"Tohru? Tohru, are you listening to me?" asked her friend Arisa,
pulling her blond hair out of her eyes.
"Huh?" Tohru blinked and looked about in confusion. "Oh, I'm so sorry Arisa! I had no right to ignore you like that! I was just thinking..."
"Something's worrying you." Said Hana, knowingly.
"Yeah, you have been pretty distracted lately." Arisa mused. "You're not in any trouble are you?"
"No! No, of course not!" Insisted Tohru. "I've just had a lot on my mind, that's all!"
"Uh huh, really?" Probed Arisa, suspiciously. Tohru started to feel a bit nervous. She didn't want her friends to worry about her. It wasn't that anything bad had happened it was just that she was worried about her friend, Kumi. Was he in danger? She was happy that Yuki and Kyo would have a chance to meet another zodiac but why was that mysterious boy they had met looking for Kumi? She had asked him about it but his assurance that everything was all right didn't make sense. She tried to remember their conversation a day or two ago.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tohru was moping the floor, lost in thought. She was frightened as a hand touched her shoulder.
"Woah! It's okay Tohru, it's just me!" Said the smiling Kumi, apologetically. He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Tohru blushed nervously, her hands wringing the handle of the mop. Should she tell him? She got distracted as she noticed something around Kumi's wrist: a chestnut braid.
"Kumi, why did you cut off your braid?" She asked. He raised his eyebrows and then smiled as he pulled his right hand out of his pocket.
"Oh, this?" He said softly, gently touching the braided bracelet. "This isn't a lock of my hair. My girlfriend gave it to me, to show how much she loves me." Even if she doesn't realize it, he had thought to himself. "I usually clip it to my hair but today I felt like wearing it on my wrist. Which do you prefer?"
"Oh, I thought it looked nice in your hair." Tohru said shyly. "But of course, you could wear it whatever way you like!" He nodded and undid the clasp, starting to adjust it to his hair.
"You're really lucky." Tohru said softly. "To have someone who cares so much about you." She bit her lip. That boy had had a picture of Kumi's girlfriend. Maybe she should mention him.
"Kumi, do you have any friends here?" She asked, gathering her courage.
"Why do you ask?" He queried sweetly. His smile gave her encouragement and she continued.
"It's just that I think I might have met someone who knows you."
She remembered that he had stiffened but looked at her with interest. "Oh really? What was his name?"
"Um, I can't remember." Tohru said, apologetically. "He didn't really say he knew you but he mentioned he was looking for someone and I noticed he had a picture of you." She hesitated telling him that the picture had been scratched and torn. "He was thin and had dark hair."
Kumi thought a moment before responding. "That sounds like one of my cousins."
Tohru's heart skipped a beat. His cousin! That meant they were related and that might mean that maybe Kumi was part of the other zodiac! She blurted out her question but regretted it instantly. She suddenly remembered that there were some members of the Sohma family that didn't know about the curse.
He looked at her in surprise. "You know about the zodiac?" He had felt excited. To think, all this time his link to the other zodiac was right under his nose! He pressed her and she admitted that the person she met had transformed but she neglected to tell what he turned into. When he admitted that he was part of the zodiac, he invited her out for coffee and she had told him all about the Sohmas. This was wonderful! She had thought. They had talked all about each other's families and Tohru had no idea that she had given him what he had been searching for. He regretted not having found them first but he might still have a chance!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everything had seemed alright but she was still worried. He had seemed glad to know that his family was looking for him but what if he didn't know that his cousin might be after him? Perhaps he did know and didn't want to worry her.
"Hey, look who's here!" Exclaimed Arisa, pointing down the hallways. Walking towards them were Kyo, Yuki, Haru, and Momiji. Momiji smiled and had opened his mouth to greet them when Hana spoke, causing them to halt dead in their tracks.
"A cow." She said quietly. Everyone stood frozen. "Over there." She pointed outside to where a large group of students were huddling together. Curious, they all went outside to see what was going on.
