Particles of chalk dust floated lazily in the heat of a recently vacated classroom. Loud voices could be heard outside as students rushed to make their way home before the storm clouds in the distance arrived. Chizuru was surpised to discover he was the first person to arrive. He set down his bag in the far corner of the room and began to arrange the desks before fetching several boards and boxes containing a multitude of small white and black round game pieces. Other students began to arrive, some he recognized from previous years, chatting and laughing as they entered. Among them were a few nervous first years, quietly taking a seat at random places around the room while the older students helped Chizuru set everything out. One of the girls he recognized from last year tore a sheet of notebook paper and posted it near the door. Each of the students in the room formed a line to sign up, greeting old friends and welcoming new students.

"GO CLUB"

Ishihara Tatsuya

Masatoshi Hiro

Sohma Shiki

Mishima Aiko

"Shiki Sohma, huh? Man, we really are everywhere."

It didn't take long for Chizuru to spot the young student across the room, mostly because this "Shiki" kept averting his gaze everytime he tried to catch his eye. The younger, black haired Sohma sat in one of the chairs closest to the door. It was obvious to Chizuru that he was deliberately avoiding him, so naturally he found the first opportunity to corner his junior while the other members of the club were playing, watching people play, or socializing.

"What is it?", Chizuru quietly hissed at the younger student.

"Huh?", Shiki looked a bit surprised to be confronted head on like this. Chizuru was a little proud of himself.

"What do you want, why do you keep staring at me?", he questioned.

"It's nothing." Shiki tried to shake it off and attempted to walk past the older student, but Chizuru was determined.

"Obviously it's something. If something's bothering you, why don't you just spit it out already?"

Shiki took a moment to carefully consider his next words. "I wondered if maybe you'd be interested in a game?"

Chizuru lost handedly for the first time in a long time. By the end of the match, he decided maybe this Sohma kid might be worth getting to know. If anything, at least he was good competition. Club ended quickly and Shiki had made a discreet exit amongst all the other loud and chatty teenagers. Chizuru collected his belongings and left the room. He looked around but Shiki was nowhere to be found. Clearly he'd left in a hurry.

Chizuru played many games with his new schoolmate over the next few weeks, although he was starting to feel a bit odd about the fact that neither of them had brought up their families. Obviously they were related, and the Sohma family is quite well regarded. He thought one of them might have mentioned something by now. Chizuru was perfectly happy not mentioning anything about his family, as they were a source of infinite embarassment at times. Shiki was also surprised to find someone who hadn't immediately questioned him about his family. It was a bit of a relief, if he was being honest with himself. The moment anyone found out he was the next heir of the family, everything would change.

It was a breezy June day when Shiki sought out Chizuru in the bustle before the first bell to return a book he'd borrowed the week before. Chizuru's parents were out for the week and his sister Hibika came up with the grand idea to create a wonderful feast at home. While Chizuru knew this was probably going to be a spectacularly failed attempt to recreate something she saw on TV, he thought it might be a good opportunity to invite Shiki over without his parents being around to embarass him. Shiki didn't seem like the type that would handle big social gatherings very well, so they decided to keep it small. Hibika agreed, and then naturally invited their cousin Mutsuki, as well as Hajime, Rio, Kinu, Sora, and Riku.

"What part of small includes 6 other people?!" Chizuru shouted at his sister when she rattled off all the people she'd invited.

"Well, if he's your friend he may as well just meet everyone, right? Right?! Who is he anyways?"

"A Sohma like us. Shiki Soh-"

"...we know him, Chizu."

"What? Maybe you do, but I don't!"

"You seriously don't remember? He's our cousin. We just haven't seen him in a long time. He's also the heir of the family." Hibika's tone became serious. "I'm not saying don't be friends with him. I'm just saying we need to be careful."

"Careful of what, exactly?" It annoyed him when his sister got unnecessarily worried about him. "I'm not going to walk on eggshells just because his mom is the head of the family. Why haven't we seen him at new years then?"

"We have. You just don't pay attention. He's always quiet and he's always right next to his mom and dad."

"Uncle Shigure is his dad, then?"

"Yup. So you know how high up he is. Just keep that in mind."

"Things were easier when I didn't have to."

Rio had to decline his invitation as he was behind on his homework again and failing his literature class. His mother was okay with him going, but his father ultimately said no. Hajime and Mutsuki were both going to Mutsuki's house to work on a student council project. They were annoyingly responsible sometimes. Kinu had a paper due the next morning that she hadn't started on, so she also had to decline but offered to host the next feast at her place. Luckily, Sora and Riku were excited about potentially free food, and offered to host at their house. Their parents were out for the evening and so it would work out perfectly.

Shiki told his parents he was going to a friend's house after school. The stunned silence coming from his mother was enough to make him almost change his mind.

