Secrets of the Sohma

Ha'ri looked to Shigure and smiled his usual Ha'ri smile. "How has your writing been, Shigure?"

"Oh, you know. It's going as usual. Mii seems to be uptight about something, but I'm not sure what it is that's bothering her."

"It probably has something to do with you stressing her out all the time with your silly little high school antics, Shigure," Haru said, suppressing his smile.

Shigure just placed his hand behind his head and laughed. "Yeah, probably so, don't you agree, Kyou," he asked, placing a glare at the Cat.

"DON'T BRING ME INTO THIS STUPID THING!" he screamed at Shigure. "I could really care less about you and your editor, Shigure," he said calmly.

Yuki fwapped Kyou upside the head as he was yelling. "The girls are asleep. Do you want to wake them," was his calm answer.

"How has school been, Momiji," he asked the small blonde.

"Well, Ha'ri, it's been good. For a weird and strange reason, I've been feeling depressed lately. It's not because I want mama to love me as her son, but it's something else. Kind of like Kagura's been, I guess. Is something about to happen?"

Ha'ri looked to Tohru. "Will you do me a favor and go find Aya for me? Yuki, will you go with her?"

Tohru smiled. "Uh, sure! Ready Yuki," she asked as the two stood at the same time.

Yuki glanced at Ha'ri and noticed that something was bothering him, but he couldn't place anything at the moment.

"Yes, Miss Honda. Let's go find my brother," he said, painfully on 'brother'.

After Yuki and Tohru left, Ha'ri looked to Kyou, Haru, Momiji and Shigure.

"I'm sure that Shigure already knows. I'm not allowed to say anything about it, but Nami was given full rights to Akito's abilities. Even though she is an outsider, he has given her all his trust. And this means that none of us can go against his wishes, whether we would want to or not. She is the means of his living on," Ha'ri said.

Just then, the door slid open and a semi-angry Nami stood at the door. "Ha'ri. You are not supposed to say anything. They aren't ready," she said slowly as she began to trip and fall to her knees. "I told Shigure because Akito wanted him to know. Haru, Momiji and Kyou aren't supposed to know. Not yet, at any rate." She couldn't finish and just lay on the floor. Without looking to everyone, Nami spoke. "Ha'ri. Protection is the main function of my job. The protection of Akito's objects and your family secret are mine to bear now. Please. Don't say anything further. It hurts so to think of anything but your family. Kyou, I apologize if I was out of line at school. I was just so happy to see you again after so many years," she confessed.

As she had confessed, Tohru and Yuki heard her. The look on their faces was one in surprise. "Um, I forgot my coat," Tohru explained.

Ha'ri looked at Tohru a little horrified, but sighed and put his head down. Tohru ran to Nami and held her to her chest.

"Nami, you shouldn't be out of bed. You should go and rest now. Allow time for your wounds to heal. Please, don't strain yourself," Tohru said, trying her hardest to convince Nami to get back to bed.

Nami allowed Tohru to help her back into the opposing room and help her lay down whilst everyone else just sat in the sitting room. Tohru pulled the cover back over her up to the chest and smiled.

"It's been so long since anyone's really taken care of me," Nami said staring at Tohru.

"Well, it's one of my specialties," she said smiling. "Of course, Hatori was there with us when everyone was hurt. So, you can thank him as well," she finished.

Nami looked over to the side of the room, away from Kagura, and sighed. "You heard, didn't you," she asked sadly.

"Heard what?" Tohru asked innocently.

"You heard about what's happened to the Sohma's. It's really not as easy as everyone thinks. Akito has put his faith and trust in me. It's quite harmful that I disappoint Ha'ri. But I wonder what effect this would've had on Akito."

Tohru smiled. "Do you feel saddened by him releasing you from the Main House?"

"I feel sadness only a little. Akito said that after you said to him that you would be saddened by his passing that that was when he decided to let someone in on the secret. Since I have known about the Zodiacal Secret of the Sohma's, I have always been intrigued by Akito. He's not an easy one to get through."

Nami looked at Tohru. "I must extend my gratitude to you, Tohru Honda. You broke my friend. He was a changed man since your visit."

Tohru looked at her and smiled. "You are welcome, Nami. Can I ask you a question?"

Nami looked back at Tohru and smiled. "Sure. Ask anything your heart desires. You deserve it for being so wonderful to the men and women in this family."

