A/N: Okay, this is just something I'm doing for fun. I promise this isn't the only thing I'll ever have. I'll publish some TRUE fanfiction soon. I haven't finished editing and such...so warn me of any typos...(If anyone cares to read it)

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket! All credit to Natsuki Takaya. No copyright infringement intended.

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Tohru stepped outside and looked up to the sky with a bright smile, as always.

"Wow!" she gasped, "It looks like today's going to be another hot one." Her near waist-length brunette hair fanned out behind her from the slight breeze, as she looked down and out at the beautiful forest by the city of Tokyo. She leaned back into the small tent. "I'm not forgetting anything am I? Okay, Mom, you're in charge while I'm gone," she told the small picture frame on her little cardboard box that held her possessions.

She started towards the creek, not wanting to be late for school, and called back to the empty tent, "I'm off!"

After crossing the small creek, she looked at her watch. I have some time before school, so I think I'll explore the area, Tohru thought, checking the time.

Walking over a hill, Tohru spotted a house. It was large, very beautiful. Wow! It's amazing. Looks a little expensive, too, she thought. She stumbled down the side of the hill, and went up to the front porch. On their own little platform, Tohru saw twelve Chinese zodiac animal figurines. Oh…how cute! She giggled. She bent down to look at them.

"Hello, what's this?" Tohru heard an unfamiliar voice question. "I must be seeing things," the voice spoke again. Yes, definitely a male voice. Tohru's head snapped up.

She saw a man, maybe in his mid-twenties, with black hair standing in the doorway of what must be his home. Tohru noticed that he was wearing a traditional robe. The man set down the newspaper he had been holding and continued. "A girl…out here? My, my…" He then muttered to himself, "A high school girl, no less!"

Tohru jumped to her feet and went into an instant panic attack. "H—hello! I'm sorry for trespassing! I just saw these," she motioned quickly to the zodiac figurines, "and – ah!" There was someone here! There still is! She panicked further.

"Please continue, I merely set them there to dry," the man told her simply. He smiled at her and resumed. "I thought you young people were bored by the old-fashioned superstitions like the Chinese zodiac."

Tohru, finally getting a hold of herself, thought, Ooh! What a beautiful person…Noticing that he had spoken, she stuttered out, "N—no! I think these zodiac animals are adorable!"

"Hmm…aren't they? I like them, too."

"But I guess you wouldn't have the cat…" Tohru trailed off.

"Cat? Oh, you mean…the cat from the zodiac legend?" he wondered.

"That's right!" she exclaimed. "My mother told me that story all the time! 'Once upon a time, God told the animals, I'm inviting you all to my banquet tomorrow. Don't be late!' She'd wag her finger at that point, and it'd make me laugh."

"'Hearing that that mischievous rat lied to his neighbor, the cat, and told him the banquet would be the day after tomorrow. The next day, the rat rode on the back of the ox and nimbly landed before the banquet hall. After him followed the ox, the tiger, and all the rest, and together they feasted until morning. All except for the cat who had been tricked.'"

"Every time Mom would tell me that part of the story, I'd start to cry. She'd ask me why, and I'd tell her, 'Poor thing! Poor, poor, poor cat…' I remember saying that I didn't want to be a dog anymore. I wanted to be a cat! That's how much I like that cat."

"Is that so?" the man asked, suddenly interested. "I wish I could see the expression on his face if he heard you say that."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," he assured. They both smiled, although Tohru's was quite goofy looking. "So, you were born in the year of the dog? I knew I felt connected to you. Can't you feel it?" He grew more excited. "I'm a 'dog' too, you—"

There was a loud thump! interrupting the black-haired man. Tohru leaned over to help him. It looked like he was hit in the head with a…book bag?

"Really. Must you always act like such a leech?" said a strangely familiar voice. Tohru slowly raised her head.

"Okay, that hurt," the man complained, "What do you have in there, a dictionary?"

"Two of them," the familiar voice corrected.

Tohru widened her eyes. Now she definitely recognized this boy.

"Are you all right Honda-San?" he asked Tohru with a slight smile. "My cousin didn't do anything to you did he?" His eyes suddenly darted at the black-haired man.

Tohru was melting one second, and nearly lost her mind the next. "S—Sohma-Kun! Ah—g—good morning!"

