Chapter Five
Hey! Thanks again for the reviews you guys! I'm glad that you like it so far; sorry for the clichéness that you might think is going on… And it may be cliché, but I promise it won't turn out like you think it will. Oh, and a meerkat is like what Timone is on the Lion King. And there's not really an exact pattern as to which animals they are… Like a certain zodiac or anything. It's based more on their personalities. Tell me what you think!
Oh, and there's also a scene in here that was taken partially from another show… Free cookies for anyone who can tell me what and where it's from!
"What's happening, Hatori?" Shigure asked as he blew across the tea in his cup. They were sitting in his kitchen, talking as the morning light stretched across the table between them. Shigure hadn't slept much the night before, and apparently Hatori hadn't either. But that was normal for the sea-horse. Hatori shook his head gently and took a sip of his own drink. "I mean, I just knew yesterday that they were lying… But they changed, Hatori. They changed. Just like you and me."
A barely audible sigh slid past Hatori's lips. This was all so… Unreal. There wasn't supposed to be anyone else. So why did these girls all the sudden have a 'curse'? And why did they just now turn up, saying they knew the Sohmas? Mysterious; but interesting nonetheless. "Shigure… I don't know. You know more about them than I do." Hatori admitted, closing his eyes and taking a composed sip of his tea. Shigure's face read his emotions like a book as he stared down into the depths of the swirling concoction.
"But that's it. I don't know anything about them…"
There was a pause before Hatori answered. "Well then, maybe you should find out."
The new girls were thinking the exact same thing. None of the three wanted to go downstairs; not yet. They were gathered in Rachel and Kristen's room, lying in a circle on their 'bed'. If you could call it a bed. Ideas flew back and forth, but no plan had yet been chosen to be put into action. Kristen rolled from her stomach onto her back, staring at the white ceiling above. Although she had only spent two nights there, she had collected enough time looking at it if she had been there for a year.
"What do you think happened?" She asked in an innocent curiosity, staring at Rachel; whose eyes were locked on the blanket over her cross-legged lap. She shook her head gently in reply.
"I don't know… I mean, how could we get the curse?"
"Rei, that's what I was asking you."
Rachel rolled her eyes for a moment. "I know that, I'm not stupid."
"Well, you did get held back in kindergarten." Meagan pointed out, receiving a glare. If Rachel had told them once, she had told them a hundred times… Why couldn't they get anything? It was as if no one around here was listening to her; they were all here to annoy and agitate.
"I didn't get held back! My birthday was late!"
"Sure."
Kristen grinned and sat up. An argument between Meagan and Rachel was always entertaining; they knew just what to say to eat the other from the inside out. But it was nothing but harmless talk that would fade in a minute or two. She decided to break it off early this time. "C'mon you guys, think." She tapped her temple, as if it would be the magic button to make them stop and get their 'wheels' turning. It took a few moments, but it worked.
Meagan had of course never tried. She didn't know anything about this place, or the people, or even what time in the morning it was. Much less how, or even why, they had been taken there. She merely shrugged and sat back, watching Rachel in deep thought and Kristen knit her eyebrows as if she were actually thinking. Probably no further than the last time she wore her favorite pair of shoes.
"I bet it was just part of changing worlds."
"What? Why my hair's grown out? Because I got it cut two and a half months ago…"
Rachel rolled her eyes. Why, oh why, did she put up with Kristen? She was the blondest brunette that Rachel had ever met… "The curse, you idiot."
"Oh, speaking of that, what was I?" Kristen asked, almost in an excited voice. Meagan sent her a look of loathing, and Rachel just blinked. Was she seriously asking that question? As if she was excited she was cursed. Rachel shook her head for a moment; not even wasting her breath on an answer. For one, it was just stupid to want to be cursed. That's why it was called a curse. For another, how could Rachel and Meagan tell? Kristen knew that they had passed out by the time that she had gotten her own shot. So how would they know? Actually, there was so much they didn't know… But they were determined to find every bit of it out.
"Shi-gur-ay!" Kristen sang as she danced down the stairs, wearing her now clean pajamas from their first encounter. A Japanese magazine was held tight in her hand as she spun circles into the kitchen, causing the Sohma to glance up from his second breakfast.
"Hmm?"
Kristen bent at her waist from across the table, folding back half the magazine so he could only see a page. It had a collage of popular outfits pasted onto this page, each of which fit Kristen's personal style. She seemed pleased with what she saw. "See that?"
