Author's Note: This is a dark chapter, WARNING

Ayame turned into a snake. Yuki gazed back at Tohru, blinking.

"I see Ayame doesn't have a 'one true love' yet."

"Yeah, poor pathetic soul." Yuki sighed and gazed at her. "All of us thought that…you know, you left after the whole restaurant thing."

"Why would I?" Tohru smiled and picked up the fainted Ayame.

"Well, 'cause Kyo's an ass…" Yuki looked at her like she was insane.

"Kyo has always been like that. But, I'm here to stay!" She grinned and jumped as Ayame suddenly came to life and slithered around her neck.

"Pervert," Yuki growled and proceeded to unlatch his brother.

Kyo watched as Marleo dug into his food with a vengeance, acting as if the food was going to run away from him.

"She starved you…" He muttered, sipping a glass of sake. "Shigure!"

"No need to yell down the house, Kyo…" Shigure said, stepping into the kitchen and yawning. "What is it?"

"You're a learned person. You know what 'Marleo' means, don't you?"

"Um…"

"Wait… Why the hell am I asking you! It means unwanted!" Kyo growled and stood, stalking into the living room.

"Unwanted… Marleo… Unwanted… Oh… Kyo!" Shigure hurried after him. "What exactly did Kiari say to you?"

"She said his name is Marleo, the meaning is what his father is..." Kyo murmured, sitting on a chair. Shigure frowned and kneeled down in front of Kyo.

"We'll find him a new name, a nickname of sorts. When he's in school, the name Marleo will not be mentioned." Kyo lifted his head and gazed at Shigure.

"Thanks, Shigure…" Kyo said and stood up, walking to Marleo. He kissed the boy's hair, causing the child to look up at him. "I'm your daddy, and I'm gunna take care of you."

"Mama?" Marleo said softly, so softly that Kyo had to strain to listen.

"She won't hurt you anymore." Kyo said and hugged him.

"We can take him to a child counselor." Shigure said behind him. "Kiari has no idea what she has done."

"We're here to see Dr. Yamamato." Shigure said, grinning suggestively at the doctor's secretary.

"Um… He will be with you in one m-moment, sirs." The pretty blonde said, blushing shyly at Shigure. He winked and turned to see Kyo glaring at him. "Please fill this out, Mr.….?"

"Sohma. Shigure Sohma." He answered, grinning as her eyes lightened up.

"I read your books!"

"For crying out loud," Kyo muttered and snatched the clipboard, sitting down and setting Marleo down. He watched as Marleo tottered uneasily to some toys. Kyo rolled his eyes at Shigure's flirting and began filling out the forms.

At least another twenty minutes later and numerous phone calls to Hatori, Kyo finally finished the forms. He walked to the secretary and slammed the clipboard in front of her, then dragged Shigure away as Dr. Yamamoto came in."

"Hem, hem… Kyo Sohma?"

"That's us." Kyo said, walking forward.

"You are both Kyo Sohma?" The doctor blinked as Kyo fixed him with a look. The doctor chuckled and led them back, after Shigure dashed back to fetch Marleo, then they went into the doctor's office. Kyo sat down with Marleo clinging to his neck, Shigure beside him.

"Let's see… Ah, Shigure. I have read your books. Quite…ahm… Interesting." Dr. Yamamato said, some color riding into his cheeks. "And Kyo. This little dear must be Marleo!" Marleo stared at the doctor, his large eyes seeming to penetrate him. "So, tell me what's going on."

So, Kyo began telling the doctor of everything that had happened, good and bad. Occasionally the doctor jotted something down, nodding and humming a bit.

"So, a child abuse case."

"That, and we have concerns of his name…" Kyo said, looking at Shigure.

"Wait, are you two a couple?" The doctor gazed between them, confused.

"Hell no!" Kyo yelled and Shigure began laughing hysterically. Marleo just looked up at Kyo, then to Shigure. "We're cousins. I live with Shigure."

