Chapter Five: The Meeting

Tohru gave Hana a hug before they parted ways. Hana's house was in the opposite direction now. "See you Monday," she called to her friend and turned to head home. It had been a pretty good day so far. But if she didn't hurry home and start the laundry, she'd be at it all night. Not to mention, she needed to fix something for dinner.

She hummed to herself as she walked, trying to decide what to make. Nothing with leeks, that was for sure! She wanted to make something special, after all, something Kyo would like. She pulled up short and blinked a few times, tempted to rub her eyes at what she saw not too far ahead of her. Could that be?

"Ciel! Mr. Sebastian!" She waved her hand at the strange duo walking a street down, heading in a perpendicular direction to her own path.

Sebastian paused and glanced to the side, down a street they'd both decided not to take. He tapped Ciel on the shoulder. "Young master, I believe we've been discovered."

Ciel glanced over in the direction he indicated and saw Tohru waving at them from a block down. He blinked a few times. "Sebastian, tell me I'm not seeing things."

The butler smiled in wry amusement. "I believe I can safely confirm that you are not seeing a mirage."

Tohru, seeing that the two had stopped and were looking in her direction, now felt sure of their identities, though she was a bit shocked and surprised by it. How had they gotten here? Was it an accident? She quickly ran over, almost out of breath when she reached them.

Ciel smiled a bit when Tohru came to stop in front of them, taking a moment to catch her breath. "I was hoping we'd run into you," he confessed. "It would seem that we are both rather out of our element here."

Tohru had one hand to her chest to steady herself. "Ciel!" She flung herself on the boy, enveloping him in a hug. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again! What are you doing here?" She pulled away to offer a more shy greeting to Sebastian. After all, the butler was still a bit intimidating, for all they'd been through in the past.

Ciel took the attention with good humor, for someone in his situation, at any rate. Only Lizzy ever showed that much enthusiasm at seeing him and she was more than enough for him, but since Tohru seemed to have a bit less exuberance, he supposed he could endure it. "The Queen sent us on a mission to recover a fugitive, who, unfortunately, managed to find your rip in time and went through. We came chasing after."

The girl blinked a few times. "You mean there's a criminal from your time here in Japan? Oh no! What can I do to help! I'll do whatever I can!" She resisted the urge to curtsy; something she felt was almost needed, seeing as he was an earl, though in a totally different time and place. But she would still show him every courtesy she could.

Sebastian smiled. She was just the same as before. "I noticed that master Kyo is not with you," he said.

Tohru looked up at the butler's face. "Oh, he's gone to Kazuma's to do some training. He should be home in time for supper." She suddenly started, as though from a surprise. "Oh! That's right! How long are you going to be here? Do you have a place to stay? And do you need a place to go to for dinner? I can always make more than enough for everyone!"

Ciel contemplated. Dinner, at least, would be nice. The treat Sebastian had brought wasn't enough, but he still had to be careful. "If you think the other members of your household won't mind, we might come along for dinner," he said. "As to everything else, we're not really sure just yet. Isn't that right, Sebastian?"

Sebastian nodded in agreement. "We have not yet made any definite plans at this point. It all depends on how long it takes for us to apprehend our runaway."

Tohru nodded, trying to pretend that she knew what they were talking about. Besides, it felt the safest thing to do. "Well, then why don't you come home with me and we'll see what can be arranged. I'm sure Shigure and the others won't mind, not since you're friends, I mean." She smiled warmly this time. "I mean, if you want to, that is."

Ciel swept her an elegant bow, hat now in hand. "Miss Tohru, I would be honored to accept your invitation. I'm sure Sebastian can find no reason not to accept. We'll decide how to handle things after that." He glanced almost inquiringly at his butler.

Sebastian smiled in response. "I must admit that I have been curious, as I'm sure my master has been as well, to see how the Sohma family lives. I would not pass up the opportunity." He bent slightly and kissed Tohru's hand, causing her to blush. "Shall we be off, then, young master? Miss Tohru?"

Tohru almost jumped to get going. "Right! This way!"

