Born to be Broken

Disclaimer: Fruits Basket is not mine. Nor is it yours. Unless of course you are the people who own it, in which case it is yours. Though I can't say I agree with you for what you did in the "non-existent-Fruits-Basket-manga" but hey, we all get stoned sometimes. Just imagine what your mothers would think, hmm? Better put that bong away now and open the window to clear the air before she gets home. Wouldn't want her to catch you playing with illegal substances now, would you?

Note: Okay, now that I have had my little obligatory dig at the creators, time to move on to my widdle itty bitty notey thingy. Thankyou everyone for being patient, I know I have been on hiatus for a while but after that last chapter I kind of felt like I deserved a holiday, don't you? Also I've been wrapped up in my newly obsessive Descendants of Darkness craze. You can possibly expect some fanfiction on that soon. (Preferably MurakixTsuzuki. I just love those insane psychotic types. But at least the creators can't turn Muraki into a girl unless they were really hitting that ganj extra hard. Your Mom's don't want you to smoke pot for a reason, kiddies.)

Thankyou all and sundry for the reviews, which I will not actually respond to since it has been so long since my last update that you guys probably won't have any clue what it is that I am responding to, anyway! Just know that I have read them all and I love you all. That includes all of you that are reading, but not reviewing. Yes, I love even you. But I love reviews even more and I'm not ashamed to admit that.

This chapter, just so you know, is shameless information revealing the whole way through. Which means TONS of boring exposition, delivered in a failed attempt at being riotously interesting. And the only character you will recognize is Ritsu. Ayame, Shigure, Akito, Kureno and Hatori will be reappearing in the next chapter but I have shortened this story down considerably from the original plan. Meaning I have to get my OC introduced lickity-split! It's dragging on way too long and I think you all agree. On that note, uh please at least endure this chapter until the next update.

Oh and just on record, duos-deathscythe honey, if anyone let alone that be-yoch of a flamer take another crack at you again for whatever immature reason they can concoct, you just give them my email address and tell them to BRING IT ON. Don't you listen to anything that idiot said. The fact that they ripped your fic off of is a disgrace. My last chapter was just as bad, if not worse in regards to explicit yaoi and no one has so much as lifted a finger in protest! If yours was taken off, mine should have been too. What happened to you was unfair and I would be complaining about it to the site manager if I were you. I might even do it for you.

Anyway, the point honey is that your fic is exquisite. You took that abuse in your stride and dealt with it marvelously and for that I applaud you, but if you want me to have words with anyone for you, all you have to do is ask. Okay?

Now, with that all out of the way, I present for your reading chagrin, Chpt 10 of Born to be Broken!

"Whom the gods love dies young." Menander, Dis Exapaton

It was no secret that Ritsu Sohma was a timid boy by nature. When he arrived at the Main House, he had been planning to simply mind his own business and not cause any disturbance for the duration of his stay.

It seemed like a simple enough plan.

And yet it was this very timidity that drew him into this situation in the first place.

Ritsu had been unpacking his clothes into the drawers of his room when he gave credence to the fact that he was thirsty. Abandoning his task for the time being, he decided to go down to the kitchen and get himself a glass of water.

He first noticed it when he passed by a locked room in the upstairs hallway. It wasn't really that big of a deal to see a room boarded up like that. The Main House was old, and the floors of some of the upper rooms had fallen away as a result of time. But Ritsu noticed this time. He noticed because he knew the room for what it was; that it was locked for a different reason rather then that of disrepair and neglect.

It was the Punishment Room.

He knew because he had been locked in there before. As a child, he had been very accident-prone. Well... even more so then he was today and often as an apology to those people that he had offended, his parents would segregate him to the room. Sometimes for hours at a time. Plunged within that inescapable darkness, the mind was seduced toward the temperate half of passive human nature that desired to submit to shadow and despair. Were you to hold your hand up to your face, you would not have been able to discern even the semblance of shape through the ebony spool. The darkness seemed beyond the dark contrasting to light. The blackness of that room was no contrast; it was at war with the light. It shunned it, refuted it, as a woman would shield herself from the oppressing body of a man attempting to take her in dominance rather than love. It flowed down from the ceiling like a waterfall, stretched up from every corner like thin flowing tresses of a woman's hair, seeking out to entangle all those within. To drown in that water and succumb to the tyrannical embrace of those ebony locks.

And Ritsu distinctly remembered the wet, warmth that seemed to throb beneath his fingers whenever he had been inside. The room had been unmercifully cold, unforgiving and wretched as it thrust it's icy grasp all over his body, sending shivers along his spine to every limb that lay connected to it by neural energy. Yet, the floor appeared to almost be... alive. He would leave the room and his fingers would be covered in a dull red stain, not to mention the hem of his clothing. Stains that never seemed to wash away, no matter the amount of scrubbing it was reduced to. Though his eyes learnt to adjust to the dark, it was never enough to discern just where these stains originated. What birthed them.

He would sit in that room, arms around his legs and weep into the curves of his knees, pondering just why anyone deserved to be plunged into a sickening travesty like this. How his parent's, through their shame of him, could allow him to be cast aside and punished for behaviour that was unintentional and accidental. The shivers cascaded down his body to follow the trails of darkness seeping down to trace his curled figure, entwining around the delicate balance of shadow tresses that crept from the corner. It jeered and laughed at him. At his pitiful self.

Ritsu wondered how anyone else could have tolerated such imprisonment. Often, the sorrow that seemed to saturate that room overwhelmed him to such a degree, that he would willingly have torn his own jugular out, so that he would no longer have to endure it.

Then the day came that he finally realized... not everyone had been able to tolerate it. That there had been others, weaker than he had ever been.

He met this other at the age of nine. He'd lost count of how many times he had been placed in that room by then. Yet the horror was no less severe than if it had been the first time.

He had been sitting in the corner, his back to the wall when he had heard it. The sound of someone crying.

At first Ritsu though he was imagining it. He did have a vivid imagination after all and such time in lengthy solitude was bound to entice the mind to discern sounds that may or may not have been there. Unconsciously he supposed that when scared, one tends to perceive things differently. The sound could have been a rattling water pipe for all he knew.

Still, he remembered the way his body froze utterly and completely. The yawn that had been creeping up his throat was decapitated before it emerged from his lips and his eyelids shot up, curving backward over the eyeball until the orb nearly hung suspended. His fingers froze rigidly, extending forwards from his body as though reaching out for something; anything that might save him from the terror his own body was betraying him to. Forcing himself to breathe slowly and softly, Ritsu listened for the sound again and was rewarded as it filtered from the corner directly diagonal from him. It was softer this time, weaker somehow. Ritsu naturally could not see that far infront of him but he wasn't initially frightened, proposing that it might have been someone else who the elders had locked in here before him. It was unusual for two children to be locked in the Punishment Room at the same time but not unheard of.

He'd called to this other child and crawled toward her, hoping to establish contact in this desolate Hell hole they'd both been plunged. Company in such a place was a welcome commodity. When he reached the far corner however, there was no one there.

But the crying continued. From the very same spot in which he was crouching. And the floor seemed to throb to life beneath his feet. Something wet dropped down against his forehead and Ritsu wiped it absently, only jolting to a start when he felt the warmth of the fluid and it's density.

Something battered at his head. There was a creaking sound and then a light tap to his temple. Another wet droplet splattered directly into the center of his forehead.

And still the crying continued. Coming from directly above him...

Ritsu moved his hand away from the door and took a dissuading step away. That day had tattooed its' imprint on the inside of his mind, a tattoo he would never be able to remove.

When he screamed, his parents and the elders had arrived almost immediately, tentatively easing open one of the doors and allowing just a fraction of light to seep inside.

But that was enough. More than enough.

No one else had been able to see it, not at that moment anyway. The seven-year-old daughter of Deniko and Hoku Sohma had been locked in the Punishment Room three years earlier as punishment for a sin that no one even had the audacity to remember. The girl, driven insane by her time in isolation, tore at her flesh with her own nails, then somehow traversed the rafters of the small room and hanged herself by the cord of her kimono. Her parents found her later that evening and her death was never discussed amongst the younger members of the family, lest their fear of the room increase further.

That day, three years later that Ritsu had been locked in the room, was the anniversary of the little girls' suicide. Even in death her spirit had been unable to rest, having died by unnatural and deliberate means.

When the light came through the door, darkness peeled away from her like bandages. Her short black hair lifeless. Rivulets of gashes ran trails across her face, arms, chest, legs and parts of the body that Ritsu didn't dare imagine at such a young age. Her dead, dark eyes were focused on him in the fashion of an insectile alien as she swayed lifelessly back and forth from the rafter from which she had hanged herself. Sobs continued to slink through her mouth, despite the irregular angle of her neck, revealing the snapped bone that had peaked beneath the pale skin. Her bare feet had been battering Ritsu's face as she had rotated in a semi-circle beneath the rafters, like an angel suspended between Heaven and the real world.

To him, she appeared very real. But all the others could see was his petrified expression and the kimono cord they had left there for three years, swaying back and forth...

