OK sooooo sorry about lateness! If you haven't noticed I'm awful about updating! But here it is the new chapter please enjoy!

~Beginning~

The little girl laughed happily as she ran through the dark snow covered woods carrying a small handmade basket full of treats for her grandmother. She raced around a bend of tree's before stopping short at the edge of an icy black river. "phew. That was close." she said letting loose a deep breath.

"Hiyori!" A deep voice called from somewhere in the distance.

"Coming Father!" she called smiling as she turned to the sound of the voice but just as she was about to call out again to the other voice her brown eyes caught the sight of something lying in the snow. Her scream echoed through the forest.

~ Chapter 2~

Onodera held his breath as he cracked open the shoji door and watched the Kohinata heiress."Rii-chan!" An called as she walked through the Onodera mansion. "I was hoping we could spend the day together! Hmph where did he go? Rii-chan!" Ever since breakfast he had been doing his very best to avoid the girl, hiding in the strangest of places, and avoiding making any amount of sound. So far his efforts where a success, but he was running out of hiding places, and fast.

It was only when An turned the corner of the hall that he breathed a sigh of relief and slid the door shut. 'damn I'm a fugitive in my own home.'

Sighing Onodera looked around the room. He was in the servants quarters, in one of the rooms that was unoccupied. At least he wouldn't have to be worried about being revealed by one of the servants. The room was empty besides a small table and a mirror on the far wall. In the closet was a rolled up futon for sleeping and some clothes of various sizes meant for servants with nothing appropriate to wear.

It was these clothes that gave Ritsu an idea. Crossing over to the closet, Ritsu began to strip his clothes and replaced them with the standard servant uniform; brown hakuma pants, with a dark green Chinese styled dark green tunic.
Tying a matching dark green cap around his head, Onodera smiled in victory as he checked out his new look in the mirror.

'No one will recognize me now!' he silently cheered in his head.

"Rii-chan!" An called again just outside the door. Panic rose in Ritsu as he began backing up...right out the partially opened window. Onodera barely had time to let out a shriek before he landed in something scratchy but soft enough to break his fall. Looking down he sent a silent prayer of thanks to what ever gods were listening, he had landed in the hay wagon just as it was passing under the window.

Ritsu was about to roll off the still moving cart when the sound of one of the guards voice stopped him.

"On your way to the village old man?" He heard the guard speak.

"That's right, sir, gotta make it home in time for dinner, or the misses might just have my head." The driver replied in good humor.

The guard gave a light chuckle, "Alright then, go on through, and send some of your wife's cooking for me won't yah? I could use a good home cooked meal."

The driver agreed with a laugh before coaxing the old horse that pulled the cart to move again. Burying himself deeper into the hay Ritsu passed the guards with out their notice and let out a breath that he was unaware of holding. He was gonna be in so much trouble when he went home.

Ritsu stayed where he was for a while, listening to the calls the driver made to people as he passed by as well as the creaks the cart made as it's wheels rolled. He was nearly asleep when the driver spoke, "I hope your not planning on riding all the way home with me young man."

Green eyes widened as he looked up at the aged face now turned in his direction. Kind grey eyes watched him with light humor. Ritsu gasped "How long have you known?"

"That you were stowing away?" The man laughed, "My dear boy you are no light weight to have fall in my wagon and not notice. That and I do have rather good hearing."

Ritsu blushed. He should have realized that sooner. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to trouble you."

Once again the man laughed, "No trouble son, but like I said it might be a good idea to get out now, We're about out of town, is there somewhere I can drop you off?"

Ritsu thought for a moment. If he went back home now he'd be caught for sure. It'd be best to wait till morning and then sneak in with the servants.
So where was he to go? Then it hit him. "Can you drop me off at the edge of the forest just of the foot path.

The man's face turned grim in an instant, "Why on earth would you wanna go there? The forest is dangerous!"

"I- uh My grandmother lives there," Ritsu lied, "I wanna go visit her."

The man gave him a strange look, obviously not buying it but he kept his thoughts to himself and gave a quick nod. The trip to the forest was slow and silent. Ritsu had moved to sit beside the man at the drivers seat and was the first to spot the path.

"There it is!" He called excitedly. The driver pulled up to the path and mumbled a grim good bye to the Onodera heir as he climbed down. Ritsu smiled as the man drove on.

Smiling Onodera turned toward the path. It was strange being there once again. It had been years since he had seen the old path. For a brief moment he wondered how much had changed. With that thought Ritsu took off at a run Onodera allowed his feet to steer him down the familiar path that lead to his grandmothers cottage. For the first time in years he felt totally free and he loved it.

After what felt like only a moment, Onodera cleared the tree's and entered the clearing that held his grandmothers house, and what he saw mad him freeze.

He had known that men would ransack the house looking for valuables, but he had not expected this. Windows were broken, there shattered remains invisible beneath the snow. The roof was starting to cave on one side, and the front door was barely hanging on it's hinges.

Anger welled up inside of him as Ritsu took in the damaged home. How could someone be so cruel? Moving forward, Ritsu stepped onto the rotting floorboards and felt tears well in his eyes as he caught a glimpse of the inside. It was destroyed. Furniture was smashed, glass lay everywhere, every where he looked there was dust.

Wiping the tears from his eyes Onodera pushed the door completely opened and stepped inside. Everything that was considered even remotely valuable was gone. His grandmothers favorite dishes laid smashed on the floor. It was awful.

Falling to his knees, Ritsu couldn't stop the sobs that racked his body, or the tears that flowed from his eyes. He was so focused on his sadness that he never noticed the creaking of floor boards or the presence of another until the other spoke.

"Oi Human" Looking up Onodera froze as he took in the man before him. He was tall with light brown eyes, black hair and pale skin. Atop his head was a pair of black dog ears and behind him a black fluffy tail swished lazily. "Do you live hear?"

~Chapter end.~

Ok so before you kill me for not updating, let me just say it's because while I was writing a black cat crossed my screen and I had to retrace my steps and go the another way of writing...so how'd you like it? Good? Bad? Ok? Let me know R&R! WIll try to have next chapter up soon!