Chapter Six: Going Through the Past
Part One: Foretelling Dreams
Tohru petted Kyoko as she lay down in her bed for the night. On the night table next to her bed was the cat's journal she had brought home from the Zodiac archives. She reached over and picked it up, turning to the first page. At the top of the page was a date that from Tohru could tell was a very old one.
"Wow" she said out loud to herself, "This journal is really old. I wonder just how far back in time it goes."
She turned to the next page and spotted the first paragraph. She read quietly to herself as Kyoko purred next to her, her small tail twitching back and forth as she slept.
"My beloved one,
So long has it been since I have gazed at your beautiful face. But I have not forgotten you in all these years. I have not forgotten how strong hearted you were. How gentle you were to those in need. As I lie here and write this, there is a pain in my heart because we cannot be together. This thing, which separates us, can never be undone and that hurts me greatly. I am writing this journal now so that someday when I am gone it will be sent to you so you can remember a time when we were together. The time we first met, the time I first heard you play your beautiful music, and even the sad time when we finally parted. This is my final gift to you before I do. I will love you forever my love.
When Tohru came to the end of the short letter she noticed that there was no signature. She yawned as she turned to the next page.
"So this must have been written to someone the cat of the Zodiac loved. I guess he couldn't be with her because of the curse" she sadly stroked her cat's back, "But" she yawned again as she looked down at the next page, " I don't think I could keep my eyes open another second" she closed the book and put it back on her side table, "I'll read some more tomorrow" she decided as she turned out the light, "Good night Kyoko" she yawned one last time before falling asleep.
Kyoko raised her head up a little staring at the small journal on the table. Oddly enough it was giving off and eerie glow and Kyoko walked over to it to sniff it. As she neared it she backed away just as quickly hissing at the book a little and then dashing off the bed because she was scared. Tohru didn't stir during all this and soon she drifted off to a place that was unfamiliar.
(Next Scene)
"It's so windy" Tohru thought as her eyes were still closed, "Did I leave the window open again?" she opened her eyes and realized she was no longer in her room but standing in a field, "Where am I?" she thought, "What is this place? It's almost as if I've seen it before" she gazed in front of her at a small village that was in her sight, "Maybe I'll ask there" she said to herself as she ran to the village.
From the far right hand corner she saw some men on horseback heading for the village as well so she picked up speed. When she arrived in the village she discovered that everyone was in a panic. There were men, women, and children running everywhere. Someone called for the Captain of the Guard as Tohru walked over to a young woman who was running from a nearby house.
"Excuse me miss!" she called but she didn't hear her so she tried again, "Sir! I'm sorry to bother you but" again no answer, "What's going on here" she thought, "Can't they see me or hear me? Mam!" she called a third time, nothing.
Suddenly Tohru spotted a cart and a panicked man heading in her direction. She jumped out of the way of the cart but another man ran right towards her. Tohru waited to be pushed to the side, but instead the man went right through her. Tohru looked down at herself and felt her stomach. No injuries.
"Am I ghost?" she wondered aloud, "Or is this a dream?"
The people became more panicked as the men on horseback arrived in the village, brandishing swords and waving them at the terrified villagers. Suddenly from theright of Tohru another group on horseback led by a man in formal armor confronted the trespassers with their own swords. Soon they were able to drive them off, but they were certain that they would return.
"Good job Captain" one of the men said, "We got rid of them."
"Yes" the Captain of the Guard replied as he removed his helmet, "But I have a feeling that they will beback. I must return to the castle and inform them of this" he placed his helmet back on and rode his horse out of the village once more, while his men attended to the many injured people in the village, who thanked them graciously.
Tohru followed the Captain to the right and soon she felt like she was being yanked forward, for in a few seconds she was standing in a very fancy courtyard, and the Captain was still miles away.
"That was weird," she thought, "But what was even weirder is that Captain of the Guard looked just like Yuki's old vice-president, Kakeru Manabe."
She gazed around her surroundings at present and then saw the castle that she now stood in front of.
"What a place" she said in awe as she heard the Captain's horse finally arriving through the gate, "I wonder how I got here so fast? Maybe because it's a dream it moved forward or something."
From the top of the castle two young women rushed over as the Captain got down off his horse. He spoke with one of them and then she hurried up the stairs of the castle. Tohru decided to follow her so she too ran up the stairs. The servant led Tohru to a large door. She entered and Tohru followed close behind.
"My lady" the servant said addressing the shadows, "The Captain of the Guards has returned and he wishes to speak to you."
"He has" a familiar voice replied, "All right. Aya" the person turned to another, "I will be right back."
"Be careful my sister" the one called Aya said as the other one emerged from the shadows.
