Title:

Cursed

Summary:

Dumbledore never sent Harry to the Dursleys. He never had the chance. Remus fled the country with the boy to Japan. An outlaw state in the world of magic which has no official ministry nor schools of magic. Harry learned a different style of magic at a small dojo owned by the Sohmas, which combined raw energy with martial arts, all well attending muggle school. Yaoi

A/N:

Harry's magic style is a mixture of Mass Effect Biotic powers, Dragon Ball Z Kai attacks, and Avatar the last airbender elemental bending. The members of the Zodiac can do the same in addition to communicating and controlling animals of their sign along with Having Heightened senses. Harry was also taught how to make runes, enchantments, and potions by Remus.

###

Chapter One

Remus worst fear had come true. The day that had give him so many nightmares. The day the lycan was discovered by the British Wizarding World... it wasn't going as bad as he expect.

"It really is good to see you again Remus," Dumbledore smiled, sipping tea as he sat on the floor in Japanese custom. The table was low. There really was no room for chairs, "I actually hadn't expected to find you in so... free a place,"

"It has it's benefits," said Remus, politely.

"Since there are no real schools here I imagine you've been teaching Harry yourself?"

"Only a few things: Potions, runes, enchantments, magical history and theory, and other such things he can't learn elsewhere but no real spell casting. It's nearly impossible to find a wand maker in this country and with the whole 'supply and demand' thing they cost a fortune. I had to settle for enrolling Harry in a Dojo when he was 6. I thought it was too young but it's the norm here. The Dojo is held a few hours a day after school and teaches students how to channel their magic in combination with martial arts.

"It's beautiful to watch, like a graceful dance. They learn magic in it's most raw form where they tap into their own internal energies by channeling it directly through the body. It puts a lot of strain on them so they have to train their bodies to be physically powerful enough to handle it. They have techniques to train both their bodies and magical pathways at the same time,"

"Yes," Dumbledore imagined, "It's certainly a style of magic which takes much more effort to master then just waving a wand about. I believe the wizards here actually call themselves 'Psychics' and their style of magic 'chakra manipulation',"

Remus nodded, "Yes that's right. Magic is even done pretty openly here as their are no laws against it,"

"Or laws of any kind," Added Dumbledore.

"Most of us obey the laws of the Muggle government but no, they have no laws regarding magic," Remus took a sip of tea, "It makes it easier for lycans to adopt as they don't particularly care about things like that... The muggles here actually have a good deal of respect for magical creatures. They still fear us but it's better here with their culture and religious beliefs being heavily influenced by Legends of magical beings,"

Dumbledore just nodded at that.

Remus smiled, "As you said, there are no big schools here to teach magic, but there are thousands of small dojos scattered everywhere. The children occasionally get together from rival dojos to have tournaments. There are even tournaments specifically for grownups to show off their 'psychic powers'. They do love their tournaments," he chuckled, "I've enrolled Harry in a few of them. He's actually won a capable or at least placed in the semifinals,"

Dumbledore smiled, "That's good... Remus I hate to say this but how are you doing, money wise. I know you always had trouble holding a decent job, because of you affliction,"

Remus smiled, "As I said, they treat magical beings better here. I actually own my own business downstairs where I sell potions, runes, enchantments, and such. I might not have any education beyond Hogwarts but Magical artifacts are very much in demand here. With so few knowing anything about how to make them in this country even my novice skills are appropriated. In fact the very reason I am a novice and sell cheaper artifacts means I get a good deal of business... I even sell to muggles occasionally and no one cares.

"The moving chess sets are actually one of my hotter selling items but brooms are all but worthless. Psychics are taught at an early age how to fly using only their own magical power. It's a difficult skill to master as it requires a lot of magical stamina for continuous flight. The dojo master told me flying was a good way to get the kids training their bodies and pathways without them realizing it. You'll be pleased to hear Harry is a natural at it. He likes to fly to school every day..."

