Sorry if you waited long for this next chapter

Thanks for the reviews ^_^

Lonely

Ch. 4

Yuki's P.O.V.

I… I know Miss Honda, Ni-san, Shigure, and Kyo were only trying to help me, but… I just couldn't stay there anymore. I'm not going to go back to Shigure's place… not when Akito does that.

What would happen if I were to die? Would the curse break if I died? But… but I don't want to die. I don't want to die. No I just sound shellfish. I don't want the other's to suffer in my stand. It's because of me that all this happened in the first place.

I stopped in front of my little vegetable garden out of breath. *Sigh* I can't really take care of my vegetable garden in rat form. Either way I can live off these for a while.

I looked up at the sky… thank you Kyo for showing me your caring side. Thank you ni-san for being the brother I needed at the moment. Thank you Shigure for letting me live with you for this long. And Miss Honda… I thank you for everything you've done. Thank you for helping me see that I can be myself around you, thank you for being there.

And… and I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I just couldn't stay there another moment.

'Poof' great. Now I change back to normal. At least I left some clothes in a tree if something like this happened. I got dressed once I found a nearby tree's hollow interior. *Sigh* I'll just hide out here and use this tree as shelter.

But what would happen if I were to die? Will I be missed… maybe by some but the others could care less.

A few weeks passed and Miss Honda came to my garden a few times. She found me hiding in the tree the last time she came by.

"There you are. *Sigh* I've been so worried. Yuki please come back to the house," she said softly.

"I-I-I'm sorry Miss Honda, but I c-c-c-can't," I stuttered to her.

"Akito hasn't called or nothing. He's wrong Yuki. Please come out. The curse was on the Sohma family before you were born right? How can it be your fault for the curse? That's what I can't see. Kyo's worn himself out looking for you. He's that worried about you."

Kyo's… worried… about me? Why exactly is he worried about me? He should want to kill me like he normally does. But… it does feel better to be worried about from him… other than hated.

"Miss Honda… I'm sorry but I'm staying here," I told her softly as tears ran down my cheeks.

"Would you like me to bring you some food, Yuki?" Miss Honda asked. I could feel her hand drift to my arm. I could only manage a nod. "May I see your back before I go, please?"

Instead of answering her with a nod or words… I unbuttoned my shirt and took it off. I had to go out of the tree for her to see my back.

"Oh, even though it looks like your wounds are all healed, I think Hatori should have a look. I just hope you'll be okay and safe," Miss Honda said, sounding tearful.

"Miss Honda… as long as I don't have to go back to the house… okay," I said turning towards her, trying to smile for her.

"Then please Yuki, stay here and I'll be right back," she said smiling. I couldn't help but feel that she's smile for me. *Sigh* she makes me feel so at peace.

"I'll be right here, Miss Honda," I told her.

"Be right back," she said and ran off towards the house. I went back in the hollow tree and fell asleep after buttoning my shirt back up.

Kyo's P.O.V.

*Frustrated groan* where did you go, you damn rat? I'm about to start begging like Shigure. Ever since Yuki disappeared that day… that bastard of a family head hasn't called or dropped a line.

I still want to murder that creep. If anything Akito's the one who caused this curse… not Yuki.

"Kyo! Kyo I need to talk to you!" Tohru's back and she sounds happy for some reason. Oh! Maybe she found Yuki!

I jumped off the roof as she came to a stop at the side of the house. "Did you find Yuki? Please tell me you found him?" Wow, I actually sound like I'm begging right there.

Tohru smiled at me and told me everything. He's been at his garden this whole time?! Wow, he's good at hiding. Rat thing I guess. Heheh, well now I know where he is so I can at least attempt to convince him that he's not the cause of this curse. I won't try to force him back here. If I did that then I'd be no different than that bastard Akito.

"I got to go get him some food. He's been eating the vegetables in his garden for weeks. He doesn't look so good. I just wish I could convince him to come back here," Tohru said, sounding a bit guilty.

"Hey, maybe I can convince him. I'll come with you back to him when you get some food for him," I told her with a sly smile.

I waited for her outside for only a few minutes. She came back out and started walking towards the back. I followed her as she carried a little box lunch in her hands. Hatori came along, I'm glad he stayed here for a week.

We entered the space with Yuki's garden. I looked around but didn't see him. Tohru went over to a nearby hollow tree. "Yuki? Yuki wake up. I'm back," she said into the tree trunk.

I hear a soft moan and shortly after that… Yuki emerged from the hollow tree. My eyes widened when I saw him. He's… he's… he's as white as a ghost! Tohru gasped when he came out.

"Yuki," Tohru said a little frantic. "You weren't this pale before."

"Sorry Miss Honda," Yuki said weakly. Aw man… I don't care what he says now. He has to come back to Shigure's right now. He needs a real bed, with a real roof over his head.

"K-Kyo," Yuki said softly, lifting his head up to see me.

"Yuki… come on. I'm taking you to the hospital. You need to see a doctor that can treat whatever you caught out here," Hatori told him a little sternly. It didn't look like Yuki was going to fight it. Hatori picked him up and carried him back to the house where his car awaited.

Yuki… Yuki's so white. There's like no color at all to him. Damn it! Yuki, you damn rat.

