A/N: Hi all! I've only gotten, what, one review? But I wanted to continue this story because I just watched my Fruits Basket DVDs, so I feel uber-inspired, even though I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this chapter yet. I just read over my last chapter and saw, like, 5 mistakes, either missing words or missing suffixes. I'll probably upload the previous chapter with the revisions soon. Also, I want to apologize to Lee Totema for not writing your name in the previous chapter, which will also be fixed with the revisions. So, because not only did you give me the idea for a snow tiger, but you reviewed and also as an apology, you get THREE S'MORES AND A PLUSHIE! Of Momiji, cuz everyone loves Momiji. Even Kyo, though he'll never admit it... Well, on with the chapter!
RECAP
"Well, I'm glad that we'll be able to spend more time together, Shizuko-chan," Yuki-kun states, smiling at me. I smile back.
"I am too! Tohru, I hope you don't mind that I'll have to share your room with you..."
"Of course not! I don't mind at all! That means that there will be another girl in the house!" We smile happily and laugh a little.
"So, where are you stuck going to school?" Kyo-kun asks in a way I know he's not trying to sound rude.
"W-well, Akito said Yuki-kun's school."
"That's where Honda-san and Kyo go to school as well, Shizuko-chan."
"Really? That means we'll all go to school together! That's wonderful! I'm so glad!" So many good things have been happening recently. I can't wait to see what will happen now that I'm out into the real world!
"Shizuko-san, why don't we take your bag upstairs so you can unpack?"
"Okay, Tohru! Thanks!" I smile at her and she smiles back. I grab my book bag and head up the stairs, Tohru in the lead. She takes me to the room I was in when I first woke up. I drop my bag on the floor and plop down next to it. Tohru sits next to me.
"Let's see. What do we have in here. Okay, first off, my tent... Ewww..."
"What's wrong, Shizuko-san?"
"I had leftovers in there... they're all squished now..."
"Oh. Let's throw that out." She picks it up and disappears for a second. When she comes back, my leftovers are gone and she sits next to me again. I open my bag and start taking things out.
"Hair brush, wallet, makeup bag, my favorite purse. Uhm...that's it...oh, and some of my clothes." I take out my favorite dress, which is black, goes down to my knees and shimmers. I used to use it for parties, which were never bigger than me, my parents and a few maids. I take out three shirts, a pair of black pants, a pair of jeans and a skirt.
"That's all I brought."
"That's okay! I'm sure we can get you anything else you might need."
"I think the only thing I need is a school uniform."
"Hmmm... hold on." Tohru comes back a few minutes later, after going through her drawers. "Here! This is one of my extra uniforms!"
"Oh, wow! Thanks so much!"
"Go on, try it on! We need to see if it fits you!" I nod and smile. I go into the second-floor bathroom and quickly change. I look at myself in the mirror. Wow, I actually look pretty good. And it fits perfectly! I go out into the hall, towards Tohru's room.
"Oh! Shizuko-chan!" I turn to the voice and see Yuki-kun.
"Oh, hi Yuki-kun!"
"What are you doing?"
"Trying on one of Tohru's extra uniforms to see if it fits. And it does! What do you think?"
"It looks cute on you," he says with a smile.
"H-huh? Y-you think so?" I blush and look down at the ground. "But...it's just a uniform."
"The blue contrasts well with your hair color and makes your eyes look brighter green."
"A-anou...thank you, Yuki-kun. I-I should be getting back to Tohru."
"Sorry to keep you, then. I'll be in my room if you need me."
"O-okay..." I watch him walk down the hall and enter a room before going back into the room Tohru and I share.
"There you are, Shizuko-san! I was starting to wonder where you were."
"Oh, I was in the hall talking to Yuki-kun."
"Oh! Alright then! So, how does it fit?"
"Perfectly! I really appreciate you lending it to me!"
"Oh, it's not a problem at all! Don't worry about it!"
"Are you sure?"I ask.
"Uh-huh! Well, you must be tired! You've done a lot today!"I yawn, almost as though in agreement with her. I giggle.
"I guess you're right! I am kind of tired. I'm sorry to ask, it seems like I'd be asking for too much, but could I borrow a pajama? That seems to be the only thing I forgot to bring with me..."
"Oh! Of course! It's no problem. It's not asking too much at all!" Tohru goes back into her drawer and pulls out a light orange pajama set. I smile at her.
"It matches my hair!"
"Oh! I guess it does! Oh! That reminds me. I've been thinking...If your hair color has been dyed that way, what will happen if you stop dying it? Will your hair turn white?" I look at her as I hold the pajamas to my chest. That actually hadn't occurred to me at all!