Remus smiled thinking of how happy the boy was well in the air, "Anyway, potions are my most popular item, especially to muggles. Of course I don't have Snape's skill but I know enough to cure most muggle ailments and lesser injuries. I'm not rich by any means but I am upper middle-class. We have a good life. Harry wants for nothing,"

"Still, I'll give you the key to Harry's vault. Seeing as Harry hasn't made use of his school fund it should probably be used to pay for the dojo,"

Remus sighed, "I don't really need help with that but maybe Harry can use it to pay for university," Smiling at that. Remus had been worrying about Harry's college but the money in the vault was actually enough for Harry to get a Doctorate from a prestigious school, "Harry knows about the fortune his parents left him and that he can't access his main family vault until he's of age. I've been teaching him the value of money so he doesn't end up wasting it on frivolous things,"

Dumbledore nodded, "I'd expect nothing less. You always took your responsibilities seriously as a child. I can't imagine you'd lax when it came to Harry's wellbeing," the old man took another sip, "Harry must be 15 now, a very confusing age. I hope your managing. I remember what terrors you and James were back then,"

"Thankfully Harry takes a lot after his mother but he does seem to be a magnet for trouble,"

Dumbledore chuckled again before growing more somber, "Does... does Harry like it here?"

"Harry is very happy in my care," Remus assured.

"Of course he is but I meant is he happy in Japan," Dumbledore asked.

"It's the only place he's ever known. I don't imagine he'd be happy in so restricting a place as Magical England," knowing what the old sage was really asking.

Dumbledore sighed, "I imagine not... still it's safe now. Voldemort is no longer an issue. I captured his wrath some years ago,"

Remus froze.

"I managed to trick him into going after a fake Philosopher stone and trapped him in a mirror made by the Goblins," Dumbledore took another sip, "He's trapped there for all eternity, like so many of the mirror's other victims,"

Remus sighed with relief knowing Voldemort was a threat Harry would never know, but still, "Voldemort wasn't the only reason I left England... You know the ministry would never let a man with my affliction raise a child,"

Dumbledore sighed, "Harry is 15 now and been in your care since he was a year old. There is hardly anything they can do at this point,"

Remus shook his head, "Japan may have a fairly barbaric magical world but it's the only home Harry has ever known. He has many friends here. I'm sorry Albus but it would do him more harm then good to leave,"

Dumbledore sighed, "I suppose that's true. Still I might like to visit from time to time, if it isn't too much of an intrusion,"

"Your always welcome Albus,"

"Where is Harry now?"

"At school. He started his first year of muggle high school some months ago. It's interesting that all wizarding children are expected to study the sciences alongside magic. Of course their style of magic might require more work it's not as complex so they can handle it just fine,"

Dumbledore sighed, "Unfortunately most Muggle born Psychics don't even know about any of the training programs here,"

"No, they are expected to find out about it on their own since their is no guiding magical government. However muggle borns are treated absolutely no different then any other mage. Harry would likely be horrified if he went to Britain and saw how they are treated,"

Dumbledore sighed.

Remus thought it was a good opportunity to change the subject, "Unfortunately Harry's martial arts instructor has taken a sabbatical to give his son some more personalized training. Thankfully Harry's such a good boy that he's been keeping up with his studies on his own. It's not like the dojos have any kind of formal academic criteria,"

###

"Kyo?" Harry wandered down to find a cat on the ground. He followed the boy out of class. Well not directly. Unlike Kyo, who prefered the window, Harry took the stairs, "Surely the girls didn't stress you out that much,"

The Sohmas were cursed. Although it was a big secret in the Muggle world it was pretty common knowledge among the psychics.

Whenever a Sohma Psychic became stressed or hugged by a member of the opposite sex they transformed into the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, plus the cat. The curse seemed to only inflict members of the family that possessed magic, which wasn't many, and not all of them were actually cursed. It was only 13 per generation.

The cat was actually the reason behind the Curse. Hundreds of years ago a Witch from the Sohma clan fought along side 12 spirits to contain a demon, the cat. The witch sealed them all away, bound to her family line. The spirits were suppose to contain the cat for all eternity with human Sohmas as there host. It was a self inflicted curse to contain the demon...

