"The sun is shining like my little flower's smile today." Spoke Shigure
Sohma thoughtfully.
The violet-haired boy standing in the corner had to secretly disagree with his older cousin. The sun could not possibly compare to the warmth of Miss Honda's smile. He glanced out the window to see Tohru Honda coming up the path toward their house. She looked so happy. Kyo joined him at the window, glaring at him a moment.
"What's she so happy about?" He muttered. Of course, they both were pretty certain of the reason but it was Shigure who 'helpfully' voiced their idea.
"Perhaps she saw her 'friend' today." He said suggestively, anticipating their reactions.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kyo spat at him.
"Oh, you know, the young and attractive 'male' intern that she met where she works. Surly she mentioned him, after all she's always talking about him! You both wouldn't happen to be a little jealous, would you?"
His answer met with a denial from Yuki and a book hurtled at his head from Kyo, but it was true what he'd said. Yuki and Kyo. The mouse and the cat. Mortal enemies who hated each other with a vengeance. But they both shared one or two things in common. They both cared for Tohru Honda, and they were both feeling jealous of someone they had never even met. His name was Kumi Kuri. A few weeks ago, Tohru came home from work informing them of a new friend she'd made. He was a nineteen year old intern working in the same building she worked. They hadn't thought much of it but ever since then Tohru would come home and talk about him or something interesting he had said that day. Because of this, they had gotten a vivid description of him. He was handsome with dark brown hair, framing an angelic face with gray eyes. He had a sunny personality and was extremely clever and he always took time to see Tohru. And, they both swallowed with guilt, Kumi Kuri was appalled at the thought of fighting. To their knowledge he didn't seem to ever lose his temper and was always calm and rational and sweet. Just like Tohru. He would never hurt Tohru.
Not that either of them ever wanted to hurt Tohru, they loved her too much. They just wanted to hurt each other and that was what caused their Tohru so much pain. Yuki thought it was all unfair. He never started fights with that stupid cat. For Kyo, he knew she couldn't understand. She couldn't possibly know how much he wanted to be accepted and how it was the rat's fault that he was not. But she never stayed angry at anyone, blamed no one but herself. Sometimes Kyo wondered if Tohru's mother's death had been someone's fault, would she forgive them?
"Isn't that Haru coming this way?" Shigure murmured breaking through the boys' thoughts. Yuki glanced up and saw that, indeed, Hatsuharu was coming, or rather, storming behind Tohru, passing her and then roughly grabbing her by the arm and dragging her the rest of the way. Seconds later, there was a crash and all three Sohma's rushed out to find Hatsuharu breathing heavily in the doorway, the remains of the door scattered in pieces around the floor. Tohru was trying to wriggle her arm free of Haru's grasp, tears of pain streaming down her confused face. Had she done something wrong? Kyo was just about to shout at him for hurting Tohru but Yuki restrained him. It wasn't good to challenge Haru when he went black.
"That bastard better not still be following me." He said menacingly, unaware of the four people staring at him. Soon after he had left the main house he noticed the black shadow following him. At first he had been nervous but soon grew furious. Why was he being followed?
"Following you? Oy, girly boy," Kyo said, addressing Yuki. "Looks like Haru found a new boyfriend! Not too heart broken are ya?" Yuki ignored him and spoke calmly to Haru.
"Haru, let Miss Honda go and then tell us who's following." He trailed off and Haru, in his black mode threw Tohru violently away from him with impatience. Kyo made to catch her.
"Kyo! Stop!" Called out Yuki and he attempted to pull Kyo away from Tohru. But he was too late. They collided and Kyo transformed into a cat.
"Baka neko!" Hissed Yuki angrily and he actually kicked Kyo. Everyone stared at Yuki in amazement. It wasn't like him to attack when Kyo was transformed. It was more like Kyo to do that, actually! Kyo screeched and arched his back as he caught his breath.
