Katsuya packed his bag very slowly that morning. The thought kept coming back to him, no matter how many times he tried to block it out. It was a thought that had hit him that morning just as he had risen from bed. It was true that at first he had been quite excited that Stephanie was coming with him and his family to the lake house for the Sohma New Year's celebration, but as the idea came back he realized what a dangerous thing it could be. For throughout the whole course of his decision he had forgotten one thing. And that thing was Yamato Sohma. He wasn't certain how Yamato would react to such a thing considering how fond he was of Katsuya and rarely liked to share him with anyone else around New Years. And Kaye despite himself felt a little uneasy at this moment for how he might react and how Stephanie would be affected by it. As he pondered these many things Sakura came into the room to see how his progress on his packing was going and saw him sitting in his bed, his bag only half full.
"Goodness" she replied, "Last time I checked you weren't even packed and now you've not even finished. What's going on with you?" she asked concerned.
"I was wondering if you could do me a favor?" he said looking up.
"What is it?"
"Will you finish packing for me? I know it's only an hour till we leave but I have to talk to her" he replied referring to Stephanie.
"About what Kaye?"
"I haven't told her anything. I mean, not really. I don't want her to go up there and not even be prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"Yamato. She has no idea how he affects me and I don't want her to go up there without that information, because then she won't understand his reaction however he reacts."
"All right" Sakura nodded, "You have a point. But are you sure?"
"Yea. So will you finish packing for me?"
"Mhm. But hurry up. You know dad wants to get on the road as soon as possible."
"I know" Katsuya nodded standing up and heading for his door, "I'll be back as soon as I can" he departed the room and Sakura watched him leave for the moment, sighed, and began to pack the remainder of the stuff he was taking which was all lying neatly on the bed.
(Next Scene)
When Katsuya arrived at the Kamiya residence he was surprised to see that Stephanie was the one who came to the door after he rang the bell. After her surprise at seeing him so soon they walked into the living room and he began to talk.
"Before we go up there" he replied, "There's something you have to know. I shouldn't have kept it from you."
"Can it be any as surprising as the other two things that you kept a secret?" she asked sweetly with a smile.
"Well no" he managed to smile himself, "It's not as bad as all that. But it is important."
"Okay" she nodded, "I'm listening."
"The thing is" he took a deep breath, "Do you remember I told you that there are fourteen members of the Zodiac."
"Mhm."
"Well the member of the Zodiac that carries the core."
"The god of the Zodiac?" she finished.
"Yes. Yamato. How do I put this? Ever since I was a child he has taken a personal interest in me."
"How so? I mean what do you mean personal interest?"
"Well I am needless to say his favorite."
"Okay."
"But that's not all together a good thing."
"It's not?"
"No. Hardly. You see, as the god of the Zodiac Yamato tends to be tyrannical at times. And a bit possessive. Overbearing."
"Possessive of you?" she asked quizzically.
"Possessive of all the members of the Zodiac. Minus the cat of course. He can't stand Sakura. But he is possessive of me in particular. You ought to know now that he's sort of, no let's face it. He is a source of fear of mine."
"Fear?"
"Yamato may be sickly but he's hardly weak. And there have been times that neither of my parents know about, that he's uh taken out a lot of his anger on me. Either mentally or."
"Physically?" her eyes became sad and wider.
"At times yea. But it's never been anything too serious to the point where my parents would find out about it" Kaye turned to her and took her hands gently in his own, "I'm a little concerned because now you're going up there, and I just wanted you to be, if you still want to go that is, prepared in case of whatever reaction he may have to you and I being together."
"I see. Is there nothing you can do about his abuse towards you?"
"I'm a member of the Zodiac" Kaye shook his head, "It's understood that this is the way things are supposed to be. It's the way it's always been. I've just accepted it. If you don't want to come, I'll understand under the circumstances."
"No" she said with a shake of her head, "I want to come. Besides you can't keep it from him forever."
"Well it's not like I've tried to do that. As soon as you found out about the Zodiac, my parents sent a letter to the main house. So he knows about that much. At least I think he does. We never got a response. But there can be any number of reasons for that."
"Well I am still interested in going. So shall we?" she replied standing.
"Are you ready to go? I mean are you packed?" he asked standing up also.
