"Nothing's in vain, nothing's useless --
It's okay if I face myself with love."
Raven (Do As Infinity)

Rehearing the Past

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Stressed
"Hahaha!"

Yuki grumbled as he shot his elder brother glares of death. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Ayame quickly ran over to him and handed him his outfit. Yuki took the costume with a look of annoyance. Ayame simply smiled and brushed off his younger brother's foul mood. Yuki looked over and found a bunch of girl's swooning over Ayame. He winked at them and Yuki swore the girl's fainted.

"Why are you here again?" Yuki growled out with a calm smile.

Ayame began to grin and pointed to himself as he spoke, "As soon as I found out that my precious younger brother was in a play I thought that I must help. I knew that you would want my help in making this play perfect. And you know that only I could make these outfits perfectly."

"Thank you for your help Ayame-san," Tohru happily said as she took her outfit.

"No need for thanks when I know my presence is overwhelming you!" Ayame assured as he shooed Tohru off.

"Conceited bastard," Kyou growled as he grabbed his outfit and moved away.

"Praise me for being a wonderful brother!" Ayame loudly said as he began to laugh.

Yuki rolled his eyes and quickly left to change. He prayed that Ayame didn't follow him and try to help him dress. Yuki shuddered and locked the door behind him.

"Yuki!" Ayame shouted.

"Go away!" Yuki growled.

"I have your armor!" Ayame ignored his brother's protest as he opened the door despite the lock.

"Today we will be rehearsing the final part of the play. We will begin with a scene between Tohru and Yuki. We will then move on to a scene between Yuki, the Emperor, and the rest of the zodiac. We will finish the play with the transformation into the monster," Mr. Shinshou shouted as everyone gathered.

Hana softly glared at the strange teacher before he handed her a script and demanded she read. Hana glared at him before she looked at the script.

"Yuriko and Kuvera began to spend more and more time together. Season's passed by and they found themselves in love. He soon forgive the rat for tricking his spirit, the zodiac didn't matter as long as he had Yuriko. She denied her arranged marriage and spent her days with Kuvera. He gave her the finest house, the finest clothing, and his love. She protested against the gifts, but kept his love. Her heart was his and his heart was hers. Kubira saw this and grew angered. His soul grew angered at the fact the cat had easily found love. He believed that the cat should be alone, if he was denied the zodiac, then all else should have been denied. Kubira decided to visit the woman and convince her of his beliefs."

Tohru slowly walked onto the stage in full costume. Her eyes immediately met Kyou's and she shyly smiled at him. She wore a long flowing navy kimono. Her hair was down up in a bun with butterfly pins. She had even done her makeup, her face was pale, and her lips were blood red. They used a purple eye shadow to bring out her eyes. Tohru sighed when she noticed that Kyou looked like the one she had seen during last rehearsal. Her eyes strayed to Yuki and he gave her an encouraging smile.

"I see you've finally come," Tohru sighed as he she looked away from him.

Yuki nodded and walked over to her. He slowly circled her and gazed at her form. Yuki reached up and gently grasped her chin. He tilted her face up and turned it from side to side.

"You're not bad looking for a human," Yuki mused to himself.

"I don't need your opinion," Tohru hissed as she pulled away.

"I came to talk, I don't want to fight," Yuki sighed as he rolled his eyes.

"Please speak so you can leave all the faster," Tohru responded as she watched him frown.

"I have seen your relationship with Kuvera…it disturbs me," Yuki admitted as he watched the scenery change like before.

His eyes traveled to the ceiling and he saw the sky and the moon. A cool breeze danced across his face and he inhaled the crisp winter air. His gaze turned to Tohru and he saw an older version of her with jade colored eyes.

"Your concern is not my concern," Yuriko coldly replied

"I merely am here to watch out for your interests," Kubira calmly sighed as he sympathetically gazed at her.

"That is laughable," Yuriko chuckled as he frowned.

"I merely wish to help your weak life," Kubira expressed with venom-laced words.

"Go back to your god and leave me be!" Yuriko firmly ordered.

"He will leave you," Kubira hissed as he turned to leave. "You are mortal and will fade with time. Once time has worn you down…he will leave."

"He is not vain," Yuriko whispered with saddened eyes.

"He is a god, he will want nothing but the best," Kubira assured.

"No, you are wrong," Yuriko softly said.

"Don't deny it…you know that he will leave you. You must protect your heart," Kubira softly said.

"He loves me and I love him. I trust him," Yuriko assured with a smile.

"It saddens me to know that you will waste away in misery," Kubira announced with a dreadful sigh.

"It saddens me to think that you as his friend try to break everything he holds dear down," Yuriko replied as he glared at her.

