not mine."

"Oh." Leon frowned. "Should we be here?"

"Why not? This is Ha'ri's house. He doesn't mind a bit. Momiji-chan is at Haru's house and Ha'ri is paying a visit to one of our expectant mothers. We had a bit of trouble the other day and he's worried, but he always worries when…"

"We slept together." Leon blurted it out without really meaning to, and waited for whatever reaction Ayame might have. He was surprised by the reaction he got.

"Really?" Ayame bounced up from his seat to sit next to Leon and put an arm over his shoulders. "Your first time, am I right?"

"Yeah." Leon liked the feel of Ayame's arm on him. It didn't send uncomfortable tingles though him like D's electric touch could. It was warm and safe. "Since that night I saw your folks at the Petshop. Just a couple of nights. Nothing…you know…dirty, but just slept." Leon found himself blushing and looking at the brown tea instead of Ayame and was bitter about it. He wasn't ashamed when he was with D. Why should taking about it make him embarrassed?

Ayame gave him a gentle squeeze. "It's not dirty."

"Huh?"

"Sex. It's not dirty, not when it's with the right person." Ayame spoke with the voice of wisdom and, sadly, experience. "So, you two cuddled and kept each other warm. What's the problem? It sounds romantic."

"I thought it meant something. You know, it's the first time I've been with a guy. I know I never was a real winner when it came to women, but at least I knew the rules. Buy flowers, open doors for them, always use your best manners and shine your shoes before dates. Those were the basics Jill taught me." Who else would have taught him? In fact, Leon's love life had been nonexistent until college when Jill had taken it upon herself to give Leon a bit of polish. It wasn't as if Leon's good-for-nothing relatives had taken the slightest interest in Leon after his mom had died and the last time he'd heard from his dad had been when he was seven. "I must be doing something wrong. I never tried dating a guy."

Ayame said nothing and just listened, leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed daintily. There was an intensity in his eyes when Leon looked at him that didn't appear quite right on him. "I'm afraid I don't have any advice. No good advice, anyway."

"I thought…we've been sleeping together. You don't do that unless it means something, right?"

"And it meant something to you, right?"

"Damned straight!" As if he hadn't had to work up his courage just to spend that first night with D. They'd never really talked about it, though. D had offered and Leon had accepted. That was it. Maybe Leon had misinterpreted something. Maybe he was supposed to do something. What if D had expected sex? "I don't sleep with people unless they're important." But if he wasn't important to D then what the Hell was going on?

Ayame beamed at him. "You're lucky to have someone to care for so much."

"Yeah, but he doesn't seem to care back. I've been sleeping on the couch for the past two nights. Jill was taken home the other day. I watched her plane. It's all done, now." The change in subject was strangely welcomed. "The police won't do anything to help, will they?"

Ayame rolled the question around in his head. "Well, that all depends, I suppose."

"On what?" A former police officer who had taken great pride in his work, Leon couldn't understand why they were getting so little help from the police in this matter. It was frustrating and infuriating that he couldn't get so much as a call back from them. This wasn't some jaywalking case. It was multiple murders and child abuse in the most extreme case Leon had ever heard of. "What can possibly make them think twice about it?"

"You're the detective, aren't you? What do you think?"

So Leon thought. He thought about what little he knew about the Black Scorpion organization and, while he didn't know much, he knew one thing for certain. It was big. Jill's research clearly pointed that out. It was big and had a lot of money backing it. It stuck Leon and he cursed. "They're being paid off."

"I expect so. High ranking officials do tend to be subject to bribes, though it must be quite a lot in this case." Ayame didn't seem at all outraged. He smiled as he said it and examined his fingernails. "Now, what - you may ask - can work in our favor? Simple, there are Souma's working on the police force all the way from the most junior beat cop right up to officers. They can help us as they have in the past. Also, there are people of influence around Japan who owe favors to the Souma family. The problem we have is that the person who normally takes care of these problems has vanished."

Vanished? Leon scowled. "You sure it's just vanished? With the Black Scorpion lurking around, your person might have been killed. Oh, hey! No, no! Don't do that. I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Don't cry!"

The words had a disastrous affect on Ayame. He'd started to tear up almost immediately and bit his bottom lip. His narrow shoulders started to shake as Leon babbled his apology. "It's 'Gure. He's vanished. Just disappeared. He isn't dead! He isn't!" Ayame jumped to his feet at that with his whole body tense as a bow string. "You don't know him like I do, he wouldn't just die! He's too loyal to the family. He's too strong to just die. He wouldn't."

