Disclaimer: I do not own JCA or Furuba in any way, shape, or form.

SIDE NOTE: Wahhh!! I'm sorry you guys and gals!!! I didn't mean to make you wait so damn long!!!! I'M SO SORRY!! FORGIVE ME FOR BEING SUCH A NUSAINCE!!!! I DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE!!! I'M SO SORRY!!! Ahem, Ritsu moment there. Well, um, thank you everybody for being so patient with me, I know this is annoying. You guys rock. Plz read on!!

Oh, yeah, and as a reminder: Female: Tohru. Male: Toru. Bold italics: English.

"Um...if I'd known we were going to have company I would have, uh, um...made more to eat...I'm sorry..." Tohru stammered on and on. Jade, Uncle, and Jackie all stared at her, unsure of what she was saying. Toru on the other hand, tried to brush it all aside.

"It's quite alright," he told her. "We came unexpectedly, so there was no way you could have prepared for us."

"Oh, um...I see. So...what are you doing here?" Tohru asked politely.

"Yeah, and then get the hell out!" Kyo growled.

"Please, we mean no harm," Toru assured the boy. "We actually came to well...help you."

Jade tugged Toru's sleeve. "Yo, Big T, clue us in here. What's everybody saying?"

"It's nothing, Jade. They simply want to know what is going on." Toru assured her.

"Understandable. But language barrier is slowing things down," Uncle complained.

"Will ya answer the damn question already?!" Kyo snapped.

"Well, I'm not sure what else we can do, sensei," Toru said nervously. "I'll just have to translate for now." Toru turned back to the rest of the group while Tohru was trying to calm Kyo down. "As I was saying, we came here to help you. Apparently, a very powerful magical force resides here, and we must find it before dark forces decide to use it to their advantage."

"Magical?" Shigure sweat-dropped. "I'm not sure what you mean, sir...there are no magical forces here, I guarantee you..."

Toru blinked in surprise. "Do you...know about them? Please, if you know anything, please tell me! We must find the vessels as soon as possible, or dark forces will—"

"What vessels?" Yuki interrupted. "Do you know about our curse?"

"Oh, nice move, damn rat!" Kyo griped.

"I...think explanations are in order," Shigure said. "Right now."

A couple hours later, explanations had been made and Jade, Uncle and Jackie were no longer in the dark. Uncle had been conjuring up a spell to allow himself Jade and Jackie to speak and understand Japanese while Toru was talking. "Will be better if Uncle can explain everything himself," he'd stubbornly told Toru. And he did. He explained everything.

"So, apparently, when these talismans are broken, the powers transfer to different vessels," Tohru muttered to herself. "Do I have it all right?"

Uncle whapped her on the forehead. "Not all right! Talisman powers don't just transfer to different vessels, they transfer to the vessels of their designated sign!"

"Oh, right, I'm sorry!"

"What does this have to do with us?" Kyo demanded.

"We traced the talisman powers here," Jackie explained. "And, according to the locater spell, all the powers reside in this very home."

"Hold on a moment." Yuki looked directly at Uncle. "You said that the talisman powers transfer to vessels of their designated sign. What does that mean? What signs are you talking about?"

"The symbols on the talismans," Uncle began, "are each of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac." At this being said, there was a long silence.

"Well, this has nothing to do with me," Kyo said finally. "I'm going upstairs...I've had it. I'm tired." He began to head upstairs.

"Hold on, Kyo," Shigure called. He looked at Uncle. "Are you sure it is only twelve? There are no other talismans?"

Uncle hit Shigure on the forehead. "Yes, you imbecile! Twelve animals, twelve talismans! No more than that!"

Shigure rubbed his head and scooted farther back, trying to avoid being hit again. "Yes, yes, but you see...our curse involves...thirteen animals."

"The cat!" Toru said suddenly. "But...that's just an old story."

"Yes, but it is no fictional tale here." Shigure sighed. Kyo, sensing that this was going to include him, sat down on the step. "You see...we of the Sohma family are cursed. Whenever we are hugged by a person of our opposite gender, we transform into one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Kyo here is our resident cat."

"The outcast of the zodiac..." Toru said quietly.

"Story of my life," Kyo said darkly. "Can I go, or am I gonna have to hear more of this crap?" Without waiting for an answer, the neko stormed upstairs. Tohru bit her lip.

"Oh, poor Kyo...I'll go see if he's okay." She ran up after him.

"This is all very interesting to know about," Jackie said politely, "but we still need to find out where the powers of the talismans reside."

"Ch. Even I can figure that out," said Jade. "We just figure out who turns into what when they get hugged. Duh."

"Jade is right." Uncle nodded. "It would be quite helpful if you could tell us."

"Um...well, alright." Shigure held out his hand. "I'm Shigure Sohma. Resident dog of the Sohmas."

Toru politely shook his hand as Uncle nodded observantly. "Hmm. Immortality."

"I'm immortal?! One moment, please!" Shigure stood up and ran to the kitchen. A few seconds later, a loud cry of pain was heard, followed by, "I'm not dead!"

Yuki shook his head, "Idiot." He looked at the rest. "I'm Yuki Sohma. The rat."

"Motion to the motionless," Uncle said without hesitation.

"Better let me test that," Jade said seriously. She pulled a Super Moose out of her jacket pocket and handed it to Yuki. Sure enough, the moose started flying around. "Alright!"

"Dah-dah-dah-dah! Super Moose!" cried the moose.

"There's a talking stuffed animal in the living room..." Yuki said dazedly.

"Any others?" Unlce asked expectantly.

"Not here," Shigure replied, finally coming out from the kitchen. "But yes, there are more. Would you care to tell us the rest of the powers?"

"Of course." Toru bowed. "Astral projection is the sheep's power—"

"Hiro," noted Yuki.

"—the tiger's is yin and yang balance—"

"Kisa," said Shigure.

"—the rabbit's, speed—"

"Oh dear, a speedy Momiji..." Yuki sighed.

"—combustion is the dragon—"

"Oh my, think of the repairs if Hatori gets angry..." Shigure said amusedly.

"—the horse is the healer—"

"Rin," Yuki noted.

"—levitation for the rooster—"

"A floating Kureno...hmm...imagine that..." Shigure said wistfully.

"—invisibility for the snake—"

"Oh no! Ayame could come at any moment and we wouldn't even know! I need to lock the doors!" Yuki rushed to Ayame-proof the house.

"—the ox is strength—"

"Let's hope Haru doesn't go black for a while..." Shigure muttered.

"—transformation for the monkey, and heat-beam eyes for the pig," Toru finished. "That's it."

"What did you say?!" Kyo was down the stairs in an instant, having heard the comment about the pig. "What did you say the pig had?! What is it?!"

"Um...heat-beam eyes..." Toru repeated uncertainly.

Kyo let go of Toru. A rumbling sound began to come nearer and nearer. There was a familiar cry of, "KYYYYYOOOOOO-KUUUUUN!"

"She's here..." Kyo gulped. A beam of heat burst through the doors, and, as usual, Kyo began running for his life. Only now he was also trying to avoid being burned to a crisp by the pig's power.

"Ah, yes," Shigure said brightly. "That, if you haven't guessed is the pig...Kagura Sohma."

SIDE NOTE: Um...I'm sorry if this was kind of bizarre and awkward...but at least it's a lot longer, right??? Oh well. I'm tired, but I'm updating. I hope you guys like it.