DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING FROM FRUITS BASKET, I DO OWN THIS PLOT, STORY, AND THE GEMINI TWIN CURSE, AND KAIDA.
CHAPTER# 3 THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM.
It was yet another day in the Shigure house, and everyone there seemed to notice, that over the past few days of Kaida seeing Hatori, she had become more...well, acceptable. She no longer hid in her room, or sat in corners of totall darkness. She still would not speak to anyone, but sitting with them was indeed an improvement. Shigure however did notice that whenever Hatori was coming to pick Kaida up for a session, she became figety, and the moment she heard his car park on the gravel out front, she would rush to the door to answer it.
"Me thinks the lady doth want me cousin." Shigure said quietly to himself at the table as Kaida ran to the door.
"What was that Shigure-san?" Tohru asked politely.
Shigure didn't hear her but instead burst out into maniacal laughter.
"Quit it. Your going to make everyone insane if you keep that up." Came Hatori's calm voice as he smacked his cousin over the head with a rolled up newspaper.
"Sorry. So Hatori, how are you this lovely day?" Shigure asked in his usual unusual manner.
"Well I suppose. And yourself?" Hatori asked.
Shigure nodded his head to say he was well. He looked over as Hatori sat down and noticed Kaida clinging to his shirt sleeve with a blank look in her eyes. It seemed as if Hatori took no notice of it however. He lit himself a cigarette and was able to take only one drag before Kaida snatched it and began to smoke it herself.
Hatori blinked at her a few times.
"I didn't know you smoked." Shigure said.
"I quit." Kaida said blankly.
"And you decided to start up again?" Hatori asked managing to find his voice.
Kaida only nodded her head at this.
"May I have my cigarette back now?" Hatori asked.
Kaida nodded, took one last drag, and handed Hatori half a cigarette.
"I didn't know you two had another session today." Shigure said with a smile.
"Hmm? Well, we weren't supposed to. I actually thought since Kaida's been doing so well, that she might like to just go out today." Hatori said.
"She didn't tell us this." Shigure smiled.
"I don't tell you anything." Kaida said quietly.
Shigure looked at her shocked. Hatori on the other hand, began to laugh a little.
"You have to admit she's got a point." Hatori chuckled.
"So where are you two going today?" Shigure asked once over his shock.
"I don't know, where are we going Kaida?" Hatori asked the girl still holding his shirts sleeve.
She looked at him for a moment.
"Why would I know?" Kaida asked.
"Becuase i'm letting you choose. Anywhere you'd like to go today." Hatori said.
"I don't know of anywhere. I haven't been here in nearly ten years." Kaida said.
"What about Kozue park? You guys went there once when you were younger. It would be nice to go back there wouldn't it?" Shigure smiled.
"I suppose. I don't remember it much though. ...I don't remember anything much." Kaida said slowly.
Hatori felt a wave of her depression coming on and decided it was time to head for the park before she fell back into the state he worked so hard on getting her this far out of, it wasn't very far, but far enough. Once in the car hatori noticed some of the tension had vanished.
"So...you don't remember much of the days when you lived here?" Hatori asked.
"No. Not really." Kaida said in her slow voice.
"What do you remember?" Hatori asked.
"You. And Akito." Kaida said.
Hatori twitched slightly. The main reason he was bringing Kaida out today was that tomorrow she would have to see Akito again. That was something he didn't want to do, but he had no choice but to obey his orders.
"Why, are you envious of me?" Kaida asked.
"Huh?" Hatori asked.
"That day. When we spoke of jealousy, and how I find it beautiful. You said your were envious of me. Why?" Kaida asked.
"Becuase, you can leave this family whenever you want. You don't have to endure Akito's wrath. Your lucky." Hatori said.
"Don't ever say that again." Kaida hissed.
"Why not?" Hatori asked calmly.
"I am not lucky. I never have been. I am a walking curse, a jinx, everyone I get close to, or who gets close to me, dies. And what do you mean I don't have to endure Akito's wrath? Have you forgotten this already?" Kaida asked pointing to her eyepatch.
It was a black eyepatch with the kanji symbol for death stitched on in white string.
"I'm sorry about that. I didn't forget." Hatori said.
The rest of the ride was silent until they finally came to the park. It was all but deserted. Except for the few carts that sold refreashments. Kaida looked around and smiled slightly for a moment.
"Just as I remember it." Kaida said quietly.
Hatori only looked at her. He really felt bad for her. But there was something else. The twin inside of him, that drew him to not run from her. Like everyone else in her life had.
Hatori and Kaida walked around the park for a while in complete silence. It was a comfortable silnce which was good.
"Lets sit in the shade for a little, it's not good for you to be in this heat for a long time." Hatori said.
They sat underneath a cherry blossom tree on a bench.
"You know, I wish you wouldn't wear that eyepatch." Hatori said.
"Why?" Kaida asked.
"Becuase you look fine without it." Hatori smiled.
Kaida just stared at him.
"Excuse me, not to disturb you folks. But i'm trying to raise money for my school. Will it be alright if I took your photo for two dollars. It's so we can rebuild our gymnasium." A teenage girl said suddenly breaking the silence.
