Kyo wandered out onto one of the porches and saw the gate open. He placed his hand over his eyes and stared, squinting his eyes slightly as the figures came into focus. Then he removed his hand as the realization hit him and his maroon eyes became wide.
"Kagura" he replied slowly.
"Kyo" Tohru appeared at his side, "What's going on?"
"Tohru" Kyo said, "Help me gather everyone. Kagura is here."
"Kagura? Right" she nodded and they both ran back into the main house.
Within moments the entire family surrounding the Zodiac were in the courtyard with their families. Akito stood in the front with Kandis as Kagura, Jinto, and Yamato stopped in front of them. Jinto removed his glasses and grinned a bit menacingly at the group. Kyo was the first to step forward.
"Kagura" he replied slowly.
"Hello Kyo" she grinned.
"What are you doing here? I mean we are happy to see you but it has been over five years since we all last saw you."
"I know" she nodded, "And I have missed you all terribly."
Jinto cleared his throat quite loudly and rudely making Kagura stop and nod her head.
"Right. Everyone I would like you to meet my husband Jinto. And our son" she went to take her son's hand but Jinto took it first, "Yamato" she replied a bit crestfallen.
"Husband?" Kyo said, "Son?"
"How is it that you have a husband and a son that we don't know about Kagura?" Shigure asked.
"I just do. Yamato was born six years ago. Just before Kyo and Tohru's babies were born."
Tohru looked down at Kaye who was holding her hand and Sakura who was watching Yamato who like Aki and Kanako didn't smile at all. They all looked at him in fact. He was quite tall for six and his hair was short and blonde. His eyes were a very dark brown and his face matched his fathers to a T.
"Okay whatever. I guess then welcome back" Kyo said moving forward to embrace her but Jinto moved in front of her, while she moved back.
"Say hello to our son" he replied, "You are going to see lots of him you know" he said to them all.
"What?" Kyo frowned at the stranger's bossiness.
"What do you mean?" Hatori replied, "Lots of him?"
"Well my son is very special you see. He needs to be around his family at this time. For my son is in fact the new Head of the Sohma family."
"What!" Kyo shouted in an outburst while the rest of the former Zodiac members began to whisper loudly amongst themselves, "You can't be serious?"
"Oh but I am serious" Jinto nodded, "Aren't I Kagura?"
"Well uh" Kagura stammered, "I."
"That's impossible" Hatsuharu shook his head not liking the man in front of him more and more.
"Yea I mean the Zodiac curse is long since gone" Momiji added, "We cured it."
"That's right" Kyo nodded, "The curse has not been around for over five years. How could he possibly be the next Head of the family?"
"Um daddy" Sakura tried to get his attention as Katsuya's eyes became wide and several of the adults in the crowd stood with nervous expressions.
"Not now sweetie" Kyo said gently and then turned back to the man furiously, "You can't just come waltzing in here like you own the place. We don't know who you are. Not only that how you could possibly know anything about the Zodiac curse. How do you know?"
"I told him Kyo" Kagura replied, "I told him about the Zodiac curse. We were dating around the time the curse was still around."
"Well that still doesn't explain how he thinks it's back" Kyo said as Ayame, Hiro, Momiji and Kisa all nodded in agreement.
"Daddy" Sakura said again.
"What is it Sakura?" he asked a bit harshly.
"Don't be mad daddy" she replied a bit scared.
"Okay. I am sorry" he softened up as he knelt down, "What is it honey?"
"I don't think the man is lying" she shook her head.
"What?" his eyes became wide as Katsuya came over with a nod of his head.
"She's right daddy" he said, "He's not."
"I don't understand" Kyo replied.
"Um Kyo" Haru looked at Rin and then turned to his cousin, "Maybe you should listen to what they have to say."
"Okay" Kyo nodded as Tohru knelt down and listened quite confused herself, as Jinto stood by staring smugly at the scene, "What is it?"
"Well" Sakura replied, "Do you remember that one night you and mommy went out for a date and you couldn't find someone to watch us, so you asked the neighbor to do it?"
"Yea" Kyo nodded.
"What about that sweetie?" Tohru added.
"Kaye and I were playing around the house" she looked at her brother who nodded along, "And we were playing hide-and-seek. Well she found Kaye first and when she found him she hugged him and a loud sound filled the room. Next thing I know she had fainted and I walked back into the room and saw that Kaye wasn't there, but he was there."
"What do you mean, wasn't there?" Tohru asked a little worried now.
"I had changed. I wasn't human anymore" Kaye said, "But I wasn't scared because you and daddy had told us stories about the Zodiac curse since we were little."
"Kaye did you transform into a Zodiac animal?" Kyo replied slowly.
"Mhm."
"Which one?" Kyo baited his breath.
"He was the tiger," Sakura answered as everyone who was not listening intently eyes became even wider, "But like he said he wasn't scared. And he changed back so he was okay. The lady from next store woke up and thought she had fallen asleep. She didn't remember anything. So we were safe. But we wanted to test it, so the next day Kaye and I at the park played with a group of kids and one of the boys ran over and grabbed me and the same thing happened again."
