Kyo parked the van near the entrance of the warehouse. It had been easy enough to get through the gates since there were no obstacles in the way.
"Well" Haru replied as they all climbed out, "That was almost too easy."
"Of course Haru" Kyo said back, "He's expecting us" they began to move towards the building as Yuki spotted someone among the other Sohmas that were joining them.
"Hatori?" Yuki said in surprise, "What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with Tohru?"
"I was" Hatori nodded as he walked beside Shigure and Ayame, "But Mayuko wanted someone to be here for Raiu in the end. Plus we needed another competent driver" he added as he grimaced slightly at Ayame and Shigure, "I hope that's all right Kyo?" he replied to the man who was grimacing a little as he quickened his pace, "Mayuko can handle things."
"It's okay" Kyo agreed, "She's got enough people to look after her plus I know your wife is capable of taking care of her in your absence. I'm not at all worried."
"Let's hurry" Akito said moving past with Kandis who was holding his hand, "We're late."
"Don't worry Akito" Kyo frowned even more as he took the lead, "If I know him, he won't start without us."
(Next Scene)
Tsukasa played the scene over and over in his head as the minutes ticked by. In his mind he could see himself charge his brother just as the ceremony began. The only thing holding him back now, was that it hadn't begun just yet. Tai Ushida was waiting for something and Tsukasa could only guess what that was. Earlier he and Sara had discussed the game plan for finding a way to get him down to the stone. In his pocket he once more slipped in the dagger so that when he charged Seitarou he would have free hands. He gazed concerned at Stephanie as she watched Hayoto Ushida enter, dressed in a very fancy dark blue kimono, with trepidation. In his hand he too carried a dagger, only it was medium in size. His brothers stood close by as the platform began to lower down until it was level with the machine. Tai Ushida stepped forward as he noticed from the left of him the Sohma's arrival. He grinned smugly as he whispered in one of the guard's ears and they turned on two switches. The green switch activated a group of bars that came down blocking the Sohmas from entering the area but allowing them to see everything that was going on. Ichirou Nakagami moved from the altar as the Zodiac stone began to glow even brighter and saw Tai signal with his hand. With that, Ichirou flipped another switch that activated the machine, making it whir in a most terrifying manner that Stephanie shuddered slightly at the sound of it. The Sohmas began to shout trying to make their angry voices louder than the machine but to no avail. Katsuya and Reiji meanwhile stared in frustration before them at the two girls who were standing close together.
"What the hell is going on here?" Reiji demanded angrily pounding on the glass.
Suddenly to his right he noticed that Yamato had collapsed and Akito and Kanako were frantically hitting the glass to try and revive him. All around him the Zodiac members were falling to their knees and Reiji could see now the gas that was coming into the tube he was standing in.
"Uh oh" he whispered, "Katsuya" the turned to his cousin but saw that he too was starting to collapse, his hand slowly sliding down the glass, while the other was clutching his chest" Kaye!"
Reiji felt his knees buckle under as he saw his dad and the other parents screaming to each of their kids while Tai grinned triumphantly from the sidelines ignoring their pleas completely.
"Let the ceremony begin!" Tai commanded and Tsukasa eyed Sara who nodded slowly.
"This is it" Tsukasa told himself as Stephanie's eyes filled with tears, "Of course I didn't know that the Sohmas were going to be here. It will be more help in the long run though. It's time" he nodded to himself and then turned slowly.
In that instant he charged Seitarou just like he imagined. His whole body catapulted into the confused boy while the machine and the stone began to glow even brighter. Sara out of the corner of her eye saw her cousin charge and while everyone's eyes were on him she took her opportunity to kick her leg back towards the guards who were still standing near the girls. They flew back from her leg and landed face down into the floor while Tai shouted at the others to stop Tsukasa. Sara ran towards the green button and pressed it, finally allowing the Sohma's to break through to the area.