"Well, would you look at that." Said Arisa, smiling. "Must be some prank or something." She was referring to the fact that in the center of the group was a cow, a bull to be more precise, lying on the ground and chewing grass slowly. Some boys started laughing and crumpling up some paper started throwing the makeshift balls at it.
"Please. Don't do that." Said Tohru meekly, slowly walking towards the poor animal. To her surprise, she felt a hand grab her arm and quickly pulled her away.
Some other students started laughing and joining in but everybody stopped when Yuki spoke, cause after all, he was Prince Yuki, the most popular boy in their school!
"Stop it." He said, almost inaudibly. He started backing away slowly.
"What's the matter, Yuki?" Asked one boy, shaping a ball of paper. "We're just having fun!"
"Yes," said Hana, calmly but dangerously. "I'm sure it will be great fun once you anger that bull and it gores you to a slow and painful death with it's long, sharp horns."
There was silence. Mainly this was because everyone had fled, screaming for their lives so that when the dust cleared and papers settled to the ground, only Tohru, Hana, Arisa, Kyo, Momiji, Yuki, and Haru...and the bull were left.
"That's strange." Haru murmured. "It should have chased after them."
"All the same I think we should back away slowly." Advised Yuki.
"Maybe it's hurt." Tohru said sympathetically. She took another step towards it in concern and again she was pulled away.
"Damn it! Don't you listen? It could kill you!" Kyo scolded.
"But it's crying." She pointed out and indeed, the fur around the eyes was wet.
"I'd better call an animal shelter, they'll know what to do." Yuki said decisively.
"Well, I have to get to work." Said Arisa. "I wouldn't but my boss will fire me if I'm late again."
"I too have pressing engagements to attend to." Whispered Hana.
"I guess that means it's up to you guys to make sure nothing happens to Tohru." Said Aria, matter-of-factly.
"Because you know," Hana whispered with the same dangerous insinuation. "That if you ever failed in your responsibility, I would have to do something very extreme."
After seeing that she had succeeded in creeping everyone out except Momiji and Tohru, she gave them an insipid smile and backed away with Arisa. There seemed no need to really, because the bull obviously wasn't interested in them. The remaining group had cautiously moved a safe distance away from the beast and Yuki was just about to call an animal shelter when Hatsuharu stopped his hand.
"Wait. Look." He whispered pointing to the bull. The bull had looked around and gotten up. It stopped at a bush and buried it's head in it for a moment. When it resurfaced, they could see that something was hanging from it's horns: Clothes.
"Do you think..." Yuki trailed off but it wasn't necessary for him to say what he thought for they all shared this thought. A member of the other zodiac!
"Why don't you go and ask it." Mumbled Kyo. Everyone turned to look at him. "What!" He spat in defense and pointed at Hatsuharu. "He's a cow too, isn't he?"
"I don't know..." Started Yuki but Haru cut him off.
"Alright. I'll do it." He cast a mischievous sideways glance at Tohru, then before Kyo or Yuki could stop him he embraced her and transformed. Momiji clapped his hands excitedly.
"Cool! This is like 'bring your pet to school' day only more fun!"
Tohru managed a smile at Momiji and turned to watch interestedly as Haru pursued the bull. As they wandered out of sight, the others decided it was safe to follow. They went as far as the wooded area on the way to Shigure's house, then stopped once more as the two cows disappeared into the woods. A few moments later Haru emerged and stood beside them.
"It's okay, you can go." He said.
Kyo marched forward but Haru stood in front of Yuki, Tohru, and Momiji allowing Kyo to enter the woods by himself. Tohru was just about to question Haru when they heard a sound that was familiar to them all followed by two screams; one was a girl's. Seconds later, Kyo came running out of the woods heading at full speed at Hatsuharu. Despite Haru still being in oxen form, Kyo kicked him and started screaming obscenities at him. The rest of them wondered what was wrong when they saw a girl emerge from behind the trees.
