Sohma Yuki.
The first time Tsubaki greeted and had an actual conversation was when his mother handed him over to the main family.
A small boy who was formally dressed accompanied by his mother holding her hand.
"The birth of the Rat is a matter of great celebration for the Sohma." Tsubaki said as she bowed downed and then raised her head. "Everyone, especially Akito was extremely pleased when you were born,Yuki."
The boy curiously looked at her and then let out a small cough making Tsubaki's face soften. She did hear that the boy had poor health. Hopefully it won't get worse...
Looking at him closer, he did bear a resemblance to Ayame, although the boy seemed rather calm as compared to his older brother.
Tsubaki put a hand on her chest and smiled at the boy. "My name is Tsubaki and from on I will be gladly present to serve you, the zodiacs and of course Akito."
Yuki's eyes widened at realization. He must have known who I was. Tsubaki thought.
"Yuki!" His mother shouted. "Where are your manners?"
The boy jumped in realization before he also bowed. "My name is Yuki. I'm glad to meet you."
His mother sighed and then smiled at Tsubaki. "You seem to resemble the late head of the family more and more, Tsubaki. You've grown into a fine adult."
"Why thank you. But how could I compare to still look as beautiful as ever, auntie." Tsubaki smiled as she then turned as lead the way. "Come this way. Akito is waiting."
Beside Tsubaki, the head maid smiled in satisfaction at how Tsubaki was acting. The maid was pleased at herself for raising Tsubaki so well.
"I'm worried since this child is always sick." Yuki's mother started. "The family head may not feel he is a proper companion and become frustrated with him."
Tsubaki stayed silent. That is quite likely to happen however she doubt Akito would physically hurt Yuki.
"There is no need to worry about that." The head maid replied. "It is said that there is an indescribable bond between the god and the zodiac members. They will get along well."
Yuki then coughed once again making his mother glare at him. "Yuki, don't cough like that in front of the family head." Immediately silencing the little boy.
Tsubaki frowned abit before she placed a hand on the door. "Akito. Yuki has arrived." She then opened the door.
Inside sat Akito who was reading a book. Turning to look at the visitor, she smiled and to this Yuki let out tears.
His mother started to panic as she then scolded him. "Why are you crying? Yuki, you're being rude!"
"Its fine, auntie." Tsubaki said as she bend down and wiped the tears from Yuki's face as he kept staring ahead towards Akito. "This is a normal occurrence for the zodiacs. I, myself had experienced something similar. This is the bond between us."
Akito then walked towards him and pulled him into a hug. "We finally met, my Yuki."
...
Then from what your remembered Yuki was always stuck in a room. A room Akito would enter occasionally however each time she exited Akito would leave with a smile but from the door Tsubaki would always see a small crying child, holding himself.
The child would always longingly look towards Tsubaki whenever she came to give his food.
"Don't enter the room." Akito told Tsubaki and she did as she was told.
Tsubaki would place the food by the doorway as the child would then walk towards her. He then held the sleeve of her yukata and looked at him. Tsubaki smiled sadly and the gently pulled Yuki's hands away from her.
"I'm sorry."
The next day Tsubaki came to give Yuki his food, she brought a small gift with her.
"Here" Tsubaki said as she stretched she hands towards the child. "I thought you might get bored so I got you a book." The book was old, since it was the book Akira, her father read it to Tsubaki and then later on Tsubaki would read it to young Akito.
"Do you know how to read?" Tsubaki asked. The boy shook his head. Of course he would not know. He has been stuck here for almost all his life.
"Onee-san, Can you read this for me?" Akito would plead Tsubaki. Tsubaki would then smile and then take the book, making Akito smile, and start reading it for her younger sister.
Tsubaki then turned the outer cover of the book and started reading. "Once upon a time..."
This continued for a long time. Tsubaki would read book to Yuki and slowly she even started teaching him how to read and write, these action were of course was without Akito's knowledge.