"I've been ready all morning" she nodded with a smile.
"Okay then" he grinned back taking her hand, "Let's go."
(Next Scene)
Katsuya and Stephanie walked back to his house, him carrying her bag, where they noticed that Kyo and Yuki were packing up the van. Takara ran to embrace Stephanie as Tohru and Sakura who nodded hello climbed into the van. Katsuya glanced at the house next door as he handed his father Stephanie's bag.
"Pop. Isn't grandfather Kazuma coming?" he asked Kyo.
"He's meeting us up there" Kyo answered, "Kunimitsu is driving him."
"Your grandfather?" Stephanie asked interested.
"Yea he lives right there" Kaye pointed.
"You never told me that your grandfather lived right next door to you."
"Well technically he's not really their grandfather" Kyo replied as he closed the trunk of the van, "Kazuma just raised me."
"Mr. Sohma if I may say" Stephanie said, "He is who he is. If he raised you then is he not deserving of the title?"
"No he is."
"Then I see nothing wrong with calling him such" she added before climbing into the van.
Kyo smiled and then patted his son's shoulder as Kaye put his left foot into the van.
"She's a keeper."
"I know" Kaye whispered as his father climbed into the driver's seat.
He too climbed into the van, buckled his seat belt, and then Kyo started up the engine, driving away from Kyoto for their three day trip.
(Next Scene)
The sun was shining quite brightly when the Sohmas arrived at the family lake house. Instead of staying at the main house Kyo had opted much to the relief of his family, to stay at the smaller lake house along with Yuki and Hatsuharu's family. As they arrived Hatsuharu ad Reiji came out to greet them. Rika, Reiji's younger sister ran over as well from where she was playing, her long black hair flowing behind her, and embraced Takara tightly after she had jumped out of the van. Sakura climbed out and embraced Reiji as Hatsuharu moved to the back of the van to help Yuki with the luggage. Meanwhile Katsuya got out of the van and helped Stephanie out as Sakura and Reiji moved his way.
"Kaye" Reiji grinned embracing him, "It's so good to see you."
"It's good to see you too Reiji" Katsuya nodded with a grin, "I want to introduce you to someone" he replied pulling Stephanie closer to his side, "Reiji, this is my girlfriend, Stephanie Kamiya. Stephanie this is my cousin Reiji. I've told you all about him."
"I hope he did me justice?" Reiji joked smiling but still surprised as he bowed politely, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"And you as well" she bowed her head back, "I really have heard so much about you."
"And I am looking forward to getting to know about you" he nodded.
"I think this a good opportunity to show Stephanie to the room" Sakura said taking up Reiji's cue, "If you boys don't mind?"
"Not at all" Kaye agreed, "I'll see you later" he whispered to Stephanie lovingly.
"Mhm" she nodded as she followed Sakura into the lake house.
Reiji eyed his cousin as they began to walk towards the house also.
"So you found somebody?" Reiji commented, "When?"
"Just the day after we talked. I met her just when school started."
"Well. She's cute Kaye" Reiji replied as they arrived at the back deck, "Is she everything you have been looking for?"
"Yea. And more. She's more than I can hope for."
"And, does she know about the" Reiji began.
"Yes. And the other part."
"Wow. Well I am really happy for you Kaye."
"Why do I sense hesitation in your voice then? Like there is something more that you want to say?" Katsuya asked placing his hands behind his back.
"You know me too well" Reiji frowned slightly with a sigh, "I admit I do have one concern. Does He know about her?"
"I believe he knows as far as the fact that she knows about the Zodiac curse. But as far as her being my girlfriend, I don't think so."
"You do know that you are going to have to talk to him sometime these three days? Even if he doesn't show up at the Zodiac banquet."
"Yea. I'm aware of that."
"What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna be totally straightforward with him."
"Totally honest?"
"Yea. Reij I am not ashamed that I love her."
"Love?" Reiji's eyebrows rose questionly.
"Yea. The moment she accepted my, well actually before then. I love everything about her."
"Does she love you?"
"Yes and I have proof."
"What?"
"She can embrace me now without me transforming."
"Whoa. Well to the Zodiac members that's iron clad evidence. But haven't you only known her for a short period of time? I mean that's only six months."