Tohru's breath caught in her throat. She recognized the girl with the large brown eyes and chestnut curls. The girl in the photograph. She would have been happy to see Kumi's girlfriend if it hadn't been for one thing: she was holding a gun and pointing it at them!
"Come here!" She demanded, her eyes bright with anger and tears. "All of you now!"
Rather than cause her to do something unnecessary, they obeyed and followed her deeper into the woods. Tohru held Momiji's hand tightly. What was she going to do with them? All the while the girl had her eyes fixed on Kyo. When they finally stopped she looked at the rest of them. Her angered faced became mixed with confusion at seeing the ox and then melted into sadness at seeing Momiji and Tohru.
"I'm really sorry." She said shakily. "But you've seen too much." She looked helplessly at Momiji again. "Look, maybe if you promise you won't tell anyone what you saw..." She trailed off as her eyes fell upon Yuki. To all of their amazement, a look of fear filled her eyes and she tossed the gun straight at Yuki's head! Yuki ducked in time and the girl turned and fled.
Tohru wasn't sure why but she found herself chasing after her. Why was she afraid of Yuki? He was so nice to everyone. Although Tohru herself wasn't a very fast runner she caught up with the girl in a few minutes. The girl had fallen down and was breathing heavily though if it were from fear or exhaustion, Tohru wasn't sure. The girl turned and backed away from Tohru.
"Please, go away." She pleaded, despairingly. "Leave me alone."
"Why? What's the matter?" Tohru asked gently. Just then, the Sohma's emerged from the trees. Desperately, the girl grabbed a rock and held it over her head preparing to heave it at Yuki but she dropped it as he stepped into the light.
"Oh my God." She whispered in between breaths. "I'm so sorry! I-I thought you were someone else! Oh no! I didn't hurt you did I?"
Yuki blinked, completely confused at her behavior. "No."
Despite the situation, Kyo didn't forget to mutter his displeasure at Yuki not getting knocked unconscious. After that an awkward silence fell upon them. What were they to say to someone who might have killed them? Just then, Haru transformed back into himself. Both Tohru and the girl covered their eyes, the former dropping Haru's clothes for him to retrieve. He let them know when he was dressed and the girl stared at them in shock.
"You're from the zodiac?!?! Wow, now I really must apologize!" She held out her hand when Momiji blurted out: "Were you really going to kill us?"
They all stiffened and she lowered her arm helplessly.
"Well, I'm expected to. But I can't think of killing anyone. But at the same time we can't have our secret be known can we?" She looked at them at hopefully but her face fell as they stared at her in shock. Did the other zodiac really murder those who knew too much? And to think, Tohru had sometimes worried about her memory getting erased!
"You don't understand, do you?" She asked nervously.
"Nope!" Offered Momiji. "We erase their memories."
A smile lit up her face. "That's wonderful!" She said excitedly and stood up, taking a step towards them. They backed away and she started shaking her head.
"Oh no! Please don't think of us that way! It's just that we can't do that so we have no choice. However, my family's really peaceful so we do our best to be very careful and not let anyone see us. It's been a few generations since anyone has let themselves be seen though!" She concluded, attempting a smile. They relaxed a little.
"So, what's your name?" Tohru said, braving a step towards her. The girl hastily wiped her eyes.
"My name is Arianna Primavera. I'm the sign of the Taurus," she shrugged. "the bull."
"That's wonderful!" Said Tohru happily, not thinking of not trusting her. "I'm one too, I mean, I don't turn into one but my name's Tohru Honda and I'm so pleased to meet you!"
Arianna smiled and shook hands with Tohru. "Yes! I knew I liked you for some reason! What do you turn into, Tohru?"
"Me?" She blushed. "Um, I don't. I'm not part of the Chinese Zodiac."
Arianna blinked in surprise. "Really? You let others know about you?" She said, addressing Haru then smiled. "You're that boy I saw! I'm afraid we started off on the wrong hoof!" She giggled. "Get it? Hooves?" When he didn't respond, she blushed in embarrassment.