"Kuso nezumi! What was that for?!?!" But again, Yuki wasn't listening. He was staring straight ahead into the woods outside. Haru, who at Yuki's odd behavior had calmed down, followed his gaze as did everyone else to see a dark-haired boy dressed in entirely in black staring right back at them. It occurred to them all, except Tohru, who was still confused at the moment, that he had seen Kyo transform!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Erik who had had to chase Hatsuharu the rest of the way to Shigure's house gaped open mouthed at what he had just witnessed. It had been a thrilling chase but he had no idea what it would lead to! A great many thoughts whirled through his head. First, that there were others although he couldn't recall a cat. And secondly, he had to move cautiously. Suppose Kray had found them first? He approached carefully, keeping his knife at his side and he analyzed them all. There were five in all, four men and one young woman. One man was young but not a child. The other's were about his own age. He noticed the irregular color of the younger boys' hair. His blood started to rush. What a discovery! One had transformed but that immediately concluded that the girl he had collided with was not a zodiac, but then, these strangers could be different.
"Gentlemen, and lady," He said smoothly, waving the knife casually. It was no use hiding it, they'd probably already seen it. "I mean you no harm whatsoever and by no means do I wish to exploit your little secret. I just wish to ask you a few questions."
"And we have some questions for you, as well." A steady voice came from behind him and he felt a small pistol at the back of his neck. But he just laughed.
"I'll have to congratulate you. That's probably the first time anyone's ever caught me off guard. But you really can't blame me, after such a discovery I'm overwhelmed!"
"Drop your weapon." Was the only answer Hatori gave him. Erik shrugged retaining his calm.
"I'll only drop it if you promise to let me speak. I know I may seem a bit of a threat to you but I assure you I'm not. I can perfectly understand you not wanting your secret known to anybody but I'm not 'anybody'. I have some things you may be interested to hear." He waited as Hatori considered it for a moment. "Very well," he answered.
"Thank you," murmured Erik, relaxing. "I appreciate the risk your taking and I won't give you any regrets." He paused and eyed Momiji standing off to the side.
"Here, let the little snitch play with it. Bet he'll like it." He said snidely, tossing it in the direction of Momiji. They all went into the house with Shigure commenting on Hatori's heroism and moaning about his broken house. They all sat around a table, Hatori never taking his eyes of the stranger, the gun still in his hand. Tohru was now quite afraid. It had just been a regular day and then Hatsuharu had grabbed her arm roughly, Kyo had transformed and he'd been seen, and now Hatori was pointing a gun at this newcomer. She'd never imagined that Hatori could use a gun or even have one and it frightened her. The stranger didn't help matters. He was dressed completely in black from his hair to his boots. He wasn't bad looking and could have been considered a twin to Akito or Yuki except for his terrifying eyes. They were an unusual black and gold and they seemed to have a shiny film over them. He reminded her of a spider or something similar.
"Now then, to properly introduce myself," Erik began. "My name is Erik Autumn and the reason I'm here is that I'm looking for someone and it is essential that I find him. I've been following this young man," he motioned towards Hatsuharu. "because a companion of mine made the mistake in supposing that he was the one I sought. She believed this because she didn't transform when she bumped into him. For she and I are part of nature's zodiac."
Everyone was silent. No one had expected this; another zodiac member! Hatori reproached him doubtfully.
"I don't know how you know anything about it but do you honestly expect us to believe that there are others?"
"I didn't expect you to believe because I myself believed that the Chinese zodiac was only a myth until today. So I suppose the only way to show you is by proof. Unfortunately, I myself, am not feeling stressed and I don't suppose you have a girl unaffected by the curse?" He said focusing on Tohru. He frowned at seeing her shrink back and the obvious disapproval of the two boys sitting on either side of her.
"Oh! Forgive me! What was I thinking?" He rolled his eyes and added sarcastically. "I wouldn't dream of putting that poor girl through such torture!" He leaned forward a bit. "I don't suppose you'd mind fetching me a two large pitchers of water as an alternative?"
"She doesn't have to get anything for you!" Yelled Kyo, although he was as curious as everyone as to why he needed water. Tohru stumbled as she got up and shakily did as he requested. She put the pitchers on the table and Yuki passed it down to him. He stood up and glanced down sullenly at the pitcher he held in his hand.
