punkish furball—Me again! I know I updated this story recently, but I couldn't help myself!

Words to Ponder:

Special thanks to DeathNoteMaker's, one of my friends and favorite authors, update on "My Curse, Your Cure" that gave me an extra boost to get this chapter out! (Awesome story by the way.)

Also acknowledge xXKillorbeKilledXx, the 100th reviewer. WooHoo!

Thank you, xXKillorbeKilledXx, DeathNoteMaker, iluvchocs, Death By Squishy, lildevil0644, IceDarkness, shadow miko, Hoku ala, kitsunegirl48, Mz Mischief, Kagome Lady of Darkness, Jhetzel, Kurai Oujou, LadyAkina, Mistress Kira- Fires of Hell, Evil RULZ, Sasuke luver 01, hermonine, Bloody Serpent 2, cowgirlkitten2000, Silver Moon Vampire, hotshorty, regretfully-yours-Cassy-chan, and IhaveIdeas.ANIME.

On with the chapter!

Chapter 5

"Hi," Kagome said a little hesitantly after a few moments of disturbing silence between herself, Tohru, and the young man standing ahead of them. Tohru seemed to recognize the young man, but she didn't say anything.

'He has a tainted aura,' Kagome thought, 'and a shadow of death looms around him too. I don't like it.'

"Tohru, why don't you go on ahead to glass?" Kagome whispered to her.

"Are you sure?" Tohru asked, "I don't want to leave you alone."

"Positive, go on," Kagome said and gave Tohru a push in the direction of her class. Soon she was out of sight.

"Aren't you the protective one," the young man said and advanced closer to her.

"Who are you?" Kagome asked and stood her ground as he got very close…a little too close for comfort.

"You must be Kagome. Shigure told me about you. I thought that Miss Honda was cute," the man said, ignoring Kagome's question, "but you, you're beautiful."

Kagome couldn't help the blush that stained her face.

"I know you wouldn't know who I am," the man said, "but I'm Sohma Akito, head of the Sohma family."

"Oh," Kagome said and bowed in a respectful manner, "Nice to meet you, Sohma-sama."

Akito put a finger under Kagome's chin and lifted up her head until she stood upright again.

"No need to be so formal, my dear," Akito said, "I imagine or at least I hope that over some time you and I will grow to be very close."

"Close?" Kagome repeated, "Why is that?"

Akito chuckled and didn't move his hand. Instead he slid it up to cup her cheek.

"I see they didn't tell you," he said, "I thought they wouldn't."

"Who wouldn't tell me what?" Kagome asked.

Akito bent down to whisper in Kagome's ear, "Our secret."

"Secret?" Kagome said. Akito nodded with his face still close to hers so his hair tickled the side of her face. Kagome was really uncomfortable with him being so close to her.

"Akito!" someone behind them shouted. It was Yuki. Kagome looked at him and noticed his eyes were widened and he was shaking. He seemed to be very scared.

'He looks like a mouse trapped in a corner,' Kagome thought.

"Yuki," Akito said, "How nice of you to join us." Akito left Kagome to walk closer to Yuki.

"What did you do?" Yuki asked.

"You look so grown up now," Akito said, ignoring his question, "I think you've gotten taller."

"What did you do to Kagome? And where is Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.

"Why nothing at all," Akito said, "Miss Honda went to class and Kagome and I were just saying hello. Weren't we, Kagome?"

Kagome nodded her head, "Yeah."

"Now that I have you here, Yuki," Akito said, "There is something I have to ask you. Why haven't you come to see me? Did you think it was wise to skip the New Year's banquet? I have been lenient, have I not?" Yuki didn't say anything and Akito lifted his hand to caress Yuki's cheek.

"Knowing you would do something like that intentionally," Akito continued, "it upsets me greatly. Maybe I should take some time to re-educate you. In that little room…the one I keep just for you."

Kagome just stood helplessly on the side of them.

'I need to do something,' she thought, 'They may be related but this guy must have done something to hurt Yuki. Why else would he be so scared?'

"What about that girl? You didn't tell her did you?" Akito asked and Kagome knew he was talking about her, "Are you afraid? Do you think she'll be disgusted? Do you think she'll hate you?"

Kagome couldn't take it anymore. She went up to Akito and grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away from Yuki.

"We need to get to class now," Kagome said, "We're already really late."

Akito looked at her and smirked. He stepped a few steps away from Yuki.

"I'm sorry to have kept you so long," he said, "Shigure and the others are waiting. I expect I must have worried them. Yuki, I do hope you enjoy this new school and it would make me very happy if you come to visit me soon."