Leon nodded slowly. "Yeah. Whatever you say. Just sit. I didn't mean anything, it's just that well, with all this stuff revolving around your family…it was a thought."

"A nasty thought!" Ayame told him, reprovingly, before his eyes started to water, again, and he slumped back down next to Leon. "But you aren't the first one who thought of it. Things were supposed to settle down, not get worse!" He slammed his fists down on his knees. "Three murders!" He held up three fingers at Leon. "Three of them and all of them around my family! Akito won't let anyone leave the estate and my shop's gone, Mine-chan's been crying for days, you're on the verge of crying, Yuki's in a position he never wanted to be in, and…and…and I don't know what to do!"

"You could stop shouting, for one."

The new voice made Leon turn around. There, silently walking down the stairs, was Hatori, a man Leon had only met once or twice. He'd never been terribly impressed by the cold, aloof doctor. More than his personality, Leon disliked him because from everything Ayame had told him about Hatori, it had seemed to Leon that Hatori was stringing Ayame along. If there was one thing Leon couldn't stand it was people who took advantage of other people.

Luckily for Hatori, Ayame muttered to Leon, "You're not the only one's who's been sharing a bed, lately." Hatori had a good affect on Ayame. At the sight of the man, he smiled brightly and in that smile Leon thought he could forgive Hatori's coldness. Ayame clearly, for some reason, adored the man.

Hatori bowed to Leon. "Orcot-san. Thank you for visiting. While you're here, Kureno would like a word with you. He's been trying to find a way to contact you about an impending attack."

"Yeah. Kureno's at the top of my list." Because Kureno could lead Leon to the people who killed Jill. "Know where he is?"

"He will likely be with Akito. Shall I walk you over?" Hatori was already moving to get his coat, but Leon stopped him.

"I'll find my way. Thanks, though."

"You should have no problems. Akito has already given Kureno permission to be of as much help to you as possible."

Souma Estate-
Tohru-

After leaving Count D's petshop, Tohru did not go immediately to her grandfather's house. Instead, she went back to the Souma estate, worried that they would be frightened for her. It was unforgivable that she hadn't called, no matter what the circumstances. She'd made a promise and broken it!

The guards at the gate stopped Tohru until Kagura told them she could come in. It was good to be with Kagura, again. Tohru counted Kagura as one of her closest friends. While they walked, they talked about this or that until the subject landed on Uo-chan. "How's Uo-chan doing?"

"Pretty well." Kagura said with a hopeful sort of smile. "She's not exactly happy, but she'd not unhappy either, I think. Health wise, Hatori says she's doing wonderfully. She's very fit, though he says he'd like to see her eat a little healthier. He says she too skinny." Kagura puffed up a little with pride. "Guess who's been appointed as her guard?"

"Guard?"

"She carries the next head." Kagura explained. "She's currently the most important person on the estate. Hatori said it should be Kazuma, as the best fighter, to guard Arisa-san, but Ayame and Ritsu's mother both said that it wouldn't be proper for a man to be around a vulnerable young woman constantly. Hatori is with her now so I get a bit of a break. She's nice, even if she does keep trying to escape."

Tohru didn't doubt it. Uo-chan wouldn't like being confined, even if it was for the good of the baby. "I'm sure she's just feeling a bit of cabin fever. It's really very nice of Akito to take such good care of her."

Kagura moved a little closer to Tohru and whispered, "You don't know the half of it. He's not just taking care of her. He's forced her father to give up legal custody. Kazuma-dono went to speak with him. Now, Uotoni-san is legally Souma-san."

Tohru gaped at Kagura. "What…what did Uo-chan say?" If it was true, she really shouldn't call her friend Uo-chan anymore. Maybe, So-chan? Ma-chan? She'd have to give a new nickname some thought.

"Not much. That's why I'm glad you're here. If you could talk to her before you leave, I'd appreciate it. I try to be kind, but I think she just doesn't trust me. She doesn't trust anyone but Kureno. Can't say I really blame her. In all honesty, she didn't seem very upset about it. Your other friend, Hanajima-san was visiting and spoke to her for a while. She told me that Arisa-san is dealing well, but didn't go into specifics. She worried about you. We all were."

