[[Disclaimer: As much as I would love to, I do not own Fruits Basket. I do however own the American line.]]
Chapter 4: Like Puss in Boots
Kat flew back and hit the wall with a rather painful sounding thud, then fell to the ground on her side. She made no move to stand; actually, she made no movements at all, except for her breathing. Tohru felt that at least that was a good sign. Every ounce of her wanted to run over to the blond and find out if she was okay. And yet the silence, the stillness in the room had her frozen as well. So this is Daniel's twin sister… How could he say something like that to her? Is she even conscious? Isn't someone going to help her? Why am I standing here like this?
"That kick would have landed had you not interfered." Caitlin's voice was incredibly soft and somewhat… disappointed. There was no anger to it, no frustration at her brother, just an overwhelming sense of defeat as she turned her now dull eyes up towards him.
"How can you even say something like that? You're pathetic." Daniel did not seem to be in the mood to be any kinder to his own flesh and blood. "What is wrong with you? Can you not even TRY to act like a human being for once in your damned life? Are you too good to try to talk your way out of problems? Why is it that you always ALWAYS resort to violence? Don't you care that you are damaging the reputation of the rest of your family… of OUR father?" Her only response was slowly closing her eyes. "Don't you dare ignore me Katie!"
"I wasn't. I don't suppose saying that it wasn't my fault would help?" That was not quite the truth; the fight with Yuki did have a little to do with her… but the whole thing with Haru and Kagura… they were the ones who pick the fight that time. I tried so hard to stay out of the way… and this was why. Because I knew, nothing good could ever come of it.
"Isn't that always the way of it… it's NEVER your fault. You are so quick to blame everyone else if it gets you out of trouble. Now get up and ask for the forgiveness of these good people and MAYBE I can convince father not to send you home." Kat pushed herself up with one arm and winced at the pain of a few bruised ribs.
"But Daniel…" Her voice was almost a whimper as she held her side. "I really didn't start the fight with those two." She looked over to where Haru was helping Kagura to her feet. For a moment, it seemed as if Dani was considering what she had to say; but that was quickly seen as a misconception as he grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and hauled her to her feet. She made a small sound of pain that bleed into a growl as a ferocious look passed behind her eyes. "Don't do this Dani; I am not in the mood to fight you right now." In seconds, her appearance had changed from a wounded victim to a caged animal. Now there was anger, now there was frustration, and now there was a challenge. But Daniel just took a step back and slapped her across the face.
"I think, not in the condition to fight me would be a better way of putting it." He said slowly. "But then again I do owe you for the night of the concert." He raised his hand again and she just stared at him.
"Hey, knock it off! Leave her alone!" Kyou yelled. He was startled even by his own voice. Daniel turned to face Kyou and let go of Caitlin's shirt, she in turn slumped back against the wall and slid to the ground.
"Look, this is none of your business. So stay out of it." He snapped.
"No you stay out of it. She's obviously hurt and I swear if you so much as touch her again before she is well enough to fight back fairly, I'll kick your ass myself." Kyou glared at him.
"You stupid cat, you couldn't win in a fight against a manikin; let alone someone of Daniel's skills. So I think you should take his advice and keep your mouth shut, before I shut it for you." Yuki added.
"Go to hell you damn rat, both of you. I'll take you both on." Kyou took up a fighting stance and prepared to lunge at Yuki.
"That's enough!" Kazuma had finally spoken, in truth some of the teens had forgotten he was even there, but two words were enough to quiet the masses. He walked over and held out his hand to Kat, giving her that same smile that had caused her to agree to their match in the first place. A smile that, now she realized said, "Don't be afraid. I won't turn you away." And yet all she could do was stare up into his eyes, a look of sad confusion in her own. "Please allow me to explain." He continued with out taking his eyes off her. "Miss Kat agreed to spar with me merely to test her skill. There was no danger to either one of us." At that, he glanced at Haru and Kagura where they stood now with Yuki and Tohru. "My students must have been worried that she was a threat to me, after all she is a new face here at Souma House. So, as any good student would, they tried to come to my rescue."
"So wait, she wasn't attacking you?" Kagura sounded surprised. Kazuma just shook his head and edged his hand out a little further towards Caitlin. Hesitantly, almost fearfully, she reached out and took it; letting Kazuma gently help her to her feet. Nervously glancing at her brother, she then turned to the others.
"I'm sorry for the confusion. I'm Caitlin, as I'm sure you already figured out. I'm Dani's twin sister." Kazuma held her arm carefully to help keep her upright, but it was Daniel he spoke to.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier young man, I'm Kazuma Souma. I teach martial arts her at Souma House."
Daniel was probably more surprised than any of them. He was ALWAYS right about his sister, she never did anything but get into trouble. And now here were people standing up for her. It was no surprise to him that the Cat would take her side, Kyou seemed ready to do anything that would put him on the opposite side of the line that Yuki was on. Anything to make the rats mad, but did he have any idea who he was standing up for? Had he somehow figured it out? Dani doubted it, but Kazuma on the other hand, now he seemed to know more than he was letting on. "Very well, in that case I will not ask you to apologize." Dani said with a stone cold face to his sister. She nodded,
"Alright then. I'll let you be now Dani, I never meant to come between you and your new friends." With that, she let go of Kazuma's arm and moved slowly towards the door. For a moment it seemed as if no one would stop her, but true to the riceball's nature Tohru ran forward.
