The Sohma Puzzle

The rain fell hard against the window pane as Kyo watched it, eyes narrowed as though he was focusing all his energy into hating the stifling weather. Which, of course, he was. His ginger eyes narrowed as he tried to make out a shape in the road.

"Is that a cow?"

Yuki walked over to look, an expression of disdain on his lips. About to admonish his cousin for letting the dark play tricks on his mind he stopped. Into the light of the porch lamp stumbled a small calf, crying out for its mother. Still, his need to beat the cat forced him to correct him.

"It's a calf, stupid cat." The phrase had its intended effect as Kyo glared at him, eyes narrowing in frustration and anger.

"Shut up, you damn rat! It's still a cow."He retorted, throwing a punch at his silver haired cousin. Yuki caught his fist and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into the opposite wall. Shigure watched Kyo fly over the table and winced as he collided with the wall.

"Yuki, Kyo, could you please not destroy my house? I really can't afford all the repairs." The boys were young adults now, and working, but they could still stand to be less destructive. " Haru, don't go out in the rain."

Hatsuharu picked up his coat and slid open the door. "He's crying, Shigure." The other three cousins watched from the window.

He went outside, ignoring the rain as he knelt in the mud to wrap the crying animal in his jacket. As he stood with the calf in his arms, someone else came running into the light.

The young woman wore brown cowboy boots, blue jeans and a brown t-shirt. Haru stopped when she called out to him. She caught up to him and wrapped her arms around the animal's head. She said something to Haru, who replied, gesturing towards the door. The woman nodded and followed him inside, letting him carry the calf.


Inside, she slid the door closed behind them and removed her shoes. Haru hadn't put any on. He sat down on the small wooden step, cradling the animal gently in his lap. She knelt beside him, pushing her rain soaked hair out of her eyes. Her hands moved over the infant bovine, deftly checking him for injury.

As her hand brushed the baby's side, he squealed and tried to run, but Haru murmured softly to him and he soon quieted. The woman's tired eyes softened and became the color of honey. She carefully peeled away the material of Haru's white jacket to reveal a long scrape down the creature's side.

"Oh, Little one." She murmured softly as she examined the wound. "I'm sorry I wasn't more attentive."

"It's not your fault." A quiet voice told her. She looked up into Haru's soft silver eyes. "The little ones wander."

She smiled at him. "All the same, he's hurt now." She looked up as Yuki held out a blanket. "Here. You must be . . " He stopped as she took it and wrapped it around the small animal. Shigure chuckled, both at Yuki's expression and the woman's use of the blanket.

"So, Haru, who's your friend?" Shigure asked, peering over him. Haru, without thinking, answered him. "His name is Kuri, Shigure."

"How'd you know?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Shigure, Yuki, and Kyo froze. Haru blinked and looked at her. "I guess Shigure meant you, didn't he? What's your name?"

"Tamiko. And you're the Sohma's. Sorry for trespassing, but I couldn't just leave him out alone all night." she answered. Haru smiled at her.

"I'm Hatsuharu. Don't worry about it. If you'd come by the house, I would've helped you look." He informed her, patting the animals head. The baby nudged his hand, making Tamiko smile. He stood, and carried the calf through to the kitchen.

"Come on, we can take care of him in here. You both can stay until the rain stops." He told her. She followed him into the kitchen. Yuki handed her a towel, stating that this one was for her. She smiled.
"Sorry, Sohma-san. I guess my cows have always come first." She told him, starting to dry her hair. Haru looked at her over the baby as he cleaned the scrape. She was plump, but more muscled than anything. Her wet hair was a dark, dark brown, almost black, and fell only to her shoulders in a straight, no maintenance cut. Her liquid brown eyes were set in a roundish face above soft dark pink lips.

She hung the towel over her shoulders and turned to the table. Haru had a few first aid supplies out and was wrapping a bandage around the tiny animal's middle. She reached out and helped him, taking the roll from his hand above the animal, and sliding it back beneath him.

Together they worked on the animal for several minutes, speaking only to ask for this or that or some help with something. Haru warmed a cup of milk and grabbed a straw, and the two sat in the living room. Haru held the animal as Tamiko dipped the straw into the milk, covered the tip, and lifted it into the calf's mouth. Releasing her finger, she dropped the milk into his mouth, creating the illusion of his mother's teat.

After consuming the entire cup of milk and half of a second one, he burped and nuzzled his head against Haru's chest, then fell asleep. Tamiko smiled and stroked his velvet muzzle.

"You're very good with him, Hatsuharu-kun." she murmured softly, taking this opportunity to study him. His damp hair was white on top, but she could see that his roots were black. his loose white shirt was open to the third button, revealing a decent bit of chest and a collection of necklaces. He was solid, and muscled, like a farm boy.

