"Your not my father!" a teenager's voice yells from a few feet away, coming towards me. I grasp part of the boulder in front of me to help me stand up, I manage to get to my feet, but my hand slips and I bang my chin on the rock, I growl as I recover and try to walk, but I fall to my knees. I hear his footsteps as he runs in my direction.
"Kyo!" the person he must have yelled at calls after him.
I recover and try to run. I feel a pain in my back as he collides into me. We both let out a yell as we fall down a 10 foot drop and go tumbling down the steep, rocky slope. After about a minute of tumbling, I feel something grab my belt, I open my eyes and see a long drop below me…
Cliff…
I feel to person pull me up to him, but the slim branch he was hanging onto breaks and we fall off the cliff.
"Ah crap…" he shouts. Everything goes black as we hit the water below us.
~3 years later~
"I'll show that stupid rat what I'm made of!" Kyo growls to himself as he jumps onto the roof, that breaks under the force, nearly crushing the Honda girl under him.
"Yo! Time to pay the Piper Rat-Boy, I'm here to collect."
Idiot…
I decide to see what happens before stopping him.
"Funny, I would've thought he send somebody bigger." Yuki taunts him leaning against the open window.
"That's right, you better get your tough-talk out of the way while you can because I'm about to wipe that stupid little smirk right off your face!" Kyo dashes at him.
Time to intervene… I decide, jumping through to roof after him.
"Wait stop, Don't fight! Ah!" The Honda girl slips on a piece of wood as she tries to stop Kyo, My eyes get wide as he crashes into me and her arms wrap around him, and his wraps around my lower back and my head to protect me from the fall, then…
Poof…
I feel the girl's arms wrapped around me, her face buried into my chest.
"Yuki, what were all those crashing sounds I just heard? Kyo's not here is he?" Shigure asks, as I try to recover from the dizziness.
"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" Tohru stands up, holding Kitty-Kyo in her hands, anime angry symbol on his head.
"I turned him into a cat! I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened, but we're going to help you, ok? Hurry we need to get him to a-"
Thud, Clank… a loose board hits Tohru on top of the head as she whips around to look at us in front of the door. It dazes her causing her to crash into us, hugging us.
"Miss. Honda!"
"Tohru!"
Poof… again….
Yuki and Shigure turn into animals also as I whack my head on the floor again, and everything goes by in a blur.
"Call a doctor, or a vet or anybody! Oh Mr. postman, its terrible you see, their animals!" She panics, running down stairs with them in her arms. I go to follow her but fall down the stairs,
"Oh! Well, They certainly are! Here's your mail!" he pulls out the mail to give to her.
"No! No! We've got to do something!" She panics as Shigure walks forward and grabs the mail between his teeth,
"Hmm, Haha! I wish my dog was this smart, good-day!" he turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him.
"Dang it! How am I supposed to come up with a excuse if both of you transformed too!?" Kyo shouts, his back arched and fur raised.
"Don't you dare try to blame this on us, you stupid cat!" Yuki shouts back.
"Go ahead, say that again!"
"Stupid cat" Yuki says slowly, with a lower voice.
"Why you little-!"
"Cut it out, both of you!" Shigure intervenes, raising his head, sending Yuki flying off. Tohru stares at them with shock, her face pale. Shigure sighs,
"Anyway, its to late for excuses, might as well tell her the truth. Tohru, I'm a dog. Yuki here, he's a rat. And that's Kyo, don't let his temper scare you, he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder."
"So this is, normal?" Tohru asks, her hands raised to her chin.
"Strange choice of words, but yes. Our family has lived with this curse for generations, we transform into the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac."
Kyo, who is now laying down facing the wall, looks over his shoulder at Shigure.
"Sorry, the 12 animals plus the cat. Anyway, when our bodies come under a great deal of stress or we're hugged by a member of the opposite gender, we transform. After a little while, we change back, but the only thing is…"
Poof…
"We're naked…"
"AAH!" Tohru shouts, whipping around as the smoke appears, and I quickly shut my eyes, even if I cant see them.
