(13)
AN: I'm sorry for the wait. I'M SORRY! I APOLOGIZE TO YOU, MY REVIEWS, AND I APOLOGIZE TO THE WHOLE WORLD! NO! TO THE WHOLE UNIVERSE! I'M SO SORRY! FORGIVE ME! Actually, it's presumptuous of me to even ask for forgiveness. I do not deserve it! SCOLD ME! PUNISH ME! Without any mercy please judge me!!!
Guess who I am? Hint: He's the monkey of the original zodiac. But seriously, it's been months since my last chapter. I really am sorry and I feel terrible about it. Actually, I already had this chapter written but it sucked so I decided to redo it. And I ended up redoing it over and over again because writers block kept me from coming up with any good ideas. Also, school overwhelmed me with homework, AP exams, tests and a whole lot of other crap. Anyway, thank you all for the reviews and thank you for your patience. I'm not even sure if this chapter was worth the wait. Btw, this chapter tells the story of the rejected zodiac so please don't get confused.
Heavensfiregoddess. Your reviews are always the most helpful! Thank you so much.
Emby. thank you for always reading/reviewing my fic, bestest buddy. I'm so honored!
Bishouenloverseeker. Thank you for always supporting me. I love you so much, onee-chan!
And a special thanks to you, Ava. Your second review really encouraged me to get past my writer's block and get my butt in gear. Thanks a bunch!
AN: As for the last quiz question, I'd pick B. because I'd be afraid that a neighbor would call the police and I don't Yuki, Kyo or Hatsuharu to go to jail for being so violent.
Disclaimer: Fruits basket is not mine but if anyone's willing to give it to me then I'll gladly take it.
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"One day, God called all of the animals to a splendid banquet in a faraway mountain. Every single one of creations was invited to the party except for the cat. That is because at the first banquet the cat had not heeded God's warning and was late. For the rest of eternity, the cat will not be permitted to attend the banquet. For the rest of eternity, there will be a barrier between him and the rest of the animals including God. For the rest of eternity, the cat will carry the burden of being an outcast.
"Poor thing! Poor, poor, poor cat...I know! I'll stop being a dog and be a cat too!"
This banquet was the twelfth one since God had first established this tradition. At the first banquet, the animals made a promise that no matter how many times they would die and be reborn they would return to God. This promise created a bond. The bond that was sealed by the blood that flows through their veins.
"A bond of blood."
God bore the core of the bond's foundation and it gradually began to suck the years of his life away. Soon it was shortened. Without the bond, God has no foundation. Without it, he will die alone with nothing left in his hands.
"In the end they'll all come back to me. A happy future. An endless banquet. Unchanging...So stop trying to destory our happiness."
God stood above the animals and so he needed a guarantee that he could never be left alone. This tradition was made for that purpose.
"It was the animal's decision to come to the banquet each year...They made that choice by their own free will."
Every year, God held the banquet at his house and warned the animals not to be late. The promise is what tied the animals and God together for many generations to come.
Every year, the animals would attend this banquet.
Every year, the animals came in the same order as they always did; the rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and, at last, the boar. The banquet became the center of their promise.
Every year, they renewed their promise with God.
"We have to watch the first sunrise..."
For the rest of eternity this routine will be followed over and over again.
"Please just let it end. End it! I know it's painful...but you must."
The banquet, like a heavy shadow, loomed over the animals and God. So heavy that it became a curse. God wanted to make sure that the animals would come to the banquet each and every year and so he bound them and himself in chains.
"A bond...may look beautiful on the outside...But if those involved in it see it as a burden, then it is nothing but a shackle."
Their shackles were the blood that pulsed through their veins. The world they live in is the banquet that belongs to them and them alone.
"Walking on the same path. Going at the same speed. No one will come in. No one will be stolen away. Always remaining the same. We are always together."
That is because God was born to be loved. He is there because he needs to be. An existance valued above all else. Loved and hated...
"The one who stands above the rest...isn't that the same as being alone?"
That is because of the one and only truth he had established.
"Chains can not be broken"
"Will you...please help me again?" the rat asked with pleading eyes. "You'll carry me to the banquet tomorrow, right?"
The cow looked down at the rat in question and pondered whether or not he had a choice. Of course he didn't. The animals have kept the tradition by their own free will.
The rat, being smaller than the other animals, couldn't get there on his own and so he rides on top of the cow's back.
At the first banquet, the moment they had arrived, he immediately jumped off in front of the cow. The rat had earned God's favor by always being the first one there.
"The rat is the greatest member of the zodiac. He's the one closest to God. He's special, like God."
God looked at the cow and knew that he was the one who should have been first. God had placed a curse on the cow for allowing the rat to manipulate him and use him for his benefit.
"The ox was used by the rat because it was slow and stupid. The dirty, scheming rat took advantage of the cow."
The cow, being the wisest next to the monkey, dared not to upset the rat because he feared the wrath of God.
"Why so glum? Did I hurt your feelings?"
The cow looked down at the rat and nodded in consent. "There's no need to worry about it...I'll get you to that banquet," he said with reasssurance.
"Thank you...I really am grateful to you but deep down I only think of myself. I needed God's approval more than anyone...I had to." the rat let out a long sigh. Ashamed of his selfishness and saddened by the fact that all of the other animals resented him so much. Why wouldn't they hate him? A small, insignificant rat had recieved the highest of honors.
"Everybody hates rats."
"You call yourself selfish and yet you say "thank you"?" the cow smiled at his tiny friend. Friend? At the first banquet and up until this point, his feelings has always been the same. He wanted the rat to win the race and be rewarded by God. He wanted to help him. "There's no need to worry about it...I'll get you to that banquet."
"You always worry about others but right now...what's most important...is you"
The rat became flushed when he noticed the strange and quiet smile on the cow's face. "It's not like you have any other choice, right? It is essential for us to uphold this tradition at all costs." he warned.