"Wait, Miss Caitlin." She placed a hand on the blonds shoulder. "You can stay too, you can be our friend." She smiled. Kat turned curious eyes towards her.
"That's alright. I never planned to meet any of you. As Dani pointed out, I tend to be nothing but trouble… so it's easier, in important situations like this, for me to stay out of everyone's way."
Daniel sighed, "Look Katie, I'm sorry okay. Now you can stop being a child and make friends with the other Soumas, they are your family too after all. I'm not going to stop you." Kat glanced over her shoulder at her mirror.
"You never stopped me before. I was the one who chose this life, not you." She offered a small smile.
"Katie… I thought we talked about this. You need to make friends."
"No I don't. Everything is easier and better with out them." She winked in an attempt to be amusing. "After all, then the only people I have to worry about letting down are the ones in our family… and they're big enough." She took another step but Tohru stopped her again.
"But everyone needs a friend." Tohru's soft brown eyes met Kat's dull blue ones and they stayed that way for a moment.
"You're Tohru Honda aren't you?" Kat said with a faint smile. The riceball looked surprised.
"Uh- um- well yes, I am. But I have already promised not to tell anyone your family's secret." It sounded rehearsed; which by this time it really was. Kat's smile widened a little bit.
"You really are a good person." She slipped her arm out of Tohru's grip and stopped at the door to put her shoes back on, leaving Tohru to ponder the strange crypticness of the remark.
"Caitlin." Daniel took a few steps towards his sister. "Why do you act like this?" He seemed somewhat desperate. "You've been asked to stay. Why hurt Miss. Honda's feelings?" Kat took a long moment to look at him before shaking her head and walking towards the door. Dani let out a growl of his own, so frustrated by his sister's behavior. "Katie! Caitlin! Damnit, sometimes I really think Marcus was right about you!" He yelled. That got her to stop, but only too look at him again. This time there was a very wounded look in her eyes.
"That hurt Dani, that really hurt." Turing, she walked out the door.
Tohru didn't know what to do, Haru and Kagura looked dazed and confused, Yuki and Dani were staring at each other in a silent conversation, and Kyou was looking at his Master as the elder Souma watched the girl leave. As the wave of a blond braid disappeared from sight Kazuma turned eyes to his most loved student, a young man he really was honored to call his son. What should I do? He could see the question is the orange-haired boy's eyes. Kazuma gave him a warm smile and nodded.
With Kazuma's unspoken reassurance, Kyou turned to glare at the two handsome young men that were the enemies of the Cat. "I really hate you damn Rat's more than anything in the world." And with that as his only comment, he stormed out the dojo's door.
"Kyou wait." Kagura went to run after him, Tohru took a step as well.
"Let him go." Kazuma said calmly. "I don't think he needs to be here right now. There is somewhere more important for him to be." The girls looked at him oddly.
"But Master Kazuma?" Kagura started.
"Trust me Kagura." He put a hand on her shoulder. "After all, I would think that after all my years of training you; I would know you all pretty well." That seemed to sate the boar, and she nodded along with Tohru. "Now then, may I invite you all into the living room for some tea?" Kazuma was making his way over to the kitchen. And though a little shocked from the current events, all the children followed.
Kyou ran down the path until he caught sight of the girl. She moved slowly, obviously still hurting from the impact her brothers foot made, but she was trying not to show it. There was something very familiar about her that Kyou couldn't place, he'd felt so ever since he saw her in the dojo fighting with Kagura and Haru. As he opened his mouth to call out to her, he stopped, realizing he had no idea what to say. He did not even know what the hell he was doing out here. It was not like him to sympathize with people, especially girls. But the fact that his Master seemed to like her, and the fact that the Rats seemed not to… It was enough for him to justify his actions, at least temporarily. "Hey, wait up, stop." He yelled as he started moving again; she didn't seem to notice. Kyou ran until he caught up with her and was now walking by her side. "What are you deaf or something?" He said in a sarcastically annoyed voice, his usual tone.
"Not in the slightest, I heard you perfectly well… I merely chose to ignore you." Her voice was perfectly calm, almost distant. Kyou was shocked for a moment. After he had went through all the trouble, be it only with his own subconscious, to come out here and make sure she was okay. SHE was ignoring HIM.
"Why the hell would you do a damn thing like that? What the hell did I ever do to you?" He shot back.
"Absolutely nothing," her voice never showed a single inflection. "And I was hoping to keep it that way. I never should have come here today."
"And why not, shit, cause your brother says so." Kyou was getting mad. It made him angry to see anyone this passive to a Rat.
"No, like I said before, I chose what I do. Not him."
"Then why leave?"
"Cause I didn't wanna stay?"
"And why ignore me?"
"Cause I had no reason to listen?"
"And why the hell not!?"
"Because I don't want any friends!?" She stopped and shouted back at him. They both seemed equally surprised by her outburst. But Kyou now had her staring at him and was strangely happy to note at least some change her in tone. Anger was something he himself was plenty familiar with, so he was okay in dealing with it from her.
"Fine, besides, I never said I wanted to be your friend. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay… you know, that nothing was broken or whatever. My Master likes you and for what reason I don't know… but that's the only reason I came out here." It sounded like a good enough reason to him, and since he had not yet come up with one of his own it worked well enough.
