Kami looked down at her feet and flinched as Yukio yelled. "Where have you been?! You think you can run and not get in trouble?!" Miyako was shaking. Kami wanted to reach over and rest a hand on Miyako's shoulder and comfort her, but she couldn't. Doing so would only bring more anger down from Yukio. "I should punish you for a month! For the rest of the summer break!" Yukio turned his back to them and stared at the wall angrily.

Miyako was shaking harder. The fear was causing Miyako to freeze in her thoughts and probably couldn't think of anything to say. Yukio was going to punish her harshly and Miyako wouldn't be able to do anything. "Yukio!" Kami spoke up quickly.

He turned and looked at her. Miyako wasn't even looking at Kami. "You are in trouble too."

"I know." Kami lowered her head. "This is all my fault." Kami took a deep breath. "I should have found her sooner while she was lost. I should have been keeping a closer eye on her…. Please forgive us Yukio." She didn't look up as she waited for Yukio to say something.

"Kami…. Very well." Yukio said calmly. Kami looked up, feeling a little hopeful. "Miyako your punishment will be for a week, you will be locked up alone in the extra house. Kami you will escort her there right after I finish giving my orders. Kami you will be allowed to take her food once a day, but you will not be allowed to stay for any longer than it takes." Yukio turned his back again. "You may take her, but return right after so I can talk to you."

Kami nodded and stood up. "Come on Miyako." Kami felt sorry for Miyako, but a week wasn't as bad as a whole month. Miyako seemed to be having a hard time getting up so Kami gently reached down and pulled Miyako up by the arm. Once she pulled Miyako out of the room the girl turned into a ferret. Kami held Miyako close as she walked across the Kibaru's land.

The head of the family long ago had built a house specifically for punishments and testing new members of the family. It was referred to as the extra house. No one was allowed to live there. Kami had never been punished there, but she had heard from the others that it wasn't a place you wanted to go. It was all the way in the corner of the lands, separated from any other house. It kept it isolated.

The house itself looked like all the other houses, only the windows were completely black and you couldn't see in. Kami had been in before and the only light came into the house if the light switch was clicked. No natural light ever got in.

"Kami…" Miyako whispered. Kami set the ferret down in front of the door. Miyako turned back and was crying. "I'm sorry!"

"Shh." Kami smiled and hugged Miyako. "It's okay."

"It's my fault you're in trouble!"

"No." Kami whispered. "It's not your fault. And as long as I can help protect you and get you out of here soon the better. And I promise I'll bring you good food every day."

"Kami…"

"Don't worry. The week will be over before you know it." Kami stepped back and opened the front door. "Come on; let me get you settled in."

Miyako nodded weakly and followed Kami inside. She was shaking again. Kami didn't talk much, but she kept an eye on Miyako. The girl was looking around the house, scared. Fear covered her face. For Miyako this was the worst kind of nightmare. Here she was all alone except for on occasion Yukio. She would lie on the ground in her ferret form and cry weakly. No one was able to even visit her.

"I've got to go." Kami said as she finished turning on all the lights. "I'll be back tomorrow with some food."

"I'm sorry Kami." Miyako sighed weakly.

"Don't worry about me." Kami nodded and closed the door behind herself. She turned and headed back towards Yukio's room. She didn't know what he was going to punish her with, but whatever it was she could handle it on her own.

When Kami arrived back at his room Yukio was sitting in a chair and eating his lunch. "Yukio."

He looked over at her and smiled. "Ah you've returned." He nodded. "Now then… Sit." He gestured to the chair across from him.

Kami nodded and sat down. "Alright."

"You care very much about all of your cousins. You even put your neck on the line for them…. I like that." Kami remained silent as he looked at her. "Tell me Kami, what do you know of the way our curse works?"

Kami looked at her hands. "I know that we are born at random in the Kibaru family and that the only one who isn't born randomly is the head of the family, you."

"Very good." Yukio smirked. "But there is more to the curse. To keep the head not being random the head has to marry one of the cursed family members. The head of the family is given a choice of any of the members to become their partner. I've decided I've waited long enough. I've made my decision. You are the best woman to become the next leader of the family's mother."

