Chapter 5: The Arrival

The New Year's party quickly started as everybody arrived at the main house. As Shigure said before, the Sohmas were a big family. There were at least 100 people there around the complex; the weird part was everybody seemed to know each other. The party started at 9:00 and would be finished by 1:00, so the cursed members of the family may attend the Banquet. This year was the year of the Dragons, which means it was Hatori's year to dance. (Sorry, couldn't help but laugh at the idea of Hatori wearing a Kimono and dancing. LOL, but dragon is after rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac, and Momiji danced last year, so it should be his turn.) Tohru walked around the house with Yuki, as he introduced many people to her, while Kyo was preoccupied with Kagura.

The next time she saw Kyami was when Yuki and her went outside of the Main House for fresh air. Tohru found her there, talking to many people she doesn't recognized. Kyami wore a cream coloured Kimono with pink sakura flowers for patterns. She had part of her hair on the sides braided with gold ribbons, and wore a crown like hat. (You know those Japanese-ish hats that those dolls wear. It looks something like that.)

"Ame-chan is pretty," said Tohru, looking at the younger girl curiously, "why is she so dressed up?"

"She have to," answered Yuki, realizing what she was talking about, "she and Akito both represents our entire household. It's their responsibilities to look good in front of the guests. Ame complains about wearing those clothes every year, saying it's uncomfortable."

"It's beautiful," Tohru exclaimed, as Kyami walked closer after finished greeting her guests.

"You have no idea how uncomfortable it is to wear this for 7 straight hours," she muttered as she passed by Tohru, "I have to go to the main house to get Akito-san ready for the party. I'll see the two of you later."

"Nice girl," said one of the people close to them, "the head is definitely lucky to have her." And some of the others nodded in agreement.

"Let's go inside, before the ceremony starts," said Yuki, pulling her inside, "Every year the head of the family would have to perform a ceremony, and make a speech. We wouldn't want to miss it. I want to see what Ame decides to do this year."

"Ame-chan?" asked Tohru, questionably.

"She and Akito does it every year since she reached 10," answered Yuki, turning a corner, "they get to bless one new born child each year, so it may have a highly respected status within the family when it grows up and it may have a healthy life."

"How wonderful! A blessing!" said Tohru excitingly, "I wonder who's going to be the lucky child?"

"The first child she cast her sight on, she will take," Yuki answered, "that's why there are so many children here with their parents tonight. Our last Mistress blessed Ame before she was born, maybe that's how she ended up being one. I can't exactly think of her as blessed, getting stuck with Akito."

"But she is lucky, having so many people care about her," Shigure stated, coming out of nowhere, as he cast his glance around the room, which first landed on Hatori, then Hiro, Kisa, Rin, Haru, and a lot more.

"I guess you're right," Yuki answered, followed his gaze.

"Nobody blessed by the head of the family had ever been cursed by the vengeful spirits of the Chinese Zodiac," continued Shigure, "that's probably why everybody takes their children here to make sure, in case one of us gets a heart attack and dies tonight."

"That's not very likely to happen," said Hatori, appearing behind him with the same outfit Momiji had last year, "not if I have something to say about it."

Shigure had to stuck his knuckles in to his mouth to stop himself from laughing out loud, while Hatori glared at him.

"It's your year to dance, Hatori-san?" asked Tohru politely, as Hatori nodded in return.

"It's going to start soon," Yuki told them, cupping his ears to hear things more clearly, "I think I hear the music," just then the whisper from the crowd in front of them subsided, as two young children wearing blue kimonos stepped down the stairs, throwing cherry blossom petals. (I think I'm making it sound like a wedding or something… it's a bit too much isn't it. I'll go low from now on. Just remember, it's a New Year's ceremony that I'm making up. NOT a wedding.) Then Kyami and Akito followed behind, she rested her hand on top of his. Both wearing very formal Kimonos and wore an outer cloak looking thing on top, made of silk with beautiful patterns. As well as crown looking things. "I made it for them, since they've out grown their last one," muttered Ayame, making his way next to them. "They look good together," everybody who managed to hear him nodded in agreement.

