FLASHBACK:
Honda Tohru sat quietly in her classroom wondering what her best friend, and sister Tomomi was doing at her school overseas when a teacher from another room suddenly appeared in the doorway and asked her to come and talk with him. His words shot through her with a horrible harsh feeling, her two friends knew something had to be really wrong and rushed to her side. The one thing no child wants to hear was the exact thing Honda Tohru was told that day, her mother, her only living parent had been in an accident and was now in the hospital in critical condition. Tohru and her friends were allowed to leave to be with Kyoko Honda in her time of need.
In California Tomo Honda was alerted about Kyoko's condition and reacted in a hysterical way for eight minutes until her usual calmness and business-like aura was reclaimed in her mind. Immediately she purchased a ticket for the first flight out to Japan. She rushed to get to her side as soon as possible. She arrived at the hospital room where her family and dear friends were only to find her mother taking her last breath. Tomomi stumbled to the bedside, took her mother's hand and cried out to her. She screamed for her mother to open her eyes, to look at her, she cried hysterically about how she was sorry she had left and that she would stay forever if she would only look at her, and then as her cries began to soften she forced out three binding chains:
"I'll stay by Tohru's side for you, I'll never allow her to feel alone, and I'll stay by you, too, I'll come see you everyday so we can share stories together just like we used to. I won't let anyone I love get hurt, never again."
"Tohru, we need to go or we might be late." Tomomi Honda said popping into Tohru Honda's tent.
"Okay Tomomi I'm just saying goodbye to Mother." Tohru said over her shoulder "Well Mother, wish us luck again today! We'll be back."
With that they left there tent and started the walk to their school, Tohru and Tomomi in their blue school uniforms, part of Tohru's hair pulled back into to small pigtails tied with blue ribbons that brightened her already striking blue eyes, Tomomi's long red locks bounced at her waist line, her curls spreading like waves as she took each new step.
Tohru suddenly stopped turning to face a large traditional house. She began to walk towards it, but Tomomi stopped her saying that the owner wouldn't want some strange kids wandering around. She changed his mind when she saw how Tohru looked at the Ara sitting on the porch. They walked up to the porch to admire the tiny figures until a tall young man appeared in the open doorway.
"There are girls around here?" the young man asked himself.
"Ahh! We're sorry, we just barged in without asking." Tohru said speaking for both herself and Tomomi.
"Oh it's okay, help yourself. I don't mind since these are just drying in the sun. But they're not very fun to look at from a young person's perspective, I assume?"
"Not really…"Tomomi replied
"They're very cute." Tohru added
"I see. I'm glad you feel that way. Since I'm fond of these myself." said the young man
"But as expected, there's no cat." Both Tohru and Tomomi chimed
"Cat?" He asked
"Oh you mean the kitten from the folktale of the Chinese zodiac?"
"Yes."
"Mm-hmm."
"Our Mother told us all about it."
FLASHBACK:
" Long, long ago Kami-sama told all the animals, I invite all of you to a party tomorrow. And on no account be late. When the mischievous mouse heard this he told a lie to his neighbor, the cat, that the party was to take place the day after tomorrow. The next day, the mouse rode on the ox's back and arrived in front of the meeting place and had fun there until morning except for the cat who was fooled."
"Tohru, Tomomi why are you crying?"
"That's so sad."
"It is, and it's all that rats fault. I hate rats."
"I feel so sorry for the cat."
"I know what I want to do instead of a dog I'll become a cat."
"Me too then we'll show that mouse."
"Oh I wonder what he'll think when he hears this."
"He?"
"Anyway, so you two were both born in the year of the dog, it seems we have some good chemistry between us. If it's alright with you how about going for me?"
"Pervert, I'll…" Tomomi was just about to punch the man when someone from behind him dropped a school bag on his head.
"I was wondering what you were gushing about, are you all right Honda san?" Yuki-san, the school prince asked Tomomi and Tohru.
"Fine thanks." Tomomi replied even more pissed off than she was a second ago.
"My cousin caused you all this trouble…"
"So…Sohma-kun?"
"That bag is really heavy." The young man said rubbing his head.
"Shut up you wretch!"
"Heh, you're Yuki-kun's classmate? Again I'm Sohma Shigure, Yuki-kun's cousin."
"Oh, I'm Honda Tohru."
"And I'm her older sister, Honda Tomomi."
"Honda-san why are you in a place like this?"
"Aah, ah…"
"Our house is nearby."
"Nearby? Here?"
"Ah, yes."
"Hmm."
"Well, we'd better get going now…"
"Uhm, Honda-san…"
"Yes?"
"Shall we go together?"
