((Hey everyone! Ok, I am super sorry for my long absence. First I was sick, then we got new internet which we have been trying to figure out for a while, so that is why I wasn't able to post as I said on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday my friend and I just HAD to watch Howl's Moving Castle, which ended up taking a lot longer then I thought cause I had to do my homework as well, so I wasn't able to post it that night. Also, Howl's moving Castle FRICKEN ROCKS! ITS SO GOOD! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! Haha, anyway. So then Thursday my internet wasn't working well again, and Friday I was so tired and didn't really even get online to post anything. Haha, sorry for this long explanation and for making you all wait…I'm sorry! I wont let it happen again. But, next week I wont be home cause I'm going on vacation so I'll try and post a chapter before I leave. Also, check out my profile for updates on when chapters will be coming out, I usually I'm good at updating the profile with info and all, ok enough of me! Haha, enjoy!))

((Hey, ok, to make this easier, I made the new names the same letter as the characters, suck as Kyo is now Kane, and Yuki is Yuri. I did the best I could, sorry if it's weird…Also, this will help for later. Here the original order of the Zodiac arrivals: rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and finally pig or boar. ))

Kazuma didn't answer Kyo for a long time. It seemed he was carefully thinking how to answer Kyo's question. At last he spoke the words Kyo was dreading to hear,

"Yes, it is true that the cat is the curse." Kyo's heart skipped a beat, his hands became clammy.

"How is that possible?" He asked, now his hands beginning to shake.

"It is time I tell you the truth, the one which no one has heard in a long time. It stated with an invitation…"

You know the story of the twelve vengeful animals of the Chinese Zodiac, but what you do not know is, what the true story behind them is. It all began with the invitation to the banquet from God.

It was a time long ago, when animals were still worshiped by humans, more so then they are today. Each of the members of the zodiac lived in a village which worshiped them. All of them were supreme beings, guardians of the Earth. All had their own unique traits and abilities. But everything changed once God called for them.

"Kane!"

Yuri called as he came up to the village gates.

"Yuri!" Kane said and come to him. They both hug, "It has been such a long time." Kane says letting go of Yuri. Kane was guardian of the animal cat. Yuri was of the rat.

"Did you get summoned by God as well?" Yuri asked as they walked up to the village. Kane nodded,

"Yes I did, so did the other guardians." They walk back to Kane's house.

Kane's house was on the outskirts of the village, where he could get his privacy.

"We're back." Kane said ands stepped into his house. It was a small cabin, made of fine wood.

"Welcome back!"

A woman said from the kitchen. Kane took in a sharp breath. Tara stood there, in all her beauty. Her eyes a large teal. She was thin, with long brown hair pulled nicely into two pig-tails and her dress was a little above her knees.

"It is wonderful to see you again Yuri!"

She said happily and came over to the two. She gave both of them a hug, first giving one to Kane. Both Kane and Yuri were madly in love with her, and Kane had yet to tell Yuri of Kane and Tara's feeling toward each other, they were deeply in love.

"It is nice to see you Miss Honda." He said, smiling to her.

"What time are you both going to the banquet?" Tara asked while she place a bowl of soup in front of Kane and then one in front of Yuri. It was lunch time. Yuri took a slow sip of the soup, tasting all the greatness of it.

"It starts around 6." Kane said also savoring the taste of the soup. It was one of Tara's specialties.

"I'm sure you both will have a good time!" She said happily eating some soup herself now.

"Will the other guardians be going as well?" She asked. Yuri answered her,

"Yes all 13 of the guardians were invited to the banquet, but I do wonder why he has called for us." Kane nodded,

"I'm curious about that to. Of all times to call for us, why now?" It was close to the new year, everyone would be celebrating it with their family's. God had never called for them so close to the new year before, so it made them wonder.

Around five o'clock Kane and Yuri left for the banquet, leaving Tara reluctantly at home. "Be safe!" She called to them happily as they went on their way. They waved back, longing to stay with her. It was no secret the feelings both of them had toward her.

Kane had planned later to tell Yuri of his and Tara new relationship. He didn't want it to affect their good friendship, so he had avoided telling him till tonight.

They followed a river near Kane's house, which would lead them to the house of God. Already the sun was seating, giving the sky a deep purple and pink look.

"Is that Haruko?" Yuri asked giving a slight nod to a figure ahead of both him and Kane.

"Yeah it is! Haruko!" Kane yelled and Haruko turned around.

His hair was a deep ravens black and his eyes were as gray as bright moon beams. He smiles at the two and walks back to where they now stood. "Hey guys, what's up?" He asked.

"What does it look like? We going to the banquet." Kane said to the obvious question.

"Hey do you guys know if Rini will be there?" Haruko asked as they continued on.

God's house was now in site. It looked out of place to it's surroundings. It was bright, from the many candles light within it.

"Of course she is, all the guardians are coming, jeeze how may time do I haft to tell you?" Kane sighed. Haruko gave a shrug, as if Kane's annoyed answer wasn't much for him to care about.

"Look over there, it's Kimi." Haruko pointed.

A young girl was walking a little wase ahead of them. Her hair shined in the last bit of sun light, it was a light brown.

"Kimi!" Haruko yelled and she turned around.

Her eyes were a large, bright, hazel. She smiled at them all and they came to her.

"Hello!"

