The remainder of the week things went as planned. Katsuya kept up the pretense of being bitter and angry while Stephanie kept up the pretense of being sad and terrified and of course Tsukasa kept up the image of being mean and conniving, pretending to be more evil as the days went on. When Saturday finally arrived he walked along the halls of the mansion playing over and over in his head his game plan. In the back of his pants he had placed an object that he was certain he was going to need even though he was most reluctant to use it.
Meanwhile over at the Kamiya residence Stephanie was going over worries in her own mind. Tsukasa told her that morning to arrive at the mansion at three o'clock that afternoon so she relayed the message to Katsuya and Sakura to make their arrival time at the mansion some time after. As she paused by the front door, counting the minutes till she would have to leave her younger sister Sophie came down the stairs and saw her somber expression.
"Are you going somewhere?" she asked when she saw her sister dressed in somewhat formal clothing instead of her usual blue jeans and tee shirt.
"Yes" Stephanie replied, "Just for a little while. I won't be gone long."
"Well okay" Sophie said back a bit hesitantly because Stephanie hadn't changed her expression, "I'll be at the park if you're back before me. I'm meeting Raiu and some of the Sohmas there."
"Well have fun" Stephanie replied a bit nervously as she walked out the door.
Sophie frowned slightly as Sam came out of the kitchen carrying a glass of water.
"Where did Stephanie go?" he asked adjusting his glasses on his face.
"Out" Sophie said back simply.
"But I didn't get the chance to tell her."
"Tell her what?"
"Oh never mind. He wanted it to be a surprise anyway" he moved back towards the steps.
"He? He who?" Sophie asked running after him as he climbed the stairs.
(Next Scene)
At that same moment Katsuya was placing equipment into a small duffel bag inside the dojo's practice hall. Sakura came in and saw him zip up the bag with a small sigh.
"You ready to go Kaye?" she asked.
"Yea" he nodded standing and shouldering the bag, "Let's do this."
"You all right?" she asked in concern.
"No. I'm really worried."
"Don't be. Tsukasa will take care of her."
"It's not just that" Kaye shook his head, "She has such awful memories of that place. I don't want her to have to relive any of them."
"She'll be fine. She's a strong girl like me."
"I know. But I would give anything to be by her side today."
"You will be. When it's all over you'll be the one to hold her and tell her everything is all right."
"Thanks. I appreciate that" he managed to smile.
"Come on little brother" she said taking him by the arm, leading him gently to the door, "We've got work to do."
"Mhm" he nodded, "But" he added, "I guarantee ours won't be as stressful as theirs is."
"That's true," she agreed, "Right now. They're both entering the pit of hell itself."
(Next Scene)
Tsukasa sat quietly in the sitting area with Seitarou who had the table arranged for tea if anyone should want some.
"Shouldn't you be going to get her soon Tsukasa?" he asked.
"No" Tsukasa shook his head, "I told her to come here alone. That way it wouldn't look too suspicious to her family."
"Ah. I see. Good call" Seitarou grinned menacingly.
"Mhm" Tsukasa nodded back with an exact copy of his cousin's grin on his face but with a strong loathing in his heart that matched the churning in his stomach.
Down below Stephanie had entered the gates and was now staring at the two flights of steps she would have to climb in order to get to the top. As she climbed she moved slowly dreading every step she took for she knew it wouldonly be a matter of moments till she reached the end of the stairs and would have to face the horrors of the place she had tried so hard to forget. But inevitably she did reach the top and stood outside the door, her fingers trembling as she reached up to knock on it.
Tsukasa heard the knock and at once stood to answer it, moving swiftly across the floor and opening the door with almost no difficulty.
"You're right on time" he announced loudly but mouthed to Stephanie, "Are you okay?"
She nodded silently and then the two of them moved toward the sitting room where Seitarou was anxiously awaiting them.
"Ah. Miss Kamiya" Seitarou grinned his glasses shining, "So nice of you to join us."
She frowned at him as Tsukasa turned to her with a frown of his own.
"Show some respect," he ordered.
"Huh?" she said turning to his angry glare.
"You are a guest in his house and you will be polite while you are here. Do you understand me?"
Her eyes became a bit wide with fear at Tsukasa's expression.
"He looks just like him" she thought, "And sounds like him too. Only more. If I didn't know that he was on my side for sure I really would be terrified of him right now" she paused, "I understand" she said slowly and reluctantly bowed her head to Seitarou.
"That's better" Tsukasa replied, "Now sit down" he commanded leading her to the table and forcing her down with as gentle of a push as he could get away with.
