Akito's face turned slightly soft for a moment. "Such beautiful hair, and eyes, and features...." he mused. He then slapped her. The sound was enough to cause Alexis to cringe, and Cloud to turn away. Aeris gasped. They knew this was worse than Bakura. Much worse.
Akito Sohma was the leader of the Sohma family. Twelve individuals of the family had been posessed by the vengeful spirits of the Chinese Zodiac--Rat, Dog, Horse, Ox, Rooster, Tiger, Sheep, Snake, Rabbit, Dragon, Monkey, Boar, and the Cat.
"Actually, I've suddenly had a change of heart. I don't want the curse to be broken. I just wanted to humor that idiot girl Tohru Honda...." Akito said with a smirk. He stood, and dusted himself off.
"Kureno!!!!" Akito roared. A young man with dark red hair descended down the steps. "Yes, Akito-San?" the young man asked. He appeared to be no more than 26. "Take them to the holding cell. Tell Hatori I want their memory erased, and escorted out of the estate." Akito muttered, turning, and walking away. "Yes, Akito-San..." Kureno said. He gathered up the one's that could walk, and easily hefted Chance and Alyssa up. He carried the injured Chance on his shoulder, and slung Alyssa's arm around his neck, helping her to her feet.
They descended even deeper into the mansion, and came to a large cell. "Normally, this is the Cat's Room...But, for now, we'll use it to hold you....I will go get Hatori, and ask him to erase your memories...." Kureno said. Heslowly walked off after closing, and locking the door.
Moments later, a young man in a doctor's coat, and strands of hair covering his left eye descended down the steps in an even pace.
"Hatori-San?" Alyssa asked. Hatori gazed towards us. "You can't erase our memory...Akito told us about the curse....Please, let us help you...." Alyssa said. She reached out to Hatori, standing wobbly. Then, she fainted, and fell into Hatori's arms; an embrace.
There was a loud pop, and smoke filled the doorway. The smoke cleared where Alyssa had fainted; she was still there, but a small seahorse had replaced Hatori.
"W-water....." Hatori muttered, gasping for breaths.
"Which is it?! Saltwater, or fresh water?!" Alexis cried, coming to Alyssa's aid, but finding that Hatori was in worse shape.
They found a bucket, and Aeris cast Waterga in the bucket, creating a small pool. "Grab my clothes..." Hatori commanded. Alexis walked over, and grabbed Hatori's uniform, and walked over. Hatori then proceeded to explain the effects of the curse.
"You see, we are posessed by the vengeful spirits in the legend of the Chinese Zodiac; the story goes that, long ago, God had a banquet, and he invited everyone. In the end, only 12 animals came; the Dog, the Rat, the Cat, the Boar, the Ox, the Horse, the Sheep, the Monkey, the Snake, the Tiger, the Dragon,the Rabbit, and the Rooster.....I myself am posessed by the spirit of the Dragon....That's why, when your friend 'embraced' me, I transformed...." Hatori explained. Suddenly, there was another loud pop, and a cloud of smoke. Hatori stood, but he was completely naked; only covered by the cloud of smoke. Alexis and aeris fell back, embarassed, and Chance quickly covered his eyes, and handed Hatori his clothes.
"When I transform, I will transform back; but the time of transformation to my human self can't be predicted....We also transform when we fall ill...." Hatori explained, adjusting his tie.
"Unfortunately, Akito has ordered me to erase your memories...." Hatori said. Alyssa regained her composure. "You can't.....We want...To help now. You can't just tell us it didn't happen.....It did...." Alyssa said. For some odd reason, this girl reminded Hatori of Kana.....No, he couldn't think about that.
"I can't disobey orders. You see this eye?" Hatori said. He lifted the hair out of his eye. It looked normal. "I'm almost blind in this eye because of Akito. I....disobeyed him once, and it almost cost me my eye...." Hatori said.
Alyssa could see somethign else in Hatori's soul. But, she couldn't tell. "God, please, let me see what pains him...." Alyssa prayed. Alyssa suddenly fainted again, and her soul flew into Hatori's body.
Inside Hatori's subconcious, she could see all of his memories. There was two younger men talking and laughing. Hatori's mind told her they were 'Ayame Sohma' and 'Shigure Sohma'. Alyssa reached deeper, and found out that Shigure was posessed by the Dog, and Ayae the Snake. Ayame had feminish qualities, and had a younger brother named Yuki, who was posessed by the....That was all she could reach.
She suddenly felt Hatori's mind fast-forward, as he recalled a painful memory. Alyssa knew it was painful because she felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
She saw a young girl, with short brown hair. She had a bouncy personality....And, she loved Hatori. They were co-workers, and Hatori recalled an incident when they were talking.
"Hatori, may I ask you something?" the girl, named Kana Sohma, asked.
"Sure." Hatori replied.
"What happens to snow when it melts?" Kana asked.
"Why....It becomes water, of course." Hatori said, saying the obvious answer.
Kana made a buzzing noise, as she stuck out her tounge. "Wrong.....It becomes spring!!" Kana said.
Hatori couldn't help but smile at her.
Over the years, Kana and Hatori grew closer and closer. The day finally came when Hatori revealed his secret to her....He transformed. Kana's reaction was the exact same as Alyssa's, her shouting wether to use saltwater or freshwater.
But, Kana loved Hatori, and would not let his transformation get in the way of their lives together. Hatori requested permission from Akito himself....Alyssa felt Hatori's heart race as he recalled the memory.
"You want to marry her Hatori, and leave the main house.....?" Akito asked. He coughed. He was sick.
"Yes, Akito-San...." Hatori said, bowing respectfully. Kana followed suit, bowing as well.
"Well, I can see that your decision is not deterred....But, what will I do without you, Hatori? What if I grow fatally ill?" Akito asked.
"I won't be far off. I'll be living 'outside', but you can always call me...." Hatori said, keeping his bowing position. "Outside" was a term used for people who lived outside the main Sohma estate.
"No, you won't.", Akito's voice grew malevolent. Hatori heard him pick something up, "I cannot allow this marriage!!" Akito shouted.
Suddenly, blood was everywhere. A loud crash was heard. Akito was standing over Hatori, and had smashed a vase against his left eye. Hatori's eye was bleeding profusely.
Kana gasped. She stared at Akito, her whole body shaking. Hatori cried out, clutching his eye.
"Hatori? What's wrong? Hatori?!" Akito cried. He turned to Kana, shouting, "IT'S YOUR FAULT!!! IF HATORI GOES BLIND, IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!! YOUR USELESS!! YOUR USELESS!!!!!" Akito roared. Shigure ran into the room, and grabbed Akito in a grapple hold. Akito struggled to break free, and inflict harm on Kana.
Kana went to the point of near insanity. It came to the point where she asked Akito to erase that dreadful memory. Akito happily obliged.
Hatori placed his hand over Kana's eyes. "Don't worry, Kana. It will be over soon...." Hatori said, soothingly, to ease her suffering. He was wearing a bandage over his eye. His eye was not damaged enough to need an eyepatch, but he was nearly blind.
Kana reached out, her arm shaking. She grabbed Hatori's wrist. "I-I'm sorry....That, I couldn't protect you....." she said. A tear rolled down her cheek. Hatori's eyes quivered. There was a bright flash, as Kana fell back, her memories erased. Hatori sat there, crying, mulling over his own stupidity. "I should be the one apologizing....Not you...." he said.
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Suddenly, Alyssa was back in her own body. She felt sick, and wnated to throw up. She saw Hatori smiling over her.
(((Fruits Basket gets added to the mix!!)))
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