Here it is! Finally! The sequel to Outcasts! Whoot! XD

I'm sorry so many of you were saddened at the ending- I was too :( *hears one of her readers demand. "Then why the heck did you write it?!"*

Good question! Because I've had this sequel planned since before the story started (: Weird, no? Anyways, this is the prologue, so sit back, relax, and enjoy :D

LOSGAP =D

Hatori sat in his chair, rubbing his eyes, wondering if it was true.

The curse had been broken; how could it be true? How had it happened? Then he remembered the legend; if either the Wolf or the Cat could fall in love with someone and be loved equally in return, then the curse had been broken.

They were really in love. He thought. A flash of pain swept through him and he clutched his head in his hands. Why was he doing this? Why did he always have to do whatever Akito told him?

Because of the curse… wait a minute. Hatori sat up in his chair, his eyes widening. The curse was broken; they didn't have to a thing Akito said anymore. Quickly he stood up, hurrying to where he'd left Ana.

He looked down at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. He wanted to dance with joy, he was so happy that he didn't have to do this anymore. A memory flashed through his mind, of when he'd been forced to follow Akito's orders.

"Once the man succeeds in taking Kyo down, I'm sure Ana will bring him to you; if he's still breathing, by some miracle, let him die. Same goes if he misses Kyo and hits Ana." Hatori nodded, hating him even more, if that was possible, and left his chambers, hoping he would die.

But now that he was free, he could save Ana; he quickly got to work, hoping he wasn't too late.

OoO

Akito slipped towards Hatori's house, his eyes narrowed. The curse was broken; but it couldn't be! Ana would pay; by all that was holy, she would pay for this!
He opened the door quietly and walked through the house. It was the middle of the night; Hatori would be asleep. He entered the room where he knew Kyo's body would be and froze.

Well well well. He thought, smirking as he saw Ana laying there. Guess she got her punishment after all. But then Ana stirred slightly, groaning, and his eyes flew open.

She's alive?! How is that possible?! He thought furiously, stalking over to her. Ana opened her eyes, but they were groggy. "Kyo?" She muttered, not knowing Akito was there. An idea occurred to Akito; how to really punish Ana. This would be worse then death.

"Kyo's dead, sweetheart." Akito sneered down at her, watching her eyes fly open with horror. "No, no he's not." She shook her head, then winced, her hand going to her chest. "Oh, but he is. As soon as he left here he was killed; you almost died for nothing." Akito whispered.

"No! No, it's not true!" She shrieked, looking near tears. Just then the door opened. "Ana? Are you up? I heard yelling." It was Hatori, of course. With surprising speed, Akito was across the room, clutching Hatori by his collar. He stared down at Akito, his eyes wide with shock, then narrowed to slits.

"Get out of my house." He hissed. Akito was shocked; truly, truly pained for a moment. "If you don't tell Ana Kyo's dead, I'll have Kana killed and make it look like an accident." He whispered, then left the room, trying not to cry. Hatori couldn't leave him; he was HIS. Not that brat Ana's; not Shigure's, not Ayames; his. His slave for life. And Ana had ruined all that. Now Akito was forced to be alone, because he hadn't stopped it in time.

OoO

A month later, Hatori entered Ana's room, knowing what she would be doing when he entered.

As usual, she was lying on her side, staring out the window from her bed.

"Ana? It's time to go." Hatori said gently.

For the past month, not one Sohma member knew that Ana was still alive; he couldn't risk losing Kana. He knew Akito would do what he promised, if Ana found out Kyo was alive. But Hatori was a doctor; he knew of Akito's failing health. He couldn't survive much longer. He wouldn't live to see his 40's.

"OK." Ana said quietly, sitting up slowly, the wound in her side still paining her. Hatori picked up her suitcase and his, watching her sadly as she walked slowly out of the room. After that night she'd learned Kyo was supposedly dead, she'd lost all of her spark. She was no longer the bright, bouncing girl; now all she did was lie around, not wanting to go outside.

But now he was going to do something for her, and for himself; they were moving, clear to the other side of Japan, to a beach house Hatori had purchased. They would live there until Akito finally died; then he'd bring her back to Kyo. He knew how cruel this waiting period would be, but if he told Ana, she'd walk through fire to get back to Kyo, and if she got back to him, Kana would be killed. Akito had ruined too many lives already; he had to do this.

He had Ana leave through the back door, getting into the backseat of his car with her suitcase, holding next to nothing except a few pair of clothes he had bought her. He knew she would curl up on the seat, so there was no chance the people gathered to see him off would see her.

"We're going to miss you so much!" Shigure and Ayame sobbed, clinging to him desperately. Hatori hugged them back, closing his eyes. Though they annoyed him most of the time, they were still his best friends; he would miss them terribly.

"Good bye Hatori. I hope you'll come back soon." Hatsuharu shook his hand as Hatori gently pried himself from Shigure and Ayame. The sooner they were gone, the better.

"Bye Hatori. I'll miss you." Yuki said, patting him on the back and smiling faintly. Tohru hugged him, crying freely. "I'm going to miss you so much!" She exclaimed, hugging him tightly. "I'll miss you too, Tohru-kun." He said, hugging her back before she went to Yuki, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Bye Ha'ri! Have a good time!" Momiji leaped up into his arms, hugging him tightly. He still didn't really get Hatori wouldn't be coming back for years, most likely. None of them did.

That was everyone who had come; Rin had declined; she didn't like goodbyes. Kisa and Hiro weren't there because they were at a friend's birthday party; he hadn't been close with them anyway. Kagura didn't even know he was leaving; he didn't want to be beat up before leaving.

But he paused at the door, seeing someone leaning against the wall, someone he hadn't expected to see.

"Bye Hatori." Kyo said gruffly, looking at the ground. Hatori stared at him. Kyo looked awful. Worse then Ana. His hair was messy, his clothes unwashed and hanging off of him as though he hadn't been eating enough lately. But his eyes were terrible; red-rimmed and so full of raw grief Hatori had to look away.

"Good bye Kyo." Hatori murmured, gently getting out of Shigure and Ayame's grasps yet again and walking down the driveway, pausing at his car. He looked back at the group on his porch and offered one of his rare smiles, waving to them before getting into his car and driving away. He did not look back.

*happy grin* Yup, I brought her back! ^_^

But now they're miles apart, each thinking the other dead; will true love prevail? Will they find each other again? Guess you'll have to read the first chapter to find out! :D

- LOSGAP =D

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