"Yes," the cow muttered to himself in annoyance as he made his way home. "Good luck...to the both of us."
"...Yeah," the rat whispered in response. He turned around and scurried in a direction opposite of the cow's.
"Hope? Possiblities? Those concepts don't apply to you. Not to any of you."
The cow treaded along a dusty street with only his shadow to accompany him. His eyes averted from the road to a field by his side. Standing by the ledge of a cliff, the horse and sheep stood next to each other while focusing on the setting sun.
"Enjoying a few moments of freedom, perhaps?" with that, as a passing thought, the cow hurried home so that he could sleep.
"That is because, I love you. I love you all so don't misunderstand."
"Beautiful, isn't it?" the sheep, with weary eyes and an empty smile, chimed. His voice sounded too cheerful to be natural.
"Gloomy, isn't it?" the horse replied with a sneer. The horse was more open and blunt. He refused to hide his true feelings. "I would of never made that stupid promise had I known...If I had just stopped myself it wouldn't have turned out like this." He wanted it back. He wanted his freedom back. He needed it. He lusted for it.
"Don't get any ideas or think..."
"Quiet! What if someone hears you?-!" the sheep retorted. The sheep had a more timid and confined nature. He weighed his freedom on the same scale as his life and for him, the latter was heavier. He feared God's wrath.
The horse snorted in disgust and left the sheep when he spotted the tiger. He was running swiftly across the field a few feet away from them. Completely silent, the tiger ran faster and faster not caring where he went or how long it took him to get there. The horse ran along side with him, their speeds matching precisely. The sheep watched the two and shook his head in pity.
"Such foolishness." he sighed. "...Then why do I envy them so much?" he chuckled. What a dry and bitter sound.
"That you will be saved some day..."
The monkey sat in a nearby tree and watched them all, intently. His weary eyes did not leave them for a second.
"I could of sworn that I had made it to the top...how did I end up down here?" he coughed and hacked until he could only wheeze. With his tail drooped, the tip touched the soft moist grass. "I could of sworn that I had made to the top of this tree...how did I end up down here?"
The broken branches tightly wrapped around him and, like a blanket, the scattered leaves gently covered his old, feeble body. All was smothering him. All was weighing heavily upon his ancient and tired bones. Every few moments, he'd take a slow, heavy breath.
"I'm sorry but I might be too tried to go to the banquet tomorrow...I'm sorry everyone but I'm much too tired," his heavy lids had shut, abrupting reopening, until they had finally closed.
"People aren't blaming you as much as you think so you can keep some composure"
The boar let out a loud, long yawn and stretched out it's body. He had just been taking a nap since noon and because it was now evening he decided to go home before it got too dark. The boar propped up on his knees, extended it's forearms, and rose. He caught sight of the road and trotted toward it. He stopped when he felt a warm, thick drop land on his shoulder.
"I wonder if it's going to rain tonight?" the boar dully queried. He casually looked up and nearly fainted at the sight.
Hanging between broken branches and scattered leaves was a mess of mangled hairy flesh. The part of it's face that hadn't been covered by leaves had a calm expression. As if, it was at peace. It's stomach faced the grass below, it's head sharply turned to the sky, it's left arm loosely hung downward nearly separated from it's body, it's other arm was no where to be seen, and it's legs spread far apart and lifted above it's head. The back of it's neck had a large gash. It's entire body resembled a pin cushion; a furry lump being pricked by twigs and thorns. Blood would frequently drop onto the red stained grass that the boar was now stepping on.
"People were put on this earth to laugh, cry and be happy. If that's not a reason for living then I don't know what is!"
"Is that...the monkey? I hardly recognize him!" the boar quickly relieved himself from the state of shock. "He's definitely dead...but how?" he asked out of curiosity more so than concern. "Maybe, he fell off of the tree. He must of. He's way too old to be climbing trees," he pointed out as he shook his head. "I wonder how long he's been dead? I think I might of saw him this morning but...either way, that corspe is starting to stink," he swallowed a huge chunk of vomit back down his throat.
The boar wondered whether or not he should tell the other animals so that they could bury him. However, he figured that sooner or later they would discover the dead body themselves by it's bad smell. Right now, what he needed to do was to take a long, hot bath and wash away the blood off of himself. Eat a large, nice meal to take his mind off this displeasure. And finally, go back to sleep to prepare himself for the challenging, tiresome trek to the even more burdensome banquet. With that decided, the boar headed home.
"One more time...I needed to hear those words...just one more time"
Meanwhile, the snake and dragon were at the end of the road and very close to their houses. All of the animal's homes were grouped together like a small village.
The snake and dragon had just seen the cow pass by them and had greeted him properly. They were about to restart their conversation when the rooster abruptly appeared. They immediately grew silent as they resisted the urge to glare at him. The rooster was almost at the same level as the rat when it came to God's favor.
"He's no good. He does whatever God wants. I wouldn't think of him as one of us. He is not one of us."
The snake and dragon heard about what happened to the dog at the first banquet. The dog had arrived before that bird at the banquet but God only noticed the rooster. God preferred a flightless bird over the most loyal of creatures.
The dog had reassured the snake and dragon that he was neither angry nor jealous.
"What are you two talking about? Tomorrow's banquet perhaps?" the rooster asked with an innocent and blissful grin.
"Of course...what did you think?" the snake replied with a smile of his own. He was already at bad terms with God. His legs had been taken away and he was forced to crawl on his belly. Because he feared the wrath of God, he ignored his hunger and refused to devour the rat. Because he feared death, he would never upset the rooster.
"I was considering allowing the snake to ride on my back to the banquet..." the dragon drifted with a sly smirk. He waited for the rooster's reaction. He wanted to see it.
"Oh no, oh no! You mustn't! We have to uphold the tradition. Remember the tradition!" the rooster shouted while his face immediately lost it's color.