"You put ice in it? Do you want my brain to freeze?" At seeing her wide eyed face he waved it away. "Never mind, I never specified." He then lifted the pitcher to his mouth and proceeded to drain it's contents without stopping. While they watched in puzzlement, he dropped the empty pitcher and passed it down to Tohru, picking up the second. She unconsciously grabbed the empty one and ran to fill it. Just as everyone wondered if he'd burst.he did. In a puff of smoke he disappeared and as the smoke cleared they saw his clothes crumpled on the ground but there was no trace of him. They all stared at the heap of clothes not certain of what to expect.
Tohru, meanwhile, had returned and upon seeing something crawling past her promptly dropped the full pitcher and screamed. Everyone turned just in time to see a scorpion creep into the kitchen. Hatori got up and was about to follow it when they heard a sound and smoke from the kitchen. Erik peeped out his head and grinned knowingly.
"Did you think I'd run away?" Without waiting for an answer, he nodded toward the floor. "May I have my clothes please?" And he held out his hand for them keeping the rest of him out of sight. Tohru, her nerves still jangled, rushed to grab them and hastily threw them the result being them missing his hand completely and landing on the kitchen floor with a squish. Squish? Then it came to her that she had dropped the pitcher of water on the floor. His clothes must have gotten wet. She tried to apologize but he shook his head speaking in a tone that suggested he was trying his best not to scream. It was high and impatient.
"No! No! Don't apologize, I like them wet!" His hand grasped them and he disappeared a moment but they could hear him muttering about sitting in the rain and now this. He walked out again, buttoning his shirt. Tohru flushed in embarrassment. He was soaked. He looked at her a moment with his teeth clenched and tried to smile.
"You know, I know someone just like you." He said, thinking of when Arianna had dropped her soda on their kitchen floor and when reaching for a towel out of the laundry basket grabbed one of his white shirts. Needless to say, it was soon turned to a rag that they now used to clean the furniture. He noticed Hatori still holding the gun.
"You're still pointing that at me? Why?"
"What you've shown us is extraordinary but I don't remember a scorpion being part of the Chinese zodiac." Hatori replied, putting the gun in his pocket.
"Let me think, did I say I was from the Chinese zodiac?" He asked, cocking his head to one side. Shigure shifted from where he sat. He wasn't sure about all this. He'd have to let Akito know, naturally, but he wasn't sure that he'd readily put his trust in Erik. The simple presence of him was unnerving and he noticed that everyone was looking uncomfortable. Perhaps Satan has come for their cursed souls, he thought idly to himself. Erik resumed his seat when he had dried a little and continued.
"I said that I was of Nature's zodiac, such as Leo, Aries, Scorpio." He pointed to himself . "While your spirits rule the years I suppose you could say we rule the months although we don't preside over them as precisely. I suggest that we meet some other time so we can properly introduce ourselves. It's important that we get aquatinted with our somewhat distant cousins, don't you think? As for the moment, I can't linger. I must go speak to Electra at once.
"Electra?" Asked Yuki. Erik nodded.
"Our lay in charge, so to speak."
"Your leader is a female?" Asked Shigure amusedly, matchmaking thoughts circling his head.
"Yes, I know that it may seem unusual but Electra is one of those women that has determination that amuses their male predecessors. Makes them trust her like a man because it's assumed that only men have the same qualities. But women usually make up in brains what they lack in brawn. It's an interesting theory if you agree with Darwin. Man descended from apes and women were once, perhaps, lionesses. I'll have to clear that up sometime. Anyway I haven't heard your names yet, have I?"
"Oh! I'm Shigure Sohma, the one that pointed the gun at you is Hatori," he started, helpfully. "The one you've been following is Hatsuharu and the two brooding youths I put up with are Yuki and Kyo. Your tattletale is Momiji, by the way why are you so quiet? And then there is the light in our dark lives, Tohru."