"In that case… yea, I'm fine. Nothing a warm bath and a little rest won't cure. If this is the worst injury I get while I'm here I'll be thankful." She looked away as she said it and Kyou could not help but think there was some sort of hidden meaning in her words. And yet as he stood there looking at the ground, and she stared off into the distance of Souma House, neither one started to move again. There was just a steadily growing silence that seemed to envelop them both, neither wanting to be the next to speak.
"So… why'd you stand up for me back there?" Kat finally asked softly, almost under her breath, as she shuffled a foot on the ground.
"Well… I… what I mean is..." Kyou stumbled over the question that he wasn't really sure how to answer. Come on you moron, you sound like an idiot. He mentally told himself. "I don't really know… I mean I just hate those damn rats so much." He finally spit out. Now THAT made me sound like an idiot. God I don't even know why I care. She's gonna laugh at me. But no laugh came, instead she merely nodded a little.
"I can understand that, you are after all the Cat from the Zodiac. It makes sense; I guess you could call it fate really." She replied still not looking at him, but Kyou was now looking at her. He had forgotten how obvious Yuki had made it, forgotten that his 'secret' was out. That's right… I'm the hated Cat… What will you do now? He wondered. Has she been trained to hate the Cat too? I heard Tohru and Kahlan talking the night of their concert… he said something about not being able to talk about it.
"Yea well. I am what I am, it's not like I chose to be the Cat." Kyou said smugly as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned to walk away. I should have known better, I should have known that even after I helped her she wouldn't bother with me.
"It's not really fair is it?" Caitlin had started talking again, and Kyou froze to listen. "I mean… the way the Cat's treated. Outcast from both family and society, never a chance to get ahead, because from the moment you're born you're marked." The orange-haired boy turned around to see that she was giving him a faint smile now.
"Because everyone knows that the Cat is the most cursed of all the members of the Zodiac. Your family, your friends, anyone who even associates with you has to deal with the same cruel judgment." He added. "And in the end they always blame you for it."
"As if you were able to change the fact that you were born cursed. As if it's your fault that everyone hates you."
"But they say they care, no matter what you are, that they still want to be your friend."
"They claim to love you, but really, to them it's only words. It's easy to say things like that when you can close your eyes and pretend you're talking about someone else.
Kyou nodded. "It's a real shitty deal if you ask me."
Caitlin returned the nod. "Yea, yea it is. And all the while, the only solace that you have is the fact that in the end, you can blame the rat. It was the Rat's fault then that you were outcast in the first place, and it's the Rat's fault now that you will never be more than a burden to your family."
The Cat sighed, "you know… You asked me why I stood up for you; but the truth is, I really don't know. It's just that I couldn't stand to watch that damn brother of yours beat you up so unfairly. Maybe it was just because he's the rat, and I really will do anything to pit myself against him for it." He shrugged. "But really I don't know… and my Master didn't send me out here. I did that all on my own too, but I don't know why I did that either." They stared at each other for a moment. "I was wondering though… Maybe my eyes were just seeing things, but it kind'a looked like you were standing up for me back there too."
Kat blinked and looked at the ground brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Yea well, we have to stick together right?" Kyou looked confused, no one ever said he was the most observant person around. Why would she want to stick up for him? Even after admitting at how anyone who helped that Cat would only suffer for it.
"Huh?" He raised an eyebrow. Kat gave him a strange look that bloomed into a smile.
"You really haven't guessed yet have you?" Kyou just kept looking at her. With an amused sigh, she held out her hand. "How bout we start over? A clean slate and new introductions. My name is Caitlin Sohma, but my family calls me Kat, except of course for my brother and father, they call me Katie. I'm the Cat from the Zodiac as well; you're twin star I guess you could say."
To Kyou the girl may as well have been speaking French, because no matter how his mind turned the words around, it still did not seem to register. He kept thinking of all the stories people used to say about the Cat and for some reason he could not see her fitting any of them. "What?" It was the only word his mouth could form. He kept thinking that maybe he heard her wrong, but deep down he knew he hadn't.
"I'm the Cat. Just like you." She seemed willing enough to humor him though.
"I… I don't understand." Kyou turned his gaze to the ground at the disappointed face she was wearing.
"I…" She never got to finish because her brother chose that moment to walk out of the dojo and call her name. Glancing back down the path, she knew that he was probably headed for the bend at that moment and would walk up to them soon. And really, she had no desire to see him right then. Kyou watched her as she waited for her brother and saw how conquered she looked.
"Come on. This way." He grabbed her by the wrist and tugged her off to the side. He was getting really tired of his own spontaneous actions, but at least he had a real excuse now. As she said, they had to stick up for each other, right? And yet, how could SHE be the Cat? The cat was supposed to be a failure, not good at anything. Not an honorable, talented, and amazing girl. Not only was she the lead singer of a popular band… but… He remembered her fight with Yuki, she was right; if her brother had not interfered, she would have hit the other rat. Kyou was not sure he would know what to do if he ever saw that damn Yuki fall to another, but now… knowing that other was the rat's fated enemy… She very well could have done something that Kyou himself had never been able to do, and yet he could not resent her for it. He realized, as he pulled her along behind the dojo and down a small dirt path, that here was someone who actually had a chance at understanding him. And yet, did he really want her too?
"Um… excuse me?" Her voice was soft, but she made no protest at being dragged along.
"What?" Kyou kept his tone surly; he had no intention of giving this fool girl the wrong impression. Cat or not, she was still just a girl.
