Year of the Wolf

Chapter 4

Kagura Comes to Town

I woke up to an annoying stampeding sound. It was still here and I grimaced, before a thought came to me. "Oh god, she's here." I snorted, poor Kyo. I changed into a t-shirt, blue hoody and jeans, walking down the stairs carefully. I noticed Kyo try to run off, but Shigure stop him by the back of his hoody.

I laughed. "Even if you run, you can't get away from her."

Kyo snapped at me. "Shut it, Shiro!"

My eyes widened when I saw Torhu open the door. "Uh, don't do that."

She did anyway, calling out. "Hello? Strange, there's no one here."

I could already sense her around here; it was just the matter of her showing herself. I heard. "Are you…Torhu Honda?"

I heard Torhu give a yell of shock. "Uh…yes!"

It was quiet for a moment and then she said. "I'm Kagura. That's my name, Kagura Sohma. Please I heard Kyo was here and please tell me it's true."

I sent a look to Kyo, and I still on the stairs. "Dude, run!"

Kyo sent me a panicked look. "I'm trying here!"

I sighed. "Really Shigure?"

Shigure smiled brightly. "I'm trying to help."

Torhu said. "Yes, would you like to see him?"

I slapped a hand to my face. She was bad at reading body language. Kyo yelled out in panic. "Kagura!"

She smiled at him. Then again, so was Kagura. She ran to him. "I don't believe it, it's really you! Kyo!"

I paled and wondering when she would flip out.

She jumped in front of him and he backed up. "Kyo? Why'd you run away for so long? You didn't call me or send a card. Where were you, oh darling?"

She punched him in the face and I flinched. She yelled. "I missed you so much!"

I sighed tiredly. "Here we go."

Though the complete shock on Torhu's face was worth it. She threw him outside (breaking the door) and started swinging him around in circles. I grimaced and Yuki face was blank. "Looks like we'll need another door."

Shigure sighed dramatically. "Sometimes it feels like the whole world is conspiring to destroy my house."

I rubbed a hand down my face. "I can't deal with this stress, I need coffee."

I walked in the kitchen and saw an already made batch. I grinned. Torhu was the best. I poured coffee, hearing Yuki, Shigure and Torhu talking. I walked in with my cup to see Kagura looking at Kyo all depressed. "Oh, Kyo! You're hurt! Speak to me, who did this to you!"

I said dryly. "You did."

Shigure nudged me in the ribs. "It's okay, let's come inside."

I went back in and knelt by the table, drinking some of my coffee. A moment later, the others joined me. I was facing the hole in the wall, Kagura across from me, Shigure on my left and Torhu and Yuki on my right with Kyo in the corner, sulking.

Torgu sneezed and I grimaced, scooting slightly. I normally don't get sick, but when I do, it sucks for everyone. Shigure said. "Yes, it's cold in here."

Kagura said. "I'm sorry, but when I saw Kyo I got so happy. All my love just came out at once. I couldn't help it."

She turned back to Kyo. "But it's really your fault too Kyo. If you just remembered to call me, you wouldn't make me miss you so hard."

Kyo snapped. "Who said I forgot, who says I wanted to call you."

"Of course you did silly. We're getting married after all."

Kyo snapped. "SINCE WHEN?!"

I snickered, finishing my coffee, more awake and ready to deal with the day. The others didn't make it better agreeing with it. I snorted. "With that couple, she'll win most fights."

Yuki nodded his head. "That's true."

"We'll both make the best couple since we're both members of the Zodiac. Kyo's not officially a member, but he cursed so it's almost the same. We can still understand each other in ways no one else can and that's good. The best thing is we can hug each other all we want and we still can, he won't transform."

She then went to hug Yuki after she almost squished Kyo to death. Torhu asked. "Really, how can that be?"

Shigure shrugged. "It's a mystery, but that's the way it is. It's not just a fluke with Kagura. Shiro can do the same thing. Shiro and Kagura are not the only girls in the Zodiac."

Torhu beamed. "Really? There are more girls, do you think I'll get to meet them someday."

I walked over to them. "Hopefully not. Don't make it a habit out of meeting Sohma's."

"Shiro."

