Chapter Four: Transformation Denied

The next morning, Akito sent Kureno to gather the members of the Zodiac minus Kyo for a meeting with Akito. As they left once more, Tohru noticed how nervous they all looked, while Kyo in the background simply frowned and crossed his arms.

(Next Scene)

Yuki and Hatsuharu walked ahead of everybody. Rin was behind with Kagura while Hiro, who was holding on Kisa's hand was next to her, Momiji on the other side.

"What do you think he really wants?" Haru replied silently to Yuki.

"I don't know" Yuki shook his head, "These days I don't know what he wants or thinks anymore."

"One things for sure" Haru said angrily, "He definitely came up here to spoil our fun."

They walked into the main house and sat down on the bench that was in front of two large doors. A couple of minutes later, a servant came out beckoning them in. Yuki and Hatsuharu walked in first and noticed that Akito hadn't arrived yet. They knelt down in front of his chair and the others did the same. As they sat there Shigure, Ayame, and Hatori came into the room and knelt down. Finally Kureno arrived with Akito and then he too knelt down. Akito walked over to his chair and sat down with a grin.

"So here you all are. All my family" he smiled.

(Next Chapter)

Tohru walked into the kitchen and began washing the dishes from breakfast. Kyo walked in as well and stood in the doorway for a moment watching her. He saw her sad expression and cleared his throat.

"Oh Kyo" she turned to him with a smile, "Was there something you wanted?"

"Um actually" he tried to find the right words, "Do you need any help in here?"

"Uh sure. Can you dry?" she handed him a towel.

"Uh huh" he nodded coming over and taking the towel and a dish, "Pretty weird him showing up like that huh?" he said.

"He did it last time" she sighed a little, "I guess he has every right to come up here."

"You guess?"

"No he does" she corrected herself quickly, "I mean he is the head of the family."

"Yea but you think he could have given us some warning."

"Maybe he likes to surprise you."

"Yea. At least I don't have to worry about seeing him. Not any more anyway."

"Why not?"

"Cause the last time he was here, that's what we decided. I didn't have to see him anymore. I like it that way."

"Do you really?" she asked turning to him.

"Why on earth would I want to?" he said turning to her.

"It's just that" she moved forward a little and tripped, "Oh!"

She landed right into his chest as he tried to stop her from falling. She felt his arms around her and waited for the poof sound to come. But it didn't. She pulled herself up and they both looked at each other stunned and pulled away.

"What just happened?" Kyo replied with wide eyes.

"I don't know."

"No, no, no. That had to be a fluke" he shook his head, "Come here" he once more pulled her into him in a hug position.

Again. Nothing. And once more they pulled away.

"What's going on here?" he said slowly.

"Good question," she replied scared, "Why didn't you transform?"

"I don't know" he felt around his body, "Come on!" he grabbed her hand.

"What are we doing?" she asked as he pulled her out the door.

"We're going into town" he replied.

(Next Scene)

Kyo dragged her into the small town and looked around at all the people in the area.

"Okay" he said taking her behind a building and pointing, "Do you see that woman over there?"

"Yes" she nodded.

"I'm gonna go bump into her on purposely. If I transform, will you take care of things?"

"Sure" Tohru nodded still stunned, "I'll take care of it."

"Okay" Kyo took a breath, "Here goes nothing" he walked out from behind the wall leaving Tohru there staring as he walked.

He casually walked down the street and saw the woman heading towards him. He smiled a little and she smiled back. Then he walked right into her and the poof sound was made as she backed up astonished. Tohru hurried out from behind the wall and stood in front of the clothes.

"Are you okay?" she asked the woman as Kyo scurried away from the scene.

"Yes I'm fine" the woman replied, "I just. Now where did he go?"

"Who?"

"The young man I just bumped into."

"Oh well he just took off. I ran over here to make sure that you're all right."

"Well that was rude, and a little weird. Thank you very much miss," she gathered up her bags.

"Uh huh" Tohru nodded, "My pleasure" she bowed as the woman departed.

Then she knelt down and picked up Kyo's clothes and looked around.

"I wonder where he went?" she thought.

"Pss!" he called in a loud whisper, "Tohru I'm over here!"

She heard him and rushed over to find the little orange cat waiting by a fence.

"Are you okay?" she asked kneeling down.

"I'm fine. Pick me up. Let's get out of here."

"Right" she agreed picking him up and rushing back to the house with him in her arms along with his clothes.

