The duo reached the gates to the large Sohma estates, Usagi pausing to look down at her dirt-covered feet. She'd left her sandals at Shigure's house when she made her sudden escape. Turning toward Kyou, who had stopped just behind her, she smiled lightly, "I shouldn't be too long. You don't have to wait if you don't want to."

"Just don't get yourself hurt," Kyou replied dismissively. "I don't want to have to hear that damn rat's mouth."

"I'll try," she giggled, and then let herself into the Sohma estate, leaving the orange haired boy behind to wait. As she entered the main house, her large blue eyes glanced over her eerily quiet surroundings while she tried to remember which way Shigure led her through before. Shrugging, she took the way her gut told her and began walking.

It took about fifteen minutes to find Akito's living quarters, and she was greeted there by a stern elderly woman, whose face curled into a sneer at the sight of her. Her sharp eyes immediately fell to Usagi's filthy feet, and she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Remembering her manners, the rabbit bowed and kept her head lowered as she spoke, "Sohma Ame, ma'am. I'd like to see Akito-sama."

"Not with your legs covered in dirt. Clean them, and I will inform the master of your arrival," the woman replied coldly, knowing she couldn't refuse the girl's request. Usagi ambled over to the water hose the elderly lady had directed her to, rinsing her legs in the painfully cold water before dashing back to the building and sliding her feet into the slippers waiting by the door.

At least fifteen minutes later, the woman returned and instructed Usagi to follow her to Akito's room. Walking slowly behind the woman's evenly placed steps, she almost felt suffocated by the silence that boxed her in from all sides. She neared the end of the hall, where the door she knew led to Akito slid open suddenly, and a man stepped out. He closed the door behind him and walked past them, sending her an even gaze that portrayed no emotion.

"Kureno-san," Usagi stopped, bowing in greeting. He gave her a short nod before continuing on his way, and she turned back toward the door, the other side as silent as the hallway she now stood in. Taking in a deep breath, she rested her hand on the door handle and slid it open. Subconscious took over as she walked across the room, settling onto her knees and bowing to Akito, her forearms pressed against the floor and face only inches away. She stayed this way for several moments before deeming it safe to rise, waiting quietly for Akito to address her first.

"Ame, you're back so soon?" His hands cupped her face, lifting her gaze from the floor to his eyes. She shivered at the look, the almost predatory gleam that highlighted his dark pupils, but her eyes stayed glued to his own. "Did you enjoy seeing your mother again?" Tears swam through her vision, but she blinked them back. 'I have to be strong.'

"Yes. It was very thoughtful of you, Akito-kun," Usagi replied, her voice calmer than she thought possible at the moment. The hands on each side of her face suddenly clenched, and she winced as his nails dug into her skin. He looked pleased by the pain that flashed through her blue eyes as they glazed with tears, and he released her. Without his hold supporting her, she slumped on her knees again.

"Why did you come here, Ame?" Akito asked with his eyes now out in the garden, watching the butterflies flutter around the soon to be blooming blossoms. Spring was almost here. Usagi watched the brief flash of emotion in the dark eyes that'd turned away from her, all the while pondering the question. Shigure entered her mind, Yuki, Hatsuharu, Momiji, even Kyou. She just wanted everything to be okay, for everyone to be happy.

"I can feel it, Akito-kun." He turned, regarding her once more with narrowed eyes. Without showing the hesitation she felt in her heart, her hand reached out to touch his, but he quickly jerked it away. "I can feel your loneliness, your pain. It makes me sad. It makes me hurt, too."

"Is that all you have to say?" Akito sneered, his eyes flashing dangerously. The tears fell freely from Usagi's eyes, and as he realized this, it seemed to catch him off guard. Why was she crying? "Are you just here to pity me?"

"No. There are dark sides to everyone, but I want to see your smile. I don't want you to be sad anymore. I want you to trust me, Akito-kun." Sitting up on her knees, Usagi leaned forward, reaching her trembling hands out toward his face. He shrunk away from her but she persisted, though her whole person shook with fear. Finally, her palms made gentle contact with the sides of his face.

Akito, too shocked to react, didn't resist as Usagi pulled him forward and placed her lips tenderly against his forehead. For a moment they both sat still, her warm breath brushing against his skin and her tears rolling off her chin, falling against his own cheeks. Something completely unreadable passed over his face, before his expression contorted into anger. His hand shot up, clenching her jaw and pushing her away from him.

She landed in a heap, but rose with her hands flat against the floor, supporting her weight. Her blue eyes met his angry, dark ones, full of pain, but full of longing, of hope. When she reached for him again, he appeared shaken, wondering why she still made an effort. Raising his hand, the back of it met with the side of her face, making the nearly healed bruise begin to swell again as she crumpled.