Yuki was sending me a look and I ignored him. Kagura ran up to Kyo. "Kyo, be honest. Do you love me; do you hate me? Because I love you, I do. More than anything in the whole wide world. I'll prove it, I'll cook for you every day, I'll do anything even if you cheat on me. I can forgive a onetime fling. No one else loves you this much, do they? We should always be together, what do you think?"

I blinked at the onslaught of words that came out of her mouth. The display is almost sad, the way she acts with Kyo. She was her own person, so why did she have to act like that? She suddenly switched modes, grabbing him by the jacket. "I already told you what to think! Now say something dammit!"

Shigure said cheerfully. "Torhu, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you something of a cat lover yourself?"

I sent Shigure a glare along with Yuki. We knew what he was trying to pull. Torhu just smiled brightly. "That's me, Year of the Cat and Wolf fan club."

I sighed at that, leaning against the wall. Why does she have to say that? Meanwhile, Kagura stared at Torhu furiously. "Rival! But I'm not going to let loose, Torhu Honda! What do you like best about Kyo? Because I like everything! The good, the bad things, I like them all! I love Kyo even if he changes into his other fo- "

My eyes snapped to hers as I realized what she almost blurted out. I clenched my fists as my own dark thoughts came to me and I gritted my teeth. His hand was over her mouth and Kagura eyes met my furious ones. She flinched back for a second.

Torhu asked. "Shiro, are you okay?"

I let out a tense 'fine' before walking out and walking down the road. I hated when she didn't use her head. What if Kyo didn't stop her or she would've blurted out my secret about being the Wolf, other than just the Curse. I shook my head, rubbing a hand through my hair.

Torhu was already scared, I knew she hid it. The last thing I needed was for her to know about that.

As I walked around to clear my head, I decided to go to the store and grab some candy or something. I walked in and grabbed some chocolate pocky and went to one of those 'buy it yourself scanners/registers, leaving the store, thirty minutes later. I grumbled to myself about stupid old people who didn't know how to use electronics. I told her to hurry up, she yelled at me and smacked me with her purse and I yelled back.

But it was worth it as I chewed on my pocky. I walked home to see the house trashed. I groaned, wondering if it was Kagura, Yuki or Kyo. I walked in to see Yuki and Torhu here and Kagura cleaning the floor. The kitchen was filled with foam and ashes. I heard Torhu say. "It's alright, I can help you clean up."

Kagura turned on her knees to face her. "It's okay, I can do it."

"It's too much work for you all by yourself."

Kagura smiled. "No, please! Let me do it, I want to! It's my fault the kitchen's like this."

I shrugged, grabbing Torhu by the arm and pulling her up. "Let her do it, she's stubborn."

Like a boar, I added in my head. Torhu looked at me shocked and I remembered that I stormed out. I grimaced (I seemed to do that a lot today) and scowled, looking away from her. Shigure said. "At least, she's being consistent, she wouldn't let me help either."

"Please, it's okay, I'll do it all."

Kagura eyes went to mine and I walked past her, patting her on the head. "It's fine. Don't worry about it." She was beating herself about it, I wasn't going to say anything.

I walked to the roof where I knew Kyo would be. This was his spot; he always went here to think. I climbed up the latter, knocking on the roof. He looked over from his laying position. "Huh, oh it's you."

I climbed up the rest of the way, sitting next to him, arms on my knees. "You pissed?"

He snorted harshly. "What do you think?"

I glared down at him. "Ass, shut up…Kagura feels bad."

"What do you want me to do about that?"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know, cut her some slack."

He glared up at me from the sarcasm he heard from my tone. "Shut the hell up! You heard what she-what Torhu almost- "

I said roughly. "I know that, you forget our curse is almost the same."

He looked away at that and I stared out in the sky. "If Torhu were to find out about me, about us…I'm not that selfless, not even close."

He nodded his head. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

I sighed, just about done with this conversation. "Yeah, whatever, just give her a break. She doesn't mean to."

"She's just so weird. All that crap she does and what happens when she comes over."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

He shook his head 'yes'. "She's creepy."

I snorted, laughing hard. "Oh god."

He shoved me hard, his ears pink. "Shut up, you know what I mean."