"What?" Kyo became really worried.
"You transformed too Sakura?" Tohru said.
"Mhm. I am the cat."
"What?" Kyo practically shouted, "But that is not possible. If you are the cat then why don't you turn into the monster I used to be? You're past four."
"I don't know daddy" Sakura shook her head, "I just do."
"She's not lying daddy" Kaye replied, "I saw it."
"Why didn't you two tell us about this?" Kyo asked.
"We didn't want to worry you" Sakura said.
"Oh you two sweethearts" Tohru embraced them both tightly, "You should have told us though."
"I know."
"Yea. You really should have" Kyo replied a bit of a frown on his face.
"You shouldn't blame them Kyo" Haru said, "They are just kids after all."
"Do you know something?" Kyo asked him suspiciously because of the way he was avoiding his eyes.
"Yes" Haru nodded as Rin averted her eyes and held onto her baby girl tightly, "Reiji is also one."
"He is?" Momiji replied.
"Yes. He's the dragon. We found out when he was two years old. But since no one else was having the same problem we didn't bring it up."
"While we are on the subject of not saying anything" Kandis spoke up, "We have a confession too, don't we Akito, Rebecca, Ritsu."
"Yea" Akito said as the other two members nodded, "Akito and Kanako are also cursed. Our son is the sheep" he placed his hands on Aki's shoulder.
"Dad" Aki protested.
"And Kanako is the rat" Ritsu replied as Rebecca nodded.
"Okay" Kyo said slowly and a bit angrily, "The rest of you kept this a secret and didn't tell anyone."
"None of us knew that others were cursed Kyo" Haru defended them, "We didn't want our kids to suffer, that's why."
"But I don't get it" Momiji replied, "If you're kids were cursed how is that you can hold them if you're the opposite sex?"
Everyone around who were shocked by the news nodded their heads in the same question. Hatori moved forward as his wife Mayuko held onto their one-year-old son.
"I think I can explain that. When we thought the curse was broken, we all believed it was love right, that solved the curse?"
"Of course" Shigure nodded, "Everyone it is quite obvious why we didn't know" he looked at them all, "We all love our children. Love must be a hindrance to the curse. If someone loves them then the curse is void, but if a member of the opposite sex who doesn't love them in the same manner embraces them, then they transform. All our children were brought into the world by Hatori and he loves them because he is family."
"So what you're saying is" Hiro spoke up, "That the curse no longer exists for us but our kids are now going to have it. That sucks. I thought we got rid of it."
"Hiro" Kisa placed her hand into his trying to calm him down.
"You know what this means" Shigure replied turning to Aoko, "Our child could have it as well. And Momiji's. And Yuki's too. Hari is your son cursed?" he asked his friend who nodded.
"Yes. My son is the snake."
"Oh that would explain his behavior" Shigure chuckled.
"Oh Shigure" Ayame grinned faking a hurt look immediately, "You're so mean."
"Okay" Kyo said, "So let me get this straight, we have exactly six members and three possible members of the Zodiac who exist now. The curse has returned?"
"Apparently so" Shigure said as the others nodded and Hiro, Kureno, Arisa, Kisa, Ayame, and Mine could only stare stunned.
"And you" Kyo turned back to Jinto, "How is that you know that the curse has returned?"
"Because of my son's condition" Jinto answered, "When he was born he was very sick from the get-go. I heard from Kagura that the head of the family, Akito was it?"
"Yes" Akito replied with a frown and moved forward slightly, "I am Akito."
"You were the head of the family, and you suffered the same types of symptoms."
"That's correct" Akito nodded not liking where the conversation was going at all, "I was the head of the family. But mostly the Zodiac family."
"You can see what I mean then?"
"Unfortunately I can" Akito nodded again, "Everyone I need to speak with you" he informed the crowd, "You will wait here" he told the other three, "Until we are done with our discussion" he moved past and they all followed him back inside the house.
Jinto watched as they departed and frowned himself as Akito's stare.
"Smug bastard" he thought as Kagura watched them all depart with a lonely look in her eyes.
(Next Scene)
"What do you mean Akito?" Hatori asked when they had all sat down and began to protest.
"The look in that boy's face" Akito closed his eyes, "I know that look. I saw it in my face so often in the mirror. This man isn't lying. If the Zodiac curse has returned then this boy is the new head of the Zodiac and there is nothing we can do about it."
"But Akito" Kyo said standing up, "That can't be just it. We don't know anything about this guy. How can we so easily let him into the family?"
"I am with Kyo on this" Hatsuharu nodded with a frown, "We can't just let him waltz in here and take control. He doesn't own us and just because his son may be" he put up his fingers in quotations, "The new head of the Zodiac doesn't make this right."
