Disclaimer: Refer to the other chapters as I try to think of something clever…

Authors Note: Hm… Okay, this chapter takes a turn for a more… I dunno… less creepy side? It's kinda a light chapter before we delve back into the deep stormy depths once more. It was hard for me to write though… I mean, I didn't have Kyo faint once! That is so hard for me to do. It's like, I usually have Kyo wake up… faint… by lunch he's got a fever, and by dinner he's got Hatori over checking on him again. I was seriously debating just making Kyo fall over in this chapter… but… Oh well… Anyway, enough of this long-winded author's notes… enjoy:

Book of the Cat

Chapter 7

Several days passed, and Kyo seemed perfectly fine. He was back to normal, well he didn't change into a cat when he was hugged, so he technically wasn't "normal," but he didn't seem to get any more splitting headaches. Besides that, he actually felt... happy. Things were good for once.

It was now Wednesday, and discussions about the dance on Friday filled the school. Around every corner, conversations all turned to decorations, wardrobe, who Yuki was taking, and other snippets of insignificant details.

Kyo surprised himself. He felt a sense of longing when the kids mentioned the streamers or the picture booths or the cheesy music. He wanted to go so badly. He had never been to a dance before and he had always been excluded from the Zodiac banquet. He had also never been to a public school before either. He wanted to take part in this event.

During one particularly brutal dance argument, Kyo found solace by pushing himself up against the wall. The kids debated over some minor issues and Kyo wanted to go more than ever. He closed his eyes.

"So, you don't have a date either, huh Carrot-top?" Arisa's voice cut through Kyo's thoughts. He opened one eye and smirked at her.

"Ah, finally out of detention? Do they let juvenile delinquents go to the dance?"

"Cute."

"I thought so."

"You know, it really wasn't."

"Hey, you could always punch me again, but that'll send you right back to your second home."

"Whatever. As I was saying, no date for you either?"

"Yea, I have one."

"Oh really, who?"

"You wouldn't know her."

"Really… is it because she's imaginary?"

"NO!"

"Ha, okay, whatever you say. Have fun at the dance."

At that moment, a gaggle of the nosiest, most annoying fan girls bombarded them.

"KYO! Who are you taking to the dance?"

"Take me!" "No, me!" "I look cuter in a dress!" "No, she's ugly! Take me!" "I've got nicer elbows, take me!" "I'll do your homework for you!" "She's stupid, let me do your homework!" "I'll marry you!" "I love you!" "No I love HIM!" "No, I do." "I love him more than I love dinner!" "You're dumb! I love him more than I love myself!" "KYO TAKE ME!"

"Well, what do you say Kyo? Who are you taking?" The leader of the group questioned.

"Um," Kyo turned red; "I've got a date already…"

The girls turned hostile. "WHO IS SHE?"

Kyo tensed as he realized two things. 1. Any girl he blamed this on would be clobbered, so she couldn't be a poor weak girl. That ruled Tohru out. And besides, he would be attacked once more when the girls found out she was going with Yuki, and 2. He had to actually find that girl to go with him, or HE would be clobbered.

"Uh…ummm… It's…"

"WHO?"

"ARISA!" Kyo said the name before he even realized that he had said it. The fan-girls gasped and nearly fell over. Kyo looked at Uo who had raised her eyebrow at him. He shot her a pleading, desperate look. She sighed and faced the girls.

"Yes. Kyo asked me. I'm the luckiest girl in the world." Her voice was sarcastic, but the girls were too stupid to notice.

"NOOOOO KYO! She's not good enough! She's not worthy!"

"Eh, shut it," Uo said, and the girls glimpsed her steel pipe. They huffed and walked away.

"So…" she looked back at Kyo. He shrugged.

"Pick you up at six. Don't look ugly and for gods sake, lose the pipe you stupid Yankee!"

"Wow… you're quite the charmer." Uo glared.

"Well… you're quite the… You are… … Damn Yankee!"

Friday slowly dragged boy, the day of the dance. Kyo dressed in a pair of black pants and some green dress shirt Tohru had bought him. As he finished tying his new shoes, he thought how much he'd rather go in his green baggy pants and black t-shirt, but Tohru had insisted that he dress up.

Tohru looked absolutely beautiful. Her soft baby blue dress accentuated her delicate features. Yuki beamed at her. Kyo, even though he was free of the curse, felt jealous of Yuki again. Kyo left Shigure's house as fast as he could.

When Kyo got to Uo's apartment, he took a minute to collect his thoughts. Before he could totally relax, Uo came to the door. Kyo reeled back in surprise. Her blonde hair was pinned in a pretty up-do and she wore a long deep green dress that matched Kyo's shirt. She looked feminine and gorgeous, and so… un-Uo-like.

"Kyo…you're drooling."

"I am not!"

"Yea, you kind of are."

"No!"

She laughed. "Come 'on, we're going to be late."

The school was completely transformed. It looked like a ballroom instead of a gymnasium. Lights, decorations, and food all made the scene complete. The site took Uo and Kyo back. A camera flashed in their faces.

"Momiji! What kind of a moron would give you a camera?" Kyo shouted at the boy.

Tohru walked in. "Tohru!" Momiji cheered. He ran off to bother her. Yuki came up to stand besides Uo and Kyo while Tohru talked to Momiji. Yuki looked at Kyo, who voiced his thoughts out loud.

