Ichirou Suoh Sohma's Story

Keiko was somewhat delighted with how the morning was turning out. Yes, she had to get up early, but it was to see Rin so it was all worth it. And she didn’t have to worry about being late because Ichirou had already offered her a ride to school. She didn’t want to accept so he wouldn’t be late for work, but he kept insisting. Rin had already dismissed everyone, but Keiko sat in her place, to Rin’s right, as everyone else got up to leave. She didn’t want to leave Rin all by herself … she would at least wait till someone came to make sure Rin at least got back to her room. Ichirou would be willing to wait till she came out. It was a nice, warm spring morning after all. “It was nice seeing you again, Rin. I’ve missed you a lot,” Keiko said with a smile. “I’ve been very busy with school though and meetings … it’s been hard to sneak away from all the outside things. How have you been? You haven’t been feeling sick, have you?” Ichirou had always told her it was pointless to try and make conversation with Rin, but Keiko loved trying. After all, Keiko loved Rin more than anything.



The gathering hadn’t taken long, and naturally, Ichirou was one of the first out the door. He hated the atmosphere whenever everyone was gathered. It was nice seeing everyone, but there was something in the air that just made him choke. He took a giant breath of springtime air, making him feel slightly better. “Man,” he sighed as he made his way out the front gate. “Has it always been that depressing in there?” Ichirou’s car hadn’t been parked too far from the front gate, so when Keiko walked out, she would see him. She had a thing about smoke, so he tried not to smoke in his car when he knew she was going to be in it. Keiko never complained, but he could tell she didn’t like it. “May as well light one up while I’m waiting,” Ichirou said, pulling out a carton of cigarettes. As the other members of the Juunishi left, he waved, puffing out smoke every now and then. He would be willing to give anyone that needed a ride one, as long as they were willing to wait.

Ichirou didn’t understand how Keiko could actually want to spend so much time with the Head. Even to someone like Keiko, Rin was short tempered … but even when Keiko gets hurt, the only thing Ichirou does is cry. Deep down, he wants to stop Rin from hurting Keiko and everyone else … but there was some force keeping him from doing anything. Ichirou took in another deep lung-full of smoke before looking at his watch. The first was done, so he pulled out another one and lit it up. “Hopefully she’s okay.”

Rin inhaled quietly as she dismissed her family from the meeting, not feeling so well. Her body was weak, and her sight was blurred. Her breathing too was painful, but she kept quiet, for this happens daily, so why complain?
Watching the zodiacs leave, seeing a few glares and weary stares, she reacted with a passive face. Hate was all she recieved from a few of them, some pity and others..well didn't even care for her. How dare they.... Feeling her fingers curl into a tight ball of collect anger, she gripped her loose dark kimono, wrinkling its silky fabric.
However in the corner of her eye, she saw familiar and almost irritating white hair. But strangely, and unknowingly she felt slight relief from seeing this. Only slight. It was the rat. Keiko.
This zodiac always confused her. She was her most seen family member, and she always attempted to speak with her, even though she always ignored her in the end. Maybe Keiko was trying to suck up to her. It wouldnt have been a surprise, a bunch of people do so, even if they werent a zodiac. Dirty humans. Her eyes narrowed slightly at this, remembering a familar and scared face from the past.

'Get away from me, your whole family is a freak!'

That hateful quote. Staring at the wall before her, a burning hole could have been formed seeing how heated her stare was. "..."

“It was nice seeing you again, Rin. I’ve missed you a lot,” Keiko said with a smile. “I’ve been very busy with school though and meetings … it’s been hard to sneak away from all the outside things. How have you been? You haven’t been feeling sick, have you?”

'Liar.' Turning her head slightly, giving her a glance, she studied her expression. Its always the same. Kind and genuine. It hurts just watching her talk. Looking away, she remained expressionless. Idiotic questions. Why ask how she was? Everyone knew that she was always sickly! She was always stuck in four walls in pain. Why do people remind her of that! Her finger nails drew blood from her palms as she tightened. "It hurts." Was her answer, as she made eye contact with her. Dark cold purple eyes meeting soft gold. Gleam of hurt could have been seen in her eyes, hating how nice this rat was. It was irritating, and it hurts.
It wasent the same look her mother gave her, Keiko gave her a different look. It was strange and new.



