Written by Miyu, Vampire Princess

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
AU to the furuba universe.... Sierra's second year with her estranged family is slowly drawing to a close. And just when things start looking up again, something else happens. And it isn't pretty. FANGIRLS BEWARE! TISSUE WARNING! Comments always welcome. 

Chapter 12 - The Blink of an Eye

Snow is bloody cold. And that's all it did the week between Christmas and New Year's. It rained down on us, large pellets of white. In two days time over a foot had built up on the ground.

And in two more days time, it had all but disappeared.

"Sei-chan, hurry or we'll be late."

"Hai, hai!"

Life, in the meantime, had gotten better. Slowly. I didn't stop worrying about Yuki. I didn't stop missing Haru. But our class trip helped me forget them, if only for a little while. I had a wonderful time in Osaka with Chidori and Sakura. We stayed up WAY past light's out and got to see some beautiful sights. I have tons of pictures and souvenirs...all of which will mean nothing in a little while. But for now, they are fond memories I treasure.

"What's taking you so long?"

"Nothing."

My meetings with Akito started again, but they were much shorter than before. We still had tea, talked mostly about nothing. I never walked in on him and Yuki again. Akito made sure of it. He was always waiting in his room. One day, we even had tea outside in the garden. It was cool, but only mildly so. He talked of childhood memories that day. It was the most we had talked in months...well, he did most of the talking. Still, it was one of our better meetings. I actually enjoyed it.

I had talked to Momiji later that night ebfore heading home. I told him some of what Akito had relayed to me in our conversation, surprising the rabbit. I think he found it impossible to believe that Akito may have been, at one point, nice. But we don't start out evil, he pointed out to me. We learn it.

In return he relayed some information about Yuki and Kyo. Yuki seemed to be in denial of EVERYTHING he and Akito had done. At times it seemed that my cousin didn't even ackowledge that fact that Akito existed. It was strange, Momiji said, because every time he asked how he was feeling, Yuki would plaster a smile to his face and say, "I'm fine." Momiji was hardly convinced, but couldn't argue with him. It was...disheartening

"I'm leaving!"

"Chotto, chotto! I'm coming!"

I have to admit I was surprised when Akito formally invited me to the family New Year's gathering. I had been shunned the year before, along with Tohru. His opinion on the matter was that if I was to be family, I was to attend. Something in his voice was very final. There was no question that my presence was a must.

My uncle was no less surprised. While I was still banned from entering the jyuunishi dinner, Akito had insisted that he bring me along. We talked about what the meal was like, about some of the other family members I'd meet. I had yet to meet the monkey of the zodiac, to whom Ayame had promised a special introduction. There were plenty of activities to keep me busy, Shigure promised and plenty of people to meet.

But that didn't keep me from being a nervous wreck on the way to the main house.

"Ready now?"

I nodded, smiling. "Hai."

"Nervous?"

I shook my head, then sighed. "Hai."

He ruffled my hair lightly, then pulled me closer to kiss my forehead. "It'll all be fine. Now come on, or we're going to be late."

We had to take the main roads as the snow all but flooded the back trails. It was a much longer walk, but it helped to calm me down. We continued to talk of past celebrations; Shigure taking it upon himself to even demonstrate some of the dance he performed several years ago.

"It'll be my turn next year." He winked at me, doing one final spin and nearly losing his balance on a small patch of ice. He righted himself and smiled at me. "You'll help me brush up, won't you?"

I nodded, giggling at his antics. Now I'm hardly a dance expert, but if he called that a dance, he was in need of more than brushing up.

Hatori and Ayame greeted us when we arrived at the Honke. In his usual grandios way, Ayame said his hellos -- a big hug for my cousin and a kiss on the cheek for me. He explained to us his trip there, all the happenings with his shop, and about the absolutely, wonderful gift he got from his assistant, Mine.

Hatori's welcome was just as nice, although much less dramatic. I offered him a smile as he kissed me on the cheek, but it wasn't as bright as it could have been. Things between the two of us had been a bit strained since the day I interrupted Akito and Yuki. It's not that I hated him or anything. Not that. Never that. It was just...difficult to explain. To this day, I'm still not sure why I acted the way I did.

