When the Curse Spreads
Lisa "Kyo" Eyler
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. If I did, this wouldn't be a fan fic. The characters Shahanna, Destiny, and Elena, do belong to me. As does my tie in to the original Fruits Basket plot. Don't steal.
The air was crisp that evening. The wind blew fiercely, blowing the brightly colored leaves off the trees. Most of the streets were empty, save for the occasional determined jogger and young children clustered together under porch roofs to escape the pouring rain. It was quiet outside, but it was not quiet in the small house that was half hidden from view by the trees.
A young man with short unruly orange hair and red eyes leaned over the table shouting. "Shut-Up! I don't want to hear your smart remarks!" He was wearing khaki colored cargo pants and a black shirt. He balled a fist and glared at the teen across from him.
The person across from him was another boy. He had light grey hair and deep violet eyes. He was half-turned away from the orange hair boy and looking at a young girl. "I'm sorry, should I sink to your levels and make stupid remarks, Kyo?" He said softly.
The girl the grey haired teen was looking at appeared to be in her teens as well. She had big, open blue eyes and long brown hair with two blue ribbons tied in it. She wore a simple pale yellow dress. She smiled slightly. "Please don't fight." She said.
The one called Kyo glared at the grey haired boy and muttered, "Damn rat."
The girl pretended not to hear the remark and smiled. "So Yuki how's the garden doing?"
Yuki smiled. "It's going great! I think I'll be able to pick the rest of the leeks soon. And then, I'm going to plant strawberries."
The girl smiled. "I love strawberries!"
Kyo frowned. "What's that?" The room fell silent, but no one heard anything and finally Kyo shrugged. "Perhaps it was just my-"
BANG
The front door burst open and slid over to slam into the wall. Another teen charged into the house, her face obscured by her long black tipped bangs. She did not pause to look where she was going or to remove her shoes. She went right by the dazed Kyo, Yuki, and Tohru and kept going until they heard the back door open and slam shut.
A tall man wearing a suit and tie was behind her. "Take off your shoes plea-" He was cut off by the back door closing. He sighed and removed his shoes. He glanced behind him. "C'mon in. We'll worry about her later; she won't go far in this weather. And we don't need you both getting sick." He was drenched in rain, for it had been raining since the afternoon before. And it was not a gentle rain either.
"What was that all about Shigure?" Yuki asked softly, regarding the older man coolly.
Shigure did not reply because at that time another girl entered the house. Her long straight red and black hair plastered to her face. She was clad in a soaked blood red blouse and torn jeans. She wore worn black boots that looked two sizes too big. In fact, so did her shirt. She kept her eyes lowered and clasped her white knuckled fists behind her back. One fist was clutching a worn backpack that looked like there was nothing in it.
The others looked more surprised at this. Tohru lurched to her feet and ran over to the girl. "You're soaked!" She said unnecessarily. "Let me go get a towel!" She ran off, heading upstairs for the linen closet.
The girl blinked and turned to Shigure. "I must look for my sister." She stated coldly.
Shigure shook his head. "Not now. You're wet and could get sick. We'll look later. Perhaps the storm will die down by then." He guided her over to a place at the low table and made her sit down.
"You never answered my question." Yuki said, slightly annoyed, but trying to hide it.
Kyo nodded. He was barely coming out of his initial shock.
"Ow!" Tohru's voice shouted as a crash was heard. "Watch it! The floors wet out here!" She slid into the living room, arms filled with towels. She handed some of them to the girl and some to Shigure.
Shigure tackled drying off his blue-black hair as he spoke. "Yuki, Kyo, Tohru, this is Destiny Owatomi. She and her older sister are going to be staying with us." Shigure nodded waving hand at the few noises of surprise that the other occupants emitted. "Orders from Akito himself. Don't ask me why."
"Does….she?" Kyo didn't finish his sentence because Shigure shook his head quickly.
Destiny dried off her hair and had wrung the water out of her shirt. She looked up and glanced in the direction of the door worriedly. "Shigure….you don't know my sister. It would be best if I went to look for her." She started to get up.
Shigure grabbed her wrist and kept her still. "Hopefully we will. But, not now."
"I won't get sick! I'm fine! Let me go!" Destiny's voice rose an octave and became more urgent.
"Miss Owatomi, perhaps Shigure is right-"
"For once." Kyo muttered.
"It might be best if you stay here for the time being." Yuki finished.
Tohru took Destiny's hand, smiling. "Here, I'll take to you to your room." She blinked. "I'm sorry….but I don't think we have any spare beds…Maybe you should stay in my room…"
"No." Destiny said coldly. "I'll be alright on the floor."
