Author's note: I am so, so, so very sorry it took me so long to update. I've been working on two science projects, so most of my free time has been eaten up by that. I'm taking both Biology Honours and Chemistry Honours this semester, so I had to do a science project for each class or else I fail. Oh, and I got a new video game in which I kill Nazi zombies. Not that any of these are excuses for making you nice people wait, but anyway. So here it is! All hot and fresh from the oven. I hope it lives up to your standards. (Check the bottom for all my thanks to you guys! )

Haru wandered aimlessly down another identical hallway, his hands in his pockets. A faint noise was tap-dancing on the back of his mind, not readily recognisable but not easy to ignore, either. It was an oddly familiar noise, but he still couldn't place it. He wasn't particularly concerned, anyway. He was too busy trying to figure out where he was. Even after living all of his sixteen years of his life in the Sohma main house, he still got lost. It was a habit of his.

As he turned yet another corner that led to yet another hall, the noise grew louder. He frowned slightly. Now it was impossible to simply pretend it was a trick of his mind; he could definitely feel his eardrums vibrating. He shuffled down the hall, not bothering to quicken his pace. Still…he couldn't suppress the curiosity. Sometimes, he could've sworn he was supposed to be born the Monkey instead of the Ox.

His feet carried him further down the hall and closer to the single door at the end of it. The closer he got, the louder the sound became. The louder the sound became, the clearer the memories became. For some reason, he was thinking of Kisa, before Tohru had met her and coaxed the words out of her again. The Kisa that never spoke, but spent so many nights crying in her room, curled up in a ball on her bed. Before he could reach it, however, and put an end to the curiosity that was fighting for control in his mind, someone grabbed his elbow.

Haru spun, surprised. He found himself staring into frantic purple eyes, and a smile began to spread across his face. "Yu–" he started, but he didn't get to finish.

"There's no time. Haru, you've got to tell me where Hatori is," Yuki said, his face even paler than usual. Kyo was behind him, his orange hair standing everywhere.

"Uh…last time I looked, he was in his office," Haru said, slightly bewildered.

"He's not there anymore. We already checked," the Rat said impatiently.

"Why do you need Hatori? Why are you at the main house? Are you okay, Yuki?" Haru peered anxiously into Yuki's eyes. He'd rarely seen his cousin lose it so badly. Kyo, too, looked like he'd been through the washer a few times, but he had a tendency to get that way after a bad temper tantrum.

"I'm–no, it's not me; it's–it doesn't matter! Hatori is the only one who would know!" Yuki said, sounding more and more frustrated with each word.

"Know what?" Haru persisted.

"There he is!" Kyo suddenly tore back down the hall Haru had just left. Yuki spun and followed without a word, leaving Haru with his unanswered questions still in his throat.

"Hatori!"

The Sohma doctor kept walking. He didn't really think Yuki would give up and stop chasing him, but he could always hope. He'd only gone a few more steps, however, before he felt a hand gripping his sleeve tightly. He looked down and saw Yuki and Kyo, each panting, their eyes silently beseeching.

"Yuki." He sighed heavily. There wasn't any point in hiding his guilt. He was too tired to bother.

"Where is she, Hatori? Honda-san," Yuki demanded.

"I can't tell you," Hatori said gravely.

"What the hell is your problem!" Kyo exploded, his crimson eyes blazing. He stepped forward, obviously ready to bash Hatori's skull in right then and there.

Yuki threw out an arm to stop him. "Shut up! It's not his fault!"

Kyo stared at his cousin. "Of course it's his fault! He won't tell us!"

Yuki didn't respond. He just turned back to Hatori, lifting his face to peer directly into the doctor's eyes. "Please, Hatori. Just tell us where she is," he pleaded softly, his grey eyes shining.

Suddenly, Hatori was reminded of a much younger Yuki, tugging on a high-school Hatori's sleeve in the same way, looking up with tears running down his face and begging, "Please, Ha'ri! Don't make them forget. They're my friends! Please! I don't want them to forget me."

Hatori closed his eyes and sighed again. "I'm not saying that you'll find anything, but you should go back down this hall, turn left, and go to the door at the end of that hall. It seems to me that that would be a good place to check," he said gravely.

Yuki nodded once, his face set in grim determination. "Let's go, Kyo." He turned and began to walk quickly down the hall.

"But-but that doesn't make any sense! We should be finding Tohru, not checking random rooms!" Kyo stood his ground, glaring from one cousin to the other.

"You idiot; that's where she is," Yuki hissed, grabbing Kyo's elbow and dragging him down the hallway.

"Oh."

Hatori watched the two hurry quietly away, his hands in his pockets. For some reason, he felt a tiny bit lighter, as if, perhaps, one of the many hurts he'd inflicted in his life was beginning to heal. He turned and shuffled back to his office. Once Honda-kun was gone, he knew Akito would be furious. Probably at him.

He didn't care.

Author's note:This is my individual thanks to the people who've reviewed. I don't know why, but I get really excited whenever someone reviews. I dunno. I'm crazy, I guess. Please forgive this unworthy one for taking so long! (Sorry. Rurouni Kenshin flashback. )

Rose of Death: I hope it wasn't too sad. Wait...this is an angst fic. So I guess sad is good...

TOKYOPOPer: Again with the sad! I heard once that cheerful writers write depressing things. I guess that makes me pretty damn cheerful, then.

Cainan: My biggest fan. Thanks so much for BOTH your reviews. Sorry it took me so long to update. But I'm SO glad you like it!

i-luv-the-cat-sohma52: Thanks. I was really worried that I made the whole emotional thing too dramatic, so I'm glad you didn't think so!

inulover411: Yay! More people who love my story! I'm a Kyo fan, too. I'm going to try to avoid pairings, but if it comes down to it, I'll lean more toward Kyoru than Yukiru. Not that I don't love Yuki. I just love Kyo more.

That's it, folks. Keep reviewin'!