(Next Scene)

The long line of Zodiac members waited in the hall. Yuki, Hiro, Kisa, Ayame, Kagura, Rin, and Momiji sat patiently, since Hatsuharu was still inside speaking with Akito. Hatori and Shigure were also in there with them. Each of the members pondered their own session with him. Nothing out of the ordinary, which was so confusing for Yuki. Once more he was only asking questions. Questions for what purpose, he had no idea. He just couldn't wait until Haru was done and they could go back to the other house. Finally Hatsuharu emerged from the room followed by Kureno.

"Akito is tired" Kureno replied, "He said he would see you all tomorrow evening. Maybe. In the meantime he said have fun. Good night" Kureno slid back inside.

The seven of them wearily exited the house and headed back, once again Yuki and Hatsuharu in the front.

(Next Scene)

Back at the other house Tohru and Kyo sat on the couch on opposite ends. Neither one of them could look at each other, still very stunned by the days events.

"It was a good thing that no one was really around" Kyo said.

"Yes" Tohru nodded, "It was a very good thing" she paused, "It's getting late, I wonder where everyone is."

"Yea. I hope they get back soon. They won't believe this."

Momiji was the first through the door, followed closely by Yuki and Hatsuharu.

"Hey you guys!" Momiji replied, "Did you miss us?" he stopped when he saw how nervous they both were, "What's been going on?" he asked teasingly.

"Um" they looked at each other.

"What's wrong?" Haru said.

"What is it?" Yuki replied as the rest of them came in.

"Well" Kyo stood up, "Something weird happened today."

"Something weird?" Haru said, "What?"

"Um" Kyo stuttered, "Well I guess the only way to prove it to you is to show you."

"Show us?" Yuki raised an eyebrow, "Show us what?"

"Come here Tohru" Kyo held out his hand, which she took gently, "Now watch this"; he began to slowly pull her closer to him.

"What are you doing Kyo?" Momiji said, "You know that you are just going to transform."

Tohru landed in his chest and the others watched stunned as Kyo remained as he was. Yuki was the first to step forward.

"You didn't transform?" he replied.

"I know" Kyo retorted.

"But she's a girl" Haru added.

"I know."

"Are you not cursed anymore Kyo?" Momiji asked.

"No not exactly. I mean I came to that same conclusion so I had to have proof right?" he looked at Tohru.

"Right" she agreed.

"So we went down into town to test the theory again," he continued.

"And?" Yuki urged him.

"I walked right into a woman and."

"He transformed" Tohru finished, "Like normal."

"Wait a minute. Wait a minute" Haru replied sitting down on one of the couches armrest, "So you're telling me that Tohru is the only one unaffected by this?"

"Apparently" Kyo said, "But don't take my word for it. Try it for yourselves. Momiji give her a hug!"

"You're letting me do it?" Momiji replied excitedly.

"Just do it!"

"Okay. Come here Tohru" he jumped into her and hugged her tight, "Hey I didn't transform either" he smiled pulling away.

"Uncanny" Yuki said with a hand to his head in shock.

"Go on Hiro. You try" Momiji pushed him forward.

"No way" Hiro shook his head, "I'm not giving Her a hug."

Hatsuharu pushed him slightly forward and he landed in Tohru's outstretched arms.

"Hatsuharu" he said through gritted teeth as he tried to pull away, "How dare you?"

"Look for yourself Hiro" Haru smiled, " You didn't transform."

"Huh?" he pulled away finally, "I didn't."

"Wow Hiro" Kisa came over as he moved away from Tohru a bit scared.

"That just leaves you and me Yuki" Haru replied, "Do you want to try?"

"Uh you go first Haru" Yuki said.

Hatsuharu walked over to her.

"May I Tohru?" he asked politely.

"Of course" she nodded still confused as he embraced her.

He pulled away quite surprised.

"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't tried it for myself. Yuki, your turn."

Yuki walked over and was just about to embrace her when Shigure and Ayame came in through the door.

"Hello everyone" Shigure replied but stopped when he saw them all gathered around the stunned girl, "What's going on?"

"Yuki was just about to demonstrate that same fact Shigure" Haru said, "Go ahead Yuki! Show him!"

"All right" Yuki replied, "Sorry about this Miss Honda."

"It's okay" she nodded with a smile as he hugged her.

As he pulled away the glasses that were across Shigure's nose fell from his face while Ayame's mouth dropped wide open.

"You see" Yuki said, "Miss Honda is no longer affected by the Zodiac curse."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Okay I'll see you all next Monday! Again I'm sorry if these two chapters are late! Hope you're still enjoying them.

Next Chapters:

Chapter Five: Confessions of the Heart

The big day has come! Will Kyo and Tohru finally reveal how they feel?

And

Chapter Six: Yuki's Save

Akito sees for himself the miracle of non-transformation and almost discovers about Kyo and Tohru!