A/N: Hot days in winter feel extra hot because they're contrasted to the cold. And this finishes off the first 'arc'. Not that these are strictly split into arcs or anything.

Shokan means January 5, or entrance of the cold. I'm following the tradition of Fruits Basket in naming the OC characters involved with the Zodiac.

The Curse of the Cat

056. I Know

So Zoe knew about the curse. Koichi had gathered as much from her reaction when he'd transformed, but that didn't explain why she was standing there, with his things no less, and –

– and Koji.

His mind wanted very much to panic. Of all the people that had to come along, it had to be him. Granted, he'd rather no-one come after him, but evidently that had been far too much to hope for.

The only blessing was that Koji didn't appear to recognise him, nor the other time –

He backed further into the shadows until his tail was pressed against the slender trunk.

But Zoe was smiling. And Koji – didn't look threatening, or angry, or anything one would expect from a meeting between the Rat and the Cat of the Zodiac – considering only an idiot would confuse him with the tiger.

And he was tired. Maybe not bordering on exhaustion as he hadn't transformed from it, but it was enough to make sure he didn't transform back without some rest.

Which, in retrospect, was a good thing.

057. Dust

Zoe was starting to wonder if the two boys – or Zodiac members, considering one was in their animal form – would turn into dust sculptures before something happened. Really, were the…issues between the Rat and the Cat that serious?

'Uh…' she spoke after a moment. While it was cooler under the shade and she wasn't baking in the direct heat of the sun, she did want to move some time in the next century. 'Could you come down before you – you know – ' She went a little red again.

Honestly, couldn't the curse come with an in-built clothing mechanism for de-transformations?

The cat blinked slowly at her, as if he didn't understand.

'Oh come on.' She was exasperated, and if the branch didn't look like it would snap against her weight she would have climbed up to fetch him. And she was positive he was the right one.

'You know we Zodiac members can sense the curse,' Koji said a hair's breath after. 'So don't try acting like an innocent cat. And could you hurry up; I do need to be back in kendo.'

He wasn't sure if the cat slipped thereafter or had been guilt-tripped into obeying and mis-stepped, but the next moment the small body was falling out of the tree. Koji didn't move; he knew enough about cats to know they would land on their feet, but Zoe had stepped forward and the other had landed neatly on her head before she recalled.

And embarrassed, the cat tried to leap away. But this time Zoe was faster and had trapped him under her arm.

'Got you,' she said triumphantly. 'Now, is your house anywhere near here? Mine's the opposite direction to the school and so is the library, and I do not fancy the walk.'

058. Dream

Tomoko came home to a girl she didn't recognise sitting on the floor, and her son no-where to be seen.

'Oh, you must be Koichi's mother.' The blonde girl shot up from where she had been sitting on the floor. When Tomoko nodded her affirmative, she continued: 'I'm Zoe Orimoto, a classmate from school. We're…going to be working on a project together.'

Tomoko nodded slowly. 'Where's Koichi then? Bathroom?'

'Uhh…' She looked a little uncomfortable. 'He's…sleeping.'

She looked closely at the younger girl, and shook her head. 'I take it you saw.'

'Uh…yes ma'am.'

'It's Tomoko.'

'Yes ma'- Ms Tomoko.' Zoe paused. 'I already knew about the curse though; one of my other friends –'

Tomoko shook her head. 'With half the district owned by the Sohmas, it's no wonder I suppose. Although I must admit I'm surprised your memories were not erased.'

'Koji said the same thing.'

Tomoko, who had turned her head to the closed door where her son slept off his exhaustion (she told him not to go to school but he was going up the wall at home), snapped back. 'Koji Minamoto?'

Zoe affirmed the surname. Tomoko said nothing on the subject thereafter, simply offering cookies and an invitation to lunch. The other was happy to accept, especially since it meant her father could pick her up on the way home from walk and they'd be home in time for her mother's dinner and desert.

059. Destiny

Koichi wondered if it was all a dream when he awoke, but Zoe was at the kitchen table, talking to his mother as she cooked.

'Good afternoon sleepyhead,' Tomoko said cheerfully. 'Feeling better now?'

