When they arrived at the main house they saw that Takara was standing outside by the large tree talking with Hitomi and Krysta. Kaye glanced up at the house and saw Hatori appear in the doorframe.
"Are you kids here about the news this morning?" he replied.
They nodded and then Katsuya took a step forward.
"Does Yamato know yet?" he asked.
"I believe he does" Hatori nodded, "His mother told him."
"I" Kaye started slowly, "I want to see him."
"I don't think that that's" Hatori began as Kagura who appeared at his side interrupted him.
"That's a good idea Hatori" she replied, "It would do Yamato good to see Katsuya right now. And probably Miss Kamiya as well" she added with a smile when she saw Stephanie, "Why don't you two follow me" she said urging.
Stephanie and Katsuya looked at each other and then moved towards the door, Kaye pausing for a moment near his sister.
"We'll be back," he whispered.
"Mhm" she nodded, "I'll wait here for mom and dad."
He nodded back and then followed Stephanie and Kagura into the house. She led them down to Yamato's room and then knocked softly. She then looked at Kaye as she opened the door for them.
"I'm not sure how talkative he'll be" she replied, "But maybe you two can help him to feel better about what's happened."
"We'll do what we can Mrs. Sohma" Stephanie said sadly.
"Yea" Kaye nodded taking a breath and then taking Stephanie's hand gently, "Let's go," he added leading her into the dark room while Kagura closed the door behind them.
(Next Scene)
Inside they could see that the curtains had been drawn around the room again, making it dark, except for one large window that Yamato was standing near quite still, staring at the rain. Kaye cleared his throat as he let go of Stephanie's hand and moved slightly forward.
"Excuse me. Yamato" he replied.
Yamato turned his head slightly and saw the two of them muchto his surprise. His face was very pale as he tried to smile.
"Katsuya?" he said, "Miss Kamiya?" he added as they stepped closer so he could see them more clearly, "What are you doing here?" he asked returning his gaze back to the window.
"We came to see" Kaye began, "I mean, we want to know if you're okay?"
"I really can't tell you what I am feeling right now" Yamato replied with a sigh.
Kaye looked at Stephanie as they took another step forward.
"I'm feeling a number of things."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Stephanie asked soothingly.
"What's there to talk about? He's dead. There's nothing more to say."
They looked at each other again sadly as he continued.
"And to think I could have spoken to him longer."
"What do you mean Yamato?" Kaye questioned.
"He wanted to talk to me alone. I would have had the opportunity to talk to him if her" he pointed accusingly at Stephanie, "brother hadn't interrupted" he added angrily.
"Yamato that is unkind" Kaye protested, "He did us a favor," he said but Stephanie took his hand and shook her head before he could say more.
"It's all right," she told him.
"It must have been important what he wanted to say to me" Yamato replied, "Maybe I made a mistake. And now it's too late."
"Yamato there is no guarantee that your father really wanted to talk to you or that he was just trying to kidnap you" Kaye said.
"I guess we'll never know. Not now" Yamato replied bitterly, "Wait" his eyes suddenly became wider, "I almost forgot."
"Forgot what?" Katsuya asked quizzically.
"What did he mean?" Yamato said frowning as he turned his head slightly to the other boy.
"Huh? Mean?"
"What did my father mean that day Katsuya?" Yamato replied a bit angry now.
"I don't" Kaye shook his head confused.
"What did he mean!" Yamato shouted ferociously making the other two step back surprised, "What did he mean by calling you the monster?"
Kaye lowered his head and then lifted it slowly noticing the anger in Yamato's eyes. Then he sighed as his girlfriend watched him sadly.
"He meant" Kaye began, "That Sakura doesn't carry the vengeful spirit of the cat in her curse, but in fact I do."
"What?" Yamato's eyebrows rose, "That's impossible!" he shouted, "You're the tiger! You don't carry that curse!"
"I do carry it" Kaye admitted with seriousness in his eyes, "I've always carried it ever since we found outthat the curse had returned."
"No. I don't believe it. How can you be carrying it? You're not even wearing the bracelet."
"I don't have to wear the bracelet Yamato. It doesn't work the same way for me. All I truly need is this" he held up the necklace, "It has one bead on it from Sakura's bracelet. She still wears it too to keep up the pretense though. Not many people know about the truth."
"Including me?" Yamato replied, "How could you keep something like that from me of all people?" he demanded.
"Yamato" Stephanie held up her hand.
"She knows, doesn't she?" he pointed a finger at her angrily.
She became silent and Kaye slowly nodded.
"Yes. I told her. I didn't want her to be afraid of me if she ever saw it."
"What are you talking about?"
"Yamato I can control the transformation better than any other cat of the Zodiac could. The only times I feel the need to transform is, if it's raining particularly hard or" he paused and closed his eyes, "If I am very, very angry. And that has only happened once in my life."
"I don't understand."
"I mean that I have only transformed once. And that was because I was that angry."
"When did you do that?"
Kaye at this moment became silent again and Stephanie could see the pain on his face.
