Chapter Three:
Jake was now out of the water, his hair spiking in different directions from the aqua - and so was Hikaru's fur which was now frizzing a bit from interacting with the water. Hikaru jumped out of his arms with a graceful, cat-like flip, Jake blinked and she did too - but his had more shock and confusion. She jumped back a few feet, he let out a loud laughter as she glared fiercely at him.
"What?" She hissed bitterly, he clutched his stomach for a few seconds, before ending his laughter with a few silent breaths.
"Y-You are nothing like your human-self. Since you're such a klutz, then you go all secret agent and do something so animal-like." He said, in between his chuckles.
She rolled her eyes, looking at Jake. She squinted her eyes a bit, his face was turned so he didn't notice her gaze. When she looked into his eyes which were a bright blue and close to the pupil was a smidge of gray, it was close to a pale color - almost similar to a dull porcelain doll which lost it's color.
Wait? Wait?!
Ryo told her once that when eyes are a white or gray color that they... does that mean Jake's blind?!
"Umm... Jake?" She said, fright evident in her tone.
"Yeah?"
"Are you... blind?" Hikaru questioned, terrified of the answer. He bent onto one knee, gazing into her eyes with his grayish-blue ones, he looked serious and didn't move - it made her nervous. A honest smile replaced the stone cold expression, he stroked her fur a bit with relaxed her to an extent.
"Of course not," He answered, sincere clear in his voice. "But, where do we go? Because I usually don't come to any places with trees and stuff. I never went hiking, believe it or not."
This place was 'full of trees' as he had mentioned, it was almost similar to a maze. The draping weeping willows mostly circled the forest, the lake a few feet away was swishing with small waves, two separate dusty trails were also in the area, one led to the Sohma estate, the other led to another part of the forest with all the long healthy trees and a flowing waterfall. Luckily, Hikaru knew this way by heart and her ears twitched a bit before she walked down the left trail, her tail swaying in a relaxed motion, Jake following.
Shichirou and Sora continued to chase after Kari, Shichirou stopped in his tracks for a moment as he looked towards the path towards the Main House. He saw Hikaru as a cat and Jake, he froze as he looked back to see Sora and Kari already in the horizon, he swore under his breath.
"If Daisuke sees them enter the house, Hikaru will be sent to her death sentence." He told himself. Then he saw Jake and squinted a bit, looking at his un-usual eyes. "Is that kid blind and does he know of the curse?" He ran his fingers through his dark hair and began to run towards the gate of Sohma House, praying in his mind that he would make it before they did.
"Dammit, Kari!" Sora shouted at her, the call fell on death ears. As Sora enhanced his speed so then he was now directly behind Kari, he tackled her to the ground as they both fell onto the autumn colored crunched up leaves. "What... the hell is wrong with you?!"
She sniffled a bit and a few more salty tears flowed down her cheeks, as she choked out a sob - his eyes softened and he helped her up, flushing a bright pink.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you." He apologized, a long cut was now on his cheek as bits of blood oozed out from the injury, more tears slid down her lukewarm cheeks. She put her small hand on his damaged cheek and showed the drop of blood to him - as it fell from her fingers it stained the dirt. She let out a few more sobs and he winced; before he mouthed. "Let's go tree climbing."
Tree climbing was one of their hobbies and they would mention a lot of their important secrets or moments there. She fingered the folds of her short black skirt and he bent down onto one knee, she rose an eyebrow in confusion. He looked back at her - his scent of cinnamon wafted towards her. "You're coming with me climbing - whether you like it or not. Just come onto my back."
He smiled at her and she laughed her chiming laughter, she went onto his back. He lifted her up and ran to their favorite spot - the longest tree in the forest. He climbed and jumped with such agility as they were both at the top of the tree within seconds. She sat onto one of the sturdy branches - he stood leaning against a few of the smaller branches and she turned away from his stone hard gaze, he wanted answers.
Not lies. The truth.
And their was no way to get down either... without breaking her leg.
