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Chapter 2

My announcement immediately caused an uproar in the guild. While I waited for things to settle down, I thought about the conversation I just had.

"That's right Haru, we never finished our last fight" Kyo sneered at Haru.

"Stupid cat, ox, remember the reason we came here." Yuki scolded them then turned to me with a smile, "Lucy-chan! I missed you!"

"I missed you too. I missed all of you." I almost cried remembering the sadness and loneness I felt when my mother had taken me away from the Sohma household.

"A-Akito sent us. I'm sorry Luce." Haru told me hesitantly.

"So, Akito wants me back, huh?" I mused over this new piece of information.

"I think she wants all of the Zodiac back together." Kisa told me with her golden eyes stretched wide.

"All of us?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, even Kyo." Tohru confirmed.

"And she's going to cause trouble if I don't comply, right?" I smirked at the thought of Akito throwing one of her tantrums like before the accident happened.

"Maybe." I could tell from the slight curve of Tohru's mouth that she was thinking of the same thing. After the accident and before Mama took me and left, Tohru, Akito, and I had become good friends.

"Alright, let me go back to the guild and tell them I have to leave, okay? And I'm not telling them about the curse."

"Lucy! Why do you have to leave?" Natsu yelled at me.

"Yeah Lucy!" Happy started crying.

"Oi, Natsu, shut your cat up!" Gray snapped at Natsu before turning to me, "Lucy?"

"QUIET!" the Master bellowed then turned to me once the guild have quieted, "Lucy, would you explain why you have to leave?"

"Of course, Master." I began calmly, "First, I would like you all to know that my last name is Heartfilia by marriage. My mother came from the Sohma family and I am Sohma by blood. Long story short, I have to return to my family. I don't know how long I will stay or if I am ever coming back so I would like to quit the guild." This caused an even bigger uproar then my first announcement.

"WHAT?!"

"Lu-chan, why?"

"Eh, Bunny Girl?"

"WHY?"

"Lucy! What'll happen to us?"

The last shout came from Loke. I was even sadder at this, "I'm going to have to-"

"Wait, Lucy-chan, Akito gave permission for you to keep them if you want." Yuki interrupted me.

"Really?" I was shocked but I smiled, "Well then, I guess that means that you guys will stay with me if y'all would like to." I thought of something just then and glanced at Yuki. He nodded, silently giving me permission. "Um, Loke, I need you and all the rest of my spirits to know something. Can I talk to you later?"

"Of course." Came the reply from my curious spirit.

"Thank you." I turned back to Master, "I'll come back if I can, alright?"

"Of course Lucy. Remember that this will always be your home and we would welcome you back anytime." The master said sadly.

"Thank you. I'll never forget any of you." I tried to stop myself from crying as my friends came up to me to say their goodbyes- I still ended up crying though. When we were done, I went back to my house along with the other Sohmas.

"Open, Gate to the Lion Palace- Loke!" I summoned my spirit.

"Lucy, what's happening?"

I looked at him sadly, "Have you ever heard of the Sohma family curse?"

"No" Loke denied, more confused than ever.

"This is it." Kyo hugged Tohru and proceeded to turn into a cat with a puff of smoke.

"What?! What happened to orange- haired dude?" Loke exclaimed, bewildered.

"I'm right here ya dimwit." Kyo spoke from Tohru's arms.

"A cat?!"

"Yep, the Sohmas are cursed. Thirteen members from the family are chosen and if they are hugged by anyone from the opposite gender, they turn into an animal from the Chinese Zodiac. You know how there are twelve Zodiac spirits? There are thirteen of the Sohmas possessed by the twelve zodiacs and the cat. There's the rat which is Yuki, the ox who is Haru, Kisa's the tiger, I'm the horse, Kyo's the outcast cat, and we have eight more people who aren't here." I explained while the rest of the Sohmas were just sitting there, "Ayame is Yuki's older brother and the snake, Hatori is the dragon, Shigure is the dog, Momiji is the rabbit, Hiro's the ram, Kagura's the boar, Kureno's the rooster, and Ritsu is possessed by the monkey. They aren't here. Akito is the head of the family and is our leader, much like you are the leader of the Zodiac spirits. Basically, I have to go back because Akito has called all of us back. That's what you should know, any other questions can be answered later. Could you tell the other spirits for me? And it's you choice whether you want to stay with me. If you don't I can find you a new owner."

Loke just stood there in shock for a few moments while the rest of us waited silently. "Of course, Lucy." Loke finally said and disappeared.

"So, I'm kinda glad I don't have to keep it in anymore." I muttered, "I haven't turned in years."

"That was Leo the Lion?" Kisa looked up at me.

"Yep sweetie, Loke is the leader of the Zodiacs spirits. They don't turn into animals when hugged but they have different appearances. I also have Taurus, Scorpio, Aries, Aquarius, Gemini, Cancer, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Capricorn." The conversation continued until Loke came back.

"Hime, we all are upset over this news but you're the kindest owner most of your spirits have ever had and none of us would like to lose you." Loke told me with a smile, even using the honorific "princess", "We would all love to stay under your hand and we will all protect you with our lives until the day you pass away."

"Thank you Loke." I started crying tears of happiness while everyone else smiled at me.

And then Natsu barged in.