Chapter One: The Clash of Two Stories

There was a sudden crash as the museum window burst outwards, a winged figure flying out and into the night sky. In the street below, news cameras capture the footage as once again, the Phantom Thief manages to steal a priceless treasure.

At home, Kyo turns off the television set only to be glared into turning it back on by the transfixed female viewers; Kagura, Kisa, and Tohru. (although Kagura was doing most of the glaring.)

Momiji knocked on the door. "Hello everyone," he said, walking in.

"Darnit…why'd the Rabbit have to show up? As if this atmosphere wasn't bad enough." Kyo muttered, glancing up from the news coverage following Dark's flight.

He smiled and sat next to Kyo. "What're you watching, Kyo?" He asked.

"Just another broadcast on that Dark guy...the girls are enthralled, otherwise I'd turn this junk off." Kyo complained, only to flinch as the Dark fans turned as one with indignant faces.

"Hey, let me watch too!" said Momiji. "Dark is awesome!"

"Another night, another item stolen." Dark said.

"Okay, time to go home now, Dark." Daisuke pleaded.

"No way. The night is still young."

"You need to take my school life more seriously," Daisuke complained, fed up. "I don't want to be so tired I fall asleep in class again. Miss Harada had to wake me up and you almost-!"

"Aihhh! Don't remind me!" Dark cried, embarrassed. He hastily changed the subject. "Hey, look down there! There's somebody up on that roof."

"It's probably just another one of your stalkers..." Daisuke sagely advised.

"Not unless I've started attracting guys. Look...he's got orange hair. How odd."

"Ky...Kyuuuu..."

"What the--WIZ!" Dark fell onto the Sohma's roof as the exhausted Wiz transformed back into his original shape.

"Darn it Wiz." Dark said rubbing his head. "Well hello carrot top." he said. "I'm Dark."

Kyo sat up with a start.
"What the-!" He said. Then the words finally hit him. "CARROT TOP!" He stood angrily and was about to beat Dark when a shade of familiarity entered his mind.
"Wait a minute...aren't you Dark?"

"You have head of me. Well of course who has not heard of me? And your carrot top. Nice to meet ya." He winked and looked around. "Where am I?"

"You're at my house." He snarled, still miffed. "I'd suggest not going downstairs..."
wait a minute...I've got an idea.
"Hold on a minute...KAGURA!" Kyo shouted, seemingly at the roof.
Back in the living room, the other occupants of Shigure's home had already become apprehensive since the loud thump of Dark landing on their roof. As a matter of fact, Kagura and Tohru had been on their way to check up on Kyo to make sure he was all right when he yelled.
"Oh, dear, I hope he's not angry at me again. He's so mean sometimes, Tohru...I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!"
With Kagura warming up into a love-fit, the two girls climbed up onto the roof.

"Aww this house seems loud." Momiji came up."OMG! It's Mr. Dark." He ran over and started asking all kinds of questions.

This is going great...just not how I'd hoped. Serves him right for calling me carrot top. He's as rude as Uotani...
As Dark was mobbed, the roof began to creak...
Um...Dark? Daisuke worriedly commented. I get that you're having fun and all, but I think the roof's about to collapse...

"The roof..." He said looking down. "Hey Carrot Top. We have to get off your going to have a new sky light for your house." Dark says, beginning to walk off.

"What the--oh crap...!" There was a thunderous cracking noise and the roof collapsed inwards, taking everyone (Kyo, Dark, Kagura, Tohru, Momiji, and Kisa) down with it. There was a poof! as Dark caught Kagura and there was silence as the dust settled for a moment.

"Are you okay my lady?" Dark asked, smiling a bit as he also caught Tohru and Kisa. "Yo, you okay Carrot Top?" Dark called down. Shigure pops up. "MY HOUSE! THERE IS NO WAY THE SOHMA'S ARE YOU TO PAY FOR ALL THIS NO!" He collapsed on the ground. "What got into him?" Dark says.