Tohru hesitated for a second. "A while ago, while you were sleeping you said that you had loved Akito. Is that true?"

Nami's eyes smiled although her heart and face did not. "Yes. It is true. I had loved Akito at one time."

"What happened with the relationship," Tohru asked.

"Well, let's just say that he was not too happy with the fact that he had to die. He tried to run me off. He pushed me out the door of the Main House and I just ran into the woods around here. That's when I saw 'It'. The True Form of the Cat was revealed. I heard Akito speaking evil to it and my heart broke for the poor creature. I dared not to say anything because I was afraid that Akito would have me tortured or something. So, I just stayed in the shadows until he had gone and the Cat returned to its human nature. That was the first time that I had ever seen Kyou. To make the long story short, I was the placement of Kyou in the eyes of Akito. That's where I got this gash on my side," she said, her eyes falling into sadness.

"So, his anger towards everyone is because he hates being told he was born to die?"

Nami nodded as best she could. "Kagura doesn't even know what I've gone through to save her precious Kyou from Akito. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to help Ha'ri and Kana. I was in the hospital when that incident happened. Ha'ri is like my father. That's why I would give everything and anything to keep him happy," she confessed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I can understand what you mean. Kyou and Yuki have become like brothers to me. Kyou mostly acts like one because he's always around when I need him. Haru is like a big, younger brother. He, too, protects me and Momiji is just like the baby brother I've always wanted. He's so energetic and happy won won't even touch on Shigure," she said, both of them giggling.

"Oh, come now, Tohru. I'm not that bad, am I," Shigure asked as the two girls looked towards the door.

Tohru and Nami tsk'd Shigure. "You are a very bad man, Shigure. Listening in on conversations that have nothing to do with you," Nami said, smiling.

Tohru smiled as Nami winced. "Oh, are you okay?"

"Nami, you don't need to stretch that side. It's going to be sore. How did the sutures get torn?"

"I hit a tree," she lied.

"Really? So, Kagura didn't break them when she kicked you," Kyou said a little matter-of-factly.

"You're really annoying, Kyou, you know that," she asked, her lips turned up in a smile.

"Me? Nah, I'm not annoying. Momiji is annoying, but not me," he joked, telling half-truths.

'Wow, even after her chasing him and everything else that's happened, they can still joke around. It's so nice to see him like this,' Tohru thought as she felt Kagura stir behind her.

Tohru turned and smiled at her. "Welcome to the waking world, Kagura," she smiled, joking.

"Thank you, Tohru," she said, weakly.

"Don't mention it, Kagura," Nami said, looking at her. "I mean it. Akito only wanted Shigure to know. I had to tell him. Even if you shouldn't know yet, you really need to keep your mouth shut. I'll tell everyone when I feel the time is right."

Kagura looked over at Nami and nodded as best she could. She looked up at Tohru.

"I hope...I hope it wasn't too much trouble for you, Tohru. I apologize...for anything...that's happened because of me," Kagura sighed as she looked like she was going to cry.

Tohru smiled. "Oh, you aren't too much trouble. You aren't trouble at all. I find it easier to take care of girls than it is the guys. Are you hungry," she asked both Kagura and Nami.

The two girls smiled and answered with a small, yet strong, "Yes," as Tohru stood up.

"Well, I asked the guys earlier, but I never got an answer to my question. So, do you girls want anything in particular for dinner?"

"Anything but leeks," Kyou mumbled.

"How about we have leeks with cod?" Yuki said, smiling and Haru is laughing.

Kyou stares at Yuki. 'Damn Rat.'

'Stupid Cat,' Yuki smirked.

"TA DA!" said a familiar voice as the two was squabbling.

Everyone looked at him. Nami smiled and Kagura tried to get up, but couldn't.

"Ayame!" Nami said.

The silver haired man walked over to the girls and gave them a hug. Ayame made a bad mistake to hug Nami. Ayame transformed into the snake he was and he sighed.

"Oh well. At least I know that the new head is doing fine," he said, partially giving away Nami's secret.

Everyone but Ha'ri and Shigure looked at Ayame.

"What do you mean new Head, Ayame?" Kyou and Yuki both said at the same time, Kyou screaming it at the top of his lungs.

Haru and Momiji just looked at each other. Haru stuck his finger in his ear as though he was trying to clean it out.

"You know, Kyou. You have a really loud voice," he said.

Nami lay back down on the spot she was before as she took a breather. Tohru looked at her concerned.

