(Chapter Three: Preparation)

That evening Yuki sat on the back deck gazing at the stars, and pondering things. Hatsuharu joined him a couple of hours later, determined to find out just what was on his cousins mind. He finally broke the silence with a satisfied sigh.

"Nice night huh?" Haru replied.

"Yea" Yuki nodded, "Very pretty."

"So, what exactly are you doing out here Yuki?"

"I just came out to get some fresh air."

"Really? Because you look like something is on your mind."

"Not really" Yuki shook his head, "It's just, well. Haru can I ask you a question?"

"Sure" Haru nodded placing his hands behind his head, "What is it?"

Yuki straightened his shoulders as he leaned up in his chair; he had been slouching in the chair previously.

"Do you think there are too many secrets in our family?"

"Secrets?"

"I mean besides the Zodiac curse."

"I'm not sure what you're driving at Yuki."

"It's not a difficult question" Yuki replied a little bit irritated, "It's just I'm starting to wonder. Besides the Zodiac curse, we Sohmas keep a lot of things to ourselves. Especially us members of the Zodiac."

"Is that such a terrible thing?"

"I guess not. But then again yes it is. What are we so afraid of?"

"Well if the world knew about our secret Yuki" Haru started to say.

"I'm not just talking about our secret. I'm talking about all the secrets. I mean what are we afraid of? Is it so terrifying to be certain not to tell anyone about anything? Like relationships. It's ridiculous that we have to hide those things."

"I suppose so. But there is a reason."

"Akito?"

"Yea. He's the biggest reason."

"But what about the rest of the world Haru? Does the rest of the world have to be blind to it?" Yuki sighed closing his eyes.

"I want to answer your question Yuki, but you're dodging me. You're running around in circles. I can't keep up. In fact you're making me rather dizzy with your talking."

Yuki sighed and took a deep breath.

"What I want to say is, Miss Honda accepted us for who we were, despite everything. She accepted Kyo for his cursed form. And not only that, other people have too."

"You mean Miss Ward?" Haru replied with his left eyebrow raised, "I got to say Yuki. I was kind of shocked that she knew about our secret. What gave you guys the notion to tell her anyway."

"It was an accident" Yuki retorted, "She figured it out on her own. But ultimately, Kyo was the one who suggested that we'd tell her. And you know what she kept the secret, and she hasn't ridiculed us once. Miss Honda may be right."

"About what?"

"The world might not accept us Haru. But people will. Certain people. People we can trust. I myself have experienced that first hand" Yuki grinned slightly.

"What do you mean?" Haru brought his hands down and stared at his cousin.

"I decided to trust somebody. I decided to tell someone about my secret."

"You mean besides Miss Ward?"

"That's right" Yuki nodded.

"Who Yuki?" Haru's eyes became wide, "And why?"

"Because, I love her."

"Love her? Love who?"

"Someone very special. But the strangest thing about it, it was no accident. I on my own free will showed her my form. And Haru" Yuki turned to him with a smile, "She was the most understanding person and she accepted me, much in the same way Miss Honda accepted Kyo."

"Wow Yuki" Haru smiled slightly, "But who is she?" then he thought and smiled even more, "Oh. It's that girl. The one from the time when you guys were going through all that trouble at school. The one you said you would hate for her of all people to think that the rumor was true."

"That's right" Yuki nodded, "Machi is everything to me."

"Wow Yuki. I'm so happy for you" Haru placed a hand on his shoulder, "But how come you didn't mention it before?"

"I don't know. It's like I said earlier. We keep to many secrets in our family. For one reason or another."

"I suppose we do" Haru nodded, "And nine out of ten times that reason is Akito."

"But like you said Haru, Akito isn't God. He's a person. Just a simple person. Like us. All that stuff he used to tell me about how no one would ever accept me for who I am was a lie. I have told two people, three if you count Miss Honda my secret and not one has ridiculed or made me feel insignificant."

"That's true. You do have a point there" Hatsuharu sighed, "Of course I never believed anything Akito said anyway" he placed his hands behind his head once more.

"I did. I actually believed everything he said when I was a child."

"You couldn't help that Yuki. He was the closest person to you."

"I guess so" Yuki frowned as Tohru appeared at the door.

"Hey you guys" she smiled, "Dessert is ready."

