AN: Well, then. It's late in the day, but I was in Austin (my parents went to South by Southwest). So I had to finish typing the chapter after I got home. -shrugs- It's the first in a chunk of at least three long chapters. Yeah.

Chapter Twenty-Eight- More Concern

"Can you believe that that was so easily and simply started, 'Tori? The fight between God and Animal?"

"Sure," said the doctor to the Hebi, bandaging one of the few physical wounds an unconscious Kyou sustained, "in fact, I'm glad that it was started over something so trivial. Otherwise, we'd be much more broken up over what was lost, and how little was gained."

Ayame looked at Hatori reproachfully, "Much was gained! Look at what we re finally free of!"

Raising an eyebrow, "Free of the curse, Ayame? Do you really think it's going to be that easy to lose a family curse? Akito is only in critical condition. He isn't dead. And even if he was, who says that'll break the curse? Another God will come along, eventually."

"But until then," said the Hebi, "We can strive to fix the curse! We can!"

Shaking his head in doubt, Hatori said, "If only my confidence could even come close to rivaling yours, Ayame."

-

"Kureno-san," said a female voice, seeking out the man.

"Is that you, Isuzu-san?"

Smiling, ever-so-slightly, the Uma replied, "Yes. I was sent to give you 'grave news.'" She shifted awkwardly from foot to foot outside of the door to Kureno's home, wondering why she was sent to do this, rather than a servant. That was what they were for, right?

Opening the shoji door, Kureno stepped out to speak with Isuzu, "Grave news? Does this have anything to do with what we discussed earlier, what you told me?"

"You remembered!" she said cheerily, startling the solitary man, "Actually," said Rin, "It sort of does."

"So it has to do with Tohru-san's pregnancy? Is she alright?"

"Oh, yes," she said, "It only deals with that indirectly."

"And...?"

"Akito is in critical condition," she said solemnly.

"What! What does that have to do with Tohru-san?"

"Well... remember how Akito-san was also spying on her at the beach house? How he saw the kiss as well?"

"Yes, and you saw him through the bushes and ran off. Your point?"

"Well, it would seem that, since then, he was planning to trigger a rebellion of the Juunishi, to see who was loyal to him. Well, after slapping Tohru-san, Kyou-san went berserk, and along with Yuki-san, nearly killed Akito."

"Wow..." said Kureno, slumping onto his porch with a thud, "who else was involved?"

"Ayame-san, Kazuma-san, and..."

"And?"

"Shigure-san," she said simply.

Pausing, he said, "Well, damn. Is everone else alright?" the realization that Akito could no longer keep him not even occering.

"From what I can tell, only Akito and Shigure-san sustained any more than cuts and bruises."

"Well, is anyone else going to the hospital?"

She said, "Yes, most of us are; but I was told that you are to inform 'Haru-kun of what's happened."

"Thank uoi, Isuzu-san. I'll pass the word along."

Smiling, "See you there," returning to her nearly stoic look, she said, "Give him my regards; 'Haru, I mean."

"Sure."

-

"Tohru, are you awake yet?"

The Onigiri woke to a voice outside.

Looking about, she found herself in a hospital room. Gathering her bearings, she found the source of the voice to be the only one she wanted to see.

"Kyou! Yes, I'm awake; come in!"

She nearly fainted again at the image of the one she loved, bandaged in several visible places. He had not been hit more than three or four times, but as he collapsed after the fight, he managed to scratch himself on the ground itself several times over. The former Neko, for the most part, was fine.

But he certainly didn't look it.

At her apparent shock at his state of injury, he tried to console her before her concern became the tears that he hated to see.

"Tohru, I'm fine. I've been hurt worse from a simple fight with Yuki. I've just never been bandaged up over it. Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm worried about you.

Tohru stiffened, performing a mental chek of her own condition. All was in order, baby and all.

"I'm... fine..."

"Are you sure? Because Hatori's right in the hallway."

"No, no! Don't bother him, really. I'm fine."

Looking at her as if to say "I-know-you-better-than-that", he said, "There's something wrong; tell me before I figure it out."

Sighing, Tohru looked at him with concern, "Is everyone else alright? Yuki? Kazuma? Ayame? Shigure? Akito?"

Almost jealous, that she was over worring about him already, Kyou answered, "In order- Yuki and Shishou are about the same as me, Ayame is unscathed, Shigure's alright, but Shishou did manage to break his leg, and Akito's in the ICU."

"Good thing," said the Onigiri, looking on the bright side, "that almost everyone's fine. I'm glad."

"Oh," he said, "I almost forgot."

"Hmm?"

"You have visitors," said the former Neko.

And with that, Momiji, the Tora (AN: Tiger), Hiro, and the Inoshishi (AN: what aboutdotcom said was the boar) all entered, concern lighting every face but the Hitsuji's (AN: ditto, only for sheep).

"Are you alright?" the chorused.

AN: Don't forget to tell me what you make of Shigure's fate! Currently, he isn't going to redeem himself; you have until Sunday to vote!

And, I've meant to bring up the point that the Jack Johnson song, Broken, matches (at least the chorus does) this story pretty well. Coincidence? Yes. Odd? Quite. If I mentioned it before; sorry that I brought it up again. Yeah.

Review!