Hey Guys! Okay, so I decided to make a few changes to this story. As I was rereading the story and realized that I put Hanajima and Kazuma as Ichiro's parents and made Ichiro 10 years old, then Hana would have had to have Ichiro at a very young age. So, I'm changing it. This is how it will be now: Ichiro is still a Sohma, but he is a child born from Kyo's real father and a girl he started dating, but when he found out that Ichiro, too, was part of the curse, he disowned him. Kazuma found him then and took him in as his own son like he did with Kyo. I think that makes more sense lol. Anywho! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 7:
The celebration went on until midnight. Sometime during the night, Yuki went up to Ichiro to talk to him more. When he got to the platform that Ichiro was sitting on, he sat down beside him. Ichiro turned his head to look at him and Yuki could see that Ichiro was getting tired.
"I haven't got a chance to introduce myself yet. My name is Yuki Sohma. I'm the Rat of the Zodiac," he said in his quiet voice.
Ichiro smiled tiredly at him, "It's nice to meet you, Yuki. This is…quite the celebration," said the young boy with a yawn.
Yuki chuckled, "Well, everyone has been waiting a year for the new God. So, they're excited," he explained.
Ichiro was quiet for a few moments. "My big brother said that he was never allowed at this house and was never allowed at any of the New Year's Banquets," he finally said in a quiet voice. "Why is that? He's part of the Zodiac, isn't he?"
Yuki hesitated, then sighed, "He isn't officially part of the Zodiac. In the Chinese Zodiac, there are 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Boar, Dog, Tiger, Ram, Horse, Rabbit, Rooster, Dragon, Snake, and Monkey. Has Kazuma ever told you the story of the Cat?" he asked.
Ichiro's brows furrowed as he thought about it, then he shook his head, "No. What's the story of the Cat?" he asked, his brown eyes alight with a child's curiosity.
Yuki sighed again and told him the story about how God invited all of the animals to a Banquet and how the Rat told the Cat that the Banquet wasn't until the day after. After he was finished telling the story, he was quiet as Ichiro processed it. Then Ichiro looked up at Yuki, his eyes swimming with unshed tears.
"So…so my big brother is an outcast? He's not allowed in here because of that story?"
"I'm afraid so. He's used to it though."
Ichiro's eyes narrowed angrily, "No! He is part of this curse just as much as the rest of us! He deserves to be at those Banquet's as well, hanging out with us and having fun! That shouldn't change just because he's the Cat!" he exclaimed. He then stood up, "Everyone, can I have your attention?" he called.
However, everyone was talking too loudly and didn't hear him, so Yuki stood up as well and whistled loudly. Everyone turned to look towards him. "Ichiro wants to say something to us!" he said. Then he looked at Ichiro and nodded.
"T-thank you, Yuki," he stammered. He looked at the crowd of people and swallowed nervously. "U-umm…I just wanted to say that Yuki just told me the story about the Chinese Zodiac a-and the Cat." He looked at Kyo when he said this, then returned his gaze to everyone else. "I-I don't know if I can do this, but I want to change the rule that states that the Cat can't come to the Banquet. The Cat, or Kyo, is part of this curse just like everyone else and he deserves to be there, having fun with us. So, I say that Kyo is allowed to come to the Banquet and he's allowed to enter this house. I-I know that I will have to stay here and I….I want to be able to see my brother." He looked down after he was finished his speech, so he didn't see Kyo's eyes widen and fill with tears then run out of the room. However, Yuki did see and he followed him.
He found Kyo sitting on the roof (of course XD) and occasionally rub his eyes. Yuki climbed up to sit beside Kyo. It was quiet between them for a few minutes before Yuki finally spoke. "Are you okay, Kyo?" he asked quietly.
Kyo sniffed and wiped at his eyes again, "I don't know…did you tell him to say that, Yuki?" he asked, turning his crimson eyes to Yuki.
Yuki closed his eyes and shook his head, "I just told him the story and then he suddenly got all angry and said that you should be able to come to the Banquet as well. I didn't tell him to say any of that stuff," Yuki explained earnestly.
Kyo sighed and it was quiet once again. After about five minutes of looking at the stars and thinking about Sango, he looked at Kyo again, "We should probably get back in there now. People will be wondering where we are," he said quietly.
Kyo sighed again, "Yeah, I guess you're right," he replied, standing up and stretching. Yuki stood up as well, but didn't have as good balance as Kyo. His foot slid out from under him and he started falling off the roof. By the time Kyo realized this and tried grabbing him, he was too late. Yuki plummeted down to ground.
