Fruits Basket
Beginnings and Endings
((Author Note: I have no clue how they were really cursed, but this is my spin on it. When I was first started writing this I had so many versions how things were going to go down, concerning the flashbacks. At first I was going to make the entire past really long, but then I decided to split the past and present, hence why it ended up being called Beginnings and Endings. Check out the end for more Author Notes, since I don't want to give anything away. Sorry about not doing a review response in the last chapter. My computer was acting up so I couldn't get to the review page to see everyone's names. I'll be sure to do one this time or next time.
Beginnings and Endings Fun Fact #1: When I write this story I always and I mean always spell Akito's name wrong. I always type Akita first before I look and it and say crap and fix it. It's a guarantee thing, because what I typed here I had to go back and fix in this little fun fact thing and I think we past the point where I was actually making sense.
Review Response:
seiko123: Akito is scary so I had to keep with his dark attitude.
Phinixofthezodiac: I'm glad to know the story is enjoyable.
GirlWaterShaman: Yeah I find myself saying that all the time when I see Akito in the manga or anime. I'm not fond of him, but he needed to be included in the story still. At lest he seems the same still in the story.
HelloKat: I'll try not to leave ya hanging to long. Don't worry in this chapter you'll find out what happens. History may be repeating itself, but I can't say. Don't want to ruin anything, hehe.))
Chapter 10
With the storm still pounding away at the land the day seemed shorter. Tohru, Yuki, Shigure, and Hatori all had a quiet dinner together. Most people would think the storm caused for their silence, but in reality the reason for their silence was that Kyo wasn't there. Kyo was still sleeping peacefully in the other room under a few blankets Tohru had provided for him. Since the day was dark everyone had decided to turn in early. Hatori even stayed over since the rain was too bad to travel in and Akito even insisted he stayed for the night.
"Hari, why do you think Akito wanted you to stay?" Shigure asked as he leaned against the doorway in the darkness. The shadows from his hair were outlined on his clear face.
Hatori was setting a place for himself to sleep and he glanced back to Shigure with his good eye, "Perhaps he's worried for him."
"Perhaps...or he has something else in stored," Shigure said as he stepped away.
Hatori watched as his friend stepped away silently. 'He must know something I don't' Hatori thought to himself as he finally settled down for the night.
As Shigure headed for his room he spotted Tohru who leaning against one of the doorways looking in on the sleeping Kyo. Shigure smiled lightly to himself before he walked over to her, "Tohru, I thought you were asleep."
"Oh, Shigure..." Tohru said a little bit surprised, "I just wanted to make sure Kyo was still doing ok."
"That's nice," Shigure, said with a grin, "He'll be ok. I'm sure he just needs a little more rest since it's raining too. If he can bounce back from those fights he has with Yuki then he'll bounce back from this with ease."
Tohru laughed lightly, "I guess you're right."
"Now, go get some rest. You had a long day."
Tohru nodded her head lightly as she walked up the stairs slowly rubbing her eyes. Shigure waved to her as he watched her leave, "Now isn't that cute," Shigure looked over towards the sleeping Kyo, "You better face your demons soon Kyo or they will just repeat themselves."
---
Meanwhile deep inside Kyo's mind he was having trouble focusing on the dream world again. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't find the vision of the world again, he was stuck in a dark void.
"Hello?!" Kyo shouted at the top of his lungs.
His voiced echoed in the darkness, but no answer, "Come on. I can't be stuck in here! Where is that damn cat when you need him?"
Kyo sighed as he began to stumble through the darkness to see if he could find anything. Kyo walked and walked, but the vast darkness was endless. He finally fell down on to his hands and knees with his head sunk low on his shoulders. His orange hair fell over his eyes as his hands clutched into fist, "Is this what it would be like if I was locked up? No voices? No light? No one..."
Kyo shut his eyes tightly together, "I can't be locked up. I'll loose my mind until there's nothing left of me!" Kyo could almost feel the darkness tighten its grip around his body, "But..."
Kyo slowly stood back on his feet running his hand over his face. The beads on his arm chattered together as they clicked against one another as he moved his arm slowly over his face, "...if I knew she would be happy if I didn't fight then maybe I can survive the darkness."
As Kyo spoke the words he truly meant from his heart a small flicker of light appeared in the far off distance. His crimson eyes turned toward the small flicker of hope he had left and he began to run as fast as he could towards it, "This damn light isn't getting any closer," Kyo was beginning to slow his stride down since it wasn't getting him anywhere when suddenly he heard a voice.
"Kyo..." a voice whispered his name in the darkness.
Kyo looked around, "Where's that voice coming from?"