She couldn't believe it. Yuki Sohma, the 'Prince' of her high school! She was standing on his porch, she was at his house! This couldn't be more than a dream! Tohru thought. Yuki's silver hair rustled with wind slowly picking up, and his lavender eyes sparkled, and then they closed with his smile. In fact, he was pretty feminine.

"Morning," Yuki replied to her simply while straightening his book bag.

"Hmph! You must always make me out to be a pervert?" The black-haired man looked away from them dramatically, referring to Yuki's previous comment. He looked back and asked, "You're Yuki-Kun's classmate?" Tohru stiffened. "I'm Shigure Sohma, Yuki-Kun's cousin," he introduced himself.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Tohru Honda."

"Honda-San, what brings you here?" Yuki asked in the silky smooth voice of his.

Tohru didn't want to mess up by saying something weird. Her living in a tent was supposed to be secretive. She clutched her book bag to her chest. "Uh—…oh! I, ah, live nearby!" Oh no, she thought.

"Near here?" Yuki asked, clearly believing he had misunderstood her.

"Really?" Shigure wondered. They both had surprised, even confused expressions, and Tohru tensed up even more, if possible.

"Well, ah, anyway we're going to be late, ah, so—"Tohru reasoned, turning on her heels.

"Since you're here, why don't we walk to school together?" Yuki suggested.

Tohru wasn't letting this pass her, so she followed Yuki down the path that led to the school. They walked in an awkward silence.

Approaching the school, they heard footsteps following them, and a group of girls muttering amongst themselves. They sounded really annoyed, too.

Tohru and Yuki walked into the building, Tohru thanked him, and they went to their separate classes.

While Tohru was in the hallway with her two friends, Uo and Hana, she heard the girls' voices from a few minutes ago.

"Honda-San! Explain yourself!" Minami Kinoshita yelled at her.

Tohru just froze, trying to find words. It's harder than it sounds. Minami was a fan club girl. In this fan club, members literally worship and protect their 'Prince', Yuki Sohma.

"Well?!" she yelled at Tohru again. "Why did you and Yuki come to school together? Give us a full and complete explanation!" The other members quickly agreed to receive one.

Tohru couldn't find any words, still. Why were they so mad?

"Well?!" Minami asked yet again.

Tohru would just have to do her best at explaining. "It's—it's just a coincidence! Ah—don't you think you're overreacting?" she asked, as always, with no attitude at all, hoping they'd leave her alone.

"You idiot!" she began, "Overreacting? If coincidences like that were legal, we wouldn't need the police!" she yelled. The other members, again, agreed to what was said. Other students in the hallway started to complain about the noise.

"Look, you!" Minami continued, "Just because Sohma-Kun is so kind as to hang out with you—it's no reason for you to get a swelled head!"

Tohru was on the edge of crying now, "I'm not!" she defended with tears in her eyes, squeezing them shut. Her hands began to shake beside her.

"Hey!" Uotani defended. She swung her head, and stood over Minami, with her blonde hair covering one eye, and draping over her shoulders, barely touching them. "Tohru said it was a coincidence, didn't she? Stop fantasizing and get a life." Uo glared at her.

Hanajima, with her long black braid over her shoulder, slowly turned her attention to the argument.

"Uo-Chan, Hana-Chan…" Tohru started to say, holding her hands up in front of her chest. She was about to tell them that they didn't need to defend her, when Minami interrupted again.

"W—what's this?! Threatening us with your gangster buddy, huh? Don't think we're through with you just because of this Yankee! I though Yankee girls were out of fashion!" she yelled, trying to stand over them. The other fan girls started muttering amongst themselves.

While Hana couldn't take their immaturity. She turned her head and said rather loudly to herself, "I could…" a beep sounded from her strangely, followed by crackling noises, "…them with electro-poison waves."

Eyes widened, shrieks filled the halls, and Minami and the fan club girls ran, not bothering to get their explanation now. They were terrified of the psychic. Uo held Tohru to her comfortingly.

"You saved me," Tohru told her friends.

"Oh, you poor thing. There, there," she said to Tohru. "Hanajima, don't zap anyone." Hana said nothing, therefore no promises.

They walked to their classes, and, soon enough, it was lunch period. Tohru sat down with Uo and Hana at their usual table.

"This morning," Tohru started, "I was really nervous. Sohma-Kun is so handsome…I just froze up. We didn't even talk," she admitted sadly, blushing with her hands in her lap, twisting.

