Chapter 7 Confinement

That same night at the Honke.

Kyo knew it was late by the position of the moon. Its light shone through the hole in the side of his hut. He sat with one leg raised, an arm draped over it, his orange hair now fell to his shoulders and it fell forward as he looked out the opening in his hut at the moon and stars shining above. It was the first time that whole year he felt a stirring of unease about his confinement. He didn't know what or why he just felt… uncomfortable.

True to his word, after Tohru disappeared Akito had him locked in the cat house. The first few weeks were the hardest as Kyo was forced to adjust himself to his new life. The hut was Spartan in its accommodations, a small oscillating fan moved the air around, even when the air was all hot from the summer or spring afternoon. For the first couple of months Akito had visited him regularly to taunt him. He'd even had a visit from his father; the man had come to gloat. He'd ignored his taunting in stoic silence and the man eventually went away. Kyo wasn't particularly affected by the visit; he had long ago stopped considering the man as his father. Shishou visited with him regularly. Kyo enjoyed his visits, they would spar in the little yard outside the hut.

Akito had attempted to stop them, but to Kyo's secret delight Kazuma had gone against the family head. Akito put a chain lock on the door. Kazuma had reacted with a violent fury unlike anything Kyo had ever seen before. Kazuma left only to return an hour later with a pair of chain cutters. He severed one of the links, ripping the chain off the door with astonishing fury and heaved the whole thing through the main window in Akito's quarters.

When Akito threatened to end his visits altogether Kazuma threatened to have the Honke and the family investigated by the police. Apparently locking people up was against the law. Akito had relented and her visits had actually reduced to about once a month.

She would take Kyo to the bathhouse and have him bathe her; she would brush his hair and tell him how lucky he was that she was there to take care of him. He was so lucky that she loved him. She was the only one who would ever love him in his long life. She vowed never to leave him. She tried to make him feel that he was unworthy of love; she made remarks about his natural form, how repulsive he was. Many of the things she said he secretly agreed with, but one thing he knew was a lie.

She was not the only one who would ever care for him.

He went to sleep every night with Kyoko's picture under his shirt tucked right next to his heart. It made him feel closer to her.

To Tohru.

Kyo knew no matter what Akito said there was one more person in the world that cared for him. Every night he prayed that she was happy, and safe, and far, far from the Honke. Also, no matter how hard Akito tried, she could not break the will of his master, the man he thought of as his father.

Around the third month of his confinement He'd been unnaturally despondent and quiet when Shishou-san came to visit him.

"Kyo, what is wrong?" Kazuma asked concern etched in every line on his face. Kyo shrugged listlessly in the dark room they sat in. The two of them were sharing the midday meal together.

"Kyo… is there anything I can do… You don't have to stay here!" Kazuma snapped, somewhat harsher than he intended. Kyo did not respond. They finished the meal in silence. They moved to the small courtyard and Kazuma assumed his warm up stance, for the first time since he was a boy, Kyo did not quickly follow suit. Instead he raised his eyes to the sky and basked in the heat of the midday sun. Kazuma watched as a look of sensuous pleasure rolled across Kyo's face. Moments later Kyo returned to himself and began the warm up exercises the two always did together.

After the warm ups they spent two hours sparring. Soaked with sweat they took a break, each having a water bottle, breathing heavily from the intense workout.

Kazuma stared with concern at the withered looking form of his son. Kyo had lost every ounce of extra fat he had possessed before being locked up. His healthy tan had faded to a pasty white and his eyes were sunken and hollow. The despondence he had encountered upon arrival was gone, replaced by a melancholy acceptance.

"Well, I need to get back to the dojo for evening classes Kyo."

Kyo smiled and turned to go back into his hut. But his legs stopped and once again he lifted his eyes to the sky, allowing the sunlight to bathe his face.

"You know, I can ask Akito to let me put in a window for you." Kyo lowered his head.

"She'll never allow it. She takes away the sun as one more way to punish me for my existence."

"You'll never know Kyo, unless you try." As Kyo trudged wearily back into his little prison of darkness he lowered his head.

