Chapter Six: Seasons of Love
May
The breeze blew across Katsuya's cheek as he sat next to Stephanie in the park as she sketched on her drawing pad.
"So what are you drawing over there?" he asked curiously.
"Mnm" she shook her head, "I'm not done yet. But thank you for bringing me here today. It's the perfect day for drawing."
"No problem. Say I've been meaning to ask you something for awhile now?"
"What is it?"
"You got any plans for summer vacation?"
"Mmm. Not really. I'll probably just hang around here. How about you?"
"Well the only thingI can think of is that my birthday is coming up."
"Really? When's your birthday?" she said turning to him surprised.
"July."
"What day?" her eyebrows rose.
"The sixteenth."
"Well isn't that funny" she giggled.
"What is it?"
"Mine is the eighteenth."
"No way" it was his turn for his eyebrows to rise.
"It is" she nodded, "July eighteenth. Were you born at night?"
"Yea."
"What time?"
"I don't really know."
"I know when I was. Eight thirty four p.m."
"You know exactly when you were born?" he said surprised.
"Mhm. I memorized it when I was younger. Every year at my birthday one of my uncles would ask me the time and I could always tell him."
"Wow. Imagine. Our birthday's are that close. We should do something special."
"Like what?"
"I don't know" Katsuya shrugged, "We'll have to think about that."
"Okay. I'm done" she said putting down her pencil, "You want to see" she held up the pad of paper.
"All right" he nodded, "Wow" he gasped when he saw her drawing of the surrounding area, "You're really good."
"Ah I'm not that good. I'm better at other things."
"Such as what?" he grinned slyly.
"Oh you're just going to have to find that out" she smiled making him chuckle and look at her lovingly, "Anyway as I was saying it's not that good. I used most of my imagination on some of it."
"What do you mean?" he asked quizzically.
"Let's just say that I am the type of person who likes to embellish. I would be perfectly happy living in a world of fantasy. You know, magic spells, curses. I like to thinkof myself as a person who doesn't just stick to reality" she continued as he listened quite surprised, "But as someone who likes a bit of the unordinary every now and then. You know" she grinned as she looked at him.
"Good to know" he smiled taking it all in.
JuneStephanie rose from her bed lightly and walked over to her dresser taking out a tee shirt. She threw off her nightshirt, placed on a bra and put the tee shirt over top. Then she grabbed a pair of shorts and placed them on carefully. She walked over to her collection of music, picked up a cd and placed it into the player that was sitting on her desk. She strolled over to the doors that led to the balcony and walked outside, breathing in the fresh morning air. A song came on the cd player loud and clear and she cleared her throat at as she closed her eyes, standing near the edge of the balcony and began to sing.
Laugh and Cry/Live and Die/
Life is a dream we are dreaming/
Day by day/
I find my way/
Look for the soul and the meaning/
Then you look at me/
And I always see/
What I have been searching for/
I'm lost as can be/
Then you look at me/
And I am not lost anymore/
People run/
Sun to sun/
Caught in their lives ever-flowing/
Once begun/
Life goes still, it's gone/
We have to go where it's going/
Then you look at me/
And I always see/
What I have been searching for/
I'm lost as can be/
Then you look at me/
And I am not lost anymore/
At this point of the song Sophie heard her sister and wandered out onto the balcony. She took her hands and began to dance with her happily as her younger sister giggled. Then she sang the last lines with so much passion that there was no way the whole neighborhood could hear her.
And you say you see/When you look at me/
The reason you love life so/
Lost I have been/
I find love again/
And life just keeps on running/
And life just keeps on running/
And life just keeps on running/
You look at me and life comes from you/
From/
You/
When she finished she sat down on one of the chairs and smiled quietly to herself. Sophie sat down in the other chair and turned to her happily.
"You really like him don't you Steph?" she asked.
"Yes Sophie, I do" she nodded, "In fact, I think I am falling in love with him."
