Chapter Five: Research and Discovery

The next morning Tohru brought Yuki out his breakfast and sat down to join him. As he sipped his tea she brought her chopsticks back down from her mouth.

"I'm surprised to see you up so early Yuki" she replied.

"Yes well" he grinned, "My schedule at school is a little bit different now. I have early morning classes so I don't sleep in as much. You get used to it."

"Oh I see."

"You are going to help me today right Miss Honda?"

"Huh?"

"Remember?"

"Oh right" she looked up realizing with a smile, "I almost forgot. We're going to the main house today aren't we?"

"Mhm."

"Oh good morning Kyo" she said cheerfully as he entered the room.

"Morning Tohru" he smiled as he entered the room and yawned, "Damn rat," he replied as he sat down at his plate.

"Good morning" Yuki said back.

"You've got work today don't you Kyo?" she asked him as she handed him his tea.

"Yea" he scratched the back of his head, "I got an early class today. What are you doing today?"

"Oh Yuki and I are spending the day together" she replied.

"Alone?" Kyo's eyebrow rose.

"Relax stupid cat" Yuki said cynically, "You're engaged to her, what do you think I am going to do?"

"Whatever" Kyo huffed stuffing some rice in his mouth, "Where are you going?" he asked Tohru.

"Oh no place in particular right Yuki" Tohru said.

"Right" Yuki nodded in agreement.

"Okay" Kyo stood up as he finished his breakfast, "I got to get going," he replied as Tohru also stood up, "I'll see you tonight" he said kissing her gently on the lips and departing the room.

"Goodbye Kyo! Have a good day!" she called out as she heard the door close, "You ready Yuki?"

"Mhm" he nodded standing up, "Where's Shigure this morning?"

"In town again."

"Okay. Well let's go," he said leading the way to the door.

(Next Scene)

Yuki walked next to Tohru as they walked down the pathway that led to Sohma house. They stopped at the large gate and then Yuki pushed the gate open. He led the way past the main house and a lot of the other houses. They passed Hatori's house until they finally arrived in a heavily wooded area. From his room Momiji saw them and ran out of the room, determined to follow them, grabbing a set of keys as he ran out.

"I don't think that I have ever been back this far before" Tohru replied.

"Not many people know what's back here" Yuki nodded, "Only members of the Zodiac know about this building" he reached into his pocket and took out a string with three keys on it.

"What's that for Yuki?" she asked as they stopped near a large tree, in guard over what appeared to be an iron gate, covered with many roses.

"Be careful Miss Honda" he replied as he fingered a key, "There is a lot of ivy and roses on the gate, so don't hurt yourself on the thorns."

"Okay" she nodded as he placed the key into a lock that he had uncovered from the ivy.

The gate swung open, creaking as it opened because of no use. Tohru followed Yuki inside and chuckled a little nervously.

"It's like entering The Secret Garden," she said joking.

"Kind of" Yuki smiled, "I mean this place is a secret."

Tohru looked ahead of them and saw a building also covered by many strings of ivy.

"What is this place Yuki?" she asked him as they moved forward, "Where are we?"

"The Zodiac archives" he explained, "It's in this building that I hope to find the answers we seek."

"But wouldn't Shigure have thought about this place already?"

"No doubt, but I do not believe that he researched in the journals."

"Journals?"

"You'll see what I mean once we get inside" he said pulling out the next key and placing it in the door, "Each member of the Zodiac is given a set of these keys in order to get in this place. Everything to do with the Zodiac can be found in here" he opened the door and coughed a little.

Tohru also coughed and gazed around the dark area.

"It's so dusty and dark in here" she replied.

"Don't worry I'll take care of that" Yuki said pulling out a match and grabbing a nearby candle, "This place has no electricity so we have to use flashlights and candles to see where we are going" he lit the candle, which glowed brightly, "That's better."

Tohru gazed around her and stared at the room astonished. It was an old fashioned sitting room with comfortable sitting chairs and couches everywhere. On one side of the room was another door that was also locked. Yuki walked over behind the couches and they came to another door. This door was not locked however and Yuki turned the handle leading them into another room. He lit the candleholder that was on the wall so they could also see clearly. In this room were many shelves filled with books.

"Wow" Tohru breathed as he placed the candle he had been holding onto a large table nearby, "Look at all the books. What are they about?"

"These" Yuki said, "Are the journals I mentioned Miss Honda."

"All of these books" she gasped, "Why are there so many of them? What are they for?"

"They are the Zodiac journals," he explained, "When a Zodiac member turns twenty-one they are given one by the head of the family. Inside they jot down about their lives. Each shelf indicates a member of the Zodiac. See" he pointed at the carving on top of the shelf in front of them, "These are the rat's journals."

"Wow so many of them" she replied, "Oh I get it now. You want to research these to find out how the curse came to be."

"Exactly" he nodded, "I believe that somewhere along the line, maybe one of the ancestors found something close to the truth, or that the journals go back as far as when the curse came to be. It's a lot of work and research, but I am sure that if we split them up, we can get through most of them."

"I see."

"What are you two up to?" a loud booming voice startled them both as he appeared in front of them.

"Momiji?" Tohru said surprised.

"Don't scare us like that" Yuki said irritated, "What are you doing here Momiji?"

"I could ask you two the same thing?"

