God's Menagerie

Chapter 3: A Quest For Clues

She couldn't help it; Tohru was nervous. She walked along the path with Yuki, not really paying attention to where she was going, her thoughts fogging her vision.

It wasn't the Main House that scared her, no, she's been there multiple times before, even sneaking in once by herself. It was just...

Seeing the Cat House with her own eyes would mean that Akito hadn't lied to her at the summer home. It'd be true - Kyo would get locked up after graduation and she'd never see him again. Her shoulders slumped at the thought as a depressed sigh escaped her lips. But could she really let that happen? The frown that wormed it's way onto Tohru's face changed to a hard-pressed, thin line as her eyes narrowed in determination. Unconsciously balling her hands into fists, she nodded fiercely to herself. She still had a year! She would break the curse one way or another!

Yuki came to a sudden stop in front of her. Realizing it at the last second, Tohru broke from her thoughts with a yelp. Flailing, it took all of her power to not crash into him. He glanced behind his shoulder when he heard Tohru shriek, then gasped, quickly grabbing one of her pinwheeling arms to keep her from falling backwards. Cracking her eyes open, Tohru blinked before letting out a nervous laugh, "Thanks, Yuki-kun." Yuki watched her tug slightly on her summer dress, readjusting it, a small smile creeping onto his lips. Shaking his head slightly, he turned forward, amused at Tohru's antics.

Even though he didn't show it, Yuki didn't like where they were going, either. Not just the fact that Akito would be at the Main House, but the Rat honestly did not wish to see the Cat's future cage. It wasn't a subject commonly talked about between the Cursed, even more so when Kyo was around, which surprised everyone when Momiji brought it up.

"Guys," Momiji tried. He looked back and forth between Yuki, Haru, and Kyo. They were completely yelling at each other now. "Guys! Listen to me!" No effect. He glanced at Tohru and Shigure for help, but they were both trying to calm the others down. This was horrible. Momiji looked around, trying to think of something that would grab their attention. Coming up with nothing else, Momiji stood, and with a swipe of his hand, he knocked the game onto the floor, the board clattering loudly against the wooden surface. "Listen to me!"

Everyone stopped and stared at the Rabbit.

Momiji stood, red in the face and breathing heavily. Everyone was acting so childish. The Rabbit scanned the group, while rethinking what he was going to say next. He had to form his words correctly, or else the room would just erupt all over again. "Forget the message. This is a game." Momiji paused, allowing them time to let that simple fact sink into their brains. "So the game may not be able to be put away, okay, but we can stop playing it. And before you all start asking about where I found it again, why don't you just come and look for yourselves?"

The room was silent. Did Momiji just tell them to go to..? Kyo shifted from one foot to the other, crossing his arms. Then all at once, he swore, spun on his heel, and left the room.

So here Yuki and Tohru were, on their way to the Honke to snoop around in the Cat House. They were to meet Haru and Momiji by the secret entrance in the wall. When Yuki and Tohru left Shigure's, they didn't bother telling Kyo, since last night the Cat was less than pleased at Momiji's idea and immediately left the room to seek refuge on the roof, where Tohru found him in the evening before retiring to bed.

Looking both ways, Yuki started to cross the street and Tohru trailed along beside him, trying to concentrate more on where she was going and not getting lost in her thoughts. They were almost at the Main House; it was just a couple blocks away, and as they neared, Tohru couldn't help but think of Kyo again and graduation. Completely wrapped in her thoughts once more, Tohru could imagine him yelling at her, telling her not to worry about him, that he'd be okay. But then it struck her, did Kyo even know that she knew about the Cat House? No one ever said the house's actual name yet, or what would happen after graduation. He wasn't there when Akito yelled at her, or when she talked to Kazuma about the curse. No one else knew that she knew.

"Oi! What are you, deaf? I said, WAIT UP!"

Tohru snapped her eyes open, stopping mid-step next to Yuki. Twirling around, her eyes lit up, instantly recognizing the orange head of hair running after them. "K-Kyo-kun!"

Yuki watched the Cat approach, face indifferent. "I thought you didn't want to come?"

Kyo finally reached them and bent over, his fingers digging into his knees as he gasped for air. It wasn't exactly a short trip from Shigure's to the Honke. "You never asked," Kyo replied, his eyes rolling up to look at the Rat, his chest heaving up and down, welcoming the supply of oxygen.

