A/N: Hello! I'm making up some backgrounds for some characters, and I know they aren't accurate to what we know in the manga, but hey –it's my story, and this is the way its gonna be. Okay? So once again, devoted current manga readers –don't be offended, I apologize in advance if I ruine your day. Okay, well, read along little ones, it's gonna get exciting! I promise!

Chapter 14 – The Eclipse part 6

Uo looked over at Akito, to see him once again lost in thought. "Tell me Akito, do you remember anything about your childhood?" She asked him, and he looked over at her and frowned. His sharp features looked so handsome in the candle's flame.

"I remember some things. Being sick, and my father yelling at me for some reason. That's about it. She was with me then too. All the males who are born with the bulk of the curse, our mothers die during childbirth. It's strange. I think father blamed me a lot for it, but that spirit would take over for me, and strike back. One day, my father just disappeared. No one will talk about it. It hink that maybe she killed him. . . . maybe." He frowned, and shook his head. "It hurts to try and remember. Don't ask me again."

"I'm sorry. I never had parents really. I was always on my own for as long as I can remember. I guess we're kinda alike there, since I don't have parents either." She said, and saw him stare at her with soft, dark eyes.

"I'm glad we have something in common. I just hope . . . . I can remember you when she's back again." He said sadly.

"Akito! You can't think like that! You can't let her win again! I know you're strong, you can fight her!" She said suddenly, rising to her feet. She came around the table to him. he looked up at her, innocently, a trace of fear and anxiety in his eyes.

"But she's so strong. . . ." He said quietly, and she fisted her hands.

"Akito! No matter what, you have to fight!" She exclaimed, something in her urging her to help him. "I like who you are now, and I want you to stay that way! We only have a little while left. I want to keep seeing this side of you, don't let her win, please." She begged, and fell down next to him, and threw her arms around his slender, but firm, shoulders. She hugged him, and fought back tears. She wouldn't cry, she wouldn't.

"I . . . . I don't know what I'll do. I don't know." He said, almost a whisper against her neck.

"Just fight her." She whispered back.

"It's not that simple. I've tried that. She's too strong." He said, motionless.

"Then I'll help you." She retorted against his shoulder.

"You don't know what she's done to people. I think she's hurt a lot of people, really hurt them. She's so bitter towards us. And she hates people trying to get involved with us Sohmas, especially girls, for some reason. It's like she's jealous." He said in a tone that was breaking. The word 'jealous' sparked something between them, and they were thrust into another flash of memories.

The same dark haired, familiar woman was on the floor, groveling in front of a man. The man above her was the same one they saw that was kissing her in the other flash. He looked upset, and she looked frantic.

"You can't marry her! You love me!" She screamed.

"I have to marry my cousin, it was arranged! Besides, what am I supposed to do! You are already married to Koutani! You have a son! This was never right from the beginning, I thought you knew that!"

"You betrayed me, Aki! You said you'd love me forever! You can't marry Kima! I hate her, I hate her!"

"We were all friends once, remember, Asa? We used to play as kids at my house."

"She's too young for you, Aki. We only let her play because your parents made us. She was six when you were fourteen!"

"And you were nine, Asa. You are younger than me too."

"But I am not your blood! She is your cousin!"

"A distant cousin. It's normal, Asa, don't be crazy. You're acting ridiculous! This can never happen! We don't belong together! This is the end! I want you to leave me alone!" He exclaimed, but she stood to her feet and hugged him. He tried to back away, but she gripped him tight around the neck.

"I won't be jealous! I won't be! Just remember when we used to play the zodiac when we were all together? All three of us? You were the dragon, of course, and I was the rooster, and little Kima was the rat. We used to pick on her so much, remember? 'cause we resembled two gods, and she didn't. She was the rat, and she pretended to be close to the gods, but she never was. She's a lying, treacherous, glory bound rodent that only sees herself in the light! How dare she!" She gripped at his back, and Aki bit back a cry as her nails dug into his back, drawing blood.

He threw her off and away from him, this time slapping her. Her black hair flew across his vision. She fell to the ground crying. He gritted his teeth in anger. "Don't speak of Kima that way! She is a good person! You are the one who's treacherous and glory bound! What has gotten into you, Asa? You were never like this before! Where's the kind and strong Asa I grew up with? Where is she? Are these your true colors? Huh?" He asked, angrily.

She writhed on the floor, gripping her head in pain and anguish.

"Dammit, Asa! I'll never love you! I never want to see you again! Leave me alone!" He said, and turned and left her to weep on the floor. She scratched the wooden floor with her fingernails, a horrible sound screetching from the boards. She left indentations and marks where her nails had scraped. She hated him! She hated her! She hated his entire family!

A sudden brightness ended the long and intense flash. Akito found himself still on the ground, Uo still hugging him. They were both panting as if they had run ten miles uphill. It was so vivid. It was all starting to make sense in Akito's minds, although Uo was still a little confused. They suddenly realized that the power was back on.