"Kyo, don't give up," the voice said again as Kyo began to run as fast as he could through the darkness once again.
"That voice sounds like Tohru," Kyo said as he kept running on, "If it is then...I won't give up! This is a damn dream anyways; I can't get tired of running."
Once Kyo set his fears aside the light he was following soon exploded until the entire area was engulfed. He shielded his eyes from the brilliant flash with his arm quickly. Kyo waited a moment before he slowly dropped his arm down. His eyes were slowly exposed to his surrounding around him. He was back in the dream world that the book fabricated in his mind except he wasn't with the cat guardian. Kyo was back to where the festival was going to be held. "I'm back? Thank god, but now I have no commentary from the cat guardian. Oh well, I'll just figure this out myself."
Kyo gazed out into the courtyard to see the Akito look alike and the Tohru look alike standing at the steps edge. He approached them slowly to see what they were talking about. His curiosity perked up as he moved closer and closer with each step.
"The first of the guardians should be here soon," the Tohru double said as she looked to the Akito look alike.
"Good, do you have the ancient water?"
"Yes...are you sure you want them all to be apart of your family? You seem to not like guardians."
"I did not ask your opinion. Now, go."
The Tohru girl nodded her head as she bowed lightly before running off down the steps. Kyo sneered lightly to the Akito looked alike, "I wish I can strangle you right now."
The Akito look alike pulled out a dagger from his robe sleeve, "If that cat guardian shows up, then this should take care of him. The poison from this will be sure to curse his family from the day it strikes his blood."
Kyo stared at the dagger wide eyed, "There's just no way he'd do what I'm thinking...yeah actually he would."
"Hey!"
Kyo heard someone shouting from the gates that sounded awfully familiar. He gave the Akito look alike one last look over before he decided to check out what was going on now.
The Tohru girl was there opening the gates for the first of the guardians. Walking through the doorway was the rat guardian being carried by someone who looked like an older version of Haru.
"He was waiting for his friend but I think he should wait here with us," the Haru look alike said as he set the rat guardian down, "Guess he's first in line and I'm second."
The Tohru look alike smiled as she bowed to them both, "Then I welcome you here."
The two bowed and as they walked inside the rat guardian paused at her side, "He'll be here. For now would you like me to escort you?"
"That...would be fine," she said lightly as more guardians came.
Kyo narrowed his eyes lightly as he watched, "I think I'm going to be sick."
It wasn't long until the other guardians came through. Kyo was surprised at how fast each came and soon the last member stepped through the gates boarders.
The Akito look alike stood on the steps with his hands raised up for everyone to be quiet. The rat guardian stood next to the Tohru look alike as close as he could as they watched the noble at the stairs. Kyo couldn't help, but think the rat was getting too friendly with her. Maybe there was something more there, but Kyo was never good at figuring those kinds of things out.
"Now, I bet everyone is wondering why I invited you all here. I'm sure you are excited to celebrate the coming of a new age, but I have something else for you all to be excited about," the Akito look alike paused a moment before he continued, "I would like to bless you all with the ancient waters that has been passed through the lines of nobles making you all the first twelve guardians to be apart of a noble family."
The twelve all talk among themselves while a few cheered.
"Now, please come up to be blessed and once you are you are free to eat to your hearts content."
Kyo stood in the back as he watched the rat guardian go up first. He wondered where the cat guardian was or if he really slept through this entire mess. Once the rat guardian was done he headed back to the Tohru girl and took her hand gently. Kyo raised an eyebrow to this and casually scooted over to see what was going on even though no one could see him still.
"Listen, I know your heart wants to be with him, but can't you give me a chance. I've liked you since the start," the rat guardian said as he pressed his hand against the side of her face lightly.
"I..."
The rat guardian raised his hand, "Then allow me for one kiss and then you can decide."
She didn't stop him, but how could see when he gave her almost no choice. Kyo turned his head to the skies to avoid seeing such a scene. They looked too much like the real Tohru and Yuki. As he looked to the skies the rain began to fall lightly, "Rain?" Kyo said lightly as the raindrops fell right through him.
"Traitor!"
Kyo turned his head towards the gate entrance to see the cat guardian that look so much like himself standing in the middle of the gates path. His cloths were torn and his shoes were missing, it was rather obvious he ran the entire way there. His chest heavy for air as his mouth hung open to take bigger breaths, but his eyes held a flame of rage as he looked at the rat guardian and the women he thought loved him.
The rat guardian looked to his friend at the gate, "It's not what it looks like!"
The cat guardian narrowed his eyes as he hissed, "What I see is rather obvious! You broke your promise and now you take the girl I've cared for."
