Summer was finally coming to an end as the first of September began to draw nearer. Leaves were already starting to fall from their branches and a small breeze would pick up every other day. In the parks, kids would be running around, playing games either in the fields or in the playground. This was the last day that any kid could fool around or any teenager could have fun without being pressured by grades.

"Where are you going, Kyoko?" a boy called out from the Y apartment entrance doorway, leaning on the doors wooden frame.

He was a fairly tall nineteen year old boy who was a very fit in a healthy manner. He had messy dirty blonde hair and deep green eyes with milky white skin. His gray shirt was rather baggy and his dark blue jeans, which were practically blanketing his brown shoes, were as well baggy. In his mouth, he held a toothpick, looking as if he had just got back from lunch.

"I have to go meet the guy I'm going to be working under." A soft female voice said from the open metal gates.

Standing with her back facing the left pillar gate was a rather beautiful eighteen year old girl. Her raven black hair was very long, descending to her waist, and her brown eyes were as dark as chocolate. Over her light brown skin, she wore a black long-sleeved suit top over her white button-down shirt and black tie. Around her waist was a black suit skirt that only covered her up to her thighs. Her legs looked smooth, her feet fitting comfortably into her black one-inch high heels.

"Didn't I tell you already, Eirie?" Kyoko asked confused as the guy began to make his way towards her.

"No. Actually, you didn't." he responded, moving his toothpick to the other side of his mouth and his hands in his pockets. "So, what's this guys name?"

"His name is Hatori Sohma and I'm so anxious to meet him. I heard he's easy to work with because he's so quiet." She smiled, laughing a little.

"He seems nice, but don't let your guard down around him. Remember, when a guy sees a pretty girl, the first thing that comes to their mind is if that girl is good in bed." He forewarned her.

"Then, I guess I shouldn't worry because I'm not pretty. I have to get going." She says looking at her watch. "Just wish my luck, okay?"

With that, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and sped down the sidewalk a bit, slowing down a few feet away. Back at the apartment gateway, Eirie stood there, touching his cheek and blushing. A smirk appeared on his face, his eyes closing.

'You don't know how pretty you are, Kyoko.' He thought happily, turning on his heels and walking back into the apartment.

As Kyoko was walking down the sidewalk, she couldn't help, but feel strange. The name Sohma had seemed so familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had heard it from. Ever since she first heard the name, she had some sort of pull at it. It had plagued her every night until today, when she was finally going to meet Hatori.

In a few minutes, she found that she had wandered into some wooden area. Looking at her palm, she saw that she had followed every direction. Suddenly, she felt something hard under her shoes. As she brought up her head, her eyes laid upon a beautiful extensive estate. Her jaw dropped when she witnessed its beauty.

'This is where I'm meeting him?' She thought in shock as she began to make her way through the estate, looking for the home of Hatori.

The first building she passed, she saw a very creepy looking boy resting on the windowsill, glaring at her hatefully. She looked down for a few seconds, then looked back up to see that the boy was gone. She brought a slight fist to the center of her heart, being kind of freaked out by what she had just come across.

'Who was that? He looked too young to be Hatori.' She thought, staring at the window for a few more minutes. 'Maybe I was just imagining things.'

When she was about to start up again, she accidentally bumped into someone; she stepped back about two feet. Looking at whom she had bumped into, she was amazed. He was quite tall; Kyoko only reached his chin. His skin was a little pale with short black hair, some going over his left eye. He was wearing a suit without the coat over it.

"Are you Kyoko Sakai?" the handsome man asked in a low voice.

"Oh! Yes! I am!" She quickly responded, regaining her composure.

"I'm Hatori Sohma, the man you'll be working under."

"Oh! Um … It's nice to finally meet you." She nervously said, bowing quickly. "Please forgive my rudeness. I didn't know that you were him."

"Before I start my interview, I need you to answer a question."

She looked at him and smiled, "Okay."

His eyes went wide for a second, but he went back to his normal emotionless expression. "What do you get when snow melts?"

She giggled a little before answering. "Well, most people would probably say water, but I think differently. When snow melts, you get spring. The water helps flowers, trees, bushes, and other plants bloom and everything is, once again, beautiful. So, my answer again is Spring."

