DO NOT BASH ME OR CRITISIZE ME IF THE GIRL IN THIS STORY IS A BIT MARYY-SUE. I had a story and people said the main character was all Mary-Sue or whatever, and that really pissed me off. So, please, if you don't like it, just don't review and don't read. Constructive criticism is welcome and beta readers are wonderful.

Anyway, lol, this is a story that was originally meant to be a one-shot, but the idea expanded and, after reading another story (I wuv you Rini, hehe), I have this story. Now, at the beginning it's gonna seem kinda stupid and boring but trust me, it's going to get pretty interesting. Hopefully you'll like it. If not then…whatever. lol. I'll probably keep writing it anyway.

01: The Assignment

Onizuka Kimini never really fit in with all the other high school students. Though her looks were top notch and she had a smile that could light up a room, her beautiful features were often hidden behind a book or masked by glasses and long black hair which she purposely styled to fall about her face. If anyone ever looked at her, she'd turn away. Her shyness often got the better of her. That's why she could never make any friends in her classes. She'd never try to talk to anyone.

Even though Kimini's self-confidence was low, her grades were very high. She was an honor student in fact. She had a love for studying and gaining more knowledge. Though there are many subjects she's interested in, there was only one that she truly loved. And that was the Zodiac. She knew the legend, she knew all the animals and their personality types. She knew it all so well that she could guess what year everyone in the school was born into. There was one boy in particular, however, that she was unable to guess. One red-haired temperamental boy named Kyo that she still couldn't guess.

"Excuse me…pardon me…sorry…I-I need to get to class…" Kimini muttered to various people as she made her way down the hall one Friday afternoon.

Her next class started in a matter of minutes and she couldn't stand the idea of being late. She was only a few steps away from her next class when she tripped over her own shoes and fell forward, sending the books in her hands flying forward and into a tall red-head nearby. Kimini was so embarrassed by the situation that it was a few moments before she was able to look up and see who she'd hit with her books. Looking down at her, a very angry look on his face, was Kyo Sohma.

"Watch where you're going, you stupid girl!" he shouted.

"I-I'm sorry, Kyo-kun. I was…I just…I didn't mean…" She couldn't form her words (a situation she often faced when around Kyo) and she knew that it was angering the red-head.

"If you've got something to say, then say it!"

"I'm sorry!" she shouted and began gathering her books, "I'm sorry, Kyo, I'm sorry. I was in a hurry to get to –"

And that's when the bell rang.

"I'm late! Oh no, I'm so late."

She finished collecting her books and attempted to get to her feet, only to trip…again…and hit the floor. Kyo sighed and shook his head.

"You're pathetic." He put his hand out, "Get up."

With now pink cheeks, Kimini took Kyo's hand and got to her feet. After brushing herself off a little and tightly gripping her books, she nodded to Kyo and rushed down the hall to her next class. Kyo followed the girl with his eyes until she disappeared into the classroom, then made his way down the hall and into the very same class room Kimini had entered. The two shared a few classes together, but of course, Kyo didn't know. He'd never noticed her. Not once. And had she not fallen and hit him with her books, he probably never would have.

"Okay, class, we've been doing a lot of review on ancient Chinese history and the Chinese zodiac and now it's time to put you knowledge to the test." The teacher crossed his arms over his chest, "I want a report from each of you about an animal of the Zodiac. Two pages long. Due next Wensday."

There wasn't much in class that could make Kimini smile, let alone beam with happiness, but at hearing the assignment, Kimini had a smile that could rival that of a child in a toy store. She already knew which animal she was doing and was already writing the paper in her mind. Of all the Zodiac animals, the one I find most intriguing is the cat. Though the cat is not officially part of the Zodiac…

At the back of the classroom, a very annoyed red-head groaned in frustration. What a stupid assignment. I don't like any of the damn animals. How the hell am I supposed to write about one? Damn it…

"Now let's take a count of which animal everyone is writing about." The teacher wrote in big letters on the board 'Zodiac Animal Selectons', "Alright, umm, Matsuri-kun, which animal are you writing about?"