I did, but I loved messing with him, not so much when he got me back. She was strange, I never understood the obsession she had with Kyo. He was my friend and I cared, loyalty meant a lot to me. It was getting darker and I laid back, both of us quiet for a while. I was getting hungry, but didn't want to get up.

I haven't hung out with Kyo in a while. That gave me a thought. "Hey, Kyo?"

"What?"

"I want to fight you."

I felt him shift from next to me. "Now?"

"Naw, tomorrow or something like that."

"Sure, I'll win."

I knew without looking he had that completive smirk on his face. I snorted with a grin like his. "Ha! you wish."

I asked. "You coming down?"

It was quiet for a moment. "Nah, you go down."

I sighed and stood up, walking to the edge of the roof. Without looking back, I jumped down in a crouched position, standing and shaking off the slight pain. It was barely anything. I waited a moment and then walked inside. No one was around and I noticed how late it was.

I grabbed one of the three boxes, sitting at the table, eating the barely warm food. It was good and I ate the rice balls wrapped in seaweed with chicken quickly. I threw the box away, ready to head to bed.

I saw Torhu and Kagura. I leaned against the wall and listened. Torhu asked, holding a tray. "I made you a snack. I noticed you hadn't eaten your dinner yet and you must be hungry. So, I made some rice balls with the leftovers. I hope you don't mind them cold. I can heat them up if you want."

"No, I like them this way."

I smiled a bit to myself, I swear, no one can hate her. I shook my head and walked up to my room to go to bed.

/ / / / / / / / /

I woke up to the sun shining in my face. I groaned, I need to get blinds. This has to be the worst wake up call. I covered my face with my arm and realized I would have to do to school. I showered and put on the school shirt and pants that I had. That's another thing to deal with, idiots annoying me about my clothing. Well, I wasn't going to lose my temper today.

I ran a brush through my unruly hair the best I could, but gave up on it. I grabbed my school, made sure I had everything and came downstairs. I saw Kyo being squeezed harshly by Kagura, who was still here. She called. "Goodbye, my love!"

I walked in, grabbing my toothbrush from the bathroom and brushing my teeth behind them, spitting into the sink.

Putting the brush down, I walked in the dining area to see Kyo run off and Kagura chase after him. I sighed and then paled when I saw the paper boy, I forgot about him. I did my best to stay away from him, but Kagura didn't live here.

I ran forward and tried to grab Kagura, but we both slammed into him on either side. In my head, I groaned. I transformed and so did Kagura, smoke surrounding us. I saw Yuki get rid of him, stopping him from seeing us. He called something cheerfully before leaving. That guy was annoying, he was too cheerful, especially this early in the morning.

I faced Kagura, my size bigger than her's. I growled, my hackled raised as I bared my teeth. Torhu picked her up. "I figured out her Zodiac animal, she's a boar!"

Shigure called it cheating and I growled up at her again, annoyed, I was doing so well. Torhu then started speaking. "Kagura, I'm beginning to understand why you like Kyo so much. He really does have a lot of good qualities. And the more I learn about them, the more I want to see him the way you do."

She attacked Kyo and I was relieved. Now that Torhu wasn't holding her, I could get her. I crouched a bit and was ready attack.

They started talking and I waited until she was looking at Torhu to jump forward. She cried out and I chased her. "Why do you always have to lose your temper! I didn't want to transform today!"

I heard Torhu cry out. "HUH!? Shiro!"

Shigure calmed her down and I went to jump on her, but yelped at the kick to the face. I glared and she snapped. "Don't attack me, Shiro!"

I growled again, but grunted at the hand grabbing the back of my fur at my neck and pulling back. I glared up at Yuki. He rolled his eyes. "Watch your temper Shiro. Like you wouldn't have done in anyway."

I snapped my teeth at him, gritting my canines at the sharp kick he gave me. I almost missed Torhu and Kagura conversation once she calmed down.

Torhu said. "I hope to be more like you to finding all the good qualities in the people I care about. They're not always easy to see."

Kagura was shocked. "You want to…be like me?"

I scoffed. "God, no."

Yuki shook my slightly and I snapped my neck, forcing him to let go of me and shaking myself off, feeling a bit of pain in the back of my neck from the pulling. I was going to hit him later.

Torhu said. "It's amazing how much you think about one person."

