Writer's Note: Trying to keep up, here. I might be able to put a chapter up every two to three weeks. Keep checking. DA

10/27/07 - I published this last night, after a long day at school. There are so many typos and grammatical errors...I apologize for the low quality.

I've read the latest reviews and I thank those who offered their opinions. I have a concern about anonymous reviews (spam) and am researching the possibility of selective deleting, in case the need should arise.

Another thought that I need/want to share with you is that this is my first foray into writing fiction longer than a short story. Short stories pepper my past and come more easily to me. I've also written technical papers and a children's biography, and I guess the formula is similar, only all of the "research" comes from the fiction writer's head. I have a series of books developing in my head, also, but this fanfic is a preparation for that. I know that editing is integral to writing, and I may get to that with this fic, but I'm not going to promise that. My education is rigorous and I may tire of the fic before I can edit, but I will make this promise, I will try to avoid or correct grammatical errors, and I will try to tie up as many loose ends as I can. In other words, the characters you've seen, you will probably see again. Also, I don't want to lead you think that I don't take this fic seriously. I do. I was afraid to touch Akito's character, but as I had my own questions, I HAD to "go there." Something else that's holding me back is the fact that I have not had time to review the story. I never took notes that may help and I'm having to research as I go. This is difficult for someone in a time crunch. Thanks for your understanding and encouragement, so far. DA.


Aftercurse


Chapter 3 – A Renewed Family

Momiji opened the gate to the Sohma compound, and squinting into the afternoon sun, heard someone call his name. "Momiji!" It was Momo and she looked like a dream as the sun's rays danced around her, playing on the strands of her golden hair as if they were light itself.

A while later, they sat, Momiji playing the violin and Momo listening, captured by the tones of his splendid music. When he had finished the score, Momo effervesced, "Oh, you play beautifully, Momiji! Thank you for playing for me again. Papa said that you are very talented."

"He did?" Momiji almost seemed surprised, dumbfounded.

Momo didn't miss a beat, "Yes! And Mama has heard you play a little bit too."

Now, Momiji had difficulty hiding his emotion, but either he managed it well or Momo didn't notice. "Your Mama likes to hear me play?"

"Yes, very much. But, she sometimes needs time alone after she's heard you. Most of the time, she is fine, but every time she hears you play, she gets very sad. Momiji, I need to ask you something."

Momiji looked up, careful to make sure he hid his nervousness at her tone. "Sure. What is it?" He thought he should have expected this, but he was so afraid of upsetting his mother that no anticipation prepared him for the actual moment.

"Why, out of all the Sohma's, do you look like Mama and me? You're the only one that looks like us. And Papa loves you more than any of the other cousins. I see that he takes time with you when he doesn't have as much interest in anyone else but Mama and me, and the business, of course."

Momiji tread carefully, knowing that this was the moment he'd waited for and, in part, dreaded. "There is something that you and your Papa and I need to talk about before I answer any of your questions."

Momo was unfazed. "Okay! We'll have dinner!"

"No!" He caught himself, not wanting to hurt Momo, and, fighting to recover, said, "I'll…I'll make an appointment with your Papa."


Momiji made it back to Shigure's house, but he couldn't remember how, as his mind was reeling with all the possible outcomes of his conversation with Momo and Papa. Reluctantly, but with hope, he picked up the phone and dialed his Papa's number.

"Papa? I didn't know what to do, but Momo…she's asking a lot of questions. I think she's suspected for a while that we are related more closely than cousins, but she asked why I look like her and Mama. I've been very careful, Papa!"

"It's okay Momiji. I'm not angry. Momo is very smart, and it's difficult not to notice that you two look so much alike. It's okay. We'll handle this."

"Okay, Papa. Thank you. I love you."

"I love you, too, Momiji."


Shigure had given his permission for Momiji, Momo and their Papa to meet at his house, while discouraging any visitors. In fact, Shigure was on the phone with Aya.

"No, Aya, you may not disturb Momiji and his family."

"I don't want to disturb them. I only want to bestow on them the wisdom I gained from reestablishing my relationship with Yuki."

"Yuki still can barely stand being in the same room with you."

"Still, I'm sure there is some encouragement I can offer. And, if not, I could always make them something to wear," he offered, flourishing.