Tohru led Destiny out of the living room and up the stairs. "What happened? Why are you moving in with Shigure?" Tohru asked, and hurriedly added. "Not that anyone minds I'm sure. It'll be great to have another girl around the house."
Destiny was silent for long moments. "I do not know the names of any of the members of the Sohma family. But supposedly one of them found us….took us somewhere else, then Shigure brought us here. Hell if I know or care why." She walked into the room Tohru lead her to. It was small, there'd be barely enough room for her and her sister and their meager possessions.
"I'll be right back with some sheets and pillows." Tohru said, excusing herself and walked further down the hall and opening a door. She came back with an arm load of sheets and two pillows.
They worked in silence, spreading out the sheets on the floor in the shape of a bed. "Thank you." Destiny said when they were finished. She put the slightly damp backpack in between the two beds.
Tohru smiled. "It's ok. I know how it feels to suddenly be without a real home and be taken into a stranger's house." She stood. "I can show you around the rest of the house if you'd like."
Destiny tried not to show her annoyance. She has no idea how it feels. And Shahanna's not even here with me. I don't know what to do…and this girl. I just want to be away from here and be alone. "It's ok. I think I already know where the relevant stuff is."
"O-k." Tohru walked to the door. "If you need anything holler. My room is right next to yours to the right. I have to go make dinner now though." She left Destiny in the sweet merciful silence and loneliness.
Destiny listened as the cheerful girl walked away and went downstairs with others. She flopped backwards onto her sheets and threw one arm over her eyes. With her other hand she dug around in the backpack and pulled out a small stuffed wolf which she clutched to herself.
She did not move. She just laid there and listened to the steady sound of the rain drumming on the roof above her. Below her, she heard the clink of dishes. But it all sounded like it was muffled. Like she was wrapped up in a blanket, hot and stifling, and fuzzy. Her head swam, but she fought back nausea and exhaustion.
She rolled over and curled up on the sheets, eyes squeezed shut. "Why?" She whispered to herself. "Why am I here? Why did they bring us here?" She sighed and mentally slapped herself. Crying and wondering wasn't going to help her now. Now….she was more on her own than ever before. She rose to her feet and stumbled over to the window and gazed at her reflection for several moments.
Her red eyes sparked and stared back at her. Her hair duo toned hair was starting to get frizzy and it needed a good washing. Her skin was deeply tanned, but some of it also was dirt. Her clothes had started to air dry but they were torn and dirty.
Destiny shook her head and focused on what lie beyond the thin sheet of glass. The rain was coming down as heavily before and the heavy clouds blocked all light, making it seem much later at night, even though it should still have been light out.
"Miss Destiny, dinners ready." Yuki said, surprisingly nearby.
Destiny whirled at the sound of the voice. She fixed Yuki with an emotionless gaze. She held the small wolf behind her back. "Oh." She dropped her eyes to the side.
Yuki paused for a moment. "And welcome to the house." He added, walking away.
Destiny put the wolf back into the backpack and zipped it closed. She didn't think that Yuki honestly meant what he had said. They all seemed a little…cold. Like they really didn't want her there. But if that was so, why wouldn't they let her leave. And on top of that they seemed odd.
Destiny shook her head and told herself not to dwell on it. She walked downstairs and entered the dinning room. She took the spot the others had left for her. They were all already seated, and Destiny was stuck sitting next to Tohru, across from Kyo, with Shigure at angle to her, at the head of the table.
They were eating a sort of noodle dish that Destiny could not place. Her stomach growled just at the smell of it. She waited until the others had started eating before she eagerly dug into her meal. She gazed out at the others from behind her bangs.
The table was quiet. Yuki spoke with Tohru about school and meaningless things softly. Kyo was silent, a fact Shigure commented on, making it sound as though he never was. That's when they heard it.
It sounded like someone was knocking on the door softly, then they heard a quiet growl. Destiny thought it was only her imagination until Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo got up and headed for the front door. Destiny got to her feet quickly and followed, Tohru at her heels.
Shigure opened the door slowly and gazed out. At first they saw nothing. Then Kyo gasped and pointed at a large lump lying on the doorstep.
Destiny recognized that shape immediately, though she had not seen it in years. "Shahanna!" She said and pushed passed the others and knelt on the porch next to it. The rain still came down and Destiny was getting her half-dried clothes wet again, but she didn't care. The clouds had parted a little and Destiny could make out black spots adorning the gold-yellow pelt of the lump.
