Cursed Constellations

Hi guys!I've got to say, this next chapter is actually turning into one of my favorites. Have fun.

READ THIS:

So, I think I mentioned this earlier but never really followed through with it. On photobucket, I created an album with pictures of the characters you've met so far. At least, the way I see them. If you type in photobucket.com and then /cursedconstellations. Just like that with no spaces, capitalizations or periods, you should find my album with the characters pictures and names. If you have trouble with that way, then try typing in my username, Rolkdan, and look under the album Cursed Constellations. I just thought you guys might like to see (: Hope you like them!

Now for an update of the characters you've met so far:

Maia - Taurus - Fifteen. Same age as Haru and also Momiji.
Ryuu - Scorpio - Seventeen. One year older than Yuki, Kyo and Tohru.
Kaikou - God - Twenty-Three.
Yuka - Unknown - Librarian at the school - Twenty-Six.
Chiyo - Gemini - Seven.
Jin - Unknown - Family doctor - Twenty-Eight.

Hope this helps at least a little bit, if you were confused on something. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Animic Over + Out

X
The Battle of the Gods

Haru had chosen to walk to school alone, today, for he was temporarily sick of his entire family. After Yuki and Kyo found out who the Eto's really were, they were full of questions, as was Momiji. Haru just couldn't take any more questions about the Eto family. What animal Maia and Ryuu are. If they have an outcast. Do they have a God? What are they like? How many has he met? Does Haru like Maia—that was the worst one.

It was a rare thing when Haru could be by himself. Of course, that never lasts too long, does it? For, the moment he got to school and went to his classroom, someone was waiting for him.

"She is no longer your concern." Ryuu. He was standing against the lockers next to Haru's classroom with his arms crossed, his eyes glaring at him through his red and black striped hair. "Maia," he confirmed.

"Yes, I knew who you were talking about," Haru said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Ryuu fidgeted his position against the locker, still glaring at him.

"You will stay away from her," Ryuu warned.

"And if I refuse? I'm not scared of you," Haru scowled, his temper rising just a little bit. Maia had just begun to warm up to him slightly, and if they had any chance of breaking this curse, or at least feeling like they weren't alone, they would all do better to stay close to the Eto family. To hell with what Akito said.

"Do you seriously believe that your God and Kaikou are so different?" he spat. "How kindly do you think he will take to know that Maia has been spending the majority of her time with not only a boy, but a man of his rival zodiac? Do you think her crime will go without punishment? Who's to say he won't turn to you—"

"—then I will face the consequences," Haru said, getting angrier still.

Ryuu only laughed. "You don't wanna go down this road with me, cow."

"Don't I?"

"I haven't pummelled you into the ground, yet, for Maia's sake. But now that Kaikou has forbidden it, expect no mercy. I don't like the guy. In fact, I hate him, but I'll take any chance I can get to put you in your place. You stay away from my Maia!"

"Sounds as if you like her," Haru suggested, grinning darkly.

Ryuu smirked. "Maybe you're right." Ryuu nodded and crossed his arms, walking closer to Haru, and laughed. "Maybe I do. But, then, you do, too, right? Isn't that why you want to spend so much time together? Why else would you? Tell you what. How 'bout we make a deal? I won't say anything to Kaikou if you introduce me to some of your lady zodiac friends. Think they'd be interested in me bringin' my scorpion out?"

Haru was not laughing. He was staring at Ryuu, daring him to say anything. Oh, but Ryuu dared. He did a little more than that.

"That girl you and your pals are always with. Tohru, is it? She's a real babe, isn't she? Maybe I'll take her…and we'll do a little bit of this and a little bit o' that. Who was the Kisa girl that Hatori mentioned the other day? Maybe she'd be down for a little play."

That crossed the line. Black Haru.

Hatsuharu had snapped. He grabbed the shoulders of Ryuu and slammed him into the lockers, hard, making an echoing sound. Teenagers around them stopped to watch as a fight was sure to break out. With Ryuu, it always did, and Hatsuharu was also making a reputation like that for himself.

"Found your weak spot, then, did I?" Ryuu laughed.

"You keep talking and I'll rip that pretty mouth of yours right off!" Haru yelled.

"Oh, have I struck a nerve?" he shoved Haru's hands of his shoulders. "Don't ever touch me again, you filthy cow."