"Do what you like." He whispered softly, a defeated note in his voice.

Kazuma had indeed done just that. When Akito refused to allow him to put a window in Kyo's hut, Kazuma simply punched a huge hole in the drywall.

"There's your window my son. Enjoy the extra daylight, see you tomorrow." Kyo laughed aloud at his masters daring.

Akito was of course furious. She'd spent the next hour ranting at him over Kazuma's insubordination. Kyo paid her little heed as he drowsily bathed in the sunlight. She caught his contented smile and struck him on the face. He now had a three and a half inch scar under his left eye where Akito's nail had scraped open his skin. Hatori didn't find out until a month after the incident and by then it was too late to stitch it up and avoid a scar. Kyo felt it was a small price to pay for sunlight during the daytime, and moonlight at night.

Akito refused to have the hut repaired but Kyo didn't mind. Kazuma brought Kyo some ductape and heavy clear plastic to cover the hole during winters chill.

Kyo had pulled his futon over to the hole so that the light of both sun and moon would fall on him where he slept. He spent most days waiting for Kazuma by reading books or doing exercises. He rigorously put himself through the motions of his martial arts stances. He did 300 inverted sit ups a day and he could do seventy-five pull-ups before collapsing in exhaustion.

He rarely saw the other members of the Juunishi. Yuki had been stopping by at least once a week for the first eight months until Haru sneaked into Kyo's hut one night and begged him to tell Yuki to stop.

"Please Kyo, tell Yuki not to come back anymore!" Hatsuharu begged. Kyo was confused, why did Hatsuharu care if Yuki came to see him once in a while?

"It's not like I want to see that damn rat! I could care less if he ever came again!" Despite Kyo's show of defiance, the truth was he hungered for companionship. He was so lonely during the hours he was awake that even the rat's company was preferable to being by himself.

"Then tell him to stop visiting you." Haru whispered firmly.

"Why?" Kyo asked irate. "I haven't seen you in eight months, the rat cares more about my well being then you, why does it matter?" Haru looked away. His jaw clenched and he remained stubbornly silent.

"Bah, then get away from me, I don't need you or want your company." Hatsuharu rose rigidly, his hands fisting at his side.

"You know something baka Neko, the next time our dear Yuki visits you, ask him to take off his shirt." Looking warily atHatsuharu's posture, hearing the angry note in his voice, Kyo knew Haru was dangerously close to going black.

"I…I will." Kyo promised. What could Haru be alluding to? Kyo thought about it, dread washing over him. Yuki had been a constant visitor once a week since his confinement for the past eight months except once when he missed three weeks. He never explained why he hadn't returned for so long, and Kyo was too proud to ask. He never wanted the rat to think he needed him or anything.

Yuki didn't return again for five weeks after Haru's visit but Kyo never forgot his conversation with Hatsuharu. When Yuki returned it was just after midnight, Yuki stayed up late and slept most of the day away, at least that was the explanation he had offered when he first came to visit Kyo. Kyo had never thought to question him.

"Baka Neko." Yuki bantered, a small smile on his face.

"Kuso Nezumi." Kyo greeted in return, a smile flashing over his face. He noted how stiffly Yuki stood. Yuki eased himself down at Kyo's side then offered him the meal of Salmon, Cod, and cocktail shrimp. Kyo took it and polished it off swiftly. Yuki watched the stars as Kyo ate. The silence was companionable. Not strained.

"Thanks, Rat"

"Not a problem cat."

As Kyo finished the snack he watched Yuki speculatively. Yuki was smiling gently, looking up at the night sky.

"What are you smiling at?" Kyo asked before he could stop himself. Yuki looked at Kyo, his Lavender eyes sparkling.

"Every time I see the stars I think of Honda-San." Kyo kept himself still. The rat continued. "She sleeps beneath these same stars we look at. I feel close to her when I can see them."

"I know what you mean." Kyo said softly, placing the empty platter on the ground and getting up from his legs-akimbo position to rest his hands on his knees. "During the day, when the sun shines on me its like her smile warming me. She was always so happy."

