Chapter 1

Tohru's point of view. (Italic's are thoughts.)

I was woken up on Sunday by the streaming rays of light that was starting to fill my room.

I jumped out of bed, and threw open my door

What time is it?

I ran down the stairs (tripped on the last one) and went into the kitchen to make breakfast.

Good no one's awake yet. We wouldn't want Kyo to be moodier than usual.

I kept the food ready on the table, and went outside. The sun would show itself completely today. That made me remember my mom. She would always want me outside on days like these. She would tell me of how my Father loved going about, soaking the sun. I loved that too.

I promised her that I'd be happy always.

But I can't do anything right. Not now. Not ever.

Even if I have the Sohma's, I'll truly, always be alone. And for some reason, I truly believed this with all my heart.

I stepped into the pool of sun, as it warmed up my pale skin.

"Miss Honda, would you care to have breakfast with me?" a musical voice asked from behind me.

I turned around quickly to see the beautiful Yuki Sohma. His silver hair and magenta eyes shone like diamonds as the sun reached him. His skin was pale, which almost made him look like a god.

"A-ah, of course Sohma-kun!" I answered quickly, flustered. It seemed awkward to be caught being so free when off guard.

I went back inside and saw that Shigure and Kyo had already reached the table.

"Good Morning everyone!" I said loudly showing my cheery side.

"Good Morning my little flower," Shigure inserting a playful smile on his face.

"Hey." Kyo said. He hasn't talked to me much since that night I saw his true form. I knew he wasn't what I wanted to see, because I knew he looked ugly in his true form. But I was easily accepting that beneath all that ugliness, Kyo stood there as a strong young man.

We all ate silently.

Suddenly I had this strange sensation as if someone was watching. A stare that could almost burn through my skull.

I looked out the front door, which created confusion at the table.

I know you're out there somewhere....

"Hey Tohru, what're you looking for?" Kyo's husky voice asked.

"Nothing, I just felt something weird." I answered truthfully.

"Are you sick Miss Honda?" Yuki asked worriedly.

"N-no!! I'm fine. I thought someone was outside! That was all!"

They continued to look worried.

Why don't the believe me? In a way, I felt that they couldn't trust me. That I need to be too dependant. It annoyed me a little, but I didn't show them any sign.

I felt bad thinking that. I love them all. They care for me. I'm the first person to find out about the curse, so if I was gone, they'd be alone.

I cringed at the thought.

Kyo left for his Master's house, Shigure went to his office, and Yuki went to his garden.

I'm left behind again. I sighed, tears threateningly prickling in my eyes.

I went out to the front door. The sun began to hide behind the clouds.

Suddenly, I saw a blurry figure standing next to one of the thick trees. A boy about my age approached me.

He was definitely made from a billion crystals put together. He beat Yuki's beauty by a million percent. He was snow white and his eyes gleamed a dangerous red, and he had a shoulder length satin-like wavy black hair.

How could anyone be so beautiful? I

"Hello," he whispered. It sounded like bells with a low-pitched sound, or a violin playing the D string. I realized I was gaping at him, and quickly shut my mouth.

I tried to answer back, but I realized I wasn't breathing. I regained my composure.

"H-hello!" I choked out. I could feel a blush creeping up my neck. I looked up at him through my lashes.

"I was wandering around Tokyo and I got lost. I'm hours away from my home. So could you make a small exception to let me stay at you're house tonight?" he asked, his voice was pure velvet. I almost moaned at the wonderful sound.

"I…um…I have to ask the owner. It's not my house," I answered a bit more clearly.

"Please," he whispered, goading me further to the point of desire.

"Ah, yes." I sighed.

My first few steps back in the house were unstable but I managed to reach Shigure's office without tripping over my own two feet.

"Shigure-san, there's a man outside who's hours away from his home and asked if he could stay for the night." I said my voice shaky.

Shigure pulled his eyebrows together and pursed his lips together as if in thought.

"Couldn't he make it back? It's only 10 am," he said. He looked straight into my eyes for a moment and nodded." All right."

What did he see in my eyes? Was I pleading? Oh my.

"Welcome to the Sohma home. I'm Tohru Honda!" I presented myself to the boy.

"Thank you. I'm Hayate." He took off his shoes and entered the house. His black coat brushed my face as he entered. It smelled sugary sweet.

I made him tea.

The whole time he sat there sipping his tea, and watching me run around the house cleaning.

"Honda-san, do you…work here?" he asked.

The question caught me off guard and I tripped as I made my way to the living room.

Just as I was getting up, a pair of strong, firm hands held my arms and lifted me, and held me close for about five whole seconds. Hayate's incense is going to make me faint with pleasure. My breathing hitched.

"Honda-san?"

It brought me back to the question. What am I to the Sohma's? A family- member, a true friend, or a much too dependant servant girl?

"I live here. In trade to take care of the people who live here," I answered. That was the only truth I knew. "Ah, thank you for helping me," I said noticing that he was still holding me.

He stared for a moment, and then let me go.

"Miss Honda, I'm home!" Yuki called out from a distance. I smiled widely and went to greet him. Yuki-kun always made me happy because of his never-ending kindness.

"Welcome home Sohma-kun. Was anything ready to be harvested?"

"The strawberries are almost ready, and the leeks."

"Strawberries, yes! I'm so happy Sohma-kun."

Yuki tilted his head to one side to see past me. I knew he was looking at Hayate.

"Um, Sohma-kun, this is Hayate-san, he's staying for tonight." I answered Yuki's untold question.

Yuki bowed politely but held a grim expression. Did he not want people over?

"It's a pleasure to meet you Hayate." He said practically spitting out Hayate's name. "I'm Yuki Sohma.

Shigure came out of his office next. They gave each other greetings. He didn't frown at all. Instead he gave his usual greeting with his famous smile. Kyo came back that evening and gave the same reaction as Yuki. It greatly bemused me.

Kyo was about to go to his room, but he whispered harshly into my ear.

"What have you done?"