Tohru, who had gathered her senses by now was looking at Momiji. The energetic rabbit was staring blankly at Erik, his body tense and shaking slightly. No one else seemed to notice, they were all listening to Shigure talking so freely. Did that man know when to shut up?
"Tohru's our housekeeper and friendly spot of sunshine! We trust her with our secret and you can trust her too. We'll have to tell Akito, our head of the family, about all this and he'll probably wish to speak with your leader or one of you, whichever is convenient!"
"Very well, let me just get my book." Erik reached into his pocket and produced a black purse. Kyo rolled his eyes exasperatedly.
"God, I'm surrounded by fags and idiots!" Erik quickly looked up and growled lowly at him, which spooked him a little. It wouldn't have if his eyes were normal! Erik bit back his sharp return and forced a laugh.
"You know, it's funny. That isn't the first time someone's said that to me without any reason at all. I don't mind being mistaken for one but I hate when it's used so aggressively. Some people are born that way, they can't help it if they're idiots." He murmured venomously, glaring at Kyo. The cat became angry very quickly, he slammed his fist on the table.
"Are you calling me an idiot!" He yelled, standing up.
"You shouldn't argue with fools, they might be doing the same thing." Erik said quietly.
"You are calling me an idiot!" Kyo snapped angrily.
"Certainly not, am I arguing? I can however say there is reason to believe that you are brash and impolite and you should apologize for raising your voice in the presence of a lady." Erik said, enjoying his anger.
"Kyo, sit down." This came from Hatori. Kyo looked around and realized that it did seem as if he was the one acting unreasonable. He sat down muttering curses quietly under his breath.
"That's not the first time I've been called that either, not very original are we?" Erik whispered loud enough for Kyo to hear. He must have heard his curses but his eyes were focused on his purse.
"Didn't deny that you're a fag, though." Kyo said tauntingly. Yuki glanced at him. Stupid cat, he thought, always saying stupid things. But Erik didn't even lift his eyes.
"I didn't want to. My good reason isn't one I'm proud of. You see, I'm a bit homophobic. I don't really dislike them, it's none of my business. I'd be fine with it but I get irritated when homosexual males act like females."
Tohru thought of Ritsu. He dressed like a girl because he was insecure but would that cause a problem? She broke out of her thoughts as she heard a jingle of coins. Erik muttered something as he started to pick up the coins he'd dropped. Tohru noticed that a photograph had fallen out of the purse and she bent to pick it up. She glanced at it but then stopped and stared at it. In the picture was a girl she'd seen before. She was sitting on the stairs of a porch, smiling.
The picture was snatched from her hands and she looked up to see Erik glaring at her as he put it back in his purse.
"Thank you for retrieving this for me." He said icily. He had taken out a black book and scribbled a number on the page ripping it out and handing it to Hatori. "Call this number and you can speak to whatever zodiac you want." Shigure sighed.
"Wonderful! For a moment, I was thinking you'd swap numbers with Tohru!" He laughed as Hatori wrote his own number in the book. Erik got up and turned to leave. Just as he was passing by where a door had been, he called back.
"I look forward to hearing from you!"
Everyone sat dumb around the room, not knowing what to say until the obvious question was brought up.
"What should we do." This was asked by Momiji, who had broken out of his silence.
"I don't know. Akito must be told, of course." Hatori said.
"I wonder if his heart can take it." Yuki said to himself.
"What? The shock of there being more of us?" asked Hatsuharu.
"No, the joy of knowing he'll have more." Yuki had meant to say 'playthings' but he trailed off, shuddering slightly at the thought of his own meetings with the head of the Sohmas. Shigure was once again, the only one in the best of spirits.
"What's wrong with all of you? I think this has been a great discovery! We have a chance of meeting more like us and it may be a great opportunity. Who knows what we might learn. Besides, he's only about Yuki and Kyo's age, what danger is he?"
"Didn't you see the knife?" Kyo said impatiently, it was then they noticed it was missing.
"Well, a lot of people carry protection with them." Shigure offered helpfully. Then, causing yet another great surprise, Tohru said quietly:
"I don't like him and I don't think we should trust him either."