Akito retreated but paused once to look back at the two of them. And then he left.

"Yuki?" Kagome said once Akito was gone. He was still quivering.

'He's really shaken up,' Kagome thought, 'I need to calm him down. Ah…I hope he'll forgive me for this afterwards.'

Kagome hesitantly reached up and placed a hand on each of Yuki's cheeks and made him look at her. His purple eyes were wide and frightened.

"It's okay now," she whispered softly, "He's gone. No one is going to hurt you."

Yuki began to inhale deeply for a few moments and then wrapped his arms around Kagome and brought her to his chest. Kagome let out a small startled yelp as Yuki buried his face in her hair.

'Okay, calm down, calm down,' she repeated in her head, 'I'm just comforting him. It doesn't mean anything romantic.'

With that in her mind, Kagome rubbed Yuki's back and whispered repeatedly in his ear that everything's okay.

"Thank you," Yuki said with his voice muffled in Kagome's hair. He let her go and stood up straight.

"I guess I lost myself for a minute there," he said.

"Hey, what are friends for?" Kagome said.

'Friends…just friends,' Kagome thought, 'Besides, going though this jewel mess AGAIN and dealing with Motoko and her weird friends and I'm going to start going back and forth between times soon, I just don't have time. And Yuki…he's such a nice person. He could have any girl he wants. He wouldn't give me the time of day.'

Tohru came bursting through the doors of the school building panting heavily.

"Yuki? Kagome?" she said, "I was worried and I came back to check on you."

"We're fine now," Kagome said, "Aren't we?"

Yuki nodded but he wasn't completely at ease.

'Akito must have mentioned the curse to her,' Yuki thought, 'As much as I don't want her to know, it won't be fair. She's trustworthy; she deserves to know…even if she doesn't understand…even if she doesn't accept us…accept me…she still deserves to know.'

"Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.

"Yes?" she answered.

"I apologize," Yuki said.

"What do you—" Tohru started to say but Yuki drew Tohru in a hug. Tohru shrieked and there was a puff of smoke and a booming noise. As soon as the smoke cleared only Yuki's clothes were on the ground.

Kagome kneeled down to the ground. With a confused expression on her face she picked up Yuki's shirt. Tohru was standing ahead of her looking horrified.

"I don't understand," Kagome said, "Where did he go?"

"In here."

Yuki's voice came from the ground in a little lump in his pants.

'Did he just shrink?' Kagome thought.

A little rat crawled out of one of Yuki's pant legs. He stood adorably in front of Kagome on his hind legs.

"Kagome," the rat started to say, "This is the secret Akito was talking about. Whenever one of thirteen cursed members of the Sohma family come in contact with a member of an opposite sex or are under a great deal of stress, we transform into a member of the Chinese zodiac plus the cat. I'm the rat."

"Like in the old folktale?" Kagome said.

Yuki nodded and lower his little head. He looked back up when he felt himself being lifted up. Kagome was holding him in her cupped hands.

"Is that what you were afraid of me knowing?" Kagome asked and Yuki nodded. Suddenly, she let out a loud laugh. Yuki cocked his head to the side in curiosity."

"Sorry about laughing," Kagome said, "but you didn't have to worry about that. I may not look it, but I have seen stranger things before. And besides, I'm not the kind of girl to stop being someone's friend because of something like that. You may be cursed but that's not what's important. And besides…" Kagome paused and lifted Yuki to her cheek and rubbed him against it.

"You are just too adorable!" she exclaimed.

Yuki was sure that if rats could blush; his whole body would be red. But he was happy.

'This is much better than I expected,' Yuki thought, 'I don't think I'd like losing someone like her.'

"Kagome please," he tried to say, "You shouldn't…you shouldn't…"

Yuki couldn't complete his sentence. Kagome began to pet the fur between his ears. He felt himself go on his back limp and relaxed under her coddling and make small noises of contentment. Bad idea. Kagome used the new position to rub Yuki's tummy.

"This is so great!" Tohru exclaimed, "Now we don't have to have secrets! But wait a minute…"

"Yeah?" Kagome said and switched back to petting Yuki's head.

"Oh, nothing really," Tohru said, "It's just that Yuki usually changes back by—" A puff of smoke interrupted her. Tohru screamed and turned away. When the smoke cleared, Yuki was naked while straddling Kagome who had her hand entwined in his hair. Kagome screamed and closed her eyes tightly.

'Okay!' Kagome thought, 'Alright…calm down…no big deal, Higurashi. At least you weren't petting his tummy when he changed back.'

