Rei says:
Welcome to Chapter 13! It would have definitely been up sooner but the document manager-thing wasn't working for me and it was annoying me. A lot. -twitch- For some reason this chapter was odd to me…I don't know, it just didn't really seem to be about anything. But, I did shed a little light on Kana's past. I know -some- people have been bugging me for a little info on it … -looks at Mike- Anyways. Along with that, I've finally revealed the wolf demon's name! –clapclapclap- It's amazing. But you don't know how annoying it was thinking of a name for him…I was so annoying, bugging practically everyone around school…T.T In the end, I decided on this one. What do you guys think? It means 'terror'. o.o Mysterious, ne? -cough- Thank you Emily for letting me use your FP account to upload this document for the time being...otherwise I might have had to type all of this all over again. -clings- This is getting pretty long..

- ANNOUNCEMENT! -
I know some of you guys have read my oneshot, Never Again, and in case you were hoping for some sort of sequel, there is one. Sort of. I handed the job down to my love Aisu Kamitari, and in her story Behind the Fine Line, she put in Taji-chan. So why don't you guys give it a shot?

This time I'm going to do the mention-y things! I've never done it before, and I was planning on doing it last chapter, but I didn't, so I'm doing it this chapter and to make up for it I'm putting in all the people who reviewed Chapter 11 AND 12. Wewt. This took a while..I don't think I'll do it again. Maybe every other chapter or something like I did with this one. Blah.

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Koji Jaganshi - My faithful reviewer! Thanks for the reviews. -luffles-Just remember: everything is happening for a reason! But, what reason, is something I won't tell just yet..) And I will stop by your profile and check out some of your stories when I get the chance!

14thShrineMaiden - My other faithful reviewer! Thanks for sticking with the story for so long. It's people like you that made me feel so loved...and...inspired.

xxDreamTheaterxx - Nyahahaha. -tackles Manderz- Thanks for reviewing Manderzes. I heart you. Don't leave me alone in gym again! T.T

Ayumi Fujiwara - Emily. Haha, you reviewed chapter 12 twice! O.O I'm glad this story keeps you happy.

Mitchan-san - Gasp! You've never reviewed before! -luffles- I thank you for the compliments, but I don't think this story is that good...Heh. -sweatdrop-You listen to Laruku? I love them to death. I worship them. Eien is a great song as well. I actually listened to that while writing a few of the chapters! I hope you review again. I'd like to hear what you say about the past two chapters. (I'm incorporating her mother into the story too, after a long hour of brainstorming). I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations. -bows- And the whole some-parts-sound-like-Furuba-thing, I kinda' have to agree. -sweatdrop- Originally, I wasn't going to have Nadeshiko in the story at all and have some random guy, but then I decided against it...there were too many guys in the story already.

KenLoverDH - Saum! Pirates love Chex Mix! I heart you too! I hope you like this chapter! Like I said in science, it's a little weird. o.o

Aisu Kamitari - Ah, my dear Ai-chan. Heh heh. You left me a buncha' reviews. Catching up, are we? -grin- Sorry you didn't get to be the 100th reviewer. Mike stole it from ya'. -sweatdrop-

Swaying Cherry Blossoms - Alyssa! Thank you so much for reviewing. I love you. -happiness- I can't wait until you update your story! I hope it's soon. :D

Konane Shadow Wolf - I just about had a heart attack when I saw you left reviews for all my chapters! But I was so happy at the same time. Arigatou! -clings- Don't worry -Youko will make an appearance, and it should be in the next two chapters or so. You'll see. I just hope the idea sticks with me and it lives up to what you were hoping for. -sweatdrop- Heh heh. -bows-

MikoHatome - Zomgz. Another new face! I'm getting more and more new faces. I like that. It makes me feel special. Thanks for reviewing, and I hope you do so again..

ToboeShi - Another new face. I'm starting to like the new faces. Heh heh, you're just like my friend...my story is driving her insane as well. She's trying to figure it all out before I even finish a new chapter. I like all the questions...and they will all be solved soon. Just wait and see. ;)

Keia Mizuki - Be patient! Kurama and Kana will get together eventually. Eventually. I'll try not to wait too long, but we'll see.