LATER THAT MORNING
"Honda-san!"
"Can we help you in any way, such as lending you a breath mint?"
"What was that about?"
"Yes, why were you coming to school together with Sohma-kun? Explain!"
"Why not? I mean he isn't attached is he?"
"Don't say that Tomomi. And it was just a coincidence."
"If it was just a coincidence then there won't be a need to call the police, right?"
"The fact that there are no girls that don't understand "Kaiwara High, Freshman, class D, Yuki Sohma" shows that he truly is beautiful!"
"I don't understand him."
"Is a super genius."
"You know he's not really all that smart."
"Is a super athlete."
"Rats run fast."
"Even we who are members of his fan club, "Princess," aren't able to get close to him!"
"Who would want you shrill voiced, stuck up, obsessive beasts around them?"
"Hey."
"What?"
"Tohru said it was just a coincidence. Don't bug her about it, idiots!"
"Wh…what? You think you Yankees can solve anything with idle threats?"
"You girls want to be…BEEP…by electric jolts?"
"Ahh!"
"Why do they listen to you, but not me? They didn't even notice my being here!"
"Uo-chan, Hana-chan you guys saved me! You too, Tomomi."
"You were being bugged Tohru, you're so sweet."
"Nice one with the electric jolts Hana-chan."
"Hana-chan, please don't really send electric shocks."
"Do it later, they deserve it." Tomomi said leaning in and whispering into Hana's ear.
LATER IN COOKING CLASS:
"Sohma-san is so pretty so when I was next to him I felt so nervous."
"he's pretty just like a girl, you'd think the boys would be the ones going crazy about how cute he is."
"Tomomi… please stop that. Anyway I wasn't able to have much conversation with him."
"I get strange electric waves from him…"
"It came out on Hana-chan's electricity report."
"What do you mean by strange?"
"Probably not really a boy."
"As for all that, I'm not sure…"
"Well, he does seem very secretive, that's for sure. And he doesn't really talk about himself, either. Before this when a sophomore girl asked him out and tried to get near…he pushed her away, she must have been shocked."
"It's strange that there would be a person who puts up a barrier like that these days." Hana said passing some rice to Tohru.
"Arigoto-gozaimasu."
"Well, that is to such an extreme."
"Tohru, Tomomi, don't you have to work part-time today?"
"Yeah."
"Yes, that's right."
"That's not good since your still staying at your grandfather's place."
"Ah…ye…yes."
"It's because you promised him that you'll pay for your own tuition?"
"Ye…yes."
"But…to pay for tuition in public school, I don't think you have to work that hard."
"Th…that is…"
"We…"
"Make sure you two eat every meal reguraly…and he's not stealing you're part-time money, right?"
"Yes."
"Understood? If something bad happens, you better tell us right away! I'll be sure to take care of it."
"Uo-chan I can take care of anything that happens, you don't need to trouble yourself."
"Sohma-kun thanks for this morning."
"No I should be the one to be saying thank you, since Shigure caused you trouble."
"Your cousin is a perverted freak, or is that how your entire family like that?"
"Tomomi…"
"I'm sorry Tohru."
"I think Shigure is a great person. He allowed me to see the Chinese Zodiac figurines."
"You said something about wanting to be born in the year of the Cat? Didn't you?"
"We decided that when we were kids…I…"
"Cats are idiots…"
"They have bad qualities."
"What?"
"They're better than rats."
"Honda-san, did you know? The Chinese Zodiac's twelve animals are in actuality "Jikkan" Chinese Zodiacs."
"Oh, no I don't."
"Originally it was used as a numeric device or as a watch. Afterwards the Buddhist form of the cosmic dual forces and the forces of the good and bad were added, so it became a thing used for fortunetelling."
"So it wasn't related to animals?"
"No…although I'm not to sure myself how and when animals got involved in the story. But cats never belonged in the Zodiac from the beginning. And it still wanted to become friends with the twelve animals of the Zodiac, its really stupid the cat."
"Does this mean that you hate cats?"
"I thought so from this morning, but you two seem somewhat pallid. You should take care of yourselves." he said quietly catching a leaf before it drifted down onto Tohru's completely still head.
"What do think we're idiots who don't know that already?" Tomomi shouted slightly beginning to dislike him more and more
"Well I'll see you again tomorrow."
"Hey li'l lady! Hurry and clean up this trash!"
"Okay."
"Phew! If I eat this much everyday, I'll get sick of it."
"Well then you make the food."
"Even if I make it, you're gonna complain."
"If pickled radish goes in my curry, I have a compulsion to make at least one complaint."