"Where are we going?" Kyou stopped so suddenly that she bumped into him.
"Oh… um…." He let her go and rubbed the back of his head.
"It's okay really… I mean, I appreciate the help and all. Was it that obvious that I didn't want to see Dani?"
"Yes, and I didn't wanna see him either. That damn Yuki was probably with him." Kyou sighed, "And I thought I had it bad with one rat."
"Yea, I think two is definitely two too many." She smiled. Kyou turned to her and nodded, finding him-self smiling slightly as well. She really does have a nice smile, he mused. The kind that says she's someone who isn't afraid of anything. I see why Master likes her.
"You know, and I don't wanna seem rude, but I don't know your name." She was still smiling, obviously a little amused by his slight nervousness.
"Oh… uh… well… I'm Kyou, Kyou Souma."
"Well then Kyou, it's a pleasure to meet you." She reached down and took his hand in hers giving it a friendly shake before letting go.
"You too Kat, it is Kat right?"
"Yea. It used to be Kitten when I was younger. But then I grew up, and according to my relatives turned into a "vicious little cat," so the name stuck."
"I can see that. And since you are the cat, it makes sense too I guess."
She nodded, "yea, I guess it does." Stuffing her hands back into her pockets, she looked around. "So where was it that we were going?"
"Oh… um… just some place I used to go to hide out when I was younger. If that's okay… I mean how are you for a short climb, I can help if you need it." Why am I being so nice to her? This isn't like me at all.
"I think I can manage." She said with a smile. "So, lead the way." She gestured with her arm.
Kyou started walking again, this time slower and at a more relaxed pace. After a few minutes, the path ended at the edge of the backyard of a small house, up on a hill, secluded from everything. "This way." He walked over to a tree that bordered the side and started to climb it, half way up he glanced back down to make sure the other Cat was making out okay. And although a little slow in her movements, she seemed to be managing. He gave her a hand with the jump from tree to roof, and soon they were sitting by the chimney looking out over the Main House.
"Won't the owners get mad?" Kat glanced over at him.
"Nope, no one lives her anymore. It used to be a mom and her kid, but then the mother died and the kid went to live with someone else. Since then, the place has remained empty." Kyou did not look over, but he did not really need to. He saw her nod from the corner of his eye, then she too let her gaze wander out over the complex.
"You're Master's a nice guy." Caitlin commented.
"Yea. Master is the best there is. He and I have always been really close, when everyone else turned away from me because of what I was, Master stayed by my side. We'll be looking at the world from a higher place, he used to say. I never understood that when I was little. I always thought he meant that the dojo was really high up… but now, I see what he was really saying." Kyou had developed a genuine smile, the kind he only had when he was talking about his Master.
"It takes a lot to be able to see people for who, not what, they truly are. He gets my respect for that." She sighed, "now that I think about it. I have a feeling he knew what I was the whole time, and that only made him try harder to who I was."
"What that you were the Cat? Yea that sounds like Master all right. He's the smartest man I've ever met, and the greatest fighter. I bet he could wipe the floor with those Rats." Kat laughed in response.
"Oh god and how would I love to see that. Dani always needs to be taken down a few notches, and from the looks of it… that Yuki does too."
"That damn Yuki." Kyou punched his own fist. "I swear one day I'm gonna beat him."
"Of course you will." Her answer was so simple that Kyou couldn't help but just stare at her.
"Really? How do you know?" She seemed so sure of it; Kyou's feline curiosity got the better of him.
"Because we're destined to beat the Rat. At least I think we are. I've beaten my brother before. You'll see Kyou, I know it sounds repetitive, but the more you train the better you'll get. And one day Yuki will stop training and eventually you'll get better than him."
"Yea, you're right." Kyou nodded. "You almost took him down, you know?"
"Yea, but Dani got in the way. He always does that. Not that it surprises me… I guess the rats need to stick together too."
"But… I mean… I've never seen anyone get even as far as you did. How did you get so good?"
"Practice." She shrugged. "I guess… I've studied three different kinds of martial arts, the same three as my brother, I've also been doing dance and gymnastics since I was a little girl. Once I realized that no conventional means were going to defeat Dani… I started mixing styles. Then I added aspects from the gymnastics and dance. And once I was done I had a style all my own that was so unpredictable that I even could catch Dani off guard." This time it was Kat who was smiling. "You know… if there is one thing I've figured out it's that the rat is no better than the cat. We just have to work harder at it. But I think we're better off for that in the end, don't you? Doesn't that mean that when we do win, we'll appreciate it more? Cause we'll know that no matter how naturally their talents come… we worked for this."
Kyou was left thoughtful; no one had ever put it like that before. Then again, no one had ever even dreamed that the Cat was equal to the Rat, not even him. It was common knowledge in the Souma family. The Rat was the best at everything, and the Cat was nothing more than a monster. A monster… Kyou reflexively glanced at his new friend's wrist, to look for an almost too familiar string of beads. When he saw that both of her wrists were empty, he couldn't help but look confused. "Where are your beads?" He knew it was random, but it didn't make sense. Is there another charm for the American line? He started looking for other jewelry.
"My what?"
"You're beads…" He was still looking at her. "Is there some other thing you use?" Finally, he looked up and met her confused and humored eyes.
"What are you talking about Kyou?" She was smiling.
"You're—" He paused and held up his own wrist. "Beads…"
"They're very nice Kyou… I like the white and black look, it suits you."
