Chapter Seventeen: Figuring Out the Puzzle
Kageru watched once again as he saw the Princess sneak into the palace and back into her room. He smiled as he crossed his arms. Then he walked to his room, where he immediately walked over to the cauldron, which was bubbling as usual.
"She keeps sneaking out" he replied to the liquid.
"Has she found out where the stone is yet?" the female voice responded.
"I don't know yet Mistress" he said, "I haven't the vaguest idea yet where she disappeared to last time."
"Well then find out!" the bubbling rapidly sped up, "It is imperative Kageru. She must not break the curse. If she is friends with the Sohma family it could ruin everything, for me and for you."
"I understand Mistress" he replied in a nervous tone as he stood back a bit from the steaming cauldron, "I will follow her wherever she goes the next time she leaves."
"See that you do."
****************
Because of the punishment that he had received from Akito weeks before, Yuki was very wary at sending any more messages to Tohru. It wasn't until Akito had another sick spell that Yuki once again got his opportunity. Shigure and the rest of the staff were so busy, and Akito was so cranky that the princes were encouraged to leave the castle for a while. Shigure had suggested a mountain retreat up in the mountains. In fact it was the same mountains in which Kazuma resided. It only took them a couple of hours to get up there so while Hatsuharu, Kagura, and Momiji explored around the cabin, Yuki wrote another letter to Tohru, asking for her to meet him at her cabin that afternoon.
***************
When Tohru received the letter she was overjoyed. Her grandparents were once again doing work in the kingdom, so she, Uo, and Hana rode up to the mountains, not aware that Kageru Manabe was following them. They were the first to arrive so Tohru asked the two of them if they minded fetching some water and wood for the fire. They didn't, so off they went. By mid-afternoon Yuki arrived and Tohru asked her two friends to remain at the cabin while they went for a walk. Kageru followed them as well, hanging on to hear every word.
***************
The wind was blowing through the trees as they walked. At first neither said anything. Then Tohru sighed and looked directly at him.
"I can't thank you enough for everything you did Yuki."
"You mean what I did for the stupid cat? It was no problem Miss Honda."
"Not just that. I mean everything. Coming to rescue me in Zurinth. I know you got punished for that."
"Yea" he nodded his head, "I figured those were the feelings you were having. But like you said it wasn't that bad, not like Kyo."
They looked at each other for a minute, smiled then continued to walk.
"So" Yuki began, "Did you figure out what the wall meant?"
"No" she shook her head, "But I am hoping the last translation that Master Kazuma makes will give us a little bit of an idea of the location of where the Zodiac Stone is?"
Kageru's ears perked up.
"So they know about the Stone?" he thought.
"Mikado said something about it being in the middle of the two countries right?" Yuki said as he fingered his moon medallion.
"Yes. But not it's exact location."
"Does Master Kazuma have any idea when he will figure it out?" Yuki asked.
"He told me tomorrow he should be finished" she said drifting off a bit with her words.
"You know what" Yuki said, "I just realized, you thanked me and I didn't even give you a response."
"Oh that's okay."
"No Miss Honda, I was brought up better than that, so, it was my pleasure to have been your rescuer, and whatever punishment I have received it was well worth it to see you safe again."
He bowed.
"Oh Yuki. That's so sweet" she smiled, "You know my mom would have really liked you and Kyo."
"You think so?"
"I know so. For one she would find you both very interesting, and two she would be very pleased that you both take such good care of me."
"Well you're worth it Miss Honda."
"Can I show you something?" she stopped walking.
"Sure."
****************
She led him to a waterfall that was behind many trees. The sun was just setting but was shining on the water, illuminating it like sparkling jewels.
"What is this place?" he smiled.
"Mom used to bring me here when I was little. See you can see the pebbles at the bottom of the water."
"Oh yea" he said grinning as he spotted the many shiny rocks.
"We used to throw one in every time and make a wish" she replied.
"So this is kind of like your secret base?" he said.
"Yea" she smiled, "Do you want to try it?"
"Okay" he said as she handed him a pebble.
He watched as she closed her eyes and lightly tossed her pebble in.
"Your turn" she grinned.
"All right" he replied.
He closed his eyes and threw it in. It landed at the bottom close to hers.
"Hope your wish comes true," she said happily.
"You too" he smiled, "Mine already did," he thought.
"Oh dear" she put a hand to her mouth, "I didn't realize how late it was getting. I got to get back."
"Okay, I'll take you back to your cabin" he replied following her.
****************
When they arrived Yuki helped Tohru onto her horse and asked if he could go to Kazuma's cabin with her the next day. She agreed and then with one final wave the three girls rode back to ShiraNobi. Yuki walked back to the royal cabin where he found Hatsuharu and Momiji waiting on the porch.
"And where have you been all day Prince Yuki?" Haru teased.
"Don't worry about it Haru" Yuki replied, his cheeks turning pink.
"Oh look Haru" Momiji added, "He's embarrassed."
"I am not. Grow up you two" Yuki said angrily walking into the cabin.
"Isn't it funny Haru?" Momiji replied laughing, "Our Yuki in love."
