When Kyo's cough becomes persistent he leans heavily against a tree for support. He can't seem to walk a straight line; the ground beneath him feels slanted and uneven, but maybe it's only because his legs aren't cooperating. He pushes himself from one tree to the next, each time he feels his energy drain and for a fleeting moment he isn't sure he will have the strength to take another step, but still, he does. He must. He has to…get to the room…

"Kyo!"

He falls forward, unconscious, into the dirt and Haru can't reach out in time to catch him. The others gasp as Haru kneels down beside him. "Shit," he curses. "Kyo, wake up," he says, taping his cousin hard on the cheek. Kyo doesn't do so much as flinch. He's deathly still. "He's really burning up. Do either of you have any water?"

Yuki and Momiji look at each other blankly. Haru shakes Kyo's shoulder, "Wake up, Kyo! This whole thing was your idea, you know? You have to wake up and see it through. We didn't come all this way just for you to die out in the middle of the woods."

Momiji leans down and tilts his head curiously like a child. "He's still breathing, ya?"

"This is stupid," says Yuki, "I should never have gone along with this in the first place. I'm calling for help."

But just as he pulls out his phone, Kyo suddenly grabs his arm. His face pinches in pain and he opens his eyes just a fraction of an inch. "No," he croaks. He moves to push himself upright and his arms tremble so badly that when Haru reaches out to assist him he doesn't even protest. He knows he won't be able to get up without his help so he lets Haru sling his arm around his shoulder and hoist him up. Once he's vertical he leans against Haru so heavily that he's certain he will fall again if Haru moves even a single step. He pants like he's just run a mile. Beads of sweat drip from his brow. "We keep going," he says firmly.

Yuki shakes his head. "You really are a stupid cat."

Kyo grimaces but doesn't have the strength for a decent comeback.

"At the very least," Haru grunts, adjusting himself so he can bear the brunt of Kyo's weight as they stumble onward, "you really do have nine lives."

Kyo almost smirks. And this just might be my last one. He coughs weakly as the press onward. His vision swims and he focuses on his feet, keeping them moving one after the other takes nearly all of his focus. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the orange cat weave in and out of the trees, trotting alongside them.

They reach the clearing as the sun begins to set over the trees. The Cat's Room; a prison tucked away in the woods. So small and unassuming from the outside if it weren't for those massive foreboding doors.

"How do we get inside?" Momoji asks in awe.

"We don't," Kyo breathes, "I have to go in alone."

"Vat? Why?"

Kyo shakes his head but is wracked with another fit of coughing before he can reply. Summoning what little strength he has left, he takes a step forward without Haru's assistance. He stands on his own two feet, staring up at the doors. The orange cat brushes up against his leg before ascending the cottage steps and slipping into the doorway with a flick of its tail.

"Can you tell Tohru something for me?" Kyo asks as Yuki stands beside him uncertainly.

Yuki's brow furrows. "No. Because she already knows. And whatever she doesn't know you'll tell her yourself."

Kyo looks at his cousin and for a moment the two of them share the same gleam of sadness in their eyes.

Though his legs may wobble, Kyo takes a sure footed step forward, then another. Climbing the cottage steps one at a time.

"How do you plan to get it exactly?" Haru asks, scratching his head.

Kyo looks back at him over his shoulder. "It isn't locked. Not yet. Thanks for getting me here."

The massive doors are parted slightly and Kyo pushes them open, already aware of what he will find in there. Already aware that he's not alone.

He steps inside.

"Why hello there, Kyo." Akito's ice cold voice slithers like a snake around the room. He steps out of the corner of the room, face half concealed in shadow. A dangerous grin creasing his lips. "So it finally comes down to this. A God and a monster. Let's end this then, shall we? Once and for all."

"Wait!"

When Kyo hears the voice he whirls around so suddenly he nearly falls. He sees her, just a brief glimpse as she runs from the woods into the clearing. Her auburn hair; he can almost smell her shampoo from here. Her eyes are wild and searching. For him. She's come looking for him. She hurries past Yuki and the others, taking the steps two at a time and yells, "Wait, don't–"

Just before the door swings shut and the world as Kyo knows it is swallowed into darkness.