When Tohru saw her she gasped. For standing in front of her was a young girl of the age of sixteen. Her long brown hair pulled back behind her and her teal eyes sparkled with anger. But there was no mistaking the face. This girl despite her eye color difference looked exactly like Tohru.
"Be careful Takara" Aya replied still in the shadows, "Don't be reckless."
"I know" Takara nodded, "Rest now. Watch after her" she ordered the two servants who bowed to her.
Then she walked out of the room with Tohru at her heels. Takara stopped at the top where she gazed down at the Captain of the Guard.
"Yes Captain what is it?" she asked gently.
He looked up and grimaced somewhat but then he smiled.
"I'm afraid the village has been under attack once more my lady."
"Was it them?"
"Yes we were able to drive them off but as I was riding back I realized that another messenger was coming our way. He should be here soon."
"Then when he arrives allow him to enter," she commanded, "But do not treat this man like a guest. He may say what he has come to say and then he must be on his way."
"As you wish my lady" The Captain nodded, "You heard what the princess said, open the gates!"
The gates were immediately open and Tohru could see the messenger escorted by two other men on horseback enter. She stared at her double as she stared at the intruders.
"How strong she is" Tohru thought, "She's not like me at all. I wonder, could this princess be the one the cat wrote about in his journal."
The Captain of the Guard walked over to the messenger who climbed off his horse. His nose was pointed and it was obvious that he had never been in any battles, considering that all the other men around him were burly and tough, while he was skinny and tall.
"State your business" the Captain ordered his sword ready.
"Of course. I have come to bring a message to the Lord of this castle. Is he here?"
"The Lord of this castle is not present at the moment" Takara replied loud enough for the message to hear, "But I will hear your edict. I am the Lady of this house."
"Oh I see. Well my message was supposed to be for the Lord of this castle but I don't think there will be any harm in reading it to you" he cleared his throat and opened the parchment, "By the order of my Lord and Master he hereby states that he will end this war with the Sohma clan forthwith if you in turn will turn over what is rightfully his as was stated in agreement by your father. My Lord and Master requests only one thing. The hand in marriage to the elder sister of the Sohma clan."
"What?" Takara's eyes became wide.
"I remain your sworn enemy until then, Hayoto Ushida."
"Ushida?" Tohru glanced at the man, "Sohma. This castle is the Sohmas castle?"
Takara stared angrily at the man and then finally spoke.
"And that is all your edict states?"
"Yes my lady. What answer am I to return to my Master for he will be expecting one?"
"You want an answer?" she replied angrily as she reached nearest to her for a bow and arrow, "Here is my answer!" she fired the arrow and it knocked the parchment out of the startled messenger's hands, pinning the parchment to the ground.
"You can take that parchment and that arrow back to your master as my answer" she stated, "As if I would ever allow a member of the Ushida clan to marry my sister. Captain show them out."
"As you wish my lady," he agreed taking out his sword and the rest of the soldier following suit.
The messenger and the two men once the skinny one had grabbed the parchment and arrow got back on their horses and rode out of the castle grounds.
"She is strong?" Tohru thought as Takara sighed heavily.
Another sigh came from behind her as her older sister Aya finally came out. Tohru gasped yet again, for despite her long hair and her light blue her eyes; her face resembled that of Akito.
"Aya?" Takara said as she faced her, "Father never did make such a deal did he?"
"I do not believe so" Aya replied with a shake of her head, "But Takara you shouldn't have been so bold. You are supposed to be behaving like a young woman not a boy."
"But if I were a boy I could protect you better."
"You do not need to protect me. And anyway what would Yotaro think if he had seen that. I'm sure he wouldn't approve either. You're far too reckless my young sister. You must learn patience like me."
"I'm afraid I have never been a very patient person" Takara nodded, "But I will try for you my sister. By the way Aya" she replied suddenly realizing, "You shouldn't be out here. You're way too sick. Come inside before you catch your death. Yotaro wouldn't want you to die on him anymore then he would want me behaving like a boy."
"Yes" Aya nodded as they walked inside, "But I do believe that our brother will be here before long."
"I sure hope you are right" Takara said sadly as they moved inside, "Yotaro" she replied whispering his name.
It was at this moment the world started to spin and Tohru could feel herself moving forward again.
"What's happening?" she thought a little scared.
(Next Scene)
She sat up with a start, the sweat dripping from her brow. She gazed at her surroundings. She was back in her room, back in her bed, with Kyoko nowhere to be found.
"So it was just a dream," she thought as she lay back on her pillow, "So strange. It felt so real."
(Next Scene)
" A strange dream?" Momiji said interested.
He, Yuki, and Tohru were once more back in the archives researching the journals once more.
"Uh huh" she nodded, "But the strangest part was I had the dream just after I read the cat's journal a little last night."