Maybe I just came to understand....

He ushered us towards the inner buildings of the main house, places I'd only seen before from the outside. On the inside, there were lavishly decorated rooms. According to Ayame, preparations for the celebration were months in advance. Judging from the neatly strewn streamers, the carefully placed flowers and statues and the beautifully made ice sculpture in the fountain, I'd say the preparations were worth it.

A large group of people became evident as we walked into the main portions of the house. Conversation hardly stopped when we walked into the room, but I could feel a large number of scrutinizing eyes on me. I suddenly felt like an outsider. And although I was slightly better than seventeen years, I still cowered like a five-year-old behind my uncle.

Shigure excused himself to greet Akito. I asked if I should go with him. He merely shook his head, leaving me in Ayame's and Hatori's care. It was then that Ayame told me to follow him. I looked at Hatori, wondering what my older cousin was up to. The doctor merely shrugged. Ayame grasped my hand, promising that it would be a good surprise. Then he proceeded to lead me from the room with all the strange people and into an adjoining room.

Momiji was there, and so were Kisa and Hiro. The older people with them were their parents, or so I suspected at the time. I was introduced to all of them, but it was the last introduction that was the most interesting.

"Ah! Ri-chan! This is Sierra, Shigure's neice."

"How do you do," Ri-chan asked in succinct English.

I smiled. "Very well, thank you," I replied in English.

I wasn't exactly sure what to make of Ri-chan. She was beautiful. Actually, HE was beautiful. Long blond hair was tied back in an intricate braid. The green and yellow kimono was made of fine silk and hand embroidered. I had no idea why he was wearing a kimono in the first place, but I have to admit, he looked good in it. Better than any woman probably....

"Ano..."

I giggled. "It's okay. I'm fluent in Japanese," I responded in the native language.

The sudden look of horror on Ri-chan's face caught me off guard. But it was his response that surprised me even more.

"GOMEN NASAI! I didn't mean to insult you. It's all my fault. Gomen nasai. Gomen, gomen, gomen! AH! Gomen Na-SAI!"

I really didn't know what to say. The man was in tears -- hysterics was more like it. And I thought Ayame was dramatic! Sheesh! I smiled reassuringly, although it fell a bit short.

"Ri-chan-san, it's all right," I said, hoping I was getting through between keening howls and wild antics. "I'm not offended. Actually, I appreciate the fact that you would speak to me in my native language."

He had calmed down somewhat, and I thought I had gotten through to him. But the look that crossed his face then was a cross between relief and embarassment. For a moment, I thought perhaps I had insulted him. But then he broke into another chorus of apologies.

"GOMEN NASAI!"

"What IS all the racket about?"

The room stilled as Akito entered. He looked well, and none too happy. He nodded in acknoweldement of everyone, but said nothing else, awaiting an answer.

Fear and awe mixed with tension. So dense, you could almost cut through it with a knife. Shigure followed the young man into the room, but it did little to lift the dense invisible fog that had already rolled in. Ri-chan didn't cower, but I caught him biting his bottom lip. Fighting the urge to apologize no doubt.

Well, if no one else was going to step forward....

"Konnichiwa, Akito-san," I greeted him with a small bow. "Ayame was just introducing me to other members of the family."

"Sou do ne?" His eyes scanned the group, finding no arguement to my statement. It was, for all intent and purpose, the truth. Convinced of my words, he offered a small smile. "I'm glad. Would you like to join me, Sei-chan? We're about to gather for lunch."

Hesitation hit me like a brick wall. I looked at my uncle quickly. He nodded, as if knowing this was something I had to do. I smiled then, replying, "I'd love to."

That statement hurt more than you'll ever know.

The meal was no less extravegant than the decorations. There was a large table set up to seat at least twenty, with four slightly smaller tables set around it. Every seat was filled. I had no idea the Sohma clan was that big. And all the jyuunishi were there, save for two: Haru and Rin. The thought gave me pause, especially when I caught sight of a certain orange haired cat sitting at the end of one of the smaller tables with an older gentleman. I could only assume it was his father and teacher, Kazuma. I had never met the man, but Kyo was talking to him animatedly and they both seemed to be quite happy.