Shigure and Kyo leaned over her shoulder. "What is it?"
Destiny pet the lump and it raised its head, staring at her with the same fiery red eyes she had. Destiny's brows furrowed as her hand encountered something warm and sticky. She brought her hand up to her face and saw it wet with blood.
"You're bleeding." She said. "You got yourself into trouble. And now you come back here. Do you know what's going to happen?" She told the creature. "Do you!"
The creature got to its feet. The blood was coming from numerous cuts on its left shoulder. It looked up and stared at a speechless Kyo, Yuki, and Shigure. It growled softly, eyes on Shigure and tried to back away, stumbling as the movement sent obvious waves of pain up its foreleg.
"It's a cheetah." Kyo said. "On our porch." He sound like he didn't believe it.
Yuki took the opportunity to make his own comments. "Wow, Kyo actually does know something."
Shigure stared at Destiny like she was crazy. "You should get away from it. It may attack! And why are you talking to it?" He pulled her to her feet "I'd rather not have to ship you off to the hospital then to the insane asylum." He said, thinking of how mad Akito would be if such a thing happened.
Destiny shrugged him off. "Well. Now what? Huh?" Her eyes blazed, staring at the cheetah.
Her answer came in the form of a pop and a gust of black smoke. Destiny's eyes widened. She rushed forward and blocked the creature from view. The creature that now stood on two legs, looking very much like a human female….clad in nothing.
She turned and faced the others and saw all of them exchanging surprised glances. "Tohru! Get a large towel or blanket." Destiny said. It didn't matter what she said now, she didn't think anyone wanted to let the figure behind her stay outside, naked.
Tohru nodded and took off running for the linen closet.
Yuki and Kyo averted their eyes, Yuki staring fixedly at the wall, Kyo at his shoes. Shigure was the only one who looked at the figure, though he could see nothing besides her face. Destiny effectively blocked her from view, and she was covering herself with her hands. Destiny only came up to the older girls shoulder.
"What is going on?" Shigure asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
Destiny elbowed the girl behind her. "You got us into this. You get us out."
The girl sighed and used one hand to brush her black tipped bangs out of her eyes. "What the hell do you want me to say Dest? Huh? If you hadn't run earlier today, we wouldn't even be here. But no, after all this time you still don't listen to me." She sighed again and rubbed her temples. "I'm tired, cold, wet, and bleeding. I can't think right now."
"I'm back!" Tohru shouted, waving a robe around.
Yuki and Kyo backed into the house and turned their backs. Tohru hurried passed them and handed the robe to Destiny, who handed it to the girl, also pulling a bandana out of her pocket.
Tohru backed away and averted her eyes. Destiny kept her eyes on Shigure, the only one who did not look away. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, her opinion of him dropping twenty points.
The girl slid the robe around herself and tied it shut around her waist. She rolled up the left sleeve and tied the bandana around her wound on her left upper arm. Dressed, she stepped out from behind Destiny.
She stepped into the light and Shigure finally got a good look at her. "Shahanna?"
"Duh." Kyo said. "You didn't hear Destiny say that when we opened the door?"
"Yes." Shahanna said raising her blazing eyes to meet theirs. "Perhaps we could move this gathering inside?"
Shigure nodded and lead the way back into the house, to what remained of their now cold dinner. Tohru hurried to the kitchen to get some for Shahanna. Everyone resumed sitting in the places as before, only Destiny sat where Tohru had, with Shahanna in her old spot.
Tohru didn't seem to mind when she returned with a dish for Shahanna, which she placed in front of her. Tohru moved down the table, but still sat next to Destiny.
Shahanna took a grateful bite of the food, even if it had cooled, it was better than nothing.
"Now." Shigure said. "How about that explanation?"
Shahanna nodded. She spoke between mouthfuls. "I suppose you could call it a curse. Whenever Dest or I are hugged or come in extremely close physical contact with someone, we transform. We can also lose our forms when we have been under a great deal of stress."
Kyo mumbled something quietly under his breath. Yuki shot an accusing look at Shigure, who appeared as surprised as everyone else.
Tohru looked slightly troubled, but she forced a smile and said brightly, "So you must really be a-"
"When you hug someone of the opposite sex, or anyone?" Shigure cut in.
Shahanna sighed. "As far as I can tell, anyone. I don't make a habit of hugging anyone, especially not girls."
"What happened this evening." He pried.
Shahanna paused for several moments, saying nothing and only staring at her food. Silence hung over the room until she whispered so softly that they had to lean forward to catch her words. "I-I lost control."