"Perhaps you wouldn't mind pouring the tea for us Miss Kamiya" Seitarou said thoroughly amused.
"She doesn't mind" Tsukasa answered, "Do you?"
"Of course not" she replied back with a bit of an angry tone in her voice as she picked up the teapot and began to pour.
"Well you really do have her in the palm of your hand, don't you Tsukasa" Seitarou observed, "Remind me how you did that again?"
"That part was easy. All I had to do was threaten that cute little sister of hers."
Stephanie closed her eyes briefly as if in anguish.
"Of course. Sophie. Unfortunately I used that tactic a bit too late. I didn't realize how effective it would be on her. She does have quite an affinity for that little sister of hers doesn't she?"
"I realized that early on," Tsukasa added as Stephanie turned her head away from them both after pouring the tea.
"Well I am very impressed. Have you nothing to say about that Miss Kamiya?" he said turning to her.
Stephanie clenched her fist but shook her head angrily.
"No. Nothing."
"Oh come on. You were a lot more spirited when I had you as my prisoner. I tell you Tsukasa this girl could give you a run for your money if she wanted to."
She closed her eyes and tried to block out the memory of the past.
"Seitarou" Tsukasa warned eyeing him, "That's enough of that. Wasn't there something you wanted to see us about?"
"Of course. But the real reason in actuality that I wanted you to invite her was to give you some quality time to be alone with her."
"Huh?" Tsukasa looked surprised as Stephanie reopened her eyes and turned her head back slowly.
"You can hardly spend a lot of time aloneat the school. In this mansion there are ample rooms to choose from."
"Ample rooms for what?"
"You know" Seitarou sipped his tea, "You said you wanted her didn't you?"
Stephanie's eyes became even more wide as Tsukasa stared back at him stunned.
"He really does have a foul mind" he thought, "That's neither here nor there" he replied.
'You're not afraid are you?" Seitarou said back.
"Hmm. Me afraid?" Tsukasa changed his tone back to anger, as he frowned, "No way."
"Well prove it. I mean have you even kissed her yet?"
"No."
"Well what are you waiting for? I have and it's quite the experience. But if you don't want to" his voice trailed off.
"Oh no" Stephanie thought.
"This is not the way it was supposed to go" Tsukasa thought a bit nervously, "I didn't count on this. But I promised myself that I would have to be more convincing so. Stephanie forgive me" he paused, "I'll show you who's afraid" he replied seriously.
"Huh?" Stephanie said a bit stunned.
"Stand up!" he ordered her as he stood.
"What?" she replied back instantly afraid, "No" she said honestly.
"Are you saying no to me?" he replied dangerously, "I said stand up!" he grabbed her arm roughly yanking her to her feet and then pulled her lips closer to his, kissing her for the first time.
In total disbelief at what was happening Stephanie in turn did something also totally unexpected. Her hand came up and smacked him across the face as she pushed herself from his body still completely shocked.
"How dare you" she said holding her hand over her lips, "You lying deceitful jerk!" she finished going at once back into character.
"Now that's more like the Miss Kamiya I remember," Seitarou grinned satisfied.
"What just happened?" Tsukasa thought as he rubbed his cheek, "That wasn't part of the plan. But I can't stop the play now. I have to go on" he turned to her with the most dangerous look she had seen on him yet, "You're gonna pay for that" he hissed.
"Huh?" she took a step back.
"Seitarou" he said turning to his cousin once more, "Maybe I'll take you up on your suggestion after all. She needs to be taught a lesson that she'll never forget."
"Now that's more like it," Seitarou grinned as Stephanie listened transfixed byTsukasa's moves.
"However" Tsukasa chose his words carefully, "I'm not looking forward to dragging her back to my own room. Do you have a room closer?"
"I have the best room" Seitarou nodded, "Quite a familiar one to her too" he grinned menacingly at the girl who avoided eye contact with him.
"Yes" Tsukasa thought, "He fell for it."
"It's got a nice bed in it" Seitarou continued, "And it is so sound proof that no one will hear her scream."
"This is it" Stephanie thought snapping herself back to reality, "This is my cue. No" she said out loud, "I won't go back in there!" she shouted, "You can't make me! I won't go back to that room!"
As had been practiced Tsukasa moved over towards her, took her by the arm roughly once more, and dragged her to Seitarou's bedroom door, flinging it open.
"Take your time" Seitarou replied grinning smugly.
"I intend to" Tsukasa nodded, "Get in there!" he said throwing her in.