Mike - Last but not least, Mike-o. Thanks for reading it. You're so silly. I know there's a lot of things wrong, little errors and spelling mistakes, but you said you liked it, and that's all that matters. Wewt. I'm going to try to go back and edit the last few chapters and try to find all the mistakes you pointed out before. I still can't believe you know so much about YYH when in reality you've only seen like two episodes. How'd you know about Youko, silly? Heh. Blah blah blah...And I know you aren't 'some random girl'. -shifty eyes- Definitely not. Nope. I'm not using Adan! I changed the name! HE IS NOT GAY! -cough- Review again. AND! Happy 14th birthday!

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Chapter 13

It was dark. A little girl clutched at a teddy bear, frightened. Where was mother? Why had father said that she would never return? She whimpered, scared, hearing the voices from the other room escalate. What was happening to Aki? Was he in trouble? She carefully opened the door to her room, wondering. She slowly walked down the hallway, wincing when she heard her father's voice.

"Why?" He cried, and she realized he was crying. "Why did you do it?" A crash, a bang. The little girl's eyes widened, squeezing her bear as if it would bring her comfort. "Are you happy now?"

She heard her brother's voice. "No! I didn't want to, I didn't mean to--," his fearful cries were silenced by something, a slap, maybe? The little girl gave a little gasp. Brother!

"It's your fault," he continued. His voice turned cold, angry – something the little girl had never heard before. Her father had always been so kind, so warm. His new voice, his tone, scared her. "She loved you." She heard Aki's sobs, and she found the courage to peek her head around the corner.

Her father was standing over the little form of Aki, who was cowering from him. His eyes were wild, fierce, his cheeks stained with tears. Something about him looked inhuman. Aki was crying, hiding his face. Looking closer, she could see the beginning of a large bruise on Aki's right arm. She felt her eyes well up in tears. Brother…

"She loved you!" Her father shouted, his voice high and loud. "And this is how you repaid her, for all her kindness?" His face turned red, as if containing his anger. "She loved you; she loved you and your sister more than anything." His face softened, as is remembering something.

"I didn't want to, but Deimus--," Aki tried to explain, his voice muffled by the arms he held protectively over his face. "Deimus made me."

"Deimus!" His father said, picking up on the word. "Deimus made you, didn't he?" He chuckled strangely, as if crazed. "You should have been able to keep Deimus away! She was your mother! My wife!" He raised a hand to strike Aki again.

"Daddy!" The little girl cried, not able to watch any longer. Her father paused, his arm in midair. He stared at her, as if not really seeing, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Aki lifted his head to gape at her. "Don't hurt brother," she whimpered into her bear. The man's face seemed to soften, but he looked back at Aki and shot him what looked to be a glare. He headed over towards the little girl, arms outstretched. She seemed to pull back in fear.

"It's all right, Kana," he said, his voice sounding unrealistically cheery. "Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine."

She didn't answer, but looked down to the ground, holding her bear tighter. "I want mother." Her father looked back at Aki again before turning back to her.

"Honey, mommy's gone. She won't be coming back for a long time." He explained, his arms still outstretched towards her. "Come on. It's way past your bedtime. It's time to go to sleep."

"Won't brother come too?" She asked, looking up at him. Aki was watching her, still on the floor. Her father gave a heavy sigh.

"I have to talk to your brother for a little bit. He'll go to bed later."

She shook her head. "Don't hurt Aki," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "I want mother." She drew back from him, watching Aki.

"Look what you've done," her father said, looking at Aki with a cold gaze. He looked down again, ashamed. "Kana, dear, go back to bed. I won't hurt Aki."

She looked at him. "Promise?"

He hesitated. "I promise." He said finally, after a long pause. She sighed, relaxing her hold on her bear. She turned away and started to go back to her room. She felt her father's gaze follow her until she opened the door to her room and closed it behind her.

