Chapter 5

Okay, well, I have finally been able to completely read chapter four and now I can start chapter five the way I originally planned to because I know it will work out. Yay! Lol.

Suki returned home from school. She hadn't walked with the group like she had the day before. It was apparent that Takane hadn't been home yet, her car wasn't there and the mail was still in the mail box. Reaching her hand into the box, she retrieved a single white envelope. Scanning the information, she saw that it was addressed to her and shoved it into her back pack.

Racing up the spiral staircase to her room, she heard the phone ringing. Speeding up, she grabbed the phone before the machine could answer. "Moshimoshi Suki desu?" There came no reply, only a heavy breathing on the other end. "Moshimoshi?" Sukie repeated.

"Have you read the letter?" a husky voice asked.

"Nai?" Suki asked, an ominous feeling surrounding her.

"I guess that you haven't yet read my letter. I trust that school went well for you today," the unknown voice said. "I'd watch out if I were you, Suki Takaka. You're curse is returning to you. You can 't hide," the voice cackled.

"Fuck you," Suki said, clicking the phone off and throwing it across the room. "The letter," she gasped, and grabbed her pack. Pulling out the envelopes, she opened it carefully. She held the stiff parchment in one hand and read the finely typed letter:

I know what happened in the United States, England, France, Germany, and South Korea. The curse is following you where ever you go. Taking away those whom you care about the most. Takane can't hide you forever. Leave Japan and let those you befriended live longer lives.

There was no signature at the bottom. Suki's heart was racing. How could someone have found out? She needed to talk to Takane.

Racing down the stairs she nearly trampled Takane as she was coming up the stairs. "Whoa, hey, Suki, be careful. Didn't you see me here?"

"Gomen ne, Kane. Look," she handed the parchment to her guardian. "Read it."

Takane took the paper and read it over, her eyes widened at the print. "Where did this come from?"

"It was in the mail box when I got home from school. There was no signature or return address on it." Suki said. "Then there was a phone call."

"Phone call?"

"Yeah, some guy, he knows about the curse, Takane. He knows and he's threatening me. There was no number on the caller i.d., it was like no one had even called."

Takane took the frightened teenager into her arms. "It will be okay. The curse won't affect you here, you have me now to protect you."

Suki pushed away from her guardian. "I'm going for a walk, I need to think about some stuff."

"Okay, when you get home I'll have some dinner ready."

Suki nodded and walked out the door. She headed down some random the street in no in particular direction. It was crowded as people were heading home from work, and late shift people were heading to work. She was pushed around and in random directions as she wandered down the streets.

"Miss Takaka! Miss Takaka!" someone in the distance was calling her name.

Takane was standing over the stove as the hamburger helper she was making was setting. Why would someone mess with Suki like that? How could they know? If they knew of Suki's curse, then they could know of her own secret, but she doubted that. She should stay home tomorrow with Suki.

Walking to the other end of the kitchen, she picked up the phone. Dialing in Dr. Sohma's number, she waited while it rang.

"Moshimoshi, Sohma Hatori desu?"

"Sohma-sensei, it's Takahashi Takane."

"Miss Takahashi, what can I do for you?"

"I won't be able to come in tomorrow. Gomen ne, but my ward received a threatening letter today and she's very shaken about it. She needs me here with her tomorrow."

"I understand, Miss Takahashi. Thank you for calling."

"Arigato." Takane said as she hung up the phone.

Suki turned at the calling of her name. It had begun to rain, but she didn't care. The cool water left no feeling as it trailed down her numb cheeks. She saw who had been calling to her. It was the senior Sohma Yuki and he had his cousin Haru with him.

"Miss Takaka, why are you out so late, and in this weather?" Yuki asked, in a concerned voice.

"It's not good to be out in the rain," Haru said, "You'll catch a cold." He removed his white coat and placed it around Suki's shoulders.

"Really, it's nothing. I just had to clear my mind of some things. I'm heading home in a few moments." Suki said, with a sigh. Home. She hadn't been home since she was six. Since that accident.