"I merely wish to keep him in his place," Kubira growled as he vanished.

"What are we to do Kuvera?" Yuriko softly questioned.

"Excellent!" Ayame cheered as he clapped loudly.

Yuki snapped out of his trance and faced Tohru with an unsure smile. Ayame continued to clap as Yuki came back to reality. His eyes searched the room and shuddered at the lingering jealousy within his heart.

"Next scene!" Mr. Shinshou shouted as he glared at Ayame.

"Kubira let his jealousy and anger cloud his heart. After visiting with Yuriko, he went back to the heavenly realm. He gathered the other protectors and awaited his god to show up. Kubira decided that this love was disgusting in his eyes," Hana read as she stepped off stage.

Mr. Shinshou stepped up on stage and everyone gathered next to Yuki. He smiled as he watched their worlds slowly morph back into the past. Their souls were finally awakening. He smiled at Yuki, Haru, Momiji, and Ayame who stood in the distance with a faraway gaze. Tohru appeared to be in shock as she watched this with Kyou. Kyou's eyes were narrowed as he carefully observed the scene. Mr. Shinshou took on his role as the emperor.

"Why have you summoned me Kubira, guardian of the rat?" The emperor questioned with knowing sigh.

"Emperor, it has come to my attention that Kuvera is acting upon darkened deeds," Kubira expressed as he bowed.

"What is his crime?" The emperor questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"He has fallen in love with a mortal woman," Kubira spoke.

"What do you all say to this?" The emperor questioned as he gazed at the other zodiacs.

"I see no problem in this…it is a bit strange, but not a crime," Momiji calmly spoke. Momiji was dressed in a traditional hakama and haori. The colors of gold and black decorated his outfit as his amber hair and brown eyes stood out against the colors. A simple staff was held in his hand as he spoke.

"Anchira, guardian of the rabbit, this doesn't bother you?" The emperor questioned with a soft smile.

"No, I believe that Kuvera should find some peace if he can't find it here," Anchira expressed.

"Bikara agrees that this should not be permitted," Kubira quickly said.

"Bikara?" The emperor questioned.

Haru stepped forward with a smirk. His long black hair was braided and left hanging over his shoulder. Streaks of white ran through his hair as his gray eyes landed upon the emperor. He ran his hands over his fighting gi and smirked. The two kodachi at his hips gently moved at his smoothing.

"I believe that Kuvera will be deeply harmed by this human. His immortal heart won't be able to stand her passing," Bikara expressed with a smirk.

"Sohma-san can be altered to match his life," Anchira quickly spoke.

"That is not allowed," the emperor firmly said.

"Kuvera is already planning to extended her life," Kubira spoke with a smirk.

"Without my permission?" The emperor angrily said.

"He believes himself to be above you," Bikara enforced with a grin.

"He must be punished…I expect you to deliver the most fitting punishment to him," The emperor declared as he handed Kubira a Tama of jade. "Use my energy to punish him."

"You word shall be law," Kubira promised with a hidden smirk. Anchira frowned at this but bowed his head.

The world fuzzed and they all blinked. Mr. Shinshou clapped, as did all the other play workers. Hana simply frowned, but smiled at the performance.

"I'm going to cancel the rest of rehearsal since we'll meet the day before the play. I expect you all to practice!" Mr. Shinshou firmly said.

Tohru listened to his words, but she ignored them. She was currently lost in her thought about the moments in the play.

'Those memories aren't mine,' Tohru thought with a frown. She swore she heard the spirits laughing at her.

Silence reigned through the house as she reread the script. Kyou and Yuki sat next to her doing the same. She had explained to Yuki that she knew him and he softly had answered with an 'I know.' Tohru was amazed at how fast he figured things out. He claimed that he had known since the time she transformed. Yuki had then gone on to tell her that he trusted her to open up. Kyou calling Yuki a 'damn liar' and 'suck up' broke the moment.

"I think our teacher is the real emperor," Tohru mumbled as the script fell from her head.

"Is this important?" Kyou questioned.

"Of course," Yuki replied.

"He's coming back for the zodiac spirits," Tohru mumbled.

"What will happen if he takes them?" Kyou questioned.

"I really don't know," Tohru answered.

"Honda-san, if the spirits are removed will you lose your memories?" Yuki suddenly asked.

"I don't know," Tohru whispered as her features saddened.

Author's Note:

About the author's note in the last chapter...I just forgot to post one...I was distracted because my pop-tarts caught on fire in the little microwave oven...so yeah...
I mourn the pop-tarts, but anyways...she was thedog in the last chapter which represented her loyalty and the friendship they built.
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