Her father waited a minute or two before turning back to Aki again, his former kindness gone. He went over to Aki and pulled him up by the collar of his shirt. He cried out, and Kana, from her room, heard it. She gasped, and jumped out of her bed and slowly opened the door. He promised! She walked down the hallway, careful not to have her father see her. They were in the kitchen, her father was rooting through the drawers…Aki was sniffling, covering his face, hiding his tears. He was mumbling to himself as he worked, harsh, low angry mutters. Her eyes widened, and she hugged the bear closely to her chest. Aki lifted his head, and their eyes met. His eyes widened, and he motioned for her to leave, but she shook her head. What was he doing? She drew back from the kitchen as her father turned to face Aki. She lay against the wall, closing her eyes. Brother…

She heard him cry out as something happened…what was going on? She couldn't bring herself to look. She was scared, so scared. Aki…Aki…

All at once she heard his scream, a pitiful cry. She started to cry, but didn't make any noise. The tears fell slowly down her cheeks as she heard him. She had to be strong. She shut her eyes hard, trying to muster up her courage…

She peeked around the corner again, and gasped. Her father was standing over her brother's still form, holding a knife. He paused, the knife held in midair. And then, in what seemed like slow-motion, he brought the knife down, and dug it into the top of Aki's shoulder.

"This will teach you!" He was yelling as he did his awful deed. "Let this be a lesson to you and that damned Deimus!" She stifled her gasp, and watched in horror as he slowly ran the knife down the length of his back. Aki was screaming, crying, but her father was holding him down, keeping him from writhing out of grasp. She dropped her bear, running to her father, pulling at his shirt, as if her weak arms would actually tear him away from Aki.

"No! No! No!" She screamed over and over, crying. "Leave brother alone!" Her father paused, then slowly turned to look at her. His hands were stained with blood, the knife held poised in his right hand. His eyes were wide, enraged.

"I told you to go back to bed," he said, his voice barely a whisper. And then, all at once, he dropped the knife, advancing on her with outstretched arms. She whimpered, backing up. "Come on, sweetheart, back to bed," he murmured. She tripped and fell over, her eyes never leaving his face. Was this really her father?

All of a sudden someone blocked her view. Aki was standing in front of her, his arms spread out as if protecting her. She saw his back, the jagged diagonal line that was bleeding profusely. She stared at it, watching the blood slowly run down his pale skin.

"Leave Kana alone," he said, his voice shaking. "She has nothing to do with this." Kana whimpered, feeling the tears start to run down her face again. He was protecting her? She didn't need the protection. Not like he did. Why couldn't she be as strong as him?

"Aki…" she said, her voice a high-pitched whisper. She saw her bear, laying a few ways off from where she was, and she reached out to grab it, holding it securely in her arms. Suddenly her father fell, crying hysterically.

"What have I done?" He shouted, and Aki took this opportunity to turn to her. He held out his hand.. She looked up into his face, saw how pale he looked. He was shaking. He was scared. She took his hand and got up onto her feet, and the two ran down the hallway into the safety of Kana's room.

She locked the door behind her, and turned to her brother, giving him a hug. He held her, shaking, trying not to cry. "We're okay," he was saying. "We're okay." She felt his blood on her hands, and she cried into his shoulder. For a while, Aki just stood there, but then he too gave in, and the two children cried in the safety of the dark.

Kana jerked awake, looking around the room wildly. She touched her face, bewildered, and felt the tears that were there. Why had she dreamed of that night? Why did she remember? She drew her legs up into her chest, barely hearing the blaring ringing of her alarm clock. Why? She wiped her tears away, shaking. That dream felt so real, it was as if she was experiencing it all over again.

She knew the rest of the story. . That night…that night was when he received his scar. She remembered. She remembered it in excruciating detail now, when before it was nothing more than a fuzzy, awful memory, worn around the edges. He still had that scar. He was forever ashamed of it. But that night was only the beginning. Night after night, Aki would come into her room, at late hours, and she would cry with him. He was so strong, he was always so strong, even though her father had tried to break him, tear his spirit apart. Prevent him from doing something…but what? She had never figured that part out, but she never asked. Part of her was afraid to, truthfully. Aki was strong, he held on, even with everything against him. She herself had a scar, on her right arm, from when she tried to stop her father once again.