IN that moment, both us transformed. I quickly changed in the cover of the smoke. By the time it cleared, I was sitting on the ground, pulling on my shoes.

Kagura was naked and grinning. "I don't know what to say!"

Kyo snapped as she was on his back. "Put on some clothes!"

I tied my shoes and decided I wasn't really angry with her, just annoyed. I stood up and Kagura started to walk in the opposite direction, no doubt back to the Sohma Estate.

She waved, have turned toward us. "Ok! Bye-bye! Oh and I'll bring a shirt over the next time I come over! Love you!"

Torhu said bye and I sighed, knowing now we had to go to school. Torhu was smiling and Kyo snapped. "Hey! What's that look for!?"

Torhu just grinned some more. "Nothing, you're just so lucky."

As Yuki and Torhu talked, I walked ahead, but behind a fuming Kyo. I heard Kagura and the sound of stampeding feet. My eyes widened in alarm and I darted to the side, making sure to keep every part of my body away from the open road.

Kagura ran past and I rolled my eyes, can't she just walk? Does she have to act like her Zodiac?

"I almost forgot to give you your goodbye kiss!"

I heard Kyo yell in annoyance and try get away. I wondered why Haru and Momiji were doing. They were younger than me, but also part of the Zodiac. I didn't see them much since lived at the Sohma Estate and I never went there, unless forced me too because of a checkup. He wouldn't leave those stupid things alone.

I turned when I heard Torhu and Yuki stop walking. I frowned at the strange look on her face. I moved back. "Torhu, you okay?"

She smiled at me and said. "Yeah, I am! I can't wait."

I arched an eyebrow and saw Yuki look at her. He moved ahead a bit, probably trying to make Kyo and Kagura hurry up, not wanting to be late. Knowing Torhu,, he knew she would want to wait. I asked. "So what'd you mean by that?"

She smiled, her eyes shining. "I want to get to know all of you better, the good and the bad, just like Kagura."

I felt my face redden in embarrassment and shoved my hands in my pockets. "What would you do that?" Not waiting for her to answer, I said. "Come on, let's go catch up again."

I saw that Kagura was gone and they were waiting for us. Right before we got there, Torhu said. "You know what, Shiro?"

I asked, looking ahead. "What is it?"

"Even though you get angry a lot like Kyo, you're a kind and caring person."

I froze in shock, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened hugely. "A-ah, what?"

She just smiled at me and I felt my whole face go red in awkward embarrassment. Why did she have to say things like that? No one ever has in years and I can't remember the last time someone did. I knew I was red from my forehead to my ears and down to my neck. I stormed ahead, passing a confused Kyo and Yuki.

Yuki asked. "Where are you going?"

Kyo asked too. "Yeah and why are you so red?"

"None of your business, idiots!"

As Kyo yelled at me, I walked ahead, hoping the red will go away.

/ / / / / / / / /

School today was like it normally was. I wasn't around Torhu, Kyo and Yuki because of our class difference and I kept mostly to myself. As I worked in my 4th period math class, I had someone sit next to me at the previously empty seat.

I looked to see a boy around my age with light brown hair and green eyes. He was looking at me. I raised an eyebrow. "Hi?"

He smiled, showing white teeth. "Hey, I heard you were new and wanted to introduce myself. I'm Shin Hinto." He stuck out a hand.

I cautiously shook it. "Shiro Sohma."

As long as I didn't transform it was fine. I asked. "So, what's up?"

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck with a hand. "I was wondering if you wanted to hang out with me and my friends at lunch tomorrow."

I grimaced for a moment and then shrugged. "I guess."

But he saw my look. "But if you don't want to- "

I shrugged again. "It's fine."

The bell rang and he waved. "See you later."

I nodded and as I got up I was a bit happy. Just being with my family sucked, if he didn't find out about the Curse, I could be friends with whoever I wanted to.

As the day went by it was time to go home. Instead of waiting on the other three, I walked home. By the time I got hope, Shigure wasn't there, but I knew he was in the study, where he did write his books. I knew he did them, but he gave it to his publisher late minute to screw with her.

"Shiro!"

I raised an eyebrow, turning around. "What's up, Kyo?"