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Hana and Yuki nearly fell off the bed from surprise as the power came back on. They blushed as they found eachother under a bright light, limbs entertwined, hands placed in 'places'. She nestled in his arms, and gave playful kisses at his neck and chin. Her mouth trailed down his chest to his abs, but she sweatdropped when she heard his stomach growl. She looked up, and saw he was looking away, a slight bit embarrassed.

"I take it you are hungry." She said plainly, a plain look on her pale face.

"Well, maybe a little." He said sheepishly.

They both sat up and buttoned up their clothes before leaving the room. Just as they exited, they saw Tohru and Kyo emerge from his room. Kyo and Yuki locked eyes, as if trying to 'magically see' how far the other got while alone with the girls. Kyo squinted as he saw how flushed Hana still looked, trying to straighten her crumpled clothes. Yuki raised an eyebrow at Tohru's painfully obvious red, embarrassed face.

Their duel continued on as they stared at eachother, Yuki calmly observing, and Kyo getting frustrated, giant veins popping from his head. Yuki was almost daring him to say something, but Kyo wouldn't go there, cause that would mean he would have to say something back, and that would probably make Tohru upset, and he didn't want that either. . . .

Hana felt the thick vibes coming from the two, and sighed, bored, and reached for Tohru, and they walked down the stairs. It took a few minutes for the two to realize that their girls had left both of them. They both seemed to panic, although one more than the other, and rush down the stairs as well.

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Hatori picked up the phone and dialed the hotel. He hoped Shigure would answer and maybe explain a few things. It rang several times. He was about to give up, when an exhausted voice answered the phone.

"Hello?" It barely sounded like Shigure.

Hatori thought he might have dialed the wrong number. "Shigure, is that you?"

"Ha-Hari?" Shigure asked, and Hatori knew it was him.

"Shigure, the power was out here, so I was unable to reach you again. Akito was talking and said he thinks this cure is temporary, and that as soon as the eclipse is over, our curse will return." He said, and heard silence.

"I was wondering that, actually." Shigure said, sounded extremely distant and depressed. It didn't sound like him at all. Hatori frowned, concerned for his friend. He could deal with Shigure's shenanigans (hehe - I said shenanigans) but this was something else. It just didn't feel right not having Shigure at his quirkiest.

"Shigure, what did you do?" Hatori asked, knowing him too well.

"Nothing Hari. Nothing much. I'm just a little overwhelmed, shall we say." He said, still sounding soft and quiet. "Listen, Hari, I know then that we don't have much time left. I'm gonna go spend it doing something I'll never be able to do again. I'm sorry Hari, that you can't spend this time with Kana. I . . . . do understand, Hatori." Shigure said, and this shocked Hatori to the point of silence. Never had he heard Shigure say something so sincere. But then, Shigure said, "But with the girls there, there are plenty of nice young things to grab onto, you naughty Hari, I bet you've already hugged Tohru lots of times." Now that was the Shigure he knew. He couldn't help but half-smile and give a small chuckle.

"Just once." He replied, and heard a thunk on the other end. He was sure Shigure had fallen out of his chair, or something, in surprise. Hatori smirked again and hung up before Shigure could tease him further.

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Mii came out of the bathroom, to find Shigure lying on the floor, the phone in his hand. She tilted her head in confusion. He was such an odd man. Then again, he was Shigure, and she did love him, and all of his personalities. She blushed, thinking about that. He looked up at her from the ground, and dropped the phone. She scurried over to him in small shuffles, and bent down next to his head. She kissed his forehead, and pulled back to see him smiling. But that worried look was in his eyes again.

"Who was on the phone?" She asked, and Shigure frowned.

"Mii, I want to tell you something." He said, his smile fading.

"W-what is it?" She asked, getting worried. She hated it when she saw him so serious.

"I really don't know how you'll react, but. . . . . I wanna tell you." He said, and sat up, and turned to her. "I'm scared of losing you." He said, and reached out and hugged her, feeling her body relax to his touch. "I've always tried to keep myself distant from women, and tease them a lot so they become frustrated and don't want to deal with me. but Mii, you're the only one who's stuck around, and put up with me. I've slowly fallen in love with you. And I'm scared that if I tell you everything, that you'll reject me, and leave me for good. You probably won't believe me, but . . . . . ." He hesitated. He built up the courage as she was silent, listening to his words with intent. "There's this curse on me, and my family. It's really strange, and I don't want you to be afraid. I don't know how long I can hold you like this. I love holding you, Mii."

As if to confirm his words, Shigure felt a strange tingling, and there was a soft 'poof', and he transformed.

The eclipse was over.

A/N: Uhoh! You're gonna have to wait! This is getting weirder and weirder! Have you figured out the Akito/Uo thing yet? Huh? It's gonna get wackier! Did you guys catch the hints in the Asa/Aki/Kima thing??? And the zodiac animals they are??? Does it fit in with the anime? I made it to specifically do that! Go back and read, and watch the anime again if you didn't catch these hints, btw. Okokok! I will try and put out another chapter soon, but there are many papers to write. I can't wait for fall break. . . . . ok, byebye!