"I know what you are saying boys" Akito replied, "But Shigure, Ayame, Hatori, and Kureno know what I am saying. This boy is the head of the Zodiac. When I was born there was no choice. We all had to follow the guidelines of the Zodiac. And now as much as it pains me and all of you our children are going to have to abide by his rules and guidelines."
"Akito" Kandis placed a hand on his shoulder.
"The hell with that!" Kyo said, "I am going home and I am taking my family with me. If you want to stay here and accept this, fine! That's your purgative. But me, I'm not going to put my kids through that. Not the same crap I went through. No offense" he added a bit gently.
"None taken" Akito nodded, "You do what you think is best Kyo. This is your family after all. But I have to tell you this, you can't run forever. It's the way things are. The head of the family and the Zodiac members are connected. They always find a way to stay together."
"We're leaving," he said taking Tohru's hand, "I understand what you are saying too. But we're going. My family has suffered enough. I'm not going to put them through that again. We're going home. Come on kids."
"Okay!" Kaye nodded jumping up, "Bye Reiji" he replied as he and Sakura left quickly behind their parents.
"Oh boy" Shigure sighed, "What are we going to do now?"
"What we have to do" Hatori replied as Haru crossed his arms and wished he lived out of Tokyo like Kyo, "We must welcome them and prepare a place for them."
"Yes" Akito nodded, "You have to be the boy's personal physician from now on too Hatori."
"I will" Hatori nodded, "But Akito" he added, "I will not sacrifice my time with my family for that kid."
"I understand" Akito nodded and everyone stood up and departed the room.
(Next Scene)
Back in there room Kyo closed the last suitcase. Tohru came in and stared at the back of his head.
"Are you really sure this is necessary Kyo?" she asked him.
"We're going home Tohru" Kyo said simply, "I always swore that my kids wouldn't suffer the way I did and I will keep that promise to myself."
"Kyo" she replied slowly as he sat on the bed with a sigh, "You know I have a confession to make" she sat down next to him and took his hand.
"What is it?"
"I knew about Kagura's baby and her husband."
"How did you know?" he asked her quite surprised.
"I saw her."
"When?"
"About five years ago. Yuki found her first. He had tracked her down and he told me that she seemed unhappy, so I asked him to take me to her and he did. I never met her husband before but from the way Yuki described him it sounded like he was a very forceful type of person. Mean and I got the impression too when I was talking to her that she was afraid of him. Seeing him today, I can see why. He looked very intimidating."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"She asked me not to. She didn't want anyone to know where she was Kyo. Not even you. I hated keeping it a secret from you Kyo but I figured it was Kagura's life and it was best to leave her alone."
"That's just like you. You are good at keeping secrets."
"Are you mad at me? You can be you know. You should be."
"I'm not. I'm not really" he shook his head, "I think I understand why you didn't say anything. I think I would have overreacted. But still it would have been nice to get a heads up."
"I'm sorry" she chuckled a little at his honesty.
"I know you are" he embraced her, "Let's just go home. My master already left yesterday with the damn rat. So it's just us going home."
"I guess we are going to tell Yuki about the curse."
"Yea" Kyo nodded, "I don't know if it is a good idea right now. Maybe we should wait for a while. He already has too much bad things he's dealing with now as it is."
"That's true" Tohru nodded standing up from the bed, "Well I am going to help the twins get ready to go."
"Okay" Kyo nodded, "I'll bring the rest of the suitcases out" he added as she departed the room, "Man" he muttered, "Talk about a holiday with bad news" he grimaced.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile in the main house Kagura was putting Yamato to bed. Jinto was in the next room on his cell phone, smoking a cigarette as he talked to the caller.
"Everything has gone according to the plan" he replied, "We are settling into the house right now as we speak."
"Good" Tai said on the other end, "You have done well Jinto. Just lay low for the next few days till I call you with the next bit of instructions. Celebrate the holiday with your family."
"Yes sir" he nodded.
"Until I call again" Tai hung up the phone.
(Next Scene)
In his apartment Riku and Ichirou were sitting on his black leather couches as he came over. He had a glass for each of them and handed to them.
"Wow" Riku replied surprised, "What's the occasion?"
"This is going to be the start of a great new year Riku" Tai said taking a sip from his glass, "The Zodiac curse has returned in full swing. Soon my plan will take it's third step" he turned to the window, "And the Sohma's doom will be sealed forever" he picked up a batch of papers, "Good work Ichirou" he smiled as he glanced over them.
"What more would you like me to do?" he asked running a hand through his hair as Riku shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Nothing. You've done all I require right now. Kyoto huh? I thought he would have moved somewhere a bit closer. I will give him props for escaping me so ingeniously. Perhaps he is not as stupid as I thought he was. You don't need to do anything my friend" he added, "Soon they will come back to Tokyo" he replied as he sat down, "They will have no choice. All we have to do is wait and then my trap will finally spring" he grinned menacingly taking another sip of his drink.
(Till Next Time)