The violet-haired boy standing in the corner had to secretly disagree with his older cousin. The sun could not possibly compare to the warmth of Miss Honda's smile. He glanced out the window to see Tohru Honda coming up the path toward their house. She looked so happy. Kyo joined him at the window, glaring at him a moment.
"What's she so happy about?" He muttered. Of course, they both were pretty certain of the reason but it was Shigure who 'helpfully' voiced their idea.
"Perhaps she saw her 'friend' today." He said suggestively, anticipating their reactions.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kyo spat at him.
"Oh, you know, the young and attractive 'male' intern that she met where she works. Surly she mentioned him, after all she's always talking about him! You both wouldn't happen to be a little jealous, would you?"
His answer met with a denial from Yuki and a book hurtled at his head from Kyo, but it was true what he'd said. Yuki and Kyo. The mouse and the cat. Mortal enemies who hated each other with a vengeance. But they both shared one or two things in common. They both cared for Tohru Honda, and they were both feeling jealous of someone they had never even met. His name was Kumi Kuri. A few weeks ago, Tohru came home from work informing them of a new friend she'd made. He was a nineteen year old intern working in the same building she worked. They hadn't thought much of it but ever since then Tohru would come home and talk about him or something interesting he had said that day. Because of this, they had gotten a vivid description of him. He was handsome with dark brown hair, framing an angelic face with gray eyes. He had a sunny personality and was extremely clever and he always took time to see Tohru. And, they both swallowed with guilt, Kumi Kuri was appalled at the thought of fighting. To their knowledge he didn't seem to ever lose his temper and was always calm and rational and sweet. Just like Tohru. He would never hurt Tohru.
Not that either of them ever wanted to hurt Tohru, they loved her too much. They just wanted to hurt each other and that was what caused their Tohru so much pain. Yuki thought it was all unfair. He never started fights with that stupid cat. For Kyo, he knew she couldn't understand. She couldn't possibly know how much he wanted to be accepted and how it was the rat's fault that he was not. But she never stayed angry at anyone, blamed no one but herself. Sometimes Kyo wondered if Tohru's mother's death had been someone's fault, would she forgive them?
"Isn't that Haru coming this way?" Shigure murmured breaking through the boys' thoughts. Yuki glanced up and saw that, indeed, Hatsuharu was coming, or rather, storming behind Tohru, passing her and then roughly grabbing her by the arm and dragging her the rest of the way. Seconds later, there was a crash and all three Sohma's rushed out to find Hatsuharu breathing heavily in the doorway, the remains of the door scattered in pieces around the floor. Tohru was trying to wriggle her arm free of Haru's grasp, tears of pain streaming down her confused face. Had she done something wrong? Kyo was just about to shout at him for hurting Tohru but Yuki restrained him. It wasn't good to challenge Haru when he went black.
"That bastard better not still be following me." He said menacingly, unaware of the four people staring at him. Soon after he had left the main house he noticed the black shadow following him. At first he had been nervous but soon grew furious. Why was he being followed?
"Following you? Oy, girly boy," Kyo said, addressing Yuki. "Looks like Haru found a new boyfriend! Not too heart broken are ya?" Yuki ignored him and spoke calmly to Haru.
"Haru, let Miss Honda go and then tell us who's following." He trailed off and Haru, in his black mode threw Tohru violently away from him with impatience. Kyo made to catch her.
"Kyo! Stop!" Called out Yuki and he attempted to pull Kyo away from Tohru. But he was too late. They collided and Kyo transformed into a cat.
"Baka neko!" Hissed Yuki angrily and he actually kicked Kyo. Everyone stared at Yuki in amazement. It wasn't like him to attack when Kyo was transformed. It was more like Kyo to do that, actually! Kyo screeched and arched his back as he caught his breath.