The Tohru look alike tried to say something, but the Akito noble stopped her, "So you admit your crime in caring for a noble, when you know its forbidden?"
"Yes! I don't care anymore!"
"Please don't harm him," the Tohru girl said as she gripped the Akito look alikes cloths.
"You are lucky I'm in a good mood. I will drop your punishment if you leave here."
"You can't do that. I was invited here too. I have just as much right to be apart of this family then anyone else here."
"Leave!"
The cat guardian shook his head and he sprinted past the iron gates. The Akito look alike gestured for the rat guardian to stop him. He had no choice and the rat guardian leaped at his friend and tackled him against the ground, "I'm sorry...I can't disobey him. You know that!"
"Why don't you all wake up!" the cat guardian yelled as he struggled against the ground with the rat, "You didn't come for him. You came to support her!"
"Quiet him down now!" the Akito look alike said in a stern tone.
Rain was pouring down on them all now and the rat guardian still couldn't subdue the cat completely. The two rolled across the ground in the mud until the cat guardian swung his fist straight up into the rats chin knocking him back completely. Once the cat guardian was free to move around again he suddenly transformed in the rain into his true form. It wasn't uncommon back then for the guardians to change with spells.
He changed into a large orange cat that could stand on its two legs if needed. This shocked Kyo since it was nothing like his own true form. This cat was godly looking, but right now its ears were pinned flat against his head and its fangs were barred in anger. The large cat looked fearsome as its hateful eyes looked around.
"A cat's grudge is endless. I will hold it again you for all eternity," the cat said as he stared down at the rat.
"And I will get rid of you. Even if it means my death," the cat said looking to the Akito look alike now.
The Akito look alike didn't do anything as the cat approached him on all fours. The cats red eyes were locked on its prey as it approached ignoring everything else around him. Once the cat was close enough he hissed loudly as he raised his claw up to strike. With his claw in the air the Akito look alike pulled his dagger out from his sleeve and struck the cat in the heart with the cursed dagger.
The Tohru look alike was trying to stop them both but it was too late. The cat fell forward with the dagger in his heart. He gasped for air, but he didn't find the sweat breath of air touching his lips anymore. He only felt the sharp pain in his chest that was slowly causing him to feel strange.
"Now you are a cursed creature. Your curse will forever be passed down through your line until the end of time," the Akito look alike laughed as the other guardians watched on in horror.
The cat was dying fast, but he managed to do one last thing. He pulled the dagger from his heart and thrust it into the side of the noble. The noble was too busy gloating over his victory that he failed to even notice what the cat had planned. He now backed away in horror with the dagger in his side, "No..."
The cat guardian collapsed against the ground as he looked at the Akito look alike, "Now...you are cursed too along with your family," the cat guardian looked on to the other guardians who had failed to do anything to help, "The blade curses those who it strikes the worst..."
The Tohru look alike ran up to the fallen cat, "You must know it wasn't the rat I choose. It was you...please don't..."
The cat guardian was already gone. His eyes were shut tightly and sadly he didn't hear the words she spoken. She pulled his head to her lap and cried against his head, while the other guardians watched unable to help in any way. Their hearts were filled with grief that day, but also fear for what the curse would do to them. Kyo watched the rain fall on the fallen body of the cat as its blood poured out against the ground, "So, it was the cats fault that this all happened?"
"It wasn't the cat's fault," the Tohru girl whispered.
Kyo thought she had heard him, but it turned out she was just speaking out loud.
"And so now you know," the original cats voice said again as the images faded away to be replace by the human looking guardian again.
"So you were here," Kyo said as he stared back at his almost mirrored double.
"Yes. I thought you might have wanted to witness this yourself. I...was angry and acted on that angry. I thought everyone had betrayed me when in reality it was I who betrayed myself. I allowed myself to be stricken with the curse and I gave it to another like a spreading disease."
"Even if you were cursed you never experienced what its like," Kyo mumbled as he tilted his head slightly.
"Perhaps you are right there. I died that day, but I witnessed what the cursed one's go through."
"How? If you are some spirit do you just sit back and watch or something?"
"No. After I died that day, my bones were created to form that beaded bracelet. The curse was set, but the girl had managed to bless the bones before they were tainted with the curse. Which is why it keeps back the true form of the cat. She had hoped that by blessing my bones it would repent in what I had done."
"So that's how you can communicate with me..." Kyo said as he looked down at his bracelet.
"I watch and protect with the bracelet I can only communicate with the book. You see, this was my journal when I was alive. So, my memories are locked within here along with my real self."
"This is just too much for me," Kyo said as he rubbed his head.
"I don't blame you," the cat guardian said as he walked towards Kyo, "Remember this, don't be so quick to hate and judge. I was the cat guardian long ago, but you are not. You are, just Kyo. Even though you are cursed with the cat you are not an animal."
