Hello everyone, thank you for waiting! I have been so busy with my schoolwork, as I am planning to major in International Relations and Affairs and there is a lot of studying involved in that. However, I received some very adamant demands to continue the story (not mentioning any names, you know who you are) and even though I have a five page paper due next Friday, I decided to let you know I am not dead and still plan on finishing this story. So without further ado, I give you…

GONE…?

Chapter 15- The Failed Attempt

Kyo was lost in a daze of daydreams and half-concocted plans to get free. It would be easy enough to merely kick a couple holes in the wall to get out of the cell, but with all the noise he would make in that, he would surely alert everyone in the Sohma house that he was up to something. He would never be able to get past the inner gate. The trees rustled softly in the breeze and Kyo huddled further down into the blanket he had draped around his shoulders. It was an interesting thought. Most of the time he had claimed that what he wanted most of all was to be let into the Sohma circle. But that wasn't right. He didn't care about the Sohma circle. What he really wanted was to be accepted even if he was the Cat. And now, when someone had finally accepted him even so much as to hold him when he had been in his most demonic form, he was trapped in the tangled webs of the family he had been denied from, unable to follow her. She had even said she loved him, though half of him still believed it to be too good to be true.

A soft noise, like the rustle of fabric whispered outside his door. Ears pricked for danger, the boy climbed to his feet warily. It was much too late for visitors and his evening meal had already been slid into him several hours ago. So who could be prowling around outside? There was a quiet clink of metal on metal and the door rattled slightly. For several moments there was no noise at all but the racing of Kyo's own heart, then slowly the door began to open, a thin strip of moonlight filtering through. A slim figure appeared in the doorway and a faint whisper issued from the intruder. "Kyo?"

Kyo, who had been tensed in his "guard" stance as he waited to discover his visitor, now dropped his defense with a confused look on his face. "Kagura? What are you doing here? Better yet, how the hell did you get in here?" The girl was bursting to dash up to the tall youth and hug him close to her, but she refrained knowing that if she didn't restrain herself, someone would surely hear the commotion. So instead, she gently put a finger to his lips and whispered, "Not now. Come on, I have to get you out of here." She tugged firmly on his wrist and, for a brief moment, Kyo resisted her insistent pull. Would it be worth it to leave? he wondered. Yet he allowed himself to be led away because in truth, anywhere was better than here.

………………………………...

In the dark shadows cast by the dim light of the porch lamps, Tohru led Uo across the Sohma estate. The deep silence was eerie to the girls and they tried to keep their movements inconspicuous. Soon they came upon a small house and Tohru motioned to her friend to wait where she was. Carefully, Tohru slid the door open and crept inside. "Momiji-san?" she breathed, barely louder than a whisper. "Are you here?"

She felt something stir a little ways off. "Momiji-san?"

"Unh? Tohru?" a familiar voice answered. She saw a dark silhouette reach for the lamp.

"No, Momiji-san, please don't turn on the light! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, but it's very important! I can't be seen here!"

Momiji squinted, trying to make his eyes focus on the girl hovering near him. "What's going on Tohru? What are you doing here? Akito will be mad if he finds you here."

"Well then I can't be caught," Tohru replied breezily. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Momiji-san, I came to ask you if you could tell me where I can find Kureno-san. I really need to speak with him."

"Kureno?" Momiji hesitated, uncertain as to what to say. Tohru leaned closer, her body language seeming to implore him for this piece of information. If Momiji could have seen her eyes, they too would be begging for help. He knew it really must be important for her to sneak into the estate in the middle of the night. Tohru was not a rule-breaker. She always did what she believed was right and honest and that is why the Juunishi loved her so much. Whatever she was doing here now, she needed his help to do it, and Momiji would not let her down. Carefully, not wanting to create too much noise, he crawled out of bed and took Tohru by the hand. "Follow me," he said, a note of his usual boyhood playfulness in his voice.

They crept out of the house and Momiji was surprised to see another girl emerge from the shadows. Tohru squeezed the boy's shoulder comfortingly. This new addition was on their side. They slipped around buildings, avoiding the lamplight and the security camera that Tohru had been unaware of. All the time their ears were pricked for the slightest breath, the softest sigh, any movement that would send them dashing for the cover of the bushes. It seemed like years to get across the estate, but at last Momiji tugged Tohru's sleeve and pointed to a building with a single light burning in the window. "That's Kureno's place," he whispered. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Tohru shook her head empathetically, she really would have liked his simple, unwavering presence beside her, but this was something she could not let Momiji get involved in. The boy hesitated, but it appeared that he understood. Impulsively he kissed her cheek and said, "Viel Glück, Tohru" before standing up and skipping off back to bed.

Tohru blushed and Uo grinned at the childish act. "Well, this is it," she said softly, looking to Tohru to make the first move. After a moment, the girls made their way up to the porch. Tohru listened hard for any voices that may indicate that Kureno was not alone but there was only the heavy silence and the furious hammering of her heart beneath her ribcage. Unable to take the nervous anticipation a moment longer, Tohru knocked quickly at the door and held her breath.