JulyOn the morning of July sixteenth Kyo called Katsuya out to the driveway for a surprise. Just a few days ago Kaye had received his license and Kyo had been preparing for this moment all year. When Katsuya opened his eyes he was astonished to see a black truck standing near the curb.
"What's this?" he asked his father who was grinning quite proudly.
"It's my old truck" Kyo replied, "And it's yours now."
"Pop" Katsuya said in surprise, "I thought you got rid of this thing."
"Nope. It's been around your grandfather's this whole time. I've been working on it all year for you."
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything son" Kyo patted his shoulder, "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks" he embraced him, "I can't wait to show Stephanie. But do you want to go for a ride with me first?"
"No that's okay. You earned that license. Go have fun. I have something for your sister too, so I need to go give her to her."
"Thanks Pop" Katsuya nodded appreciatively, "Oh and thank mom too."
"I will" Kyo smiled, "Now go on!" he said and Kaye immediately hopped into the truck, buckled his seat belt and started it up.
As he drove away in his new car, Kyo smiled satisfactorily to himself and then walked inside to give Sakura the earrings that she had admired months ago.
Katsuya drove the truck to the Kamiya estate and then hopped out excitedly. He practically ran up to the door and rang the doorbell eagerly. Luckily for him Stephanie was the one who answered it.
"Katsuya what are you doing here?" she asked confused, "I thought we weren't meeting until tomorrow."
"I know but I just got something today and I couldn't wait."
"Okay" she laughed at his enthusiasm.
"C'mon" he took her hand and led outside the gates, "Well that's it" he pointed to the truck.
"Is it yours?" she said astonished.
"Yep. My Pop just gave it to me today. Isn't it great? You want to go for a ride? he asked her.
"Okay" she nodded, "Sure. Let's go."
They walked to her side of the truck and he opened the door for her. Then he walked over to his side of the truck, buckled his seat belt once more, and drove off towards the touristy section of Kyoto. She smiled at how happy he seemed and they talked about what they would do the next day when they celebrated their birthdays together for the first time.
August"Man is it hot?" Sakura said on one of the last days of summer, "I wish autumn would get here sooner thenlater."
"Yea" Katsuya nodded as he finished up the dishes since they both were in the kitchen.
"What's the matter Kaye?" she asked staring at his somber expression, "You're awful moody."
"I don't know. I just feel like lately I'm being dishonest to Stephanie."
"What do you mean? You're getting along aren't you?"
"Yea. Better than ever. But I want to tell her something but if I do I'll have to tell her something else."
"Kaye, you're not making any sense" Sakura shook her head not understanding what he was getting at.
"All right, what I mean is. The other day when I walked home, she asked me why I am so standoffish when it comes to holding her hand or even dare I say it, she asked why I haven't held her yet."
"Oh. I see. That's what you're worried about. But Kaye, you can't just tell her. Not yet anyway."
"Why can't I? It's been long enough. We've been going out for practically four months now. It's about time. Besides I want to tell her because I care about her a lot."
"Yea but."
"No buts Sakura. I've made up my mind. I'm helping her with her Japanese this afternoon and she also invited me over for dinner, so I'm gonna tell her then."
"Okay. If you're sure."
"I'm sure" he nodded, "I've never been more sure about anything in my whole life."
Later that evening he arrived at the house and they began their meal. He was quiet most of the evening and Stephanie started to wonder if she did something wrong. As they walked their plates into the kitchen she turned to him with a worried expression.
"Katsuya" she replied, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No. Why?"
"You've just been so quiet tonight. And you don't look very happy."
"Oh. I just have something on my mind."
"Well can I help?" she asked.
"Actually, it does have something to do with you, and since no one is here tonight, I feel comfortable telling you."
"Telling me what?"
"The other day you asked me why I never hold you and I gave you a less than satisfactory answer."
"Katsuya" she began.
"No please you have to let me finish" he shook his head, "I promise you can ask me any question you want after I finish what I am going to say, while I still have the nerve."
