Chapter 20: Cherry Blossoms
"Thank you."
"At least it's better than what you can do! You don't even get a dance because you are the cat! You aren't even part of the Zodiac."
"Miki?"
"I'm glad you're back to your old self,"
Those words echoed in Natsu's brain. Why... He looked into the lake, looking at his reflection as the rain fell. Natsu looked away from his reflection and looked at his hands. Haruko did this to him... just so he could get Miki. Why did he want her? Was he scared that someone would take her away from him? Did he think that he could take her away from him... Natsu shook his head. No... he couldn't take her away from Haruko... he was the cat... and the cat always hated the rat... But... who said it had to be like that? Who?
"I'm not the one you have to beat you, you dead brain cat... Its him... you have to beat.. him."
-0-
The sky roared and rain fell heavily upon the earth. The wind blew, sending a soft little howl through the trees. The forest was dark, it seemed like midnight thought only it was dusk... A figure treaded through the darkness, looking...
Miki walked through the forest, her feet covered in mud. The thought of the mud didn't even enter her mind as she walked through the forest... She was looking for one person, and one person alone... Natsu. She was scared, scared he was going to hurt himself and she didn't want that... She felt that if he hurt himself that something would happen inside of her that would tear her apart. She hated the feeling of being lonely, it scared her and she felt that if Natsu would disappear... She'd feel lonely again, like after her parents had their memories erased...
Miki stopped, her mind going back to her parents. Tears streamed down her face. It had been a while since she had thought about her parents. Her eyes looked at the ground. She didn't want to be alone again... and if Natsu was gone... She shook her head. No, she would find him and bring him back, no matter the cost. She began to walk again when she noticed a figure in front of her. Natsu.. it had to be Natsu, who else could it be?
"Natsu..." she said softly, walking up to the shadow. She held out her hand, hoping the figure would take it. "Natsu.. Natsu I'm here... don't be scared," she cooed, her voice loud enough to be heard through the pouring rain. The figure grabbed out towards her. She smiled. The hand touched hers and she felt herself being pulling into an embrace. For a moment Miki felt happy... but then something just didn't feel right.
"Hello little one," said the voice. Miki felt uncomfortable and pulled away from the semi inviting embrace. Her eyes fixed upon the speaker of the words.
"Haruko..." she said softly, her eyes glaring at him. Haruko lifted his hand to push away some strands of hair but Miki slapped his hand away. "Don't... touch me." she hissed. Haruko glared at her.
"I am the God Miki..." he said, thinking that what he said had made everything all right
"Why the hell did you do that to Natsu? Making him transform into that... thing..." she said softly, her mind going back to the thought of the transformed Natsu.
"I did it to protect the curse." explained Haruko, his eyes staring into Miki's. "And that cat, even though he doesn't know it, can break it and I will not let that happen to this family," he hissed. Miki looked at him, confused. Natsu knew how to break the curse? Or could break it for that matter. Miki felt confused. Why did Haruko not want the curse to be broke?
"Then... why stop him from breaking the curse? Thats what everyone wants in this family... They want to be able to feel apart of society and not fear about changing into an animal when they are touched by the other sex in an embrace. We want to feel like we are humans and not some things running around this earth!" shouted Miki. Haruko grabbed her shoulders, his hands squeezing them. Miki flinched but didn't look away from him, she couldn't... he wouldn't let her.
"If he breaks the curse then no one would listen to me..." he explained.
"Why is that such a bad thing?" questioned Miki.
"Because I want them to suffer how I have suffered! Knowing I'm going to die young because I'm the God, knowing that the only reason why I'm here is to get pitty from you and the others. That isn't a life! Knowing that if the curse is broken, I'll still die young and no one would be there to look after me... to care for me. At least with the curse I know people will be there to look after me... even if it is forced. The soul inside of me tells me what I am doing is right, for I know I am right... I'm the God" explained Haruko. Miki's head felt confused and dizzy with all the information that he had just said. Miki felt Haruko's grasp on her shoulders loosen but she felt him pull her to him. He rested his head upon her shoulder and let out a sigh.
"I just want you to love me... I want you Miki," he whispered. He was telling a half lie. He loved her a bit, but he did want her... he knew that if he couldn't have her what would happen and he didn't like the thought of it one bit. Miki pushed away from Haruko and glared at him.
"Thats a horrible explanation of why you want to stay God. You don't want me either, you don't love me. Nobody loves me, I'm the rat and that is how life is suppose to go... No one loves the rat, the rat ends up alone in the end! That is how it is told and that is how it will always be. Yuki ended up alone, and so will I!" cried Miki, tears streaming down her face. She felt weird. How did she know that Yuki ended up alone? No one ever spoke about his life really, but she knew he ended up alone... like all the rats did. The feeling scared her on the inside, the thought of being alone scared her. There was nothing she could do about it, and it made her mad.