"Whether it be love or pity, it doesn't matter. Anything to keep that sad little girl from crying."
"Relax. Is it really something to be so worked up about?" the snake retorted in a cool voice. A voice that is not heard. This voice that only flows. Such a beautiful sound. "It's difficult for me to get to the banquet on my own and the dragon was kind enough to offer me some assistance. The rat and the cow do the exact same thing. There's nothing wrong with helping others."
"I guess not but...but still. That's never been done before so you can't start now. There can't be any change," the rooster protested. "I'm warning you. If you try anything to defy the tradition then you can't complain when I tell God about it."
"No, I don't think you will..."
"I hate you. I really hate you. You should be grateful that I'm telling you this so directly."
With that being spoken, there was a loud crack. The dragon and snake looked the pile of feathers on the ground.
Without pain, without suffering, without time to scream, without even knowing. He had died instantly.
Wedged between long sharp teeth, was a corpse. The dog opened its mouth allowing feathers to fall down into a pool of crimson drool. Inside of his mouth, they did not see the same rooster they had just been talking to not even a second ago, but a mutilated chew toy the dog was enjoying greedily. His jaws tightly closed with another crunch.
In a stupefied horror, the snake and the dragon watched the dog messily devour the bird. The growing thoughts of guilt and upcoming punishment overwhelmed the two. The tension was suffocating them.
"And what, might I ask, did you do that for?" the dragon broke the silence with a question. He couldn't stand the eerie silence. It weighed heavily upon him and threatened to crush him.
"I'm not sad. I'm downright pathetic!"
"I thought you said that you didn't hate the rooster?-! Then why?-! Why?-! Why?-! Why?-! Why?-!" all the snake could think about was God's reaction to this. He knew that God would take more than just his legs...his entire life was in danger.
"Relax. Is it really something to be so worked up about?" the dog sniggered. "Tradition is fine but change isn't such a bad thing, now is it? And also, didn't I just help the two of you? He really would of told God about your plans so either way you would of been in trouble. You owe me the favor of keeping silent," he licked his lips in satisfaction.
"Fine. It doesn't matter to me...but remember, the actions that we put out will eventually return to us. I just hope that you're prepared to reap what you have now sown," the dragon frowned at the dog's continous snickering. He knew that this mutt wasn't taking him seriously. However, he prayed that maybe he would listen."You might kill someone else if you're not careful either that or you'll end up causing your own death."
"Heh heh, thanks for the warning. I'll keep that in mind," the dog sneered.
"Whatever you're planning I won't be on your side but I won't be your enemy either."
"It's all your fault. I wasn't a part of this! I didn't do anything wrong! You killed the rooster because you hated him! You were just jealous that God loved him more than you and so you waited for a good opportunity to get revenge!" the snake had just lost all of his composure and shown his true face. The weak, frightened animal locked deep inside him. Fear is a part of everyone. It lives deep inside one's heart just waiting to surface.
"Can't you two even pretend to be grateful?" the dog stopped smiling to form a fierce glare. It shot shivers down the dragon and snake's spine. "So what if I'm jealous? I was betrayed." he did not shout. Only a growl was heard. A low, deep, threatening growl. "Even if God is angry, even if he's sad...I'm right here. I've always been right by his side and I always will," he muttered to himself in annoyance as he left the snake and dragon.
"I want to make it last forever. I want to able to hold it in my hands and keep it close to my heart. I want to make that dream last forever...and I will."
"What are we going to do?" the snake's voice shook as he spoke. His body was still trembling since the murder had taken place. His scales turned a pale white.
"Tomorrow, we'll meet here so that we can go to the banquet together," the dragon callously replied. He walked away from the snake to retire into his home. He was much too tired to deal with all of this so he didn't try. Why not just ignore everything unpleasant and accept only relief and comfort? Isn't that the only way to be happy?
"He admires him because he has something that he doesn't. To put it simply, he loves him. So why not look to him for guidance?"
The snake eyed the dragon from a distance before he slithered back into his home...
"It's all their fault, not mine. They'll be punished for this not me. I have no hands to share the blood with," he hissed.
Far in the distance, a rabbit hid underneath the bushes. He had been watching them for some time now. He hopped toward the area where the snake, dragon and dog had just been. He gawked at the ruby colored feathers at the tip of his feet.
"This is a dream, right? There's no way this could of happened," the rabbit chuckled in disbelief.
The tiger and the horse had just finished their run and were returning to their homes.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" the tiger asked. The rabbit was an affectionate and playful creature that was always seen with other animals. The rabbit admitted that he hated to be left alone for too long.
The rabbit blinked a couple of times when he broke out of his thoughts and was forced back to reality. Much to his dismay, he was forced to the face the situation that had just occurred. He needed to tell someone about it. The truth was too much of a burden to carry by himself. Both quivering and whimpering, he attempted to inform the tiger and horse about the situation that had just occurred.
"There's no such thing as a memory that's okay to forget...not a single one."
"When I saw the dragon, snake and rooster, I was going to say hi to them. I stopped when I saw the dog approaching them..." the rabbit tried his hardest to recollect his now hazy memories. He felt as though he was retelling a nightmare.
"Go on," the tiger urged.
"The dog had a frightening appearance and I didn't want to go near him. I hid in the bushes so I could watch without being noticed," the rabbit continued.
"What's so scary about a dog?" the horse scoffed.
"He was scary!" the rabbit defended himself while a blush arose on his cheeks. The horse's ridicule made him ashamed of his timid nature. "His ears were arched back which is a signal that he was hunting something. You could literally seen the blood lust in those fierce and wild eyes. His teeth and gums were showing as drool poured from his mouth...I had to take precautions! I didn't want to get hurt or worse...killed!" the rabbit was ready to break into sobs. He was still completely terrified.
""Precautions?" What for? The dog is just as kind as you are and he is exceptionally loyal to his friends," the tiger argued.
"Are you sure your not just exagerrating?" the horse suggested.
