Akito ran down the hall, her kimono dress flowing in waves behind her. A smile played across her lips and excitement shone in her eyes as she finally reached her bedroom. Swiping the door open, she let out a bright smile.

"Shigure!"

He sat on the corner of the bed, settling on a pair of sleek black shoes. He turned toward her, and his gaze instantly softened.

"You seem excited." Shigure stood and placed a hand on his hip. "What a rare and beautiful sight, I should take a picture."

Akito's smile faltered. "Are you going somewhere?" She asked, eyeing Shigure's suit and evenly parted hair. He smothered his jacket as he walked toward her.

"Only for a little while." He wrapped his arms around her. "I have to fix some stuff with my manuscript."

She nodded against his chest. "Oh, okay."

The room was flooded with warm, honey sunlight and carried a subtle citrus aroma. Akito nuzzled against Shigure, the lemony scent embracing her.

"So why are you so excited?" Shigure asked, lifting her up. Akito yelped and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"T—Tohru is visiting!"

Shigure looked down at her, setting her down. "What?"

"Her and Kyo are coming!" the previous excitement returned to her eyes. "I was just on the phone with her!"

He smiled. "That's great. How are they?"

Akito shrugged and paced to the nearest mirror. She ruffled her shoulder- length hair into a bun and stuck a rose pin through the side.

"I don't really know, good I'm guessing. This is the first time they've come to visit in two years."

Shigure stood behind her, took the pin out and placed it behind her ear instead.

"Well,Kyo has been busy. Training at the Dojo and stuff. And I'm sure Tohru has a hand full with him, plus juggling their last year of high school."

"Still no excuse to not see us." She mumbled.

"Do the other Sohmas know yet?"

Akito shook her head. "No, I came to tell you first. Maybe you could tell Yuki?"

"Tell me what?"

Akito and Shigure turned toward the door.

Yuki Sohma stood against the mahogany frame, his violet eyes on Akito. Since a year ago, Yuki began living at the main Sohma residence, along with Shigure. He didn't particularly like it, but he liked it better than being alone at his old house.

He cleared his throat. " There is someone looking for you at the front."

Akito nodded. "O-Okay. I'll be right there."

Yuki bowed his head politely and turned to leave. Shigure stepped toward him.

"Yuki."

"Yes?"

"Tohru and Kyo are coming. For a visit."

After a silent beat, Yuki resumed down the hall.

Outside, the fountains streamed down patterned rock, mimicking the sound of rain. Because the residence was so big, the Sohma clan relied on the fountains to find their ways around. If you heard rain, you were close to a house, and if you didn't, you were amongst the gardens. But now Akito wondered if having such a gloomy soundtrack was ever a smart idea.

"He'll get better, Akito."

"It's been two years. He hates me."

Shigure sighed and clasped her hand. "He's just having a hard time. Machi Kugari transferred to the states a few days ago, too. Having Tohru around will do him some good."

Akito released her tied hair. "It'll do us all some good.

It felt different. As they entered the Sohma residence, Tohru felt...something off.

Naturally, she had been ecstatic to come home, to see the Sohmas and hear all about their lives now. She had been planning the visit for weeks, plotting out new recipes and things to do and things to see. Kyo had protested against stopping for groceries, so she'd have to go tomorrow. But that was okay, because she could hopefully visit Hana and Arisa and maybe even drag Yuki and Shigure along, like old times. However as they neared the residence, Tohru's excitement was gradually replaced by something.

Was it fear?

As they drove fast green pastures and lonely villas, Tohru explored the feeling. She wasn't particularly nervous to see everyone, if anything it was the opposite. She traced the trees along the window. Could it be she was ill? They had been in the car for quite a while, and she easily got motion sickness. Whatever it was, she needed it stopped.

"Kyo?"

Kyo turned toward her. "Hm?"

She looked at her lap then shook her head. "Never mind."

He watched her, obvious to her discomfort. She was very easy to read, something Kyo was eternally thankful for. She wore her heart on her sleeve and said what was on her mind, so for her to disregard a thought bothered him.

"Hey." he leaned over, moving a cascade of brown hair behind her ear. "What's wrong?"

She grabbed his hand and held it to her cheek. "I think I'm just tired." she said, closing her eyes. She laid over the center console and held his arm as a pillow. " I'll take a nap."

Kyo blinked. He swayed the car off into he right shoulder and parked, allowing the faster traffic by. He sat Tohru up and held her face between his hands.

He smiled. "You have chubby cheeks."

She smiled, then tried to repress it. "No I don't."

He pressed her face together, making her pout. Laughing, he gave her a gentle peck on the lips. "Don't be nervous," he said. "Is that what's wrong?"

She shrugged and wiggled her face out of his grip. "I don't know. It just feels different."

Kyo looked back toward the road and a few miles ahead toward the main Sohma house.

"Heck, I'm nervous now, Tohru."

She giggled. "Sorry."

"But it's okay. If we don't like it," he tapped the steering wheel "We can just leave."

Tohru nodded. "We kidnap Shigure and Yuki and Kisa and Momiji and leave."

"So we start an orphanage then leave?" Kyo smiled and twirled a lock of her hair. "Don't you think we'll get caught?"

"Fine, then we can just go stay at a hotel and kidnap them during the day then bring them back at night."