"It's about to start," Hatori whispered, "they're going outside to the shrine."

As they made their way outside, the crowd followed. Akito gazed around the crowd until he cast his attention on a newborn in a blonde woman's arm to his right. He looked at Kyami as she nodded in agreement. She walked forward slowly, and gracefully, taking the child from the mother's arms, and passed it to Akito, who carried the child to the front of the shrine with Kyami by his side. "How are you feeling?" she muttered from the corner of her mouth, so only he could hear.

"I'm fine," he answered softly, looking paler than usual.

Both of them kneeled in front of the shrine with the child in his arms. "As the head of this family, I grant this child with the authority that he may do as he wish within this family. If we have no children, our fortune may go to this child, for I bless him with our wealth and fortune, as well as health and respect," he handed the child to Kyami, who was kneeling next to him. "Akito…?" she asked soft looking worried, as he looked at her reassuringly as if saying, you dare to question me!

Everybody gasped in shock, as Tohru looked puzzled. "I didn't think they were doing it this year…" Yuki wonder out loud, and then explained, "The head of the family always choose an heir in case he has a sudden death without any children. I thought he wasn't suppose to bless the child with wealth until he reaches the age of 20, but I guess he knows he wouldn't live long enough to reach that age."

"I, the mother of all Sohmas', bless this child with intelligence, love and happiness. May the child lead a happy life, loved and respected by everybody within this family," Kyami continued the ceremony after receiving the look from Akito. She bent down and kissed the child on the head, as they got up and rung the crystal bell three times, as the fireworks started above. All attentions were turned onto the fireworks, as Kyami silently returned the child back to its mother, and making her way back to Akito's side. She wrapped her arms around his, to support him, "are you sure you're ok?" she looked up to side, clearly worried about him, as he looked up at the fireworks, "we can cancel the rest of the other ceremonial plans we have for tonight if you're not feeling well," she asked unsurely.

"I'm fine," he said firmly once more, "I can take care of myself," he tried to walk away, but almost fell if it hadn't for Kyami, who still had a grip on his arm, "you are not ok, you're weak," she used her free hand to feel his forehead, to his surprise. "You have a fever, I'll get Hatori, but first, let's get you back to the house, so you can rest and get something warm to drink."

"I'm fine!" he said angrily, but in a low tone so they won't catch any attention.

"No you're not," she said softly, looking up at his eyes, "you can yell at me all you want, but I'm not going to leave you out here in this cold, and I'm not going to believe that you're fine for even one second! You're sick, and you need rest."

"Fine," he answered, turning toward the direction of the main house, "if it's going to stop you from getting lectures, then I'll go back to my room, and get some peace and quiet."

"Now, that's better," she smiled, supporting his arms, and joining hands with him to keep it warm, "now if only I could find Hatori."

"He's not feeling well, is he?" questioned a voice from behind them, making both of them jump.

"Hatori, where did you come from?" inquired Kyami, looking a bit shocked to see him.

"I realized that he must've felt sick, from the way he was looking tonight." He answered, following them back to the main house, "I'll cancel the plans for the rest of the night. Why don't you help him get back up stairs, and I'll be there in few minutes, after I get my things."

They nodded in agreement, making their way up the stairs to Akito's room. In the mean while, Hatori was heading toward the exit to go back to his office. "What's the hurry Ha-san?" asked Shigure, slyly.

"Akito's sick again," he answered, "the rest of the plans are cancelled for the night."

"That just ruined the fun," complained Ayami, "I was looking forward to tonight's performance."

~~~~At the same time, outside~~~~

"It's beautiful!" exclaimed Tohru, looking up at the fireworks.

"It is," Yuki agreed, looking up at it as well, "but not as pretty as you are," he looked at her as she blushed, remembering what Kyami asked her earlier that day. 'How do you feel about him? Is it more than just a friend?'

"Yuki-kun, I…I…" she started uncomfortably, looking up at him, and he stared back.

"I like you too," he answered smiling, knowing what she was starting. She stood there shocked as Yuki put a hand under her chin, and pulled her closer, until their lips touched. From not far behind watched a hurt and angry orange head, as he turned away and made his way back to the main house.

"Looks like you've got a 38 degree fever," said Hatori, taking the thermometer out of Akito's mouth, who was lying down on his futon, with Kyami kneeling close by. "You need plenty of rest and some hot fluids. I'll give you this bottle to red pills that you need to take three times a day."

Akito nodded, and turned away, looking at the fireworks from the window, "I know, I've done it before. You can go back to the party."

Hatori looked at him unsurely, "I'll stay here to keep an eye on you."

"Just go Hatori," said Akito, angrily, "I know you want to! I don't want anybody to stay here out of pity! Which means you to Kyami!"

"I'm not staying here out of pity," she answered softly, "I'm staying here because I'm worried about you," Hatori nodded in agreement, pulling up Akito's blanket, so he'll be warmer.

"I can take care of him," said Kyami, looking up at Hatori, "you better get down stairs. Most guests had already left, because of our no show. The banquet is going to start early today. You better get ready for your dance."

Hatori glared at her, as she put a hand in front of her mouth to silent her laughter, like what Shigure had done earlier this evening. "I'm going to go now, but I'll be back later to check on you."

Soon he exited the room, followed by the sound of the sliding door closing. "Are you hungry?" she asked, brushing a strand of his hair out of his eyes, "I can get you something to eat if you want."

"I'm fine," he answered for what seemed like the 5th time that day, "you can go down stairs if you want something to eat."

"I'm alright," she responded, putting the wet towel on his head, "how are you feeling?"

"Tired," he answered, gazing at her, "Why don't you hate me?"

She looked at him surprised, "what for?"

"For controlling your life, and making it miserable," he answered, looking up at her weakly, "I knew how much you loved Haru, but I made you break up with him."

"You didn't make me," she answered, helping Akito sit up to take his pills, "I did it willingly, because I knew you were right."

He leaned against her arms for support as he inserted the pills into his mouth. Kyami brought the cup of water up to his mouth as he took a mouthful to help him swallow the bitter pills. "Now take some rest," she demanded, "you'll feel better when you wake up."

He nodded, turning the opposite direction of her, before whispering, "Go down stairs and keep the guests company. It's rude when neither the Head nor the Mistress are present."

"You sure you'll be alright on your own?" she asked, running her hands in his hair.

"I'm just taking a rest, I'm not going anywhere. Course I'll be fine!" he answered, as she got up, and left the room quietly.

'He's nice and considerate when he's sick… I guess all he needs are people who cares about him,' she thought to herself before entering the main room. "Hey," said a familiar as she walked up, when she looked up, she found herself gazing into a pair of beautiful grey eyes. "Haru?" she asked questionably.

"I haven't seen you in a while," he told her, "so, how've you been?"

"Good… I guess," she felt uncomfortable looking into those eyes that she knew so well, "what about you?"

"Been better," he answered, looking slightly down, "I still can't believe Rin broke up with me without a good reason when I thought things were going so well. I guess I'm not exactly as realizing things, am I? Happened twice without me actually knowing so."

"Listen," she said softly, trying to comfort him, "I'm sorry for hurting you, and I have to admit it was hard for me to break up with you, because I really did love you then."

"Then why did you say that…" he trailed off

"Because I didn't want to lead you on, when I knew I couldn't be with you," she answered, "you knew my curse."

"I guess so…" he responded, looking at her unsuresly, "now the similar thing had happened again. I can't believe I lost another woman I loved," he looked away, "but I'll get her back somehow," he said determined

"You will," she smiled, looking up at him sadly, "I better go now. I'll see you later."