The rabbit angered by their mocking and disbelief began to stomp and pound the ground. "He killed him! The dog did...He ate the rooster! If you don't believe me then look at your feet!"
The tiger and horse were stunned by the rabbit's outburst. They hesitately looked downward and spotted the feathers that they had been stepping on. They were gooey and stuck together with saliva and hints of a crimson liquid.
"You are not to tell anyone about this...no one is going to find out, understand?" the horse realized the seriousness of the situation and the consequences that were threatening to occur. Even though he hadn't taken a part in this, he too, feared God.
"I think we should tell God what happened. It's not right to keep secrets"
"His words, his actions, they're all against me. I shrink back. I can't help it..."
"NO!" the horse shouted as he stomped on the ground. There was a light "thack" sound.
The horse began to dig a small hole. He used his hooves to scooch the feathers and the now lifeless rabbit into it. Then he threw the dirt on top of them until they disappeared from sight. The tiger watched this attempt to cover up the crime. He spotted a remaining feather and, without notice, took it for himself.
"The rooster and rabbit won't be there at the banquet," the horse concluded.
Without another word, the horse returned to his home while the tiger discretely proceeded into another direction.
The boar was now inside his own home and had just eaten dinner. He was just about to take a bath when he heard a knock on his door. Grumbling, he immediately opened it and let out a gasp in surprise
"Do you find it disgusting?"
"Hh-heh-hello, cat!" the boar shuttered. He pondered why he felt so nervous all of a sudden.
"Is it frightening to you?"
"Hey there. Can I come in?" the cat asked as politely as he could manage.
"Oh sure. You can make yourself some tea and ramen or you can take a bath with me," the boar stepped out of the way and let the hideous creature into his house.
"What is this? It's body is all warped and ugly. What's that smell? It smells terrible like something dead and rotting. It's the cat's evil spirit."
The cat calmly removed it's dirty, worn out cloak that he had been wearing. His body was a dark brownish color without any fur. His ears were extended and arched back. His eyes were a gleaming purple. The skin on his arms and legs was so thin that it barely concealed the bones underneath. His rib cage was also visible. His hands and feet were oversized with long sharp claws. He normally wore a cloak to hide his new appearance, however, he believed that the boar was comfortable with seeing him.
"It's been a long day so a bath wouldn't hurt...I guess," the cat grimaced at the thought of even coming close to water let alone touching it.
The boar mistook the cat's glare and gulped loudly.
"You're shivering...are you cold?" the cat asked while coming closer to his friend.
The boar immediately took a step backward and placed a distance between himself and the cat.
"No, no. I'm not cold at all," the boar replied with an odd smile. "C'mon. Let's go take that bath."
"This whole time...I've been chasing after you for myself. I didn't even think about the pain you must of felt"
The two left the living room and into a long hallway. The cat and boar walked along side of each other without saying a word. When they reached the end of the hall, the cat opened the door in front of them and proceeded into an open air bath.
The boar, without waiting for his companion, immediately jumped in.
"Don't worry...it's not too hot," the boar reassured when he noticed the cat still standing at the edge of the bath.
"Why? Why have you forgotten?"
The cat placed one of his massive hands in the water and instantly removed it with a hiss. He stared at his damp hand while drops fell into the warm, steaming water.
"It's okay if you don't want to take a bath. It's not like it'll help that awful smell," the boar scowled.
"That you are a monster...an existence built on others sacrifice"
"What?" the cat asked absentmindedly.
"It's nothing!" the boar mentally scolded himself for his blunt statement.
The cat wondered why his friend appeared to be so troubled. "Thank you..." he mumbled as he stepped into the water. He sat down across from the boar.
"Oh, it's no big deal. Feel free to come to my house anytime," the boar smirked.
"If I told you that somewhere in my heart I've given up, would you cry from relief? I guess you would..."
"I didn't mean that...I meant thank you for always being there for me. I know it must be difficult for you to put up with me," the cat smiled but his ugly features made it look like a devilish grin.
"I just had to make it up to you," the boar whispered. He remembered the first banquet. He remembered going past the cat's house and spotting him there sleeping. In a strange way, he felt responsible. If the boar had just woken the cat up and taken him to the banquet then he wouldn't of ended up like this.
"Using me, pitying me, it doesn't matter. I was happy. No matter what the reason...I was happy"
"Can I talk to you about something?" the cat asked while scratching the back of his neck.
"Always..."
"The monkey...he's dead," the cat muttered.
"I know. I saw him," the boar frowned at being reminded of this. "He fell from the tree. I saw his body hanging there. He smelled terrible."
"Oh, that was probably me since I wasn't too far away from where you saw him. Actually, you surprised me. I thought for sure that you would tell the others," the cat smirked.
"Well, you didn't do anything either!" the boar defended himself. "I didn't know that the cat was there...I didn't see him so where could of he had hidden? In the trees?" he pondered with a growing worry and concern.
"I'm not pitied or ostracised, not like this boy...I guess I'm not so bad after all."
"Why would I tell the others?...The animals, like God, no longer care about me. They can't stand to look at me..." the cat covered his face in shame of his horrifying appearance. "Besides..." he removed his hand to gaze at the boar directly. He wanted to see his reaction. "I'm the one who killed him."
"What?"
"The monkey, being as old as he was, didn't notice me follow him as he climbed to the top of the tree. He didn't even notice me right behind him when I scratched the back of his neck and caused him to fall close to where you were sleeping." the cat explained. "You should of seen it...the blood was everywhere...You should of heard it...the cracking sounds his bones made...You should of felt the soft tissue and prickly hairs between my fingers and under my nails," his body twitched as he retold his experience...as he relived it.
"Why? Why did you do that?" the boar was careful not to upset the cat. He didn't want to sound angry or afraid so he kept his indifferent expression.
"It's all right. Your just under an evil spell for a little while that makes you turn into that...It's alright I'm not scared a bit."