Undeterred, she sat up again and held her hand out in the space between them. Voice trembling, she began to speak, ever so softly, "I don't want to hurt you. I'd never hurt you intentionally, Akito-kun. You must have so much pain here," her other hand moved over her chest, where her heart lay, "I am always here. If there comes a time you think you want to let it out, even just a little, I will be here no matter what. If you need me, Akito-kun, I will be here to protect you with everything I have, because I love you."

Usagi watched as the anger slipped from Akito's features, replaced by nothing, an empty expression. Something about it made her scared and happy at the same time. She sniffled, aware that her nose was starting to run, and repeated her words. "I love you, Akito-kun."

Then suddenly, the sneer was back, the anger returned. Usagi winced as his hand descended on her sore face once more, but still she cried, "I love you Akito-kun!" With more strength than she thought he possessed, he stood and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her across the room while she tried her best to resist. She heard the door slide open forcefully, felt the pain as his fingers dug deeper into her arm, and the strange sense of vertigo as she was slung out into the hall. Feeling her ankle twist painfully, she cried out as her back hit the wall on the opposing side of the space.

The loud snap of the door sliding closed echoed around her as she cried pitifully, and she was sure she heard him crumple on the other side of the door. Swallowing down her own self loathing, she rose shakily to her feet again, moving toward the entrance. Before she got half across the narrow hallway, a warm hand gently encircled her arm, and she met a pair of eyes she'd seen not too long ago. Her voice wavering and sore from her tears, she croaked, "Kureno-san."

"You've done enough for today. Come," He turned and pulled her slowly down the hall, while sent a worried glance back at Akito's room.

"Kureno-san, Akito may be hurt. He used too much strength. We have to check on him," she protested, trying to pull him to a stop. He did stop, turning toward her with a stern look in his dark, dark red eyes. They reminded her of Kyou's, but much murkier.

"Just Kureno; Akito will be fine. It is time you leave," with that said, he continued to lead her away, escorting her all the way to the main gates before he turned around to return to Akito. Pausing, she blinked at the wooden gates before turning on her heel.

"Thank you, Kureno-kun!" She called, making him pause in his walk. He turned back toward her, his dark reddish hair falling into his eyes and hiding the glint of amusement that shone there as he nodded. Then he swiveled and continued onward, missing the soft smile that lit up Usagi's face. The blue eyed girl tested her sore ankle, but quickly concluded she hadn't broken nor sprained it; it was only a little sore.

Timidly she exited the gates, suddenly recalling the temperamental orange haired teen that waited for her on the other side and his parting words, 'Just don't get yourself hurt.' The throbbing of her cheek told her that her bruise was probably back full force. Not to mention the finger shaped bruises on her bare arms. She pulled the gate closed behind her, hearing the distinct footsteps behind her, and inwardly winced.

Usagi didn't even work up the courage to turn before hands were on her shoulders, spinning her around to meet gazes with a set of hostile red eyes. Chuckling nervously under his intense scowl, she flinched as he shouted, "You're so stupid! Why did I even let you go in there? I swear, now we've all gotta put up with that damn Yuki, not to mention Hatsuharu."

She let Kyou continue to rant, while the tears built up in her eyes again, and she finally interrupted him, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to make everyone worry, but," she sniffled, "I reached him. It was only for a second, and it was gone so fast, but I seen it. For a moment, I saw a different part of Akito." Flinging her arms around him, she half cried into his shirt and half laughed. "I'm so happy."

Red spread across the cat's face, and he placed his hands on her shoulders once more, gently pushing her away. A moment of silence passed between them, Usagi wiping at her eyes, before Kyou said, "Let's go home and hear everyone whine. And don't think I forgot about force feeding you either, twiggy."

Slowly, her face spread into a wide, bright smile, her blue eyes crinkling, before she giggled. "Okay, as long as there's sugar involved."

xXx

Their return to Shigure's house was not what either expected. As soon as Usagi approached the door, she could hear loud shouts from the opposite side of it, and her brow crinkled with confusion. Without a second thought, she ran into the house, following the increasing volume of the voices until she made it to the kitchen, the same room she'd escaped from earlier that morning.

The scene hit her full force, as the shouting suddenly paused and the attentions of the room turned to her. She felt Kyou walk up behind her, but she ignored him, her blue eyes temporarily captivated. That look, that expression; fear squeezed her heart and as quickly as she intruded, she turned and ran away again. Kyou watched her leave, the horror shining clearly in her eyes, before he turned his own red pair to the people in the kitchen, one in particular.