"Hmm," Hana said, staring at her knife after cutting. "I detect strange waves emanating from him." She put the cover back on her knife, as students chattered in the cafeteria.

Uo sighed. "Here we go again, time for Hanajima's wave report."

"Strange?" Tohru asked, looking up from her cooking.

Hana closed her eyes. "I don't really know how else to explain."

"What's to explain?" Uo asked, running her fingers through her hair. "The guy's a walking enigma. Never talks about himself." The former Yankee leaned back and added, "Not that I care." She sat back up straight again and continued. "I hear a second year girl confessed her love for him once…and when she tried to hug him, he flung her away. Totally freaked her out."

"I—I didn't know that. I wonder why?" Tohru said, surprised.

"Exactly," Hana said simply, picking up a small wooden spoon. "It's the mystery that makes him so intriguing." Just then, they heard footsteps approaching the table.

"You there!" a cafeteria staff called, "Move your hands, not your mouths!" When she got a closer look at their table, she was shocked. "Oh—oh my…" The three girls each had a plate of fish, there was rice cooking off to the side, sauce, and even a few side dishes lay out in front of them.

Uo broke the silence. "Hey, lobster face. Can we go on now or would you like us to help extract your foot from your mouth?"

"Who do you think you're fooling?! Honda-San made these for you!" the lady yelled at Hana and Uo, pointing at Uo's plate.

"What do you care?" Uo replied instantly. Tohru was going into another panic attack from all the yelling.

Hana walked over to the rice cooker. "Oh my, the rice is done, too." The staff lady walked away quickly, not caring anymore. The table got silent, as students complained about their food being edible or not.

"Oh hey," Uo started up a conversation, "I'm going shopping with Hanajima on my way home today. Why don't you come with, Tohru?" She hesitated. "Oh wait, you're working aren't you?" she asked, leaning over to her.

Tohru looked up. "Yes, I don't want to be late," she said, smoothing her flower-print apron.

Uo clicked her tongue. "That sucks, you having to pay all your school expenses yourself."

"But you shouldn't have to work every day just to pay your tuition," Hana said, serving their rice. "This is public school."

Tohru brought her hands to her chest in fists and smiled. "After I graduate, I want to be able to pay my own way. That's why I have to start saving up now!" she said, trying to cover up her current situation with a half-truth.

Uo's eyes got watery. "God dammit, Tohru," she started crying, but kept her voice even. "You're making me cry! So selfless." She sniffed, trying to relax. "Eat up. You need your strength!"

"Yes ma'am," Tohru muttered.

Hana looked down at the table. "Our little Tohru made this," Hana said proudly.

Uo got herself together. "You're still living with your dad's family, right?" she asked Tohru.

Tohru blushed furiously at herself for not telling them. She stiffened. "Yes!" she said a little too quickly.

"Are they feeding you properly? They're not cheating you out of the money you're earning are they?!" Uo was seriously concerned now, while Hana was mumbling about how perfect the rice was.

"Not a grain out of place…"

Tohru was still…panicking. I can't tell them the truth! Tohru thought, If she knew I was living in a tent, Uo-Chan would be outraged. She's burst into grandpa's house on her motorcycle! She shuddered at the thought of it. How would she explain that?

After they finished their lunch, Arisa Uotani, Saki Hanajima, and Tohru Honda went to their next classes. And the next, and the next. The rest of the day flew past no less or more ordinary than the last. As Tohru was stopping by her locker to pick up what she needed to bring to her lame excuse of a home and to work, she ran into Yuki.

"Ah—Sohma-Kun! I'm sorry about this morning!" Tohru apologized.

Yuki grinned. "It's I who should apologize. Please, forgive my cousin's rudeness," he also apologized, while shutting his locker and swinging his book bag over his shoulder.

"Oh, no! He was wonderful," she assured him. "We were just looking at his Chinese zodiac ornaments."

They stepped out of the building and started on their way towards home.

"Did I hear correctly that you wished you were born year of the cat?" Yuki asked.

She laughed once. "Er…I was eccentric when I was little," she answered with a nervous smile and a light blush. She started to play with her bangs, brushing them this way, that way.

"I see," Yuki said, straightening his book bag. "The cat is a fool," he said coldly. "And he has bad nature."

"Huh? Bad nature?" Tohru's eyes widened curiously.

