I don't know why but lately all I've wanted to do is write... well, good thing thing for those of you who are reading my fic

Hahahahaha! I love two people very much... Cai-nikz kyosgirl88! Oh, and both have fics of their own, so check them out!

Cai-nikz: You asked me to clarify the parents of the characters, and I'll quickly sum up what it is already possible to know. Tohru and Akito are Kita and Kari's parents; Momiji is Tatsuya's dad; Kagura was Sora's mom, and Kureno and Arisa are Kubo's parents. More will be revealed later!

kyosgirl88: Tohru is alive... and somewhere within the next three chapters, she's going to make an appearance! You'll find out more about her then,

So on with the chapter!

Stabbing Immortal Regrets

Chapter Six

What it Means to be an Insider

Kari and Sora and the twins had become great friends in the two short weeks since school started. They ate lunch together and exchanged notes in class. They all decided to join the co-ed chess club. Kari and Sora were OK at chess, though they were nothing special. Miku and Takumi, however, were. They did there best to help teach the girls. They started making progress.

One morning in class, Mayuko-sensei came up with a crazy idea for a project.

"We're all going to be doing group projects on the Chinese Zodiac," she said, handing out papers. "The final presentation will compose of a three page essay, and some type of art creation that represents the story. Also, all members in your group must participate in a four part oral report. That means four people to a group. You guys can chose."

Just then, the bell rang. Miku looked at Sora and Kari.

"We have to work together!" she said with a huge smile on her face. Takumi bit his lip.

"Have you guys ever heard the story?" he asked.

Sora and Kari looked at eachother. "Yup," Kari said.

Miku took off. "We should get together tomorrow! Who's house should we have it at?"

Sora bit her lip. "We can't do it at ours..."

"OK, then we'll do it at our house!" Miku was now jumping up and down, clapping her hands. Everyone just stared at her.

(Next day after school)

Sora and Kari walked home with the twins after school. Both were very quiet. Miku, of course, noticed this immediately.

"Hey guys, you look kind of gloomy. Don't worry. Mom doesn't bite."

Kari laughed. "That's not it. It's just that we've never been to a friends house before."

Takumi's mouth dropped. "Seriously? That's kind of wierd..."

Miku punched her brother in the head. "Don't be rude, Takumi."

"Uh, sorry..."

Sora smiled. "It's OK."

They soon arrived at a nice, average looking house. It was an OK size, and it looked comfortable. The cousins followed the twins inside.

A very pretty middle aged woman greeted them. "Hello," she said. "I am Miku and Takumi's mother. I'll be up later with some snacks."

"Thanks mom!" Miku chirped, and the students ran upstairs. There was a nice study room with a long desk and four chairs. They took their seats and started going over some ideas.

"So," Takumi started. "What all do we know about the chinese zodiac?"

Sora shrugged. "Let's start with the story."

Miku smiled. "OK, so lot's of animals went to a party..."

Kari held up a finger. "One day, god invited twelve animals to a party."

Sora and Kari got started.

"The rat wanted to go very badly," Kari said. "So he tricked the cat and told him that the party was tomorrow."

"So when it came time for the banquet, the cat slept while dreaming of a banquet he would never attend," Sora said sadly. "While the rat rode all the way to the banquet on top of the cow."

"The cat was known as an outsider," Kari said. "To this day, he is just that."

There was nothing but silence for a few moments. Then Takumi spoke.

"Well, I think we know enough about the story."

Miku nodded. "Amen. What should we talk about now?"

Just then, the twins mother walked in with a plate of cookies.

"I thought you kids might be hungry," she said with a smile. She sat the plate on the desk, and after being thanked left.

Miku looked down and sighed. "Come on Takumi, she's not so bad."

"No, she's nice. She's just not dad."

Kari and Sora looked at eachother uncomfortably. Then Sora remembered something. "Uh, can we use your phone? We have to call Haru-san and tell him we got here safely and what not."

Miku nodded. "Sure. Follow me."

The two girls walked out, leaving Kari and Takumi alone. Takumi turned to her. "So... I guess you never knew your father. Do you know anything about him?"

Kari put a finger on her chin. "He was..." she searched for the words to describe the infamous Akito. "Very agresive."