Watching the head dismiss them, she took her time to stand, as she didn't want to appear rude. It was a lesson to be well mannered during meetings after all. 'Don't hurry yourself Haku or you will look prude..' A masculine voice told her, and she made sure to follow thoroughly.
Dusting off her black school uniform, her male uniform, she bowed towards Rin and greeted Keiko with a nod, before heading off, every step paced and graceful. However if you noticed, the whole male uniform, you could see that she wasent a she, she was a "he". More like a cross dresser actually.
Kohaku's hair was pinned up into a male cut, and her red eyes unconsciously narrow, making her appear male. Plus bounds were wrapped around her feminine areas as well. Only a few knew of her real gender, such as the residence of the shrine. She wasent even sure if the head knew of her secret...Hopefully not.
Passing by a maid, the women bowed hast fully and greeted her. "Good morning Kohaku-sama." A kind smile pulled at her neutral face. "You too Kagime-san." The women blushed hard, before racing off with a giggle.
Strange females.
Watching the women turn the corner, she continued her way to the front of the gates only to see the boar. She blinks. "Good morning Ichirou." She greeted smoothly, her voice neutral and calm, causing it to sound genderless. But it leaned to more male. 'Wonder if he knows of me..?'
Really, she hoped not. Despite her dislike of being addressed as a male, secretly, she didn't want everyone to know her real gender. It may spread and well, that would be troubling. Her deceased brother would have been troubled too. But maybe he'll call her, her brother's name- Haku, they did look alike, except for a few masculine traits.

Daisuke woke up his alarm buzzing at him to get out of bed. How he hated that thing, it was his seventh one all the others were thrown against a wall. Hitting off button and rubbing his had after sitting up. "Damn that was a good dream" not that it was different than most of his dreams. Fighting, money and most of all women. A few of them all in his bed and the best part was that he didn't become a god damn animal when he had embraced one. That was the most frustrating thing, to be called an animal and not in a good way. The girl he could touch and hold he couldn't even talk to without getting flustered and acting like an ass. But at least he was going to be able to see her today.

For whatever reason they were summoned, those that carried the weight of this curse, to meet with their "god". The term pissed him off, such a weakly being head of the family, the center of everything. Man did Daisuke want nothing more than to beat him up but never dared to try. Showering before slipping on black jeans, navy blue button up and black jacket with white fur around the hood. He always dressed nicer when he was going to the main house. He dressed well normally but did himself up a little bit extra today.

He set out and arrived at the meeting only to be dismissed just as quickly. "Man what a pointless morning this was. Woke up early for nothing" he voiced his complaints as he approached Ichirou and smirked. "Yo, let me bum one off of you will ya" Gesturing towards the pack of cigarettes as he always did whenever he was at one of the meetings. "Pretty lame huh seemed sort...or maybe I fell asleep" chuckling slightly though it wasn't true at all even he would disrespect Rin. His eyes never left the doors as he leaned against Ichirou's car, waiting to catch a glimpse of the one he really came to see.

Maketa slowly walked out of the meeting feeling small and in danger. He couldn't help it though, the rabbit was naturally prone to feel scared almost all the time and his stature and age didn't help. Being youngest and smallest put it's pressure on Maketa but all he could do was try and act confident and sick to one of the others and hope they would stick up for him. He didn't have a specific person he would stick with but he always tried to avoid rat in these situations since she seemed to be closest to the head which fueled his fear.

He walked out slowly with his head down and his hands in his pockets as he made his way to school. He looked around his peripherals and saw Ichirou taking out a cigarette. Maketa decided that it would be best to ignore him and keep walking as to make his way to the lonely classes he called his school. It had always been lonely there since his siblings graduated a year ago. He used to hang out with them and their friends but he himself had not even bothered too make any.

He sighed and continued to walk as a calm breeze hit his face. A small smile emerged and his eyes closed briefly. "This is nice." he muttered and continued and then slowed down happily. He had time to kill and why not take his time on a day this nice? The mood changed from a sense of impending doom to a simple happiness as he made his way to school with his head in the clouds.