She began to lead them back down from the direction they'd come, only taking a much shorter route, and back to the dirt packed road they'd first come across. The two travelers exchanged glances at this, but wisely didn't say anything as she led them down the road to Shigure's house.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Kyo hopped off the train and started energetically towards the Sohma Estate. Shishu's dojo wasn't technically on the grounds, but it was in the same general direction. And it looked like he'd made good time so far. The streets were still relatively free from foot traffic. If things stayed this way, he'd be there in no time at all.

Only about half a dozen yards behind him, a brunette girl peered at him, her eyes narrowed in a bit of a squint as she tried to make out his features from the distance. She wasn't sure why, but when she'd accidentally come across his path, she'd felt a spark of something mysterious, something similar to the spark she kept hidden within herself. It had to be fate calling her.

Fate had been calling her for some time now. She couldn't resist it when it called her back in England, and she couldn't resist it now, like a magnet being drawn to a source of metal. It had only been strange happenstance that she'd somehow managed to find that rip in time and slid through from nineteenth century England to twentieth century Japan. Luckily, she'd managed to fit herself in quite easily. And now fate had led her again, to a potential ally, or, if nothing else, a useful tool.

She smiled to herself. How to find out, she wondered. What would be the best way to approach him? Up front? Or some innocent and coincidental contact? They had the common ground of attending the same school now, thanks to some subterfuge on her part. She was no student. It would have been helpful, however, if she'd been able to bring some of her usual supplies forward with her, but she had a knack for getting what she wanted and it had served her well so far.

Kyo paused at a corner, waiting for a car to go by. He was fairly close to his destination now. There were only a few more blocks to go. And going this way, he didn't need to even look at the Sohma Estate. He didn't need that reminder of how little time he had left to beat that stupid rat. Besides, it would only take more time.

Tessa Harbinger took advantage of his waiting to close the distance between them. Perhaps running into him, innocently, on purpose, would be the best way to get his attention. She quickly closed the gap between them, noting that he had started moving again, crossing the road, and turning the corner. She couldn't let him out of her sight!

Kyo had slowed down just a little. He was thinking. Would it matter if he did beat Yuki? Would he still be able to get what he truly wanted? Would Akito let him have that? And would Tohru say yes, even knowing what he was? These thoughts had plagued him a bit too much lately. After all, he did still have that secret about her mom. There was no way he could tell her about that. If he did, she'd never forgive him.

Tessa was in such a hurry to catch up with him that she hadn't noticed he'd slowed down. Before she knew it, she was colliding into his solid form, falling back on her buttocks with a thump, followed by an exclamation of surprise and a vivid cloud of smoke with a popping noise.

Kyo's hair was on end as he felt someone come into contact with him from behind. Who in the world? He didn't have to wait long before the usual transformation ensured. "Crap!"

Tessa didn't need the smoke to clear completely for her to see a very strange sight indeed. Standing over Kyo's clothes and book bag was a ginger cat, tail high in the air, hair standing on end. And it had said, "crap"! Without even thinking, she quickly lunged forward and snatched the cat into her arms, pulling him into a hold that only the most determined cat could get away from.

Kyo began to panic, his breath coming in hard pants as his rib cage contracted and expanded like a billows. What was he going to do? His brain refused to work, running around in endless circles, trying to figure out what had just happened, who he'd run into, and how to get away and find Hatori to fix this.

Tessa could feel him trembling all over in her arms and shifted his weight to free one hand. She began to croon strange words as she stroked his fur with her now free hand. It was an incantation of sorts, and the words flowed out of her like a heavy mist, settling over the cat in her arms.

Kyo found himself suddenly feeling dizzy and weak. His thoughts became more and more muddled as strange words filled his head, like someone was pouring dark colored water into his brain, filling from his neck and slowly upwards to the top of his head. He felt heavy and unable to move. What was happening to him? He felt like a swimmer drowning, then his eyes closed and he totally blacked out.

Tessa stopped petting him the moment she felt him go limp in her arms. She let his body slump against her chest while she looked at the pile of clothes in front of her. "A boy who transforms into a cat," she mused to herself. "Most interesting. I knew there was something about you." She smiled to herself.

