*I feel I need to apologize for not having posted a chapter sooner. A lot has gone on, with finishing another fan fiction, moving, and working on two radio dramas. That's not any real excuse, but I hope you will enjoy this chapter, short as it may be, while I try to get back into the story once more*

Chapter Eighteen: Decisions and Disappointments

Lau waited at the front door of the Phantomhive Manor, even though he was more than well aware that the earl was not at home, but the servants didn't need to know that. "What? Not here?" He stared at Bard in confusion. Why the cook was answering the door was anyone's guess, when it was Tanaka who should have answered it should Sebastian be absent, which he would be if his master was not there.

He put on tragic expression and looked to Ran Mao. "Well that was a waste of a walk, wouldn't you agree?"

The woman nodded silently, one arm intertwined with one of his, like she were merely an extension of his body.

Bard chewed at one end of a cigarette. "Sorry to disappoint but he's still out and I gotta get back to work." He closed the door almost rudely in the Chinese man's face.

"Well, I like that," Lau sniffed, his brows knit in contrition. "Where shall we start looking, eh? Somewhere near, right?"

Ran Mao pointed towards the woods. "There."

Lau cocked his head to one side. "There, my little one? You don't mean to tell me you believe Ciel's tried to go there, do you?"

The girl nodded, her face expressionless. She was one of the few who knew that at least half the time when the Chinese man acted oblivious, it was just that, an act. He was actually quite attentive, when it really counted, though he often hid what he knew through being vague.

Lau gave an almost excited exclamation. "Wouldn't it be so much fun if we just happened to show up there and surprised him? Imagine the expression on Ciel's face when he sees us! Won't he be pleased?"

Ran Mao wasn't sure if Lord Phantomhive would be pleased to see them or not, but if her Shanghai Tiger wanted to go, she was more than willing to follow him to wherever he wanted to go.

Lau put one finger to the side of his nose, just under his slit open left eye. "But we mustn't let those in the house know what we're up to, should we? Might ruin the surprise." His smile was blissful as he thought about the possibilities, of seeing Tohru and Kyo again. "Our secret."

Ran Mao nodded and began to stride back down the long drive, as if they were really intent on leaving and going back to their London lodgings, instead of ducking into the forest in hopes of finding that tear in the very fabric of time that would, fingers crossed, send them forward in time to where Tohru and that amusing boy-cat lived. At least he hoped that was how it would work.

Tessa quickly put down the containers of concessions she'd purchased with stolen money. The smell was putrid, but at least it would keep her human fed, and that was all that counted. She snapped her fingers and the door to the cat's prison opened.

He was where she'd left on, on the cold floor, bare chest exposed as he lay on his back, the mark where she'd sealed his soul to hers hidden underneath him. She'd want to make sure he was appropriately attired before too long as well.

"Wake up," she commanded. And, like a marionette, his eyes opened, but they were blank and lifeless. "I've brought you food. Eat until you are satisfied."

She turned her back to him as he moved towards the popcorn and began to eat it with a single-minded purposeful intensity. She resisted the urge to gag, wishing for something a little more to her taste to snack on. She would not interrupt her pet's meal to sneak a nip, no matter how hungry she felt. Besides, it was still too soon for that

She supposed she'd have to go out and find someone who was quick and easily devoured to satisfy her own hunger. Her body craved a good soul, knowing one was only a few feet away, already tethered to servitude, but she would not squander a useful tool needlessly.

She let out a low grumble, realizing that there was nothing for it but to go out and do a bit of hunting. "You are not to leave this room," she ordered Kyo, who was busily stuffing his face with the buttery kernels. "Once you are finished, go back to sleep and do not wake until I call you."

Kyo didn't do anything to acknowledge the order except to continue eating the popcorn as Tessa swept out of the room, cloaking herself in darkness since it was still too light outside to go unnoticed otherwise.

Shigure and Haru paused outside the dojo of Kazuma Sohma. From inside, they could hear the sounds of students practicing, letting out the occasional shout as they either went through forms or sparred one with another. Without actually going in, it was hard to tell what exactly was going on inside.

Shigure hesitated. "Should we really tell him? What exactly do we tell him anyway?"

Haru rolled his eyes. He knew that the karate master already knew that Kyo had missed at least one day of practice for reasons unknown. Adding into that the fact that the man was also the boy's foster father, he had more than right to know what was going. "You coming in or what," Haru asked as he moved inside.

The writer quickly followed behind. "I'm coming. I'm coming!"

Kazuma looked up from where he was supervising a pair of sparring students. He smiled briefly, and then asked one of his assistants to finish refereeing the match before walking over. "Good afternoon," he greeted. "To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

Shigure shifted uncomfortably, his sandals making small scuffmarks at the edge of the sparring floor. "Well… that is to say…."

"Can we talk somewhere in private," Haru interrupted the halting novelist. "It's important."

