Hi there LeafeonLover here

considering the last chapter was so short I thought I'd better put this chapter up here too

ENJOY!

Chapter 4

Sabotage

-Takako's PoV-

I made sure to keep to the outside of the group and stay next to Hitsuji as we walked to the restaurant Mimiko suggested. I try to interact with the others as little as possible. I didn't want to be here. We both knew that, but I had already taken up enough of Hitsuji's time. I knew he wouldn't go unless I went too.

So as annoying as it was to hang out with these people, I kept my face and voice as neutral as possible. If I didn't, I might just end up cracking because of how infuriating they all are. Like I said, most of the girls weren't so nice to me and Mimiko was particularly cruel. I doubted she would try anything while Hitsuji was around though.

She wouldn't smear her image that way, not in front of him at least. I couldn't risk standing next to one of the other guys either. If they tried to put their arm around me I could turn into an animal and that wouldn't be very good. We'd already had one close call today and I didn't want to have another.

Even though they weren't very nice people, I didn't want them to lose their memories. More than that, if there was an incident then I'd get sent back to live at the family mansion, Hitsuji too. I couldn't have that happen now, could I? Reaching the restaurant, the waitress showed us to a window table big enough for everyone.

It also had a nice view of the river. I sat down next to Hitsuji on the end of the table with the three guys sitting on the other side of the table and one girl on the end of the table. Mimiko of course, sat next to Hitsuji. We quickly peruse the menu, deciding on what we want to eat and drink.

The waitress takes our orders and a few minutes later comes back with our drinks as some light conversation begins. "Sorry to hear you two had to clean the classroom, I hope it wasn't too bad." The girl at the end of the table, Yui, fames an apology.

She wasn't really sorry. Who would be sorry for getting out of cleaning the classroom? I know I wouldn't feel sorry if someone else had been left behind to clean. I looked away from the table since the question was obviously not really directed at me, but at Hitsuji. The river was dark in the low light, like a long black serpent with shimmering scales.

"It went just fine. I mean, who doesn't like to clean the classroom before break?" Hitsuji replies in slight joking manner.

He wasn't much one for joking which was probably why it wasn't that funny. Still the two girls laughed as if it was most hilarious thing they'd ever heard.

"Still, for breaking that, you two got off pretty easy." Yui points out.

That was true I supposed, under normal circumstances we probably would have gotten a detention at the least. However, being the last day of school the teacher probably didn't want to stick around any longer either. So cleaning the classroom was the worst punishment he could give us, and it was as annoying as he intended it to be.

"Accidents happen." Hitsuji replied simply.

"Well, they happen to me anyway." I mutter to myself, momentarily glaring at the girls seated around the table.

Despite not being completely certain, I was reasonably sure that what I had tripped over had been the purposefully placed foot of one of the people crowding around the classroom entrance. Most likely one of the girls, perhaps even one of the girls at this table. I wouldn't put it past Mimiko to do something like that. She liked to play dirty that way.

Hitsuji leans over to whisper to me quietly "Relax, I don't blame you for it."

My eyes pinch upon realizing that Hitsuji's hearing was better than I gave him credit for. I hadn't meant for anyone to hear that. But I brush it off and continue to play along with this.

"What are you guys doing over the break?" Hitsuji questions the group.

"Not sure, I'm hoping to go do some karaoke." The guy across from me answers with a grin.

What was his name again? Riku, I think. I have no idea what his last name is and frankly, I don't care.

"That sounds like a lot of fun." Koki, the guy sitting diagonal to me adds.

Just visualising their off tune and all around terrible singing makes me chuckle, but I quickly cover my mouth with my hand to hide it. Unfortunately, despite my attempts, Riku seemed to have heard my muffled laughter.

"Would you like to come join us?" he asks me with half-lidded eyes.

I suppose that was meant to be a pleading look? I hide the look of distaste before it can surface on my face by looking down at the table and playing with a nearby utensil.

"Oh, no thank you. I'm not a very good singer." I say quietly.

It was true. When it came to singing I wasn't very good at it. I sung sometimes in the privacy of my own bedroom or shower, but not out in public and especially not in front of anyone. I get the feeling Hitsuji hears me sometimes, but he never says anything about it.