Destiny looked surprised. "B-but that hasn't happened in years now." She sputtered. "Not to you anyway." She stared at her sister for several moments.
"I know." Shahanna took a deep, almost shuddering breath. "I know."
Tohru had caught Shigure's slight gesture to remain silent about the Sohma curse and said cheerfully. "Well, that's over now, welcome to Shigure's house. I never got a chance to welcome you earlier."
Shahanna's eyes widened and she looked up sharply. "You mean- you're not going to kick us out?"
"No." Shigure spoke. "No, you can stay here. It's alright. Besides," He said grinning widely. "Now we have two more people to help out with housework. We won't ever have to order out or pay for a maid to clean again!"
Shahanna's face became unreadable.
"Don't put Sha in the kitchen." Destiny said. She seemed much more at ease now, even going far enough to give a little half smile. "You won't have a house for long if you do that."
Shahanna got to her feet abruptly. "Congratulations to you Destiny." Her gold and black bangs obscured her eyes. "You forget yourself. That is fine for you."
She took a step away from the table. She never saw it, not until she was on the ground.
There were two pop noises and black and orange smoke filled the room. Shahanna opened her eyes, on the ground again. She sat back on her haunches and licked at the blood that was now falling freely from her wound. She looked around the room and noticed that she was standing on clothes other than her own.
"Nice work, stupid cat." Yuki said, an edge in his soft voice.
Shahanna growled, assuming that the insult was directed at her. She blinked, noticing that she was not the only thing growling. She was sitting very near to Shigure and she turned her head to look at Destiny. She was staring at something very near to her.
Shahanna looked down and saw an orange cat. She tilted her head and stared at it curiously
"Shut-up you damn rat!" The cat said in a voice that sounded a lot like Kyo's. "If you hadn't pushed me, she wouldn't have run into me! Hell! I didn't even know we'd change! Kagura doesn't…unfortunately."
Shahanna blinked. "So Des-Destiny and I aren't the only ones." She turned her eyes to Shigure. "I suppose you weren't intending to tell us that the ru- that you all transform as we do."
Shigure sighed. "We aren't supposed to tell anyone. But I suppose since it's obvious now, and since you'll be staying with us, you can know."
Kyo sat back and glared at Yuki.
"Certain members of the Sohma family are cursed with the animals of the zodiac. When we are hugged by someone of the opposite sex, or are under a great deal of stress, we will transform into the animal we were cursed with." He paused and sighed slightly as two pops were heard and once again the room was filled with black and orange smoke.
Shahanna quickly donned the robe again and retied the bandana around her arm. She kept her eyes averted as Kyo got dressed next to her. "But Kyo said something about a person named Kagura. She doesn't transform?"
Shigure shook his head. "She too is cursed by the zodiac. But it appears all those cursed by the zodiac can hug each other regardless of gender."
Shahanna nodded. "I see. But the cat is not a zodiac animal. And," Shahanna looked at Tohru. "All of you transform?"
Yuki spoke. "No. The cat is not a zodiac animal, and that is all Kyo is, a stupid cat. He does not belong. And Miss Honda is not a Sohma. Therefore she cannot be cursed. I'm sure you understand that no one else is to know about this. Miss Honda discovered the truth but she is sworn to secrecy, the same as you two are."
Shahanna nodded. "I understand. I also understand that I am new here, but may I make a small request?" She sounded innocent and looked Yuki in the eyes, waiting for him to nod before continuing. "Thank you. I would appreciate it if you kept your 'stupid cat' remarks to yourself. I may not be a house cat, but I am still a member of the cat family, and therefore take offense to such comments." Her red eyes blazed brightly, and Yuki swore they emitted a light of their own. "I'm sure you understand."
Destiny stood and went to her sister. "Would you like me to show you are room?" She asked softly.
Shahanna nodded. "But first." She directed her next words at a thoughtful looking Shigure. "Do you have a first aid kit around? And a shower that I may use?"
Shigure nodded, coming out of his brown-study. He stood up and walked to the kitchen for a few minutes before returning with a small first aid kit. I'm no doctor, that's Hari's job. If it starts to get infected, tell me so I can call Hari."
Shahanna nodded, though she didn't know, or care to know who 'Hari' was. She went to the stairs and Destiny followed her. Kyo had vanished, and Yuki was following Tohru into the kitchen.
Shahanna started climbing the stairs when she heard Shigure call to her. "Yes?"
"You in High School right?"
"Yes."
"Then you're enrolled in the same school as Yuki, Tohru, and Kyo. Destiny's in, what her third year of middle school?"