Dark...didn't you catch three girls? And what's that little pig doing down there? Daisuke asked.
"Chill out, Shigure. I'm sure Akito'll let you all stay at the main house for a few days until the repairs are complete." Kyo calmly replied to the practically hysterical Shigure.
"I can stay at my grandfather's until the house is fixed as well, Shigure-san! I don't wish to trouble you." Tohru commented.
Yuki walked into the debris.
"I was in my room when I heard a crash and Shigure exploding...Tohru, don't be silly. You're practically part of the Sohma family now, you go where we go. I'm sure Akito will let you stay with us...who's he?" He added on at the end, referring to Dark.

Dark came down and put the girls down. "Me? I'm the Phantom Thief Dark, girly man." He said sighing. "I'm sorry about your roof. Are you okay ladies?" He asked, smiling. "Are you okay Carrot Top?" he asked.

There was one more poof as (in a very much delayed reaction) Kisa turned into a tiger. (I guess the magic was confused, since Dark is under a curse himself, of sorts.)
I knew it! Dark, something's going on here. That pig, I think it was the other girl you caught! And this one just turned into a tiger...real quick, hug that other girl! See if she turns into anything! Daisuke urged Dark.
"Girly man? Have you been hanging out with Kyo?" Yuki retorted. Other than that, he ignored Dark and exchanged a significant glance with Shigure. They too had noticed Kisa and Kauri's transformations. How would they cover it up?

"You mean that Tohru girl?" dark asked. He looked at her and held her wrist and pulled her close to him and hugged her. "Nothing happened. Wait a minute, pig, tiger, Carrot Top. CHINESE ZODIC!" Dark said. "You guys are all the Chinese zodiac."

For a brief moment there was an awkward silence before both Yuki and Kyo punched Dark at the same time, getting him away from a stunned Tohru.
"Are you all right, Honda-San?" Yuki asked concernedly.
"I knew I didn't like him," muttered Kyo.
"I--I'm ok," Tohru said, shaken. "But...he guessed your curse!"
"She's got a point, stupid cat," Yuki remarked.
Kyo's temper rose a bit, but he controlled it. "Well, since he's knocked out, why don't we discuss how to deal with him?" He replied. There were two more poofs as Kisa and Kagura returned to their human forms.

Dark soot up. "What in the world was that for you stupid rat and Cat!" He yelled feeling his cheek. Daisuke this is your fault, he thought rubbing his cheek. Momiji popped up. "What's happened now?"

Don't blame me! Daisuke said angrily.
"Ah! I thought you said he was knocked out, you stupid cat!" Yuki cried in surprise.
"Call me stupid one more time, Yuki, and I swear..."
"Look...um...that's not the point, Kyo-Kun!" Tohru hastily interjected.
Kyo sighed. "He looked knocked out to me. And I figured since he took a hit from both you and me he'd be out for a while, princess Yuki."

Dark blinked a few times. "I'm sorry for the trouble, princess and Carrot Top. I'm sorry Tohru-Kun. SO you guys are all the Chinese Zodiac huh?" Dark said, as he stretched a bit. "Let me guess. Princess is the rat and Carrot Top is the cat, and Shigure is the dog?" he asked. And you told me to, Daisuke! Dark said.

"Um...hey, Shigure? We kinda need clothes." Kagura commented from the floor.
Dark, don't look! Daisuke hastily shouted mentally.

Dark looked down quickly and looked away. He was wearing a long two long coats today. He took them off and handed them to Kagura and Kisa. "Here you go." he said looking away. And Daisuke I know you want to look.
"Right away," Shigure says, running upstairs.

You pervert! At least you didn't say anything about Miss Harada yet. Daisuke retorted.
"How do you know about the cat from the Zodiac, anyway?" Yuki curiously asked.

What about her? Dark asked. "How do I know? I have been around for a pretty long time so I pretty much know a lot." he said, sighing a bit as he re adjusted his footing.