"Did that twerp just blow me off? Is he ignoring me?"

Uo shrugged. "I'm getting some punch." She left, and Hatsuharu took her spot.

"Yea, Momiji isn't extremely pleased with you. I guess, like the rest of us, he's wondering how you got rid of it…" Hatsuharu trailed off.

"What?" How do you know?"

"Well, it was kind of a dead giveaway when you hugged all those girls the other day… and Hatori told us."

"Oh."

The three cousins stood in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Yuki excused himself to free Tohru from Momiji. Haru glared at Kyo, then he walked away, too. Uo came back and handed Kyo some punch.

"Anything interesting happen?" she asked.

"More than you know."

Kyo did not know how Uo did it, but somehow she got him to dance with her. 'Maybe she spiked the punch,' Kyo thought. The evening was drawing to a close. Uo and Kyo went for a walk on the schools grounds. Kyo felt extremely out of place all of a sudden. He felt like he needed to be a gentleman.

"Err… did you have fun tonight…?

Uo nodded. "Mmmhmmm."

"Good…"

They paused by a fountain.

"Kyo… Thanks for asking me to the dance…"

"You're…welcome…"

And then Kyo saw it. Beyond the trees, Yuki and Tohru were… kissing. Uo followed his gaze. "Oh gosh, Kyo, I'm sorry."

Kyo ripped his eyes from the scene. He stared and Uo, and she saw the hurt and pain clearly reflected in his eyes. "Even without it… she chose him."

"Without what?"

Kyo put his head in his hands.

"How about we go home, ok, Carrot-top?" Tonight Uo and Hana were sleeping over, so Kyo and Uo had planned on walking back to Shigure's house after the dance.

"Yea…okay." Kyo's voice was strangely quiet.

The walk home was long and quiet. By the time Uo and Kyo arrived at Shigure's house, Yuki, Tohru and Hana were already there. Yuki and Tohru seemed a bit pink-faced, Hana was stoic (as usual), and Shigure was grinning.

"I'm going to have to put a lock on Yuki's door!" Shigure laughed. Tohru and Yuki only grew pinker. Shigure stopped when he saw Kyo. Everyone turned to look at him and the laughter quickly died down.

Kyo felt angry. He wanted to gouge all their eyes out. But he couldn't, because he felt another feeling…Shame. Before anyone could do or say anything, Kyo had dashed up the stairs to the safety of his own room.

Once Kyo was alone, he could let his frustrations out. Years of learning how to control his martial arts skills flew out the window as he slammed his fist through it. The glass shattered and fell to the ground below. He pulled his hand back and pulled some of the glass shards from his knuckle. Blood ran across his hand.

Sohma Blood…Cursed Blood…Cursed.

Kyo's eyes darted to the book. It lay on his desk. There was no indication of the power it possessed. Kyo desperately wanted to know it secrets. He made a hasty bandage and tied it around his fingers to the best of his ability. With his other hand, he carefully picked up the book. He went back to the window and knocked the remaining pieces of glass from its frame. The he twisted his body through the empty frame and pulled himself up onto the roof. His sanctuary.

Once he was all settled, he laid the book across his lap and began to read.

If not for the rat, the Cat would have all the glory. The Cat truly is the most agile, nimblest, and quickest of all creatures. The rat, on the other hand, is conniving, evil, and ugly. Why is the rule then, that the rat should be placed on the highest pedestal, whilst the Cat receives no glory? Is it not absurd that the Cat would normally make a meal upon the rat, yet instead, the Cat must envy him? For all of this to be changed, the normal ways must be restored. Only when the rat is shown his place will the spirits rest.

Kyo smiled at the book. This was just the kind of thing Kyo needed to hear right now.

Authors Note: I'd type more, but I had to go to a Halloween party (I'm a cowgirl!) and now I'm dead tired...It's either this or nothing. More to come though, soon, enjoy!

Thanks to my reviewers again!

Kiayume: I'm glad I've got a new reader! New readers are always welcome! Keep reading, I've got loads more!

Dark Inu Fan: Hah, sorry if Kyo seemed out of character with all the huggy-ness… I planned it like that though, that way he'd attract attention. Ha, and boy did Kyo make a mess… Poor, poor Kyo, he has no idea what is in store for him (insert evil laugh here).

Shizmoo: Thanks for the positive review! Keep reading!

Mariku-182: Haha! I'm evil? Yes! My life goal is complete. You know what would be really evil? If I stopped updating completely! Haha, nah, I wouldn't do that. I hope you keep reading!

Fullma8712: Ha, yes I try to keep my stories as original as possible. I hate when things get repetitive. I'm glad you enjoy it!

Hanyou-Inuyasha-4ever: I will explain the book in a later chapter! Look out for it! Keep reading!

AND TO MY EVER FAITHFUL:

Starship Gazer: Ha, I dunno who can help Kyo, and I'm writing this story! Glad to see you're name in the review box as always!

Chesire Katt: Ha, I don't want Kyo to go evil either…. Well… I dunno. Anyway, I'm still debating a KyoXUo pairing, not sure yet!

Kawaii Kitten: Hmm… so I'm guessing you want more Hatori? I have a hunch you like him… ha. Ok, longer chapters, I'll try! Enjoy!

Narutofreak22: Lovely to see your name in the review box as usual! Enjoy!