AN: One word really sums up how I feel about this chapter: Yay!

Chapter Thirteen- Explanation and Consolation

"It means that now I'm damned... and the Neko is..."

"Free." finished Shigure.

"Yes."

"We need to tell Akito, of course, Yuki."

"I know... I'd rather not, though..."

"If you don't tell him, you know that I have to. When will you go?"

"When I can."

"...that's today."

"Okay, then..."

"Tohru's going, too, to tell him something... I still don't know what the secret is!" whined the Inu childishly.

"... I'm not going, today."

"What? Why?"

"Not with Tohru..."

Shigure looked at the newly-damned Nezumi, puzzled. "Why not, Yuki...?"

"She... I don't want to talk about it..."

Shigure shrugged.

-

'So... I've beaten him...? How...?' Kyou thought, eavesdropping from the top of the stairs.

Tohru came up behind him. "You broke his spirit with your words... he couldn't lay a hand on you... you've won." she wasn't really reading his mind, contrary to Kyou's belief; the Onigiri was simply speculating.

She reached out, and stepped toward him, hugging Kyou without asking.

He braced for the customary "poof", but none came.

Tohru pulled away, "Kyou-kun..." she looked at him, "why didn't you transform...?"

He looked as surprised as she, "I don't know..." he hugged her again, "And I don't think I care, frankly."

AN: As said- Yay!

Also, new system for translations. Ask me about it in your review, and I'll either A (most likely) send you a review reply with the translation, or B (if I can't find time), mention it in the chapter following the one with the word in question. Oh, and for the record, I'm halfway through with the first of my bonus chapters that I'll send to reviewers for reviewing. I'll tell you (if I remember) next chapter. I'm also disappointed in the amount of reviews lately. Has the story lost its momentum? I only got, like, four reviews for chapter eleven; and three for chapter twelve! I'm only updating now because I'll never find time to, tomorrow! I want meh fifty reviews! (hordes reviews- "Mine!")

I'll update Monday if I get five or more reviews, and Tuesday/Wednesday if I get less. So there! (sticks out tongue)