No one had believed him. Even after witnessing his terror, none had been able to accept that he had seen the memory of that little girl, frozen in mock vanity of her final few precious seconds of life. And on threat of being placed in the room again, Ritsu eventually stopped talking about it. As such, he very nearly believed that he had imagined the whole thing after all. It was possible.

But then... he'd never known the story of the girl's suicide. No one had ever told him, not until he'd revealed what he had seen in the Punishment Room. The adults had all been perplexed as to how he managed to find out, but then established it on the basis of his nosy, eavesdropping tendencies. The issue was never brought up again. And Ritsu was never placed in the Punishment Room again, which was the only bonus of the whole horrific experience.

It had been eleven years since he had even step foot near the door. There had always been some way to avoid it. Another hallway to take, another place to go, away from that cursed room. Even despite the fact that it had been some years since it had been used to punish anyone, it contained the sort of negative energy in abundance that a place does after something terrible happens. This event leaves a stain, a stain of memory and in that memory, the thoughts and feelings of whoever's memory it had been.

So many memories were staining the walls of that room. The creeping shadows from the corner ran around them and were devoured if it was not careful. Truly, there had been those in the family whom having known nothing about the particular's of that room, reported having an initial bad feeling about it. Even just in passing it to go down to the kitchen.

Ritsu wished that he could have been as brave as the others he'd known to have been locked inside that room. He wished he'd had been able to cope with it as Ayame had. As far as he knew, the snake had allowed nothing inflicted upon him in that darkness to pervade his thoughts.

The monkey leaned close hesitantly and placed his ear to the door, wondering if that little girl still cried in there. He didn't really expect to hear a sound. Some part of him still doubted the authenticity of his memory. However, whilst no one cried from within the room, Ritsu could have sworn he heard something else. Something far away, as though it were an old cassette tape being played through a paper bag. Someone crying out in pain... the sound of a whip striking flesh... someone screaming and someone laughing, all in the heat of darkness and violence.

Was there someone in there?

Ritsu gazed at the thick iron cast lock, clamped around the chains looping through the door handles. The chain and lock were both orange with rust an inch thick. It looked like the only way to get into the room was to physically break the lock itself; perhaps by hitting it hard enough with a strong weapon.

Like a sledgehammer perhaps...

Ritsu was pondering whether or not he should find someone to help him get into the room, when the sound of two people locked in hushed conversation reached his ears. It was a little hard to tell from a distance, but the pair sounded annoyed and likely to snap at anyone whom they encountered. Being possessed by an animal spirit gave Ritsu a sort of sixth sense when it came to these things. And being Ritsu, he didn't want to offend anybody by being caught snooping around a place that he obviously was not welcome.

The voices were coming closer and Ritsu decided that the best thing to do was make himself look scarce. He ducked behind a corner only to see that the passageway piddled off into a dead end, leaving him no available escape route. Well wasn't that just peachy? To top it off, two of the family elders had appeared from down the hallway that Ritsu had just been standing in, effectively trapping him down the dead-end hallway. Ritsu wondered where it was they had just come from. All of the rooms down that hallway were bedrooms and he certainly didn't hear or see anyone enter the hallway whilst he had been unpacking.

He risked a quick glance and visibly winced at the sight of Arata. The beautiful, but cold faced Head of the Elder's whom had served Tamiko before her son Akito had taken over as Family Master. With her, was the recluse but generally broad minded and warm hearted Nori; the elder responsible for making records of events in the Sohma family and listing all the people whom had come across the Secret and those that had had their memory erased. Ritsu had heard that Nori was Kureno's father, though it was difficult to see the resemblance. Nori, whilst an elder, seemed much more open and easy going than his stoic son. His hair was a dusky red, the color of old blood and the deep lines running across his still handsome face, revealed the expressive nature of the man himself. A smile highlighted by these lines showed that he had laughed much in life and the wavy curves along his forehead revealed he had also had much trial and concern. Ritsu risked another look and saw that Nori had a bundle of papers in his hand; some that looked suspiciously like newspaper articles, old and recent alike. He was addressing Arata in a smooth, but frank voice.

"Or course I'm angry." Were the first words Ritsu was able to make out. "You know very well how I feel about the decimation of my literary records, Arata."

The woman's lips were set thin across her face, almost resembling a scar. "It's not as though I am asking you to destroy all your files Nori. Just the one's pertaining to the God's Bane. This is very important."

Ritsu ducked his head out of view as the elders made their way into the lounge area just opposite from where he was hiding. Now would be a good chance to get away, but what the elder's were discussing piqued his interest. He didn't want to cause any problems at the Main House, least of all be a nuisance. But... he had heard mention of this Bane amongst the servants gossiping in the hallway. Impudent as it may be, Ritsu couldn't forbid leniency with his curiosity and decided to continue listening. Trying to walk like a self-conscious ninja, he crept forward toward the sliding door and crouched just out of sight beyond the wall, observing the two figures through the thin paper. Nori and Arata's conversation went on, unperturbed.

"I understand that." Nori said in response to Arata's statement. "But – the documents are well concealed. It just seems foolish to deal away with the only evidence of it that we have. Why can I not be trusted to keep them hidden?"

Arata sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose between the pinch of two fingers. It was the posture of a dignified person trying to hide their impatience.

"It's not a matter of whether or not I trust you Nori. If it were, I would allow sole responsibility of the documents to fall to you, such is my faith in your capabilities. However –" At this she raised a finger. "We must now take into consideration the master's restlessness. Knowing full well the stubbornness of the boy he would stop at no length to get what he wants." With a glance at the open doorway, she lowered her voice. "If he wants these records to prove the Bane's existence – to bring him back again – he will. That is why we must destroy them, Nori. To purge their memories forever by cleansing of fire. Akito must not learn of the Bane. He must never remember that- ... that malignant abomination! Or it shall be the end of us." She paused and there was notable desperation in her voice as she spoke again. "For God's sake Nori, burn the records."

There was a long silence settling uncomfortably upon the room. Ritsu rubbed at his shin as it began to prickle with the heat of pins and needles.

Nori eventually spoke and with much reluctance. "... All right."

Arata sighed in relief. "Good. ... Now listen; there are some matters I must deal with, so please commence the cleansing on your own."

"You do mean to evict that tape don't you?" Nori asked as Arata made her way over to the door. She hesitated, her hand set on the frame as Ritsu, no less than two feet away from her, shrank back further toward the dead end hallway, praying that she wouldn't look down and see him. "... I must say..." Nori continued. "I never believed that the boy had it in him. The nerve to deceive us like that."

Arata regarded him casually over one shoulder, her long bangs swaying to cover one eye in perfect alignment to her actions. At that moment, she reminded Ritsu uncannily of someone he knew, but the thought passed before he was even able to consider it properly.

"Never believed it? Come now Nori; is it so hard to believe? Your own son proved that he was more than capable of deceiving us along with the Bane." She closed her eyes and smiled a little, a slight chuckle escaping from between her lips. "Despite the irregularity of just what he is, the Bane did indeed have great love for the master. That love... conquered all fear of the consequences we could bestow upon him." She paused as though thinking back to something. "But so long as that fear keeps him away, we can relax."

Nori nodded, agreeing. "After the Sanctioning my dear, I highly doubt that any could summon such courage to set foot here again. And even if he dared, he would be unrecognizable I imagine."

Arata considered this and seemed to find it reasonable. She turned her face back toward the hallway.

"Well... I shall be back soon. I will go speak with Susumu. Perhaps he will have some idea as to how we can remove the tape."

"Do you think that direct force may be the only absolution?" Nori wondered.

Arata's voice was prim, dismissive. "I would prefer it, if it would not come to that. The nature of such direct action would be highly suspicious."

With that she left, without so much as a sideways glance to the eavesdropping monkey crouching near her feet. Ritsu released a soft sigh of relief and delicately stretched his neck forward, craning his face into parallel alignment of the doorframe. He took in the situation at a glance. Nori went over to the open fireplace and knelt down beside it, placing a small number of newspaper clippings and sheets of withered paper on the floor beside him. The fireplace has been made in the old traditional Western style, at request of one of the previous family master's, whom had acquired a taste for Western architecture. Nori searched his robes, presumably for matches with which to light the fire and came up empty handed. He scanned the room and seemed to come to the conclusion that there was nothing there to light the fire with and climbed to his feet. Ritsu shrank back, trying to make himself as small as possible as Nori approached the door and emerged into the hallway, heading in the direction of the kitchen. Ritsu eyed the abandoned notes like a starving wolf about to leap upon a plump sheep.

'Why shouldn't the family master see these notes?' He wondered, glancing quickly to Nori's retreating back. The elder was bound to notice him on the return trip to decimate the notes; Ritsu was in direct eyeshot. But his active curiosity was still getting the better of him. He wanted to see what was on that paper. 'And... what do they mean by 'Bane?'