She is humoring me again; does she really have no idea what I'm talking about? "No, that's not it." He threw up his arms in a show of frustration. "Theses beads have been passed down through the history of the family. The Cat always wears them, I've had them for as long as I can remember."
"Well that explains why I don't have them; I don't think the ancestors planned for two Cats."
Kyou fought the urge to throttle the girl. "Alright… so let's take it from here instead." He sighed. "The cats, we, have two forms… right?" He looked at her quite seriously.
"Yes, that's correct." She on the other hand had developed a much more defensive appearance.
"Well these beads are magical or something I guess, I never asked how they worked, but they keep me from transforming into the Zodiac Cat's true form." He received a blink in response, followed by confusion.
"Wow. Now that must be great."
"So you don't have something like that?" Kyou tilted his head to the side.
"No, no I don't. I never did."
"So then how do you do it? Or do you only have the one form?"
"I have both of them, but it's up to me to control which form I change into. It took a long time for me to lean to keep the Cat locked up. And sometimes, there really is nothing I can do."
"So you can control it then?" She nodded. "How?" Kyou leaned forward. "Please tell me, teach me."
Kat sighed this time, "I don't know. I mean it's like controlling anything your body does. You just will it not to happen. As long as I don't get hugged by a boy I'm usually okay. And even then as long as my emotional state is relatively calm I can handle it. But with my… lack… of interaction with people, it isn't often a problem." She almost stopped there, but Kyou looked so… desperate… to figure this out that she could not. "It's anger, pain, hate…. Things like that that can bring the Cat out in it's true form. So unless someone really tries to make me mad, they don't need to worry about it."
"Has that ever happened?" Kyou shifted a little so he didn't have to strain his head to look at her.
"What? Me changing into the Cat? Yea, it's happened, but never in front of anyone outside the family. When I was younger, my brother could do it. He could make me angry enough that I would loose control. But as I got older I learned in many ways that what he used to say that made me mad, wasn't really true. That helped, and my Dad. My father was always there for me, telling me that I shouldn't listen to what my brother said… that he was only trying to make me upset. So I got better at keeping the Cat at bay and after a particularly violent encounter with it, my brother stopped pestering me. It worked out okay in the end."
"So it was that damn rat that did it." Kyou growled. "I hate rats." He was rewarded with a smile and a laugh from his companion.
"Yea for the most part, there were only a few others that could bring out the Cat, and that was rare, and usually on purpose."
"Who were they?" Kyou didn't hesitate to ask. There was a long pause, as she seemed to contemplate answering him.
"Well, just Marcus for the most part." Kat had grown quieter.
"That's the second time today that I've heard that name… Who is he?"
Kat sighed and turned away to lean back against the roof. "Marcus Sohma was the last true head of the family."
Daniel glanced out the door of the dojo again; it was probably the hundredth time he'd done the same thing. "Are you really worried about your sister?" Haru said quietly as he glanced down at his nails in a bored fashion, he had gone back to White Haru after the fight with Kat had ended.
"Not so much my sister, as anyone who happens to run into her while she's this pissed off." Dani commented with out looking at him.
"She didn't seem that angry to me." Kagura added in.
"Yes, I must say, if that is angry for her I would love to see calm. It must be ten times better than that stupid cat. He's always yelling, screaming, and threatening to kick my ass." Yuki took a sip of tea.
"Well Katie is more like that when she's just around the family, but not around people. When she's around strangers she tends to be really quiet until they piss her off, then she blows up." Dani made a hand gesture to amplify his point.
"She just seems very sad to me." Tohru added.
"Don't waste your time worrying about my way ward sister Miss. Honda." Daniel offered her a charming smile. "Someone as sweet and kind as you would be trampled all over by Katie's harsh words." Tohru colored a little at the smile he was giving her.
"Well, maybe, but still… I would like to be her friend. Maybe next time I see her we can talk."
Dani shook his head but still smiled, "ah Miss Honda. I do hope the Souma's appreciate how wonderful you are." He reached out and took her hand. "You are a very special young woman."
Yuki inched himself closer to Tohru. "I can assure you Daniel, that we are very appreciative of her."
Kazuma smiled at Yuki's showing of jealousy. He wondered if the poor girl realized just how much Yuki cared for her.
"Well that's good." Daniel said as he let go of Tohru and looked back out the door, for the one hundred and first time.
"May I ask you a question Daniel?" Kazuma lifted the tea cup to his lips and watched the blond over the rim.
"Of course Mr. Kazuma. What can I do for you?" It seemed to distract him from the door for a moment.
"You seemed to truly upset Ms. Kat when you mentioned a man named Marcus. Why did that bother her so much?"
"Well," Dani folded his hands in his lap. "Marcus was the old head of the family. Or maybe I should say the real Head; you know the one who was cursed to die and all that. Well that's where he is now, he died six years ago and my father took over."
"I see," Kazuma set the cup down as an indication for the boy to continue.
"Katie and Marcus didn't get along too well… actually they didn't get along at all. Marcus wanted Katie dead from the moment she was born, but our parents wouldn't hear a bit of it and protected her."
"That's so horrible," Tohru cut in. "Now wonder she's so sad. But why would he want her dead?" Tohru looked appalled.
"Well Miss Honda that would be on account of the fact that my sister is the Cat." Daniel watched the faces of his new friends as suddenly many things made more sense.