"Oh, don't worry about me, Tohru. I am fine. I just got to get over this pain in my side. Literally and technically, I have a pain in my side. Kyou is the literal," she said, winking at the Cat. "Tohru," she said questioning her own speech.

"Yes, Nami?" Tohru replied.

"There is something I would like to have. That's if you can make it without any trouble. I've caused enough today, already, that I can see. But, can you make something called Miso Curry Stew?"

Tohru thought for a second. "I have heard of that. I can try my hand at it, but I'm not sure if I can make it to your liking. But, I'll try my best, okay?" she replied smiling.

Nami couldn't do anything but smile. Tohru was such a warm person.

"No wonder Akito wanted me to watch over her. She's so wonderful."

"Thank you, Tohru. It was what Akito and I would have for dinner every night since he requested me to his home," she said, her eyes falling again over to the side away from Kagura.

Ha'ri looked at her and his heart broke. It hurt him to see the Head to be like this. He did his best to usher everyone out of the room.

"Okay, guys. Let's let Nami and Kagura get some rest. They need it and then we can get them when dinner is ready," Ha'ri said, looking at Nami and Kagura.

Both injured girls looked very tired and exhausted.

"I'll go and get dinner made," Tohru said with a smile.

As soon as everyone was out of the room, Nami smiled. 'Thank you, Tohru for showing Akito such care and compassion,' she thought as she turned to Kagura.

"Kagura, I'm sorry for attacking you like I did this afternoon in the woods. I didn't want anyone to know, but I felt you had a right to know about Akito. I just didn't want everyone to know until I thought that they were ready. Forgive me," she asked the Boar.

Kagura smiled at Nami. "Yeah, I forgive you, Nami. I mean, if I had to take Akito's place, I don't think I would want anyone else to know that I had to do it soon, either. I just can't believe that he would choose you for his duty. I don't mean to sound ungrateful because I'm really not, but I just can't handle the fact that you were chasing Kyou. Although, I know it is just a kiddy thing from your childhood. I'm sorry for making you hit a tree and break your arm, not to mention your stitches."

"That's okay. It gave me a reason, well, Shigure a reason to call Ha'ri. I've not seen him for 4 months. The only ones that know are Shigure, Ha'ri, and Aya. And for now, I want it that way. Please don't tell anyone. It's my duty as Head to be able to dispense decisions and justice to all. Okay?" she whispered.

Kagura smiled. "I shall keep my mouth shut."

The two girls smiled and giggled. Nami placed her hand on her side.

"I just can't wait till this cut goes away."

Kagura looked at her.

"What happened to cause it?"

'Should I tell her, Akito, that you tried to kill me...like you did with Ha'ri and Kana,' she thought as her expression went straight to stoicity.

"Um...I jumped off a roof and landed on a spade that was in the garden," she lied again.

Soon, the smell of Miso and Curry wafted into the room. The two girls sniffed the air and the scent made their mouths water.

"Where did Akito get the idea to have this made? Smells wonderful!" Kagura exclaimed.

"Oh, it's a secret," she said. "A secret I cannot tell because I was sworn to keep my mouth shut."

Tohru opened the door. "Hey, you up to eating with the rest of us," she asked as she smiled at the two girls.

Aya looked at everyone that was in the room.

"Tohru, will you be a doll and leave us for a few minutes, please?" he asked nicely.

"Oh, yes, I will, but I'll be back, okay?" she asked as she backed out of the room and shut the door.

"Aya, you haven't changed back yet," Nami said, a little annoyed at having him hear their entire conversation.

"My apologies, Nami. However, I think you should tell Kagura the truth about your wound. It's not polite to anyone if you lie."

"I understand, Ayame. I would like to tell everything to everyone at the same time, if that pleases your soul," she said, a bit defeated.

"That would be fine," he replied as he transformed to his human nature and the two girls looked away as he got dressed.

"Tohru," Nami called lightly.

"Yes," she said as she popped her head in the room.

"Can you have Shigure come help me up? If anyone transforms, I would that it be Shigure. No offense to Haru, but I just feel a bit safer with Shigure."

Tohru smiled and replied, "Sure," as she hopped off to find Shigure.

Soon, the novelist was standing over Nami and he started to help her up by grasping the uninjured arm and slung it over his shoulder as he tried his best to stay away from her side. Kagura got up with little help and the two sat as best they could at the crowded table.