"Kuso nezumi! What was that for?!?!" But again, Yuki wasn't listening. He was staring straight ahead into the woods outside. Haru, who at Yuki's odd behavior had calmed down, followed his gaze as did everyone else to see a dark-haired boy dressed in entirely in black staring right back at them. It occurred to them all, except Tohru, who was still confused at the moment, that he had seen Kyo transform!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Erik who had had to chase Hatsuharu the rest of the way to Shigure's house gaped open mouthed at what he had just witnessed. It had been a thrilling chase but he had no idea what it would lead to! A great many thoughts whirled through his head. First, that there were others although he couldn't recall a cat. And secondly, he had to move cautiously. Suppose Kray had found them first? He approached carefully, keeping his knife at his side and he analyzed them all. There were five in all, four men and one young woman. One man was young but not a child. The other's were about his own age. He noticed the irregular color of the younger boys' hair. His blood started to rush. What a discovery! One had transformed but that immediately concluded that the girl he had collided with was not a zodiac, but then, these strangers could be different.
"Gentlemen, and lady," He said smoothly, waving the knife casually. It was no use hiding it, they'd probably already seen it. "I mean you no harm whatsoever and by no means do I wish to exploit your little secret. I just wish to ask you a few questions."
"And we have some questions for you, as well." A steady voice came from behind him and he felt a small pistol at the back of his neck. But he just laughed.
"I'll have to congratulate you. That's probably the first time anyone's ever caught me off guard. But you really can't blame me, after such a discovery I'm overwhelmed!"
"Drop your weapon." Was the only answer Hatori gave him. Erik shrugged retaining his calm.
"I'll only drop it if you promise to let me speak. I know I may seem a bit of a threat to you but I assure you I'm not. I can perfectly understand you not wanting your secret known to anybody but I'm not 'anybody'. I have some things you may be interested to hear." He waited as Hatori considered it for a moment. "Very well," he answered.
"Thank you," murmured Erik, relaxing. "I appreciate the risk your taking and I won't give you any regrets." He paused and eyed Momiji standing off to the side.
"Here, let the little snitch play with it. Bet he'll like it." He said snidely, tossing it in the direction of Momiji. They all went into the house with Shigure commenting on Hatori's heroism and moaning about his broken house. They all sat around a table, Hatori never taking his eyes of the stranger, the gun still in his hand. Tohru was now quite afraid. It had just been a regular day and then Hatsuharu had grabbed her arm roughly, Kyo had transformed and he'd been seen, and now Hatori was pointing a gun at this newcomer. She'd never imagined that Hatori could use a gun or even have one and it frightened her. The stranger didn't help matters. He was dressed completely in black from his hair to his boots. He wasn't bad looking and could have been considered a twin to Akito or Yuki except for his terrifying eyes. They were an unusual black and gold and they seemed to have a shiny film over them. He reminded her of a spider or something similar.
"Now then, to properly introduce myself," Erik began. "My name is Erik Autumn and the reason I'm here is that I'm looking for someone and it is essential that I find him. I've been following this young man," he motioned towards Hatsuharu. "because a companion of mine made the mistake in supposing that he was the one I sought. She believed this because she didn't transform when she bumped into him. For she and I are part of nature's zodiac."
Everyone was silent. No one had expected this; another zodiac member! Hatori reproached him doubtfully.
"I don't know how you know anything about it but do you honestly expect us to believe that there are others?"
"I didn't expect you to believe because I myself believed that the Chinese zodiac was only a myth until today. So I suppose the only way to show you is by proof. Unfortunately, I myself, am not feeling stressed and I don't suppose you have a girl unaffected by the curse?" He said focusing on Tohru. He frowned at seeing her shrink back and the obvious disapproval of the two boys sitting on either side of her.
"Oh! Forgive me! What was I thinking?" He rolled his eyes and added sarcastically. "I wouldn't dream of putting that poor girl through such torture!" He leaned forward a bit. "I don't suppose you'd mind fetching me a two large pitchers of water as an alternative?"
"She doesn't have to get anything for you!" Yelled Kyo, although he was as curious as everyone as to why he needed water. Tohru stumbled as she got up and shakily did as he requested. She put the pitchers on the table and Yuki passed it down to him. He stood up and glanced down sullenly at the pitcher he held in his hand.