"I'm so sorry." Tohru bit her lip. "It just happened kind of quickly. You see, I was going to grandfather's house, but there was someone from Count D's petshop waiting for me there. He took me straight to the Petshop because Count D wanted to teach me to fly."

"A nightengale." Kagura smiled easily. "It fits you. You know, that sort of makes you part of the family. Part animal, part human. Only, don't tell Akito I said that. I don't want to test his temperament. Are you planning to go to your grandfather's house when you leave us?"

"I suppose I'll have to. I wanted to see how everyone was doing and apologize to Hatori-san and Yuki. I promised them both I'd call to tell them I was alright and I forgot. It was terrible of me."

"Well, Hatori's giving Arisa-san her daily exam - she's growing tired of that already - but I think Yuki's with Akito. No! Don't look so worried. It seems to be working out." And she smiled proudly. "And we have Kyou to thank for that, don't we? Look, there he is."

Tohru turned to where Kagura was pointing and only then realized that they'd long since passed through the gates into the inner house. There, just as Kagura had said, was Kyou.

Laying on his stomach, Kyou was naked from the waist up and had his arms spread out at his sides. He wore no shoes or socks and was not as Tohru was used to seeing him. Instead, he was in his new shape. Perfectly calmly and utterly still, Kyou looked as if he were sleeping. The sunlight would strike his bare chest. He was most impressive in his new form. Taller and more muscular than the Kyou Tohru was used to, Kyou's knew body would have been sure to earn him a fan club at school, if they ever returned to school. "What's he doing?"

"Sunbathing." Kagura said, the pride still evident in her voice. "He does that every day. Says he can feel when he's 'full' and then he goes to give Akito a dose. Akito's been agreeable every since we left Count D's petshop. No fits or tantrums or anything! It's wonderful."

Kyou stood up then and looked over at them. He smiled and strode towards them. It felt to Tohru like she was looking up at a mountain! She was used to looking up at Yuki and Kyou, but this almost seemed silly. He was as tall as Hatori - if not taller! - and seemed as massive as a tree trunk. "Hey," Kyou casually bent down to kiss Kagura's cheek, then, without hesitation, did the same to Tohru. "Gotta run."

"Don't look so shocked." Kagura told Tohru after Kyou had left, heading straight to Akito's house. "I'm getting used to it."

"But…but…"

"No buts. It's the way he is. At least, it's the way he is now." She put an arm around Tohru's waist and they started walking together again. "I know Kyou cares for you very much. You can't have missed it. He also cares for Yuki in the same way. You know, he promised me he wouldn't do anything about it. We talked about it and he said he'd never do anything to hurt me. I don't think he can help it. He's a cat."

"Kagura…I wouldn't do anything to encourage…"

She laughed, though it sounded strained. "Oh, I know you wouldn't. It won't stop him, though. He's trying hard, but I keep catching him stealing glances at Yuki and, just now, he wasn't even thinking when he kissed you. It's just natural for him. You wait and see. Later, he'll realize what he did and he'll feel badly. He'll apologize and promise to stay away from you for my sake. It won't work and I won't hold him to his promise. It's just the way he is. Count D warned me that Kyou would be changed. He said I might not like the changes. I didn't really expect this. Like it or not, I can accept it. To be with Kyou, I can accept any change." She hugged Tohru a little closer. "I know you won't hurt him, so I can deal with whatever he decides to do."

Tohru didn't know what to say to something like that. It seemed unlike Kagura, jealous protective Kagura who would kill to protect Kyou, to say something so generous. "Do you want me to stay away from him? Away from the family?"

"You'd do that, wouldn't you? No. That wouldn't be fair on anyone. If I screamed and cried, if I beat you, if I chased you away…what good would it do? Kyou would be angry with me and I would have hurt my dear friend. One must accept life and take what one gets. That's an old philosophy of the Souma family. I might get upset if he'd chosen anyone else but you and Yuki. I care for you two, also. Just don't steal his heart entirely away from me, alright?"

Kagura led Tohru right to the steps of Akito's house and left here there. "Are you sure you want to see him?" Kagura asked before she left. "I know I said he's been better lately, but he's still…well, he's still Akito."

"I'm sure." Tohru stiffened her resolve. "If that's where Yuki is, then I'll just have to wait for him."