"Yes, you're cramming it in my face…"
"I want it." She informed him, ignoring his comment as she turned the magazine to look at it herself. It consisted of all the dresses, skirts, and more feminine side of fashion. The background was originally supposed to be a makeup ad or something along those lines… But she didn't find it important. What she found important was her wardrobe.
Shigure's blank expression was accompanied by a raised eyebrow. "And you're telling me this, why?"
Kristen leaned over and grinned at him once more. "You're going to buy it for me, silly!"
Shigure blinked for a moment or two, staring at her plainly like she was talking in an unknown language. After this short period, an amused smirk formed. Who did she think she was? Or he was? This bunch never ceased to amaze him… "Keiko."
"Huh?"
Shigure leaned closer to the list, resting his chin on the back of his hand for a moment. Moments later he tapped the thin paper that was once again just less than a foot from his face. The item in question was a summer looking yellow skirt, trimmed in lace and paired with a white blouse and sandals. "Do you have any idea how expensive this is?"
Kristen's face changed from anxious to empty, slowly growing worse as she realized what was going on. "No…" She confessed, as her spirits dampened. She hadn't thought of checking the prices… Like any normal person would have before they approached someone. The work dropped lower as her eyes pleaded with him, grasping at any straws she could. "But… Gure-san… We need clothes."
Shigure chuckled as his arms rose in a semi-shrug. "And I need a woman; but do I have one?"
"I asked nicely..."
"Keiko."
A pout set onto Kristen's face; probably known more commonly as the 'puppy' face. She was a master at this particular art. "Please?" Her bottom lip moved out slightly as she asked, clasping her hands together in an almost begging pose. He watched her for a few moments, her persona unwavering. Shigure finally sighed.
"I'm not guaranteeing anything…"
"Oh, Shigure!" Kristen threw her arms around him from the opposite side of the table, barely able to reach while she was standing. The magazine went toppling to the piece of oak furniture, as Shigure sat frozen for a few seconds. Like he said before, this bunch never ceased to amaze him… Kristen grinned as she moved the magazine down and sat at her place from the day before. "Thank you so much! You have no idea!"
"I know…"
Rachel poked angrily at her breakfast, still full and untouched. Tohru and the two younger Sohmas, Kyo and Yuki, had left early that morning for school. It was around ten thirty, but that didn't mean anything to the girls. Shigure was housing three teens who were used to waking up at one o'clock during the summer. Well, at least Meagan and Rachel were.
Kristen had decided to try her luck with Shigure. Of course, she rendered better results this time. "What was I, Gure-san?" She asked sweetly, causing him to glance up at her from his novel. She had finished her breakfast hours before; but there was nothing better to do than tag along with Rachel and Meagan wherever they went.
"What you were?"
"Yeah, you know," Kristen rested her elbow on the table, forming a matter-of-fact gesture. "Yesterday during Ha-san's test." She explained further, as Shigure paused for a moment. His face was once again clear.
"Some kind of ferret or something…" He muttered to himself, rubbing his chin for a moment as he thought aloud. "Oh, Ha-san said an otter."
Kristen's eyes widened excitedly, as Rachel stuck her tongue out slightly in a disgusted manner. Kristen sat slightly higher as her enthusiasm grew. "Really? Was I cute?" Shigure shook his head in an entertained manner, a child-like smile spreading across his features. His eyes danced with a slightly teasing tone as they met hers.
"Yeah; the cutest."
"Really?"
"Yep."
Kristen sat back, an extremely pleased appearance now cutely sitting on her face. Meagan glanced at her, a tinge of envy entering her veins. How come she always had all of the attention? She was no better than Meagan was… "What about me?"
"What about you?"
Meagan gave him a warning look, leaning closer to her half-empty bowl of rice. "Was I cute?" She questioned; using a tone that would force any boyfriend to take only one route… Whether it was lying or not. But Shigure wasn't her boyfriend, and he loved to aggravate people who took it easily.
"Yeah, but you had a beary big nose." He laughed for a moment as Meagan's eyes narrowed. She glowered at him, receiving even more laughter in return. Nothing changed as she sat back angrily, giving him deathly glances every few minutes. Shigure leaned forward and rested his face on his palm. "Oh, Minako; everyone loves koalas."
"I hate dogs."
This caused a delighted grin to wash over Shigure, opening his book once more. There was silence for once; as Rachel finally began to eat and Meagan finished her food. Kristen merely sat where she was; content, and mulling over Shigure's words and her memories from the day before. This was like her dream, which she thought would never come true… But it was; Shigure and Hatori, and all the others. They were real. It was after minutes of pondering that Shigure spoke once more.
