(A little side note to a guest who pointed out something on my last chapter. Yes they transform when they hug the opposite gender, but members within the Zodiac can hug each other all they like! Watch episode 4- I think- and that will prove it.)

Hey, thanks for taking the time to read this next chapter! I loved writing this one, so I hope you enjoy it too Review!

Chapter 7- An unwelcome house guest.

It was a Sunday. None of the Zodiacs had risen out of bed- all were still exhausted from their first week at school. Benjirou and Kairi had been rather hospitable, showing them around the school, and, as suggested, they really did eat cake in the cafeteria, which, Haruhi had to admit, was very tasty. Ben had been chatty, and they talked about anime, ninja (which he, too, also loved) and food (which he ate startling amounts of). However, nothing at all was said about any of their personal lives. For understandable reasons, Sora, Tsuneo and Haruhi would lightly avoid speaking of their pasts, and Ben didn't pry. He asked few questions about their lives, and so they honoured that by not asking him any in return. It felt like his mind was uncharted territory. Kairi cheerfully joined in the conversation, Haruhi eventually deciding to overlook his transparency, thinking she was looking for too much into it. She saw this as a development of a friendship, and was optimistically hoping it would continue.

"Haruhi!"

Haruhi grunted in her sleep, and opened one bleary eye. "Dad? What the hell do you want so early in the morning?" she mumbled.

"It's your own damn fault for not waking up in the morning," Kyo replied. "You've got a phone call. It's a boy from school."

"Crap. I have a feeling I know who it is. Tell him I'm not here."

"Too late, already said I'd go get you."

"Dammit!"

She yawned, and stretched out her arms with deliberate sluggishness, musing over how hers and Kyo's speech was similar. Rubbing her eyes, she pulled off the bed sheets and heaved herself off the bed, accidentally knocking over her lamp in the process. Why, why so early? Was it crime to want to sleep on the weekend?
She sighed and took the phone from Kyo's hand, and he gave quiet laugh before departing to the living room.

"Yeah?" she muttered, in no mood to speak.

"Hey, it's me, Ben," an enthusiastic voice came from down the line.

"You know Ben, you're very loud."

"Oops, sorry! Anyway, I was just calling to ask something."

"What is it?"

"Can I come round today with Kairi? Please!" he said in a deliberately childish tone. A muffled sound came from his end, along with a small thud. "Get off, Aki!" He said.

"Who's that?" Haruhi asked, curious.

"It's just my older brother. He likes fight games. Anyway, so what do you say?" Another thud. "Go away!"

Older brother? A little strange for an older brother to want to interrupt a phone call with something trivial like that. Even Haruhi wouldn't. She nodded in conviction- definitely something strange about him. However, everyone had their own personal business, and it would be the height of rudeness to interfere. Wait- Haruhi confessed that that sort of thing didn't usually stop her from prying.

"Haruhi? What is it? You've gone quiet."

"Oh, sorry Ben. I'll go ask, wait a sec. Hey, wait, what about Naoko?"

"Oh yeah, she can't come. I already asked her."

"'Kay, just wait a minute while I go ask."

Haruhi dashed into the living room, where Tohru was sat, with Kyo having an arm round her shoulder. They were talking quietly between themselves. When Haruhi entered, they both looked up, equally confused.

"Uh, could I have Ben and Kairi round today? That's what he asked me on the phone," she said, out of breath.

Kyo glanced at Tohru for a second, before clearing his throat. "Sure. Just don't let them know about the curse, got it?"

"Of course!" Haruhi said vigorously. "I would never let them know. That's why it's called a secret, right?"

Tohru smiled. "Well done, Haruhi!" she beamed.

"Why?"

"You're an amazing person! I can tell you're always going to keep the secret safe. That's why we let you go to a co-ed school instead of an all-girls' academy!"

"Don't you want to ask Naoko to come, too? She does go to your school," Kyo added.

"Nah, Ben said he already phoned her, and she can't make it."

Haruhi blushed, and ran out of the room. Outside the door, she smiled from ear to ear, before running into Tsuneo's room.

"Hey, Tsuneo, wake up!" she urged, shaking him.

"Excuse me?" he mumbled, opening his eyes. "It's morning already?"

"Afternoon, actually. We've got guests coming over today!"

"Who? Wait, it's Ben and Kairi, isn't it?"

"Yeah. We've just got to keep the secret safe, and we'll be fine."

"Are you looking forward to their arrival?"

"Well, I guess so. They might become our friends, so I want to get to know them. Especially Ben. He seems a little too jolly, to be honest."

Tsuneo nodded. "Then I will gladly accept them into this house. I'm sure today will be great." He didn't sound too certain.