"Hmm…You're smart, Yuki, but you like such spicy and salty stuff. Hey, don't you think we need a housekeeper?"
"A female would just cause more trouble."
"Huh? Honda-san?"
"We're back, mother. I'm really sleepy, but I have to write a paper for class tomorrow."
"Lets go wash our faces at least, with water from the lake, Tohru."
"Ahh, what's the girly boy and his pervert cousin doing here?"
"Shigure, you laugh too much."
"So, I see… you've been in that tent?"
"Yes."
"Is there any thing around here I can stuff in his mouth to shut him up?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Since when have you?"
"It's been a bit more than a week."
"I thought it was strange, since this area is under the Sohma family's possession, and no one borrowed or bought the land."
"I'm begging you! Please lend us that place for just a while. When the construction ends we'll move right away! We don't have much money but we will pay!"
"Please?"
"That place is dangerous, you know. The ground in the area is weak and sometimes perverts come out."
"Oh, you mean like you tonight?"
"So I think it's impossible for two girls to live alone in a tent."
"I hate it when people ignore me."
"Are you done laughing?"
"It's alright! I already became acquainted with slugs and such! And besides Tomomi is very good at fighting. Physique, strength I have plenty of them!"
"Honda-san!"
"Tohru! Tohru wake up!"
"You have a fever!"
"Oh my..!"
"That's one deep forest!"
"That's a good metaphor. Hmm? Hear that there's definitely been a landslide somewhere."
"Excuse me but, how do you know that?"
"Hmm?"
"Well, you can say it's a natural instinct."
"Is it close?"
"Close to the tent…or something like that."
"Mother…"
"Uh, on no Mother!"
"Mother's picture is inside the tent! Mother!"
"Honda-san, calm down. You have a fever."
"But my Mother is…What can I do?"
"If I don't take it out fast Mother is going to get hurt!"
"When it gets brighter, lets come back. If either of you get hurt your mother will be much more saddened, right?"
"Mother, Mother…I'm sorry Mother…"
"Ahh, Honda-ana!"
"Hmm?"
"Honda-ana fainted!"
"Right now Yuki-kun is looking for some medicinal herbs…"
"I'm sorry…"
"You must be very tired. You pushed yourself too much."
"I lost my home again."
"Is it painful?"
"No…I know more painful things."
"Like what?"
"I didn't say…'Please go and come back safely,' the morning my Mother was killed in the accident."
"I had a small test, and so I was up until dawn studying. I couldn't wake up after and so only that morning, I couldn't say it. I've always said it. But that morning…I was thinking of quitting high school and start working. But, my mother said, I only graduated from middle school but I've always wanted to become a high school student, I want you to be different from me and have a high school life. It was at that moment I realized that she was working for my sake. But, for such a mother like her, I didn't say, ''Please go and come back safely,' even to her back as she was going out to work. So at least high school…the high school that my mother desperately wanted me to attend, I want to graduate, that is my…goal. I won't lose to a fever like this. But even that…isn't as painful as Tomomi's burden."
"Its quite amazing. She's always cheerful at school, even though they're suffering and all. I was planning on running away from the Sohma house, but ultimately I'd still be the same 'Sohma'. If I really can't stand it…I could have been like Honda-san and Honda-ana, set up a tent. And even if I were to be miserable I realized that I was just being a baby."
"To call it 'amazing' is being rude to Tohru-kun and Tomomi-Kun."
"That's true. I have a request. Will you let me go out?"
"Where? To dig that out? Shall I go to? It'll be difficult by yourself."
"By myself? Who are you saying that to?"
"Come back safely."
Tomomi opened her eyes slowly she had rolled in her sleep and her back faced the light coming in from the open doorway. Directly across from her was her still sleeping sister Tohru, she had always woke earlier than Tohru and she would usually spend this time before she woke readying herself for the day and then watching Tohru as she slept, trying to guess what she was dreaming about. This time was different. She rubbed her head where a small bump remained after she fainted and hit her head, the events of the previous night slowly filling her head. As the memory of her Mother's picture being buried under a landslide returned she clenched the slightly large silver locket that was draped around her neck, hugged her knees to her chest and began to cry. Tohru shifted her arm in her sleep and at that moment Tomomi caught something shining out of the corner of her eye. She bent over to look and see what it was, tear blurring her vision so she could barely make out the picture in the golden frame. It was the treasured picture of her Mother that showed how happy a person she was in life.
As Tomomi sat there silently mouthing thank you over and over, unable to truly get the word out, Tohru woke suddenly immediately recognizing the picture Tomomi held in her shaky hands.
"Mother…how?"
