WARNING. Major spoiler about the very end of the manga. If you do not want to know do not read the part when Akito is narrating.
The room was cold, sending shiver up Tohru's arms. Rubbing her hands over them to keep them she walked in. She seemed to be alone, it was awkward and she shifted from one foot to the other watching the others. She felt someone's hand fall upon her shoulder and she jumped in surprise. "I AM SO SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO SCARE YOU! PLEASE FORGIVE ME, TOHRU!" Ritsu screamed waving his arms wildly.
"Oh, no! It is fine, really. I was just startled its fine," she said flashing a smile at him till he calmed down.
"Ritsu... if you would please sit down, the banquet is about to start," said a chilly voice from behind them. Ritsu and Tohru both whirled around. Upon seeing who it was Ritsu walked quickly off as he was told. Till Tohru was alone with Akito. She still wore her overly large crimson kimono, that concealed all womanly porportians about her. Tohru noticed that Akito's bangs were getting longer, they fell over her night blue eyes and brushed the tops of her cheek bone. She would have to cut it soon, if she wanted to keep her femality a secret. Akito messed with her collar, covering herself well. Shooting a glance at Tohru, Tohru could tell Akito knew that Tohru knew her secret. "I will have to ask you and Kyo to leave. Someone will retrieve you when the banquet is over," she said breezily.
That was right. Tohru was foolish to think she would be dining with them. The banquet was just for the members of the zodiac. "Oh, okay then. I hope you have a good banquet," she said briefly bowing before heading out the door.
As she shut the door, she saw Akito watching her closely before going to the head of the table. Shutting it fully, she heard the lock click. Turning she leaned up against the door and watched as her a mist came from her mouth, swirled in a cloudy pattern before disappearing once again. It was extremely cold out, and Tohru shivered, even though she wore a jacket.
"C'mon, lets go," she heard before turning to see Kyo standing in front of bushes in front of her.
Tohru nodded and went after him. They walked down the path, not speaking. Finally they reached their destination. Tohru reconized it, because she had been here before with the others. The hot swrings. Kyo pushed the door open and waited for Tohru to pass in, before he stepped in. Tohru looked around, she saw Ritsu's mother kneeling in front of a table sipping tea.
She turned and smiled sleepily at them, "Well, its good to see the young masters again. I will get your meal, it should be prepared by now," she said before getting up and leaving the room.
"Meal?" Tohru questioned as Kyo sat down in front of the table.
"Yeah. I come here every year during the banquet. I told her you would be comming this year," He said unbuttoning his jacket and letting it fall to the floor.
"Oh..that must be really lonely," Tohru said sympathetically, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. Kyo merely grunted and looked up when Ritsu's mother returned with food for them both. Setting up their meals in front of them she smiled, bowed and left once again. Tohru tucked her jacket under her arm and sat down.
Poking at the food she but into it, "This is really good!" she exclaimed.
"Its not as good as your cooking."
"Well, I wouldn't say that," Tohru replied modestly.
Kyo merely looked at her and continued his meal not wanting to bother fighting with her over the matter.
"I'm really glad I came..this is nice," Tohru said smiling softly looking around the room, before her dark blue eyes returned to his.
"I suppose..its not like its anything that great," Kyo shrugged stuffing a large amount of food into his mouth. A stubborn look took over his face.
Ritsu's mother soons entered the room after a long pause of silence, "I believe that Miss Honda is wanted at the banquet. Akito would like to see her."
Tohru stood up quickly and sharply in excitement that she almost tipped the table over upon Kyo. Her midnight blue eyes shone brightly with happiness, but once her gaze was switched down to Kyo who still remained on the floor they dulled back down again.
"The cat cannot come."
"But, I'm sure if I am allowed then surely Kyo you ca.."
Tohru broke off at seeing the intense sharp gaze that was directed at her once she spoke. "Cannot come," Kyo repeated sharply.
"But.."
"The cat never comes," Kyo said standing up, dusting his hands off on the sides of his pants, and walked out of the room.
Tohru went to go after him, but was held back by a hand that took hold of her shoulders. "Akito wants you," she repeated her voice getting a bit shrilly.
"But Kyo.." she said her gaze returning back to the door from which he had exited out of.
"..has spent more than one banquet alone."
Akito sat at the head of the table silently watching between the bangs that draped themselves over her face. Her face was a steely cold and emotionless. She was unhappy. This is how it was every year, unchanging. She never smiled or laughed. Not truely. The asorted chatters went on as she sat in deep sorrow. In her mind she replayed the tale of the first banquet over and over again, then some more. No, not the one of God inviting the animals to the banquet and the cat not comming. The true one. The one no one, but her and the previous gods knew about. The one she could never be. She had found the story in the secret belongings of her father. Old it was, worn, and tattered.
Akito had not understood it when she was little. Though now that she was into her twenties it was obvious. The other zodiacs lived in a lie that was created to cover up the foolishness of the God. The Zodiac God. Those few words changed everything how she lived and showed what she was and what she wasn't. A failure is what she was. For only when she was the zodiac god did the bond start to break. This banquet was part of the bond and she failed to do what was required of her. She did not even smile. The story told of the cat, the animals, and the bond.
Once a long time ago, there was a man. For as long as he could remember he had always always been by himself. If he climbed down the mountain, he knew that he would meet people, but chose to be by himself.
The one who is at the top, normally is alone. Having the strength of a thousand men. Having the lives of a thousand men. That man having a thousand memories, he knew that he was different from other people.
This man was afraid of other people. He was afraid of getting hurt. While he had so many powers, he was afraid of this self that he knew was so different from the world.
He could be with people if he went down but never did due to being afraid since he was different.
One day a Cat came to him...
"I have been following you for some time."
"You have a most unusual aura, I can't help but be drawn to you. I realise I am but a stray cat but won't you please let me stay by your side? Please "God"
The cat stayed by his side always and the God became happy and Thought..
"Perhaps, I can get along with them if it was a being other than human. If it is with beings who have had similar experiences, then we can have a fun banquet."
So he sent out many invitations and in the end 12 animals came. They all had a banquet each night and had fun. The God even laughed out loud for the first time. But then the cat collapsed and fell ill. They all realized that the banquet, no matter how fun it was, would end. They all would die no matter what. But then the God cast a spell in the water.
"Let us make our friendship last for eternity. Even when we die, let us be bound by our friendship for eternity. No matter how many times we die, no matter how many times we are reborn, again, in the same way no matter how many times, let us have another banquet. Everyone getting along for all of time. Let us be in eternal bliss."
Everyone agreed except the cat.
"God, God, why did you make me drink that? God, I do not want eternity.
"I do not want eternal bliss."
They all believed the cat betrayed them and all turned away. Even so the cat said...
"God, God, even though you are frightened, let us accept that all things end. Even though it is sad, let us accept that life ends."
"God, even though it was just for a short time, I was happy being by your side. If I were to die, be reborn and meet you again, The next time rather than in the moonlight I want to see you smile in the sunlight. The next time I meet you, I want to see you laughing surrounded with people."
The cat died, but they all believed he betrayed them. They all died and soon God was all alone, but he did not worry, due to the promise.
"Again. We will have a banquet again. Once again many times, always unchanging. No matter how alone I am right now."
"On the other side of that promise everyone is waiting for me."