Hatsuharu's sneer slowly faded, the spark of anger disappeared from his dark, chocolate brown eyes, his Black personality retreated back inside of him and he stared with something akin to disbelief at the spot where the silver haired girl had stood only moments before. A frown passed over his face, and he held up his hand when Yuki moved forward to follow her, shaking his head. "It's my fault. I'll go."

"You're the one who upset her, you shouldn't--"

"I said I'll go," Hatsuharu pressed, his voice flat as he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked out of the room. Kyou watched him go as well before he turned back to the remaining group in the kitchen. Yuki stood impassive, but there was still anger apparent in his violet eyes. Momiji looked upset, on the verge of tears, as did Tohru.

"What the hell was that about?" He asked. No one said anything for a moment, but it was Momiji who finally spoke.

"It was my fault. We were talking about Usa-chan, and then without thinking about it, I asked Haru about Rin. I guess all the stress of it finally made him snap, and he went Black." Momiji paused, sniffling, before he said, "Black Haru scares Usa-chan a lot. When we were little, and Haru used to go Black often, Usa-chan tried to interfere and get Haru to calm down. She got in the way, and he hit her on accident. Ever since then she's been petrified of Black Haru."

Meanwhile, Hatsuharu walked slowly down the path that led away from Shigure's house, listening carefully for any signs of Usagi. As he expected, she hadn't gotten too far before she collapsed, curled at the trunk of a large tree, sniffling. He walked over to her slowly, kneeling down beside her. As he extended his hand toward her, she flinched away from him, making him wince in return.

"I'm sorry. Don't be scared. Please," the tone of his voice seemed to jolt her, and she reached out, pulling him into a hug, which he readily returned, his sudden apprehension ebbing away. She closed her eyes, smiling as she did so.

"It's okay. Thank you for coming to find me, Haru-chan." When they pulled apart, his hand was on her face again, scowling at the dark mark that once again highlighted her cheek. Instead of looking guilty, her face broke into a smile of childish excitement.

"I did reach Akito-kun today. For a moment, he showed me that he did hear me. One day, Akito will be happy and everyone will love him, just like I do." A fondness shown in her dark blue eyes as she spoke, like a mother talking of her child. Though he was upset, Hatsuharu couldn't help but return the glimmering smile on her face, full of hope and affection.

"Well, right now you're hurt again and still too skinny, so it's back to the house. We've decided to tie you down and feed you until you're fat." Hatsuharu grinned, somewhat evilly as a pout came over Usagi's face. Then, she smiled suddenly, a mischievous glint flickering in her eyes as she said, "Like a cow?"

"I resent that."

xXx

Look at me! I've turned this story to nothing but angst and mushiness. (hugs tear-soaked pillow) But I love it. :) I know I promised meetings with Setsuna and more exciting monster fights but I decided to put it off until next chapter. The sudden desire to end the chapter here overwhelmed me, even though it's short. I hope I made you laugh at the end there.

For some reason, the thought of Kyou calling someone twiggy, much less saying the word at all made me burst out laughing. (Chibi Kyou runs around in circles saying "twiggy, twiggy, twiggy" while Sachi-chan rolls around in the background, laughing hysterically) But anyway, how'd you like Akito meeting number TWO! Eh? What about the sudden appearance of Kureno-kun! (roosters start running around in the background) x3

I'm hyper from sleep deprivation, forgive my mild psychosis. Nothing of Sailor Moon is mingling with the Sohmas for the moment, mmmkay? They are completely oblivious right now. I'll let you guess at who figures her out first, I already know! (insane authoress grin) I really do want to fulfill you guys' wishes and make Akito a good guy. My fingers were itching through the whole scene to write out Akito saying something cheesy like, "You're so right! Let's be best friends!" xD

The more I write, the harder it becomes to choose between Kyou-kun and Haru-chan. (cries) In the end, though, I'll probably go with Hatsuharu because, well...Kyou-kun gets too much spotlight! I mean, I love him to death too but there's a few Kyou/Usa pairings out there now, a single Hatori/Usa, I wrote a Shigure/Usa, there's a Momiji/Usagi out there that is never updated but still exists. (stares at Gackt-sama pointedly, even though she's probably not reading this), Yuki/Usa, Akito/Usa, pretty much every pair but I have yet to see her with Hatsuharu! So on that basis alone, plus the fact that they're just plain adorable in the story, I'll probably choose him. But I still feel so bad for Kyou, all alone on his lonesome.

Okay, I'm majorly rambling. Forgive me. I haven't the energy to reply to reviews right now, I have to leave for school and my dreaded AP Government exam. Please review anyway though, because I love you all. (wanders off muttering about a possible morbid love triangle threesome deal) Ponderous thought of the day, 'Could Usagi be shared?' (runs off cackling evilly)

♥SachiNyoko♥