(A/N: Muwahaha! So what has become of poor Lessa-chan? Only the story will tell...

XD Okay, so that was lame. But read on anyway with my many thanks for putting up with the story, and me, thus far!)

CHAPTER FOUR

Lessa stumbled into her apartment about an hour later. She could still feel his hands on her, the kiss... she pressed her back against the door after locking it and, sighing, collapsed to the floor. "What am I doing??" She asked herself after a moment. "Have I... have I lost my mind?" She pressed her hands to her face, staring at the floor. "What should I do?" She whispered, closing her eyes.
Suddenly the phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. She got up and went to check the caller i.d.

It was Levi. "Hello, beautiful!!" Levi's voice chimed.

"Levi, hi!" Lessa choked out.

Levi must have sensed something in her reply. "What's wrong?"

"I... nothing!" Lessa trilled nervously. "I, uh, met a guy and we... we're going to start dating."

"Oh! That's wonderful! I bet you're just so thrilled!"

"Chilled to the bone, all right..." Lessa murmured.

"I said 'thrilled', dear. Your phone must be dying again."

"Oh."

Lessa could hear the yowling of her many felines in the background. "Just a moment, my pretties!!" She crooned. "Listen, I need to feed my darlings, but I'll tell you what: bring this boy over to me and I'll see whether he's fit for you."

"But Levi--"

"Now, now, I know you quite well and I'm positive that he'll meet my standards if he has met yours--ow! Yes, Loretta, I'm opening the food can... how does tomorrow afternoon sound?"

"Uh... so soon?"

"Okay! See you tomorrow then! Goodnight!" The line went dead.

Lessa blinked at her reciever for two seconds before shouting, "what is this, a scavenger hunt???" With frustration she slammed the reciever down and went to take a shower to cool off.

o0oOo

Lessa called the next morning. At first, I was elated, hoping it was a call that would have had Lessa begging to come over again because she couldn't get enough of me. Instead, she was asking if I'd be willing to meet a friend of hers for lunch. I was happy to do so, except Hatori overheard the call and forbade me to go. Only after much protesting and begging on my part I was allowed to go-- so long as Kyo came too. Neither of us liked the plan, but Hatori was adamant on making sure "nothing dangerous" would happen.

What does he take me for, a klutz?

Anyway, Kyo and I met Lessa outside the house. Her car had been fixed that morning so we enjoyed a ride over to her friend's house. Along the way Lessa fidgeted and moistened her lips time and again as she nervously warned me about the nature of her friend, Levi. Apparently she was a bit of a crazy woman who loved cats and books. Nothing to be afraid of, I assured her. Kyo snorted at my comment but said nothing.

The time came and we pulled up in front of the fabled house. I checked my apprarance in the car window before walking up to the front door. Yes, hair was slicked back nicely. Oh, wait--one hair out of place... there, all better. I straightened my tie and pulled on my suitcoat. I eyed Lessa as she slung her purse over her shoulder. Her pale pink dress fitted her most beautifully; I couldn't figure out what she was fretting over. It wasn't until we reached the door that she murmured, "it's... clean."

"Clean?" I asked.

"Levi's house isn't as messy as I remember."

Kyo rolled his eyes. "Well duh! She's expecting company, right?"

I took Lessa's hand into mine and rang the door bell. "Just remember to breathe, okay?" She gave me a small smile as the door opened, revealing a young woman about Lessa's age, long, dark hair tied back into a half ponytail. "Oh! Just look at you two!... erm, three?" She put her hands on her hips and playfully glared at Lessa. "You double-crossing two-timer!"

"We had to pick up Kyo from a friend's house along the way; I hope you don't mind." Lessa said, smiling. I was startled; she didn't seem the type to lie at all. She continued and linked my arm in hers. "And this is Sohma Shigure!"

Levi gave me a full look-down before finally admitting us inside with a smile. Good, a foot in the door is better than nothing!
I glanced around at my surroundings. There were several cats hiding about under chairs, behind curtains, on the sofa, the coffee table with its three glasses, even on the many, many bookshelves! Kyo tensed as several of them gathered and began winding around his legs. "Ahh! Get away!" He shouted.