"So, do you wanna tell me now?" He asked, his arrogant nature returning. "And why don't you tell me--"
She took her small braided lock into her hand as her knuckles turned white. "I was picked on... remember - when you guys thought it stopped? It hasn't stopped, I-I didn't want to sound like a burden... so I didn't tell you guys. I was gonna go to Hikaru's, but you guys saw me. I was picked on because of the way I look, y-you know my h-h-hair and e-eyes. I want to go to a normal school like Hikaru, not ones where they call me 'annoying rabbit', 'monster', and 'Sohma freak'. My parents aren't alive, so it's fine-- at least I'll be out of yours and Shichirou's way."
He stood silent, his arms crossed over his chest. "You're not in our way. And if you go... I'm going too."
Ichiro and Sayuri finally were in the lake, their clothes began to stick to their bodies in icy folds. Sayuri's small makeup began to smear down her cheeks in thick dark lines and her blue eyeshadow was smudged. Ichiro had lost one of his lip rings and laughed as he saw Sayuri's angered expression, they both got out of the deep blue lake - Sayuri grabbed clumps of her raven black hair in her hands, ridding it of the water. Ichiro looked into the horizon seeing Hikaru and Jake's fading figures as he grabbed Sayuri's hand and began running - tired of him controlling her, she dug her teeth into his hand and he let go of her immediately and they both ran after the two.
"Daisuke... was mad... when we left, right?" Sayuri said, trying to catch her breath. "And if he sees that Jake-guy, he'll certainly lose his temper again. And since... Daisuke is the zodiac's core, he'll put himself in the hospital again... because of his weak heart." The Lolita-esque female completely forgot about the make-up caked on half of her face, Ichiro saw Jake and Hikaru approaching the large wooden gate as he noticed a trim build standing protectively in front of the gate.
Ichiro dropped to the ground in an exhausted state - a half-dead vine wrapped around his ankle. Sayuri fell to her knees - inspecting his state and she continued to pant.
"Shichirou... is there." Ichiro murmured, pounding a fist onto the fresh mulch. "They will be fine,"
"But, what about... Ryo?" Sayuri questioned silently. Ichiro chuckled and put his head onto the dirt putting some in his hair, Sayuri brushed it out carefully.
"Ryo can last through practically everything." Ichiro advised, beginning to shut his eyes. "He'll be fine, he's much stronger than you think he is."
Sayuri curved her lips into a gentle smile as Ichiro lost consciousness.
Ryo was in his room, clad in his pajamas. He took a few deep breaths as Hitomi sat at the edge of his bed - a hot bowl of soup on his lap as he sniffled a few times. The rain poured heavily out the window it managed to seep into the house by crawling under the sliding door. Ryo was being careless, he went out for a bit to retrieve some food catching a cold in the process, Hitomi then moved the warm bowl into Ryo's arms as a few pieces of meat floated to the top - he gazed at it hungrily before taking the silver utensil and using it to eat properly.
The phone began to ring and Ryo froze reaching for it on his bed-side table, Hitomi ran to it grabbing it before he even got to see who called. She answered it; "Sohma residence; Hitomi speaking."
"Hitomi? What are you doing over there?" Shichirou's voice asked, Jake sat across from Shichirou as he was talking on the wireless phone. "Hikaru is here - why don't you tell Ryo."
Ryo's head perked up as he heard Hikaru's name, his raspy voice still taking it's effect. "Huh?"
"Don't worry about it, it's nothing." Hitomi assured, taking the phone away from her ear, holding it against her thick layer of clothing. "It's just my... boy... friend."
Ryo nodded weakly and continued to eat as she exited Ryo's room, entering the guest's room - sitting on the futon which layed on the hardwood flooring. "Okay... boyfriend? I won't even ask. What's with Ryo...? He sounds like someone just died..."
"He's sick."
"Of what his hair-color? He should just dye it blonde than." Shichirou said jokingly. "Well... back to the point. Hikaru is here with one of her... friends. He found out about the curse and right now she's visiting Daisuke." Shichirou explained, looking back at Jake - who kept staring at the sliding door Hikaru entered twenty-eight minutes ago. "Before you say anything... I didn't send her in there... Daisuke-sama wanted to see her, and--"
"You idiot!" Hitomi snarled loudly, putting a hand to cover her mouth. As she heard a slight snore and sighed in relief. "How long has she been in there?"
"Thirty-one minutes," Jake's voice murmured almost in a monotone, as he looked at his silver-plated wrist-watch.
