Chapter 1
It was early morning and the sun had risen low in the sky. A soft breeze playing through the leaves, nothing could go wrong on such a day as this; or could it? The first to wake in the Souma house was the dog of the family. He wore his usual grey kimono that he seems to hardly ever change out of. He shuffles down the stairs on his way to the kitchen, giving a great yawn and welcoming in the new day. Next was the newest instalment to the family, although not a true Souma, she was treated and accepted as though one of their own. With her trademark smile planted on her face she too made her way to the kitchen while deciding on what to cook for morning breakfast.
"Ah, Tohru-kun, ohayou gozaimasu!" Shigure chirped, "Isn't it a bit early? I mean, it is the first day of the summer holidays you know!"
"Ohayou gozaimasu Shigure-san, It's alright, I'm just so used to getting up early it's become a habit," Tohru replied cheerfully back, "Breakfast will be ready soon."
So he left her to it and decided to finish up on his most previous novel. The mouse was third awake. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he entered into the kitchen.
"Ohayou Honda-san," he greeted as a yawn escaped his throat, he really wasn't a morning person, " Is there anything I can help with?"
"Why Yuki-kun, ohayou, yes, would you be so kind as to set the table please?" her attention mainly on her cooking. She didn't want to burn it after all.
A clatter from the roof told them that the cat had woken. Kyou had spent that night on the roof after a fight with Yuki, much to Tohru's dismay.
"Baka neko," Yuki whispered under his breath.
Kyou entered to find Yuki standing at the table, placemats and plates in hand, watching him.
"What are you staring at kuso nezumi?!" he shot harshly.
"Nothing baka neko."
"WHAT!!! I dare you to say that to my face!"
"B-A-K-A-N-E-K-O" He repeated slowly.
"WHY YOU!!!!" Kyou lunged suddenly at Yuki but found himself just as suddenly outside covered in dirt.
"Tohru-kun," Shigure whined looking at the Kyou sized whole in his door, "Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun broke the house again!"
"Shut your girlish whining you baka inu, it's embarrassing!" said Kyou, limping back into the room.
"You're the one that just got thrown ten meters by a guy whose hands were full holding placemats and plates and you call me embarrassing?!" Shigure chuckled, amused at his dirt smeared face.
Grumbling, Kyou made his way to his room so he could clean up before breakfast was ready.
* *
At about 1pm Tohru was making her way back from the grocery store with her restock of food when a girl around her early 20s approached her from the brush not all too far from the house. She had dark blonde hair, which she wore in a low ponytail, and deep brown eyes but was not too much taller than Tohru. A 'tough' aura lingered about her as she walked closer.
"Oi you!" she called rather rudely, "D'ya know a house where I can find anyone by the name of 'Souma'? Any Souma, I couldn't care less."
"Ah, hai, I'm on my way back to Souma Shigure's if you would just follow me."
"Shigure huh?" a dark smirk played across her features while she chucked in a rather evil manner.
Tohru was totally lost.
"You their maid or something?" the girl asked curiously but still being rude.
"Anou. I live there," Tohru replied hesitantly, "Ah, Gomenesai, I've been rude! My name is Honda Tohru. (Bowed slightly, hands in-front holding the shopping bags) I'm sorry again demo. I didn't catch your name?"
"Name's Katsuka," she replied without giving a last name.
"Douzoyoroshiku Katsuka-san. How do you know the Soumas?" Tohru asked quizzically.
'She must know of the curse if she lives with them, how strange of Akito to allow such a thing,' Katsuka thought "I too am involved in the curse," a note of disapproval in her voice.
"Hondou? How?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"SENNNSSSEEEIIII!!!!!" Mit-chan's voice screamed out as Tohru and Katsuka entered the house.
"Gomene Mit-chan. I didn't notice the stove on," Shigure apologised half- heartedly, his hand scratching the back of his head in mild embarrassment. Black ashes littered the stovetop.
Yuki was watching the whole thing and knew that they were only blank sheets. What a waste. He hated the way Shigure played evil tricks on his editor. Turning around he left, deciding to read in his room.
"Sensei, how could you," Mit-chan wept on the floor pathetically at Shigure's feet, who was enjoying this thoroughly.
"Tadaima," Tohru called, "I also met someone on the way. She says she knows you."
At this Shigure came to see who it was but the moment he laid eyes on her dread and fear crossed his face as though he was watching a horrific murder taking place.
"Sensei, the..the manuscript," Mit-chan continued to sob, tugging at his sleeve.
Obediently, as though in a trance, he reached into his kimono and pulled out the REAL manuscript and handed it to Mit-chan who ran straight out of the house and as far away from that hell as possible. She just couldn't stand the torture he put her through.
"Katsuka!?" the expressions didn't leave his face but if possible grew more intense.
"Hello to you too Shigure," she replied darkly.
"Hey! Baka inu, is Tohru-kun back ye." Kyou broke off in mid sentence, "Who the hell are you?!"
"What are you screaming about now baka neko?" Yuki came down annoyed, which turned into surprise, then fear as he noticed the girl standing in the doorway.
"Don't you remember Kyou.?" Shigure said slowly, "Katsuka."
Kyou's eyes grew wide with realisation as the syringe of fear injected its contents into him as well.
"Well aren't you going to invite me in?" Katsuka asked menacingly, though it sounded more like an order.
"Ah of course, please follow me," said Yuki timidly.
"I'll go.go. grab you something to eat and drink," suggested Kyou as Yuki led her to the table.
"Ah Shigure-san." Tohru waited for Shigure to come out of the trance before she continued, "demo. what just happened?"
"Tohru-kun, I think there's something I should tell you," he bowed his head low on his chest, arms folded in the sleeves of his kimono gesturing her to follow him to his study so he could explain.
