So the weeks went by. Nearly every day, I was with Hatori at the Soma main house. I ate cakes with Momiji, visited Ayama and Mine at their shop and laughed about Shigure's antics. He often came over and always had a book for me with him (of course, only books written by him). As time went by, I also got to meet the other members of the zodiac, as I always had wished:

Kagura, the pig (boy did she scare me, when I saw her with Kyo, the cat!), Hatsuharu, the cow (I immediately liked his cool looks and cute charme, although I was a bit irritated at first when I met black Haru), Rin, the horse (she was really cool towards me, but I liked her nevertheless. Although I had the strange feeling that she was together with Hatsuharu, but hiding it from others …), Ritsu, the monkey (he reminded me so much of Mitsuru that it was spooky!), Yuki, the rat (he really looked a lot like his older brother) and Kisa and Hiro Soma, the tiger (yay, a soulmate!) and the sheep.

And I loved all of them! They were great, each of them in their own individual way. Shigure, Ayame, Yuki, Kyo, Haru, Kagura, Momiji, Rin, Ritsu, Kisa, Hiro … Within a few days, they had become something like a second family for me … It was almost, as if they always had been here with me. I couldn't imagine my life without them anymore.

And there was Hatori. It was so great to be with him, to have him by my side ... We were madly in love and spent as much time together, as possible. Which ment, that I visited him in his medical practice. The treatment of this strange Akito really did seem to take up a lot of his time … "He does know that slave labor is illegal, doesn't he?", I asked Hatori worried, as I saw him sitting tired and exhausted in his chair. Hatori didn't answer. Little did I know, that I was about to meet the head of the Soma family myself …

Ten days had passed since my first meeting with Ayame. Now, on a warm Sunday, the very first this year, I was with Hatori, showing off my new dress (designed by Ayame, created by Mine).

"I am so thrilled about this", I said enthusiastically, dancing around, trying to get Hatori's attention (he was looking through his charts at his desk). "Normally I don't wear such dresses, but I really have to say, I just love this dress!" Hatori threw a quick glance at me. "You look ridiculous", he told me in his scientific, matter-of-fact voice. "What? How can you say that?!", I asked, sounding hurt. Hatori smiled, as he got up from his chair to kiss me. "But strangely, I think you are also very cute." "Thanks", I replied sarcastically, pretending to be still angry with him. But, well, how could I do that, when Hatori was looking at me like that?

He kissed me. "One thing I have to admit, Ayame knows what looks good on people", he whispered in my ear. I giggled, slightly shivering from him being so close to me. "Come here, you …" I leaned in to kiss him. Our lips nearly touched, as I suddenly heard the door of the practice being opened. I opened an eye and felt my heart jump from shock: The man, the man I had seen looking out of a window on my first visit here … He was standing right in front of us!

Hatori let go of me instantly. "Akito!", he said, sounding as frightened as I was. So he was the head of the Soma family! Akito was dressed completely in black, matching his raven black hair and dark eyes. He was beautiful, especially his snow white skin ... but … a strange smile had appeared on his face as he watched Hatori and me. I shivered, but this time for a different reason …

"I am sorry if I am interrupting you", Akito said politely, his eyes now fixed on me. "But I heard that Hikari Aino is here and I really wanted to meet you." The creepy smile of his was now starting to seriously scare me … "The girl from outside that has stolen our Hatori's heart", he continued. "I do hope you forgive my curiosity." Thankfully, I regained my speech again at this point.

"Of course!", I said quickly and bowed politely two times. "It is an honour to meet the head of the Soma family!" I kept my head down, too nervous to say anything. Akito now faced Hatori. "She is cute", he told him, yet, his voice had a sound that I didn't like. "It is clear what you see in her …"

Hatori protectively put his hands on my shoulders. Akito was smiling again. "I hope we will see each other again, Hikari Aino", he said to me, as he turned to leave. I could only nod.

After Akito had left, both of us took a deep breath.