"What was the dream about Miss Honda?" Yuki asked as he crossed his arms as he sat on one of the couches.
"I think I was back in time, in the feudal era. There was definitely a war of some kind going on between two clans. One of the clans was the Sohma clan I believe."
"The Sohma clan?" Yuki raised an eyebrow.
"Yes" she nodded, "They had a lot of land and a village below the castle. Say did the Sohmas ever have a castle?"
"It's hard to say Miss Honda" Yuki replied, "I am not sure what goes on that far back in history. We could have after all castles were a common thing among the wealthier families. They were all over the place in the feudal era."
"That's true" Momiji nodded, "So tell us more about your dream Tohru. What did you see in it?"
"Well there was the village that was attacked, a Captain of the Guard from the castle, who strikingly resembled your old vice president Kakeru Manabe Yuki."
"Okay" Yuki said a little confused.
"Oh and when I arrived at the castle I saw a lot of other people, including two princesses."
"Princesses? Wow!" Momiji grinned, "That must have been so cool. What were they like?"
"Well that's the strangest part" Tohru scratched her head, "One of them looked exactly like Akito."
"Akito?" Yuki said surprised.
"That's right her name was Aya and she was very ill. And the other one looked exactly like I do, except for the color of her eyes. Her name was Takara Sohma. And boy was she something. Her personality it was so much different then mine. A messenger was sent by the other clan agreeing to stop the war if the Sohma clan would hand over the eldest sister in marriage. At the time I think the master or Lord of the castle is away fighting in the war, so there is just the two princesses, a handful of servants and very few guards. Anyway Takara stated that she wouldn't allow such a thing and she fired an arrow at the enemy to let them know that she meant business."
"Wow!" Momiji smiled, "She sounds like a real firecracker. Did anything else happen?"
"Mnm" Tohru shook her head, "That was it. Then I woke up. I wonder do you think it's possible that I could ever dream something like that again?"
"I suppose Miss Honda" Yuki replied with a bit of a frown, "But recurring dreams hardly ever happen. I wouldn't count on it too much. But who knows. Maybe it was no ordinary dream."
"Maybe" Tohru nodded.
"Oh I hope you do have another dream Tohru" Momiji said excitedly, "Then we can find out what happens. Perhaps you should continue reading the cat's journal."
"Sure" she nodded again with a smile.
"Well" Yuki stood up, "We're going to get some more journals to research Miss Honda" Momiji also jumped up, "We'll be right back."
"Okay" she nodded as she picked up the same Boar journal that she has been reading.
A couple of hours later Yuki and Momiji looked up from their reading and noticed that Tohru was fast asleep in her chair.
"Poor thing" Momiji said kindly, "I guess she didn't get much sleep last night because of that dream. Hey do you think she'll have another one?"
"I don't know Momiji" Yuki replied putting a finger to his lips, "But keep it down and let her sleep. We'll know when she wakes up."
Momiji nodded and returned to his book.
Meanwhile Tohru felt the breeze on her face once more and opened her eyes.
(Next Scene)
From what she could tell she was once more in the castle grounds and it was the same day. Takara was coming down the stairs and mounting her horse.
"Are you sure about this my lady?" the Captain asked.
"Yes Captain" Takara nodded, "I am going down to the village once more to help them out. Come on" she said riding the horse out of the gates.
The Captain mounted his own horse and followed her out, two of the soldiers from the castle following him. Tohru once more felt herself pulled forward and she ended up in the center of the village where she spotted Takara tending to the wounded.
"Thank you my lady," an older man replied as she bandaged his knee.
"Not at all" she smiled.
"Please my lady" the Captain said, "You have been doing this for hours .You will exhaust yourself."
"Not until all these people are cared for. I want at least six guards to remain here in the village to protect them again from oncoming attacks" she said as she moved around to the next injured person who was a young girl.
"I'm afraid my lady, there won't be enough soldiers left at the castle if I do that."
"What do you mean? How many soldiers do we have?"
"At last count my lady, fifteen."
"Only fifteen? But my brother left thirty soldiers with us. Have that many fallen already?" she said with a worried frown.
"I'm afraid so" he nodded, "We lost most of them this morning when the village was attacked."
"I see" she replied closing her eyes briefly and moving away from the crowd.
"My lady? What about the soldiers?"
"I still want six here to protect our people. Nine are just going to have to be enough for now to protect the castle. I am heading back to the castle now" she said getting on her horse, "When you are done here, please return with nine of the men."
"Yes my lady" he bowed as she departed.
Tohru watched her leave as she galloped away. She felt sadness creep into her heart as she watched.
"It's funny," she thought, "But I can actually feel how she is feeling."
