The Curse Of The Cat Ears

Chapter One

Year One

Kyo had always hated Halloween. From the time he was a little kid, it was a holiday he wanted nothing to do with. While other kids dressed up and went door-to-door collecting candy, Kyo stayed home. For him, trick-or-treating was out of the question. It was too risky, with his curse looming over him like a shadow. One wrong move, one wrong touch, and it could all come crashing down. Master always tried to make the day fun—he'd buy special snacks and organize games for Kyo—but no matter what, the discomfort and wariness Kyo felt toward Halloween never faded.

Now, as he sat in the living room of Shigure's house, he still couldn't shake that old feeling, though something was undeniably different. The whole living situation was strange—living with the dog, the rat, and Tohru. Especially Tohru. She'd moved in permanently not too long ago, and Kyo had to admit, despite all the awkwardness, he liked having her around. He liked it more than he wanted to admit, and certainly more than he'd ever tell Yuki.

Kyo glanced over at her. She was curled up on the couch next to him, her wide eyes fixed on the TV screen where some horror movie was playing. Honestly, Kyo found the movie ridiculously boring. The plot was stupid, and the effects were cheesy. But what made it entertaining, in its own way, was watching Tohru react to it. Every time something remotely spooky happened, she jumped a little, clutching the edge of her seat or covering her face with her hands.

And whenever the doorbell rang, signaling another group of trick-or-treaters, she jolted so hard that Kyo couldn't help but stifle a laugh. It didn't help that Shigure had decided to add to the chaos by wandering around the house in a Jason mask, popping up behind Tohru at the worst possible moments. Every time she saw him, she let out a soft, startled squeak, and Shigure's laughter echoed through the house.

Kyo pulled his hoodie tighter around him, feeling the chill in the air. He didn't understand how Tohru wasn't freezing. She was sitting there in a bright orange skirt with black spiderwebs on it, and a black, flowy top that seemed way too thin for the season. Her hair was styled in two neat braids, tied with little orange ribbons at the ends. She looked really cute, actually—adorable in that way that made Kyo's heart flutter in his chest, even though he'd never admit it out loud.

He forced himself to look back at the TV, though his attention remained divided. The movie blared on, some monster or ghost stalking its victims, when Shigure, who had been lurking in the doorway, suddenly shouted, "Oh no!"

The yell was so loud that both Kyo and Tohru jumped in their seats. Tohru let out a tiny gasp, her hands flying to her mouth. Kyo's heart raced for a split second, his initial annoyance rising to the surface.

Yuki, who had been sitting on the other side of the room, rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Honestly, Shigure, do you have to be so dramatic?"

Shigure, of course, was unfazed, casually pushing the mask up on top of his head. "Oh, come now, Yuki, it's Halloween! What's a little fun without some theatrics?"

"That's not fun," Kyo muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, still trying to shake off the jolt from earlier. "That's just annoying."

Yuki ignored Kyo, instead turning to Tohru, his voice soft and concerned. "Are you alright, Miss Honda?"

Tohru smiled, her cheeks a little pink as she nodded. "I'm fine, really! It just startled me for a moment."

Before Yuki could respond, Kyo cut in. "Hey, why aren't you making fun of her for being scared, huh? You're always picking on me!"

Yuki smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Because she isn't a jumpy cat."

Kyo's face immediately twisted into a scowl. "Alright, you damn rat, you and me, outside! Right now! We'll settle this like real men!"