"Well, we must seem pretty strange to you at this point."
"Hem, well its not your fault if your family is under a curse."
"Tohru, didn't you say you wished you could be a cat?"
"Huh? Ya, uh-ha."
"Whats it like seeing the real thing?" Shigure looks at Kyo who is on the porch,
"Right! it's the cat from the Chinese Zodiac, like in the story."
"Yes its hard to believe, I know. And I agree the phrase 'cat like reflexes' doesn't really apply to him, they way he let you fall on him like that. But, he is a cat, although clumsier than most, surprising really considering the amount of martial arts training he's had. I'm sure he'd tell you the same thing himself if he wasn't so busy brooding like a child." Shigure goes on while Kyo's patience lowers and his anger raises.
"UGH! Would you shut up? I told you, its not my fault! If you want to blame somebody, blame her!" He points to Tohru, "She shouldn't even be here!"
"Leave her out of this. Who we chose to allow is really non of your concern. You're the one who doesn't belong here." Yuki stands up for Tohru.
"Punk!" Kyo growls, smashing the table in two. By now, I'm still dazed but leaning against he doorway. The table hits Tohru in the forehead, making her bleed, also making Kyo have a little gasp.
"Oh, Tohru! Your bleeding!" Shigure says,
Yuki slaps Kyo across the face, which effects me as well, as if he done it to me, but mentally.
"Kyo is reckless with his temper." Shigure says, holding a towel, "but to act like this…"
"Your still as stupid as ever and I'm going to prove it to you by giving you exactly what you want." Yuki says unbuttoning the top button of his shirt.
"Only this time I wont hold back."
"Ok, Sissy boy!" Kyo goes to kick him in the face but Yuki ducks.
"No, Yuki!" Tohru calls, as Shigure turns her head to look at him and helps the cut on her head.
"Don't worry, this goes back a lot farther than just a day. Those two do nothing but fight when they see each other."
"But, uh, shouldn't we stop them?"
"No its ok, It'll all be over in a second." Shigure turns back to them. Yuki blocks and dodges all of Kyo's attacks, but then goes to kick him, But I dash forward and grab Yuki's ankle, just as its about to hit Kyo.
'Problem?' My eyes glitter with the question, my dizziness vanishing. I notice Kyo dashing off, his pride hurt. My little smirk vanishes as I release Yuki and take a step back. Turning, I dash after Kyo.
I sit in the corner of Tohru's room, arms crossed, eyes closed and Kyo fixes the roof.
"You know, you could help, you also damaged it." Kyo complains as Tohru walks into the room. I hear Kyo jump down from the ladder, holding the tape, they stare at each other for a few moments before he turns his back as Tohru glances at the roof.
"Don't freak out, its only temporary. You can call someone to fix it better later, this will at least keep the rain out till then." he says, eyes closed, hand on hip.
"Yes, thank you." Tohru's expression sinks from shock to something I cant even describe.
"HEY!" Kyo says/shouts.
"I'm here!" She snaps out of her thoughts, I open one of my eyes, noticing Tohru still hasn't seen me.
"I'm not very good and controlling my temper… When I get angry, I… I don't know… maybe I don't have enough training…" he squeezes the tape tightly. "I just- I just cant stand loosing to that dang Yuki! So about this morning, it wasn't… what I mean is… I'm so-" Kyo is cut off as he whips around to face her.
"I'm home! Yuki! Tohru! Are you hear? And Kyo, I hope your not doing something stupid and tearing up my house again!" Shigure calls.
"Oh forget it!" Kyo growls storming out of the room, Tohru follows him. I stand up and follow more slowly.
"Wait! Please don't go!" Tohru asks, stopping as he leaves.
"He'll be back. Its not like he has anywhere else to go. But never mind him can you come in here for a second?" Shigure says calmly, walking into the dining room. Casting one last glance Tohru looks after Kyo then follows him.
I sit in the tree above Kyo, while we wait for Tohru.
'Don't scare her Kyo.' I taunt him.
"Shut up!" He shouts and me and I throw a twig at him. "OW!" He shouts, holding his head.
