“Having fun with your little charade, Gure-nii...? I don’t really find your petty games amusing.”

“...”

“And if I recall correctly, you have quite a bit of writing to catch up on. May I ask what you are doing here? You were supposed to meet me at your house tonight.” Rin looked at Shigure pointedly, arms folded across her chest.

I had known that Shigure was... different, but doing something this stupid...

The dog’s mischievous grin wilted a bit but continued to light up his face, imperviously. No way was he going to be put down like this plus he had plans... yes, plans for these little jyuunishi (and Tohru, of course) tonight whether they liked it or not. Hatori might not like his brilliant ideas but he was sure Aya would participate in the fun. Then upon sudden decision Shigure swung to face Aya, his expression shifting to one of delight.

“Aya, I believe its time to...” Shigure motioned towards the front doors of the building, where currently Kyo was escaping.

“Huh?! Oh yes, yes we must be off!” Aya laughed deafeningly as he flitted towards the door with Shigure skipping behind him.

“Shigure!!!”

Really Kyo, you shouldn’t have run away like that. I only wanted you to...

Kagura sniffled softly as she made her way to the front of the building. At least that’s where she thought she was going. For ten whole minutes she had endlessly paced the halls for some small sign of life. There had been some suspicious noises earlier but other than that everyone was gone.

DAMN IT KYO!

Kagura threw up her hands and turned once again into another dark hallway, mentally chiding herself. Of all the things Kyo-kun had done in her life... This is it! I can’t take it anymore if I have to—

“Uh?!” she looked upon this forsaken hallway, taking in her surroundings piece after piece.

Wait, haven’t I been here before?!

The girl inspected the crumbling white paint on the wall, its transfixing image muddling her mind. A mop was propped up against the wall as well, the water dripping slowly onto the ground. Everything was in disarray-papers, chairs, and even the plants that lined the windows. It was just all too familiar.

I do remember this!

This was the small corridor that led in two separate directions. One was supposedly to the kitchen, the other to the front doors of this building. Yes, this was where Kyo had dumped her at minutes before.

Now which way should I turn...?

Black feathers fluttered down from the ashen sky... as the last of the weight lifted. Forever I shall stay with you until the end of this earth... Ak—

The soft footfalls of the young girl next to Kureno pulled him out of his reverie. He was taking Kisa to see Honda-san at work. Hatori had originally meant to take her along with him but when he didn’t have time to pick her up before the storm hit, Kureno told him he would escort her.

“Uh, Kureno-san?!” Kisa looked up at him worry etched on her tiny face.

“...Yes?”

“Well umm I was wondering how long it would be until we get there?” she said timidly, her honey colored hair falling softly on one cheek.

“We should be there very soon.” Kureno said emotionlessly, a smile hinted across his face... as if to say ‘everything will be alright’.

The girl looked up at him hopefully but what she found was not terribly comforting.

“Oh okay...”

There’s a feeling you get when you are being watched: a numbness in the head, a prickling sensation on the back of the neck. Your confused and dazed thoughts become more strained when they happen to realize what is going on, as the answers dawn in the mind. This is exactly what the monkey was feeling at that moment as he walked hastily down the street, trying to get to Honda-san’s work before Kureno and Kisa-chan.

Aieee! It was just a big misunderstanding... it’s ALL my fault. I shouldn’t have taken so long to get to the main house...

Ritsu looked up towards the heavens, his sorrow at his perceived misdeed clearly written upon his face. Yes, this had to be his fault. It must be, for it had been his supreme duty alone to deliver the message before Kureno left...

The monkey threw his hands up in the air and his hair slipped from its tie, cascading down his back in shining sheets.

“Gomen nasi, Gomen nasi!!” his shrieks of peril rang loud and clear to the world (people around him) which conveniently enough was watching him rapturously. If Ritsu had felt any better about his plight he would have noticed the men following him for the last few streets. And he would have gotten away as fast as possible but...

Damn him... He ran off again!

While everyone else had begun to leave one by one, Rin had paced angrily in front of the building trying to figure out where Shigure had gone. Not only had he disappeared without a trace, he had taken Aya with him--and that spelled disaster within itself.

Rin leaned against the front doors; she hadn’t known how exhausted she was with this whole ordeal until tonight.

Does he really know how to break the curse? Can any of us be truly happy without it...? This bond we share seems unbreakable but how can—

“Gomen nasi!!!” a voice screamed from the dark street in anguish.

Oh NO! Not that damn monkey! How did he get here?!

Rin became very tense and peered out onto the street in front of her. Ritsu was running full tilt towards her with men chasing him...?

The only people who hadn’t left this forsaken place by now were Tohru, Yuki, and the ever-patient Hatori. What could they do against those men...? Wait we still have Yuki don’t we... we’re saved!

But as those last few thoughts processed a blurring figure came into her peripheral vision and... WHAM!