DISCLAIMER: Kay, so this is the… third disclaimer. You know that I don't own these Fruits peoples and whatnot. Soooo… Hope ya enjoy the story!
"I'm so sorry, Tohru!" said Mahia apologetically.
"Oh, no, it's okay! I understand that you've got a cast so, there's no need to apologize…" said Tohru.
Meanwhile, as this was going on in the kitchen, Yumi was battling Kyo in Super Smash Brothers 2.
"Ha ha ha! Ickle Kyo-Kyo get beaten by a girl with a cast. Pay up, Shigure." said Yumi with a big grin. Shigure grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like a cussword and handed Yumi a wad of cash. Kyo then started whining right on cue about losing.
"Yeah, well, I was just trying to build your confidence!" said Kyo in a tone of voice that sounded pretty bratty.
"Actually, I wasn't trying to win. I had to cut back about half of my power and you STILL lost! You suck at this game, Kyo!" said Yumi.
Yumi then sprinted over to Yuki.
"Wacha doin?" she asked as she started poking at him.
"Hmmm… I was studying, but, it seems that I've been interrupted. is there something you need?" asked Yuki.
"Naw, I'm just bored." Yumi then sniffed the air. She followed the scrumptious scent that led her to kitchen. It looked like… Yes! They were! TOHRU AND MAHIA WERE MAKING RICEBALLS! (Okay, so it was mostly Tohru…) Yumi jumped up and came to a halt at the calendar pinned on the wall. She flipped it over to October and looked at the thirty-first. (Halloween was on that day, so it had a little recipe for pumpkin rice balls on it.) She circled Halloween and then stalked away, practically dying of boredom, when suddenly there was a knocking on the door. Yumi bolted over to the door and pinned it up. Out on the porch, she saw Mahia's boyfriend, Brett.
"Uh, what are you… Hi." said Yumi.
"Hi. Um, could I please talk to Mahia privately? I saw something fairly peculiar…" said Brett. He was a bit paler than usual… Had he seen a transformation? thought Yumi.
"Sure. Come on in." Yumi led Brett into the kitchen and got Mahia. Yumi then went over to Shigure and started to dance around him saying that he was a pineapple head.
As Mahia and Brett walked up to Mahia's bedroom, Brett was looking paler and paler.
"So. What did you need to talk about?" asked Mahia.
"Well, I saw this strange thing happen to your sister… I think, um… Did she, oh you're going to think that I've cracked… Did she ever transform into a squirrel?" asked Brett.
"Oh, no… You, you saw her? But… Oh, no. Oh no oh no oh no…" said Mahia as she then started tearing up.
"What is it?" asked Brett, attempting to pat her on the back.
"You can't have seen! No… Oh, I suppose it's too late now…" Mahia then explained about the zodiac and everyone that was in it. After she told Brett, he was as white as a ghost.
"I-I… I don't believe you." said Brett. Mahia sighed and hugged Brett tightly. A loud poof sounded and Brett was left lying on the bed with a fox grabbing hold of him.
"You can't tell anyone, okay? If you do… I think you might have to get your memory erased." said Mahia. Brett agreed to not tell anyone and went downstairs as Mahia transformed back into a human. As soon as Brett came down, everyone looked at him. (Apparently Yumi hadn't kept her suspicion to herself.) Brett merely waved and sat on the couch by Yumi.
"Um… Did she tell you about a certain family problem?" asked Yumi. Brett nodded as Mahia walked down the stairs. Brett then gulped and went out, back to his home.
That night, Tohru thought it would be a good idea if everyone got together and talked about themselves a bit more so everyone could strengthen their family bonds.
"Well… Oh yeah! On Halloween I transform all day until midnight. And I also transform when I get startled." said Yumi as she stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth.
"What about you, Mahia? What's a distinguishing feature about the fox?" asked Yuki.
"Well… Whenever there's a full moon out, I transform for a couple of hours, but I think that it's worn off since childhood." said Mahia. Mahia then went over to Kyo.
"Hey, Kyo, I'll bet you can't survive tomorrow in school." she said slyly.
"Why the hell couldn't I?" asked Kyo arrogantly.
"Because I heard that all of the lunch ladies have a bunch of nice tasty leeks and nothing else tomorrow."