"Yeah, that's not very funny is it? Well, I'm sorry if I frightened you before."
Kyo broke into laughter. "Ha! You ran away from a girl?"
Arianna frowned. "I'm going to give you reason to run if you don't explain why you were spying on me."
It was Kyo's turn to blush. "Hey it wasn't my fault! Besides I didn't see you anyway." He paused and snapped back at her. "I wouldn't have if you weren't at our school! What kind of idiot are you anyway? If you're family's so careful why were you walking around like that? You must have bumped into someone!"
"Kyo, don't be so mean!" Momiji scolded him. Yuki was about to reprimand him too when she started crying.
"It's true! I did!" She said, burying her face in her hands. They all froze again. Had she killed someone?
"Did you..." Yuki trailed off. She shook her head violently.
"I don't know anyone who'd dare!" She sobbed loudly, leaning against a tree. "I don't know what I did to make him so angry with me!"
"It might make you feel better to talk about it." Tohru offered gently.
Arianna sniffed. "I suppose that's true, and I suppose I could trust another Taurus but you have to promise you won't tell anyone!" She paused and rubbed her eyes again. "I wouldn't talk about it but I can't tell anyone in my family. It's not safe to." She took a deep breath and continued. "You see, I really like someone and I thought he might have at least liked me a little, even as a friend but he's so different now and I don't understand it at all! He spoke to me so coldly." She shivered.
Tohru smiled. "You know, my mom once told me that people often have a funny way of expressing themselves and you never really know a person until you really get to know them. They act different ways to be liked or hide what they really feel. I bet there just was some misunderstanding and he was more confused than angry."
Tohru felt she understood the whole problem. Maybe Kumi had seen his cousin with Arianna's photograph and had misunderstood what it meant. No wonder he had acted upset!
At the same time, Arianna started to feel better. What she said made sense. It was almost as if Tohru knew Erik existed! Arianna didn't know Erik that well and maybe there was a reason behind his behavior. Of course there was! She had felt something wasn't right before and now she was sure of it. Erik couldn't really hate her, so much was against that being true! No, he was acting that way for some other reason. Perhaps there was hope!
Arianna smiled brightly at Tohru. "Thank you so much! I'm sure you must be right! I'll go talk to him right now!" She turned to leave.
"Wait!" Tohru called after her. "We just met!"
"Oh! It's okay! We'll have plenty of time to talk at the masquerade!" She called back.
"Masquerade? What masquerade?" Asked Haru, perplexed.
"Oh? Didn't you hear? No, of course you haven't. You're gracious leader has invited my family to a masquerade at his home."
"Akito invited your family to a masquerade?" Asked Yuki in disbelief.
Arianna nodded. "So I'll see you all soon and we'll be able to get to know each other properly!" She waved and ran off, leaving the Sohmas and Tohru bewildered.
"That's not like Akito." Thought Yuki, aloud.
"Oh! But I'm sure you'll have lots of fun!" Exclaimed Tohru, positively.
"I still don't get it." Kyo protested. "What the hell just happened?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Said Tohru cheerfully, walking with them towards Shigure's house. "That's the girl Kuri Kumi had a picture of!"
"Oh yeah! I remember!" Chimed in Momiji.
Tohru nodded. "Well, anyway, he must have found out that the boy we saw yesterday also had a picture of her and maybe he thought she didn't love him anymore. So he got mad at her and she was so upset because she didn't know why he was angry so she transformed and didn't think of getting discovered."
Although Tohru explained it simply, it still left the others in circles.
"So what did Yuki do to piss her off?" Asked Kyo.
"Oh, well that boy who saw us yesterday sort of looks like Yuki so she must have thought it was him." Tohru explained. But why was she afraid of that other boy? Perhaps he really did want to hurt Kumi and Arianna.
