It's easy to forget in the morning what one should do. Usagi stretched annoyed that she couldn't sleep through the alarm clock. However, she conceded to the fact that school was important and that's where she should be. Her eyes darted around the room with a sleepy ire, and noticed once more her guardians had gone away. She shrugged not necessarily missing the instruction Luna tended to lay down, or Artemis's teasing that caused Luna to chase him around the room.

Without more of a conscious effort, Usagi was dressed, down the stairs and waiting for breakfast. Ikuko served her daughter and smiled pleasantly, amused that her daughter was actually making progress on getting to school early enough. Also, the fact that Usagi had been taking on more maturity. Kenji however, was waiting for his daughter to sit down so that he may speak out.

"Daughter." Kenji spoke up, and Usagi looked at him blearily. Sentences that started with that tone and word was never good news for her independence. "We have to talk." Kenji mentioned. Usagi winced, that was a terrible problem with that statement. Usagi smiled brightly, shoved breakfast in her mouth, jumped up and kissed Kenji on the cheek good bye.

"Hold that thought dad." Usagi stated, grabbing her briefcase. "I've got to get school now." She told him, and dashed outside. Kenji blinked while Ikuko covered a laughed.

Usagi whistled as she walked down the streets to the gate of her school. However, this morning was return to bumping into people. Usagi glanced up thinking it was Arisa, however, it was someone different. This person was currently peeking around the school gate looking for someone. The person turned to looked at Usagi who had bumped into her. "Sorry." Usagi offered while studying the person.

They had dark brown hair that cascaded over their unique backpack. Usagi gander at the backpack and figured that it might have been a cat. Anyway, she was more drawn in by the innocence countenance of the big grey eyes. The light green dress was enough to informed Usagi that the person was female. Usagi was also amazed to find the girl was shorter then her. So, she leaned down a little to present a bow of apology.

"Forgive my absentminded action." Usagi said while glancing down. "I'm Usagi." She added. The girl looked up, and then nodded hello.

"I'm Kagura." The girl greeted. Usagi glanced again at her to see Kagura gazing through the gate again.

"Who are you looking for?"Usagi inquired.

"Kyo-kun." Kagura answered. Usagi smiled at her, and then offered her a hand to shake.

"How about I help you search for him?" Usagi offered. Kagura smiled and ducked her head shyly with a nod. "Okay, what's he looked like?" Usagi asked.

"I'll point him out." Kagura stated a little strongly. Usagi glanced sideways at her, and then nodded with an even smile. However, that may have been completely useless, as Kagura shrieked before running off. Usagi blinked and traced the cloud path to see Kagura tackled someone. She figured it must of been Kyo, because there was an awful lot of shouting, joyful shouting. Usagi walked into school just in time to missed the yell of pain from the youth.

"Argh." Kyo got out before he was shoved to the ground. The squeal of happiness was enough to tell him who it was that hugged him to the ground. "Kagura, why are you here?" Kyo inquired with the bit of breath that still resided his lungs.

"Kyo, you haven't missed me?" The question was innocent, but the building flames in the grey eyes weren't.

"No." Kyo answered, sealing his fate, as the first fist buried into his skull. Minutes of terrible violence happened, before Tohru ventured a question.

"Kagura-chan, why are you here?" Tohru asked in concern. Kagura quit pummeling Kyo and glanced at Tohru with a smile.

"I have to escort Kyo-kun, and Yu-chan to the banquet, in case they forgot." Kagura answered, and the two dark gazes on boys were clear enough in their thoughts. They didn't forget, but they truly didn't want to go to any banquet that Akito would be at. Unfortunately, if they didn't go, well, there was no saying what the clan head may do. Tohru glanced concerned at the two boys before sighing.

"Don't worry Yuki-kun, and Kyo-kun, I'll get the notes from class for you." Tohru told them with a smile before going in. The two boys were to busy in their dark world to notice Tohru's words. Kagura dragged Kyo off the ground and hugged him tightly to her. Kyo squalled out, and tugged himself out of her arms. As such, the two unwilling Sohma's followed Kagura out of the school yard.

Usagi sighed, as school let out, her footsteps took her to where she was suppose to meet her tutor. She waited for thirty minutes for Momiji, who didn't show. Usagi shrugged, then turned to walked off toward Kisa's school. She arrived to see Kisa waiting for her with a proud smile on her face. Usagi raised an interested eyebrow as she walked up to her and hugged the young girl. Kisa blushed, and moved something behind her, a crinkling noise had Usagi smiling.