"Sorry about that," Yuki said as he got up and put his uniform back on, "I forgot to mention what happens when we change back."

"It's okay," Kagome said, "Hey, wait…"

'How am I supposed to bring up that he didn't transform when I ran into or that Momiji didn't turn into…whatever…when he hugged me?' Kagome thought and shook it off, 'Oh well, maybe it was a fluke and Momiji isn't part of the zodiac thing. Admitting something like that to me and seeing that Akito guy was enough for one day. Yuki needs to relax.'

"Yes, Kagome?" Tohru asked noticing that she had gone silent.

"Oh, let's do something fun!" Kagome said, "School is supposed to let out early isn't it?"

"That'll be fun!" Tohru said, "Actually Uo and Hana were thinking we could play a game after school. We can invite everyone to come."

"Great. Do you want to come play with us, Yuki?" Kagome asked.

Yuki looked at the two girls with twin smiles on their face looking at him expectantly. He couldn't find it in himself to refuse them.

"Sure," Yuki said.

"Awesome," Kagome said. She and Tohru each took one of Yuki's hands and began running to go get the others.

"Why are we running?" he asked.

"Well," Tohru said, "I don't know really!"

"Just making life more exciting!" Kagome said.

Yuki smiled and let himself be dragged away.

-O0o0O-

"Ya know," Shigure said as he sat on the side of the house with Hatori, "Akito met Tohru and Kagome today."

"Kagome," Hatori said, "the girl you told me about?"

"Yes," Shigure said, "you know what he said about them. He said they were ugly."

Flashback

"They are probably the two ugliest girls I've ever seen," Akito said to Shigure as the two of them sat in the back seat of the car, "Tohru seems to be a real idiot and a coward. I don't have to worry about her; Yuki won't be interested in her for long. Kagome, she doesn't concern me either. Yuki may be able to touch her, but he'll grow tired of her soon enough. Yuki won't go against me for long, not if he wants to be happy. After all, he is still terrified when he sees me. I think he knows were his true loyalties lie. As for Kagome, I'd like you to keep an eye on her. She could be very useful in the future, but I'll let her be for now."

End Flashback

"I guess it's understandable for Yuki to be scarred by Akito's mental and physical abuse," Shigure said.

"But there's something Akito doesn't understand," Hatori said as he lit his cigarette, "If it's possible for someone to be hurt by another, it is possible for that person to be healed by another."

"And since we're correcting him," Shigure said, "Akito is definitely wrong about Kagome and Tohru. Tohru is very cute…in a sweet way especially with that smile of hers. And Kagome…she's a natural beauty. I've never seen eyes her color in any normal people. Of course you'd have to see her yourself."

Hatori sweat dropped.

"Some how when you say that, it reeks of something illegal."

-O0o0O-

"So you're Kagome?" Uo asked once Kagome, Tohru, and Yuki got to the court.

"Yep," she answered.

"I'm pleased to see that you have very pleasant electric signals," Hana said.

"Thanks, I guess. So the game's badminton?" Kagome asked after they all picked teams.

"Yeah," Uo said, "Let's play!"

"But," Yuki asked, "What are the rules?" Everyone looked at him strangely.

"You don't need rules in badminton," Hana said, "You hit the birdie as hard as you can to your opponent's side and he will do the same. The first one to collapse exhaustion loses."

"Here, Yuki," Kagome said and handed him the birdie to Yuki, "You serve first."

Yuki smiled, "Sure."

While the game was going on, Yuki couldn't help but think.

'There are things that I have dreamed about all my life,' he thought, 'things I never thought I would have. Mere fantasies. Parents that would embrace me…a home where I could truly feel welcome…a place where everyone could smile…and laugh together…a place where I could be myself and be close to the people around me…a warm place…surrounded by friends…but I know now that it wasn't all a fantasy…'

Yuki saw Kagome and Tohru giggling behind their hands when Kyo missed the birdie out of the corner of his eye.

"Will the two of you quit laughing at me?!" he shouted.

They just continued laughing. Kagome saw Yuki looking at them and gave him a smile and a wave.

'…that place exists.'

-O0o0O-

Kagome walked up to the door of the vegetable store a little after six.

'I can't believe we stayed out so late,' she thought, 'It was fun though. I hope aunty and Momo-chan didn't worry too much.'

"Hey, Kagome," Motoko said as soon as Kagome walked upstairs, "How was you're first day of school?"

"It was okay," Kagome said and looked around, "Your friends aren't here, are they? Not to be rube but I don't think they like me too much."