With one final glance at the kitchen, the last of Ritsu's self control evaporated. He knew it was ridiculous to allow himself to become entangled in the affairs of the Main House, but something... he wasn't quite sure what, was prompting him to take those articles. It was as though he had some irresistible obligation to find out what the Elder's were concealing... for Akito.

Ritsu didn't allow himself another moment's hesitation. He darted into the room and knelt down to examine the notes. There were a bunch of newspaper clippings, the most recent one dating a few days back, some old formal looking parchment with elegant katakana scrawled all over the surface and a lonely cassette tape that he had not noticed before. There was no label and the tag had been removed, even the company logo had been scratched from the surface. Ritsu lifted the paper into his hands and considered. Altogether there really wasn't much there. Only three or four articles and a couple of pages, handwritten by Nori undoubtedly.

Speak of the elder, Ritsu froze as he heard the older man's footsteps approach. He glanced in terror at the paper in his hands, realizing that he was about to get caught. And if they wanted to conceal whatever this was from the Family Master, imagine what they would do to a cursed family member!

There was only one thing to do. With Nori's footsteps pounding in his ears, matching the elevated beating of his heart; Ritsu tugged the waistband of his jeans outward and stuffed the tape and paper between the crack of his buttocks. He winced a little at the uncomfortable feeling and visibly pinched his bottom together tighter as Nori entered the room, a pack of matches in one hand. He blinked at the shy boy and suddenly furrowed his brows, remembering just what it was he had been in the process of.

"What the Hell are you doing here?" He asked, in a dangerously polite voice.

Ritsu made a point to jump as though surprised. It wasn't difficult to emit an overtly shocked exterior, when his interior was close to quaking from his kidneys to his toes.

"Ooh! Mr. Nori, you startled me."

Nori's voice was cold. "Answer the question."

"I'm sorry! Is it wrong to be here?" Ritsu yelped, thinking that he sounded just a little too guilty. "I just – " Looking around, he spied his shining savour in a video tape called The Grudge and snatched it up, holding the cover out for Nori's inspection. "- came in here to watch I movie, I did! Am I not supposed to be in here?"

Nori regarded him from behind the picture of a young boy with baking powder foundation and a bad eyeliner job. The cursed monkey sounded so innocent, that he almost gave up his act to appear stern and disconcerted, right there. Then he noticed that the documents were missing.

"... Where are the articles that I left beside the fireplace?"

Ritsu hoped the sweat pouring down the back of his neck wasn't visible to the other man. "Articles, you say?"

"Newspaper articles." Nori took another step into the room, purposefully trying to make himself seem imposing. "And paper."

Ritsu made a show of examining the fireplace thoroughly and then looking about the room. He shrugged softly. "I didn't see anything like that in here sir. I'm sorry, but I just came in from a very long trip and all I wanted was to relax in here for a while. But – if you want, I can leave." He placed the video tape down on the ledge he had acquired it and started to make for the door, walking from the knee's down, less he dislodge the notes from their hiding place.

Nori slid the door shut. "Not yet. How do I know for sure that you didn't take the articles?"

Ritsu's bottom lip trembled as he slowly edged away from the elder in very short steps. "What makes you think I would do something like that?!" He almost sobbed, virtually on the brink of tears. "I don't want to cause any trouble!"

The elder set the matches on the table next to him and in a movement surprisingly agile for a man his age, he had closed the gap between them and had grasped Ritsu by the shoulders. His thumbs pressed hard into the oval shape of the boy's upper arms.

"Did you take the articles?" He asked forthright. Fiercely.

Ritsu felt tears trailing down his cheeks and he had to fight the urge to simply throw himself on the elder's mercy and surrender the articles. He knew if he did, it would only mean more trouble. Especially considering where they had been and all.

"No! I don't know what you're talking about!" He whimpered, trying to wrench himself free of Nori's grip. When the other man's fists tightened, Ritsu felt a sudden rush of panic hit him. Nori was deadly serious. Serious enough to perpetuate actual harm upon him, if he thought he was lying. He gasped and pulled backward, astounded at the elder gentleman's strength. There was no way he was going to let him go.

"Nori, what do you think you're doing?" A dark voice sounded from the hallway. Ritsu arched up on the tips of his toes to see over Nori's shoulder. Nobu stood by the doorway, obviously alerted by the pained simpers of Ritsu from within the room. At his presence, Nori immediately released his hold on the monkey, who fell back rubbing at the tender marks left on his bicep muscles.

"This boy may have taken some..." Nori glanced generally at Ritsu and then made a pointed expression at Nobu, inviting him to interpret his hidden meaning. "- paper that is of some importance to me."

Nobu did not seem to understand the implication of Nori's words. On the contrary, he appeared bored and had taken to studying a scar on his left hand.

"Did you see him take it? The paper I mean." He asked.

Nori appeared suddenly abashed by his harsh accusations; as though he were a young boy caught in the act of an activity he knew to be wrong. He glanced down at his hands; face slightly flushed around his firm cheekbones.

"Well... no." He admitted. "But I left them here for barely a minute while I went to retrieve some matches and when I came back he was here and the articles were gone."

Ritsu blinked back the stinging tears that hung suspended from his eyelashes, rubbing at the raw patches on his wrists. The man's grip had been vice like; the very semblance of a dying vulture desperately grasping a hold of decaying meat it intended to tear from the bone. Ritsu wondered if this had been worth it. He couldn't go back now, but what stupidity had possessed him to get involved in the first place? He was meant to be minding his own business!

"I'm sorry! I just came in here to watch a movie!" Ritsu insisted, using the conveyance of his own uncertainty and fear to invoke some belief from the men. He had read once that the most successful deploying tactic in distracting ones opponent, was by lulling them into a false sense of security in which they undermined your skills and abilities; allowing you an upper hand in deploying their attention elsewhere. Blunt honesty, was usually the most convincing. Especially to those people who had difficulty lying without blushing or fumbling across their words like a lock jawed child with a lisp and no front teeth. Not that Ritsu was used to falling into these types of situations, but now inevitably so he would have to perform aptly or else find himself in a whole Hell of trouble. Trouble he doubted he, and his hypochondriac parents especially, needed. "Sirs, I honestly did not see any pieces of paper! I swear!"

Nori's complexion darkened and a vein throbbed visibly in his forehead, discerning his more than apparent frustration at the whole sordid situation. Nobu on the other hand, wore a softer more contemplative and less judgmental expression. He raked a hand through his thinning hair and sighed reluctantly.

"Your word is no good boy." He said at last, his voice sinking a nuance beneath the steady husky overture of his deep baritone. Casually, making it appear as non-threatening as possible, he reached behind him and pinned the door closed, containing them all to the boundaries of the room. Ritsu swallowed noisily and backed up a few steps, knees firmly stapled together. "If this... paper has been misplaced, then we must assume that you are a possible suspect."

The monkey backed up another step; consciously trying to reserve his tears to the brink of absolute diminish of self-control. The shame and guilt he immediately felt for what he had done was encompassing to his gentle and humble nature. On the verge of submitting to the older men's designs, a sudden flash of a prior event unfolded in his mind. Of Akito crying by the piano, for the vanquishing of the life preserver that had been his mother and the amount of pain that tiny, sickened boy was being put through. The Sohma family had been put through so much already and even though Akito's hands were not clean from the exacting of cruel misdemeanors, Ritsu mercifully perceived him as being a victim in the curse also. For him to see his parents die like that before him, to leave him alone to the mercy of the family elders whom sought to, even now, conceal the very facts that could possibly make his transition into death easier, for him to have to invariably suffer in such a cruel and hostile way... He'd been through so much and Ritsu could only see the boy's true vulnerability, when he had seen him cry in denial for the one person whom had given him hope. When he had seen the young boy, the Sohma family master, despair at the suicide of his mother whom had stolen his hope by proving that none had been so strong as to resist the Sohma curse. It would consume them all, take them all down into death kicking and screaming whilst it devoured their souls to absolute carnage. For it to end this way, for Akito to receive no remuneration for the pain he had been put through, for the pain he had put others through... No. No. Ritsu couldn't allow such travesty to simply be eradicated by the flames of purification. Not while he held the potential to set some small favors right anyway.

This silent reassurance was enough to strengthen his resolve and the demure brunette lifted his chin, feigning confidence and met the twin blue pools of Nobu, prompting him to continue this pointless interface.

"I'm sorry but... I don't know what you want me to do. I don't have your notes." He repeated firmly.

Nobu's eyes flashed ice fire. "Take off your clothes." He said.

For a moment, Ritsu thought he must have heard wrong. Surely they weren't going to make him strip to prove his innocence... were they? They didn't have the power to make him do that? Recoiling slightly, he consciously tightened his buns around the notepaper, trying not to let the clenching of the muscle whisper secrets of the action to the other parts of his body.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Take off your clothes." Nobu repeated, seeming less then concerned regarding Ritsu's dignity and personal feelings on the matter.

The monkey felt his back hit the far wall beside the t.v and gasped in alarm, before registering what had caused the contact. He was blushing furiously, face so red that you could have cooked a raw egg on it.