If she played her cards right, because cards were important tools, she would have a new familiar before the night was out. But first, she had to remove herself from the area before someone found out or came looking for the boy. She quickly gathered up Kyo's scattered belonging, stuffing them into his book bag and flung it over one shoulder. Taking a quick glance around to be sure no one had seen, she cradled the unconscious boy-cat in her arms and walked away.

xXxXxXxXxXx

Ciel felt more than a little out of breath by the time they saw a clearing ahead, with a two story house in the middle. He wheezed ever so slightly, pausing to catch his breath as they entered the yard.

Sebastian turned back to his master, causing Tohru to stop as well. "Young master, are you all right?" He closed the distance between them as the boy coughed lightly. "Hmmm, it would seem that we overdid things a bit today. Why did you not say something earlier?"

Tohru's eyes went wide. "You don't mean he's going to have an asthma attack do you?" She remembered previous conversations about the subject when she and Kyo had gone back in time. And she remembered how Yuki's last asthma attack had started. "This isn't good!"

Ciel leaned against Sebastian and focused on breathing for a moment. "Why…do you… live so far away… from town," he asked through slightly gasping breaths.

Sebastian had pressed one hand against his young charge's back, encouraging him to try and control his breathing. He glanced at Tohru to see how she'd answer Ciel's question.

Tohru blinked rapidly. "Oh um… Shigure said his house is out here because being in the city stifles his creativity. He can think more clearly out in nature. At least that's what he said! Maybe it's because he transforms too." She let the last bit slip out before she'd realize it and almost gasped, but recalled that they already knew about the curse. But only she and Kyo knew they knew about it. " Oh! Um… please don't mention anything about that though! The curse, I mean. Only Kyo and I know that you know about it, and if Shigure found out, or anyone else, they might call in Hatori or something, and that definitely wouldn't be good!"

Sebastian frowned slightly as he tried to remember which one Hattori was. Understanding lit behind his eyes. "Ah, the one who erased the memories of those who find out and aren't allowed to remember your secret? I see. I shall refrain from mentioning it, as I'm sure Master Ciel will as well."

Ciel had, by this time, managed to bring his breathing almost completely under control, but it had been a bit tiring. He pushed away from his butler's supporting frame. "I'm fine now," he said. "I just walked a bit too far today." But he now understood why Tohru had thought a stroll in London had been a piece of cake. She probably walked everywhere without even giving it a second thought. After all, she had walked from school so it stood to reason that she walked most everywhere she went. She had to have some amazing stamina.

Tohru moved closer, resisting the urge to place a hand on Ciel's forehead, just to make sure there wasn't a fever. "Are you sure? I mean, I know how scary asthma can be. Yuki has an attack every now and again and we usually have to call Hattori."

Ciel tried to smile to banish her fears. He was still a bit breathless, probably because it has also been partly uphill, but he didn't want to make her worry any more than necessary. "I thought he only erased memories."

Her eyes went wide and she put her hands up in a sort of protest. "Oh no! Hattori's more than just that! He's actually the head doctor for the Sohma Family! Since he's cursed too, he has no problems treating the others. No one knows why, but when other members of the Zodiac touch, they don't transform so I guess it works out. He's really a nice person, once you get to know him! I mean, he can be a bit gruff on the exterior, but aren't we all?"

Sebastian had to smile at that. Imagining Tohru as having a gruff exterior was a stretch of the imagination. She was far too kind and open for that mistake to be made. "Shall we go inside," he said as a gentle reminder that the sun was well on its way to saying good night, though it still shone above the distant landscape.

"Oh! Right!" Tohru practically jumped to lead them up the front stairs and into the house. "Shigure! I'm home!" She called as she slid off her shoes. "And I brought some friends over for dinner! I hope you don't mind."

Sebastian and Ciel entered behind her, standing in a state of decorum in the vestibule where Tohru had removed her shoes. They glanced at each other and the neat row of shoes. The butler bowed slightly to whisper into his master's ear. "I believe it is custom here to remove one's shoes while indoors."

Ciel nodded and fumbled to remove his shoes, having to have Sebastian help him, leaving him in his stockings. It was a rather uncomfortable feeling to not have the usual weight of the soles, or added height. He usually only went barefoot when getting ready for bed or when he was ill. But he noted that Sebastian had also removed his shoes, revealing white socks under his black pants. They both looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps.