a/n: if you receive two notifications about a new chapter, the previous version of this was messed up, so had to reupload it; sorry!


I must say, Shigure's comment does have me intrigued by this outsider, Tohru Honda. It's unprecedented to have someone outside the Sohma family know of the secret, and to even go so far as to live with some cursed members. Honestly, I'm a bit frightful of what it could mean. Akito never does anything out of the goodness of his heart - there must be some plan in the works concerning Tohru staying here. On the other hand, I can't say that I'm not the least bit pleased by this. That hope is small, but still there. Though Shigure has proven to take selfish actions for his own ends, I don't know him to take completely irrational moves. If there wasn't some good coming out of Tohru's staying here, he wouldn't be as okay with it as he appears now. This starts wheels turning in my head. What if she really is the trigger we needed all along? How can that even work? There's so many questions here and so few answers.

"Ms. Hikari?"

"Just call me Kari," I murmur, pulling myself out of my thoughts to focus on the brunette. Tohru is staring at me with a mildly concerned expression, possibly due to my spacing out and not hearing her inital attempts to draw my attention. I suppose I might as well get to the point of this visit. "So, Tohru... How did you come to learn our secret?"

"Ah, well..." she becomes flustered and glances down at her hands nervously as though they'd speak for her. "W-when Shigure and Yuki invited me to stay here, I accidentally bumped into Kyou and turned him into a cat. And the same happened to Shigure and Yuki. It was such a surprise! Oh, but I didn't do it on purpose! You see, Kyou crashed in through the roof and was about to attack Yuki - and, at the time, I didn't realise that it was normal for them. Oh, not that I approve fighting; I don't want either of them to get hurt! But those two are the cat and mouse, so I suppose it's natural. My mother told me how the cat and mouse of the zodiac don't get along, so I suppose it extends to Yuki and Kyou as well. But they both are-"

"Tohru," I cut her off, feeling a bit sorry for the poor girl who seemed to have begun ranting in embarrassment of being on the spot. "what you're saying is that you managed to transform them when you first met them?"

"Ah, y-yes!" Her nervous reply and Shigure's nod are confirmation enough. I let out a small laugh at the new knowledge.

"Interesting. I guess that's a dramatic enough start. Though, speaking of those two..."

"And who, may I ask, are you?"

All eyes go to the newcomer, and I frown slightly at seeing Yuki standing in the doorway. I had hoped that I could continue to avoid the other two inhabitants during my visit, but that was obviously in vain. I watch his eyes narrow suspiciously at me, and I turn my attention down to the untouched cup of tea and cake sitting before me. Suddenly, I'm feeling very hungry.

"Oh, Yuki! This is M-.. Kari!" Tohru corrects herself to using the nickname I told her. "She's a Sohma as well... have you not met her?"

"No, I haven't." Yuki's gaze turns briefly to Shigure, possibly to silently communicate his displeasure at having yet another stranger around. However, he remains polite and nods slightly at me as he takes a seat at the table. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Kari. My name is Yuki."

"Charmed." I don't bother mentioning that introductions are unnecessary, as I already know him. Somehow, I don't think it would be taken too well. Instead, I slowly begin eating the slice of cake, vaguely listening to Yuki and Tohru chatter about something or other. His dark grey eyes inspect my unnatural colours for a moment, as if debating whether or not he should question them. He seems suspicious, and I don't feel surprised at the notion. Of course he wouldn't know about me - given the circumstances, only four of the zodiac members know about us.

"Ah, where is Kyou?" thankfully, for both of us, Tohru's question pulls Yuki away from his decision for now. I glance to Shigure in time to see his eyes close as he sips at his own tea. There's a bit of a wrinkle between his eyebrows, and I wonder if he was worried about the same looming question.

"I am not sure, Ms. Honda. Perhaps he has finally decided to allow us peace without his stupidity."

"Just like a cat and mouse..."

Yuki's gaze is back on me, and Tohru seems unsettled for a moment before she calms down again with a smile.

"Oh, that's right! You wanted to talk to me? I'm sorry, I became distracted for a moment..."

I wave off her apologies. "I wonder, how many other zodiac members have you met?"

The glint in Yuki's eyes don't go unnoticed, and he leans forward slightly, his gaze on me more intense. "How do you know of that? Just who are you?"

"Don't you know her?" Tohru speaks up before I can answer, blinking in confusion at Yuki. "She is another zodiac member."

"Pardon, Ms. Honda, but while there are several zodiac members with oddly coloured hair, do you recall any animals with those shades of red?"

"... Is she another cat?!"

I summon willpower that I didn't know I have in order to restrain myself from choking in laughter on my tea.

"Dear Tohru," Shigure speaks up this time, a hint of amusement in his collected facial features. "There is only one of each animal in the legend. Although I suppose you are on the right track." He ignores Yuki's stare until the rodent speaks once more.

"Shigure, you seem to know something that we do not. Care to share it?"

"It is not my secret to share. As it is, the person you should be speaking to is sitting right in front of you."

Again, his eyes are on me, and I shift slightly on the cushion. I guess there's no way to avoid it now. "Tell me, Tohru. Living here, you must be aware of the zodiac legend, correct?"

"Y-yes. My mother told it to me when I was younger. All the animals were invited to a banquet by God, but the rat-" she slides a quick look to Yuki, "-tricked the cat into thinking the banquet was the following day. Thus, the twelve animals attended the banquet while the cat slept through it."

"So they're still sticking with that..."

"Um..?"

"Have you ever thought of the possibility that there's more to the story than you realise? Maybe that even the version you know is incorrect?"

Even Yuki appears a bit confused by this point. Shigure keeps silent as he watches us.

"Things aren't always as they seem. Even with a curse like this, there are more secrets hidden away. Dark secrets. This curse isn't just the fact that some of us personify animals of the zodiac. The legend - the one you know - doesn't go into the fact that there were two animals excluded."

"Can you get to the point and spare us the exposition?"

"Rude, Yuki." I roll my eyes and sigh. "Fine. There are two animals of the Chinese zodiac that none of you were meant to know about. The wolf and the fox. I happen to be the latter."

The two are visibly perplexed. I place my elbows on the table and rest my chin in my palms, waiting for one of them to speak. The first is Tohru.

"The wolf and the fox... I never would have thought.. but this is exciting! I've learned something new!" This girl's enthusiasm is palpable, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. "Oh, but if this is true, then why would this be hidden?"

"Why, indeed?" I can't help the dark smirk on my lips. "Let's just say that our family has.. blood-stained hands."

"Just a second." Yuki interrupts this time. Though he appears calm enough, I can see the slight unease in his grey eyes. "What do you mean by 'blood-stained hands'?"

"Are you really that innocent?"

Yuki's expression shifts from confusion to disbelief to shock and horror as I allow him to determine his own conclusion from my words. Tohru, on the other hand, appears to be just as bemused as she was when I begun, and decides to verbalise that in the silence.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand. What does that mean? Does it have to do with hiding the other two animals?"

"Ms. Honda, I think it's best-"

"It means that when we are born, we are to be killed."

There's a tense silence at my words. Shigure has a carefully blank expression, while Yuki appears sickened and possibly still in disbelief. But the admission seems to have completely convinced Tohru, who covered her mouth in horror. There even appears to be tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"That cannot be true!" She whispers in terror, as though speaking louder would somehow change the fact. Her sweet innocence sparks a morbid amusement in me, and I continue on with my tragic tale, closely watching her reactions.

"For centuries, the fox and wolf have been the most feared animals of the zodiac. There's a story about how they were upset at being left out of the zodiac banquet, and cursed God and the rest of the animals. They became so threatening and malicious, that God had no choice but to kill them in order to keep the peacefulness of the twelve animals. However, with their dying breaths, they placed a final curse on God and the animals. No matter where they went, the fox and wolf would follow, and continue to curse them until they were accepted into the banquet."

Tohru is shaking, and I assume it's from fear.

"God couldn't accept this. He was unable to keep the wolf and fox from interfering while they lived, but in death, they could not affect him and his chosen animals. Therefore, he determined the best way to control them was.. well, with their deaths. He made the other animals forget about the fox and wolf, and made sure to keep them secret. Over time, it just became tradition. As long as the fox and wolf are out the way, the zodiac bond won't be rattled."

"If that is true," Yuki quickly speaks up. "then why are you here?"

I assume it was meant to be a purely curious question, but I can't help the tightening in my chest at his words. The feeling isn't betrayed in my voice, however. "Just as the cat is locked away at a certain age, the fox and wolf are killed by a certain age. It varies, depending on the current head of the family...but it usually happens by their twentieth birthday. Both of us have been... away from Sohma house the past several years, but I returned when I heard of the outsider that knows our secret." My amber eyes are focused on Tohru with my words. She's silent, paying no mind to the tears streaming down her cheeks, but collects herself enough to speak when I finish.

"What.. what do you.. I don't..."

"It isn't normal for an outsider to know of, and be trusted with, our family secret. If you're here, then.. maybe.." I glance away, nervously nibbling on my bottom lip. "...maybe you could.. help us.. find a way to break this.. curse..."

The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. I lift my eyes to risk a glimpse at Tohru. She seems unnerved with all our eyes trained on her, but she defiantly wipes away her tears and puts on the most determined expression she can - which she actually manages, even with the fresh tears spilling out her eyes.

"I don't know what exactly I can do, but I will do my best to help, promise! It isn't fair that such a fate should be shoved onto you - any of you!" She reaches across the table to grip my hands firmly. "Please do not worry, Kari. I'll make sure this curse does not kill you."

A small smile comes to my lips and I nod. "Thank you."

"Well, now that that's settled!" Shigure pipes up in a light tone that's not at all appropriate for the solemn conversation. "You should be staying here for a while. Let me show you to your room, Hikari."

With another nod, I follow Shigure in standing from the table and walking out into the hall. Once we arrive at the second floor, out of hearing range of Yuki and Tohru, Shigure pauses and looks at me with a dark gleam.

"I know that the story is true, but this is part of one of your little plans, isn't it? You laid down the sympathy card rather thickly."

My previously distressed expression has already been replaced with a neutral one, and the smirk that I give Shigure is wicked. "You can say that."

"Ever the tricky fox," Shigure mutters, shaking his head. "You should be ashamed; Tohru is a sweet girl. She only wants what is best for others, and you're already trying to manipulate her shortly after meeting her."

"Last I checked, you weren't against manipulating people for your own goals yourself. Even us."

Shigure pauses at my words before releasing a low chuckle. "I suppose you're right. Tell me - do you trust her already?"

This time, I'm the one who gives pause. "... I'm not sure."

"So you told her all that without knowing if you trust her or not?"

"If I'm merely manipulating her, is trust even needed?"

"Hm. Maybe not. But you should think about it. Being in your situation, you need to keep your friends close." He leads me down the hall to a closed door at the end. "Here's your room, if you choose to stay." Without another word, he retreats back to the main floor, leaving me with my thoughts.

"'Keep my friends close'..." I murmur to myself, staring at the room door. "And to keep my enemies closer.. right..?"