"I... I- I don't want to. Please... I don't have your notes!" He babbled, clasping a hold of his shirtfront as though to make sure that it was still there. Nobu seemed amused by his reaction and chuckled, waving a hand soothingly.

"Don't worry, son. We only want you to strip down to your underwear so that we can check your pockets."

Ritsu by now was flailing up against the wall, truly in the nature of his animal spirit counterpart with all intention of fleeing to higher ground. His crimson face was streaked with sweat, his eyes bulging with disbelief.

"Can't you just check my pockets with my clothes on?!" He wailed.

The elder shook his head solemnly. "I'm afraid not. Now, let's just get this over with, hmm?"

Before he could so much as blink, Ritsu found himself forcefully snatched of his shirt, rigid fingers prying at the buttons and zipper at the waistband of his jeans. All too wary of the paper wedged into his boxer shorts (and being a shy lad besides) Ritsu pointedly shoved the prying hands away and removed the jeans himself, kicking his shoes to the side and sliding the material down past his feet. With a sigh, he dutifully handed the garments over and pressed his back firmly to the far wall, shivering in discomfort as the two men went through his pockets. This was so embarrassing. Why did this have to happen to him of all people? If it was Ayame standing there, he would have been able to talk himself out of undressing in a riotously and undoubtedly witty fashion, leaving the two elders stumped for words as he sauntered out of the room, knees apart and the paper not visibly causing him any discomfort in its' hiding place. But that was Ayame, not Ritsu. Boorish, pathetic Ritsu who was stupid and couldn't do anything right. He couldn't help but allow the tears reverence, a single moist dew drop sliding across his cheek, plucked from his soul by the cord whimper made by his tongue striking the back of his throat. Why was it that no one had any respect for him? He tried to be a good person; to treat people with the same reverence and respect that he himself much desired to be accorded but he never seemed able to obtain it.

These self-deprecating thoughts were broken by the heavy sound of Nori casting Ritsu's garments back at his feet. He exhaled and expressed his annoyance in a high pitched snort.

"All right, he hasn't got them." He grunted as Ritsu hurriedly struggled back into his clothes. "But where could they be I wonder? How could they possibly go missing in the space of a minute?"

"Someone else must have come in before this man." Nobu established accordingly, tapping the side of his nose in the gesture one might make to 'keep Mom' about a particular matter. "Maybe a servant cleaned them up. I'll speak with Naoko. He'll gather all the servants together and question them." He placed a reassuring hand on Nori's robed shoulder. "Never fear my friend... we'll find them." Nori merely grunted in reply.

Ritsu smothered a sigh of relief as the two men made their way out of the room, their business with him immediately forgotten. He shifted a little at the feeling of the paper between his buttocks, but didn't dare risk removing them until he was in the reasonable privacy of his stay in room

'That was close.' He thought, extending a gentle pat of reassurance to his rear end. 'I wonder what's so important about these articles. And this... uh... tape...'

The tape alone was extremely uncomfortable and Ritsu took no time in returning to his room in order to peruse the notes. He locked the door once inside but even then wasn't completely satisfied with this level of security and could only relax once he had pushed the dresser up against the door. It took quite a bit of effort to move the old mahogany furniture but was glad he went to the effort. Only then did he feel safe to remove the paper and spread the articles out across his bed in what appeared to be order by date. He set the tape off to the side for later inspection and setting himself against the headboard of the bed, one leg bent at the knee and the other casually slung over the peak, began to read the articles in order. Each one appeared to be cut hastily from a newspaper, whilst the smaller documented paper scribbled in kanji, appeared to describe details specific to the Sohma family itself. Ritsu decided to examine the newspaper articles first, which were shorter than the documents.

May 26, 1997

At approximately 11:30 PM last night, a young man with substantial injuries covering his body was found on the outskirts of the Sohma family property, on the border of the old dirt road located in the southern region of the prefecture. He was discovered by a man from a neighboring family and was immediately taken to the local hospital where he was treated for multiple trauma and blood loss. The length of the man's body was covered in deep gashes, including the souls of his feet and both sides of his face. His tongue had been struck from his mouth by use of an instrument that cut cleanly through both cheeks, passing between the upper and lower rows of his teeth. There were also a great series of deep puncture marks depicted behind the man's knees, shoulders and calf muscles, as though he had been struck repeatedly with what appears to have been an unidentified thorned weapon of some description. Police investigators have ruled out local rumors of the man being involved in forbidden Shinto rituals within the Sohma family, but have not dismissed the possibility that the man may have had some involvement in the family itself. Locals believe that he had fallen victim to malicious ritualistic Shinto torture, a ritual they are claiming bears the name of 'The Sanctioning'; for deeds of treachery against the family to which you are tied. An idea that is not so far fetched, as reported by surgeons who have found evidence of the involuntary application of the seppuku, an inflection that split the man's stomach open completely.

Doctors at the hospital have little hope to the young man's survival, due to the critical condition in which he was found the severity of the injuries and the fast spread infection of the wounds already. Nevertheless, he made it through the night and seems stable for the time being.

The young man has not yet been identified, due to the severity of his injuries and the lack of personal identification found on him at the time of his discovery. He is believed to be approximately twenty to twenty one years of age.

The Sohma family has yet to make a statement regarding the incident. Police have taken into consideration the previous circumstances surrounding the recluse family and the many unsolved disappearances that have occurred within and around their land. They plan on questioning the young man himself once he has recovered from surgery.

The next article appeared to follow on from this. It read:

May 30, 1997

The young man discovered in a critical state on Sohma property on the 26th of May fell into a coma this morning following surgery to staunch internal bleeding in his abdomen. Police were due to question him following the operation and have been forced to stall their investigations. The man has yet to be identified and no relatives have come forth to claim association with him. He stands at roughly 2 meters (6 ft) in height with shoulder length chestnut hair and scarlet eyes with a wide diameter and distinct lack of pupil and retina. Police are encouraging anyone familiar with this man to come forward.

The final article was very recent. It was dated yesterday and the edges were ragged, as though it had been torn hurriedly from the newspaper it had originally resided before anyone else could lay eyes on it.

May 29, 2004

After seven years in a coma that nearly took his life, the mysterious young man found tortured to the point of death on the old Sohma road, disappeared from the 'Kyoto Special Care Facility' in what was believed to be the early hours of the morning. A malfunction of all security equipment at the supposed time of his departure meant that there was no proof of his exit from the facility. No witnesses saw him leave or viewed anyone entering into the man's room during this time.

Siako Miichi, a nurse currently employed by "KSCF" was on her annual rounds and reported that the bed in which the stranger had been residing for the past seven years was vacant when she checked in and that the bandages bound to the man's healing body were strewn about the floor. Nothing appeared to have been misplaced. The man is believed to have left of his own accord and there is no evidence that he was assisted by any means, in that of transportation or by another acting individual.

Police are looking into the disappearance and have reinstated investigation into the Sohma family. They deny any association with the man and foremost saw fit to remind the investigating detectives that their presence was no longer appropriate, as it caused the terminally ill family master distress. The family master himself was unavailable for comment.

There wasn't anymore. Ritsu lowered the newspaper articles to the bed, his mouth a solemn line. He had no doubt that the Sohma's consulted on this mysterious man's disappearance had been the Family Elder's, seeking to conceal their involvement and his identity. Could this man have been the 'Bane' they were talking about?

The articles lead no answer to his procrastination and Ritsu turned his attention to the old crumpled sheet, folded in various sections. As he pulled the leaflets back, Ritsu was surprised to discover that the document itself was quite long and pertained to part of the original zodiac fable. It looked as though it had been copied from an old book, perhaps the original copy of the zodiac fable kept by the Sohma family exclusively. It certainly looked as though it was extracted from the same text.

Once all 12 of the animals had arrived, God wrote their names down in his book and created the Jikkan Junishi. As they were all sitting down to enjoy the New Year's banquet, a black Kitsure fox arrived at the door and called out to the God. God was very kind and he explained to the fox that the 12 Emperor animals had already been chosen and there was no room left at the table.

To which, the fox merely smiled and a small flame burned above his head. This startled the dog, who barked in alarm and the black fox became a tall daemon with sinful eyes. The God acknowledged this and was intrigued; though he could sense the animosity of the creature before him. Nevertheless, he found that he was startled by the beings dark splendor. The fox-spirit smiled and spat a magic pearl from its' mouth, offering it to the Celestial God as a New Years Gift. God refused the gift, because he had no need of material possessions. But his refusal offended the dark creature and shadows leapt into its' eyes.

"Why to which reason do you refuse my offer?" It asked angrily. "I extend a token of good will, to which you spit in my face! Why so? Why so, when I commit this act of the noblest of intentions?"

