Author's Note: I started this story about a year ago, and had not intended to continue it, largely because I didn't want my version of the curse to conflict with Takaya Natsuki-san's version, but because friends have gently urged me on..and because having re-read my story, I've fallen in love with it all over again, I've decided to release it again and continue with my story of the curse. If you like what you read, please let me know..reviews inspire me to keep on going =)

The Curse of Everlasting Love

By Mei Eden

Prologue

"Kyou-kun, Sohma-kun, Shigure-san, Hatsuharu-san, it's time to eat!!!"

Tohru's sunny voice bounced cheerfully through the hallways of the large Sohma house, and immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing- Kyou halted his training in the front yard, Haru put down his book, and Yuki stepped away from the window he had been staring out of, waiting for the absent Shigure's return.

Tohru looked up as the three young Sohma's entered the kitchen. She was proud of her dinner today- leeks from Sohma-kun's garden, a beautiful tray of onigiri , a large fish seasoned with lemon and cooked to perfection, along with savory miso soup for everyone. It's simplicity made it beautiful, and as Yuki looked down at the food, he could see Tohru's love and effort reflected back at him. A small smile tugged at his face.

"Anou... Where's Shigure-san? He wasn't here for lunch either. Is it some business with his editor?"

Tohru looked behind the boys expectantly, hoping to see the older man coming in after them. She started in surprise as Yuki looked away, his eyes darkening. Haru answered promptly, his voice soft.

"Akito sent for him.. He went to the main house.. Akito said it was an emergency."

Kyou looked alarmed. "How is that possible? Hasn't Akito been sick in bed, not able to move for the past month?"

Haru replied, "Yes.. he had a really bad fever. Hatori-san hasn't rested any since then.. but apparently he got better today suddenly, and the first person he asked for was Shigure."

Yuki, his eyes haunted, whispered, "What does he want this time?"

Tohru put her hand lightly on Yuki's arm and smiled her most comforting smile .

"It's alright,... Yuki-kun.., let's just enjoy the meal for now. It couldn't be anything too bad."

Yuki looked up at Tohru's familiarity and relaxed a little at the thought of her stepping out of her comfort zone of formal speech just to help him calm down. Tohru was always like this- whenever anything went wrong, whenever he felt like the whole world was crashing down on him and the darkness of his curse was consuming him, she reached her hand down to his pitiful heart and broke through the loneliness like a beam of light. Honda Tohru- his savior. Yuki couldn't help but yield to her and return a warm smile.

"Daijoubu, Honda-san. I'm fine. Yes, let's enjoy the meal."

As all the boys finally sat down to the meal, Tohru tried her best to break the tension and fear that inevitably still hung in the air.

"Kyou-kun, would you like some more miso soup? Does it taste good? Ah! Hatsuharu-san, you like leeks right? I made a bunch for you. They're from Sohma-kun's garden! Sohma-kun, your leeks are the best! I've never tasted bett-"

The sliding door suddenly flew open and a frail, crumpled man with dark wild eyes and tousled black hair threw himself into the room, panting hard, his whole body shaking with exertion... exertion and an emotion so strong it seemed like he would explode within the next minute or so. Close behind, Hatori and Shigure were running after him, trying to grab hold of and restrain him.

Yuki dropped the chopsticks he had been holding, and the name that escaped his lips sent chills down Tohru's spine.

"Akito..."

Akito looked up, his eyes scanning the dinner scene before him, and finally they fell coldly on Tohru.

"Hatori!!! I want her memory erased!!!..I want her out out out!!!"

He lunged for Tohru and grabbed hold of her neck, immediately squeezing as his hands circled around their target.

Shigure grabbed hold of Akito's arm. "Akito-sama!! Think this over.. You're ill.. You're not thinking clearly." He knew he was stepping out of line.. but this was Tohru they were talking about.. not some random kids off the street- Tohru, sweet, kind, and loved by everyone- Tohru-kun.. and he didn't want to see her hurt.

Akito spun on Shigure and slapped his hand away, squeezing even harder on Tohru's throat with his other hand in the process. "NOOO!! It's never been more clear to me! It's all her fault! All her fault!! This damn curse..everything that I've suffered through. Everything that ALL of you have suffered through! It's all her fault!! None of you remember..but I do.. I remember what happened... It's not me who's ill.. it's all of you!" He used both hands and forcibly pushed Tohru to the ground as he squeezed harder and harder, forcing the air from her lungs.

Tohru gasped and choked, reaching up in an attempt to pry away Akito's hold on her neck.

Yuki and Kyou both jumped up simultaneously, and grabbed Akito's arms.

Yuki yelled angrily, "Akito stop!!! You don't know what you're talking about! Whatever you're angry about, it has nothing to do with Honda-san! She's done nothing!"

Kyou spat curses at the head Sohma, his temper flaring at the sight of Tohru's helpless face changing from red to blue in Akito's tight grip.