"Yuki!" cried Kyo as he jumped off the roof. He rushed over to him and saw him lying on the ground, seemingly unconscious. Kyo put his ear to Yuki's mouth and sighed in relief when he heard him breathing shallowly. "Just hang in there, Yuki! I'll get help!" he said to the unconscious Yuki, as if expecting him to reply.
He ran back into the building, looking for Hatori. He found him sitting at a table with a drunken Shigure and Ayame. He looked annoyed and Kyo couldn't blame him. Shigure and Ayame were singing '99 Bottles of Beer' at the top of their lungs. He rushed over to Hatori and tapped him on the shoulder. Hatori turned his cold grey eyes to the teen.
"Yes? What is it, Kyo?" he asked.
Kyo was out of breath and Hatori waited patiently for Kyo to regain it. "It's Yuki!" he finally exclaimed.
Hatori's eyes narrowed and he stood up, placing his hands on Kyo's shoulder's, "What happened to Yuki, Kyo?" he asked seriously, his doctor mode turned on.
"H-he was sitting on the roof with me and when we were about to come back in here, he slipped and fell off. He's on the ground unconscious right now. I don't know how badly he's injured because I was too scared to move him."
"Good. You don't move someone who has fallen from a high place. You did the right thing coming to me, Kyo. Where is Yuki?"
Kyo led Hatori to where he left Yuki and saw him still lying there. He stood back to give Hatori room to work and watched as he pressed light touches to Yuki's sides. At one point, when the doctor pushed lightly on Yuki's left side, Yuki groaned in pain and violet eyes opened.
"What happened?" he muttered.
"You fell off the roof. Hold still, Yuki. I'm trying to determine the extent of your injuries," replied Hatori camly. Yuki nodded, groaning in pain again when his head throbbed with the movement. He felt Hatori pushing lightly at his sides again and gasped in pain when he felt a couple of his ribs throb.
"We need to get you to the hospital. You have a couple of cracked ribs and you hit your head pretty hard. You might have a concussion." Hatori turned to Kyo, "You stay here, Kyo."
"What? No! No way in hell am I going to stay here! I'm going with you!" he exclaimed indignantly.
Hatori sighed in an annoyed manner, "Very well, then stay here with Yuki. I'll get my car and inform Shigure and Ayame what happened." With that said, he walked away.
Kyo looked down at Yuki and saw that he was sweating and that his face was twisted in pain, "Are you okay, Yuki?" he asked nervously.
"I'm fi-" he cut off, gasping as he realized that talking or breathing hurt his ribs. "Okay, I'm not fine…" he whispered. "It hurts to talk or to breathe."
"Hatori will be back soon. We'll get you to a hospital," Kyo assured him.
Sudden tears filled up in Yuki's eyes and leaked out, "I-I wish Sango was here," he whimpered.
~~~ In the Feudal Era ~~~
Sango suddenly woke up from a very disturbed sleep. She had a premonition that something had happened to Yuki in his world. She quietly slipped out of her futon and out of the house, heading towards Lady Kaede's house. She knocked on the wooden doorframe and waited rather impatiently for the old woman to let her inside.
Lady Kaede finally appeared, blinking sleep from her eyes. "What is it, child? Is there a problem?" she asked sleepily.
"I need to get to Kagome's world," she replied.
"And why is it ye have to go to Kagome's world right now?" She asked with a yawn.
"Because… I-I have a premonition that something bad happened to Yuki. I-I need to see if he's okay," she said quietly, brown eyes swimming with unshed tears.
Kaede nodded in understanding, "The only one who will be able to send ye there is my sister, Kikyo, but she went out earlier this evening and has not returned yet."
"What is it that is the matter here?" asked a voice behind them. Sango turned around to see Kikyo striding towards them, her Soul Collectors flying around her.
"Kikyo, please! I need your help to get me to Kagome's world," she pleaded. "I fear something has happened to Yuki there and I need to see if he's okay!"
"Calm yourself, Sango. I am able to open the portal in the well temporarily, but you will only have a few hours before you will be returned," she explained in her calming voice.
"That's fine. I-I just want to see if Yuki is okay." Her tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and Kikyo sighed.
"Very well, then. Follow me. I will open the portal." She replied, turning around and starting to walk away.
They walked to the Bone-Eaters Well in a comfortable silence. Suddenly, Sango heard a twig snap behind her and she whipped around in fear, instinctively reaching up to grab Hiraikotsu before realizing that she left it back in the village.
Inuyasha walked out of the shadows of the trees and Sango sighed in relief, "Inuyasha… you scared me," she told the hanyou.
"Where are you going?" he asked, ignoring her statement.
"Kagome's world. I want to see if Yuki is okay."
Inuyasha's eyebrows rose in confusion at the 17 year old, "Why wouldn't he be okay?" he asked. "I saw him earlier and he was fine."
