I don't own fruits basket, and this is my own idea.

Kyo and Tohru looked in astonishment at where Mishke had been laying. In her place was an adorable tabby cat, covering her eyes with her paws.

"Nooo, Kyo-kun, Tohru-kun, don't look at me, please!" the man who had hugged Mishke was laughing manically.

"See, didn't I say she was a freak? If anyone of the opposite sex touches her, she turns into a cat. She such was a disgrace to her original family that this… creature's mother begged for my wife to take it away. Her real surname is Sohma. They're the biggest family in Tokyo. I was under oath not to reveal this to anyone, but I revealed their family's secret to two complete strangers. Yes, her family turns into the animals of the zodiac! They're freaks! Freaks!!!" the man continued to laugh manically until he noticed that Tohru was bending down to pick up Mishke. "Keep away from her, girl! Don't touch her!" He went to slap her, but Kyo got between them and punched him again, this time punching him hard enough that he flew into a pile of trash.

"Don't you even think about touching Tohru. I don't know who you are, or how you know about the Sohma secret, but that has nothing to do with this. We'll deal with you later. Tohru," Kyo turned to where Tohru was kneeling. "Pick up Mishke, and we'll take her to Shigure's place. That's closer than the main house, or Shisou's. Mishke could be hurt."

"No, Kyo-kun, I'm fine. I've dealt with worse pain before, and if I transform while Tohru-kun's carrying me, she'll get hurt too." Mishke attempted to stand on all four paws, but, she couldn't put any pressure on the right hind leg. Kyo knelt next to her.

"You don't have to fear us; we already know about the Zodiac curse. We'll get Hatori to bandage your leg. It's alright." Tohru looked at Kyo. His normally gruff voice was gentle, like when he was talking about martial arts or something else important to him.

POOF!! Mishke turned back into a human, completely naked. She wiped away tears that clouded her vision.

"Kyo-kun, you don't have to be so kind to me… my stepfather's right, I am a freak, a monster. What kind of normal person would turn into cat, when hugged by a guy?"

"Kyo, Honda-san, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home by now? Student council just finished." Yuki came from around the bend. He then saw Mishke. "Mishke-san, what are you doing here?!" Mishke covered her face with her hands again.

"Shut up, rat. Help me get her to Shigure's. She hurt her ankle." Mishke's ankle had started swelling, and the bruises that the man had inflicted had started turning purple.

"Fine, whatever." Yuki and Kyo left while Tohru helped Mishke get back into her clothes. Then, supporting Mishke between the two of them, Yuki and Kyo helped Mishke walk to Shigure's house.

"Kyo-kun, Yuki-kun, who is that? What happened to her?!" Shigure exclaimed when they walked into the house. Mishke looked down at her feet.

"This is Mishke. She just transferred to our class from Kyoto. Could you call Hatori over here, so he could bandage her leg?"

"You know that Hatori doesn't treat people who aren't in the family, Kyo. What makes you think he'll make an exception?" Kyo and Tohru exchanged looks.

"We'll explain when Hatori gets here." Was all Kyo would say. After helping Mishke to a chair, Kyo then went outside. Tohru faced Mishke.

"Mishke-san, is there anything that you'd like to eat? I could cook it for you!" Tohru tried to be her normal, cheerful self. Mishke looked up at her.

"Tohru, aren't you… disgusted by me?" Mishke asked. "I turn into a cat! My stepmother and stepfather always argued about me, and that's what led to my stepmother's sickness! I'm worthless… my true family abandoned me, and my stepfather… I don't deserve to be treated with kindness!" Mishke started sobbing again, and Tohru gave her a hug.

"No, Mishke-san, you're not worthless! Everyone has a reason for living, and everyone has someone that cares for them. Your stepparents weren't those people for you. You can still find that person! And everyone should be treated with kindness, even those possessed by vengeful spirits." Mishke clenched her eyes shut, and hugged Tohru back. When they finally pulled apart, both Tohru and Mishke had tears running down their eyes. Tohru wiped away her eyes hurriedly. She smiled at Mishke. "So, what would you like to eat?" Mishke smiled back.

"If it's not too hard to make… Nira-Tama." Yuki, who had been eavesdropping, held back a laugh, and Tohru heard Kyo fall into some bushes.

"What is it with people and leeks?!" they all heard Kyo shout.

When Hatori arrived, Mishke was in a better mood. They had all eaten dinner, and were sitting around the table.

"Hello, Haa-san! We're glad you could come!" Shigure said.

"This had better really be an emergency, or else I'll turn around and walk right back to the main house." Hatori then saw Mishke. He dropped his bag in astonishment. "You… I thought that you lived in Kyoto." Kyo jumped out of his chair.

"Hatori, do you know her? What's going on?!"

"Kyo… you do know that children possessed by a vengeful spirit are born, they're born two months early?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Kyo asked. Hatori had picked up his bag and was examining Mishke's ankle.

"Twins are very rare in the Sohma family. And there are never twins if one of the children is possessed by a spirit." Hatori began wrapping the ankle in a splint. "What I'm saying is that you and Mishke are twins, the first pair of twins cursed by a zodiac creature. You, Kyo, happen to be more cursed than Mishke." Everyone in the room became silent. Tohru, who had been handing a cup of tea to Yuki, stopped and held the glass suspended over Yuki's open hand. Yuki, in turn, gawked at Hatori, who was expressionlessly holding an icepack to Mishke's ankle. Kyo finally broke the silence.

"So… we're twins. How could something like that happen? Why'd you separate us?" Kyo pounded his fist on the table, leaving a dent. "Why the hell did you do that?! Mom… she was always sad… was that why? Because she had two children born the year of the cat?"

"Your mother had any memories of Mishke suppressed. She wasn't allowed to keep Mishke. You wouldn't understand, Kyo. I was forbidden to talk about it, or else I would have told you years ago. I'm sorry." Hatori packed his bag, and prepared to leave. "I'm going to have to report to Akito that Kyo's twin has remerged. You'll probably be hearing from me again soon. Sorry for delivering the bad news." Hatori was about to open the door, but someone had already opened the door. Mishke's stepfather stood outside the door, grinning madly.

"I'm here for my daughter," He said as he rached towards Hatori.

End of chapter two