Chapter One: I, Zikaki Kagami
It felt as if Zikaki's heart was being ripped out of her chest. Her lungs unable to inhale, her eyesight blurry and her movements painful and slow, she ran as fast as her unwilling body would permit. She didn't like to run anyways, she never was all that fast. But this made it worse, far worse. It was like being a fly trying to move in molasses; desperately trying to fight the substance that had entrapped it and eventually would consume it, and end it. But she had to keep moving, no matter what, she couldn't stay in that place, or something far worse would happen. So there she was, running frantically on the side of a street she didn't know, in a direction she wasn't aware of, clutching her burnt, throbbing right arm.
She heard the feet of those she was frantically trying to evade, getting closer and closer. Thump, thump, thump went several pairs of feet behind her as Zikaki remarked on how the sounds of their footsteps were louder and faster than her heart was. The farther she got from them, the more she could breathe, could see, could feel. The more she could be alive once again. But only for a second did it last, as with her slowing speed her pursuers caught up more and more, having the seconds that she grabbed at when she was just far ahead enough to gasp in a treasured breath of air, getting cut down more and more until it was finally that she could no longer breathe, or see, or bare to keep her limbs moving, the sounds becoming more and more apparent.
Finally, when she could take no more, her lungs cruelly devoid of any left remains of oxygen, her heart tired and her legs no longer willing to progress, she collapsed into a motionless heap, her consciousness darkening as she felt IT trying to take over again. She willed it away, but alas, was not strong enough to even lift a finger of defiance to the unseen entity that lie dormant within her soul, creeping over her mind, overriding her senses into that of pure instinct, hatred, and bloodlust. She managed to push herself onto her back to await her fate.
She let out an inaudible sound at how hopeless the situation was, how terribly she wanted to take a nap, to leave the cold overtaking her and go to someplace warm where she could stay forever. It sure seemed like a way better place to be than this. How? How could this have happened? Her family was always so careful, so cautious. Their mere existence revolved around avoiding THEM until the Harvest Week, which didn't really matter since none of her family ever saw any of them at all that one single week in the year, except for one.
She doubted the rest of them even knew about Harvest Week. The only person that was one of them that she and her small family saw in that entire week, that agonizing week that was mandatory since the dawn of time for her family, was the leader of them. Zikaki couldn't remember her name, her brain was shutting down. This week was required, as said, to spend that one week in the Harvest Season together with at least one member of them, of that horrid family Zikaki's family hated so dearly. It was a secret gathering, and also, on her side of the family, a dark one.
There were many stories about the zodiac, of which only one is true. But never is the ENTIRE true story told. The story of the Original Zodiac is always left out, the one in which God casts aside the first zodiac God created, like they were mere experiments for something greater to come. Like broken playthings, doomed to an eternity of being outcasts, shunned and mocked for being replaced, an eternity of feeling broken and longing to be acknowledged again, for the light to shine in the dirty box they were thrown so carelessly into and loved again as beloved play friends. But no, there they sat, cold and alone, replaced by God's newer toys.
In the very beginning of time, God created the universe. Then, God became lonely, so he created five beloved animals to be his friends. They were the hummingbird, the Koi fish, the poison dart frog, the fruit bat, the turtle, and the panda bear. The animals were God's faithful companions, always by his side, ever loyal. But one day, God began to become bored, and decided to experiment creating new animals. He successfully created 13 new animals, so perfect that God immediately forgot about the original six. The first six animals were fine with this at first, they wanted God to be happy. But there wasn't enough room in heaven for all of them. So God cast down to the Earth the first six as they all aimlessly wandered the earth together, forgotten.
And so, every year, on that despised week, the week in which God cast aside the first life he created, the Kagami family was to meet with the family that had taken there places, like a big slap in the face. That was her name, Zikaki Kagami. Fitting last name isn't it? It means mirror, that's what they were known as, the Mirror Zodiac, just a reflection, nothing more. Zikaki was the panda bear. Zikaki was 14 years old with black hair and black eyes. Zikaki wore glasses. Zikaki couldn't talk. Zikaki liked to sleep. And Zikaki, like all of the other Kagami clan, all of the other Original Zodiac, hated the Sohmas, the family that had cast them down from heaven.