At that comment, Kyo sat down on the floor and got into the fetal position and started rocking back and fourth whilst sucking his thumb. He then looked around and started shouting random fruit names.
"BANANA!"
"So, um, Yuki… How is school going for you? I know I'm getting stressed beyond all reason. You?" asked Tohru.
"STRAWBERRY!"
"Well, as everyone must feel, yes, sometimes school could be a bit hectic for me…" replied Yuki as he gave a death glare to Kyo.
"GRAPES!"
"Will you just shut up, Kyo?" yelled Yumi madly.
"PINEAPPLE! TOFU! TOFU! TOFU! TOFU! SOY SAUCE! TOFU! TOFU! TOFU!"
"Kyo, you idiotic barbaric feline… She was joking. Now shut UP and go away." said Yuki coolly to Kyo. Kyo then shouted out Yuki's a girly man and then ran upstairs to bask in the glory that was the roof. Everyone then decided that hey should all go to bed. They all said goodnight and went their separate ways.
That night, Kyo and Mahia planned to see if what Yumi said about transforming when she is frightened was true. Mahia tiptoed out the door as Yumi was left sleeping in her belly-button pajamas. She met Kyo in the hall and stifled her giggles as the two troublemakers progressed into the room. Kyo then started putting on a costume hand-made by Mahia. He looked in the mirror and sighed. His terrifying costume was… A giant bottle of soy-sauce. Oh well. He went over to Yumi as Mahia started waking her up a bit. Yumi's eyes blinked sleepily. As they focused, a more and more terrified expression grew on her face.
"THE SOYSAUCIANS FROM MARS! THEY'RE REAL! AHHHHHH!" screamed Yumi. She the actually transformed into a squirrel. As soon as she noticed that it was Kyo in a costume, she leaped onto him and started nibbling at his ears furiously. It took Mahia about an hour to get Yumi off of him. Needless to say, they didn't get the best sleep that night.
The next day, everyone was up and at school. Yumi and Mahia were so nervous that they had someone with them at all times, because of the insanely mad Prince Yuki Fan Club. Now, you should pity Yumi. Her choices were the following… Momiji, (A fat lot of help he would do.) Haru, (He would go black and go a bit too far.) or Mokoto. Needless to say, she took her chances alone with the above choices. Plus, Haru was only in a choice few classes with Yumi. Mahia had Brett in just about every class, and Kyo in the only one she didn't have with Brett. Though all of these prep attacks had been going on, Yumi and Mahia still wore their badges with pride. (Kyo had lost his in the wash.)
"Um, Kyo? There's a wasp on your arm…" said Tohru as she backed away. Kyo looked at his arm and slapped the wasp. Yuki rolled his eyes as Kyo howled in pain because of the painful wasp sting on his hand. He sprang back and started cussing really loudly. Uo came up from behind him and hit him on the back of his head.
"Suck it in, wimp." said Uo.
"It's just a wasp sting. You'll live."
"SHUT UP, YOU DAMN WHORE!" yelled Kyo furiously.
As Kyo and Uo were duking it out to each other, Yumi and Haru were in deep conversation with each other.
"Haru, maybe we should just be friends! I mean, your kind-of like brother so… It almost feels… gross." said Yumi with a slight blush. Haru merely shrugged and stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Kay." he said calmly. As he did so, Yumi let out a long sigh of relief. She was afraid that he was going to go black. The two then smiled at each other and Haru walked away. Yumi assumed that he was going away to skip school.
"Aww, Yum… Ah ha ha!" said Mahia as she started giggling.
"What? What's so funny?" asked Yumi.
"Ah ha ha ha! Your name! It-it-it's sooooo funny! Yumi's yummy! Yummy Yumi! Yummy Yumi! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Yummy Yumi! Yummy Yumi!" laughed Mahia. Slowly, everyone started to laugh more and more. Before too long, everyone was rolling on the floor because they were laughing so hard. Yumi got so mad that she took out a handful of leeks from her book bag (Yes, she does carry leeks with her. She's a strange, strange girl.) and shoved them all into every laughing mouth in a ten foot radius to her. (Two into Kyo's mouth.) They all spat out the leeks and started towards their first hour class.
Unfortunately, the day was no better for Yumi. She was being stalked by all of the Prince Yuki Fan Club, and was at one point cornered.
