Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I in association with, any thing affiliated with Fruits Basket or Natsuki Takaya. Basically- it's not mine.

Author's note: Well- this is really my first manga fanfic, and I'm really glad I chose fruits basket. Well, that's about it! Read on!

Summary: An American foreign exchange student comes to live with the Sohmas, but will they be able to keep their secret from her? ((that's right- HER!))

Chapter one: Away from home.

"Jenny! If you don't get down here RIGHT NOW the trip is off and you can just stay home!"

Jenny let out an exasperated groan, trying in vain to get her suitcase snapped shut, but it was much too full to close all the way. "I'll be right down, Mom!" she called, jumping onto the lid of her suitcase, and sitting on it while she locked the latches. Giving a small laugh of triumph, she grabbed the bag by the handle, and headed downstairs with it. There was her mother, looking very peeved.

"It's about time," Her mother snapped, "Have you got everything you need? I don't want to have to mail you something you forgot- you'll just have to do without!"

Jenny sighed, and shoved her large suitcase into her brother Stephen's arms. Even though he was three years older, and reaching six feet tall, he gave a small, "Oof!" and grasped it with difficulty.

"What do you have in here?" he asked, trying to get a better grip on it, "You're going away for a few months overseas, not a year in outer space!" But- like a good brother- he went out the front door to pack it in the car for her. Jenny, however, had to stay still, and she waited for her mother to go over the checklist she had made for the millionth time.

"Do you have your passport, Jenny?"

"Yes, Mom."

"And the copy of your birth certificate?"

"Yes, Mom."

"And your Driver's permit?"

"Yeah."

"And you know-" Jenny's mom leaned in conspiratorially, "-you'll be there for a few months. Have you packed enough 'feminine pro-'"

"MOM! I've got everything!

Jenny's mother shook her head, and crossed her arms. Jenny looked a lot like her- the same doe-like brown eyes, the same down-turned, pouty mouth. They even had the same mannerisms- like biting their lower lip when they got nervous. But now her mother's eyes were troubled, and her lips set in a small frown.

"Oh, Jennifer…" Her mother sighed, "I'm just worried. You've never been out of the United States before, and Japan is all the way on the other side of the world. Plus you'll be gone so long- anything could happen. I don't even know anything about the family you'll be staying with. Have you got their name and address, in case you get lost?"

Jenny nodded, and pulled out the Student Exchange form from her pocket, handing it to her mother.

"I'll be staying with the Sohmas, Mom. There are other children there, too, children my age. One of them is the Student Body President! And I know you're worried about me," Jenny reassured her, "I know you'll be worried about my safety, and that you won't be there, but this is a wonderful opportunity! I worked hard to get this- boosting my grades, sending for recommendation letters, learning Japanese. I know you'll miss me, and I'll miss you, too, but I'll always be just a phone call away, okay?"

Jennifer's mother smiled a bit, and tucked a strand of Jenny's dark brown hair back behind her ear.

"All right," said her mom, "Let's get going then shall we?"

Jenny sighed, and gazed out of the window of the jet. Here I am, on my way to a wonderful adventure. I'm just glad Mom didn't try to run onto the plane after me.

Before take-off, Jennifer's family waited with her in the lobby, her mother rechecking that they had brought everything, her father fiddling with his new Personal Hand-held Computer/Palm Pilot/ cell phone/ MP3 player/ radio, and her brother slouching in his seat, looking bored. Jenny had sat on the very edge of her chair, jittery and nervous.

What will the Sohmas be like? The form didn't say too much about them family-wise. All I know is that one of the kids living there is my age, and he's Student Body President. What was his name again? Yasho? Suki?

But before she could reach into her pocket for the form and check, the loudspeaker called out for her section to begin boarding the plane. Jennifer's mother jumped up almost faster than her daughter did, and bustled about, getting things ready, though there really wasn't much to do. They had already checked Jenny's bags, except for her book bag, which she was taking on the plane with her. Jennifer hugged her dad, and kissed him good-bye.

"I promise to keep your mother in check while you're gone," he whispered in her ear, "The last thing I need is for her to go gallivanting off to Japan to get you. Be good!"

She even gave Stephen a hug good-bye, though he did not seem physically able to return the favor. He just grinned, shook his blonde hair out of his green eyes and said, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do! We'll see you before you know it, all right?" before placing a small kiss on her forehead.

Her mother, though hysterical, had finally let go of her with the aid of her brother and father; and- with one last wave to her family- Jenny had boarded the plane.

Now, thinking about it all again, she was glad she had brought pictures of her family. One year of school had not seemed like a lot of time on paper, but now that the plane had taken off and she was really, actually going to Japan, one year seemed like an eternity. She gazed out of the window some more, lost in thought.

I hope the Sohmas like me. I hope they're not too strict either. But I heard in Japan that they're very strict about manners and stuff- especially to old people. I hope I like the school. I haven't been to a co-ed school in such a long time…. But I'm sure Saint Mary's Academy for Girls can't be that different…can it? I just hope I remember my Japanese. It's going to be so odd, speaking and writing it all the time. I'll have to concentrate just to remember my own name!

Jenny liked her name in Japanese: Yenishu Tomorashi.

Then she remembered- she had wanted to see what that boy's name was- that boy who she would be staying with for the next year, the Student Body President. Jennifer reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out the form, unfolding it. Her eyes quickly scanned the Japanese, easily translating the foreign characters, until she found what she was looking for.

Student Host: Yuki Sohma

Jenny folded the form back up and tucked it in her pocket.

Yuki Sohma…,she thought, closing her eyes and getting ready to drift off to sleep, I wonder what he's like….

My Two Cents: YAY! I really like it! I hope you do to. I'll be sure to post the next chapter soon!