She said happily and leaped into Haruko's arms. He was like a big brother to her, they were very close. Kane and Yuri smiled at the two.

"Hello Kane, Yuri!"

She said as Haruko let her down after a big hug.

"It's been a long time." Yuri said with a smile.

"Hey squirt." Kane said also smiling. They all continued on their way.

Suddenly, Yuri grabbed his chest, falling to his knees as if in a lot of pain.

"Yuri!" They all called.

God's house was not to much further, but Yuri couldn't move.

"Kane, go get help!" Haruko yelled and helped Yuri stand. He knew Yuri was having an asthma attack, and he knew he shouldn't make him move to much, he didn't want to make it worse. "Ok!" Kane yelled and took off at high speed.

He reached the house quickly, not stopping to take in sweet breath.

"HELP!" He called but no one in the house answered him.

"Help!" He yelled again, racing all over the place for something, someone to come to their aid and help Yuri.

"Kane."

Someone said from behind him. He was in the house of God, standing in a hallway, a room closed beside him. Kane spun around. There in front of him stood God. His eyes were so dark, appearing black. His hair, the color of ash.

"Yuri needs help! He's had an asthma attack!" Kane yelled franticly trying to get someone to care.

"Kane, stop." Kane stopped only for a brief second, staring into God's eyes. He had told his guardians to call him Akio instead of God a long time ago, and so Kane now did.

"Akio, please, Yuri-" Akito slapped Kane across the face. Kane struggled back, bringing his hand to his face noticing blood coming from his nose.

"Take him to the room." Akio said and out of know where two large men appeared, taking Kane by the arms. They led him down a long hallway, and then soon to a room that was pitch black. They threw him inside, leaving him their to rot.

Haruko lifted Yuri on his back with ease. Kane had been gone for some time, and still had not come back. "Hurry Haruko!" Kimi yelled, feeling scared and unsure of what to do.

They all arrived at the front of the house not to long after, Haruko keeping a fast steady pace with Yuri on his back and Kimi trailing behind. A man greeted them at the front, bringing them to the main dinning area.

By then Yuri had regained himself and was doing better, but still he needed medical attention. Not long after they arrived did Makoto arrive. Then after did the others start to show; Hari, Ayato, Rini, Hiroshi, Ryu, Keitaro, Shino, and Kata.

"Where is Kane?" Yuri asked a little out of breath.

They all sat at a long table, and at the end of which all new Akio would it.

"I'm not sure…" Haruko said looking around. Surly Kane had made it, what could have happened to him?

Silence filled the table only moments after Yuri asked his questions. All stood, bowing their heads, Akio now stood before them.

"Welcome friends, please enjoy your meal." Akio said happily with smile on his face. He took a seat at the head of the table. Everyone ate happily, exchanging stories of their villages and how they had been doing since last everyone met.

"Everyone."

Akio said as the last of the dishes were taken away.

"I have great news for you all." He announced, hands our stretched. "You have all been placed under a curse." He said, a smile still appearing on his face. Alarm broke trough the silence.

"Calm down, all of you. SILENCE!" Akio yelled and immediately everyone was quiet.

"It has come to my attention, that you all have stopped worshiping me. What gives you the right to go against your God? Your creator?" He said, a little edge to his voice. Some shifted in their seats.

"I am bestowing upon you a curse unlike any other. All of you will be my servants, forever serving me, never leaving me, forever being by my side. An endless banquet. It is my will and so it shall be done. I curse you all with the curse of the Sohma. The spirits of the twelve animals will possess you, forever enslaving you to me, nothing can be done to fix this. But be lucky, for you all will not have the curse as near as bad as the one known as Kane, for he is to suffer the worst of all punishments, he is to be forced to become a monster. One that will kill the one he loves, for he has gone behind me, and fallen in love, with no doubt a mortal. He is the ultimate punishment! BRING HIM FORTH!" Akio shouted. The two men whom had taken Kane now brought him forth.

Kane's body was deformed, the smell that eloped him, putrid, like rotting death. His eyes a deep purple which showed only fear and hunger. He looked like a large deformed cat, ready to strike at any minute. Most in the room gasped, or screamed in terror, some stood frozen in fear.

Yuri's eyes filled with hatred, one that would last for all of time, he knew whom Kane loved, and he knew, she loved him back. Akio spook,

"This is your curse, this is the weight of the Sohma curse! It is HE who truly punished you, it is HE whom did this to you!" Akio yelled, pointed to the newly formed Kane. "He is the one to blame for your curse! He loved a mortal!"

Kazuma stopped there. Kyo's hands trembling now more than before.

"So, I am the curse, because he loved someone, he was sentenced to the monstrous form? If it haddent been for the cat, there would be no curse?" Kyo asked. Kazuma gave a long sigh, and a slight nod.

"Yes and no. Because Kane loved a mortal women, God became angry with him. Akio wanted himself only, to be worshiped and loved by his faithful guardians. When one went behind his back, he cursed them all, pin pointing the cat, Kane, for the full weight of the curse."

Kyo made a small laugh with no humor, "So even then Akito was blaming the cat for everything, figures." Kyo said. Kazuma gave another slight nod,

"Yes, even then God disliked the cat."

Kyo got up and left, leaving Kazuma alone and wondering. Kyo need to get to Akito, and fast, he needed to end this once and for all.

Kazuma haddent told him one part to the story, but he knew he would be telling Kyo soon enough.