"I'm sure they would appreciate that, Aya. You should get started right away and make sure it is truly a masterpiece. This is a hurting family and anything less would be an insult."

"Right you are, 'Gure. I will work for weeks if I have to and make the perfect set of gifts!"

"I was counting on you," and Shigure's eyes twinkled with mischief.


At precisely seven o'clock, Papa and Momo arrived at Shigure's house. They promptly sat down and no delay was made to avoid getting to the point.

Papa started, "Momo, I hear you have a lot of questions."

"Yes, Papa. I love Momiji and I wish he was my brother. He looks like me, when no one else does, and he's so smart and he plays music well. Is he my brother?"

Papa sat quietly for a few moments before answering, "Momo, this is very serious, and you must listen to Papa. There is a very important reason why we have never discussed what I'm about to tell you. Can I trust you to keep the secret for a little longer?"

"Yes, Papa. I will keep the secret," her excitement contained, but still apparent.

"There's a good girl, Momo," Papa encouraged. "It's going to be difficult, but you must give me your word that you will do everything you can to keep from telling the secret."

"I promise, Papa. I'm very smart and I can keep secrets."

Momiji was looking surprisingly peaceful. His father had said the right things to ease his mind that they were going to go about stitching their family together, carefully and methodically.

Papa started, "Okay. Momiji is—"

"Papa! May I tell her?" Momiji cut in. Papa nodded his resignation.

Momiji rubbed his hands together, drying them. He licked his lips, as if preparing a smooth stratum for the words. "Momo, I am your older brother, and I am proud to be." He could no longer contain his emotions.

"I KNEW it!" Before anyone could see, Momo was out of her spot and flinging her arms around Momiji. At first, Momiji was expecting to change into the rabbit that possessed him, because it had happened with some regularity until a few months before. His reflex caused him to deflect her to the side with his hands, but she had grabbed onto him. First, she rolled, but her grip and momentum pulled Momiji over her.

They ended up rolling through Shigure's paper door and laughing hysterically, after. Papa looked at them sternly before remembering that this was the first true family moment they had ever had. He smiled at the thought, then laughed as hard as his children. When the hilarity passed, Papa worried about fixing the door. "It's okay, Papa. I know where the supplies are to fix it," Momiji soothed.

"You do?" Papa asked, apparently surprised by the fact that fixing a door would be a routine event.

"When Kyo and Yuki were here—"

"Don't tell me; their frequent fights brought down the house." Papa's guess was absolutely correct.

When the door was patched and Papa had made some tea, he brought the gravity back to the situation. "Your Mama must know nothing about this, Momo. There was a curse on our family, but the curse has been lifted. Momiji used to be part of the Zodiac, which means he was possessed by the spirit of one of the Zodiac animals." Momo's eyes grew wider with every sentence. "Your Mama could not bear the curse. Every time she held Momiji as a baby, he turned into his animal form, the rabbit."

"Can you still do it, Momiji???" She seemed to possess an indominable spirit. Nothing appeared to discourage her. "I want to see! I'll bet you are really cute!"

Momiji laughed at her lack of hesitation in accepting him. "No, I can't do it. The spirit left me."

"Awe, and I really wanted to see you!" Momo cried. "I always wanted a bunny rabbit!"

"He's not a pet, Momo." Momo continued to pout.

A few minutes later…

"So, what happened to Mama?" Momo decided to return to the conversation.

" She got very sick and was dying. Sohma Hatori wiped away her memories of Momiji."

Momo looked horror-stricken. Tears threatened to spill from her enlarged eyes. "Mama didn't want to remember Momiji? She didn't love Momiji?"

"Mama loved—LOVES Momiji!" Papa insisted. "Somewhere in her heart, she loves the baby boy she had, but she hates the rabbit spirit for possessing him. She was angry with me and with herself. She was never angry with Momiji. But he served as a reminder that we failed him, every time he changed form. Every time she tried to show him love. I tried to love him doubly, in her place. And he has found love in you. You have been a good little sister, Momo, even though you didn't know."

"Yes, you have," Momiji whispered, hoarsely, putting his arm around his--yes, he could say it, now--his little sister.