"Except when we were not." Yuki agreed.

"Do you remember that time at the lake house?" Kyo asked. Yuki grimaced at the memory.

"How could I forget? Akito came and monopolized everyone's attention. We were all so concerned about Honda-San being all alone."

"And she was so happy just spending time with me."

"Then when Akito had you go to her, and we were all so worried about her-"

They finished together, "Her only concern was for us and if we were alright." They were both silent for a few moments.

"Do you ever think about her promise?" Yuki asked softly. Kyo looked at him sharply, but Yuki wasn't looking at him. His head was resting on the door beam and he was gazing longingly toward the stars.

"More often than I should." Kyo whispered guardedly. "Why?" Yuki didn't look at him when he answered.

"I remember her promise every night. Akito-Sama does too. I remember, and I hope that Honda-San forgets her promise. I hope she forgets all of us. I hope that wherever she goes she will be happy and safe and far… far… from here." Kyo watched Yuki carefully, unease blossoming in his heart. He remembered what Haru had said.

"Yuki…"

"hmmm…"

Kyo couldn't believe he was about to ask him this. But he had an idea of what he would see he just needed confirmation.

"Yuki… take off your shirt." Kyo turned red, blushing at the incredulous look Yuki turned on him. "It's not like that you idiot. Just take it off." Yuki stood rigidly his eyes narrowing. He backed up a couple of steps. Kyo stood, following him.

"I think I should call it a night." Yuki intoned calmly.

"Not until you take off that shirt." Kyo stated firmly.

"Baka, it's not your business!"

"The hell it ain't! Yuki take off the goddamn shirt!" Yuki assumed a martial arts stance.

"You want it? You come and get it!" He spat. Kyo lunged at him. It was exhilarating, pitting himself against Yuki, the rat was swift and powerful, every blow felt like a hammer, but Kyo had been locked away for eight months without much else to do than exercise, increase his strength and hone his skills. Yuki was dodging more blows than he ever had before. In the end though it was never Yuki's lack of skill or Kyo's amount of it that mattered. It was Yuki's body that gave out. He was just a fraction too slow. Kyo took him down, pinning him to the ground and he ripped the thin linen top from Yuki's body.

If Kyo hadn't already been white from lack of sun every ounce of color he had would have drained from his face. Yuki shoved him off then stood regally, glaring scornfully at Kyo. Kyo could only gape in slack-jawed shock.

Yuki's entire torso was covered in lurid bruises. His back was criss crossed with healing scars and scrapes. A huge purple pool of bruised flesh rested at the base of his ribcage.

"Akito!" Kyo cried, his voice filled with pain and regret. "Akito did that to you?"

"Baka Neko!" Yuki spat, snatching his shirt from Kyo's slack hands. "I told you it wasn't your business."

"She does that to you because of me, doesn't she?" It came out as a pained whisper. Yuki paused. His dark eys met Kyo's reddish brown ones.

"She does this when she finds out her favorite has not been obeying her. She has forbidden every member of the zodiac to see you."

"Kuso Nezumi," Kyo whispered in anguish, the bruises flashing through his mind, "Why would you do that? Why tempt her wrath for me?" Kyo was incredulous. He and Yuki had never been close, never shared friendship, the only thing they ever had in common was mutual contempt for each other and Tohru. Yuki's Eyes locked on his, his breath rushing out on a tormented sigh.

"Because the only time I can feel close to her is when I am with you!" Kyo's eyes widened he couldn't look away from Yuki's haunted face. "She once told me I was better than Akito. She had such faith in me. Ha!" Yuki snorted derisively, "the man she thought I was, the man I want to be, would never allow you to be locked away alone. I want to be the man Tohru sees when she looks at me. I want to be that good, I want to care that much because she believes in me! So I come to see you. She begged me not to leave you alone. So I come. And when Akito finds out she goes half mad with rage. But I love Tohru! I would die to save her! The wrath of a God is nothing to that!" Kyo eyed Yuki with pity. Kyo more than any other member of the Juunishi knew what it was to be hated by your God. To feel your god's wrath directed at you, it was like having your heart broken, it was the desire to die. Judging by Yuki's condition, he had been there. And more than once- and for him, for Kyo.

