Wow. I didn't expect to get receive this many hits when posting chapter 1, thank you so much for your support. I was crying at the end of this chapter.
Something to note from the start of this chapter. Kyo mentions a place called the Zodiac Temple. This is a reference to the stone room we see at the start of episode one. I didn't know what to call it. Also if what Hatori orders Akito to do sounds a bit OOC, I just wanted to slap her, (can you blame me?)
Happy Reading:-)
I'm standing in a room lit only by candlelight, making the walls look darker. From the looks of it, I'm not in the cat's room anymore. Confused, I look around, trying to find out where I am and how I might've gotten here.
I walk over to the nearest wall and feel it, the surface feels hard, my guess is stone. First clue, I'm not on the Somha Estate, none of the houses are made out of stone, minus the foundation they all sit on. Looking up at the ceiling, I notice it looks never-ending seemingly going up forever. I walk to my starting point, looking down at the wooden floor, then I see it. My head starts to throb, getting a stiff neck and jaw
On the floor is a large Chinese zodiac symbol, and from the looks of it, it appears to be glowing slightly. I need no more clues; I now know where I am.
I'm in the Zodiac Temple, but why?
Something moves across the room, catching my eye. Slowly, I bring my eyes up, a sour taste forming in my mouth. Sitting directly across from me on the other side of the symbol is an orange cat, it's the one I turn into because of the curse. He sits there looking at me, eyes intent, and tail moving relaxed. There's a candle by him, giving his fur a fiery appearance in the flame. it moves, lowering and cocking its head slightly.
"Rooster, dog, boar," I hear in my head. The voice sounds old and wise, like Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid. The cat looks at me. "We're the only two left out of this thing, silly Rat" Hearing this last comment makes me mad.
I ball my hands into fists, red hot anger flushing through my body. "I hate the spirit of the cat," I spit. "it's my curse to bear, you don't know what it's like to be me." Black dots flash in my vision, legs starting to tremble, but I stay on my feet. "Because of the curse of the cat, I can't have a normal life. It's because of that darned rat, I sometimes wish I were never born." The cat stands, tail going still, eyes dead set on me.
"Like it or not, young one, I will always be a part of you. However, because of the selfless act of one of the others, you're ready for the next stage."
"Wha- "
"No time to explain," the cat says, sounding urgent. "Time is of the essence. Hold still."
He starts for me. Once his paws hit the symbol, it glows brighter. Adrenaline mixes with the heat coursing through my body. I try to back away, but it's as if my feet have somehow been bolted to the floor.
He's a stride away from me, but instead of colliding with me on his next bound, he becomes translucent, almost see-through, and passes right through me, emitting an orange light as he goes. Eyes going wide, I feel my heart start to race.
"What's going o..." I try to ask, but I'm cut off.
"She needs you just as you need her." I feel a locking sensation, followed by the tingling feeling your foot gets after it's been asleep. "Good luck, Kyo Sohma. The rest is up to you."
"Kyo, wake up." I feel someone lightly shaking my shoulder. "Come on son, open your eyes and look at me." The owner of the voice starts to gently slap my face. Though I can't tell male or female.
Reluctantly, I follow their directions and open my eyes. Turning over, I look and see the blurry outline of a figure hovering over, but I still can't make out their facial features. My stomach flutters, body flinching back against the wall.
Just as I'm about to try and make a short escape, my vision clears, and with it, so does the identity of my guest. I let out a sigh, a slow smile spreading across my face.
It's my Master, he's here.
He has dark circles under his eyes, making him look older and tired. His hair is a bit longer than I remember; it looks slightly greyer. There's a pained gaze on his face, his brow wrinkled. My eye shifts up towards him. He seems to notice looking down at me, a slow smile spreading across his own face.
"Hey, there you are, you're finally awake." For a second, I feel as though I'm back in the dojo. I yawn.
"Master? Ooh." I sit up, aching pain shooting through my neck. I rub, trying to lessen the pain.
