Saturday afternoon.
The sun is high in the sky, and although it's mid April, there's a cool breeze chilling the air. Several people are already hurrying to and from lunch breaks, though it's not long before I leave the crowd that is the streets. My arms stretch over my head as I yawn. My feet are carrying me through a trail in the forest not too far from the city. It isn't a path that normal people take, but then again, I'm not a normal person, and it isn't too farfetched to say that applies to my family as well. We're a peculiar bunch, even if some people raise that quirk up on a pedestal.
Absentmindedly, I allow my feet to take me to a house that is situated far enough into the trees to be hidden from view by people not looking for it. Even though I've never entered it before, I know it's a two story Japanese home, not unlike other residences outside the forest. I know this, because the owner of this home is one that I've known for nearly my whole life, and one who has offered me shelter multiple times. Of course, I refused them, but more than once I found myself seeking refuge in the trees, watching the going-ons from a distance.
Because of this habit, I've been able to keep up with few events transpiring within my extended family, including the fact that an outsider was allowed into our world.
To normal people, my family - the Sohma family - is made up of several branches of relations. Nearly everyone is related by blood somehow, but the majority are just distant cousins. This family is large and spread out enough that one could end up in the same job or school as another member who they've never even seen before. However, there is one person that every member of the family knows. Akito Sohma is the official family head, and, as one could guess, the final word in most family issues. He lives in the Main House of the estate, along with those closest to him. Immediate relatives, servants, and those affected by the curse. Yes, this family is burdened with a curse that normal people don't know, and those who live outside the Main House aren't aware of. It's called the Jyuunishi Curse - the curse of the Chinese Zodiac.
Dramatic, I know, and perhaps a bit odd. I don't know how or why my family was burdened with it, but it's been handed down through the generations for centuries, and it's just a part of life for us now. Several aspects of our family has been changed to account for the curse, and it's only tradition to honour it. After all, there's no known way to break the curse, so there's no other option but to deal with it and keep it a secret, lest the knowledge brings further drama into the estate. The curse can be counted on to bring enough annoyance to the victims for a lifetime.
This fact, among others, is why those of us with the curse tend to keep away outsiders, particularly those who aren't even a part of the family. Usually, remaining in the Main House is enough, but there are times when a member desires to live outside the walls. This request has to be made to Akito, and only he can approve of the change. In the curse of the zodiac, Akito is God, and controls almost every aspect of our lives. Almost.
Shigure Sohma, the one cursed by the spirit of the dog, was allowed to live outside the estate, and had this house in the forest constructed. It just so happens that this land is Sohma owned, so it isn't fully separated from the family, but is outside the walls at least. On the other hand, the personified rat and cat spirits moved in with him on their own without direct consent from Akito. The irony in this, which I know they're aware of as well, is that Akito did approve of it. If he hadn't, there would've been punishment for them both. I know this, because I, too, ran away from the estate when I was younger. At the time, I thought I'd gotten away with defying Akito, but as I grew older, I came to the realisation that no matter where I went, I was still unwillingly bound to him. No matter what happened, I always came back somehow, even if I don't set foot on the estate grounds.
It's another part of our curse - we can never escape it.
"Ah!"
The sound startles me out my thoughts, and I blink a few times to bring my vision back to the present. I'd been standing in front of the house, gaze blank but focused on the door; the now open door with a teenaged female standing in the hallway. The outsider , I think to myself as I focus on her instead. She has long, deep brown hair and wide, brown eyes. She's slim with an innocently curious expression, and a few inches taller than me. If I had to guess, I'd say she's of high school age. Perhaps around my age, which is sixteen. Cute, I suppose, if I was into that. After a few moments of quiet observations, I notice the girl's attention is lingering on my own hair and eyes, and there seems to be gears turning in her mind. I can't help the small smirk at this. The cursed members of the zodiac tend to draw certain attributes from their animal spirits, such as hair colour. As can be expected, this creates even more issues for those with animals whose colours are unnatural on humans. I'm just one of those unfortunate cases, with my fiery red hair and amber eyes.
"W-welcome to Sohma house!" The girl finally composes herself and is the first to break the silence that drifted over us. "Ah, are you perhaps looking for Mr. Shigure? You may sit in the living room while I find him. Would you like tea as well?"
She's so damn polite, and I find myself almost smiling at the warmth radiating from her. I can tell she's somewhat nervous at seeing an odd-looking stranger show up, but she doesn't allow it to show. Perhaps she is used to people like me already, considering she lives with three of them. Or maybe she's always like this. I'm not sure.
"I actually wanted to speak to you." This visibly surprises her, and I do smile at this. "Then again, you must be used to people like me popping up, yes?"
The gears are spinning in full force in her mind, and it doesn't take too long before realisation dawns on her features. "You must be a Sohma! And.." her voice lowers somewhat as though she's speaking about a secret - which, it actually is. "possibly a zodiac member?"
"Good job."