"I was merely playing my part." the cat replied. "I'm the outcast from the rest of the animals which means I don't have any ties to you or to anyone else. Since I'm not part of the zodiac I don't have any chains like the rest of you do. I'm free to love...and to hate. At the end of the first banquet, God gave me this role. I'm the monster so of course everyone expects me to be vengeful, angry and hateful. It was because of those ugly emotions that I look like this. I'm the monster so I will act like one...I've accepted my role as the one who tramples upon everything until there is nothing left. That's who I am," the cat spoke in a calm and cool voice. His coming to enlightenment about himself and his purpose made him at peace.
"You're telling me this because you think that I'm guilty too? I guess you're right. I also have the monkey's blood on my hands so, I too, am responsible," the boar sighed at this forced confession. He didn't want to put up any argument or resistance. It was too much trouble.
"So you'll help me go to the banquet tomorrow?" the cat asked. The cat dreamed of the banquet that which will always remain a dream. At the first banquet, God told the cat that what he had witnessed, the preparations of the future banquet, is all he will ever see.
"If you dragged them down any further you'll only end up hurting them"
"What do I have to do?" the boar hoped that the cat wouldn't ask him to do anything too drastic and tiring.
"Ask the cow to meet you in the forest, specifically, by the tree where I killed the monkey. Tell him that you want him to help you bury the monkey. And tell him that your not sure how he died but maybe he fell off of the tree," the cat instructed. The cat knew that for the rest of eternity he will never be able to get close to the other animals and that he will never get to see the banquet that he dreamed so much about. He could never enter their world. He knew that it was the rat's fault that he is forever cursed by God and placed as an outcast.
"Okay, I'll do that. So I can assume that you want the cow to bring the rat with him as well," the boar already knew what the cat intended to do.
"Yes..." the cat placed his hands on the ledge and used them to raise his body out of the water. "Thank you..." he muttered as he left the boar and returned to his home. The rat received the greatest of prizes and the cat was left with nothing. This bitterness, this jealousy, this hatred and anger toward the rat burned inside him. These ugly inner feelings, he kept locked in the deepest chambers of his heart, found its way to the surface. They warped his entire appearance into an grotesque form.
This form forever signifies the hate between the cat and the rat.
"There's nothing to thank me for...you pitiful creature,"
"Would you stop forcing yourself on him and calling it love...it's painful to watch."
The sun had long since departed and was replaced by millions of tiny stars. These stars failed to brighten the darkness that had engulfed the sky. The full moon served as an ornament to give blind hope that the brightness of the sun will eventually return.
"However, even dawn, became dark and gloomy."
God lived very far away from the village where the animals stayed. In order to reach him they had to take a long road which had a field to the left side and a forest on the right. The road ended at the base of the mountain which the animals had to climb in order to reach God at the top.
God was working diligently on the last preparations for the banquet. He swiftly turned when he heard a rustle in the bushes.
"Hello?"
He calmly waited for a reply...there was none.
"I'll have to stand up for my worthless self. Even if my heart is still seen as inferior."
"Who's there? Is someone...there?" he called out.
"Don't be alarmed. It's only me," a tiger stated as he came through the bushes into clear sight.
"And what are you doing here so late at night? Is something wrong?" God asked in a smooth and quiet tone. He approached the now shaking tiger.
"What have you come here for? Go on. Tell me...I won't be angry"
Hesitating, the tiger wondered whether or not it was a wise decision to come here by himself. He opened his mouth and allowed a feather to fall onto the ground. God picked up the object and raised it high above his head. He quietly observed it.
The tiger gazed upon his God in awe. He was wearing a pure white, silky and elegantly styled kimono. He had long, black gleaming hair, clear blue eyes, pallid white skin and a small and gentle physic. His beauty was divine. It felt as though it was a sin to even look at him.
"To them, I am the closest thing there is to God. The master of their souls. The one who controls the zodiac. That is who I am"
"I don't understand. What is the meaning of this?" God humored the tiger with a question. The animal's unceasing trembling was slightly amusing.
The tiger felt reassured by his God's smile and summoned the bravery to tell the truth. "The rooster died today."
"What did you say?"
"The rooster...he died. The rabbit has also died," the tiger began to pace backwards so that he could put some distance between himself and God.
"Your lucky. I wish that I was a bird. So, I too, can fly away from all this...someday."
Before the tiger could see God's expression, God turned and headed to a small wooden cottage. "Come inside." he commanded more so than invited.
The tiger obediently followed.
"Maybe I should of told the others that I was coming here..." he pondered.
The tiger opened the door and looked to his right to find God sitting on a mat by a lit fireplace. His knees were tucked to his chest and his head hung downward. His arms tightly wrapped around his legs. His toes curled into his feet. His raven bangs hid his face.
"If I don't then I'll become worse and worse. Then I'll really be hopeless."
The tiger inhaled a deep breath and cautiously stepped inside. He looked around and took in his surroundings. There was no furniture except for a large, thin brown mat that nearly covered the entire floor. The wooden floor was both dusty and worn out. There was the front door and another one across the room that led to the backyard. There was a single window in the left corner but it was concealed by black curtains. It was a small, quiet and peaceful home.
The tiger laid down on the same mat beside God. His heart nearly pounded out of his chest. He used his paw to wipe the sweat that oozed from his brow. His breaths were both quick and light. With each passing second, he grew more anxious.
God lifted his face and, instantly, the tiger took a quick glance. His God was softly crying.
"Such pretty tears..."
The tiger felt an overwhelming terror when he considered the consequences of causing God grief.
"I...I di-didn't see it...it ha-happen ma-mysself...I only heh-heard 'bout it." the tiger stuttered. "I was told by the rabbit. But! He wasn't sure how it happened or who'd done it." he lied. He lied to protect the murderer. To protect the witnesses. To protect himself.
