The next day however, we had to face reality.
"What are we going to tell Akito?", I asked Hatori, when we were having breakfast.
"We" are not going to tell her anything", he replied calmly. "I will speak with her. Alone." The tone in his voice said clearly, that he would not let me come with him.
"You go and talk to your parents."
"What if Akito gets angry?", I asked Hatori, ignoring the last comment. "She was already furious just because we wanted to get married. If she now finds out, that I am –"
"Ecaxtly", Hatori cut me off. "I don't want you to be near her, when she hears that you are pregnant. Akito won't hurt me."
I sighed in desperation. Why did Akito have this power over the members of the zodiac? Why couldn't we just live our lives? Be free?
"Even if she manages to stay calm and listen to you, this won't solve the problem", I said. "Akito hates me, but if we want to live together and have a family, she has to like me. Or at least, to tolerate me and not feeling the urge to kill me, everytime we meet."
I looked at Hatori. "You know, that I am right." He waited for a few seconds, until he answered. "Yes, I know."
I got up. "Than it is clear, what we have to do." I would have to speak with her. Not Hatori or anyone else. Me …
Hatori sighed, as he realised, that I wasn't going to change my mind. "But I will come with you!", he said the tone in his voice allowing no protest.
I nodded. "Okay."
But first, I wanted to tell my parents. I had kept my realtionship with Hatori a secret far too long. It was time for them to know. Especially now, that they were about to become grandparents.
Their reaction was as I had expected:
"A baby!", my mother clapped her hands together in happy disbelief. "So you are finally getting married!" She stopped for a second. "But we don't even know the father!", she said reproachfully. "Who is he?"
My father of course was far more interested in knowing, whether he would get a grandson or a granddaughter.
"It is way too early to see if it is a boy or a girl", I told him. "And at the moment, I don't really know if we are getting married", I said to my mother. Depending on Akito and her reaction …
"What does that mean?!", my mother asked, clearly shocked. "Of course you'll marry him! It would be a disgrace, for you and the baby that would be born a bastard!"
I rolled my eyes. "Mom, this aren't the Middle Ages anymore!"
Then, I made the mistake of telling my parents that the head of Hatori's family didn't really … like me.
"What?!", my father now replied, sounding insulted. "Does he think you are not good enough?! Doesn't these people know who you are?!"
In the end, I promised my parents to introduce them to Hatori as soon as possible. I left, hoping they wouldn't storm into the Soma main house while I wasn't around. Luckily, they only knew Hatori's first name. I hadn't mentioned that he was a Soma. I felt guilty, for not telling them, but as long, as Akito still saw me as a thread to her and her family, I thought this was the best.
As I returned to Hatori, I thought about, what I should say to her. I remembered what Hatori, Shigure and Kureno had told me about Akito. Her greatest fear was, to lose the members of the zodiac. To be alone. Maybe, if I could show her, that I didn't intend to steal Hatori away from her or the Somas, but on the contrary, to become a part of their family, she would understand? If I would take away her fear, of me, robbing her of her family, then she had no reason to despise me anymore. Right?
But one thing I was certain, as I protectively put a hand to my stomach. I would never let Akito hurt Hatori or our child. Never.
…
"So, you are really sure about this?" Hatori looked at me thoughtfully, as we were standing in front of the Soma main house, where Akito lived. He must have noticed how nervous I was. But I had made my decision. I nodded. "Yes." Hatori grabbed my hand.
"Than let's go."
Akito's room was still as dark, as it had been the last time, I was there. The head of the Somas was sitting on the floor, sitting on his hand was a little bird. It reminded me strangely of a fairy tale.
She didn't look at me once, as Hatori and I sat down. This time, it was him, sitting behind me. I had to do the talking today …
"Hello Akito." I lowered my head politely. Akito moved slightly.
"So you are still here", she said, slowly turning to me. "You're even stupider than I thought. And rude. I assumed you would have the decency to go after what had happened."
I knew that she meant Hatori's eye with that. I managed to stay quiet, putting a hand soothingly on Hatori's, as he wanted to stand up.
"I am sorry that you think of me like that, Akito-san", I replied calmly. "But there is one thing you should know."
I knew that I had to be very careful now. If Akito would get upset, it would be almost impossible to soothe her again.
"I understand that I am not a member of the Soma family", I began. "I don't share this close bond that connects you all. The curse or your life is none of my business."
I noticed how Akito stayed silent. Was this a good sign? Getting more brave, I looked up.