"We'll take you home, Miss Takaka. It's not safe for young women to be out walking around this district so late at night." Yuki said.

The two males flanked her sides, and she didn't argue. Not a word was exchanged between the three companions as they headed towards Suki's current residence. She felt something touch her hand. Looking over she saw Haru's gloved hand lace his fingers with her own. She noticed how pink her fingers were, but she didn't feel the cold.

It wasn't long before they had reached her stoop, and the two males said their farewells. Haru gave Suki a hug and whispered in her ear, "Please, feel better and be happy at school tomorrow."

She looked at him with somewhat confused eyes, but he just smile and waved as he and Yuki walked off down the street.

Turning to the door, she found Takane waiting for her. "It's late." Takane said. "Dinner's ready."

Suki walked inside and up to her room to change before she ate her dinner. The two females ate in silence. The only noise in the house came from the television that was left on in the living room.

"Suki, you can stay home from school tomorrow if you want. Dr. Sohma said that I could stay home with you, as well, if you'd like." Takane said.

"Iie. I will go to school tomorrow." The young girl said.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Takane asked, a concerned look on her face.

"I promised Haru I would," Suki said, staring at her plate of cheesy shells.

"Ah, I see," Takane said, smiling at her ward.

The next morning Suki was up and ready to go to school, while Takane was getting dressed. The sound of the doorbell rang throughout the house. "Suki, can you get that?" Takane called from the back of the house.

"Yeah," the fuchsia haired girl said as she walked to the front door. Opening it, she was surprised to find the entire group at her front door.

"Who is it?" Takane asked, as she entered the living room buttoning her jacket. "Whoa."

"Well, it's everyone I know from school," Suki said.

"We came to pick you up," Tohru said with a smile.

"Oh," Suki said.

"You're electric waves today and much happier waves than they were yesterday, you are feeling better," Hana asked with a small smile.

"Hey, kiddo, let's go," Uo said.

"Good morning, Miss Takaka." Yuki said from beside Tohru.

"Can we go already?" the orange haired boy asked.

"Shut up, orange top." Uo barked.

"Interesting bunch," Takane said, as she looked out of her front door. "Have a good day," she said, handing Suki her back pack.

"Thanks," Suki said as she stepped outside. The group moved towards the school.

Takane climbed into her car and peeled out of the driveway, heading towards the Sohma house. She hadn't had time this morning to call Dr. Sohma and let him know that she would be coming to work today. When she arrived she found no one in his office. Where could he have gone? She wondered. He didn't have any appointments for today.

"I thought you said you couldn't work today?" Ha'ri's voice came from behind her.

She jumped slightly and turned around. "I know, but Suki decided that she wanted to go to school today as a favor to a friend." She smiled shyly.

"Oh, okay," he said as he walked towards his desk.

"Oh, Ha'ri!" A sing song voice came from outside.

"Go away! I have work to do!" Hatori growled.

"Ha'ri, dear, you really shouldn't be so worked up all of the time."

"Your-"Takane began.

"Cousins," Hatori finished.

"Yeah," she nodded as the door came open and there stood a grown man in a nurses' gown. A very short nurses' gown. His hair was partially pinned up in a bun and a little hat sat on his head. He had a pair of white lacey stockings and a pair of silver high heels on.

"Do I even want to know?" she asked.

"Ha'ri, you didn't say you had company," the man giggled in a very loud and obnoxious voice.

"Ayame, we're working, get out!"

"No you're not, you're just standing there."

"Because you're interrupting."

"Oh, Ha'ri sometimes I feel like you don't love me anymore."

"Go away."

"But Ha'ri," Ayame cried.

Hatori pushed the silver haired man out the door and slammed it shut. "Sometimes those two just drive up crazy." He growled. "Miss Takane, I apologize profusely for the idiocy of my two cousins Shigure and Ayame."

"Its quite alright," Takane said.