"At last, we've caught you!" said Motoko wickedly.
"You can bruise my body, but you can never bruise my hatred of you! (And soy sauce.)" said Yumi triumphantly. Then a voice was heard.
"What's going on here?" said Yuki from behind Motoko. Motoko turned around and practically melted on the spot.
"N-n-n-nothing." she said in a lovey-dovey kind-of tone with a monstrous blush.
"Why is Yumi cornered?" asked Yuki. (Though I'm not sure he wanted to find out.)
"They were about to attack me!" said Yumi as she sped under the legs of a club member. She then went straight over to Yuki.
"Thanks for helping out, Yuki!" she said cheerfully. She then gave a devilish look to the fan club and gave Yuki a big hug right on the spot and a quick friendly kiss on the cheek. Motoko flared up as her eyes started tuning a creepy red color. You could tell that had Yuki not been there, Yumi would not have been spared. She would have been sent on a one way trip to Hatori! Yumi then walked with Yuki back to her class and went inside the door. She then backed out and stuck her tongue out at the club. They all pointed the "bad" finger at her and ran away, plotting the downfall of the K.T.P.Y.F.C.
As Yumi got settled into her seat, Momiji was walking through the door.
"Could Yumi Sohma please come down to the office, pleas?" asked Momiji politely.
"Do I need to bring my stuff?" asked Yumi, pointing at her bag.
"Um, I think you should. I guess!" said Momiji cheerfully.
Yumi walked out of the classroom, her bag slung over her back.
"So… why do I have to go to the office?" asked Yumi
"Eh, I didn't tell you which office, did I?" said Momiji.
"Oh, no… No, no, no…" moaned Yumi. Momiji patted her on the back.
"I've hit an all time low. I'm getting pitied by MOMIJI." mumbled Yumi madly.
As the two Sohmas approached the office, they noticed Mahia in one of the seats in the office.
"Whatcha doin hot stuff?" asked Momiji as he slicked back his hair.
"Shove off, carrot breath. I've got bigger fish to fry." said Mahia.
"What is it Mahi?" asked Yumi.
"We've been called back to the house. But we have to wait for Brett, Yuki, and Kyo." said Mahia. As soon as she finished saying this, everyone she had just named came down to the office.
"What is it?" asked Kyo arrogantly.
"Curiosity and Yumi killed the cat, Kyo." said Mahia. Yuki then made a cough that sounded like the word "duh" and looked away.
"Gure-San called us all down to his house. We need to go now." said Mahia. Momiji said goodbye as the five went out the school doors.
As they approached the house, they noticed Hari's car in the driveway. Mahia turned pale and grasped Brett's hand tightly. Suddenly, Yumi put two and two together. She burst into the house screaming
"GURE-SAN YOU DIRTY TATTLETALE!" but she tripped and fell onto Brett and transformed. She then reached into Mahia's bag and pulled out a doll sized butter knife and started chasing Shigure around the house. So, if you can, picture this; a black squirrel chasing Shigure around the house with a butter knife calling him a dirty rotten tattletale. Eventually, she ran upstairs and got ready to transform back. Hatori was just sitting there.
"sigh The average everyday happenings of Shigure's house." Hatori said to himself. Yuki nodded and Kyo was busy raiding the fridge for some milk.
"Eh, who are you?" asked Brett meekly.
"Are you Brett?" asked Hatori.
"Um, yes." answered Brett.
"Shigure has informed me that you know about the curse. It this true?"
"Um… Yes."
"I've asked Akito what he wants me to do. He said that he won't give you a chance. I'm going to have to ask everyone to leave the room."
Yumi and Mahia stayed in the room as Hatori bent down to Brett. He put his hand on his forehead and…
"Hatori! A-a-are you okay?" asked Yumi.
"What happened?" asked Hatori as he rubbed his head.
"It was amazing! You tried to erase Brett's mind, but… I think he… I think he's impenetrable to your power! You flew back and Brett, well… look at him…" said Yumi with a laugh.
In the corner of the room was an emu… with Brett's pants on. Hatori's jaw dropped down. Yumi then burst out laughing.
"It's not funny!" said Mahia.
"He's scared for his life!"
Hatori went over to Brett.
"Has this ever happened to you before?" asked Hatori.