"Wait Yamato" she interrupted as she moved closer to Kaye and took him by the arm gently, "Katsuya would you like me to tell him?"
"What?"
"I know how much you hate telling this part of the story and I can see on your face by your pained expression how hard this is for you. Please allow me to do it, so you won't have to."
"Steph, I can't let you do that" Kaye shook his head.
"Please Kaye" she replied and he saw the seriousness in her eyes, "Let me?"
He nodded slowly as Yamato moved towards his table and sat down. She took a step forward and then the two of them knelt down in front of the other boy.
"Yamato you have to understand a little bit about this" she began, "But it is difficult for Katsuya to tell anyone this story. Even when he told it to me it was hard for him to say it. So that's why I am going to help him" she paused and Yamato nodded, "When Kaye was five years old he and his sister along with their mother were summoned to the main house by you and your father. Do you remember that?"
"Yes" Yamato nodded, "It was the first time that I ever met the two of them."
"Well during that time Kaye, Sakura, and their mom were kidnapped by the associates of Tai Ushida."
"I recall that too."
"They were taken to a wear house on the outskirts of the city that he owned. At the time both Sakura and Kaye knew they were going to be taken because of a plan they had made with their Uncle Yuki to help stopTai Ushida. They were to meet him once they escaped but as they were running toward the exit Kaye stopped."
"Why?" Yamato asked looking at Katsuya who was staring at the ground.
"He didn't want to leave his mother behind. He had promised his father that he was going to take care of her and his sister and he wasn't about to break that promise.
"Go on" Yamato nodded.
"So he ran back in the direction of his mother with Sakura right behind him. But when they arrived to where their mother was being held he saw that Ushida had been molesting her."
"What?" Yamato's eyes opened wide as his eyebrows rose once more and Kaye closed his eyes clenching his fist.
"But he didn't order them away once they were caught again, instead" Stephanie frowned angrily, "Instead he made them stay as he continued his seduction of her. And that's when it happened. Where Kaye transformed for the first time."
"That's. Incredible" Yamato replied disgusted.
"You see, he was so angry. So angry that."
"So angry that I couldn't see straight!" Kaye interrupted with a shout that surprised the two of them, making them look at him, "I was more angry then I have ever been in my entire life" he stood up his body shaking, "My blood was boiling. My whole body was on fire. It was inevitable that I was going to transform since I tore the necklace from off my neck" he began to pace as they watched him, "I completely metamorphosed into that creature and then I lunged for him. Biting and clawing. Tearing at him anyway I could. Because of that he can't even walk properly anymore. He has to use a cane. But the truth is" Kaye replied with an angry frown, "If Sakura hadn't stopped me, I would have killed him. I wanted to kill him. I wanted him dead for what he did" Kaye grit his teeth as the tears welled up in his eyes, "Not breathing. He didn't deserve to live. But" Kaye cried, "I couldn't control myself" he fell to his knees and the tears began to drip on the floor as he lowered his head, "And now I have to try so, so hard not to get that mad again. I'm sorry Yamato. I know I should have told you but" he stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Yamato staring down kindly at him, "Yamato?"
"Katsuya. That's enough. I'm sorry" he said softly, "I had no idea. But what you did was commendable and braver then you'll ever know. And I am very proud to be your relative."
"I should have told you" Kaye shook his head.
"Well I think I know why you didn't" Kaye looked up surprised, "You were just protecting Sakura from me weren't you?"
"Huh?" Stephanie replied astonished.
"Your fear was that if I knew the truth that I would have despised you and then favor her, but in the process she would be hurt by me. Am I right?"
"Yes" Kaye nodded, "That's why I didn't say anything. The main reason why anyway."
"Kaye" Stephanie replied, "How come you never told me that?" she asked helping him up.
"I just didn't think it was important."
"But how did it happen?" Yamato said, "How did you get that part of the curse."
"Oh" Kaye smiled wiping the water off his face, "I'll tell you."
Then he recounted to Yamato the night of the wish and the head of the Zodiac finally understood.
"Well" Yamato sighed, "Now that that's all done, why don't the two of you join me for a cup of tea."
"Wait a minute Yamato" Kaye replied after looking at Stephanie quizzically.
"Hmm?" he looked back.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you really okay with everything? I mean with the news?"
"Yea, I mean we came in here to see if you were all right," Stephanie added.
"I'm fine now that the two of you are here. Please join me for a cup of tea" he said sitting down at the table, "So we can discuss the situation in more detail."
"Okay" Kaye nodded still confused but joining Stephanie and Yamato at the table.
(Next Scene)
Stephanie took the teapot gently and began to pour the tea into their cups. Soon after Akito, who had come by along with Reiji, Sakura, and Kanako joined them at the table and they began to discuss, once Akito had opened the curtains once more since it had stopped raining, the situation as Yamato had previously suggested.
"But why was he murdered?" Reiji replied placing his cup down, "Was it Ushida's doing?"