"Yes."
"Then she has a different school. I'll be glad to drop you off there on my way to the main Sohma house tomorrow Destiny."
"Thank you." Destiny said.
Shahanna continued up the stairs and went to the room Destiny said they'd be sharing. She dug through the backpack and pulled out a long night shirt that was relatively clean. She also saw that someone had hung two school uniforms on a hook on the wall. One was larger and all blue. The other was smaller, but looked pretty similar, it was a sailor suit type uniform, but it was a darker shade of blue.
Shahanna took her toiletries, night shirt, and the first aid kit and walked to the bathroom. She closed the door and locked it out of habit. The bathroom was immaculate. Three toothbrushes hung from a wall-mounted holder and three different colored towels hung on bars. Shahanna saw two plain white ones folded up neatly on the corner of the vanity sink.
Shahanna slipped out of the robe and deposited it in a hamper, turned on the water and stepped into the bath tub, pulling the curtain shut. She filled the tub quickly with warm water and set out to furiously scrubbing the dirt off her skin.
How long has it been? She wondered. How long since I managed to enjoy the simple pleasure of a bath? Dest was the last one to be able to get one. I-I gave her that opportunity, that time and the time before that. Shahanna shook her head. No. She told herself. I will not envy my sister.
She wet her long gold-yellow hair, it was the same color of a cheetah's coat, with black tips. And focused her entire mind to getting the dirt and grease out of it. She ran her fingers through it, trying to get out as many tangles as possible and borrowed some shampoo that was obviously Tohru's.
Once she was satisfied that she was clean, Shahanna drained the tub and wrapped one of the white towels around herself. She grabbed the first aid kit and opened it. Shigure had been serious, he must not have known much about medicine. Shahanna used some rubbing alcohol to clean the wound, hiss at the sting and wrapped some strips of linen around it, tying it off at the ends.
She dried off her hair and combed through it with her old comb that was missing some of it's teeth and examined her tall, bony figure. She wrinkled her nose at the scars that adorned her upper arms. Most of them were light, and hardly noticeable, probably from a mild scuffle or perhaps bushes.
Now clean and dry, her hair had a mind of its own. It clung to her back and arms and crackled with static. Shahanna pulled out a hair tie and pulled it back, leaving only her spiky bangs to obscure her eyes.
She pulled on the night shirt and gathered up all of her things and left the bathroom. She looked neither right nor left as she walked to her new room. Destiny was straightening her things and getting ready for her turn to bathe.
Shahanna put her stuff, still all bundled up, in the corner and sat down on her bedroll. "I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning. Don't worry about the light or anything. Or about being quiet when you return." She crawled between the sheet and turned her back to her sister.
She heard Destiny quietly leave the room and then close the bathroom door. Shahanna sighed and crossed her arms behind her head and stared at the ceiling. She heard people walk by, heading in different directions in the hall. The rain had finally died down to only a mild drizzle and Shahanna could hardly hear it hit the roof anymore.
Shahanna rolled over again and stared at the floor facing the half closed door. She could now see the shadows cast by those walking back and forth. Shahanna closed her eyes and kicked off one of the blankets on top of her. The room was suddenly too warm and sweat beaded on Shahanna's brow. Stop being stupid. I only lost control once. It was just a fluke. Nothing special…and the second time was an accident. It won't ever happen again.
She rolled over again and tried to relax. The sheets seemed almost like they were to soft compared to what she was accustomed to. She heard Destiny come back from the bathroom and she pretended to be asleep.
The house quieted down. And before long Shahanna could hear Destiny's steady breathing. The breathing of a sleeping person. Shahanna listened to see if anyone was still awake. From somewhere downstairs her sensitive ears picked up someone talking. She strained her hearing to the limit to make out any of the words. The voice she recognized as Shigure's, and it seemed like he was on the phone, for she never heard another voice.
"Akito --- you?"
Pause.
"--- did he----you ----the details?" pause. "I --- think--- knew. They…they're ----us."
Shahanna sighed. She could tell that Shigure was talking about her and her sister. Probably to the other members of the zodiac cursed Sohma family. But the details of what he was saying eluded even her acute hearing. Perhaps Destiny would be able to hear it better, but she didn't know, or even care at the moment.
With a final sigh Shahanna checked the red numbers of her digital watch and saw that it was nearing eleven o'clock. She closed her eyes and tossed and turned all evening. Checking her watch on occasion as the numbers steadily marched on, giving her less and less chance to get much rest. 1...2…3…4 somewhere around 4:30 she finally nodded off.