"Did you know…that the Chinese zodiac is actually a timekeeping system of tens and twelves?" Tohru said nothing. "It was used for calendars and clocks. Later, astrologers combined it with the principles of yin-yang, the five elements and symmetry in order to tell fortunes." Yuki started walking ahead.

"Animals had nothing to do with it?" Tohru asked, picking up her pace.

"No."

A few minutes later Yuki sighed and continued. "When and why they added the animals," he paused, "no one really knows. But there was never room for the cat in the zodiac. And it's better that way. The cat would throw off everything." He narrowed his eyes. "The cat really is a fool," he added.

Tohru looked at her feet, and put her index finger to her forehead. I was following his story just fine…she thought …but now I'm lost. "Sohma-Kun, you…hate cats?"

Yuki looked back at her, and he smirked, dark. Tohru caught herself staring…at least until the alarm on her watch went off.

"Ah! Oh no! Is it that late already?! I'm sorry Sohma-Kun! I have to go to work!" Tohru apologized, yet again.

"Honda-San," Yuki said, walking over to her. He stood close, and caught a leaf just as it was about to blow into her face. "You don't look well. It's been quite hot lately. You shouldn't overexert yourself," he warned, bringing his hand down. As he walked away, he dropped the leaf and said, "Well…I'll see you tomorrow." Yuki never looked back.

Tohru blushed, touching her forehead. 'It's the mystery that makes him so intriguing.' she remembered. I think I know what she meant, Tohru thought. Her head was spinning from just being around him.

Her face became horrified as she imagined what the fans would say right now.

"Don't…get a swelled head! Don't take advantage of Sohma-Kun's kindness!" they yelled in her mental picture.

"I won't!" Tohru screamed aloud.

'You shouldn't overexert yourself,' replayed in her head.

Tohru walked to work, same as any other day, and got into uniform. She was staring out at the city from one of the highest floors in the building that she cleaned every day, and she started to think about her parents again.

Tohru Honda's father, Katsuya Honda, died of illness when she was only three. Her mom, Kyoko, worked so hard, before and after he died, to support them. Mom was always there for me, Tohru thought sadly. She was my cheerful protector. It never occurred to me that she could die...

There were arguments over who would be the relative she lives with. Some houses were too small, and some relatives already had extra people living with them. Finally, it was decided by the family that she would live with her grandfather. He lived off a pension, so Tohru agreed that she would pay her expenses by herself.

Four months later, the house needed renovations because Tohru's aunt and her husband were coming to live with them. Her grandfather asked if she could stay with a friend. Tohru told him yes, but that wasn't true. Uotani has a one room apartment, and Hanajima has a rather large family already. She didn't want to be a burden.

Then, it hit her. She would be living on her own sometime, so why couldn't she start then? She wouldn't have much money, and she would be living in a cheap tent bought on sale for half price, but everyone else would be happy! So, now here she is, working part time all the time.

"Err…miss, could you hurry up and move these? I can't get through," said a man who worked in the building. He was hidden from the waist down by a pile of garbage bags.

Tohru snapped out of it and pushed her thoughts aside, focusing on the present. "Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!" she said looking over. Running the garbage out of the building, she slid back into her thoughts. Even if instead of door-to-door salesmen, I'm visited by mosquitoes and slugs! Even if a simple storm threatens to blow my house away, like the other day! She began to scrub counters.

"I'll never give up!" she said out loud. "I can't let it get to me. I will not allow for sadness. My home is my castle. My home is my castle!"

Across the hallway, two other custodians sat on a bench. "Since she got here," one nodded her head at Tohru, admiring her progress, "work sure has gotten easier."

Meanwhile that night, Yuki and Shigure were taking a walk in the forest behind their house.

"My, my, my. Look at the time. I almost forgot about dinner," Shigure remembered, and sighed. "Take-out food every night is no way to live."

"Then you make dinner, Shigure," Yuki suggested.

Shigure looked over at him blankly. "But you hate my cooking."

"That's because you put pickles in curry." They continued down the path.

"As if you're one to talk. You may be smart, Yuki-Kun, but your homemaking skills leave much to be desired. What we hopeless bachelors need is a 'flower' to brighten up our barbaric lives."

Yuki closed his eyes and tilted his head with a sarcastic smile. "Well, aren't you progressive, Shigure," he said.

"What? Wouldn't you like a woman around the house?" Shigure glanced through the trees at the sound of footsteps. He did a double take, and abruptly stopped walking. "Oh! Isn't that Tohru-Kun?" Yuki also stopped walking.