The cat guardian stretched out his hand to shake Kyo's. Kyo stared at it for a moment before he reached out to shake. At first Kyo thought his hand would go through the cat guardians hand, but he actually felt his touch, "I'll try to remember that, even when I transform into a cat."
"Glad to know you are still yourself even after experience the stress on your mind, most would have gone insane."
"Well I'm not that weak. Hey...if the curse travels through the family line. Then did you have an offspring? Or did the curse travel through a brother?"
The cat guardian was silent for a moment, "That story is for another time."
"What? But I want to here it though."
The cat guardian smiled lightly, "I'm sending your conscious back. Stay focus and you'll wake up."
Kyo sighed as he took a step back from the guardian, but he smiled lightly to him as he lifted his head up, "Thank you..."
The cat guardian waved a goodbye as Kyo disappeared from his world, "No...I should be thanking you. You may just have a chance at breaking this cruse."
Kyo opened his eyes slowly to see it was dark now in the room. His body felt a little sore from his fall from the window, but besides that he felt ok. As Kyo shifted his eyes around the room he felt his stomach growl, "I guess I'm hungry."
"Here, Kyo."
"Ahh!!" Kyo said in surprise as Tohru popped up from his right side.
"Oh, I'm sorry that I startled you!"
"You should be! You almost gave me a heart attack," Kyo gripped his chest as he sat up, "What are you doing up still?"
"Well I was hungry for a little snack and then I fell asleep on the ground."
Kyo looked at her lightly. She was smiling up to him holding a plate of rice balls in her hand for him. Kyo took the plate lightly, "You idiot you're going to catch a cold if you sleep on the ground."
"You're right, sorry Kyo," Tohru said as she bowed her head.
While her head was still bowed down she felt a blanket being wrapped around her, "Uh...Kyo?"
"What? You want to catch a cold?!" Kyo snapped at her as he bit into one of the rice balls.
"Oh, no...thank you"
Kyo was blushing lightly as she watched him eat, "Can you stop staring at me?"
"Sorry! I was just wondering something..."
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever had a strange dream, Kyo?" Tohru said as she leaned back lightly against the inside of the blanket.
Kyo laughed lightly, "Boy, I've been having one for a couple of nights now."
"Well you see. I had a dream about you, Kyo. You looked so sad sitting there in the dark that I tried calling out to you but you couldn't hear me. I tried one last time to yell to you and that's when I got your attention except someone was pulling me away..."
Kyo listened carefully until she got to the part about her calling for him. He nearly choked on his rice ball.
"Kyo! Are you ok? Did I make it too big?"
"Gah! I'm fine," Kyo said as he patted his chest a couple of times, "It's just a dream right?"
Yeah, but I was scared I wouldn't see you again."
Kyo was silent for a moment before he took her hand gently, "You see me now don't you? You can feel me too, right?"
Tohru gripped his hand lightly and looked up to him, "Yeah..."
"So, there's nothing to worry about then," Kyo said as he laid back against his pillow, "I'm exhausted."
"You should get some sleep. I'll clean your plate up," Tohru said as she released his hand, but she felt Kyo grab her wrist slightly.
"Don't...leave," Kyo said lightly. As his eyes gazed up to Tohru he saw the flashes of the past with the girl trying to tell the dying cat what she truly felt. "Can you just sit a little bit longer?"
Tohru smiled to Kyo as she sat back down in her blanket, "I can stay as long as, Kyo wants."
Kyo nodded his head lightly as he felt her hand in his own. He wished he could do or say more, but he just didn't feel ready yet. He wanted to say, 'Be with me forever.'
Kyo soon fell back asleep with Tohru still sitting at his bedside. She too fell asleep still holding onto his hand.
((Author Note Count. In my original idea I was going to have the rat the one to be blamed for everything, but then I felt that wasn't fair to the rat so instead I made it be a complete misunderstanding. The cat has such a temper on him I thought it needed a reason behind it. The dagger curse seemed simple and the dagger hit the two people who have it worst with the curse. Akito bares the whole weight of the cruse and Kyo has an alternative form. So that was my reasoning there. I also tried to pick up the small details with the zodiac members. Such as the rat being carried on the back of the ox. In my story he isn't carried don his back, by he is carried into the banquet and thus it made him first in line. Also the whole God summoned the animals for a banquet, was mirrored. Akito look alike summoned them for a banquet except my story opens the option that Akito is either the one the zodiac members see as God or is it Tohru? Hmm? Just something to think about. The next chapter should have my characters into it and some more fun after such a depressing and sad chapters.))