"Ohayo!" Tomomi and Tohru jumped a little when they heard Yuki's voice coming in from just outside the room.
There, Yuki stood holding five brightly colored bags. He smiled at the sleepy and teary-eyed girls, satisfied with himself and his good deed. "How are you feeling?"
"So…ah…oh?" Tohru stammered.
"You brought this back for us…"
"I retrieved your things. Do you want to check them?"
"Eh…Sohma-kun; you brought back all the things by yourself?!"
"Of course not."
"Do you mean that perverted weirdo was going through our stuff?"
"S E C R E T…"
"Huh?"
"Even though it's a dirty house…and there are only males there is an empty room upstairs that's large enough for two people to live in, and so until the construction is over, you two can stay here."
"Eh?"
"No, I'm against that."
"Thank you. That's very kind of you, but we can't except your offer."
"There's locks on doors you know?"
"No, it's not that."
"Tomomi-kun, Tohru-kun do you like doing household work? For example, cleaning or cooking."
"Ehh…Yes, I do like it…"
"Don't pop up behind people like that, mangy dog."
" 3WELCOME TO THE SOHMA'S HOUSE! 3"
"I'll also help in moving the luggage. Oh Yuki-kun, lend her some clothes, ne?"
"No you two look after us and on top of that we'll get a room! We're being too rude!"
"Yeah, I thought I told you guys we couldn't except your offer! Get back here and listen to my rejection!"
Yuki stopped and looked over his shoulder at the two girls he had just invited (or in a way forced) to live with his cousin and himself. "Honda-san, Honda-ana, it's us who are doing this on our own so don't think it's being rude. On top of that, you don't have a place to go, right?"
"Yes…"
"Well if we will stay then please, tell us about the Sohma family, and other things about…" The girls blurted out together, something they did very rarely, and Tomomi was interested in a family other than her own, which was an even rarer thing.
"Those things don't matter, Honda-san, Honda-ana, you can do things slowly, your own way…in this house"
"Well, is it really alright? To live with girls?"
"What's wrong with you? A moment ago you were just overjoyed because of that. It'll be fine, as long as we don't hug."
"Hey Yuki, have you noticed yet?"
"What's that?"
"Tomomi-kun seems very familiar, ne?"
"I try not to think about that."
LATER:
"Its definitely moldy because the room's been shut up tight for a long time. It'll be a good idea to keep the windows open."
Tohru stood still, watching Yuki open a window, her mind elsewhere, while Tomomi was busy fidgeting with the sleeve of the shirt Yuki had lent her, she never could stand still for very long. But when there was a thud on the roof above them they both stopped and looked up. Suddenly something came crashing through the roof landing directly in front of them.
A young boy with bright orange hair stood in the middle of a circle of rubble, dirt clinging to his tan pants dust all to visible against his black tee shirt. "Yo! I've been washing my neck waiting. Lets go."
"How about just giving up? Since you're so weak?" Yuki responded lazily, leaning on the windowsill.
"Eh? If you think I'm the same as before, you're gonna get hurt! I'm gonna crush that ego of yours!"
"Ah! Please, wait a second!"
"Hold it! What's going on?!"
Tomomi and Tohru lunged forward to try to stop him, slipping on the clutter left on the floor after his dramatic entry and crashing into him. Suddenly there was a large puff of smoke and the boy seemed to disappear.
"Yuki-kun, I heard a loud noise, did Kyo come home, by any chance?"
"I'm so sorry are you alright?!"
"Are you okay?"
Tohru lifted her arms, thinking she would pull the boy up too, as Tomomi stood and rubbed her aching head. When she looked at was clenched in her hands all she saw was a little, orange, angry cat.
"Ack! He turned into a cat! A cat right in front of my eyes! We have to get him to a doctor or…"
Just before Tohru ran from the room to try to take kitty-Kyo to a doctor a board fell from the hole in the roof Kyo had made.
"Honda-san!"
"Tohru!"
"Tohru-kun!"
Tohru began to fall forward, in other words straight into Yuki and Shigure. Tomomi saw this coming and sprang for her catching her just in time for them both to fall on top of Shigure and Yuki. As soon as the girls sub consciously grabbed for something sturdy, which happened to be Yuki and Shigure, the boys turned into animals.
Tomomi looked inches ahead of her to where Shigure once stood, but now the space was occupied only by a medium sized, black dog. She blink twice then realizing that really just happened she glanced to her side finding a tiny grey mouse standing awkwardly on top of a pile of Yuki's clothes. At seeing the mouse her eyes dilated she squeezed out the word rat and then Tomomi fell, crashing to the floor just barely missing doggy-Shigure.