"Its a perfect explanation. You don't understand what is going on here. Being able to break the curse hasn't happened in such a long time! Its rare that this comes along... Its all because you are female and he is male!" shouted Haruko. His eyes stared into Miki's, his expression haunting. Miki felt scared. She knew that it was rare for females to be born into the curse, she knew that the females always had it harder living with it than males for they were more emotional and touchy... but why did it matter that she was female? And who was the male he was talking about? Because he is male? But that didn't make any sense to her... the God was usually always male... so nothing was adding up in her head.
"I... I don't understand," Miki said, backing away from Haruko. His stare was haunting, and him advancing on her made her even more scared.
"I don't see why not, I've made it almost plain as daylight about what is going on! You will be mine, I will not let you break this curse! I refuse to have that happen," stated Haruko, advancing upon Miki. Miki kept backing up but she felt her foot hit something and the next thing she knew, her bare back felt muddy and she saw Haruko standing over her. He began to bend over to grab at her but a blur rushed by and Haruko was no longer there. She sat up and noticed the bodies roll around and then finally disappeared. Miki was confused, why did they disappear? She got up and ran over to where the two had disappeared and had to stop herself from falling over. They were near a cliff and a river ran below. Miki got on her hands and knees and looked over the cliff, trying to see if she saw anything. Questions began to form in her head. What was that blur and where did Haruko and the blur go. She moved her hand and felt something smooth under her hand. She looked down and grasped what she felt. Her hand began to tremble. It was a piece of Natsu's swimming trunks.
-0-
Miki ran down the hill towards the bank of the river. She noticed a body huddled up on the bank. She ran towards it and stopped. It was a monster... no, not a monster, it was Natsu. She looked around. She didn't see Haruko's body anywhere. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She hoped he wasn't dead... she didn't like him, but didn't wish death upon anyone. She opened her eyes and looked at Natsu. She walked over to him. She clinched her fist. He was terrifying to look at... and he still had a scent of melting flesh. Her fists loosened up and soon her hands were loose and hanging. She walked over to Natsu and knelt next to him. Her eyes traveled over his monster like body. Tears began to weld up in her eyes. What if he was dead? She shook her head. No, he wasn't dead.. he couldn't be dead. She lifted her shaky hand and touched Natsu's back gently. Her hand retracted immediately. She took another breath, her heart beating. A few drops of rain hit her head and she looked up. The clouds were parting and the moon began to peak out from the rainclouds. Miki looked down at Natsu. His body was bathed in the soft moonlight. The tears that were welding up in her eyes began to stream down her cheeks.
"Natsu..." she whispered before she started to cry. She picked up the front of Natsu's body and rested his monstrous head onto her shoulder and wrapped her arms around his body. His skin was rough and weird feeling, but she didn't care.
She cried, her tears streaming down her cheeks. Her tears dropped onto Natsu's face, making his nose twitch. Natsu's eyes opened slowly, his vision blurry. His ears twitched as he heard the crying. He pulled away quickly from the arms he felt around him and looked at his caretaker. His eyes went wide.
"Miki..." he said. He turned from her, putting his hands over his face. "Don't look at me!" he cried. Miki looked at him. She felt relieved... he was dead after all.
"Why did you... help me?" asked Miki softly. Natsu's ears twitched. He slowly looked behind him at Miki, his hands lowering from his face.
"He..." he explained but he turned away again. "Don't look at me!" he shouted again. He began to tremble. Why was she so calm? He was hideous, why must she look at him?
"Why do you keep saying that?" asked Miki, feeling a bit hurt. He saved her yet he kept telling her to not look at him.
"I'm hideous! I'm a monster... I'm a monster..." he explained. A monster... Miki stood up and walked over to Natsu. She grabbed his hands and pulled them away from his face.
"Don't..." she whispered. Natsu looked up at Miki, his monster eyes looking into her purple ones. They seemed gentle... He had never seen them look like that before. Miki knelt down and pulled Natsu towards her, forcing his head onto her shoulder. She hugged onto him tightly, tears in her eyes. Natsu's eyes went wide. What was she doing? Why... why was she doing this... Natsu's body slowly became at ease and his body became limp.
Natsu felt his body tingle. Miki held onto Natsu and the rough skin under her touch became smooth. Natsu rubbed his head against Miki's shoulder and he opened his eyes. He was back to normal. He pulled away and looked at Miki. Tears began to form in her eyes.
"Why did you help me?" she asked. Natsu looked away from her.
"I felt he couldn't have you..." whispered Natsu. Miki laughed a bit.
