"A Goddess?!" Shigure stood up from his seat and stared at the girl in front of him. "You came from heaven?"

"uh… if that's what you call our homeland, then yes." She replied.

"Wait, are you saying that we are suppose to believe you?" Kagura glared at her. "That you are actually a goddess that descended from heaven?"

"Yes, if it doesn't bother you." She smiled.

"…this is crazy." Yuki muttered. "Why should we believe you?"

"Because you're Sohmas! We've been serving you for years!"

"Well, I haven't heard anything about gods roaming around earth…or even on my own backyard." Shigure wondered but turned to look and examine her. "But this is a marvelous discovery! I can't wait to write it---"

"NO!" she yelled at him. "You're the novelist, Shigure Sohma, right?"

"Yes and… am I really that famous?"

"Listen, once the world knows that an immortal came to earth, I'm doomed." She explained. "I need to 'blend in' with mortals for a while until I finish my mission."

"What mission?"

"Eh, well you see…" she bit her lip. "I wasn't really allowed to tell. Demo, I can grant wishes."

"Wishes…?" Kagura's eyes sparkled in delight. "You mean, wishes, like something that I want."

"Yes, but it's allowed only if you really desperately need it." She said heavenly. "Like it's the most greatest desires of your hearts… and I can only grant at least one per Jyunishi Sohma."

"Ooh~! Amazing…" Shigure's thoughts became wild. "What to wish for? Women… women… women…"

Yuki kick his back. "You're a sex maniac."

"Remember, only one wish." The girl reminded. "If one of you haven't wished yet, then I'll stay until you made up your mind."

"OOH~!" Shigure smiled happily yet mysteriously. "SO that means, even after 70 years and we haven't decided what to wish for, you'll still stay with us?"

"Yes, but remember, I'm a goddess and I'm immortal. My age doesn't increase... and yours do."

"Amazing. This is so exciting!" Kagura clapped her hands. "I don't know what to wish for…"

"Take your time, then."

"Hey, goddess." Yuki called. "Why did you bow in front of me earlier?"

"Ne?" she looked at him. "You're the Sohma clan head right? Then I'm yours to command."

"What?! That can't be right!" Shigure shouted. "Yuki will use you as a sex slave!"

"SHIGURE!!!"

The goddess laughed happily. "No, in any way, I won't get pregnant."

"Really… so that means---"

"SHIGURE!"

Oe, Yuki. I was just joking!" the novelist laughed.

"Ne, so that must mean that you'll be staying here for a long time, since it's really hard to decide what to wish for." Kagura smiled. "What favor can we do in return?"

The goddess thought for a while and wondered. "Back in my homeland, they call me Celeste, meaning heavenly, or it came from celestial. But now." She said. "I hope you can come up with a name for me, if you don't mind."

"What's wrong with Celeste?" Shigure asked.

"I don't know but I have a feeling that it won't fit in." she smiled. "please, can you name me?"

"Don't worry, Shigure is here to the rescue!" he dashed back to his office and went back towards them carrying a book. "Here, this is a name book. Pick any name you want."

"I want to but, you said you're going to pick a name for me." She answered politely.

"Here's a name!" Kagura stood up. "Alta Gracia"

There was a heavy silence in the air. "Ne… we're in Japan, remember?"

"Oh…"

"Oe, what's going on?" Kyou walked towards the room and his eyes caught the mysterious girl. "Who brought her here?"

"Yuki." Shigure hissed.

"That's… somewhat unusual, nezumi." He grinned.

"Yeah, he brought home a goddess." Kagura giggled.

"That's some kind of---wait a second," the neko looked at the girl. "you're…"

"Yes, I'm goddess." She replied.

"Don't start anything now." The clan head glared.

"What's wrong? I'm just going to ask a special boost or aura to defeat you."

"You can wish for it." Shigure giggled.

"Really?"

"Don't even try…" Yuki warned his cousin.

"What's wrong? Too scared to fight me?" the neko laughed. "Okay, since I'm being fair, I won't wish for it. Cmon, fight me, Yuki. I would always like to fight a clan leader, except Akito, of course."

"Eh?" the goddess looked at Shigure. "What are they…"

"Ne, leave them alone. It always happens… and it ceases eventually."

"Alright, I'm in a much better mood now." Yuki loosened some buttons of his shirt and grinned at his cousin. "As a reminder, don't bore me, baka neko."

