So I assume I shocked a lot of you. Good. LOL. Anyway, these next few chappies will be the history of how Hatori, Rin, Hana, Megumi, and Hiro are related, then the plot will pick back up, but you kinda have to know all of this stuff. LOL. :)

Joan: Thanks for the encouraging words, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. If you want to read another great story, well, I think it is, It's my other Furuba called "Dancing." I'm sure you've seen me refer to it. Anyway, it's not about Hatori at all, just if you wanted a change of pace or anything, LOL. :) The main characters in that one are the trio: Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki, it's pretty good though, it's not your typical love triangle, I mean, it is, but with a twist, like this story. Anyway, keep reading this one and if you read "Dancing," let me know what you think!

Chapter 11

27 Years Ago

"You may kiss the bride," the preacher said.

"Kiss?" Miroku asked.

"Yes, Miroku, kiss her," his mother whispered.

"On the cheek, right?" he said.

"Nuh uh, Miroku, on the lips," Satsuki said, puckering up.

"Oh, no," Miroku said, backing away, shaking his head. He turned to look down at his mother sitting in the front pew next to his father. "Mom, is she serious? Do I really have to kiss her on the lips?" His mother nodded. "Ah, Mom."

"Miroku," she said sternly.

The boy was only twelve years old but unlike most boys he hadn't experienced the joy of attraction. He had no desire to get married at the age of twelve but it was a family tradition. He had been betrothed to Satsuki Hanajima since they were both in the womb. They were born on the same day of the same year and had grown up together. He didn't mind Satsuki, she was his best friend. He always came to her with problems. He thought it was strange that only his section of the Sohma clan had this tradition. He didn't want to be married at the age of twelve. Satsuki, however, didn't seem to mind. She was ready for romance, but then again weren't all girls? They either thought you had cooties or wanted to kiss you. School was going to be difficult after this. The thing that made him the most nervous was this thing they were supposed to do that night. His parents were giving them a separate hotel room when they took them down to the beach for a week, their honeymoon. His parents were only along to watch them since they were still just children and anything could happen is they were alone. They basically had a week all to themselves. No matter what he was nervous about that night. He dreaded it but at the same time his hormones couldn't wait.

"Come on, Miroku," Satsuki whined. He winced but in a rush of emotion born from his hormones he drew the girl close, bringing their lips together. It was a satisfying feeling for both of them. It was strange but wonderful. As they pulled away he saw her smiling and offered a smirk in return.

"Well, I guess we're married," he sighed as she nodded.

"I guess we are," she agreed.

"Pregnant?" Satsuki shouted.

"Pregnant?" Miroku asked, astonished.

"Both of your mothers were as well so I'm not very surprised," the doctor replied calmly.

"A, a baby is coming out of her, at age twelve?" Miroku stuttered, pointing at his wife.

"Precisely," the doctor nodded.

"Oh, Miroku," Satsuki whimpered nervously, grabbing the boy's hand.

"Everything's gonna be fine, I promise," he assured her, holding her hands softly but securely. She fell into his arms as he wrapped his around her. Her mother stood in the corner, not surprised in the least. She walked over now, placing her hands gently on the girl's shoulders.

"Don't you worry, Satsuki, I'll be here for you. This is the time I learned how to truly be a wife and mother. In three months we'll take you out of school and I will spend the days with you, teaching you to cook and such. I have taught you how to do much when you were very young to prepare you but there is still more for you to know. Miroku, you'll stay in school," she explained.

Satsuki was so nervous she was shaking violently in Miroku's arms. The weight of being a mother at age twelve was sinking in fast. She would have to go through labor, or she could have a miscarriage, which would be devastating. The child could also have mental problems for being born so early in her life and she wouldn't know how to deal with that. Miroku was so scared. All he knew about women when pregnant was that they had ridiculous cravings in the middle of the night. And what was he going to do about the child? He couldn't be a father, he was only twelve.

The months passed slowly and the children matured rapidly. Miroku went to school while Satsuki remained at home. Her mother and grandmother would come over daily to the little cottage that both sets of parents had purchased for them. Before the pregnancy meals would be brought to them, not Satsuki was cooking every meal. Her grandmother was teaching her knitting. The baby came exactly nine months after the day they were informed. Miroku stood next to his wife as she groaned in pain, her hand squeezing his so hard it could have fallen off. The doctor placed the baby in his arms gently.

"It's a boy," he said, handing the child to her.

"What are we naming him?" Miroku asked Satsuki.

"Hatori," she breathed. "Hatori Sohma." Suddenly the child disappeared and Satsuki screamed, drawing back into Miroku's arms. They looked down upon the bed to see a small seahorse gazing up at them.

"M-Miroku," she breathed, voice wavering.

"I-is that a seahorse?" Miroku asked, bending over to look at the creature more closely. Suddenly it disappeared and changed into a little boy again. "What's going on?"

"Y-you try picking him up, Miroku," Satsuki said, nudging the boy. He reached out his arm shakily, pulling back slightly before officially deciding to touch the figure. He touched it, wincing. The infant remained a human. He then scooped it up into his arms slowly. Nothing happened. He caressed the child gently. "How come you can hold him?" Satsuki looked up at Miroku callously.

"How should I know, Satsuki?" he demanded.

"Where is my grandson?" came the voice of Satsuki's mother entering the room, followed by her father and Miroku's parents.

"Don't touch him, Mom!" Satsuki cried.

"Satsuki, I know he's your son but-" she started.

"No, you don't understand; he, he changes," she said, not knowing how to explain the horror she had just seen.

"What?" her mother questioned, thoroughly confused. However, the Sohmas just looked at each other inquisitively and finally Mr. Sohma nodded.

"He turns into a, a seahorse," Satsuki said.

"What?" her mother said, astonished.

"Who died last in the Zodiac?" they heard Miroku's mother asked his father.

"Takaomi Sohma, the dragon," he replied.

"Uh, excuse me, could you fill us in? What the hell is going on now?" Mr. Hanajima demanded. The Sohmas just looked upon the four sorrowfully.

"It's a long story," Mr. Sohma said.

"It concerns my son, Mr. Sohma, please, a-and we've got to time," Satsuki begged.

"You'd have to know anyway. Naohito, Yuuki, have a seat," he said as he began to tell the story of the Zodiac curse, sadness in every word.