Beginnings and Endings
((Author Note: I have no clue how they were really cursed, but this is my spin on it. When I was first started writing this I had so many versions how things were going to go down, concerning the flashbacks. At first I was going to make the entire past really long, but then I decided to split the past and present, hence why it ended up being called Beginnings and Endings. Check out the end for more Author Notes, since I don't want to give anything away. Sorry about not doing a review response in the last chapter. My computer was acting up so I couldn't get to the review page to see everyone's names. I'll be sure to do one this time or next time.
Beginnings and Endings Fun Fact #1: When I write this story I always and I mean always spell Akito's name wrong. I always type Akita first before I look and it and say crap and fix it. It's a guarantee thing, because what I typed here I had to go back and fix in this little fun fact thing and I think we past the point where I was actually making sense.
Review Response:
seiko123: Akito is scary so I had to keep with his dark attitude.
Phinixofthezodiac: I'm glad to know the story is enjoyable.
GirlWaterShaman: Yeah I find myself saying that all the time when I see Akito in the manga or anime. I'm not fond of him, but he needed to be included in the story still. At lest he seems the same still in the story.
HelloKat: I'll try not to leave ya hanging to long. Don't worry in this chapter you'll find out what happens. History may be repeating itself, but I can't say. Don't want to ruin anything, hehe.))
Chapter 10
With the storm still pounding away at the land the day seemed shorter. Tohru, Yuki, Shigure, and Hatori all had a quiet dinner together. Most people would think the storm caused for their silence, but in reality the reason for their silence was that Kyo wasn't there. Kyo was still sleeping peacefully in the other room under a few blankets Tohru had provided for him. Since the day was dark everyone had decided to turn in early. Hatori even stayed over since the rain was too bad to travel in and Akito even insisted he stayed for the night.
"Hari, why do you think Akito wanted you to stay?" Shigure asked as he leaned against the doorway in the darkness. The shadows from his hair were outlined on his clear face.
Hatori was setting a place for himself to sleep and he glanced back to Shigure with his good eye, "Perhaps he's worried for him."
"Perhaps...or he has something else in stored," Shigure said as he stepped away.
Hatori watched as his friend stepped away silently. 'He must know something I don't' Hatori thought to himself as he finally settled down for the night.
As Shigure headed for his room he spotted Tohru who leaning against one of the doorways looking in on the sleeping Kyo. Shigure smiled lightly to himself before he walked over to her, "Tohru, I thought you were asleep."
"Oh, Shigure..." Tohru said a little bit surprised, "I just wanted to make sure Kyo was still doing ok."
"That's nice," Shigure, said with a grin, "He'll be ok. I'm sure he just needs a little more rest since it's raining too. If he can bounce back from those fights he has with Yuki then he'll bounce back from this with ease."
Tohru laughed lightly, "I guess you're right."
"Now, go get some rest. You had a long day."
Tohru nodded her head lightly as she walked up the stairs slowly rubbing her eyes. Shigure waved to her as he watched her leave, "Now isn't that cute," Shigure looked over towards the sleeping Kyo, "You better face your demons soon Kyo or they will just repeat themselves."
---
Meanwhile deep inside Kyo's mind he was having trouble focusing on the dream world again. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't find the vision of the world again, he was stuck in a dark void.
"Hello?!" Kyo shouted at the top of his lungs.
His voiced echoed in the darkness, but no answer, "Come on. I can't be stuck in here! Where is that damn cat when you need him?"
Kyo sighed as he began to stumble through the darkness to see if he could find anything. Kyo walked and walked, but the vast darkness was endless. He finally fell down on to his hands and knees with his head sunk low on his shoulders. His orange hair fell over his eyes as his hands clutched into fist, "Is this what it would be like if I was locked up? No voices? No light? No one..."
Kyo shut his eyes tightly together, "I can't be locked up. I'll loose my mind until there's nothing left of me!" Kyo could almost feel the darkness tighten its grip around his body, "But..."
Kyo slowly stood back on his feet running his hand over his face. The beads on his arm chattered together as they clicked against one another as he moved his arm slowly over his face, "...if I knew she would be happy if I didn't fight then maybe I can survive the darkness."
As Kyo spoke the words he truly meant from his heart a small flicker of light appeared in the far off distance. His crimson eyes turned toward the small flicker of hope he had left and he began to run as fast as he could towards it, "This damn light isn't getting any closer," Kyo was beginning to slow his stride down since it wasn't getting him anywhere when suddenly he heard a voice.
"Kyo..." a voice whispered his name in the darkness.
Kyo looked around, "Where's that voice coming from?"
"Kyo, don't give up," the voice said again as Kyo began to run as fast as he could through the darkness once again.