"All right. Go on."
Katsuya sighed and then moved forward.
"For you to understand, I am going to have to do something first. I'm going to have to show you what happens when I hug a girl."
"Huh?" she looked at him confused as he pulled her into him and a loud POOF sound filled the room.
She looked down and then around her.
"Katsuya" she replied frantically.
"I'm right here," someone answered in a deep voice.
"Where?" she looked around the room, "I don't see you."
"Behind the counter" he replied as she saw a large tail swish and he moved out.
She screamed slightly as a large tiger entered the light, his teeth glinting sharply and his brown eyes shining.
"A tiger" she gasped, "There's a tiger in my kitchen?"
"Don't be afraid," he said, "It's just me."
"Katsuya?"
"Yes" the beast nodded, "Oh. Would you do me a favor and hand me my clothes. I am going to change back any minute."
She found herself nodding and picked up the pile of clothes where they had fallen, placed them in his mouth carefully not to hit his teeth, and then he sauntered back behind the counter, swishing his long striped tail as he moved. A few seconds later another POOF sound was heard, and then a shuffling of fabric as he put his clothes back on. And then she saw him raise his head as he appeared once more in his human form.
"Katsuya" she replied slowly.
"Now I can explain."
"Okay" she nodded not really sure what to say.
"All right. For many years my family, the Sohma family has been under a curse. The Zodiac curse."
"Zodiac curse?"
"Mhm. At any given time twelve members of my family are cursed by the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The cat too, because of the old legend. Oh and there is also a god figure. So technically it's fourteen members. Whenever we get close to a member of the opposite sex in this region" he pointed at his chest, "We transform and then after awhile we change back, only as you saw we're not wearing clothes."
She nodded.
"The Ushida family are our enemies because they know about our curse. They were in fact the very family who helped to inflict it on us. So that's the truth" he said looking at her directly, "I'll understand if you want nothing more to do with me. Or if you'll want me to leave."
"What?" she suddenly became amused and chuckled, "Katsuya don't be silly."
"Huh?" he looked up at her astonished.
"Don't you remember that I told you months ago how I feel about this sort of thing. I feel like you have given me something I have always longed for. I've always dreamed that I would find myself thrust into an unimaginable situation. Your family has a curse and you felt that you could trust me enough to tell me about it. A secret I am sure is a very delicate matter."
"Yes" he nodded, "You're right. It is."
"So I'm happy that you told me and don't want you to leave."
His eyes softened and he felt like shouting for joy. But it was short lived because then he realized there was something they still had to do.
"Well now that you know this," he grinned sheepishly, "There's still something more that has to be done."
"Hmm?" she looked at him confused.
(Next Scene)
Within moments they were sitting in his family's sitting room and Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki were explaining all the aspects of the curse.
"So you see Miss Kamiya" Yuki finished, "It's very imperative that it's kept a secret."
"Of course" she nodded in agreement, "I won't tell a single soul. I swear. No one in my family would believe me anyway. You see unlike me who prefers the possibility of something like this, the rest are realists."
"Okay" Kyo smiled, "We trust you. And what's more important, Kaye trusted you enough to tell you."
"Yes" Tohru nodded, "And that too is important" she smiled sweetly at the girl, "So thank you Miss Kamiya."
"Oh you can call me Stephanie if you want to Mrs. Sohma" she replied back.
"In that case" Tohru said, "You must call Miss Tohru instead of Mrs. Sohma."
"Okay" Stephanie nodded again as Katsuya watched his mother and girlfriend start to bond.
Later that evening after walking Stephanie home Katsuya saw that his father was sitting up on the roof so he walked over to the ladder in the backyard and climbed it to join him. As he sat next to him Kyo smiled and patted his hand.
"Hey son."
"Pop. You're not disappointed in me are you?"
"No. Why would I be disappointed?"
"Because I told her. I told her without telling you guys. That's usually against the rules."