"That explains a lot." Yuki added, "I had wondered why she would defend that stupid Kyou. I suppose that was also why he defended her, but how did he find out." Yuki mused to himself more than anyone else.
"Somehow I do not think my student was any more aware that Kat was the Cat from the Zodiac than any of you were." Kazuma took another sip from his tea. "But let us not interrupt young Daniel. Please do continue your story."
Dani shrugged, "there's not much more to it. When Marcus realized that he couldn't have Katie dead, he just decided to make her life as miserable as possible. So that's pretty much it. Our father is in charge now and he won't let anyone treat Katie any differently because she's the Cat. I guess you could say she's been accepted into the family, sort of. Most of the other members of the Zodiac don't really care; I mean the all liked her in the first place, so nothing really changed." He looked back out the door… number one hundred and two. Tohru smiled,
"I have an idea Daniel. How about we all help you find your sister."
"And Kyou." Kagura added, now she looked a little more worried than before. Tohru nodded,
"yes and Kyou."
"You really wouldn't mind?" Dani smiled.
"Of course not, I would be more than happy to help." Tohru jumped to her feet. "Let's go." She punched a fist into the air to show her determination. Daniel stood and bowed to her.
"You have my thanks Miss Honda. May I be so blessed someday as to have someone as wonderful as you." He shot a glance at Yuki and smiled, Yuki glared back.
After a few moments of planning, the group separated. Haru mentioned that he and Kagura were expected back at her mother's house soon, but that they could look on the way. Yuki, who had originally planned to go with Tohru, was convinced to go with Dani… since, as the riceball pointed out, she wasn't so sure that the Cat's would come out of hiding for the Rat. And when she smiled at him and squeezed his hand, he had no choice but to comply. Kazuma had pointed out that he would stay at the dojo incase they returned. And with all said and done, they all went their separate ways.
"So you had a hard time with this Marcus guy?" Kyou leaned back and relaxed as well.
"You could say that, really, from what I've heard he was a lot like your Akito." Caitlin replied.
"He's not MY Akito. He may be the Head of the Family, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it." He snarled.
"Okay okay, I know, relax I meant nothing by it. That's true, I mean since he HAS outcast you from the family it's okay that you don't listen to him."
"Yea."
"So what are your cousins like? I mean the two I was fighting… I don't even think I got their names."
Kyou laughed, "I gotta say that was funny first. But no, um… the girl was Kagura and the boy was Hatsuharu. The boar and the cow, just incase you were curious."
"I was a little, in admittance." She folded her arms around her knees and leaned against the chimney. "And your master taught all of them?"
"Yup, Master teaches just about everybody that wants to
learn. At least all
the Souma's."
"That's cool, we don't have anyone like that at our house. I've trained under
at least a half dozen different people back home, the last one dropped me when
I got better than he was. Which I guess
is understandable, I mean what more can you teach someone who knows as much as
you do. But your Master, I think I could
learn something from him. Which reminds me, I have to finish that match with him."
"Oh… why were you two fighting anyway? He said it was cause he wanted to see how good you were. Is that true?"
"More or less I suppose. What had really happened was that we made a deal that who ever won the match would get what they wanted."
"What they wanted?" Kyou cocked his head.
"Yea, he wanted me to train with him and I wanted him to leave me alone." She smiled.
"Do you still want him to leave you alone?" Kyou mused.
"Nah, he's a cool guy. I'll train with him, but I still want to see how tough of a fight it will be."
"I guess that's fair. When you two do fight again, can I watch?"
"Sure I suppose so. Why? You wanna see him wipe the floor with me too?" She laughed when she saw how embarrassed Kyou looked.
"No… I mean… I just… Ah never mind. Forget it." Kyou rubbed the back of his head. This only made her laugh harder, and when Kyou saw her laughing, he could not help but follow suit.
So that's how they were, both smiling and laughing when Tohru climbed up the tree and made a rather graceless leap to the roof. Both Cat's turned their heads towards the new comer.
"I knew I would find you eventually." Tohru smiled and clasped her hands in front of her.
"How did you find us?" Kat asked raising an eyebrow.
Tohru gave the girl a genuine smile. "Well if there is one thing I have learned to do, it's find Kyou. All you ever need to do is go the highest place around and there he is it's usually a rooftop." Kat laughed and Kyou looked even more embarrassed, if that was possible.
"I'm sorry for being rude to you earlier Miss Tohru." Caitlin smiled at the other girl.
"Oh it's okay it's okay," Tohru started making elaborate hand movements and shaking her head. "Don't worry about it. I actually came to find you to tell you that your brother was looking for you. I think, no matter what he says that he's worried about you." She started walking across the roof towards them. "And Kagura I know is worried about Kyou. But then again that doesn't come as much of a surprise. I mean she cares about him so much that—" Tohru was cut off by her own feet as they became entwined with each other and she stumbled a little before letting out a cry as her body fell backward towards the edge of the roof.
"TOHRU!!"
"MISS TOHRU"
The two cat's shouted in unison as they both lunged for their falling comrade. Kyou, with longer legs, reached her first and grabbed onto her as they both went toppling. Their was a "poof" of orange and Kyou realized what he'd done. Shit, I can't help like this. He only had time for one thought as he felt the riceball's feet slip from the edge.
