Right. Here is chapter six, because I just couldn't resist posting, despite the fact that I haven't gotten a sixth review yet (I really ought to be more strict with myself on this). At any rate, I am determined (or shall attempt to be determined) not to post anymore until I receive more reviews!

You may notice that there are a great deal of page breaks in this chapter. Relish them. Or if you hate them, tell me. Not that I'll change.

If you hate stream of consciousness, be warned that I love it and there is going to be a good amount of it in this story, starting with this chapter...

Hatori and Shigure stared, frozen. They couldn't move, any if they had wanted to.

They saw him.

The Cat.

He…

He…

Was alive.

They couldn't speak.

They couldn't think,

but for one thought.

He is alive.

The Cat stalked over to them, padding silently over the wooden boards of the floor. His blood-red eyes darkened, taking them in. Softly, almost delicately, he touched their faces with his hand, the very lightest of brushes of skin on skin. They shuddered as an electric shock passed from him to them. Shigure tried to pull back, jerking against the pain and the sudden invasion he felt, but the Cat deepened his touch, and he found himself still, trapped within his own body. The Cat's fingers trailed off their faces.

There was something going on and they didn't know what only that it was all consuming and it was taking them down taking them through it all even though they couldn't quite see what was going to happen what was happening what could be happening ever oh sweet life what was happening to them they were being devoured eaten whole gobbled alive they couldn't think couldn't get away couldn't even breathe oh it felt like a burning scream it was ripping them apart and they couldn't do anything oh it was wrong wrong wrong let us go please just let us go please let us go we don't want to be here please take it away take it away forever don't let us go let us stay don't don't don't oh please oh please beg you please
Ripping tearing all consuming gone gone gone gone gone no! won't go won't go won't leave will stay no matter what even if it kills even if it dies won't die won't go won't go don't want to go please oh sweet life don't take it leave us alone we didn't do anything to you please oh please sucking out the life of me down the drain swirling whirling twirling oh all gone and what happened next I don't know but that it was interesting but it hurt so much too and how did this happen to me I tried so hard so it wouldn't happen oh I don't want it to happen but it is I can't stop it not strong enough not big enough wish I was but not not not not nothing ever nothing again Kana Kana Kana K…a…n…a………………………….

M…a...y…u…k…o……………………………………………….

I….wish…I…could…have…told…you…

Isn't right isn't logical why is this happening how can it happen it's impossible but so is the curse so why is this going on now why couldn't it be someone else stupid wave girl why think now why not later que serra serra but can't you wait a little while just a little while would have found out the way maybe maybe so perhaps you know the way might be found some day some how it might be you never know this can't be the only way to do it there has to be another some other best way even if you don't think so it could happen whether you think so or not but nothing is happening because nothing ever is ever because nothing is all for me all for me I don't want to be alone in the dark the dark is a summer colored sigh ever gone but she liked it but now no time left ever going going gone down the eternal light way of the San Francisco Tokyo breeze of a sweet sushi chopstick with dark hair and black eyes that are covered in tears that cannot be shed because that would just hurt more than keeping inside forever but my eyes cannot cry because they are gone from me now gone…

Forever gone

Forever night

Kazuma Sohma sat outside, his face drawn and his mind in chaos. The Jyuunishi had been in there for several hours now. If they didn't hurry, Akito would find out. It was getting close to Kyo's meal time. Maybe Kyo was sick…but if that was true, then Hatori would have sent someone to get things from his infirmary. He couldn't stand it any longer. He had to go in there and see what was going on. The judo master strode over to the door but before he could open it Shigure and Hatori walked out. To his surprise, they started walking past him. Before they could go any further, he stood in front of them.

"Is Kyo all right?"

Shigure looked at Hatori. Hatori looked at Shigure. Simultaneously they looked at Kazuma.

"Kyo?"

Tohru Honda was having a perfectly marvelous time in her hotel room. It was all for her, just for her, and she loved it. She had never actually had a hotel room before. Her family was too poor to afford it. They usually just stayed with relatives whenever they went out of town, which was seldom. And now the Sohmas were putting up the expense just for her, just because Kyo was ill? Her eyes filled with tears at the mere thought of their kind generosity. The Sohmas were all such good people. Always caring for others, especially her. And she didn't even deserve it. They did everything for her—fed her, clothed her, gave her a place to stay. Even took her on vacations with them and gave her gifts, even though she wasn't a member of the family. And they were her friends. Kyo and Yuki and Shigure…they were so kind. And Hatori, and Hatsuharu, and Momiji, Kisa, Hiro, Kagura, Rin, Ritsu, Ayame, Kureno…they were all so good. Even if she didn't know all of them that well, she knew that they were good people. Nice people. They cared for her. Even Akito was nice. Trying to hurt her was just because of his inner pain. He needed help, kindness, and love. If she gave it to him, he would be better. Lots better. He would see how much they all loved him. The zodiac loved him. She paused. Sort of. Well, Kyo didn't. But Kyo didn't really love anybody. Yuki didn't. But she was sure that was just because Yuki didn't know Akito that well. It couldn't be possible not to love someone once you really got to know them. There were just too many good people out there, just waiting to be known so that people could truly love them.

