Chapter 26

(Chika's POV)

I felt a moisture on my cheeks and pulled away from Haru to see him crying. "Haru, what's wrong?" I asked, highly concerned.

He suddenly grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist and held him as he pressed his forehead into the crook of my neck. I could feel the cool tears against my skin as he wept. I didn't know why he was crying but Haru clearly needed me to hold him now and I wasn't going to object… not now. I rubbed small circles onto his spin, hopefully easing whatever was on his mind.

He pulled away and started to kiss me hard. I felt the sheer ferocity and desire in his lips and, surprisingly, returned the passion. His hand wrapped around the back of my neck, cutting off any escape I might have attempted. Responding, I grabbed his shirt, balling it in my fists. Leaning his weight forward, he carefully pushed me to the ground, covering me with his body. Safely pinned, my mind immediately went on the defensive. This position made the Leopard very upset yet she loved it. Haru continued to kiss me, running a free hand across my side to hike my leg up onto his hip. I snarled as his lips left mine and traveled down my throat, nipping that the thin skin of my collarbone.

Having enough, I used my dexterity to roll us over so I was on top. Playfully smriking down at a rather rumpled Haru, I bowed my head and started on his neck. However, where he had merely nibbled, I felt my fangs had elongated so I left tiny prick marks on his flesh. He moaned at the pain/pleasure mix as I lapped at his wounds. Grabbing my braided hair, Haru pulled me off his neck and back to his lips before rolling us so I was under him again. "Stay." He warned, replacing my leg on his hip.

"Make me." I growled lightly, making him capture my hands and pin them above my head. I felt my heart pumping faster in my chest, screaming and ready to burst. I knew we had to stop, but… Oh, to hell with it! If I changed, so what? I knew it would happen soon and act like a cold bucket of water for Haru. "What brought this on?"

"The curse…" Haru breathed, releasing my neck. "It's broken…"

No sooner had he said those words than a stabbing pain erupted in my chest, making me arch my back and scream. "Chika?!" Haru yelled, all but leaping off me as I curled into a ball.

It felt like something was clawing at me from the inside. I screamed again, starting to claw at my chest. "Chika stop!" Haru said, rushing forward and grabbing my wrists so I couldn't harm myself. "What's wrong?!"

I couldn't reply. My breath had been taken from me. I slowly blacked out to the sound of Haru calling for me and others coming toward us.

I was in a very bright place. I could barely see but there, a long ways off, there was a leopard. Her eyes matched mine and they met mine. She raised her head and roared into the brightness before looking at me again. She turned and padded off, fading into the light. I knew. I knew what this meant. "I… I'm free…" I whispered and blackness consumed me again, catapulting me back to the present.

My eyes cracked open. "Petals! Chika speak to me!" Kayo's voice said and her concerned face appeared in my sight.

"What do you want me to say?" I asked slowly.

"How about what the hell happened?" Dad asked, his voice abnormally loud.

I sat up, rubbing my forehead. "I…" I blinked, shaking my head lightly. "The curse… it… it's gone."

Everyone stared at me. I saw that Hatori, Shigure, Ayame and Kisa had come as well and all of them had remnants of tears in their eyes. Kyo and Tohru stood nearby, Tohru looking absolutely terrified and Kyo looked concerned. Kayo had a confused look on her fine face while Dad had a mixture of concern and relief on his. All the Sohmas developed a smile on their face and Haru looked relieved and elated. "O.K. Is this one the only one confused here?" Kayo asked, her eyes darting around to look at everyone.

"Yup." I replied, making to stand. "But, in short, long ago, Mom's family was cursed and now it's gone."

Kayo blinked a few times before smiling. "Makes sense to me." She said.

I saw Hatori give her a questioning look but gently shake his head. Oh he had a crush, maybe a small one, but definitely a crush.

"But you're alright?" Haru asked softly.

I smiled and nodded. "I'm more than alright… I'm free." I said, laughing at the end.

XXXX

(Narrator's POV)

It was midnight. The house was dark, and not a sound was made. Downstairs the front door slowly creaked open. Yellow-green eyes peered inside and scanned for any sign of discovery. Kayo was passed out on the living room couch, lightly snoring. She'd be out for the rest of the night. She didn't even need to see the scattered cans around the coffee table, or the one clutched in her aunt's hand, to know she'd drunk herself to sleep. The party must have gotten carried away once she and Yuki had left. Akahana wrinkled her nose as the stench of beer coming from her aunt. Seeing she was in the clear for the moment, Akahana shut the door.

She tiptoed her way upstairs, passing by the bedrooms. Peering into her father's bedroom, Akahana smiled when she saw her dad peacefully sleeping. She'd come up with an excuse tomorrow, hopefully one getting her out of a year's worth of grounding. Still, it was worth it. She sighed and shut her father's bedroom door. Her eyes closed and a warm smile on her face, she walked to her bedroom. She quietly opened the door and slipped inside, quietly chuckling how easy this was. 'I see why Chika always had fun sneaking out,' she thought to herself.

There was a light clapping and the lights flicked on. Chika lay propped on her bed, stroking her stuffed horse before slowly looking up at the frozen Akahana. "Well, well, well. Look what the rat dragged in." Chika said slowly.