"But I would really like to become a part of the Somas", I continued. "To get to know you, to stay with Hatori." Akito didn't respond.
"And I am pregnant."
The words were out before I could stop myself. I had enough! Akito was about five years younger than me, she certainly had no right to try and keep me from Hatori! The only person who could do that was Hatori by telling me so. And no one else!
I felt Hatori moving behind me, ready to protect me if necessary.
Akito turned. I straightened up, preparing to defend myself. I couldn't see her face, it was covered by her hair, but I could tell that she was furious.
I was almost expecting Akito to attack me, when suddenly I saw something moving in the shadows behind her.
Kureno. The whole time, he had been sitting quietly in the dark behind Akito. But now he came forward, putting an arm on her shoulder. "Akito please …", he said softly. She struggled to get free. "Don't!", she hissed. "This little, insolent –"
"Wait!", I interrupted her. I bowed my head.
"Akito-san, neither do I want to steal Hatori away, nor do I assume that I would know anything about the curse or the Somas. I just want to be together with Hatori … I could move in with him. Hatori would still be here. He would be your doctor, as usual. Nothing would change, you wouldn't even know that I'm here …"
Hatori got up behind me. "Kari belongs to me", he said. "I love her, the others all like her. She already is part of our family, my family. So, if you really want us to be happy, you finally accept her."
Deathly silence … I think Akito was too shocked by Hatori's speech to say something.
Kureno leaned forward, still holding a friendly but tight grip on her.
"It's okay", he said softly to Akito. "Shh …"
He lifted his head and nodded in our direction. "Go", he formed silently with his mouth. I felt Hatori, taking my arm. Looking at Akito, we went outside.
…
"She didn't kill us. I can't believe it, Akito didn't kill us", I stammered. "I thought she was furious. Did you see the look in her eyes?"
"I know", Hatori nodded.
We were back at Hatori's house, sitting in his living room.
Hatori sighed. "There are now only two options, how this could go on", he said, half-joking. "Either Akito decides to give us her blessing, or she throws us both out."
"Yes …"
I looked quickly at Hatori. "Are you okay?", I asked. "Much has happened today … it is your family after all."
He smiled. "I'm fine", he assured me. "There is no turning back now and this is good. It was time. To be honest, I think we should have done this much sooner." He kissed me softly on the lips.
"Now we can only wait", I said thoughtfully.
And the waiting was grueling.
I could imagine that Kureno was trying his best to sooth Akito. Thankfully, he had been there and safed us from her wrath. But what was to become of us now? Slightly nervous, we waited for Akito's decision, snuggled together at the kotatsu.
If only I could stay with Hatori …
It was evening, when Kureno appeared at Hatori's house.
"Akito sent me", he told us. "What did she say?", Hatori and I asked him in unison.
Kureno chuckled shortly, before he faced me.
"You and Hatori will get married", he said. "You will move in with him. You and your child will live, according to the rules of our family. You may see your parents or friends, outside the Soma main house whenever you want. They are not allowed to come in here. Any mention of the curse or other details about our family are strictly prohibited."
I listened closely. "Does that mean … Did Akito give us her blessing?", I asked sceptically.
Kureno nodded, smiling. "If you fulfill these conditions set up by her."
I looked at Hatori. "It is your choice …", he whispered.
"Be careful, Hikari-san", Kureno said quietly. "Once you've made your decision, you can't turn back."
I didn't have to think twice. I wanted to be with Hatori. He was my love, my family.
"Tell Akito I accept her conditions", I said to Kureno.
…
So it was decided: I was to live with Hatori and become a Soma. Even if it was "just" through marriage.
And the Somas certainly did not waste any time: Already the next day, we started to move my clothes, books, CDs and other belongings to Hatori's house. Yuki and Kyo were helping, carrying the heavy things, which at first seemed a good idea, but …
"Watch it, ratboy!", Kyo snapped angrily, as he and Yuki were taking a particularly heavy box, filled with my favourite books, to the living room.
"What are you talking about?", Yuki replied condescendingly. "I'm not the clumsy one here. Stupid cat!"
"Hey!", I intervened at this point, before Kyo could try to kill Yuki. "No murders in front of the books!"
Yuki immediately lowered his head. "I am sorry, Hikari-san", he said politely.
Kyo grumbled. "Why do we have to help her anyway?", he mumbled.
"Because she is not allowed to carry heavy things, stupid cat!", Yuki replied contemptuously.
