Memories of the Cursed

Chapter 5:

"Well?" the snake said as he slithered around Hatori's ankle, which grabbed the snake and put him on the table and left the room. "AHHHH! A SNAKE!" Arisa said, and then put a finger to her chin.

"A snake from the Chinese Zodiac?" she then asked as she turned to look at Tohru. Tohru nodded. Arisa and Saki had just come into the room along with Kyo and Momiji. "He-he! That's Aaya!" Shigure said as he put a hand over his mouth.

"He got cold and turned," Momiji, explained when Arisa and Saki looked over at them since neither of them had touched him. "That's strange..." Saki murmured as she turned to look at Shigure. "What? What is it?" Arisa asked impatiently as Tohru giggled.

"Why? Why is Ayame--Yuki's brother, a snake, while Yuki is a rat? How amusing...no wonder Yuki doesn't like him...strange, though, isn't it?" she answered with questions. "Hmmm...Why is that?" Arisa asked as she tilted her head in wonder.

"Hey! I'm still here! Don't forget me! I need warm milk or something! Hey!" the snake yelled. I'm cold, he thought and with that, he slithered onto Tohru's leg unnoticeably. "AHHHHHH!" she screamed as Yuki ran downstairs just in time to see what had happened.

(--?--)

Yuki had just stormed upstairs; he was beginning to feel tired. I guess I should do some studying or reading... he thought as he climbed into his bed, reached under his pillow, grabbed his book and started to read.

I wonder what I should plant next in the garden... he thought as he flipped through the book. He was going to continue doing this when he realized that 1). He had left the bakas with Tohru and her friends alone and 2) he was thirsty and hungry.

He then put his book back under his pillow and climbed off his bed. He came across Tohru's room and saw that some of her papers and stuff were blown off. He went inside to put her stuff in place.

The hat... he thought as he picked it up. He put everything away and picked up the hat, sat on her bed, and looked at it. Just like the last time I saw it...he thought to himself. He put it on the shelf and left. He would have tried to sneak into the kitchen quietly if he hadn't heard Tohru scream.

"AHHHHHH!" she screamed as Yuki ran downstairs. He had arrived in time to see that his so-called 'brother' had slithered up Tohru's leg. Instantly, Yuki grabbed the snake by his neck, as Arisa and Saki's eyes widened in surprise.

"Tohru! Are you okay?" Arisa asked her friend. "What happened?" Saki asked. "Nothing..." Tohru whispered faintly as she tried to catch her breath. Yuki was still holding the snake in his hand by the neck.

"Are you okay, Honda-san?" he asked as he let go the snake. "I'm fine!" she said and jumped up. "Good," he replied with a smile and left the kitchen. "What...was that?" Arisa asked as she turned to look at Shigure. "Uh..." Shigure started as he nervously turns to look at the snake that was now lying still on the floor. "Well?" Arisa demanded as she leaned towards Shigure.

A cloud of white smoke and a man stood in the snake's place. Ayame turned back but surprisingly, didn't say anything. He quickly put on his clothes. The poof made Arisa jump and she landed on Shigure.

He transformed. "A dog..." Saki said staring at the dog form of Shigure with blank eyes. "Ah! Yes! So, YOU'RE the dog from the zodiac!" shouted Arisa with a look a triumph. "Um...I think we should leave Shigure alone in case he transforms back," Tohru said quietly as she pushed her friends hurriedly out of the kitchen. Kyo and Ayame followed them.

In no time at all, Shigure transformed back. "Ah! I'm all fully clothed," Shigure said as he entered the living room, tying the last piece of his yukata. "What's going on?" asked Momiji happily as he jumped around. Haru was sitting on the couch staring at the little zodiac ornaments. "Nothing..." Kyo said as he heading outside.

"Hey Orangey! Where are you going?" Arisa taunted as she and Saki sat down. "None of your damn business!" he yelled as his fiery head disappeared from view. "Come on! What's going on?" Momiji repeated impatiently. Tohru and Arisa went over to explain to him. "Oh!" said Momiji as he looked around. "Wait a minute...let me think..." Arisa said as she put her hand to her chin in thought. Question marks appeared on Tohru and Momiji's heads.