She lifted up her sleeve and stared at her scar, studying it. It wasn't large or anything, it was simply a scar, a little scrape. Her father had given it to her, when she was around eight. She had tried to interfere, and got tossed aside, and knocked into the corner of a dresser. It was nothing. Nothing compared to what Aki suffered.

But…who was Deimus?

In her dream, her father had said that name, more than once. Had he said that before? It didn't sound familiar, but…

Her eyes widened. Of course! Deimus. That was the name of the wolf demon. Her mouth dropped open in shock. Her father knew about Aki. He knew he held a demon inside. Was that why he beat him? And Deimus…could he have--

She wiped away her tears, coming to her senses. The alarm clock was still ringing, and it buzzed in her head like crazy. She stopped her thoughts, swinging her legs over the edge of her bed, remembering real life. It was Monday; she had to get to school…What happened to Kurama?

She paused at the doorway, peeking around the corner. He didn't stay the night, did he? No. He said he couldn't, but she dismissed him. She didn't need any protection that night, she had told him. After she told him everything, his expression seemed to have changed completely, but she was so bad at reading faces, she couldn't tell whether it was fear, worry, sadness, or…something else. He stayed for a while after that, but then left, and she, so exhausted, decided to fall asleep. Now, staring at the couch where he would have been sleeping…

It was so strange. For some reason, she felt lonely.

She just barely made it to school on time. She walked through the hallways in a daze, holding one hand to her head. She had this terrible headache…and why was everyone staring at her today? Didn't they just get over that a few weeks ago?

"KANA!"

The sudden yelling caused a sharp pain in her head. She groaned, looking up to see who it was. In a flurry of black, green, orange, and blue, two people ran to her side, nearly knocking her over. She blinked, and saw Yusuke and Kuwabara right there, out of breath.

"Kurama—told—us—," Yusuke said between gasps. Kuwabara grasped her shoulders, shaking her lightly.

"You're not really going to leave, are you?" He cried, and Kana blinked, trying not to get dizzy.

"Stop shaking me," she managed to say. Kuwabara let go immediately, embarrassed. Yusuke's eyes were wide, like a child's. Was she really going to have to leave them? Her yellow eyes softened. "Yeah," she murmured, casting her eyes to the ground.

"But why? You like it here, don't you?" Yusuke persisted, beginning to follow her as she started down the hallway. Kana gave an apologetic smile, shaking her head.

"That's not it," she said. "It's not a matter of whether I want to stay here or whether I like it here. I'm basically an orphan right now, with my father dead. And since Aki isn't around, the police said he wouldn't be a 'suitable guardian'," she scoffed, shaking her head. If only they knew, she thought angrily. "I have no choice. After my father's funeral, I'm going to live with the aunt I never knew I had." She stopped to kick a random locker.

"You should explain it to them," Kuwabara suggested. Kana looked at him.

"And tell them what?" She said, her voice rising. "'I can't leave; I've got my brother running off as a wolf demon and he's the one who killed my father'?" Kuwabara and Yusuke stared at her, wide-eyed, surprised at her sudden outburst. Kana sighed. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice softer. "It's just everything seems to be going wrong lately…"

Yusuke shook his head. "There's nothing to be sorry about," he said, and just then the bell rang. He cursed, adjusting the backpack on his shoulder. He and Kuwabara left Kana after saying their goodbyes. Kana rubbed her head, her headache slowly going away.

She met up with Isuzu and Shiko in science. For some reason, they looked worried. The stares she received from the people sitting in their desks made her feel wary, a little confused. What was going on? She sat down in her desk, turning to Isuzu.

"What's going on?" She asked quickly, trying to ignore the students who suddenly swerved their heads to look at her as she spoke. Isuzu blinked, looking at her oddly.

"Are you okay?" Isuzu asked, peering at her closely. Okay. Something was definitely off. Kana scrunched up her nose, trying to think of something that may have happened that people at school would actually know about. "We heard. About your father." Her face looked solemn as she said this.

Kana stopped. "What?" Her voice was high, surprised. How the hell did they find out?

"It's all over the school, actually," Shiko piped up, and Kana banged her head against her desk. That's why everyone was staring at her...This wasn't supposed to happen!

"So, are you okay?" Isuzu asked, concerned. Kana lifted up head to meet her eyes, and tried to smile reassuringly.