"Kaye" Kyo said making Katsuya look straight into his father's eyes, "Sometimes were driven to do something and it's the right time to do it. It's not our fault. It's just the right time. Besides she's a sweet girl and I feel very certain that she can be trusted. It's obvious how much you care about each other and that's important."
"I haven't told her yet" and Kyo nodded knowing exactly what he meant, "Not everything."
"You will. When the time is right" Kyo reassured him, "And when that time comes you have to be prepared for anything. You have to be ready at whatever reaction she has. But" Kyo smiled as he looked up at the stars, "But I am equally sure that her reaction to that part will be no different."
Katsuya pondered his father's words and then stared at the night sky wondering if he was right.
SeptemberWhen the leaves finally began to change as promised Katsuya took Stephanie back to Tofukuji temple where she saw for herself what he had spoken about many months before. As they stared at the leaves they talked about Christmas.
"So they actually celebrate Christmas over here?"
"Yep" he nodded as they moved away from the foliage, "In fact every Christmas, you know that section of Kyoto with all those trees?"
"Mhm."
"They light them up. It's pretty amazing."
"Wow that must be a sight to see."
"It really is. Would you like to go?"
"Sure. Say does it snow a lot in the winter months."
"Yea. We get a pretty fair amount."
"I can't wait. I love snow."
"Me too" he smiled as they headed for home since it was getting colder.
OctoberStephanie and Katsuya watched interestedly as Takara and Sophie ran around in the park.
"I knew those two would get along" Stephanie grinned.
"Yep" he nodded, "They're birds of a feather all right. Hmm?" he suddenly frowned as he stared up at the dark sky, "Looks like it's gonna rain" he said standing up.
"Oh you're right."
"It's gonna be a bad storm too" he frowned even more making her frown herself.
"Katsuya?"
"We should go home."
"What's wrong? You don't look so good" she replied noticing his face become pale.
"I'm okay" he brushed her aside slightly as Takara ran over, "C'mon Takara" he said taking her hand quickly.
"Okay" she nodded understanding completely at his reaction.
"Katsuya" Stephanie started to say.
"I'll see you later" he waved quickly and then dashed off as fast as he could with Takara in tow.
She stared at his retreating figure and instantly became worried as Sophie came over because she heard thunder.
(Next Scene)
When they arrived home Takara called to Sakura as Katsuya ran to his room. The rain began to pour outside, beating against the panes hard as she entered the room with a blanket and wrapped him in.
"Are you okay Katsuya" she replied worried.
"I'm okay" he nodded as he shivered, "This is going to be a bad one."
"Just hold on," she said as she held onto him, "Just try to control it."
"I can" he patted her head reassuringly, "I'm all right. I just need you to hold onto me till the storm stops."
"Okay. Mom and dad aren't here right now so I will do all I can" she held onto him tightly as Takara watched the rain from the window.
The rain continued to pour as two hours passed. Sakura sat near by as Katsuya suddenly threw the covers off and stared at the window determinedly.
"What's the matter Kaye?" she asked worried all over again, "Do you need something?"
"I got to go."
"What?"
"I have to tell her," he said standing up.
"What? Now? But it's pouring out there" she stood in front of him.
"I have to tell her now" he insisted as he moved toward the door.
"Kaye that's suicide. You could transform out there."
"I have to Sakura" he repeated hoarsely, "I don't expect you to understand" he added as the two girls followed him to the front, "Now's the time. There is nothing you can do to stop me" he replied opening the door and the rain splashed a little inside.
"Kaye" she pleaded some more, "Don't do this. You're in no condition to go out there."
"I'll be back later" he told her not listening and closing the door behind him.
Takara and Sakura looked at each other scared and wondered whether he really would be okay.
(Next Scene)
Katsuya ran as fast as he could through the piercing cold drops. He was breathing heavy but he still was determined to make it to her house. Finally he arrived at the gate and dashed inside. He rang the doorbell a couple of times and waited as patiently as he could, holding onto his whole body since he was cold.