"That voice sounds like Tohru," Kyo said as he kept running on, "If it is then...I won't give up! This is a damn dream anyways; I can't get tired of running."
Once Kyo set his fears aside the light he was following soon exploded until the entire area was engulfed. He shielded his eyes from the brilliant flash with his arm quickly. Kyo waited a moment before he slowly dropped his arm down. His eyes were slowly exposed to his surrounding around him. He was back in the dream world that the book fabricated in his mind except he wasn't with the cat guardian. Kyo was back to where the festival was going to be held. "I'm back? Thank god, but now I have no commentary from the cat guardian. Oh well, I'll just figure this out myself."
Kyo gazed out into the courtyard to see the Akito look alike and the Tohru look alike standing at the steps edge. He approached them slowly to see what they were talking about. His curiosity perked up as he moved closer and closer with each step.
"The first of the guardians should be here soon," the Tohru double said as she looked to the Akito look alike.
"Good, do you have the ancient water?"
"Yes...are you sure you want them all to be apart of your family? You seem to not like guardians."
"I did not ask your opinion. Now, go."
The Tohru girl nodded her head as she bowed lightly before running off down the steps. Kyo sneered lightly to the Akito looked alike, "I wish I can strangle you right now."
The Akito look alike pulled out a dagger from his robe sleeve, "If that cat guardian shows up, then this should take care of him. The poison from this will be sure to curse his family from the day it strikes his blood."
Kyo stared at the dagger wide eyed, "There's just no way he'd do what I'm thinking...yeah actually he would."
"Hey!"
Kyo heard someone shouting from the gates that sounded awfully familiar. He gave the Akito look alike one last look over before he decided to check out what was going on now.
The Tohru girl was there opening the gates for the first of the guardians. Walking through the doorway was the rat guardian being carried by someone who looked like an older version of Haru.
"He was waiting for his friend but I think he should wait here with us," the Haru look alike said as he set the rat guardian down, "Guess he's first in line and I'm second."
The Tohru look alike smiled as she bowed to them both, "Then I welcome you here."
The two bowed and as they walked inside the rat guardian paused at her side, "He'll be here. For now would you like me to escort you?"
"That...would be fine," she said lightly as more guardians came.
Kyo narrowed his eyes lightly as he watched, "I think I'm going to be sick."
It wasn't long until the other guardians came through. Kyo was surprised at how fast each came and soon the last member stepped through the gates boarders.
The Akito look alike stood on the steps with his hands raised up for everyone to be quiet. The rat guardian stood next to the Tohru look alike as close as he could as they watched the noble at the stairs. Kyo couldn't help, but think the rat was getting too friendly with her. Maybe there was something more there, but Kyo was never good at figuring those kinds of things out.
"Now, I bet everyone is wondering why I invited you all here. I'm sure you are excited to celebrate the coming of a new age, but I have something else for you all to be excited about," the Akito look alike paused a moment before he continued, "I would like to bless you all with the ancient waters that has been passed through the lines of nobles making you all the first twelve guardians to be apart of a noble family."
The twelve all talk among themselves while a few cheered.
"Now, please come up to be blessed and once you are you are free to eat to your hearts content."
Kyo stood in the back as he watched the rat guardian go up first. He wondered where the cat guardian was or if he really slept through this entire mess. Once the rat guardian was done he headed back to the Tohru girl and took her hand gently. Kyo raised an eyebrow to this and casually scooted over to see what was going on even though no one could see him still.
"Listen, I know your heart wants to be with him, but can't you give me a chance. I've liked you since the start," the rat guardian said as he pressed his hand against the side of her face lightly.
"I..."
The rat guardian raised his hand, "Then allow me for one kiss and then you can decide."
She didn't stop him, but how could see when he gave her almost no choice. Kyo turned his head to the skies to avoid seeing such a scene. They looked too much like the real Tohru and Yuki. As he looked to the skies the rain began to fall lightly, "Rain?" Kyo said lightly as the raindrops fell right through him.
"Traitor!"
Kyo turned his head towards the gate entrance to see the cat guardian that look so much like himself standing in the middle of the gates path. His cloths were torn and his shoes were missing, it was rather obvious he ran the entire way there. His chest heavy for air as his mouth hung open to take bigger breaths, but his eyes held a flame of rage as he looked at the rat guardian and the women he thought loved him.
The rat guardian looked to his friend at the gate, "It's not what it looks like!"
The cat guardian narrowed his eyes as he hissed, "What I see is rather obvious! You broke your promise and now you take the girl I've cared for."
The Tohru look alike tried to say something, but the Akito noble stopped her, "So you admit your crime in caring for a noble, when you know its forbidden?"
