Chapter 3

"Please forgive me. My name is Ayamari Kageshi."
"Kage-chan, what a cute name" Shigeru said with a small grin.
Yuki, "Ayamari-san where are you from? I have never seen that uniform before."
Kageshi didn't say anything, she sat there quietly drinking tea that Tohru had brought for her.

"The air feels heavy in here" Tohru thought to herself, so she decided to speak up. "Ayamari-san" "Please, Kageshi is fine" Tohru smiled, "Kageshi-kun" she turned to Shigure. "Shigure-san if it's ok, why don't we let her stay here for a while?" Shigure looked at her, not entirely sure. "Another high school girl in the house" Kyo and Yuki got mad and hit on the head, and in unison, "You perverted old man"

Hatori, "We have to tell Akito about this"
Momoji looked over at Kageshi, "Kage-chan, don't worry nothing will happen to you."

The next day they went to visit Akito at the main house. Inside Hatori, Shigure, Yuki, Kyo, Momoji and Kisa sat inside. Kageshi sat in front of them all. "Its just like what happened within Honda-san" Yuki thought to himself, except none of them knew what to expect because they don't know this girl.

Shigure, "Akito-san this is Ayamari Kageshi. Kyo found her a few days ago."
"A few days ago? Why wasn't I informed?" he asked

Hatori intercepted Shigure, "She was unconscious for 3 days, and we felt no need to say anything until she awakened." Akito who was still laying with his back to them just lay there quietly. "So?"

Shigure, "She doesn't seem to know, but she can touch us without us transforming." Akito didn't move not even flinch. Secretly though Kageshi did know how their curse. She herself didn't know the whole reasoning with the hug though. Kageshi stood up and walked over to Akito and sat behind him. Akito stood up and looked down upon her. She looked up with no feeling in her eyes.

"Kisa-chan" Akito called for her.
"Hai!" Kisa got up and walked over to them.
"Kisa I want you to hug her" Kisa hugged Kageshi and of course nothing happened for they were both female.
"Kyo, come here" Kyo got up and sat behind Kageshi. "Hug her"
"Hug her? Why me?" Kyo was irritated he didn't want to hug her but he couldn't say no to Akito so Kyo moved forward a little bit and hugged her and nothing happened. "Leave" he told her.

"But Akito-san!" Yuki called out. Yuki didn't want her to go, it was going to be the first time that he would and could touch a female and not transform. Akito looked at Yuki, "Yuki, you can't defy me" Kageshi stood and looked at Akito and she put her hand on his face. Akito slapped her. She bowed, "Excuse me" she went over to Yuki and smiled, "Thank you" and she hugged him. Yuki stood there and slowly put his arms around her. "YUKI!" Akito yelled at them and ran and pulled Kageshi by her hair. Yuki and Shigure grabbed hold of Akito.

Shigure, "Momoji take her out of here"

Momoji wasn't sure what to do he hesitated. Akito looked up to see him and let go of her.

As much as Akito defied what Kageshi had done, he could not notice what had happened. "She can stay here with me." Shigure and Yuki let go of him in shock. Hatori himself was in shock he could not believe that he would say that after telling her to leave.

Ayame who was not sure, even as his personality is, he did not see anything good coming out of this especially for Kageshi. He wasn't sure what made him do it; he spoke up to Akito "I'll take her".

They all turned to him; Yuki who was in Shock; Akito, "What? Did you hear what I said?" Ayame bowed down to him, "I will take care of her." He looked seriously at Akito, "Akito-san, please!" Akito slapped him and let them go.

Outside they walked toward Ayame's house, which was somewhere within the main house. Yuki looked at Ayame wondering what could he be thinking. "Oniisan" Ayame looked at him, "Why did you do that?" Ayame with smile, he gallantly stood up, "Because I need a maid!" Hatori just stared he knew that wasn't it.

"What an idiot why did I even ask?"

They arrived at Ayame's house. Shigure, Yuki and Kyo left leaving Kageshi to Ayame and hopefully in Hatori's hands. Kageshi and Ayame sat at the table; Hatori had to check up on Akito and told them he would be back later. Ayame and Kageshi looked at each other. "Shall I show you around?" They stood up and he showed her the kitchen where everything is, supplies, bathroom and her bedroom, which was right next to his. For some very strange reason the room was already decorated with beautiful decors of purple, red and pink. They went back down and Kageshi offered to make them dinner. Ayame got up and told her he'd be back, he was going to ask Hatori over.