By now, God had realized whom the dark one was – a servant of O'yama, from the Nether world, guardian of all the beings of the shadow realms. Yurei, demon's, Oni, tengu. The dark none saw that God knew and laughed at his hesitation. It mocked the God, questioning him over his choice for the Jikkan Junishi. He asked why none of his subjects were allowed to compete, as they too were part of world's life. God explained that the beings of the Nether Regions could not be trusted to guard the passing of the years. Yurei were impure, mortal guises filled with nothing but the bitter feelings over their own deaths. The animals of the shadows, such as the tengu, were manipulative and could not be trusted. Demon's wandered between the living and the dead; inspiring havoc or misleading the foolish. Creatures not altogether evil, but whom are tricksters who enjoy playing practical jokes. At this, the dark one burst into laughter, claiming that he, as a daemon, required no lecture in how he passed his days.

"Ah, but my Lord, you are most foolish and have so been mislead!" The daemon laughed. "For thou art so determined to filter thy table of all the impurities of thine malignant realm, thou hast let one of mine own through the door already. By consideration, did you not bat an eye when one of my children lashed its' teeth at the feet of one of your own?"

God realized what he had done and turned in horror to the snake – the creature that the evil, miserable wretches of humanity became after death. Who men became because their desires are not met during life. The Celestial God was horrified and threatened to cast the snake out, but the dog and dragon leapt to its' defense, claiming its' innocence. The Dark One saw the trepidation it had caused and was pleased. It suggested to God that the Celestial One might confront him in hand to hand combat, so that he might defend his child's right to remain as one of the Jikkan Junishi. God witnessed the Dark One's all encompassing dominion over all that was different and threatening, and felt it's desire to suppress that which opposed his every value. The God did not want to fight because he saw no profit in violence, but feared the darkness of the snake and how it might contaminate all Creation beneath his hand. So with that in mind, he agreed to confront the demon and they established that the conflict would be waged in the Land of the Living, so neither could draw an unfair advantage from their own realms.

The daemon left and all the animals had a wonderful time at the banquet. But the God could not remove the Dark Lord's presence from his mind and he spent the rest of the evening in quiet meditation; gathering his strength from the upcoming confrontation.

The very next day he informed all his subjects as to his intentions and made ready to leave and confront his adversary. Through the darkness of the earth's night, he propelled himself through the skies and set himself down upon the earth, in a place free from people and potential fatalities.

The Dark One was not yet there, so God waited and counted off the seconds. For each second he counted a different breed of tree sprung from the earth around all the world and each minute that passed, the rivers of Japan separated and stretched out to every corner of the earth.

After he had waited a considerable length of time, God suddenly became aware of the world's distortion about him – and the light of the sun failed to reach every nook and cranny as it once could. Shadows appeared from whence none had every appeared before and the earth trembled beneath the footsteps of the Dark One as it approached, causing earthquakes and tsunami's. The God knew that this made his people suffer and he was saddened. He demanded the Dark One depart but the daemon just laughed and cast his hand over God's face. The Celestial One was overcome by the incomprehensible seduction of darkness, the tendrils that sought to choke his power and he withdrew to the farthest reaches of his consciousness, drawing away from the shadow. The daemon watched in delight as it saw God retreat from him and tightened his control. God could no longer resist and his power drained away to the Nether Regions, leaving him weakened and saturated in darkness. He collapsed to the ground, his mind clouded by infernal damnation.

Throughout it all, the Dark One observed the Celestial One's struggle against its' malevolent web and found itself enamoured, despite the darkness burning in its' heart. With eyes softened by the admiration of the others tenaciousness, the daemon bowed its' waist to meet the God's eyes.

"Why do you fight my power?" It asked, curious in spite. "Does the presence of my child in your calendar threaten you so? For the snake is of no harm to you, I assure you."

"You deceived me to admit him." God replied, weary from his struggles against the shadow.

The daemon was capricious. "Did not your Rat forsake the Cat and Ox to be where he is now? Is that no less than my deception, my Lord? My act was out of hurt that you did not think to include us in your festivities. For darkness we may be, but we more so hunger for happiness than those that are constantly exposed to light."

God was able to sense the daemon's sadness and he had sympathy for the creature, thought there was much malevolence within its' soul and it tainted the world around them. God was very kind and loved his people and knew he must protect them. So he took advantage of the Dark One's lapse in control and broke free of the veiled containment, drawing on his strength to suppress the other. The anger of his bright and perfect world and the people within it fueled his energy and he leapt towards the Dark One – wielding the vast incantations of his Heavenly Light. The daemon shied away from the bright glow, its' skin blistering from its' energy and fought back with the astringency of the Nether World; shadows seeking to consume that which sought to consume it. In this new light, the daemon saw things such as he'd never seen before: A vast and expansive world in which the shadows were sharper by contrast with the searing, blistering light; each existing in harmony of a gentle caress and soft whispers between the fall and rise of the moon.

As God advanced, pride overcame the Dark One's thoughts and he refused to accept the exquisite perfection of such peace between the opposing factors. The hatred in him desired to consume all and he arched his dark energy to the sky, shattering it like shards of glass as blackness punctured light and night was born. Each shard became the stars and sweat flying from the ethereal beings brows became the moon and sun as the intensity of their battle escalated.

God too saw the electrifying mosaic of inter playing light and dark energies, dancing like ripples of water beneath the slap of their feet. It allured him and he understood in that moment of subjugation the effect that their opposing lambency was having on this neutral world. A world he thought to be perfect in his design – he could not see just how beautiful it truly was, until the darkness was therein. He wanted to stop and observe the changes around him, but the delicate balance of his children's fate overthrew his curiosity and he fought back against the dark creature with all his might.

They continued to fight until all reason for their battle became as lost to them as the passing of time. As they fought, the natural disasters of the world were born. The clashing of their opposing forces split the earth open into jagged maws and the screams of their voices created disease and epidemics.

The ferocity of their battle escalated until light and dark entwined and the entire world on which their battle raged had changed altogether. They slept and when they awoke, muscles aching and eyelids heavy, each stood upon the mighty precipice and looked down upon the wake they had left behind.

God began to cry before he even looked, for he feared that their petty argument had soiled the perfection he'd worked so hard to build. That the lives of all his children were vanquished along with his light. The Dark One saw his tears and was saddened. It took the God's hand and extended it out to see the world that was born of the two ethereal beings.

"Your light is not gone." It assured. "Look, you ridiculous fool."

The God looked and gazed upon ALL as the memory of their entangled passion returned. The daemon laughed as he cried, but there was no mockery in its' voice. Light and Shadows shaped everything. Clouds veiled the sun and now the rain came more often, helping the crops to grow. The people lived and still WERE, but they were all different. No one was like the other. Each was Each and Each was New. The full extent of the overwhelming beautiful realm before him, made the Celestial One realize how narrow minded he had been and how darkness had the right for a place in the world, just as light did.

The daemon reached out his arm and took God into its' embrace. Light and Shadow intertwined and danced from one another's throes of passion as they came together. Their conflict had been the act of destiny and they could no longer deny their attraction to one another. As luck had allowed this world to come into being, luck became the element of the Jikkan Junishi, as the black fox became a symbol of it. For though each element opposed one another, there is no light without dark – and darkness has no place without light. Their dependence on one another is the Union that shapes All Creation.

Yet the God was in turmoil. For though he recognized and acknowledged his love for the Dark One, he knew that there was no place in the Celestial Realm or the Nether Region that could bear them as lovers. So aggrieved was he by this revelation, that the God's light began to fade and his strength withered to the Shadow Realm where the Dark One had bound him at the outset of their battle.

When the daemon saw what was happening, it screamed in fury and gouged its' own eyes out in punishment, leaving behind the gaping scarlet canals were the shadows had once thrived. Such was its' devotion to protect the Celestial One, that the Dark One threw itself to the gaping chasm for all eternity – to suffer endless pain in order to prevent the death of its' beloved light. By the Dark One's sacrifice, God was reborn and he immediately set out to demonstrate his gratitude, by establishing the daemon as a guardian of the Jikkan Junishi: The Black Daemon of the Zodiac; the protector of the Celestial One and opposing force of all creations negative spirit; the Nigi-mi-tama.

Yet all those in the Celestial Realm and the Neutral Realm of Life, saw the daemon for what it idolized; as a purely evil entity. As their savour and symbol of life, God was worshipped as the Celestial Spirit of all the represented good in the essence of purity and grace. In opposition, darkness, disgrace and even luck in its purely negative form represented the creature whom gave its' life in sacrifice of the Celestial God. Pervaded by the introduction of early Christian Religions, this figure came to represent the Adversary, known as Lucifer, Shaitan, Beelzebub, O'yama, Asmoday, Pyro, Nebiros, Leviathan, Flereous, Bile, Amy, Mephistopheles, depending on the religion. In reference to the original beliefs of the Jikkan Junishi, the founding religion primary in accordance of the Sohma family itself; this adversary became known in less abrasive terms as; "The God's Bane."

When the Celestial God witnessed the dismissal of his beloved, he became infuriated and set out to establish its rightful place amongst the people that would see it damned. In the Infernal Regions of which the Black Daemon itself was suspended, the Celestial One found and mated with it, producing a child birthed by unnatural demonic means. From these two opposing forces that shaped All Creation, the God of the Jikkan Junishi was born; its' purpose when summoned alone is to recreate the world in the image of the Two Father's, where Dark and Light can coexist as One.