Suddenly Kyo understood why Hatsuharu begged him to turn Yuki away. He understood that Yuki must have gotten caught and beaten that time he didn't visit for three weeks and that was why he hadn't been to see him in five. Haru must have come the night Yuki was beaten.

Yuki saw the look in Kyo's eyes, his nose curled back in a snarl and he heaved Kyo against the side of the cat house.

"Don't pity me! Don't you dare! I didn't do it for you, I did it for her!" He dropped Kyo and fell to his knees. "And I did it for me… I… I hurt… inside… I hurt… to see you here! I remember at Shigure's how you loved to sit on the roof for hours in the sun. I was so glad when Kazuma put that hole in the cat house. I came because I could never be a man worth being proud of if I allowed a… a comrade… to be locked away in the dark. What Akito does… what our family has always done to the cat… it's wrong!" Kyo felt a curious stinging in his eyes. He and the rast just sat in silence. Then Yuki stood to collect himself.

"Yo," Kyo said, his tone of voice was bored, Yuki looked up, "Thank you Yuki. But don't come back, at least until you fully healed. Tohru might be proud of you but she'd be madder than Akito at a Sadie Hawkins dance if I let you get beaten up just for the pleasure of your company." Yuki smiled and nodded before walking away. Kyo hadn't seen him since. He assumed he was getting better.

This night Kyo sensed a change coming on. If he had been in his cat form his fur would have been standing on end. Change was riding the wind and it made Kyo uneasy. Finally he settled into a a quiet sleep, his last thought before slumber was of Tohru and how good it felt to have her run her fingers through his hair.

He was dreaming. He knew he was dreaming because he was on the roof and Akito would never allow him out of the cathouse to sunbathe on the roof. Also She was there. Tohru was lying above him; his head was resting on her lap. She stroked his hair gently; an angelic smile graced her features. A gentle breeze blew her hair around his face. He could almost smell her, magnolia blossoms and lemon-scented soap. As she gently scratched his head with her nails he couldn't resist calling her name

"Tohru…" He breathed.

Suddenly Kyo was grasping his head as agony lanced through him.

"You were dreaming about her!" A venomous voice hissed. Kyo's temple was throbbing. He felt like he had just been hit by a brick, he was disoriented, where was he? Why was Akito in his room?

"Akito…" He whispered hoarsely through the crashing waves of pain he felt. He could feel a huge knot rising up beneath his fingers.

"Well, let's just see if she will still come to you in your dreams when you are in your natural form!" There was a vicious light in Akito's eyes as she reached for his wrist. Kyo knew what she wanted. He was powerless to resist. She was his god. He whimpered at her displeasure. His stomach was in knots. She snatched off the bracelet that kept him in his human form.

A roiling brown cloud immediately began pouffing up from around him he felt his limbs expand and stretch and his body contorted into the form he hated. The smell was unbearable. Akito raised a delicate wrist to cover her nose, disgust apparent in her entire body. Kyo tried to tuck in his body and make it as small as he could as he always did when faced with his god's disgust.

His large yellow eyes would have been weeping with sorrow had they had tear ducts. He wished he could die, he wished there was a hole he could just crawl in and bury himself in, he knew Akito could not stand him, however when facing his God's revulsion anew it hurt just as if it were the first time. He knew Akito would never love him, but such palpable revulsion tore his heart out.

"You'll stay in this form until I decide to change you back. If Kazuma wants to see you like this- ugh, smell your stench, then he can, your disloyalty to me hurts Kyo!" In a rage Akito departed taking with her the bracelet that gave Kyo his human form. Kyo whimpered sucking in a shuddering sob.

He was hated by his God.

He wept softly to himself.

Even as he wept the wind spoke to him of more changes coming. He shuddered, weeping until once again sleep claimed him. Happily, his final thought was of Tohru and her gentle embrace the one time she had seen his true form.