Before Ayame could leave the place, Hatori was already at the door. "Yo! Ha-chan, I was just going to get…" Hatori cut him off and they both sat outside of where the table is. Kageshi heard both voices and brought out tea for them. "Thank you" they both said. They both stood up and then Ayame sat down on the edge. Hatori, "What are you thinking? You know nothing about this girl. You surprised us all" Ayame just sat there for a while, "You know people like you and Tohru-chan make me weak" That was his answer, something Hatori understood only slightly. "What are you thinking?" he asked again. For the first time Ayame wouldn't, not wouldn't, couldn't give him a straight answer, "I don't know". Thirty minutes later Kageshi came out with setting up the table, instead of three plates there seemed to be four plates. Ayame, "Kage-chan why are they're four?" She smiled, "Shigure-san will be coming" and soon enough Shigure came knocking on his door.

"OH! How wonderful I came just in time for dinner!" Shigure sat down. Hatori, "Why are you here?"
"You know why" Hatori did know why, and so did Ayame.

Kageshi placed everything and they all sat around the table. They bowed said a small grace and began to eat. As they were eating Shigure noticed that Kageshi wasn't wearing the school uniform.

"You've changed your clothing?"
"Ayame-san is kind enough to lend these to me."

"AHAHAHA" a loud laughter came from Ayame. "Of course! She is a beautiful flower and only one as beautiful as me can live and wear my clothing!" and he continued to laugh. Hatori stared while Shigure smiled and giggled along.

They finished dinner and Kageshi put everything away and started to clean the dishes. Hatori called her in though.

"I would like to talk with you Ayamari-san. First off how old are you?"
"20"
"Where are you from? Around here? I have many things I would like to ask you, of course not all tonight." \
"I am from Okinawa"
"But Kyo said that is a uniform he saw up north"
She nodded, "Yes, but I am from Okinawa. I moved up north to a small city, I moved there 2 years ago, so that's why I am wearing this uniform."
"What happened, why are you here and lurking around the Sohma residence?"
Ayame, "Hatori!" Shigure and Hatori were surprised he has said his full name; he usually just calls him Ha-chan.
"Forgive me Ayamari-san. I don't mean to sound rude, but I want to get to the point. We, the Sohma's feel a strange feeling from you."

"I…" he voice trailed off. "I don't know. I wanted a change so I came down here and I just happen to pass by your house. Something's been calling me, to where I don't know, but I believe our meeting is not just by chance."

Shigure, "And your family?" She fell silent. "You hadn't mentioned any family we can contact."

"I don't have a family… my father died when I was 5 and left me and my mother, but she died only a year later. I don't know anyone on my father's side and my mother's side doesn't acknowledge me as one." The air felt a lot heavier. She smiled at them, "Please don't be sorry or worried. I am doing just fine." She lit up a smile that made them smile. But deep down they knew, "Just like Tohru-kun" they all thought.

"Excuse me, I'm going to get some tea would you like some?" Shigure was the only one who accepted. After she left Hatori commented, "Is that why? She reminds you of someone?" He looked at Ayame.
Shigure, "She will surely remind Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun of a certain someone." She came back with tea. She served the tea and left the three guys to be.

Ayame, "Please don't tell Yuki-kun"
Shigure, "Why not?"
"Just don't tell him. Evade his questions make something up he can believe. Also…"
"Also?" Hatori caught his word.

"Didn't you feel that it was wrong when Akito wanted her to stay with him?"
"It was strange and then for him to permit her to stay with you" Shigure pondered on this a bit. As immature as he can be sometimes, Shigure was actually really intelligent; he wasn't a novelist for nothing. "Something isn't right, it's as if he wants her to stay close to home, because either that or he could have had her stay with us (referring to Tohru, Kyo and Yuki)." It was getting late so they went on their way and everyone was asleep.

For the next few days, Kyo, Yuki, Tohru have come by to just to stop in and say hi, mostly due to check if she has lost it from hanging around Ayame too much. Momoji often stop by after coming from visiting Shigure's house and Kisa came over at least twice a week to see Kageshi. Kageshi often did what Tohru did around the household; laundry, cook, clean etc. You name it she did it, except she didn't go to school. She often talked with Ayame, and he even convinced her to wear some of his other clothing that he sold. Ayame opened up to her, not as much as he did Tohru the first time, but he was starting to.