I wished I could've been sitting with him. Instead I was seated at a table opposite his, facing the main table. Kisa's mother sat on one side of me, Hiro's mother on the other. Both women were nice...and total polar opposites. Kisa's mother was quiet, reserved. Hiro's mother, on the other hand, was very out-spoken and flambouant. Talk, talk, talk. I don't think the woman knew how to do anything else. And she had the most annoying giggle I'd ever heard....

Across from me was a blond haired woman and her husband. During the meal I discovered that the blond was actually Kana, Hatori's ex-girlfriend. I'm certain the surprise showed on my face when she introduced herself, but she didn't seem to notice. She spoke highly of her husband, and shyly shared in the knowledge that she was pregnant. Everyone at the table, including myself, was overjoyed.

Akito offered a small toast and the meal commenced. The food was as delicious as it looked. But like all fancy meals, there didn't seem to be enough food to go around. Thankfully I was distracted enough by questions that I was able to eat slowly and not gobble the whole thing up. I would've eaten the plate and chopsticks if they'd been edible.

As the meal drew to a close, Akito made rounds to all the tables. He didn't linger long, only enough to wish everyone a happy start to the new year. He did hover at our table a little longer than necessary, his eyes staring at me from across the table, behind Kana. I managed to keep a smile on my face and a shiver from going down my spine.

The maids and waiters cleaned away the fine china and what was left of the food and everyone began to mingle again. Hiro's mother took it upon herself to introduce me to more members of the Sohma family. They all smiled and nodded, shaking my hand and asking me the same questions: How was my father? How was my mother? Were they well? Was business booming? Did I like living in Japan? How was I doing in school? I answered every one in turn...and more than once. So many people, all talking at once. It was all so overwhelming.

I had never been so happy to see my uncle in my entire life. Shigure dove into the middle of one conversation, sweet talking Hiro's mother into letting me go with him. My fingers practically dug into his arm as we walked away, my mind glad for a bit of peace and quiet.

"Sei-chan? Daijoubu?"

I nodded, sighing. "It's just...very overwhelming. So many people..." I shook my head. "And I'll never keep all their names straight."

Shigure smiled. "Don't worry, I'll remind you of all their names later."

"Gee, thanks," I replied, dead-pan. It wasn't until I realized we were leaving the dining area and walking down a hallway that I asked, "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"Uncle?"

"It's a good surprise," he said, patting the hand that had a near deathgrip on his arm. "Trust me."

I tensed as we stopped in front of a door. Goosebumps run up my arms and over my shoulders. Did they know something I didn't? Shigure opened the door to the room and I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard someone shout my name.

"Sei-chan!"

Then I was knocked to the floor in a cloud of smoke.

I didn't need the smoke to clear to know who it was.

"Konnichiwa, Momiji."

I stood from the floor, holding a small, yellow rabbit in my arms. Momiji cuddled against me as I greeted the other jyuunishi in the room. It seemed all of the young jyuunishi had gathered there, including Yuki and Kyo. I wanted to run over to each of them and hug them, but instead, I held Momiji that much tighter. He didn't seem to mind.

"I'll be back shortly," Shigure announced. "Make sure Sei-chan doesn't get bored."

I turned, wanting to ask my uncle why I had been brought there, but Momiji interrupted. "Did you enjoy the lunch, Sei-chan?"

"Yes," I replied with a smile. "It was very delicious." I eyed Hiro. "And your mother was very entertaining."

The boy sighed. "She would be." He shook his head. Kisa patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"So...why is everyone back here?"

My eyes specifically singled out Kyo, but it was Yuki who answered, "We gather just before preparing for the jyuunishi feast."

I blinked, confused. "But...you just ate lunch."

"It takes hours to prepare," Momiji spoke from the circle of my arms. "Everyone dresses up in costume."

My eyes widened. "Everyone?"