Kami stared at him in shock. She couldn't believe it. Had he just asked her to marry him? "What?"

"You heard me." Yukio looked off. "Once you finish up high school we will be married and work towards to set in the new generation of the family."

"Y…Yukio…" Kami stared in shock. She was shaking. "I…"

"Is there a problem?" Yukio narrowed his eyes.

Hatori! But Kami understood she couldn't say no. That would be a big problem. Kami looked down. "I understand."

Yukio nodded. "You can leave now then." He waved his hand. "We will talk later."

Kami nodded. She stood up and walked out. She tried to keep her tears in, but it seemed impossible. So instead she hurried home where she flung herself down onto her bed and cried into her pillow. Hatori! I'm so sorry! She buried her face in her pillow for a while until she finally felt she could keep up her composure. Then she stood up and picked up her phone. She took a deep breath and dialed up Hatori's number. It only took two rings for him to answer.

"Hello, Kami."

"Hatori." Kami was pleased with how calm and composed her voice was.

"What's up?" Hatori sounded happy. He sounded like he did every time they talked. It was almost enough to bring more tears to Kami's eyes. "Did something happen?"

"Yes." Kami took a deep breath and choose her words carefully. "I've changed my mind."

"About what?" She could see Hatori's confused expression and wished she could have a different choice.

"Us." Kami took a deep breath. "We're over Hatori. I'm done with you, don't come looking for me."

"Kami…"

"Goodbye Hatori." Kami didn't wait for his reply as she hung up, and started crying again. She ignored it as her phone rang again. She knew it was Hatori trying to get answers. But she couldn't explain to him why she had made her decision. It was easier to just lie. But it was still heartbreaking. She loved Hatori, and she wanted to stay with him. Kami closed her eyes weakly.

"I wonder how Kami is." Raine stretched out her hands as she walked. "Do you think she'll let us join her for dinner?"

"I hope so." Hitomi smiled. "She's the best cook in the family, I love her food."

"Oh yeah." Raine stretched her arms and started to walk towards Kami's house. "And we can help her of course."

"I know." Hitomi laughed. "I wanted to tell her about the restaurant I found. She'll enjoy the food there."

"I bet. I bet Kami will become a cook after she finishes high school and college. She would be really good at it."

"Most definitely." Hitomi nodded. "And if she doesn't I won't believe it."

"Hey Kami!" Raine knocked on the door to Kami's house. "It's Raine and Hitomi! Can we come in?" There was no answer. "Kami?"

"Is she maybe out?" Hitomi whispered. "Maybe she's on a date with her secret boyfriend."

"Maybe… But the lights are on." Raine poked her head over towards the window, trying to see into the house. "I don't see her, but she doesn't usually leave the lights on."

Hitomi knocked on the door again. "HEY! KAMI!"

Raine looked back at Hitomi. "Maybe she's in bed asleep."

"She could be sick." Hitomi frowned. "Now I'm worried."

The door opened before either of them could say anything else. Kami stood in the doorway. She looked normal, but her eyes were red and puffy. She wasn't even looking at them. "Hey."

"KAMI!" Raine gasped.

"What happened?! Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine." Kami said calmly and looked down. "Can I help either of you two? Did you want to come in?'

"Kami!" Hitomi gasped.

"I was about to start making dinner!" Kami looked back towards her house. "If you guys want to join me for dinner."

"Kami!" Raine gasped. She and Hitomi followed Kami into the house. Kami closed the door behind them and the headed towards the kitchen. "I'm going to make spaghetti, it's easy enough. Maybe we'll have some French bread too."

"Kami… What's wrong?" Raine whispered.

"I'm fine." Kami looked over at them and smiled. But the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Come on, let's get started."

Raine and Hitomi exchanged glances. Both of them could tell that Kami wasn't in a good mood, but they also knew that there was nothing they could do to help her. She wouldn't let them, or even tell them what was wrong. The best they could do was stay and try to offer help to her. It was the best option they could take. Kami started pulling out the cooking supplies, but she didn't hum like normal.