It was early morning and the sun had risen low in the sky. A soft breeze playing through the leaves, nothing could go wrong on such a day as this; or could it? The first to wake in the Souma house was the dog of the family. He wore his usual grey kimono that he seems to hardly ever change out of. He shuffles down the stairs on his way to the kitchen, giving a great yawn and welcoming in the new day. Next was the newest instalment to the family, although not a true Souma, she was treated and accepted as though one of their own. With her trademark smile planted on her face she too made her way to the kitchen while deciding on what to cook for morning breakfast.
"Ah, Tohru-kun, ohayou gozaimasu!" Shigure chirped, "Isn't it a bit early? I mean, it is the first day of the summer holidays you know!"
"Ohayou gozaimasu Shigure-san, It's alright, I'm just so used to getting up early it's become a habit," Tohru replied cheerfully back, "Breakfast will be ready soon."
So he left her to it and decided to finish up on his most previous novel. The mouse was third awake. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he entered into the kitchen.
"Ohayou Honda-san," he greeted as a yawn escaped his throat, he really wasn't a morning person, " Is there anything I can help with?"
"Why Yuki-kun, ohayou, yes, would you be so kind as to set the table please?" her attention mainly on her cooking. She didn't want to burn it after all.
A clatter from the roof told them that the cat had woken. Kyou had spent that night on the roof after a fight with Yuki, much to Tohru's dismay.
"Baka neko," Yuki whispered under his breath.
Kyou entered to find Yuki standing at the table, placemats and plates in hand, watching him.
"What are you staring at kuso nezumi?!" he shot harshly.
"Nothing baka neko."
"WHAT!!! I dare you to say that to my face!"
"B-A-K-A-N-E-K-O" He repeated slowly.
"WHY YOU!!!!" Kyou lunged suddenly at Yuki but found himself just as suddenly outside covered in dirt.
"Tohru-kun," Shigure whined looking at the Kyou sized whole in his door, "Yuki-kun and Kyou-kun broke the house again!"
"Shut your girlish whining you baka inu, it's embarrassing!" said Kyou, limping back into the room.
"You're the one that just got thrown ten meters by a guy whose hands were full holding placemats and plates and you call me embarrassing?!" Shigure chuckled, amused at his dirt smeared face.
Grumbling, Kyou made his way to his room so he could clean up before breakfast was ready.
* *
At about 1pm Tohru was making her way back from the grocery store with her restock of food when a girl around her early 20s approached her from the brush not all too far from the house. She had dark blonde hair, which she wore in a low ponytail, and deep brown eyes but was not too much taller than Tohru. A 'tough' aura lingered about her as she walked closer.
"Oi you!" she called rather rudely, "D'ya know a house where I can find anyone by the name of 'Souma'? Any Souma, I couldn't care less."
"Ah, hai, I'm on my way back to Souma Shigure's if you would just follow me."
"Shigure huh?" a dark smirk played across her features while she chucked in a rather evil manner.
Tohru was totally lost.
"You their maid or something?" the girl asked curiously but still being rude.
"Anou. I live there," Tohru replied hesitantly, "Ah, Gomenesai, I've been rude! My name is Honda Tohru. (Bowed slightly, hands in-front holding the shopping bags) I'm sorry again demo. I didn't catch your name?"
"Name's Katsuka," she replied without giving a last name.
"Douzoyoroshiku Katsuka-san. How do you know the Soumas?" Tohru asked quizzically.
'She must know of the curse if she lives with them, how strange of Akito to allow such a thing,' Katsuka thought "I too am involved in the curse," a note of disapproval in her voice.
"Hondou? How?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"SENNNSSSEEEIIII!!!!!" Mit-chan's voice screamed out as Tohru and Katsuka entered the house.
"Gomene Mit-chan. I didn't notice the stove on," Shigure apologised half- heartedly, his hand scratching the back of his head in mild embarrassment. Black ashes littered the stovetop.
Yuki was watching the whole thing and knew that they were only blank sheets. What a waste. He hated the way Shigure played evil tricks on his editor. Turning around he left, deciding to read in his room.
"Sensei, how could you," Mit-chan wept on the floor pathetically at Shigure's feet, who was enjoying this thoroughly.
"Tadaima," Tohru called, "I also met someone on the way. She says she knows you."
At this Shigure came to see who it was but the moment he laid eyes on her dread and fear crossed his face as though he was watching a horrific murder taking place.
"Sensei, the..the manuscript," Mit-chan continued to sob, tugging at his sleeve.
Obediently, as though in a trance, he reached into his kimono and pulled out the REAL manuscript and handed it to Mit-chan who ran straight out of the house and as far away from that hell as possible. She just couldn't stand the torture he put her through.
"Katsuka!?" the expressions didn't leave his face but if possible grew more intense.
"Hello to you too Shigure," she replied darkly.
"Hey! Baka inu, is Tohru-kun back ye." Kyou broke off in mid sentence, "Who the hell are you?!"
"What are you screaming about now baka neko?" Yuki came down annoyed, which turned into surprise, then fear as he noticed the girl standing in the doorway.
"Don't you remember Kyou.?" Shigure said slowly, "Katsuka."
Kyou's eyes grew wide with realisation as the syringe of fear injected its contents into him as well.
"Well aren't you going to invite me in?" Katsuka asked menacingly, though it sounded more like an order.
"Ah of course, please follow me," said Yuki timidly.
"I'll go.go. grab you something to eat and drink," suggested Kyou as Yuki led her to the table.
"Ah Shigure-san." Tohru waited for Shigure to come out of the trance before she continued, "demo. what just happened?"
"Tohru-kun, I think there's something I should tell you," he bowed his head low on his chest, arms folded in the sleeves of his kimono gesturing her to follow him to his study so he could explain.