"Of course you remember a girl's name."

"Yes," Shigure chuckled, "I do have a gift don't I?" He liked the name Tohru for a girl, even though it's usually a boy's. Therefore, she was always addressed 'Tohru-Kun'. "It's awfully late to be wandering around in these woods. Does she really live nearby?" he wondered. "And is it just me, or does she look a little drunk?" Tohru was staggering towards a tent.

"Hmm…I heard her mother died. Maybe she moved here."

"But that's impossible. We're not renting this land to anyone," Shigure reasoned. They both looked at each other in silence for a moment or two.

Tohru was walking to her tent. She sighed, "So tired..." She ducked into the tent. "I'm home, mom," she said as she yawned. "I'm falling asleep but I have to finish my homework." She picked up a washcloth. "Oh…so dizzy." Tohru started to crawl out of the tent. "Maybe if I washed my face, I'd—"

She stopped dead. Her eyes snapped open wide, and stared at Yuki and Shigure. They stared back down at her.

Shigure pointed at her and laughed insanely, as Yuki just stared for a moment.

Yuki squeezed his eyes shut angrily. "Shigure, don't be rude."

Tohru just sat there on her knees, blushing with her hands clasped in front of her chest. Yuki and Shigure walked her back to their home, mostly Yuki while Shigure went on laughing, and Tohru explained that she was living by herself and why. "I see…so that explains the tent," Yuki said, sitting across the table from Tohru. Shigure was sitting next to Yuki, now snickering. "How long have you been living there?" Yuki asked.

Tohru's eyes dropped to the floor. "For about a week," Tohru replied shakily. Her hands were in her lap twisting themselves in various ways—again.

"I wondered how you could be living nearby. You know that this hill is Sohma property? We haven't rented it out or sold it," Yuki explained.

Shigure giggled. "A girl in a tent…pfft!" He just couldn't control himself.

Tohru stopped twisting her hands and held the fabric of her skirt. "Umm…Then, if it's not too much trouble, could you rent me a camping space?" she asked. "I'll leave as soon as my grandpa's remodeling is done. I don't have much money, but I can pay," she promised. "Please?"

The laughing stopped. "That place is dangerous. The cliff wall is unstable and you never know when some shady character may pass through," Shigure said. "Besides, where will you plug in your curling iron?" he added with an, "Ah, I crack me up."

"Are you done?" Yuki asked, clearly annoyed.

Tohru jumped to her feet and clenched her fist, holding it high. "It's okay! I don't mind the slugs! I can take care of myself!"

Ack…both of the guys thought

"Please…" she pleaded, "I'm…begging…you…" Tohru's innocent face pinked and she fell backwards, and back onto her knees.

Yuki jumped to his feet. "Honda-San!" He put his hand an inch away from her forehead and instantly felt the heat. "You have a fever. You don't look well."

"I'll get ice," Shigure promised. He jumped up and went towards the kitchen. He took one look and put one hand on the back of his head and the other on his hip. Filth. Everywhere. "…Huh. Now, if I were ice, where would I be hiding…?"

Tohru walked over and her expression was 'oh-wow-I've-never-seen-anything-like-that-before-in-my-entire-life-oh-my-god'. "It's like a garbage jungle…" she said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh!" Shigure smiled at her, "that's nearly poetic!"

Suddenly, Shigure's eyes widened and he zoned out. There was a dog's howl from outside. Shigure looked out the window. "There was a landslide just now."

"What?" asked Tohru, shakily.

"The ground is still weak from the storm," he answered.

"Uh, um, how do you know?"

"How? Call it 'animal instinct'," he shrugged.

"Stop messing around. Where was the landslide?" Yuki asked, bringing a first aid kit into the room just in case.

"Always so solemn, Yuki-Kun."

Tohru's eyebrows pulled together. "Could it have been…" she mumbled. "WH—what if it was near my tent?!" she asked. She started to panic. A moment passed, and she calmed. "Er…just kidding." Even though she wasn't. She laughed once nervously.

"That's the spirit!" Shigure smiled at Tohru.

Yuki's eyes widened. "Seriously—where was it?" he asked. It was silent for a moment, and they all ran to what was Tohru's tent, and she lead the way.

"Aah!" Tohru stepped closer. In the exact spot her tent was set up, there had to be hundreds of pounds of mud and dirt. It was thick and sloped, piling higher than Tohru's head. She started to shake.