'Hollow-head…' I bark.
"Shut up." He says softer.
After a few minutes of waiting I hear Tohru coming. I get to the edge of the branch, hidden by the leaves, I watch her walk home by herself. She stops suddenly as Kyo goes out to her, the bushes rustling.
He is soooo gonna scare her…
She pulls her bag up to her chest, shaking with fear. Kyo reaches for her shoulder.
"NO!" She yells and hits him in the side of the head. It feels like hours went by before she opened her eyes to see Kyo. Then the fear scent becomes stronger, also with panic. Kyo turns his back on her.
"Oh! Wait I'm sorry, it was an accident!" Tohru panics, hand out, "I was stretching my arm and oops! How funny things like that happen, huh? But hey its nice to see you!"
"Quick your babbling. If you've got something to say then say it." He says, a hint of anger in his voice, but at least its not yelling.
"Kyo." She whispers.
"What?" he asks, louder this time.
"I don't know what to say."
"Then don't say anything!" He shouts.
"I'm sorry!" She holds her bag up to her chest.
"No, don't be. Say or don't say whatever you want." He covers his face and looks away, his hand out to her. "And you don't, you know, stay away. Ah! Just hit me again if your angry!" He gets ready for impact, but none yet. Tohru's face is shocked and with a hint of relief.
"I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, I only hit you because I thought you were a stalker."
"Oh great…" he says looking at me and I chuckle and he glares at me.
"You see, its wasn't because I was mad at you. In fact, I really like you."
Shigure's words echo in my mind, "I've always liked the cat from the Zodiac. I mean, what I hope is, maybe we can be friends." she leans closer to him.
Someday, your gonna met someone who truly wants to be your friend, besides Okami! His words ring in my ears. As Kyo is leaning away his face is full of shock.
"What you supposed to be? Some 'Year of the Cat' Fan club? Come on, lets go back." He recovers and begins to lead her away.
"You forgetting someone?" I try to shout at them, but everything comes out jumbled and mixed, they both freeze and look back at me as I scramble down from the tree.
"Did she just…?" Tohru begins and Kyo nods. I catch up to them.
'Ya Sure! Forget about the one who was stuck in a tree!' I snap at him before walking ahead.
"I hear our sweet, silent Okami tried to talk last night." Shigure comments as I hide in the shadows of the dining room.
'Who you calling sweet?' I ask him, my eyes peeking out from over my knees, that also have a faint glow to them. Shigure looks at me then freezes with fright and how menacing I look.
"Has anyone ever seen her look so scary before?" He asks,
"Try in the middle of the woods and catching her red eyes, in darkness. Man! I about peed my pants when she pounced on me." Kyo shivers from the memories, "Boy, is she scary when she goes Black Wolf!"
"'Black Wolf'?" Tohru asks,
"Ya, that's what we call her when her temper gets the better of her, she thinks everyone is an enemy during that, that's our nickname for it." Shigure laughs.
"She also has 2 more, 'Rose Wolf' and 'White Wolf'. 'White Wolf' is the one you see before you right now. 'Rose Wolf' is a rare one, its when she gets as protective as a mother wolf and even more caring than one." Yuki chirps in.
"Maybe I'll get to see that one some time." Tohru smiles at me and I duck my head lower.
'Eww, Leaks.' I stare at the food, 'I think I'll just go hungry.
"Just eat." Yuki says grabbing Kyo's nose and putting leaks in his mouth, making him pass out. I feel sick and pass out of myself,
"Looks like two people hate Leaks, I guess its more for us then!" Shigure steals my plate.
"Is Okami alright?" Tohru asked.
"She's fine, she just cant stand anything to do with leaks either, She gets sick each time to get some near her, she faints each time it touches her tongue or someone else eats it." Yuki says, sitting back down.
Sickos!
I sit in the door way to the kitchen; my knees to my chest, arms wrapped around them, eyes barely peeking over my knees, and I slowly rock myself back and forth, my face looking green.
How can anyone even look at leeks?