By reverence, we must pray in anticipation of the coming of the God of the Jikkan Junishi; one whom will correct the wrongs of the world and establish a rightful place among the skies for the Sacrifice of the God's Bane.

Ritsu lowered the pages in a kind of numb haze, trying to interpret as much of the information as was possible. He'd read and re-read the zodiac fable a thousand times before, but never had he considered the old story to be the basis for some sort of occult religion. But that is what he appeared to be holding in his hands; a short handwritten scripture of the main belief of this Jikkan Junishi religion. 'Did the Sohma family originally worship these 'Ethereal Two Fathers' and the God of the Jikkan Junishi?' Ritsu wondered, folding the paper up gently, following the well worn creases in its' surface. 'Geez... what a mind job. I knew the Elder's were strict about their practices within the family, but I wouldn't have thought it was in accordance to this bizarre cult stuff. Do they still follow it, I wonder? Are they really awaiting this 'Jikkan Junishi' God, like some sort of twisted, sick Jesus Christ? The whole thing seems kind of wrong to me...'

One thing was for certain though; this second biblical half of the fable must have some relation back to the newspaper articles, pertaining to the boy found tortured on the Old Sohma road. And since the Elder's made reference to 'The God's Bane', it seemed feasible, at least in Ritsu's opinion, to assume that the mysterious man was the adversary figure mentioned in the old document.

"The protector of the God..." He whispered, fingernails tracing thoughtfully over the worn paper. "I guess it makes sense... the Elder's have always made a big deal over the fact that Akito represents the God of the zodiac... Never realized how deep this thing actually ran though... Are they trying to birth this Jikkan Junishi God then? By having the Black Daemon mate with the God? That doesn't seem possible! If they're both boys then how the Hell do they expect Akito to pop out a kid!" Ritsu's head nearly jolted from his neck as he recalled the title of the Celestial One's from the passage he had just read. 'The Two Father's.' 'A demonic conception.'

It didn't seem surprising that a biblical text could refer to the homosexual union between individuals as demonic, especially if it had been pervaded by early Christian beliefs as it had mentioned. Was the notion that perfection could be established only through the committed act of sin? That seemed to be what it suggested. Ritsu wasn't sure. This stuff all went a bit over his head and he inwardly accused himself of his stupidity. 'What good is stealing this stuff, if you have no idea what the Hell you are waffling on about!'

None of this made sense. If the man in the articles was indeed this 'God's Bane' and the Elder's did indeed desire to insurrect their 'Jikkan Junishi God', why was he found mutilated on the Old Sohma road when he should have been at the estate, impregnating Akito or what not? And even if his attack had been some sort of accident, why didn't the Elder's step forward to claim association with him? Why were they trying to hide his existence from Akito? Ritsu could not recall having ever seen any man on the estate matching the description of the individual in the articles.

There was a fine line between A and B here and Ritsu could not make his fingers thread that connection no matter how hard he tried. Maybe the whole thing was baloney, and he was simply making himself as crazy and as paranoid as the elder's himself by stressing over it. What nonsense! God's and demon's... it was utterly ridiculous!

But then again... who was he to point fingers? He was a boy who turned into a monkey when hugged by a member of the opposite sex. Still, religions always came up with various reasons to explain and justify everything and this certainly could be no exception. All Creation could not be defined by two amorous gay beings slogging it out all over earth any more then it could be explained by Adam and Eve taking a bite out of an apple. It was ridiculous.

Utterly frustrated by his strenuous thoughts, Ritsu slapped the paper onto the bedside table and pressed the heel of his hand into his left eye, rubbing away at the tension he felt suspended there. He jumped as something hit the floor and looked over to see the tiny health ball he kept as a key chain, go rolling across the floor and disappear under the chest of drawers he had hauled in front of the door. Ritsu exclaimed sharply and immediately leapt down off of the bed, skidding onto his fours to examine the space beneath the old mahogany furniture. The ball had rolled all the way back until it could go no further; pressed to the narrow gap beneath the hinged doorway. Ritsu could have easily reached it should he have pushed the chest of drawers back into place, but he was tired from his trip and didn't think he could muster the energy to do so until it was absolutely necessary. Such as for a toilet break or in the event of fire. There had to be something long he could use to reach the health ball.

Ritsu climbed to his feet and dusted his knees off, looking around the small but cosy room. His cupboard was propped open from before, where he had been stacking his clothing and a few steel hangers were swaying lightly in the mostly empty space. Right now they looked like the best bet to reach the key chain ball.

Ritsu unhooked one of the hangers and made his way back over to the cupboard, squatting down on his knees again and peering under. Trying to keep the ball in his line of sight, he slid the hand holding the hanger beneath the old furniture and tapped at the jangling key chain, trying to prompt it to roll in his direction. The little ball seemed content to elude his grasp and rolled to the left, following the gap lining beneath the door. Ritsu mumbled a demure complaint and made an extra excited lunge and this time was rewarded for his efforts by the hooked curve of the hanger sinking into the soft, slightly mildew wood at the base of the chest of drawers. He exhaled sharply and muttered a small curse, making a mental note to wash his mouth out before he kissed his mother again. He tugged sharply trying to dislodge the hook but it appeared to have penetrated through the gap at the back of the bottom drawer and was pulling away at the soft base. This was not good. Not only had he managed to steal some important (yet slightly ludicrous) paper from the elder's, but now he was going to go to the extreme and once again, destroy his hosts' property. Ritsu congratulated himself on being such a considerate houseguest and gave the hanger an aggressive yank. As he was sadly expecting, the base of the chest of drawers was tugged forward, forcefully slamming the bottom drawer against his face. Ritsu's chin jolted up, causing his upper row of teeth to snap down over his bottom lip, drawing blood. The pain was so sharp it brought tears to his eyes for a second and he quickly pressed his fingers to his split lip, trying not to look at the blood on his fingertips as he tried to ebb the bleeding.

"Oww " He whimpered pitifully, drawing his lip back into his mouth and sucking on it. The blood tasted slightly bitter to him, but it was better then actually feeling it run down his chin. This way he wouldn't have to look at it.

Ritsu ducked down to see if his near concussion had at least been effective in removing the coat hanger and saw that indeed he was now able to effectively extract it from the gap he'd created. As he was doing so, something in the gap caught his eye. It looked like a white square of paper, a note or something that might have fallen into the bottom of the chest of drawers when the top few drawers had become too full.

Wincing a little at the pain in his lip, Ritsu prepared to reach out with the coat hanger again, when he realized that this might be more dangerous then it was worth, especially with that hook on the end. If he straightened it out however.... ah, now there was an idea!

Ritsu sat up on his knees and unwound the tightly knotted metal, stretching out the triangular shape until it formed a roughly wavy stick. Holding onto the hooked end, he lay out on his belly and poked at the white material he saw within the gap, trying to push it out onto the floor where he might pull it to him. To his credit however, the sharp metal sank through the object and he was able to reel it in, such as he might a prized fish.

It was a small, leather bound book about the size of a paperback novel. The coat hanger had skewered the soft leather of the front cover, damaging a few of the first pages in the process but not obscuring any of the writing within. Ritsu opened it to assure himself of this and was surprised to recognize the name scrawled on the inside cover.

It was his mother's diary.

He couldn't say he was that surprised. This room was usually allocated to his direct family whenever they visited the Main Estate. But the fact that his neurotic, paranoid mother had left behind this diary, either by accident or intentionally, was questionable in regards to her common character. She was not essentially the type of woman who would allow such a burden of privacy to go drifting about a populated place such as the Main House.

Ritsu flipped to the back and found that the last entry had been made twenty years ago, a few weeks before his birthday. Or in this case he supposed, a few weeks before his birth. He wondered if there was anything definitive in his mother's writing, apart from her conscious standoffish behaviour to the affairs of the Main House. It would be worth looking at. It reminded Ritsu of something his mother had told him years ago, about her initial reasons for relocating so far from the Main Estate. She used to visit quite regularly, but had ceased doing so after a falling out she had with the elder's over an event that she kept discreetly veiled. All Ritsu knew of this event, was that it occurred around the point in which she was pregnant with him. He never really concerned himself too much with the reason as to what this falling out could have been over, but now his curiosity once more took firm hold over him and he wondered whether his mother had mentioned it in this journal. Whilst he respected her privacy, there was no denying the circumstances as to which he had come across the diary. He had to wonder, whether in fact some part of his mother, perhaps the side that was not so subservient and respectful, had left it there in hopes that someone might come across it and right whatever wrongs had been done to her. This at least soothed Ritsu's feelings of guilt for the time being.

"Let's see what you have to say for yourself, Mom," Ritsu murmured, flipped open the journal and began to read the final few entries. The few of which took place away from the Hot Springs. The few of which pertained to her last lingering alliance with the Main Estate.

