"We've lost her scent," Korian bowed apologetically to the robed figure before him. The young wolf sneaked a peek up at the clan leader.

"Must I do everything myself?" the figure sneered. A large hand emerged and connected with Korian's face. The youth was sent to ground, holding the left side of his face.

"Forgive me, master," Korian whimpered.

"Werewolf?" Tohru cocked her head to this side. "What's a werewolf?"

Tarja sighed. "It's a half human-half wolf." As if that explained everything. Hatori was putting it all together in his mind. She was human…but she was also a wolf.

"That fact that you are not fully human must mean that the affects of our family's curse do not apply to you," he told her.

"Meaning?"

Momiji leapt into her lap, laughing happily. "It means I can hug you!"

"You see," Yuki began. "When members of the opposite gender hug us, we transform into our corresponding zodiac animals."

"The rat, in your case," Tarja mused. She turned to Kyo. "But you're not part of the zodiac."

Kyo mumbled something incoherent and hung his head. Yeah, he wasn't technically a part of the zodiac, but he was the cat who was tricked by the rat.

Shigure and Tohru filled her in on the legend of the zodiac. Tarja was moved by the way this had all transpired into reality. Naturally, she'd figured most curses weren't real, but apparently they were.

"Who gets to play God?" she asked suddenly. Yuki and Kyo shifted uncomfortably, while Hatori and Shigure exchanges nervous glances.

Hatori took the lead and spoke first. "His name is Akito, and he's the head of the Sohma family."

"He's a real dickwad, too," Kyo grumbled. Shigure instantly reprimanded him. Tarja knew from experience that those who considered themselves Gods usually became very conceited and power hungry. She imagined this Akito person to be the same way.

"I think it's time for me to get going," Tarja stood. "I've already imposed on you all for way too long."

"Oh no!" Tohru waved her hands. "It was wonderful to have you. Perhaps you could stop by another time and visit."

Tarja smiled warmly at the frantic girl in front of her. Not often did kind people befriend her. Hatori caught the look in her eyes. Even if it was just for a moment, she'd dropped her guard.

Kyo had retreated up to his perch on the roof, while Yuki retired to his room. Tohru was already going at the dirty dishes, so Shigure was the one to bid his guests farewell.

"My lady," he said mockingly, kissing the back of Tarja's hand. She withdrew the limb from his grasp.

"Good sir," she rolled her eyes and stalked off towards the forest. Momiji jumped along after her.

"The kid's quite taken with her," Shigure noted, also seeing the way Hatori's eyes followed her.

"Indeed," Hatori agreed absently. He watched her movements. She was stealth like, and silent, creeping around in the night.

Shigure yawned. "What are you going to do about her?"

"Find out what she's running from…" Hatori trailed off. Shigure mumbled a tired joke about not doing anything to her he wouldn't do and stumbled back inside the house.

Hatori strode over to his car and slid into the driver's seat. Sighing, he pulled a cigarette out of the box and lit it.

"Those will kill you one day," Tarja commented. He was surprised to find her leaning against the car next to his open door.

"Probably," he nodded. He took a long drag and felt at ease again. Momiji slid into the car and Tarja joined him.

"I'll be at your funeral if it makes you feel better," she chuckled. He smirked. The entire ride home, Tarja spent trying to get Momiji's arms off her. He'd fallen asleep in her lap, and though she understood the poor boy was lonely, the physical contact bit was a tad too much for her.

The closer they got to her, the more she desired to hunt. She longed for the taste of blood and flesh, to tear into someone's throat with her fangs, or rip into their bodies with razor claws.

She hadn't transformed in many years, but suddenly the urge was stronger than ever. Tarja nearly doubled over from the pain of it.

Hatori glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. "Are you alright?" he asked. She nodded frantically, clutching at her side. The bone's wanted to expand and it was all she could do to stay in her human form.

The car stopped outside the house, and Hatori rushed to the backseat. Something was wrong with her, very wrong. As soon as the back door was opened, she thrust a sleeping Momiji into his arms and took off, leaping onto the roof.

Hatori looked at the sleeping form in his arms, then back up at the roof. After a mental argument with himself, he took the boy inside.

Tarja panted heavily, resisting the urge to scream. She held her sides tightly and focused on nothing more than the tiles below her feet. Soon the wolf in her quieted, and she sat back, letting out a relieved sigh. That had been way too close.

The scent of gray wolf reached her nose and she barely had time to look up before pain ripped through her shoulder. The second bullet whizzed past her head and she leapt down from the roof into the courtyard.

Clutching her arm, she moaned. "Why didn't I sense him in time?"

'What happened?" Hatori slid the door open and peered at her. He noticed the blood dripping down her arm and immediately ushered her inside.

"That bastard shot me!" she raged. "The asshole actually shot me. And from the pain I'm feeling, it's got to be silver. It I don't get it out soon…" she trailed off. Hatori had read that werewolves were allergic to silver bullets. And all the horror movies basically said the same thing.

He returned to the room with his first aid kit and she let him clean the wound. With a small pair of tongs, he dug into the broken flesh to retrieve the bullet.

Tarja let out a slight shriek, but otherwise bit her tongue. She was not going to scream. She couldn't give away how bad she was hurt.

"Hurry," she muttered. "I have to get out of here now."

Hatori grimaced as he finally pulled the bullet out. It was coated in silver, which was obvious. Carefully, he wrapped her shoulder up and set her arm in a sling.

"You can't go anywhere until I get some answers," he sat back on his heels and stared at her. She glared back at him.

"Your funeral," she shot at him. "Literally. The more you know about me, the closer to death you come. This isn't some fairy tale like your little curse."

"I aware of that," he shouted at her. It was the first time he'd raised his voice in a long time. "How am I supposed to help you when I know nothing about you?"

She looked away. "I don't want your help."

He loaded up his rifle after taking the scope off from it. He'd hit her and now that she was wounded, she wouldn't be traveling too far. The others could take her down easily.

"Nikolas," a voice behind him purred. "Did you accomplish your mission?"

The blonde wolf turned around, flashing an evil grin at his mate.

"Indeed," Nikolas laughed. "She's done for."