"It's fine with me. Kaida?" Hatori asked.
Kaida nodded her head.
"Great. Get closer k?" The girl smiled holding up the camera.
Hatori and Kaida moved closer.
"Hmm, this won't do. You might as well get your moneys worth. Here." The girl smiled and walked up to reposition them.
She put Hatori's arm around Kaida's shoulder and had them sit so close that they were touching. She also moved Kaida's hair to cover the eyepatch.
"Much better. Smile." The girl smiled holding up the camera.
Hatori and Kaida grinned slightly. The picutre was taken and the polaroid slid out.
"Ah, perfect. Here you go. You guys are such a cute couple. This is the best picture i've taken all day. Thanks." The girl smiled handing them thier picture then ran off after recieving her payment.
Hatori blinked, he had no time to correct the girl's mistake.
"You can have your arm back now if you'd like." Kaida voiced.
Hatori realized he had not moved from the position the picture was taken in.
"Ah yes, sorry." Hatori apologized and stood up.
"Can we call it a day? I'm getting rather tired in this heat." Kaida said.
"Of course." Hatori said.
It was yet another quiet walk back to the car. Yet as soon as they left the parking lot Kaida spoke.
"Lucky. Those who can feel the beauty of jealousy are so lucky." Kaida said looking out her window.
"Why do you say that?" Hatori asked.
"Becuase those who can feel anything are so lucky...compared to me." Kaida said.
The rest of the ride was in silence. Upon reaching Shigure's house Kaida went striaght for getting out of the car, but Hatori stopped her.
"You have this. Akito would strangle me if he ever found it." Hatori said handing Kaida the picture from the park.
"Thanks. I suppose i'll be seeing you again tomorrow for my session?" Kaida asked.
"Yes." Hatori nodded.
Kaida then unstraped her seatbelt and got out of the car. She was at the door when she felt someone turn her around and hug her.
"You may not believe it...but you are lucky in many ways. You just don't know it yet." Hatori said quietly then let her go and went back to his car and left.
Kaida stood there dumbfounded for a moment. She didn't know what to say...or do for that matter. She settled for going inside and up to her room. Past everyone's looks as she went. Once in her room she put the picture of her and Hatori on her mirror. It was indeed a good photo. Even if her and Hatori were only pretending to smile.
"I suppose...I can give him this one favor in return." Kaida said to herself as she took off her eyepatch and lay it on the dresser.
THE NEXT DAY AT THE MAIN HOUSE.
"Your not wearing your eyepatch." Hatori said suddenly realizing it was gone.
"You said I didn't need it, so I decided not to wear it any longer." Kaida said.
"I didn't think you'd listen to me." Hatori said in disbelief.
"Should I not have?" Kaida asked.
"Maybe not." Hatori said to himself.
They were walking down the halls of the main house and Kaida saw that they had passed Hatori's room and office.
"I have to see him again don't I?" Kaida asked calmly.
"...I'm sorry." Hatori said.
They walked the rest of the way to Akito's room in silence. Once they reached the door they both sat down patiently to be called in.
"You may enter Kaida." Akito called through the door.
"You have nothing to be sorry about." Kaida said to Hatori and stood up to walk in the room.
Hatori did nothing but stare at her. She turned around as the door was opened for her.
"So don't apologize." Kaida said and dissappered into the room.
Hatori could only sit and watch as the door was closed, and Kaida was sealed in the room with the monster. And he had brought her here unknowingly. He decided to sit outside of the door in case things got out of hand. But then again, knowing Kaida, Hatori would not know if things were getting out of hand unless he were on the other side of the door with her.
"Just like last time." Hatori mumbled to himself.
FLASHBACK
Kaida had been in the room with Akito for a few minutes now and still he had not spoken to her. Hatori knew this was a bad sign.
"You cannot stay here for long. You shouldn't even be here at this very moment in such close proximity with a certain someone." Akito said in a sickly sweet way.
"I know." Kaida said.
"You do? Good. I have a gift for you Kaida. Come here." Akito smiled facing Kaida and Hatori.
Kaida merely stood up and walked forward to sit down in front of Akito. He grinned broadly then held a pretty looking vase that fit in the palm of his hand in front of her.
"Akito." Hatori tried to plead.
"Look familiar?" Akito grinned.
"Akito!" Hatori tried again.
Kaida just sat there staring at the vase.
"It's the same as my parting gift." Kaida said.
"That's right. I hope you enjoy it all the same!" Akito yelled and smashed the vase into Kaida's bad eye.
Blood went everywhere, but Kaida did not move, or make a sound. She just sat there. No expression, with the blood pouring down her face.
"That's what you get! The twins are not to be together! Ever! Your as cursed as me! If I have to live this way, shunned from the family, then so will you!" Akito screamed as he dragged Kaida up to his eye level by her long hair.
Even though Kaida made no notion of being in pain, Hatori could feel it, he knew she was in immense pain right now, but would not show it. He rushed up to Akito and pushed a pressure point causing Akito to faint. He then picked Kaida up bridal style and rushed out of the room and to his office.