A couple of hours later, two measured knocks at the door alerted everyone to the presence of their house guests. To general astonishment, it was Tsuneo who got up and padded down the hallway to let them in. He opened the door as quietly and slowly as possible (a strange habit of his) and turned on a small smile to welcome Ben and Kairi.

"Hello," Tsuneo said awkwardly. Haruhi had to smile- it looked like he was making so much effort.

"Hi there!" Ben chirped. He leaned round Tsuneo to look down the hallway, where everyone else was stood watching. "Hi, everyone, we're here!"

"Good morning," Kairi said pleasantly.

They both kicked their shoes off and placed them in the pile they saw beside the door. Haruhi noticed that Ben's shoes were scuffed and peeling away at the soles, and the hem line on his jeans was slightly torn. As she expected, Kairi was a complete contrast. They were like polar opposites, but she had heard Sora say once that opposites attract. Maybe this was what she was on about.

"Cool place you have here," Ben complimented. He walked over to Kyo and Tohru and bowed, suddenly all respectful. "Thanks for letting us come over!"

"It's fine. Make yourselves at home!" Tohru beamed. Ben looked up at her and smiled, if a little sadly, like a distant memory was creeping into his head.

"What is this, a dojo?" Kairi guessed. "It certainly is impressive. I come from a long line of martial artists, and we ourselves own a dojo, but not quite as extraordinary as this one." Haruhi almost sniggered at the lie.

"Yeah, my dad's the master here!" Haruhi supplied.

Feeling the awkwardness of the need to make small talk, Sora rounded the Zodiacs and their friends up, and took them into the living room, saying, "Come on-I just thought of something fun we can do!"

Haruhi clapped her hands together, understanding. "Have ever played ninja?" she asked to them.

Ben and Kairi blinked. "Wha?"

Haruhi had, on no occasion, imagined the possibility that they might make friends with outsiders. Yet, as she sat on the floor with Tsuneo, Sora, Benjirou and Kairi, sipping tea and playing cards after a game of 'ninja', she had to concede that they were making some progress in that area. There, she felt, was a reason that they might never become real friends, unless something happened soon; there was an aura around both Ben and Kairi, a border that felt like it would be impossible to cross. A border like the Juunishi curse. Something was going on in their lives that was hurting them. Whatever it was, she decided to treat them like she didn't suspect a thing- which was probably how they wanted it to stay.

"So, do you like it here? Have you been here long?" Ben asked, observing his hand of cards with intense interest.

"I can't really speak for the other two, but I think I kind of do," Haruhi replied.

"Oh yeah, I have to keep reminding myself that you're adopted. So these guys aren't your real parents?"

"They are," Haruhi nodded.

"Really?" Ben blinked in mild surprise, then seemed to sense he was treading near forbidden territory. "Well, it seems like a pretty good family unit here. Your mother's really nice. She even made us tea!"

"Tohru is lovely," Tsuneo agreed. "If it wasn't for her, I might not be speaking right now. I might still be brooding in a corner. Because, that is how I behaved at first."

"Tohru has a kind of calming influence on people," Sora grinned.

"Like you need to be calmed! You're the calmest person ever!" Haruhi exclaimed, and everyone laughed.

Interrupting them, there was an almost inaudible knock at the front door.
As if they had been waiting for it, the Zodiacs rose from their seats with blank faces. Haruhi began to feel a coil of nerves twist insider her, and somehow she felt like her spirit was compelling her to answer that door. Ben and Kairi looked up at them in confusion as a whoosh of tension befell the Zodiacs, their eyes fearfully alert, knowing.

"Expecting someone else?" Ben asked, unsmiling for once, seeing their alarmed expressions.

"Haruhi…" Sora mumbled, panic in her voice. "Haruhi, it's…"

"I know, I feel it too."

"I want to go, but I don't…" Tsuneo whispered. "It is that same feeling again."

They paused, until they heard the door open and Tohru's distant, shocked voice. "Akito!"

"No… I can't stop it anymore," Sora said. "We have to go."

"Sorry, Ben, but could you and Kairi stay in here for a while? Fam- Family business," Haruhi said, struggling to keep her voice even. "The head of the family's here…"

"Sure," Kairi muttered.

"No problem," said Ben.

The door to their room opened, revealing Kyo, whose face was completely desolate. He walked in a little, before taking Haruhi's wrist and leading her to the door.

"It's you she wants to see first, Haruhi…" Kyo muttered. "I'm so sorry, we couldn't keep her out."

Haruhi bit her lip, terrified, but accepting that this was probably fate. She knew Akito would catch up to them one day. Her bird spirit rejoiced. She exited the room, leaving Tsuneo and Sora distressed, and Ben and Kairi totally mystified.

