A/N: Thanks for sticking with me readers! I luv you all! And I have to say those are great guesses for possible couples! But, keep in mind that there are more Sohmas and Catalyna was introduced to Kakeru….hee hee. So ya never know! Oh yeah and I forgot to put it in the last chapter but I feel stupid for sending a stupid reply to Kyki-The Late Night Writer, I was like totally out of it when I replied XD yeah I feel dumb so if you read this sorry about that.

Chapter 13: Natural Color

His body moved closer to hers as she watched him in disbelief and confusion. His fingers closed around her upper arm and she blushed when his other hand ran through her hair and he pulled her in to a one-arm hug.

"Tohru…" He said her name while the tears ran down his face and fell on her bare arms and legs. "…Tohru!"

The hug only lasted a moment before he changed in to a cat and clung to her lap. Tohru looked down at his peaceful expression. "Kyo-kun…?" She smiled when he did not reply.

She scooped his small feline form in to her arms and bent down to pick up his clothes. But as she stood up from grabbing his pants, she seemed to be watching the scene from far off.

"What…?" Tohru watched herself from a ways away hold Kyo to her chest contentedly. As the 'Tohru' she was watching turned to face her, the form changed in to the angry Vanessa.

"Kyo-kun!" She screamed as Vanessa held him out by the skin of his neck and he let out a loud "MEOW!" in pain. She tried to run to him but the more she pushed the farther away she got.

"Stupid girl…" The low voice of Vanessa spoke as the woodsy clearing melted away to be replaced by a dungeon-like room. "Your weakness is too obvious…"

"Kyo-kun!" Tohru yelled again as Vanessa dropped him to the floor, which he landed on his feet and scurried toward Tohru's direction. She kneeled down to pick him up, but was cut off as a cage large enough for a human suddenly dropped from the ceiling around Kyo.

POOF!

Kyo changed back to human and lay in the middle of the cage completely naked. "Tohru…" He groaned as he slowly got to his feet and was suddenly wearing an old dirty black robe.

"Kyo-kun!" Tohru grabbed the bars with one hand and slipped her other arm through to reach for him. "We haven't graduated! You can't be confined yet!"

"Kyo…."

He came up to her and she grabbed the front of his robe and pulled him as close as she could regardless of the bars. He reached his hands through and grabbed her shoulders. "Akito doesn't care…" He spoke quietly.

She looked in to his eyes as she began to cry. "I'll get you out…I can't go on if you're not with me…" She sobbed and wished with all her might for the bars to disappear.

He smiled sadly and tilted her chin up so she could look at him. "That makes me happy…but sad."

She tried to say something else but suddenly a pair of hands grabbed her hair from behind and pulled her away from the cage.

"No! Kyo-kun!" She screamed as she realized it was Vanessa who was pulling her away from him.

"No…"

"You'll never win against us…" Vanessa stopped and threw her on the floor. "Ignorant fool."

Tohru ignored Vanessa and looked back at the now disappearing cage.

"Kyo-kun! No, don't go!"

But he could not hear her…

"NO, KYO-KUN!!"

Tohru jolted up in to a sitting position in her bed as she woke up from the nightmare. She breathed heavily and looked around her room, relieved that it had only been a dream.

The sound of running could be heard coming up the stairs and she turned as her door was quickly opened.

"Tohru!"

Kyo stood in the door way breathing heavily because he had run all the way up the stairs when she had screamed his name. He was in his school uniform, as it was a Wednesday and he had been getting ready.

Tohru ran the back of her hand across her forehead to wipe the sweat away. Even though it had been a dream, it was reassuring to see him standing in her doorway. "Kyo-kun…" She said weakly.

"What's wrong?" He walked over and sat on the bed next to her. "Are you okay?" He asked with his voice full of worry.

She sighed and nodded. "I'm okay; it was just a bad dream that seemed real." She gave him a small smile that quickly changed to a frown as she began to sob. "It was a really bad dream…"

"Hey, it's alright." He tried to soothe her as she began to cry harder and placed a hand on her forearm. "It was just a dream."

Oh no, I must look silly, she thought to herself as she wiped her eyes. "You're right, I shouldn't be sad about it." She sniffed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, hoping that a conversation may lead to the truth.

Tohru shook her head and smiled. "No, it's okay."