There was no sound. A second ticked by, then a minute… Finally, the door slid open. Kureno's tired face lit up in shock at finding these girls, of all people, on his doorstep this late at night. "Kureno-san!" Tohru said softly. Glancing around quickly, the man ushered the girls inside and shut the door firmly before demanding, "What are you doing here? Do you realize the consequences of what you're doing by just being here Tohru-san? Let alone by bringing Arisa-san with you."

"I know, and I'm so sorry Kureno-san, but I needed to speak with you and Uo-chan wouldn't let me come alone," Tohru replied earnestly. "It's really important!"

Kureno sighed and eased himself into a chair, motioning to the girls to do the same. Uo remained silent, watching the exchange critically, trying to discern what this all was really about. "If this is about the Curse Tohru-san, you may as well leave now. There is nothing you can do, the banquet will continue as it always has every year and the Juunishi will remain in the estate eternally with Akito."

"The Juunishi?" Uo asked, familiar with the term but unsure of what Kureno was talking about. Kureno looked at Tohru with a question in his eyes and Tohru reddened but shook her head firmly; Uo did not know of the Curse or of the Sohma family's most recent changes.

"Arisa-san, forgive me but you will have to remain in the dark a little longer. We do not have the time to explain and you are both in danger by being here right now. You are a smart girl, I am sure you will be able to put together the pieces as the conversation goes on, but you must swear on your life that whatever you hear or see tonight will not be repeated to anyone." He looked her directly in the eyes as he spoke. She nodded her agreement. "Good."

Tohru seemed fit to burst with questions. She had to know how to save them. She had to help Kyo and Yuki and all the Sohmas, and if Kureno had any information she would shake it out of him if she had to. "Kureno-san, I need to know how to break the Curse," she told him simply. "I know that I shouldn't involve myself in your business, but Akito is hurting Kyo-kun and he's put a wall between you and the world. He's hurt so many people Kureno-san… He will never let you go, and I have to stop him before it's too late."

Kureno looked at Tohru for a moment. Tears were forming in her eyes but her face was set determinedly. She would not let this drop so easily. But who was she fighting for? Was it for her own selfish reasons or did she really love them all so much? Was it possible for her to free them? He shook his head and a sad smile touched his lips.

"Kureno-san, you were once a member of the Juunishi, a cursed member of the Zodiac, but I can hug you and you won't transform. You are free. How is that possible? Can all of the members be free?" she persisted.

Kureno sat back in his chair, his eyes unfocused and his fingers dancing on the arms of the chair. At last he answered, "I was freed by the will of God. To be as a servant. That is why I can leave the estate and why I no longer transform. It is also why I must always obey Akito; it is Akito who freed me. However, to break the Curse, all the members of the Zodiac must be under the spell and they all must be present for the breaking."

"So there is a way!" Tohru squeaked in delight. Finally she was coming close to the truth! She would be able to break the Curse, it was not impossible!

"Perhaps." Again his face grew weary. "However, I must warn you. Many generations ago, a young woman fell in love with the man who was under the curse of the snake. Of course, their marriage was forbidden because she was an outsider. When she learned of his curse, she believed that if she could break the curse then the two of them could be together. She learned of the ritual to break the spell and she gathered the family together, unbeknownst to the head of the house. However, the Zodiac was incomplete. The horse and the monkey were yet to be born. The ritual failed and the woman was killed by the head of house for her impudence. That is what I have been told. Your quest has been in vain. I'm sorry, Tohru-san, but there is nothing more that you can do. Go home and forget about us."

A stunning silence followed his conclusion. Uo's eyes shook as she tried to grasp at what was being said. A curse? Tohru could be killed by this "head of house"? What the hell was this, some sort of demented reality show? No, it was too serious for that, but still, could any of this be true?

"No!" Tohru cried, gasping at the strength of her voice in the stillness. Quieting she added, "I will not allow it. I will find a way to break the Curse even if I have to die trying. You don't deserve to be treated this way. I want you to be free, Kureno-san. Not as a servant, you should be free as a human being. Free to be in your own house, to pursue your own career, to love who you want…" Uo felt her cheeks burn as Kureno turned his gaze toward her. "I want all of you to be free and to be happy. I won't give up. I'm not asking you to help me. You have risked yourself enough in giving me this information. But please don't ask me to forget about you."

Kureno looked unhappy, battered by indecision, but a quiet commotion outside caught his attention and he jumped up. "You should leave. I'm sorry to rush you out, but they might have caught sight of you." He led them to the back door and looked out cautiously before opening the door to let them pass. "Thank you for speaking with us Kureno-san," Tohru said as she passed, bowing humbly. He nodded, still thoughtful. Yet as Uo passed him, he caught her hand. "Keep an eye on her, but please be careful." She nodded and before she could turn away he kissed her swiftly.

As he stood by the window, watching the girls make their hasty escape, Kureno grimaced. "Perhaps we do have a chance after all. I just hope I haven't just made a terrible mistake."

There is still hope for the Sohma's, Kureno! Don't give up! I hope you all liked this chapter and I will do my best to write you another chapter soon, but it may be after midterms which are on the 22nd of October. If only I didn't have so much work! (stares at the mountain of notebooks and assignments piled on the desk) (sigh) Right, back to work! Leave me lots of reviews please, I will definitely need them to cheer me up.