"This looks delicious, Tohru," Nami said, hiding her fear and dread of telling everyone everything about her reason for being at Sohma house.

"Just like Akito had it prepared," she said as she went back into a saddened expression.

"You must have really liked Akito, Nami," Tohru said.

Looking up, Nami nodded. "I told you the story already about Akito and me. He introduced me to everyone in the Sohma Main House. Even when Shigure and Yuki were living there, I was introduced to them there. That's why I was a little sad at the fact that you didn't remember me, Yuki," she said, facing him.

"Well, you came around the time I left," Yuki said, trying to remember his last days at Main House.

Nami put her head down but kept her eyes open. "True," was her only statement. "Well, if we don't eat this soon, it'll be bad and everyone will be hungry again," she said, smiling and popping her head back up.

Nami looked at Aya, Shigure, and Ha'ri. The three guys were giving her warning looks. Her eyes seemed to respond with an "I know," and she sucked in a bit of air.

"Oh, are you feeling alright, Nami," Tohru asked, worried.

"I'm fine, Tohru. I just have to tell you all something," she said as the phone rang.

"Oh, let me get that. Hang on," Tohru said as she stood up and answered the phone.


Everyone waited for Tohru to come back so that Nami could tell them what she needed to tell them. The only problem with their courtesy was that she was on the phone for quite a while, listening to the person on the other end. When the person finally stopped talking, she turned and walked back to the sitting room.

"Um, Nami. Someone wants you on the phone. It sounds urgent," Tohru said a bit disembodied at the mention of the urgency.

Nami looked at Shigure and he complacently helped her up and she walked over to the phone.

"Oh, go ahead and enjoy the food. It's quite delicious," she said, smiling before talking on the phone.

The conversation took not too long, although it was a bit longer than that of Tohru's. At the end of the conversation, she slowly put the phone back on the base and stared at it for a while and thought of what she had just heard. She couldn't cry, think or really speak, but she had to do something.

'Are they ready yet? Are they going to accept me for what I am to become? I don't know if I should tell them. It'll be hard on Tohru. And I'm not quite sure how Yuki'll take the news. Akito did hurt him. But that was long ago. I don't think he'd ever forget that though. Being locked up in a room isn't something a claustrophobic can ever really get over at any time in their life,' she thought as she could only manage one little word out of her mouth.

"Ha'ri," was all she had said and he came to tend to her.

"Yes, Nami," he replied as she hugged him carefully, only putting her head on his chest. "Is everything alright," he asked in his stoic Ha'ri way.

She didn't say a word but he knew that it had finally happened. He didn't think she would be able to tell everyone everything that they were told these past few months of Akito's life.

"Shigure," Ha'ri called as he, too, came to see what was going on.

He saw Nami hugging Ha'ri, but no emotion came to her face. It was stone cold and bare as though she had seen someone jump and was in quite a bit of shock from theht. ht.

"Do you mind if Nami and I stay the night?" Ha'ri asked, hoping Shigure would let them.

"Sure, Ha'ri. You and Nami can stay the night."

Nami looked at Shigure and smiled. "Thank you, Shigure, for your kindness," she said in a small voice.

"It's the best I can do since you recommended the Miso Curry Stew. You can sleep in the guest room for tonight, if you wish. I'm sure that there are some nice blankets in there to keep you warm."

Nami shook her head. "I won't need any blankets. I doubt I will be getting much sleep tonight. I have too much to think about and not enough time to think through it all," she said.

'Akito, why did you choose now? Why was it going so well for you and you decide now is the time that they know?' she thought.

Shigure stepped aside and let Ha'ri take Nami back to the sitting room. Before they reached the room, she stood up and smiled, hiding the grim truth of what she must tell them in the morning.

"Forgive me, everyone. It seems I forgot something that I was supposed to do today. I hope everyone enjoyed the recommended food," she said, being greeted with lots of "yums" and "delicious" comments.

"Tohru, I apologize that I am unable to share this meal with you. But this matter requires my immediate attention as well as the attention of Hatori. I am to take my leave and Hatori and I will see you all in the morning," she said, smiling.

"I wonder what that call was about," Kyou and Yuki thought in unison.

Hatori and Nami walked out of the sitting room and into tuestuest room that Tohru had made for them earlier in the day. Nami sat on the bed and Ha'ri stood in front of her.

"Nami, I sense that something has gone totally awry?"