"Why..." Yuki's timid voice was heard for the first time. "Why don't you enter the room?" The small boy asked.
"Because Akito told me to." Tsubaki smiled softly.
"Just like how the rat's spirit haunts you, the spirit of a servant who can never disobey her master haunts me."
"Then I guess we both are the same." Yuki said, his trembling hands were placed near his chest. "Both of us can't do anything because of Akito..."
"You're wrong, Yuki." Tsubaki said as she outstretched her hands and placed it on Yuki's head as Yuki was sitting near the door. "Personality wise we are different. You are a timid" Yuki flinched. "However you are kind."
"Whereas I am simply a coward..."
Time passed as quickly as river flowed and Yuki was still stuck in that room.
"What is it, Hatsuharu and Isuzu?" Tsubaki asked as the two children stared at her.
"I want to meet Yuki." Hatsuharu spoke whereas the long haired girl simply turned, looking away.
Tsubaki sighed. "You do know no one other than Akito and I can meet him."
"Yes."
Tsubaki looked at Hatsuharu who had a determined look on his face. Maybe...Maybe this is fine.
"Yuki's room is on the left wing, the last rooms down the hall way." Tsubaki looked at the boy. "I'll inform you when Akito has to go out for business or when Akito has some other guest visiting."
Hatsuharu nodded. Tsubaki continued, "However, from time to time some other maids will be there to come and check up on him so be careful to not get caught." With that she walked away from the duo.
"Tsubaki-nee..." Hatsuharu spoke. "I thought you would not help us but then..."
"If you can give light to Yuki even the tiniest bit...Give light in that room of darkness which is swallowing Yuki with loneliness, I won't mind helping." Tsubaki turned around to face Hatsuharu as she sadly smiled.
"Because I am useless. I am simply helping you do what I was unable to do."
There are times when a sudden rush of guilt came up within her whenever she thought about Yuki.
There was time where Yuki's condition got so worse to the point where he couldn't even talk and most of the doctors did not know what to do to help.
Tsubaki wanted to beg Akito to set Yuki free but she couldn't. Each time she approached Akito on the matter she could not make her voice come out as if chains have wrapped around her neck.
All she did was stay outside Yuki's room during the night, just in case his condition would worsen. During the day she would make sure to always have a maid by his side.
And in someday, looking at the boy she would feel as if her heart was being ripped apart due to her helplessness. "I'm sorry,Yuki...I'm so sorry..." Tsubaki would cry from outside the room,since she was not permitted in.
Yuki who was too weak to even fully turn to look at her would look at her from the corner of his eyes would give her a weak smile as if to say It's okay...
...
Sohma Kyo.
The first time Tsubaki saw Kyo was during his mother's funeral. Before that all she heard was that the boy had orange hair and was quite hot-headed. Akito did not like being with the boy at all.
Tsubaki looked at the boy who was not crying but his body looked tense, his hands were quivering as the people around his whispered that he was the reason his mother died.
"How cruel." Tsubaki whispered but she couldn't say they were wrong. Of course Kyo was not at fault but rather the curse itself.
His father was also needed to keep in check since he had a rather abusive mouth or so that's what she had heard from people who kept watch of the zodiac's families.
Tsubaki walked towards the boy and placed her right hand on the young boy's head, the boy flinched under her touch. The boy then looked up towards Tsubaki, glaring.
Before the boy could say anything, Tsubaki spoke first. "You're a strong child but a child does not need to be strong. It's okay for a child to cry however it's an adult's job to comfort a crying child." Tsubaki spoke, her voice audible to the people near by and this made the whispering around the poor child stop, some even walking away with their head down. With that Tsubaki walked away.
After that whenever Tsubaki saw Kyo around the estate, the boy would look at her from afar and soon he would approach her to talk to her. Unlike what others said Kyo was a rather pleasant and friendly child.
Sure he can be rather loud at times but Tsubaki did not mind that at all. He seemed to be a new ray of sunshine in Tsubaki's life.