Keiko looked at Rin, her eyes filled with concern. “What hurts? Do you need medical attention? I can get someone or call someone if you need me to,” Keiko said, fumbling with her things. “You shouldn’t wait so long to tell people if you’re in pain. It could end up badly … do you need some medicine?” Keiko glanced at her watch, not sure whether she would be late to school or not. “Masuyo! Masuyo,” she said, rushing to the hallway. “Masuyo-san, can you please go and get some of Rin’s medicine? On second thought, please stay with her. I have to get to school, Yoko-san,” she said, stopping another maid, “Can you please go and get Rin’s medicine?” Keiko ran back into the room, bowing deeply to Rin. “My deepest apologies, Rin, but I have to hurry off to school. I promise to come after school as soon as I can to check on you.”



Ichirou smiled as Kohaku passed by, sending him a good morning. “Good morning Kohaku, nice to see ya. Need a ride?” Then Daisuke popped up.

"Yo, let me bum one off of you will ya," gesturing towards the pack of cigarettes as he always did whenever he was at one of the meetings. "Pretty lame huh seemed sort...or maybe I fell asleep," he said, chuckling slightly.

Ichirou smiled at his friends as he held the pack towards him. “Knock yourself out, kid,” he said, taking another puff of his own. “Tell me about it. I hate these things. Especially when they make the kids late for school. I don’t really care about being late for work, but I mean, people like Keiko can’t afford to miss school.” As if on cue, Keiko walked out of the main gate looking worried. “Hey Keiko, what’s wrong?”

“Just worried about leaving Rin alone is all …” Keiko smiled at Ichirou, holding her breath.

“Sorry,” Ichirou said, throwing his cigarette onto the floor, stomping it out and waving away the smoke. “Ready to go? I was thinking later we could go to the park and do some star gazing if you wanted. Of course it would be after you do your homework.” Ichirou pat Keiko’s head, smiling.

“Sounds like fun,” she said with a smile. “I might have student council duties after school.”

“That’s okay … I’ll pick you up.” Ichirou opened the door for her, looking up at Daisuke. “You feel like tagging along?”

He laughed some after lighting the cigarette and shook his head. "Please they like getting off school, every kid does" his eyes fixed onto Keiko, such a perfect little brat. Always kissing up to Rin like it was her job. Yet has never seen her be so perfect around the Cat. A slight head nod was all she received from the trouble maker before moving away from Ichirou's car and waved slightly. She was lucky though if they had been alone he might of blown the smoke in her face. For the sake of it just being to early in the morning however he stopped himself from doing such a crude act.

"No I'm good I think I'll just walk." He's fingers locked behind his head as his attention turned to Kohaku. He didn't even notice him there. "Hey Haku where could I find some grub around here? After all I did have to rush over here to get to this meeting. Missed breakfast on the" that was a lie. He didn't rush, in fact he was one of the last to arrive. But he had his reasons to stay around the main house. "I bet you sneak in the kitchen and eat all the sweets" a devilish grin formed as smoke came from his nostrils. Trying to intimate the 'boy' into giving in and getting some food for Daisuke.

Rei Shinobu Sohma

Rei sighed as they were dismissed from the meeting. Thank goodness. She didn’t mind Rin and all, but those meetings where essentially the only change she had to screw up and she knew herself enough to know it would happen one way or another if she spent to long in Rin’s presence…it seemed like God wanted to see her mess up…She sighed again and shook the thought from her head.

She saw Keiko, Ichirou, Haku, and Daisuke standing around. Keiko and Ichirou where leaving and Daisuke was picking on Haku. Rei grinned as she skipped over, her bubble-gum pink hair flowing around her. She stopped in front of Daisuke and plucked the cigarette out of his mouth.

“Don’t you know smoking is bad for you Daisuke-chan?” She said with a for-shame look on her face before she grinned again and took a drag of it. She wasn’t an avid smoker, she only did when she was stressed, like at the meeting earlier.
“Why you picking on poor Haku?” She asked with another cheeky smile. She patted Haku on the shoulder.