"Neither am I, but it's always a blast anyways." Riku replies grinning playfully.

I feel my eye twitch slightly in annoyance at this guy's persistence. If I were to go to karaoke, which I never would, it wouldn't be with these guys, not in a million years.

"How about you Hitsuji, would you like to join us for some karaoke over the break?" I hear Mimiko asking Hitsuji.

I try not to let my annoyance show on my face, instead focusing on getting this guy to leave me out of his plans.

"No, that's alright. I've… already got plans." I refuse again narrowing my eyes and hoping he would get the message this time.

It wasn't exactly a lie. I did have plans. Plans that involved staying home and away from these people for as long as I possibly could.

"Oh well, maybe next time." Riku answers pouting in clear disappointed.

I didn't much care if he was disappointed by my refusal, that wouldn't make me change my mind.

"Maybe." I repeat, not really meaning it.

It was probably cruel of me to give him any hope at all but I didn't want to crush his hopes flat. At least, not with other people around. I wasn't that cruel.

"Sorry, I'm busy too." Hitsuji also declines Mimiko.

I knew he would. Hanging out with people of the opposite gender, alone, was dangerous for cursed people like us.

"Awww!" The girls whine as they pout in discontent.

Mimiko even going so far as to lean close to Hitsuji, making a 'puppy-dog face' while simultaneously trying to press her breasts against him. Hitsuji just smiles pleasantly, leaning away faintly to keep just out of her reach.

"Hitsuji, don't tell me you of all people… are shy?" Haruto who is sitting in the middle winks teasingly.

Hitsuji doesn't get time to reply as our food then arrives. Not surprisingly the two girls have identical salads placed in front of them while the guys have meats of varying types with chips. Hitsuji has a cheeseburger on the other hand, while I have a little thin crust supreme pizza. I glance at Hitsuji looking to steal one of his chips.

Instead I see him wrinkling his nose at the sight of lamb chops positioned on one of guy's plates. I smirk to myself, taking a slice of pizza and biting into it. I find the expression he makes when he sees someone eating lamb quite humorous. Being the sheep of the zodiac, it was no wonder why he disliked seeing people eating lamb.

I myself didn't mind eating lamb. Being the tiger of the zodiac, I liked pretty much any meat. I didn't eat lamb while Hitsuji was around though. I won't eat it despite the funny expression he makes.

"Something wrong, Hitsuji?" Koki with lamb on his plate queries, raising his brow at Hitsuji.

Hitsuji probably realising he was making 'the lamb face' again, relaxed his features before looking away.

"Nothing, I just don't like the idea of eating sheep." His reply tone is completely stoic.

The people sitting at the table seemed surprised by this.

"Do you like sheep a lot or something?" Yui questions from her seat at the end of the table.

She seemed to be making a conscious effort to sound casual despite wanting to know so badly.

"Yeah, they're my favourite animal."

Since Hitsuji didn't talk much about himself to others, the girls were scrambling to find out anything and everything about him.

"How cute~" Mimiko gushes, her expression of adoration is hard to miss.

It would give them the edge over the other Hitsuji crushers in the school, I'm sure they thought.

"Why do you like them so much? All they're good for is eating." Koki inputs waving a lamb chop around as if to make his point before he bites into it.

I scowl in distaste at the male's bad manners, didn't he get taught not to play with his food. Well I guess that was a little hypocritical coming from me, I laughed inwardly.

"Not sure, I… just do?" Hitsuji hesitates, looking troubled on how he should respond.

This subject seems to be getting a little too close for comfort to him. He could just say they're cute, but he wouldn't. He'd never say anything to break his expected image. I shoot him a reassuring smile that I hoped would ease his nervousness. Mimiko glares at Koki as if he'd personally offended her.

Mimiko tries leaning closer to Hitsuji again, reiterating "Well, I think it's cute."

Only to receive the same treatment as the last time she tried, much to her annoyance.

"Yeah, lambs are so cuddly." Yui coos in agreement, probably picturing a cute little lamb right now.

I couldn't help but agree. I loved all baby animals and when Hitsuji was little he turned into the most adorable lamb, I smiled at the memory.

"Well, I like strong and cool animals, like dinosaurs." Riku across from me announces puffing out his chest.