"That's all it took" Katsuya nodded, "You know, Reij, I believe that you shouldn't put a time limit on when you fall in love. It happens at different moments for everyone. Although I dare say I went a lot slower than most people."
"How so?"
"I didn't kiss her for the first time until just recently. Two weeks ago in fact."
"That recent?"
"Mhm. We've held each other a lot of times" Katsuya grinned happily, "But we never kissed before that time. It was magical. The snow was falling. The trees were lit. She looked amazing. I couldn't have picked a more perfect moment."
"You really love her don't you Kaye?" Reiji asked smiling himself as he saw how happy his cousin was.
"With all my heart."
"Then I say the hell with Yamato" Reiji held up his fist, "If you love her than you hold onto her."
"I will" Katsuya nodded, "Want to go down to the lake with me and the girls?"
"Sure" Reiji nodded back, "After all we don't have to be at the main house until tomorrow night and I promised Rika I'd take her down there."
"Then let's go" Katsuya grinned and the two of them walked back into the house to fetch the girls.
(Next Scene)
They spent a good portion of the rest of the day down at the lake. While down there Takara had introduced Stephanie to Hitomi and Krysta Sohma, the boar and the horse of the Zodiac. Katsuya and Stephanie held onto each other while Sakura and Reiji talked about school and dating. As he walked through the woods, his nose once again in a book Akito Sohma noticed the couple and immediately stopped at the sight of them. He moved forward slightly and Reiji caught sight of him. Instead of walking over however Akito vanished once more into the trees and Reiji turned to Sakura with a concerned tone.
"We might have a problem" he whispered what he had seen in her ear and Sakura became worried herself.
Akito walked back to the main house and entered a corner door. Inside the darkened hallway he found Kanako also immersed in a book. She stood up as he came into view and headed in the direction of the two doors that were directly in front of her.
"He's not seeing anyone now" she replied.
"This is important" Akito insisted as he opened the doors and walked in.
The room not unlike the hallway was very dark. Straight in front of him, sitting by a table and on a fancy pillow sat a tall blond youth with piercing dark brown eyes dressed in an elegant green kimono. His hair fell over his eyes slightly as he turned his gaze on the younger boy.
"What brings you here Akito?" the older boy asked, "I told Kanako that I was seeing no one as of now."
"Forgive me Master Yamato" Akito bowed his head, "I realize that. But there was something of great urgency that I had to speak to you about."
"Oh?"
"Yes" Akito nodded as he knelt down, "Sakura, Takara, and Katsuya have arrived."
"Have they?" Yamato said as he scribbled some notes down onto a pad, "I suppose they are staying at the other house?"
"I believe so. Bu that is not why I have come here."
"Then speak up Akito" Yamato snapped loudly, "I don't have all day."
"Yes sir" he nodded his own brown eyes becoming frightened at once, "It seems that Katsuya has not come alone."
"What do you mean?" Yamato's eyes suddenly became wide with interest.
"He has a female companion with him."
"Female? Are you certain?"
"Yes sir. And he was holding onto her so obviously the Zodiac curse is ineffective with her."
"I see. And who is she?"
"I don't know" Akito shook his head.
"Then perhaps you had better find out" Yamato replied.
"How?"
"I don't know" Yamato snapped again, "Ask questions. Be more assertive. I want to know who that girl is before tomorrow night. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Find out all you can. Every. Last. Detail" he said as Akito rose from the ground.
"Okay" Akito bowed, "It will be done" he added as he departed.
"A female companion?" Yamato thought, "Not possible. Not my Katsuya. He wouldn't fraternize with a female behind my back" he stood up and walked over to the window.
His eyes rose as he looked angrily toward the sun.
"Or would he?"
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! All right I wasn't happy with the title chapter for this one so I changed it and I have also added a new chapter to this book, which you will get to read on Friday! Hope you liked it!
Next Time on Curse Renewed:
Chapter Nine: New Years Surprises and Sunrises
The party is in full swing and Akito has informed Yamato of every detail he could about the mysterious Miss Kamiya. What will Yamato do in reaction to it when he unexpectedly comes to the Zodiac banquet? Find out next time!
And
Chapter Ten: Yamato's New Command
Yamato has a new surprise for the Zodiac members and their families. Find out what when next you read!