"No, they aren't here," Motoko said, "They are sorry about what happened that day and would like to meet you again."

"That's a relief," Kagome said and sat down next to Motoko.

"So," Motoko asked, "where were you?"

'Although, I think I have an idea,' she thought.

"I was out with some friends," Kagome said, "Do you know the Sohmas, Honda, Uotani, and Hanajima?"

"Yes," Motoko said forcing a smile, "they're all in their second year, aren't they?

"Yuki, Kyo, Tohru, Uo, and Hana are, but Momiji and Haru are in their first year like me," Kagome said, "We're in the same class, 1C."

"So, are they nice?"

"Yeah, very friendly. Yuki is a little shy though."

"Shy? Yuki?"

'That doesn't make sense,' Motoko thought, 'He's always so confident and so nice and helpful with everyone around school.'

"Just a little bit. Ya know, you could come hang out with us if you want to. I'm going to see them this weekend."

"Really?" Motoko said trying to suppress her excitement.

'That would be too good to be true,' Motoko thought, 'I could spend so precious alone time with my beloved prince. I may even see Yuki's house, where he sleeps at night…but Honda, Yankee, and that psychic will be there. No, it's too early for something like that to happen. I'll just have to settle for whatever information I can get out of Kagome for now.'

"On, second thought, I rather not," Motoko said, "I wouldn't want to impose."

"Suit yourself," Kagome said, "Tell me if you change your mind."

-O0o0O-

The weekend came and Kagome was standing at the door of Shigure's house.

"I hope they remembered," Kagome said to herself after knocking on the door.'

'It's a shame Momo-chan couldn't come,' she thought, 'I guess we aren't getting much closer after all.'

"Hello, Kagome. I thought that would be you," Shigure said once he answered the door, "Yuki and Tohru are out at the moment and will be back in a while."

"Alright," Kagome said and walked into the house.

"So," Shigure started, "I heard you've meet Akito and found out about the curse."

"Yeah," Kagome said, "Yuki told me about the curse and transformed in front of me. It didn't work when I hugged him though. That reminds me. Are you cursed too?"

"Yes," Shigure said and as soon as he did, Kagome latched around his neck.

"Didn't work this time either," Kagome said, "Why is that?"

"Hmm…," Shigure said sounding a little dazed. He embraced Kagome back and held onto her waist.

"So which animal are you?"

"Dog."

'Okay, I think someone is getting a little too comfortable,' Kagome thought.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Kyo shouted as he burst into the room.

"Hello, Kyo," Shigure said dryly and sighed.

"Don't hello me!" Kyo said, "Let her go, ya damn pervert!"

"Fine," Shigure said and let Kagome go.

"Hey, Kyo," Kagome said.

"What the hell are you doing letting that pervert hang on you like that?!" Kyo asked.

"Excuse, me," Kagome said, "I just had to test something."

"She found out about the curse," Shigure said.

"Are you cursed too?" Kagome asked Kyo.

"None of your damn business!" he shouted.

"Yes," Shigure said, "He's the cat."

"Shut up! Don't tell her that!"

"So, if a girl hugs you, you turn into a cat?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, what of—" Kyo stopped when Kagome pressed herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"No poof this time either," Kagome said, "Do you know why it doesn't work with me?"

"No, we don't," Shigure said, "The only other time we don't transform when we are hugged by female members of the zodiac."

"Hmm…" During this time, Kyo had to fight the urge to place his hands on Kagome's waist. He had never been embraced like this before. When Kagura hugged him, the touch was unwanted and always ended with her constricting the life out of him. Kagome's embrace was soft and gentle. Her curves molded into his body.

"Oh, sorry," Kagome said and let Kyo go.

"Don't worry about it," Kyo said softly. Shigure looked back and forth between the two teens. Kyo went into the kitchen.

"Damn, I'm hungry," he said and opened the fridge, "When is Tohru coming back with that damn rat?"

"Here, Kyo," Shigure said and handed him a bowl, "snack on these."

Kyo slapped the bowl out of his hands, "You know damn well I hate miso!"

Kagome sighed and heard the door open.

"I think there back," she said and Yuki burse into the room angrily holding…

'A snake?' Kagome thought, 'I'm getting the feeling I should have stayed home.'

-O0o0O-

punkish furball—Guess who Kagome meets next? (smirks) Oh, the possibilities for the next chapter. Kagome is going to start going back into the past very soon. I wonder how long she can keep it a secret. L83R, DUDES!

(edited 9/3/07)