May 3rd 1984

Today I took a walk in the gardens around the Main House. The cherry blossoms are beautiful this time of year. The news reader reported a 40 raise in cherry blossoms in Kyoto this spring, which is wonderful, though on occasion the pollen does cause my hay fever to react in a most irritable way. The breeze was cool and the sun warm. I am thoroughly enjoying my visit away from the Hot Springs, even though I am well aware that perhaps it would be better for mine and the baby's health that I remain up in the mountains during my pregnancy. I would want no harm to come to my child as a result of my own petty desires.

Something peculiar did happen today in the garden. As I walked I came across the young Ayame Sohma; son of Takashi and Mio. He is 7 years of age and strikes me as quite an energetic child. Despite his outer confidence however, I fear that there is something more to Ayame then the rest of the distant family has been led to believe. In the sun he was wearing a long yutaka that covered every limb. But as he played in the garden, I remember what I saw whenever the cloth should fall astray: Bruises, cuts, abrasions, lumps of purple flesh. In fact, now that I think about it, not a day goes by when I do not see that boy sporting some new contusion. I am starting to suspect that that Ayame is being abused by his parents. A fact that would not surprise me. After all, his is the snake of the zodiac and everyone is well aware that the snake is the damned symbol of forsaken atonement for a dredge life in purgatory. But how can I be so hold as to express such concerns without appearing asinine? I fear the repercussions. But I also fear for that boy.

May 5th 1984

I've seen them doing it. I've seen how they yell at him, kick him, hit him – for even the smallest of things. They told me themselves; they said it was necessary for Ayame to be controlled and as such they would sanction him for every mis-conduct. I wouldn't believe what I was seeing as he cringed in the corner, crying as they continued to hit and abuse him, over and over again...

I wonder what they would do to my child, if I ever allowed him to stay within this cursed household? If he is one of the cursed zodiac, God forbid, would the elders strike out at him this way too? Would they beat and abuse him, the way they do to Ayame for even the smallest of mistakes?

I can't allow that. I must make allowances for my child, if he is indeed born one of the cursed. Rather then see him suffer this way, I shall make amendments for every imperfection that he should reveal. I will repent for his mistakes. So that my child will never have to know the same suffering as that poor, confused boy.

It was a mistake coming back to this house. I should have stayed at home.

May 9th 1984

I spoke with Osamu today; the elder whom teaches the art of philosophy in the home schooling of the family master's and those Sohma's that are not admitted to public education. I consulted her on the matter with Ayame Sohma, as she is renowned amongst the Sohma's for her easygoing disposition and knowledge of family affairs. I appealed to her on the grounds of Ayame's harsh treatment and was quite stunned with the information I received. Stunned, but not exactly surprised.

They all fear Ayame Sohma. That's what she told me anyway. It was only a year ago that he begged to be allowed to attend the same school as his two best friends Shigure and Hatori Sohma, rather than be home tutored. He was warned by the elders of the repercussions, but he wouldn't listen to reason. More than anything all he wanted was to get away from that house; away from his parents. So they eventually let him have his way.

Osamu said that she was surprised at how well Ayame adjusted to school life and that his first week passed without mishap. My belief is that it was due to lack of stress; once Ayame was taken out of his parent's constant influence and that of the elders, he grew amongst his friends who helped distract him from the disconcertment he faced within the Main Estate. But apparently, whilst his behaviour improved, it wasn't long before the first letter arrived from his homeroom teacher. She said that she had noted some peculiar abrasions all over Ayame's body that did not occur as a result of roughhouse behaviour in the playground. This of course refers to the marks of the sanctions imposed by his parents. Excuses were made and after careful deliberation, it was decided that all punishments bestowed upon Ayame would be inflicted on skin that could easily be concealed by clothing. Once the visible marks vanished, the teacher ceased making her complaints to the family.

The elder's were able to relax for a while. Until of course, the other students began to notice the improbable qualities of Ayame. This was news to me and I assumed that Osamu was telling me this, because she assumed I already knew. I decided to play along with this facade and asked what qualities, exactly, that the students began to notice. Osamu surprisingly enough, was more than willing to divulge the information. Was she too trusting or was it that the elder's were simply not concerned with concealing this facts? Whatever the case, she said that Ayame was gifted with a special Sight; an ability usually apparent alone in the direct bloodline of the family master. He could see things that other people could not. He could even look into a person's soul and see what was going to happen to them. The students began to believe that he was cursing them, because everything he spoke of came true. On one notable occasion, a group of students from the class above ganged up on him and chased him out of the school, pelting rocks and whatever else they could find at him. One of the boys chasing him was hit by a car. They believed it to be the work of the curse.

During his time at school Ayame has been kicked, punched, cut with scissors, hair torn out by the roots, verbally abused and has had graffiti of a vile nature scrawled on his locker. In some strange sense, it is sort of fortunate that things turned out the way they did, otherwise this behavior may have continued to the point that the boy might have been inspired to take his own life. The only thing that appears to provide him any relief from the constant torment, is the companionship of his close friend Shigure Sohma; the cursed dog of the zodiac. He protects the boy-snake unflappably and often remains outside of the Punishment Room wherein Ayame awaits to be released. It is clear that the loyalty has resulted in a close bond forming between the pair.

Osamu states that in light of recent events, Ayame's abnormal abilities have bee suppressed the only way possible at this point in time. Since the Angel of Archon (I have not uncovered any information regarding what this article actually is) has long since been lost to the elders, the alternative was the erasing of young Ayame's memory; the memory of ever knowing his true identity. His true potential. More so, the memories of those that have witnessed his power must also submit their memories to the dragon's hand, so that none will be able to provide him with material that may remind him of who and what he was.

It is none of my business but yet I feel a certain obligation to the boy that I cannot describe. I feel that despite this act to eradicate his abnormality, he will at some point in the future be compelled to rediscover this lost element of himself and all those old feelings will return. If only it were possible that I could ensure my son's fate to his, I would gladly entrust Ayame to my unborn child and pray that one day, he might find some way of protecting him, should ever these horrors befall the young snake again. All I can do for now is to confront his parent's about their treatment and see what small difference I can make. It most likely will be a pointless act but I cannot be at ease with my conscience, should I fail to do anything about the atrocities I've seen.

The rest of the pages were blank.

Ritsu closed the journal and perched it on his lap, thoroughly fed up with reading things that didn't make a whole heck of sense to him. He wondered whether his mother had an inkling that he might be here one day reading her thoughts like this. Ironically, this silly little journal may have been the only evidence left of Ayame's past 'abnormalities' as they put it and here Ritsu must have been the only person besides the elders who knew about some of the families' darker secrets. Such a revelation should have made him feel powerful, but Ritsu didn't feel the least bit puissant.

To be honest, he felt a little frightened.

His mother had stuck her nose too far into the family affairs and for all the information she had uncovered, Ritsu would not have been surprised if her memory had been erased when she had confronted Ayame's parents. They certainly would not have allowed her to spread that sort of information around about their son.

"Ayame had some sort of... Sight usually exclusive to the direct line of the family master?" Ritsu wondered, staring down at the worn cover of the diary. "I guess erasing his memory was the only option they had at the time and it seems to have done the trick. He doesn't appear to suffer from anything like that anymore and from what I've heard, hasn't done so for a long time." He considered the journal thoughtfully, only then remembering that he hadn't gotten himself a drink, which had been the purpose for his trip downstairs. Funny how your objectives could change all in a moment.

"Mom... I guess you wanted me to be strong for Ayame, huh? That's why you meant wasn't it?" He felt the half-hearted chuckle work its' way up his throat, the laugh of bitter irony sounding course to his own ears. "If only you knew how dependent I am on him; to show me how to be strong. How to act, so that I can be a better person. I would have made a pitiful guardian for him-"

It all happened in a second. Just as soon as the room had been empty and absent of any presence apart from his own, Ritsu became aware of something being there. As he turned his shoulder slightly to admit the inhabitation into his line of sight, he felt the cold, almost seductive caress of a thin blade sliding across his neck. He froze immediately, refusing even to breathe. The blade remained where it was, not oppressive in that it tucked the skin of the larynx tightly inward but firm enough to establish the position of power, in a brash, almost cocky way. It seemed to say that the possessor of the blade had managed to make themselves comfortable behind Ritsu and had captured him with barely the minimalist effort and thus had won the right to gloat accordingly. A warm breath washed over his ear.

"Nice to see you again... Ritsu." A man's voice. Accented. Deep and alluring. Ritsu shivered at the intimate way it spoke his name, like a lover leaning down to claim you as a virgin. He could feel his skin slightly flushing upward from the collar of his shirt. "My, haven't you grown up? You're certainly looking well Ri."

Ritsu swallowed heavily and made no reply. He had no idea who the person was yet was under the distinct impression that he should. His body appeared to be responding with appropriate respect to its' immediate threat and he remained unwaveringly still, very aware of the cold steel pressed to his pale throat. The passing thought of how this person had managed to actually enter the room vanished as soon as it reared its' head. What did it matter now? The point was that Ritsu had been careless and this was probably one of the Sohma elders, coming to repay him for stealing the paper. Somehow they had found out. He'd been careless and now he was going to die.