"I'll be fine," she replied, "as long as no one asks me that question for the rest of the day." Isuzu gave her a look, then sighed and smiled. "Whatever you say," she said, shaking her head. "But just so you know, you look like shit. And because of that, people are really going to ask you whether you like it or not." She grinned. "Could I ask something?"

"Sure, why not," Kana said slowly.

There was a pause, and then: "Are you sure you're okay?"

Kana groaned, covering her hands with her eyes. "Yes, for the millionth time, yes!" Isuzu looked taken aback, but still didn't look entirely convinced. She sobered, then continued in a softer tone, "At least, I will be, in a little while."

Isuzu clapped her hands. "Finally, a decent answer." She smiled, and spread her arms out. "Hug?" Kana looked at her oddly, and before she knew it Isuzu had left her desk and wrapped her in a hug. Kana smiled, patting her shoulder a little awkwardly.

"Okay, okay, yeah," Kana said, embarrassed by all the people that had turned to stare even more, if it were even possible. "Thank you Isuzu."

"If you two girls don't mind," the three of them looked up and saw Mr. Kertai clearing his throat, "I'd like to start class."

Kana blushed, embarrassed once more, and mumbled a 'sorry' before slinking down lower into her seat, wishing everyone would stop giving her those weird pity-stares as Mr. Kertai turned around and started to write things on the chalkboard.

She was standing in the living room with Aki, facing their father. She was probably around eleven or twelve; Aki looked around fourteen or fifteen. Her father was speaking, but it took her a while to figure out what he was saying.

"You can't leave," he sneered, looking at Aki. "You can't do anything without me." She stood right beside Aki, whether for moral support or otherwise, she couldn't really remember. Aki shook his head, which already had been dyed purple. She knew that the day before he had been beaten for that, her father saying it was improper, indecent. But she knew it was the reason he had done it in the first place. Aki had taken comfort in the different screamo music, adapted his own style, and her father hated it. She gazed nervously at the growing bruise on his lower arm. Leaving was something he had been dying to do for some time, but she wouldn't let him go without her.

"I can do what I want," Aki said, his voice level and even. How could he stay so calm? "I am leaving. And Kana is coming with me."

Her father's eyes widened, getting up out of the chair. "You can't take Kana," he said. "She is staying here!"

Kana averted her gaze to the ground. "I'm going with Aki," she said. Aki was watching her now, she felt his eyes upon her.

"You can't take her with you," he said coldly. "You can leave, I don't care, but Kana is staying here. I won't let you lay your manipulative little hands on her." He looked at Kana, pleading. "Why are you going with him? He's a monster; you don't know what he's hiding." Aki stiffened, glaring at her father. She clenched her hands into fists. She could do what she wants. And what she wanted was to go with Aki, wherever he may be going.

Aki placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on," he said, and she nodded. He picked up a backpack and slung it over his shoulder. Kana grabbed her own, filled with clothes and items she wanted to take with her, and started for the front door. Her father let out a roar, enraged. There was a crash, and turning around quickly she saw her father and thrown a lamp onto the ground, cursing. She grabbed Aki's hand, afraid, as –

Someone was shaking her gently. Her eyes snapped open, yelling in surprise. Where was she? What was going on? Her eyes fell on Kurama standing before her, and she instantly relaxed. She was in school, at a desk…what period was it? How did she fall asleep?

"Sorry," Kurama apologized quickly. She blinked, rubbing her eyes.

"No, thank you," she said, waving a slender arm in the air, reaching down to grab her backpack. Looking at the clock, she saw school had ended a few minutes ago. "I was having a bad dream." She looked at him suddenly. "Have you ever dreamed about the past?"

He seemed to hesitate at this, averting his gaze. "Yes," he said softly. "And they're not pleasant." His voice sounded distant, as if remembering something painful. Kana knew not to press it further. She got up out of her desk.

"Mine aren't either," she said with a sad smile. He looked at her, surprised, maybe even a little alarmed. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for waking me," she said. Kurama nodded, swallowing. He cleared his throat and shook his head, as if shaking off painful thoughts.

"Come on," he said gently. "I'll drive you home."