Chapter 2: Dear God

A lonely road, crossed another cold state line
Miles away from those I love purpose hard to find
While I recall all the words you spoke to me
Can't help but wish that I was there
Back where I'd love to be, oh yeah

Yuki lay on the cold hard ground, coughing. He'd gone few miles away from the city, where there was little hope of being found.

Just like he'd wanted it to be.

He coughed, and it ripped through his chest like fire. He felt like his lungs were being torn apart with every breath he took. He couldn't get back, even if he wanted to. He closed his eyes, wishing he could close himself up just as easily. He'd found it to be almost impossible since the saintly Tohru Honda had come into their house, had tried her hardest to get them to open up.

Dear God the only thing I ask of you is
to hold her when I'm not around
when I'm much too far away
We all need that person who can be true to you

He hoped that Tohru and the others were taking care of Kezumi in his absence. If she woke up and he was not there…

She's better off without me…

But was she..?

But I left her when I found her
And now I wish I'd stayed
'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired
I'm missing you again oh no
Once again

He tried to stand up, suddenly realizing something: he didn't even know if she was alive, and here he was, going all emo again. He…he had to get back! He felt like he was being stabbed in the chest repeatedly, but a sudden urge to get back home and see Kezumi made him press forwards regardless. But, only seconds later, he fell with a thud to the ground.

There's nothing here for me on this barren road
There's no one here while the city sleeps
and all the shops are closed

"Hatori-san! I think I found him!"

Hatori turned to the brown haired girl a few meters to his right. It appeared she had indeed found the missing rat, curled up on the ground, choking and gasping for air. Hatori knelt beside him, trying to pry his hands away from his chest.

"Yuki."

No answer.

"Yuki."

Yuki gasped, his eyes flicking open and he tried feebly to push the doctor away. Hatori clamped his hands on the boy's shoulders.

"Yuki, listen to me: I'm going to take you back, okay?"

Yuki didn't nod, but he allowed the older Sohma to lift him up and, with Tohru in tow, walk back to the car and place him in on the back seat.

Can't help but think of the times I've had with you
Pictures and some memories will have to help me through, oh yeah

Yuki sat on the back seat, appearing to be asleep, but in reality was just thinking. Little flashes of memories flitted through his mind:

A warm summer's night: nobody had school. Yuki sat with Tohru at the secret base when a sound interrupted their conversation.

"Eh, what was that?"

He stood up, walking over to the bushes where the sound seemed to come from.They were surprised to find a girl with bright green hair that curled to her feet.Tohru, who had come up behind him, gasped.

"Sohma-kun…is this someone you know?"

Yuki nodded, kneeling next to the girl and brushing the hair off her face.

"Zumi…"

"Eh?" Tohru asked, but Yuki ignored her.

"Zumi…come on, wake up…"

The girl's eyes flickered open, and Tohru gasped again.

"Yuki-kun, th-they're…"

"Yellow" Yuki sighed.

Dear God the only thing I ask of you is
to hold her when I'm not around
when I'm much too far away
We all need that person who can be true to you

Later that night and Kezumi was sitting at the table. Her hair was now Black, an d about a foot shorter, and her eyes had returned to their natural brown. She stared down at her feet, appearing ashamed, but waited to speak until Tohru and the rest had sat with her at the table .When dinner was brought out, Tohru immediately addressed their guest.

"Ah, s-so, Kezumi-san…"

"Kezumi bowed her head slightly, clearing her throat.

"I s-suppose you're wondering about that little…incident earlier…"

Tohru nodded, but replied.

"Y-you don't have to tell me if it makes you uncomfortable…"

Kezumi chuckled dryly.

"No, it's fine. Well, you see." She sighed, "I tried to find end the curse. I was so close too…but then, I touched these." She lifted her shirt sleeve to show a bracelet of green and yellow striped beads. Tohru gasped. Kezumi sighed again.

"Each time, just like the others, I get hugged or am weak, I transform into what you saw earlier. I've also forgotten everything about how to end the curse as well…"

"Oh no!" Tohru gasped worriedly, patting Kezumi's hand sympathetically. Kezumi blushed, obviously not used to such affection. Yuki happened to know that she wasn't.

I left her when I found her
And now I wish I'd stayed
'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired
I'm missing you again oh no
Once again

Two days later, and Hatori had come over. He sighed, folding his hands in his lap and watching the four teens sitting across from him. Kezumi twirled her black hair around her fingers absentmindedly, averting her eyes as Hatori's searched her face.

"Akito-sama has learned of your return, Kezumi: he's not happy. I think he knows what happened."

"Of course he would…he is the god of the fucking zodiac, after all…" Kyo scowled, which caused TOHru to fret needlessly.

"OH, please don't be rude like that, Kyo-kun: I-I'm sure he has a reason for acting like he does…"

"No, he doesn't." Yuki said bluntly, and Kezumi turned to him, her eyes large and sad. She placed a hand on his shoulder lovingly. Hatori broke the moment with a single proclamation.

"He requests an audience with Kezumi."

Some search, never finding a way
Before long, they waste away
I found you, something told me to stay
I gave in, to selfish ways
And how I miss someone to hold
when hope begins to fade...

"Yuki!"

He blinked heavy lids open, only to see Tohru and Hatori standing over him. HE rolled over, only to feel Hatori's hands push him back./

"Careful: we wouldn't want you falling off."

Confused, Yuki looked tot eh side, and notice d that he wasn't on his bed, but rather…

"The couch…?"

Hatori nodded, pulling out his stethoscope.

"Kezumi is on your bed…we'd take her to a hospital, but….she's already transformed…"

"What exactly...happened?" Yuki asked, as he breathed in and out at Hatori's instruction. Hatori seemed to blanch and pause at the question, but he quickly regained his calm.

"Yuki…Akito…he…" Hatori gulped, turning away.

"He raped Kezumi."

A lonely road, crossed another cold state line
Miles away from those I love purpose hard to find

Dear God the only thing I ask of you is
to hold her when I'm not around
when I'm much too far away
We all need the person who can be true to you
I left her when I found her
And now I wish I'd stayed
'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired
I'm missing you again oh no
Once again

A/N: gasp!