"Yuki Sohma?" a formal sounding man's voice drifted into the classroom. All heads turned to the doorway.

"Yes?" said soft-spoken Yuki, standing up.

"You have a phone call in the office," the man said. Yuki nodded and started for the door.

"Bring your things," the man added, before turning and leaving.

xXx

All of Kaibara High was abuzz with whispers. What could call Prince Yuki home? Tohru sat worriedly at her desk all through the rest of the day, fist clenched shut and close to her mouth.

'I hope everything's all right...'

xXx

Shigure was out when Yuki burst into the house. It rang with an eerie silence. He carelessly dropped his case to the floor and pried off his shoes. He ran through the house, into the dining room. He stopped in the doorway, mouth slightly ajar.

Sitting at the table was a girl about his age, in her second year of high school one would guess. Then again, one could be wrong, as Tohru was with Momiji. She had dark blue, almost black hair that fell in slightly wavy curls around her shoulders and halfway down her back. Her glistening emerald green eyes were serene as she sipped tea through pale lips. She was dressed in an unseasonable autumn-colored Kimono.

Yuki slammed his hands on the table, leaning across it to glare at her. "What are you doing here!" he said in a wicked hiss through gritted teeth. She took another gentle sip of tea, then looked up at him.

"I came to ask you a favor. Since you are most likely to disagree I thought I would ask you first."

Yuki relaxed slightly, sighed, and sat down, running a hand through his hair. "What favor," he said hoarsely.

"My daughter wants to attend a japanese school. Her language was becoming impecable so I decided to allow it. I wanted to know if you would mind if she stayed with you," she said, after which she took another sip of tea. Yuki gritted his teeth again.

"No. I want nothing to do with you Americans," he said as calmly as possible. The lady took another sip of tea, and then set down the glass.

"I already spoke with Akito," she said. Yuki winced at the name. "He would be honored to associate with my family. We both believe they could benefit from Miss Tohru's influence. Marvel would like to come," she said calmly, looking him in the eye. Yuki clenched his fists.

"I despise Marvel, and her brother," Yuki said cooly. "I do not want them over here. Either of them."

"Do not worry, Yuki. Klein has no intention of coming here presently. And Marvel will only be here for a year. Think of it as, a trial."

"A punishment," Yuki corrected under his breath. The lady smiled.

"If you must, but remember, the two curses don't mix. Touching her is forbidden."

"You'd lock her up in a house with THREE Zodiac members?" Yuki asked suspiciously, relaxing again.

"No, but she would lock herself up," the lady smiled wistfully, gathering her Kimono and standing up. "It seems she's already taken a shine to Mister Kyo."

Yuki blinked, and watched her leave.