"Him have me? Never... I'm the rat... I'm destined to be alone..." said Miki softly, her eyes glancing down. "Even you said so..." Natsu looked at Miki, his eyes fixed upon her.
"You aren't destined to be alone..." he said. Miki looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes I am. All the rats before never had anyone.. or they did and they were taken away from them." explained Miki, her hands curling into balls. "You should hav..." she never finished her sentence for Natsu put a finger up to Miki's lips. Miki's eyes glanced up into Natsu's eyes. He took his finger off Miki's lips and brushed a wet strand of hair from her face. His finger traveled down the side of her face and ended under her chin. He slowly drew her face to his. Miki's heart began to beat fast as she felt his lips touch hers. She closed her eyes immediately. Her lips felt warm and her body tingled. She felt something shoot through her body and she found her arms around Natsu, his hands resting gently on her exposed lower back. Miki slowly pulled away, her eyes looking into Natsu's. She gave a gentle smile as Natsu pulled her into a hug. She rested her head upon his chest, her arms around him. Natsu rested his head upon hers, one of his hands playing with her wet hair. This was why he saved her... He wanted her himself...
-0-
Masa sat on a big rock, his head in his hands. It had stopped raining... but what had happened to Miki and Natsu? He felt horrible... but he had a good feeling that they would over come the obstacle in front of them. He felt a jolt through his body and he looked up. Udo and Ran were sitting next to each other. Masa looked over at the cherry blossom trees that the Sohma's had planted decades ago and walked over to it. He found a heart carved into it with two letters in it. His hand traced over the letters. So close... they were so close...
"Look!" cried Ran. Masa looked up. The moonlight shown down on two figures walking up to the three of them. Masa smiled... They made it through... He knew it...
Miki and Natsu made it up the big hill and stopped at the top. Miki looked at Ran and Udo and smile. Ran looked at the two and ran towards Miki. Udo tried to stop her, for he was still a bit scared that they would both turn into monsters. Ran hugged onto Miki and squeezed her.
"You scared me!" cried Ran, tears of happiness running down her face. Miki smiled and hugged back.
"I scared myself," she explained. Ran put her forehead against Miki's and grinned and hugged her again. Ran pulled away and looked at Natsu.
"You bastard, scaring us!" said Ran. "Masa explained about the curse a bit to us... I don't think my brother understood though..." explained Ran. She stood in front of Natsu for a second before she jumped onto him. Natsu tensed up and Miki let out a scream. Ran hugged Natsu tightly. "You bastard," she said and giggled. She pulled away and ruffled Natsu's hair. Natsu stayed still. Miki stared at Natsu. He didn't change... Masa grinned as he leaned against the cherry blossom tree. Miki touched Natsu.
"You... didn't change..." explained Miki. Natsu looked at her then Ran. Masa gave a laugh.
"Haruko was right..." said Masa. Miki looked at Masa.
"What do you mean?" asked Miki.
"Masa, if you know what the hell is going on, please enlighten us," explained Natsu, feeling weird. Masa smiled.
"Haruko said that the way to break the curse is if the rat and the cat could fall in love and defeat the God. Past generations the rat and cat would always be male. The cat was female once, and the cat and mouse of that generation did fall in love but unfortunately they couldn't beat the God and doomed themselves to death." explained Masa. Miki looked at Natsu and Natsu looked back at her. She gave him a little smile. Masa pushed away from the tree and stood up straight.
"We should turn in for the night... Its late and we need to head home tomorrow..." explained Masa. Ran looked at Miki and Natsu and skipped to her brother and grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Udo tried to fight against his sister but he finally gave up.
Natsu walked over to Miki and placed a hand upon her shoulder. Miki looked up at him.
"Were you seriously afraid of me earlier?" he asked. Miki gave a small nod.
"Yeah... I was... I was afraid of you and I was afraid that... I would be alone," explained Miki. Natsu gave a small smile and pulled her towards him.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore..." he whispered, placing his chin upon her head.
The moon shone brightly over the forest, the stars twinkling. The wind blew gently, sending cherry blossoms into the air and they danced in the night.
The End
-0-
A/N: Sorry it took forever to get this chapter out... I didn't want to write it because I wanted to prolong the ending and also I'm been so busy with Cabaret. I finally have a three day break from Cabaret before we do our next run here at school. I hope you enjoyed this story. I've been thinking about writing the story of the other couple that I mentioned in this story (The male rat and female cat) but I'll probably set it during the same time because I don't want to research on what japanese people did centuries ago... hehehe... I dunno if I'll do it... ;; I hope you all enjoyed this story, its sat to see it end.. :( Thank you all so much for reading it, it means a lot to me... it really does. :)