After that incident the two got ready and headed off for school. It had been almost a month since Catalyna had fallen sick and been nursed back to health by Uo and Tohru, which meant it was now definitely cold and most students had turned in their summer uniforms for the winter ones. Within the time that had passed no one was able to make any progess with their individual goals. Yuki had not stumbled upon an opportunity to talk to Tohru or Catalyna, and so stood by and made sure that nothing was to happen. Kyo had been unsuccessful in speaking to Tohru, who had completely closed up and seemed farther away from telling the truth than ever. Akito still had not discovered who was spilling the Sohma secrets and seemed to be running out of ideas. Catalyna had decided on telling her new friends about her intentions and about her true past, but still had not found the guts or opportunity.

"Momiji-kuuuunnnnn!"

Catalyna trotted down the hall after school towards the waiting Momiji, who was standing with Kyo by some lockers in the not so crowded hallway. During the passing time she had come to meet Hatsuharu, and had grown a little close to the group. In particular, she had become good friends with Uo, Tohru and Momiji; everyone else seemed more difficult to speak with.

"Lyna-kun!" Momiji smiled at Catalyna happily as she stopped in front of him. "Let's walk home together."

Catalyna smiled and laughed. "Momiji-kun, we always do." She playfully patted his shoulder.

"I'm going to get Tohru, and then we can go!" Momiji turned around and started off down the hall towards Tohru's last class of the day.

Oh dear… Catalyna seen that she was now alone with Kyo, which she did not mind, but she was more scared of him being in a bad mood. She glanced at him as he stood with his hands in his pockets and staring off in to space; he was one of the people who had not yet started wearing long sleeves. As she thought of a way to speak to him, the words of her mother from the morning came floating in to her brain…

"Catalyna, you know what could move your job faster?"

Catalyna turned to her mother from the front door, where she was about to leave for school. "What?" She asked, even though she was no longer doing her job.

"You should hug him," Florentina suggested. "Then he'll be forced to explain the curse to you."

Catalyna shook her head lightly to rid herself of the thought. No, I can't do that, it's not right…

"Hey, Sohma!"

Catalyna and Kyo both turned in the direction of the shout only to see a boy with a couple friends walking down the hall. The boy who had spoken ruffled his hair and then shouted again. "Need some dye? Pretty stupid to let your roots show! Ha ha ha ha!"

The boy and his friends continued walking down the hall laughing all along.

Kyo did not respond, he just furrowed his brows slightly and shook his head. Bunch of morons…

"That's pretty stupid."

Kyo looked at Catalyna as she spoke with a questioning voice. "Huh?" He asked.

She looked at him with a question filled expression. "I don't understand how they can say you dye your hair." She pointed to his orange top. "It makes sense when you just observe." During the month or so she had been at the school, she had seen how many people poke at his hair; mostly Uo, who only did it to get a rise out of him.

Kyo cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. "What does that mean 'when you just observe', huh?" He asked while repeating her words.

She reached out and cautiously took his wrist and lifted it so his bare fore arm was now visible to them both. With her other hand she pointed to his skin. "Arm hair…"

"What?" He asked, completely lost as to what she meant.

"Arm hair." She said again while letting his wrist go and looking at him. "Who really dyes their arm hair? Yours is orange, so it has to be your natural color."

He looked at his own arm, now realizing what she was talking about. That's true, that's one way to prove it. It was not so vibrant and long that it was noticeable; it was the kind of arm hair you had to look directly at to notice the color.

"I just meant that people should observe things like that." Catalyna said quickly when he did not respond. "I didn't mean anything offensive by it!"

Kyo shook his head, realizing he must seem angry. "No, I'm not offended. I'm just surprised because no one's said that before."

"Oh." Catalyna said. Maybe he's easier to talk to than I thought, and I've just been making it hard.

"Lyna-kun!"

Tohru called to Catalyna as she and Momiji walked toward the two side by side, closely followed by Hatsuharu.

Momiji smiled at Tohru. "I like her, she's cute!" Momiji said referring to Catalyna. "She's really fun and nice! Too bad I can't give her a hug, though."

Haru bopped Momiji in the back of the head. "You already like her? That's pretty fast."

"That's wonderful Momiji-kun!" Tohru turned to him enthusiastically and smiled. "She's very nice!"