I knew he wasn't mad from earlier. He gave me a wide smirk. "You said you wanted to fight."

I grinned widely at that. "You're on."

We walked to the front of house, facing a good distance from each other. I saw Yuki and Torhu come by. Yuki sighed. "Again?"

Torhu asked, looking more confused than usual. "What's going on?"

Kyo smirked, not losing eye contact with me and I did the same. It was known for one of us to attack each other during our fights if one of us got distracted. "We're fighting."

Torhu gasped. "Oh, why?"

Yuki snorted. "They always do this, it's stupid."

Kyo glared and I scoffed. "Careful pretty boy, snorting like that sounds doesn't sound sophisticated."

He gave me an annoyed look and Kyo laughed. "Rat Boy."

"Stupid Cat."

Kyo glared again and opened his mouth to insult him, but I spoke. "Can we fight, I don't want to watch you guys verbally attack each other for an hour."

Torhu just smiled as the other two shot me glares.

"Sounds like fun!"

I cringed at Shigure's cheerful tone. Kyo rolled his eyes. "Great."

I snickered at his blunt sarcasm. "Let's fight already.

Yuki said. "We should watch from the house."

That was true, when we fought, half the time we were all over the place. I crouched slightly, our fights went either way, sometimes I won and sometimes he did. I came at him, but he dodged slightly to the right. He went to kick me at chest level, but I bent backwards a bit, snatching his ankle and throwing him over my shoulder.

I heard a light thump and knew he landed on his feet neatly. I spun on my heel and we both came at each other, trading and blocking blows. He'd get me in the side and I'd get him back or on the stomach. I stumbled back at a hard punch to the chin, Kyo was smirking with a serious intent look on his face.

I felt annoyance in my chest, he thinks that since he got a hit, this is his win, I'll show him. I feinted to the right, jabbing him in the chest, making him gasp and stumble back a couple of steps. I lunged at his sign of weakness, forcing him to be on the defense.

I got a couple of hits in, but he suddenly came at me from the left (which was my worst side) and I grunted as I had the wind knocked out of me and a hit to my jaw. I glared at me and I saw him leaning him slightly to the right. Looks like I did some damage after all.

Torhu gasped at something and Kyo looked over on reflex. I took advantage of it, punched him straight in the middle of his face. He fell back on the ground.

"Kyo!"

Torhu came running over as his nose started gushing blood. Yuki snorted. "So, your beaten by Shiro too."

Kyo jumped up, waving a fist. "Shut it, Rat Boy!"

I smirked as Kyo wiped his bloody nose on his shirt. Torhu said. "Kyo, are you okay? You're bleeding."

He sighed through his mouth. "Yeah, Shiro's got this one."

He made eye contact with me and I smirked wider. "I believe that makes it a tie."

He snarled. "Shut the hell up!" He stormed off.

Shigure laughed and Yuki rolled his eyes. "You two don't stop."

I rubbed my bruising cheek. "Shut it, you and Kyo are worse."

Torhu asked me. "Why did you two fight like that?"

I shrugged. "To test my skills and his."

She looked at me a bit shocked, but I grinned. I looked at Shigure. "Now go and finish your book so you can torture your publisher later."

Shigure grinned. "Aw, Shiro's so mean. I bet it's the violence."

I glared, not wanting him to ruin my good mood. "Shut up."

Shigure shook his head in mock disappointment. "This is why you have no friends."

I stiffened from where I was walking up the stairs. "I actually met some friends today."

Yuki voice was sharp. "Boys or girls."

I snorted harshly. "What? You like to gossip now?"

Yuki voice was just as harsh as mine. "You know the risk."

I scoffed. "Like he didn't screw that up."

Yuki said. "I'm not the only one Torhu turned in front of."

His voice softened around her name.

I started walking up the stairs. "It's not her I'm talking about."

I heard him exhale sharply as I walked in my room, shutting my door. I felt a little bad from saying all that in front of Torhu, but Yuki pissed me off. He likes to lecture on things I didn't need to be lectured on. I laid on my bed, looking up at the ceiling, wondering if anyone in the Sohma family would show up.

I know I haven't updated in a while on stories, but I had college and writers block along with a crappy computer. Hope you liked it. Don't know what I'm updating next.