"Oh, you are home already?" I got immediately as I walked into my house. My cousin slouched on the doorway. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down before speaking and making a bigger mess. I was not usually the one with a sharp tongue, but even I had to stop myself sometimes.

"I'm sorry if I was intruding on something, but it is dinner time, I thought grandfather would want me home," I simply smiled at me, in the nicest way possible.

"Please, he only feels pity for you. You don't HAVE to come home, I'm sure no one would even notice if you were gone," he smirked at me, in such an evil way.

I continued to smile, "I am glad… I wouldn't want anyone to worry about me if I disappeared."

"Humph, you sure are dumb."

My grandfather appeared behind my cousin, sneakily. "Daughter! Control your son. He is making my poor Tohru feel bad."

"You are always sticking up for your poor Tohru," my aunt came out of the kitchen, hands strictly at her hips as her eyebrows pointed together.

"I would stick up for your son, if it was the other way around, but it isn't. I will not tolerate someone speaking for me nor will I tolerate conflict going on in this house. Now, please, Tohru join us for dinner and hopefully you both will keep your ill comments to yourself." My grandfather exited along with my aunt, for a long moment my cousin looked at me then with a groan, he exited into other room.

I slowly took off my jacket and went into the already set up dining table, then sitting down on my knees. I felt nervous, like I usually did every night I sat here. My grandfather would always try to make small talk and ask about our days, trying to fix something that was already broken. I imagined before I came to live with them, they would have nice evenings. I felt bad for whatever pain and burden I caused them. I just did not know what to do to fix it, I felt utterly hopeless.

I went up to my room after helping my grandfather clean the dishes. It was the same thing every night. I would do all of my studying and homework. I would then talk to my mother's picture, telling her absolutely everything that happened that day. I did not know whether she could hear me or not, but I always imagined at the end of me speaking to her, she would always tell me, 'Better days are coming, just stay strong.'

I closed my eyes at the end of the night, expecting the usual peaceful blissful, however something deeper came out of it. It was something stronger, something that I would never imagine, and it was like something that I would never expect to think of. It was something hidden in the depths of my curiosity and my fears. A dream that would leave me on the verge of jumping awake, but I was wondering what would come next.

I heard strange music somewhere far away, but the lyrics of the song I heard clearly like I was singing it myself in the back in my mind. It was the first time I ever heard of a song like it, but my mind pretended like it knew it so fluently.

Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face
The kind you'd find on someone I could save
If they don't put me away
Well, it'll be a miracle

I felt terrified of my surroundings and I was not sure what was happening. I could not see anything, not even my hands, I just knew I was walking into the song and I was terrified that the ground below me could fall out right below me.

Do you believe you're missing out
That everything good is happening somewhere else?
But with nobody in your bed
The night's hard to get through

It came apparent to me that the song was not being played, but rather sung by someone. I was not sure if the instrumentals were real. All I knew was the more I listened, the more pain I felt inside of my heart. My heart ached for this person. I wanted to know why he felt this way. I wanted to help him and to not make him feel left out.

And I will die all alone
And when I arrive I won't know anyone

Tears welled up in my eyes. The heat that projected off of them stung my cheeks. I just wanted to find him, more than anything.

Well, Jesus Christ, I'm alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
'cause this problem's gonna last more than the weekend.

"Where are you?" I cried out, my knees felt heavy. I was afraid that if I fell over on my knees that the struggle would keep me down. The song did not seize for my cries, but triumphed on. I continued to walk on, as quickly as I could even if it was treacherous. But, as the music became louder, so did the pain.

Well, Jesus Christ, I'm not scared to die,
I'm a little bit scared of what comes after
Do I get the gold chariot?
Do I float through the ceiling?

At the end of the tunnel, I began to see a light peering out at me around the corner. A hope that I made me continue to taunt in front of me as it seemed the longest journey I have ever taken. I was finally going to be able to help him.

Do I divide and fall apart?
'cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark
And the ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates, does Thomas ask to see my hands?

I wrapped around the corner and my eyes trembled in fear for what I saw in the corner of that room. I felt strange, nearly unnatural and paranormal. My eyes shot wide open, I stared at the man in the cage and his sweet voice singing the song pierced through me like a thousand blades.

