Tohru's Demons

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Rules Of Curses


Yuki and Kyo were silent as they made their way down the hall. Neither of them knew what to say, and if they did they would not know where to start. Tohru was also quiet, her eyes distant, turned inwards.

"Honda-san..." said Yuki at length. "Do you... know how to break the Curse?" Tohru sighed heavily and looked at him sidelong.

"Can you keep a secret?" she asked.

"A secret?" Kyo repeated. "I guess..."

"Yeah," Yuki said slowly. "Is it about the Curse?"

"It's just a hunch, I'll need more proof to see if I'm right, but I've been thinking about your Curse... and I don't think it's a curse at all."

"What?!" Kyo cried, stopping dead in his tracks.

"Not a curse? But then, what...?" asked Yuki, coming to a standstill as well.

"Listen, I've seen curses. I've wandered through countless universes, and all the curses throughout those universes follow the same set of rules, no matter where you go. All curses are simple, and they can only effect one person each. The 'Zodiac Curse' doesn't do that, though, does it? Fourteen people share the same curse, and it's far from simple. If it were really a curse, it would only turn you into animals whenever you're hugged, and only that. Not whenever your bodies become weak also. There would be no core, and it would not single out one person for special treatment."

"You mean... me," said Kyo and Tohru nodded.

"Your original form," said Tohru, not missing the emotions it stirred up in Kyo's eyes, "Would have to be an entirely different curse. Also, curses, once you have them, are generally triggered by something, not warded off by a string of prayer beads."

"Then... if it's not a curse, it can't be broken?" asked Yuki, dismay creeping into his eyes.

"It would be a bit more complicated but it could still be broken. Don't worry." Tohru reassured him. They fell silent again and continued walking down the hall towards the main doors.

Finally, Kyo asked, "Who's this Grumman guy?"

"Huh...?" she said, shaking out of her reverie. "Oh. He's sort of my... Master. Like Kazuma is to you."

"A martial arts Master?" A now very interested Kyo asked.

"Among other things, yes," replied Tohru.

"So you know martial arts?" cried Kyo incredulously, stopping in his tracks.

"Yes," Tohru answered with a touch of pride. "Artemis was better at it than I was, plus he's a spectacular shot. I could always best him at swordplay, though. But... I haven't done any of that for over a year, so I'm probably not very good anymore."

The boys stared at her with new respect bordering on awe.

"Where is he from?" Yuki asked. "The name 'Grumman' sounds foreign. So do all your other friends' names, come to think of it."

"Grumman comes from the universe I was whisked off to, Hirofuriae. He lived in London. Hirofuriae is actually a lot like our universe, and most of the nations and languages and cultures are much the same as ours, except for a few minor differences. Texas is its own Nation, for example. It's still refused to join the United States. Also Hirofuriae is far less technically advanced than we are. Machines like cars and computers are almost unheard of."

By this time they had passed through the double doors and found a small caravan parked outside. Dark-skinned men shouted to one another as they worked various tasks, and some even called to Tohru as they past, to which she greeted in return in their own language. Valery, Artemis, and a grizzled, muscular man were standing by one of the carriages, apparently waiting for them.

"Grumman!" Tohru cried joyously and ran towards the man. Grumman looked up with piercing, steely eyes. His gray hair was short, strayed in all directions, and grew halfway down his squared jaw line, framing his shrewd, cynical face. He was not sinewy like Kazuma, as Kyo had imagined he would be. His build was stocky, of average height, and strong. There was a prominent scar across the bridge of his nose, which was hooked like an eagle's.

Grumman eyed Yuki and Kyo critically, and the Cat and the Rat could almost feel themselves being taken apart and put back together by that sharp gaze. Then Grumman's eyes turned to Tohru and his expression may have softened just a hair.

Tohru seemed oblivious to his hard countenance as she threw her arms around the man's neck. Grumman returned the embrace briefly before he gently removed her arms.

"It's good to see you again, Ren," he said, with a gruff smile. Then he eyed Yuki and Kyo like a protective bulldog.

"Are these the Sohma boys you've been living with?" he asked.

"Yeah, this is Yuki-kun and this is Kyo-kun. Guys, this is my Master, Victor Grumman Savage, but everyone just calls him Grumman."

