Author's Intro:

I must explain that Kyo can go to school, but cannot purposely interact with his family/Tohru.

It's kinda weird. Ah, well. Sorry, readers, for the possibly confusing crap.

Getting on with it now.

'Why did I do that?' Tohru wondered, a blush still on her face. 'Maybe he didn't like it…I hope not…oh! Should I apologize? Why wouldn't he talk to me? But…I don't regret k-kissing him…ack! What should I do?'

The Cat's brain was swarming with all sorts of insecurities and unanswered questions. She had enjoyed that moment, but would he hate her now? It had been in front of everyone….

And the Fan Club was bound to find out….

Tohru came to a sudden halt. The Fan Club members—or some of them—really liked Kyo-kun, too! They would definitely have something to say to her….

After a while, the girl headed back to class. That time, she was the last one there, though not late. Her head down, she quietly settled into her seat.

Kyo watched her walk in. He had no regrets for that moment, and he really wanted to talk to her. But….

A picture of Akito came into the boy's head. He was holding that same whip as the one that he had showed Kyo. Tohru was on the ground, bloody, just like she had been in his dream.

(A/N: In Volume 16, I think.)

He shuddered, and hoped that Akito would understand and not punish her. How could Akito be always watching? Kyo didn't know. But he didn't doubt it either. He sometimes acted ignorant, but it always seemed like he had every idea of what was going on.

And the orange haired teen didn't doubt that he knew about the kiss.

Tohru didn't know what to expect, coming home that day. Arisa and Saki had talked to her more about her cuts, but the Cat knew that if they knew for sure that Akito was the culprit, she would get into trouble. Unless Hana-chan zapped him with her poison waves…

Tohru quickly got rid of that idea. It was terrible and cruel.

Kyo also watched her walk home by herself. Yuki probably had something to do with the Council, and Kyo, of course, wasn't there.

(A/N: Kyo's kinda like a stalker now, isn't he? Haha! I would probably be the same way if I couldn't talk to someone I loved...)

Where would he stay? Shishou's was an option, but that would be obvious. Tohru would probably find out easily, too.

But….just for now….it was a good place. Kyo couldn't keep sleeping on the streets. He would want to inherit the dojo anyways. He changed routes and made the journey to his "dad's" house.

"Shishou! Are you here?" Kyo called as he stepped into the building, slipping off his shoes.

"Ah! Kyo," Shishou smiled, coming around the corner. "You look a bit anxious."

"I-I need a favor."

"Of course. But….can this wait a bit? I'm sorry…I just have some things I really need to take care of. Why not meet me at my house later?"

"Yeah. See you then," Kyo grinned. He hoped that everything would work out okay. He truly hoped….

"Tohru-kun," Shigure called, walking over to the girl. "Akito-san wants to see you again."

The Cat nodded. She should of expected this. Akito would of found out about her and Kyo, but she was too stupid to realize that.

She shook as Hatori drove her to the Main House. It didn't look so inviting anymore. The huge Estate looked like a torture chamber, and the gloomy aura that seemed to hang over it didn't help much.

"I am here, Akito-sama," Tohru whispered, her head down. She stood outside of the God's door, waiting for his permission to enter. It came.

"You may come in, my little Monster."

The Cat gulped once, mustered up all the courage in her, and opened the barrier that kept her safe.

"We have to support Tohru-kun!" Kagura yelled, all the rest of the Juunishi around her.

"Yes!" they all responded throwing a fist into the air, except for Hatori, Haru, Hiro, and Rin. They just whispered a "yes".

"We should have a going away party, and then we can sneak letters to her later," Momiji winked at everybody, smiling.

"But…but Onee-chan will still be with Akito-san, right? Won't he hurt her?"

Everybody paused, and looked down. They could help the girl, but it seemed that they could not muster up enough courage to be so bold to protest Akito.

"I'm sorry, Kisa-chan," Momiji apologized softly. "I wish we could."

The Tiger bowed her head. She, too, knew that she would not have the courage to protect her more than everyone else.

They continued speaking, but not as enthusiastically.

"Do you know why Kyo would not speak to you?"

"No, I do not, Akito-sama," Tohru answered the God, sitting in front of him, her hands folded delicately in her lap.

"Then I will tell you."

The Cat gained more interest in the conversation. She was in the lie that Akito would tell a truthful answer. He noticed this, and carried on smiling inside.

"It is because he hates you."

"I don't understand, Akito-sama."

'I-I'm not sure what he means. Kyo-kun…he was so kind to me…until he came back from Kazuma-san's that one afternoon…but I don't see why he would hate me.'

"What's not to understand? He simply hates you. You are so ignorant, it's disgusting."

"But what did I do?"

"You are the Cat. A simple reminder of your presence is disgusting. He may have been the Cat, but now he is not. He wants a normal life now. The poor boy even came to me, saying these things. He does not want to have to deal with you anymore," Akito finished, caressing her cheek with his hand, catching her tears with his fingers.

Tohru was caught in his trap of lies.

"And it is your fault that you have this curse. See how everything goes back to the Cat?" the God commented, making a thin cut in her cheek. It went from the side of her face to her cheek. A tiny bit of blood seeped through the skin, and slowly dripped down her face.

Tohru nodded, her head buzzing.

'I-I thought that he accepted me. He understood me. H-he even…maybe…loved me,' Tohru cried, feeling lonely and betrayed. She didn't really need love, but acceptance was a thing that she craved now.

And, to her knowledge, it was not there.

"But, my dear Monster, I accept your ugliness. I love you, because you are mine. Come back tomorrow, if you want," Akito finished, offering vain "love". "And I don't want you to get hurt. So don't force your one-sided love on him. I only mean best for you, wench."

Tohru nodded weakly, and barely heard when the Head dismissed her. She just ran out of the room, and back to the Secret Base. Yuki was working there, but he didn't really pay much attention to her, like he normally would. She kept running.

Kyo opened Kazuma's door, preparing to tell him everything that was happening.

Author's Closing:

Akito keeps messing up things for poor Tohru and Kyo. Ah, the bittersweet scent of Juunishi love….

See ya next chapter!

E.