Author's Intro:

Kazuma's personality is so, so hard to nail. He's so calm and….I dunno. It's just hard to describe. But I'll do my best.

"I see. I'm so sorry, Kyo," Kazuma looked down, holding his "son's" shoulder. Kyo had his head in his hands.

"I don't what to lose her."

"We know, Kyo. Like you said, it's just waiting for the right time. Think about what you can do. You can't just go in there and take her. It won't be that simple. Just think about it. I won't tell anyone you're here."

"Thanks, Shishou," Kyo whispered, smiling.

"Good. I'll go make some food for us."

"No! Don't! Shishou! Agh! You're burning everything!" Kyo yelled, grabbing water. His instructor laughed. Some things would not change.

Tohru ran inside. Tears flew behind her, leaving a trail. Shigure could only imagine what had happened. She didn't even stop to remove her muddy shoes. He barely grimaced at the footprints, though. At that moment, they didn't really concern him.

But he didn't leave his spot in the kitchen, either. It would be better to just watch everything unfold, he decided.

The Dog just might be able to learn more that way.

"That can't be true, Mom. I won't believe it. It can't be true, it can't be true," Tohru cried, looking at Kyoko's smiling face behind glass. "But…but Akito said…and I can't deny that it would make sense. But he seemed to like me so much just a few nights ago. I…I don't know what would cause him to…."

The Cat didn't want to think about it. She just stuffed her face into her pillow and sobbed until she slept.

Nothing really mattered anymore. He hated her, and that was all that she was concerned with.

Tohru went to school the next day. Kyo, of course, was there. She seemed dead, even to her friends. Uotani and Hanajima wouldn't stop trying to cheer her up.

"It has something to do with orange-top, doesn't it?" Arisa angrily whispered during class. Tohru nodded slightly, and Saki became quiet for a moment and concentrated.

In the seat behind her, the one where Kyo sat, everyone in the classroom heard a yell. Kyo fell out of his chair, clutching his head. Hanajima slowly turned around and glared at him, while everybody else in the classroom (except for Tohru) laughed.

"I didn't do anything, you damn psychic!" Kyo growled, looking straight into her dark eyes. She responded by sending another shock to him, making the boy squeeze his eyes shut in pain.

He muttered incoherently the rest of the class.

The two girls agreed to walk Tohru home that afternoon. As they all arrived at the Dog's property, the Cat hugged the girls tightly.

"I love you, Uo-chan and Hana-chan," she whispered, enjoying their presence once more. "I'll see ya later, Tohru," Arisa smiled, winking at the girl. Saki waved goodbye, smiling joyfully. Tohru could always make her grin.

The Cat trotted up the stairs, and briskly walked into her room. She grabbed a large purse, and stuffed some pictures (including the ones of her mum, her friends, and the Sohma family) and other special belongings in it.

She was almost finished, when she came to the last picture on the shelf. Kyo's picture. Her hand paused, still in the air. Would it come, or would in stay?

"You are the Cat. He doesn't want to have to deal with you anymore."

Akito's words stung Tohru like bees, and ripped her apart like daggers. She let out her trapped emotions on the picture, knocking it in one quick swipe to the ground. The glass broke, damaging the photo a bit.

She clutched her bag, beginning to cry bitter tears. But she quickly swallowed them when she heard a yell from downstairs.

"Are you okay, Tohru-kun? I heard glass breaking.." Shigure called.

"I-I'm fine. Thank you," Tohru called back, attempting to put fake cheer into her voice.

"Okay."

She finished up, zipping the bag shut and taking one last look at her room. She would leave for the Main House.

The Cat remembered all the things that had taken place in her room. All the memories that had been created there.

She looked to the roof. Kyo had once put a hole there. It was the first time she had met him.

And Yuki used to help her study there.

Hana-chan and Uo-chan had been there, at that sleepover. Tohru sighed, and left, closing the door.

She walked carefully down the stairs, and informed Shigure that she would go to Saki's house. He smiled, patted her head, and encouraged her to have fun.

"I will."

The Cat thought about her decision over and over. She still had three more days left. But it didn't matter anymore.

"Akito-sama, I've come," Tohru called into his room.

"Yes, yes. Come in."

She opened the door, making her decision final.

"I've come early. I'm staying," Tohru breathed, closing her eyes. The God smiled.

"I knew that you would realize what is best for you. Scum like you can only be accepted by your God. If your mother were alive, she wouldn't of accepted you," Akito sneered, pulling Tohru to him. He made her sit down, and then cradled her in his arms. "Let me show you to your room, my precious Monster."

Leading the girl down a dark hallway, he looked back at her.

Tohru was scared, he knew that. Her legs were shaking, and her eyes confirmed his belief.

They stopped at the very last door. Akito opened it, letting her slip inside first. He walked in right behind her, and closed the door. Tohru set down her bag and shoes, and turned around again, waiting for whatever her God had to say.

He picked up a whip, a few small hooks gleaming on the end. It had been waiting for him by her door.

"Welcome to your new home, wench."

Tohru squeezed her eyes shut, gasping at every slash.

After about thirty minutes, the air in the "cage" became still. The Cat lay on the floor, curling up in pain. Skin was stripped off of her back, and blood surrounded her. The whip sat on the floor beside of her.

Tohru's shirt was also piled beside her; it had been ripped so much that eventually nothing was left to hold it on.

Akito left the room, screaming down the hall as he walked.

"HATORI! Put her in some proper clothes. A yukata would do. And only use two bandages. I won't have any more wasted on the filth in that room," he muttered, passing the Dragon.

Two bandages wouldn't even begin to cover the numerous wounds that covered Tohru's back and sides.

Author's Closing:

A whip with hooks on the end….now THAT would hurt.

But there's still more! And Tohru can't be left hopeless, can she?

Laterzzz.

E.