The door of Akito's house opened and two men stepped out. There was a very tall, muscular foreigner and Kureno. Tohru smiled at Kureno. "I'm looking for Yuki-kun." Tohru told Kureno. She didn't know him well, but if Uo-chan liked him well enough to sleep with him, she thought sure that Kureno must be a good person. After all, Uo-chan wouldn't be with someone she disliked. Still, Kagura had once told her that Kureno was Akito's bodyguard and constant companion so it would do well to be careful with him. "Is he still inside?"

"Yes." Kureno looked at Tohru closely as if he were curious. "You are Arisa's friend?"

"I am. Are you going to see her now? Will you tell her I said hi?"

"I'm sorry." He told her. "I have work to do." He glanced at the blonde foreigner. "We need to find Hiro. In all the family, I believe he is best with computers. He will be able to find the information you need from that disk."

"Hiro's visiting Rin at my house." Kagura spoke up. "Is something wrong?"

Tohru looked at both men, concerned. They seemed tired and haggard. "You look worried, Kureno-san."

He blinked at her and looked troubled. "San? You don't have to call me, 'san'."

"Mom always told me to be polite." But mom had also made Tohru promise to finish high school and that wasn't looking likely at that point. "Would it be alright if I went in to speak with Yuki-kun, it won't take long."

Kureno nodded silently and Kagura left Tohru to walk Kureno and the foreigner to her house. Akito's house was very quiet when Tohru went in. She went straight to the room Shigure had taken her to the last time she'd been at Akito's house. The time when Akito had gotten so angry with her. The doors were open. Tohru didn't mean to spy, but it was impossible to miss what was going on.

Yuki sat on his knees next to Akito who was sprawled out comfortably at the door that led to his garden. Kyou was standing over Akito, kissing him.

It wasn't something Tohru had been expecting, so she froze and stared. Yuki was the first to notice her. He looked alarmed for a moment, but quickly calmed himself and said nothing until Kyou pulled away from Akito. Just like had happened at the Petshop, Tohru could see a glow of light passing from Kyou to Akito and she was proud of Kyou. Kagura was right. Kyou was doing so much for the Souma's. She didn't get embarrassed about watching until Akito's eyes fell on her.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt. I didn't disturb you, did I?" Tohru's face was flaming with embarrassment.

Kyou just smiled. "Not a bit. I was just finishing up." He sauntered away from Akito and went to sit next to Yuki. He sat very close, closer than Yuki was probably comfortable with, and leaned himself against Yuki. It was an interesting scene to watch. Yuki's eyes went very wide, but he quickly got hold of himself and forced his expression into one of indifference.

"Kyou, if you're going to be sitting there doing nothing, make yourself useful." He gave Kyou a little shove. "You're sitting on the food invoices. Move and get another pen. You can help fill out the orders for next month."

"Yuki's been helping me." Akito told Tohru. "There are so many details to take care of. I can't seem to keep track of them." He raised a hand to his lips. "Kyou…you taste good. Thank you."

Akito-

"Kyou…you taste good." Akito tapped his knee, almost irritably. He hadn't expected Honda-san to visit. "Thank you." Akito told to his newest protector. Since Kyou was making regular visits, Akito felt stronger than he'd ever felt in his life. He could think more clearly and now, just after one of Kyou's magic kisses, he thought that maybe he should deal with the situation of Honda-san.

"You're welcome." Kyou replied. He kept leaning against Yuki, but did get off the papers Yuki was shuffling through. "What's up? Did you come to see Uotoni-san?"

It was enough to make Akito grind his teeth. "I told you not to say that!" He shouted. "She's mine, now! She's a Souma! The baby will be born a Souma!"

Kyou, for all of his new found confidence, lowered his head at Akito's rebut, humbling accepting that he'd been wrong. At least, Kyou hadn't forgotten his place. That hadn't changed. Akito was still god.

"I came to see Yuki." She smiled at him, though it was a bit of a nervous smile and she put a hand to the back of her head - another sign of her nerves. "I wanted to apologize for making you worry."

"You DID say you'd call." Yuki said, with only a hint of reproach in his voice.

"It's a long story."

Akito listened to them talk and chatter about very little while he thought. Honda-san had been playing on his mind, lately. She was an uncertainty in the family and had been left too long and, now that he was able to make a thoughtful decision, he would have to make up his mind. She was obviously important to the family, even he could see that. The way everyone treated her, one would have thought she was a princess.

Princess?