Yuki glanced away, and waited for the Cat to get his breathing under control. They were almost at the Main House, and Yuki could feel it, the nervousness biting at his insides, the worry and the "What if's" infiltrating his brain. What if Haru and Momiji weren't there? What if a lot of people were out today? What if they all got caught? What if they saw Akito? What if... Yuki forced himself to think of something else. The game. Yes. That's why they were here in the first place. To try to find out more about the game. But just thinking about that board game sent shivers up Yuki's spine.

With his heart rate back to normal, Kyo straightened himself out and asked, "So where's this hole we're supposed to meet at?"

Digging himself out of his thoughts, Yuki found his voice and said, "Just follow. I know where it is."

The rest of the walk was silent, save for cars driving by and the giggles of little kids playing outside. The sky was a contrast from yesterday, having no clouds in sight to help protect the teens from the sun. Tohru raised an arm and wiped it across her forehead, rubbing away the forming sweat. She kept in step with the boys at her side, and as they walked closer to the Main House, she couldn't help but think that despite the sunny day, a giant shadow was looming over them.

She stopped alongside Kyo when they reached the Sohma wall, cutting the Inside houses off from the rest of the world like a cage. Yuki approached a bush, pushing some leaves aside, and...he was talking with it? No, that couldn't be it. Suddenly, a tuft of blonde hair poked out from behind the bush and waved. Tohru's mouth curled into a smile. Momiji!

The Rabbit exchanged a few more words with Yuki before ducking back Inside. Yuki crawled in first, followed by Tohru, but Kyo remained standing before the hole, his feelings suddenly swaying. When he left this morning he knew they were going to go into the Cat's cage, but now he felt his heart pounding faster and for some reason he just couldn't breath in enough air. His face twisted into a mix of anger and panic. Why was he feeling this now?

"Kyo?" Momiji poked his head through the hole again. "Are you coming?" Sensing Kyo's unease, the Rabbit whispered, "It's okay if you don't want to..."

Suddenly snapping out of it, Kyo glared at Momiji. "What, you think I'm scared?" Receiving no response, Kyo scowled. "Well I'm not and I'm coming."

The five teens stood in the shadow of the wall, surveying the grounds for people. Tohru looked around nervously, remembering everything from when she was here last, sneaking in with Momo*. She looked at the rows of houses. Momiji-kun's was close by. But... "Where exactly are we going?"

Momiji smiled at her, not even glancing in Kyo's direction. "Where I found the game. It's across the grounds. We're gonna have to be very careful since you and Kyo aren't supposed to be here."

Kyo crossed his arms and turned his head away. "Yeah, yeah, let's just get this over with..."

And so they set out, Momiji taking the lead, followed by Haru, Yuki, Tohru, and finally Kyo bringing up the rear. Momiji wove them behind houses and through the shrubbery, pausing now and again when someone walked by. Only once the passerby was out of sight, did Momiji continue. The grounds were full of activity - kids playing outdoors, men and women talking on their decks, and some even tending to their gardens. Yuki suddenly cursed himself under his breath - he forgot all about his secret base. It was probably flooded.

Tohru was soon lost, not having any clue to as to where they were. Afraid to get separated, she unconsciously moved closer to Yuki. The Sohma grounds were so big! She walked on, observing the houses, the decks, the neatly kept lawns. Too bad she wasn't welcome here, it was a beautiful place, just like the Sohmas themselves. But as she continued to look at the houses, Tohru once again failed to notice Yuki stop in front of her.

As the familiar explosion sounded, Tohru snapped her head back around in surprise and gasped, "I'm so sorry!" Yuki landed safely on his clothes and looked up at Tohru, but before he could reassure her that all was well, she backed up in embarrassment only to bump into Kyo.

Haru and Momiji glanced back at the sounds, finding Tohru on the brink of hysteria. "I-I'm so sorry!" she sputtered, looking at Yuki, then Kyo, and then to Haru and Momiji. She took a step forward, then back, unsure of what to do. Not wanting to mess things up further, she plopped herself down in the grass. If she sat down, there would be a less chance of her transforming anyone.

Momiji giggled and pranced over to Tohru, crouching down. "It's okay, Tohru! Accidents happen." Then, he continued with a wink, "And besides, it wasn't your fault Kyo transformed. He should have been paying better attention."

Kyo stopping nosing his clothes, his head snapping up as he stamped his paw. "I don't need a lecture, you damn Rabbit!"

Yuki crossed his little paws and was about to add his own comment when he suddenly froze. He cocked his head to the side, ears twitching. He could have sworn he heard... His eyes widened when he heard it again, and closer. Footsteps! He broke into a run, bounding past the others and into the safety of a bush. Sighing in relief, he peeked out from between the leaves. It wasn't much longer when Kyo's ears perked, and soon the feline followed him into the hiding spot. "Couldn't you have hidden somewhere else?" Yuki muttered.

Kyo glared, then hissed. Damn Rat. Relaxing his stance, Kyo sat and looked away, not bothering to spy at what was going on. Haru and Momiji lived here, it's not like they were going to get into trouble. And Tohru... Kyo paused mid-thought. Shit. He forgot about Tohru! Kyo turned his head, meeting Yuki's panicked expression. At least he wasn't the only one.

"Stupid Cat, why didn't you tell Honda-san to hide!"

"Me!? You heard the footsteps first, why didn't you say anything!?"

Haru blinked, his mind still processing the fact that one moment, Yuki and Kyo were standing there, and the next they were gone. Momiji stood from his spot next to Tohru and looked at the Ox, then to the bush his cousins ran into. Then as they saw a figure rounding the corner of the house, realization dawned on them.

The person stopped mid-step, seeing two of the Cursed, a pile of clothes, and a girl who definitely did not live in the Sohma Estate.

"...Tohru?" Kagura stepped back, whispering in shock at seeing the girl.

Haru calmly rested his hands in his pockets, a smile playing on his lips. "Hello, Kagura."

Momiji gave her an excited wave before he squatted down, scooping his cousins' clothes off the ground. As he stood, he let out a laugh. "Guess it's good it's only you, right? Or else we would have been in trouble!"

Tohru sat, speechless, her mouth opening and then closing. Momiji was right, at least it was only Kagura, but still, what should she say? She opened her mouth once again to speak, but was interrupted by a resounding poof in the bush behind her. Instantly, she snapped her eyes shut.

Yuki and Kyo crawled their way out of the shrubbery, the action highlighted with bits of swearing as the branches scratched into their skin. Kagura's eyes widened at the sight, her hands suddenly covering her mouth in shock at seeing Kyo. He stood, cursing and dusting himself off.

"Of course someone would find us," he grumbled. Then snapping at Kagura, "Hey stop staring and have some decency! Wait until we have some freaking clothes on!"

"Ahh, but Ky-ooo, it's only Kagura, she won't tell on us!" Momiji chimed, putting one-hundred percent faith in his female cousin.

"Shut up!" Kyo growled, tugging his clothes back from Momiji. "It'd be best if no one saw us at all!" He violently shook his head, leaves falling out. He then tried to tame his hair, running his hands though it a few times, though some spots were still sticking up.

Yuki watched Kyo try to fix his hair and then followed suit, except he picked out the twigs instead of shaking his head like an idiot. Once they were dressed, the Rat called, "Honda-san, you can open your eyes now."

The initial shock started to fade as Kagura slowly brought her hands away from her mouth and worked her jaw to move, searching for her voice. When she found it, it was worried, scared, but caring. "Kyo, you idiot, why are you here? If Akito found out," she paused, her eyes falling on the brunette, "and to bring Tohru with you?" She bit back the urge to pummel him to a pulp. "You're so stupid!"

The Cat rolled his eyes before glaring at her. "Stop shouting, you're gonna get us caught."

Kagura clamped her mouth shut, eyes narrowing. Unconsciously her hand curled into a fist, and as she was about to step forward to knock some sense into him, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder and a calming voice near her ears. "Kagura, Kyo's right. You need to speak quieter."

Kagura's eyes shifted to Yuki. As the Rat pulled back his hand, Kagura caught it in her own. "Yun-chan, what's going on? Why are you all here?"

Yuki hesitated, and looked at the others for help. Receiving only blank stares, he sighed. Meeting the Boar's eyes again, he gave her a small smile. "We're...looking for something. We don't intend to stick around for very long, so you don't have to worry."

Kagura's eyes brightened as she broke into a grin. "Maybe I could help you look? What did you lose?"

Yuki bit his lip, unsure how to respond. "We didn't really...lose anything, we-"

"Let me help, please, Yun-chan?" Kagura begged, holding his hand tighter.

Aggravated, Kyo scowled. "Stop it. We don't need your help, so just leave us alone already!" Running a hand through his hair, he let out a frustrated sigh. His gaze shifted from the protesting Boar to the girl still seated on the ground. He rolled his eyes; Tohru was probably blaming herself. Quickly looking back to his cousins, he gratefully noticed Kagura's attention was still on Yuki. Kneeling down, he said, "Hey."

Tohru looked up, frowning. "Yes, Kyo-kun?"

Aware of the others possibly watching, he tried not to sound too caring. "Hey," he repeated. "Back there, that wasn't your fault, so I don't want to hear you try to say sorry. Got that?"

Tohru opened her mouth to argue that it was her fault, that it was her who bumped into them, but after one look at Kyo's glare, she shut her mouth and smiled. "Got it."

"Good," Kyo rose, offering Tohru a hand, and pulled her to her feet just as Kagura huffed and crossed her arms in defiance.

"Don't act like that, Yuki! I'm a part of this family, too..." The Boar looked at her feet, sad her cousins wanted to keep secrets from her. Finally giving up, she mumbled, "Fine, whatever. Forget you saw me." She offered Tohru a smile, then looked back to the Rat. "Just take care of her, okay?"

Yuki nodded, "Always." Seeing her satisfied with his answer, he looked back at the others.

Noticing Yuki's stare, Kyo dropped Tohru's hand and stuffed his own in his pockets. Feeling his face heat up, he called to the Ox and Rabbit. "Hey, we moving or what? I don't wanna be here any longer than I have to, so let's get this over with."

Momiji giggled and did a mock salute at Kyo. "Yes, sir!" Momiji skipped ahead, making sure the coast was clear. Waving them over, they continued. The Cat House wasn't too far off.

Kagura stood, watching them until they disappeared around the corner. Then, face set in determination, she quietly followed behind. Everyone says curiosity killed the cat, and as far as she was concerned, she had spent enough time around Kyo as children to have some of that curiosity rub off on her.

Without hesitation, Momiji bounded up the stairs onto the Cat House's deck and slid open the door. The others, however, weren't so eager to step inside. The house emitted the feelings of helplessness, agony, and depression.

Yuki slowly climbed the stairs, eyes locked on the dark doorway ahead of him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kyo still standing at the base of the stairs. The stupid Cat was so full of energy, it didn't seem right placing him inside a little room for the rest of his life. He wasn't really a house cat, but more of a stray, and that freedom would get ripped from him. As much as the Rat didn't want to admit it, Tohru helped him see that Kyo wasn't that bad. But still stupid, Yuki reminded himself. Very stupid. He stopped in front of the doorway, not really wanting to go inside.

Kyo hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. Taking in a deep breath, he tried to control his growing fear. He caught Yuki looking in his direction and growled softly in his throat. He didn't need any pity, and he didn't need Tohru realizing what this place was. Kyo pulled together his pride and suddenly walked up the stairs, passing Yuki roughly and following Momiji inside.

Even with the sunlight pouring into the doorway, it was dark - a lonely darkness, and Tohru found herself grabbing someone's hand just so she knew she wasn't alone. The game wasn't her concern anymore, and actually, she realized it never was. This was Kyo's future, and she had to break it. Hatsuharu glanced down at their joined hands, then smiled reassuringly at her, but she didn't smile back.

Momiji walked further into the house. All was bare except for a lone cot shoved into the corner, and a toilet in another. His legs moved him towards the cot before standing still. "This is it," he said, breaking the eerie silence. Momiji faced the group behind him, his voice soft. "This is where I found it."

Yuki tentatively brushed a hand against the fabric on the make-shift bed, only to immediately pull his hand back to his side, his fingers sore from the rough and itchy material. His face heated slightly, hoping the action went unnoticed. Clearing his throat, he asked, "It was just sitting here?"

Momiji nodded. "Yep. Right on the bed."

Yuki grimaced, thinking he'd find the floor more comfortable. Crouching down, he peeked under the cot, looking for a note or something, but his hopes were dashed as only the dusty floorboards stared back at him. Sighing, he brought a hand to his temple, the other keeping his balance on the floor. Did Akito know about this? Did he place it here? So many more questions crashed into his mind, each supplied without an answer. Yuki closed his eyes. Why didn't this make any sense?