I went inside Shigure's house and went to the phone. I decided to call that overly dramatic brother of Yuki's. I know he didn't want to leave when we couldn't find him the first week, but he had to. His shop was about to be torn apart if he didn't get back there.

I did tell him that I'd call him when Yuki was found. I held the receiver to my ear and waited. It didn't take long for him to answer.

"Kyo? That you?" he asked.

"Yes. Tohru found Yuki but he's in bad shape. Hatori took him to the hospital just now," I told him trying not to break down like I wanted to.

"I understand. Thank you for letting me know, Kyo," the snake said tearfully.

"I'm sure Hatori can fill you in on the rest, when he gets back," I told him.

"Thank you." We hung up and I went to the roof to cry. I literally started crying my eyes out once I got up here.

There's nothing I can do right now. *Sob, sob* I know I can't do anything right now to help him.

Hatori came back and told us that Yuki had to stay at the hospital for about two weeks. Tohru and I did go to visit him every day, but seeing him lying in that bed… with an oxygen mask on him… and his pale white skin… I broke down crying every time I saw him. I wanted him to wake up and be healthy again. I wanted him to call me 'stupid cat' again.

Yuki please, you've got to pull through. I don't know what I'd do without you. Ayame came to visit Yuki with us every day. He brought flowers and a vase to put them in as a 'get well soon' gift.

After the two weeks were over, Yuki looked like his old self again. The color is back in his skin, but he still refused to come back into Shigure's house. He was still convinced that he caused this curse.

I tried to tell him otherwise but he wouldn't listen to me. He wouldn't listen to Shigure, Ayame, Hatori or Tohru. We called for Momiji… man why did I have to call that annoying brat here? We called Haru and even Kagura over to see if they couldn't back us up on this matter. Ritsu too, Hiro and Kisa as well.

We told them what was going on and they were pissed off at Akito. Kisa ran over to Yuki who was leaning against a thick tree on the other side of his garden. She hugged him and cried.

"Yuki, you are NOT the reason for this curse," she told him. Hiro went over there too and placed a hand on Yuki's shoulder.

"Listen Yuki. This isn't my normal side but I have to say this… there's no way in hell that I can see you as the cause of this damn curse. You are not the cause of it," he told him.

"Kisa, Hiro," Yuki sniffed as a faint smile finally came on his face. "You really think that?"

"Come on, do I have to spell it out for you? You. Are. Not. The. Cause. Of. This. Curse." Hiro told him.

"I'm telling you right now Yuki… there's no way you're responsible for this curse. If anyone is to blame for this damn curse it's that bastard of family head," Haru told him knelling down in front of him.

"Yes, that's right. I agree with Haru on and the others on this one," Ritsu nodded in agreement.

"Please Yuki. You need to stop blaming yourself because of that bastard," Kagura told him softly. "He's wrong about you and I can NOT see that rat being responsible for all this."

"Yuki… I can't see you as the cause of this family curse," Momiji cried. "You… you are the same Yuki as always. You've never been responsible for this cruse. Please Yuki, don't blame yourself for this."

"This… is how you guys really… feel… about it?" Yuki asked, his hair covering his eyes as he sniffed a bit.

"Yes," we all told him.

"T-thank you," Yuki said as he lifted his head to meet everyone's eyes. His tears… his tears are of happiness.

"So, you'll come back to the house with us then?" Shigure asked softly. Yuki nodded as he returned Kisa's gentle hug.

"Thank you," Yuki said again before standing up. He came with us back to Shigure's house.

But… when we got there… someone we didn't want to see again… stood by the back of the house… holding a dagger… and a whip.

I stepped in front of Yuki and Haru joined me.

"Now what's this I see? Oh, you dorks care about that good-for-nothing-rat-that's-responsible-for-this-c urse, huh?" Akito smirked.

"He's not responsible for this damn curse Akito!" Haru and I yelled. Even though I wasn't looking at Yuki right now… I could feel that he was shivering in fear.

"Go home Akito!" Hiro ordered.

"Oh you dare talk back to me, you little brat," Akito just about roared as he raised the whip. Hiro was too far ahead of us when Akito lashed out. We couldn't get to him in time but… it wasn't Hiro that the whip smacked.

Yuki shielded Hiro and took the blow himself. That bastard lashed out more blows and all of them hitting Yuki. It's like Yuki refused to move away from in front of Hiro.

By the time Akito stopped, Yuki fell to his knees, gasping for air. I felt so helpless, what could I do?

"Akito… *huff, huff* you leave… them out of… this," Yuki huffed turning around to face Akito.

"Oh, does the RAT actually have a conscience? Ooo I'm so scared. What do you plan to do, stupid rat?" Akito cackled raising the whip again.

"You're… the one… *huff* with… out a... conscience… Akito," Yuki huffed out to him.

Is he standing up to Akito now? Oh, I hope he is, cause with all of us here there's no way Akito can break us. There's no way he can break Yuki again.

At least I hope not. Akito stormed off as Yuki fell to his hands.

"Yuki… why did you… shield me like that?" Hiro asked, knelling down to his level now.

"You don't… need to… endure that. You're still young Hiro. I don't want… to see… you or anyone else… get hurt when… it's clear who… Akito really… wants," Yuki said still huffing for air.

"You are a damn rat, huh?" I joked.

"I sure am stupid cat," Yuki shot back with a smile.

I hope you liked it. There's at least one more chapter before this one is really done.

Please review