Usual disclaimers, et cetera. This may seem a bit strange to you. It does to me. But at any rate, here is the fourth chapter. As I said, I respond quickly to reviews. I shall need more of them before I post more of this story. I have also, as testified by this and the last chapter, rediscovered the horizontal line. This chapter may seem a bit of an interlude after the last one, but it actually has great significance to the plot. So don't fly away, you action hungry reviewers. I usually get started a bit slowly. But action is coming.

Lots of it.

Yuki stared down at the crumpled form of his cousin. Lying there, he looked so small; weak, even. The Cat was obviously very, very, ill. Yet if that were so, how had he managed to almost kill them? Especially Haru. No one, ever, had been able to defeat Black Haru that swiftly. Haru was just too volatile in that personality. Yet Kyo had done so. He still couldn't believe it.

"Yuki." Hatori gently pushed him out of the way. "Go downstairs. I'll tend to you later."

"No."

Hatori looked at him from under his bangs. "No?" His face hardened. "Now, Yuki."

"No." Yuki tensed. "I want to know what's going on."

"It's none of your business. Shigure." The Dog moved forward and took Yuki by the arm.

"Come on, Yuki."

Yuki yanked his arm out of Shigure's grasp. "No!"

Kyo stirred on the floor, moaning. Hatori's eyes widened. "Blast. He's coming out of it already. Shigure!" He snapped. Shigure didn't move. "Shigure!"

"I think…we need to discuss this."

Hatori cursed. "You want a repeat of the last few minutes?"

"We need to discuss it."

"Fine!" Hatori slammed his hand on the wall. Kyo whimpered. Haru sat up, groaning and holding his head.

"What happened?"

Yuki looked at him without interest.

"Kyo hit you."

"Kyo…? That…I don't remember. Was I black?"

"Yes." Yuki stared at Hatori. Hatori looked away. "What's going on?"

"Why is Kyo on the floor?" Haru demanded. "Is he hurt?"

"Kyo is very ill." Shigure said, sitting down beside his younger cousin. Hatori sat down as well. "He's going to have to be confined."

"Because he's sick? That's stupid." Haru knelt by Kyo and placed a hand on his cousin's forehead. "He's burning up! If you cage him now, he could die!"

"He won't die." Hatori said, almost inaudibly.

"I think he will." Yuki countered, sliding down beside Kyo.

"He won't."

"Hatori." Shigure said quietly. "Perhaps we…perhaps it would be best if we reserved this conversation for a later time."

"You're the one who wanted it now!" Haru growled. Shigure looked at him with clear, cold eyes.

"Be quiet."

Kyo's eyes opened. "What the…" He hissed in pain. "What the heck is wrong with me?" He saw Yuki next to him. "Get away from me, you stupid Rat!"

Yuki's eyes narrowed. "Don't you remember what happened?"

"What the heck are you talking about?" Kyo sat up, holding his head in his hands. He felt a prick in his arm and looked down to see Hatori injecting him. "Why…?" He collapsed. Hatori sighed in relief.

"Get him to the car, Shigure."

Shigure lifted the Cat in his arms and left the room. Hatori put the syringe back in his bag and then looked at Haru and Yuki.

"Come on."

"Aren't you going to tell us what's going on?" Yuki demanded. Hatori looked at him with a closed expression.

"No."

Kazuma Sohma was in the middle of a training exercise when one of his older students interrupted him.

"Sensei? You have a telephone call."

Kazuma didn't look up from the exercise. "Tell the caller I'm busy." He moved one of his student's arms. "Like this. A bit higher, you see. And relax. You won't be able to flow properly otherwise."

"Sensei. The call came from Sohma House."

Kazuma paused and looked at the student he was instructing. "Would you excuse me a moment, please?"

The child nodded obediently, but disappointment was obvious in his face. Kazuma grasped his shoulder. "Don't worry. It'll only be for a moment."

He left the training room and entered the office, wondering what could be so important that Sohma House would be calling. He had received few calls from them since Kyo had left the dojo. Unconsciously adjusting his robe, he picked up the phone.

"Hai."

"Kazuma?"

"Shigure?" This time Kazuma was surprised. He had never received a call from a member of the zodiac before, ever. Except Kyo, of course, but his foster son didn't really count. Normally it was one of the servants who called with a message from one of the zodiac or, more usually, Akito.

"Yes, it's me." Kazuma started at the Dog's abrupt tone. "I need you to come to Sohma House immediately."

"I'm in the middle of a training session, but I'll be there in an hour."

"Kazuma." Shigure's voice hardened, almost with a tone of command. "It's Kyo."

The karate master felt the blood in his veins began to slow. Ice formed within him, making him unable to move or even to think. He clutched the phone while struggling to keep a calm façade. The student who had interrupted him was still watching him, and he didn't want to alarm the teenager. "What about him?"

"I'm not talking over the phone. I need you here." There was a sharp click as the phone on the other end was cut off. Startled, Kazuma slowly put the phone down. What could be so wrong that the Dog was calling him? This was very strange. Almost frightening. Gathering his control, he turned to the student who had called him and smiled.