Ritsu whimpered and a tear shone in the light from the overhead lamp as it arched down his cheek. He didn't want to die like this! He had so much to do now! Finally, he could be of assistance to those around him instead of an imposition. Armed with the knowledge he had, maybe he would finally gain some respect from the other family members. But that was pointless to think of now, wasn't it? He slowly let the diary slide from his grasp and it hit the floor, landing cover down, sending a slight cloud of dust wafting around his feet. The man behind him visibly shifted his weight and leaned close. Ritsu had the momentary perception of teeth lightly grazing the sensitive space on the back of his neck, just beneath the hairline and that shiver ran through him once more, seizing control of all his senses and making them sing in anticipation.

"You're quite frightened." The man observed rhetorically, his free hand wrapping around Ritsu's slim chest protectively. "I'm sorry it has to be done this way, but I can't risk having you react in a loud and attention grabbing way. This ensures my safety. At least until I'm done with you that is."

"Done with... me?" Ritsu whispered softly. There was a slight nod into the back of his head.

"Listen very carefully. Granted you do as I say, we can ensure that this conversation is very brief and painless for both parties. Should you fail to comply, I can certainly make things a lot more difficult for the two of us. Is that understood?"

Ritsu swallowed loudly. "Yes." He breathed, voice trembling.

"That's good. Now, I'm going to remove this blade from your neck. Don't even think about moving for the door. By the time you put one hand on that chest of drawers, I will have stabbed you twenty times and you will still be well enough to tell me everything I need to know. Think of it as acupuncture. Only a Hell of a lot more painful. Are we clear on that, little hostess?"

Another breathy yes. At his acceptance, Ritsu felt the thin blade slide away, leaving not even the faintest glimmer of a scratch on his ashen skin. He wanted to rub his neck, but refrained, too afraid to do anything without the other man's approval first.

A boot nudged him in the small of the back. "Very good. Now, I want you to stand up and face me, your hands clasped to your lower belly, fingers interlocked. Once you've done this, walk backwards slowly until you reach the bed and sit down. Keep your eyes on me the whole time."

Ritsu did what he wanted, backing across the room until he felt his knees hit the side of the bed and then sat down, more afraid by the way in which the stranger was treating him. As though he was the dangerous one. Once he was seated he looked upwards to see the man's face, but it was veiled beneath an earthy brown robe throwing a deep shadow over his face. He was quite tall, around a good 2 meters and the robe, pulled quite tightly around him, revealed a lean, hard figure. In his hands were two exquisitely shined weapons known as Sai, mostly employed in the art of ninjitsu. Ritsu felt his heart sink. Whatever this figure wanted he was most certainly going to get it. Strong, tall and obviously trained in the martial arts. This was not looking good for him.

"What's the time?" The man suddenly asked. Ritsu jerked slightly, not expecting a question of this nature. He glanced down a little to examine his wristwatch.

"10:30." He replied, taking in the other man's stance as he looked back up. The intruder had one hand wresting on his hip, the sai's blade pointed slightly upward to match the angle of his waist, whilst he was using the other point to scratch a place unseen beneath the hood of his robe. He seemed relatively at ease with his surroundings. Glad one of us is, Ritsu thought bitterly.

"Dark out..." The stranger murmured, looking over to the drawn curtains and then making his way towards the light switch. He gestured at it with one of his sai. "I'm going to turn the lights out and then I'm going to take these robes off. They're irritating and I'll go mad if I have to spend another moment in them. But I don't want you to see my face that well."

Ritsu gave a small nod. "Okay... I guess you don't want anyone to know who you are."

A slight chuckle came from the darkness beneath the hood. "It's not really like that, kiddo. It's... well it's hard to explain. Let's just say I'm not a pretty sight at the moment."

Ritsu didn't understand but decided it didn't matter. He was at the mercy of this person at the moment and he thought it best to humor him.

The light switch cracked down and they were thrown into darkness. The only evidence Ritsu could make of the other figure being in the room, was the shifting of garments being deposited onto the floor in the corner. He wondered briefly if the guy was wearing anything underneath the robes and the thought made him blush so furiously, he wondered whether he was visible in the dark.

Eventually, it seemed that the other man was finished in his disrobing and a weight settled on the bed next to Ritsu. The monkey glanced up, trying to force his eyes to adjust to the darkness and found that it wasn't really necessary. He couldn't resist recoiling in shock at what he saw.

Two piercing red eyes loomed out of the darkness, slightly blurred from behind what could only have been glasses. They were unnaturally large and being as close to this other being that he was, Ritsu could see that the scarlet color was not emanating from the iris. The eye itself... it was hard to tell from behind the lenses of the glasses, but the where a normal person's eye would be white, the strangers' was crimson. There was no pupil, but where the pupil would ordinarily be, there was a bright red symbol made up of two larger outer circles, with a 14 pointed star in the center. Each point seemed to indicate something and the two circles appeared to be turning in opposite directions to one another.

It hit him in a flash.

"It's you..." Ritsu whispered, crawling up the bed until his back hit the headboard. "You're the God's Bane. The Black Daemon of the zodiac. The same one in those articles, the boy found mutilated on the side of the Old Road!"

The glowing eyes were obscured for a moment, as though the other man had lowered his head.

"Very good." Said the voice, sounding amused. "I'm surprised that you of all people managed to put the pieces together. Though I suppose I can't place too much faith in Akito or that airheaded Ayame."

Ritsu ignored the lighthearted insult spurned at the snakes' benefit. This situation was quite ironic. He needed to take full advantage of it; perhaps keeping him distracted would keep him from the application of whatever it was he intended.

"I don't know you." He declared uncertainly. "At least... I have no recollection of knowing you. I'm sorry... for anything you suffered because of this family. But, I'm not sure what you want from me."

This was a slight clink of glass, as though the other had just adjusted his glasses. He chuckled softly and Ritsu felt himself relax a little. Though the man had used force to get him into this position, he could feel no malevolence emanating from him. On the contrary, he seemed completely gentle. Despite of himself, Ritsu found he could not bring himself to move away from the head of the bed. He was not going to place all his trust into this... creature's hands.

"You really don't remember anything after all. Just as Kureno said." The Bane said, shifting his weight a little.

Kureno?

"He had reason to remember, that's for sure. But I'm delighted to see that you and Shigure were so obedient when it came to loosing those particular memories. Maybe a little too obedient."

Shigure?

The bed started sinking down around Ritsu's feet and he felt the other move slowly up the quilted doona toward him, slowly taking its' time. Ritsu's eyes had adjusted to the dark well enough to observe the large form making it's lethargic way up across his legs, shoulders shifting beneath bare skin like a lion stalking its prey. The monkey was glad to see that at the very least, the man had trousers on, though they were little more than tattered shreds of what once might have been a pair of jeans. He felt his face go red again as two callused hands worked their way up over his thighs and gripped the center of his shirt, using the leverage to hoist the larger man up over the lithe form of his victim. Two eyes, abnormally wide in diameter, stared down into his face hungrily, teeth bared in a predatory smile and what little light existed, dancing across the saliva on firm, full lips. Ritsu felt himself being pushed back into the blankets as he was effectively pinned. He reached out to try and push those large shoulders back and found the action was futile. The other was simply too strong.

"You can help me... by remembering who you are. We can come to me later. There's plenty of time in the world for that. Most importantly now however, is that you remember why it is that I chose you to help me protect them."

"What are you talking about?" Ritsu asked, flinching inwardly as the large hand covered his eyes, much in the manner of Hatori when he erased someone's memories. Only Ritsu was sure that Hatori had never done this to him before.

Two seconds later, he realized how very wrong this assumption had been.

There was a bright flash of light and the whole room lit up. Ritsu saw a momentary glance of the Bane and was able to take in his appearance before a flood of forgotten information returned to him. He remembered Kureno, slicing through the prepared doll in training, his exceptional samurai skills coming to light in the passing of the years. He saw the bleeding cuts glaring across his own arms and Kureno's light hearted prompting to get up and try again.

Darkness and light, years passing before his eyes in a matter of seconds. Moments of fury, anger and determination. Brief glimpses of the past blurring into focus for a second, the taste more than enough to waken the slumbering memories buried deep within his subconscious. Blades striking flesh, muscles aching and tearing as the moved across the rooftops, eavesdropping on conversations at the command of the family elders. Blood leaking from lacerations, bones breaking, bruises and bandages and returning to the task again the next day. Long hair mattered with blood and dirt, pooling around him in the water as he bathed. The rise and fall of the companions who went through it all with him; their faces looming individually out of the darkness for a moment before receding away as another memory took his place. Ritsu could feel his fingers clenching a hold of the doona, nails digging deep into the material as the force of the returning memories threatened to force him into submission. Whirling, raping, rending his brain asunder in the torrent of betrayal and regret and someone was screaming over and over and over again...

That someone was him.

Note: It wouldn't be me, if it weren't a cliffhanger. I shall attempt to get part 11 up soon, now that I am officially off from my well-deserved break. (In which I had my final exams but I digress...)