A little boy stood, trembling in the corner, his tiny hands tugging on his hair, teardrops caressing his cheeks before they dropped one by one. Another boy, slightly older, stood in front of him, a cold sneer on his countenance. "Now," he said icily," I want to hear you beg me for forgiveness and promise me you'll never get near that girl again. The silver-haired boy looked up, his violet eyes meeting Akito's " I promise, just please… please Akito, don't hurt her," he cried, during shaky sobs. Akito's eyes narrowed. He grabbed the boy's head and pulled it back harshly, and towards him." You don't tell me what to do. I own you! I AM GOD HERE! I am the head of the house. I AM!" He threw him to the ground and took his whip out from his robe. " Why don't you just listen to what I say, Yuki? All you do is cause trouble for yourself. You do! It's your fault! Your fault!" he yelled, whipping him as he emphasized each word, leaving a sharp sting more painful than the last one. " Stop! It hurts, stop it! STOP IT!" the little boy screamed.

Yuki opened his eyes, breathing hard as though him and Kyo had just ran many miles, trying their best to beat the other. He sat up, his blanket sliding down to his waist, one hand running through his tussled silver hair that was dripping with sweat on his forehead.

It was just a dream… So vivid… but…but… just a dream, right?

Yuki put his face into his hands, closing his eyes and taking long deep breaths and exhaling, soothing his trembling body. He looked up when he heard murmurs seeping under the sliding door across the room. Who would be up this late at night? Yuki thought wearily, sighing in frustration. He scrambled out of bed, crossed the room, opened the door and peered outside wondering what was going on.

It seemed the voices were coming from where they ate Tohru's delicious homemade food everyday. He exited the room and closed the door quietly, as he made his way into the dining room. He slid the door open.

He saw Kyo, Shigure and Hatori there sitting around the table, Hatori with a cigarette in his mouth. Kyo, as always, a scowl plastered on his face and the other two with a morose expression.

They were startled with Yuki's sudden entrance but Kyo regained his composure and glared at Yuki before looking away.

" What's going on? Shigure, I thought you were visiting the main house." Yuki said, rubbing his eyes.

"Ah…Good evening, Yuki." Shigure said, speaking up," I was going to visit, actually, when I came across a little situation. What are you doing awake?"

" I woke up and heard you talking. What kind of situation could have happened for you to be up this late?" Yuki asked. He turned to Hatori who had caught his eye. "What are you doing here, Hatori? Is Miss Honda hurt?

Shigure chuckled, waving his hand to fend off Yuki's many questions. " Yuki, calm down. Everything is all right. It just so happens that I found a sleeping girl on my back porch. A startling sight let me tell you. How unusual."

"What a surprise. Probably Shigure's doing… trying to show Tohru how generous he is by taking people in" Kyo muttered under his breath.

Yuki was about to open his mouth before Shigure cut him off with a shake of his head.

"Don't worry. Tohru had nothing to do with it. My little flower's sleeping safe and sound in her room right now. To reassure you, I myself checked personally. Right, Hatori?" Shigure asked, grinning. He winked at Hatori who ignored the gesture while Yuki and Kyo shot him icy looks.

" You sick bastard" Kyo said, narrowing his eyes at Shigure.

Shigure gasped and put a dramatic hand on his forehead. "How can you think of such a naughty thing, Kyo? I would never take advantage of my little housewife like that. Me, a respected novelist? Never!"

Kyo turned away, furiously and looked at the man quietly sitting in the corner watching the scene with a stoic expression. " What are you just sitting there for? Well? If it wasn't him, then why the hell is she there? Who gave her the right to just sleep wherever she wants?" he asked angrily.

Hatori put out his cigarette, a wisp of smoke floating in the air.

"Now, Kyo, no need to let your anger out on Hatori. Just because I was watching Tohru sleeping, you don't have to get jealous…"

"What the hell are you talking about? I just don't want her near sickos like you!" Kyo snapped.

"Enough, all of you. Shigure, if you're just going to play around, I suggest you let me explain to these boys what happened tonight." Hatori said firmly.

