Kyo cringed slightly when he turned and faced the blond that had been on his mind lately. For a minute he felt himself recoiling, and then he reviewed her peaceful expression from before. Let out a tight breath, he relaxed though he kept a close hand on the pair of cats.
Both Luna and Artemis let out a sigh of relief when they saw Usagi walk in. Vaguely they wondered at the reason for being here, but they didn't questioned it merely welcomed it. Then they ducked their heads at their mistakes that had gotten them in serious trouble. Before Usagi entered, Kyo had been drilling them, and though they still refused to answer, he had found out none the less.
Usagi gazed at the position she found herself in, her eyes trailing to the orange-haired youth and then her vow echoed in her mind. 'That's right, kitty justice time.' Dipping into her repertoire of her sera senshi entrances, one flittered into her mind. Her hands flew quickly, making several gestures while hypnotizing Kyo, and had the cats sweating. "On behalf of abused cats everywhere, I demand 'Kitty Justice!'" Usagi commented, her stance in one of her sera poses.
Kyo face faulted at the actions, a bit strange and silly. Really he had been suspicious of her, and a bit concern over her decisions, when she goes and does this. Sighing at her nonsensical behavior, he noticed the cats sweat dropping. A huff had him turning to the blond with a questioning eyebrow.
Usagi stamped her foot silently, he was ignoring her. On top of that he hadn't taken her seriously at all! She stomped up toward him, and stepped soundly on his foot. Glaring at him, she picked up her cats, and turned to walked off. Only to be stopped by his hand on her shoulder.
"We need to talk a little." Kyo stated and she turned to him. "Now Usagi." He told her, and she immediately turned to him.
"How do you know my name?" Usagi inquired tightly.
"You told me." Kyo responded.
"No I haven't, because I do not know yours." She told him.
"My name is Kyo, and yes you have told me." He answered.
"How?" She asked. Kyo sighed softly, drawing a hand to his bracelet. Fiddling with his beaded bracelet, his fingers dipping between the alternating dark blue beads and white ones. Sighing, he looked to his window and then pointed to it before leaping out it. Concern Usagi rushed after him, keeping a hold on both Luna and Artemis. She landed easily in a standing position and then glanced at Kyo. Once he realized she was there, he yanked his bracelet off, and a pain cry ripped from his lips as his skin stretched.
His cry drew Shigure, Yuki, Tohru, and Ritsu out and to them. Seeing the change had already overtaken him, they realized they were far to late to stop Usagi from seeing it. Tohru quaked lightly, still not able to fully handle his cursed form, she went back inside. Though a part of her mind whispered she may soon have someone to talk about the secret she must keep.
Usagi watched the poor male suffer through the change. His high pitched cries rattling her ears, for a second she dropped her gazes to the still cats in her arms. Both watched wide eye the change the youth had to go through. Then the light flickered in front of her, and she was once again greeted by the elongated zombie cat she had greeted on the first night here. Gently she placed Luna and Artemis down, before taking a step toward the cat she now knew was Kyo. His pained eyes turned to her, again expecting disgust and horror to color her features. Yet, ever so calm, she reached him and wrapped caring arms around his mid-section. "It must be terrible to have this burden, to shoulder by yourself." She told him softly. Though both Yuki and Shigure heard her, they retreated to talk about what should be done. Pulling back, she pecked him upon his cheek, cradling him like a mother would.
Shigure let out a heavy breath before picking up the phone. His fingers automatically dialed a familiar number, sadness coloring his normally playful eyes. "Hatori, we have a problem." He stated seriously, and knew Hatori would rush over, since he did not call him Ha-san.
Hatori reached the shrine in no time walking through the doors. His placid face caught the haggard expressions on both Shigure and Yuki. "What is it?" He inquired. Yuki looked up at him with a sluggish air.
"She knows." Yuki told him, his voice taking on a haunted tone. Hatori wondered at who 'she,' maybe, when his ears caught laughter. Exiting out the shrine, he followed it around the side, and found out exactly who and what was being talked about.
Usagi had manage to lighten up the atmosphere by just merely chatting with Kyo. Gazing at her cats, who stared at her in understanding she whirled back to Kyo with a playful frown. "That still doesn't excuse you from picking on MY CATS." She scolded him. He let out a chuckle, neither noticing Hatori approaching from behind.