"With one exception," Kyo practically spat. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well," I replied. "You'll have someone to keep you company this year, Kyo-kun."

"Really?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm not allowed in there either, or have you forgotten?"

"He probably wasn't even thinking about it," Hiro teased.

Kyo gave the younger boy and angry look, but didn't lift a finger. It really was a special day. I smiled. "I suppose I should let you get ready, Momiji."

The bunny pouted. "I can stay just a little longer. Can't I?"

"You should change back," Kisa finally spoke. "What if Akito catches you?"

The rabbit shrugged, hoping free from my arms. "I suppose you're right."

"Can she help us get into costume, Kagura-nee?" Kisa asked the older girl.

Kagura smiled. "I suppose. Mine will be the most decorated this year."

"I understand you'll be dancing," I said.

Kagura nodded, and happily began explaining the moves to me. "I've been practicing for months," she said, then frowned. "I really wish you and Kyo could see it."

>POOF!<

Kagura yelped. "Momiji!"

Kyo yelled, "Put your clothes on!"

Hiro covered Kisa's eyes with both hands. "Don't look."

Momiji blushed. "I think they're out in the hall."

Yuki sighed. "I'll get them."

I peaked out from between my fingers. "Is it safe to look?"

"Not yet," Kyo warned.

"But you can still look, Sei-chan," Momiji added, a giggle in his voice.

"No!" Yuki practically screamed.

"Don't look," Kyo said. "Don't LOOK!"

I have to admit now that I did peek, but sadly, didn't see anything.

Momiji had just finished getting dressed when Shigure came back with Ayame in tow. They both asked what had happened, and after a brief explanation, Ayame announced he needed every to go to the preparation rooms. Kagura asked if it was all right if joined them. It was Shigure who shook his head.

"Afraid not," he replied. "You'll have to show her your costume later."

Everyone came and went in spurts. I sat in that same little room, eventually joined again by Hiro's and Kisa's mothers. Hiro's father was there for a short time, then excused himself for a cigarette. Kagura's parents came through as well, both of them very happy about their daughter's dance this year. It was good to see that everyone got along. Perhaps it was the good will of the new year, but I had the gnawing feeling that some of it was an act.

Yuki introduced me to his mother. A very pretty woman, very sleek and graceful. On the outside anyway. On the inside, she's a hardened bitch. Although I refused to say it at the time, I certainly thought it. She didn't smile the entire time, nor did she have anything nice to say to her youngest son. She talked about duty, his schooling, and how absurd she believed these festivities to be. Needless to say I have a low opinion of the woman. She didn't see Yuki's growing depression, his tumultuous feelings. She couldn't even say one word that would make Yuki smile.

I guess I shouldn't be one to talk though. I called my mother to wish her and my father and Merry Christmas the week before. It was the first time I'd talked to my mother at length since I discovered her affair.

And she wasn't so belligerent and uncaring that I wanted to slap her.

When it was time for Yuki to get ready, I stopped him in the hall. "Yuki, are you okay?"

The question was meant to reflect on more than just the events of the afternoon. I think his eyes registered that fact, but his mind refused to respond. He plastered that fake smile to his face, the one Momiji had talked about. "I'm fine. But it's getting late, and I need to get ready."

"Yuki--?"

"Yes?"

I really didn't know what to say. Well, okay, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to say, but I couldn't say it. Instead I offered him a smile. "Have fun tonight. Enough for the both of us."

His smile lit up, just a little. "I will."

It was amazingly quiet around six o'clock. Most of the family members who didn't reside at the Honke had left. Those that did -- mainly the parents of the jyuunishi -- only stayed for a short period of time. None of them came over to talk to Kyo and I. We sat in a corner by a window, staring outside as little flakes of white fell from the sky.

To me, each flake represented a memory. Something good, like Tohru's cooking. Or something bad, like Yuki's depression. I contemplated all of it: the good, the bad, and even the very ugliest of my memories. It amazed me how my life had been compared to how it was that very day. I was surprised and humbled by many of the facts. I had been through a lot in my short time and I looked forward to the many things that would still happen.

I was being positive, mind you.