"Don't hold your breath!"

And just like that, Haru and Ryuu began to do more than just argue. Haru held out his fist and went in to punch him but, as he did, Ryuu took his shoulders and slammed his head into the lockers behind him. As Haru fell onto the ground, Ryuu bent down to grab him by his jacket, but Haru swept his feet across Ryuu's, knocking him onto the ground. He stood up and put his hands against the lockers, trapping Ryuu next to them with his left foot and kicking him with his right again, and again, and again.

Suddenly, he felt two sets of hands grab him by his shoulders and pulled him back. Yuki and Kyo.

Haru's face was bleeding from the locker but that didn't stunt him in the slightest. Not Black Haru. "Just try and stop me, claw-freak! Just for that, I'm gonna take her whenever I want, and guess what, lover boy, when I'm done with her, she won't even remember your name. I'll knock her so hard her memory of you will fall outta her head!"

"Haru, shut up!" Kyo yelled.

Ryuu stood up from against the lockers and straightened his jacket. He walked closer towards Haru, who was still being held by Yuki and Kyo. "You're dead, boy."

As Ryuu walked away, Haru still wasn't done. "Yeah, I'll see you in hell, won't I?" But Ryuu never turned around.

"Are you sure about this, Kaikou-dono?" Maia asked as Kaikou sat on his bed, awaiting the arrival of his rival God.

Like Akito, Kaikou had always been rather ill. Remedies did not always work for him and he was nearly accompanied by Jin nearly every second of the day. Jin was their family doctor, normally seen around Kaikou, who required his full attention. And he was also currently here, keeping his mouth shut. He knew when it was not the time to stand up to Kaikou.

Just like Jin, Kaikou knew, as well as most people, that Maia would do anything to protect Kaikou, and would never refuse him. He could count on the both of them.

"What I do and not do is not your concern, Maia," Kaikou snapped at her, in response to her question.

Maia only bit her lip and bowed her head towards him, respectfully. "Noted."

All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door, and Maia withdrew a breath. This was it. Kaikou gave her a firm glance and she quickly walked over to the door. Opening it, slowly, she saw Hatori and what she assumed to be their God, Akito, escorted by Ryuu, who looked very angry about something.

Hatori gave Maia a strange look and slightly tilted his head forward, looking at Maia. Akito was giving Maia a harsh glance and, with panicked eyes, Maia lowered her head and bowed slightly to Akito, the God whom she did not serve. Akito seemed pleased.

"Akito-sama, this is my master…Kaikou-dono." Akito and Hatori further entered the room, closing the door, and they made their way towards Kaikou, who was standing with his arms folded, taking up what was happening.

Hatori bowed to Kaikou, as Jin did to Akito, but Kaikou and Akito simply stared at each other, refusing to show any respect. It grew awkward.

"Usually, people bow when they enter my chambers," Kaikou said, harshly.

Akito only grinned. "As they do for me."

Neither God budged an inch.

"This is Jin, our family doctor, Hatori," Maia said, trying to break the awkward silence. At this, Hatori seemed slightly interested. Jin did not say a word but stood there with his arms at his sides, analysing the situation.

"Where did you study?" Hatori asked.

"This is not doctor break room talk, Hatori," Akito snapped. Hatori slightly bowed his head, silencing himself.

"Stay away from my family," Kaikou suddenly commanded. Akito only laughed.

"I don't follow orders. I give them. Believe me; I have no intention of conversing with your kind. Disgusting monsters. If you wish to avoid us so much, perhaps you should relocate. Defeat the chance of it even happening."

At this, Maia came in. "The Eto family has lived at this estate for generations," she fought. "My father, his father, and the father before him. The family that leaves should be yours." Kaikou raised his hand, slowly, to silence her, smiling.

"Looks like the only person this situation is making paranoid…is you." Kaikou's mouth slowly turned into an evil grin as he analysed Akito further. "Are you afraid of me? You may scare your zodiac animals, but you have no such effect on me. You'll have to try other methods of persuasion."

"Kaikou-" Jin began to warn.

Kaikou began to laugh, but that laugh turned into a cough and he ended up slightly collapsing onto Maia, who latched onto him immediately making sure he was alright. Jin seemed slightly concerned and came to Kaikou's side, in case he needed him. It was clear that whatever had suddenly hit Kaikou, it was taking a small effect on him on Maia's face was quickly turning to worry.