"That's a good question. I guess so... Do you think I should keep dying it or let the color wear off?"
"Uhm...I'm not sure... You can do anything you want with it though, it's your hair!"
"I guess that's true, but still, I'm not sure what to do exactly..."
"Well, why don't you get the others' opinion tomorrow?"
"Alright then. Well, I'm going to go change into these. I'll be right back!"
"Take your time!"
Just as I finish buttoning the pajama top, there's a knock on the door. "J-just a second!" I open the door to see Kyo standing there. "Oh! Kyo-kun! Hi!"
"Oh, hi. Are you done in there?"
"Y-yeah. I was just changing into these pajamas."
"Well, they look pretty good on you. Goes with your hair color."
"Heh heh, Tohru said the same thing! Well, I get out of here, now. I'll see you in the morning, 'kay, Kyo-kun?"
"Yeah. See ya tomorrow." I smile as I walk past him back into the room I share with Tohru. When I go in, she's already changed into pink pajamas.
"Oh! All ready for bed I see, eh, Shizuko-san?"
"Hai! Well, what are the bed arrangements?"
"There's more than enough room for both of us, so you can sleep over here!"
"R-really? But...I think I'd feel awkward. We still just met today. I'd feel like I've been asking for too much."
"N-no really! It's no big deal! Please, sleep here!"
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes! Definitely!"
"Th-thank you. I still feel awkward around people..."
"Well, I hope that we become friends and I'll help you stop feeling so awkward!"
"O-okay. W-well...I'm starting school tomorrow with you guys, so I'll be going to sleep now!"
"Alright! I'm going to sleep now too. But, I'm going to get up a little early, so I can make breakfast!"
"Anou...I see...well, if I wake up, I'll help you!"
"Th-that's not necessary!"
"No! I insist! Besides, it's only if I'm awake, so I'll want something to do. If not, then can you please wake me up?"
"Sure! No problem. Well, Good Night Shizuko-san!"
"Good Night Tohru!" We both huddle under the covers before falling asleep.
"Shizuko-chan...Shizuko-chan...Shizuko-chan...Shizuko chan!" I open my eyes to see Yuki-kun standing over me. I blink twice before remembering that I wasn't at home anymore.
"O-oh! Yuki-kun! Ohayo gosaimasu!"
"Ohayo, Shizuko-chan You have to get up now. Honda-san finished with breakfast, so as soon as you're dressed, come downstairs to eat."
"Okay. Thank you Yuki-kun. See you soon."
"You're welcome." He smiled at me in such a way that made me blush and then he went out of the room, closing the door behind him. I sit up in bed and blink...That's right...school. YAY! I FINALLY GET TO GO TO PUBLIC CO-ED SCHOOL! I smile widely before jumping out of bed. I pick up the uniform that Tohru's lending me and get changed. I grab my makeup bag and go into the bathroom. Promptly after brushing and washing, I apply a light lip gloss and eye shadow. It's subtle but pretty. I take my brush and brush out my hair, which tangled slightly during the night. As a finishing touch, I add two blue barrets in hy hair and walk downstairs. I reach the dining room where everyone is eating.
"Ohayo gosaimasu!" I say with a bright smile. They all look towards me.
"Ohayo gosaimasu! How did you sleep, Shizuko-san?"
"Very well, thanks." I sit down between Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun, who were, surprisingly enough, not fighting beforehand.
"'Morning." Kyo-kun says with a mouthful of fish and rice. I giggle slightly as I see a grain of rice somehow stuck on his nose. He swallows quickly. "What's so funny!"
"Ha ha, Gomen! You just have rice on your nose!"He wipes it off angrily.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're already fitting in, Shizuko-chan," Shigure-Nii-san tells me. I nod happily.
" Me too! Ah! Thanks, Tohru!" I say as she places my food in front of me. I start eating. "Tohru, I must tell you this. Compared to the gourmet cooking I had everyday at my house, your cooking is ten times better!"
"H-huh? N-no. It's not that good. I'm sure your exaggerating!"
"Okay, maybe a little, but your food is better than the gourmet food! And I know why!"
"You do? I still don't see how my food could possibly be better!"
"Your food is made with love for the people who'll be eating it."
"W-well, I g-guess so..." I smile as I finish the last bit of my rice.
"Honda-san, we should be leaving soon, or we'll be late."
"Oh! You're right!" I help Tohru clear the dishes while the boys gather their things.