Yuki and Tohru looked at each other and Yuki sighed revealing to his younger cousin for the reason of their visit. After he was finished, Momiji grinned widely.

"Let me help" he replied eagerly.

"Huh?"

"Come on let me. We can get the job done a lot faster if I help."

"Well okay Momiji" Yuki said with another sigh, "If you really want to but you can't tell anyone that we were here okay?"

"Okay" he nodded, "Agreed. So where should we start?" he asked looking around them.

"Well I am going to start with the rat journals naturally" Yuki said.

"All right" Momiji grinned, "Then I will start with the rabbits. What about you Tohru?"

"Huh? Oh I don't know" she shook her head, "There are so much to choose from" she looked around, "Say are there any cat journals?"

"Hmm?" Yuki looked over, "I don't know Miss Honda. Let's take a look" he began to inspect the shelves, "Let's see here's the Cow, Boar."

"And" Momiji gazed at the shelves on the other side, "Here's the Rooster. I bet Kureno's journal would fit in nicely" he grinned, "Dog. Dragon."

"Snake" Yuki continued, "I'm sure those are interesting reads" he rolled his eyes slightly, "Tiger and Sheep. No I don't see the Cat anywhere."

"Wait" Tohru stopped him as she spotted a small shelf in the way back covered with dust, "What's on that shelf?"

"I don't know Miss Honda" Yuki replied walking over to it, "Let's find out" he blew onto the dust and it fell off revealing a small carving at the top, "Oh you're right Miss Honda" he said when he saw it, "This is the Cat shelf, but" he squinted, "I don't see a journal at all."

"No wait" she said glancing up at the very top, "There is one small book up there."

"Mhm I see it" he nodded.

"I can't quite reach it though" Tohru replied.

"Don't worry Tohru" Momiji said, "I'll get it" he jumped a little and reached out grabbing the small book, "There you go. Being tall has its advantages" he grinned placing his hands behind his head.

"Thank you Momiji" Tohru replied, "Wow" she said when she saw the book, "This one is very old. The paper in this journal is nothing like we have today."

"Yea" Yuki nodded, "If you want Miss Honda you can be the one to research that one, since there is only one."

"Okay" she nodded, "But I think I'd better help you research some of the other ones too, since there are so many. I'll look in the boar section today."

"In that case" Yuki said, "Why don't you take that one home with you? You can read it before you go to bed later."

"Really? Can I?"

"I don't see why not. No one is going to miss it. Go ahead and borrow it Miss Honda."

"Okay" she nodded, "I'll do it. Now let's get cracking on those books."

(Next Scene)

For the remainder of the day, the three of them spent reading through the various journals in the large sitting room, illuminated only by many candles. Soon Yuki looked at his watch and realized it was getting close to dinnertime. So they closed their books and promised to return the next day. Yuki and Tohru were the last out of the gate since Momiji said he was going to another violin lesson.

"Try to keep up with me as we leave Miss Honda" he replied as they walked, "You can easily get lost in here."

She nodded her head and followed close behind. But all of a sudden she heard her name being called in a whisper. She stopped and looked behind her, while Yuki who had heard nothing continued to walk.

"Miss Honda" the voice called again and Tohru went to it.

From behind one of the trees she was surprised to see Kureno was the one that had called.

"Kureno? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I saw you and Yuki enter into the main house area this morning" he replied.

"Oh Kureno" she said a bit worried, "You're not going to tell anyone that we were here are you?"

"No" he shook his head, "Not if you can do something for me."

Tohru looked at him for a few seconds and then looked at him directly.

"What can I do for you?"

"I need your help Miss Honda" he lowered his head, "I need your help in finding that friend of yours. The one who spent all that time with Akito."

"Does he mean Kandis?" she thought.

"Please Miss Honda" he looked at her imploringly, "Can you find a way to get in touch with her?"

"Kureno I" she said hesitantly, "Kandis went back to America almost a year ago. I haven't heard from her since then."

"Miss Honda?" she heard Yuki call.

"But I need to find her. Is there a way you can try to get in contact with her?"

"I well."

"Miss Honda?" Yuki's voice called.

She turned as Kureno lowered his head some more and looked back at him.

"I don't know what kind of help I can be but I promise I will try my best to find her for you."

"Thank you" he grinned gratefully, "When you do find her tell her about Akito. Tell her everything. And then get in contact with me through Arisa. I have to go now. Yuki's still calling you" he walked away just as Yuki arrived.

"Miss Honda"" Yuki said as he ran over, not noticing Kureno's departure, "Are you all right? I thought you might be lost."

"Oh no I'm all right" she replied walking ahead, "I'm sorry I made you worry Yuki. Come on!" she called to him, "Let's hurry home so I can start dinner."

Yuki scratched the back of his head in bewilderment but just shrugged his shoulders and followed Tohru home, who was still carrying the cat's journal.

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey guys! I am being so stubborn. I am nearing the end of this series and I am not looking forward to it. I have so looked forward to writing this for you, but like they say all good things have to eventually come to an end. I think I might just make this book a little longer. I'm not sure. Anyway. I will see you all tomorrow for the next chapter!

Next Chapter: Going Through the Past

Now that Tohru is involved researching through the journals is going to uncover a lot of things from the past. Even some things she didn't know about her own family. See you all next time!

Note one: This next book will be split into several parts so you have that to look forward to. See you all tomorrow for Part One: Foretelling Dreams.