"Yes, Ha'ri. Something has gone totally awry. I am to be the next Head of Sohma House. I have to take this position. Akito gave it to me and I have to take it...although I't w't want to be responsible for what happens to you and your family."

Nami looked up at Ha'ri when she was talking to him, but at the end she turned her gaze away from him. Ha'ri knelt in front of her, forcing her to look at him.

"Nami. I'm sure that Akito wanted you to take this position for a reason. The reason is unclear to everyone involved, but he chose you to carry this burden. But it doesn't have to be a burden at all, Nami. This could be a blessing in disguise. The only thing we can do is take each day as it comes. Sure, there are going to be days that are just so tough and rough that we wish that we had never been born or that the day just would end. But as a Sohma, you get used to the idea that every day is different and along with that, you have to deal in the way you see fit. It's not easy living with a curse, but I can see that it's harder for you because you want us to be normal."

Each and every word from Ha'ri's mouth came from his heart. And, knowing that Ha'ri had a big heart, Nami started to cry when he became so emotional and sensitive.

"Ha'ri, it's not as easy as you may think to live in a family that shuns you because you're different; an outsider."

"Nami, why do you think you are an outsider? Is it because you don't share the Sohma name? You have a beautiful last name and I wish it were my own to share with someone. Nami, you are a wonderful woman. I see why Akito chose you for his successor. I can see why he loved you the way he did," Ha'ri said, softening his smile.

"He never really showed how much he loved me, Ha'ri. Sure, we'd talk and eat together, but all he did was put me down. Just last month, he went with me out in the gardens and he pushed me. He pushed me, Ha'ri. I'm not going to lie to you. It hurt when he pushed me down on those sharp rocks. But that pain just didn't compare to what he did after he pushed me," she began, crying once more.

"What did he do," Ha'ri asked, concerned.

"He...he walked away from me. That's what hurt the most, Ha' The The flesh wound is going to heal, but the cut he gave to my spirit...that wound is going to remain with me all the days of my life."

Ha'ri, not caring whether or not he would transform took Nami's hands and kissed her forehead.

"Well, when we were alone, Akito and I, all he would talk about was how beautiful you were to him. He loved you, Nami. And that's quite an accomplishment for anyone to do. Akito was so stiff towards others. When Tohru came to visit the Main House, he grabbed her by the hair. That was the day that he changed from sulking convincer to one who could feel happiness. Tohru may have changed his heart, but it was yours from the very beginning," Ha'ri said.

He looked into her eyes and smiled. "Can you wait here a second, please," he asked as he stood.

She nodded and he stepped out of the room. She lay back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling.

'Tohru may have changed his heart, but it was mine from the very beginning,' she thought. 'Mine.'

She didn't hear Hatori walk back into the room with Shigure. She was too busy looking at the ceiling to even bother with visitors. Shigure stepped over to the bed and leaned in over her.

"Counting the flowers," he asked, smiling.

"Hi, Shigure. No, I'm not counting anything. Just thinking, is all."

"Oh, sweet, sweet Tsunami. Why do you despair so much," he asked with a serious tone to his voice.

She staredo hio his eyes, smiled and hit him with her good hand.

"Well, for one, do not ever call me Tsunami again. And, two, it's just so hard finding a way to tell everyone tomorrow what they should know," she said sitting up and Shigure moved away from her, babying his chest by rubbing his hand over the spot where he was punched.

"You hit like a boy, you know," he said jokingly.

"I just realized something Ha'ri."

He looked at her with a questionable face.

"How am I going to bathe with this huge thing on my side"? Not to mention my arm? I'm not supposed to be getting my arm wet because the water will seep through and probably destroy my arm and who knows what it will do to stitches," she said, smiling.

"Well, how did you bathe at Sohma Main House," Shigure asked.

"Well," she began to blush a bit. "Akito helped me."

Shigure gave a thoughtful smile.

"Well, lucky him, I guess," he said, Nami cracking a smile at the response.

"Don't even think about it, Shigure," Ha'ri said, looking off.

Nami giggled. "Oh, Ha'ri. You know besides Akito, you're the only one allowed to give me a bath, if I can't do it myself," she smiled and got up from the bed as Shigure was about to lean in for a kiss.

He ended up kissing the covers. Nami saw Ha'ri smiling and looked in the direction of the bed and started giggling as she saw Shigure try his best to get up off the bed before anything embarrassing happened.