"I won't, nezumi, I just learned a new move from sensei last week. And I'm going to use it as a deathblow on you!" he charged at Yuki. But, in the nick of time, Kagura stood in front of them to stop the fight.

"Ok, there's always a peacemaker."

"Gure-san, this is not right…" the goddess whispered. She clamped her hands in front of her and closed her eyes. "His temper's building… and… oh no…"

"What?" the novelist asked worriedly.

"Move aside, Kagura!" Kyou ordered but his cousin resisted.

"I won't. Please stop this!" she begged. "You need some rest!"

"I already HAD my rest. Now MOVE!" he yelled.

"NO!"

"Please… stop them, Gure-san." The goddess asked. "Before he even---"

"I had enough of you! You are a great hindrance in my life!" Kyou yelled at Kagura, who was helplessly staring back at him. "I wish you're dead!"

"NO!" the goddess cried. "You didn't---"

"I wish you're not here, that you'll vanish or disappear or haven't been born yet!"

Kagura stood there and sighed loudly. After a few moments, a white blinded them. The goddess kept on crying as the light eventually disappeared, along with Kagura.

"What happened?" Gure asked. "Hey, are you okay?"

"He…asked… an illegal wish…" she looked up. "A cursed wish…"

"Where's Kagura?" Yuki asked. "Where did you take her, goddess?"

"Your cousin just wished a cursed wish." She explained. "It always happens and even I can't stop it. It's wish that is released with our anger, even if it isn't the heart's desire. That's why… I can't stop it from happening."

"Where is she?!" Yuki asked again. "Where did she go?"

"He wished for her to disappear. She didn't go anywhere." She said sadly. "She plainly… doesn't exist anymore."

"… it's her fault!" Kyou stood up. He tried to maintain his tough appearance but his voice was shaking. "She made me wish that!"

"Sometimes, this wishes happen and there's no one else to blame but the one who wished it to happen." She said.

"Darn…" Kyou hissed.

"Then, are there any ways to reverse it?" Gure asked.

"There is a way… but it costs a wish." She decided. "It's either the wisher or the clan head who can bring her back with just one wish."

"Then I wish her to be back." Yuki said quickly.

"Words can't bring her back easily, master." She explained. "Words can never bring back a life."

"But what can we wish for?" Kyou asked.

"It's a choice that you should make…"

"Look, I'm your master," Yuki pointed. "And now, I order you to bring my cousin back!"

She looked at him sadly and she shook her head. "Even I can't wish my own life back."

"You have a life?" Gure asked her.

"Yes. Once I complete my mission, I could wish for my life back. But if I don't…" she looked away. "As long as you say the words plainly, it isn't enough to bring her back."

"What do you want us to do? Kneel and chant like those Buddhists?" Kyou yelled.

"It isn't like that. I told you, I only grant wishes with the greatest desires. It is when you truly want it with all your heart." She explained.

"Kyou, you're the only one who can do that." Gure looked at him.

" No way! Kagura? With all my heart? You got to be kidding me!" He ran out of the house and to the forest.

"Is there any deadline or something?" Yuki asked.

"Nothing at all. But once it exceeds her age then…"

"I understand." He said. "She'll 'die' waiting for us to wish her back."

"Why don't you do it?" the goddess asked Yuki.

"I can't. I have some other things in mind to wish for." He explained. "Besides, only Kyou gets to know her a lot better than anyone of us."

"I see…" she sighed and giggled at the same time.

"Ne?" Shigure wondered.

"Of course… I would do something for a backup…" she smiled mysteriously.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Kyou sat sleepily under a huge tree. He wasted all the energy he had in running away… from that goddess.

"It's HER fault." He pointed. "If that goddess didn't appear, it would be just a plain cursing. But still, she's right. There's no other else to blame but me…"

"That's right." An agreeing voice was heard. Kyou stood up and found the goddess standing behind him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for your wish." She replied calmly.

"Why can't you wait back at the house?"

"Because I'm running out of patience."

"Why? This isn't your problem." He replied coldly. She sat beside him and smiled.

"You do cared for her."

"A little… in fact, I'm a bit worried also." He said. "I wonder if she's alright."

"You would never say that a person is alright if that person doesn't exist anymore." She reminded.

"I wish she's here." He muttered.

"It's not enough." She whispered.

He cupped his face. "Please reconsider that."

"I can't."

"I would really want her back." He muttered. "I don't even know how I can wish her back because I don't really love her."