All at once chaos broke out as Kyo, Yuki, and Hatsuharu began to fight. Tai's men surrounded them just as Tai pressed the red switch to make the platform rise once more with Tsukasa, Seitarou, and Stephanie as well as himself still onboard. Tsukasa and Seitarou were still fighting as Stephanie watched the excitement down below. Tai frowned but called out to his son just the same as he approached the altar.
"Keep going Hayoto!" he shouted, "Do not stop for nothing!"
Seitarou kicked out his leg, which Tsukasa blocked.
"What do you think you're doing Tsukasa?" Seitarou asked through gritted teeth as they locked hands.
"Taking you out" Tsukasa replied back removing his hand and quickly punching him in the face, "Stephanie!" he shouted to the girl, "Go run for cover!"
"Uh okay" she nodded dashing towards the stairs as two guards ordered by Tai ran after her.
Once she reached the bottom of the stairs she began to run for the machines as Yuki who spotted the two guards after her took them both expertly out. As she neared the machine she looked for the button to turn it off as Kaye's hand slid further and further down the glass. But Takechi Ushida and Souichiro Nakagami stood in her way so she stopped abruptly.
"End of the line sweetheart" Takechi said with a sinister grin as they moved towards her.
She hesitated but then saw a sharp kick knock the two of them out. Her eyes blinked a couple of times as she saw his familiar face.
"Big brother?"
"You okay little sis?" he asked with a soft smile.
"Stephen" she ran to embrace him, "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think I'm doing here?" he chuckled, "Saving two of the most important girls in my life that's what."
She stared at the Zodiac members once more who were all in severe pain as their bodies began to transform.
"I have to find a way to turn that thing off!" she shouted determinedly dashing forward.
"Wait a minute! Steph!" he called, "Ahh!" he jumped back as Hayoto Ushida tried to punch him to get revenge for his brother.
(Next Scene)
Meanwhile up on the platform Tai was watching everything go completely out of control. He moved down the stairs and was about to escape the room from a side door when Ayame, Shigure, and Arisa stepped in his path.
"Where do you think you're going Mr. Ushida?" Shigure asked as Ayame crossed his arms.
Tai grimaced as Arisa cracked her knuckles furiously.
"It's time to give you payback for everything you have ever done" she said before striking him across the face, knocking him completely to the floor without his cane.
Back up on the platform Seitarou and Tsukasa were still in combat.
"I'd better end this soon" Tsukasa thought, "Or I am never gonna get down there to end all of this."
Seitarou kicked Tsukasa hard and he flew back, the dagger flying from his pocket.
"Oh no" he gasped jumping up at once and running for it.
"Don't you run away from me little brother!" Seitarou shouted charging him.
"Shut up!" Tsukasa replied throwing his foot back and kicking Seitarou directly in the jaw.
This time Seitarou flew back as he ran to the end of the platform and gazed down, trying to locate the dagger.
Down below Stephanie, who had been unsuccessful in finding the button to stop the machine, was pressing her hand against the glass partition of the tube that separated her from Katsuya. When she saw the dagger fly and land a few feet from her she turned around. She looked up and could see that Tsukasa and Seitarou were still immersed in fighting and then glanced to her right where Sara was kicking the crap of several guards.
"They're gonna run out of time" she thought helplessly as she stared at the clock and then back at the people she cared about so much, "Unless" she stared at the stone that was glowing more brightly then it ever had and then down at the dagger.
She looked back at Katsuya who was struggling to keep awake as he pressed his hand against the glass, feeling his body begin to change.
"I have to" she thought as the tears entered her eyes once more, "It's the only way to save them now. Forgive me Tsukasa," she replied out loud to herself as she walked over and picked up the small dagger.
She began to walk to the stone as the Sohma's took out the last of the guards along with Ichirou Nakagami and began to tie them up, barely noticing the young girl stand behind the altar as Tsukasa saw her and a look of terror appeared on his face.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! I forgot I had this one before the "Only One Choice" chapter! One more today and only two more chapters to go!
Next Chapter: Only One Choice
Not Telling!