"Uhh…The dog." A handsome brown-haired boy sitting next to Kimini

"Alright…Kimini-kun?"

"Huh?" Kimini's soft voice said, "I-um-th-the cat."

"What was that?"

Kimini cleared her throat, "The cat, senpai."

Laughs erupted from the mouths of almost every student in the room. The only ones who remained silent were Kimini, Kyo, and a brown-haired girl sitting next to Kyo.

"Kimini, you're an idiot." Came the voice of a slender brunette sitting behind her, "The cat's not even part of the zodiac! And even it was, it would pale in comparison to the amazingness of the rat." The girl let out a dreamy sigh, "Yuki Sohma was born in the year of the rat…."

Kimini sunk in her chair as several girls let out dreamy sighs at the mere mention of Yuki Sohma, the student council president.

"Students, calm down. Kimini, the cat technically isn't part of the Zodiac, so you can't really write about it. There's no personality traits or anything to go on. How about you write about the rabbit?"

"I want to write about the cat, senpai." Kimini said softly, "I can do it."

The teacher heaved a sigh and wrote 'Kimini Orinozuka – Cat' on the board. The rest of the class said who they were going to do their reports on and class went on. When it was over, Kimini was the first one to walk out. She wanted nothing more than to sit in a corner and cry out of embarrassment. She went to her locker and put her book in, then closed it and slid down on the floor. I can sit here if I want…it's not like anyone will notice me. I can't cry though…I want to though…The thought of crying is what made a tear trickle down the side of Kimini's face. The moment she realized it, she wiped the tear away and closed her eyes. Stop it, Kimini, stop.

"Orinozuka-san?"

Kimini's eyes flew open and she looked up to see a lavender-eyed looking down at her. Yuki Sohma. Kimini's cheeks tinged pink.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-yuki-kun…I'm..I'm okay." Kimini nodded her head, causing a few more locks of black hair to fall in her face, "I was just sitting here. I don't have another class for a little while so-"

Yuki cocked his head to the side, then got on his knees in front of her, "Honda-san told me about what happened in your class today."

Kimini stared blankly at him, "H-Honda-san? You mean Tohru?"

"Mhm." Yuki nodded, "She's a close personal friend of mine. You're the one who wanted to write about the cat, correct?"

"You probably think it's stupid too." Kimini pulled her knees to her chest, "Just like everyone else does."

"Well, granted, the cat isn't the animal I would have picked, but if you're interested in the cat, you shouldn't let other people's tauntings get to you. Cliché' though it is, the truth is that you can't let what other people think get to you. You should write that paper with pride."

Kimini smiled softly and nodded a little. Yuki smiled as well and stood up, then helped Kimini to her feet.

"If you want some help with your paper, I'm sure Honda-san could help you." Yuki brushed a lock of hair out his face, "She's…um…visiting my house tonight. If you'd like, you're welcome to come and you can talk with her about it. My entire family is very interesting in the zodiac. I'm sure they'd enjoy your company."

Kimini flushed down to her roots, "Oh, no, it's okay! I'll just stay home tonight and work on my paper and such. I don't want to intrude."

"It wouldn't be an intrusion. I'm inviting you."

Kimini sighed a little and thought on the matter. Yuki's invitation seemed sincere and Kimini was in no position to turn down sincerity and the possibility of making friends.

"Okay. I'll come."

"You invited her to dinner?"

"Yes. It was really Tohru's idea."

"You didn't have to actually do it! Damn it…that girl's a pain…"

"That's just you're opinion. She seems very sweet."

"I don't want her there!"

"Well, that's to bad, because she's coming over tonight and you are going to be nice to her."

"Who are you to tell me what to do?! Damn rat…"

"Stupid cat…"

And that's it for chapter 1. I know it seems stupid and done a million times before right now, but it gets better as it goes on. Wow, I sound so pathetic right now. lol. slaps self Okay, no more pathetic..ness…if that's a word.