She explained it all so simply, unaware that she couldn't have been further from the truth.
"Huh?" Tohru blinked and looked about in confusion. "Oh, I'm so sorry Arisa! I had no right to ignore you like that! I was just thinking..."
"Something's worrying you." Said Hana, knowingly.
"Yeah, you have been pretty distracted lately." Arisa mused. "You're not in any trouble are you?"
"No! No, of course not!" Insisted Tohru. "I've just had a lot on my mind, that's all!"
"Uh huh, really?" Probed Arisa, suspiciously. Tohru started to feel a bit nervous. She didn't want her friends to worry about her. It wasn't that anything bad had happened it was just that she was worried about her friend, Kumi. Was he in danger? She was happy that Yuki and Kyo would have a chance to meet another zodiac but why was that mysterious boy they had met looking for Kumi? She had asked him about it but his assurance that everything was all right didn't make sense. She tried to remember their conversation a day or two ago.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tohru was moping the floor, lost in thought. She was frightened as a hand touched her shoulder.
"Woah! It's okay Tohru, it's just me!" Said the smiling Kumi, apologetically. He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. "Penny for your thoughts?"
Tohru blushed nervously, her hands wringing the handle of the mop. Should she tell him? She got distracted as she noticed something around Kumi's wrist: a chestnut braid.
"Kumi, why did you cut off your braid?" She asked. He raised his eyebrows and then smiled as he pulled his right hand out of his pocket.
"Oh, this?" He said softly, gently touching the braided bracelet. "This isn't a lock of my hair. My girlfriend gave it to me, to show how much she loves me." Even if she doesn't realize it, he had thought to himself. "I usually clip it to my hair but today I felt like wearing it on my wrist. Which do you prefer?"
"Oh, I thought it looked nice in your hair." Tohru said shyly. "But of course, you could wear it whatever way you like!" He nodded and undid the clasp, starting to adjust it to his hair.
"You're really lucky." Tohru said softly. "To have someone who cares so much about you." She bit her lip. That boy had had a picture of Kumi's girlfriend. Maybe she should mention him.
"Kumi, do you have any friends here?" She asked, gathering her courage.
"Why do you ask?" He queried sweetly. His smile gave her encouragement and she continued.
"It's just that I think I might have met someone who knows you."
She remembered that he had stiffened but looked at her with interest. "Oh really? What was his name?"
"Um, I can't remember." Tohru said, apologetically. "He didn't really say he knew you but he mentioned he was looking for someone and I noticed he had a picture of you." She hesitated telling him that the picture had been scratched and torn. "He was thin and had dark hair."
Kumi thought a moment before responding. "That sounds like one of my cousins."
Tohru's heart skipped a beat. His cousin! That meant they were related and that might mean that maybe Kumi was part of the other zodiac! She blurted out her question but regretted it instantly. She suddenly remembered that there were some members of the Sohma family that didn't know about the curse.
He looked at her in surprise. "You know about the zodiac?" He had felt excited. To think, all this time his link to the other zodiac was right under his nose! He pressed her and she admitted that the person she met had transformed but she neglected to tell what he turned into. When he admitted that he was part of the zodiac, he invited her out for coffee and she had told him all about the Sohmas. This was wonderful! She had thought. They had talked all about each other's families and Tohru had no idea that she had given him what he had been searching for. He regretted not having found them first but he might still have a chance!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everything had seemed alright but she was still worried. He had seemed glad to know that his family was looking for him but what if he didn't know that his cousin might be after him? Perhaps he did know and didn't want to worry her.
"Hey, look who's here!" Exclaimed Arisa, pointing down the hallways. Walking towards them were Kyo, Yuki, Haru, and Momiji. Momiji smiled and had opened his mouth to greet them when Hana spoke, causing them to halt dead in their tracks.
"A cow." She said quietly. Everyone stood frozen. "Over there." She pointed outside to where a large group of students were huddling together. Curious, they all went outside to see what was going on.
