Weeee...disclaimer! You know the drill, I don't own it, so don't sue me!
AN: Sorry it took so long minnasan! I had actually figured out how to end the curse the night I posted the last chapter...then I got distracted by Gaiaonline... Gomen nasai! Either way a couple of reviews brought me back to the story, you guys are so sweet! Oh and I'm submitting this again cause it appears my AN and all my messages to my reviewers went missing...just so you know...
Turdle: I would die too...and actually he is too, he's been pacing the room and such since Tooru's last visit, and whenever he's actually sitting he can't keep still...I can picture this all in my mind and it's actually quite cute.
LitaKat: Akito HAS to be in there, it just wouldn't be a story without -cough- spoiler -cough- her in it...
KLove0511: Heh...I'm glad I did a good job with Hatori...he isn't usually the type of person I would write for, but I love all the Soumas to death and want all of them to at least make one appearance. One person I'm really looking forward to writing for it Ayame-san, oh and Ri-chan-san! Though I guess since I'm writing from Kyou's perspective it isn't gonna be such nice things that he'll say about them.
Furuba Girl 24: I liked your suggestion it was actually quite original...unfortunatly I made my decision before I saw it...
TsubasaKyo: No, I'm not Japanese, . and keep up with the random...I love it! btw the little talks with Kyou-kun are awesomly fun to write...probably cause I can make Kyou do silly things...
Alright on with the story!
Captured
A week. It is only a week later, and I'm literally going insane. I've been trying to figure out what could possibly break the curse, but nothing's come to me. I've had nothing else to think of, well, other than a possible visit from Tooru, which has been driving me just as crazy. Hatori came back a couple days ago…with a visitor, I had really wished he'd left behind. I still have no clue how Hatori was able to sneak the bastard in.
Shigure had come with news of Tooru's arrival, but had stayed to piss me off. Lucky for him, Hatori dragged him off before I had to beat the crap out of him. According to Shigure, she had some time off tonight, and if he was wrong, I'd…well, there is nothing I can do right now, but if I ever see him again I will kill him.
The sun had set long ago, leaving my room full of shadows. There's a candle on the floor by the door, but I don't bother lighting it, because it might give Tooru away. Besides, I don't mind the dark, I could see pretty good, even when there was next to no light. I've always wondered if this was because I'm the cat, and if the curse was broken, then would that kind of thing disappear along with the transformations? Maybe my parents were like that though, maybe it's just in the genes. Breaking myself from my strange thoughts, I drop down next to the window. "Where is she?" I growl, as I begin to tap my fingers on my knee.
From outside, I hear something rustling. I glance up to find myself looking at a shadow peeking from behind the bushes. The coincidence made me smile, as she made her way to my window. She's so silent, making only the slightest of noises, as another shadow takes off in a different direction, someone's on the lookout again. Hopefully, that will be enough to keep her safe. A smile graces her lips, as she reaches her hand out to me. I take it, glad to be able to have human contact after a week, and pull her down so that we can be at eye level.
I lean my head against the bars, taking in the sight of her. Her eyes shone brightly, despite there being no light, while her cheeks glow bright red, and her smile lessens to something that is more shy and cute. "Hello Kyou-kun…" she whispers, as she pulls her eyes and her hand away from mine, her blush becoming even deeper. "H-H-How are you?"
I know there's a slight blush on my cheeks as well, but I don't really care since there's no one else around. "Never mind me," I tell her, gruffly. "You're the one who has to work and all to make a living. Are you doing alright?"
"Y-Yes, I'm doing fine!" she replies, excitedly. "I've even got an apartment, Uo-chan and Hana-chan come by often to see how I am as well. Uo-chan's even thinking of moving in-"
A grin starts to form on my face, despite all my efforts to keep it off. "Okay, okay," I cut in. "So, Shigure told me you might know of some way to break the curse…"
She draws in a quick breath, before turning her eyes back to me. They shine happily, as a smile grows wide on her face. "Yes!" she says, sounding quite proud of herself. "We must get you into the banquet!"
I raise an eyebrow at her, as the smile fades from my face. "And just how do you suppose we do that?" I ask, a growl definitely forming in my voice.
"I know it seems like it's impossible, but we can do it," she tells me, as she takes my hand into hers. "I've been talking this over with Hatori-san, Shigure-san, Yuki-kun, and everyone else. We have it all planned out." She pauses, as a worried look falls over her face. "There is one thing though…"
"What?" I practically spit, thinking that it would be something like a fight or some other way of proving myself.
She bites her lip, before she murmurs, "Well, they already accept you…it's just…"
"What is it? What do I have to do?" I snap to hurry her along.
"You have to accept them as well," she finishes, speaking so quickly that her words seem to mush together, "even Yuki!"
I stare at her a moment, before truly realizing her words. "That damn rat! Why should I accept him!" My eyes thin, and I jump up.
"Because…it's what will break the curse, Kyou-kun," she whispers, while looking up at me with her wide brown eyes, full of tears. With one look at her my anger instantly deflates.
