We sat around our little kitchen table after sunset and had some lovely food my wife had prepared and I had also helped.

Kanae is a good cook. As the old saying goes the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Kyo was already munching on some fried food and having a time of his life.

"Kyo. You should wait for a few minutes."

"But mother..."

Why were we waiting? Well,I had been fasting because it was that month.

It's strange that even in very unfamiliar culture like that of Japan I still latched on to beliefs and practices of my previous life as if nothing changed.

It's not that people noticed and even had suspicions what seemed like abrupt change in how the man they knew conducted himself.

I never had really paid attention to what Kyo's father was like but what I gathered from the Sohma family gossip he was a serious,rather nasty man with some inferiority issues. For example he wasn't as wealthy and successful in business as other Sohmas and his family branch had lesser influence on the Main Family and house head like say the family where the present Rat zodiac was born into.

Rather than handling his problems like a man he resorted to drinking and avoiding others, consumed by self-loathing and pettiness.

I never really hid my beliefs which from perspective of some of the family members I had joined a cult,which I find very ironic given the Sohmas had weird rituals and used hypnosis to block memories of anyone finding out about the Sohma curse.

In any event...

"Alright. It is time." After checking the timings on my phone I put it away.

"Food!" Kyo said excitedly and with enthusiasm as he took his first bite. He's so cute.

Another long day of fasting without food or drink passed.

Those who learned of this didn't know what to think,not that I sought their approval.

And Kanae. Well,I wasn't sure what she thought about this. She probably sensed something was different about her husband but never asked anything. Perhaps because she didn't want to disturb and cause me to revert to his old abusive self.

"It's very good. You're wonderful,dear" I told her after taking a bite at her homemade food and she actually blushed likely at the complement.

'so cute!' I thought internally.

It was late spring and Kyo had started attending elementary school and some of the Sohma kids also happen to be at same school.

Kagura and Hatsuharu in fact had visited our apartment a few times even though it'll be another year before their start in elementary school.

I didn't pry into their reasons for associating with us when we had been all but excommunicated by the Family and all sorts of nasty rumors passed around.

Still, I'm grateful to God that since our last meeting just before the New Year with the Family head Akito,he had kept his word and didn't try to interfere with my little family of three I'm trying to protect.

"I don't know what's going on with you but soon you will regret it. You will beg to take the Cat of your hands and know the foolishness of what you tried to do."

Those were Akito's words. I swear despite him barely being a teen he could already bring fear to everyone in the family.

Those poor Zodiacs were going to suffer a lot under his whim but there is hope.

Few years from now there would be a certain girl who would help end the curse and save everyone,even Akito himself.

Wait, didn't she get together with Kyo? Is she going to be my daughter in law?!

I find myself staring absenly at little Kyo who was happily munching on the food. I'm not sure how to feel about all this.

Would they meet in the future under different circumstances? Do I even want to about his relationships so far in the future?

I think all these questions just caused me to lose my appetite.

"Hmm? *gulp* What's wrong father." Kyo said when he noticed my gaze.

"Nothing" I smiled and patted his head,"Just thinking about things."

I guess we'll have to see and try to live our best. There's hope in this world after all.