"This was not a good idea," Jin said to all of them. "We should all call it a day and make arrangements for another time when we are all fit for—"

But Akito began to laugh. Clearly, seeing Kaikou so weak was amusing. "How are you fit to lead a family? You are weaker than I am. I don't even know why I was so worried in the first place. "

Jin's face dropped. "This is not a laughing matter. These circumstances could plunge both of our families into the deepest pit of misfortune. You believe we are cursed now…" he glanced down at Kaikou. "Just you wait and see."

But, at this theory, Hatori, suddenly, became interested. Finally someone who shared his knowledge and few of the whole situation that both families were currently wrapped up in.

"You think there is more than just the plague?" Hatori asked.

"Can't you feel it?" Kaikou suddenly spit out, his head hanging low as Maia helped him up. He was speaking directly to Akito, and his gaze was serious and fearful to the point where it almost looked as if Akito was afraid. "If you don't feel it now…you will. And it will hurt. A storm is coming. These curses were never meant to meet. Soon, we'll figure out why."

"Silence!" Akito yelled, clearly unable to take any more of this superstitious nonsense.

All five of them were quiet as Akito glared into the eyes of Kaikou's, clearly not trusting him.

"Hatori, you will erase the memory of these men." Hatori and Maia's eye's raised in shock. "And this girl." Hatori was stunted in speech. "And when we get back—Haru. We'll explain to everyone that you were misinformed, and there was nothing to be concerned with."

"I'm afraid I can't—" Hatori started.

"You dare disobey me?" Akito snapped.

Maia put herself in front of Kaikou, protecting him. "You will not touch him!" she screamed.

"I can and I will," Akito yelled.

Kaikou grasped his hand around Maia's wrist, tightly, and pushed her aside, gently. "It's too late. People are already informed and affected. Having us all forget would only strengthen the severity of the situation, and you will have doomed all the lives of those you love. That is unless you don't give a shit."

"Do not accuse me of—"

"You are a careless and stupid God. In time, your people will realize just how much."

"Erase them, Hatori!" Akito yelled.

"How 'bout I erase yours?" Without anyone to stop him, Kaikou clenched his fist and went towards Akito about to punch him. But, he collapsed to the ground leaving Maia to scream. Akito laughed and was about to strike him when Maia interfered.

"Don't even think about it." Maia grabbed Akito's fist with her hand and kicked him hard in the gut, knocking him onto the ground. Akito was about to go after her when Hatori grabbed hold of him. Things were beginning to get out of hand. All of them could see that.

As Hatori raised Akito to standing on his feet, Maia went to the side of Kaikou who was lying on the ground, hurt. Jin walked towards the door to open it, silently glancing at the two men who had just tried to attack Kaikou.

"It would be best if you never returned here. If something happened to Kaikou, there are those in our Zodiac that would take it as a personal threat." Hatori only nodded. "Take your God and leave," Jin commanded. With a small glance at Maia, Hatori put Akito's arm around his shoulder and quickly left the room, escorted out by Ryuu who had been waiting and listening to the fight practically the entire time, but under strict orders by Jin to not enter the room. Fights tend to get worse when Ryuu is involved. It's bad enough that Maia was present. But Jin wouldn't go against Kaikou's orders to have her present.

Jin picked up Kaikou from the ground and placed him on the bed, feeling his forehead. Maia was at the side of the bed, chewing on her fingernails slightly. As badly as Kaikou treated her sometimes, Maia loved him. It was a love that she could not describe. It had no words. Only a bond somewhere in her heart.

"Will he be alright?" Maia asked, desperately.

"He has a rising fever. Nothing I haven't seen before," he assured her. "Kaikou-sama will be fine."

Maia didn't seem convinced. She stayed with him at his bedside while Jin went into his quarters to fetch some medication that is often given to Kaikou to ease his fever, as well as fetching a few other supplies. She brushed some hair away from his forehead and held the side of his head, worrying over him as a mother would a sick child.

It was almost unnatural, and there were many in the zodiac who openly thought so. Mainly Ryuu.