"Yo," said Kyo.

"How do you do?" said Yuki politely, inclining his head. Grumman scrutinized them silently before he gave a short nod and turned back to Tohru.

"Ren, I hear you haven't been practicing your martial arts."

"Well, I didn't even know I could do martial arts until like a week ago..."

"That's not an excuse. But it can't be helped. If you'll come with me now, I would like to see what you remember. Artemis will be your opponent. Follow me."

"Huh?! Artemis? But he's too fast! I won't even be able to get close to him!" Tohru protested as she trotted hurriedly after Grumman.

"What, are you scared?" Artemis snorted.

"No..." Tohru said. "I haven't practiced in over a year, and you have demon's strength and speed. It wouldn't be a fair fight."

"I see..." Artemis sneered, his eyes haughty. "You've gone soft."

"I have not!" Tohru protested.

"Leave Honda-san alone." Yuki snarled angrily, his voice venomous and cold.

"Yeah, back off, punk!" Kyo barked.

"Uh, Kyo-kun... Yuki-kun..."

"Why don't you make me, kitty-cat?" Artemis retorted, turning challengingly to Kyo. "I don't like your tone boy. Watch it, or you'll end up eating dirt like your bovine friend."

"Oh yeah? I'm not like Haru, and if you don't watch your mouth I'll knock it right off your damn face!" Kyo yelled furiously, his fists clenched.

"Um, guys..."

"I don't understand what that silly bitch sees in you two. I don't like you at all." Artemis snarled, golden eyes glinting. Tohru dropped her gaze to the ground to hide the hurt in her eyes.

"What did you just call Honda-san?"

"Take that back, you bastard!!!"

"What are you going to do about it, pets?" Artemis snarled softly. Yuki and Kyo lunged for the demon in response. Artemis smirked and leapt straight up into the air like a bullet. He was so fast that in the infinitesimal space between the seconds he had disappeared, mere inches away from their fists, and reappeared ten feet above them.

"What?!" Kyo yelled. "He can teleport, too?!"

"Fool, I don't even need to, you're so slow." Artemis snorted and shot down between them so hard he cracked the ground. Flipping, he sent the heel of his boot smashing into Yuki's jaw, then leapt forward and rammed his head into Kyo's.

"Yuki! Kyo!" Tohru cried.

"For such weak little parasites, you're really pissing me off." Artemis said, smiling viciously, a look of satisfied triumph in his eyes.

"I'll kill you!" Kyo shrieked, leaping to his feet, though he swayed a bit and he could hardly see where he was for all the stars dancing in front of him. Yuki was in a similar condition, and was slightly cross-eyed.

"Stop it, Artemis! That's enough! Leave them alone!" Tohru cried, throwing herself between the demon and the two dazed Sohmas. "What's gotten into you all of the sudden?" Artemis glared at Yuki and Kyo with unadulterated wrath before turning his back and snapping, "It's nothing! Let's just go." Tohru turned her back on him, her eyes on Yuki and Kyo.

"Are you guys okay?" asked Tohru softly, her eyes clouded with worry, as she helped Yuki to his feet. Kyo nodded, his crimson eyes on Artemis's back like no one's business.

"I'm fine..." said Yuki, glaring at Artemis as well, as if he were hoping he could drill holes in the back of his skull. "You better not hurt her, demon, or else..."

"Or else what, hmmm?" Artemis asked, whipping around to bring his nose within inches of Yuki's. "What were you planning on doing to me? What could vermin like you possibly do to me?"

Yuki was practically shaking with fury as he glared straight back at Artemis, his eyes snapping with rage and his fists balled. He tried to keep his voice calm and steady as he answered.

"Or else I'll make you wish your mother wasn't the little brothel girl she would have had to be to have given birth to a bastard like you." Yuki hissed softly. Tohru and Kyo froze. Artemis stared at Yuki with a strange, unreadable expression and for a moment Yuki knew he was about to experience extreme and excruciating pain— until Artemis threw back his head and burst out laughing. Without a word, other than the gales of laughter, he turned his back and walked away.

"What was that about...?" Kyo said.

"Artemis doesn't have a mom, actually. He was a familiar," said Valery matter-of-factly.

"WHAT?!" Yuki and Kyo yelled.