Ask who that girl over there is. The one that you hugged. She didn't transform. Daisuke said.

"Hey. Who is she?" dark asked pointing at Tohru.
"That's Tohru Honda," Momiji smiled.

Tohru, suddenly aware of all the attention on her, blushed for whatever reason. Yuki and Kyo moved protectively in front of her.
"The Rabbit's right. This is Tohru Honda. She lives here. End of story."
Seems to me like there's more to it than just that, Dark. Just look how protective the Rat and Cat are of her. Daisuke said.

"She's more than that. What is she to you? What value does she have here?" Dark asked, walking toward them. Could they both be in love with her? Dark asked Daisuke.

Boy, you jump to conclusions. But I suggest you stop walking towards them. They look like they're ready to jump you if you get any closer to Honda-San. Daisuke suggested.

I suppose you're right. Dark stopped in place. "What ever. Good bye to you all." he said. "Wiz!" wiz transformed and became his wings. "Peace out y'all." Dark said as he flew away.

"Did he just say 'peace out y'all'?" Kyo asked.
Yuki sighed in exasperation. "Great. Phantom Thief Dark broke our house, and now we've got to stay at the main house for who knows how long."
"Don't worry, Yuki-Kun!" Tohru said. "I'm sure it will be fun!"
No offense to Honda-san...but I think that 'fun' is one thing it won't be.
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Dark, you realize we'll have to make contact with the 'Sohma's' later on, right? Daisuke asked.

Yes I realize that. We'll stop by tomorrow or something. Or maybe at the main house.

Shigure sighed. "Now someone else knows our secret."

The Next Day...
"Yuki! Hurry, we'll be late for school!" Tohru happily called.
"Don't worry, Honda-San, I'm sure it will be fine. We're only a mile or so further away." Yuki assured her.
"Shut your yap, dang rat. Let's just go." Kyo complained, in a bad mood from having to endure Akito the previous night.

"Good bye," Shigure waved to them. Momiji popped up. "Good bye." he waved. "Torhu let lets walk to school together today?" he smiled and held her hand.

"Sure!" Tohru said, smiling. Yuki also smiled, good-naturedly, but Kyo just grumbled to himself. It would take a serious pep talk from Tohru to get him out of his bad mood.
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"Bye, mom! I'm going to school!" Daisuke yelled as he went out of the door, jumping over a spike trap.
"Did you pack your lunch?" His mom shouted from inside.
"YES, mom. And I brushed my teeth, too, bye!" He said, anticipating and countering his mom's next question.
It was when he was walking into the school that he noticed them. Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo were all walking into the school.
Ahh! They go to my school! He said to Dark.

Well this will be very interesting, Dark said. Maybe I should appear at your school. Dark laughed a bit.
Momiji smiled and looked over at Daisuke."Daisuke!" He yelled and waved. "Tohru Tohru look. There's Daisuke." he smiled.

"Who's Daisuke?" Tohru asked, confused.
"How am I supposed to know? Probably just one of the runt's friends." Kyo muttered before heading off to class.

Momiji smiled. "I knew him a while ago." he smiled and held onto Tohru hand. "Yo." Haru came up and put his arm around his shoulder. "Hey Kyo, Tohru, Momiji." he said.
"Good morning Haru," Momiji smiled.

"Hi, Haru!" Tohru said cheerfully.

"Honda-San, I think we should follow Kyo's example for once and go to class. We can always talk to Haru and Momiji at the main house, or on our way home." Yuki advised.
"Sure. Bye!" She said, following Yuki to class.

"Good bye!" Momiji waved after him. Haru started to walk off and Momiji followed him
"Haru?" Momiji asked, "What if Hatori erases Tohru's memories? What would happen to every one?"
Haru did not say anything. "Let's not think about that right now. As long as she has her memory now is the good thing," Haru smiled.
"Yeah, okay!" Momiji jumped in the air and smiled.
"Come. Let's get to class."