A shiver is sent down my spine,
'I swear, if you pull a stunt like that again Yuki, you want have to worry about Kyo anymore…' I threaten him, not moving from my spot.
"What is she saying?" Tohru asks,
"Nothing to worry about." He smiles at her and my fingers twitch with anger. I look at Kyo who still hasn't moved, the leeks still in his mouth.
Poor Kyo… He has to suffer with leeks in his mouth… YUCK!
Another shiver goes down my spine
The ground starts shaking and Shigure looks up from his news paper.
"Sounds like they're here early." He comments calmly. Both me and Kyo shoot up, not wanting to be involved with them. We try to run but Shigure grabs us.
"I didn't know you were expecting anyone." Tohru comments.
"Na-uh, Not so fast." Shigure says when he grabs our shirts; the rumbling stops.
We're DEAD! We're so dead! I begin to try and get away again, Shigure grips my shirt tighter as I drop to all floors and try crawling away, he then switches to my chain collar and I'm forced to sit cross legged, arms holding my upper body up, almost like a dog.
Tohru walks to the door and opens it. I look at her then try to pull away again but Shigure pulls me back and I'm forced to sit down.
Kagura, Sora and Tohru have a little chat. Sora and Kagura notice us.
"Kyo?"
"Okami?" They ask in usion.
"Kagura!"
'Sora!' We look back at them trying to escape again. They stare at us in shock.
"Kyo! Kyo!" Kagura calls his name, running towards him while Sora does the same thing with me. We both stop trying to run and look at them.
"Why did you run away for so long?" They ask us; My heart pounds in my chest with terror of Sora's fierceness.
I'm going to DIE! Oh dear lord save my life! I beg in my mind,
"You didn't call me, or send a card," I grab Kyo's leg with terror.
"Where were you? Oh darling!" Their moods suddenly change.
"I missed you so much!" They shout, Kagura hits Kyo in the mouth and I barely dodge Sora.
'Run!' I grab his shirt, dashing off.
"YOU HAD ME WORRIED SICK!" They yell, running after us. I Jump through the open window and hide in a bush.
These people our gonna kill us! Oh, why must it be me that Sora is obsessed with! Why cant it be a normal person?! I look up at the sky through the bushes. Meanwhile, Kagura is spinning Kyo over her head, by his foot. I quickly dash inside and grab Tohru's leg; chest heaving with terror. My eyes bolting for one spot to the other.
"Okami! Okami my dear! Where ever could my sweet Okami be?" Sora calls, his voice breaking.
"Never thought I'd see this happen to Okami again," Yuki comments,
"Okami! My dearest Okami! HOW DARE YOU RUN FROM MY LOVE?! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MY HEART SKIPS BEATS WHEN I LAY MY EYES UPON YOUR BEAUTFIL SOUL!?" He shouts at me.
'HELP!' I plead Tohru, gripping her leg tighter.
"That is Sora, Kagura's twin brother. He is painfully in love with Okami, just like Kagura and Kyo."
"OKAMI!" He screams, and I dash out of the room but he grabs my collar, and yanks me back. "BAD DOG!" He yells; I'm sitting like I was when Shigure grabbed my chain. My anime wolf ears flatten down, my anime wolf tail low, my head lowered.
"NEVER RUN AWAY AGAIN!" He continues on and on, then…
Pop…
Something snaps and my eyes turn amber. I look up at him, growling and snarling, he shuts up and backs away dropping my chain. I slowly move closer to him, still on my hands and knees, Once he is off the porch and Go back to normal and trot back inside and sit down beside Tohru, my evil gaze not leaving Sora.
"Its cold in here." Yuki comments, breaking the silence while I lay by Tohru as she pets my head like a dog,
"Yes, I noticed that too." Shigure replies.
"I-I'm sorry, but when I saw Kyo (Okami (- Sora)), I just got so happy all my love just came out at once," Sora and Kagura say at the same time. I glance at the door that has this huge hole blown through it.
"I couldn't help it," They lower their heads more and look at the bridge of tears,
Cry sucker CRY! Now you know how much you torture me! I stare at Sora.