"No! I… I think you might have passed the curse to me!" said Brett.
"And… So I turned you into… an emu. Okay, I need to sit down. Mahia, Yumi, I'd get out before he transforms back." said Hatori as he got out a cigarette.
After about five minutes, the whole house heard about what happened. Mahia had to slap the living crap out of Kyo, Yumi, and Shigure to get them to stop laughing. Brett and Hatori stepped out of the room they were in. Brett rushed over to Mahia, who had kicked Yumi in the shins.
"So, Brett. Are you… Part of the zodiac now?" asked Yumi slyly.
"I suppose so. I guess this year is now also the year of the, er, emu…" answered Brett meekly.
"I've called your parents, Brett. Now, there's something I have to tell you. Parents of the zodiac will usually do one of two things… They will either over-protect you, or they will reject you. I need your parents to come to the main Sohma house and talk to me there. You need to come too. Am I clear?" asked Hatori.
"Nice way of putting it, Mr. Softy." said Mahia as she went over to Hatori and slapped him on the head.
"Mahia, you're the weirdest girlfriend I've ever had. But you're still the best." said Brett.
"Ugh, this is so sweet it's giving me a cavity…" said Kyo disgustedly.
"You said it." mumbled Yumi.
Mahia then took two soy-sauce covered leeks and shoved them into Yumi and Kyo's mouths. The two crumbled onto the floor and then flared up at Mahia.
"Ahh, the amazing adventures of the incredible leek boy…"said Yuki.
"GIRLY MAN! YOU'RE JUST A DAMN GIRLY MAN! THAT'S ALL!" yelled Kyo.
Just then, someone knocked at the door. Shigure went over to the door and opened it. He looked at the person who was on the porch and told him to come in.
"Yumi, Mahia, this is Ritsu. I believe you might remember him, but only a bit." said Shigure as he led in Ritsu.
"I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD GUESTS! HAD I KNOWN, I WOULD HAVE WAITED TO COME AND I WOULD HAVE KNOWN! I APOLIGIZE TO THE WOOOOOORLD! I'M NOT WOOOOORTHY!" yelled Ritsu in one of his famous little (big) fits.
"Eh, Ritsu, this is Yumi and Mahia. They are part of the zodiac too. Oh, and a new zodiac member, Brett." explained Shigure to Ritsu. Mahia, Yumi, and a befuddled Brett waved at a now not upset Ritsu.
"H-hello. I am Ritsu. I… I…"
"Oh, no…" said Hatori.
"I'M SOOOOORRY! I HAVE FAILED TO REMEMBER YOU AND YOUR SISTER'S NAMES! I AM NOT WORTHY TO BE AROUND SUCH GREAT PEOPLE IF I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHO THEY ARE! I AM A FAILURE TO MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY! I'M SOOOOOOOORRRRRRRY!" yelled Ritsu.
Just then, Yumi started to join in.
"I UNDERSTAND! EVERYONE SHOULD BE SORRY! COME ON PEOPLE, BEEEEE SOOOOORRRRRRRRYYYY!" yelled Yumi.
"Ugh. I think maybe Yumi shouldn't be hanging out with Ritsu for long. He isn't the best influence for someone as stupid as Yumi." said Yuki shaking his head.
"Hey, Ritsu, have you heard of the band Toy Box?" asked Yumi.
"Oh, I have! Have you heard the song Tarzan and Jane?" asked Ritsu excitedly.
"Oh, I love that song! I am Jane and I love to ride an elephant!"
"Go cheetah, get banana!" sang Ritsu.
"Hey monkey, get funky!" said Yumi as the two then started to dance with each other. Mahia then grabbed Brett and joined in.
Another knocking then came at the door.
"I wonder who it is NOW. It's not like we need any MORE damn people in this house." said Kyo.
"Aaya-San! Ooh, what have you got there? Ahh, okay. She's right in here!" said Shigure from the doorway.
"Oh Mahia-Chan! I have the beautiful dress you have ordered!" sang out Ayame as he danced into the room with the dress he had made. The dress was long and flowing. It was one of the greatest dresses Ayame had ever designed.
"Oh, it's just perfect!" said Mahia happily as she looked at the dress.
"Yep, boss! It sure is!" said Mine from behind Ayame.
