Title: Not Afraid.

Author: Saku

Rated: G

Summary: "I'm certain of it. You don't deserve this." Is the strong response as Kyo grabs a small, timid hand and starts dragging her behind him to the edge of the house. Shoulders roll as he shifts the small bags that were packed with all of their worldly processions.

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"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid
To take a stand, to take a stand
Everybody, everybody
Come take my hand, come take my hand
We'll walk this route together through the storm"
~ 'Not Afraid' by Eminem
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"Are you sure this is ok," Tohru asks as they slip out of the second story window. "Everyone will be sad that we're gone. We should at least tell Shigure."

Bare feet carefully slide along the smooth roof and for a second Tohru pauses as tears cloud her vision. The last time she and Kyo had been up here, was New Years. Back then they had been so happy. Teary eyed she looks up at the full moon above them. The wind is gentle, as ruffles her skirt against her bare legs, and Tohru wants to turn around and head back to her bed. She's certain that they can work this out somehow; some other way then just running away in the middle of the night.

"I'm certain of it. You don't deserve this." Is the strong response as Kyo grabs a small, timid hand and starts dragging her behind him to the edge of the house. Shoulders roll as he shifts the small bags that were packed with all of their worldly processions.

The threat of erasing Tohru's mind was the last stand. That was the last injustice that Kyo would stand against him- against the Cat of the Zodiac. He was willing to stand every other injustice- and had for years- but this was too cruel. For the first time in his life Kyo had found someone who loved every form of him, someone who swore to be by his side for eternity. Even after that horrific rainy night Tohru was still standing beside him. And now he would give up his life to protect her!

"W-where will we go though?" Tohru glances back at her window as she reaches the edge of the roof. Swallowing she closes her eyes, breathing deeply. 'Mother help me,' she prays for a second before turning and descends down the rickety ladder.

Wooden steps creak under her feet as she stares at the wooden house before her. Silently she vows to call Shigure once they both are safely far enough away. Guilt still hangs heavily on her heart, weighs her down on each step of the ladder. But she refuses to leave Kyo now, even if it means being on the run, she will stay by his side.

"We'll figure out something." Kyo answers as he jumps from down from the roof, landing with the grace of the cat he was. "Right now we just have to get you away from Akito. Then we will figure out where to hide."

Silently he holds out his hand, eyes boring into hers. "You have the right to stay here. I can't stay any longer. But you can stay. If I leave Akito will leave you alone. It's up to you."

Tohru only wavers for a second before she reaches out and holds onto his tightly. "I said I would stay beside you. I'm not breaking my promise now."

Silently together, hands clasped tightly, they disappear into the woods. Neither notice the curtains that part before fluttering closed again.

Early the next morning Shigure holds a small, handwritten note with one simple sentence scrawled on the crinkled paper.

'I'm not afraid to take a stand.'

Smiling Shigure crumples it before tossing it into the small garbage can beside his desk. He knows that they will be safe and he can only wish them luck as they run off to make their own future. A future away from the family.