"Yes! I don't care anymore!"
"Please don't harm him," the Tohru girl said as she gripped the Akito look alikes cloths.
"You are lucky I'm in a good mood. I will drop your punishment if you leave here."
"You can't do that. I was invited here too. I have just as much right to be apart of this family then anyone else here."
"Leave!"
The cat guardian shook his head and he sprinted past the iron gates. The Akito look alike gestured for the rat guardian to stop him. He had no choice and the rat guardian leaped at his friend and tackled him against the ground, "I'm sorry...I can't disobey him. You know that!"
"Why don't you all wake up!" the cat guardian yelled as he struggled against the ground with the rat, "You didn't come for him. You came to support her!"
"Quiet him down now!" the Akito look alike said in a stern tone.
Rain was pouring down on them all now and the rat guardian still couldn't subdue the cat completely. The two rolled across the ground in the mud until the cat guardian swung his fist straight up into the rats chin knocking him back completely. Once the cat guardian was free to move around again he suddenly transformed in the rain into his true form. It wasn't uncommon back then for the guardians to change with spells.
He changed into a large orange cat that could stand on its two legs if needed. This shocked Kyo since it was nothing like his own true form. This cat was godly looking, but right now its ears were pinned flat against his head and its fangs were barred in anger. The large cat looked fearsome as its hateful eyes looked around.
"A cat's grudge is endless. I will hold it again you for all eternity," the cat said as he stared down at the rat.
"And I will get rid of you. Even if it means my death," the cat said looking to the Akito look alike now.
The Akito look alike didn't do anything as the cat approached him on all fours. The cats red eyes were locked on its prey as it approached ignoring everything else around him. Once the cat was close enough he hissed loudly as he raised his claw up to strike. With his claw in the air the Akito look alike pulled his dagger out from his sleeve and struck the cat in the heart with the cursed dagger.
The Tohru look alike was trying to stop them both but it was too late. The cat fell forward with the dagger in his heart. He gasped for air, but he didn't find the sweat breath of air touching his lips anymore. He only felt the sharp pain in his chest that was slowly causing him to feel strange.
"Now you are a cursed creature. Your curse will forever be passed down through your line until the end of time," the Akito look alike laughed as the other guardians watched on in horror.
The cat was dying fast, but he managed to do one last thing. He pulled the dagger from his heart and thrust it into the side of the noble. The noble was too busy gloating over his victory that he failed to even notice what the cat had planned. He now backed away in horror with the dagger in his side, "No..."
The cat guardian collapsed against the ground as he looked at the Akito look alike, "Now...you are cursed too along with your family," the cat guardian looked on to the other guardians who had failed to do anything to help, "The blade curses those who it strikes the worst..."
The Tohru look alike ran up to the fallen cat, "You must know it wasn't the rat I choose. It was you...please don't..."
The cat guardian was already gone. His eyes were shut tightly and sadly he didn't hear the words she spoken. She pulled his head to her lap and cried against his head, while the other guardians watched unable to help in any way. Their hearts were filled with grief that day, but also fear for what the curse would do to them. Kyo watched the rain fall on the fallen body of the cat as its blood poured out against the ground, "So, it was the cats fault that this all happened?"
"It wasn't the cat's fault," the Tohru girl whispered.
Kyo thought she had heard him, but it turned out she was just speaking out loud.
"And so now you know," the original cats voice said again as the images faded away to be replace by the human looking guardian again.
"So you were here," Kyo said as he stared back at his almost mirrored double.
"Yes. I thought you might have wanted to witness this yourself. I...was angry and acted on that angry. I thought everyone had betrayed me when in reality it was I who betrayed myself. I allowed myself to be stricken with the curse and I gave it to another like a spreading disease."
"Even if you were cursed you never experienced what its like," Kyo mumbled as he tilted his head slightly.
"Perhaps you are right there. I died that day, but I witnessed what the cursed one's go through."
"How? If you are some spirit do you just sit back and watch or something?"
"No. After I died that day, my bones were created to form that beaded bracelet. The curse was set, but the girl had managed to bless the bones before they were tainted with the curse. Which is why it keeps back the true form of the cat. She had hoped that by blessing my bones it would repent in what I had done."
"So that's how you can communicate with me..." Kyo said as he looked down at his bracelet.
"I watch and protect with the bracelet I can only communicate with the book. You see, this was my journal when I was alive. So, my memories are locked within here along with my real self."
"This is just too much for me," Kyo said as he rubbed his head.
"I don't blame you," the cat guardian said as he walked towards Kyo, "Remember this, don't be so quick to hate and judge. I was the cat guardian long ago, but you are not. You are, just Kyo. Even though you are cursed with the cat you are not an animal."