She entered the room on her own, unconsciously brushing the almost completely healed marks on her body.

"Akito…" Haruhi said quietly. Every instinct was screaming at her to embrace Akito, to never let go, to descend deeper in…

"Hi… Haruhi!" Akito said, sat on the floor, skinny, sharp, with silky black hair, a shadow casting over her face.

Haruhi internally shivered. Akito was tapping her fingers lightly on her thighs. Her pupils were small, her mouth was wide open and bent into a smile, and her jet black was cut short and clinging to her head.

Akito slowly rose and took a step forward, and Haruhi backed away slightly when she reached out a hand, and touched her cheek. Her cheek flushed as it was stroked by Akito's bony hand, and Haruhi closed her eyes.

Please… let this be over soon. She thought.

"It seems like it's been such a long time!" Akito said enthusiastically, but her eyes weren't smiling.

"It has been a long time," Haruhi said, nodding. She wringed her hands together in an attempt to combat her racing pulse.

"Won't you come and join me for a time? I haven't had a chance to talk to you since you deserted me," Akito said. Her voice slowly got more spiteful. "I have a few things I want to say to you."

"Fine. Okay." Haruhi sighed. What kind of a person was she if she let herself get broken down that easily? Better to face life's problems head-on than trying to run away like a frightened child.

Akito took Haruhi by the hand and prepared to lead her into the familiar sitting position that they had spent many an hour together, locked together, side by side, in the bond between God and the Zodiac. Haruhi felt almost ashamed at the fact that she loved spending time with God. It felt as if her body was being ripped in two halves, each with a rough, jagged edge to it. One part of her truly loved Akito, the other wanted to kill herself every time she saw her.

Akito sat down, leaning against a wall and raising on knee close to her chest, letting the other one rest straight on the floor.

"Come sit with me, Haruhi," Akito invited, pointing at the floor next to her. Haruhi, with an emotionless face, seated herself next to Akito, who pulled her closer, grabbing tightly onto her clothes. She thought it best to switch off her emotions, to let it slide, to wait it out until it was finished.

Akito leant in closer and whispered something soft in her ear, and their faces brushed against each other's.

"How has your life been? Is living in this house fun… living with those monsters? Does it suit your preferences?" Akito asked.

Haruhi said nothing for a few moments, and sighed. "I don't know." It was true. She didn't know anything anymore, under the presence of Akito Sohma. Up was down, down was up, left was right and right was left, the whole world was back to front and it seemed like no-one understood. Could she condemn the place and forget about all those who lived here, to protect them right now? If she said she hated it, would Akito leave the others alone, satisfied to be correct?

"You don't know?"

"… No."

She felt her soul diminishing every second, until a small fire began to burn desperately inside of her, fighting to keep her soul alight. It was a strange feeling.

"You can come back to me, forever. I love you very much, Haruhi, as the bird, the successor of Kureno, the one closest, by my side. You can live happily among the Sohma."

"It's false happiness, though." Haruhi realised something. She breathed in and out very deeply.

"Huh?"

"Living there, it's false happiness. I could live there and let my soul take over. I could stroll the grounds, talk to you, eat at banquets, all while etching a transparent smile on my face, pretending it's all perfect. But there would be this emptiness inside me, the whole time. I can't decide; I'm so at odd with everything…" Haruhi mumbled, feeling more ashamed every second.

Akito jerked away from her touch, and stood up.

"You ungrateful woman! You think it's not lonely, existing there on my own? The least all you monsters could do was to stay by my side, not abandon me, your God!" she yelled. She was shaking, visibly fuming. "I was born to be loved!"

"Please, Akito, don't get so mad," Haruhi beseeched, concerned that they may be heard by Ben or Kairi; then they would truly have some explaining to do. After that would come a steady stream of questions, questions that were best unanswered.

"Don't order me around. Show some humility!" Akito grabbed Haruhi by the wrist, and yanked her to her feet. She held on, and although Haruhi could have broken the grasp with ease, something prevented her.

"Akito, it doesn't have to be this way, I don't… I don't think so, anyway. I don't know if living with Kyo and Tohru is better than there, not yet, but I'm not abandoning you, I swear!" she shouted, not caring anymore, feeling so confused she felt like her head would burst from the pressure. "I like being the bird, I do!"

Akito let out a cry, and struck Haruhi in the face, a force strong enough almost to knock Haruhi off her feet. Her cheek burned with pain, and she felt blood on her face. It was happening, all over again, it was happening…

***
Meanwhile, Tsuneo, having claimed to be going to the bathroom, had abruptly left the room. Ben and Kairi, claiming to be going to the kitchen for food, also departed.