Zoe grinned. Koichi blinked, then answered. 'Yes, Mum.'

'We've got time before dinner,' the blonde said. 'Want to get a plan down?'

Without waiting for an answer, she shot off for their bags and spread the required materials out on the table. 'I think we should pick a tsunami, seeing as everyone was talking about earthquakes in class today – hello, are you listening to me?' She sounded a little irate.

'I'm sorry,' he mumbled, looking down.

'For what?'

'Now,' Tomoko laughed from the stove. 'Don't ask him that; he'll never say what you want to hear.'

'Koichi?' Zoe looked at him. 'Look, I know about the curse. I don't care; I know it sucks for all of you, but that doesn't change anything else. It doesn't change we're working on a project now, does it? Otherwise you wouldn't be at school, especially a co-ed school.' She pushed the paper aside. 'But we're not getting anywhere here, so let's talk about what happened this afternoon. And don't say it's because you thought I didn't know, because I told you and that didn't seem to change things.'

Koichi closed his eyes. 'It did,' he said quietly. 'But how much do you really understand about the curse?'

Zoe blinked.

'You know the Cat is and can never be a part of the Zodiac.'

She half nodded.

So she doesn't know…

Tomoko was silent at the stove, simply clattering away.

'And someone cursed with the Zodiac can never belong to the world that exists outside.'

'Koji said that as well,' Zoe said, equally quietly. 'But I don't understand that.'

Koichi shook her head. 'You don't need to, but please, stay away from me.' His voice broke on the emphasis. 'Don't get too close.'

'Sorry.' The words were insincere, and Koichi's head snapped up to look at her. 'I'm a stubborn person you know. So unless you tell me honestly you don't want to be my friend – which I seriously doubt is the case here, you're simply going to have to put up with my company. And I rather like the idea of getting to pick my partner for a change, and at least with you I know I'm not going to get stuck doing the whole project myself.' She sighed nasally. 'I don't have to tell you how annoying that is.'

Koichi looked at his mother. Tomoko simply shrugged. To be honest, she didn't see the problem in giving destiny a little kick to get her to back off. And she rather liked this Zoe girl too; she also didn't see a problem in her quiet son spending more time with a headstrong young lady like that.

At least the time he had left anyway. And maybe…

She shook her head, continuing to prepare their meal. Somehow she doubted that was going to change. Still, it couldn't hurt for Koichi to be a little more assertive.

And there was the possibility Fuyuno would change his mind. Which she hoped and prayed for every day.

060. Spring

Tomoko waited until Zoe had left before she sat down beside her son for a word.

'She's a nice girl,' was her first comment.

Predictably, Koichi blushed darkly. 'Mum!'

'Moving on from that,' Tomoko continued, the atmosphere predictably darkening. 'You transformed in front of her, didn't you. But she knew of the curse before that.'

He nodded. 'I think she's seen Koji transform; he was with her.'

'I see.' Her tone was guarded, revealing nothing. 'I must say I'm surprised…but it's a good thing, I think.'

'It's not.' It was a protest, but not one with much vigour backing it. 'Outsiders aren't supposed to know about a curse; you remember what happened to Shokan.'

'Shokan's story was a mix of tragedy and interference into things that were best left alone.'

'We can't stop that interference, Mum.'

'No.' Tomoko closed her eyes. 'You're –' She shook her head.

At least by June you'll be free…one way or another. Either a part of the Zodiac for life, or never to be…

'Tomorrow's Spring,' she simply said, quietly.

'Yeah...'

There was silence for a brief moment.

'You do have to work with her, you know,' Tomoko said eventually. 'And if she's serious with pairing with you for every assignment, you're either going to have to go along with her or tell her straight out you don't want to – which you cant because you do.'

Koichi said nothing to that, simply staring at some dark corner.

'You know what I think?' she asked quietly. 'Make the most of the time you have here. Don't worry about the future; things change. You know that. Maybe the curse will be broken. Maybe Fuyuno will change his mind.' Maybe you'll change yours.

'Maybe.' But Koichi didn't sound convinced.