This is freaking amazing.

I checked my stats for like the first time in a billion years, and I found that my stories are part of a few c2s. That's the 2nd best thing I've discovered tonight. The 1st is that my name is mentioned in chapter 30 of the wonderful story 'CENSORED!' by the amazingly talented Oreo-Chan.

So, if you're looking for a little good reading, please take my advise and give Oreo-Chan's page a visit, and don't forget to look up the completely awesome c2s that graciously took me under their wing: 'Kittys and Cows', 'Haru's Little Kitten', 'Strawberries and Cream', 'Complete Story Pedestal', 'Really Good Fanfic', and 'Maes Memorial'.

I'm so thankful for everyone who reviewed, and the few that keep reminding me to get off my lazy ass and FINISH THIS STORY. I swear I will.

REALLY.

---

Chapter Eleven

The dark room was swirling before his vision, the faces before him were blurred -warped and ugly- and the light shining in from the hallway burned his large eyes. Digging his scarred, mutilated claws into the dirt floor below him, he tried to put the pieces together. What the hell was happening to him?

and then he remembered that he was a monster.

In front of all these faces, so hideous in his obscured vision, he was a monster, and no matter how ugly they looked to him now, he knew they couldn't possibly match the demonic face he wore, and couldn't bear the terrible stench that filled the room.

and when this thought entered his mind, the haze began to clear, and he found himself staring into the face of the one person he would have hoped to hide his curse from forever. Would the boy run and hide like all the rest?

If he stayed things still wouldn't be the same.

Even Tohru, who had taken this form, and the pain it caused her, in a selfless stride, starting treating him differently after that night. She would barely look him in the eye anymore, and everytime he'd get angry, her face would be filled with a fear that almost seemed unnatural.

His heart pounded in his ears as the younger boy stared, and stared, and stared. His mind raced as he opened his mouth, silver eyes gleaming with some unknown emotion, and spoke the two words that Kyo Sohma had never expected to hear in his current situation.

"You're naked."

There was a small cough by someone behind the cow, and he could see Hiro roll his eyes in annoyance.

"No shit, I'm naked!" The cat snapped. "God, you're such a fucking dumbass."

The ox shrugged, then glanced around the room.

"Do you.." He drew out. "wanna go or something? It's kind of depressing in here."

He would have smacked his head against his hand, if not for the fear of ripping his face off, so he settled for clicking his tounge and telling the stupid boy that they could leave as soon as he found his bracelet.

---

"SHUT UP!"

A loud 'THUMP' filled the quiet of the night, but Yuki Sohma could really care less about waking any of his stupid family. The stupid snake was singing that song again, that stupid number from 'The Wizard of Oz', and trying desperately to link arms with the quiet Kazuma and his not-so-willing younger brother.

"Oh, cheer up Yuki!" The man squealed. "You're going to have to let loose someday!"

The rat sneered, deciding that he might be more comfortable walking next to the eldest of the three, and moving slowly away from the yapping fool that he was forced to call a brother.

"This really isn't the time to let loose." He scolded. "Or, if you haven't noticed, Akito's trying to kill Kyo!"

This only earned him a short giggle, and Yuki concluded..

His brother had no soul.

---

"Hatsuharu-niisan loves you very much." The young girl mumbled, pretty golden eyes partially hidden by matching golden hair.

"I know." The cat answered, wondering just how conceited that sounded. "But that still doesn't explain why he completely ignored my.. other form."

The tiger noticed the way his body tensed at this, pain flickering through his crimson irises. She felt bad for him, she really did, and it amazed her that he could be so ignorant to the ox's love.

Seriously, even she knew about Haru's not-so-secret crush before the cat, and the majority of the family still considered Hiro and herself to be too small to hear things about homosexuality and secret lover affairs.

"..N-nobody is afraid of you, K-kyo-chan." She studdered, hoping not to insult the older boy in any way. "W-we know that you would never do a-anything to hurt us."

Kyo scoffed, causing Kisa to flinch, and the guilt was appearent in his features.

"You sure seem afraid of me." He stated. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to. 'Watching over me' doesn't mean having to stay by my side at all times. Haru just wants you to make sure I don't die while he's gone."

She shook her head, and the room was silent.

The tiger stared shyly at the older boy, for the first time able to take in his features. He was handsome, that was for sure. Not beautiful handsome like Yuki, or mysteriously handsome like Haru, but he almost seemed exotic, like something rare that you always wanted, but could never get close enough to touch.

The beaded bracelet held snuggly on his bruised wrist, and his bare shoulders were littered his bandages. His head was tilted slightly toward the room's only window, and his red eyes stared out, most likely searching for Hatori's car, and the rest of his group that had went to fetch him.

Tohru had to go, because everyone feared that she would have a panic attack if she was left alone with such an injured feline. Hiro went because it was very obvious that he and the cat hated eachother, and Haru was forced to drive because none of the others could.

But with the dumb ox, ditzy girl, and snobby brat that really couldn't give a shit running his 'rescue mission', he knew it would take another few hours before they got back to Shigure's house. The dog was gone, God knows where, and Kisa was the only one without any reason to help the group collect the seahorse.

"..Kyo-chan?"

The older boy's voice caused Kisa to jump, and she couldn't for the life of her figure out what he was talking about. She finally mustered a small 'huh?', her face flushed in fear of being caught staring.

"Earlier, you called me Kyo-chan." The boy answered. "The last time I checked, I wasn't a girl."

The girl's face became an even darker red, and two small feline ears made their way out of her hair.

Kyo laughed quietly to himself.

"It's okay, I guess." He muttered, his own cheeks taking on a pinkish glow. "But you can just call me Kyo. It is my name."

---

"He's gone, isn't he?" The woman asked slowly, casting a cold stare over the servant as he entered the room.

"Yes, Akito-san." The young man answered. "His friends snuck passed security, and carried him from the building before disappearing."

She sighed almost contently, running pale fingers over the smooth skin of her legs. The stars were beginning to shine, small white spots among the velvet black of the sky. The dark limbs of the trees reached toward them, bare of all their leaves, and they resembled cracks in night's perfect masterpiece.

"What do you request we do, Akito-san?" The faceless figure asked, bowing low to indicate no disrespect.

"You will do nothing," She spoke. "except leave my sight before I decide to punish you for bothering me."

A chilly wind shook the trees, and she stared as what little leaves they had left were torn away.

'The cat,' The tall black figures churned in the harsh wind, the smallest of their branches snapping under the pressure. 'the cat is stronger that I thought.'

The once clear sky was now filled with ominous clouds, and thunder boomed across the land.

'So I'll spare him for now.' A bout of coughs racked through her fragile body, blood splattering across the clean wooden floor. 'but before I die..'

Trails of dark liquid streamed down her bony chin, running slowly until they hit the collar of her kimono, staining the thin material. 'the cat will burn in Hell, where he belongs.'

And she knew that she would have to act soon, because by the looks of things, she didn't have long.

A soft thud echoed throughout the room, her figure fallen to the floor, eyes closed, and small breast moving slowly in and out with her breathing. Blood pooled around her open mouth, small bits splattered upon her thin face.

With her last conscious thought, she cursed the cat and all the pain he had caused.

To Be Continued

---

I just had to make Haru ignore Kyo's form-thingy. I mean, could you really imagine it happening any other way? Of course, he would notice Kyo's nakedness, because nudity is such a big part of his very sexual life.

Also, when I wrote the word 'fuck', I had to stop and tell myself, "Kelsey, this is rated T. Don't make yourself change the rating just because it's been ages since you've updated this and your language has.. improved?"