Curse Renewed Series Two

Book One: The Beginning

Chapter One: Dark Cloud Arrives

The morning of April 2nd started like any other. Katsuya Sohma arose from his bed, stretched and began to undress out of his tee shirt and boxer shorts into his school uniform. Right away when he entered the kitchen he could tell that something wasn't right. Instead of his mother he found his Uncle Yuki perusing over the paper by the sink with a slight frown on his face. Yuki immediately put the paper down on the counter the minute he arrived.

"Good morning Kaye" Yuki said trying to smile.

"Good morning Uncle Yuki" Kaye replied back with a curious look around him, "It's not like you to be here so late in the morning."

"I actually have off today," Yuki said.

"Where's my mom?"

"She's um" Yuki hesitated, "She's over at the dojo with your father right now discussing something."

"Discussing what?"

"It's not important. But she did want me to make sure you kids got out all right this morning. Your sister's already at morning practice at the school."

"Yea I know" Katsuya nodded taking a seat at the table, "But everything's okay, right Uncle Yuki? I mean with the baby?"

"Oh yes. Everything is just fine" Yuki nodded with concern, "I'm sorry if I am worrying you Kaye. I just have my mind on things about work" he picked up the paper again.

"Oh. Okay" Kaye smiled and then began to eat his breakfast just as Takara entered into the kitchen.

But as he left the house and passed the dojo holding onto Takara's hand he began to wonder if everything was really "just fine" as his Uncle Yuki had said. Even Takara thought that there was something wrong and commented on it as he dropped her off. After arriving at school and entering the gates Katsuya walked over to his best friend Soujiro and his cousin Reiji with the same worried expression.

"Hey Kaye" Soujiro replied, "What's with the face man? Who died?"

"I don't know" Katsuya said shaking his head absently, "I don't know what's wrong."

"What do you mean?" Soujiro asked confused by his cryptic answer while Reiji nodded his head in a knowing look.

"I just said, I don't know."

"Okay. Well I am gonna head to my locker" Soujiro moved past, "I'll see you both in class" he added as Reiji moved closer to his cousin and lowered his eyes.

"Your parents acting weird too?" Reiji said in a low voice.

"I didn't even see my parents this morning. But my Uncle Yuki was."

"What do you think is going on?"

"I have no idea" Kaye shook his head again.

Suddenly Stephanie Kamiya, Kaye's girlfriend appeared at his side and the subject was dropped so they could go into the school building and start their day.

(Next Scene)

When the boys arrived in their first class, since Stephanie had stopped to talk to Sakura and her friends, they noticed a huddle of girls standing in one corner of the room, giggling and gossiping. When they finally sat down in their seats they saw what the girls were being so giggly for. Sitting in one of the desks in the middle of the room was a tall, short dark haired boy with piercing sky blue eyes that shone behind a pair of glasses. He had a calm demeanor about him as he read a book quietly to himself.

"Hey Soujiro" Reiji replied, "Who's that guy?" he asked as the boy turned the page of his book.

"I don't know. But the girls have been looking at him since I came in here."

"Huh" Kaye replied, "Better him than me."

The boys laughed as Sakura, Stephanie, and their friends entered the room. At this moment the boy happened to look up and saw the two girls in the front, his eyes becoming fixed on the two of them as they approached the desks where Reiji and Katsuya. Soon the rest of the class filed in and the teacher entered the room to start class. The first thing he did was introduce the new boy.

"Everyone! This is Seitarou Naoki" the boy bowed his head as the girls giggled and talked amongst themselves, "He is new to the school today and I hope you make him very welcome."

The boy smiled and then sit back down as the teacher turned back around to write the lesson on the chalkboard. As the class was in progress Seitarou Naoki watched the concentration on their faces as Sakura and Stephanie worked. Then he glanced in Katsuya's direction. Finally his eyes rested on Reiji who noticed his glance and then turned his gaze on the other boy. Seitarou smiled briefly and then turned face forward once more. Reiji looked at him with a quizzical look and then frowned silently to himself as the lesson went on.

(Next Scene)

Around lunchtime Katsuya and Reiji were eating lunch with Soujiro while Stephanie and Sakura were working at the school store. Sakura had taken a position at the school store at the beginning of the new term and was slowly getting the hang of it, plus she liked working with her friend in the small store. Mr. Yamada was also very appreciative of the extra help. This particular Friday Sakura was organizing the shelves that were behind the counter while Stephanie worked on the display under the counter.

"This job is actually a lot of fun" Sakura replied with a grin.

"Are you sure it doesn't take up too much of your time?" Stephanie asked, "You know considering your position on the volley ball team?"

"Not at all. Since I only have to do this during lunch time only."

Stephanie laughed as Sakura lifted up some small boxes.

"Mr. Yamada isn't back just yet" Stephanie replied, "So if you could, just put those in the back and he'll finish them when he gets here."

"Okay" Sakura nodded carrying the boxes to the back room.

Stephanie finished with the bottom of the counter and then began to wipe the top of the counter down as two girls, who she guessed had decided not to buy anything, departed from the store as Seitarou entered the area and smiled as he saw her behind the transparent counter. She was bent down behind it placing the cleaner back onto the floor. He cleared his throat politely as she looked up at him.