Youko Rose Riyashee

Youko woke with a start, to the buzzing of her alarm clock. Time for work. She yawned, stretched, and got out of bed. A half and hour later she was showered and dressed in her uniform. She looked in the mirror. Her long purple hair fell in a neat braid down her back, and she wore a mid thy high black skirt and a white blouse with black stiletto heeled boots. She shook her head.

“Damn I look good” She said with a grin before she grabbed her red leather jacket and headed out the door to work. She grinned when she saw her old yellow junker beetle waiting for her. After a few failed attempts to start, she got her going and headed to work.

The Phuk Et, where Ko worked, wasn’t anything fancy. Just a small mom and pop bar and grill, but there was great service and awesome food….and honestly she all but ran the place so she didn’t have to worry about being late. She showed up and was greeted graciously with loud hellos and whistles. She shook her head and grinned.

“Oh good you’re here, table four needs service and our little intern is seriously not doing a good job.” Sandry her American co-worker said in a rush. The girl she was referring to frowned and looked like she was going to cry as a customer complained about the food. She smiled gently and touched the girls shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it, none of us get it right the first time….and Gus you quit giving this girl a hard time…the meal is on the house now shut up and eat” Youko said with a mock frown at the customer. He laughed and turned away.

“Just go bus tables six, seven, and ten okay?” she said as she headed to serve the customers at table four.

oops double post XP

Taiga yawned and stretched as he left the meeting. It was a good day so far; the meeting had gone smoothly and he'd gotten the offering box of the shrine cleaned up. Now he just needed to go back and finish cleaning the ablution pavilion. Pausing in his thoughts as he reached the small gathering of Juunishi at the gate.

Smiling, he pushed his white hair out of his face and waved. "Good morning! You'd all better hurry if you want to get to school and work on time! Also, if you're hungry afterward, you can always stop by the shrine for a snack. I should have some ready by then anyway, so feel free to stop by. Classmates are welcome too so long as you're careful." he waved again as he passed the group, heading back to the shrine.

Within a couple minutes he had arrived, panting slightly from the quick pace he had taken up the steps to the Torii gate. Frowning slightly as he realized the branches of the trees on either side of the gate were beginning to encroach it, he shook his head and continued forward, making a note to deal with it later.

"Good morning, Suki-chan!" he waved to the girl who, he noted, was standing in the yard with an empty bird cage. "I take it the bird is doing much better today?" he smiled as he headed around to the back of the shrine, where the living quarters were.

Little more than five minutes later he was back in the yard wearing a white keikogi and a gray-green hakama and carrying a broom. He quickly set to work sweeping the ablution pavilion. "Suki-chan, you ought to hurry if you're going to make it to school on time. I'll have snacks waiting when you return. Any requests?"



Torako yawned as he got up. Glancing at the clock, he cursed. He'd overslept and was going to have to either rush his trip to the shrine or rush breakfast. Sticking some bread in the toaster, he rushed through his shower and got dressed in his usual red t-shirt, black jeans, and black jacket. Grabbing his toast, cell phone, and wallet, he pulled on a pair of black sneakers as he rushed out the door.

Turning left from his house, he jogged to the turn in the street and left again to go up the flight of stairs to the shrine. Finishing off his toast, he brushed crumbs off himself and headed up the steps. Patting the inside pocket of his jacket to make sure his composition notebook was still there, he sighed in relief. At least he wouldn't have to worry about that today, though he silently cursed himself as he realized he was still wearing his glasses. Waving at the white-haired boy that was sweeping the pavilion, he found himself blushing as he spotted the equally light-haired girl also standing in the yard.

"Um," he took a chance, "excuse me, miss, but are you by any chance going to the university for morning classes?" she looked about the right age to him, so he thought he'd at least try to ask. If nothing came of it, then he'd just make his offering and go on his merry way. "Oh, I'm Torako Toushi, by the way. I go to the music composition portion of the university." he bowed slightly, a rather formal greeting mostly just because he was on the shrine grounds.

Yoshino woke up during the early hours of the morning, early enough to sit and enjoy watching the sun rise before she thought about preparing for the long day ahead of herself. She was in the shower when she heard her fellow Sohma's, or at least the one's she lived at the Shrine with, get up and begin their own day.