"I have a kinship with them, you could say." Haru explained away his curse. "We get along, anyway. I'm not so good with people."

"That's obvious."

"Children." Shigure interrupted, dropping blankets on their heads. "Perhaps you should get some sleep. It will be dawn soon enough."

Tamiko laughed and stood up. Haru followed suit and led her up to his room. He set the calf up in the bed.

"You sleep here, Tamiko-san." He told her. "I'll get you something to wear. All I have is t-shirts, is that okay?"

"That's fine." She took the shirt he offered her and went to the bathroom to change. Haru took the opportunity to change himself.

Tamiko removed her damp clothing and hung it over the shower, drying off a bit more with the towel Yuki had given her. Pulling the t-shirt on, she reached for the bathroom door to slide it open.

"You're letting her sleep in the same room, Shigure?"

That was Yuki's voice. She waited for the reply.

" They're both adults, Yuki. They can sleep in the same room." Shigure replied.

"What if something happens?"

"You're so pessimistic, Yuki. What could happen? She LIKES cows." He told him, laughing a bit.

"So that's it." Yuki's voice had gotten cold. Ice cold. "You're planning to use her, like you did Miss Honda. Shigure, you can't manipulate people like that!"

"Don't be foolish. Everything turned out fine with Kyo and Tohru, didn't it? Don't worry so much."

"It won't work again! There are no more Honda Tohru's, Shigure!" Yuki yelled.

"Yuki, keep your voice down!" A door slammed. She listened for a moment, then, hearing nothing, she slipped out of the bathroom and back into Haru's room. He wore a pair of black silk boxers and a white t-shirt. She took in the way the shirt defined his abdominal muscles, the way his messy hair fell, the deep silvery grey of his eyes. For the first time she noticed that he was gorgeous. She bit her lip gently.

Haru in his turn was studying his guest. Wearing only his long black t-shirt, he could see her muscled thighs and calves. Her arms were round and also hard looking. She had obviously worked hard all her life. Visible against the stark pinkish skin of her thigh were three reddish marks. Tamiko saw him looking and smiled.

" Last year, I was chasing a cow that had gotten loose. I got a rope around it's neck, then I fell off my horse. I was dragged about thirty feet over some really rocky land. The scarring goes up to here." She placed her hand on her side, just below her breasts. She wasn't ashamed of the scar. She didn't feel it detracted from her looks at all.

Haru raised an eyebrow. Brave girl. Tough girl. He was starting to like her. That . . . could be bad. He turned away.

"You should get some sleep. You've been out all night." He told her, climbing into his own mess of blankets. She stared at him in surprise, but knelt and got into the futon he'd made up for her. Wrapping her arms around Kuri, she closed her eyes and slept. Haru lay awake, staring at the wall.

When the first glow of dawn entered the room, Haru quietly rose and put his bedding away. Without changing his clothes, he went outside to find Kyo in the yard, throwing punches at the air. Stepping down from the porch, he called his cousin's name. The ornery cat looked over at him.

"What do you want, Brat?" He demanded, irate as usual. Haru ignored it. Kyo was always this way.

"Spar with me." He said, walking over to him through the wet grass. It made his feet cold. Good, it would keep him alert. He couldn't beat Kyo anyway, but he didn't want to get absolutely thrashed by him.

"Fine, whatever. Just don't cry on me when I kill you." He told him. Haru didn't answer, just attacked. The two fought extremely well, and as the sun rose higher, they began to enjoy the workout. Focused entirely on the movements of their martial arts, they didn't notice the gathering audience.

Yuki, Shigure and Tamiko knelt at the table inside the open doors that looked out onto the yard. Tohru was serving breakfast and being introduced to Tamiko. She cooed over the tiny Kuri and the two talked as they watched the boys fighting.
"Haru's improved, hasn't he?" Shigure observed to his silver haired cousin. Yuki nodded in agreement.

"His reflexes have improved. He's learned a few new techniques, certainly." The rat commented. He could tell something was off, though. Haru was missing obvious openings. They weren't essential, but normally he would have seen and used them. The fight would have ended already.

Kyo grabbed Haru's forearm and threw him into the bushes. Haru sat up and rubbed his head.

"You win, Kyo." He told him. Kyo blinked. Haru was giving up? Oh well. He'd won. It didn't matter. He walked over to the porch and laid down on it. Kuri wriggled out of Tamiko's arms and out into the yard, dropping into the grass with a squeak. He ambled out to Haru and pushed his nose against the man's face, leaving a smudge of mud behind.