"What do you have there?" Usagi inquired, and Kisa shoved something in front of Usagi's eyes. Usagi smiled and gently moved the thing back so as she could see it clearly. For a twelve year old, Usagi was amazed by the talent she saw. It was a beautiful drawing of their first meeting, where Usagi was hugging the crying girl. Underneath in shaky cursive was 'Thank you,' and something else. Though it was so slanted that it couldn't be read. Usagi smiled, and hugged the girl before complimenting her on the drawing. Kisa offered her the picture to keep and Usagi nodded. She then picked up the girl and offered her a piggy back ride.

The piggy back ride was short, as Hiro ran up out of breath. He briefly smiled at the drawing that Usagi held, noticing the artists signature. Then he frowned darkly as he recalled his reason for rushing.

"Sorry, can't play today with you Odango-Atama, Kisa and I have to be somewhere." Hiro stated, and lightly grabbed Kisa's hand. Usagi nodded, and watched as they took off in a rush. Her eyes held confusion, but she merely shrugged and went toward Ayame's shop.

'Closed for an emergency.' Usagi read, and once again she was stumped by the strange behavior. Then she scolded herself for the comment, it was much to early to judge her boss's behavior. Smiling carefree she rushed home to catch up on some needed sleep.

Ayame sighed as the clan head paraded them in line before the rest of the Sohma clan. They were the inner circle, the elite, though most of the Sohma family didn't know about the reason they were the elite. The rest of the Sohma family was excluded to the fact that each of the twelve was a zodiac creature. Their clan head was known as God, and the cat was forced into a cage. He was then made of fun of for his animal's belief of the rat, not to mention the clan head blamed him for the curse that was put upon them.

It, which was the parade and thewhole banquet, was for the birth of the clan head. This was a large celebration. Ayame sighed at the last word, it wasn't any type of celebration he participated in before. His golden eyes trailed to the front of five people before him to see his fearful brother. He winced at the approximate distance between his brother and the clan head. Tired of his inability to help Yuki, he instead trace out the rest of the Mabudatchi Trio. Which of course was Hatori, who was directly before him, himself, and Shigure, who was five people behind him.

His musing were cut short as the parade ended within the confines of the main house of celebration. Ayame traced the line once more, but this time adding the rest of the names that he had ignored. 'Yuki, Haru, Kisa, Momiji, Hatori, myself, Rin, Hiro, Ritsu, Kureno, Shigure, and Kagura.' He thought, and then immediately as his footsteps sounded on the hard wood floor the line separated.

Hatori with Kureno went to check on Akito-sama, because of his constant illness. Kagura snuck out, and freed Kyo from his prison once more. It was at this that Kyo swore he would not return until he could be accepted into the family. Kagura sighed sadly at this as Kyo returned to the way of withdrawing. Ayame went over to his younger brother and began his conversation with him.

Though you couldn't call it a conversation, as Ayame was answering the questions he asked himself. Yuki looked ready to deck his older brother, and Shigure came to the rescue of both of them. Hiro brought Kisa over to a shadowed side and continued his conversation with her. Rin, and Ritsu just left, though not before Rin threw a meaningful gaze to the watching Haru. Haru merely turned from her and continued to watch the younger Sohma which included Momiji.

During all of this Akito watched with a sickening smirk. Watching and weighing the interaction that Akito could use to make the zodiac suffer and remain under their control. Darkness swallowed the clan's head eyes, their thoughts getting dangerous for the ones he thought about, and their eyes settled on the lonesome Yuki.

Luna swallowed as she observed the expression on the youth. Slightly concerned, she traced the youth's path to one of the one's from Usagi school. Artemis curled around her, as their ears caught several strange conversations.

They were still trying to adjust to what they had saw. When, what they considered the leader of the family, incarcerated Kyo in that small cage. Their had been a sick, twisted, pleased smile on the youth's face. As if this was a future promise for Kyo, if they hadn't been so concern with the princess's safety, they may have ordered her to check into this family. Yet, their insides twisted a little as they saw the clan's head motion to bring the young orange haired girl to him.

The young, sandy haired boy that was her companion, whitened as they watched. The clan head smiled as if to lower their defenses, and then roughly shoved the girl to the floor. The two older youths beside the clan head did not move, though they winced.

Luna and Artemis fought down their wants to help the young girl that reminded them of Hotaru. It could only end bad for all parties involved if they interfered. However, after watching this, they swore to allow Usagi to interfere, and stop trying to lead her away. It was obvious that their princess was needed in this group. So, resigned to this fact, they turned to leave, and was immediately caught. Eyes glared as they were picked up, and brought away from the wall. The only thing they could think to do was to meow and looked pitiful. This seemed not to amuse their captor, for they turned neither eye nor ear to their plight.

Oh no, the cats have gotten into trouble again. Right when they were going to stop their vigilance of Usagi's interactions. Who's got them? Well find out next time. Though it makes you wonder exactly what Artemis and Luna had heard while eavesdropping? Enjoy, and please review.

Much Care, WCB.