Tsukasa breathed heavily as he carried Stephanie through the downpour of rain, staring at the apartment complex looming before him.
"Finally made it," he thought taking his cell phone and dialing Sara once more, "After all that traveling around in the dark, I managed to climb out and ended up just outside the mansion. Sara. It's me" he said into the phone, "I'm just outside."
"I'll be right there" she nodded clicking off the phone and dashing outside to help her cousin.
Together they brought Stephanie into the apartment and laid her on Tsukasa's bed covering her up with the blanket.
"I'll go get the cold water" Sara replied leaving the room.
"Okay" he nodded but then stared somberly at Stephanie, "I am so sorry. It's all my fault you're in this mess" he leaned down, "What kind of man am I if I can't protect the woman I love" he kissed the top of her forehead gently but moved away quickly as Sara returned with the cold water.
"Here you go," she said handing him the wet towel.
"Thanks" he placed the towel on Stephanie's forehead.
"So did you get it?" Sara asked.
"Yea. We'll go talk out there" he pointed to the sitting room, "Let her rest some" he and Sara moved from the room and he walked over to his chair plopping down heavily as Sara sat on the floor once more.
"Must have been some ordeal?" she observed.
"You have no idea" he sighed, "Anyway. Hopefully it will all be worth it" he pulled out the journal from under his shirt, "Once we read this."
Sara baited her breath as began to flip through the pages and read quietly to himself.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile Kyo, Tohru, and Yuki finally arrived about twenty minutes later then expected but took their positions in the main hall with Tohru sitting in a chair next to Rin and Haru and the two men standing up near Akito and Shigure.
"Okay. We're here" Kyo replied, "What the hell is going on?"
"Hatori" Akito said and he nodded standing up and clearing his throat slightly.
"Before we begin," Hatori said seriously, "Have either of you three seen your children recently?"
"Not since this morning" Kyo shook his head, "They were in the dojo for a little right?" he replied turning to his wife.
"Yes. And then they left without really a word" Tohru nodded.
"What about you Yuki?" Hatori asked.
"Takara went to the park didn't she? With everyone else I thought" Yuki answered.
"Yes, that's what I thought too" Arisa replied, "That's where they all went" she added and Mine along with Rebecca and Andie agreed.
"I see. Well for starters you should all know that this afternoon we had a break-in in the main house."
Rika tried to hold back her tears as her mother held onto her.
"Break-in?" Kyo raised an eyebrow.
"That's correct. In Yamato's room. He, Kanako, and Akito were all taken."
"Taken?" Yuki said slowly as Tohru's eyes became wide and Kagura sobbed, "As in taken?"
"Yes."
"It all happened so fast" Rika cried and they all looked at the young girl who was shaking all over, "We were just having an afternoon of tea. The four of us. But suddenly the windows were smashed and three men with suits jumped into the room and then Yamato and the others fell to the ground" she cried, "That's when I ran for Miss Kagura."
"Rika" Rin said gently as she embraced her.
"Something similar happened to you didn't it Kisa?" Hatori replied and they all now turned their eyes on the young mother who was cradling her daughter in her arms.
"Mhm" Kisa nodded, "My baby. He was just outside. I turned around for one moment to check on Tora and when I looked back out the window he was gone. His favorite teddy bear was lying on the ground" she cried, "He never went anywhere without that teddy bear" she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Oh Kisa" Hiro embraced her after she handed Tora over to Rebecca to hold since she couldn't stop crying.
"So Takuto was taken too was he?" Kyo said shocked.
"Which leads us to believe that the other children are in danger as well" Shigure replied with a nod, "Since none of us have heard from them since this afternoon, and that was at least three hours ago."
"Wait a minute" Kureno suddenly interrupted them since he was looking out the window, "It looks like there is someone at the gate," he said spotting two figures staring into the main gate.
"Hmm" Hatsuharu replied, "I'll go see" he dashed out of the room while the remainder of the adults began to discuss the strange occurrences amongst themselves.
A couple moments later he brought in Stephen and Sophie who were soaking wet with the rain, and who also explained all they had seen in the park to the entire group causing the parents to become even more alarmed.
"Calm down everyone!" Shigure said loudly, "It won't do us any good getting all panicked like this. We'll get to the bottom of it all I promise" he added making the entire room become silent as he continued, "But according to our information though as of now only Sakura and Katsuya are unaccounted for. Tohru" he said gently turning to her, "Are you certain that you have no idea where your children have gone?"