Akito smiled at the idea forming in his mind. It would take some time to work out the details, but Shigure was very good at taking care of such things…no. Shigure was missing. Hatori had said that Shigure was very good at hiding if he didn't want to be found. It was best to just let Shigure come back when he was ready. That was alright. Akito would just do it himself. It certainly wasn't an impossible idea that was brewing. It would make everyone happy. Even Honda-san's grandfather would be happy as it was he who'd asked Akito to have the family look after the girl in the first place. Yes. Honda Tohru-san would become Souma Tohru-san. She would be happy because she could be with her friend again. Yuki will be happy because the princess will be close. 'The reputation of my family should make it very simply. Yes. I won't make the same mistake I made with Kana.'

"Sit with me, Honda-san. I want to talk with you."

Tohru blinked at the invitation and looked even more nervous, but she did as she was told and went to sit in front of Akito. She took her cue from Yuki and sat very formally on her knees. "What did you want to talk about?"

"You. Tell me about you."

"Me?" She seemed befuddled. "I'm not very interesting."

"Tell me anyway."

She did. She told him everything. She told him about her beloved mother's death and how she'd gone to live with the only relation that would have her only to be homeless a few months later. She told him how she worked hard at school but never seemed to make any progress. How she'd tried living with her family after having lived with Shigure for so long and found it very hard. She even told him about her part-time job.

"You're a cleaning girl?" Akito asked in disbelief. The princess could not be a scullery maid! The story wouldn't work that way. Perhaps it could turn out that the scullery maid was a princess in disguise. That might work. Didn't Shigure tell him about Cinderella? A kind pauper who became a princess? Yes. Shigure always told the best stories. He could make Cinderella come true.

"It's my part-time job." Honda-san sounded so proud of herself.

Akito scowled and leaned forward to take a closer look at Tohru-san. She was attending school and working late into the night? "Part-time job?"

"Oh, yes!" Tohru-san smiled and nodded her head, enthusiastically. "I'm earning my way through high school and I'm trying to save up so I can support myself after high school." She looked a little worried. "That's another problem I have. I've missed several days of work and I haven't been able to contact them. I hope I have a job to go back to." She was clearly worried about it.

"You enjoy your work?"

"Well, it is hard work, but I'm just grateful I have a job. I never thought about it, but I should thank you for this job, Akito-san. Momiji told me that this is his father's buildings, so it's a Souma building and one of yours. Right?"

"Yes." Akito didn't like it at all. He couldn't have the princess scrubbing floors. Isn't that what Ayame was always calling her? The princess. It seemed only right if she were so attached to Yuki. He'd heard rumors that said Yuki was the prince of his school and the prince really should have a princess. "Tell me, what are you planning to do after you finish school? Will you be a cleaning lady for the rest of your life?"

Tohru-san blinked and looked up at the ceiling, thinking. "Well, I really don't know. I haven't thought about it much before. I should start, I suppose. I don't mind cleaning. It's a good way to earn a living and when I don't have to pay for school anymore, I should be able to get a small apartment." Her smile lit up again. "I think I'll stay with this job."

"No." Akito decided. "You're fired. Yuki, remind me to speak to Hatori."

Yuki's eyes were wide at the abrupt order, but he bowed his head. "Yes, Akito."

Hiro's Bedroom-
Leon-

When Leon had learned that the person they were seeking help from was nothing but a brat not even old enough to shave, he was irritated. When Kureno had handed little Hiro the disk Jill had given to Mine-chan and Hiro had gotten to work on it, typing rapidly at a computer in his bedroom, Leon's doubts disappeared. Hiro was better on the damned machine that Leon would ever be and he whizzed through the information at lightening speed.

It was annoying to be forced to look over the shoulder of the kid who wouldn't stop talking and every word out of his mouth was an insult. Was this really the same kid Chris had been so eager to go see? He was so much older than Chris and had a real smart mouth. His mom should have give him a good spanking when he was little. Teach him to mind his manners. Leon thought sourly as Hiro spouted off another remark about stupid adults who didn't even know how to use simple machines. Kureno didn't look at all bothered by Hiro's words and just waited.

Hiro cursed andslammed his fist down on the desk.

It was sudden enough to make Leon start. He jumped where he'd gone to stand by the door and quickly went back to stand behind Hiro to look over his shoulder at the computer screen. "What is it? What did you find?"