This was her cue to get a move on and she quickly finished up, dried off and got dressed in the high school uniform she was required to wear. By the time she was ready to leave her room she had dried her white-pink hair and placed the long strands in two loose ponytails below her ears and her school blouse and skirt were perfectly creased in all the proper areas. A quick glance in her mirror told her she was good to go and, without another moment's hesitation, the Tiger of the Zodiac grabbed her school bag, shoved her feet into her shoes and confidently strode from the room.

She had a meeting, then school, to attend.



After the meeting, Yoshino tiredly rolled her piercing red eyes as she stepped from the large house the 'God' lived in. How she hated to enter that place, to sit under Rin's cold glare as she made sure that everything in the Sohma family was in order. That thought sent shivers down the confident teenager's spine as she quickly left the porch of the detested building behind her and came upon the group that gathered at the gates though she didn't stop much longer than a moment as she called to the others who would be attending school with her.

"See you at school!"

She kept walking as she half-turned to shoot a cheerful smile and wave at the others before continuing on to attend classes. This was just how Yoshino was; confident, cool yet kind, and determined to always be on time. Sure, she didn't like being alone but being late certainly trumped that any day.

Keiko got into the car carefully, trying not to crush the papers in her bag. Once she was in, Ichirou slammed the door shut, out of habit. "Good morning! You'd all better hurry if you want to get to school and work on time! Also, if you're hungry afterward, you can always stop by the shrine for a snack. I should have some ready by then anyway, so feel free to stop by. Classmates are welcome too so long as you're careful." he waved again as he passed the group, heading back to the shrine. Ichirou sent a quick wave and nodded back at Haku.

Keiko waved at Taiga and rolled down her window. "I forgot to say, but hello Daisuke. And hello to you to Rei and Haku. It's was nice to see you all today," she said with a warm smile. She was to oblivious to see anyone else passing by, and rolled up her window.

"And you might want to hurry, Haku, or you might be late." With that, Ichirou hopped into his seat and slammed the door shut. "Ready Keiko?" The younger girl only nodded before Ichirou speed off down the street. Keiko had told him before that it was dangerous to go that fast, but it was one of the few things he didn't really listen to her about. He loved cars and driving fast. That's why he worked with them.

Not to long after, they were parked infront of the school. Keiko quickly got out, seeing some of her friends near the front gate. "Thanks again for the ride, Ichirou. It was very nice of you." She bowed, softly shut his door and ran off. "Hey Aneko," she said, waving to the one closest to her. "Hello Kotone and Shou." Keiko had a thing for hanging out with mostly girls. The only reason Shou was her only really close guy friend was the fact that he was gay. He didn't like touching girls, but he sure loved talking to them. "Did you guys get the homework done?"

Aneko laughed for a moment before trying on a serious face. "Keiko, you worry me."

"Of course we didn't! I would ask you to be polite, but I already know the answer." Shou smiled at Keiko before continuing to gawk at the boys passing by.

"Well, it wasn't that hard. I had it all done within an hour. Hour and a half tops."

Kotone rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "I can't sit still for an hour." The girl snuck a glance a Keiko before double-taking. "Keiko, did you sleep last night?"

"Of course I did. I slept like a baby," Keiko lied with a smile. "We should head to class." As soon as the small group entered the gates, it seemed to triple in size. I have to get to class, Keiko thought after a few minutes of saying 'hello' and making small talk. "Well see you all in class!" She burst out of the group, walking quickly to the school doors.



Ichirou was almost to the garage he worked at when he noticed a nice looking place to stop for some breakfast. He parked and got out, checking the place out. When he got in, it seemed pretty empty, except for what looked like a few workers. "Hello?"

Youko heard the bell of the door ring. She sighed, not out of irritaion but out of weariness... Another customer. She didnt dare let the new girl try again....the last few customers she had served had practically ran out the door demanding refunds. She shook her head. That poor girl could litterally ruin anything....but she wasnt going to give up on her.

She stood and walked over to the dark haired man. Youko looked him over with a smile as she grabbed a menu.

"Hello, Welcome to Phuk Et, Table for one? Or perhaps you'd like to sit at the bar?" Youko asked with a polite smile. She brushed a strand of her royal purple hair out of her face as she waited for a response from the man.