Sango's brown eyes widened. She didn't know that Yuki came here. "What was he doing here?" she asked.
Inuyasha shrugged, "He came to get Kyo and bring him back home," he replied. "Anyways, why do you think something happened to him?"
"I don't know…" she replied quietly. "I just… feel like something happened to him."
Inuyasha frowned, "Well then, let me come with you. You'll need someone who can pick up his scent."
Sango smiled at him and nodded, "Thank you… Inuyasha," she replied quietly before turning around to follow Kikyo again.
Kikyo was waiting by the well for them. When they got there, she looked at them. "Now, Sango. Inuyasha is able to stay there for as long as he wants, you might be able to stay with him, but if not, you will be returned here in 3 hours," she explained.
"I know. I'm fine with that," she replied quietly.
Just as Kikyo was about to open the portal, Sango heard a voice calling after her. "Sango! Wait!" exclaimed the voice.
She turned around and saw her brother running towards her. Her eyes widened in shock and filled with tears, "K-Kohaku?" she whispered. The last time she had seen her brother was a year ago when they attacked Naraku's lair. When he ran away with Hakudoshi. That was when he was still under Naraku's spell.
"Sango!" Kohaku ran over to his older sister and threw his arms around her, sobbing.
Sango was frozen in shock and was aware of Inuyasha and Kikyo watching her. Then very slowly, she wrapped her arms around her little brother. When she realized that Kohaku was really there and she wasn't just imagining him, her hold tightened and she cried with him.
"Kohaku, what are you doing here?" she whispered.
"I came to find you. I was looking for you for a while. Why are you out so late?" he asked, smiling at his sister.
"I was….going to go to Kagome's world."
"Can I come?" he asked.
Sango looked at Inuyasha and Kikyo. Inuyasha shrugged, "Tch… it's not like I care if he comes or not," he muttered.
She smiled down at Kohaku, "Of course you can come," she said.
"Are you guys ready?" asked Kikyo.
Sango nodded and took Kohaku's hand in hers, "We're ready, Kikyo," she replied. She watched as Kikyo opened the portal. When the portal was opened, Inuyasha jumped in first, then Sango and Kohaku followed after that.
They found themselves in another well and they climbed out. As soon as they were on solid ground, Inuyasha crouched down and began smelling the ground and the air.
"Follow me," he said after a few minutes. "I can smell Yuki's scent."
They followed Inuyasha for what seemed like hours and then they finally got to this rather large house. They saw a strange white machine with a red cross on the side parked in front of that house and they were putting a bed in the machine. Sango saw a flash of gray hair and knew it was Yuki in the bed. She ran over.
"Yuki? Yuki, are you okay?" she asked desperately.
Yuki's eyes widened and he turned his slightly, "Sango? What are you doing here? How did you get here?" he asked quietly.
"Kikyo helped us. What happened to you?" she demanded.
"Fell off a roof," he replied.
"Fell…fell off a roof? Why the hell were you on the roof?"
"I was sitting with Kyo and lost my balance," he admitted.
In the meantime, Kohaku was looking around at all the people and his eyes fell upon one girl who looked about his age. She had strawberry blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Those eyes were filled with tears. He was captivated by her beauty and found himself walking over to her.
"Hey," he said shyly.
She looked over at him, tears still running down her face, "H-hi…d-do I know you?" she stammered nervously.
"No," he replied honestly. "My name is Kohaku."
She looked at the boy in front of her. He seemed friendly enough. She smiled shyly and looked at the ground, "My name is Kisa."
"Kisa is such a beautiful name," he said, smiling back, finding her shyness to be cute.
Her cheeks turned bright pink at this remark, "T-thank you," she whispered.
While Kohaku talked with Kisa, Sango climbed into the back of the ambulance with Yuki and it drove away.
Kohaku turned around when he heard a strange noise and saw the machine driving away and his sister nowhere to be seen. He looked back at Kisa, "Umm…It appears that my sister left me. Would it be okay for me to stay here?" he asked nervously.
"You can stay with me!" exclaimed a girlish voice behind him. He turned around to see the rabbit half-demon standing there, a bright smile on his face. "I'm Momiji Sohma!"
Kohaku nodded politely at the boy, "Kohaku. You said I could stay with you?" he asked.
"Uh huh! Follow me! My house is this way!" exclaimed Momiji.
Kohaku said goodbye to Kisa and followed Momiji. Momiji led him to a small home and followed him inside.
"Make yourself at home!" he said, kicking off his shoes. "You can sleep on the couch."
Kohaku sat down on the couch while Momiji brought him a cover and a pillow. He thanked him and lay down on the couch under the cover, praying that his sister would be alright. He felt his eyes close and drifted into an easy and dreamless sleep.