"Th—Th—this is terrible…!" she stuttered. "My picture of mother was in that tent!" Tohru's voice got higher and louder with every word. "Mom!" she screamed.

"Honda-San?" Yuki asked for her attention.

Tohru ran over to the monstrous mound of earth and tried to dig with her hands. But it was hopeless, no doubt.

"Honda-San, you're not well," Yuki told her, appearing by her side.

"But!" she protested. There was mud deep under her nails, and she gave up. Her eyes went wider. "But—but, Mom! I have to save her!" MOM! She screamed internally. She didn't have the strength to scream aloud. Her hands fell and her fingers curled.

"She's in pain!" Yuki yelled to Shigure, who was walking over to them calmly. He kneeled down to Tohru.

"Let's come back when it's light out," he suggested with a smile. "If there's another landslide and you get hurt, your mother will be in even more pain," he warned her. "Okay?" As she looked up at Shigure, Yuki watched Tohru's worried and sad face. Yuki and Shigure helped her get back to the house safely.

Shigure found two blankets and a pillow, and set her up a 'bed' on the floor so she could lie down. Tohru held the top blanket up, covering the bottom half of her face.

Shigure looked down at her. "Yuki-Kun's looking for some ice right now," he sighed. "It's probably fatigue. You've been pushing yourself too hard," he guessed.

Tohru's face was deep red from her high fever. "I'm sorry…" she apologized. "…Again. I lost my home again. My castle…" Her eyelids were falling slightly.

Still standing, Shigure leaned back. He smiled weakly, and kneeled down next to her with a paper fan in his hand. "Does it hurt?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Tohru's eyes stared straight at the ceiling. "No," she said, "I've been through…worse."

"You poor child." Shigure said slowly. "Tell me about it."

Tohru paused for a minute or two. "'Come home safe', why couldn't I just tell her that?" she began weakly. She paused, and Shigure waited patiently. "…I had a quiz. I stayed up all night studying, and I overslept. That was the only morning I didn't tell her 'come home safe'. I always did—except that once." She was speaking slowly, exhausted. "I…" Her eyes shut. "After the accident, I considered not going to high school, and just working full time." Tohru swallowed hard. "Mom told me that she only graduated from junior high. She said that she wanted me to finish high school for her, and have fun. Tell her what it felt like to hold that diploma in my hand."

"She wanted a better life for me," her voice broke. "She worked so hard, and…I forgot to tell her to come home safe. I didn't see her back as she left for work." She paused a moment. "But it's not too late!" she said quickly. "Even with my grades and my house being taken away…I can still make it up to my mom." I can't bring her back…she thought sadly. She then said it aloud and added, "…but I can live the life she wanted for me. She wanted me to finish high school…so I'll graduate…for her. That's my goal," she said, drifting into sleep. "This is no time to…lose to…a fever…"

Yuki walked through the doorway with an ice pack and a towel. "Is she asleep?" he asked Shigure in a whisper.

Shigure looked up at him with a serious face. "Were you listening?" he asked at normal volume. Tohru didn't flinch.

"I'm surprised," Yuki said. "At school she's so care-free. You'd never imagine the life she's lived. It's incredible, really."

"Incredible? How?"

"I've always wanted…" Yuki wrapped the towel around the ice pack and set it on the table. "…to run away from the Sohma family," he admitted. "But I only had the courage to run as far as another Sohma house. I could have lived in a tent like Honda-San…" He looked down and closed his lavender eyes. "…I could have gone to the woods…" He paused and thought about it. "…I'm acting like a spoiled brat. It's pathetic." He sat down next to Shigure.

"Well, you are spoiled," Shigure told him with a smile, and playfully tapped him on the head with his paper fan. Yuki's hair slightly frizzed at that. "…but your spirit is different from Tohru-Kun's. There's really no comparison," he said truthfully. Shigure chuckled, closing his eyes. He fanned himself a few times. Yuki was silent, watching him. "And if you think that's incredible…then you really don't appreciate Tohru-Kun."

After a hesitation, Yuki stood up. "You're right," he said. "Can you take care of her? I'm going out." Tohru was definitely in a deep sleep now.

Shigure's eyes widened as he looked up at him. "Where? Don't tell me you're going to go dig up her things?" He waited for an answer. Nothing. "Should I go with you?" Nothing. "It's too much to do alone," he told him.

