Hmm...I think I put a bit too much pressure on myself when I said "I will try my best to make the next chapter better. I really will." Lol

Sorry if it isn't very good! At least this way I'll get some critical reviews that show me how to improve...maybe.

I do not own Fruits Basket. If I did, I would be trying to earn more profits from it in some way.

Yuki sat, perched on his toes and straining his calf muscles, dreading the inevitable.

He knew this routine; he had had enough experience of it in the past. Akito was going to come in for one of his regular "visits" and let Yuki know exactly what he was worth. As if he didn't already know.

The door slid open and in came Akito, mighty and grand, who sauntered over and stood over Yuki. He waited for the young boy to look up at him and then tousled his hair a bit.

"Hello Yuki. I came by for a little chat."

Yuki woke with a start. It had been a few months since the recurring nightmare had seemingly passed away, but clearly it had been resurrected. It had plagued him for three nights in a row now.

Ever since Miss Hisakawa arrived.

He sluggishly rolled out of bed and dragged himself downstairs. It was early, but there was no way he was going to get back to sleep.

A few hours later, after sitting in the kitchen staring at nothing in particular, Yuki greeted Tohru as she entered the room. She bounded in and headed straight for whatever ingredients she needed to make whatever she had planned for breakfast.

It was then that Kyo decided to make his less-than-grand appearance. Sweaty and panting from his morning practice, he dragged his feet along the floor and slumped into a chair. His messy hair and flushed cheeks complimented each other in colour. Without saying a word, he joined Yuki in staring into space. He too had been out of character recently.

What was up with that cat? Does this mean that the curse is weakening?

He doubted it. He was going to have to live with his curse and those beads for a long time yet.

At school, everything seemed to be getting back to normal. The class was getting used to Kawa's presence, although there were still plenty of rumours.

"I hear she's related to the psychic."
"No, she's related to the Yankee"
"Nah, all three are related."
"No, they're lesbians...and they're related."
"WHAT?"
"Kidding."
"You watch too much hentai."

Kawa hadn't spoken more than a few words since her first day and simply got on with her work. She remained apparently oblivious to the gossip and the put-downs going on around her. According to her classmates, she looked too old. She had probably been kept down for a few years in school and that's why she was working so hard, to try and keep up. She was probably used to getting teased about being stupid, which is why she always stayed away from other people.

She remained close to Tohru though and she exchanged regular glances with Hana. Arisa didn't seem too bad in Kawa's eyes either, but she refused point blank to even look at the Sohmas. This just threw them into more of a state.

The silence is creepy too. Why does she keep looking at me like that? Is it my imagination? This must be what going mad feels like.

No one had any idea what Kawa herself was going through at that time, though.

[Insert usual review begging here

Sorry about not updating in a while (won't make excuses, I'm sure you've heard them all before)...and sorry if this chapter seems short lol.

To be honest, when I started this fanfic, I knew how it was going to start and how it was going to end. I knew roughly what was going to happen in the middle, including some major events. The only problem I have now is making progress in the story, moving it along and joining up those events lol. I have no clue what I'm gonna do for the next chapter...guess I'll have to wait and see like the rest of you!