"But it is really your fault too Kyo (Okami), If you just remembered to call me, you wouldn't make me miss you so hard!" They look at us.
"Who says I forgot, maybe I didn't want to call you!" Kyo growls, holding a towel to his cheek.
"Okami? don't you talk? Okami? Please answer me my love!" Sora hugs me and I gets all tense, "Please! Talk my dearest Okami! Talk! Talk with all your soul!" He begs me.
"I'm sorry Sora, but Okami doesn't talk." Tohru says gently, Everyone is looking at us 3, even Kagura.
"What? She doesn't talk? Why doesn't she talk? When did she stop?" He asks her.
"Wouldn't you like to know…" I whine, my talking getting a tiny bit clearer but still messy and messed up, my voice also hoarse each time I try to use it.
"Its beautiful! Please continue to talk!" He begs, wrapping one arm around my chest and the other over my forehead and pulling me close to him.
"Why should I? YOU'RE A MANIAC!" I shout, the only word anyone barely understands is 'Maniac'. I pull away and crawl under the table, hiding. Switching topics again,
"Oh silly, of course you did! We are getting married after all." Kagura says to Kyo.
"And you to Okami, If only you would talk, but that only makes my heart beat faster!" Sora says to me. Id ahs out of the table and glare at him, flickers passing through my eyes.
'Since When!" me and Kyo shout at the same time, well me shout with I eyes.
"You mean? You don't remember? When we were kids you asked me to marry you."
"Only because you were gonna kill me if I didn't!" he shouts, like usual.
"Oh, so the 4 of you are engaged? That's wonderful!" Tohru cheers while Yuki and Shigure hold a chip to their mouths.
"At least he'll have someone else to fight instead of me." Yuki says to Shigure.
"Congratulations." Shigure says to us.
"UGH! You guys!" Kyo shouts at them.
"We really do make the best couples, since we're both members of the Zodiac."
'SO AM I!' I snarl at her.
"Well, Kyo isn't officially a member, but he's still cursed so its almost the same, we can still understand each other the way no one else can," Kagura says over his shoulder, "And that's good," She suddenly hugs him, and Sora hugs me. "But the best thing is we can hug each other all we want and we don't transform."
Me and Kyo try to pull away. Sora hugs me tighter, a rumble growing in his throat.
'HELP!' I plead them.
"I don't believe it! Kyo didn't turn into a cat!" Tohru says in disbelief, once switching back to Kyo.
"See? Its ok for Zodiac members to hug." Kagura says hugging Yuki.
"And why is that?" Tohru asks.
WHO THE HECK-
"it's a mystery to us too." Yuki says looking at her, waiting patiently for Kagura to let go.
"Though, we've seen it enough to know it isn't just a fluke with Kagura." Shigure says, while Kagura lets go of Yuki, "She's one-of-a-kind granted, but not the only girl in the Zodiac." He explains.
"Really? There are more girls? DO you think I'll get to meet them some day?" Kagura dashes between the two,
"Kyo! You have to tell me, and be honest, Do you love me? Do you hate me? Because I love you, I do! More than anything else in the whole wide world! I'll prove it! I'll cook for you everyday, I'll do anything! Even if you cheat on me, I can forgive a one time fling! No one else loves you this much, do they? No, just me! We should always be together! You think? I JUST TOLD YOU WHAT YOU THINK! NOW SAY SOMETHING DANG IT!" Sora joined in with Kagura (but to me, That crazy kid is gonna murder me! Before I have a chance to kill myself from his yapping!) at 'You'.
"This pains me heart, But moving on. Tohru, correct me if I'm wrong but, aren't you something of a cat lover yourself?" Shigure asks her,
"That's me! The 'Year of the Cat' fan club" She says happily, while Kagura gasps in shock, turning to her.
"Rival! But I'm not going to loose!" She gets into her face, which makes me really mad, my blood boils beneath my skin. "Tohru what do you like best about Kyo? Because I like everything, EVERYTHING! The good things, the bad things! I like them all! I love Kyo no madder what, Even if he changes into his other form!" She blabs on, But before she could continue and before Kyo could move, I break free from Sora and Tackle her, Pinning her to the grab, my grip on her neck, my knees on each side of her, my free hand covering her mouth.