Kyo was the unlucky host of the demon itself. It's why he had such a temper... and why his whole family hated and shunned him. They blamed him when they should be praising him for keeping the demon locked away... Harry didn't hate him. He might even go as far to say as he loved him.

Of course that didn't matter to Kyo. He just wanted his family's acceptance.

Harry knew Kyo from the Dojo he went to. Kyo was the Master's adoptive son.

"H-Harry?" the Kyo cat blinked, "What are you going here?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "I'm in your class dumbass,"

"Who you calling a dumbass!?" Kyo roared.

"My best friend who didn't notice I was seated a couple desk behind him," Harry teased, "But it's okay, I forgive you. After all, you were busy hyperventilating over girls,"

"Fuck off!"

Harry just grinned, "It's good to see you to. You disappeared for 4 months. You must have gotten really strong now with all that secret training,"

"Strong enough to kick your ass,"

"Not in that form your not,"

Kyo literally hissed.

"I've been working on my elemental bending. It's been hard on my own but Dad bought me a bunch of Scrolls of beginner techniques and those have been a lot of help. Did your dad start you on that?"

Kyo smiled, always happy to talk martial arts,"Of course! I'm a fire bender!"

Harry blinked, "Really? I would have figured you'd have a plant affiliation,"

Kyo blinked back, "Why plants?"

"Oh you know, so you can get catnip more easily,"

"Why you!" he pounced on Harry and started mauling him with his tinny paws.

Harry just laughed well crying, "Ow OW,"

There was a pop of smoke and Kyo changed back to his human form, completely naked as usual when this happens. Kyo gave him one last bop to his head before getting dressed.

"So," Harry smiled, "Why ARE you here? Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of us going to the same school but it seem strange you'd want to go to a coed Academy,"

"Who the hell said I wanna!" Kyo yelled, "I don't have a choice. It was Akito's decision,"

Harry groaned, "Great, how's that asswipe planning to make you miserable this time," The head of the Sohma family was a real ass, downright abusive in fact. He was the core of the curse. A direct descent of the witch who placed the seal. As such he was the curse's core, suffered frequent illness, and like her and all the ones before would die young.

Kyo didn't say anything for a moment, "You shouldn't talk about him like that,"

"Right right, martyrs get to act as big of jerks as they like," Harry waved off.

Kyo stayed silent for a few more moments before blurting out, "He's making me stay with Yuki at Shigure's house,"

Harry gasped as he looked at Kyo. He calmed after a moment and simply said, "Told you he's an ass,"

Kyo slowly smiled at that but quickly lost it, "A girl found out our secret... the idiots let her move in as a house keeper, not sure why,"

Harry shrugged, "Probably because the dog's an idiot," Harry never met Shigure but he heard a lot about him from Kyo. He was a novelist and a bit of a goof from what the boy knew of him. He was cursed with the dog spirit of the Zodiac, "So a girl knows about the curse and your living with her along with the dog and that damn rat. Where's Master in all of this?"

"Akito ordered him across seas to run an errand and wouldn't let him take me with him," Kyo growled.

Harry rolled his eyes, "How is this guy not an ass,"

"Shut up!" Kyo yelled, "Just because you know about the curse doesn't mean you actually KNOW anything about it!"

Harry sighed, "Your right... sorry. This all must be stressful for you. No wonder you transformed,"

"Actually..." Kyo blushed, "The girl grabbed me when I was about to teach that damn rat a lesson,"

Harry blinked before laughing.

"It's not funny Dammit!"

Harry tried to stop, he really did, "Sorry, sorry. I just can't get the image out of my head," well Kyo growled Harry finally managed to choke back his laughs, "So who's the girl? Is she in our class to?"

"Y-yeah," Kyo nodded, getting ackward again, "Tohru Honda,"

Harry thought on her name, "Isn't she that airhead who hangs out with the Yankee and that goth psychic chick,"

Kyo scuffed, "Yeah that's her,"

"Huh, I should probably try to get to know her a little better. If she's going to be living with you I mean," Harry snickered, "Knowing you, you probably already made her cry a few times. I need to let her know you don't actually mean most of the hurtful things you say,"

"You won't do anything!" Kyo yelled before speaking more quietly, "I'll handle it,"

Harry studied his friend a moment, "You actually did make her cry... didn't you?"

