(A/N): Let's pretend that there are fourteen members of the Zodiac, because I love them too much to kick one out. I'll make up for it, though!
The bitter cold air stings at her exposed legs, white snow up to her tiny knees. The six year-old tries to keep up with her mother, hospital gown and heavy coat only letting her frail body move so fast.
She has to keep moving, has to escape, has to get away from the House of Sohma.
"Eek!" She lets out a squeak, tripping into the frozen slush. Haku shivers pitifully, looking around hastily. Her eyes catch another pair looking at her from above. The deep purple that she always liked, belonging to her only friend...
"Yuki." The sixteen year-old girl mutters in her sleep, still feeling the wintry cold on her skin from the memory. It's been ten years since then, but she can't forget what her mother tries to.
"Haku, morning!" Her mother's voice pulls her out of the freezing world to the warmth of reality. It was her first actual day of actual school, even though it was half-way through the semester. It had taken a lot of persuading just to get this far, too. The smell of breakfast wafers from the downstairs of their apartment, the place the mother and daughter called home.
"Coming." Haku replies quickly, getting dressed in the school uniform given to her yesterday. She glances at her reflection in the small mirror, being extra sure to hide the fear in her blue-green eyes. If her mother detects any, she won't make it past the front door.
"Eat up, honey." Her mother spoons a bowlful of rice onto the table, the rest of breakfast setting prettily. "I've got a lunchbox here for you, too."
"Thanks, mother." Haku smiles, sitting down to eat.
"I know the principal said that lunch is provided, but I think this'll be perfect for your first day." Her mother sits down as well, watching her daughter's movements. "I mean, if you still want to, Haku."
"I do. Really." Haku's gone through a lot just to be admitted to the public school. Forms, documents, entrance exams.
"Classes start soon, don't they? Are you sure you want to walk there? I know it isn't far, but-"
"I'll be okay, Mother. Promise."
"I know you will. Stay safe."
Haku gives her mother a parting hug as she picks up the delicately made lunchbox, and walks out the front door for what seems to be the first time without her mother.
In truth, Haku had been out many times alone, when her mother was gone at work, or some other such place. She never remembered having a father, only his last name 'Sohma', the last name that cursed his daughter. It was because of that that they lived in this way. In fear of being found. In fear of Haku's curse, and Akito's sure wrath.
Since she had been born, Haku was cursed by the Zodiac. Whenever she was stressed, tired, or hugged by a boy, her body would transform into that of a hedgehog. She remembered how her mother wasn't sure about her only daughter, only child, having this disease, but she had decided that she would protect Haku.
Then she was old enough to play with Akito.