"Ah, I see." Dr. Yamamato nodded. "What about his name?"

"Marleo means unwanted, Dr." Shigure said after finally calming himself down. "And all his life he has been told that, even know he is only three. We want a new name for him."

"I can help!" The doctor smiled. "Can Marleo talk?"

"Yes, he doesn't want to though." Kyo answered, looking at the boy.

"May I speak with him alone?" The doctor asked, blinking. Shigure and Kyo looked at each other reluctantly, then nodded as Kyo told Marleo what was going on.

"They've been talking for awhile." Kyo said after about twenty minutes. "I don't like this doctor."

"Neither do I." Shigure nodded, then both men jumped up as they heard Marleo's cry. Kyo ran like lightning to the office, forcing the door open and letting out roar at what he saw. The doctor had Marleo on his lap and was beating the child senseless.

"You bastard!" Kyo leapt forward and grabbed the doctor by the shirt collar. Shigure grabbed Marleo and comforted the screaming child as Kyo shook the doctor. "What the hell is wrong with you!"

"Oh my God!" The secretary said, Shigure handing Marleo to her and then tried to hold Kyo back. "Someone call the police!"

"Kyo!" Shigure yelled, wincing as Kyo elbowed him nicely in the ribs. "Forget him, Marleo needs you!" This seemed to calm Kyo down, who spun around and took Marleo from the secretary.

"Marleo, Marleo…" Kyo whispered to the child, cradling him close. "I am so sorry…"

The police soon arrived and took the doctor away, then questioned Kyo and Shigure. They were extremely hesitant to let Kyo keep Marleo, but gave in eventually. Shigure explained mostly while Kyo sat and rocked Marleo in his arms gently, his posture rigid. Hatori showed up with Yuki in tow soon after the ambulance arrived.

"You won't take him!" Kyo growled at a paramedic who was attempting to take Marleo from him. "He's my son!"

"Sir, the child is injured!" The paramedic kept insisting, trying to find his way around Yuki who was standing in front of Kyo. Hatori was gently persuading Kyo to let go of the child, who was unconscious all the while. Shigure stood beside Kyo, a hand on his shoulder and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "We need backup!" The paramedic yelled.

Hatori finally managed to get Marleo away from Kyo as some police officers arrived, quickly subduing Yuki and Kyo. Shigure, of course, jumped in and got himself arrested as well.

"We'll take him," An officer said and took Marleo from Hatori, handing him to a paramedic. "As for you three, you have the right to remain silent."

"Like hell!" Kyo yelled.

"You are being charged with mal intent, resisting arrest, and child abuse."

"WHAT! You think I did this to my child!" Kyo practically screamed, trying to launch himself at the officer.

"Kyo!" Yuki yelled, but two more officers came and knocked Kyo out.

"Marleo…" Kyo muttered, tossing and turning.

"Kyo, Kyo, Kyo!" Shigure was yelling, shaking him. Kyo sat up, banging his head on the bunk bed above him. "Thank goodness you're awake."

"Shit, Marleo!" Kyo jumped up and ran, hitting some metal bars. "We were arrested…"

"They think we abused Marleo, they saw his bruises and what you did to the doctor…" Yuki said softly, walking to Kyo's trembling form.

"They can't do this. They can't." Kyo growled, standing up straight.

"We won't let them." Shigure agreed, Yuki following soon after.

The men waited in their cell, then all stood when they saw Hatori walking towards them. He stood outside the bars, beckoning them closer.

"What is it, Hari?"

"Kyo, I'm sorry about this." Hatori said sadly, shaking his head. "This has become a court case. You're ex-wife is suing you and they want to take Marleo from you… And us."

Hey, hey, drama begins. I'll see if I can get another chapter up before I leave. I'm gone from June 30-July 31 people! Write me!

Victoria Hargroder
Camp Mystic
2689 Highway 39
Hunt TX, 78024