"You never told me that the head of your family is so spooky", I said to Hatori, still recovering from the shock. "I am sorry", he replied. "I had no idea … Akito had never mentioned anything about wanting to meet you. But I guess I should have seen it coming, now that you already know the other members of the zodiac …" Hatori took my hand. "Are you alright?", he asked anxiously. "Yes, I'm fine", I assured him. "When I think about it, Akito wasn't that bad … He was very polite." Hatori didn't say anything to that.

"Hari, Hari!" The door opened again, and Momiji appeared, looking upset. "Akito wants to see Kari!", he warned us, waving his hands frantically. Hatori sighed. "We know", he told him. "He has already been here." "Oh." Momiji paused, still clearly worried. "Nothing happened", I assured him. The boy smiled relieved. "Good!", he said. "I heard Akito talk to Kureno and I was scared …" He laughed happily. "But you're alright!" And with that, he hugged me, naturally turning into a rabbit in the process. I giggled.

"Who is Kureno?", I wanted to know. "The rooster of the zodiac", Hatori answered, as he collected Momiji's clothes. "But I doubt that you will ever meet him, like the others. No one does." "Kureno lives with Akito and is not allowed to leave his side", Momiji explained. "That's why hardly anyone has ever seen him. Some members of our family doesn't even know he exists." "But this is terrible!", I said, deeply moved. "Kureno must be so lonely!" "It's Akito", Hatori replied calmly.

I swallowed hard. No one should be allowed to treat people like this! Especially their own family.

The romantic mood was spoiled. Momiji left, Hatori and I soon went to bed afterwards. Me, meeting Akito seemed to have upset him … I can still see the look on Hatori's face, as Akito had talked to him … a mix of fear, anger and helplessness. But as ever, he didn't want to talk about it. Yet, I knew … Kureno wasn't the only Soma, who was caged by Akito and his orders …

Time passed … Hatori was busy as ever with treating Akito. "Akito-san is waiting for you", as a maid once told him, when I was there. "You know how he gets when he has to wait …" Hatori groaned, but followed the orders. And I couldn't help but think, that it was exactly, what Akito wanted: To keep Hatori occupied, so that he couldn't spend much time with me. I never said anything about this to Hatori though. He seemed already troubled enough. And, as long as I could still be with him, I was happy. Hatori was my one in a million … Being with him was like a dream … but all dreams must end. I didn't know that catastrophe was about to follow …

…

Two month had passed, since Hatori had seen me dancing in the snow. But our love only had gotten stronger …

"I love you, Kari", Hatori whispered as we were snuggling on my couch. "I love you too", I replied and kissed him affectionately on his nose. That three little words can make you that happy …

"There is something, I have to ask you", Hatori said, now sounding serious. I looked up into his beautiful eyes. "Sure, what?", I replied, wondering what it could be. He seemed so secretive all of a sudden …

Hatori took my hand, smiling as his eyes met mine. "Kari, do you want to marry me?", he asked me gently. I squealed in reply. "Yes!", I answered, as I kissed him passionately. "Of course I want to marry you, Hatori!" "Good …"

Just like that … It seemed like the most natural thing in the world, that Hatori proposed to me. And that I said yes. We belonged together … Forever …

…

Naturally, there was one thing to consider: My parents still had no idea that I was with Hatori. I never told them. If they would have known about us, they would have immediately stormed into the Soma house and questioned poor Hatori about marriage and sons. I really wanted to spare him this frightening experience!

"I am looking forward to meeting your mother and your father", Hatori told me the following morning. He seemed nervous though. I understood. Neither of us had ever been in a relationship like this before. And, beside that, there was –

"But I think we should wait with telling them." Hatori's eyes searched mine, as he tried to find the right words for what he wanted to say. "It would be best, if we talk to Akito first."