A knock on the door interrupted Tohru's dreams. Unable to accustom herself to being waited on, she went to the door and answered. She squealed with delight upon seeing her visitors.

"Hana! Uo! How are you? Come in, come in! Isn't it wonderful?"

The Yankee and the psychic entered, looking around in surprise at Tohru's suddenly elevated circumstances.

"Well. This is quite a surprise." Uo remarked as she took in the grand room. "Who's paying for it?"

"The Sohmas." Tohru smiled. "Isn't it just too good of them? I can't believe they actually did this for me. It's not as if I actually deserve it. I can never repay them for such a fine gift, ever…"

"Why?" Hana asked, pivoting to look at her friend.

Tohru's face fell. "Kyo is ill, and it was contagious, so they put me up here."

"Why not just stay with your grandfather?"

"They don't like my relatives."

"What business is that of theirs?" Uo demanded, sitting on the luxurious bed. "It's your business whether or not you and the family get along, isn't it? Besides, who wants their opinion?"

"Such hostile waves." Hana breathed. "Beautiful."

"Well…" Tohru hesitated. "When I was staying with my grandfather, Yuki objected to my uncle."

"Why?" Uo leaned back on her hands. "What did he do?"

Tohru flushed. "Nothing."

"Did he hurt you, Tohru?" Uo growled, leaning forward. "Because I will so go and take him out for you..."

"Uo, be quiet." Hana looked at Tohru. As usual, her eyes absorbed all light in her immediate vicinity. "Why are the Sohmas so upset?"

Tohru bit her lip. "I don't know." She smiled brightly. "But I'm sure it's fine."

"No, it's not." Uo countered. "What is really going on, Tohru?"

Tohru sat down on the bed beside her friends. "I…they're worried about Kyo."

"Is he really that sick?"

"He was having hallucinations and a fever and…" Tears began to fall out of Tohru's eyes. "He was really sick. I wanted to stay and help, but Hatori wouldn't let me. He didn't want me to get sick."

Hana's eyes were dark. "Did he?"

"Yes." Tohru was sobbing now. "But I felt so bad for poor Kyo…he hates being sick and I wanted to help him get better!"

Uo and Hana exchanged a look over Tohru's head.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Tohru." Uo said, rubbing her friend's back. "It's probably just a bug."

"You're right.' Tohru smiled through her tears, putting on her usual bright and happy face. "He'll probably be better on Monday."

"Probably." Hana agreed, looking closely at her friend. Then, on a completely different topic,

"How is Shigure?"

Uo laughed. "Don't tell me you have the hots for that pervert."

"He possesses unusual waves."

"You're always telling me that that entire family has weird waves. So what?" Uo laughed. "You just like him."

"Do you like him, Hana?" Tohru asked, smiling at her friend. "I think that would be wonderful!"

"You missed the part where he's ten years older than she is." Uo smirked. Hana glared.

"I am eighteen."

"It's still perverted."

"No it's not, Uo!" Tohru interjected eagerly. Uo smiled fondly at her friend. Tohru was always ready to stand up for romance, no matter how ridiculous it might seem to anyone else. "If she's an adult (which she is legally) and he's an adult, then it's okay! I think it's wonderful, Hana!"

Hana blinked slowly. "I did not say that I liked him, just that his waves were aesthetically pleasing."

"Same thing." Uo waved her hand.

"No, it's not." Hana stated. Tohru smiled.

"Would either of you like some food?"

"Snacks would be nice." Hana said.

"Let me go get some…"

"Tohru." Uo stared at her friend. "This is a hotel. You call for what you want."

She blushed. "Oh, I forgot." She went over to the phone and pressed a few buttons. "Hello? This is Tohru Honda, room 81. I would like to order some…you needed to speak to me? What about?" There was a silence, then Tohru nodded. "Okay. Okay. No, it's not a problem…I'm sorry." She hung up, blinking back tears.

"Tohru, what's wrong?" Uo asked, going over to her.

"Nothing." Tohru smiled brightly through her tears. "I just have to leave, that's all."

"What!" Uo exploded. "You just got here!"

"No, I've been here overnight, remember?" Tohru swallowed. "They said my reservation had been canceled."

"Those dirty…"

"It wasn't their fault! They probably couldn't afford it!"

"That's bull and you know it, Tohru! That family is so rich that they could buy Tokyo and not feel it!"

"Not quite that rich." Hana said quietly. Uo turned red.

"You know what I mean! This is just plain stupid! What the heck is going on with this family, anyway? They're so screwed up and weird! Always fighting each other!"

Tohru broke down then, sobbing into Uo's arms. Uo wrapped her arms around her friend.

"It's okay, Tohru. We love you."

"Yes." Hana said, rising and placing her head upon Tohru's. "But I think it best that we confront the Sohmas about this."

"No!" Tohru cried. "I couldn't possibly…it would be too much trouble. And besides, it was their decision."

"A bad decision." Uo snapped. "I didn't think anyone could be this mean to you, Tohru. You need to tell them how you feel about this!"

Tohru gulped. "Okay. I guess. But I don't really blame them…"

"Tohru!"