Tohru ran up to Yuki with a poster in her hand. "Look Yuki! There's going to be a dance tomorrow! We should all go together," she exclaimed as Kyo walked up.

"That's a wonderful idea, Miss Honda," replied Yuki with a smile while Kyo responded with a
"Hell, no!"

"Just ignore him, Miss Honda. He's just sour because Uo beat him at 'Rich Man, Poor Man' again," said Yuki, rolling his eyes. Kyo's hands curled into fists.

"Shut up, you damn rat! What do you know!"

"Oh, come on, Kyo, it will be fun! We'll all go together. You won't have to dress up if you don't want to," begged Tohru. Kyo stopped shouting to look at her. Then he sighed in defeat, not looking at her.

"Fine," he muttered.

"Great! I'll go tell the others!" She ran off to go find Momojii, Kisa, Hiro, and Haru. Yuki and Kyo watched her go for a moment, then sighed and followed her, picking up the things she had dropped in her excitement as they went along.

"A dance, huh?" Haru looked at the paper Tohru had given to him. She was watching him eagerly, with her famous, heart-melting smile in place.

"Yup! Yuki and Kyo are coming too. I'm also asking Momojii, Kisa, and Hiro if they want to come along. Then we're meeting up with Uo and Hana when we get there," she replied. Hiro smiled at her. It was hard to resist that smile or those big eyes. He could tell this was how Kyo had gotten dragged into it.

"Hmm. Well sounds like fun. I'll meet you guys at Shigure's tomorrow, then."

"Hai!" smile Tohru, looking pleased.

"Of course we'll come! Are you going to dress up, Tohru? I think you should. You could even do your hair. Then you could really be a princess. And I'll be your prince!" exclaimed Momojii. Kisa smiled up at Tohru. Hiro just looked away and scowled, but he would go wherever Kisa went.

"Well, I don't know if I'll go that far Momojii. But I'm glad you're going to come. You can all come to Shigure's, then we'll all leave together." Tohru smiled at them.

"Who else is coming?" asked Momojii. Then his eyes widened. "Don't tell me you talked Yuki and Kyo into it?"

"Yup. Haru too."

"Yay! It will be like one big party!" Momojii yelled. He took Tohru's hands and danced around her while she laughed. That is, until Kyo came up behind him and hit him over the head.

"Stop dancing." He snapped. "It's getting really annoying," he said over Momojii's crocodile tears. "Come on, Tohru. We should be getting home. The rat is waiting by the door."

"Hai," said Tohru. "Bye Momojii, Kisa, Hiro. See you all tomorrow!"

"THANK GOD! TOHRU'S HOME!" Shigure ran into the room. "So hungry!" he moaned. Tohru giggled. Kyo scowled and Yuki just frowned.

"Okay, Shigure-kun, I'll go make you something to eat. Just wait here." She ran off into the kitchen, dropping her school stuff on the living room table. A few seconds later they heard the clatter of dishes as she began making ramen. Yuki looked over at Shigure.

"Why are you so hungry?"

"Ha-san was over earlier and he wouldn't let me get some snacks," Shigure complained. Yuki's frown deepened.

"Why was Hatori here?"

"Something about a letter. He said he'd leave it on the desk. But there's no letter. So I can only assume he forgot to leave it before he left." Shigure shrugged. "Ah, well. It smells like the food will be done in a moment. He ran off to kitchen, looking eagerly through the door. A moment later, Tohru called, "Dinner!"

Tohru walked up to her room, yawning. She'd just finished her homework with Yuki and Kyo's help, and her head was buzzing with equations and words. As she opened the door to her room, however, she noticed an envelope sitting on her desk. Written on it, in an elegant script, was her name. She walked over to the desk, feeling wide awake, and picked up the envelope. The message inside of it was brief and to the point.

Main house. Six o'clock.

Tohru frowned at it. That was the same time the dance was starting. But she couldn't ignore it. She didn't want to get anyone into trouble. She could tell the others she forgot something and go, but she hated lying. After another minute, though, she had to admit defeat. She just couldn't find another solution. With a sigh, she put the note in her desk, and then got into her bed, wondering why her presence was wanted at the main house.

The next evening, Tohru tore her closet apart, looking for something suitable to wear to a dance and the main house. Finally, she decided on a black dress that was just above her knees with straps that clung to the sides of her shoulders. She grabbed the black clutch pursue off her chair and race downstairs, almost decapitating herself and Kyo as he caught her when she tripped in her heels. Kyo, Yuki, and Haru all stared at her. Tohru felt herself blushing, suddenly feeling naked. At the same time, the three looked away, staring at the floor, the ceiling, and the picture hanging from the wall. Then Shigure walked in and shattered the silence.

"Tohru, my flower, you look absolutely lovely. And may I say your chest looks extremely supple this evening." Needless to say, this caused a slight commotion. Tohru turned a deep red. And quickly pulled her coat on. Yuki shouted, "YOU PERVERT!" while Haru and Kyo attacked Shigure. Shigure pulled free and held his hands out in front of him.

"I was only kidding, geez. It's not my fault none of you had the courage to compliment her instead of just staring." With that he skipped into his study, leaving an embarrassed silence in hi wake. Then he doorbell rang and Tohru jumped at a chance to escape the hall. She opened the door to see Momojii, Kisa, and Hiro.

"Tohru! Wow, you look pretty!" Momojii skipped in, leading the other two. Kisa ran up to Tohru and gave her a hug, and the two of them talked girl stuff for a moment while Hiro and Momojii went to find the others.

"Hey, Haru, Kyo, Yuki! Did you see Tohru? She looks pretty, doesn't she? Are any of you going to ask her to dance? Huh? Are you?"

"MOMOJII, SHUT UP!" Kyo roared. Momojii started his crocodile tears.

"Tohru, Kyo is picking on me!" Tohru came in and comforted Momojii, then turned to the others.

"We'd better go. I told Uo and Hana we'd meet them there at six." So the seven of them set out for the school. About half way there, however, Tohru turned to Kyo. "Oh, no, I think I left my ticket back at the house. I'll be right back, okay," she started to run back toward the house, but Kyo grabbed her arm.

"Hold on a minute. Shouldn't someone go back with you? It's not safe to be alone for a girl at this time of night," he stated.

"Oh, no, it's okay, Kyo-kun. I'll be fine. The house is only a few blocks away. I'll meet you guys at the dance." Tohru felt the guilt settle in her chest as she lied. After a moment, though, Kyo released her arm.

"Alright, but be careful, okay?"

"Hai!" With that, Tohru ran off toward the house. As soon as she was out of sight, she ran for the main Sohma house. When she arrived she was very out of breath, but buzzed the doorbell. A maid let her in and led her to the building in the center of the property. There, Hatori met her. They exchanged bows, and then Hatori led her inside, not saying anything. He led her to a set of doors and pulled them open. There was a figure sitting by the window, but it was too dark for Tohru to make out. Then a voice she could never mistake said, "Hello, Miss Honda. How kind of you to join us." Just then, the moonlight caught the figure's face. Tohru looked straight into the eyes of Akito.