Chapter One

"Y-Yuki?"

Oh no. I thought bitterly.

The windows threw rectangles of light into the quiet hallway. The bell had rung a while ago, and I had thought I was alone. But obviously I wasn't.

"Yes?" I turned to meet the speaker, erasing any sign of weariness and exasperation from my face. She didn't really want to talk to me, after all. She was here to talk to the Prince.

"I was w-wondering…" It was a girl I had never noticed before. A first-year, perhaps. "I-If I could, um, maybe, you know…" Her eyes were sparkling with determination. She looked so optimistic. I wanted to point out to her that hopefulness would only get her hurt in the end, but the Prince nodded encouragingly. "Walk y-you home?"

Of course not.

"I'm sorry." I watched her face fall. The sparkle disappeared. "I live so far away. I wouldn't want you to go to the trouble." I forced the corners of my mouth to turn upward. I briefly wondered if she noticed that my smile didn't reach my eyes.

"Oh. I see." She whispered, and then we stood there in the empty hallway. Flecks of dust fell in the rectangles of light. The sound of her shuffling her feet resonated in the awkward silence.

Go away…

"I guess, well, um, goodbye!" I watched her hastily bow and then retreat down the hall. She disappeared around a corner, as I thought about the irony of the situation. My greatest desire was to be a part of the world outside the Sohma family, but whenever I had a chance, I simply became…frustrated.

I guess it's because it makes me feel like such a liar.

I shrugged into my winter coat, as I pushed open the school doors. The winter air immediately stung my lungs, and I regretted leaving my scarf at home.

I began trudging through the snow toward the street, as I quickly surveyed the schoolyard. I didn't care to have any more encounters. I didn't want to be the Prince any more today.

"Yuki."

Not again. I inwardly groaned.

Suddenly a heavy arm was thrown across my shoulders, heating my neck instantly.

Wait…

A warm body pushed against my side, and I looked up. A pair of gray eyes met my own. "Hi." Haru smiled. His hot breath breezed across my cheeks.

"What are you still doing here?" I inquired, shifting nervously. I wondered if anyone was seeing this, and I anxiously glanced around. Haru exhaled again, and his breath gently traced the outline of my ear. I wiggled uncomfortably under the weight of his arm.

Stop standing so close.

"You're tense." It wasn't a question. Even the appearance of the Prince didn't faze him. It was intimidating how well he knew me. Intimidating and upsetting.

"Stop being so affectionate. What if someone sees?" I scowled, turning so I could face him better. "And you never answered my question. What are you doing here?" Haru shifted his weight, and our stomachs brushed together.

Stop standing so close!

"I was worried about you." Haru explained, and I blinked in surprise.

"Why were you worried about me? I only stayed after school for an hour."

"Because." He shrugged, leaning closer, forcing his belt buckle into my coat buttons. I noticed his soft eyes were very serious all of a sudden. "What would I do without you?"

My eyes widened in surprise. Or perhaps it was embarrassment. Either way, I slid out from under his arm and began walking toward the street again, desperately trying to erase the blush from my face. "I thought I told you to stop saying things like that."

Snow began to crunch behind me, as Haru hurried back to my side. "I don't want to keep my emotions inside." He was beside me again. I felt him reach for my hand, so I tucked it in my pocket. "After all, you do enough of that for the both of us."

What!?

I spun around in the snow, scattering the flakes behind me. I knew that his words were true, and so did he, but that didn't give him the right to have a casual conversation about it. "Don't you ever say something like…" My voice trailed off. He was smiling.

"It's okay, Yuki." He said, and you could even hear the smile in his voice. It really was okay to him that I was so ugly inside.

It's not okay.

Haru slipped his fingers insidemy pocket, reaching for the hand I had tucked there. The two sets of fingers slowly intertwined, filling my hand with warmth. And then we were walking, our hands swinging between us. I could tell Haru was still grinning.

"Can I walk you home?"

It was my turn to smile. "Yes."

The sun glistened on our footprints in the snow, as I allowed myself to forget just for a moment that someone might be watching.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fruits Basket nor any of it's wonderful characters. I do, however, own the plot of this story. Aren't I special? xD

AN: Well, what does everyone think (Leave a review to tell me!)? I haven't written a new fanfiction in years, but I'm glad I wrote this one.

Readers of my other stories will realize that this fic is playing off an idea I've used before. I'm approaching it a bit differently, I think, but basically it's the whole Yuki's-An-Ass-And-Treats-Haru-Like-Shit-But-Haru-Loves-Him-Anyway thing. Lol.

Anywho, Chapter Two will be up next Tuesday.

Thanks for reading!

- Jessiegurl43953