Hiro scowled darkly at the screen. "This place was a breeding ground for the Black Scorpion, Orcot-san. They supplied some of the children, but not all. This was a fighting ring. The customers paid to see little kids kill each other. The good ones, the ones who kept surviving the fights, were sold to the Black Scorpion ring. That's why they're marked with the tattoo, so no one else would buy them."

"Yeah, we know that already." Leon grumbled. "We need to know who headed up the operations. Who's in charge and where are they?" Leon looked at the screen and all the names of contacts, hundreds of phone numbers, and addresses. "This...this could take years." He said, realizing the extent of the mission he'd set himself. Then his face hardened. He thought of Murakai who would linger for the rest of his life in coma. He thought of D and Chris frightened at the hands of a terrified, injured child, and he thought of Jill, dead and buried. No matter how many years, no matter how big the task, Leon would destroy the Black Scorpion.

"Almost." Hiro told Leon. He began tapping away again, his eyes darting over the screen as quickly as he changed it until, at last, he came to rest and set his hands on his lap. A pleased, self-satisfied smile crossed his face. "Here."

"What?"

"Hong Kong. The organization centers in Hong Kong. Whoever the leader is, Iexpectyou'll find them there. Interesting." He move the computer mouse and clicked here and there until he found what he was looking for. "The Pit wasn't the only operation in Japan. It seems whoever runs this is very careful with their name, but not careful enough. They've got their fingers in a legitimate businesses. I can't pin down where…yet. It's possible that the information isn't on this disk. If it is, I'll find it."

Hong Kong, China-
Tet-chan-

When he entered his office, Po-Sin was not unguarded.

Tet-chan knew a predator when he saw one and he knew that the female standing so closely behind the Chinese businessman would kill for him in an instant. She wasn't like human killers Tet-chan had seen before with fire in their eyes or an animal predator's hunger. Instead, she looked…tolerant. A trained pet who knew her place. A trained animal that yearned for freedom, but had been too beaten to reach for it.

"How did you get in here!" The Chinese businessman demanded when he and the female hunter saw the elder kami. Once Tet-chan would have called him Count D, but now that title was reserved for one who actually cared for Tet-chan. This one, his abductor, would only be called the elder kami.

"Easily." The elder kami smiled and motioned for the Chinese businessman to sit at his own desk. "Please, join me. We have much to discuss."

"If you have business with me, make an appointment with my secretary. My office is not open to everyone."

"Would you like your secretary to know about the children you have lost? If so, I will happily make my business known to her."

Po-Sin scowled. "Indihar, close the door."

Sthe guard did as she was told without speaking and quietly took up her position slightly behind Po-Sin when he sat at his desk, across from the elder kami.

The elder kami was vastly unlike the Count D Tet-chan had accepted and welcomed as his master. No elaborate outfits or soft smiles. The elder kami dressed like a human in modern garb. A three-piece suit of stark black and polished black shoes. His hair was very long and fell loose down his back. While he smiled just as often as Count D, the elder kami's smile lacked the warmth of his child's. Tet-chan didn't know how long he'd been with the elder kami, but it felt like forever. Animals did not have the sense of time as humans do, but Tet-chan was beginning to get an idea of it. Time was slow and painful. After Tet-chan's stupid act of shredding the portrait, the elder kami had snatched him and carried him away from the Petshop as easily as he'd stolen Tet-chan as a cub. Another sour memory.

"What is that thing?" It was the first thing out of Po-Sin's mouth when he sat. "Some kind of mutant dog?"

Tet-chn snarled at the human but made no move to attack the insulting man. Dog, indeed! He deserved death for even thinking such a thing! If he hadn't been collared…oh! What a meal he could make of the man!

"Of course not." The elder kami smiled, as ever, and put a hand on Tet-chan's head. It made Tet-chan freeze, terrified of angering the kami. Those long daggers of fingernails drew through Tet-chan's fur lazily. Tet-chan had never felt such paralyzing fear when it had been Count D stroking his fur. "So few have ever seen such a rare and wondrous creature as the Tou-Tetsu. This is the last of his race. A priceless treasure."

A stolen treasure! Tet-chan wanted to scream. I want to go home! But he didn't even try to get away from the elder kami's hand. That would only lead to trouble. Perhaps the elder kami wouldn't hurt Tet-chan right then and there, but there was always later. He'd felt the elder kami's rage before. Wisely, Tet-chan sank down to lay on the floor and kept as quiet and as still as he could.