I glare at him half-heartedly. His need to remind us how 'manly' he was, is really bugging me.

"I prefer dragons." Koki chimes in while demolishing the lamb on his plate.

I snigger inwardly at this particular choice as I don't think dragons actually counted as animals. Even my baby cousin, who was born the other day, only turns into a seahorse and he's the dragon of the Zodiac. They were mythical creatures, and I'm pretty sure no-one had ever seen one.

"Dragons aren't real animals…" Mimiko points out.

I frown that I'd even been thinking along the same lines as her, gross.

"I'm more into tigers." Haruto says diffusing an argument between the two before it can start.

I feel myself perk up at the mere mention of tigers.

"Tigers are my favourite too." I agree softly.

I see the guys look at me in slight surprise probably not expecting me to say anything since I'd been pretty quiet this whole time.

"Really?" Haruto says in surprise grinning slightly as he leans across the table a bit.

"They're just so majestic. I think tigers are really cool." He says, scratching the side of his face seeming embarrassed.

The other two guys glare at him as he does this. Being a tiger myself I felt flattered by these compliments, but I shook it off.

Hiding my pleased expression, I instead ask a question to draw attention away "Have you seen a live one before?"

"I've only seen the tigers in zoos, in videos and on television, things like that." Haruto responds.

I make a noise of understanding as that was only expected of normal people.

"They're much better up close." I remarked, offhandedly.

I didn't really mean anything by it, but I forgot that wasn't normal for a second.

"You've seen one up close?" Yui speaks sounding astonished.

"That's so cool!" The guys chorus.

I felt a swell of pride at how impressed they were at this simply fact, Mimiko even looked a little envious. It was probably childish of me to be proud of making her feel bad, but how I hated her. I blushed lightly hiding my face behind my hair as I looked away.

"Well, it was a long time ago." I waved my hand dismissively.

"Still, that's pretty amazing." Koki commented.

Pfft. If only he knew I could see a tiger up close any time I wanted in the mirror.

"Where did you see it?" Riku questions.

"Um, well…" I stammer.

How best to answer that question. Of course I couldn't tell the truth, no-one was allowed to know the family secret. I knew you could play with tigers in Indonesia. Perhaps that would be the best lie.

"It was during a family trip." Hitsuji cuts in immediately.

I saw what he was doing. The family trip he was talking about, the one we went on as kids.

"Yeah, we were a lot younger back then." I remember with a small smile.

I took a sip of the drink I'd ordered a while back, the ice had mostly melted now.

"True. It's a bit hard to remember, but I do recall seeing a tiger too." He confirmed while shooting me a teasing look.

I couldn't help but smirk. If Hitsuji was referring to the trip I think he is, I knew what that look meant. We both ended up getting sick and couldn't really maintain our human forms. So we just settled for playing around in our animal forms, playing tag I think.

Well… when we were playing tag, I was chasing after Hitsuji and went to tag him and… ended up biting him on the leg.

"Yes, it was very beautiful. Tigers aren't really dangerous, not the ones used to interacting with people at least. Their more like... a big house cat." I informed with a curt smile.

I catch the eye roll from Hitsuji and give him a death glare for a second. I hadn't meant to do it. I don't think I meant to at least, we were quite young. I don't really remember how it ended up like that. It just sorta... happened. My teeth were a lot sharper than I thought they were.

Even in my human form my upper canines were longer and sharper than most people's.

"Do you not like tigers, Hitsuji?" Yui asks probably having caught Hitsuji's eye roll too.

"No, I like them but… I wouldn't exactly call them harmless." He's shooting me that same look.

I glare back at him mentally making a sarcastic apology. I wouldn't think of doing such a thing now. When I bit Hitsuji on his right back leg. He bled quite a lot and limped for a few days afterwards. My mum was furious and I got in huge trouble. Hitsuji himself didn't seem to mind so much.

He seemed more annoyed that he couldn't run around than he was that I'd bitten him in the first place. Despite it being obviously painful, he pretended it didn't hurt. He maintained that he was fine even whilst limping around. Just like he had today with his cut arms, I sighed.

