Disclaimer: I will conquer Germany! H-Heh, did I say that? I-I was supposed to say; "I don't own Fruits Basket!" He he... my mistake...

I uploaded the prologue and first chapter all at once - I think I'll do that from now on. Personally, I hate just reading prologues without another chapter following them - so I'll upload both. That being said, I'm going to - probably - upload this one slowly. Blame PurpleAjah. She laughed at my hair, so, therefore, chapters will probably be slow. Aw, don't leave me...

...Flame her. She like's them. Keeps her warm.

But, in any case, rambling time. If you're not new to my fanfiction, you'll probably know that I love rambling about my day. Fanfiction is like my livejournal, so to speak. So... here I go!

Okay. IPT (Infortmation Processing Technology) is the most boring subject in existence. Try staying awake in that subject, I did. I just made it. I must say that it is my least favourite subject -.-; But, in any case, I got pretty yellow and pink highlighter all over my arm from it n.n! That's... something good, I guess o.o; Hrm... what else... oh, right, I went to this Wonderbus, Japanese thingy on the weekend - boy was it fun! It was like this cultural experience thingy, and there was sushi (not that I ate any - way to expensive -.-), noodles, Japanese entertainment, swords, tea ceremonies... the lot man. It was so much fun!

Oh, and the most important thing: I'm going to spend a year in Japan in 2008 n.n! Yes, my friends, envy me!

That is all for ranting.

Oh, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them - in reviews, of course - and I'll answer them in the next chapter n.n!

That's enough from me. Enjoy n.n! (And please read and review.)


Chapter One

Hiro sighed, banging his fist against the 'I'm-not-going-to-work-for-you-on-a-bad-day' vending machine. He'd given the thing coin – he demanded his drink! And, obviously, it wasn't giving. Hiro sighed again, slightly resting his head against the machine – this was the last thing he needed.

A week had past since he'd actually dialled Kisa's number – and that was saying something, he normally called her every second night before or/and after dinner. He really did love hearing her voice. He really did love her. But she didn't love him. She loved this 'Yamada Suzu' jerk.

Personally, Hiro had never met him. After the unfortunate call, Hiro had made sure to avoid Kisa as much as possible and he vaguely wondered if she was worried or... simply having too much fun with her new boyfriend to care. When had she changed? He wondered vaguely, whacking the vending machine again until it gave him his coke. She'd always been a shy, quiet girl – well, she was still most of those things until she opened up to people.

So, why had she opened up to people when she'd arrived at Kaibara High?

Well, he knew the reason; unwanted popularity for one, and an adorable older cousin for another.

Yes; Yuki Sohma had left his mark, and any Sohma's that enrolled at the school got the 'Sohma' treatment, meaning that they were automatically popular and within a few days everybody knew them.

That much attention was enough to make anybody open up.

In the beginning, Hiro had mentally castrated himself for not being born a year earlier – so that his age was equal with that of his beloved. He wanted to enter High School the same year as she did, to guide and protect her from the wondering gaze of the male eyes, to claim her as his own under the cherry blossoms...

Ah shit! Hiro mentally cursed; I'm sounding like a stupid prissy princess again!

As princess-y as that sounded – most of it was true. Hiro really did live under a mask of 'bratism' that he hadn't seemed to grown out of. He really did want to be a caring person; he really did want to make Kisa happy – but that wasn't his job anymore.

Hiro's fist tightened around the can until it crushed it inwards.

Hiro had entered high school with the idea of fixing all these things up. To make a fresh start with new peers – and now... Kisa was going with somebody else. There was ultimately no point in changing. Hiro had turned into a thug without, in fact, even realising it, and for his Kisa-obsession, that wasn't good. He knew for a fact that Kisa liked gentle, intelligent, well presented prospects for love – not a brash, rude, sheep-transforming thug.

Hiro shook his head to clear his thoughts. He would change this. He had to change this.


"Hiro! Hiro, wait for me!"

Hiro knew the voice instantly. He'd been walking down the second year halls on the way down from the Library and had prayed he hadn't been spotted. So, he walked faster, significantly lifting the pace.

He couldn't face her.

He didn't want to face her.

He felt a familiar arm wrap around his own, forcing him to stop. "Hiro... why did you run?"

Just don't turn around. Hiro told himself firmly, and then said in his normal stuck up attitude; "No reason. I'm in a hurry to write down my homework, or is that not okay with you? Do you want me to fail school or something?"

Kisa dropped her grasp on Hiro's arm. "Hiro..."

Once he was free, Hiro continued to walk at the same pace, glaring at nothing in particular.

Kisa was worried – Hiro never talked to her like that. That kind of talk was reserved for people like, well, the other Sohma's and people that he didn't really know – but not for her. To her, Hiro had always been sweet, kind, passionate – despite his rough appearance. What was wrong with him?

"What a jerk." She heard a voice say from behind her, and she slowly turned around to face the apple of her eye, who placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Just ignore guys like him, Kisa, they're not worth it."

At the end of the hall, Hiro did turn around slightly, his eyes connecting with one teenager, who was smiling comfortingly down at the tiger. Suzu Kitamura didn't look anything like he imagined; he wasn't some brain-dead, glasses wearing freak – although he did have black hair. It was styled strangely though, so that it was ruffled at the front but neater towards the back. His eyes were a startling blue, and his complexion a cross between Japanese and European – an obvious mix of cultures.

Hiro scowled and decided something in that instant: I will be everything you can't be for her, you little piece of shit. I'll show you what I'm made of – you just wait! I'll show Kisa what she's missing!


Hiro had just plainly invited himself into Shigure's household. He hadn't called beforehand, so he slammed the door open to announce his presence, his eyes burning with determination, still in his school uniform and with his back hitched onto his back.

Not surprisingly Shigure had floated out from his study, a piece of note paper glued to his head – obviously he'd been doing other things than writing. Sluggishly, he looked to the door; "Kyo-kun, I know you're not having any luck with all those pretty college girls, but don't bring your failures ho... Hiro."

Hiro arched his eyebrow at the fact that the dog was now very much awake.

"What do we owe this pleasurable visit? Oooooh! Can it be that you're here to rectify your relationship with the lovely Tohru?"

"Where's Yuki?" Hiro had ignored Shigure's comment completely. He didn't put up with the dogs crap; he had better things to do.

"Studying in his room, I think." Shigure replied, and was about to ask why, but was interrupted by Hiro shoving past him in the direction of the stairs. That was... strange.


Hiro slammed open his second door that day – and that happened to be the door to Yuki's bedroom, although he had a lot of trouble doing it with a huge amount of text books in his arms.

Startled, the rat, who was at his desk studying – because he had nothing better to do with his time. Okay. So he attended University, but the rat had a habit of being able to submit drafts before dew dates, and he was waiting for feedback on his latest, so he was studying for good measure.

"H-Hiro?" He asked, blinking.

Hiro ignored Yuki's surprise; he stumbled into the room, slammed his books down on some of Yuki's papers and demanded: "Teach. Me."