"Excuse me" he bowed his head, "But are you the one who is in charge here?"

"Oh. Yes" she stood up straight with a grin, "What can I do for you?"

"Well I need some pens and pencils. And probably a folder or two."

"Okay" she nodded, "Well we have a lot of choices for folders" she began to pull them out and place them on the counter, "And the pens and pencils are over there" she pointed to a display on the left hand wall behind him.

"Oh. I see" he grinned seeing it, "Thank you" he added as he walked over and she continued to pull out the selection of folders.

He stared at the display and looked briefly at her, his eyes glinting behind his glasses as he casually picked one box of each writing utensil. Then he walked back over to the counter where he saw the folders all out.

"You really do have a wide selection" he smiled placing boxes onto the counter.

"Yes we sure do" she nodded.

"Hmm" he stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Well, what would you recommend?" he looked up into her astonished eyes.

"Oh uh well" she hesitated knowing that the last time she tried to offer advice to someone they had been less then appreciative of the fact, "I try not to recommend any to anyone since everyone's preference is different. It depends on what color you like."

"But I would like your opinion if you don't mind. Which color do you think would suit me best?" he asked leaning forward a little on the counter.

"Oh well. I guess the blue and green one" she winced a little.

"What do you know? Those are just the two I would have chosen."

"Oh good" she said in relief as he pulled his wallet out.

"I don't suppose you have notebooks too?" he replied, "That could go with these folders?"

"Oh, of course" she nodded, "They're under here" she ducked behind the counter once more and pulled them out, "Here you go" she handed them to him.

"Thank you" he smiled, "You're in my morning class aren't you?" he observed.

"Yes" she nodded again, "That's right. My name is Stephanie Kamiya" she bowed her head politely, "It's nice to meet you."

"Seitarou Naoki" he bowed his head back, "Wait. Kamiya? As in?"

"Yes" she nodded for a third time, "I am the stepdaughter of the mayor."

"Actually that isn't what I was about to say," he replied handing her the money, "You're Katsuya Sohma's girlfriend aren't you?"

"How did you know that?" she asked surprised.

"I heard some of the guys talking about it" he replied matter- of- factly, "Well" he said holding his supplies, "Thank you again for your assistance Miss Kamiya" he bowed as Sakura came back.

"You're welcome" she looked down at the money in her palm, "Oh. Wait Mr. Naoki!" she called out as he arrived at the door and turned his head slightly, "You forgot your change. This is way too much."

"Keep the change" he grinned, "I really appreciated the help," he added as he departed.

Sakura stared at his retreating figure and then turned to her friend curiously.

"Was that Mr. Naoki? The new guy?"

"Yes it was" Stephanie nodded putting the money into the cash register.

"Huh. What a generous person he was."

"Yea. Oh Sakura" Stephanie replied, "I almost forgot."

"Hmm?"

"I don't know if you saw it this morning because you hadn't mentioned it and neither did Kaye for that matter."

"Mention what?"

"It was in the paper this morning and on the news" Stephanie said astonished by Sakura's lack of knowledge.

"What?" Sakura asked worried.

"You really don't know?" Stephanie replied concerned.

"No. Will you tell me what's going on?"

"Well" Stephanie hesitated, "It's just this morning real early they discovered that someone was murdered in Tokyo."

"Murdered?" Sakura replied her eyes becoming wide, "Who?"

"Jinto Tikeda."

"What?" Sakura's eyes became even wider as she gasped in shock.

"It was in the papers this morning. Front page. And they were talking about it on the news too. My brother wanted to watch."

"Jinto Tikeda" Sakura said slowly, "Is dead? So that's why mom and dad have been acting so strange today. Oh I have to go talk to Kaye and Reiji. We simply must get to the main house as soon as possible after school. I'll be back as soon as I can" she dashed quickly from the counter and out of the store.

"Okay" Stephanie nodded, "Oh boy" she thought.

(Next Scene)

Within moments Katsuya and Reiji were told about the news and shocked just like Sakura they shook their heads in disbelief. Stephanie joined them soon after and they all decided to pay a visit to the main house after school was over.

Meanwhile at the main house Hatori walked slowly to Kagura's door, sighed heavily, and then entered in. The truth was he had known about the news all morning but was waiting for the perfect opportunity to talk to her alone. It took only a few minutes to tell Kagura but at the end of the news she was crying slightly but still had on her tough face. He offered to be the one to tell Yamato too but she shook her head and said that she would do it and rose from her table, crossed over to the other side of the room, and knocked on her son's door to give him the bad news, not absolutely certain on what his reaction would be.

Outside grey clouds began to cover the sky as school ended and the four teenagers headed in the direction of the main house. Akito and Kanako had gone on ahead once they had heard the news. The rain began to fall slowly as they followed Reiji through the main gates, certain that the rest of the family wouldn't be too far behind. Inside the main house the head of the Zodiac stared out the windows as the clouds overhead became even darker, his eyes wide and a very sad expression on his face.

(Till Next Time)