"No!" Stephanie screamed as the door was closed and locked behind them.
Seitarou chuckled to himself evilly as he finished his second cup of tea.
(Next Scene)
As soon as the door was shut Tsukasa leaned against it breathing heavily and then turned to her with a very solemn expression.
"I am so sorry" he replied in a soft voice.
"Tsukasa" she said back in the same soft voice, "For what?"
"For that kiss. That wasn't what was supposed to happen. I didn't know that he was going to ask that. But I had to stay in character."
"And I'm sorry I slapped you. But I guess it was so unexpected, I did what was natural."
"That's okay. I guess we both did something that was more convincing then we imagined."
"Yea."
"So this is the room huh?"
"Uh huh" she nodded as he grimaced at the surroundings.
"Do you remember what to do?"
"Yes."
"Good. But you know" he paused as he thought, "We're gonna need one last convincing thing to really pull this off. We're so deep into this we might as well do it" he nodded to himself.
"Do what?"
"You're gonna have to hit me again. Harder this time."
"No Tsukasa" she shook her head, "I've already hit you once. I couldn't possibly hit you again."
"You have to" he insisted, "It's the only way I can get out of this room so I can distract Seitarou while you find the journal."
"I just can't" she shook her head once more bitterly.
"I've got an idea. Turn around."
"Huh?"
"Just trust me. If you can't see my face it'll be much easier for you. Pretend I'm Seitarou. I'm gonna talk and act like he would and then you just hit me as if I am really him."
"Okay" she said finally consenting and turning around, "I'll try."
"Okay" Tsukasa took a deep breath and then walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her neck, "Now you listen to me" his voice became deeper and took on a darker tone, "I will not tolerate you disobeying me again. You're gonna do as I ask from now on. You belong to me and only me. And you will behave if you know what's good for you. I would hate for something to happen to that little sister of yours. It would be nothing for me to break in your house and slit her throat" he replied menacingly in her ear.
Picturing Seitarou in her head on the last line Stephanie threw her hand out and smacked Tsukasa across the face so hard that he landed on the floor with a thud. She almost gasped but he held up his thumb with a satisfied smile.
"Why you little brat!" he shouted as he stood back up and opened the door, "Perhaps you need to cool off!" he slammed the door and locked it behind him once more.
"Trouble in paradise?" Seitarou asked and then saw the bruise on Tsukasa's face, "Ooh. I see she got you good didn't she?"
"You didn't tell me that she hit that hard."
"I wanted to give you the opportunity to experience it for yourself."
"Thanks" Tsukasa said rubbing his cheek, "I'm gonna give her some time to cool off and then I'll go back and finish the job. And this time I won't get hit. I have to go take care of this" he replied moving past his cousin still holding onto his face.
"Hurry back Tsukasa" Seitarou said, "We have much to talk about."
"I won't be long" Tsukasa nodded departing the room, "And now" he thought as he moved along the corridors, "It's all up to Stephanie to find the journal."
In Seitarou's room, discovering the journal was no problem for he had left it in plain view in the top drawer of his desk.
"Got it" Stephanie breathed in relief as she pressed it against her chest, "I have to wait fifteen more minutes till I can get out of here" she thought glancing at the bathroom door, "I hope Tsukasa can stall for that long."
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile down below Kaye and Sakura waited patiently in a hidden area of the courtyard.
"What's taking them so long?" Sakura replied, "I thought that they'd be finished by now."
"It's probably gonna take some time to find the journal" Kaye said, "And then Stephanie's got to give Tsukasa fifteen minutes before appearing from the bathroom."
"Bathroom?"
"Seitarou Nakagami's personal bathroom also leads out into a hallway that eventually ends up back at the sitting room where Tsukasa will be. That's how she's gonna get out of that room. And then they have tofind some way to high tail it out of there and get back to us."
"I hope they make it."
"They will" Kaye said a bit reassured, "And we'll be ready for them."
(Next Scene)
As he waited for Tsukasa to return Seitarou listened to the person on the other end of the phone line.
"Deal with it" he replied, "We need them anyway. I have to go now" he hung up the phone as Tsukasa came back into the room, "Feeling better?"
"Yea. Important call?" he asked as he sat down.
"Not really. Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. It's not important. Tsukasa I'm sure you're not aware but tomorrow evening there will be a very important event taking place."
"Event?" Tsukasa raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"Yes. Finally after all these years the Ushida's Big plan will be unleashed."
"Oh yea. The Big plan" Tsukasa nodded leaning forward, "What can you tell me about it?"