"Allow me to introduce myself." The elder kami said smoothly. "You may call me doctor D. I do believe we may be able to be of assistance to one another."

"Even if I am curious about how you would know about my missing children, I don't know how a doctor could help out my business. We're simple transporters, shipping cargo around the world hardly requires a doctor of…of what?"

"Chemistry, zoology, medicine, astronomy, paleontology, biology. Especially biology. That has always been my main focus." The elder kami's voice was light and sweet, like wind on a summer night. "I am a doctor of almost everything."

"I can see. Still, what makes you think any of that is any use to me?"

"Because," The elder kami leaned back in his chair and smirked. "I understand that you are interested in a family known as Souma."

Even Tet-chan noticed the immediate reaction of the man. He tensed and leaned forward. "They have been brought to my attention, yes. What would you know of them?"

"Many things. Many secrets. I know that you want the children who are harbored by that family very badly. I know that the family took the children in when they found them in a quite illegal fighting ring. A fighting ring…tell me, have you ever staged dog fights? Or cock fights?"

"In my younger years." The man answered without a care. "It's the same principle, really. The children bring in more money, though it does cost slightly more to keep them. It's a better class of customers."

"I see." The elder kami seemed unhappy, but Tet-chan could easily guess it was from the idea of dog fights and cock fights. He wouldn't care a thing for the humans killing one another, even though one of those humans had almost been little Chris. It made Tet-chan want to kill. The man in front of him was responsible for Chris' near death and, yet, he wasn't allowed to kill. He would devour the human if he were allowed to, if the elder kami weren't keeping such a close eye on him. "Now, let us turn to the subject of the Souma clan. I do believe you have plans for them."

"I have plans regarding them." Po-Sin's eyes became guarded. "Why do you think you would in any way be involved with my plans?"

"I know that they have taken the children you had possessed. I know that you want those children retrieved or dead. I know that the Souma's are more powerful than you can imagine."

"And let me guess," Po-Sin leaned back in his chair and accepted a drink from his aide. "You can help."

It made the elder kami laugh. "Help? Certainly not. I would not involve myself with your little…for lack of a better term…business venture. Far too risky. However, while you are intent on your task, I do have a proposal to make. For a certain small service rendered, I would be most willing to pay handsomely."

"You'll stop talking in riddles." Po-Sin frowned at him. "I'll agree to nothing before I hear the deal."

"The deal is that there is a certain Souma child I wish to possess. An orange-haired teenage boy. If you will be so kind as to fetch him for me, I will find a way to reward your service."

"I prefer women, thank you."

Again, the elder kami laughed. "NOT what I was offering. You are most definitely not my type. I had in mind another payment. I am a scientist with a particular leaning towards biology. I have the means to create certain chemicals to enhance the abilities of your children."

It got Po-Sin's attention but he did his best to hide it. "Explain, please."

"Endurance. Speed. Strength. All excellent qualities for your fighters. Other, more subtle, enhancements for the child whores you keep. I can make their fights more vicious, more engaging than you can imagine. You look skeptical. I have drugs that will allow them to run as fast as a horse. It will give them the strength of an elephant. Would that interest your customers? To see two small children throw each other twenty feet or more? To bash another child's head against a wall with enough force to make it explode?"

Po-Sin nodded slightly. "Yes, that might be interesting."

"Then the chemicals are yours…for the boy."

"Why not get him yourself?"

"That is a possibility, but I would prefer to have this done subtly. There are people in that area who are looking for me. I do not wish to be found be going so close to the family. It would be simple for you, wouldn't it?"

Po-Sin thought and spoke to his aide. "Indihar, find the orange-haired teenage boy of the Soumas."

Seven months passed while Po-sin Lung waited and watched for his chance to reclaim the children.

Seven months passed while the Pit children gradually became accustomed to normal life - if life with the Souma's could be called normal.

Seven months passed while Tet-chan remained captive of Papa D and wished for home.

Seven months while Tohru tried to learn to fly and failed.

Seven months where Leon mourned and hated, both the Black Scorpion and himself.

Seven months while Shigure stayed hidden from his family, even as New Year's drew closer.

Seven months and Uotoni Arisa's due date drew closer and closer…

To be continued…

A/N: Dear readers, thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed. It means a lot to me. I hope everyone's enjoying the story so far.