Momiji glanced at the now lightly talking Kyo and Catalyna, making sure they were out of ear shot. "I only like her a little bit, and nothing would come of it if I liked her more. Just because she's nice doesn't mean she'll accept the curse like you."

Haru looked at Momiji sadly. He had a hunch that Momiji was shifting his feelings purposely because he seen no hope with Tohru, which was sad because one person should like another person because they like them, not because they want to get over another person.

"Hello Lyna-kun, Kyo-kun." Tohru greeted the two as they stepped up. "Ready to walk home?"

"I have to go to the dojo." Kyo said at once. "I'll go home in a couple hours."

"I want to go too." Haru said as he put his arm on Kyo's shoulder. "I could use a little practice."

"Whatever, let's just go." Kyo shrugged Haru off of him and the two set off in the opposite direction than the other three were heading.

Tohru lowered her head as they walked down the hallway. Kyo-kun didn't say anything to me…why?

"Honda-san, are you alright?"

Tohru looked up at the voice of Catalyna and shoved her thoughts away. "Yes! I'm having a dinner tonight to make up for the one that I canceled!" She said this quickly to avert the conversation from her.

"That's right!" Momiji chimed as he looked from left to right and smiled at the two girls (he's in the middle). He took their hands closest to him, causing Catalyna to blush and Tohru to smile.

As they walked off a certain gray haired Prince watched them outside of the student council room. This girl acts so happy with them, how do I figure out whether or not she's trust worthy? Yuki no longer knew if he should think that Catalyna was genuine or kind, and so tried to avoid walking home with her at all costs.

He heaved a sigh and then turned and stepped in to the council room; the only other person present besides himself was Machi. She sat at a desk and was scanning over some papers as her brown hair fell gracefully on the sides of her face.

"So, Machi," Yuki walked over and took a seat in a chair next to her. "How are you doing with your work?"

Machi looked up at him with a confused look. "Fine." She responded in her sad tone. "It's only reading schedules."

Yuki nodded and watched her turn back to her papers. He had been so worried about Tohru that he had neglected to deepen his friendship with Machi, which now he wanted to kick himself for. It was not that he wanted to be best friends with her, but if she opened up a little it may stop her violent tantrums of breaking things.

Yup, I want to talk to her more. He tapped his fingers on the desk surface in an attempt to indirectly get her attention; it worked as she looked up at him with a blank expression.

"Do you have to patrol?" She asked with a hint of 'you're annoying me' in her voice. "Because you really should do your job, President."

Yuki tilted his head. "Why do you always address me as 'President'? You could just use my first name." He watched her as her cheeks tinged pink and she looked as though she were trying her hardest to concentrate on the papers in front of her.

"I need to go home." She stood up quickly and picked up her book bag off the floor, and then bowed to Yuki without looking at him. "Good day, President." She turned and all but ran out of the council room.

"Bye…" Yuki trailed off and stared at the doorway. Did I do something wrong? He did not think he had, but she seemed really embarrassed. Maybe she is just too difficult to reach…

With that last thought he got to his feet and walked out of the room to start his patrolling.

The scratching of a pencil on paper could be heard through out the house of a particular Sohma. He sat in his kitchen at the table, frantically writing a letter and sweating bullets with a frightened expression. His hair was black and his letter was addressed to Kyo. He finished the letter without a signature, for it had no special purpose; it was only to be given to Kyo. He folded the binder paper in half and moved it to the middle of the table.

CLICK.

He turned in his seat at the sound of a gun being cocked. Behind him stood the woman who had killed his wife many years ago, pointing a hand gun directly at him. She was a few feet away as he addressed her.

"Vanessa."

"Mr. Sohma." She mocked as she began to tap the end of the gun in her palm. "How are you today?"

"If you're here to kill me, just do it." He said without an ounce of interest. "I have nothing to live for."

Vanessa smiled evilly and laughed. "What about your precious son? Doesn't he mean anything to you?"

Mr. Sohma looked away in disgust. "That monster is not my son…" He whispered.

"That's right!' Vanessa suddenly had an expression of sarcastic excitement. "Thank you for that bit of information. I must say it's not that terrible a secret." She continued to tap the end of the gun. "I've seen worse things than people turning in to animals."