He would sometimes approach your with a sullen expression where by Tsubaki would make him talk so she could comfort him. Other times he would talk about Kazuma, his adopted father with a pure and happy expression.
But then the happy times did not last long. One day Akito suddenly said that she wanted to see the Cat's real form.
Kyo was brought to the main house and taken outside in the garden. Besides Akito, Tsubaki and Shigure stood.
"I don't want to remove the bracelet!" Kyo shouted. Akito took a step forward and with a swift motion removed the bracelet from Kyo's wrist and threw it on the ground.
Kyo took a few steps back and then shouted as small smoke began to arise from him. Tsubaki could only assume Kyo was shouting due to the pain.
"What's with this?" Akito said as your covered your nose with your yukata. "What an awful smell." The air coming from Kyo's smelled as if a flesh was decaying.
Kyo's body was also transforming. His limbs were getting longer and more deformed, and in no way the animal he turned into looked like a cat. It was something not of this world. It was a monster.
"This is the Cat spirit's true form?" Akito said, voice dripping with hate. Akito took a step back, your hands still covering your nose.
Kyo looked into Tsubaki's eyes. He was looking at her for help.He was looking for comfort. Because that was what she always provided whenever he reached out to Tsubaki.
"How Disgusting." Akito said as she took one more step back.
Kyo took one step forward to try and defend himself but when he did Tsubaki immediately rushed forward and walked in front of Akito, eye widened with her arms outstretched as if to prevent Kyo from taking one more step forward, to stop him from approaching Akito. On having a closer look Tsubaki's fingers were also trembling.
And that was when Kyo realized.
When he was looking at Tsubaki for protection. Tsubaki was looking back at him in fear.
...
Sohma Isuzu (Rin)
"Tsubaki-san..." The head maid said as she walked towards the woman. Tsubaki was walking towards Akito's room since it was time for her evening meditation. "Isuzu-san has been admitted to the hospital."
"What?" The woman stopped and turned towards the maid in shock. "Isuzu?"
Tsubaki then rushed off to the opposite direction of Akito's house. "You give Akito her medicines in my stead and inform her that I have left for the hospital."
"But Tsubaki-san! Akito would be displeased to know you left without her permission!"
Tsubaki bit her lower lips but nevertheless kept on walking. "Tell her it was an emergency." Tsubaki then noticed another maid nearby. "Get me a car ready. I'll be near the entrance in a few."
Akito would have never let Tsubaki go if she were to ask permission.
"Happy New Year..."
Tsubaki smiled as she saw Rin entering her room. She had asked Rin to come to her since she wanted to dress her up for the new years. "It's your year, Izuzu. How does it feel?"
The small girl blushed as she turned away. "I don't feel anything much!" The girl's face was flushed as she turned away. "However to know that this year is dedicated simply to me makes me feel kind of special..."
Tsubaki's lips curled into a smiled and she then started to put on Rin's kimono for her performance, after that Tsubaki also did her hair and make-up.
And when she was done, a sense of fondness filled Tsubaki. Maybe it was because Rin reminded her of Akito. Both of them had dark beautiful hair complimented by their pale complexion. To add on both of them had sharp features as well.
Tsubaki wondered would Akito also look as beautiful if she were raised as a girl.
"You look beautiful, Akito."
Tsubaki looked at the unconscious girl in front of her and frowned at her pale face and IV shots.
"Hatsuharu." Tsubaki turned to look at the young boy. "I heard you were the one who found her."
The boy nodded. "I was walking home from Shihan's dojō when I found her unconscious on the path way."
Just then Sohma Kazuma, also referred to as Shihan by the children, entered the room. The man looked at Tsubaki and said. "Apparently she has many injuries in places normally unseen."
Tsubaki quickly asked. "Do you know any reason behind it? Is she getting bullied? Or maybe she-"
She was stopped when Kazuma eyes turned, as he looked towards Rin's bed. He then walked towards her. "Hello Isuzu. How are you feeling?"