"Like Raha?" Kyo asked in disbelief.

"Well, more or less... Then he was focused. That's when the unconscious mind is totally severed from the body. After that you get the Angel and the demon. The more technical term is Immortal."

"An Immortal?" asked Yuki.

"Super demons, basically," replied Valery. "Why they're called Immortals should be obvious. He's also is one of the very first to be created."

"One of the first?" said Kyo.

"Lucifer and then Noctifer came before him. Artemis's rank is basically on the same level as theirs."

"Then... why was be banished?" asked Yuki.

"Well, when he was severed from his Companion… something went wrong."

"What?" asked Kyo.

"Ren!" called Grumman. "C'mere, and tie these bells on." Tohru gave her Master a look of perplexity.

"Why...?"

"We're playing Bell Bell," Artemis informed her casually.

"Oh!" Tohru cried and smiled. "I love Bell Bell!" Tohru scampered over and took the tiny bells Artemis offered her and set to work tying them to various parts of her body. One went on each wrist, one on each ankle, one around her neck, and two on either side of her waist. Artemis, on the other hand, only had one bell, which he tied around his neck.

"What are you doing...?" Kyo asked, puzzled. "Aren't you supposed to be fighting? What's Bell Bell?"

"It's a game, Kyo-kun," Tohru explained. "We have no other means to tell if someone's winning as we can't draw blood, so instead we try to steal each other's bells, thus the name Bell Bell."

"Why Bell Bell?" queried Yuki.

"Millie named it," said Tohru. And that was all she needed to say as way of explanation.

"Why do you have seven bells, but Artemis only has one?" asked Kyo.

"If I only had one, the game would end too quickly, and if he had seven it would never end. As I said, Artemis is way better at martial arts than I am." Tohru replied, tying the last bell into place.

"Tohruuuuu!" called a familiar voice. Tohru turned with a smile and spotted Momiji and Millie running towards them, smiling brightly.

"Momiji-kun! Millie!" she cried in greeting. "There you are! Where did you go, anyway?"

"Millie took Momiji to the orchards, then to the rookeries, then to the cellars, and then the attic!" Millie cried ecstatically.

"I feel like we've walked miles!" Momiji said enthusiastically. "This place is soooo big!"

"Is Ren playing Bell Bell?" Millie asked, eyeing the bells on Tohru's waist.

"Yes," Tohru replied, smiling.

"What's Bell Bell?" asked Momiji. Tohru explained it to him and afterwards he could only stare at her in awe.

"You know martial arts?!" he gasped.

"Yeah," replied Tohru, blushing a little from the attention and wonderment she was receiving.

"Tohru, let's go," Artemis said.

"Right!" replied Tohru, trotting after him. He headed towards a fenced in enclosure and leapt up onto the top railing and stood there, balancing easily with his tail. He turned to look over his shoulder at them, a smirk tugging the corner of his mouth.

"One more rule: you can't touch the ground."

"What...?" Tohru said in dismay. "But I'll never stay up..."

"Never say never," Artemis replied with false kindness. "Now get up here." Tohru, with a look of trepidation, vaulted, almost catlike, onto the railing and stood there, balancing on the five-inch wide space with just a bit less grace than her demon opponent.

"Ready?" Artemis asked, settling into attack position.

"I guess," she replied, doing like wise.

"Right. En Guard!" Artemis yelled and shot forward towards Tohru with not a sound but the tiny jingle of his bell.

To be continued...


Disclaimer: teksaB stiurF nwo ton od I. That's I do not own Fruits Basket backwards, just so you know.

Yeah. This chapter had a lot of talking. But don't worry, there will be much action in the next one. Anyway, I was asking about Kyo's original form because at the end of episode twenty-six Tohru, if you'll excuse the expression, "calms the savage beast" and he turns back into a boy. So was it broken, or what? And what does he do whenever he transforms back into a human from cat form, because the beads fall off then, too.

Also, my computer is totally screwing up. It won't let me have my little designs and such that separate things, so I've had to totally reorganize. Oh, what a world, what a world!

On a different note, I'm sorry this one was so late, I've been busy with school. Please don't kill me!!! ۵

I know I had other things I wanted to say, but I forgot them.

Sayonara!

-Raha-