Kyo didn't respond.

After an ackward silence Harry said, "Come on, we're skipping. Show me the house,"

###

"Ah and who do we have here," Shigure as the boys walked into the house, "First day of school and you've already made a friend to skip class with,"

"Bite me," Kyo glared.

Harry smiled and slightly bowed to the older man, "Hello I'm Harrison Lupin but everyone calls me Harry. I know Kyo from the dojo and was thrilled to see we'd be spending the school year together,"

Shigure smiled well thinking on the name, "Lupin, you wouldn't happen to be related to a Remus Lupin by any chance,"

"He's my dad," Harry smiled standing up.

Kyo explained, "Harry's a psychic,"

The dog smiled, "Well I figured if you know him from your dojo. They don't exactly let normal people in there. No offense," looking at Harry.

Harry smiled, "I'd take more offense at actually being called 'normal',"

Shigure chuckled, "Well don't just stand there. Come, sit, have some tea,"

"Thank you,"

Harry took a seat at the table but Kyo chose to lay down on the porch.

As the boy poured himself a cup of tea Shigure asked, "Since you went to our family dojo I take it you know about the Zodiac?"

"Well that and my father has been supplying Akito with potions to ease his health issues for years," Harry shrugged.

"Yes that to," Shigure smiled, it's how he was familiar with Remus after all.

Taking a sip of his tea Harry informed, "Yes, I'm aware of the curse. Akito has been paying my dad a lot of money to research it in order to extend his lifespan. He's a European trained wizard so he knows a lot of stuff we don't about managing curses... and yes... I have seen Kyo's true form,"

Kyo yelled, "He never asked about that!"

Harry ignored him, "It's about as terrifying and pitiful as my dad's... but not as painful to see... at least Kyo doesn't try to eat me when he changes,"

Shigure studied the boy a moment and Kyo stayed quiet, staring away from them at the trees.

Shigure's eyes turned sympathetic, "Yes, being raised by a werewolf I imagine you'd probably understand the hardships of curses better then most,"

Harry smiled, "I was more half joking when I said that,"

Shigure shrugged, "Which means you were at least half serious,"

"Maybe barely so... seeing my dad when he gets like that..." Harry thought out loud, "It can be hard to bare. Especially when he starts clawing at his own skin well howling in agony," Harry smiled, "Compare to seeing your own farher like that on a monthly basis Kyo's occasional episodes are a breeze to handle,"

Kyo huffed but didn't say anything.

"Although Kyo is much uglier," Harry cheekily added.

Kyo yelled, "Fuck off!"

"I wonder," Harry thought out loud, "how this girl will act if she ever sees it,"

Kyo gasped before growling, "I'm too careful for that! She'll never see it! She doesn't even need to know about it so keep your damn yap shut,"

Harry sighed, "I was just wondering. You know I'd never do something to hurt you,"

Kyo huffed.

Harry stayed for a couple hours, chatting about more mundane things, before going back home. Shigure seemed like a nice enough person and seemed pretty accepting of Kyo. There was still the troubling notion that the Rat lived there to. Harry never really bothered with Prince Yuki, even at the dojo. He just knew how much Kyo hated him. Harry actually been upset when he found out Yuki was in his class this year but he mostly just ignored him. Now that wasn't an option.

"Harry!" Papa Remus growled as Harry walked through the door of their condo just above their shop, "I got a call from school today. What were you thinking skipping out on all your classes?"

Harry sighed, "Sorry dad. Kyo started at my school today and he was having a real tough time. I took him home and hang out with him for a few hours,"

Remus sighed, "What was so hard about it, besides the obvious," all the girls probably freaked him out with his curse.

"Akito's really trying to hurt him right now. He had him move in with the rat,"

Remus froze, understanding the implications.

"He even sent Kyo's dad out of the country. I guess it's some kind of punishment for them both since they disappeared for 4 months,"

Remus sighed, "Akito can be creative with his cruelty. It was good of you to comfort your friend but call me next time,"

Harry nodded.

