I was sitting on my bed waiting to hear news of my brother. He was in the hospital because of me. It was my fault he got hurt. It was all because of my weird powers.

I sank down on my couch, head in my hands. Then there was a knock at the door.

I went and looked in the peephole.

The sight that greeted me was strange. A young man about my age. He had the strangest hair, black with white roots. He was rather muscular, slightly tanned, and he had kind eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked him through the door.

"I'm Hatsuharu Sohma." He said. "The head of the Sohma family, Akito, sent me. He said its time."

I hesitated. Already? My powers weren't developed enough yet.

"How long until I have to go?" I asked, opening the door.

Hatsuharu came in. He looked relaxed, comfortable.

"In about three or four months." Haru said.

I wondered how Hatsuharu had gotten here. We were out in the country, and I didn't see any vehicle around. But I didn't ask him; I figured it would be rude.

I led Haru to the guest room. I opened it up and he went inside and flopped on the bed. His stomach growled.

"Don't worry!" I smiled. "Dinner will be ready soon. I'll come get you when it's ready."

I went in the kitchen and began preparing the stew. I was quiet. I usually sing when I cook but I wasn't feeling it. I sighed and sniffled a little, and then my tears started to fall.

I started to cry. I looked down at my gloved hands for a moment, then covered my face with my hands and sobbed into my hands.

"Are you alright? Why are you crying?" Haru asked. He was right behind me. I was surprised he had managed to sneak up on me.

"My brother." I said. "He's in the hospital and it's all my fault. I-I hurt him."

Haru put a hand on my shoulder. "It wasn't your fault. You're not the kind of woman who would hurt someone on purpose."

I sniffed and wiped my eyes. "I haven't told you my name. It's Kurisuta Hikawa. You can call me Kuri."

"Kuri." Haru smiled. "What's for dinner?"

"It's stew!" I beamed.

I headed into the kitchen and brought out a bowl for each of us and we began to eat.

"So English is your second language?" I asked.

"H-How'd you know?" Haru asked. "Do I have an accent?"

"Yeah you do!" I grinned. "But so do I!"

I spoke in Japanese and he laughed.

"You sure do!"

My smile faded quickly. I was scared. What if Haru found out about how my powers hurt people?

He must have noticed I wasn't smiling, because he looked concerned when I looked up.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

"I'm okay, just wish…" I trailed off. I wished I didn't have such horrible powers. I wished I hadn't hurt anyone.

"Why do you wear gloves?" Haru asked.

I looked struck, hurt. "I-I..."

Haru held up a hand, stopping me. "You don't have to answer. I don't want you to be upset."

I smiled sadly and bowed. "Goodnight Haru."

I headed to bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

At around eleven, my brother Cohaku came home, alive and whole. I ran to him and hugged him but he didn't hug me back.

My voice shook. "I'm so sorry."

Cohaku began to hug me back finally. But then I suddenly heard him say, "I just hope you never do that again. I'm staying away from your hands."

"W-What did you say? That was so…vicious."

"What do you mean? I didn't say anything."

I left knowing that if I hug someone, I can hear their thoughts. I wondered what would happen if I…never mind.

I woke up in the middle of the night. I headed into the hallway and suddenly ran into Hatsuharu. I started to fall, and grabbed his arm to steady myself.

Suddenly a burst of energy shot me into a wall. Haru looked shocked and upset. I slid down the wall, blue sparks healing my injuries.

I heard a voice when I was struck. A dark, angry voice. "Stay Away."

I got up slowly, and he tried to help me, but I moved my hands away from him.

"Kuri..." Haru's voice was full of pain. "I-I'm so sorry. Are you hurt?"

I shook my head. "I-I'm alright. Please don't feel bad."

I got up, but backed away from him.

"What are you doing?" he asked. "Are you afraid of me?"

I looked up at him. "Of course not Haru. I could never be afraid of you."

I bowed to him and headed to my room. When I got to bed I realized that he had heard what I was thinking when my hand wasn't touching him. I had thought "I hope he isn't afraid of me." But he only heard "afraid" and thought I was scared. He must have heard it and interpreted it without noticing it himself.

xxx

Haru stared at the ceiling. What had just happened? How had he hurt that priestess.

He rolled over onto his side, staring at the wall.

I think it was my zodiac spirit, he thought. That's what it felt like when that energy flew out of me and struck her. When she touched my arm, I heard her say she was scared. I want to help her control her powers. I also want to learn to control mine.

Hatsuharu closed his eyes. He wasn't sure what to think about Kuri. He worried about her so much. Did he have feelings for her?

It was late into the night until he fell into a troubled sleep.