Yuki began to walk to the door, and a rat ran by his feet. Yuki didn't mind. "Alone?" He turned in the doorway. "I never said…I was going alone." He smiled darkly.

"Be careful," Shigure warned him with a grin.

Tohru was falling deeper into her sleep, and she began to dream. Tohru…you have a fever again. Kyoko, her mother, was down on the balls of her feet with a cigarette in her hand. Tohru was resting her head in her mother's lap.

You don't have to push yourself so hard, Kyoko told her. Another image came to Tohru's dream. Her mother then stood and put her hands on her hips.

Tohru, you must always be yourself. And do things at your own pace. Her mother's red hair was barely grown down to her chin.

A completely different image came to mind. It was Tohru, as a little girl, and a boy about the same age whose face was blurred. He placed his red hat on her head. That day, he had helped her find her way home. Tohru had no idea who he was, though. Someday…you'll catch up, an unrecognizable voice said. Maybe it was the boy's?

Tohru then dreamt her crying in her mother's lap, like in the first part of her scrambled dream. But…her own voice said, this time, if I don't push myself a little, I'll die alone.

Tohru jolted awake, sitting up fast. Now she was wearing a kimono that she'd changed into before she fell asleep. Oh no! How could I have fallen asleep?! I have to dig mom out! She panicked with an angry expression.

Tohru furiously pushed open the paper door, looking determined to complete the task, only to find Yuki standing right in front of her. He wore jeans and a white button down shirt. He had a bag in one hand, picture frame in the other. Tohru calmed, but only for a moment. She was surprised, is all.

Yuki gave her a welcoming smile. "Good morning. How are you feeling?" he asked cheerfully.

"So—muh—goo—," she stuttered. She was meaning to say, 'Sohma-Kun, good morning,' it just came out strangely.

Yuki held out the picture frame. "Here. Your picture."

"Huh?" Tohru managed to squeak out. She brushed her hair out of her face with her hand. She was surprised, happy …confused. Yuki held out the picture of Kyoko, her mother, which was buried in the landslide just hours ago.

"The rest of your things should be in these bags," Yuki continued, motioning to a few paper bags on the porch. "Could you make sure?"

"Eh?!" Tohru choked out. She was still wildly confused. "How?!" she almost screamed. "You dug through the landslide by yourself?!"

"Of course not," Yuki laughed. Then he said something in gibberish, and started to laugh a little too much.

What's funny? Tohru wondered. "Then how did you—?"

"It's a secret," he whispered. Tohru just stared at him, smiling weirdly.

"Well," she started awkwardly, "Thank you. Thank you so much!" She bowed before him.

"Sure," Yuki said simply, picking up her bags. "I'll take your things upstairs," he said casually.

"Huh?" Tohru asked, smiling weirdly again. Take her things... UPSTAIRS?!

Yuki was halfway through the doorway, and looked over his shoulder at her. "The house is filthy, and we're not used to having women around…but there's a room for you upstairs," he informed her. "You can stay here until the remodeling is finished."

Tohru's eyes widened. "NO!" she blurted out unthinkingly. She was clutching the picture frame to her chest. She shook her head hard and fast. "No! I couldn't possibly—"

"Oh, don't worry. There's a lock on the door," Yuki said. Assuming that he understood the conflict.

"Th—that's not it! I mean…"

"Tohru-Kun, do you like housework?" Tohru froze and squeaked as Shigure's voice came from behind her just then. "Like cooking and cleaning," Shigure continued.

"Y-you startled me," Tohru began. "Umm…yes, I like housekeeping. I'm pretty good at it if I do say so." She paused, and then asked, "Why?"

Shigure smiled. "Welcome to the Sohma house! This room hasn't been used in a while, so it's a little stuffy. Oh, we'll need to make a spare house key…" he trailed off. Tohru was overwhelmed. "Yuki-Kun, find her something to wear." Well, Tohru's clothes were dirty after her little adventure in the woods…

Tohru lost her ability to speak words for a moment. "Ah…um…"

"I'll help carry your things," Shigure told her. "Er…the little ones," he added quickly but quietly.

Tohru pressed her hands to the sides of her head, and her eyes grew wider. "No…really, I couldn't! Taking care of me and giving me a room—it's too much! I'm causing you too much trouble!" This was happening too fast for her. Yesterday she was living in a tent and now she's in the Prince's house?!