Takumi looked down. "I wish my father was more agressive. He gave up... on everything." He shook his head. "Except for me. Being a dad was something he was good at."

Kari didn't know what to say for a minute. Then she spoke, "My... aunt once told me something about my grandmother. She said that she had lived a very rough life. My aunt too, I might say. Grandma never finished school... but she married a professor who died shortly after my mom was born. She became strong for her child. Apparently she was also the source that inspired my aunt to get out of the pit she was in." She gave him a smile. "I think sometimes people use all their strength for what is most important to them. I think your dad must have been like that."

Takumi stared for a minute and then bowed his head, a blush appearing on his cheeks.

"May I... hug you?"

Kari froze. She didn't know what to say. And all of a sudden, he put his arms around her.

(In the kitchen)

"Hello?" the person on the other line said.

"Hi Haru-san. Sorry, I forgot to call you." Sora bit her lip.

"Oh, it's fine. As long as you're OK. Do you think their mom can take you home?"

"Hang on." She looked over at Miku. "Will your mom be able to drive us home?"

"I will be," said her mother, walking in. Sora smiled.

"She'll take us home," she told the cow.

"OK. Just be careful. If one of you transforms..."

"We'll be careful."

"K."

Sora hung up the phone.

Just then, she heard the last noise she needed to hear. There was a poof from upstairs. Before anyone could ask her what was going on, she darted up the stairs, Miku on her heels. Both girls stopped in the doorway.

There was Takumi, buried under a medium sized tiger. Miku stepped back. "G-good kitty..."

Takumi poked his head up. "Don't worry, it's Kari. Ugh, I can't breathe."

Sora got a hold of herself and kicked the big cat. "Get off of him. You're going to kill him."

Kari crawled off of Takumi. "Sorry. I let my guard down."

Sora started blabbing out a story. "You see everyone, Kari is in a tiger costume!"

Miku touched the tiger. "No she's not. This is real." She started shaking.

"Custom made- hey, agh!" Takumi had gotten up and had fallen on Sora. There was another loud poof and a snake slithered out of the uniform.

"Oh, and Sora's in that snake costume?" Miku said. "Nuh-uh. I don't think so." She shut the door. "I want an explanation." Takumi shrugged.

"I've always believed in the supernatural."

Suddenly there was another poof, and Takumi turned around as a nude Kari tried to cover herself with her shredded clothes. Miku went to a closet and handed her a robe. Kari quickly put it on. Soon after there was another poof. Sora just changed back into her uniform. The cousins looked at eachother.

"Um, lets just explain," Kari said. Sora shrugged. Both girls explained about the curse. At the end, the girls did rock paper scissors to decide who would get to tell them about Kita. Sora lost. She looked up.

"Um... there is another member of the curse... the head of the family, his symbol is god. He must know everything." She looked at Kari. "He doesn't tolerate... outsiders. He usually has their memories erased."

Miku's eyes widened. "My memory?"

Kari shook her head. "He won't find out. We'll keep this a secret."

Sora stood. "Come on Kari, Kita will kill you. Maybe we should just tell him."

Kari stood. "I'm going to call him. We'll see what he says."

Sora shook her head. "Not a good idea." But Kari was already headed for the kitchen.

(The main house)

Hatori answereed the phone. "Hello?"

"Hatori-san... I... n-need to speak with my b-brother."

The doctors cigarette fell out of his mouth. "He is in a very foul mood, Kari. It would be best if you didn't. Would you like me to tell him for you?"

Kari told the dragon what had happened. The dragon hung up and made his way to the god's room. He knocked gently on the door.

"What do you want, Hatori?" came the icy voice of the young man. Hatori opened the door and stepped in. Kita was sprawled out on the floor, his long black hair covering his white, bony face. He was breathing heavily. Hatori knelt and relayed the message. Kita just listened. When the doctor was finished, he sat up and touched Hatori's cheek.

"They can keep their worthless memories," he hissed. "I've been bored. Let's see how much pain we can make them suffer."

Hatori left the room feeling sick to his stomach. Akito had enjoyed making the juunishi cower and come to him, and only him. Kita, however, just lived to make anyone he could touch feel as horrible and worthless as he could make them feel. He had no love for anyone, not even his sister.

The sky was cloudy, and as Hatori walked to his car, he had a very strong feeling of De ja vous.