"Ah, right", Kyo muttered self-consciously. "And stop calling me stupid cat, ratboy!", he screamed furiously.
I sighed, as the two were bickering back and forth.
"Well, they are certainly getting along better, than they used to", Hatsuharu, who was standing next to me, said, shaking his head. I giggled.
In the meantime, Ayame was sewing maternity clothes for me like mad.
"This is very sweet of you, but you really don't have to do this!", I told him.
"Ah, ah!", Ayame said reproachfully, wagging his finger at me. "Just because you are pregnant, this doesn't mean that you have to stop dressing elegant", he explained to me, sounding like a teacher. A train at full speed would have been easier to stop than Ayame, so I just smiled and said thanks.
And of course, Ayame also created my wedding dress, together with Mine. Yes, Hatori and I got married.
Three weeks, after we had talked to Akito.
It was a beautiful wedding, just like I always had dreamed of (well, I didn't dream that I would be pregnant, but … anyway) …
It was a traditional, Japanese wedding. And every single person was there … the members of the zodiac … even Akito had come, as the head of the Soma family, Kureno was standing next to him (very much to Shigure's dismay, I might add …). Mine was there, together with Ayame. Kazuma had also been invited (by Kyo, I think he wanted him to help Kyo to keep Kagura away from him). Ritsu had taken his mother to the wedding.
What was very important for me was, that also my parents and Mitsuru were there. I had told Akito that I would only marry Hatori like she wanted me to, if I was allowed to invite my family. After throwing a tantrum, Akito said yes.
But none of this really mattered in the end. I was going to marry Hatori. He was to be my husband, the father of my child. I would be his wife. That was the only thing, I could think of, when I was standing next to him … Hatori …
…
People always say that marriage changes everything. Well, to be honest, it didn't. Not for Hatori or me at least. We had already practically lived together, when Akito still hated me, sharing our lifes. To me, it had felt like being a married couple.
The only thing that was different now, was that I had access to the whole Soma complex. That was, how I got to meet Ren, Akito's mother. I saw her, creeping around the main house. She was beautiful … With long, raven –black hair and dark eyes, just like her daughter. Ren didn't see me though.
I didn't dare, talk to her. I remembered, what Hatori had told me about her … that she was weak and emotionally disturbed, in a constant fight with Akito … No, I really didn't want to meet Ren Soma.
As the months went by, I stopped working at the bookstore. I spent now much time at home, writing. Whenever he wasn't busy, with treating Akito, Hatori got to read my stories or poems.
"You are a great writer, Kari", he said to me once. "An artist. Truly, you are." That he said that, meant everything to me …
…
But there was already another surprise waiting for us: Hatori and I were ging to be the parents not just of one child, but of two … twins. That was, what my doctor said to me, with a huge smile on his face.
When I told Hatori, Shigure was also there. He had stopped by for a visit. At first, Hatori couldn't respond to the news, because his cousin was having a fit of laughter and made it impossible for him to say anything.
"Haha, haha …", Shigure was rolling on the floor laughing. Hatori looked at him, clearly disgusted.
"You are ten!", he said scathingly.
"I am sorry", Shigure managed to reply. "It's just …" He pointed at me, still laughing.
"You are going to be so fat!"
He then stopped laughing, because Hatori made moves to strangle him.
Not that Shigure wasn't right. With every passing month I started to feel more and more like a stranded whale.
And then …
On the twenty-fourth of November, one month before christmas, on the day of the first snow that year, Hatori and I held our babies in our arms for the very first time.
"They are perfect", I whispered, as I was marveling at how tiny and perfect those little fingers of our daughter were. "A beautiful baby girl and baby boy."
"Our own miracle", Hatori said, kissing me. He was holding our son.
Never in my life would I have thought I could feel like this … It was perfect, complete … I had never known, what life or love really was … Until now.
I was looking our little daughter, fast asleep in my arms. "She has your hair and your eyes", Hatori noticed. I gently touched the hair of our tiny son, safe in the arms of his father. "But he takes more after you."
Our eyes met and we both smiled. This was, what Hatori and I had been waiting for so long … A family, love … Now we had finally reached the place, where we had to be.
…
Of course, also the others wanted to see the new Somas. Already the next day, every member of the zodiac (except Kureno) had come to greet the new family members.
"They are so tiny", Kyo said, starring at our children completely fascinated, like he had never seen a baby before. The normally so rude Hiro was suddenly very quiet.
"It is a good thing you two are good-looking", Ayame commented. "Your son and daughter are going to be very beautiful, I can see that."
"Thanks, Aya", Hatori replied, his voice full of sarcasm.
"How are you going to name them?", Momiji asked us curiously. Hatori and I shortly looked at each other.
"Well …"
"To be honest, we didn't really think about names before", I admitted. So much had happened during the last months that we completely forgot to give our children names.
Hatori was looking at our son. "How about Hikaru for him?", he asked me.
"How romantic", Kagura sighed immediately. "Like his mother!"
I giggled. "Hikaru … Yes, I like that name!"
"And what about the girl?", Momiji wanted to know. I chuckled.
"Oh, I already have a good name for her", I replied, facing him. "Usagi."
Promptly, a huge grin appeared on Momiji's face. "Rabbit!", he said thrilled, clapping his hands together.
"Usagi and Hikaru …", Hatori said quietly, smiling. "Sounds perfect!"
…
On the next day, Kureno visited me, on behalf of Akito to see the new family members. He laughed quietly, when Usagi grabbed one of his fingers.
"They don't seem to be affected by the curse", he noticed thoughtfully, as I held Hikaru in my arms.
"No", I nodded. "But this might be because all members of the zodiac are now alive, so …"
I knew what Kureno had wanted to say. It might have been possible that Hikaru or Usagi could transform into a rooster. But at least for now this didn't seem to be the case.
Kureno left.
"You and Hatori are lucky", he said. "Usagi and Hikaru are wonderful babies."
I watched him go. Kureno seemed so lonely … so sad. I thought of Hatori. He and his family was still under the curse … Akito still ruled their life … that of my children …
"I just hope that Shigure is right and the curse will lift itself soon!", I thought, as I gently let my fingers run through Hikaru's hair.
Yes, if I had one wish free for Hatori and Usagi and Hikaru, it would be that the Soma curse finally would break! So that they could be free …
…
The next year was one of the most stressful and one of the happiest times in my life. I wrote, Hatori still was the doctor for the Soma family and together we cared for Hikaru and Usagi. It was unbelievable exhausting, it was tiresome and it was great! I wouldn't change a thing.
I enjoyed my time with Hatori and the kids so much, that it almost seemed like a dream. To good to be true … When I was with Hatori, Usagi and Hikaru, I felt more at home than I had ever with my parents. Curse or not.
And then, two years after I had met Hatori, another outsider stumbled into the life of the Soma clan:
Toru Honda, a classmate of Yuki (and later also of Kyo) started to live at Shigure's house. We became friends immediately, almost like sisters really. As Shigure liked to say, we were very much alike.
Maybe it was Toru's complete lack of selfishness, her friendliness and unconditional acceptance of the Soma's and their curse, but the minute I saw her, together with Yuki and Kyo, I knew that my wish had come true:
Toru was the one to break the Soma curse.
"I think that the curse started to get weaker and weaker, the minute I met you", Hatori once said to me. "Now with Toru Honda, the curse finally lifted."
We don't know how, we don't know why. But after years of pain, after Akito had let out her anger at Rin and Kisa and tried to use Toru for getting Yuki and Kyo back, the Soma's were free.
It was evening. I had just put Usagi and Hikaru to bed. I watched them sleeping, when I suddenly felt Hatori behind me, putting his arms around me.
"It's over", he whispered into my ear. "I could feel it, when it happened."
I turned around, for the first time in Hatori's arms.
"So, how is it?", I asked him softly.
Hatori pulled me closer.
"As if I would have been reborn."
Later that night, when I was lying next to Hatori, with his arms protectively around me, I thought about the Somas.
Rin, who finally had got her Haru back, their love freed from the curse.
Kyo, who had met with Toru someone, who would never leave his side, no matter what.
Yuki, who had found in Machi Kuragi the soulmate he had been searching for.
Kureno, who was happy with Uo-chan.
Akito, who finally had started to live as a woman, together with Shigure.
The Soma's had found their happiness. And maybe that was the reason, why the curse had gone. So, the fairy tales had been right all along …
"Hikaru and Usagi don't know anything about the curse", I said to Hatori.
"We could tell them", he replied.
"Yes ..."
I snuggled closer to Hatori. Yes, one day, I would tell our children … Our story. A story about a family … a story about a curse … a story about love. The story of the Soma family.
It all started once upon a December …