And positivity doesn't stay around long when you're a Sohma.

Kyo stood, but didn't move away from the window. How long had we been sitting there in silence? There was no noise and one look around the room said that we had been left alone. I looked up at him and asked, "What time is it?"

"Almost eight." He stretched his arms over his head, stifling a yawn. "I think."

"So, what is it you normally do while the others are...umm...busy?"

He smirked, catching the hesitancy in my voice. "I usually just sulk around."

"That's it?"

He nodded. "That's it."

"That's awfully...boring."

"Tell me about it."

"How long...does it usually last?"

"A few hours."

"Man, this sucks."

"Can I...ask you something?"

It was the hesitency in his voice that caught my attention. "Sure."

"Why did you want to come to Japan?"

Out of all the questions I'd been asked over the course of two years, that was never one of them.

"Well," I replied, trying to form a logical reason in my mind. It had been there several years ago. "I wanted to learn more about my father's family."

Kyo sat back down, cross-legged next to me. "Why didn't he just tell you everything you wanted to know?"

"I'm...not sure. I think he might have been tempted to tell me about the curse if he did. Or maybe something had happened and...well...he just didn't want to remember his family." I shrugged. "For whatever reason, my questions always went unanswered."

"Shouldn't that, in itself, have told you something?"

I cracked a smile. "Yes and no." I sighed. "Perhaps all the warning signs were there, but I just didn't see them...or didn't WANT to see them. I knew everything about my mother's family. They're wonderful people, truly. But...I wanted to know something about my father's family. If nothing else, I wanted to know about the boy in the picture."

Kyo scratched his head, confused. "Picture?"

"I found a picture of my dad and Shigure when they were teenagers." My smile grew mischievous. "I presented it to him and, lost in retrospect, he started to tell me about it. It was the first time I'd ever heard him speak of his family. And he did it so easily...until he remembered who he was talking to." I pouted. "That day, my quest began."

"And...is it over yet?"

I looked at him funny. "My quest, you mean?" He nodded. "I suppose. I mean, I made it to Japan. I got to meet my uncle. And you, Yuki, Tohru and a whole bunch of other people I never knew existed. I've made friends, gone to school, gotten to experience life here." I sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Yeah, I suppose my quest is over."

"You..." Kyo commented, thumping me lightly on the top of my head. "...are so weird."

"Hey, I'm not the one who turns into a cat when I get hugged by a girl."

I expected a loud retort, but instead, got this serious look of depression.

"Gomen nasai," I said. "I didn't mean that as an insult, Kyo-kun." He bowed his head, his shoulders shaking. "Kyo-kun?"

So fast. That's how he moved. Before I could react he was so close, arms winding their way around me. Before I could say anything I felt his cheek against my temple. Before I knew what had happened I felt wet tears fall against my neck.

And it wasn't until the cloud of smoke cleared that I realized that he'd hugged me.

An orange cat sat curled in my lap as proof.

I held him, offering what little comfort I could. My eyes sought solace in the falling snow outside. I glanced out the window.

The snow had stopped.

I'm not sure what time it was, but that's where the others found us later that night. Momiji shook me awake. I did so with a groan, my body now aware that it had frozen in an odd position. Kyo was still in my lap, still an orange cat. He remained sound asleep, even after Hatori gathered him and his clothes.

I leaned between Yuki and Momiji as they lead me to Hatori's house. I'd never been there before, and was surprised by how clean it was. Well, at least I was the next morning. I slept soundly on the couch and awoke to the delicious smell of oatmeal.

Thankfully Hatori's cooking skills were better than my uncle's.

The days dragged by after the New Year's celebration. My visits with Akito remained short and curt, although we appeared to be getting along much better. Perhaps he had forgotten everything that had happened.

Kyo seemed to behave with new confidence and determination. He didn't appear as resigned to his fate as he had before. I was glad for this. It was good to see him smile when I visited. I even learned a few new martial arts moves from him. He's an amazing teacher.