"No. Not at all" she lowered her head as Stephen turned to his younger sister.
"Sophie. Where's Stephanie? Where did she go this afternoon?" he asked and the entire room now looked at the twelve year old.
"I don't know. She didn't say" Sophie shook her head sadly, "But."
"But?"
"She did look funny this afternoon."
"Funny how?"
"Like she was worried about something. Not like when she usually goes to meet Kaye."
"Hmm? So we can assume that" Shigure began but paused.
"But why are the kids being kidnapped Shigure?" Kyo demanded, "What's the deal?" he asked shaking his fist.
Some of the adults shouted the same and Hatori patted his friend's shoulder.
"It's time Shigure" he replied.
"Yes" Shigure nodded sadly, "I know."
"It really is" Ayame agreed.
"I agree. Listen up everyone!" Shigure caught their attention once more, "I think I know what might be going on. But I need you all to listen me first."
They all nodded and he took a deep breath.
"It all started about thirty so years ago. It all started with a dream."
(Next Scene)
Sara fidgeted at the table as Tsukasa's frown became even more distinct.
"Well? What's it say?"
"If I'm reading this correctly" he said hesitating a little, "My theory is accurate about us. We are the only ones who can break the curse."
"Okay. That's good. But how do we do it though?"
"That's the tricky part" Tsukasa began as Stephanie stirred from her sleep, arose from the bed, and moved closer to the door as he went into his explanation, "According to Yamato Sohma's journal the Zodiac curse becomes permanent, what? Tomorrow night!" he exclaimed.
"What does that mean?" she asked her eyes becoming wide as she sat up a little.
"It means permanent. As in the Zodiac members will be cursed forever. But not just the way they are now. They will become those animals permanently."
"You mean Reiji would be a real dragon for the rest of his life?"
"Exactly."
"Well how do we prevent that?"
Tsukasa hesitated once more.
"Tsukasa how do we stop it?" she insisted as Stephanie leaned in closer to hear.
"Well one of us has to do it."
"Has to do what?"
"Yotaro Sohma states in here that the curse was placed upon the Sohma family when Aya Sohma shed three drops of blood on the Zodiac stone. That's how the Zodiac stone fits in."
"The Zodiac Stone? You mean the one that shines the blue light? The one you had me do research about?"
"Yes. The one that's in my dreams. But Hayoto Ushida also did the same, placing his own piece into the curse making it almost virtually impossible to break it. However if someone of Ushida and Sohma blood equally were to do the same the Zodiac curse will be lifted."
"Well that doesn't sound too bad."
"No" Tsukasa replied in a huff standing up, "You don't understand. That person would have to be a sacrifice."
"Three drops of blood could hardly kill you" she replied scoffing what he said a bit.
"No. But three drops of blood from a certain dagger could though."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean the dagger that we would have to use. If used to cut yourself in any way you'd die instantly. It was another piece to the curse that Hayoto Ushida invented believing that no one would be willing to go that far for the Sohma family. Yotaro Sohma put that in the journal as well."
"In other words" Sara gasped.
"One of us has to sacrifice ourselves?" Stephanie finished appearing in the room.
"You're awake?" Tsukasa said surprised.
"Is that true? In order to solve the Zodiac curse one of us has to die?"
"Well, yea" he lowered his head, "Hold on" he walked back over and scooped up the journal, "That last part I read" he flipped through the book, "What did that mean?"
"Last part?" Sara replied.
"Here it is" he said, "Someone who contains both Sohma and Ushida blood in them must be a willing sacrifice in order to break the curse however the curse will only become permanent, tomorrow night's date" he filled in, "When an Ushida family member sheds his blood on the Zodiac stone, thereby binding the Zodiac members to the fate of the curse for all eternity. That's what the Big plan is" he exclaimed standing up, "This is it. Oh I am so stupid!"
"Why are you saying that?" Stephanie asked.
"That's why Seitarou asked that list from you months ago. He needed the names of the Zodiac members. They can't make the spell permanent unless they have them at hand. More than likely that's why we couldn't find Katsuya and Sakura. They probably were captured. The others as well. This is what he was talking about. The great event."
"But how can they do anything without the Zodiac stone?"
'They probably already have it" Sara said bitterly, "I could never find it no matter how much research I did."
"Yea. That's more than likely" Tsukasa nodded with a frown, "And all they needed was the journal so the Sohmas could never figure it out. However I am one step ahead of them" he moved to a drawer and opened it pulling out an object wrapped in red cloth.