"Well, would you look at that." Said Arisa, smiling. "Must be some prank or something." She was referring to the fact that in the center of the group was a cow, a bull to be more precise, lying on the ground and chewing grass slowly. Some boys started laughing and crumpling up some paper started throwing the makeshift balls at it.
"Please. Don't do that." Said Tohru meekly, slowly walking towards the poor animal. To her surprise, she felt a hand grab her arm and quickly pulled her away.
Some other students started laughing and joining in but everybody stopped when Yuki spoke, cause after all, he was Prince Yuki, the most popular boy in their school!
"Stop it." He said, almost inaudibly. He started backing away slowly.
"What's the matter, Yuki?" Asked one boy, shaping a ball of paper. "We're just having fun!"
"Yes," said Hana, calmly but dangerously. "I'm sure it will be great fun once you anger that bull and it gores you to a slow and painful death with it's long, sharp horns."
There was silence. Mainly this was because everyone had fled, screaming for their lives so that when the dust cleared and papers settled to the ground, only Tohru, Hana, Arisa, Kyo, Momiji, Yuki, and Haru...and the bull were left.
"That's strange." Haru murmured. "It should have chased after them."
"All the same I think we should back away slowly." Advised Yuki.
"Maybe it's hurt." Tohru said sympathetically. She took another step towards it in concern and again she was pulled away.
"Damn it! Don't you listen? It could kill you!" Kyo scolded.
"But it's crying." She pointed out and indeed, the fur around the eyes was wet.
"I'd better call an animal shelter, they'll know what to do." Yuki said decisively.
"Well, I have to get to work." Said Arisa. "I wouldn't but my boss will fire me if I'm late again."
"I too have pressing engagements to attend to." Whispered Hana.
"I guess that means it's up to you guys to make sure nothing happens to Tohru." Said Aria, matter-of-factly.
"Because you know," Hana whispered with the same dangerous insinuation. "That if you ever failed in your responsibility, I would have to do something very extreme."
After seeing that she had succeeded in creeping everyone out except Momiji and Tohru, she gave them an insipid smile and backed away with Arisa. There seemed no need to really, because the bull obviously wasn't interested in them. The remaining group had cautiously moved a safe distance away from the beast and Yuki was just about to call an animal shelter when Hatsuharu stopped his hand.
"Wait. Look." He whispered pointing to the bull. The bull had looked around and gotten up. It stopped at a bush and buried it's head in it for a moment. When it resurfaced, they could see that something was hanging from it's horns: Clothes.
"Do you think..." Yuki trailed off but it wasn't necessary for him to say what he thought for they all shared this thought. A member of the other zodiac!
"Why don't you go and ask it." Mumbled Kyo. Everyone turned to look at him. "What!" He spat in defense and pointed at Hatsuharu. "He's a cow too, isn't he?"
"I don't know..." Started Yuki but Haru cut him off.
"Alright. I'll do it." He cast a mischievous sideways glance at Tohru, then before Kyo or Yuki could stop him he embraced her and transformed. Momiji clapped his hands excitedly.
"Cool! This is like 'bring your pet to school' day only more fun!"
Tohru managed a smile at Momiji and turned to watch interestedly as Haru pursued the bull. As they wandered out of sight, the others decided it was safe to follow. They went as far as the wooded area on the way to Shigure's house, then stopped once more as the two cows disappeared into the woods. A few moments later Haru emerged and stood beside them.
"It's okay, you can go." He said.
Kyo marched forward but Haru stood in front of Yuki, Tohru, and Momiji allowing Kyo to enter the woods by himself. Tohru was just about to question Haru when they heard a sound that was familiar to them all followed by two screams; one was a girl's. Seconds later, Kyo came running out of the woods heading at full speed at Hatsuharu. Despite Haru still being in oxen form, Kyo kicked him and started screaming obscenities at him. The rest of them wondered what was wrong when they saw a girl emerge from behind the trees.