Kyo looked at her with a mischievous grin. "A hotel?"

She nodded, completely serious. Then, after a few seconds felt her face heat.

She smacked his arm. "With pure intentions!"

He held with arms up in defeat. "Fine, fine. If we don't like the atmosphere we go to a hotel and play with the kids there, yes?"

Tohru nodded, feeling relived.

Setting the car back into drive, Kyo held her hand.

"'With pure intentions.'"

She smiled but shook her head as they neared closer and closer to the biggest villa of them all.

Akito hadn't know what to expect. When people went to visit, it was usually a Sohma, or someone close to the family. And if it wasn't either of those, it would be a real estate agent looking to buy part of the land. So, she had expected one of those three. But that woman was definitely none of those.

The first thing Akito and Shigure noticed were her clothes. Everyone at the villa wore either professional styled clothing or traditional Japanese attire. The woman wore a slick black dress with its neck line halfway down her torso. Her cleavage and over exposure of skin was partially masked by lingerie-like mesh that stretched from the top of her neck, to the tip of her fingers and toes, almost like a body suit. She wore no obvious undergarments apart from the mesh and styled some of the highest heels Akito had ever seen.

The second thing you noticed was her hair. It almost blended into her dress, as it was long and a shimmery jet-black. Next was her icy, pallid skin that somehow still managed to glow and glisten with health and beauty.

The thing that made everyone breathless, however, were none of those things. It was her eyes. The clearest, most enticing shade of grey.

Akito didn't know what to do. She stood by the front gate, frozen.

The woman smiled a seemingly friendly smile. Seemingly.

"Hello." She said.

Akito flinched back.

That voice.

"My name is Morcant, but you can call me Morgan." Morgan stepped forward. "Have you a minute?"

Kyo helped Tohru off into the mushy grass. The house servants flocked toward them, some with tense smiles while others with panicked eyes.

"Please, follow me quickly. Akito-sama orders that no member of the clan is outside at this time." A well-built man in a suit bowed in greeting to them before urging them up the steps toward the house.

"Why, what's going on?" Kyo asked, his grip tightening around Tohru.

On either side of them, two maids shielded them from prying views. They shook their heads. "We don't know. Shigure-san just told us this was a direct order."

"A strange woman came a about 30 minutes ago." The other maid said. She pointed west. "Akito-sama and Shigure-San are talking to her in there."

"A woman?" Tohru echoed. The maids nodded. "She was so strange looking. She looked Asian, and spoke Japanese, but with western habits."

They reached the final stair set before the entrance of the villa, when the front doors swung open.

The maids and butlers split down the middle to create a path, while Kyo and Tohru were left stark center. Instinctively, Kyo hid Tohru behind him.

His arms tightened around her when he saw the woman the staff spoke of.

"I truly hope you heed my warnings, Akito." The woman said. The atmosphere faltered at the lack of honorifics after Akito's name.

"I do not want to harm your beautiful-" the woman motioned around, hesitating over Shigure and Yuki, who stood a step or two behind. "Family?"

"Please be safe on your way back, Morgan-sama." Yuki said. Kyo couldn't help but notice how everyone was avoiding the woman's gaze.

Morgan laughed. "Yes, of course."

Akito, Shigure and Yuki remained at the top of the stairs while the woman practically slithered down toward where Kyo and Tohru stood.

He felt Tohru bow her head as the woman passed.

It was that feeling again. Fear, sickness...sickness.

Thru bowed her head the opposite way as the woman passed.

It was as if Morgan was clouded in a despicable aura, one that left you confused and lightheaded, but you don't really know if in a good or bad way.

Tohru slid her hands around Kyo's waist, shielding herself from her.

The woman walked passed them without a second glance. But then she stopped.

Hesitantly, Morgan turned around, her gaze piercing Tohru's.

"You're not the Zodiac's." she said. Taking a step forward, she reached toward Tohru. "Who are you?"

Kyo turned toward her, shielding Tohru from sight. " Can I ask the same thing?" Kyo said rigidly.

Yuki walked next to Kyo, shielding Tohru even further. "She is a family friend. Please pay no attention to her."

"But she's not cursed." Morgan mused. She then laughed, and resumed walking toward the exit. "Or is she?" she whispered.

"I will be sending someone to keep my eyes on you, Akito. You tell the Sohma clan what I told you." Morgan gave Akito a meek sideways glance.

"I'm sure we'll come to an agreement."

And with that, the woman in black left.

An immense sense of relief washed over Tohru, enough to feel lightheaded. She felt herself swaying and hazy, until A strong pair of arms steadied her.

"Tohru?" Kyo searched her face.

"Do you know that woman?" Yuki faced Tohru. "Tohru, do you?"

She shook her head and leaned against Kyo.

"Who the hell was she?" Kyo asked almost breathlessly. "That aura was no joke."

Akito trotted down the stairs and joined them. Tohru outstretched a hand toward her, and Akito pressed her into a tight hug.

"That was Morcant." she said.

Shigure draped an arm over Kyo. "Goddess of the Celtic Zodiac."

Akito sighed. "She-she heard about our curse being broken." she turned toward the maids. "Call a Sohma meeting. Everyone must be present."

Turning back toward Yuki, Kyo and Shigure, she released Tohru.

"And she wants it re-established immediately."

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XOXOXO

-Ahn Na (Misaki)