"Okay Tohru we'll be right in" Haru smiled back as Yuki nodded his head with a grin, "Well come on Yuki" Haru stood up, "We don't want to miss out on dessert."

"I'll be there in a minute" Yuki replied with a nod of his head.

Hatsuharu left Yuki to ponder some more on the earlier conversation he had overheard.

"I can't mention it yet" Yuki thought, "But still. It's gonna remain on my mind just the same."

(Next Scene)

The next day Tohru and all the others spent their entire time exploring the mountains and the lake. Kisa had informed Tohru earlier that morning that Hiro was at the main house, practicing. This year it was his turn to do the Zodiac dance, and he was really nervous. So Kisa, Momiji, Kagura, and Tohru all walked along the lake, while Kyo, Yuki, and Haru remained back at the house, doing different things. Yuki was reading over some work he had to do for the Student council when they went back to school while Kyo sat in the living room with his weights and a bottle of water. Hatsuharu was stretched out on the couch reading another one of Shigure's many novels. Rin of course had remained upstairs, far away from Haru.

By the time evening came it had begun to get a little chilly, so Yuki reminded everyone to bundle up on their way to the party, which was about a ten minute walk away from the house they were in. At about nine o'clock all the girls were upstairs getting ready, while the guys waited downstairs already fully dressed and ready to go. Kyo looked at his watch and frowned.

"What's taking them so long?" he grumbled.

"They're girls Kyo" Haru grinned as he leaned on the banister, dressed in one of his fancier shirts, "They'll be here soon."

"Yes stupid cat" Yuki said frustrated, "Be patient."

"I don't need you to tell me what to do" Kyo replied angrily back with a snarl.

"So how is this going to work out?" Momiji asked changing the subject, "Who's going with who?"

"Well we figured Kisa could go with you Momiji" Haru replied looking at his younger cousin who was dressed to the nines in a very fancy top that was red in color, "Since you're about the same height and since Hiro's at the party all ready. I'm escorting Kagura."

"And I'm taking Rin" Yuki spoke up straightening his black tie for like the third time that evening.

"Oh. And I suppose you're taking Tohru?" he turned to Kyo.

"Of course" Kyo nodded with his hands on his hips.

"Won't that look suspicious?"

"Won't what look suspicious?" Kagura asked appearing with Kisa.

They both were wearing long sleeved dresses. Kagura's was red in color while Kisa had on a navy blue.

"Oh nothing Kagura" Hatsuharu replied, "You look good" he said taking her arm.

"Thank you Hatsuharu" she beamed, "Kyo, Tohru will be down in a minute. She's still fixing her hair."

"All right" Kyo sighed.

"And you're with me Kisa" Momiji replied, "So let's go. We'll get your coat on the way out."

"Okay" she nodded with a grin taking his arm, "We'll see you all there."

As the four of them left, Rin came down the stairs in a length long black dress.

"Gee Isuzu" Kyo scoffed, "Are you going to a funeral or to a party?"

"Shut up you stupid cat," she retorted as Kyo's face turned red, "Ready Yuki?" she asked.

"Uh huh" Yuki nodded as he helped her put on her coat and the two of them walked out the door.

Kyo sighed again and began to pace the floor. He didn't know why, but all of a sudden he became very nervous. Maybe it had something to do with what Momiji had said before he left. He was so preoccupied that he didn't even hear Tohru come down the steps.

"Kyo" she replied sweetly, "Are you ready?"

He turned around and stared wide eyed at his girlfriend.

"Tohru."

"What do you think? Kisa and Kagura picked it out" she smiled.

"You look amazing. I'm gonna look like a stump compared to you tonight."

"I can go change" she said a bit worried.

"Oh no, no. I was giving you a compliment" he took her hand, "No you look fine in that, dress."

"So do you really like it? I know it's more of a Christmas color."

"Well, whatever color it is, you will definitely be the prettiest girl at the party tonight."

"Thank you Kyo" she blushed.

"But we're late" he replied putting on her coat, "So we had better get going.

Tohru took his arm and the two of them walked out the door into the cold but starry evening.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! I decided to change my chapters around a little bit. So you will get the New Years Party today, but the banquet chapter will be later in the week. I just wanted to get the conversation with Haru and Yuki in this book so, here it is. Hope you enjoyed it! See you at the party!

Next Chapter: New Years Party

Tohru meets the family of the members of the Zodiac! Next Time!!!