Death

Chapter 4: Protection and Control

Tw: Yelling, Insulting, Crying, Mentions of abandonment, Mentions of abuse, Mentions of imprisonment, Death threats

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Enjoy -Ghost

Yuki is a wonderful boy, who has experienced terrible traumas. But he is not the only one. The unfortunate poor treatment of those possessed by Zodiac spirits is something all generations of Zodiac spirits have had to face, a problem I am powerless against.

No matter how hard I've tried in the past nothing seems to work and no other Zodiac spirit has been treated worse than the Cat. The day I first met Kyo Sohma was a month before the death of his mother. I had of course known about Kyo from Akito and other Zodiac members, but he lived on the 'outside' of the Sohma compound and the only time he was inside was during New Years, however, I had always stayed by Akito's side at the banquet which the Cat was not allowed to attend.

I had met Kouichi Sohma, the previous Cat Zodiac, as I didn't have Akito to look after but now times have changed. I remember Kouichi, a sweet man, he was always so generous, too generous. He also reminds me of Ritsu, the monkey. Ritsu was always apologising even if he did nothing wrong. Kouichi always asked for forgiveness from those around him. He was lucky though, much luckier than Kyo. Despite the curse Kouichi found a wife who loved all of him, even the cat. Her name was Haruka and the two of them had a son who would become Kazuma-dono's father and founder of the Sohma dojo.

When Akito assumed the position of head of the family she forced Kouichi to be impressioned in the Cat's Room. A cage of sorts made for those possessed by the Zodiac Cat to be locked away in. Kouichi died there and then 2 months later, Kyo was born.

Kyo was summoned to the main house by Akito who forced the young boy to take off his juzu beads and transform into the 'true form' of the cat spirit. Akito was disgusted by the boy's true form, for it being her first time seeing it. The smell of rotten meat coming off of his form further adding to her disgust. "This is Kyo's true form," She had said, "It's hideous, and what is that smell? It smells like something rotting. This is the Cat's true form? Revolting."

I had seen the hurt in Kyo's eyes, even if he was in his true form, under the surface he was still just a little boy.

Akito tossed the juzu beads to the side, nonchalantly, and left with Shigure on her tail. Frowning, I picked the beads up and walked to the young boy. "I don't think you're revolting, Kyo-kun." I said softly to the boy.

I rested my head on his and closed my eyes as our foreheads were together, "You're not revolting, just misunderstood."

Despite the thought of cats and birds hating each other similarly with cats and rats, I had always gotten on with most of the Cat spirit holders. Perhaps it was because the world saw us as the same, saw us as monsters. The Cat was different to the other Zodiacs, they had their 'true form'. They were classed as abnormal even for the Zodiacs. Most looked down on the Cat, even the other Zodiacs. And yet, I can't help myself but see a far younger me in those eyes, hurt as those around me shunned me due to something I can't control. I can't control the fact I always have bird legs, I can't control the fact I have pointed teeth, I can't control every aspect of myself just like one can't control their eye colour, hair colour or skin colour.

Kyo couldn't control the fact that the Cat spirit has a 'true form', he couldn't control what it looks like, how it smells. He couldn't control being possessed by the Cat spirit, none of the Zodiac spirit holders can.

Eventually, I felt Kyo returning to his human form under my hands as his damp, tear-streaked cheeks rested in my hands. I pulled my head away from the boy to see such a young boy, sobbing, his fiery orange hair clinging to his forehead. I planted a soft kiss on his forehead before speaking, "You're so strong, Kyo, so incredibly strong."