Okay, ya'll. You may have noticed that I am doing extremely rapid and lengthy updates. This is in response to reviews. However, I only have four (FOUR!) so far. I need more! I need support and encouragement and inspiration! Well, okay, I have plenty of inspiration. This story is pouring out of me so fast I need both hands to type it. But I do LOVE reviews. Especially constructive ones. Come on, ya'll. This is my first story. Show a little support!

Usual disclaimers and all that.

Akito languished on the wooden floor of his room ignoring his visitors. Lazily, he traced an invisible pattern on the floor with a long, well-groomed fingernail. He smiled to himself. The Cat was finally caged. He had been waiting for this for such a long, long, time. Every moment that that cursed creature was loose was a threat to his power over the Jyuunishi. It was pure luck that he had ever managed to capture them in the first place. Capturing the Cat had been most difficult of all. Akito laughed silently to himself. But now they were his again. They would do his bidding as they had in the beginning, and all would be well, as he desired it. He drew in a breath. It had been too long. Too long to wait for another mere ten years of domination. There had to be an easier way. A more satisfying way. His lip curled in disgust and anger. This way, he only held the Cat with all of its power and control for a little while, barely a decade. While control of the Cat was delightful, he deserved more. He ought to have more, to control more people. Not just the Sohmas, pathetic family that they were. Akito snorted to himself. These shells. They hardly even existed, didn't even deserve notice save for the fact that they had given birth to him. Sohmas served a purpose, certainly. They made excellent hosts for his captives. Yet still…they were such a wretched little family.

"Akito?" The Dragon's voice broke into his thoughts. Akito scowled, not turning.

"What is it, Hatori?"

"Kazuma Sohma would like to see Kyo."

Akito rolled over, scarlet robes swishing around him like a pool of blood. Surprisingly, Kazuma Sohmas was actually there, waiting for his answer himself. And Shigure, that pitiful excuse for a Dog.

"Oh?" His tone was ice. "And why would anyone want to see the cursed Cat?"

"I cared for him for ten years of his life." Kazuma said, his voice steady.

Akito's jaw almost dropped. The stupid common Sohma, not even one of the Jyuunishi, dared to speak out before being called upon? It was daring enough of Hatori to request an audience—now this outsider dared speak? Akito slid his tongue over his lips, staring at Kazuma. Surprisingly enough, the man didn't flinch.

"Did you?" Akito said disinterestedly. He paused significantly. "The Cat is not permitted visitors."

"So I was told." Kazuma inclined his head. "Yet I was also told that I might see him."

"Were you?" Akito glanced at Hatori, but the Dragon's head was lowered respectfully. It couldn't have been Hatori. The Dragon feared him too much to say anything of the kind…it must have been Shigure. The baka inu again! Would the idiot never learn? "I don't recall giving any such order."

"Akito." Shigure interrupted. "Kazuma ought to see Kyo at least once."

"Once, you say?" Akito sat up, adjusting his robes around him. He thought. The idiot Kazuma was a stubborn individual. If he wasn't allowed to see the Cat soon, he might cause trouble. Obviously the Jyuunishi sympathized with Kazuma, so forbidding it outright might be dangerous. However, he didn't want to give his permission. That would make him appear weak. Ambiguity…Akito smiled to himself. That was the thing.

"I suppose it is not bad to see the Cat. Visit him, even."

Kazuma bowed. "Thank you, Akito."

Akito smiled more deeply. "Anytime, Kazuma. Anytime."

The Cat stretched lazily upon his bed. That was delicious. Such comfort. He had never felt such wonderful softness before. Well, that wasn't quite true. He had felt it before, but not quite the same way. It was a little different every time he rediscovered this bed. He looked up at the ceiling. Same beams. Same knotholes. Even the same cobwebs. Servants only cleaned the Cat's House twice—once before the new host entered, and directly after the old host died. It was a little pointless, really. The Cat never made a mess. Ever. Cats were very clean creatures, even if that wasn't precisely what he was. Very clean. He twisted in the sheets, deliberately tangling himself just so that he could untangle himself. Might as well enjoy himself while he had the opportunity. This was going to be quite a long wait, after all. He laughed. There was time yet. No need to start thinking until he met the new demon-host. Meanwhile, he was going to enjoy himself. And thoroughly.

There was a knock on the door. The Cat started. It was extremely unusual for the new demon-host to visit him so early. Usually the thing waited a few months, at least. One of them had even waited six years. But the same day…?

"Kyo?" A voice called. "Can we come in?"

"Yes." The Cat replied, sitting up.

To his surprise, it wasn't the new demon-host that entered. It was a man, dark, and in his forties. The Cat stared at him from the bed, not bothering to get up. The man posed no threat to him.

