Polka Dot- of course there's more! I'm glad you like it.

Alz-chan- no you don't offend me ^_^ I know I need work on my grammar and spelling.

Raven's Light-glad ya like it!

And to all the other reviewers I didn't respond too I still read everyone of them and I majorly appreciate it! Thanks to ya all hope you like this one.. it's a bit calmer than the last one but don't worry it will pick up again, this is just a sort of in between chapter. ^_~


Chapter 2

Truth?

By Wildfire

Kyou ran, he ran as fast as his tiny legs could move. It was the last day of the party and people were already starting to leave. He was having one more race with Yuki. Racing was the one think Kyou almost came close to beating Yuki at. Yet unless Yuki held back the rat would still win.

Yuki ran right beside him, pushing his little legs as well. He'd beat the cat but it wouldn't be an easy win at any level. They ran past a crowd of people, both there faces set in determination.

"KYOU!" Both boys stopped dead in there tracks looking at the owner of the gruff voice. He had the typical black hair and brown eyes. "We're leaving.. let's go!" Kyou ran over to the man, his father. The man looks at Yuki his voice softened, "You be a good kid Yuki.. and remember both me and my wife would love to have you come visit more.. You're a good kid." The man walked off and Kyou hurried behind him.

"Hey dad could we know you know go to the park or something today?" Kyou looked up at him hopefully, though he already knew the answer.

"No.. we can't.. maybe your mother will take you?" He got to the main gate than walked out to their car. Kyou's mother was already there and in the car. Kyou hopped into the back of the car.

"Morning mother... you sleep well?" Kyou buckled his safety belt and looked at her.

"I did, thank you for asking, my son." She looked straight ahead as the car started off.

Kyou smiled, his mother wasn't mad at him any more.

"Did you have fun with Yuki these last days Kyou? No one said any thing mean did they?" she looked back at him, "You know I love you right?" He gently took his arm pulling the sleeve back to check for the bracelet than let the wrist go. She turned back around.

"Of course I do.." Kyou looked down at his wrist, wondering why she always looked at it.. he knew it was important to wear the bracelet but it wasn't like he was going to take it off or anything.

It wasn't long until they pulled up to their house after all they didn't live far from the main house; none of the Zodiac families did. Kyou jumped out of the car and ran to the door.

"Kyou wait for us it's very rude to run off like that!" His father approached him and unlocked the door opening it up for Kyou.

"Sorry father… I won't do it again." His voice was soft and quite. He goes into the house at a normal pace than upstairs into his room. He looked around and grabbed a pen and paper his birthday was very soon and he wanted to tell his parents what he wanted. He didn't really know how to spell so he decided to draw.

About twenty minutes later Kyou ran down the stairs and handed the pictures to his father. "Look I drew these pictures to show what I want for my birthday!" His father sat in a big recliner it wasn't typical in Japan, but his father loved it he was always sitting in it.

His father took the pictures and looked through him. "What is this?" He showed Kyou the picture. The man frowned at the picture.

"It's a plane, but I just want a toy plane." Kyou told him with a smile, ignoring his father's frown.

"It's wrong.. you have way to many wheels and I've never seen an orange plain. You also need more window's an much smaller it's not like a car you know!" He handed the picture to Kyou, "You may want to work on that before you try and tell someone what you want, and they can't even tell what it is." He shuffled through the pictures again. "Is this suppose to be... what a bike?" Kyou nodded holding the other picture to his chest. "Why is it pink? You're not a girl Kyou! You shouldn't draw things you want in pink and the tires need spokes that's what holds them together." He handed that picture to Kyou as will. He started to shuffle through the pictures again than sighed and handed the whole stack to Kyou. "You need to fix all of these, go and work on them again and we'll see how good they are after that." The man turned his attention back to the TV.

Kyou nodded, "It's not a big deal though.. I mean they were just stupid drawings.. nothing important.."

His father nodded, "That's right, but you should still practice because you need to get better. Other wise you'll always be pathetic."

"Kyou? You lunch is ready. Come on in and sit at the table." His mother stood in the doorway.

Kyou nodded, he hurried and sat at the table. His mom took his arm again checking for the bracelet than handed him his food she runs a hand through his hair. "I love you Kyou.." She than leaves the room with hers and his fathers plate. They ate in the living room but since Kyou was still a child he had to eat at the kitchen table other wise it was just too messy. He ate his lunch as fast as he could so he can go and join his parents in the living room.

When he finished his sandwich he takes his plate to the sink and uses a chair to stand on and wash the plate off than sticks it in the dish washer, once he has the chair back in it's proper place he runs back into living room. "I'm done and my dish is in the dish washer."

"Did you rinse it off?" His father asked and looked at him, Kyou nodded. "Very well, than go play upstairs we're watching an adult movie right now."