"I'm sure you have." Mr. Sohma looked up at her with a menacing glare. "You should have killed me with my wife…"

"No, no, no." Vanessa shook her finger in a sickly sweet way. "If we would have done that, than we would not have had anyone to tell us any information." She smiled as he kept his glare. "My, are we angry?"

"I don't give a damn," He said as his face began to relax. "What you choose to do with the information I've given you." He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again. "Just be done with it and kill me…"

Vanessa frowned and then shrugged. "Alright, but keep in mind, I would not have to kill you if you had not gone and blabbed this information to Florentina." She spat the name and pointed the gun at him. "Any last words before you burn in hell?" She asked in a bored tone.

Mr. Sohma looked around his home one last time, and then shook his head. "None."

Vanessa frowned again. "Oh," She said in a disappointed tone. "That's boring, I love hearing last words….."

BANG!

And as Mr. Sohma dropped to the floor, two females bid goodbye to a rabbit…

"Bye, Momiji-kun!"

Momiji turned and waved goodbye to Tohru and Catalyna as they reached their normal parting point. The two girls then set off together as they normally did, chatting about school and other things. Tohru mostly chatting, Catalyna mostly listening and adding her input here and there.

"I really hope you'll like the Culture fest when the time comes! It's almost going to be time for it!" Tohru rambled on about the fest to avoid talking about anything serious. "Last year our class had an Onigiri sale, it was really successful because Yuki-kun wore a dress and everyone wanted to see, so they would buy some and come see!"

Catalyna's eyes widened and she smiled. "He wore a dress?!"

"Uh…" Tohru cupped her hand to her mouth. Oh no! I don't think Yuki-kun will appreciate me repeating that experience when he disliked it so! "He did, but please don't tell him I told you!"

Catalyna nodded. "Okay, I won't."

Out of the corner of her eye Catalyna seen the dark form of a man watching them from far away and across the street. She turned to look at him but he was already gone. No, they can't be here right now…

Tohru sighed in relief. "Thank you Lyna-kun, I don't want him to be-"

"Let's walk fast!" Catalyna cut her off in an attempt to make her hurry away from any danger. "We can power-walk across the street!" She pointed to the cross walk as they reached the corner.

"Oh, okay!" Tohru's brows turned at an angle as her determined expression took over her face and she raised her fist in the air. "I, Tohru Honda, will race Lyna-kun when it is safe to cross!"

"Heh heh heh, stupid girl…"

The two girls turned to see the dark form of Angelo leaning against the wall of the building on the corner. Catalyna stepped in front of Tohru in a protective manner and held her arms out as a fearful expression spread across her face.

"No, Angelo, you won't hurt her!" Catalyna said bravely, despite her shaking voice and body. "I won't let you or Vanessa do anything to these people!" I have to be brave; I have to be brave…

"L-Lyna-kun! How do you know him?" Tohru asked frantically as she stood behind her.

"Never mind that now, just hurry home!" Catalyna turned her head and nodded to the street as the light signaled it was safe to cross. "Go home!"

Tohru turned and ran away reluctantly.

"You are stupid too, Catalyna." Angelo stepped up to her as she lowered her arms. "You think you can stand up to us, but you can't."

"Y-yes I can!" She narrowed her eyes at him and tried to show bravery. "I have been for the past few years."

Angelo looked around and seen that a passerby was watching them, so he grabbed her by her shoulders and embraced her in what would seem like a loving way. "Oh, my darling relative…"

Catalyna tensed up but let him hug her. "Let me go…"

"Catalyna," Angelo whispered in a warning tone. "You and your stupid mother had better leave Japan soon." He dropped his voice lower and whispered quieter.

"Or I'll kill you…"

Just like with Vanessa, Catalyna pulled away and ran across the street. She did not look back as she ran to no where in particular. I have to tell her, I have to warn her and everyone else. I have to, I absolutely have to! But I don't know where they live…

As she turned a corner her wish was answered; the orange haired boy who could not be missed was walking on the side walk across the street. She ran across the street and yelled for him.

"Kyo!!"

He turned and stopped, waiting for her to catch up with him. What does she want…? As she stopped in front of him gasping for air he reached out his hand and pat her shoulder in what he thought was a friendly way. "Why are you running?"