"Oh don't mind them," Levi said, chuckling. "They're a little excited today because they're all getting baths!"

Lessa paused from surveying the house. She had a look of incredulitity on her face. "Baths?"

"That explains the claw marks on your arms..." Kyo muttered.

Levi walked into another room. "Well of course I bathe them! What do you think, I let them walk around smelling up my home?" She returned with a plate of sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade, laughing. "Lessa you're so silly!"

My angel pursed her lips. "Levi--"

"So! Shigure!" Levi cut in, setting the food and drinks down. "Have a seat!" She gestured to the loveseat. I pulled Lessa along and had her sit beside me, but careful to not get too close for fear of the Curse. "Uh, Kyo, right?" Levi questioned. "I'm sorry I wasn't expecting a fourth party. This visit really was intended just for these two." Kyo waved a hand at her, swatting away a particularly friendly cat from his knee. "Just pretend I'm not here..." "Oh good, then let's get to business, shall we?" Levi began pouring lemonade for everyone as she spoke. "Well, I have a list of questions to ask you, Shigure, if you don't mind..."

"Not at all." I replied, but not too quickly. Lessa's nervous demeanor was beginning to get the best of me, but I maintaned control. After all, if I passed this test, then all would be well, right?

"Okay, first question: do you love her?"

I put my arm around her, fingers twirling through her hair. "I'm willing to do anything to be with my Lessa." She looked into my face, and I saw that her fear was not because of this meeting; she was afraid of the house itself. Bad memories? Or maybe she was secretly obsessive compulsive, and hated having things clean?

"Next question!" Levi said. "Now don't you get lost in her eyes, yet." She giggled. "Do you work?"

"I'm a novelist." I said. "And as I can see, you love books, correct?"

"Oh yes!" Levi replied. "I collect them, you know." She waved a hand. "Ah, but we shall continue, yes? ... do you love children"

"I have three of them that are living with me." I joked, throwing a thumb in Kyo's direction. "They're all family but their antics sometimes remind me of having kids."

"Oh I understand completely!" Levi exclaimed. She went on to tell a story about one of her michevious cats. I tuned her out for a moment to study Lessa once again. "See, this isn't too bad." I whispered, squeezing her hand reassuringly. She blushed and looked into her lap.

After an hour of an interesting interrogation, which involved such questions like, "what size shoe do you wear?" and "what bad habits do you have?" and the ever popular, "what's you favorite color?", we were finished. Levi stood up and sighed happily. "Well, Lessa, I believe you've got a wonderful man in your life, and he will see that you are kept happy and well..." She turned to me and gave me an unsettling glare, "but if you break her heart I'll kill you."

Kyo nervously picked himself up off the floor where he'd been buried in kittens. "Okay, so are we free to go now?" "Yes!" Levi clapped her hands together. "But..." and momentarily she showed her true colors again. "Just don't steal my kitties..." Kyo gave her a weird look and edged towards the door.

I stood as well and followed Levi to the door. I turned to Lessa and gently rubbed her cheek. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Yes, I..." she glanced at Levi. "Do you think you could take Kyo home on the bus? I'll be by the house later for dinner, but I need a word with Levi."

"Of course, my sweet." I replied kissing her, but not too eagerly. After all, I didn't want to embarass Lessa too much in front of her friend, as strange as she was. "Farewell, Levi!" I extended my hand to shake hers. "And thank you so much for having us over."

"Not a problem!" Levi said. "Except, as an initiate into this circle of friends, I demand a hug!"

I smiled and put my hands in my pockets. "Oh, but that is reserved for my one and only" and I kissed Lessa again, now letting my more passionate side show. Levi giggled at Lessa's flushed face when I pulled away. "I understand." Levi said, nodding. "Well, you take care!"

"You too, Levi! So long! See you later, Lessa!" I waved as Kyo pulled me along. Once we were out of earshot, Kyo turned to me. "That could have ended in disaster, you know..."

"I had it under control!"

"Whatever."

o0oOo

Lessa leaned against the door and let out a long sigh. "Levi, don't ever scare me like this again."

