Disclaimer: i do not own Fruit basket.

11 YEARS AGO

"A long long time ago, the twelve animals of the zodiac were invited to a banquet by God. God told all the animals to be there and to not be late. The Rat decided to place a trick on his neighbour the Cat, he told him that the banquet was the day after. The animals all attended the banquet, while the Cat was left sleeping in his bed dreaming of a banquet that would never come"

"but the poor cat..grandma what happend to the cat?" she cried

"At the banquet, the animals and God made a pact, a pact that would make sure they would stay together forever, when god realised the Cat was not there, it was to late. The Cat became so angry at everyone and the Rat, that he was no longer himself, his hate and turned him into a monster. God felt so guilty at what had happen he told the Cat he would grant him one wish. The Cat wished that he would find his true love, and they would be together forever, and if they were to be separated, they would continue to look for each other, until they could be together again. God granted his wish, but on one condition, that the cat would never forget the anger he held, and that the monster he had become would always remain with him. To try and help the cat God gave him a special bracelet so the monster would not be visible to anyone, but if that bracelet was taken off, the monster within him would be visible for all to see"

"but grandma, there's no such thing as monsters" she sniffled, her grandmother smiled lovingly at her grand daughter and continued on with her story.

"The cat eventually found his true love, but his love had died early soon after, the cat was terribly sad, but god reminded him that he would find his true love again, as they had only been separated"

"but Grandma, its so sad..why did she have to die? why are you telling me this?" she asked, her eyes were still filled with tears. Her Grandmother hugged her closley and whisperd into her ear.

"because you my dear, are possessed by the spirit of the cats one true love"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRESENT DAY

Sakura Aiko hated moving schools. After her grandmother died, she had transferred schools three times, and each school was more trouble then the last.

She continued to stare at the floor beneath her, ignoring the whispers around her, this was why she hated moving schools, Sakura hated being new.

"This is Sakura Aiko, be kind to her" the teacher said, although it sounded more like a demand. Sakura took the first available seat at the back of the classroom, and slunk into it, hoping not gather to much attention, she already received enough of it over her long light blonde hair and piercing violet eyes.

As the classbell rang, notify all students and teachers alike that school had ended, Sakura remained in her seat, hoping to miss the crowds of people exiting the school building.

"Are you okay?" a girl asked, Sakura stopped looking out the window and turned her head

"im fine" Sakura said softly "but thank you for your concern" the girl smiled at her, Sakura stood up and walked out of the building, by now most of the students had already left.

Sakura looked around and smiled, the birds always sounded to cheerful in the spring.

"Oi, new girl" a voice called, Sakura stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoudler

"yes?" she asked

"are you lost?" he asked, Sakura's smile brightened at the colour of his hair, such an unusual colour orange.

"No, im not lost" she replied,

"you know there is only a haunted house down there" he said, referring to the path she had begun to walk down

"it might be filled with ghosts and monsters!" a smaller blonde hair boy said enthusiastically, the orange haired boy glared at him out of irritation

"there is no such thing as monsters" Sakura said, and she walked away.

________________________________________________________________________________________

She crept into the house, as silently as she could, she didn't want to wake him, after all, he thought she had never left. Her guardian wasn't nice, he was horrible, even more so when he drank, but Sakura didn't have a choice, there was no one left to look after her and she couldn't support herself.

Sakura walked into the kitchen, she stayed on the tips of her toes, as if she was walking on egg shells. She had to be silent, there was still to much that she had to do before he woke up. She cleaned to kitchen and washed the floors, she had already cleaned and tidy the rest of the house the night before, tonight was going to be bad, Sakura could feel it.

A clash echoed through out the old house, Sakura tensed, he was awake, she needed to hide. Sakura heard his footsteps trailing down the stairs, she looked for an exit. Her tired eyes rested on the window, she smiled briefly then ran towards it, still not daring to make a sound, Sakura climbed out it, and swiftly down the tree which grew beside it.

Now there was no where to go, she knew she should have stayed because even if he decides to give up, his son would be home shortly. Sakura hated Ryo, whenever he was home, she constantly had to reminded herself that there was no such things as monsters. Ryo was the only one who knew her secrete, and he used it to his advantage. Sakura promised her grandmother that no one would know who she was, after all she was just a cat, an accomplice to the curse.

"Sakura!" a voice yelled, Sakura sharply breathed in and continued to walk through the woods, she knew who was calling her, she just didnt want to face him, not now and not ever. She sighed loudly, and started to climb the tallest tree, if she was going to have to talk to him, to look at him, she figured it would be best to do so from a distance.

"Get down" Ryo shouted, Sakura stood on the lowest, most stable branch, she stared down at him, she looked confident, Sakura was glad he couldnt see her because then he might see her weakness, he might see her shaking.