Other than the Harvest Week, Zikaki and her family was forbidden to be near the Sohmas. Or something very bad would happen. Just like the Sohma family, when a member of the opposite sex hugged them, they would turn into their individual animals. But, unlike the Sohmas, when the Kagamis were around the others, they would start turning into something…else. Not a panda bear, or a fish. No, some sort of horrible monster. Worse than the cat, the Kagamis could not ever change back if this were to occur. They would attack and kill everyone, except for their family. It would start just as Zikaki's had, the senses and organs shutting down till you're not aware of yourself deforming into some grotesque form, or of yourself ripping the skins off of all that stood in your path.
The Kagami clan worked oddly. When a new Kagami member was born, there was always just one, and they were always a member of the Mirror Zodiac. Six children were born, which made a Kagami generation. Any other child born would parish. And after any child was born, so would the mother. Soon, all but one Kagami member from the preceding generation died, just one to care for the new six. Then the cycle would repeat. That was how the Kagami clan was born. Adding to the feeling of isolation, especially for whoever was left alone from the last Kagami generation line.
Back to the matter at hand, those who were chasing after Zikaki were three members of the zodiac, the cat, and the girl that had caused this to happen. Zikaki could recognize them, recognize their scents. The rat, the cow, and the rabbit. And the cat. Then, of course, Tohru Honda, known far and wide by Zikaki's family as the girl who had uncovered the Sohma curse. They called it a curse, Zikaki would have liked for them to see what life as a Kagami was like, for people to hate you as soon as they met you, for no reason at all. Anyways, it had all started out as a normal day. Zikaki kept her head down. Zikaki paid attention to what Kaito was saying...kinda. Kaito was only 33, the last of the generation before hers. Kaito was the turtle. Zikaki thought Kaito was boring. But he'd never know that, on account of her not being able to talk.
So, Zikaki had been dropped off at her new school. High school. This was Zikaki's first day, and her anxiety was high. Kaito had patted her on the back and told her it would be fine and he'd be back at the end of the day to pick her up. She kept her head down as smiling, laughing, human faces passed by her, unaware of her existence. She walked into the hallways of her new school, and quickly found her locker. She saw a girl next to it, with brown hair and brown eyes. Zikaki quietly slipped next to the girl and quickly opened her locker, placing her belongings inside of it. She closed her locker and turned to leave, when the girl spoke to her. "Oh, hi there! Are you a new student?."
Zikaki flipped around again, and surveyed the smiling girl. She seemed nice, Zikaki liked her hair. But there was something about her, some sort of invisible force, propelling Zikaki away. Zikaki tried to smile, but gave up and just nodded. "Oh, that's great! I'm Tohru Honda, it's nice to meet you." Zikaki didn't catch the name right then, if she had she would have turned and fled, back home to never return again. Zikaki nodded at Tohru again and once again tried to smile, this time managing a small one, then looking down once more. "So, what's your name?" Zikaki froze. She hated being asked questions. Hated having the words but being unable to use them. Zikaki COULD talk, she knew words. But she literally had no voice at all. Like she was made without a voice box.
Zikaki opened her mouth, then shut it, then looked down, hanging her head. She brought her head up and put her hand to her mouth. Then she pointed to it and shook her head. Tohru understood and said "Oh, I'm sorry! You can't talk, can you?" Zikaki shook her head again. "Oh! I know!" Tohru reached into her bag and grabbed a pen and paper. She handed them to Zikaki. "You can write it, right?" Zikaki nodded and took the pen in hand, ignoring how when their hands touched, Zikaki received a sharp shock. In large letters she wrote her name, 'ZIKAKI KAGAMI', in bold, black ink. Tohru looked at it closely. "Zikaki? That's a nice name! Well, like I said, I'm Tohru, and it's nice to meet you!" In the next few seconds things would go from sorta okay to extremely bad. Tohru extended her hand, as Zikaki pondered her name, wondering where she'd heard it before, when out of the corner of her eye, as she reached for Tohru's outstretched hand, she saw one of them. He had purplish grayish hair, and purple eyes.