Yuki also seemed to ooze more grace and confidence than before. His face was still pale, his cheeks still sunken. His smile, though, was no longer fake. He was engrossed with final exams and research papers. I even got to participate in a study he was doing for a class. I was so happy to see him finally smiling without pretense. Perhaps Akito's abuse had all but stopped.

The last few weeks of school quickly dove into that horrible calm before the storm. I was just as engrossed in studying as Yuki, my exams promising to be a real pain in the rear. Chidori, Sakura and I formed a study group that met every day after school for an hour. I needed help with math. They, with English.

My uncle suffered little for my lack of domestic attention. He too was working hard on his latest manuscript. It was two weeks past due. His editor called every day and visited almost as often. If it hadn't been for lack of food, I'm certain he would've been able to get away. But... he had little in the way of clean clothes.

The last week of school was most interesting. One of our class reps was transferring and Kimi was actually going to sit on the Student Council board. She was very excited. So, with all the goings on, a representative was needed. Everyone was allowed to nominate one person.

Chidori and Sakura nominated me.

So did several other people.

In the end it came down to me and two others. We each gave a tiny speech on why we should be class rep. Mine was the shortest. I'm not much of a public speaker. My stomach knots up and I get nauseous. A vote was taken. Majority ruled.

And my class, in their finest moment of...something...voted me into office.

I was...actually...rather pleased.

I hurried home that day with a very excited Momiji in tow. Practically running down the street, I stopped only long enough to take a deep breath before entering the Sohma compound. It should've felt odd being there on a day when I didn't have to meet with Akito. But I had to see Yuki. I had to share the news. If memory served, that day was his short day. He would be home from class by now. I gave Momiji a quick kiss on the cheek, then hurried to see my cousin. I waved to Kisa and Hiro on the way.

Nothing appeared to be different that day from any other I'd been to the house. It was quiet, the hallways shadowed in the afternoon sunlight. The door to Akito's room was shut. Was he home? Would he be angry if he knew I was there? It hardly mattered. Besides, I just wanted to sahre my good news with Yuki. I wouldn't be long.

Imagine my surprise when I saw Yuki's door slightly ajar.

"Yuki-kun? Are you home?"

There was no response.

I should've turned and left then. But no. I felt compelled to open his door and peak inside. Nothing seemed amiss. Yuki was lying on his bed, seemingly asleep. He must have passed out as soon as he got hom from class. Still unable to leave well enough alone, I stepped into the room and crept over to his bed.

"Yuki-kun? I have some good news," I whispered.

Still no response.

Closer and closer I crept. The lighting got worse the further into the room I moved. But that did not stop me from noticing several things.

"Yuki-kun?"

There was a razor blade lying beside his head on the pillow.

"Are you ill?"

And there appeared to be blood on the sheets he was tangled in.

Fear and panic clawed at my chest. With every heaving gasp I took I could smell it. The stench of blood. Of death. I reached for my cousin, shaking him slightly. I called his name. No answer. I shook him again, harder this time. His head rolled from one side to the other, but still no response. My right hand pushed on his chest, my left searching for his nearest arm while my mind willed him to wake up. That's when I noticed a few more things.

He wasn't breathing.

His pulse was non existant.

His wrist was covered in a sticky, wet substance.

"Yuki?"

And there was a cut. A very long, very deep cut.

My breath caught as my mind registered what had happened. Why Yuki? Why?! That's what I wanted to scream. Instead this horrible sounding wail escaped as tears formed in my eyes.

"Yuki?! Help! Someone! SOMEONE HELP!"

I heard voices coming from down the hall. The first sounded like Akito. He was screaming, wanting to know what all the ruckus was. It stopped only long enough for him to assess the situation once he arrived.

"Hatori! Call Hatori! Now, dammit, NOW!"

I was pushed aside so that Akito could be closest to my cousin's body. I allowed it only because I didn't have it in me to argue at that moment. I was still too much in shock.

"Yuki, wake up. WAKE UP!"

I'm not sure how long it took for Hatori to arrive. I vaguely remember him walking through the doorway, my uncle behind him. They were blurred, as my vision was clouded by tears, but it seemed as if they moved in slow motion.