Chika took in Akahana's disheveled appearance, her loose hair, red lips and her holding her shoes in her hand. "Well, I could make many assumptions at this point, but, given that I am feeling nice, you had better spill NOW before I awaken Daddy dearest." Chika warned, smiling deviously.

Akahana shook. Her eyes were wide and her jaw was close to dropping. "I-I.. I…"

Chika swung her legs off the side of the bed and stood. "Aka, when you come in late and get caught, always come up with a good plan before deciding to stay out late tongueing Yuki." She said, cracking a sneaky smile on her lips.

The bright read blush that appeared on her face could have set a new record. "I-I was NOT tonguing Yuki!"

"But you were kissing him!" Chika said, gently placing her stuffed horse before taking Akahana's hands in her own. "Congratulations big sister. Welcome to the relationship world." She said, kissing her cheeks.

"Well…thanks." She removed her hands and sat on her bedside. "So... Any ideas what I should tell Dad? With all the drink I smelled on Kayo's breath, I could easily say I was home. Dad on the other hand..."

"Oh, I'll just throw you under the bus like you did for me." Chika said, flopping back down onto her bed. "Returning the favor sister dearest."

"Oh come on!" Akahana whined. "You'll totally blow it out of proportion - like you always do - when we didn't do anything! Besides, I'm not the one with a thousand hickies on her neck." She smirked as her gaze drifted to the tiny bruise marks on her sister's neck.

"I already got reamed by Dad for these trophies." Chika laughed lightly. "Besides, it's easier that way. Plus, you can prepare since you know I'll be telling him."

"There is no way you're talking to Dad before me! I'll tell him what happened, just let him sleep. Besides, I think you're forgetting one factor that's more punishment than I need from you over exaggerating about Yuki and I, when you don't even know what happened."

"You don't even know what I was going to say. Don't make accusations about what words will come out of my mouth Akahana." Chika snapped, using her full name. "For your information, I was perfectly aware that Dad needs his sleep and wasn't going to tell him until the morning. Now, I'm going to bed. Good night."

She threw off the covers of her bed, dove under them and clapped again, turning the lights off.

Akahana growled, balling her fists at her sides. "Seriously? And I'm speaking from past experience, so don't get huffy, Chi-Chi!" Seeing her sister still had her back to her, Akahana grabbed the blankets and made Chika look at her. "Now, I will be the one to talk to Dad, got it? Now you, me! I'm already in hot water, and I want to handle this."

"Don't get huffy?! For goodness sake Aka, I'm not a damn child anymore. I don't need you to be my Mom anymore!" Chika said, bolting up out of the bed. "You want to tell Dad? Fine! Tell Dad whatever you want to tell him! But don't ever assume my intentions based on past experiences. I tease, yes, but I also know that you like to handle things your own way. Sorry for having an imp side and messing with you. Sorry for being a little sister. Handle it your own way from now on. Enjoy." She said, grabbing her covers back.

"Hey!" Kayo's voice said and the door opened, revealing the blanket wrapped Kayo. The beer can still in her hand, shirt sleeve hanging down, and her speech was slurred, plus her eyes were glazed over from the beer, so she was not really focusing on them. "Some of us got wasted at the party so both of you keep it down before I go ninja on your asses." She said, pointing at them before shutting the door.

There was a pause. Both girls stared at the closed door. After a few moments, they turned to look at each other and burst out laughing. "Did... Did you see the look on her face?" Akahana asked as she tried to control her laughter.

"Priceless drunk Kayo!" Chika laughed hard, muffling her laughter with her pillow.

"Seriously, I only counted eight cans in the living room, plus the one in her hand. How many did she have after Yuki and I left?"

"Oh, Shigure and Ayame got her wasted before Hatori rescued her before they started her third round of shots. And you know how she does her shots." Chika explained, wiping her eyes free of tears.

"Man, wished we stuck around for that," Akahana chuckled. "I thought she only got that drunk during a celebration. What exactly happened?"

"Way too much to go into depth. First the Shoma curse broke curtsey Kyo and Tohru, then my own curse left my body and then—" Chika started to explain but Akahana cut her off.

"Whoa, whoa!" She held up her hands to get Chika to stop. "I knew the Zodiac curse was gone, but what was that last part?"

"My curse left my body. No more leopard changing for me." Chika said.

Akahana squealed and wrapped her arms around Chika's neck. "Chi, I'm so happy for you! That explains so much! Remind me I owe that boyfriend of your's a huge hug tomorrow."

"Whoa, keep your hands off my cowboy. You have your own cuddle buddy for that." Chika winked.

"Yeah, I know but I owe him for breaking the curse, among…other things." Chika nearly gasped when she saw the sly smirk creep over her sister's face.

"I'm dying inside to learn what 'other things' occurred but I am seriously turning into a pumpkin here. Talk in the morning?" Chika asked, stifling a yawn.

"Of course." She smiled and got under her own covers. "After all, I do have to thank you both. It was technically your fault I was late tonight." Before Chika could respond, Akahana gave her a quick wink and a "Goodnight" before turning over and settling down for the night.

As the girls fell into a happy sleep, the moon seemed to shine brighter than ever before. It marked the dawning of a new chapter in their lives. One of hope, happiness… and love.

~The End~