The rose garden was the best place at Sohma house according to Akito, but today the brown rose thorns were covered in an icy shell and the cobblestone path was covered in snow. "What's this now? Is my darling rat upset over something?" Akito didn't need to look up to know that Kiada was grinning behind her.

"It's nothing…nothing at all." Her voice was small, barley a whisper but Kiada didn't seem to care. She watched Akito move off the bench kneeling in the cold snow beside her.

"Aw, I see you don't like Hatsuharu much anymore." Akito didn't make a move, "Well no matter, I'm actually quite happy you don't like him, now you won't be upset when I have to hurt him." This time Akito actually looked up, her mouth open like she was going to speak. "What going to protest against me? That wouldn't be wise considering you'll be staying here for quite some time."

"It's just a month isn't it?" Akito pleaded softly with her eyes, "My dad said it would just be for the rest of this month." Breaking into a fit of coughing Akito barley heard Kiada's giggles.

"Well, if that cough doesn't get any better then Hatori may have to extended that month, then we can play together, remember Akito, how much fun we had together?" Her question seemed to give Akito a sudden spark of bravery.

"I remember how much fun you had."

"Oh, you could have had fun if you had been a good little rat." Catching Akito's chin Kiada carefully turned Akito to face her. "These scars," She ran a sickly pale finger across Akito's face, "I didn't want to make them but you forced me to."

Kiada was only two years older than Akito, how could she have so much power over her? "You-" Akito was promptly cut off by Kiada's hand coming in contact with her cheek again, forcing old wounds open again, just like Hatsuharu had.

"You don't need to interrupt people when they're talking." She smiled again looking down at the blood covered snow, "Guess what Akito? I'm feeling painfully kind today and I'll give you a choice." Kiada's expression told Akito that her choice was a loose or lose situation. "I can punish Hatsuharu for coming and taking you away as he rightly deserves, or…" Her eyes narrowed, "Look at me when I'm speaking to you Akito." Pulling up on Akito's hair Kiada forced her to look at her, "Or I could go ahead and give you the privilege of taking Hatsuharu's punishment." Akito glanced around before Kiada let her hair go watching her crumple into the snow.

"Don't hurt Hatsuharu." Akito looked up before standing, "Please don't take this out on him, it wasn't his fault it was me." She took a shaky breath before her eyes found Kiada. "I screamed her only reacted as any father would."

"But he's not your father is he?" Akito shook her head slowly to answer, "Yes your father hates you, you're the rat, everyone hates the rat. Your father is the one who is making you stay here…I'm sure you could never forgive him for that now could you Akito?"

"I-I cou-co-could may-maybe, for-forgive hi-hi-hi-him." She stuttered out, stuttering wasn't something a perfect rat should ever do, stuttering was a problem, it wasn't proper and it sure wasn't goof enough for Kiada who promptly stood up and slapped Akito to the ground. Stuttering was never something Kiada had approved of, and there was no reason for her to approve of it now. "I'm Sorry." Akito had trouble not stuttering here, from the cold and the fear, but she knew that she had to stay strong; she had to for Hatsuharu.

"So, you don't want me to hurt your precious Hatsuharu then?" Kiada smiled looking down at Akito.

"No please just don't, Hatsuharu didn't mean to make you angry Kiada San." She hated having to use 'San' before Kiada's names.

"Then shall we?" Kiada held out her hand to Akito, perhaps the last kind thing she would ever do.

Nar: Hey guys, so I updated in the library that should explain the shortness of the chapter, if it doesn't then…. It's a Millie thing. Alright I swear to whomever the higher deity is that I will update good soon! Once I get over everything around me dying. Yeah my cousin died, my horse, and my best friends dog so! I haven't updated well but I'll do well soon alright? Millie's boyfriend is in Cali right now so she'll have more time on the computer (( \3)) I love you guys! Millie Nar.