He saw the shadow more than anything else as he was surrounded by white. Then, there was only the impact, which he barely felt, being that Tohru was under him and cushioning his fall. There was a moment of silence before he heard the riceball shouting, "Oh my god are you okay." He wanted to shoot back at her that of course he was okay, SHE was the one who hit the ground. But he never got the chance because as he jumped off Tohru's lap he noticed that they were not alone in this. Kat still had her arms around Tohru and was lying on the ground with the other girl on top of her. "Caitlin, Caitlin, please don't die." Tohru shouted more. To their surprise, all the other cat did was laugh.
"Relax Miss Tohru, I'm fine." She let her arms unwind back down to her sides.
"Are you sure? Do you need a Doctor? Kyou should we call Hatori?" Tohru looked near panic, as she did rather often.
"I'm not hurt that badly, just my shoulder and that can be fixed with out the aid of a Doctor… but Miss Tohru, there is one thing that you could do." Tohru's eyes widened. Kyou watched the two girls in shock, still trying to comprehend why Caitlin had jumped off after them.
"What, I'll do anything, you saved my life." There was a grave seriousness to her voice.
"I wouldn't go quite that far… but, could you please get off me." She laughed again.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, please please forgive me. How stupid of me not to notice. I'm such an idiot. I—"
"Miss Tohru… I said it was okay." Kat cut her off as the other girl got to her feet. There was another poof and Kyou was back to normal, well except for being naked and bright red. Tohru turned her back and held Kyou's clothes up as Kat closed her eyes and giggled more. After a few moments, Kyou's spoke.
"You can look now, I'm dressed again." Both girls noted this was true, although Kyou had his back to them now. Kat groaned as she got to her feel slowly and looked at her dislocated shoulder. She was about to ask Kyou if he knew how to put it back, when Yuki and Dani rounded the corner… both out of breath and looking terribly worried.
"Miss Honda? What happened? Are you alright?" Yuki said in between breaths.
"Yea, what's going on?" Dani added.
"Yes, I'm okay. I fell off the roof but Miss Caitlin and Kyou saved me." Tohru looked a little humiliated herself.
"What were you doing on a roof?" Daniel seemed confused.
"I was looking for Kyou." Tohru replied. Yuki turned to glare at Kyou and noticed that the Cat's shirt was inside out; he decided not to comment on this until later.
"Stupid Cat, putting Miss Honda's life in danger like that." The rat's glare became harsher.
"Listen you damn rat, this had nothing to do with me so don't you dare blame me for it. Where the hell were you when Tohru needed help, huh?" Kyou raised a fist to Yuki.
"Katie." Dani's voice cut in. "You're hurt. What happened?" Daniel walked over to his sister, a look of honest concern in his eyes.
"Nothing much really. When Tohru fell, I jumped after her and took the weight of the fall. I guess I landed on my shoulder. Can you fix it for me?" Daniel nodded and took a better look at her arm, just to make sure it was not broken.
"So it was actually you who saved Miss Honda?" Yuki walked over. He snorted, "and here Kyou was taking all the credit."
"Oh no, Kyou tried." Tohru added in, "but he turned into a cat and Miss Caitlin caught us both." Kat nodded, Kyou still had his back to the group and this time crossed his arms. Yuki grinned,
"ah… I see now. So Kyou… how does it feel to owe your life to a girl?"
"Shut up you damn rat." Kyou yelled, he was about to continue but a growl from Kat quieted everyone and Kyou turned to see that Daniel had just reset her shoulder.
"You need to lay off that for a bit, okay Katie. Please, no fighting, it will only make your shoulder worse." It was almost as if the Rat was a different person now, so kind and caring, Tohru could hardly believe that this was the same boy who had beat up his sister earlier.
"You know I'll do my best." Caitlin smiled in return.
"Why don't we head back to the dojo?" Yuki smiled at all of them. "We can wait there until your father his done meeting with Akito." He was mostly speaking to Daniel.
"I think it sounds like a good idea. Katie, can we expect you and Kyou to return with us?"
She nodded, "I'll go… Kyou, what about you?" She spoke to the back of his head.
"Yea fine, whatever." As he stalked back towards the dojo, leaving the others behind. Yuki nodded and offered his arm to Tohru.
"Miss Honda?" With a smile, she took his arm and allowed him to lead her back, still a little shaken up from everything that had happened.
"Come on Katie." Daniel smiled as he turned to follow. She gave a small nod and walked next to him.
"I think I made him mad." She said quietly.
"Who? Yuki?" Dani sighed, "Nah he knows it wasn't your fault."
"No, actually I was referring to Kyou." She went to stuff her hands in her pockets and winced, settling for only the one hand she looked ahead of her as she walked.
"Well, if you want my opinion… If Kyou is anything like you then he probably hates accepting the fact that someone helped him." Katie smiled at her brother.
"Yea, I guess that's true."
"You like him don't you."
She raised an eyebrow, "well he is the cat, so naturally I'll like him more than I like you." She smiled.
"Of course, that's exactly what I meant." Dani's tone was sarcastic, but there was a smile on his face.
They reached the dojo shortly after the others and were surprised by the general silence of the place. As they took off their shoes and walked in they saw that everyone except Haru and Kagura were there. Yuki, Tohru and Kyou were talking quietly and occasionally glancing in the direction of another pair. Kazuma was talking to a new man, well new to everyone else. The man's long black hair was tied back into a pony tail over a long dark blue coat. Kat and Dani knew the man, their cousin, and knew that the outfit underneath would be the same dark blue as the coat, the same dark blue as his eyes.