I glimpse over at Hitsuji with an apologetic expression. He didn't seem to take it too seriously though only smirking back at me. I shook my head, I guess just being around me resulted in injuries somehow. Something Hitsuji like to tease me about quite often.

I don't understand how he could be so serious all the time then just brush it all off when something like this happened. It didn't make sense to me.

"And here comes the psychic talk. You know, not everyone can read minds you two." Yui groans.

She was just jealous that no-one knew Hitsuji like I did. How sad for her. So unlucky she wasn't cursed like us. I huffed, looking away slightly annoyed. By this time we'd all finished our meals and asked for the bill. I pulled my wallet out of my schoolbag despite how the three guys offered to pay for me and protested when I refused.

I ignored them and left 2,000 yen on the table, enough to cover my meal and drink. Hitsuji did the same. The other two girls didn't pay for anything. They left it to the other guys, who were more than happy to pay for them when the two girls batted their eyelashes at them.

Our little group started walking toward the river to walk up the bank. Mimiko was rummaging around her bag loudly making frustrated noises.

"Where is it? I can't find it. Hey, I think I left my purse back there. Hitsuji, Haruto will you help me look for it?" Mimiko calls sweetly, giving a begging look waving her hands in a follow me motion.

Haruto went with her and Hitsuji reluctantly followed them back the way we came. Riku, Koki, Yui and I waited by the edge of the river for them to come back. I thought it strange that Mimiko had managed to misplace her wallet, seeing as she hadn't paid for anything in the first place.

Shrugging I set my bag down and stared out upon the black river watching the city lights shimmering on its surface.

"Do you… like the river?" Riku ask me stepping closer to me.

I laugh inwardly at his lame attempt at making conversation. What a stupid question. I turn my head away as I pace a little closer to the river and further away from him.

"It's pretty at this time of night." I answer simply.

I turn my body away from the other people so they can't see my face and hopefully wouldn't come closer to me again.

"Too bad we can't see stars in the city." Koki states.

I look upward finding that it was true. Tonight there weren't many stars visible. I hear some footsteps behind me, but assume it's one of the other group members moving about.

"The bright lights block all the stars out." I murmur.

Back at the mansion you could see the stars so clearly. It was a little disappointing you couldn't see them so well in the city.

"Yeah, but the lights make for a nice show reflecting off the water." Riku points out.

I shrug my shoulders in an unenthusiastic way "I guess so."

I guess he was trying to be romantic or something, but I didn't want him to think we had anything in common. I hear footsteps behind me grinding against the stone filled bank before something shoves me on the back. I start falling forward toward the water.

Panicking, I twist around grasping for something, anything, that will help me find my balance. My hand found a hold on Mimiko's wrist and gripped it tightly. She didn't seem to be expecting me to grab her and wasn't ready to support my weight. So instead of stopping me from falling as I'd hoped, she tumbles forward too.

I hear Mimiko yelp in surprise as we both fall into the river with loud splash. My ears are filled with the sound of rushing water as my whole body is flung underwater. The cold water immediately envelops me, soaking my clothes through in mere seconds. While I'm near the surface, I can hear everyone's muffled shouts.

By this point I let go of Mimiko, leaving her to her own devices. My mind races as many different thoughts flit through my head as I sink lower. That bitch! I can't believe she pushed me into the water! If neither of us drowns, I'm going to throttle that girl myself!

She'd probably been looking to humiliate me, but didn't know she was actually putting my life in danger. I can't swim. I had never been taught how to swim properly. I knew the theory, kick your legs and paddle with your arms, but that was it.

Doggy paddling across a pool is quite different to swimming with all your clothes on in a river that has a current. Little children could swim, if I drowned now I'd be quite embarrassed as a ghost. And who would be there to give Mimiko a black eye? With that in mind I try moving my limbs in swimming like motions.

I kick my legs and move my arms but they feel heavy and sluggish from the cold and there's no way to know if I'm actually getting anywhere. I can feel my lungs burn from lack of oxygen. S-shit! I'm really going to drown... I really should have taken swimming lessons.

DUN DUN DUN!

A cliffhanger~ man I don't do these very often

Anyway our longest chapter yet!

I hope you had fun reading

If you have any questions, suggestion or just wanna chat send in a review or PM me!