The Sohma Litters *a Traditions Sequel*

Chapter Twenty-seven: And the mouse ran away with the cheese.


Yuki’s POV

I was sitting in the kitchen dipping my spoon in and out of my cup. It was probably evening, as the children were still asleep and Kyo was working at the hospital.
I had been sitting here for so long, it could be morning but I knew that Kyo would be home before then, so it must be night. I hated having to convince myself of things, like that.
It had been almost four months since the surgery and I was still alive. My headaches were gone and I had healed completely. All but one thing were back to normal, and now I had a new concern.
I wasn’t sleeping.
My insomnia started when Kyo took on the night shift and worked till four in the morning. It had been two weeks and I hadn’t slept a single night. I told Kyo that I just woke up early; he didn’t need a new problem.
So, here I was stirring absently at a cup of coffee, and waiting for Kyo’s arrival to tell me what time it was. Then I could curl up with him for a couple of hours before the children woke up and I was in charge of their care once more.
I didn’t know how long I could handle this.

Another week passed and now I wasn’t able to sleep when Kyo did come home. I was drifting off in the middle of the day, and the children would tap me when they needed something.
Once it was to tell me that someone was at the door.
I opened it to ask the person who stood there what the needed. The voice of Tohru rang in my ears. She stood in the hall outside, and I could hear the voices of her eldest children arguing over something, so I smiled and opened the door. It was always nice to see her, and the boys would be happy to have Mikita and Kazuya to play with. Kyoko has always been too shy to join in the type of play that is usually the case in my home.
Tohru pulls my arm and leads me to the living room; I can only smile, as she doesn’t realize that I am now perfectly able to find the way here with out assistance. It makes her feel good to help me, so I let her.
“Yuki you look tired. I’m sure it’s been a strain on you so I am going to help. I will watch the boys while you take a nap. How does that sound?” she asked.
I wanted to say like a dream come true, but only manage to squeak out a “if you really want to.” And she seems satisfied.
Sleep claimed me quickly and I have no idea how long I had actually been asleep, when the sound of my bedroom door clicking woke me. And I sat up, to ask who was there. This was when I was most affected by the lack of sight. I was vulnerable and memories I had thought long suppressed rose to my mind unbidden. I knew that Toma was dead, but in this condition I was easy prey and the whole rape returned to me in a rush. “Who is it?” I yelled, louder than I meant to.
“It’s Kyoko, Cousin Yuki. I’m sorry.” Came a small voice, almost a mirror of her mother.
“It’s alright, Kyoko. I am not angry. You just startled me.” I assured her from where I sat.
“I wanted to ask you . . ” she began. How had she moved so fast? Her voice was originally from the door and now she was nearly at my side. This child was silent in her movement and once again, I realized how vulnerable my condition makes me.
“What did you want to know, dear?” I asked to cover my nervousness.
“Are you really Ju’unishi? Kita says she knows all about them, but won’t tell me anything. She says she is in charge of the secret and I can’t know any more. I just want to see one.” Her words came to me and realization hit one second too late as tiny arms encircled me and I was suddenly falling into the pile of my clothing.
I was filled with the familiar memory of dropping into the recesses of fabric and watching them tumble on top of me as they followed. I could see the light through them and the shadows of the child reaching to unbury me.
“Come out. I can’t see you. Where are you?” I heard her and scurried deeper into the fabric and out a pant leg to climb under the blankets and hopefully away from her as I heard another voice.
“Kyoko, what are you doing in here. Yuki is sleeping and . . . . what have you done?” Tohru said as she viewed the pile of clothing tumbling off the edge of the bed. “Yuki? Are you here?” I climbed back out of the covers to see a frightened looking Tohru staring back down at me.
I wasn’t sure which shocked me more, the expression of dread on her face, or the fact that I could SEE it.
“Tohru? It’s okay I am not harmed. She just wanted to see a transformation, and I was afraid she might, accidentally crush me.” I assured her. Kyoko was smiling broadly at her achievement, as I turned to her and decided that she was far from contrite about her behavior. “However I think that perhaps her Otousan might want to talk to her when you get home.” And the look became more wary. Shigure was more of a firm father than he had originally been when Mikita was little. The child would certainly be punished.
“Kyoko go out to the living room, and sit in a corner. I will come out in a minute.” The child stomped out the door, still a little more stubborn than to just admit she had been bad. “Yuki are you okay? Do you need me to help you?” Tohru was still overly mothering to all of us. I smiled up at her.
“No, I am fine. Better than in a long time. Tohru, I can see you!” I said, unable to keep it a secret even if the effect was temporary, I was thrilled.
“What? Are you sure? Oh, that’s a silly thing to ask. What should we do?” she began.
“Start by calling Hatori and Kyo. I think they might need to come home.” I suggested, as I was a little too little to handle even my cell phone.
An hour later, I was back in my human form, and my sight had gone once more. But as Hatori and Kyo conferred it was suggested we try something again and while the children played in the bedroom, the experimentation began.
Tohru would transform me and Hatori would test my sight then when I had just transformed back he would check again.
We did this three times, and I was getting very tired, but each time the joy of seeing again made it all worthwhile.
Hatori sighed as I dressed for the last time. I looked up toward his voice and cried out.
“Yuki, what is it?” came the voice of Kyo from off to the side. I was afraid to turn his way and be disappointed, but I had to know. I lifted my chin and squinted as I turned his way. He was standing in front of the large sliding patio doors and the light came around his frame. Still it was fuzzy but the light made it better. I could feel the tears sliding down my cheeks. It was Kyo. My Kyo.
“I can see you!” I cried and Kyo rushed over to me. “I can see both of you!” I said around Kyo’s head to Hatori where he still stood. His dark suit not contrasting as well without the light behind him, but the image had caught my eyes when I had first looked up.

I was too tired to try any more. So, for the first night in weeks, I slept soundly. It could have been, knowing that my sight was returning even just this little bit, or the fact that Kyo was curled up around me, having taken the night off for a family emergency. I didn’t care which, I was happy and with Kyo spooned up behind me, and I slept and dreamed of happy things for a change.

:::There has to be some upside to turning into an animal. So, here is a good thing. A different brain structure would teach the mind of the human to rethink the workings of its own parts. Why not? And slowly the human mind could convert to the workings of the mouse and learn a new way.
It made me happy, how about you? Plus, christmas is just around their corner and what a present.