Hatori's face registered the situation first and a wave of his hand cut off a comment by Shigure. You could see the horror on his face as he moved towards the bed. Akito moved to the other side of Yuki while Hatori checked all his vitals. It was pointless - there was just so much blood - but he did it anyway. Carefully he placed Yuki's arm back on the bed, slipping his bloody wrist under the bedsheet.

Shigure stood just inside the doorway, his face a dark mask. He didn't look happy, but he didn't look sad either. I think it took him a little while to process the picture before him. Eventually his hand covered his mouth and I think he swore. Was it because of what had happened, or because he finally noticed I was in the room? I don't know.

"WHY? Tell me WHY?!" Akito pleaded.

I continued to cry, huddled against the nearest wall. My body shook with my sobs, my face sodden with tears. My heart was shattered into a million pieces. I felt sad.

"Why would you do something like this? Yuki, why would you leave me? WHY?!"

Someone was kneeling beside me. My uncle, maybe? A voice whispered that everything would be all right. It told me I had to get up. It told me I had to leave. It told me I had to clean up. I just curled myself into a tighter ball. A ball of concrete had settled in my stomach. I felt sick.

"Is there nothing--?"

"He's been like this for a while. I'd wager several hours. His vitals are gone."

"By kami....Ha-san...."

"We need to see to Akito first."

"And Sei-chan?"

"Take her someplace comfortable."

The voice spoke to me again, but I only shook my head. Strong arms grabbed my shoulders, tried to haul me into a standing position. I fought it, opening my mouth to scream though no sound came forth. My arms waved wildly, the tears falling faster. The voice tried to calm me, soothe me. But I only felt sadder. Sicker.

"Yuki, wake up! WAKE UP!"

I felt...angrier.

"This is all YOUR fault!"

The silence in the room was deafening. I had gained everyone's full attention, including the servants standing out in the hall. Mouths hung agape, eyes widened in fear. They thought I had gone mad.

Maybe...maybe I had.

My hand shook, my arm trembling as I pointed at a shocked Akito. "You did this. IT'S YOUR FAULT!"

Shigure was the first to recover. His hand laid gently on my shoulder but I shook him off. Twice. He told me we should leave. I only shook my head.

"This is his fault. He beat him. He raped him. He did all those things to him. It's HIS fault."

Hatori was next to recover and he placed himself between me and Akito. "Sei-chan, you're traumatized. You really should--!"

"How...DARE YOU!"

Akito had finally recovered. He pushed past Hatori, glaring angrily as he stormed towards me. The doctor tried to stop him as Shigure tried to stop me. But there was no stopping now.

"I loved him," Akito growled in my face. "I LOVED HIM!"

"You KILLED him," I shouted back.

SLAP!

"I loved him. I kept him close to me." Akito emphasized every word, his face growing more contorted, angrier. I stood there, gathering my own ammunition, holding the cheek he had just slapped. "He was my favorite. I protected him. I helped him. I saved him. I. Loved. Him."

"You smothered him," I replied, my voice low and angry. "You beat him within an inch of his life. You did things to him that should never be done to another human being! Did he ask you to? Huh? Did he?!"

"Shut up."

"Did he?"

"Shut. Up."

"You couldn't make him love you back!"

SLAP!

"Shut up! What do you know?! You're an outsider! You don't belong here!"

SLAP!

The stunned look on Akito's face was worth the stinging pain in my hand. His hand shook as it reached for his cheek. He looked at me as if I had grown a second head, real fear registering in his eyes. It gave me confidence, and I hit him again.

And again.

And again.

Until he was on his knees. My final blow was a swift kick to the stomach. It should've had more force behind it, but by then most of my anger had been spent.

"It's your fault! Don't EVER forget it!"

SLAP!

"That's ENOUGH!"

The authority in my uncle's voice sounded resilient in the now quiet room. I couldn't even hear my heart pounding anymore. Had it stopped? My mind tried to organize what had happened.

I had found Yuki's body. He was dead.

Akito kept screaming at his corpse. I blamed him for my cousin's death.

I knocked the son of a bitch onto the floor in one blow, followed by a kick to the stomach. That was sure to leave a mess, if not a mark.