"Now… If you don't mind, it's TIME TO TRY IT ON!" hissed Mine as she grabbed Mahia before she could answer and ran into the bathroom.
Yumi then managed to slip upstairs. When she came down, she had on Kyo's pants and Yuki's shirt. She then started running around the house.
"I'm Kyo and Yuki! Look at me! Woo hoo!" she wailed happily whenever she would pass Kyo or Yuki. Kyo started to chase her around the house until he finally managed to pin her, when Tohru tried to catch them and tripped over her own feet and landed on Kyo, who then transformed. Now, since she didn't hear Tohru coming, this was quite startling to Yumi, so she transformed under Kyo AND Tohru. Needless to say, that didn't help her broken bone much.
"Owwwww!" wailed Yumi.
"Oh, I'm sooo sorry! Oh, Hatori, could you, er, help out?" asked Tohru as she got up. Kyo then gave Yumi a death glare.
"What? What's with the mean looks?" asked Yumi. She then shot Kyo an even MORE evil look and the two eventually got bored. (It was Yumi who was the evil glare winner.)
"So, come, Mahia! Show everyone our beautiful creation!" said Mine as she pulled Mahia out of the bathroom.
"Ahhh, it's perfect, isn't it? I can picture her with a crown, ordering her scepter from the guards…" said Ayame.
"Mahia… It's… beautiful… but especially on you…" said Brett with a blush.
Mahia couldn't say anything. She was blushing furiously and her throat was clogged up.
"I'll bet Tohru would look absolutely gorgeous." said Yuki as he gave a (dare I say it?) loving look to Tohru. Tohru blushed deeply as Kyo rolled his eyes and tried his best not to kill Yuki… He would surely get sued if he tried… After all, that damn Shigure WOULD do anything to get some more money…
Yuki then gathered all of his courage and…
"Ayame, good job."
"Ooooh, my little brother must surely think so! I knew it! I can just feel the brotherly love pulsating through my veins! Hatori, did you hear that? Yuki liked my work! I'm so proud!" exclaimed Ayame happily.
Yuki rolled his eyes and got back to being bored and picturing Tohru in that dress… Yuki was sure that Kyo was doin the same thing, so he instantly stopped thinking about that and thought about Momiji if he was in a dress… Hmmm… He didn't want to think about that either... He couldn't stand thinking about that…
"Oh, and I meant to introduce myself to you! I'm Ayame, Yuki's loving and loved older brother. Who are you?" asked Ayame.
"Oh, I'm Brett. I, um, I am from America. I'm the emu of the zodiac." said Brett.
"I don't believe that there's an emu of the zodiac." said Ayame. Hatori then explained what happened.
"Well, can you still erase minds?" asked Tohru.
"I really don't know… I could try it out on something…" said Hatori.
"I know! Let's try it out on Gure-San! Can it work for just a day?" asked Yumi.
"Yes, it can. I suppose I could try it out." said Hatori as he walked over to Shigure. He put his hand on Shigure's forehead and tried to erase his memories. It had worked, but it was only temporary. Yumi and Kyo had managed to get Gure-San to think that he was a ballerina for the day. They got to see him leap through the thin air and then come crashing down and fall through the doors. Everyone had laughed so hard that day that it was hurting them. But, as the night and started to come, everyone once again went their separate ways. Mahia was having a hard time sleeping, though, knowing that tomorrow either Brett would not be loved by his parents or they would be overly protective of him.
The next day, at school, Yumi rushed up to Haru.
"Haru, Haru! The most amazing thing I have ever seen, not to mention the funniest thing, happened last night!" She then leaned up to his ear and whispered to him what had happened with Brett and Hatori last night.
"Wow. I've never thought that that was possible. Come to think about it, I hadn't even ever thought about it…" said Haru with his near annoying usual calmness. The bell then rang and everyone went to their classes.
Though the day had been long for most of the family, Mahia had felt like it rushed past. Back at Shigure's house, she was a nervous wreck.
"Mahia, there's no reason to be so jittery. I told Hatori that he should call and tell us what the verdict was. Kay?" said Shigure nicely.
"… Kay." said Mahia.
"Good girl! Who's a good girl? YOU'RE a good girl!" said Shigure in a baby-voice. Mahia merely hit him on the head and stalked off to her bedroom to wait for the call that she would get in the morning.