"You better go get her before Daisuke murders her," Hitomi said frostily, a shattering of a vase was on Shichirou's line as he dropped the phone in fear. The line then went dead.
(Thirty One Minutes Ago; In Daisuke's Chamber)
Daisuke was a handsome man, he looked harmless and frail. His hair was a reddish-brown color almost similar to a russet it was trimmed short, choppy bangs hovered over his eyes, his eyes were round and green weren't radiant or glistening instead they looked out into the thunder-storm with a dull look. He had a pale skin tone and was wearing a traditional gray yukata with a dark blue robe resting on his bony shoulders. He was barefoot and he looked back at Hikaru when the thunder crackled.
Hikaru who turned human quite some time ago was clad in a; royal purple long-sleeved dress that just went above her knees, white stockings, and her ankle-length boots were against the door. Hikaru still had the same pins in her hair as they stood in place, holding up her curls perfectly.
"Hikaru... why did you bring a human here?" Daisuke questioned softly, wrinkles beginning to form on his forehead in anger.
"Daisuke-sama... he found of the curse and--" As Hikaru began to shake in fearing the core of the zodiac as beads of sweat trailed down her face. Daisuke fingered a large vase that was painted with multi-colored floral patterns, a bouquet of red roses were resting inside and were staying firm and tall as they were in the refreshing water.
"Alright, then. I would like his memories erased is that... okay?" Daisuke questioned, his ice breaking through the fake barrier of kindness.
"Uhh... n-no." Hikaru sputtered, loud enough for Daisuke to hear. He ran over to her grabbing her clump of curls and he yanked on it as a few pins fell out, Hikaru shrieked in pain as Daisuke hissed like a cobra.
"Fine!" He hissed. "Then you repeat after me! I, Hikaru, is to never step foot on Sohma property ever again." Hikaru began to cry as tears fell onto the floor by the many pins on the velvet carpet.
"I, H-Hikaru... is to never step foot on Soh-Sohma property ever... again." Hikaru mumbled quietly, Daisuke smirked as he tossed the vase right towards her as it hit her right in the head and shattered on impact. The roses scattered across the floor as the water spilled onto both Daisuke and Hikaru, shards of the glass were in her hair as some blood trickled onto the floor, the final three pins still held Hikaru's hair up as Daisuke bent down to take them out. He dropped the handful of Hikaru's hair as she fell to the ground, unconscious. He plucked one out as the fabric of her clothing ripped a bit revealing her shoulder.
Before Daisuke could get another one, Shichirou tackled him to the ground; pinning his wrists to the floor. Sora ran in next as he took many of Hikaru's pins throwing them into her hair; creating a mess but she calmed down a bit. He lifted up Hikaru's head gently as he felt his hand soaking up with something...
Hikaru was bleeding as he quickly scooped her up in his arms. "Shichirou - she's bleeding!"
Shichirou swore under his breath as he kept trying to calm Daisuke down. "Get her out of here! Hurry!"
As Sora ran out with Hikaru - Shichirou noticed something. Daisuke calmed down as he tired himself out, failing to get out of Shichirou's iron grip.
He ignored it and left the room, his arms lined with pink scratches.
A male sat outside - painting a wooden fence. A metal can of paint stood next to him as he dipped the thick brush into the can, the bristles soaking up with a green color as he hummed to himself dabbing the fence. A few droplets spilled onto his attire... which consisted of; a slightly long-sleeved gray jacket with a hood attached, over a plain white t-shirt and he also had dark denim jeans, and a black leather strap tied around his left arm.
He was a bit feminine looking; his hair was black and trimmed to his shoulders, but it was pulled into a tight ponytail, his eyes were a greenish-yellow color, he had sharp and precise features.
"Hello, Rokumi," A soft voice purred. Rokumi's expression brightened a bit before he realized who it was and he grimaced instead.
"Ugh... it's you."
"Me?"
"You."
This chapter has some more drama than the previous, a few more people will begin to transform into their zodiac forms.
I'm actually almost finished now with the zodiac that is. I just need the Rooster, Monkey, Sheep, Horse, and the Boar. So, just look at the character sheet on chapter one and submit one of those zodiac animals. See you later! :D