"I'm afraid I have to leave at once."

"At once? But Teacher, the class…"

"You can take over teaching it. It's half over, anyway, and the students are so young that they only need to be taught the most basic moves." As he spoke, Kazuma got his things together. The student stood still, staring at him. Kazuma looked up.

"You can do this, Hiroki. I need you to."

The student bowed, but Kazuma could sense a great deal of curiosity and uncertainty about him. He would have to warn the boy about that later. Curiosity regarding Sohma House tended to be unhealthy, to say the least…what was wrong with Kyo?

"Yes, Teacher."

Kazuma was at the main house within ten minutes. He walked—some who might have seen him could have said ran—all the way to the main gates, then straightened his robe and walked the rest of the way. Inside, he was in turmoil. What was going on with his son? What had happened to Kyo? And why was it so serious that the Dog was calling him? Kyo wasn't allowed at the main house—why was he there now? Or at least Kazuma assumed he was there, since his business had to do with Kyo and Shigure had been calling from there…this was too strange. It was disturbing. Was Akito going to lock Kyo up now, earlier than planned? From what he understood the Cat had until the end of the summer before he was to be caged within the Cat's House.

He came to the door of the main house and knocked. A servant answered the door.

"Shigure Sohma." Kazuma said shortly. The servant nodded silently.

"You will find him at the house of Hatori Sohma."

"Thank you." Kazuma turned and walked as fast as he could while still maintaining his dignity, to Hatori's house. Once there, he knocked hard on the door.

It was opened immediately by Hatsuharu.

"Sensei." Haru gestured him inside. As he entered, Kazuma noticed that the Ox seemed agitated, frightened, almost. That was strange. He had never before encountered anything that could truly fluster Haru.

At the sound of the shutting door, Shigure came from the back room, closing the door carefully behind him.

"Kazuma. So glad to see you again."

"Likewise." Kazuma stared at the Dog. "Where is Kyo?"

"Sit down, please."

Kazuma sat. Shigure looked at Haru. "Haru…will you go check on Yuki, please?"

To Kazuma's surprise, Haru didn't protest even once. He simply left. Shigure sat down with a sigh.

"Sorry to call you so abruptly, Kazuma." He smiled. "How has your day been?"

"Fine."

"And your week?"

"Fine as well." Kazuma suspected that Shigure was trying to tell him something, was unable to find the words, and thus took refuge in blandness. He opened his mouth to say something but before he could Shigure added another rote question.

"How are the students?"

Kazuma sighed. "The students are well. Shigure, what is going on? You called me here under the implication that Kyo is in trouble."

Shigure's smile faded. "Yes, I did."

"What happened? Is he ill? Did he hurt someone? Did he run away?"

"Kyo is ill."

"Ill? Is Hatori treating him? Where is he?"

Shigure paused. "Hatori seems to think the illness has to do with some sort of metamorphosis."

Kazuma gaped at the Dog. "What…what are you talking about? A metamorphosis? Into what? That…I've never heard of such a thing." His eyes hardened. "Are you joking, Shigure? Because this would be extremely poor timing."

The Dog shook his head. "It's no joke. Kyo woke up this morning with an intense fever, shakes, and violent hallucinations."

Kazuma's fingers tightened in his lap. "And?"

"Hatori seems to believe that the reason for this is some sort of generally unknown aspect of the Cat Curse."

"Explain."

"The beads don't work anymore."

Kazuma drew in a sharp breath. "Impossible."

The Dog closed his eyes. "That's what I thought, this morning. I don't anymore."

"Did you…did you see anything?"

"He nearly transformed this morning. With the beads on."

Kazuma struggled to gain control of the chaos threatening him. "This means immediate incarceration, doesn't it."

"I'm afraid so."

"But he's still himself!"

"Hatori would disagree." Shigure steepled his fingers. "According to him, Kyo is undergoing some sort of transformation." His face darkened. "A dangerous one. He almost killed Hari this morning."

"I can't believe that."

Shigure shrugged wearily. "Believe it or not, it happened. This transformation surpasses the old one—Hari thinks Kyo will have a new form, as well as the lack of control."

"A new form…" Kazuma's mind was whirling. "But…my grandfather…I never heard of such a thing before."

"Apparently your grandfather was incarcerated well before he was eighteen, before anyone had an opportunity to witness it in public. Kyo, on the other hand…"

"I see."

"I'm sorry, Kazuma. I know…I know how much Kyo means to you."

"I'll still be able to visit."

"No."

"No!" Kazuma glared at the Dog. "Even my grandfather was allowed visitors!"

Shigure looked away. "Apparently there's something unique about Kyo's transformation. Akito has forbidden any further contact."

"You mean he's in the Cat House right now?"

"Yes."

"Sick as he is?"

"Yes."

"Is Hatori caring for him?"

"Yes."

"But I can't see him."

"Yes."

Kazuma was getting tired of the Dog's repetitiveness. "I…I...curse it, Shigure, I thought I would see him again!"

Shigure's voice tightened. "I didn't say you wouldn't be able to see him again. I said no visitors."

"When can I see him?"