Tohru's breath caught in her throat. She recognized the girl with the large brown eyes and chestnut curls. The girl in the photograph. She would have been happy to see Kumi's girlfriend if it hadn't been for one thing: she was holding a gun and pointing it at them!
"Come here!" She demanded, her eyes bright with anger and tears. "All of you now!"
Rather than cause her to do something unnecessary, they obeyed and followed her deeper into the woods. Tohru held Momiji's hand tightly. What was she going to do with them? All the while the girl had her eyes fixed on Kyo. When they finally stopped she looked at the rest of them. Her angered faced became mixed with confusion at seeing the ox and then melted into sadness at seeing Momiji and Tohru.
"I'm really sorry." She said shakily. "But you've seen too much." She looked helplessly at Momiji again. "Look, maybe if you promise you won't tell anyone what you saw..." She trailed off as her eyes fell upon Yuki. To all of their amazement, a look of fear filled her eyes and she tossed the gun straight at Yuki's head! Yuki ducked in time and the girl turned and fled.
Tohru wasn't sure why but she found herself chasing after her. Why was she afraid of Yuki? He was so nice to everyone. Although Tohru herself wasn't a very fast runner she caught up with the girl in a few minutes. The girl had fallen down and was breathing heavily though if it were from fear or exhaustion, Tohru wasn't sure. The girl turned and backed away from Tohru.
"Please, go away." She pleaded, despairingly. "Leave me alone."
"Why? What's the matter?" Tohru asked gently. Just then, the Sohma's emerged from the trees. Desperately, the girl grabbed a rock and held it over her head preparing to heave it at Yuki but she dropped it as he stepped into the light.
"Oh my God." She whispered in between breaths. "I'm so sorry! I-I thought you were someone else! Oh no! I didn't hurt you did I?"
Yuki blinked, completely confused at her behavior. "No."
Despite the situation, Kyo didn't forget to mutter his displeasure at Yuki not getting knocked unconscious. After that an awkward silence fell upon them. What were they to say to someone who might have killed them? Just then, Haru transformed back into himself. Both Tohru and the girl covered their eyes, the former dropping Haru's clothes for him to retrieve. He let them know when he was dressed and the girl stared at them in shock.
"You're from the zodiac?!?! Wow, now I really must apologize!" She held out her hand when Momiji blurted out: "Were you really going to kill us?"
They all stiffened and she lowered her arm helplessly.
"Well, I'm expected to. But I can't think of killing anyone. But at the same time we can't have our secret be known can we?" She looked at them at hopefully but her face fell as they stared at her in shock. Did the other zodiac really murder those who knew too much? And to think, Tohru had sometimes worried about her memory getting erased!
"You don't understand, do you?" She asked nervously.
"Nope!" Offered Momiji. "We erase their memories."
A smile lit up her face. "That's wonderful!" She said excitedly and stood up, taking a step towards them. They backed away and she started shaking her head.
"Oh no! Please don't think of us that way! It's just that we can't do that so we have no choice. However, my family's really peaceful so we do our best to be very careful and not let anyone see us. It's been a few generations since anyone has let themselves be seen though!" She concluded, attempting a smile. They relaxed a little.
"So, what's your name?" Tohru said, braving a step towards her. The girl hastily wiped her eyes.
"My name is Arianna Primavera. I'm the sign of the Taurus," she shrugged. "the bull."
"That's wonderful!" Said Tohru happily, not thinking of not trusting her. "I'm one too, I mean, I don't turn into one but my name's Tohru Honda and I'm so pleased to meet you!"
Arianna smiled and shook hands with Tohru. "Yes! I knew I liked you for some reason! What do you turn into, Tohru?"
"Me?" She blushed. "Um, I don't. I'm not part of the Chinese Zodiac."
Arianna blinked in surprise. "Really? You let others know about you?" She said, addressing Haru then smiled. "You're that boy I saw! I'm afraid we started off on the wrong hoof!" She giggled. "Get it? Hooves?" When he didn't respond, she blushed in embarrassment.