Wei Lee Sohma was one of the oldest members of the Zodiac over in America. He handled most of the more formal business, especially the law firm that the family owned. He had also been Marcus's best friend and "second" when the Head of the Family had been alive. It was a known fact that Lee and Alexander did not get along too well, then again anyone would me mad at the person who took their job away. Wei Lee, the Boar, had expected to take over for Marcus in the end. But it was decided by the family that Alexander would do the job better, much to Lee's dismay.
Wei turned as they entered and gave them both a dark smile, then again nothing he did was ever light… it was always dark.
"Good afternoon Lee," Kat was the first to speak as she gave the other man a deep bow.
"Why thank you Kitten." Wei moved over to them, "and good afternoon to you as well. And you too Daniel. How fair's your father's meeting?" Lee's voice was soft in a slightly mysterious way.
"Not bad I would assume." Dani said coldly. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here Lee?"
"Well you did call me." He added with a smile as he looked at Caitlin. "You're dear brother was worried that you had wondered off again and bade me to look for you if you did not return to the house. And who am I to refuse the summons of the son of the Head of the Family." There was a deep seeded resentment to the words.
"I see." Was Kat's only response along with a nod. "Well I'm sorry to make you come out here on my account, but since I am found I suppose there is no need for anyone to worry." She was speaking formally.
"Hey buddy, how bout introducing yourself." Kyou spoke up. Lee turned to him,
"How rude of me, of course young man. I am Wei Lee Sohma." Kyou glared at him, but Lee only smiled and turned his attention back to his two cousins.
"Well I suppose we should be heading home then, shouldn't we Kitten?" Kat seemed pensive for a moment.
"Actually I was invited to stay here for a little while… you know make new friends. Dani is always telling me I need to."
"He is isn't he." Lee added. "Very well then, I shall have to tell your sweet little sisters that you will not be home until later and that I was left in charge of them while your Uncle Charles was out." Kat blinked.
"What?"
"Well you see, Charles needed someone to watch the girls, and I know how much they love you babysitting them. So I though I would bring you home, but it's alright. You stay here and make your friends… I can keep the little ones out of trouble."
"No that's alright." Kat said quickly. "I'll watch them." She seemed more nervous than she should have.
"Do you need help? Daniel asked, placing a hand on his sister's shoulder.
"No, you stay here and have a good time. I can take care of Maryanne and Regene." She smiled weakly to him.
"Are you sure?" He looked her strait in the eyes.
"I said so didn't I, you damn rat." She smiled.
"Yea, right." Daniel glanced at Lee. "I'll see you later tonight when Father and I get home."
Lee nodded, "yes. See you then." He turned, "it was a pleasure meeting all of you." Kazuma, Yuki, and Tohru nodded… Kyou just intensified his glare and walked over to Kat.
"You take care of yourself." He added with a serious look. She paused for a moment then, to everyone's surprise, took a step forward and gave Kyou a hug.
"You too." She whispered in his ear before stepping back to stand with Lee, who had raised an eyebrow at her. "It was nice meeting you guys. I hope to see you all again. And Tohru, perhaps you should stay away from rooftops for a while."
Tohru smiled, "don't worry, I will. And it was nice meeting you too. If you ever need anything just come over to Shigure's house and see us."
Kat nodded, "sure. Hey that's what friends are for, right?"
Tohru grinned and nodded back. "You bet!"
"Well good bye everyone." Lee added with a wave. Placing an arm around Kat's shoulders he led her to the exit, she made no protest to him, despite the pain in her still wounded shoulder.
There was a period of silence as the people in the dojo watched Kat and Wei leave. "Well I should get back and check on my father." Daniel said as he turned around. "Take care of yourselves, and I hope to see you all tomorrow." He glanced at Tohru, "Isa did get a hold of you guy's right?"
"Yes, she invited us all over. And I know that at least Shigure, Yuki and I will be there."
"Good, I'm glad to hear it. What about you Kyou? Will you be attending?"
"Yea, I'll be there. Even if it's only to keep those two dogs from trying to take over the world." Daniel nodded, waved, and walked out the door.
As he walked back towards the Main house where his father was he could still hear the voices of his new friends. Yuki was picking on Kyou about the hug and Tohru was trying to stop them from fighting. It was a nice sound, the sound of friendship and family. He could only hope that all of his cousins could be that happy one day.
A/N:
Hey guys… sorry for the wait, but I hope you liked it. I know you were all eager to meet Kat, since most (if not all) had figured out who she was by now. I am not sure how often I will update, though I am going to try for once a week, I think that will work ok. But I think I'll also wait for a few reviews first, since then I know how I'm doing, and that people want me to continue. And thank you all very much for reviewing, it helps a lot to hear from you all.
*Kanayuki- Don't worry, you'll get to see lots of Isa and Gure in the next chapter. I will be focusing in a lot on them, as well as Yuki and Tohru and Daniel.
*Crystle- Thanks for keeping up with me, I will definitely do the same for you. And I hope this was a bit less of a cliffhanger for you. Oh, I know you told me to tell you when I updated again, but I didn't know how you wanted me to do that, so I'm sorry.
*Setkatsu – As far as the language things goes… I've watched enough Anime's where they wave the whole language clause. So I figured it would be okay. And thanks for the review, if you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Added A/N: I love you all very much… but make more people read. I looking for at least 5 review for each chapter. *hugs*