Disclaimer: I don't own Furuba or fruit for that matter. I'm hungry!!!!!!
SIDE NOTE: Chappie four of The Jyuunishi Adventures!! Excitingness, ne? Well…last time, Kagura was chasing Kyo around with her heat-beam eyes…and now we're gonna skip ahead so Uncle-chan can give explanation to all the Sohmas. Let me warn you right away that there is a HUUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEEEE spoiler here. If there are Akito fangirls, I apologize, but Akito is a girl. It's in the manga, but not in the anime, cuz the animators didn't read volume 14. Lol. I'll just say that everybody knows this already, cuz now I just can't call Akito a guy…you know? Anywho… read on!!
The Jyuunishi (all except for Kyo) were gathered in the main house along with their three strange visitors. Uncle, Toru, Jade, and Jackie were about to explain to each and every member of the zodiac just what was going on. And Akito was very impatient about the whole matter. She ((A/N: Urk, that sounds WEIRD)) tapped her fingers irritably on the wood floor, gazing coldly at her visitors. As soon as the door closed behind the last Jyuunishi, she awkwardly sat up and held herself steady with a weak hand.
"What is it that you've come here for? Be quick about it. I have little patience."
"Best be patient," scolded Uncle. "Or explanation will take slower."
"Talk fast old man, and don't lecture me," Akito snapped.
"Sensei, let us not waste time arguing," Toru insisted. Uncle frowned darkly at this young girl who had the nerve to be so rude, but let it go.
"Very well. As we have already explained to some family members, we are searching for the powers of twelve talismans." Uncle paused to look around the room. "We traced them here, to all of you. And your ancient curse certainly connects to the powers of these talismans. For, you see, the talismans are marked with animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Animals that you are cursed to bear the souls of."
"So?" Akito asked in a bored fashion.
"So…" Uncle began, stretching out the word. "So dark forces are coming to steal these magical powers from you! That is why we have come here to keep you sheltered from these dark forces and prevent them from obtaining the powers of the talismans, and using them to cause destruction."
"This sounds like something out of an old kung-fu movie," Hiro muttered.
"But it is very real," Jackie said gravely.
Akito scoffed. "And what exactly makes you think we're going to believe this?"
"Akito, with all due respect, it is true," Shigure said calmly and kindly. "They tell me the dog's power is immortality…and I've seen it to be true."
"Fine, so they have magical powers." Akito rolled her eyes, but still looked quite frustrated. "But what proof do you have that these so-called dark forces are after us?"
"Ch. Think she'd believe it after all the other stuff we've said," Jade muttered wryly. Akito flashed a glare, but chose to ignore Jade's comment. Instead, she searched the rest of the group with her eyes, trying to figure out for herself if they were lying or not. Uncle finally broke the silence.
"Better safe than sorry," he said. It was clear that Akito was not pleased with that answer. She resumed her impatient drumming on the floor.
"Fine," she finally spat. "Watch us, if you must…but once this whole thing is over, you have to leave immediately. You don't know how highly unusual this is for us." She glared at the people around the room. "Now everyone get out."
And that was that. At Akito's demand, everyone (with the exception of Kureno) left. Jade stuck her tongue out at the sickly head of house before she left.
"She needs to learn some manners."
"And respect for elders," added Uncle.
Kureno's voice interrupted them. The tall man stood in the doorway, leaning against its frame. "Please don't judge her so quickly…she's had a lot in life to go through, and has faced more problems than any other girl her age."
"She seems so frail," Toru interjected. "Has she been ill very long?"
"She's not the healthiest of people," Kureno replied. "In fact, she's been sick her whole life. And, as the head of the Sohma house, she carries the brunt of the curse. She is fated to die as soon as she reaches her 21st birthday. And on top of that, before now it was demanded that she be raised male. So please, do not be so harsh."
"I stand by what I said before," Uncle said haughtily. "And I will not change that view, cursed or not."
"Very well, then. If you'll excuse me." Kureno gave a slight bow of the head before entering the main house once again.
"That's gotta stink," Jade said quietly.
"The poor girl," Toru said. "Sensei, don't you think you were a bit too harsh?" Uncle gave him a look and Toru quieted. As soon as the reached the main house gate, Kyo leapt off the roof. He stared at everyone for a long moment.
"So, how'd it go?" he asked.
"Akito was rather hesitant, but she agreed to the terms in the end," replied Hatori.
"Great," Kyo said flatly. "So we're gonna have complete strangers taking up rooms in the house for who-knows-how-long."
"Don't complain, baka neko," Yuki said, passing by the other boy.
"I wasn't talking to you, damn rat! Hey, come back here! You wanna say that to my face?!" He chased after Yuki.
"Don't pay any attention to Kyo," Shigure said politely. "You are all quite welcome to rooms in my house for as long as you need them. As you say, better safe than sorry."
"Uncle will require access to all herbs and supplies as well," added Uncle. "If I am to create a proper barrier for everyone here, I will need them."
"Yes, whatever you need," Shigure agreed.
"Thanks a lot," Jade said cheerfully. "And I promise I'll do whatever I can to stop all evils that threaten you—"
"You will stay out of the way," Jackie interrupted. "And be safe."
"Jaaaa-aaackieeee!" Jade whined.
"Jackie is right," Uncle agreed. "You help Uncle and Toru research for spells!"
"But…um…I don't know anything about spells…um…uh…not that Idon't want to help…" Tohru stammered.
"Not you, apprentice Toru!" Uncle cried. Tohru shut up. "Now, what Uncle needs is sleep. Will be very busy doing research tomorrow."
"I should need some sleep as well," Jackie yawned as he said this. "After all, I may need to some dark forces very soon."
"And that is why you must not sleep," Uncle corrected him. "You must keep guard over this family. Dark forces could attack at any moment!"
"But Uncle…"
"No buts, Jackie. Good-night."
Jackie sighed. He just knew this was going to be a long night. He wearily placed himself at the front just as Shigure popped in.
"If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask!" he called cheerfully. "Good-night!" And he scampered off gaily.
SIDE NOTE: ((looks up)) Wooooowwwww….looooong chappie…never expected that…well…me's comin' down with a cold, so that should mean I'll have more free time to update. --' ((sigh)) It's a good and bad thing…oh well. Oh yeah, and please look out for my new fics coming out sometime this month!! It's an Inuyasha fic and it's called, The Arrogance of Tokijin. That one'll be comin' a lot sooner than the other three I'm planning on posting, cuz I've got a whole beginning worked out. Well, till then… Tootles!!
