The Lion

By Yuki's Twin2

Cass: Has had ice cream, coffee, doughnuts, and cookies. Wheee. Is riding a roller coaster.

Isabelle: still sleeping

Yuki: watching Belle sleeping

Kyo: Has disappeared

Tohru: Is reading something or other

Becca: Has taken over back-up computer

Zeek: Has taken over arcade room

Chapter 2: Meeting with Akito.

The next morning Isabelle and Yuki rewrapped her torso.

"What's this?" Yuki asked running his hand over the small cross-shaped scar on the middle of her chest.

"Mariko, in the beginning of the last year, thought that I was the devil incarnate. There are four. Each one is the same size. The up-down is a half-inch and the side to side part is a quarter inch long. They're all the same size." She pointed out a small scar on the palm of her hand. "When I was five, Akito made his mark. This scar is an 'A'" She held up the other palm to show a small Y. "I never wanted to forget you. Akito had me put a small 'A' on the sole of your foot as well." She showed him his sole and sure enough there was a small A. "There's an 'I' on the other foot." She proffered her wrist. "When I was about twelve I did these." There were numerous scars from suicide attempts.

"What are YOU doing here?" Kyo yelled interrupting the question that Yuki was about to ask.

"I guess that's my ride." She said cheerily. She slipped a backpack on. It contained a binder full of stories, the true events of the last nine years and her overnight things. "Hatori will want me to stay over for examinations." She had reasoned with Yuki. She bound down the stairs with Yuki skulking behind her. "Nii-san!' She said, cheerily bounding down the stairs and giving Aaya a hug.

"Shigure, you sure you don't want to come?" Aaya asked. Shigure thought it over a moment.

"Fine I'll come." Shigure said. The three of them piled into the car waiting outside.

Tohru and Yuki watched them leave. "How does she fit into the Zodiac?" Tohru asked.

"She is the lion. According to part of the legend, the part everyone has forgotten, the lion was the most treasured of all God's creatures before the race. She was the law keeper; she helped maintain peace throughout God's land. After the race she continued to keep the peace even though God seemed to have forgotten her." Yuki said before leaving for his 'secret' base. (A/N: Anyone realize that the lion and the mouse are brother and sister?)

Isabelle's short tawny-colored hair felt heavy, and her orange-gold eyes were already watering with guilt and pain. It was nearing one in the afternoon, the time when she was told to go to Akito's private quarters. Shigure, Hatori, and Aaya were following her to Akito's private quarters. Shigure and Hatori had read the reports; Aaya was there to protect his baby sister.

Isabelle knocked lightly on the door and waited until she heard Akito call for her to come in. Her stockinged feet barely whispered against the hard wood floor as she stepped through the door and walked to the center of the room. She kneeled, bowing her head, her hands clasped lightly in her lap. The three older men, surprisingly, followed her lead.

"You're supposed to protect the 12shi from outsiders, the way the lion of legend kept peace. Where were you when Tohru, the idiot girl, showed up? In New York, laughing it up." Akito said from the dark.

"Akito, I'm sorry for not being here, I'm sorry for living." Isabelle said sadly. "But my life was hell. Hatori has brought with him the true events of what aspired in New Yor-" She was cut off when a hand flew out of the dark directly in front of her and slapped her.

"The only way I will forgive you for leaving and hurting Yuki is with punishment. I'm in a generous mood. So you shall only spend two weekends in Yuki's special room." Isabelle looked sick. "I see you remember the room I speak of."

"You monster you act-" She was cut off when a fist struck her bruised stomach leaving her gasping for air.

"Excuse me." Akito said walking out of the darkness and kicking her. "But the only monster in this family is that idiot cat Kyo. Do you understand me?" He said, grabbing her hair and forcing her to look at him.

"Yes Akito." She said, gasping for air, tears running down her cheeks.

"Good. Now get out of my sight." He said flinging her by her hair against the wall and kicking her again before leaving.

Still crying she stood and staggered out the door. She walked three feet before passing out. There was a poof and in place of Isabelle lay a half-grown lion cub.

"Poor Belle." Aaya sighed.

"Belle, it's only one-thirty. Do you want to go see Momiji?" Hatori asked before looking up. He too sighed. He carefully picked her up. HE noticed on fore-leg looked broken and there were bandages with her clothing. "Will one of you two please grab up her clothes. There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry." He cautiously transferred Belle to a bed in his 'work' room. He realized there was nothing he could do for her in her transformed state. He carefully covered her up and went to fetch Momiji. "Momiji." Hatori said, knocking on Momiji's bedroom door.

"Yes Hatori?" Momiji asked opening the door.

"Isabelle's home." Hatori said.

"Belle's home!" Momiji did a little happy dance. "Is she okay?" He asked knowing that she must have had to seen Akito.

"She's been to see Akito, looks like she's got some broken bones, and she's so tired she transformed three feet from Akito's quarters. But other than that she's fine." Hatori said.

"Okay. I'll go tell Haru, Kisa, and Hiro. And the others. Rin included.

"Okay."

Momiji took off. He quickly told everyone that she was back. Rin smiled, a rare occasion for her. They all took off back for Hatori's together. When they arrived she was awake and dressed and being submitted to small tests and examinations. Hatori was checking to make sure she was okay.

"How about I meet all of you in the kitchen when Hatori has decided that he's done with examinations. And would someone please call my brother and tell him that I'm fine and I'll tell him about the punishment later." She smiled warmly at everyone.

"Okay Belle." Momiji responded and led everyone back to the kitchen where Aaya and Shigure were sharing a sandwich.

TBC…

Cass: Yay! Done with chapter 3.

Yuki: Not fair, she got hurt again.

Belle: Shrugs gently