The Other Zodiac
A Furuba Doujinshi
By- Kouichi no PENdolse
Chapter One- A Curse Unknown
'Well, Mom- I've made it. I'm so close to touching my diploma. Along the way--- I managed to meet the entire zodiac of the Sohma Family. I can't believe it! Especially the fact that Akito is like…God.'
Having just returned from their summer getaway with a large portion of the zodiac, Tohru was entering her third year. She didn't expect any more surprises from the Sohma family, but inevitably she was wrong to expect such a thing.
Tohru walked home alone today, as Kyou and Yuki had gone to train at Shishou's dojo. "Ah…It's so beautiful and cool out. Maybe Uo-chan and Hana-chan will play badminton with Shigure and me." She smiled and for the briefest moment, closed her eyes. In that instant as she rounded the corner she bumped into a tall, thin teen.
"Ah, my books!" The brunette girl's books landed upon the warm pavement and at the teen's feet. "Hm? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so clumsy…" The brunette kneeled down and picked up the scattered books and bag. The hunter green book that Hiro had stolen from her not long ago had opened and Honda Kyoko's picture lay open before the pair and the teen, lifted it and looked upon it as Tohru spluttered, "Ah! Please! Be careful with that!"
The boy smiled at her, politely and handed her the bag which was now full of her books. "Was that your mother?"
"Um- yes… I-it was," stuttered Tohru. 'This boy… He looks familiar. Why though?'
"Oh…I see. She's quite pretty. Anyway… I'm looking for Sohma Shigure's house. Would you happen to know the way?"
Tohru blinked as the boy's deep grey orbs looked into her own green eyes. "Oh yes! I live there. I'm Honda Tohru!" the boy's eyes faltered not as he responded. "Well then… I have no reason of going there anymore. I am Sohma Kouichi." 'No wonder he looked familiar. He has looks like Yuki and Kyou.'
Tohru later confessed she was heading home to Shigure's house, but Kouichi interrupted her. "I have plans for us and as we mustn't waste time, I should tell you now." He ran his fingers through his well kept hair, which was parted, but still got into his eyes. "I'll speak more about it over tea." The boy ducked into a smoky tea shop. Tohru followed, wondering what information Kouichi was about to divulge to him.
The blonde boy settled himself at a bar table and looked over at Tohru as she settled herself in the high stool. Black, Chinese tea was placed before them and Kouichi took a sip, sighing. "Anyway- This concerns the rest of the Sohma family. Just because you've met the twelve zodiacs doesn't mean you've met all of them." Tohru blinked, the heat of the shop dizzying her slightly. "W-what?" she questioned.
"What I'm trying to tell you is there are fifteen others- including neko-san and Kami-sama. You will meet them-"
"Excuse me. But what do you mean 'fifteen'? If there are twelve others, neko-san, and Kami-sama… Who is the other cursed person?" A person entered the empty shop and a breeze swept across Kouichi's hair.
"I am. You can hug me all you want, but you won't see me change." He stood and paid for their teas. "Good bye-" He walked around her chair and out the door, "-Honda-san." The breeze swept across her as she looked after him. 'How strange… another cursed Sohma. Fifteen I never knew were cursed.' She stood and began her walk back to Shigure's house. 'But Hatsuharu-san said there were only one set of cursed Sohma.'
-Ca-Chink-
"Okaeri, okaeri! Our precious flower returns. How was school, Tohru-kun?" Shigure Sohma, dog of the Sohma zodiac wore his typical dark green robes. His dark hair and eyes were obscured by the paper and smoke from a cigarette floated up from behind the paper. "Fine, thank you." She walked up to her room and changed into a white shirt and yellow, flowery skirt. She returned to find Shigure waiting for her in the dining room (In other words, he'd stopped reading the paper).
"Tohru-kun, did you receive a visit from anyone today?" She sat across the table from him and slipped her legs under the blanket. "Why, yes I did! It was someone from the Sohma family. He said his name was-" "Kouichi, yes…" Shigure cut across her and didn't look particularly happy. "Well, he isn't one of the most interesting members of our family, but what he told you… is the truth. There are twelve other zodiac members and three non-zodiac members. Kouichi is one of the non-zodiacs, but he will still not become anything even if you gave him a Kagura-like hug."
"Oh…my…" Tohru's voice wavered slightly as she had the thought of Kagura, female boar of the zodiac, hugging Kyou (who you will meet shortly). "We're home."
"OH SURE- YA GO INSIDE TO AVOID ME KICKING YOUR ASS! TYPICAL GIRLY--- GAH!" A crashed followed the sound of Kyou's yelling. Tohru hurried into the hall and saw Yuki had knocked the orange haired Sohma out the entrance way.
"Baka Neko, you still haven't learned when to shut your damn mouth." The Rat of the Zodiac turned to Tohru and smiled. "It's nice to see you Honda-san. Did you make it home okay?"
"Ano… Yes--- Yes I did! Thank you for worrying about me, Sohma-kun." The brunette haired girl hurried back to the entrance room and saw the dark hair Sohma had kicked the cat of the family through the door, causing the large crashing noise.
Kyou Sohma lay in a heap on his right side, his uniform shirt open as par usual. His top-of-the-ear length, orange hair scattered about his forehead and most cushioning his head. His red colored eyes opened as he snapped to himself, "Damn, the damn rat got me again!" Tohru knew Kyou was even more agitated by this as he had spent four months training in the mountains prior to the first time they had met.
"Kyou-kun wa daijobu, desu?" Tohru asked, her brown eyes shining with concern. Kyou blushed as he saw her bent over, hand extended. He sighed and laughed slightly, his voice calming. "Daijobu--- Tohru-kun." Kyou took her offering hand and stood, but didn't let go. "You still haven't answered me. Will you- please?"
Steam pour off Tohru's head as her face turned a gleaming red. "Ahmm--- K-Kyou-kun-n… I told you, I am unsure of what to say."
---
"I can't stop myself anymore! Damn it! Tohru--- AI SHITE IMASU!" As the rain came down outside of the empty house, we sat there in the living room. I couldn't resist. This girl is the only one true to me. The only one who didn't cower at the sight of me? That was Tohru. Akito calls her monstrous. I call it beautiful.
"How… How do you feel…A-about me?" My quavering voice asked. The tremor was inevitable.
"G…Gomen nasai, Kyou-kun… I cannot say." And she fled from the room.
---
"Please… I-" Tohru was startled to see the tears pouring down Kyou's face. "-I need to know…"
Tohru smiled, the feelings she had long since been denying final came from her mouth. "Kyou wa ai shite imasu."
---
Koui: Fear the Kyoru...
Yuki: I do... clings to Tohru Oka-san ;-; turns into Nezumi-san