"Kyo?" The man said. His eyes were dark with concern. "Are you all right? I heard you were sick."

The Cat threw himself back on the bed laughing.

Kazuma stared at his son. Kyo had gone insane. He was completely insane. He was laughing. In this prison. Granted, it was a very comfortable prison, but Kyo had hated the very idea of being locked up for the rest of his life. His son was the restless type. And Kazuma knew that cats hated to be caged. Kyo had feared the cage. He would never be laughing like this unless he was seriously ill, or completely crazy. This must have to do with that transformation that Shigure was speaking of…and the laughter! It didn't sound like Kyo at all. It sounded like a maniacal…but it wasn't manic laughter. His son was truly and utterly entertained by the idea of him being sick. But Shigure had been adamant that Kyo had been horribly sick.

Kyo slid off the bed and walked over to Kazuma. The judo master was struck by the difference in his son's manner of walking. Kyo did not so much walk as stalk over to where Kazuma was standing. His stride was soundless, and exuded controlled power. The Cat walked around Kazuma, looking him up and down, finally halting in front of him and looking him directly in the eye. Kazuma flinched. The depth, the age in those crimson orbs was startling. Shocking, even.

"Kazuma…" Kyo murmured. He leaned in closer, his eyes drinking in every aspect of Kazuma's face. Unconsciously, the older man took a step back. He felt as if the Cat were devouring him, absorbing every bit of information about him and his life, but he was unable to draw away from those eyes. As he watched them, caught in their gaze, he saw pupils widen and then narrow rapidly. Then, losing interest, Kyo looked away, and the spell was broken. Kazuma staggered back, drawing in a hard breath. He stared at his son. Kyo was at the barred window, playing with a leaf that was growing through the bars. Kazuma swallowed.

"I'm going now, Kyo."

His son didn't answer him.

Shigure and Hatori stood outside the Cat's House. When Kazuma came out, they immediately went over to him.

"So? How is he?" Shigure asked. Hatori looked closely at Kazuma.

"What's wrong, Kazuma?"

Kazuma breathed deeply for a moment, then looked at Hatori. "How sick did you say Kyo was?"

"Very. But he's well now. His fever broke a few hours ago."

"He wasn't well when I went in."

"What are you talking about?" Hatori started towards the door of the Cat's House, but the judo master caught his sleeve.

"Wait."

The Dragon turned and looked at the other Sohma. "What is it?"

"I don't think you should go in there."

"Why?" Shigure looked sharply at him, his dark eyes narrowing. Kazuma was struck by how different the Dog suddenly seemed from his normal carefree persona.

"Kyo was acting very…odd."

"Odd? You think he was hallucinating?" Hatori asked, his pale eyes worried.

"No…he wasn't hallucinating." Kazuma sat down on the bench by the door of the Cat's House. He didn't feel as if his legs could support him any longer. "I…I…can't describe it."

"Try." Shigure ordered. Kazuma lifted his head at the strange tone in the Dog's voice.

"It was just so strange…" Kazuma put his head in hands. "It was as if he didn't know me. Didn't recognize me."

Hatori drew in a sharp breath. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Kazuma snapped. "Don't you think I'd be sure about something like this? I raised that boy, Hatori. I know him. And that wasn't him."

For a moment there was only silence. Then Shigure looked at Hatori.

"I think we need to go in there."

"And I don't think that's wise."

"Hatori…he could still be sick."

"He's not." The Dragon retorted flatly. "The transformation is complete."

"But he might be having complications, or something!"

"I doubt it." Despite his words, Hatori was clearly wavering. "He's probably just a little disoriented."

"Hatori."

Hatori swiftly turned to face his cousin. "Shigure, you know what Akito will do if he finds out we visited the Cat?"

"Akito doesn't need to know."

"Shigure…"

"Please." Kazuma said. The two looked down at him. "Just go and see if he's all right."

Hatori sighed. "Very well. But this is a bad idea, Shigure."

Shigure smiled wickedly. "Where have I ever led you wrong?"

"Don't even ask." Hatori turned to Kazuma. "Kazuma, are you coming?"

"No."

"No?" Shigure looked surprised. "But he's your…son."

"I can't." Kazuma closed his eyes. "I can't bear seeing him like this. After you've ascertained the problem, I might go back in. But until then…I just can't."

A silence fell. Neither Hatori nor Shigure had ever seen the judo master so emotionally disturbed before. Something truly serious must have happened in there. But what?

The Jyuunishi turned away from Kazuma and opened the door to the foyer of the Cat's House. The entryway was bare of everything except the customary wooden bench. Shigure hesitated a moment, and then he knocked.

"Come."

"That didn't sound like Kyo's voice." Hatori whispered.

Shigure's jaw tightened. "We have to do this." He pulled open the door.

The next moment, their entire world was shattered.