Her expression lights up instantly with excitement. "Oh! It's so nice to meet you! My name is Tohru Honda!" She drops down in a deep bow, her hair flying around her with the quick movement. "I'm so pleased to be meeting another Sohma! Thank you for traveling out here, but..." She straightens up, a politely confused look crossing her features as her eyes drift to my hair once more. "May I ask which animal you are?"
Ah, so we're at that point already. A mischievous smile tugs at my lips. "Surely if you know of the Sohma curse, you know which animal spirit I personify?"
Tohru blinks and stares at me as though determined to figure out my little challenge. I know I should just tell her outright, as it would be impossible for her to know otherwise, but I can't help but watch her struggle with a grin. I don't know - yet - why she was allowed to know of our curse, but it wouldn't hurt to tease her until then.
Or until someone else decides to interrupt us.
"Hikari?"
Tohru and I turn at the same time to see a tall figure emerge from one of the hallway doors. Broad shoulders, black hair, surprised expression...
"Long time, no see, Shigure."
The man raises his eyebrows at my impish tone and walks forward to stand next to a bemused Tohru. "To what do I owe the pleasure of you finally making yourself known here?"
"Tohru is so famous in our family, right? I wanted to finally meet her in person." I put on the most innocent smile I can muster as I watch the teen become flustered at the compliment. Shigure, on the other hand, is not convinced and gives me a skeptical look that I pointedly ignore. He knows that I've been around on several occasions and could have easily introduced myself sooner, but never did. He also knows how I feel about my curse. I'm one of the two animals that were essentially erased from recent and famous renditions of the zodiac legend for certain reasons, which means we are not always known even to those privy to the zodiac secret. More so, we shouldn't be known to the rest of the cursed members. The two 'erased' animals have a blood-steeped history that just contributes even more to the darkness in the family. Unfortunately for us, tradition remains, and the spilled blood increases. It's because of that reason that we ran away in a futile attempt to avoid our fate, but as time is running out, this outsider shows up and is allowed to keep our secret. It's hard not to be somewhat intrigued and perhaps hopeful.
"Ah, well!" Tohru speaks up again, replacing her perplexed expression with a cheerful one. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Hikari! Please feel free to make yourself at home! I'll be right back with tea!"
I watch as the bouncing brunette disappears into another door down the hall before turning my smile back to Shigure. "What a sweet girl. I can see why you allowed her to live with you." I make to walk into the opened living room door, but halt as a strong hand grips my forearm.
"Is he with you?"
The stress on the pronoun alerts me to whom is being referred, and I shake my head in response. However, the grip doesn't release me.
"Then why are you here? I thought you wanted to avoid the chance of running into Akito - or any other Sohma in general. You know there's only a few more years left until-"
"I know." Glancing back at Shigure, I can see by his stern expression that my tone was harsher than intended. I let out a soft sigh and turn back towards the empty room. When I speak again, my voice is lower without an edge. "I know. I did. I mean, I still do, but..."
"But you couldn't refrain from meeting my dear Tohru, is that it?"
The restraint is gone, and I shudder lightly at the cheerfulness in his voice. It was as though he was completely unaware of how perverse he sounded. That, or he didn't care. Deciding not to bother commenting on that, I take a step into the room and pause. "... Shigure, why is she here? Why was she allowed to know?" Without turning around, I know his face has regained a solemn appearance. It was the current elephant in the room, and although it was possible the situation was explained before, I didn't know what it was. It was rare enough that those without our own family didn't know about the curse, even more rare for an outsider to know; why was that changed now?
"It was decided that we would trust her - and for the past few months, she's held true." As though predicting what I'd ask, Shigure continued. "This was entirely Akito's decision. He trusts her, and so should you, for your sake. Especially if she turns out to be the one ."
I can't demand Shigure to elaborate on his cryptic words because Tohru strolls in the room at that moment, carrying a tray with a teapot, cups, plates, and a rather delicious looking strawberry cake.
"I apologise for keeping you waiting! I nearly forgot about this cake I baked earlier, and I wasn't sure if you wanted something to eat with your tea." She sets down the tray and goes to pour tea into the cups. "Oh, I hope this is to your liking. If not, I can make something else..."
"Isn't she just the cutest thing?!" Shigure is back to his annoyingly cheerful self, and I roll my eyes, ignoring him as I sit on a cushion at the table.
"I'm sure this is fine.. thank you."
Tohru smiles at me in response, and I can't help but glance at Shigure as he also takes a seat to be served by the teenager. The one , he said. I roll these words over in my mind. The way he said it hinted as though he thought that this outsider could be the catalyst for breaking this curse on the Jyuunishi. Then there was his pointedly stating that I should trust her, for my sake. I have to admit - those words did strike a chord with me. My fate is different than that of the other members, including the cat. Being a member of the zodiac is tough enough, and being cursed with the cat spirit is worse, but being cursed with one of the purposely excluded spirits is terrifying. No one questions the how or why of it, but one thing that is known is that these animals are to be erased from knowledge. For that to happen, there's only one fate given to them that has become an unalterable tradition.
Eradication.