Hatori was taken back at how she described her answer. He had never heard anyone say something so magnificent just for an answer. Soon, he could feel the blood rush to his face. So, he quickly turned around, pretending as if everything was fine. Luckily for him, Kyoko didn't notice his awkward actions and followed him to his office.

As she was following behind him, she examined her surroundings. Everything was beautiful. The trees that loomed over-head were shading perfectly with their flourishing green leaves. She passed by a duck pond, which she smiled at when she saw three small ducklings following their mother. The crystalline blue water was shimmering beautifully under the sun. Kyoko couldn't believe that a place like this actually existed. It was pretty much heaven to her.

When they reached his office, Kyoko wasn't very much shocked at what it looked like. Over by the side wall was a desk with a computer on it and piles of papers stacking over everything. What wasn't normal was that there was a five-person couch on the other side with a coffee table in front of it.

"Is this your office?" She asked, looking around the room.

"Yes." Hatori replied, sitting at his desk. "Go ahead and take a seat."

With his permission, she sat down on the end of the couch, awaiting patiently for her interview. She watched Hatori as he was doing something on his computer. She heard a lot of clicking, some windows closing and others opening. Within a few minutes, he stopped with only his desktop up. Then, he turned around to face her, one of his legs up on his other knee and his hands folded and resting on his lap.

"Are you ready?" He asked in the same undisturbed voice.

"Yes." She shortly answered.

"Okay. I already know your name is Kyoko Sakai. Tell me how old you are."

"Well," She started, thinking to herself of how orderly his office was. "I'm eighteen. I'll be turning nineteen in December."

"I see. What about living conditions? Do you live in a dorm room, your parents house?" He began, being cut off when he saw the quick frown that Kyoko tried to hide.

"I live in an apartment in the Y apartment complex."

"So, your parents don't mind you living on your own?" He asked with much concern.

"My parents died a long time ago and I have no relatives if that was what you were going to ask next, but I don't really live alone. I live a story above my foster brother, Eirie. He's been looking after me ever since his parents adopted me." She explained thoroughly, trying to leave out a few unneeded details.

After discussing those first few questions, Kyoko was asked more business related questions like what kind of experience she has had in the field of medicinal care and how she became interested in doctoring. With each question, Kyoko's stress had disappeared. She seemed a bit more comfortable with Hatori.

By the end of their session, which lasted three hours because of Kyoko's thorough answers, Hatori didn't want her to leave. As she was getting her shoes on, Hatori thought quickly of a reason to see her again that wouldn't be related to business. Then, he remembered that his two friends wanted to see his apprentice. So, he decided to invite her to dinner.

"Kyoko, before you leave, I want to ask you something." Hatori nervously said, not showing his emotions.

"Sure. What is it?"

"My friends wanted to meet you. Would you like to have dinner over at his place tomorrow?" He asked casually, but his heart racing faster than ever.

"Well, seeing as I haven't had a home-cooked meal in a while, I would love to. Where does he live?" Kyoko smiled.

"Just follow these directions and be there by or before seven." Hatori calmly replied, handing her a piece of paper that one of his friends had given him in advance. She took it gratefully, folding it up and holding it in her hand.

"I hope I won't be a disappointment to them." She laughed, opening the door.

Before she left, Hatori called out to her. "When you get there, ask for a Tohru Honda. She'll help you get acquainted with everyone."

"Okay. Thank you for the tip and have a nice day, Mr. Sohma."

With that, she was headed back home, anxious to tell Eirie how her day was, but back with Hatori, a few questions were summoned.

'Kyoko.' He thought as he wandered back to his computer; He had gone off to get something to drink. 'Why do you make me feel this way?'

He began to think back to when he first saw her, standing out in the courtyard. She was just standing there, staring at Akito's building. At first glance, a rush of shyness had saturated, not only his mind, but his heart as well. There she stood in her office apparel, looking ravishing.

'Do I … love her?' He thought fearfully to himself, his eyes going wide. 'Is this what they call love at first sight? No. It can't be. She's only eighteen and … and …' He trailed off of thought to his first wife. "Akito." He whispered, his heart feeling like it was tearing into thousands of small pieces.