***
"Argh!" Haruhi cried, clutching her face, and feeling tears gathering in her eyes from the pain. "Don't… no more pain!"

She hadn't been used to this kind of pain in a long time. She had softened.

"Akito!"

Haruhi gasped as she heard a frantic, familiar voice from behind her.

"Akito, stop!"

Tsuneo ran into the room, looking distressed. He grabbed hold of Akito before she could strike Haruhi again, holding her arms behind her back with considerable effort. He gritted his teeth with the effort of holding Akito still in his grip. Haruhi fell to the floor, a little fearful of the increasing amount of blood trickling down her face and onto the floor.

"You!" Akito spat. "It's the horse. I always hated the horse- did you know, the horse tried to break this curse once! She tried to steal my precious possession! You are just like her- stealing the bird away from me right now!"

Tsuneo trembled, but held strong. His jaw was hard, and his eyes were filled with pain, yet resolute.

"You don't mean that. You always kept me closest next to you, never out of your sight, attending to your every whim… did that mean nothing to you?" Tsuneo asked quietly. Akito narrowed her eyes. "Please," he said in his soft voice. "Akito, please… Leave this house." Akito stopped struggling under his grip, shocked. "Akito, you are hurting someone precious to me. If you leave this room, and return to the main house, things will continue to heal here, and your Zodiac will not abandon you. However, if you continue to cause pain to the people I care about, we might decide to leave you forever, to go away."

Akito elbowed him away, and pulled up the falling shoulders of her kimono. She grabbed Tsuneo by the collar and leant in towards his now terrified face to whisper something in his ear. "Betrayers, all of you… Tsuneo, I made the effort to educate you the most out of everyone here. I even allowed you to sleep in the same room as me, didn't I? And now you're choosing to throw it back in my face, you betrayer?"

She released him from her grasp, and sauntered out of the room. There was so much tension in the room, they could feel it in the air.

Tsuneo hurried over to Haruhi, who was becoming alarmed at the sight of her own blood on the floor. He picked her up, and carried her to the door, before stopping in his tracks.

Benjirou and Kairi were stood, frozen with shock, having witnessed the whole thing.

***

"What the heck was that?" Ben breathed.

Tsuneo shook his head, ignored Ben's words and pushed past him. Haruhi was aware of what was going on, but wave after wave are exhaustion flooded through her. Though she was mindful of her bleeding head, she pulled herself down out of Tsuneo's hold and set her feet on the floor.

"Are you okay to walk?" he asked.

"Yeah, just- just get something for this, please," she said, pointing to the wound on her head. She was starting to feel dizzy. Tsuneo nodded, and ran off, Ben in close pursuit.

Soon, Tohru and Sora came rushing with warm water, a cloth, and dressing, and Haruhi allowed them to take care of her while she gazed into space. Not long after this, everyone else in the house was present.

"What the heck kind of family is this?" Ben asked, watching Sora apply the dressing. He seemed astounded that no-one appeared to be overly surprised- only concerned for Haruhi.

"Don't get all worked up. It's normal," Haruhi muttered. "This sort of thing happened all the time before."

"Before?"

Everyone exchanged looks, as if they were conferring telepathically. Haruhi sighed. "We might as well tell them both. It's not as if we can hide anything now, is it?" she said. When Sora had finished with the dressing, Haruhi pushed her hand away. "Thanks," she smiled at her.

"Tell us what?" Kairi asked. "This is no ordinary family, is it?"

"I knew you guys had family troubles," Ben nodded.

"So, who's going to explain?" Haruhi said, looking from person to person. "My dad's probably the best person for this. He's good at explaining stuff."

Kyo looked directly at Ben and Kairi. "I won't go into details about the story behind it. It is complicated, long and unnecessary. I'll just cut to the point.
In the Sohma family, at the present time, fourteen members are possessed by the vengeful spirits of the characters of the Chinese Zodiac. The twelve animals, plus the cat, and plus God- that makes fourteen. It is a family curse, and we have lived with it for generations."

Ben did not ask any questions. Ben watched, awestruck by this revelation. Haruhi felt a little pleased- he was going to believe. It was Kairi she was concerned about.

"Possessed? What does that entail?" he questioned.

"I can't tell exactly what the curse is, but I can say what it does to a person who is possessed. A person possessed by an animal spirit transforms into their animal whenever they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex, or if their bodies are weak. The amount of time they change back varies from time to time."

"That wasn't all- there's more," he replied, still not satisfied.

Kyo took a deep breath, and walked out of the room, saying, "Haruhi, you can explain the rest."

Thanks for reading! :P