God abruptly stood up and caused the tiger to do so as well. He picked up some logs and tossed them into the fire place. Immediately, sparks flew in all directions almost striking them both. The flames danced together in a wild motion. Watching them, had a hypnotic effect.
"So he gave her the ol' black and blue treatment, huh?"
Instead of returning to his original spot, he laid his body on top of the tigers'. His chest and stomach was lying on the tiger's back, his legs were spread apart, his hands and arms were placed along the tiger's. The animal could feel God's heartbeat growing harder and faster.
"Wha-What are you doing?"
"It's alright...You can tell me the truth now. I'll listen," God whispered into the animal's ear as he nuzzled his cheek.
"Nn-No! I'm not lying to you. I would never!" the tiger protested.
"Why must you lay your hands on my things...or do you think you've beaten me?"
"You killed him, didn't you? You killed him."
"NO! I didn't! Believe me! I would never!" the tiger, becoming frantic, tried to raise his body but he had allowed himself to be pinned down.
God watched the animal squirm and struggle underneath him and couldn't resist the urge to laugh. This frightening sound echoed in the room and drowned out the tiger's screams. God never realized how incredibly weak and helpless an animal could be. How fragile? He wondered if the supposed "fierce" and "courageous" tiger was just as weak physically as he was emotionally. In order to test his experiment, he removed his hands from his paws and placed them on the animal's neck. He ran his long and skinny fingers through the thick and heavy fur. He dug his nails deeper and deeper until he reached rough and sweaty flesh.
He began to squeeze.
"Ss-stop! Stop it...no."
"Now that you're like this, I wonder if I'm the kind of person that you'd want to be with"
Those were the only words he heard. He ignored everything else. He closed his eyes and saw nothing but darkness. His hair swaded as his body jerked while trying to keep his victim still. He'd take a deep breath and held it before exhaling. He raised his head to the ceiling and suddenly his eyes shot open.
Something had startled him. What was it? Some kind of "snapping" sound?
Out of curiosity, God looked down at the animal under him. When did he stop whimpering and struggling? "I can't remember." He stood up while lifting the tiger's now limp body. "He's...so cold!"
God carried the animal in his arms and close to chest. He cradled the tiger like a mother would sooth her child to sleep. He gently placed him where he could rest for eternity. God watched the cinders quickly devour the tiger until there was nothing left. The flames had a hyponotic effect.
"Dust to dust...ashes to ashes." he quoted this as the black powdery substance ran through his fingers.
God jerked his head over to the door when he noticed a repeated knock. It steadily creaked open and a sheep timidly stepped inside.
"Stay out of it. Otherwise, you'll be punished."
"Hmm. Another unexpected guest..." God confirmed with a forced smile.
"Sorry for the intrusion..." the sheep mumbled as he bowed.
"What is it?"
"I noticed that the tiger hasn't returned to his home since when I came to visit no one was there. Being out so late at night is unusual for him so...Do you know where he is? I've asked the horse, whom I last saw him with, but he didn't know," the sheep refused to raise his head and look at God directly. He didn't have the nerve.
"I know you'll become a prince who can protect her because you have a lot of courage in you"
Without replying, God steadily approached the frightened animal. He bent on his knees and patted the sheep on the head. "If you're that worried then I'll show you where he is."
Because of God's gesture, the sheep couldn't help but to lift his face and open his eyes. He only saw yet another forced smile. He couldn't tell whether or not his intrusion had upset his God.
God grabbed a clump of the sheep's fluff on the back of his neck and urged him to walk forward. The sheep, ignoring the pain, readily obeyed and headed toward whichever direction God would lead him.
"But I'm a coward. I couldn't face her and I couldn't stand up to him. Despite all this, I kept telling myself that I loved her."
To the sheep, their walking felt like an eternity. Was the house really that big? However, it had a calming effect on him. This was just a quiet and peaceful walk to the other side of the room where the backdoor is. Then, in no time at all, he would be reunited with the tiger. He felt a strange sense of relief.
"Um. Uh..." the sheep muttered as he turned right. The door was just ahead of him. He had been watching it for a while but now it was disappearing from sight. What replaced it was a loud, crackling fire that appeared to be a furnace in his perspective. "What's going on?-!"
The sheep faced the fire since now his distance from it was only a few inches. God didn't need to explain. He already knew what was going to happen and he didn't have the nerve to resist. He gazed upon the flames deeply as if he was staring at death's door. Silently and without hesitation, he entered it.
"I have to become a man who can make her happy"
"Two sacrifices...just for you. My poor rooster," God watched the cinders swiftly consume another body. Without shame and without guilt. "They knew. They knew how deeply I loved you and yet, they killed you!" with a thump, he collasped onto the ground. He laid on his stomach on the mat and covered his face with his sleeves. "But I love them. I love them so I'll help them repent. I will help them repent of their sins and rid them of the blood they've shed...Your blood," he allowed the tears to dampen his pale cheeks. "My poor rooster. Forgive your murderers...as I did," he continued to weep until sleep over came him. Sleep eased him with wonderful dreams.
From what started as a speck of light, the sun's rays began to grow larger and brighter.
"We'll set them off with a bang. That renders the darkness"
When the horse woke up, he immediately rushed out the door and hurried to the house across from his own.
"Yesterday, the sheep told me that the tiger was out late last night," the horse used his hooves to knock on the door. Recieving no response, he lifted his legs and slammed them against the door while his body leanned forward. The door easily collapsed. "Are you in here or not?-!" he impatiently called out.
The horse treaded inside and began to search each room in the house. He found no one. The furniture, the windows, the floor, everything in the house seemed to be still and untouched as if no one had ever lived there.
"You already know don't you? What I want. What I'm looking for. You already know"
"Maybe he already left for the banquet," the horse suggested. He tried to convince himself that there was nothing was amiss here and that his friend was safe and sound.
The horse didn't bother to repair the door since he decided that he could apologize when he meets the tiger later. He rushed out of the house and sprinted along the road. His pace quickened by the moment. His eyes averted from what was ahead of him and onto his left and right side. He desperately searched for any signs of his friend.
"Maybe he's somewhere in the field. That's where we'd normally go running together," the horse concluded this as he departed from the road and proceeded to his left side. He ran straight forward and turned to his right. He ran along the edge of a cliff.
"If I keep this up, I'll never find it. At this rate, the end will never come"
The horse continued to sprint and began to reach speeds that went beyond his limits. His hooves pounded the ground until the rocks gradually began to crack. His heart accelerated to it's maximum rate. However, he couldn't enjoy the thrill of the run since he had a purpose in mind. His face turned toward his right as he continued to focus on the field. His goal of locating his companion absorbed all of his attention.
"He has to be here somewhere! Maybe I'm not looking hard enough," the horse refused to lose hope. He refused to give up searching. If possible, he hastened his pace.
"I want to release you from everything that binds you. Your happiness is in a bigger world"
However, the ground beneath him refused to carry the burden of his quest along with the weight of his body. The wind gave the horse a gentle push as the ground crumbled and fell to the bottom where jagged and sharp rocks were waiting.
With a loud thump, the cow slipped from his bed and crashed onto the floor.
"Oww. That hurt," he groaned. "As long as I'm up I might as well get going" he let out a long deep yawn as he stretched his body.
At his own slow and leizure pace, he walked out of his bedroom and into the hallway which led to the living room. Once there, the front door was within his sights.
"If I hadn't met him and seen him for who he is. Then I really would of been a fool"
"Ah...what brings you here?" the cow asked when he opened the door and spotted a visitor.
"Can you and the rat help me?" the boar inwardly gulped. He knew that right now he was doing something terrible but he just couldn't say no to the cat.
"Sure. I was just about to get him so that I can carry him to the banquet. Why don't you come with me so that you can explain everything along the way," the cow suggested. "The boar looks very ill. He's all sweaty and pale. I hope that I can help him," he thought to himself.
The boar and cow talked and traveled together to the rat's house and passed the snake and dragon along the way. The snake had slithered onto the dragon's back who shot up in the air and soared among the clouds.The boar and cow continued to look up even when the dragon had long since disappeared within the sky.
"He allowed me to say what was in my heart and released me"
"What are you two staring at?" the rat queried with a dumbfounded expression.
"It's nothing," the cow claimed. "Before we go to the banquet we have to stop by the forest."
"Why?" the rat asked while becoming even more confused.
"The boar told me that he saw the monkey there earlier this morning. He's dead,"
"How did it happen?"
"He fell off a tree!" the boar quickly exclaimed. "Will you two help me bury him?"
"Of course we will." the rat reassured.
"It's a test"
With that decision, the three of them journeyed into the forest. The monkey's body was now sprawled out on the ground. Flies surrounded and covered him as worms started to trepass inside.
How sickening. The monkey didn't deserve to die.What an awful sight. He didn't deserve to have his body consumed by worms and bugs. It smells terrible. He didn't do anything wrong. It makes me want to vomit.
The rat, cow and boar stared at the rotting thing with both pity and disgust.
The boar and cow dug a hole at the base of the tree that the monkey supposedly fell from. They decided that this would be the perfect grave mark for him. The rat watched from a distance since he knew that he couldn't possibly help them. He was too small.
"Are you leaving the nest?"
"Is someone there?" the rat queried when he heard a rustle in the bushes. Without informing the boar and cow, he decided to explore the bushes and find the source of this noise.
The boar eyed the rat as he left and shook his head in pity. He knew that he was doing something terrible but he didn't want to go against the cat. He owed the cat this favor.
The rat scurried through the tall thin grass while pushing away leaves and twigs. He gasped when he saw what appeared to be two violet gems in front of him. They were so pretty.
"I won't lose. I'll keep walking forward no matter how much...I'm knocked down by pain"
The rat continued to gaze upon these beautiful gleaming spheres. A gust of warm wind brushed against him. The rat took a step back when he noticed that they were starting to move. Were they coming closer?
"NO! DON'T!
Those were the last words the rat heard. He opened his eyes and saw nothing around him. He tried to scream but he couldn't hear his own voice. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't think clearly. There were only sounds of rushing water and tapping stones. His body jerked from side to side and was thrashed among waves of hot thick water. His body tore as it was rubbed against the large sharp stones. He was starting to panic. He lifted his head up for air but it hurt his throat to breathe it. Like trying to breathe in a fog. Gradually, his lungs began to constrict. That was the only pain he felt.
The rest of his body had went from icy cold to just numb. The water and long and rough stones caused him to lean further and further backward.
He felt as though he was sinking.
"Spit him out!" the cow used his head to charge into the cat's abdomen and tilted his neck to fling him upward.
"Too late." the cat muttered. He landed flat on his back among the prickly bushes. He rubbed his stomach where a bruise was beginning to form.
"You say it as though you're obliged to hate him. But your eyes, your eyes tell me a different story. That you're afraid to find out"
"You knew! You knew that this was going to happen!" the cow shiftly turned to face the boar with accusing eyes. Grief and rage. Those weren't the emotions he expected to feel when he woke up this morning. However this is what he felt when he watched his friend get eaten by that monster. These ugly emotions came from his heart and spread like a diease.
"Yes, you're right. I knew. I led you and the rat here so that you could both be killed by the cat," the boar willingfully admitted. "It's nothing personal. It's just..." he drifted.
Suddenly, the cow felt a sharp pain on his side. It stung until it started to burn as if someone had set him on fire. He collasped to his knees. Something was now pouring out of him. No matter how much he groaned it continued to flow. He opened his eyes and everything around him was hazy and blurry. He was panting heavily. He could barely make out the boar and cat who were both doing nothing to help him. He could see the boar's indifferent gaze and the cat licking a ruby colored liquid off of his fingers.