"Yea. Whoever thought it would happen?"
****************
The next morning without Uo or Hana, Tohru returned to the mountains. Once again Kageru wasn't far behind. She stopped and picked up Yuki and then they rode together to Kazuma's place. When they arrived Tohru was surprised to see Kyo there. He looked a lot healthier and his color had returned. And as she could see, his bracelet was back on. The three teenagers sat around the table with Kazuma, and the big book in front of them all.
"Master says that he's got most of the last part translated" Kyo replied, "All except one last sentence."
"Well what does it say?" Yuki asked.
"That's the stupid part" Kyo said, "It says the exact thing that Tohru read in the Zurinth Temple."
"You mean" Tohru began, "To undo the curse of the Zodiac, each member must present themselves on the Zodiac Stone from 1 to 13. Then the curse will lift and peace will prevail?"
"You got a good memory" Kazuma smiled.
"But what does that mean?" Kyo replied, "It makes as much sense as it did the first time."
"I think I have the final piece decoded" Kazuma said drawing their attention.
"What does it say?" Yuki repeated.
"It says, that first part that the princess quoted and "The home of the stone lies where the jewels sparkle as the sun hits them. A hidden cavern behind a curtain of mystery."
"That's what it says?" Kyo said standing up and placing his hands on his hips, "That makes as little sense as the first part."
Tohru also stood up and began to pace. Suddenly she stopped.
"Oh how could I have been so stupid?"
"Miss Honda?" Yuki questioned.
"What do you mean?" Kyo asked.
"Its so simple. I mean the first part is anyway. Each member must present themselves. Not themselves, as in them themselves, but something that represents the animals they are."
"Okay" Kyo said, "You lost me."
"If there were objects that represent you guys, they would have to be placed on the Zodiac Stone."
"What objects Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.
"My mom's Zodiac figurines."
"The rock ones you showed me that time?" Yuki said, "Miss Honda that's brilliant."
"I know. They were right under our nose. I mean I have all of them. One to thir, oh wait" she stopped herself.
"What's wrong?" Kyo replied.
"I don't have all of them. One of them is missing?"
****************
Outside Kageru grinned as he listened to the conversation. He would make sure that they would never find the last figurine. He was certain of that.
*************************************************************
Authors Note: There you go Yukiru fans. Their moment. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks again for the great reviews, and finally someone said something about this being close to the original story line. You're right. It's supposed to be. I wanted to write something close to it, but in a made up world. Good deduction animelvr4evr!
Next Chapter: The Missing Figurine
Tohru gives out the figurines secretly, while trying to find the missing one. Can you guess which one is missing? Find out next time!
Kageru watched once again as he saw the Princess sneak into the palace and back into her room. He smiled as he crossed his arms. Then he walked to his room, where he immediately walked over to the cauldron, which was bubbling as usual.
"She keeps sneaking out" he replied to the liquid.
"Has she found out where the stone is yet?" the female voice responded.
"I don't know yet Mistress" he said, "I haven't the vaguest idea yet where she disappeared to last time."
"Well then find out!" the bubbling rapidly sped up, "It is imperative Kageru. She must not break the curse. If she is friends with the Sohma family it could ruin everything, for me and for you."
"I understand Mistress" he replied in a nervous tone as he stood back a bit from the steaming cauldron, "I will follow her wherever she goes the next time she leaves."
"See that you do."
****************
Because of the punishment that he had received from Akito weeks before, Yuki was very wary at sending any more messages to Tohru. It wasn't until Akito had another sick spell that Yuki once again got his opportunity. Shigure and the rest of the staff were so busy, and Akito was so cranky that the princes were encouraged to leave the castle for a while. Shigure had suggested a mountain retreat up in the mountains. In fact it was the same mountains in which Kazuma resided. It only took them a couple of hours to get up there so while Hatsuharu, Kagura, and Momiji explored around the cabin, Yuki wrote another letter to Tohru, asking for her to meet him at her cabin that afternoon.
***************
When Tohru received the letter she was overjoyed. Her grandparents were once again doing work in the kingdom, so she, Uo, and Hana rode up to the mountains, not aware that Kageru Manabe was following them. They were the first to arrive so Tohru asked the two of them if they minded fetching some water and wood for the fire. They didn't, so off they went. By mid-afternoon Yuki arrived and Tohru asked her two friends to remain at the cabin while they went for a walk. Kageru followed them as well, hanging on to hear every word.
***************
The wind was blowing through the trees as they walked. At first neither said anything. Then Tohru sighed and looked directly at him.
"I can't thank you enough for everything you did Yuki."
"You mean what I did for the stupid cat? It was no problem Miss Honda."
"Not just that. I mean everything. Coming to rescue me in Zurinth. I know you got punished for that."
"Yea" he nodded his head, "I figured those were the feelings you were having. But like you said it wasn't that bad, not like Kyo."
They looked at each other for a minute, smiled then continued to walk.
"So" Yuki began, "Did you figure out what the wall meant?"
"No" she shook her head, "But I am hoping the last translation that Master Kazuma makes will give us a little bit of an idea of the location of where the Zodiac Stone is?"
Kageru's ears perked up.