He nodded and looked at the TV... adult.. but he had seen that movie before... they had bought it for him on his sixth birthday, it had monkey's in it.. it was Yuki's favorite movie. He looks down and than headed upstairs he collapsed on his bed deep in thought. Thoughts most people wouldn't think about until they were much older.

*****

Days pass and soon a week passed Kyou's birthday was only days away. He quickly ran down the stairs. "Mom? Mom for my birthday can Yuki and Haru come over?"

His mom sniffed, and wiped her eye and cheeks. She turned to Kyou and lifted his arm; checking for his bracelet. "No love... you and me are going to go out and do something... just the two of us..."

"What about dad though? Will he be coming?" Kyou asked; swaying from the tip of his foot to the heal.

His mother lets out a chocked sob. "No hunny your daddy... your daddy has left..."

"Where? When's he coming home? Won't he be here for my birthday?" Kyou asked a little frantic.

His mother looked at him her eyes narrowing a little, "NO he's NEVER coming back!" Kyou jumped and moved back. His mother sighed again, "Ohh baby, I'm sorry you know I love you... why don't you go leave Mommy alone.. I'm busy."

Kyou nodded and quickly left the room... his dad wasn't coming home? Why? Doesn't his father want to be home with them? The door bell rang Kyou runs to answer it. Hatori stood there eyes narrowed at the small Neko.

"Akito wants to know where his invitation is to your birthday. As your birthday is only a few days away." The teenager asked stiffly, glaring down at the cat.

His mother came into the room, "You can tell Akito that we'd love to have him.. though there won't really be a party, but I'll pick up a cake just for him to have. Tell him to be here at four?"

Hatori looked at a small booklet of his, "Five would be better."

"Of course, whenever he can make it would be wonderful." She smiled warmly at him.

Hatori nodded. "Very well than he will be here sharply at five. Make sure it will be fun, Akito doesn't like to be bored." He headed out the door and back out side he joined up with Shigure on the streets. Together the two head back to the main house.

"Ahh mom! I don't want Akito to come!" Kyou whined.

There was a loud slapping noise and Kyou gasped eyes wide. His hand slowly comes up to his tender cheek.

"You will not be rude. Akito wants to come and he is allowed to come!" She looked at the red hand print now on his cheek. "Go.. go up to your room and stay there." She turned and walked away from the door.

He stared at the door for a second than hurried upstairs with tears streaming down his cheeks. It wasn't that it hurt that bad, because it didn't Yuki had given him much worse before it was just... his mother did it. He hated when his mother hit him. He closed his door quietly and leaned against it his tiny hands wiping at his cheeks. This was so stupid he wasn't a baby! He should be crying. He sniffed and went over to his bed climbing up into it he holds his stuffed cat. He loved his stuffed kitty, no he just loved the cat. He didn't understand what was so bad about it. The cat never did anything wrong it was the rats fault.

You could never tell Akito it wasn't the Cat's fault though. Everything was the Cat's fault. The whole sky could fall, and it would be the danm cats fault! He HATED Akito! He hated him, he hated him!

After about fifteen minutes of crying and another forty-five just staying in his room his sneaked to the door and opened it. "Mom?"

"What dear?" Came his mothers voice from downstairs.

"I'm hungry can I come down?" Kyou asked, and bit his bottom lip hoping for a positive response.

"Oh.. of course baby, sorry I forgot you were up there." Kyou hopped down the stairs and smiled at his mother.

"I'm sure father well return soon.. We just have to be patient" He said with a smile. "I wouldn't worry."

She put on a small smile and took his wrist checking for the bracelet. Than patted his head. "What do you want for lunch?"

"Amm rice balls?" He grinned.

"Rice balls sound lovely." She started gathering the ingredients for it and looked at Kyou. "Would you like to learn how to make them?"

Kyou's eyes widened, "Isn't it too girly for a boy to do?"

His mother actually laughed. "No" She offers her hand to him. "Come on I'll teach you that way you'll always know how to make them. And than you can teach your kids." She smiled and ruffled his hair back.

"Ahh mom I'm not going to have kids.. plus I can't hug a girl... let alone kiss her!" He stuck his tongue out in disgust.

His mom laughed again, "ohh my mistake! Well than you'll just have to adopt won't you?" Kyou liked that she was laughing; he loved making his mom happy. He wished he could do it more often.

He looked up at her, "But than it won't be of the Sohma blood." Wasn't that important?

"Will neither is a wife or a husband until they're brought in." She started balling the rice. "It will be fine for you to adopt. You can have a family just like everyone else!" She handed him a wad of rice, and starts instructing him on how to make it.

Next chapter Kyou's birthday