"You didn't have to do that. You'll be in for much trouble now." Kaida spoke slowly as Hatori patched up her eye.
"It's fine. I don't like seeing anyone get hurt." Hatori said calmly.
"Yet you willingly led me unknowingly into the lair of the beast that will do with me what he wants until he has had his fun. It doesn't matter, I will never be rid of him, I will always be the one that is never let free." Kaida said.
"I cannot disobey an order from Akito." Hatori said.
Kaida stared at him for a moment as he finished the bandage on her eye.
"Your sympathy and pity, mean nothing to me, so please stop wasting it on me." Kaida said in her same slow blank voice.
END FLASHBACK
Hatori sighed as he lit a cigarette.
"This is going to be a very long day indeed." Hatori voiced.
KAIDA'S POV
He sits there. Still unmoving. I am already blind in my eye. What more could he want.
"My death." I whisper to myself.
"No Kaida my dear, you will not get that wish granted so easily." Akito says smugly.
"Why have you called for me?" I ask.
"I want you out of Shigure's house." Akito said.
"I have no where to return to in America." I say calmly.
I don't care really. If I have no where to go then it means my solace will come at last.
"You are now going to live wherever it is you can find. But I never want to see you near this family ever again. Or so help me, you will have more then a scar and blind eye my dear." Akito says as he touchs my face under the eye he has damaged horribly.
GENERAL POV
Hatori's head shot up as Kaida walks out of Akito's room. Not a scratch on her.
"We can leave now." Kaida says.
Hatori walks Kaida to the car, he is not goign to bother with a session today. In the car however just before the turn to Shigure's Kaida speaks.
"I won't be returning to that house anymore." Kaida says staring out of her window.
"Then where am I to take you?" Hatori asked.
"...As far away from this family as possible. Akito has ordered me to leave for good this time. If I ever return..." Kaida went silent and held her eye for a moment.
"But where will you go?" Hatori asked.
Kaida was quiet, but then smiled.
"To see my family." Kaida said in a sad happy way.
Hatori pulled the car over to the side of the road and shut off the engine. Silence rang throughout the car.
"I want you to meet me at Kozue park tonight at ten. Can you promise me you'll be there?" Hatori asked.
"I suppose. Why?" Kaida asked.
"Just meet me there. I'm going to drop you off at Shigure's. Pack what you need, and bring them to the park with you." Hatori said calmly turning the car on once more.
Kaida did as Hatori instructed. She had her things packed and ready by the door within an hour.
"Are you leaving Kaida?" Shigure asked seriously at dinner.
"Yes. Akito has banished me. I leave in an hour." Kaida said calmly.
"Where will you go?" Yuki asked.
"Somewhere." Kaida said.
Kyo stared at her. Something had to be up. Kaida never spoke to any of them, ever.
"Would you like someone to walk you there?" Shigure asked.
"No. I can manage thank you." Kaida spoke.
She then looked at the clock to see it was nine o'clock. She had an hour to get to the park.
"Just enough time." Kaida said quietly.
She then stood up without a word to any of the others, grabbed her two small bags, and left. Shigure looked over at Kyo.
"I'm going. Don't worry, this time she won't slip off so easily." Kyo said in his usual manner.
With his catlike reflexes Kyo was able to follow Kaida all the way to Kozue park without her knowing. He sat in a tree and watched as she sat and waited, the minutes ticking by, until the big clock tower chimed it was ten o'clock. Suddenly out of the shadows came a figure and a voice.
"I'm glad you kept your promise." The figure said.
"Whats Hatori doing here?" Kyo asked quietly so no one would hear him.
"Yes. Was there a reason for this?" Kaida asked.
"Yes. Your coming with me. You will be living at my second home with me from now on. No one know's you came here. So Akito will never find out." Hatori said.
"Why are you doing this?" Kaida asked.
Hatori looked at her for a moment.
"Becuase
for some reason I feel compelled to do it. I can't explain it, I
just...need to. It's not pity, or sympathy, it's just something...I
have to do." Hatori said.
Kaida then did the unexpectable, she hugged Hatori. Kyo watched as the familiar poof occured.
'Wierd, it's only supposed to happen if you hug someone outside of the zodiac.' Kyo thought.
"It seems I still only transform when I am hugging you." Kaida said as she stood back.
She now had two black leathery wings sticking out of her back, they looked slightly damaged. Her eyes were now a bright purple, and her scar was black, with tribal tatoo's on her face and arms. A demonic glow in her eyes.
"I'm still not afraid." Hatori said as they walked to his car and she poofed back to her normal self with hatori's arm around her waist.
oooooh! Bet you weren't expecting that now were ya? I know I haven't updated in forever. I will try to keep them more recent. I promise. It's just I have many stories to work on, not to mention the novel I'm writting. No worries, I'll let you all know when it's finally going to be published. My editor can't wait for it to be finsihed so she hasn't ben letting me write to many fanfics. . Review guys. Honost opinions, but please, no flames, thier annoying and immature.