I know you're coming in the night like a thief
But I've had some time alone to hone my lying technique
I know you think that I'm someone you can trust
But I'm scared I'll get scared and I swear I'll try to nail you back up

His body was so filthy. It appeared that he was nearly beaten raw. He was scared, I knew he was. He was lonely; I felt the same thing as he did. I felt every hurt that was ever committed to him and it torn my heart as easy as paper. His orange hair was something I have seen before, something new but something familiar. However, my mind did not realize who it was until he slowly turned his head in my direction. Those amber eyes looked at me straight in the face, so emotionless.

So do you think that we could work out a sign
So I'll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try

It was Kyo… Kyo Sohma. He continued to sing his song to me, so softly like he couldn't stop. It came straight from his soul. I felt myself shake, he knew I was shaking. His eyes looked down at the ground then back at me and as I began to walk closer to the cage that he was locked into, he became frighten. He became afraid, not like before, he was afraid for me. I felt it. It was so strong and I came running towards him, only to fall through the ground right before him.

I know you're coming for the people like me
We all got wood and nails
And tongue-tied at hate factories
We all got wood and nails
And tongue-tied at hate factories…

The song still continued, followed by this wretched laughter. Laughter I never heard before and I did not want to ever hear again. It ruined the pureness of the song he sang and it hurt a million times worse, just in a different kind of way. As I was consumed in darkness, the lyrics became harder to hear as it became overcome by the laughter.

Just then, I woke up as the dream ended, well at least that is where I wanted it to end. I did not want to see my fate. I did not want to see Kyo Sohma in pain. I did not know where it came from, but luckily for me, I did not have to revisit the dream. I was wide awake and my alarm clock was blasting for me to get ready.

I got to school at the usual time, before everyone else except for one person. I entered the room to see Kyo Sohma sitting at his desk, slouched half way on his desk and half passed out. My mind immediately went back to the events of my dream, but I shook my head to get them out. It was just a weird dream, anyone could have been in his place, I just thought of him because he is new and he was strange.

I sat in my seat. He did not even notice that I walked in. My usual peaceful view was replaced constant glances over at him in curiosity. I tried judging him from what I imagined in my dream. But the overwhelming feeling just consumed me, I wish I would have walked around outside for awhile before coming in.

"Are you staring at me?" He turned around sharply, his eyebrow was perched up. There was a long pause, my eyes became wide open. "Jezz, it is just a question."

"Right… right… uh, I'm sorry."

Instant annoyance spread across his face, "You don't have to apologize. I was just asking you a damn question."

"Right, I'm sor…" His hand hit his face, "I'm not staring, I was just… uh… waiting for my friends to come."

"Okay, Jesus Christ." I felt sick to my stomach. I turned away from him and looked straight out of the window. The last two words, sounded just like how he sang them in my dream. It was frightening to me, even if it was not supposed to be a very frightening thing. I just sat here waiting for Uo-chan and Hana-chan to arrive and I tried to not even think of him in the same room.

"Okay, class, listen! For our next project, we are going to look into genocides that happened worldwide. You will have one partner, in which I will assign to you. You will have no in class time to do this, so figure out after class a meeting place for you both." I waited nervously to figure out who I was working with. Usually I would have teachers that would let us choose, so I hoped that I would either get Uo-chan and Hana-chan.

"Honda Tohru, you will be with Sohma Yuki," I felt distressed, but at least it could be worse. I noticed some girls whisper how unfair it was that I got chosen with him. I noticed Sohma-san turning, looking at me then smiling and waving.

"Honda-san, where would you like to meet?" Sohma-san stopped me after class was finished.

"It doesn't matter, your house or my house." I smiled at him, hoping that he would say his.

"How about your house? My house is going through some renovations right now. It isn't exactly the most ideal place for a group project."

I laughed nervously, I wondered how my aunt and cousin would treat him, I hope with the utmost respect. "Okay. That will be fine."

"Thank you, Honda-san. When do you want to meet?" He almost seemed too perfect in that moment. He was always able to catch my attention and make the words come out of my mouth come out with such great ease. Not like how the few times with Kyo Sohma came out, I wondered why they were so different. Sohma-san just knew how to make me feel at ease, like he was caring about the words that came out of my mouth even if they hardly had any meaning.

"Anytime is fine, just as long as it is easy for you."

Sohma-san smiled at me, "Tomorrow, after school?"

"That will be alright, Sohma-san. We can walk to my house then." He then walked out of the classroom. He always left a nice feeling behind.

Jesus Christ – Brand New