"You put ice in it? Do you want my brain to freeze?" At seeing her wide eyed face he waved it away. "Never mind, I never specified." He then lifted the pitcher to his mouth and proceeded to drain it's contents without stopping. While they watched in puzzlement, he dropped the empty pitcher and passed it down to Tohru, picking up the second. She unconsciously grabbed the empty one and ran to fill it. Just as everyone wondered if he'd burst.he did. In a puff of smoke he disappeared and as the smoke cleared they saw his clothes crumpled on the ground but there was no trace of him. They all stared at the heap of clothes not certain of what to expect.
Tohru, meanwhile, had returned and upon seeing something crawling past her promptly dropped the full pitcher and screamed. Everyone turned just in time to see a scorpion creep into the kitchen. Hatori got up and was about to follow it when they heard a sound and smoke from the kitchen. Erik peeped out his head and grinned knowingly.
"Did you think I'd run away?" Without waiting for an answer, he nodded toward the floor. "May I have my clothes please?" And he held out his hand for them keeping the rest of him out of sight. Tohru, her nerves still jangled, rushed to grab them and hastily threw them the result being them missing his hand completely and landing on the kitchen floor with a squish. Squish? Then it came to her that she had dropped the pitcher of water on the floor. His clothes must have gotten wet. She tried to apologize but he shook his head speaking in a tone that suggested he was trying his best not to scream. It was high and impatient.
"No! No! Don't apologize, I like them wet!" His hand grasped them and he disappeared a moment but they could hear him muttering about sitting in the rain and now this. He walked out again, buttoning his shirt. Tohru flushed in embarrassment. He was soaked. He looked at her a moment with his teeth clenched and tried to smile.
"You know, I know someone just like you." He said, thinking of when Arianna had dropped her soda on their kitchen floor and when reaching for a towel out of the laundry basket grabbed one of his white shirts. Needless to say, it was soon turned to a rag that they now used to clean the furniture. He noticed Hatori still holding the gun.
"You're still pointing that at me? Why?"
"What you've shown us is extraordinary but I don't remember a scorpion being part of the Chinese zodiac." Hatori replied, putting the gun in his pocket.
"Let me think, did I say I was from the Chinese zodiac?" He asked, cocking his head to one side. Shigure shifted from where he sat. He wasn't sure about all this. He'd have to let Akito know, naturally, but he wasn't sure that he'd readily put his trust in Erik. The simple presence of him was unnerving and he noticed that everyone was looking uncomfortable. Perhaps Satan has come for their cursed souls, he thought idly to himself. Erik resumed his seat when he had dried a little and continued.
"I said that I was of Nature's zodiac, such as Leo, Aries, Scorpio." He pointed to himself . "While your spirits rule the years I suppose you could say we rule the months although we don't preside over them as precisely. I suggest that we meet some other time so we can properly introduce ourselves. It's important that we get aquatinted with our somewhat distant cousins, don't you think? As for the moment, I can't linger. I must go speak to Electra at once.
"Electra?" Asked Yuki. Erik nodded.
"Our lay in charge, so to speak."
"Your leader is a female?" Asked Shigure amusedly, matchmaking thoughts circling his head.
"Yes, I know that it may seem unusual but Electra is one of those women that has determination that amuses their male predecessors. Makes them trust her like a man because it's assumed that only men have the same qualities. But women usually make up in brains what they lack in brawn. It's an interesting theory if you agree with Darwin. Man descended from apes and women were once, perhaps, lionesses. I'll have to clear that up sometime. Anyway I haven't heard your names yet, have I?"
"Oh! I'm Shigure Sohma, the one that pointed the gun at you is Hatori," he started, helpfully. "The one you've been following is Hatsuharu and the two brooding youths I put up with are Yuki and Kyo. Your tattletale is Momiji, by the way why are you so quiet? And then there is the light in our dark lives, Tohru."