"Damn you! Just because you're the head of the Sohma family doesn't mean you can trample on Tohru's life!!! Let go of her you bastard! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"

Tohru had never been in so much pain before in her life- not when she'd been picked on when she was little- not when she clumsily ran into obstacles or hit her head against a sharp edge- not even when her mother died. The mental and physical pain bombarding her on all sides intensified under Akito's angry, accusing glare. What did I do? Why is this happy life being taken from me? Mother!! I don't know what to do.. Why is Akito-san so angry at me?? I want to know! Mother...Have I done something to hurt everyone? Is my presence here causing harm to Sohma-kun, Kyou-kun, Shigure-san, Hatsuharu-san….everyone..?  She looked up painfully at Akito's face- full of fury and pain, and then over at Yuki, Shigure, and Kyou who were struggling with the head Sohma, screaming, yelling, and even Hatori standing in the back, his face contorted in silent conflict. She couldn't hear their voices anymore though. They seemed so far away, but she could read the expressions on their faces- immense sadness and so much pain. Are they hurting because of me? Akito-san is upset because of me.. If I go far away, Mother, will they smile again? She felt darkness closing in on her. Already, her vision had become blurry, and her happy life with the Sohma's began to slowly fade away. Is it..because of me?

Seeing Tohru's bright blue eyes fade to the dull color of hopelessness, something snapped inside of Yuki. With inner reserves of strength he had always been afraid to use in the presence of the one he feared most, he punched Akito with all he had, over..and over again.

"LET GO OF HER!!!! You're killing her!!!!" Tears began falling down Yuki's face- remembering Tohru as she asked him to be friends with her even if she lost her memory, as she helped him fix his tie, as she fervently helped him "protect his secret base".

Akito let go, in shock. "Yuki..."

Then he began to laugh, the cold crazed laugh of one who'd seen too much- one who'd died inside and refused to acknowledge his death.

"All of you," he whispered darkly, "owe your pain to HER." He laughed cruelly, pointing one pale, elegant finger at the crumpled, bent figure of Tohru on the ground. Kyou glared at Akito and knelt down next to Tohru, moving her tangled hair out of her tear-stained face. Hatori immediately checked her pulse and let out a breath of relief when he felt it. "It may be weak," he said softly, "but it's still there..she's alive."

Shigure stepped forward and looked Akito straight in the eye.

"What are you talking about Akito-san?.. For all that.. surely you have a good excuse for your actions against Tohru-kun.."

Akito glared defiantly back at Shigure. "You haven't awoken yet... none of you. That's why you don't know..where this curse that plagues us came from. You don't remember do you?"

The other members of the family stared up at Akito in shock. Never before had they allowed themselves to speculate on the true origins of the curse. For as long as they could remember, the Sohma family had been cursed by the vengeful spirits of the Juunishi, and they had accepted it as that. Sure, they had wondered how to break the curse, but never how it had begun. They had all just assumed that the Sohma family was the way it was for reasons untold and too far back in the past to matter anymore.

Akito put his hand against the wall for support, his face suddenly tired.

"When I was ill,... she told me..," he gestured toward the open door, which had been left open and forgotten in the confusion. A single white dove flew in gracefully, circled once around the room, and landed gently on Akito's outstretched finger. His smile twisted, he used his other hand to stroke its feathers.

Kyou growled impatiently, "What the hell... you were sick..delirious.. what kind of excuse is that?!.."..then more quietly, "..what kind of excuse is that.. for hurting Tohru..?"

Akito threw an evil glance at Kyou. "You want to know, you stupid, ugly, damned cat?!?!! You want to know why we're the way we are???? Why I'm destined to die.. Why you people change into ANIMALS when people of the opposite sex come close? You want to know why I don't want you to LOVE??! It was all for your own good. You guys never understood!!"

The pitch in his voice began to rise dangerously, and his eyes moved from face to face wildly. Then suddenly, he was calm. Throwing the bird up into the air, he whispered, "But she did... If they want to know," His voice, smooth as velvet, he turned and looked down softly at the dove, ".. then show them..my dear, show them what you showed me."

The bird flew up into the air, and opening its wings wide, it flapped them once..twice..three times... twelve times. Everyone in the room fell to the floor and grabbed their heads in pain.

Kisa, taking a walk with Hiro, suddenly doubled over in the sidewalk and began to cry softly.

"Tohru-san.."

Hiro immediately put his arms around the small girl protectively and looked defiantly up into the sky.

"I'll... I'll protect you.."

Ayame turned from where he was hanging up a dress he had just finished designing for a customer and looked at Mine, his face panicked.

"Mine..Mine.."

She rushed over to Ayame, alarmed.

"Ayame-boss.. what's wrong? I'm here.."

Ayame pulled her to him and held her.

"Don't leave me alone... please.. don't leave me in this nothingness.. Stay with me.. please.."

Very much afraid, Mine hugged him tightly, and began to cry.

Rin walked out of the store, clutching her bag tightly; it was her first purchase since she'd been out of the hospital. Suddenly a wave of nausea hit her, and she felt herself falling,..falling..Shigure-san…save..me..

 So the story of the curse begins…

300 years ago.. in a time when Japan was still ruled by the shogunate, and samurais fought for their honor, - a time when there were only two classes of society- the poor and the noblility, a time when the Juunishi curse never existed…there was a dynasty long forgotten- The Sohma shogunate ruled over Japan then, a name wiped out of history with time, shunned by the population many years afterwards- and in the royal family there was a prince, a prince, his loyal samurai, noble women of the court, ..and in the streets of Edo, there lived a young girl, an illegitimate son, and their many friends, and in those years to come, they created memories, they changed history, and their everlasting love created a curse so terrible that it was inevitable.. history would repeat itself… and the curse would live on.