Stephanie had heard the doorbell ring and quite surprised that anyone would be coming out in the dreadful weather she went to answer the door, and was astonished needless to say that he was standing there, the rainwater dripping off his hair.
"Katsuya?" she replied in shock, "You're soaking wet. What are you doing out there?"
"I" he began, "I had to see. I have to tell you something."
"Well come on in" she said gently taking his arm, "Goodness you're wet everywhere. And you're so pale. Are you feeling all right?" she asked as they sat down on the couch.
"I'm all right. Well actually I'm not. It's actually the reason I came here tonight."
"Okay. What is it?"
"I didn't tell you everything" he began.
"About what?"
"About my curse."
"What do you mean? I heard everything from your parents and you that day."
"Not everything" he shook his head, "There's something more. Something I didn't tell you. Something I was afraid to tell you till now."
"Okay" she nodded.
"You know how Sakura is the cat?"
"Mhm" she nodded, "I found that out that day."
"Well you remember that form that the cat is supposed to take. The vengeful spirit."
"Yes. Your father mentioned that in his story."
"Well Sakura doesn't possess it" he replied slowly and then sighed, "I do."
"What?"
"You see when were five years old, I made a wish. I wished as hard as I could to have that part of the curse. You see even back then Sakura was always the outgoing one and I was always the introvert. I figured if I took it upon myself then it would be better in the long run. I never thought that I myself would ever need to be with anyone else but my family. At least that is how I thought at the time. So my wish was granted and now instead of my sister I carry the burden of the vengeful spirit. When it rains like this, I mean heavy like this, I become weak and it becomes really hard to contain the monster inside of me. That's what I am you know. What I really am. I am nothing but a monster. It's true I can contain it most of the time except on occasions where the rain has gotten to be too much for me or if I am very angry. I am able control it better because of this" he held up the necklace around his neck with the single red bead on it.
"What is that?"
"Sakura gave me this. It's part of the cat's bracelet. I know it was foolish of me coming here tonight. But I had to tell you. I wanted you to know because" he looked up into her eyes, "I love you."
"Katsuya" her eyes began to form tears.
"I just wanted you to know that. I have never transformed into the monster form except for once and I was very young. But I didn't want to scare you if you ever did see it, because it is scary. It would probably be the scariest thing you will ever behold. Let's face it" he shook his head sadly, "I don't know what you're doing with me. It probably would be best for you to back out now while you can."
"Katsuya stop" she replied abruptly interrupting him.
"Huh?"
"If you thought in any remote way that I would change my mind about being with you because of something as insignificant as this then you're mistaken."
His eyes became wide as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. Neither one of them knew that he hadn't transformed she just continued to talk.
"You know one of my favorite fairy tales is Beauty and the beast. Do you know that story?"
"Yes" he nodded.
"The moral of that story is that beauty is found within. You can't find iton the outside. I love that concept and I think it fits in our situation. Beauty was a beautiful girl who befriended an ugly beast but she was so kind that she didn't see his ugliness but only his kind heart. Kaye" she said his nickname for the first time, "No matter what you look like on the outside I will never think anything different then I do now. I love you. I love you so much, just the way you are."
"I know," he whispered as he held onto her.
"How do you know?"
"Because you're holding onto me, and I am not transforming."
Her eyes became wide and they moved apart. They laughed moments after that and she could see that his face was returning to its normal color.
"It stopped raining outside" she smiled as he took her hand.
"Yea" he nodded, "I love you Stephanie."
"I love you too Kaye" she replied as they once more embraced, neither one not wanting to let the other go.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay! Finished! I told you it was going to be long! Anyway hope you liked it and I will see you all next week for the next set of chapters!
Next Time on Curse Renewed:
Chapter Seven: Christmas in Kyoto
Not telling!
And
Chapter Eight: A New Year's Gathering
Also not telling! I am so mean! (Giggle) You'll just have to keep reading to find out!