Emiko…Emiko…Emikooooooo…You can't escape it forever…You can't hide from your fate…The whispers became more and more hostile as Emiko sat in class, trying to ignore them. They refused to go away, but she couldn't answer them; People would think she was mental! She closed her violet eyes and tried to ignore them still. Nothing seemed to be working. Why did Emiko have to be born into the astrological animal family?? She turned her head and looked to Yuki, who was looking back at her, his eyebrows raised. 'Are you okay?' he mouthed, and she simply nodded. Such a lie… She looked back to the teacher. You will suffer. You can't be loved…your mother rejected you…so did your father…Emiko looked away from her friend, hoping he didn't see the tears bubbling in her eyes. You can't escape it forever…you can't hide from your fate…Thank God…the bell just rang. This hell known as school was finally over. She jumped to her feet and rushed out of the door, Yuki on her heels.
"Emiko!" He called after her, even though he knew she would ignore him. "Emiko, wait!!" She closed her eyes and tore over the field, only to be tackled by her other friend, Kyo. He held her still, as she tried to get away.
"Let me go!!" She cried out, obviously upset. "Let me go, damn it!!" She shouted and Kyo held back from covering his ears. God, she was loud. She sent her elbow back and socked him square in the nose. He held tight. "Let go!!" She said, and sent her elbow back many more times, each time it struck, it seemed to strike him harder. He groaned and held her arm down and straddled her back, holding down both arms with his knees. He held onto his nose and groaned again.
"Damn, Emmy…" He muttered, closing his eyes and spitting out blood. "That was a good hit…I mean, for a girl." She thrust her ankle upwards, and kicked him hard on the spine. He arched his back and cried out in pain. "Emiko!!" She squirmed hard, but it did no good. His hold on her was too tight.
"Get off of me!! I said, GET OFF!!" She screamed louder and louder, and Yuki eventually caught up with them, Hatsuharu and Tohru with him, soon followed by Momiji and Kisa. Emiko started crying, and stopped squirming. Only then did Kyo get off, only to be shoved by Hatsuharu.
"Emiko, are you alright…?" Hatsuharu asked softly, kneeling next to her and lifting her chin and wiping the tears from her cheek with his warm thumb. His skin felt good against her cheek. She closed her eyes and Hatsuharu smiled, helping her to her feet. "C'mon, It's all right…Aww, gimmie a smile…please?" Emiko looked to him. She felt she couldn't smile. Hatsuharu knew her secret. The whole Sohma family did.