All of them froze instantly surprised by Hatori's sudden stern tone. "This is not a subject to be joked around with. This is a serious situation and a matter to be dealt with. It's not the time to be playing around." Hatori said quietly. He paused, looking around him to confirm he had gotten their attention before he moved on. " Kyo, Yuki… Shigure called me over here when this happened. I had no idea at the time before this. I decided to have a look at her and I found many bruises upon her skin and a mild blow to the head. I don't know how the girl came to be there or why but even though I'm only this family's docter specifically, I'm still a doctor and she needed medical attention. Nothing fatal but the girl needs plenty of rest and should be waking soon. Then, we'll worry about her. But for now…. Let her sleep. It looks like she's been through a lot.

"She's resting in the guest room upstairs." Shigure added.

Yuki stood still, his mind still absorbing the shocking information. Questions began to immediately pop up in his head. Who is this girl? What was she doing there in the first place? It's not possible for someone to just wander in and end up sleeping on someone's porch much less ours. There must have been a reason why she was there but what is it? We're in the middle of a mild forest with one path leading to school and the other Akito's….Yuki thought, his insides wanting to burst from showering questions.

He glanced at Kyo, looking how he took the news.

Kyo's eyes were hidden away from his mass of orange hair but he was sure they were flashing with the usual fury that comes after. A thin line was stretched across his lips and his fist was clenched on the table. Yuki thought it was a little strange for him to try to control his temper over this. Both of them didn't know anything about her but he had a feeling that he did in some way. Yuki turned his eyes back to Hatori.

" Can… can I see her?" Yuki said softly.

All three of them looked up at him in surprise. " You don't even know her, you damn rat.,"muttered Kyo.

" Is that supposed to stop me, you stupid cat?" Yuki said coldly.

" You wanna start something, you ---"

" Now, now Kyo. This is not the time and place to start a fight," Shigure teased, obviously back to his usual self.

" Aw, hell with it. Go do whatever damn thing you want to do. I'm going back to bed." Kyo growled, glaring at Yuki before leaving the room.

" Well, Yuki. If you insist, lets get this settled. Come with me.," Hatori said in a serious tone, standing up.

" I'll make my way also towards bed, then. I've had enough fun and excitement for one night, I think." Shigure said cheerfully, getting up from the floor, "Goodnight, Yuki. Hatori." He left the room with a wave.

Yuki followed Hatori as he led him upstairs and to the end of the hallway in front of the guestroom. "You may go in now. Don't stay too long. I'll be waiting downstairs." He said, giving a curt nod before he left.

Yuki stood in front of the door. He put his hand on the indent and slided the door slowly before stepping into the room, leaving a sliver of light coming through

The first thing he saw was the bed a few feet away from him next to the window, a portion of the moonlight streaming from the window and swallowing the bed and the figure laying beneath the covers in its light.

He took a few steps at a time, staring at the form. He was right in front of her before he realized it and dropped down to his knees silently beside her. The blanket covered her from neck and all the way down to her feet, only leaving her head exposed.

The long strands of raven hair spread across the pillow was the thing that first caught his eye. He slowly moved some stray locks that were covering her face, not wanting to disturb her, and his eyes widened with what he saw.

The face was so familiar. The soft features that formed her heart-shaped face and her full lips were pale but he still recognized them. He's seen her somewhere before but didn't know who she was exactly. He searched through his mind and tried to figure out where he's seen this girl before. His violet eyes rested on her head.

Her face was almost sickly white and the whole blanket seemed like if it was crushing her fragile form under all its bulky weight. Her chest moved up and down slowly as if she had a hard time breathing. Her eyes were closed. Yuki stared at her face. Suddenly a red handprint mark materialized on her right cheek before vanishing instantly. Yuki flinched.

" I promise, Akito, but just please… please… don't hurt her!"

Yuki looked away, his eyes facing the ground. He stood up and left the room quietly, closing the door behind him. He suddenly felt exhausted and just wanted to lay down and go back to sleep. Before he made his way downstairs, he realized the dream he had wasn't a dream but a painful memory he had wanted to forget and had buried deep in his mind.

Until this night though, he didn't know if it was a coincidence only to come back and remind him of his suffering or if it was somehow trying to tell him something.