The cat guardian stretched out his hand to shake Kyo's. Kyo stared at it for a moment before he reached out to shake. At first Kyo thought his hand would go through the cat guardians hand, but he actually felt his touch, "I'll try to remember that, even when I transform into a cat."
"Glad to know you are still yourself even after experience the stress on your mind, most would have gone insane."
"Well I'm not that weak. Hey...if the curse travels through the family line. Then did you have an offspring? Or did the curse travel through a brother?"
The cat guardian was silent for a moment, "That story is for another time."
"What? But I want to here it though."
The cat guardian smiled lightly, "I'm sending your conscious back. Stay focus and you'll wake up."
Kyo sighed as he took a step back from the guardian, but he smiled lightly to him as he lifted his head up, "Thank you..."
The cat guardian waved a goodbye as Kyo disappeared from his world, "No...I should be thanking you. You may just have a chance at breaking this cruse."
Kyo opened his eyes slowly to see it was dark now in the room. His body felt a little sore from his fall from the window, but besides that he felt ok. As Kyo shifted his eyes around the room he felt his stomach growl, "I guess I'm hungry."
"Here, Kyo."
"Ahh!!" Kyo said in surprise as Tohru popped up from his right side.
"Oh, I'm sorry that I startled you!"
"You should be! You almost gave me a heart attack," Kyo gripped his chest as he sat up, "What are you doing up still?"
"Well I was hungry for a little snack and then I fell asleep on the ground."
Kyo looked at her lightly. She was smiling up to him holding a plate of rice balls in her hand for him. Kyo took the plate lightly, "You idiot you're going to catch a cold if you sleep on the ground."
"You're right, sorry Kyo," Tohru said as she bowed her head.
While her head was still bowed down she felt a blanket being wrapped around her, "Uh...Kyo?"
"What? You want to catch a cold?!" Kyo snapped at her as he bit into one of the rice balls.
"Oh, no...thank you"
Kyo was blushing lightly as she watched him eat, "Can you stop staring at me?"
"Sorry! I was just wondering something..."
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever had a strange dream, Kyo?" Tohru said as she leaned back lightly against the inside of the blanket.
Kyo laughed lightly, "Boy, I've been having one for a couple of nights now."
"Well you see. I had a dream about you, Kyo. You looked so sad sitting there in the dark that I tried calling out to you but you couldn't hear me. I tried one last time to yell to you and that's when I got your attention except someone was pulling me away..."
Kyo listened carefully until she got to the part about her calling for him. He nearly choked on his rice ball.
"Kyo! Are you ok? Did I make it too big?"
"Gah! I'm fine," Kyo said as he patted his chest a couple of times, "It's just a dream right?"
Yeah, but I was scared I wouldn't see you again."
Kyo was silent for a moment before he took her hand gently, "You see me now don't you? You can feel me too, right?"
Tohru gripped his hand lightly and looked up to him, "Yeah..."
"So, there's nothing to worry about then," Kyo said as he laid back against his pillow, "I'm exhausted."
"You should get some sleep. I'll clean your plate up," Tohru said as she released his hand, but she felt Kyo grab her wrist slightly.
"Don't...leave," Kyo said lightly. As his eyes gazed up to Tohru he saw the flashes of the past with the girl trying to tell the dying cat what she truly felt. "Can you just sit a little bit longer?"
Tohru smiled to Kyo as she sat back down in her blanket, "I can stay as long as, Kyo wants."
Kyo nodded his head lightly as he felt her hand in his own. He wished he could do or say more, but he just didn't feel ready yet. He wanted to say, 'Be with me forever.'
Kyo soon fell back asleep with Tohru still sitting at his bedside. She too fell asleep still holding onto his hand.
((Author Note Count. In my original idea I was going to have the rat the one to be blamed for everything, but then I felt that wasn't fair to the rat so instead I made it be a complete misunderstanding. The cat has such a temper on him I thought it needed a reason behind it. The dagger curse seemed simple and the dagger hit the two people who have it worst with the curse. Akito bares the whole weight of the cruse and Kyo has an alternative form. So that was my reasoning there. I also tried to pick up the small details with the zodiac members. Such as the rat being carried on the back of the ox. In my story he isn't carried don his back, by he is carried into the banquet and thus it made him first in line. Also the whole God summoned the animals for a banquet, was mirrored. Akito look alike summoned them for a banquet except my story opens the option that Akito is either the one the zodiac members see as God or is it Tohru? Hmm? Just something to think about. The next chapter should have my characters into it and some more fun after such a depressing and sad chapters.))