All out of a sudden we went silent. Of course … I had been so happy with Hatori proposing to me, that I hadn't thought about the head of the Soma family. Well … It was only logical that Hatori would tell him about our plans … Especially, when there was the curse to consider …

And, as I had learned, Akito always had the final say, when it came to family decisions. If only I wouldn't get this cold and numb feeling, everytime he was mentioned! He had been very polite to me at our first meeting … yet I couldn't help but think that there was more to this … I was still an outsider, an intruder into the isolated world of the Somas.

"Do you think he will refuse to give us his blessing?", I asked Hatori, unable to keep the anxiety out of my voice. He smiled in reply and squeezed my hand encouragingly.

"Don't worry", he said soothingly without looking at me. "Everything will be fine, I promise!"

"That doesn't sound very convincing", I replied sceptically.

"Akito might just need … some time to process the news", Hatori tried to explain. "Sometimes, he can be … unpredictable." I raised an eyebrow, suspicious. What was that supposed to mean?

"Akito easily loses his temper", Hatori continued, facing his tea cup instead of me. "When he gets angry …" "You mean like Hatsuharu, when he goes black?", I asked, now really starting to get worried. I couldn't imagine someone as fragile and weak as Akito Soma to go all berserk, but …

"No", Hatori replied, a strange tone in his voice. "He is far worse."

"But –", I stammered. I didn't understand! Akito must be almost ten years younger than Hatori, Shigure and Ayame. So why was he so scared of him? I didn't knew … Would things have turned out differently? Maybe it had been my fault after all …

Hatori smiled lovingly, as he noticed my confused and scared face. "There is no reason to worry", he tried to dispel my doubts. "I just think it would be best, if I talk to Akito first. Alone", he added.

Finally, our eyes met. "No way!", I said resolutely.

"What?" Hatori was surprised at the firmness and determination in my voice. I nodded.

"There is no way, I'm going to let you talk to him alone!", I repeated. "I want to be by your side!" I placed my hand on his. "After all, I am your future bride", I joked. Hatori had to laugh. "You're right", he agreed. He paused for a moment. "Alright, you can come with me", he said, seemingly against his better judgement. "But promise me to be careful and always stay with me and do what I tell you!" The urgency in his voice made me smile. "I promise!"

Hatori gently touched my cheek. "Everything is going to change …", he murmured thoughtfully. "Are you scared?", I asked softly. He shook his head. "No", he answered calmly. "Are you?" "Never." So it was decided … We would talk to Akito. And nothing would ever be the same again …

…

"Are you nervous?" Hatori and I were standing in front of the main building of the Soma complex. We were about to talk to Akito … "No", Hatori replied, seeming completely calm and serene. Unlike me.

"Good", I replied, now shaking. "Me neither." Hatori grinned. "Really?", he asked, already seeing through me. "Of course", I said, trying to hide how frightened I was. Hatori giggled.

"You are a terrible liar", he told me. "Thanks", I shot back ironically. "It's just …" I had a bad feeling. I couldn't explain it, it was there. Akito was like the dark mystery man of the Somas that everyone feared. What, if he really would get angry, when we told him we wanted to get married?

"Let's elope!", I said and grabbed Hatori's arm. "What?" He looked at me, surprised. "Just go, run off", I repeated. "We can have a small wedding, just the two of us. Our families don't have to be there!" What was I talking?! My nervousness made it impossible for me to control what I was saying!

Hatori smiled. "Come here …" He leaned his forehead against mine. "It's going to be fine", he promised me. "Trust me." "I trust you", I replied, feeling immediately better, knowing that I had Hatori by my side.

"Then let's do this and get it over with", Hatori said, gently pulling me with him. "I don't want us to hide from others!" "Thanks." I kissed him sweetly. "And you're right." "I am always right", Hatori replied firmly, making me laugh. He paused a moment.

"Just stay with me", he added. "And never look Akito directly in his eyes, only to be sure." I raised an eyebrow sceptically. "You are only making me more nervous than I already am, you know that?" Hatori chuckled. "Come on, crazy woman", he said, taking me by his hand.

"Promise me not to call me that in front of Akito", was the last thing I could utter, before we disappeared into the house.