Kazuma's eyes widened slightly but he gestured for them to follow him towards his living quarters, outside and across from the dojo. He ushered them to take seats in the front room, debating on whether or not he should fetch some tea. "What is this all about," he asked calmly, deciding to wait on the tea.

Not bothering to wait on formalities, or for Shigure's courage to muster, Haru dived in. "Kyo's missing. He's been missing since last night when he supposedly came here to train. No one's seen him. But we did find this." He pulled out the small friendship bracelet they'd found.

Kazuma looked dumbfounded at the charm. He sat down weakly. "Kyo's missing?"

Shigure finally came to his senses over the matter. "We've been out looking all day now, with no other trace of him. It's almost as if he just vanished into thin air, which we all know to be impossible."

"We hoped," Haru interrupted, "that you might have some ideas that could help us find him."

Kazuma was still recovering from his shock but had to shake his head. "I'm sorry. As I told Tohru over the phone last night, I did not see him last night. He never arrived. I was, admittedly, surprised but didn't think anything of it at the time. But now, what you tell me has me worried. I don't like it. Not one bit."

"That makes three of us, then," Shigure nodded grimly. "But we should probably somehow try to keep this a secret from Akito. At least until we know more about what's going on."

The karate master nodded. "Yes. He needs no other reasons to hate the boy."

Ciel decidedly didn't feel well by the time the cab pulled back up at the house. He wasn't sure if it was the strange food, the car ride, or just stress, but his stomach decidedly didn't want to sit politely in place, but jump around like it was involved in some kind of earthquake. And his head pounded. The pain killers he'd taken that morning had more than worn off. His shoulder and arm ached with a throbbing pulse, but he was not going to complain, not in the presence of a lady.

Tohru waved at Momiji as he left in the cab, having decided it would be easier to take it home than just walk.

"Ciel doesn't look well," Hana noted from beside Tohru as she walked the young earl make his way up the short flight of stairs, with the assistance of his butler.

Tohru turned to look, concern in her eyes. "You're right. This isn't good. I hope it's not his asthma."

Hana stared impassively at the two males as they stopped on the porch, near the door. "I believe they are waiting for you so I will go. But, remember, if you should need me, I'm only a call away."

Tohru gave her friend a hug. "Oh Hana! I won't forget!"

Hana turned away with a wave. "I will be waiting for your call."

Tohru nodded, then turned to her guests, quickly skipping up the stairs to open the door.

The door opened just as she was about to touch it, Yuki on the other side. "Ah, there you are," he said after a moment's surprise. "I was beginning to wonder if everyone had disappeared like Kyo." He smiled pleasantly, though there was a hint of worry behind it, if anyone knew what they were looking for.

Tohru put on a cheerful face. "We went out with Momiji! Ciel and Sebastian wanted to see the city so we took them on a private tour. Isn't that right?" She turned to look at Ciel, seeing that he looked rather pale.

Sebastian answered for him. "That's correct. But it would seem that the venture has overtired the young master and he is not feeling quite well. Therefore, if you will excuse us, I shall put him to bed and make sure he takes his medication." He escorted his young charge past Yuki and up the stairs to their borrowed room.

"I'll bring you both dinner," Tohru called anxiously after them as she stepped inside and Yuki closed the door.

Yuki watched as Tohru headed towards the kitchen. He wondered if he should bring up the missing Kyo or not. She seemed quite preoccupied. But if she wasn't going to think about her missing friend, there had to be a good reason for it, other than her usual forgetfulness. He followed her into the kitchen.

Tohru looked in the fridge, debating on what she should make for dinner. She hadn't actually planned anything out, having been away all day. But she had the things necessary for miso soup, rice, and pork chops. It would have to do. And Ciel should be fin with the miso. She set to work.

Yuki watched her. "I went out looking for Kyo today," he said casually as he leaned against the door frame.

Tohru paused mid-slice, knife held in one hand. She'd tried so hard not to think about it, to pretend that he'd just gone off on one of his training exercises, like when he and his master had gone up to the mountains for three months. She couldn't fool herself though. "Did you... find anything?" She turned around slowly, afraid of the answer.

Yuki shook his head. "No. He wasn't in any of his usual places and no one seems to have seen him." He didn't like the expression on her face, tears brimming at the edges of her eyelashes. He wished he could go over and give her a comforting embrace but knew that was impossible, especially while they had guests. They must not find out about the curse.

Tohru wiped at her eyes. "The onions are really strong," she said and turned back around to finish slicing the vegetable, trying hard not to sniff.

"Don't worry," Yuki said, in a cheerful tone. "We'll find him. He's probably just gone off somewhere to clear his head. He'll be back soon. I'm sure of it."

She turned a slightly tear streaked face back to him. "Oh, Yuki! I hope so! I hope so!"

y, by then, at least someone would be home.