It was strange hearing him laugh, even stranger in his cursed form. Hatori wondered at the power the young girl had, but knew what he would have to do. Akito had warned him, and for a moment he silently cursed the clan head. Tohru may have opened Kyo to kindness, but even she still feared the form that was before Usagi. Usagi on the other hand seemed not to care at all, easily joking with the youth. The answer to the curse may be right before them, but they would not be able to have their freedom. Approaching the blond girl joking with Kyo, he laid a calm hand on her shoulder.
Usagi jumped when she felt a hand fall on her shoulder. Kyo glanced at her at the strange behavior and caught sight of the Sohma doctor. Immediately he sobered, which caused Usagi to turn. Her eyes locked with the serious doctor and suddenly she felt that she had something to conquer. "Come inside." He ordered, then he left the pair. Usagi glanced at the two cats with a serious expression, and they nodded to her.
"Shall we?" Usagi asked him while holding out her hand. Kyo nodded while picking up his bracelet in his claws. After he touched the bracelet, his human skin appeared, and his features softened. The pair made their way back into the shrine being shadowed by Luna and Artemis. As the two entered in, Hatori gestured for them to sit.
"So, now you know." Hatori commented, a closed expression on his face.
"Yes, I know about Kyo's curse." Usagi responded just the same. Hatori didn't speak right after she said that, but he remarked her words. She didn't know about the whole zodiac curse, but she knew the worst part of it. Hatori nodded to her while reaching some decision.
"Call your parents, you are spending the night here." Hatori ordered her.
"What?" Usagi screeched out. "On a school night?" She added incredulously. Hatori raised an interested eyebrow, but Shigure spoke up for him.
"Tomorrow is a holiday Usagi." Shigure told her. Usagi blinked, before chuckling, and nodding to Hatori's request. She asked for the phone and then quickly dialed her home number. After a fairly quick conversation, she had a positive answer.
"It's no problem." Usagi told them. "Though I have to go to work tomorrow." She added in thought. Hatori gestured silently for the phone, and inputted a number that had Yuki withdrawing. He relaid the information to Ayame, who yelled something before hanging up. Hatori found it odd that Ayame had hung up before him but he paid it little mind.
"You are cleared." Hatori reiterated. "I must go now, but Usagi I want to speak with you privately for a moment." He told her. Usagi nodded, and then followed her. He turned to her, his expression a little softer. "Usagi, if any thing, thank you for your kindness." Hatori stated and then left. Usagi was blinking confused before walking in to enjoy the night with her new friends.
As she walked in, she realized that the atmosphere had to be changed. With a few clumsy moves, and memories of worst falls, she had all laughing. Instead of a sorrowful air, they instead said good bye to the day with a kind grin. Luna and Artemis following Usagi dutifully as she followed Tohru. All fell asleep though it wasn't a quick sleep, because they knew that tomorrow Usagi would see Akito.
Hatori's slowly approached the clan's head room. Knocking and waited for the enter command he sighed. As he walked in, his steps sounded hollow. "She knows." Akito's voice whispered in his ear even before he spoke.
"Not completely." Hatori told him. Akito's harsh laugh rung through out the room.
"Explain." The order came unbidden to Hatori.
"She only knows of the cat's other form." He explained. The room went silent, and Hatori waited for the order that he knew that would come. However, he was surprised by delighted laughter.
"Hmm, and she does not fear it?" Akito asked.
"No." Hatori responded.
"Excellent." Akito whispered eagerly. Hatori glanced into the darkness of the room with confusion. "Let her be Hatori, she will solve our Tohru problem." Akito told him, and then another laughter spilled forth. Hatori found that statement not possible, but he didn't go against the clan head or even question it. He nodded, bowed, and quickly turned to leave. "However, I still want to see her tomorrow." Akito's order swam in his ear.
"Yes, Akito-sama." Hatori responded dutifully.
"Leave." was the last he heard, as he urgently did as he was ordered.
Well there, two chapters for the price of one. Oh, look, she is going to meet Akito soon, and not to mention she knows a bit of the Sohma curse. Though it makes you wonder exactly what Akito was thinking about. Later, and enjoy. Please Review. WCB.