As I walked up the stairs of this unfamiliar house, my thoughts were zooming around in my head like flies. "First I met an orange-haired cat on my way to the grocery store. I decided to follow it, and it turns out to be a boy named Kyo. Then I met Hatori…." I blushed when I remembered how he stared into my eyes. "He told me that their family is cursed, and that 12, no, 13 of them transform in to the members of the zodiac…" Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by a beautifully delicious scent. It was some sort of strong cologne. I got to the top of the stairs and looked around a bit, when I finally noticed the sound of a shower running. I was thoroughly surprised, seeing as no one else had appeared to be home before. I was feeling especially curious about this house (and with good reason), so I decided to investigate. I wasn't going to peep, since that's exactly what got me into this mess, and I didn't want to provoke the heavens any further.

As I walked towards the sound of running water, the fragrance got stronger. I inhaled deeply; the smell was so intoxicating. I got to the end of the hall, where I presumed the bathroom was. The sound of running water was coming from behind the door, and it was also the source of the fragrance. The sound of the shower was very loud, and the smell was making my head spin. It wasn't quite fruity, but it wasn't distinctly flowery either. It reminded me slightly of Lily of the Valley. It also reminded me of….

I stopped dead in my tracks. I had had a feeling that scent was familiar; I just now figured out why.

"Am I really standing outside his shower door?!" I thought to myself, my heart now racing with excitement and worry.

"….no way. There's no way it could be him! I'm just being silly. But still….."

I looked back at the door, and almost had a heart attack.

During my worried rantings, I had completely missed the sound of the shower stopping and the door opening.

Right there in front of me was a sight I wouldn't believe if I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes. Standing right in front of me, with soaking wet hair, and in nothing but a towel, was Yuki Sohma. The Prince.

I quickly looked back down to the floor, blushing profusely. I could feel him staring at me, and I knew he wasn't expecting to see me of all people standing in his house. As I racked my brain, trying to think of what to tell him, I realized I had started hyperventilating.

"Calm down," I told myself "Just tell him the truth. That's always the best option."

I looked back at him, still blushing like a ripe tomato. He was staring at me, as I had thought, with a very confused look on that beautiful face of his.

Just as I started to explain myself, Yuki's eyes flickered, and were no longer staring at me, but behind me. He looked very annoyed.

I turned around to see what had caused him such sudden anger, and standing at the top of the stairs down the hallway was Kyo, glaring.

"I see you're finally done, ya damn rat." Kyo said fiercely, still glaring menacingly at Yuki.

"What's he mad about now??" I thought. "Wait a minute, rat?!?!??"

"I am. What's it to you?" Yuki replied smoothly.

"Maybe other people need to use the bathroom!" Kyo yelled

"That is none of my concern."

Yuki then turned his attention back to me, the same curious look on his face as before.

"I believe there is something more important at hand, anyway." He said to Kyo, and then looked at me.

"May I ask what brings you here, Miss Honda?"

I almost jumped with surprise when he said my name. I knew who he was of course. He was Prince Yuki Sohma, the most popular boy at school. He was in a lot of my classes, though I never really saw him through the wall of fan girls ever present at his side. But for him to actually know my name….it was unexpected. An honor.

My brain had once again turned to mush, leaving me unable to explain. I stammered out many "um"s and "well…"s before Kyo took over. At that point I stood very still, examining the blue tennis shoes I was wearing.

Kyo explained how he had transformed after Yuki had supposedly pushed him into some woman on the street, and how he just ran away, trying to get hidden. He yelled at Yuki for not doing anything to help and going home instead. Yuki tried to explain how there was nothing he could have done, since Kyo was long gone before Yuki even realized what had happened.

Kyo went on to tell Yuki about how he ran into me, and how I for some god forsaken reason decided to follow him. His words at that moment made me flinch in response to the anger and hatred behind them. He then gave a summary of what happened once I got into the house, including that Hatori was still up in Shigure's room, and ended his rant fuming as much as he had been when Hatori was around earlier.

The look on Yuki's face was very distant and thoughtful, and I almost thought he was completely lost in his own little world when he spoke. Very softly and politely, just as he always talked, he asked me if Kyo's story was true.

Being careful not to look him directly in the face, I simply said "Yes." A few more moments went by where Yuki was thinking and Kyo was fuming, when yet again, Yuki spoke.

"Well, since you're already here, why don't you join us for lunch? Of course, I should probably get dressed first…."

My heart felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest, and I could feel my cheeks turning many shades of crimson. I could barely muster up an answer, and what a feeble answer it was.

"Um..I….er...umm……s-sure. I I'd love to…"

Yuki simply chuckled his sweet, beautiful chuckle and replied "Wonderful. Why don't you wait downstairs then? Kyo, please escort our guest to the kitchen." As Yuki turned to walk away, Kyo started to yell at him.

"Why the hell do I have to escort her! And she's not our guest!!!"

"As of now, she is. You know very well that she has to stay here anyway. Also, you should tell Hatori that we're having lunch soon." Yuki was now inside a room down another hall to the right of the bathroom door. He shut the door, and this was the end of the conversation.

I know it's short, but I wanted to get something up at least. It'll probably take a while before ch. 3 so i can figure out what all I wanna do....