Remus didn't know how to say the next part so he blurted out, "You're grandfather is in town,"

Harry yelped, "I have a Grandfather!?"

Remus smiled at the boy's shocked expression, "It's more of an honorary thing. See he was the the Headmaster of my school in England. He was close friends with your father's side of the family and was an honorary uncle to your birth father. I got to know him pretty well through James and he liked spoiling the lot of us,"

"Why haven't I ever met him before?" Asked Harry. He didn't know much of the details about what brought them to Japan. He just knew Remus moved them out here to get away from the war that claimed his birth parents lives.

"He had too many responsibilities back in England. He wasn't just headmaster of a school but a general during the war. Now that it's over he wanted to get reacquainted with his family. Honorary though we may be he doesn't actually have any grandchild of his own. I think he's looking forward to spoiling you,"

"Oh," Harry nodded, that made sense, "is he staying here,"

Remus smiled, "He's sleeping in the guest room. Leave him be if you will. He's an old man. He's almost 200,"

"Wow," It wasn't unusual for magic users to live so long but it was still a long time.

"Wow indeed,"

###

Shigure smiled looking at Kyo as he continued to lay on the porch, "Harry seems nice,"

Kyo grunted.

"I imagine it must be comforting to have a friend who has such personal knowledge of living with a curse,"

"That's just it isn't it," Kyo mumbled, "He's used to stuff like this. He's no different then if he actually grew up in the Sohma clan,"

"I imagine that's true. I can't imagine what it be like to watch someone you love go through what Remus does. It's hard to remember that there are some families worse off then our own. Curses that are far worse then our own,"

"At least they love each other," Kyo muttered.

"Now Kyo you have plenty of people who love you. Your master, even many members of the Zodiac, including myself. I know you want to actually be included in many of the Zodiac traditions but maybe you should be thankful for the things you have,"

"Tsk,"

"All or nothing is it?"

"You wouldn't understand," Kyo growled.

"True... I might be a Zodiac but it's not really the same is it. I just have to avoid the fairer sex and I can live a relatively normal life. You take those beads off and you become a literal monster... I wonder... does Harry's joking nature about it help? I've always treated it like a taboo subject so as to not cause you distress but maybe I was wrong,"

Kyo sighed, "It helps a little but more so... I like the fact he admits he's scared of me... but as he says... he's seen things far worse then me,"

"Yes Werewolves can be terrifying creatures,"

"Remus has a cell in his basement... I dropped by Harry's house one night, didn't even realize it was a full moon... Harry didn't want to let me in but you know me. I'm pretty inconsiderate... I came in... wandered into rooms I shouldn't have... and I saw him.

"He was just as hideous as my true form. Nothing like the powerful creatures you see in the movies. He was chained up inside a large cage but he had broken some of the chains and was tearing chunks off his body... there was blood everywhere... and Harry saw when he came in to get me out..."

'Daddy Daddy please stop,' Kyo remembered Harry beg the mindless beast.

Kyo sighed, "When it saw us he started snarling and reaching out of the cage... Harry got clawed pretty bad... I helped treat Harry's wound and stayed until the sun rose. When Remus turned back into a human Harry helped him out of the cage and into bed... he skipped school so he could spend the day nursing him. He wore long sleeves so his dad wouldn't know he hurt him.

"He did that every month, sometimes more then once depending on how many days the full moon lasted... He chained his dad up in the cage so he wouldn't hurt himself, activate some kind of rune to keep the sound from getting out, then nursed him back to health the next day. He's been doing that his whole life. It's normal for him...

"He was six when I thought it be fun to have our unplanned sleep over... We hadn't even been friends that long, he had just started training at Master's dojo. I was just so excited to met another boy my age I didn't think...

"I remember seeing that thing and feeling guilty about all my own self pity. It was the first time I realized there really is someone, no matter what, who has it worse then you... I tried to go back to keep Harry company on nights of the full moon. I did whenever I could... but I never went back in that room again... I don't think Remus knows I ever did... Harry said it was just a bad night since he didn't make the chains tight enough. Normally Remus just spends the night fully restrained but he still screams in pain as his blood literally boils under his skin... It's so fucked up..."