'You continue to say anything more, I swear…!' I threaten her, my amber eyes burning into her soul.
"AND YOU"LL DO WHAT OKAMI?" She shouts breaking free from my grip and twisting my arm behind my back.
"You should really call 'Mercy' Okami." Yuki says, holding something in his hand.
Buzz… Buzz… the dryer beeps.
"Oh, I almost forgot about the laundry." Tohru says looking in that direction.
"Laundry?" Kagura and Sora say at the same time while Tohru walks off. I hold my arm while Kyo is at my side instantly.
"You ok?" He asks, whispering, helping me up, tears of pain slightly seen. I give him a couple tiny nods, while rubbing my shoulder.
'Boy, she is painful!' I complain to him, we then hear Their quick footsteps. We instantly begin to crawl away.
"Time to do you laundry!" They call pinning us, Kagura manage to get Kyo' shirt off, and Sora managing to get my jacket off. We instantly get away.
"Where are you going?" They ask us.
"AWAY FROM YOU!" Kyo shouts and we dash off into hiding.
I sit against a tree in the woods, panting. My strapless shirt not giving me much worth with ought my jacket.
'I cant take much more of those maniacs.' I whimper. A cold breathe hits us, making us shiver with the cold. I crawl over to Kyo and press against him, he presses against me; we both shiver from the cold.
Please let it be done soon! I growl. I feel warm hands grab me around the waist and the shoulder and pull me against a strong muscled body. I feel my heart pound in my chest and Kyo holds me close to him while leaning against a tree.
"If we stick closer together, we'll be warmer…" he whispers into my ear, gently; so gently it tickles. I press against him more and he holds me tighter. My ear is pressed against his chest and I hear is heartbeat, it beats quickly, more than normal.
W-What's causing his heart to beat like this? Stress? Anger? Embarrassment? Or-
I feel him lay his chin on top of my head, while his heartbeats slowly gets back to normal, and slowly lulls me to sleep.
"Finally," Kyo whimpers, holding his arms as we stare at the house. "now I just have to get my shirt back and get the heck out of here!"
Kyo goes to get our shirts while I hide in the bush.
"Did I really make Okami so mad that I driven her off, OR is she just playing with me?" His voice becomes playful at the end,
You better bet that I'm trying to get away from you, crazy coyote!
Sniff, Sniff…
CRAP! He's got my scent.
"I know you're here Okami, come out, come out wherever you are." He calls slowly coming towards me.
"Found you!" He says looking at me. I yelp and dash for safety. I feel something whack me, and I black out, but I was still faintly awake to know what happened while I was out, barely…
Sora picks me up in his arms and carries me back to the house, after freaking out about what happened.
"Will she be alright?" Tohru asks in shock, at seeing me in his arms. Yuki is instantly at my side as Sora sets me down on the couch. I feel his gently hands on my burning forehead.
"Fever…" he says to them, then catching the sight of bruises on my arms, that also stretches onto my stomach.
"She was knocked out cold, by something…" He continues his report. He gently touches the bruise on my diaphragm, causing me to whimper in pain uncontrollably.
"Sora, what all did you see?" HE asks.
"I found her hiding in the bushes then she dashed from me, I followed her then I heard a yelp, followed by a thud, and then another. Once I reached her, she was laying in the grass with a bat beside her, as if… as if…"
"Someone was trying to kidnap her?" Kyo finishes for him. "I knew I shouldn't have left her out there by herself! They are still prowling around the woods!" Kyo growls to himself, walking over to my side and setting his hand on my forehead.
"She'll recover in time." Yuki finishes, as Shigure grabs something out of the first aid for the fever, They slowly sit my up and force me to take the pill.
'You alright Kyo?' I ask him, pulling myself up onto the roof from his window.
"Ya, Just fine." He says without emotion. I give him a slight growl for not being open to me.
'You know, your temper has been cooling off more and more since Tohru has been here,' I try to change the subject,