"Would you guys mind leaving me alone for once?"
Meagan sighed with boredom once more, as she flipped another page in the magazine. She had been glued to the thing since the day before; but it hadn't ever helped her get over the lack of action as of late. Of course, there had been a lot of action, and news that would change their lives… But once everything seemed to calm down, there was nothing to do. And not being able to read didn't help. But Kristen had found a pretty annoying way to get over that little problem.
"Gure-san?"
Shigure closed his eyes once more as he burrowed his eyebrows. "Yes…" The novel before him closed as he waited for Kristen to approach him. Was she ever going to leave him alone? Maybe getting rid of them wouldn't be such a bad idea… Seconds later the book on wildlife was once again only inches from his face, forcing him to regret ever showing it to Kristen. She had somehow dug it out of his office…
"What does that symbol say?" Kristen asked politely, as if it had been the first time she had requested him to read for her. Why not just let him read the whole page, instead of only a word at a time? But she would be back seconds later with another question. Shigure was starting to feel sorry for the other two girls…
"The otter."
Kristen blinked and smiled at the word. As if she hadn't seen it twenty times already. "And that?"
"Can swim."
Her mind processed the information, as her finger trailed to the next symbol. How could he do that? There were so many… But then again, it was kind of like learning English, right? "What about that one?"
"Up to."
Meagan tried harder to focus on the magazine, finding it quite difficult to ignore Kristen's constant chattering. Rachel's face continued to get tighter and tighter. "Which one's those, Gure-san?" Her innocence was maintained as Kristen continued to point to character after character, receiving the same worn and weary tone of response.
"A half."
"And that?"
"Mile."
Shigure was about to just tell her to sit down and give him the book… If he didn't rip it or burn it first. He didn't care if it was disrespect to the author… He just wanted it to stop. It had been the same for the past hour and a half. "Under water." He finished the sentence without her asking him to, leaning back in his chair and trying to reopen the book he was reading. It was his own works; but he sometimes read them to compare his style to others'.
"I didn't ask you that…" Kristen said softly, holding the book up to herself and trying to read the material, as if it would work just from hearing once what each word was. But they all looked the same… She finally smiled triumphantly, like she had completed the task that she had set out for. She had reached her goal of reading Japanese. "Hey Shigure; did you know otters can swim up to a half mile under water?"
The remaining three in the room; Shigure, Meagan, and Rachel, each groaned simultaneously. Each of the three had different reactions after this; from Rachel asking her loudly if she was serious to Meagan shaking her head and saying she couldn't believe what was happening. Shigure merely buried his face in his hands, mumbling that this was ridiculous. Kristen blinked for a few moments, as if she had missed something.
"What did I do?"
This caused another chain of disbelief, as Shigure threw his hand lazily towards the door. HE didn't plan on wasting any energy for this. "Just… Go outside."
"Why…"
"It's fun out there." Shigure explained, finally able to open his book in peace as Kristen looked down, confused. All she had done was try to read… Well, try to learn anyways. Why was everyone always so mad at her? It wasn't like she had done anything wrong, or hurt someone, had she? She sighed and laid the book down on the small table in the middle of the room. "You should enjoy it now; you're going to school tomorrow." He added lowly, as the other girls panicked.
If anyone liked the magazine, they were lucky; because if Meagan would have been drinking anything, it would have been spewed all over the piece of reading material. Rachel's hands arms were thrown in the air so fast, her own book went flying across the room. It was the only book actually written in 'words' instead of characters; but Kristen hadn't wanted it. Besides, Rachel was the only one out of the three who could partially understand the language. "WHAT!"
"Well, you have to go to school… I'll be arrested." Shigure explained, although it was obvious he was enjoying every second of their new agony. What right did he have to make them go to school? Rachel's arms were once again folded furiously over her chest, as Meagan herself began to sulk. "Besides, what would you do here? You've just proved that you're just going to get on my nerves."
"But… School is so…"
Shigure shrugged at Kristen's empty pleading. She might have been able to weasel her way in before… But not this time. They were going to school; and they were going to leave him alone for a while. He had a mocking tone as he replied. "You learn to read at school."
Kristen made a mental note to learn how to hit like Rachel.
…
Yeah… Heh. Thanks again all of you who review; it really helps me! Don't forget to give me some of your ideas, or what you'd like to see, in future chapters! I'm sure I can fit it all in somewhere ;). Thanks everyone!