"Take me--to her--please!" Catalyna gasped as she clutched her side and stood straight. "I need to--see Honda-san right now!"

"What? Why?" Kyo asked as he removed his hand from her shoulder. "Is it something important?"

"Yes!" Catalyna exclaimed as she reached out and grabbed him by the front of his shirt aggressively and pulled. "It's important! Please, I have to talk to her now!"

Kyo pulled away in alarm, fearing a transformation. "Alright, come on then." He turned and beckoned her to follow.

About thirty minutes later Kyo walked in to the house alone; Catalyna wanted to wait outside. He stepped in to the kitchen and seen Tohru preparing a dinner.

"Hey, Tohru."

Tohru turned around quickly with a worried expression. "Y-yes?" She stuttered.

"That new girl is here to see you," He pointed toward the general direction of 'outside'. "She says it's important."

Without a word Tohru dashed past Kyo and ran outside to find Catalyna standing far off by a tree. She ran over to her and began to frantically ask questions.

"Lyna-kun what's going on? How do you know Angelo? What did he do to you he's dangerous and what do you mean what's going on-?"

"Please, stop!" Catalyna cut her off and looked at her. "You have to let me explain."

Tohru placed her hand on her shoulder. "What is there to explain?"

Catalyna pulled away and stepped off a bit while shaking her head. "Don't make any comforting gestures, I don't deserve it…" She felt hot tears begin to run down her cheeks and she did not bother to wipe them away. "I've been the worst to all of you, even though you've been so kind to me…"

Tohru watched her, uncertain as to what she should do. "Lyna-kun, how are you the wors-?"

"I know all about Xavier!" Catalyna snapped as she looked at the now shocked girl and continued.

"I know all about you and the Sohmas! Xavier was my uncle, and I know about the curse!"

"What's going on out there?"

An hour later the dinner guests had arrived; Momiji, Haru, Uo and Hanajima all sat around the living room table and waited patiently. Yuki had arrived home now and so he and the other two male residents sat patiently too. Everyone turned to the perverted writer, who had asked the question.

"I don't know, but she was really upset." Kyo tried to explain a little about Catalyna. "She ran up to me and demanded to see her."

"That's right; we left because Shihan was not at the dojo." Haru pointed out. "What could they be talking about?"

On cue the front door opened and the two girls walked in; both of their faces tear stained and their eyes swollen from crying.

"Hey," Uo lifted her head and looked at them. "What's going on?"

Tohru and Catalyna stood side by side, Catalyna looking at the floor and Tohru looking at everyone before them. She decided to speak first.

"Um, everything has been so confusing…" Tohru began shakily. "Lately, everyone has been wondering what's going on…"

Shigure now lifted his head, finding interest in the situation. "Tohru-kun, is this the young lady everyone has been speaking of?" He waved his hand around the table. "Kyo-kun says she had something important to tell you."

"Um yes, she did tell me something important…" Tohru turned to Catalyna and took her hand. "Lyna-kun, we should tell everyone the truth now."

At her words everyone sat up straighter and watched as Tohru pat Catalyna on the shoulder with her other hand and she finally raised her face to look at everyone.

"I'm sorry…" Catalyna began weakly. "I've realized Honda-san and my paths have become too involved with one another…."

"We need to tell you all together." Tohru further explained Catalyna's words at everyone's confused expressions. "Otherwise it will be unclear and choppy."

Everyone watched as Tohru silently convinced Catalyna to sit on the floor with her. The two sat facing everyone and Tohru began…

"It seems that after I discovered Xavier-san was a drug user, Lyna-kun's complicated life in America had just begun…"

A/N: Ha ha cliff hanger! And it's shorter so that the next one is longer, kk? Okay now that I'm done with this I have a few things to say to my readers. First is thank you to those who give me feedback. Second is I really wish I would get more feedback so I'll know whether or not you guys really want me to continue this or move on to another story. Third I really need suggestions and ideas! I have the general idea, but like with other stuff! What do you guys want to see happen and stuff like that! I'm not ignoring the Steamy-ness review I received; I'm just getting the confessions out of the way first. So please please please let me know if you guys want this to continue or what. It's a little strange when I have like 23 hits and then like only 3 reviews for that chapter. So please guys give me some feedback with ideas I need them really bad!