"But she loves you, right?" she asked.

"I know." He smiled. "She usually runs over me and kept on yelling, 'where have you been?' or 'I missed you' or even 'why did you left me?'. And the only thing I could say to her was 'shut up, baka.'" He wondered and his face saddened. "That was a very rude thing to say but… I don't even know what to say to her."

"You should cherish people like her." The goddess smiled at him. "You may not show her your deepest form of gratitude, but you can smile at her once in a while. They say a smile is worth a thousand words of praise."

Kyou grinned at her. "Do you usually tell this to the people you know?"

"Yeah… and they always follow it." She pointed. "Unless…"

"Ok… I'll try it again." He took a deep breath and gazed at her eyes. "I wish that… she would be here… so that I could show her…"

"…continue…" she replied.

"So… that I could show her… how much I cared for her," he ended. "despite that I always say her those harsh inevitable words." He stared at her, waiting for a reply. "Is that okay?"

"Um… say the 'L' word." She giggled.

He stood up surprisingly. "NO! I won't say it. I will do and say anything other than that 'L' word." He glared.

"Suit yourself." She looked away teasingly. He kicked the tree behind him and pouted.

"Okay. I… love her. I want her back. I wish she was here." He quickly said. The goddess smiled at him.

"Your wish is my command." She giggled. "KAGURA-SAN!"

All of the sudden, Kagura fell from the tree and landed on Kyou. "KYOU-KUUUUN! You do love me!!!"

"No, it's a misunderstanding!"

"I heard you say it! You love me! You really do!!!" she yelled happily. "I'm so happy that my wish came true!"

"You… wished?"

"Yes! My greatest desire was to hear you say, 'I love you' and…" she looked at the goddess. "Someone told me that it can come true unless I act out."

"Act out on what?" the neko asked.

"You've been set up, baka neko." Yuki appeared behind the tree.

"NEZUMI!! What are you---what do you---this is not----" he was startled until Kagura kissed him lightly.

"Kyou-kun, please tell me." She gazed at him. "You really meant that, right?"

Kyou glanced at the goddess. "It's worth a wish." She replied.

He looked at Kagura. "I can't promise you anything but…" he grinned. "I'll try to be easy on you."

"YEY!" she hugged him tightly. "It's so romantic! My wish came true!"

"I can't believe I wasted my wish because of this." The neko murmured.

Kagura looked at him angrily. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID?!" She ruthlessly tortured him again. "YOU JUST HAD YOUR WISH! YOU SHOULD USE IT WELL! YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU WOULD BE EASY ON ME!"

"I didn't promise anything, remember?" he reminded.

"THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!"

The goddess laughed. "You really have cousins that are worth living with."

"Yeah," Yuki smiled. "You already granted two wishes on one day."

"I could grant all of your wishes in an hour." She giggled. "The sooner, the better."

"I… guess you're right." He looked at her. "Tohru…"

"Eh?" the goddess looked at her master. "What?"

"Tohru…" he repeated. "That will be your name from now on. Honda Tohru…"

"Honda Tohru. I like it!" she smiled.

"You think so?"

"Yeah, it came from a smart man like you." She said.

"Thanks…" he whispered

"Thank you…" she smiled back at him. He felt a sudden chill running down on his spine. Her smile made him feel different. It made him feel more secure.

"Is it alright if I call you Yuki-kun?" she asked. "I don't think it's nice to call you 'nezumi' like Kyou-kun does."

He laughed at her. "Call me in whatever name you wish. As long as you stay near me, I won't deny your request."

Her face saddened once she heard that phrase. I heard that from someone before…

He looked at me with those pale eyes and said the same phrase. "I won't let anyone touch you. I won't let anyone get near you or see you. I want you to be with me. As long as you stay near me, I won't deny your request… except freedom…."

And he looked like Yuki…

"Honda-san?" Yuki looked at her worriedly. "Did I say something that…"

She got back to her senses as she noticed him staring at her. "Ne, I guess I need some rest."

"I didn't know that Gods rest." He pointed.

"Ne, that's me! Always different!" she replied happily. He held her hand and walked her back to the house.

Somehow, her mind was pre-occupied by the sudden flashback after Yuki said that encouraging phrase.

And the last words made her worry once more… despite that she haven't heard that for so many years now.

Anything.. except freedom.

I hope Yuki-kun's never like him. she thought to herself. I would get my freedom soon…