"What do you want to do about this?" Yuki asked Reiko, his voice low but steady.

Reiko stood near the garden, her gaze serious as she surveyed the situation. The small yellow duckling—Kuri—sat quietly on a patch of grass, her tiny form fluffed up in what appeared to be silent misery. Nearby, the orange tabby cat that was Kyo circled her, hissing softly, his tail flicking with irritation.

"We're certain it was Shigure who made this deal?" Reiko asked, her sharp green eyes narrowing.

"Yeah," Yuki confirmed, scowling. "It was definitely him."

"Of course it was," Haru growled as he stepped into the garden. His fists were clenched at his sides, and his usual calm demeanor had cracked, replaced by anger. "This has his fingerprints all over it—making deals without thinking about the consequences."

Reiko turned to Haru, noting the tension in his shoulders and the way his eyes kept flicking back to Kuri. He was worried, and that worry made him look dangerous. "We'll fix it," she said firmly. "There's always a way out of a Sadako curse."

The cat—Kyo—let out an annoyed meow, circling Kuri again. His fur bristled, and he stopped to swipe a paw at her.

"Knock it off, Kyo," Haru snapped, stepping forward protectively. He crouched down and gently scooped the duckling into his hands. Kuri's small form trembled slightly, but she didn't resist. Haru's expression softened as he held her carefully, shielding her from Kyo's antics. "You're not helping."

"Meow!" Kyo shot back indignantly before leaping onto Yuki's shoulder.

Yuki winced under Kyo's weight. "We can't let them stay like this," he said firmly. "This isn't just an inconvenience—it's humiliating. It's cruel."

Reiko nodded. "With Sadako's curses, there's always a loophole. They're built on conditions, and this one isn't permanent." She pointed at the cat and duck. "This curse seems to take effect when they act like a cat or a duck. It fades when they're doused in water."

Yuki's eyes narrowed in thought. "So it's conditional. That's something we can work with."

Haru's grip on Kuri tightened just slightly as he cradled her in his hands. "We're not leaving her like this," he said, his voice unusually sharp. His dark and light hair fell over his eyes as he looked up at Reiko and Yuki. "We break the curse. Now. I'm not letting her suffer any longer.

Reiko studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "You care about her, don't you?"

Haru's jaw tightened, and he glanced away, his thumb brushing softly over Kuri's small back. "Of course I do," he said, quieter this time. "She didn't ask for this."

Yuki turned slightly pink at Reiko's knowing look. "I feel the same," he admitted reluctantly. "We've all been through enough because of curses. I won't let this ruin her—or Kyo."

Reiko smiled faintly, her green eyes glinting. "Then let's make a team out of it. If we work together, we'll find the loophole and break it."

Kyo, as if sensing the seriousness of the moment, sat stiffly on Yuki's shoulder. "Meow?" he offered gruffly, as if to say And me?

Reiko rolled her eyes. "Yes, you too, silly cat."

Haru ignored the exchange, his focus entirely on Kuri. He stood and turned toward the house, cradling her protectively against his chest. "Where's Shigure?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

Yuki blinked at Haru's tone. "He's inside. Why?"

"I'm going to have a little talk with him," Haru said darkly, his eyes flashing. "He's the one who made this deal, and he's going to help us undo it."

XXX

Inside, Haru found Shigure lounging on the veranda, a book in his hand and a mischievous smile on his face, as if nothing was wrong. "Ah, Haru! You're looking unusually intense today. Did someone step on your tail?"

Haru set Kuri gently on the cushion beside him before advancing on Shigure. "What did you do?" Haru asked, his voice like ice.

Shigure blinked, feigning innocence. "What ever do you mean?"

Haru leaned closer, his calm composure cracking. "The curse. Kuri's a duck, and Kyo's lost his damn mind. You made this deal, didn't you?"

Shigure's grin faltered just slightly under Haru's glare. "Well, technically, it was more of an agreement than a deal—"

"You didn't think about what it would do to them, did you?" Haru snapped, fists clenching. "You just decided it was worth the risk and didn't care who got hurt."

Shigure sighed, closing his book and setting it aside. "Haru, you know I'm not heartless. It's complicated. But there is a way out."

"Then tell me what it is," Haru demanded.

Shigure held up his hands placatingly. "Fine, fine. Reiko's already on the right track—Sadako curses are always conditional. If Kuri and Kyo don't give in to the behaviors the curse assigns them—acting like a duck or a cat—they'll start to regain control. And water, as Reiko pointed out, acts as a purifier."

"That's not enough," Haru said sharply. "If they're stuck in this state, even for a little while, it's cruel."

Kuri let out a soft, tremulous "Quack!" from her spot on the cushion, and Haru turned, his anger melting instantly into concern. He walked back over, scooping her up gently and holding her close. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice soft now. "We'll fix this."

Shigure watched the exchange, his expression unreadable. "You're very protective of her, aren't you?"

Haru didn't respond, his focus entirely on Kuri as he carried her back to the garden. Yuki and Reiko were still there, deep in conversation. Haru sat down with Kuri nestled carefully in his lap, his thumb brushing against her small head soothingly.

Reiko glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "You good?"

Haru nodded. "We're fixing this. I don't care how long it takes."

Kuri let out another tiny "Quack," her little head tilting to look up at him. Haru smiled faintly, his voice low and reassuring. "I know you hate this. Just hang on a little longer, okay? I'm not going anywhere."

And as the others continued plotting how to break the curse, Haru stayed with her, a quiet, steady presence. His protective hold never wavered, as if silently promising her that whatever happened next, she wouldn't face it alone.