Kyo shifted nervously, glancing around. Couldn't that damn Rat hurry it up? There were no frickin' clues so they could just leave already. He opened his mouth, but was stopped before he could utter his first complaint.

"This is..this is..where Kyo-kun will be staying after graduation, isn't it?"

Yuki winced. Momiji stared at his feet while Haru looked away.

Tohru regarded the Sohmas with somber eyes, already knowing the answer, but praying that Akito lied to her and that Kazuma misunderstood. Tohru removed her hand from Haru's and stepped towards Kyo. "Kyo-kun?"

Kyo's lips parted in disbelief. "I..." Words failed him, but what was he supposed to say? He felt that familiar urge to run. Fear crept inside him as his heart sped up, and he just wanted out. He wanted away. "I..." Kyo's eyes darted wildly around the room; everyone was staring at him now, waiting to hear what he had to say even though they all knew the truth. Finally his eyes landed on Tohru and felt his heart break. First one drop, then two. Tears leaked from her eyes and she didn't bother to wipe them away. With a defeated sigh, Kyo nodded his head, not trusting his voice. He stared at Tohru, watching the tears fall from her face. Mustering up his courage, he gently wiped them from her eyes and gave her a small smile. She wasn't supposed to know, she wasn't...supposed to care.

Tohru shrunk away at his touch. Then all at once, she lunged at him, her arms latching onto him tightly before the transformation kicked in.

"Y-Yun-chan?"

Yuki snapped his attention away from Tohru and Kyo, seeing Kagura clutching the doorframe of the Cat House.

"What's going on? Why did you come here?" She shook at the doorway with fear, her knuckles white against the frame. Kagura's shaking gradually changed from fear to anger as she noticed Tohru crying, clutching Kyo's cat form to her chest, and her three cousins just standing there. Her eyes narrowed, glaring at the Rat. "You shouldn't be here! This better not be some kind of joke because some of us don't find this funny," she hissed.

Yuki licked his dry lips, preparing to speak. What would he tell her? This certainly didn't go according to plan. When Momiji told him to come to the Cat House, Yuki didn't expect Kyo to tag along, for Tohru to know about the Cat's imprisonment, and for Kagura to find and follow them. After a few seconds of hesitation, he looked Kagura in the eye and finally spoke. "It's...a complicated matter. Whatever I would tell you, I doubt you would believe me, so it would probably be better to just show you." He really didn't want to. He was starting to have a bad feeling about the game. He tried to brush it off earlier, but...it wasn't just a game anymore.

Kagura wasn't looking at Yuki, but at Kyo and Tohru. The brunette had finally quit crying, but her face was red and her eyes were puffy. She was still holding onto Kyo, who put up no resistance. Shifting her focus back to the Rat, Kagura glared at him. "Show me what? It better be damn good."

Yuki shrunk back slightly at her biting words, but then waved for her to follow him, irritation leaking into his voice. "It's back at Shigure's. And yeah, it's "damn good"."

Kagura spun after him, spouting questions as she bounded down the stairs. Haru slowly followed, his hands stuffed in his pockets with Momiji trailing silently behind him.

Tohru took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. She didn't want to be here anymore, nor did she ever want to return. Letting go of Kyo, she placed him gently on the floor and turned around, but didn't walk out. She waited for the familiar poof and after another minute, she turned back around to find him fully dressed. Boldly, she took Kyo's hand in her own and led him to the door. But before she could step out, he stopped her. She glanced over her shoulder, trying to see what the problem was.

Kyo felt numb, but as he grabbed at the door to slide it shut, he noticed a piece of paper tacked to the inside of the door. He wanted to let it go, probably should have let it go, but he ripped it off and glanced at it anyway. To his surprise, the note was addressed to him. He felt Tohru staring, and he quickly stuffed the note in his pocket. He'd read it later, when he could escape to the roof and just forget about all that happened. Maybe he could even crash at Shishou's. Meeting Tohru's gaze, Kyo nodded for her to continue as he shut the door.

A/N: Oops! Tohru actually doesn't visit Kazuma or meet Momo until after school started, and it's still summer in this story. My bad :)