Tohru, who had gathered her senses by now was looking at Momiji. The energetic rabbit was staring blankly at Erik, his body tense and shaking slightly. No one else seemed to notice, they were all listening to Shigure talking so freely. Did that man know when to shut up?
"Tohru's our housekeeper and friendly spot of sunshine! We trust her with our secret and you can trust her too. We'll have to tell Akito, our head of the family, about all this and he'll probably wish to speak with your leader or one of you, whichever is convenient!"
"Very well, let me just get my book." Erik reached into his pocket and produced a black purse. Kyo rolled his eyes exasperatedly.
"God, I'm surrounded by fags and idiots!" Erik quickly looked up and growled lowly at him, which spooked him a little. It wouldn't have if his eyes were normal! Erik bit back his sharp return and forced a laugh.
"You know, it's funny. That isn't the first time someone's said that to me without any reason at all. I don't mind being mistaken for one but I hate when it's used so aggressively. Some people are born that way, they can't help it if they're idiots." He murmured venomously, glaring at Kyo. The cat became angry very quickly, he slammed his fist on the table.
"Are you calling me an idiot!" He yelled, standing up.
"You shouldn't argue with fools, they might be doing the same thing." Erik said quietly.
"You are calling me an idiot!" Kyo snapped angrily.
"Certainly not, am I arguing? I can however say there is reason to believe that you are brash and impolite and you should apologize for raising your voice in the presence of a lady." Erik said, enjoying his anger.
"Kyo, sit down." This came from Hatori. Kyo looked around and realized that it did seem as if he was the one acting unreasonable. He sat down muttering curses quietly under his breath.
"That's not the first time I've been called that either, not very original are we?" Erik whispered loud enough for Kyo to hear. He must have heard his curses but his eyes were focused on his purse.
"Didn't deny that you're a fag, though." Kyo said tauntingly. Yuki glanced at him. Stupid cat, he thought, always saying stupid things. But Erik didn't even lift his eyes.
"I didn't want to. My good reason isn't one I'm proud of. You see, I'm a bit homophobic. I don't really dislike them, it's none of my business. I'd be fine with it but I get irritated when homosexual males act like females."
Tohru thought of Ritsu. He dressed like a girl because he was insecure but would that cause a problem? She broke out of her thoughts as she heard a jingle of coins. Erik muttered something as he started to pick up the coins he'd dropped. Tohru noticed that a photograph had fallen out of the purse and she bent to pick it up. She glanced at it but then stopped and stared at it. In the picture was a girl she'd seen before. She was sitting on the stairs of a porch, smiling.
The picture was snatched from her hands and she looked up to see Erik glaring at her as he put it back in his purse.
"Thank you for retrieving this for me." He said icily. He had taken out a black book and scribbled a number on the page ripping it out and handing it to Hatori. "Call this number and you can speak to whatever zodiac you want." Shigure sighed.
"Wonderful! For a moment, I was thinking you'd swap numbers with Tohru!" He laughed as Hatori wrote his own number in the book. Erik got up and turned to leave. Just as he was passing by where a door had been, he called back.
"I look forward to hearing from you!"
Everyone sat dumb around the room, not knowing what to say until the obvious question was brought up.
"What should we do." This was asked by Momiji, who had broken out of his silence.
"I don't know. Akito must be told, of course." Hatori said.
"I wonder if his heart can take it." Yuki said to himself.
"What? The shock of there being more of us?" asked Hatsuharu.
"No, the joy of knowing he'll have more." Yuki had meant to say 'playthings' but he trailed off, shuddering slightly at the thought of his own meetings with the head of the Sohmas. Shigure was once again, the only one in the best of spirits.
"What's wrong with all of you? I think this has been a great discovery! We have a chance of meeting more like us and it may be a great opportunity. Who knows what we might learn. Besides, he's only about Yuki and Kyo's age, what danger is he?"
"Didn't you see the knife?" Kyo said impatiently, it was then they noticed it was missing.
"Well, a lot of people carry protection with them." Shigure offered helpfully. Then, causing yet another great surprise, Tohru said quietly:
"I don't like him and I don't think we should trust him either."