"Not much now" Seitarou replied standing up and moving over to the mantle where he began to finger some of the antiques that sat on it, "You'll learn all this evening when everything begins."
"Begins?"
"Mhm. And he's so looking forward to seeing you again."
"Is he?" Tsukasa said trying not to frown, "It has been a long time" he added when he spotted Stephanie near the corner of the hall holding up the journal.
"It certainly has" Seitarou nodded as Tsukasa stood, "And he's more than likely glad that you finally decided to join us."
"Well" Tsukasa smiled slightly as he reached behind his back and brought out the object that he had been hiding, "I hate to disappoint him" he said in his normal voice.
"What?" Seitarou replied turning around only to see Tsukasa staring back at him with a gun pointed directly at him, "What are you?"
"No hard feelings Seitarou, but he won't be seeing me at all, because I have no intention on helping you do anything."
"Why you?" Seitarou said shaking with anger.
"Come on Steph" he urged the girl and she sprinted over and stood behind him stunned by the gun as well.
"How did she?" Seitarou began.
"What's the matter Seitarou? Shocked" Tsukasa replied continuing not taking his angry gaze off the other boy, "Surely it must have surprised you a little that I wanted to join you all of a sudden like that. The truth is I was only after one thing" he took the journal gently from Stephanie and held it up, "All along."
"What?" Seitarou said through gritted teeth, "You give that back!"
"I don't think so. And don't you move a muscle. I won't hesitate to shoot this at you if you do."
"Tsukasa" Stephanie replied in a gasp as he handed the book back to her, "What are you doing?"
"It's all right" he said gently, "Take the journal and go. I'll be right behind you."
"But?"
"Just go" he insisted softly.
"All right" she nodded running to the door as Tsukasa continued to stare at his cousin unwavering in letting go of the gun.
"You tricked me" Seitarou spat.
"Call it payback for every lousy stinking thing that you've ever done" Tsukasa shot back, "I guess I really am a Nakagami. I can lure people in like a spider just like the rest of you."
"You will never be one of us!" Seitarou shouted suddenly punching a button on the wall activating the security system.
Distracted by the noise Tsukasa felt Seitarou hit the gun from his hand and in an effort to protect himself from the next punch he threw his hand out blocking his cousin's placing the two of them in locked hand combat. As they fought Tsukasa managed to dodge a kick from Seitarou by flipping back and then running straight for the exit.
"Tsukasa!" Seitarou screamed, "You can run but you can't hide!"
(Next Scene)
Tsukasa ran the entire flight of stairs down until he tripped on the last one out of exhaustion.
"Tsukasa. Are you all right?" Stephanie asked running over.
"I'm fine" he replied as she helped him up, "Do you still have the journal?"
"Yes. Boy that was a frightening experience. What was with the gun?"
"Don't worry it wasn't loaded anyway. I only used it to scare him. He managed to get it away from me though."
"Oh" she sighed in relief, "I've been down here waiting for you because I can't find Sakura and Kaye anywhere and we have another problem" she pointed to the right.
"What the hell?" he said when he saw the tall hedges.
"It's the maze. It's part of the security system."
"How are we gonna find the front gate now?" Tsukasa thought looking over at Stephanie and her worried expression, "I've got to get her out of here. Okay" he said out loud.
"Hmm?"
"If the only way out of here is through that maze then that's the way that we have to go. But if I know Seitarou there's always a way out, underground."
"How?"
"I guess we'll just have to see. Let's just hope lucks on our side. C'mon!" he shouted taking her hand and running into the maze rapidly.
(Next Scene)
Up in his main control room Seitarou frowned as the head of security told him the progress.
"I don't care. I want you to find those two and get that journal back! If you don't there will be hell to pay!" he added as he crossed his arms and stared angrily at the dark clouds forming in the sky, "But not only for you" he thought as they departed, "But forme as well."
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Whoo! Made it! I finally got this chapter done! I wasn't looking forward to writing it because it was so long but it turned out to be a lot of fun to write after all. I hope you liked it and I will see you all next week!
Next time on Curse Renewed:
Chapter Six: The Zodiac Trap
Over exhausted by all the excitement Stephanie collapses in the maze and it's up to Tsukasa to protect her and find a way to escape. Meanwhile the first part of the Big plan is activated. See what happens next time!
And
Chapter Seven: It All Comes to Light
The cure of the curse is at last discovered by reading Yotaro Sohma's journal. What will it be and will the three potentials be able to carry it out? You won't know unless you keep reading!