"Honda-San," Yuki said calmly, as he started up the stairs after Shigure, and looked over his shoulder. "We're the ones asking for you to stay. You're not a bother. If we didn't want you here, we wouldn't ask."

"But—" Tohru tried to protest, and started following them upstairs.

"Besides, where else are you going to go?" Yuki interrupted.

It became completely silent, and Tohru hesitated before continuing up the stairs. She knew that there was absolutely nowhere for her to go. Yuki started to give her a tour of the home. He showed her the location of each of their rooms, the toilet, bath, and Shigure's office. "I'll try not to be any trouble. Please tell me the Sohma rules and customs. I don't want to do anything to—"

"Honda-San," Yuki interrupted. "It's okay. Just be yourself, and do things at your own pace. You'll fit right in," he promised her.

Tohru stared. That's exactly what her mother had told her. Sohma-Kun…really is a mystery, she thought. "I'll do my best! I am at the mercy of your hospitality."

"Like I said…" Yuki found a pair of pants and a collared shirt of his for Tohru to change into so her clothes could be cleaned.

While she was changing, Shigure told Yuki, "You realize I was kidding about the "flower". Are you sure it's okay for her to stay with us?" he asked him.

"You were just jumping for joy a minute ago," Yuki replied. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine," he assured. "…as long as she doesn't hug anyone."

Somehow, it all happened so fast, Tohru realized. It feels like a dream. Suddenly, I was living in Sohma-Kun's house. Yuki brought her back to her room, and told her, "It really is stuffy in here. I'll open the window."

As he did that, Tohru was in deep thought. She turned away from Yuki. Come to think of it, where are Sohma-Kun's parents? Are they living somewhere else? She paused and thought about that. Then she just dropped the subject for now. It's all too good to be true…she thought. Yuki slid open the window behind her. I hope my staying here doesn't cause them too much trou—

BAM! SNAPSSSHH! Her thoughts were interrupted by something bursting right through the ceiling. Her eyes widened and her hair flew forwards into her face. She heard boards and crumbles of the ceiling and roof falling down to the floor.

Yuki slowly looked over. Downstairs, Shigure paused in ordering his take-out. Tohru slowly looked over her shoulder. She turned all the way around.

"Are you ready for me to break your neck, Rat boy?" The boy who just fell through the ceiling, unharmed, yelled this at Yuki. He looked about the same age as her and Yuki, maybe a little taller than him, and his hair was a fiery orange. He wore baggy pants and a dark t-shirt. He cracked his shoulders.

Eh?! Tohru was really confused, now. The ceiling…is he hurt? Why did he call him 'Rat boy'? Who—well, hello, orange…head… The boy had an odd bracelet on, too. It had round beads; it looked like they were carved, but not from wood, with red and white colors alternating in a pattern.

Yuki looked at the ceiling, smirking. A giant hole was ripped through it, and a wooden board hung from it. He looked back down and at the boy. "Seriously…must you break something every time you come home? When are you going to learn?" Yuki cocked one eyebrow, and stated, "You're too weak."

Tohru started to panic as the boy clenched his fists. "Why, you! If you think I'm the same as before, you're in for a world of pain!" Tohru's eyes grew wide, and she reached forward. "Today I'm taking you down!" The boy stepped towards Yuki, and Tohru broke. "Brace yourself!" he warned Yuki.

Tohru took a step forward. "No! P—please, stop!" She tripped on a piece of wood and fell into him, who was in front of her. Her face slammed into his back, and her arms instinctively went around him.

The boy's face turned towards Tohru. "Ah?!"

"Ah!" Yuki took a step towards them. A boom sounded, and smoke completely and quickly filled the room up. And…the cat, unable to attend the banquet, was angry that he had been deceived, and was always trying to catch the rat.

Footsteps came to the door. It was Shigure. "Yuki-Kun? I heard the noise," he was referring to the loud explosion sound, "Is Kyo back?"

Yuki smacked his forehead, while Tohru fumbled through a pile of clothes, obviously, very confused. She apologized, "I—I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Excuse me—" What happened? she wondered. She held up an orange cat that was inside of what was the orange haired boy's shirt.

"Oh my," Shigure said with a chuckle. Yuki walked over to him and rested his arm and head on his shoulder.

"Can't we do something about that idiot?"

A/N: Please please please please PLEASE review. Flame if you must. Chapter two very soon. :)