Maybe it wasn't the best idea to sleep curled up on the floor.
Once I start to sit up, my vision sways a bit, seeing my head start to wobble, Master reaches his arms out, ready to steady me if I need it. I wave his hand away, pushing myself, struggling a bit before I make it all the way up.
I look behind him and see the shadows from the bars made by the passing moonlight. It's then I remember I'm not back at the dojo, I'm in the Cat's room. The realization hits me and I startle, looking at my Master, my eyes wide.
"What are you doing here? You know the only ones allowed in here are Hatori and Akito."
"Things have changed tonight," he replies, not giving me the answer I was looking for. His eyebrows draw together, a small light coming on into his eyes. "How do you feel, Kyo?"
"A bit confused," I reply, "why are you here Master?" My question seemed to make one of his eyebrows raise.
"Wait, Akito didn't tell you what's going on, what's happened?" I slightly shake my head.
"No Sir. Like always, I've been left in the dark.'" Master's mouth contorts, he looks up at the door.
"Shame on him for not informing you" he looks back towards me. "Did you have a dream while you were sleeping?" I nod.
"What's going on Master?" He cuts his eyes away from me for a moment then back again.
"I'm not the one to ask Kyo since to be quite honest, I don't know a lot myself," he replies, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Just know that something amazing has taken place." His face turns slightly serious. "More importantly son, you're…" Voices. Master looks towards the door again, hearing the mutters grow louder.
A few seconds later, the heavy door to my room unlocks and Akito steps in, closely followed by Hatori, they're still deep in conversation.
"I still can't believe this has happened, I really can't. This hasn't happened in the entire history of the Sohma Family Curse." Hatori's eye narrows at Akito.
"Just confirming," he states, "This isn't your doing is it?"
"Of course it isn't," Akito snaps, using the sharp tone a small child would use when being falsely accused. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be as shocked as the rest of you."
Master gets up as they come into view, I stay put. Akito's here, it can't be anything good for me. I think about it for another moment. Then again, he wouldn't bring the doctor along with him if he knew it was going to be really bad. Hatori looks towards me, his face placid like always.
"How's your night going?"
"It's going fine, I guess," I reply, never taking my eyes off Akito.
If these three months of isolation have taught me anything, you always want to stay on alert when he's around. Hatori's eyebrows are drawn together and he looks back towards Master.
"Kazuma, you didn't tell him?"
"I was about to till you two came in," Master replies. "But he did have the dream."
"Well, you can tell him or I. Better now than ever"
"Tell me what," I ask either one of them. My Master lets out a slow sigh.
"You're being freed Kyo."
At his words, the thoughts rushing through my head scramble and freeze and so does everything around me for a second. My eyes go wide, feeling my stomach clench. My expression goes pale, and I become a bit lightheaded. I take a moment to compose myself again.
Did I just hear that right?
"What?" I respond. "What did you just say Master? I'm not sure I heard you right"
"I just said, you're being freed," he repeats, making sure I can hear his words clearly. "You've got your freedom."
I look around at everyone, my thoughts and emotions reaching the same result.
"I knew it, I'm dead." Hatori's face changes and he faces me.
"No you're not," he then points his index finger towards me, "but judging by your protruding ribs, I would say you aren't that far off."
Master pipes in. "Doctor's right son, you're not dead, but you are getting out of here tonight. At least that was the plan," he says, turning to look at Akito, who's silently standing in the moonlight coming through the bars. He looks up, sensing Master's eyes on him. "Isn't that right, Akito? After all, you said this morning…"
"I remember what I said!" he snaps. The sharpness of his voice is enough to even make me flinch. Letting out a heavy sigh to compose himself, he turns to face me. I can see even in this light his face is pale, almost green. The purple pits of his eyes are cold, nearly soulless. I notice he's keeping his left hand hidden from view. He then wrinkles his nose before opening his mouth to speak. "Kyo Sohma, you have my permission to leave the Cat's Room." He walks over and hands a key to Hatori.