Haru sat up and petted the calf, who made happy little noises. Tamiko smiled as she watched, which made Shigure grin and Yuki frown.

"It's okay, little guy." Haru told his little friend. "Kyo and me were just playing. Sort of." How did you explain martial arts to a baby cow? Kuri didn't seem to care much as he climbed into his new friend's lap and laid down. Haru laughed at the same time as Tamiko did, and they smiled at each other.

"So, Tamiko-chan, do you live with your family nearby?" Tohru asked brightly. Tamiko turned to look at the girl.

" No, I live by myself, on the farm on the other side of the river. My place begins right where Sohma property ends, middle of the river." She answered.

"What kind of animals do you have on your farm?" She wanted to know. Tamiko shrugged.

"Oh, the usual. Cows. Horses. Chickens. Dogs. Cats. Luckily the dogs and cats don't need much care."

"You work that all by yourself?" Yuki asked, eyes wide.

"Naw, I hire on a couple of hands every year. With the fields and animals, we bring in more than enough to pay them." She explained. "It's actually just about hiring time again. Thanks for reminding me."

" How does one apply to work at a farm?" Yuki asked curiously. He couldn't imagine interviews and resumes in this girl's hands.

"People drop by and ask for work. I pay them by the week. If they can't keep up, or mess up too badly, I let them go. I hire that way all year. It's time for spring planting now though. I look for people with skills. Gardening, caring for animals, that sort of thing. Degrees aren't necessary, just a little experience." She watched him. "Interested in a job? I can't imagine you doing hard labor."

Yuki bristled. "I can do anything anyone else can do, I assure you." He informed her. She laughed cheerfully.

"Well, if you want the job, come and try out. I can always use people. You too, Hatsuharu-kun. You'd be great with the cows." She invited.

"What about me?" Kyo demanded. "I can do anything that damn Yuki can do."

"Of course. You come too. Anytime." She answered. "And now, Kuri and I should be getting home. His mother will miss him."

She stood and walked over to Haru, kneeling to take animal from him. As they carefully shifted the sleeping baby into her arms, their hands brushed. As soon as she had the calf, Haru stood and bolted inside. They all watched him go, and Shigure chuckled. Yuki glared at him.

"But, Tamiko, your clothes. I haven't washed them yet." Tohru protested. Tamiko looked down at herself and laughed. She still wore only Haru's t-shirt.

"Tohru, could you lend me something to wear?" She requested." I'll come back to get my clothes."

"Oh! Of course." She jumped up. "Come on."

Upstairs, Tohru talked pleasantly in answer to Tamiko's questions. The usual why are you living here stuff. Mostly Tamiko was just making conversation. The girl was nice, but not that interesting. When Tohru showed her a white dress, she balked, making the girl smile.

"How about this then?" She offered her a simple black cotton skirt and a white shirt that buttoned up the front. That wasn't too bad. Not really practical, but it was just for the walk home. Tohru left to give her privacy and Tamiko pulled the t-shirt off, stretching.

She pulled the skirt up over her hips and arranged it comfortably, then pulled the shirt onto her arms. as she buttoned it, she noticed that what she had taken for gold swirls were actually serpents embroidered delicately in gold thread on the collar and cuffs.

'This family sure likes animals.' She thought. 'Hatsuharu-kun and cows, these snakes. I wonder . . . ' She slid the shirt off and looked at the tag. created by Sohma Ayame, it proclaimed in curly script embroidered inside the collar. 'Another Sohma.So, snakes and cows.'

She put the shirt back on, curious now. Her mind, while attracted to anything to do with animals, also sought out patterns in everything. She wondered if there was a pattern here. A connection between all these animals and the Sohma family. Perhaps it was nothing, and her mind was just bored. But something niggled at the back of her mind. Something she couldn't put her finger on.

Tohru came back in and smiled. "You look so pretty, Tamiko-chan!" The girl informed her.

"I feel ridiculous." she retorted, making Tohru laugh. Tamiko crossed her arms and made a face, and the girl just laughed harder.

"Well, so long as you're amused." She couldn't help but smile at her. She was infectious. "So tell me, what's the mystery here?"

Instantly Tohru was silent, panicking. " What mystery? There's no mystery. Nope, none."

Raising an eyebrow, Tamiko let the girl off the hook. "Whatever." She picked up Kuri, who she'd set down on the bed, and left the room with a wave. On her way home, she thought about it. There was definitely, definitely a mystery here. And she would get to the bottom of it. she could be as stubborn as one of her beloved cows when she wanted to be. there was a glint in her eye as she returned the baby cow to his mother. The Sohma Puzzle would would never know what hit it.