Damn her, how does she always manage it? I sit down again, sighing. "I know," I tell her, irritably. "I know, but how can I just instantly accept that bastard?"
"You have a while before the banquet truly begins," she reminds me, intently staring down at the hem of her skirt, as she twists it in her hands. "Despite everyone already being here, Akito-san still hasn't been able to join the zodiac. Hatori was saying that he was looking much better, but still wasn't well enough to be up and about."
"The bastard deserves to be sick," I mutter under my breath, turning away for a moment.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as she begins to play with her sleeve. She is really nervous about this. I wonder how much she went through to plan this all. She must have been running back and forth between her home, work, and visiting the rest of my family. I feel a sudden pang of jealousy as I realize that they've seen her far more than I have.
"Kyou-kun?" she whispers, moving closer to the bars. "We…we're all ready. Hatori-san has even gotten a hold of a key. Please tell me what you want to do."
I look over at her, and see someone I would do anything for. This curse was all that standing in my way of her love, but somehow I had broken that promise to myself. How could I break this wonderful girl's heart? How could I just leave her to live a life thinking that I'd rather live in a cage than be with her? I reach my hand out between the bars, and caress her cheek. "Of course," I tell her, my voice softening.
A smile breaks through her threatening tears, as she leans into my hand. "I'll try. I'd try anything for you, Tooru."
"Thank you. Kyou-kun," she whispers, new tears building up in her eyes, spilling the old ones over her cheeks. One rolls over my hand, as I smile at her.
"There's no need to cry. Even if they may be tears of joy."
"But…for you two to accept each other is my greatest wish. If it finally comes true…"
"You mean, you didn't want me to be with me as much as you wanted me to be friends with him?" I ask, jokingly.
"Eh? N-N-No!" she stutters, wiping away the tears. "That's n-not…I mean…I really do want to…"
I laugh, as I catch her hand before it can escape my grasp. "I'm kidding," I reassure her, my voice low and husky, as I pull her close.
She blinks, before closing her eyes and leaning in to my kiss. I drop her hand to tangle my fingers into her hair, as she rests her hand on the crook of my elbow. I relish in the fact that I am the one kissing this beautiful girl. That it was the cat who had won this battle. I breath in her smell, as I pull away from her, she smells of fresh spring rain, and baking. I watch her sit back, smiling, as she gazes at me, her eyes half-lidded. "You were cooking before you came here, weren't you?"
"Uo-chan and Hana-chan were over, we made a cake," she tells me, as the shadow from earlier returns. "How could you tell?"
I nod my hello to Haru, who walks up silently behind Tooru. "I could smell it," I tell her, as she turns, obviously curious about what I was nodding at.
"Hatsuharu-san, is something the matter?" she asks, getting up quickly.
"No…" he replies, blandly in his usual hushed voice. "I just saw the two of you kissing and thought I'd come over here before something serious happened."
"What the hell's gonna happen when there's bars between us!" I ask, angrily.
"I dunno, use you imagination," he replies, shrugging as he continues to saunter towards us.
"I'm not perverted like you, jerk!" I yell, causing Tooru to squeak, "Kyou-kun, you're being to loud."
I snap my mouth shut, as Haru stops in front of Tooru. "Well then, now that Kyou's announced my presence to the world, you should get going before someone decides to come investigate," he tells her.
She turns and gives me a half-hearted smile. "I'll be back, Kyou-kun," she whispers, before turning away, and jogging back into the bushes.
Haru glances in my direction. "So, you finally decided to stop being a chicken, and just tell her," he remarks, raising an eyebrow. "You sure picked a funny time to do so."
"Shut up, and get outta here before I find something to whip at your head!" I yell, hoping that if I try to attract more attention he'll want to leave.
"Fine, but as soon as you're out of there," he sniffs, turning on his heel, "you and me are gonna fight, and you're not getting out of it this time."
"I've never tried to get out of it," I snarl at his retreating back.
"See ya," he calls, waving over his shoulder.
I scowl as I turn back into my prison. Why was he always so dead set on fighting me? Couldn't he just go fight his precious Yuki? He's have more of a fight, if that damn rat's fights with me were any indication. I sigh, as I think back at what Tooru had said. "So…I'll have to accept him, will I?" I ask the darkness, as I slip underneath my covers. "How is she so sure he accepts me?"
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Ahem...about Tooru-kun still referring to Akito-san as "he"...I figure Kyou-kun doesn't know still...
Kyou: I still wish you hadn't told me...
Ah...whatever...it's not as if there's much of a difference.
Kyou: Why do you suddenly like her then?
-glare- Why I have no clue what you're talking about...
Kyou: -picks up a printout of an old e-mail- "I wish Akito would just go and...
-covers Kyou's mouth- Okay, okay, I admit it I hated her before I know much about her...and that she was a girl...
Kyou:-bites her hand-
Ow! -shakes her hand, while glaring at Kyou- Well...anyways...I'll try to get another chapter written in at most two weeks...sorry it takes so long for me to write but I usually hit writer's blocks...or just get distracted, but at least I now know where this story is headed...review please so I know that I still have to write this thing. -wink wink-