Chapter One: Dreams Begin
The knock sounded on her door and Stephanie Kamiya raised her brown eyes from the book that she had been reading while lying in her bed.
"Come in!" she called.
Katsuya Sohma, her boyfriend of a year and four months stuck his head through the bedroom door with a handsome smile.
"Hey there you" he grinned.
"Hi" she smiled back happily as he came over carrying a bouquet of flowers.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm doing much better. Although mom says I should still stay in bed. How about you?"
"Can't complain" Katsuya smiled again, "My mom had to mend another shirt though" he chuckled.
Just a week ago he had rescued her from the clutches of Seitarou Nakagami, a fellow collaborator of Tai Ushida who not only tried to make her tell him about some crucial information about the Zodiac members but had developed quite a dangerous infatuation with her. Kaye leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, trying to push the horrific images he had seen from his mind.
"I brought you some flowers" he replied handing them to her.
"Oh carnations!" she exclaimed, "My favorite. Oh Kaye. They're beautiful" she sniffed them lightly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome" he nodded sitting on her bed, "So I'm curious. What did you end up telling your family happened that week?"
"Oh that. Well I simply told them that I never saw my kidnappers. That I had been drugged the whole time. Nor could I remember where I had been held. It seemed the only thing to tell them without having them asking me too many questions. Besides Stephen helped in that department."
"Is he still here?"
"No. He left this morning. He had classes to get back to."
"Speaking of which, you are going back to school when it starts up again next week again aren't you?"
"Yes of course" she nodded, "It is only two days from now. I mean I am fine. Mom's just being overcautious. She even got a nurse for me and Sophie's been waiting on me hand and foot."
"Well, they're just concerned about you. Oh yea, I almost forgot" he reached into his jacket pocket.
"Hmm?" she looked up.
"Before everything uh, happened, I remember you asking to borrow this" he pulled out a small leather bound book.
"What is it?"
"The Cat's Journal. You know Kiyoshi Sohma's journal?"
"Oh yea" she nodded as he gave it to her, "But can I really read it? I mean I still don't know Japanese that well?"
"No. But you can still read between the lines. It's a lot easier to read then you think," he added when he saw her worried expression.
"Okay. Well maybe I'll take a look at it tonight."
"All right. I wish I could stay longer but I have to get to the main house to uh, discuss what has happened recently" he frowned and lowered his eyes slightly.
"Is everything all right?" she asked him as she saw his face.
"Oh yea. Everything's fine" he stood up with a nod, "But one things for sure. Sakura, Reiji, and I have come to an agreement."
"What's that?"
"We decided from now on if a Nakagami comes into the picture, that we're not going to trust them, and avoid them at all costs," he added angrily.
"Me neither. I mean me too."
"Good. I'll see you in a couple of days?"
"Yea okay. We'll meet at the front gate?"
"Okay. I love you" he kissed her on the lips and then departed.
She stared at his departure and then looked down at the book in her lap, pondering somewhat about his expression.
(Next Scene)
That night Stephanie read the first few pages of the Cat's journal. Her brother's cat Sadie came into the room around midnight, jumped onto the bed, and curled up next to her. Soon she found herself yawning and placed the book onto her night table, turned out her light, and snuggled into her covers. She was fast asleep within moments and without her knowledge the book on the table began to glow bright blue, which Sadie perked up her ears but simply remained in her spot, thinking it was just a strange light. The book glowed as Stephanie drifted into a dream world unlike any she had ever encountered.
(Dream World)
She felt the breeze on her cheek and opened her eyes wondering if she had somehow left the window open again. But when her eyes came into focus she found herself in very strange surroundings.
"Where am I?" Stephanie wondered aloud as she stared at the small-disheveled town that she was standing in the middle of, "This town seems so ancient. And there doesn't seem to be anyone around here" she spun around taking in all the buildings, "Something bad must have happened here?" she thought, "All the buildings look burned."
As she stood still, pondering on what happened she heard small running footsteps coming from behind her, so she turned to look. A small boy with big brown eyes, long brown hair tied back, and a very plain and dirty looking kimono was running in her direction.
"Hey!" she called out as he came closer, "You there! Where am I?"
But the boy didn't answer. He just kept coming towards her.
"Don't you hear me? Hey!" she shouted.
However instead of him answering he ran straight at her.
"Stop! You're gonna hit me!" she screamed shielding her face with her hands.
But he didn't hit her. In fact the truth of the matter was he ran right through her and then just kept on running while the stunned girl stared down at her body.
"Am I see through?" she felt her body, "He ran right through me" she replied astonished and a bit panicked.
Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she saw a hand reach out and grab the terrified boy. So in instinct she ran over to him only to discover that he was standing with another boy, this one more like in his teen years. But the thing that astonished her the most was his resemblance to someone she knew very well, what with his long dark hair and piercing grey eyes.
"Reiji?" she thought as she stared at him, "It can't be."
The Reiji look- a- like frowned down at the young boy as he crossed his arms.
"Taka. You were supposed to go underground with the others. What are you doing here?" he whispered angrily as Stephanie leaned in more to listen.
"I got separated from Suzuna" the little boy answered back, "I'm sorry Rentatsu" he bowed his head apologetically and cried.
"Rentasu?" Stephanie said to herself.
"Uh it's okay don't cry," he patted his back, "Come on" he took his hand gently, "We'll find them together."
"But what if the soldiers come back?" Taka replied scared to death and shuddering.
"No chance of that" Rentatsu shook his head, "They took everyone of value. All that's left is a very small percentage of kids. Besides, I've got this" he patted a sword that was strapped to his belt, "It'll protect us. Now let's go" he pulled him from the alley way and headed back down the street.
"Something tells me I should follow them" Stephanie thought aloud, "Maybe I can get to the bottom of this" she dashed after them.
But she hadn't followed them for long when she noticed that they had stopped at the fountain in the center of the town, where a small group of kids huddled next to a tall brunette girl in a pink kimono
"Oh Rentatsu. Taka" she hugged the little boy, "Thank goodness the both of you are safe" the girl sighed in relief.
"Yea, I found him running in the streets" he patted his head, "This is all that's left Suzuna?" he asked her.
"Yes this is it" she nodded sadly as she stared down at one of the cute little girls who was looking up at her, "Everyone else was taken."
Stephanie stood behind the fountain, her eyes wide as she glimpsed the teenage girl. Then without realizing it the wind began to rush around her and in an instant…
(Next Scene)
She woke with a start in her bed, the sweat dripping from her brow.
"What on earth was all that about?" she replied out loud as Sadie rubbed lovingly against her hand, "And that girl. Who was she?"
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! I'm back. I'm only going to be doing two chapters this week since I have a lot of preparation for the holidays to do this week. Next week I'll try to finish four chapters by Christmas, so look for them. Hope you enjoyed it! Got one more to do tonight, so I'll see ya later!
Next Chapter: Immediate Unwelcome
Not telling!