The girl replied in a weak voice. "Who are you?"
"Sohma Kazuma. You might know me as Sohma Kyo's adoptive father."
Rin must have finally grasped the situation as she stood up quickly. "I have to go back! I have to go home!"
Tsubaki rushed in as she made Rin lean back. "Your family has already been informed."
Noticing the younger girl's hardened expression towards her, Tsubaki took a few steps back. "For now, you should be resting Isuzu. I'll also inform your school about your condition."
"I told you not to approach me again." Rin glared at Tsubaki, the room had gone quiet.
"Tsubaki-nee" A young Isuzu would run towards her, all excited.
"I like Tsubaki-nee a lot!"
"Tsubaki-nee is always so kind to me..."
"To think you were only friendly towards me because I reminded you of Akito..."
"Don't approach me anymore!"
Kazuma cleared his throat. "We're waiting for your parents for now. We need to explain the reason behind your injuries. "
"Wh-why?" Rin interjected. "Don't do that! Leave us alone! I have to go home..."
"No it's fine. Don't come home again." The sudden voice grasped all of people's attention. Tsubaki's eyes widened. The last time she remembered Rin's family were also unaffected by the fact that she was a part of the zodiacs similarly to Ritsu, Kagura and the newly born Hiro.
"Go somewhere I'll never see you again. I don't care anymore. I don't know how I'm supposed to love you anymore." The mother continued in a tired voice.
Tsubaki stepped in. "Let's continue this talk outside-"
"Wait..." Rin started to walk towards her parents. "I'm sorry! I'll be careful and won't cause any problems-"
Rin's knees buckled making her fall down but then the girl tried her best to once again stand up and pursuit her parents. "Mommy, Daddy, don't leave me!"
"Shut up! We don't want you anymore!" Her father said as he stepped away.
"How can you say something like that!?" Haru shouted. "What's a kid supposed to do when their parents say that to them! Rin is already blaming herself so don't you even feel bad for what you did to her?!"
"When you take it out on us and hit us, laugh at us and neglect us!" Haru continued. "We get hurt like you guys."
Kazuma went to try and stop the boy from further shouting however he continued." Apologize! I said apologize to Rin."
"Hatsuharu!"
Tsubaki's voice made everyone go silent. The woman hardly raises her voice so for her to do so right now made everyone focus her attention on her.
"This is a hospital. You can't go shouting." Tsubaki said but after that she smiled at him. "And thank you..." For proudly saying those words which I could never let out ever since I was a child.
Tsubaki then turned to look at Rin's parents. "It's quite clear as to what had happened." Tsubaki said as she approached the girl and picked her up and placed her back in her bed.
"The parents' house will be relocated and Isuzu will be provided another house along with a few maids. The funds which were for the zodiacs family will now be given solely to Isuzu." Tsubaki said as she walked away towards her parents. "However if she wishes she can also stay with another family belonging to the zodiacs."
In the last sentence Tsubaki looked at Haru one last time before she closed the room. Rin being with Haru will probably be for the best.
Or that was what she hopped would happen. When Tsubaki informed this to Akito, she threw a tantrum. "You want a wrench to live with Hatsuharu?!"
But this time Tsubaki fought back. For the first time in Tsubaki's life she fought back against her younger sister. "Akito, this is for Rin's health. Since both of them are close with each other, I thought it would make Rin normal again." Tsubaki said even though she felt as if she was suffocating. The curse disliked the fact that the servant was going against her master.
Akito grabbed the nearby vase and threw in on the wall beside Tsubaki. She must have target Tsubaki but missed. However the shards from the vase flew and injured Tsubaki's body making her bleed.
The commotion turned the Sohma head upside down and ultimately it was decided that Sohma Isuzu would like with Sohma Kagura and her family.
In the following days Tsubaki was bedridden, Hatori who came to check on her said that she had mild fever but nothing out of ordinary. Therefore it made no sense that she was unable to eat well or able to even walk for most part.