"What?" She asked, picking up a kitten.

"Look! Your house is clean!! What gives???" She shrieked, throwing her arms out wide.

Levi shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about." She turned away, motioning for Lessa to follow.

"Nevermind..." Lessa followed her friend into the bath. At once the kitten began to howl and claw her way to freedom, but Levi was an expert at this by now. "So... what did you think of Shigure?"

"Oh! He seems like a great match for you! He didn't try groping you in front of me, so that's always a plus." Levi reached for the flea shampoo. "He was really well-dressed too! Even for a simple lunch-meeting... thing. Oh, but that orange-headed boy, Kyo, I think? He was nice. Weird-looking, but cute--"

"Levi?"

"Yes?"

"I have something to tell you." Lessa shifted her weight to one foot, unable to hold back the truth much longer. "Shigure is a dog."

Levi stopped soaping up the kitten. "Hey, I've heard of the phrase that men are dogs, but don't be so harsh on him--"

"No, no!" Lessa exclaimed. "You don't understand, when I hug him, or when any woman hugs him, he literally transforms into a dog."

Levi blinked, aware that the kitten had, by now, disappeared from the tub. "Well... this is interesting... though that explains why he didn't hug me." She rinsed her hands, deciding quickly she'd have to hunt down the kitten later.

"Do you remember the Legend of the Zodiac?"

Levi stood. "I'm not one for legends but I know I'm the year of the snake... wait!" She quickly dried her hands on a towel. "I'm bound to have a book or two on the subject!" Lessa shrugged. "Come on. I'll explain."

o0oOo

A half hour passed by before both girls looked up from the book they were reading. "'Hexes and Curses for Dummies' is so overrated." Levi commented, putting the book back on the shelf.

"But that one article did explain about the Zodiac Curse." Lessa said, yawning.

Levi folded her arms and turned to Lessa. "But I have one question: when he transforms back into a human, does he have clothes on?" The look on Lessa's face was all the answer she needed. "Lessa!!" She gasped.

"It's not like that!" The brunette protested, but Levi was filled with giggles. "Oh, I know you and Joey were newlyweds and Seto didn't let him take a week off for a honeymoon but sweetie, this is a little overdramatic, don't you think?"

Lessa sighed. "Well, it explains that strange dream I had a while back."

"The one about the man in your room?" Levi asked. Lessa nodded, "it was him."

Levi sat back and howled with laughter. She composed herself after a few minutes. "I don't know about this relationship with you two now. I mean, transforming when he's hugged? You love hugging!!"

Lessa sighed and looked at her hands. "I know... I'll make it work between us."

"I hope you do." Levi said, touching her shoulder. "Now, about the orange-haired kid... does he transform, too?"

Lessa smiled slightly. "Into a cat, as part of the cat from the Zodiac Legend."

"... and does he have clothes on when--"

"Levi!!" Lessa cut in, and both girls burst into peals of laughter. It made Lessa feel good to tell someone about the whole ordeal she'd been exposed to.

"I'm assuming I'm not telling anyone, right?"

"I've been sworn to secrecy, too." Lessa got up from the floor and stretched. "Hey... so why DID you clean the house?"

Levi stood and walked down the hall. "I had a dream last night."

"Oh?" Lessa followed her down the stairs to the front door. "Seto came to me... he said... 'we are coming back, soon. Wait on me.'" Levi turned to Lessa. "And he touched my hand with his and--" she shrugged. "And I knew it was real. So I cleaned the house and began bathing the cats because I know he's allergic to their fur."

Lessa picked up her purse, clearly troubled. "Levi... what if Joey comes back and..." she recieved a hug from her friend.

"Don't worry..." Levi pulled away. "Maybe I'm just overreacting. Dreams are dreams, after all."

Lessa reached the doorknob and paused. "I hope so." She turned to Levi again. "Thanks for everything!"

She smiled back at her. "Have fun tonight and be safe, okay?"

"I will."

(A/N: And there ya go! What will happen? Will this relationship bloom or will it face impending doom? Review and find out! Thanks for reading!! )