So, here's your new chapter, courtesy of two girls who decided to email me personally and request an update soon. Thanks! Sometimes I just need a little nudge (translated as: a fire under my ass) to get me to do something.
Btw, it was over a month. (read my author's note at the bottom of last chapter)
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Chapter 17 : A Frightening Picture
Akito was furious.
How dare Shigure grab his arm! How dare that monster burst in here and show itself in front of him! Yuki was his. He owned Yuki. He had bought him from his parents, and was his to own til the day he died. The only thing he was happy about so far was the proof that the Rat was obviously still terrified of him. But the fact that his elder brother, that idiot snake, was standing in front of him, trying to divert the wrath from his Yuki, only aggravated him more. This was all her fault. She was changing them, making them think they could possibly get out, away from him. How dare she put such thoughts in their heads!
He wouldn't let her get away with it. She would be punished. He would simply have to order Hatori to erase her memories. The Dragon had always followed his orders faithfully, even when ordered to erase his own fiancee's memories. No one could deny him! Hatori would erase her memories, and then they'd send her far away. China, or maybe America. He didn't know, nor did he care. So long as she was away from his belongings. For that's all they are, after all.
"Kureno." He stated somewhat calmly, trying to focus on the next course of action. The Rooster had entered the room and was looking at him passively. "Well? Where'd they go?" He couldn't help the smile of pure glee on his face when the others look horrified. They really should've known by now that he wasn't stupid. And he was very angry at them all for underestimating him. The brunette merely shook his head, lighting his master's rage again.
"I didn't see them. They may have taken another way, or perhaps they're not here. Their shoes are still at the door, but perhaps they took another pair?" The zodiac members were ready for the next explosion, and in the confusion of flying objects and hate-filled screams, Kyo was able to grab his cousin and pull him away from the house, Ayame standing in front of them to help prevent them from being seen as they fled. Now it was just the Mabudachi Trio against Akito. Though Kureno seemed to be on their side, they knew better than to depend on him. He wasn't on any side, really.
When the absence of the monstrosity and his Yuki came to Akito's realization, he fumed even more. Finally, he turned on Hatori and began screaming directly at him. No more trying to talk to her about staying away. No more threats. No more not-so-subtle pushes away.
"Hatori! I order you to erase her memories!" Everyone in the room froze. Akito had threatened this before, of course, but he had never ordered it done. At one point, he had thought of her as one of his pawns as well. And now he had declared her memories to be taken from her. Would the young doctor, who had never refused Akito in his life, do so now? Shigure tried not to let his fear show on his face, but Aaya was too emotional, and you could see the worry lines developing as they watched their best friend and cousin.
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"No."
Momiji whined and pleaded, but Hatsuharu Sohma would not budge on this.
"I don't seehow transforming could help us." The blond pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"It's simple! I'm just gonna go towards the house and see if they're gone or if someone's coming!" Haru shook his head again.
"No."
"Why not!" Tohru stepped forward, smiling at the bunny.
"What if Momiji-kun transforms back while he's gone? And he gets caught? Akito-san might hurt him, and I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me." As she finished, her face became sad, no doubt wondering how much pain was already being administered to the family because of her.
With a sigh, Hatsuharu made his way over to the saddened girl and patted her head gently. She took too much blame on herself, sometimes.
"Momiji, you stay here. If you need to, take her over to Shihan's house. I'll go and -" An annoyed voice cut in.
"You'll go and get lost is what you'll do. Just sit down and wait." Into the clearing walked Kyo, Yuki hurrying past him to check on Tohru. Once certain she was okay, he tried to look over his garden, secretely hoping he could find a new place for his secret base... This one was no longer a secret. Of course, Tohru would know. But no one else. Especially not the stupid cat. He sent a glare in the orange-haired teen's direction, and received an angry glare in return.
'Stupid cat.'
'Damn rat!'
They didn't have to say a thing, it was obvious what they were thinking, then Tohru cleared her throat nervously.
"Um... I wonder why Akito-san came to Shigure-san's house today?" At this, a certain blond let out a cry and tackled her in a flying hug, a cloud of smoke revealed a yellow bunny clinging onto her shoulder, crying hysterically.
"It's all my fault! I'm so sorry! I didn't know they'd tell!" Everyone focused on the rabbit as it trembled in her arms. "I was talking to Ha'ri about you and Haru! And after he left, I found out some of the maids heard us! I begged them not to tell anyone, but-"
"But they talked. Stupid women! Always gotta gossip about something in that damn house!" Kyo's red eyes were narrowed in an angry glare as he looked away. Yuki sighed and petted Momiji's back.
"They probably didn't mean for Akito to find out, either. No doubt they were talking amongst themselves, and Akito or someone who didn't know not to tell, found out." Kyo snorted angrily again.
"No one would've found out if they all kept their damn mouths shut!" Haru's voice broke through the Cat's rantings, though.
"What did you say? What did they hear?" At this, if Momiji had been in his human form, he was sure he'd be blushing. Instead, he slipped behind Tohru's neck, hiding under her hair and poking his head out from behind her other shoulder, his front paws gripping onto the fabric for dear life.
"Just that... I was wondering... If you were gonna ask Tohru-chan out soon..." He noticed the glares he was receiving from a pair of angry teens, and tried to hide behind a brown lock of hair. But he was plucked out from his safe place, only to be placed in the lap of the girl holding him.
"Momiji-kun'll fall if he stays there." She said and smiled down at him, stroking his fur gently. He allowed himself to relax a little, while the two angry teenagers silently fumed until the tense silence was broken with Shigure's cheerful voice calling out to them.
"Ah! Where's my little flower gone? Did one of the boys try to steal you away and marry you before I could? That's no fair! Wahh! Give her back!" Kyo and Yuki immediately turned their dark glares on the Dog as he came into the clearing, Hatori and Ayame behind him.
"Well, Akito's left. Though I think he's gone to look elsewhere for Tohru-kun." Shigure patted her head gently, then his face turned serious. "However..."
"However?" Yuki took a step closer, noticing that even his older brother was subdued.
"I have been ordered to erase Honda-kun's memory." There it was. Their worst fear, realized. "I couldn't argue. I agreed that when I saw Honda-kun, I would erase the Sohma family from her memory." Momiji clung tighter in fear, and the three male teens were immediately standing behind her. "Unfortunately, it's too dark right now for me to see anything." Hatori was looking off towards the woods, taking a drag of his cigarette before breathing out the smoke.
"And besides, there was no time period set!" Ayame finally joined in, his usual hyperactiveness returning. "The Princess has been saved once again!" He laughed as his younger brother made his way over to yell at him, while the others relaxed. Hatori gathered up Momiji and took him off so he could turn back and dress. While the others argued, Tohru wrapped her arms around herself, still too shaken at the idea of losing her memory to join in the conversation. But a hand on her head drew her out of her worrying.
"Don't worry," Haru said quietly. "You won't lose your memories. We won't let it happen." He gave her a small smile, and she smiled back.
"Thank you... Haru-kun..." She looked down, trying to think what her mother would say, the warm hand on her head being more soothing than most people would have thought.
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Well! The danger with Akito has passed! For now. After all, he knows where she goes to school. I've got a big idea planned for the next chapter, though! Can we say, "Black Haru"? Also, I got a badge with Haru in both his cow form and human form with the words "Grade A Beef" under it. Oh, so true!