The science part within told him that she was simply overworked and stressed out but another part of him blamed the curse. Her curse was meant to never go against Akito but then Tsubaki went against that curse.
"I heard you fought with Akito." Hatori said as he came to check on her for the third day. The woman in front of him was in bed, her condition had gotten better as compared to the first day.
Tsubaki weakly sighed. "It was regarding Isuzu. I suggested Isuzu to live with Hatsuharu since they are quite close but look at where it ended up..."
Tsubaki then looked at Hatori and smiled. "You be careful too Hatori..."
The man's eyes widened as he pulled back. "So you've heard about it."
Tsubaki with a smile still on her face looked at him. "Well it has been the talk to the town." But from within an uncomfortable feeling brewed. "The fact that the ever so stoic Hatori-sama is finally dating."
"I'll introduce you to her sometime." Hatori smiled at the girls teasing tone. He then stood up and walked towards the door. "I have to get back to my office now."
Tsubaki waved at as Hatori walked out and when he did, she continued to stare through the door he walked out.
Tsubaki then stood up and walked weakly towards the hallway and sat there. She looked at the autumn leaves falling remembering that it was then she met Hatori for the first time. She simply spend time in silence.
"Ah... Tsubaki?"
Tsubaki turned towards the voice to find Kureno who was walking towards her. He then sat near her and smiled. "I heard you were sick so I came to visit."
Tsubaki did not really talk to Kureno much after his confession, more like she never had the opportunity to. Akito would almost never let Kureno out of her sight and was extra careful to make sure Tsubaki and Kureno did not interact with each other.
"Akito would be displeased to see you here." Tsubaki said as she turned her gaze back to the falling leaves.
Kureno looked at the woman who was definitely looking weak as compared to before. "She is asleep right now so I took my chances to come visit you."
With that silence engulfed the two before Tsubaki spoke once again. "Kureno, aren't you lonely?"
Kureno looked at Tsubaki as the girl continued. "Your curse is already broken so wouldn't you like to be free? Wouldn't you want to live a normal life? Wouldn't you like to be with the person you love?"
Kureno put on a smile as he reached out to Tsubaki, gently holding a strand. He always wanted to do this too. "But I am already with the person I love right now."
Tsubaki blinked in confusion before her face flushed. She then scrunched her nose and said. "When did you become so shameless?"
Kureno laughed at her reaction. "I don't mind staying here..."
Upon hearing his reply Tsubaki noticed that he did not want to continue this conversation so she did not pry further. "How is Akito?"
"She was really angry because you went against her." Kureno said. "Also she finally learned the news that Hatori has a female assistant."
Tsubaki sighed as she placed her face on her hand. "And I tried to make sure to hide it as much as possible..."
Kureno replied. "It's already amazing that you managed to keep it hidden from her for months. Apparently the head maid saw them on a walk and informed Akito."
Tsubaki's eyebrows further knitted together. "Hopefully she doesn't find out that they're dating."
"Huh?" Kureno let out a surprised noise. "Who and who?"
"Hatori and his assistant."
"Ehhhh?!"
Tsubaki chuckled at his reaction. "What's with your face?" Tsubaki said. "Its old news now. They've been dating for a while."
Kureno placed a hand over his mouth in shock. "I didn't know about that." He then quickly leaned forward and looked at Tsubaki. "What about you? Aren't you unhappy?"
"What are you on about?" Tsubaki scowled.
Kureno then leaned back and looked at Tsubaki. "You've liked Hatori ever since you were kids and now this happens..."
Tsubaki bit her lower lips. Kureno also knew about my feelings for Hatori.
She then sighed and looked forward. "It would have never worked out between me and Hatori anyways. I'll simply stay in silence and cherish these feelings and keep cheering for Hatori's happiness."
"That's the most I can do…" She said with a smile. Kureno looked at Tsubaki as she smiled but then it looked forced and her eyes glistening with tears which were yet to fall.
"We aren't meant for love anyways. Anything we love will break sooner or later."