"Hmm? What's that Tsukasa?" Sara asked as they came forward and revealed it.
"The dagger?" Stephanie replied astonished.
"Mhm. Just as it's described in the journal."
"How did you get it?" Sara asked.
"Grandfather handed this to me before I left California, thinking I might need it. Little did he know how right he was."
"So we have the dagger, but we have no idea where they might do it" Sara replied.
"I might have an idea."
"Tell me" Stephanie interrupted, "How long have you known about this Zodiac stone?"
(Next Scene)
"The Zodiac stone?" Hatsuharu replied puzzled.
"Yes" Shigure nodded, "A legend in our family. Unfortunately it was lost to us a long time ago."
"But Shigure there is no such thing as a person with Ushida and Sohma blood in them. They have always been enemies there is no way any of them would ever hook up" Kyo retorted.
"Ah but you're forgetting one thing. Miss Kamiya's story."
"Stephanie's story?" Sophie asked as Rika lifted her head along with Mitao and Mikado.
"Yes. Do you not remember how it ended?"
"I wasn't there remember?" Kyo said back.
"I was asking the children" Shigure replied a bit cynically, "Boys do you remember?" he turned to Momiji's sons.
"Yea" Mikado nodded, "In the end Suzuna Kim married Tsukasa Nakagami."
"That's correct. But I'll bet that half of you don't know that the Kim family and the Nakagami family are direct descendants from the Ushida and Sohma clan."
"In other words" Yuki finished, "An Ushida and Sohma did hook up then?"
"Correct."
"Well that doesn't make any sense" Kyo replied with a cross of his arms, "I mean what's your point?"
"The point is Kyo" Shigure said, "The Ushidas deal in all of this."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean Shigure?" Yuki asked.
"The Ushida's know there is a way to make the curse permanent. And by permanent I mean permanent. Our children will never be the same again. I think tomorrow night is the final night, according to my research of course. That's why I had you two searching for that journal. It would have had all the answers we have been seeking and it would have prevented something like this kidnapping from happening."
"But it was gone" Kyo said.
"Yea it was nowhere to be found" Yuki added with a nod.
"That must mean that the Ushida's already have it" Haru concluded crossing his own arms with an angry grimace.
"Not necessarily" Shigure shook his head, "It could still be lost."
"We could hope" Kyo frowned as a servant brought a message in to Akito.
Akito took one glance at the letter and turned to the former cat.
"Kyo. It's addressed to you."
"Huh?" Kyo replied stunned coming over and taking it, "Thanks" he added opening the envelope quickly and clearing his throat, "Dear Kyo Sohma" he said out loud, "And all of you Sohmas who might be listening. I graciously invite you to an event that will be unlike anything you've ever seen. You won't want to miss this one. After all your children are the Star Attraction!" Kyo shouted, "Sincerely Tai Ushida" he hissed on the last line.
"Why that son of bitch!" Haru shouted and all the adults at once began to shout angrily.
Tohru stood slowly from her chair feeling faint.
"Katsuya" she whispered, "Sakura" she added before she fainted.
"Tohru!" Kyo ran forward with Yuki at his side.
(Next Scene)
Tsukasa placed the dagger in his back pocket and nodded slowly.
"Yea I knew about it. But like she said Sara did all the research. So I really didn't know much until today. Or how it was involved in all this for that matter."
"I see" Stephanie nodded back, "Hmm?" she suddenly said as someone knocked loudly on the door.
"Get behind me you two" Tsukasa urged as the banging intensified.
All at once the door burst open and smoke permeated the room from the bombs that had been thrown in. The girls collapsed immediately. As Tsukasa gasped for air he saw Seitarou appear in front of them.
"Take them all" Seitarou replied and then stared at the boy who was looking back at him with hatred in his eyes, "I told you that you could run but that you couldn't hide Tsukasa" he punched him hard in the jaw and Tsukasa too passed out as Seitarou picked up the journal, "Looks like I win" Seitarou chuckled until his laugh became even louder that it echoed with the thunder in the sky.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay I lied! It's a little bit long. Hope you enjoyed it and I'll see you all later in the week!
Next Time on Curse Renewed:
Chapter Eight: A Startling Revelation
Tsukasa, Stephanie, and Sara are taken to the Ushida's warehouse where Stephanie learns yet another secret about her research partner. Probably the biggest secret of all! Find out what happens next time!