Ichirou Sohma

"Hello, Welcome to Phuk Et, Table for one? Or perhaps you'd like to sit at the bar?" the girl asked with a polite smile.

“I think I’ll stick with a table,” he said with an equally polite smile. “Is this place okay to smoke in? I can wait if it isn’t, but I didn’t get to finish my last one. Had to take a cousin to school.” Ichirou followed her back to the table, walking a few paces behind. “This is my first time here, and you look like a nice girl. Got any suggestions for me?”

Keiko Sohma

Keiko made her way into the classroom, almost late. She had been stopped several times by several people. The hardest things were trying to get people to let her leave. She never was able to straight out tell people that she had to leave, and trying to close a conversation took forever when they kept opening it back up. It was just as bad once she stepped into the classroom, up until the bell rang. Everyone rushed into their seats, hoping to not be caught by the teacher. “Hey Keiko,” a girl named Kimi started. “I heard from Shohei that you have a sexy driver that drives you everywhere. Is that true? Do you like him,” she whispered the last part.

Keiko smiled awkwardly at Kimi. “Um … no. He’s my cousin and is just kind enough to give me rides to school on his way to work.” Kimi slouched in her chair with a pout on her face. She was probably looking for some long and romantic story between the two. The boy, Shohei, that had informed her of my cousin, walked in, as if on queue.

“They’re just cousins … only cousins.” Shohei looked slightly disappointed too. Some times teenagers, even though she was one herself, confused her completely.

Oh, Keiko thought out of no where, pulling out her planner. I have to remember to visit Rin after school. If Ichirou can’t get me, then I’ll just walk. Keiko wrote down the plan quickly on a free space. She shouldn’t have had to much homework tonight, so she wouldn’t feel horrible for rushing in and out like she had this morning. Maybe I'll see some of the other Junishii while I'm there ... it's always nice to see them.

YOUKO

“I think I’ll stick with a table,” he said with an equally polite smile. “Is this place okay to smoke in? I can wait if it isn’t, but I didn’t get to finish my last one. Had to take a cousin to school.” Ichirou followed her back to the table, walking a few paces behind. “This is my first time here, and you look like a nice girl. Got any suggestions for me?”

Youko smiled.

“Depends on what you’ve got a taste for. For breakfast we have great omelets, French toast, or pancakes, I’m personally a fan of the French toast….uhm…then for the lunch menu we have lots of great soups, I love the clam chowder and the potato soup. And for dinner….well we make pretty much anything…I personally like the steak, baked potatoes and broccoli salad….and of course I must recommend our ice-cream shakes and our coffee!” She said with a smile as she pointed each meal out on the menu.

“Let me know when you’re ready to order.” She said with a smile as she noted a new set of customers enter.
“I’ll be right back.” She said then went to get the new customer a table. She politely gave the group menus and turned to go back to Ichirou’s table but only got a few feet away before she felt a hand on her but. She gasped and spun around anger flashing through her veins. She felt fury run through her veins but she did her best to bite her tongue. She looked at the man and calmed herself before she said: “Sir, please don’t touch me” The man leered at her.

“Don’t dress like a whore and I won’t want to touch.” He said wile laughing.

“I think you should leave sir….”

“I think ill stay and enjoy the view. Bring me a sand which girl” he said. Youko felt her fury rise but she just turned around and walked back over to Ichirou, her face burning and her eyes stinging. She kept her composure and smiled at him.

“Ready to order yet?” she asked


REI

"Who wouldn't like you? They would be an idiot for not seeing how great you are" he said.

“Thanks” she said with a grin.

Blushing heavily he looked away. "I mean I'm better obviously but still.." He looked towards the eggs she put on the plate dug in.

"Mmm this is pretty good, I know eggs are simple but they are perfect." Looking to her again. "Hey since you don't want have work you want to....I don't know...hang out. Maybe go downtown or so something. Movies or even pick up those brats from school… Or the shrines or something" he mumbled.

“are you asking me out?” she said with a giggle before she composed herself.

“Never mind, id love to hang out” she said with a grin as she took a bite of her own eggs.