Chapter Twenty

The next days were full of research for the ox, cat, and rat.

It was quite the quandary, Haru tilted his head, he had found multiple ways to tear the soul from Yuki's body to place in the box but not without killing him and, since he was next, he was reluctant to experiment with the technique.

Yuki had also come to an impasse. He tossed the book to the side with disgust, why on earth would he need to summon a demon?

Kyo also chucked his book which earned a look from Haru.

"These books are under my name," the ox came very close to glaring at them.

"Then I guess you will be the one answers for the damage they acquire," Yuki surmised and tossed another book.

"And you'll be the one who gets in trouble," Kyo crumbled a page within the book much to Haru's horror.

"Knock it off, Kyo," Yuki sighed, "Don't actually damage the books."

"Don't tell me what to do," Kyo glared at him.

Yuki's brow lowered, "I'll do what I want."

Haru moved quickly and grabbed all the books in the vicinity, "This is the last time I research with you two."

Kyo rolled his eyes and immediately stopped fighting with Yuki, "Come on, Haru, don't be like that."

Haru said nothing as he quietly packed all his books into a bag.

"Haru," Kyo glared at the ox as he was ignored. He placed the box down and moved to the ox. He had taken to carrying the cursed box around for some reason, call it instinct or whatever.

Hatsuharu didn't answer as he tied the bag of books closed.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Kyo blocked the ox from leaving.

Yuki sighed, if the cat kept this up the idiot was going to bring out Black Haru.

"A curse."

All three zodiac members turned sharply at the sound of the unfamiliar voice to spot a small boy dressed completely in black. In his hands, he held the box curiously and then turned those inquisitive dark eyes onto them.

"A curse is sustained by this box," he eyed them, "Probably effecting select members of our family."

They stiffened with fear as the box was turned over in the boys hands.

"Generational," he concluded, "You seek to break it?"

"Why do you say that?" Yuki's smile was just a tad bit uncertain.

"'How to Curse Your Enemies'," he tilted his head as he read the title he could see from Haru's bag, "You already have a curse so why would you seek to cast one?"

The boy's eyes settled on Kyo for a long moment and then glanced at the rest of them.

"A sacrifice is required," his eyes lowered to the box, "Most complex of curses, so a piece of soul is probably required."

"How do you take a piece of soul with killing the body?" Haru asked and was immediately shushed.

"We want to know just for academic reasons," Yuki assured the boy as Kyo jumped the ox to cover his mouth.

The boy just stared at them.

"The curse is old, possibly ancient," he intoned solemnly, "The soul is merely a figure of speech. What you need is something of you that is eternal, like the soul, and place it within the box."

The breeze swept over them eerily.

"Megumi." The boys flinched and clutched their hearts as Hanajima Saki appeared out of nowhere and regarded them with interest, "What are you doing?"

"Talking," he responded simply, "Are you done with your visit, sister?"

"Yes, Tohru is quite well," her eyes landed on Yuki, "You have treated her very well."

"Um," Yuki felt sweat pool in the small of his back, "Thank you?"

"So these are the Sohmas," Megumi turned his dark eyes back on the boys, "How interesting."

"Yes," Hana turned to regard them as well, "Interesting."

Haru shrugged off Kyo and walked to the siblings.

They watched him approach.

He stopped a mere two feet away, closer than most would dare, and met their eyes evenly.

"Hatsuharu Sohma," Megumi stated suddenly.

If Haru was unnerved by the boy knowing his name when he hadn't introduced himself, he didn't show it. To the amazement of both the cat and rat, the ox spoke, "What part of the body is eternal?"

Hana's eyebrow lifted the slightest bit as she glanced to her brother who smiled eerily, "The hair."

"I see, uh huh, I get it," Haru nodded to himself.

"We must go now Megumi," Hana glanced over to the boys, "Farewell."

"See ya," Haru stuck his hands in his jeans and nodded.

Megumi returned the nod and drifted away with his sister.

"Okay, that was weird," Kyo shuddered, "Damn, Haru, does nothing phase you?"

"Not when there is something that needs to be done," he replied softly, more to himself than anyone else.

"What?"

"Nothing," Haru went to his bag and then glanced at his cousins, "Coming?"

Even Yuki frowned at him them, "Where?"

"To see if the hair works as a substitute for the soul," Haru remarked flippantly as he walked away.

The rat glanced at the cat, "And you date him?"

Kyo glared back, "Don't ask, alright. It just kinda happened."

Interest piqued, Yuki leaned forward, "What 'just kinda happened'?"

"I said DON'T ASK!" Kyo hissed at him and rushed ahead to join Haru.

Yuki smoothly joined them, sure that one day he would find out the entire story.

End Chapter

Sorry this isn't much of a update. I'm trying to get my rear in gear and get my stuff in order but it's harder to do than I thought, sigh. Next one will definitely be bigger. Michelle