Attention: TheKnightsOfThePentagonalOttomen Do Not Own Fruits Basket or any of the included characters. We do however own the Taiyou Family! Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Boundaries
"Gypsy, are you going to make dinner, or are we going to order out?" asked Skye, going for the phone.
"No, I'm tired. Lets get take out." She replied in a sleepy tone.
As Skye called a restaurant to place an order for twelve people; everyone was going about their business. Gypsy went into a room she claimed and fell asleep. Tempest Aiden, Caira, and Pearl claimed one of the living rooms and chose to play cards on some assortment of boxes. Vanya went into her room, to do who knows what. (She always shuts her self in her room.) Alarice went into the large bath area, where she would probably spend half of the night, well until dinner arrives anyway. Leo was still talking with Margo. Cody was with Lilly in the garden, and Sahara was in her room reading a depressing book as usual.
Everyone was gathered around a large table, six of the cursed family members on one side, and the other six on the other. Margo glides into the room, wearing a long gray dress, perfectly fitted to her body.
"I am so glad to see all of you, I know you are tired from you flight, others sick." Smiling caringly at pieces, who in turn smiled wirily back. "I know you are busy with unpacking, and with other business, but there are thing we need to take care of before the week is out."
Looking around at everyone to see if she had their undivided attention, Margo continued. "I am saddened to announce that some members of the family will be going elsewhere to live."
A quite murmur went through the table, only a few people stayed quite. Margo waited for the talking to cease before she continued.
"In addition, all the younger children are to attended, middle or high school, which will require you to take an exam to see if you are eligible to got the school, in addition they will require you to wear…….. uniforms." Smiling a little evil smile.
"That is not fair, I object to being forced to wear a skirt." While Tempest slammed her fist on the table in disgust.
"Fine then, wear the boys, but you will go and you will wear a uniform," announced Margo more firmly. "In addition, the older members of the family have the right to go and live on their own, but will be watched and will continue to have contact with me at the main house." The older members of the Taiyou family nodded in reply of their understanding. "Now for more person to person rules." She looked over each member to think of what each person may or may not do while in the real world or at school.
"Now, Caira and Aiden, I do not want to hear about you two fighting too much, we need to get along here as a family."
"But the ram always starts it, tell her to stop." Exclaimed the goat in a protest.
"You ask for it every time." Snickered Aiden.
"I don't care who starts it I don't want to have hear about it and have to apologize to anyone's teacher or parents." Scolded Margo ending the argument. "Alarice, you are not allowed to go out for the school choir, and try to keep your attention of the opposite sex low, we don't need another of your power trips." Margo said seriously but smiled. A few people at the table laughed Alarice blushed and hid her embarrassment.
"Now Pearl, pay attention."
"Yes!" Pearl replayed looking up at attention like she was coming out of a daze.
"Do not. I repeat, do not go out for the swim team, or near any water with out my permission, do you under stand?"
"Yes, yes…water bad, do not go into or yes, permission needed, for thing and yeah……." She trailed off while looking into a cup of tea watching the steam float from it. Shaking her head and smiling, Margo moved on to the next person.
"Tempest, I don't want to hear you getting into so many fights. The last time you were seen as a bull running through the town. You will wear a uniform, whether it is a boys or girls I don't care. But you will behave or you will leave to some were else under my supervision." Tempest was shacking with anger, but nodded a reply.
"Sahara, I don't want to hear about you punching or kicking people. Other then that you know what you are and are not allowed to do. Or at least I would think so after such a long time.
I will also name those of you who will be allowed to live on their own, should they chose to do so. Leo will stay at the main house, and so will Lilly. Skye has chosen an apartment; that is one train ride away from the main house. Cody will be living with him. Vanya will be given a house a little ways from here that is also a short ways from the school some of the children will be attending, so some of you will go live with her."
Vanya nodded in understanding, as long as she got the biggest and best room.
'Oh man! I hope I won't be me, I won't be able to study very well with her around to annoy me.' Alarice thought to herself.
Hearing the clock strike 11 o'clock, Lilly yawned, and Sahara was loosing interest in the conversation and was nodding off.
"Well I think it is time for every one to go to bed. Tomorrow all the children will be going to take the entrance exams for school so go to bed. But, I would like all the older Taiyous to stay; I have other news to tell you."
All the children got up and bowed to the head of the family and said good night. As the children went into the rooms they had temporarily clamed, four of the Taiyou family members lingered in the hall. Tempest looked at Alarice, Aiden and Caira. It was Alarice who broke the silence.
"That was intense, and I wonder what Margo had to say to the others that she could say in front of us?"
"I don't know, but I really don't want to wear a uniform." Complained Tempest, crossing her arms in a pouting mood.
"Well, at least Margo didn't yell at you." Complained Caira, leaning against the wall in a relaxing position.
"Hay 'Goat', you were not yelled at! But yeah, what do you think Margo is telling them?" questioned Aiden.
"Shut up! I don't need to hear it from you, besides I think we need to go to bed, we have an exam tomorrow that we can't get out of." Caira announced.
"Yes, we must go, besides I want to do well on the test." Continued Alarice, smiling.
"Yeah you being the smarty pants of the family, but even I am tired." Tempest yawned, turning to go to bed. The others followed Tempest as she headed for the bedrooms to go to sleep. Alarice turned to stare back at the empty hall to the closed door. Thinking, "What is she telling them, that she can't tell us?" Turing back in the direction of her bed, she sleepily climbs under the covers and goes to sleep.
"Aunt Margo, what is it that you can tell us but not the others?" Questioned Skye in a concerned voice.
Margo looked over the people left. She looked at each individually to see that she was serious. Cody looked around to see who all was there. He noted Vanya, Skye, Leo and him self. Feeling very proud of him self for being included.
"Long ago in feudal Japan, there was a lord of a great manor. His family was vast and great, but he himself was cruel and uncaring. One day the lord did the most unthinkable, evil, uncaring, thing. In that action a higher power curses him and his family. He would die at a young age, and hold the weight of the curse. His descendents after him would do the same. But, not only did the lord suffer the curse but so did the rest of his family, for they did not stop him, or speak out against him. So in return they were cursed. The curse stated that the members of his family would turn into one of the animals from the Chinese Zodiac if they were ever held closeby some one of the opposite sex other than members of the family. These transformations could also occur when their body was under stress.
This family has lived with this curse just as we have with ours for generations. They also live in Japan, so we must be careful, things can arise that will cause great complications for both families."
Finishing the story Margo sighed from exhaustion and sadness. Everyone was quite, thinking over the information they just received. Leo understood completely. It was a little while before someone broke the silence.
"So…" Started Vanya, everyone turns to look at her as she continues to talk. "What is this family's name?" Looking strait forward at no one in particular, Margo just calmly replied, "Sohma."