He let out a gasp.
"It would of been better if you were never born. It would of been better if you had never existed"
"Thank you," the cat stated as he stared as his hands. They were twitching relentlessly.
"I told you that there's nothing to thank me about!" the boar shouted. He focused his eyes on the cat instead of the cow's corpse that laid right beside him. "Are you alright?"
"I've killed three of them and I...and I-" the cat placed his hands against his face. "I don't feel anything at all."
The boar approached the trembling cat."Relax. It'll all sink in soon. Then you'll feel guilty or maybe happy. Whichever you prefer." the boar affirmed.
"Why? Why don't I feel anything?" the cat raised his body to his legs and forcefully removed his hands. "I feel nothing! Why?-!"his nails dug deep into what was nearest. It happened again. "Why?-!" The thick liquid, bits of hair and chunks of tissue ran through his fingers as he clawed what was right in front of him. "Has this become so natural that I can't enjoy it?" he stared at his friend who laid at his feet. He couldn't weep. He couldn't laugh. "I feel...so empty."
The cat tilted his head toward the sky. The clouds hovered above him. It was so peaceful. He wanted to watch them forever.
"As if for him. Hating is a way of protecting himself"
Something large had come from the sky. It seemed like a blemish among those pure white clouds. It fell faster and faster like a lightning bolt.
"Is that the dragon?" the cat wondered.
It struck the cat with all of it's weight and power.
"It is the dragon." the cat answered his own question. "And the snake's with him too." he spotted the reptile that seemed to be attached to the dragon's neck. His long fangs were wedged within the dragon's collar.
"Even if I die alone surrounded by the frozen snow..."
The cat laid on his back on top of the bushes that had now trepassed through his thin skin and it's thorns intertwined with his bones. The weight of the animal above was crushing him. At a slow but diligent pace, it was breaking him.
"I didn't want God to kill me," the snake managed to cough out a whisper. "I'd rather take my own life," he wheezed. "Unfortunately for the dragon, I used him to help me with my goal." a dark colored liquid streamed down his mouth as he spoke. As the liquid touched the dragon's scales they instantly burned until they fell to the ground. "Unfortunately for the cat, he was standing at the wrong place at the wrong time..."
"It's a realization more so than regret. I believe that's closer to repentance"
"So you poisoned him while you were in the air so that you could fall together...clever," the cat chuckled.
"Hey, are you in there?" the dog called as he entered the cottage. He saw his God sitting by the fireplace. His face was at his knees. His knees tucked into his chest. He leaned forward so that his chest could be pressed against his legs. His arms tightly wrapped around his legs. His toes curled into his feet. "Are you okay?" the dog advanced toward his God and gently nudged his side.
"Dead. They're all dead. Dead, dead, dead," God sobbed. "They all died. Every single one..."
"So you and I are the only ones left?" the dog asked with a growing anticipation.
"Yes."
"Then it's over. It's the end." a smile arose among the dog's cheeks.
"What are you so happy about?" That mutt's smile pierced God's heart.
"The end justifies the means." the dog quoted as he began to laugh. He laughed more so than he ever did in his entire life. He laughed as if all the joy in the world came to him at once.
"Everyone's dead, there's no banquet, everything's falling apart and you're a laughing?-!" God burst out. He flung his arms around the dog's neck and began to squeeze. "Shut up! Stop laughing! I said stop!" his grip tightened by the moment.
"We're together...You and I are together at last," the dog gasped.
Still bent on his knees, God's arms immediately dropped as his tears ceased. He placed his head on his dog shoulder and nuzzled his neck.
"I don't feel any remorse or anger since I got what I wanted," the dog sighed a relief.
"I don't have to die alone?" God asked with pleading eyes.
"I think of you more than any other. That, is the one and only truth"
On top of the mountain, was a small wooden cottage. Inside the cottage was a lonely God. He was so lonely that he called the animals to a splendid banquet. He just wanted to spend time with them. They all had so much fun that they promised to meet each other every year for the banquet. On the twelfth banquet, the animals and God ran into a series of unfortunate events. That year, there was no banquet.
God wouldn't be God if he could die. He didn't but his friends did. He was chained together with the animals so when they died he grieved. He was sad because of the pain of loss bonds.
If you create a bond then you'll feel it when it's broken.
God refused to live with this pain and so he made it so that the animals could be with him forever. He revived their spirits and put them in new chains.He refused to live or to die alone. For this purpose, a new bond was made.
God saw the twelfth banquet as a horrible year and cursed it. He sealed away the memories of it into the shadows of the zodiac animals. He rejected taking responsiblity for his actions so he gave the dragon authority over the memories and bestowed upon him a power that no one animal possessed.
Every 12 generations the spirits of the zodiac regain memories of the incident and become restless. As a result, they can not fully possess their vessels. They seperate themselves and their shadows and enter into two hosts. There is the "actual" zodiac and the "other" or "shadow" zodiac. There will be no father of the other zodiac except God. The other zodiac will be conceived by only one mother and the punishment of bearing these children is death. The other zodiac did not attend the banquet and so they will never be permitted to enter it. This rejection will create a natural hatred toward God and inevitably they will rebel. To protect what's most important, the other zodiac will be caged together in a single room and not be allowed outside until the day they die.
-Desire Passion "The story of the rejected zodiac"
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AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. I think it was my longest. Please review! I promise that I will not take so long with my next update.
"Imagine yourself in the same class as the Mabudachi Trio (Shigure, Hatori and Ayame). The teacher gives you a special assignment that's worth half of your final grade for the entire year. This teacher also has allowed you the option of choosing a partner that will help you with this project. Which of following members of the Mabudachi Trio would you choose to be your partner?"
A. Shigure Sohma.
B. Ayame Sohma.
C. Hatori Sohma.
D. My choice would depend on the kind of assignment the teacher gave.