"After that I showed Harry what I was... I thought he would accept me... I was right. He did without question. His voice trembled as he jokingly said 'Yeah your pretty ugly but you got nothing on my dad'... Harry became pretty over protective of me after that...

"Akito was pissed when he found out I blabbed the secret but he couldn't do anything. Remus is the only trained wizard we know of in all of Japan. He helps Akito manage his pain and has even extended his life expectancy by a decade... Akito couldn't wipe Harry's memories without cutting ties with one of the few people who can help him... So Akito beat me instead... when Harry found out...

"Harry might not have had a lot of training but he has A LOT of raw power. His birth parents signed some kind of dark magic contract which transfered all their chakra to him on their death... the expected to die, they were soldiers in a war back in England... anyway Harry is literally 3 times as powerful as your average highly trained psychic... and he let it all loose on Akito, nearly killed him... Akito hasn't touched me since but he's always finding new ways to make me miserable,"

"Harry got in HUGE trouble with Remus for it and as a result Harry has some kind of unwritten rule with Akito that as long as he doesn't actually touch me he'll stay out of it,"

"Strange, looking at the boy I wouldn't image he'd be some ferocious little protector,"

"He's actually the best fighter in our age group. Not only does he have raw power but he picks up new techniques easily... he's even beaten Yuki in sparing more then once... they're about tied in skill but Harry's more powerful... I yelled at him the first time he kicked Yuki's ass... It was stupid but it was something I always wished I could do... to prove I'm better then the rat... that I'm good enough to join the family...

"Master's pretty big on tough love. He often points out that even if I do beat Yuki it won't change anything but I have to... I have to have some kind of hope, otherwise what's the point,"

Shigure sighed but chose not to say anything. It wasn't an ackward silence. It felt natural. Kyo laying on the porch looking out at the trees well Shigure worked on his latest novel. Eventually their talks turned to Tohru. It was nice, sitting here giving the boy fatherly advice and encouragement. Unfortunately when Yuki got home Kyo slinked away.

It was too bad they couldn't get along. Yuki was really a polite child, always kind and gentle. Unfortunately life in the Zodiac inner circle wasn't as wonderful as Kyo imagined. Kyo might have only been physically abused by Akito once but Yuki was his favor victim.

Where most who knew the secret praised the children of the rat, Akito blamed the rat for everything that happened to their family.

Legend tells it that the rat spirit and the cat demon used to be friends but the rat betrayed the cat which lead to the cat attacking many villages in a rage. Which obviously lead to the family curse to stop it... who knows maybe the Zodiac legend was true and it really was over a prank about a party. Demons were known for being very emotional creatures and not very rational. They were creatures of chaos after all, not evil but certainly not having the same concepts of morality.

The violent temper of those born under the sign of the cat was legendary. Always getting mad over the littlest of things. It was hard for them to learn to control. It was a trait of the demon.

"Yuki," Shigure smiled at the boy. This young teen had been living with him for several months now and Shigure had to admit he didn't expect to enjoy his company so much. He loved teasing the boy but they actually had a few nice talks to, "Do me a favor and wait to pick up Tohru another day,"

Yuki blinked, "Why?"

"Well so Kyo can give her a proper apology of course. She's worked herself in such a state it's the least he should do," saying it in a way to not make the child angry nor like he was doing any favors for Kyo. The boys really hated each other, such a shame.

###

The Next Day

"So did you work things out with the girl?" Harry asked.

Kyo scoffed, "Yeah we worked it out,"

"Good, then you can introduce me," Harry grinned, "I still have to make sure this girl is good enough for you,"

Kyo growled, "Oh come off it, it's not like we're dating!"

Harry just grinned.

###

A/N:

I've been looking for just one story to focus on for this website. Tell me if you like this Story and you think I should continue.

Future Pairings:

Yuki / Haru

Kyo / Harry

Shigure / Ayame