A slight ring starts to form inside my ears, my eyes blinking slowly. Master extends his hand out to me. This time though, I take it and stand. The achy muscles in my legs protest this by letting out a few little pops, but I make it to my feet. At the same time, I see Hatori unlock and open the back door to the room.
With my Master's help, I start to slowly shuffle my way towards the door while also working out the kinks. The cold chill from the outside makes the chill bumps covering my arms worse. I shiver, this time not being able to cover myself. Hatori notices. Walking back over towards me, he slips off his jacket and places it over me. Even though it almost swallows me, I look up, giving him steady eye contact.
"Thanks Hatori." A thin line appears on his face, the closest the good doctor ever comes to a smile.
"Oh, you're…you're welcome," he replies, Hatori drops behind, allowing Master and I to go ahead.
About to go past Akito, my knees start to go weak. Master gets a firmer grip on my arm, leaning in close to my ear. My heart begins to hammer against my ribcage, causing a dull pain in my chest. I let out a slight gasp.
"Pay him little attention and keep walking."
Despite his direction, as we go past, I look anyway. He's looking down towards the floor, his gaze seemingly unable to meet mine. We stop just inside the doorway; I look down only to see a pair of shoes at my feet. I slip one foot in, followed by the other. The shoes feel a bit foreign against the bottoms of my feet, but I ignore it. After a few moments of hesitation, I take the last step needed and make it outside after three months of near isolation.
I take in a breath, my lungs feeling with the fresh night air. As I take my time, I hear Hatori quip from behind us.
"While I'm gone Akito, you deal with the crap." Even though I can't see it, I imagine Akito's face going pale as Hatori points towards my bucket in the corner. He catches up to us and we start walking again leaving my cage behind.
The overgrown grass brushes up against my hands and legs as I walk up the deteriorating stone pathway, the sensation tickles a bit against my skin. My hand's tingle, a small smile creeping its way on to my face, thankfully hidden by Hatori's jacket. Even the smell is stronger when I take in a breath.
I never thought I would miss the feeling of grass so much. You really don't know what you have until you almost lose it.
Coming around the front of the house, Hatori takes out his keys and unlocks his car. A chill runs down my spine, Akito's words coming back to me.
"Kyo Sohma, you have my permission to leave the Cat's Room."
"What is it Kyo? Once again, you've got something on your mind," Master snaps me out of my thoughts. How does he do that?
"I was wondering what Akito said about giving me permission to leave. Well, do all the cats get that?"
"Well yes…" He then turns, giving me the look he gives to his younger students when he wants them to pay attention. "Those were the last words my grandfather heard before he died. Normally the head of the Sohma family will give a cat permission only when they're about to die, you're the only person to hear those words and then walk out." Both pride and remorse bubble up within me as we start walking again.
We approach the black car and Hatori opens the door. With some help from my master, I slide in, buckling my seatbelt. Though the worn leather interior of the back seat might not be as comfortable, anything beats sleeping against cold concrete night after night. Master closes the door and I lean my head back against the headrest.
My Master walks up, getting into the passenger's seat, Hatori in the driver's. He then turns around in the seat. I lift my head.
"Okay Kyo, where would you like us to take you? it's your choice," At his words, a hollow forms in my throat.
"To Shigure's," I reply, without giving it a second thought. "I wanna go home." Master smiles and nods slightly.
"Very well then," he then turns back around. "Sit back and enjoy the ride."
Hatori turns the key and the car roars to life. Leaning back, I turn my head to look out the window and see something I never thought I would.
The sight of the main house of the Sohma family along with my cage disappearing as I go past in a car, leaving it behind us.
Thank you all for reading the second chapter of Locked up But Not Locked Away. Yay, Kyo's finally out of that hell hole and is now on his way back home. I honestly was so happy with the end of this chapter.
What do you think was the meaning of that dream?
Why Do you think Kyo's being freed?
What do you think will be waiting for Kyo when he gets home?
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