"He'll be fine, Aki. He'll be fine. You go, have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't! Do you need a ride there? Who is this friend? Where did you meet? Is it a... girl?"

"No, I will walk. And... I'll be fine. We're just going to eat and then I will call you to come get me if that's okay?"

"Don't want them to know where you live?", Shigure asked.

"Not really, no." Shiki confessed.

"Well, can you tell us where they live? You can't think we're just going to let you wander out in the world all by yourself..." Akito had finally found her voice. She worried over him so much sometimes. Shiki knew that it was just natural for a mother to be worried, but sometimes he wondered if it wasn't just because he was the heir to the family.

"Uhh yeah. Here's their address."

He handed them a small piece of paper with an address written on it. It looked vaguely familiar to them, but neither Akito nor Shigure could immediately place it.

Chizuru and Shiki accompanied Chizuru to the store to pick up the ingredients for dinner. They headed over to Sora and Riku's place and got there just as the sun began setting. The property was a pretty good size, Shiki noted. The architecture was a little more modern that what he was used to at home, but he could appreciate it just the same.

"Sure took your time! We are soooo hungry!" Sora ran out to greet them.

"Shiki, this is Sora Sohma. Her brother is right over there. That's Riku." Hibika introduced them while they removed their shoes. "Sora and Riku, this is Shiki. He's a Sohma too!" Hibika opted to omit the extra information this time around. After the discussion with Chizuru she realized that maybe things just went better if they didn't act different around Shiki. Chizuru doesn't often befriend people, and she didn't want to complicate things for her brother. She hoped Sora and Riku wouldn't do anything to get themselves in trouble. Shiki did seem rather timid, so she felt it was a risk worth taking.

The five of them all enjoyed a nice evening of cooking ("I can't believe it, but this is actually edible." "Thanks Chizu- wait what do you mean you can't believe it!?") and talking. It had been awhile since they'd really gotten a chance to hang out, what with school and after school clubs. They also had to mind the store from time to time while their parents took occasional trips.

"It's hard to believe there's a Sohma our age we haven't met. I feel like we have so many cousins! We're so lucky to live in a big, happy, family!" Sora was very enthusiastic about meeting Shiki. She had a feeling they would get along wonderfully.

Shiki laughed nervously. He knew of Chizuru and Hibika, having met them before at the new years banquets. For some reason, he'd only ever caught glimpses of the twins before today. It just seemed like they were never in the same area at the same time. He wondered for a moment if it was deliberate.

The sun had long since set and the moon was high in the sky when Hatsuharu and Isuzu arrived home from their night out. Haru went into the living area and was surprised to find Riku and Chizuru sitting at the table.

"Decide to have company over tonight?" Haru asked his son.

"Well, we were hungry", Riku shrugged.

Rin followed him in. Out of the kitchen walked Hibika, Sora, and...

Shiki.

Hatsuharu and Isuzu both froze. They shared identical looks of shock on their faces.

"Hi mom, hi dad! This is Shiki. He's friends with Chizu and Hibika and came over with them to have dinner!" Sora smiled.

Neither Haru or Rin registered a single word she said.

"Hello Shiki. How are you this evening?"

Shiki knew immediately that they recognized him. Suddenly, it was time to be the Sohma heir again. He was a little bit sad about that.

"I'm very well, thank you. Excuse me, I need to make a call." Shiki stepped into the next room for a few minutes.

Rin and Haru exchanged dark glances. Of all the kids to find at the house this evening, Akito's son? Rin hadn't fully gotten over her treatment at the hands of Akito. She knew that Akito had changed. Years had gone by since the last incident, yet they were still cold towards eachother. They'd each long since accepted that some wounds would never fully heal. They made a point to avoid them at every new year's banquet, without being overly obvious about it. They didn't want their past to color their children's opinions of their aunts, uncles, and family members.

They'd made that decision, now it was being put to the test.

Shigure arrived not long after to pick Shiki up from the house. It dawned on him immediately upon turning into the driveway just whose house he would be picking his son up from.

Rin and Haru waited in the kitchen while the kids had gone into the living room when the knock came at the door.

"Hello Sensei." Haru greeted Shigure at the door. Rin stood beside him, expression unreadable. She still wasn't sure how she wanted to handle this. She knew Shiki was a sheltered child, he probably didn't have many friends. It's not his fault he was born. Maybe it was time to let some things go. Not all things, but some.

"Haru. Rin." Shigure acknowledged them. Under his breath he muttered with a smile, "You know you can stop calling me that..."

"It was a deal."

"What are you guys whispering about?" Sora had made her way to the entryway followed by all the other kids.

Shigure picked his son out of the crowd and flashed him a smile.

"Making new friends, are we? I'm glad. Let's go home."