For any other girl, his face would be enough to swoon over constantly, but it made Zikaki's stomach churn. He had it all over him, everywhere. The scent, the look, of a Sohma. Zikaki stopped her motions, and realized what was propelling her from Tohru. She had the smell of Sohmas all over her. Zikaki's mind snapped together, realizing that this was the Tohru Honda, the same Tohru Honda who worked for and lived with the Sohmas. In the last second, as Yuki Sohma, the rat, approached them both, acknowledging Tohru, she tried to retract her hand before it touched Tohru's, she took a step back, and gripped the side of the lockers, ready to run. But Tohru grasped her hand to shake it, and Zikaki felt a feeling of horrible anger sweep over her, as if she could slap Tohru's face off right there. Zikaki didn't want to do that. But she knew what was making her think she did.
Tohru's hand send courses of shocks down Zikaki's arm, as she pulled away quickly, her arm visibly smoking with a sickeningly sour smoke. Only someone that was a Sohma, or covered with their sense, could do that. Zikaki gripped her hand and felt her heart beat increase till it hurt, then lower drastically. Her limbs suddenly felt heavy, and her eyes filled with a black liquid. She could feel them surrounding her. There were four now. They had appeared out of nowhere to Zikaki. The rat, Yuki, the cat, Kyo, the rabbit, Momiji, and the cow, Hatsuharu, were all around her now, and people were staring at her and her burning flesh. Zikaki did the only think she could. She turned, and ran. Out the door, her lungs burning, they followed quickly. Zikaki didn't know why they were following her, other than the fact that it was obviously there presences' that were affecting her. Burning her.
She heard them shouting after her, yelling for her to stop, trying to reason with her, feet racing to catch her as she started out at a darting pace, then eventually slowed to where she is now, on her back, nearly caught, all resolve gone. She closed her eyes, excepting her fate, when a pair of arms picked her up. Blurry images of someone she knew. Black liquid flowed from her eyes like tears or ink as the stoic face of Shizukani Kagami, the fruit bat, carrying her off, seemingly not affected at all by the Sohmas sickening aura. Zikaki should have expected that, Shizukani trained to maintain sanity against the Sohmas presence. Shizukani was one year older than her. Shizukani had pale skin, black hair and green eyes. He didn't talk a lot. That was good though, since neither did Zikaki.
She clung for life onto his white long coat as he swiftly and quickly darted from the area, Zikaki feeling her consciousness coming back, her lungs coming back from the verge of collapsing. She closed her eyes as the black fluid dried up and evaporated, as if it was never their at all. Shizukani set Zikaki down on a park bench. He crouched down to face her. Zikaki averted her eyes. She didn't like the thought of Shizukani thinking she was weak. She could be just as strong as him…if she wasn't the panda. "Are you alright?" He asked quietly. "…" Zikaki nodded slowly, kicking her feet, feeling the tingling sensation that comes after you move when you've been numb for awhile prick all over her skin. He blinked before grabbing her shocked arm and looking it over.
Zikaki jumped and felt her face heat up in embarrassment. She hadn't wanted him to see that, she expected to just go back to the house and get help from Kaito then, but with her Sohma infected burns, it would only show that she had been careless again. Zikaki didn't have a very good memory. She stayed silent as Shizukani assessed her wounds. Finally he stood up and pulled Zikaki up by her unscathed hand. "You need medical care. Come, we're leaving, I'm taking you to Kaito." He began walking towards the direction of what Zikaki assumed was where home was. She let out a soundless sigh as she happily realized that he wasn't about to scold her. She realized that he was gaining distance from her so she ran to catch up with him as she thought about what tomorrow would be like.
It's not like she could just stop going to school, people would get suspicious, come sniffing around. And Zikaki didn't want that, didn't want her family to pay for what she did wrong. So, she'd brave the school again tomorrow, and try and stick closely to her family that was starting tomorrow. Shizukani was starting tomorrow. So were the three other Mirror Zodiac members. The hummingbird, the Koi and the poison dart frog. Zikaki looked up at the sky, feeling cold, and wondering when the next Harvest Week was as she walked in comfortable silence, yet inside was dreading the morning to come.