"So they know about the Stone?" he thought.
"Mikado said something about it being in the middle of the two countries right?" Yuki said as he fingered his moon medallion.
"Yes. But not it's exact location."
"Does Master Kazuma have any idea when he will figure it out?" Yuki asked.
"He told me tomorrow he should be finished" she said drifting off a bit with her words.
"You know what" Yuki said, "I just realized, you thanked me and I didn't even give you a response."
"Oh that's okay."
"No Miss Honda, I was brought up better than that, so, it was my pleasure to have been your rescuer, and whatever punishment I have received it was well worth it to see you safe again."
He bowed.
"Oh Yuki. That's so sweet" she smiled, "You know my mom would have really liked you and Kyo."
"You think so?"
"I know so. For one she would find you both very interesting, and two she would be very pleased that you both take such good care of me."
"Well you're worth it Miss Honda."
"Can I show you something?" she stopped walking.
"Sure."
****************
She led him to a waterfall that was behind many trees. The sun was just setting but was shining on the water, illuminating it like sparkling jewels.
"What is this place?" he smiled.
"Mom used to bring me here when I was little. See you can see the pebbles at the bottom of the water."
"Oh yea" he said grinning as he spotted the many shiny rocks.
"We used to throw one in every time and make a wish" she replied.
"So this is kind of like your secret base?" he said.
"Yea" she smiled, "Do you want to try it?"
"Okay" he said as she handed him a pebble.
He watched as she closed her eyes and lightly tossed her pebble in.
"Your turn" she grinned.
"All right" he replied.
He closed his eyes and threw it in. It landed at the bottom close to hers.
"Hope your wish comes true," she said happily.
"You too" he smiled, "Mine already did," he thought.
"Oh dear" she put a hand to her mouth, "I didn't realize how late it was getting. I got to get back."
"Okay, I'll take you back to your cabin" he replied following her.
****************
When they arrived Yuki helped Tohru onto her horse and asked if he could go to Kazuma's cabin with her the next day. She agreed and then with one final wave the three girls rode back to ShiraNobi. Yuki walked back to the royal cabin where he found Hatsuharu and Momiji waiting on the porch.
"And where have you been all day Prince Yuki?" Haru teased.
"Don't worry about it Haru" Yuki replied, his cheeks turning pink.
"Oh look Haru" Momiji added, "He's embarrassed."
"I am not. Grow up you two" Yuki said angrily walking into the cabin.
"Isn't it funny Haru?" Momiji replied laughing, "Our Yuki in love."
"Yea. Whoever thought it would happen?"
****************
The next morning without Uo or Hana, Tohru returned to the mountains. Once again Kageru wasn't far behind. She stopped and picked up Yuki and then they rode together to Kazuma's place. When they arrived Tohru was surprised to see Kyo there. He looked a lot healthier and his color had returned. And as she could see, his bracelet was back on. The three teenagers sat around the table with Kazuma, and the big book in front of them all.
"Master says that he's got most of the last part translated" Kyo replied, "All except one last sentence."
"Well what does it say?" Yuki asked.
"That's the stupid part" Kyo said, "It says the exact thing that Tohru read in the Zurinth Temple."
"You mean" Tohru began, "To undo the curse of the Zodiac, each member must present themselves on the Zodiac Stone from 1 to 13. Then the curse will lift and peace will prevail?"
"You got a good memory" Kazuma smiled.
"But what does that mean?" Kyo replied, "It makes as much sense as it did the first time."
"I think I have the final piece decoded" Kazuma said drawing their attention.
"What does it say?" Yuki repeated.
"It says, that first part that the princess quoted and "The home of the stone lies where the jewels sparkle as the sun hits them. A hidden cavern behind a curtain of mystery."
"That's what it says?" Kyo said standing up and placing his hands on his hips, "That makes as little sense as the first part."
Tohru also stood up and began to pace. Suddenly she stopped.
"Oh how could I have been so stupid?"
"Miss Honda?" Yuki questioned.
"What do you mean?" Kyo asked.
"Its so simple. I mean the first part is anyway. Each member must present themselves. Not themselves, as in them themselves, but something that represents the animals they are."
"Okay" Kyo said, "You lost me."
"If there were objects that represent you guys, they would have to be placed on the Zodiac Stone."
"What objects Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.
"My mom's Zodiac figurines."
"The rock ones you showed me that time?" Yuki said, "Miss Honda that's brilliant."
"I know. They were right under our nose. I mean I have all of them. One to thir, oh wait" she stopped herself.
"What's wrong?" Kyo replied.
"I don't have all of them. One of them is missing?"
****************
Outside Kageru grinned as he listened to the conversation. He would make sure that they would never find the last figurine. He was certain of that.
*************************************************************
Authors Note: There you go Yukiru fans. Their moment. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks again for the great reviews, and finally someone said something about this being close to the original story line. You're right. It's supposed to be. I wanted to write something close to it, but in a made up world. Good deduction animelvr4evr!
Next Chapter: The Missing Figurine
Tohru gives out the figurines secretly, while trying to find the missing one. Can you guess which one is missing? Find out next time!