But there was something off every now and then at least 3-4 times a week, Kageshi would disappear for at least 2-3 hours during the day after she the daily duties. Ayame didn't know where she was, he was at the store, Hatori was working, and Momoji and the other's were at school. Just where would she go off to, Ayame hadn't noticed but Hatori did. He would sometimes pass by and no one would be there. He was oftened with Akito to check on him everyday but not every minute of the day.

It was Saturday and Ayame asked Kageshi if she wanted to visit Tohru and the others. She wanted to very much. "Why didn't you say so?"

"Because you already give me a place to stay and clothing I can not ask for anything else." Ayame called Shigure and told them they would be coming for dinner.

"Tohru-kun, Ayame and Kage-chan are coming over for dinner is that ok?"
She jumped and smiled happily. "Yes!" She started to worry what to make, "What should I do? What should I make?"

Kyo sitting down, "Not negi!" She stopped as her thought of what to make went away it was a negi dish.

Kageshi came back with Ayame waiting for her. "Where have you been? I was worried something happened to you!"

"I went for a walk" she didn't look him in the eyes he knew she was lying but he didn't push it. He walked over to her and hugged her tightly. He had never hugged a female without changing.

"I was never able to do with other females, wanted to hold them. But that is something we Sohma males are cursed with. Something the Gods have taken away." She looked at him and hugged him one more time.

"My mother used to tell me that God has a plan for everyone and that out of every bad there is good."
"Good? What good is it if we can not love another."
"But you love your brother, you love Hatori-san, Shigure-san, Tohru-chan and everyone around you."
"That's not the point."
She smiled, "I know but not everything is bad. Mom told me that I should always look for the good in people and have faith. I have faith that someday you will all be able to love freely, maybe more than you love now." He smiled at her, "Shall we go?" She nodded and they left. As they left a pair of unknown eyes were watching him watching them.

As they arrived at the house Tohru had already set up the table and had most of the food rest. She welcomed them inside. Kageshi asked if she could help out. She followed Tohru into the kitchen and helped her put the food into bowls.

Kyo and Yuki were watching T.V. and Shigure and Ayame were in his room.
"Gure-san.." Ayame trailed off. Shigure lifted up his head, "hmmm?"

"How is everything? I think I can understand Yuki-chan a little better, having Kage-chan in the house has made things a bit more happier. She's exactly like Tohru, except I don't transform when I want to hug her."

"Aya-san, are you falling in LOVE with her?" he said jokingly.

"Of course not." Ayame really wasn't in love with her, but he loved that fact that he can talk to her and be able to hold another and forget for a little while he has this curse.

"Shigure-san! Ayame-san! Sohma-kun! Kyo-kun! Dinner!" Tohru ran into each room calling them. They all sat down, said thanks and dug in.

Yuki, "Ayamari-san, how is it over there? Still sane?"

Kageshi laughed, "Yes. I'm here aren't I?" they all laughed while Ayame was a bit hurt by the fact that he didn't think she could survive in his household.

"Ayame-san, are you ok?" Kageshi asked, he nodded and smiled. Kageshi knew that it was all fun and games, but she often felt a little pain in her when Yuki or someone would make such off the wall comments. Tohru also knew this but to her it was mere fun, yes her and Kageshi were the same, but just as much different.

After dinner they sat and talked a bit. Kyo had gone to the roof to hang out and Kageshi and Yuki were outside talking, while Tohru was inside cleaning. Kageshi would have but she wanted to talk to Yuki.

"Yuki-san"
"Hai?"
"I know this isn't my place, but why do make such comments about your brother?"
"Comments? Oh you mean you staying there? It's just a joke."
"Sometimes it can be painful, you may not see it because you only see what you want to see, but sometimes you making those comments hurt Ayame-san"
Yuki irked, was a bit irritated but he couldn't get mad at her, just like he couldn't get mad Tohru.

"You know, I remember my mother's family never acknowledged me but they would always make jokes about it and pretend they did. My mother always said, "K-chan is K-chan, and no matter what I will always love you." She stood up, "They never really spend time with my mother because of me and they saw her as the black sheep. Until she died is when they grieved. I don't think they had any right to but they did. They tried to acknowledge me then but I refused." She looked back at him, "I refused because to me they were not family, only family of convenience when it best suited them." Her serious face went to a big smile, "But I am ok, I have lived on my own and I am making the best of it. Ayame-san is helping a lot, all of you are so I want to help too. Don't take him for granted until its too late." She bowed her head, "I'm sorry if I'm out of line."

Yuki smiled at her, "It's ok…and Thank you for trying to help and caring, but it isn't your concern." She bowed her head again and went back inside. On the side line Shigure was listening in on everything.