And finally...my uncle had slapped me coherent. I wasn't sure if I should've thanked him or cursed his very name.

At the time, I didn't have a chance to do either.

"Make sure Akito's all right," Shigure said, his voice still deep in anger. I felt his grasp on my upper arm, gasping at the force with which he pulled me towards the door. "I'm taking Sierra home."

"Shigure!" Hatori's voice was concerned, worried. But about me, Akito, or something else all together?

The door snapped shut loudly. With a strength I didn't know he had, Shigure practically threw me against the opposite wall. He swore loudly, shaking his head. His form became blurred amidst a new batch of tears. I huddled against the wall because I didn't know what else to do. I inched along the wood, creeping down the hallway and into the shadows.

Shigure's hands stopped me, slamming into the wall behind me with such force that both the wall and my body shook. I thought for sure he was going to hit me again. I suppose I deserved it. My eyes squeezed tightly shut, my body tensing in expectation.

But nothing happened. I opened my eyes to see my uncle, his head bowed, his forehead inching ever closer until it rested on the top of my head. Something wet fell, hitting me square on the cheek. He muttered something -- an apology, maybe -- and again something wet hit my cheek.

He was crying, too.

I wanted to hug him, but stopped. I think, maybe, he wanted me to hug him, or vice versa, but neither of us moved. This was as much comfort as we were going to get for the time being.

That only made it - the feeling of sadness - worse.

Eventually I was ushered over to Kagura's house. I fell asleep on an overstuffed pillow curled up in Kagura's lap and clinging to her for dear life. I expected to be in the same place when I woke. But I wasn't.

The room was still dark, meaning it was still evening...perhaps early morning. There was a pillow under my head and a soft mattress under my body. Was I still in Kagura's house? Had I made it back to my room?!

"You should go back to sleep."

The voice was gruff, but concerned. I sat up, curious. My body ached the moment I was upright and what I could see of the world swam through my mind in a whirlwind.

"Where...where am I?"

"My room."

"Your room?" I blinked, lying back down. Who's room? Hands supported my shoulders and I sunk back into the mattress. As my vision cleared, I could make out Hatori through the shadows. "Hatori-san?"

"Shhh. Go back to sleep, Sei-chan."

"B-but...uncle said he was taking me home."

"He's passed out on the couch." There was a touch of humor in the doctor's voice.

"Oh." I sighed. "Why aren't you asleep?"

There was even more humor behind his response. "Because Shigure snores when he's drunk."

"Drunk?"

"Hai."

"How...did I get to your place, Hatori-san?"

"Kagura carried you."

I blinked sleepily. "I see. What time is it?"

A pause. "Almost five in the morning."

I yawned. "It's going to be a bad morning, isn't it?"

"I think so."

"Is.... How is Akito?"

"Heavily sedated."

"Hn?"

"He'll be fine. He was very surprised by your outburst...and very angry."

"I seem to be an expert at pissing him off lately."

"He'll forget about it in the morning."

I wasn't so certain. "You sure?"

Hatori nodded. "His grief will wash away any memory of last night...save for one."

Yeah...that. "He's really hurt by it, isn't he?"

"Hai."

I gave that tidbit of info the once over then replied, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For kicking his ass."

Hatori chuckled. "I wouldn't be sorry about that. Although...."

"Nani?"

"You're the only one brave enough to ever do it."

I sighed. "Or foolish."

"It was very brave," Hatori consoled. "Now, get some sleep. You need rest."

He didn't have to tell me twice. My eyelids slid shut without so much as a hint of effort. Darkness blanketed my mind. I tried not to dream, but I did. I dreamed of Yuki. Of all the good times. All the bad. And yet, through it all, he smiled at me. Every single time. Always smiling.

I wept in my sleep.

The next morning the entire Sohma household mourned the passing of one of their own. No one smiled. No one made jokes. Even Mother Nature, who drew in clouds of gray to lay over us like a blanket, wept with us.

Yuki Sohma was pronounced dead.

May he now rest in peace.

~TO BE CONTINUED~