"Why do you care for him if he treats you like dirt," Ryuu said. It startled Maia. She didn't know that he had entered the room. He must have slipped in after Jin left.

"You wouldn't understand," she set, dampening a cloth near his bedside table with the cup of water that was there and lightly pressing it onto his forehead.

"Try me."

At this, Jin entered. He seemed to know what he was intruding on, but remained emotionless, as he usually did, and tended to Kaikou. "Whatever you two are about to do, please take it outside. Don't want to wake Kai-sama." At Maia's look of worry, Jin pressed further. "I will tend to him, Maia. He will be fine. Go get some rest."

Reluctantly, Maia allowed Ryuu to slightly pull her away from Kaikou's room and the two went outside, Maia walking slower than usual, her head on the ground. Ryuu couldn't help but roll his eyes. Her behaviour toward him was unnatural and disgusting. He hated Kaikou for the way he made Maia feel.

"He locked you in the serpent's lair for over a month, Maia," Ryuu commented, calm, but angry. His gaze was towards the moon and Maia's was still on the ground. "He doesn't care for you."

"He's the closest thing to a father I have, Ryuu."

"A father who doesn't respect you?" His temper was raising.

"He saved my life!"

Ryuu's fists clenched. "He did not. Save your life, Maia. I did!"

"Kai-dono protected me. He's the only one in this entire family that doesn't believe murdered my parents!"

"He's not the only one! I don't believe that, Maia. Can't you see—?"

"And even after the shelter he gave me, I ran away, like an idiot child, and he still took me back in. After all that I had done."

Ryuu closed his eyes, feeling his temper raising. "I helped you escape…and you should have stayed. You did what you thought was right. And you were right."

"You're wrong…I was wrong. I listened to you! Your…hatred for him. Your ignorance! Whether you wish to believe it or not, Kaikou-dono cares for us more than you know."

Ryuu's fists clenched even further. He did not like arguing with Maia, but more often than not, he became extremely frustrated with her. When Maia was younger, and Chiyo was a baby, her parents died in a fire. A fire that the majority of the Eto family believed she caused. Kaikou took her in. He treated her like shit. Sheltered her like a caged lion. She was miserable, and Ryuu wasn't going to let that happen. He helped her escape from the Eto estate without anyone knowing. He took her to one of the zodiac members who did not live in the estate, nor cared for Kaikou and had a reason to hate him.

And even then…she came back. After everything Ryuu had done to protect her. His only wish for Maia was that she be free. Here in the Eto estate…she could never be free. Not ever. Not as long as that bastard is alive.

God, how Ryuu longs for the day that his sickness overpowers him and finally kills him. That day will be cause for celebration.

"What he cares about…Maia…is control. This is why you're his puppet. How can you not see it? How are you so blind to the fact that he did everything to have control over you! And it worked! You think he loves you? Look at you, Maia! He can make you do anything. You're terrified of how much you love him, and yet you hate him? You're his puppet, Maia. He just picks up your string and dangles it to however much he likes and you just—"

"Please, stop," she said, in a low voice. It took a while for Ryuu to look down at her. Her voice was different. She was begging him.

She was crying.

Hope you guys like Jin! He'll be mentioned in the next chapter and then brought back again in probably chapter 14. Also, in the next chapter, one I've been looking forward to writing since I brainstormed it, you will meet one of my favorite characters. Well...they're all really my favorite characters. They're my babies :3 But this one is really cool, I promise.

Shout out to Greeks vs. Geeks (love your username, by the way), Pluv143000 and hidansgirl1234 for reviewing! Thank you so much! Hope you continue to read and enjoy! I appreciate all your input and questions.

Special thanks to The Almighty Pyro, BlackWolfe, ferret assassin nin and KagomeUchiha101 for reviewing multiple chapters. Love you guys! (Sorry if I missed anyone)

Also. BlackWolfe is writing her first Furuba fanfic and it has the same plot, but with the Native American Zodiac. It's called Transforming into a new life, if you want to check it out. Sorry I haven't had much time to read it, yet, Wolfe. Been working on this chapter and planning the next ones. But I will get to it, I promise! Perhaps her updates will be more frequent than mine. Ahaha XD Whoops.

Have a great day, you guys! By the way, Animic has a question. If you haven't told me already, what is your zodiac sign? I'm a Scorpio.