"Probably" Kaye nodded with a frown.
"I can believe that for my father's death" Yamato said, "But it doesn't hold water for the other one."
"Other one?" Kaye's eyes became wide.
"What are you talking about?" Sakura asked.
"Oh? You know about the other murder too Yamato?" Stephanie replied pouring Kanako another cup of tea.
Yamato nodded as Kaye stared at everyone in surprise.
"Wait a minute. What other murder?"
"Well the papers said that Jinto Tikeda" Stephanie replied, "Was found with another dead body at the scene of the crime."
"Whose body?" Sakura said a bit disturbed.
"The body of my father was found next to the body of Ichirou Nakagami" Yamato replied.
"Ichirou Nakagami?" Reiji said surprised.
"Tai Ushida's informant?" Kaye added.
"That's right" Yamato nodded taking a sip of his tea.
"But that doesn't make any sense" Sakura replied, " I mean I understand how Jinto Tikeda could be found like that, but would Ushida be behind Nakagami's murder too?"
"A man he held higher than anyone else?" Kaye said, "Very Unlikely."
"Who was this Nakagami person?" Stephanie asked curiously.
"Ichirou Nakagami was the man who helped get all the information for Ushida" Kaye explained, "He was a valuable accet to him. It doesn't make any sense to have him killed off."
"Unless it wasn't Ushida at all" Reiji replied, "But somebody who didn't like Ushida so they took out two of his people."
"I guess," Akito shrugged, "Who would do that though?"
"I don't know" Reiji retorted with a frown, "It's just a theory."
"It's getting late" Kaye replied standing, "I've got to get Stephanie home. We've got school tomorrow too."
"That's true" Sakura nodded also standing.
"Well thank you for coming by" Yamato replied, "The both of you" he added to Kaye and Stephanie.
"It was our pleasure Yamato" Stephanie bowed her head.
"If there is anything more that we can" Kaye began.
"I know" Yamato nodded understanding completely, "Take care."
The three of them said goodbye to the others and then departed, bumping into their parents along the way, since they had been in the main conference hall discussing the situation with the other adults. They talked to them briefly and then Kaye said that he was escorting Stephanie home and the two of them strolled out of the main gate.
(Next Scene)
"It's been kind of a baffling day hasn't it" Stephanie replied as they began to walk.
"Yea. It really has" Kaye nodded.
"I'm surprised that he wasn't more upset."
"Who Yamato? Don't worry he is. It's just with the current situation he's trying to act all tough and responsible. It's part of being a leader I guess."
"Oh I see. Well that makes sense. He doesn't want to scare anybody, like the younger ones."
"Exactly. Then again maybe it just hasn't hit him yet."
"Probably" she nodded again, "Oh?" she said when someone with dark hair, glasses, a tee shirt and pair of running shorts ran past.
Seitarou Naoki stopped when he saw them and smiled.
"Mr. Sohma. Miss Kamiya. What brings you out on this fine evening?"
"Mr. Naoki" Stephanie replied, "Hello" she bowed her head.
"Evening" Kaye added, "What are you doing out here?"
"Just having an evening jog. It's the perfect time for it. How about the two of you?"
"We're on our way home," Kaye answered.
"I must say the two of you make quite a good looking couple" he smiled, "Well have a pleasant walk" he turned, "See you at school tomorrow" he waved as he took off once more.
"Bye!" they both waved.
"He's real nice isn't he?" Stephanie observed.
"Yea he is" Kaye nodded, "But a bit mysterious to me. Then again I suppose everyone has got that mysterious part of themselves."
She chuckled and then the two of them walked towards her house taking in the cool evening air and watching the sky, as it turned from colorful to dark in moments.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile in a large manor a tall teenage boy entered his study and flicked on the monitor of his computer. A picture of another teenage boy came on the screen as the telephone on the desk rang.
"Hello" the young man said as he answered it, "Yes sir. Right on schedule. I read it in the paper this morning. Quite tragic" he replied sarcastically, "I'm looking at the information now" he clicked the mouse and the picture changed to another teen, this time a female, "But I'm afraid it's not going to be quite enough. However I think I have found a more lucrative way of finding out the information then I had originally intended" he clicked the mouse again and another female teen's portrait appeared on the screen, "Yes sir. Understood. I won't fail you" he hung up the phone and smiled his menacing smile as the picture flashed in front of him.
Then he picked up the phone and dialed another number.
"Hey it's me" he replied informally, "I have another job for you. I'm sending you the information now" he clicked the mouse once more, "I want you to find out everything you can about this person. It's imperative that you get it to me as soon as possible. Yes. Thank you" he hung up the phone again, moved from his study as the picture of a young brunette smiling remained on the screen.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay. Here's two chapters today and one tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed it!
Next Chapter: Song Sunday
Every Sunday evening a song is heard throughout the park near Katsuya's house and Reiji just happens to hear it. So coercing Kaye the two of them see who the mysterious voice is, making Kaye confront and admit his own musical talent. Find out what happens next time!