Suddenly once more Tohru felt herself pulled forward. This time she found herself once more in the courtyard, but it was obviously another day, for Takara was in a different kimono. The Captain of the Guard was kneeling before her as her face sank sadly.
"Only ten left?" she said not believing, "When did they attack?"
"It was late last night my lady" the Captain replied, "A lot of the villagers have suffered loss too."
"I see. Captain" she raised her eyes, "I want the remaining women and children to be brought to the palace immediately. As for the men prepare them for battle if it comes down to it."
"Yes" he nodded, "But most of the men in the village are injured as well. They need treatment."
"All right. Then bring them here too. I want the village completely emptied out."
"I understand. But there is one other thing my lady."
"Yes what is it?"
"Another messenger will be arriving shortly from the Ushida clan. He has another edict sent by their Lord."
"Oh really?" her eyebrows rose in anger, "Very well Captain when he arrives you may let him enter. We will see what those barbarians want this time."
The gate was opened when the rider arrived. It was the same messenger and the same two riders, who walked in warily, looking for any arrows that might be aimed at them. Instead they were astonished to see that Takara was standing right in front of them, her teal eyes burning with hatred. They dismounted their horses and bowed before her out of respect.
"There is no need to respect me when you don't" she spat.
"But my lady" the messenger replied, "We only wish to praise you for your beauty."
"Enough!" she shouted, "State why you have come here and then depart from my sight."
"Of course" the skinny one nodded opening up the parchment, "This edict states, from my Lord and Master of course, that if the Lord and Master of the Sohma clan does not return in the allotted time of three days then I will come myself to seize control of the Sohmas land and fetch my bride to be. Sincerely Hayoto Ushida" he folded up the parchment and stared at the girl in front of him who's eyes were trembling slightly.
"I see" she finally replied angrily, "You may tell your Lord and Master that my brother will return soon and that his reign of terror over my people will no longer be tolerated. We the Sohma clan will not give up without a fight."
"There is no use fighting the inevitable my lady," the messenger said slyly.
"Get them out of my sight!" she ordered the Captain of the Guard as she walked up the stairs.
Tohru followed her till they came to the room where she found her staring at Aya with a sad look in her eyes.
"What is wrong my sister?" Aya asked.
"Oh" Takara shook her head, "Everything has gotten completely worse. You were right Aya; I was far too reckless the other day. Now because of my stupidity more soldiers have died" she began to cry as she walked over and knelt before Aya, laying her head on her lap, "And so many people have suffered too."
"You mustn't place all the blame on yourself my sister."
"But I do. Why can't I learn to be patient. They are not giving up either. They sent another messenger here stating that the head of their clan would be here in three days to take over if Yotaro doesn't return."
"Oh he will be back before then my sister."
"How do you know that Aya?" she looked up into her sister's clear eyes.
"I just do" Aya smiled down at her.
Soon it was night, and Tohru found herself in the bedroom of the two sisters. There was a pounding of feet outside and then a loud knock sounded at the door.
"My lady!" a servant called.
Aya didn't stir but Takara was awoken by the noise. She grabbed a nearby robe and then rushed to the door.
"Yes what is it?" she asked the servant.
"My lady. The Captain of the Guard sent me to fetch you. He said it was urgent."
"All right" she nodded gazing back at her sister before exiting the room.
Tohru followed her till they came to the Captain.
"Yes Captain" Takara replied, "What is it?"
"Some of my men have spotted some horses heading our way my lady."
"Is it the Ushida clan?" she asked with a worried expression.
"No my lady. I don't think so" he shook his head with a smile, "They bear flags that bear the crest of the Sohma clan."
Takara looked at the Captain and he nodded as she dashed down the stairs. He followed her down and ordered for the gate to be open. Into the gates came the many horses following a beautiful brown stallion. On top of it sat a young man with a magnificent sword at his side. The Captain of the Guard walked over to him and took his hand.
"Welcome back my Lord."
"Thank you Captain" he replied taking off his helmet, "It's good to be back" he looked in the direction of the girl who was shaking.
"Yotaro" she said slowly as she ran forward and embraced him.
From where she stood Tohru stared wide-eyed at the boy not believing her eyes. Suddenly the feeling that always pulled her forward began again and she felt her eyes close.
(Next Scene)
Tohru sat up abruptly and the book she had been reading fell off of her lap. Yuki and Momiji rushed over as she gasped for air.
"Miss Honda are you all right?" Yuki asked in concern.
"Yuki" she looked up at him wide-eyed, "It was you this time. You were there."
Momiji and Yuki looked at each other with confused expressions on their faces, not really sure what to say.
(To be Continued…)
Authors Note: Okay you guys! There's part one! I'll see you all tomorrow for part two! Are you all as excited as I am? I hope so!
Next time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket
Part Two: Yuki's Double