"Yeah, that's not very funny is it? Well, I'm sorry if I frightened you before."
Kyo broke into laughter. "Ha! You ran away from a girl?"
Arianna frowned. "I'm going to give you reason to run if you don't explain why you were spying on me."
It was Kyo's turn to blush. "Hey it wasn't my fault! Besides I didn't see you anyway." He paused and snapped back at her. "I wouldn't have if you weren't at our school! What kind of idiot are you anyway? If you're family's so careful why were you walking around like that? You must have bumped into someone!"
"Kyo, don't be so mean!" Momiji scolded him. Yuki was about to reprimand him too when she started crying.
"It's true! I did!" She said, burying her face in her hands. They all froze again. Had she killed someone?
"Did you..." Yuki trailed off. She shook her head violently.
"I don't know anyone who'd dare!" She sobbed loudly, leaning against a tree. "I don't know what I did to make him so angry with me!"
"It might make you feel better to talk about it." Tohru offered gently.
Arianna sniffed. "I suppose that's true, and I suppose I could trust another Taurus but you have to promise you won't tell anyone!" She paused and rubbed her eyes again. "I wouldn't talk about it but I can't tell anyone in my family. It's not safe to." She took a deep breath and continued. "You see, I really like someone and I thought he might have at least liked me a little, even as a friend but he's so different now and I don't understand it at all! He spoke to me so coldly." She shivered.
Tohru smiled. "You know, my mom once told me that people often have a funny way of expressing themselves and you never really know a person until you really get to know them. They act different ways to be liked or hide what they really feel. I bet there just was some misunderstanding and he was more confused than angry."
Tohru felt she understood the whole problem. Maybe Kumi had seen his cousin with Arianna's photograph and had misunderstood what it meant. No wonder he had acted upset!
At the same time, Arianna started to feel better. What she said made sense. It was almost as if Tohru knew Erik existed! Arianna didn't know Erik that well and maybe there was a reason behind his behavior. Of course there was! She had felt something wasn't right before and now she was sure of it. Erik couldn't really hate her, so much was against that being true! No, he was acting that way for some other reason. Perhaps there was hope!
Arianna smiled brightly at Tohru. "Thank you so much! I'm sure you must be right! I'll go talk to him right now!" She turned to leave.
"Wait!" Tohru called after her. "We just met!"
"Oh! It's okay! We'll have plenty of time to talk at the masquerade!" She called back.
"Masquerade? What masquerade?" Asked Haru, perplexed.
"Oh? Didn't you hear? No, of course you haven't. You're gracious leader has invited my family to a masquerade at his home."
"Akito invited your family to a masquerade?" Asked Yuki in disbelief.
Arianna nodded. "So I'll see you all soon and we'll be able to get to know each other properly!" She waved and ran off, leaving the Sohmas and Tohru bewildered.
"That's not like Akito." Thought Yuki, aloud.
"Oh! But I'm sure you'll have lots of fun!" Exclaimed Tohru, positively.
"I still don't get it." Kyo protested. "What the hell just happened?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Said Tohru cheerfully, walking with them towards Shigure's house. "That's the girl Kuri Kumi had a picture of!"
"Oh yeah! I remember!" Chimed in Momiji.
Tohru nodded. "Well, anyway, he must have found out that the boy we saw yesterday also had a picture of her and maybe he thought she didn't love him anymore. So he got mad at her and she was so upset because she didn't know why he was angry so she transformed and didn't think of getting discovered."
Although Tohru explained it simply, it still left the others in circles.
"So what did Yuki do to piss her off?" Asked Kyo.
"Oh, well that boy who saw us yesterday sort of looks like Yuki so she must have thought it was him." Tohru explained. But why was she afraid of that other boy? Perhaps he really did want to hurt Kumi and Arianna.
She explained it all so simply, unaware that she couldn't have been further from the truth.