"Bye, Shigure-Nii-san!"
"Have a good first day at school!" I smile at him before we leave the house.
"So, where is the school?"
"Not too far. We'll be there soon enough."
"Cool! Anything I should know about the school, y'know, any details?"
"Well, Momiji-san and Hatsuharu-san go there! They're also part of the zodiac!"
"Really? Which animals?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Oh! And Yuki-kun is the student council president!"
"Really? Congratulations, Yuki-kun!"
"Thanks...Well, we're here. Since I'm the Student Council President, I'll make sure that everything's set up for you, alright?"
"Really? Thanks so much!"
"Shizuko-san, you have no slippers, or even a shoe locker, yet!"
"Oh, uhm...well, I guess I'll walk around in my socks and hold my shoes in my hand."
"That might work..."
"Follow me, Shizuko-chan."
"H-hai! I'll see you guys later, okay?"
"Bye!" Tohru and Kyo-kun go in one direction and Yuki-kun goes in the opposite. I follow him into the principle's office.
"Shizuko-san! Over here!" I walk over to Tohru and two other girls. I smile at them.
"Shizuko-san, I'd like you to meet my friends! This is Hanajima Saki-san and this is Uotani Arisa-san! Uo-chan, Hana-chan, I'd like you to meet the newest addition at the Sohma household, Sohma Shizuko!"
"Yo,'sup?"
"Hello."
"Uhm, Hi! So you two are Tohru's friends?"
"Yes, we've been her friends since middle school."
"So, you're the fifth Sohma to enter this school. Let me guess, that's your natural hair color."
"Actually it's dyed. My hair's actually white."
"Really? How'd you manage that?"
"I'm the snow tiger!"
"Huh?"
"Uh-uhm...It's..a...game! Yeah! The Sohma's play it! They give each other the name of an animal, usually part of the chinese Zodiac!"
"Oh! I see. That's why Orangey calls Prince Charming a rat and why the Prince calls him cat."
"Y-yeah!"
"Makes sense to me. Does it make sense to you, Hana?"
"..."
"Hana-chan, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just surprised by your vibes, Sohma Shizuko."
"Vibes?"
"Oh, yeah. Hana here can sense vibes that come from people." Uotani-san explains.
"You have the same inhuman waves, but your heart is not overrun by dark hatred like the other Sohmas." I'm kinda confused, but I can live with that. I sit on the desk next to them.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not so much bad as strange."
"Oh, okay then! Tohru, I'm going to go look for Momiji-kun and Hatsuharu-kun, okay?"
"A-alright! Are you sure you don't want me to come?"
"No, that's okay. I want to surprise them!" I smile and walk out of the classroom and towards the first year corridor. I see a little boy with blond hair and brown eyes talking with an older looking guy with black and white hair. I'm guessing that's them. But just to make sure...
"Momiji-kun! Hatsuharu-kun!" The two of them look in my direction. I smile. Guess I was right. I walk over to them and they look confused. If I remember correctly, I can hug them without any transforming happeneing!
"Hello! I've never seen you around here before! I'm Sohma Momiji! But I guess you know that since you called my name!"
"Yeah, how did you know what our names are?"
"Well..." I randomly hug Momiji-kun, who, at first, stiffens, but then relaxes slightly
"Hey! You hugged me! But...how?"
"Let me introduce myself, I'm Sohma Shizuko! I just transferred to this school. I'm also part of the Zodiac!"
"Nice to meet you! What animal are you?"
"Well, I'm kind of a special case... I'm not like any other Zodiac member from generations before me."
"I could kind of tell, since all of the Zodiac are already here for this generation," Hatsuharu-kun says.
"I'm the snow tiger. I'm not sure how that happened, since I was born before Kisa-chan."
"Well, it's nice to meet you. How come we never met you before now?"
"Yeah! We should have at least seen you at the banquets!"
"Well, I was actually in a type of captivity in my own house for thirteen years and just recently I-"
"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!" The warning bell goes off. That scared me!
"Well, I'll be seeing you later! I'm in Yuki-kun, Kyo-kun and Tohru's class!" With that, I run off in the direction I came. Wow, that was productive!
"Ow!" I suddenly bump into somebody and a puff of smoke surrounds me. I look up and see a guy sitting on the ground, but I can barely see him through the smoke. It starts to clear and the boy looks right at me.
A/N: So, what'd you guys think of that? Cliffy enough for you? I have Lee Totema to thank for the idea. I also used all of the ones you gave me! You are a very awesome person! If the s'mores and the plushie weren't enough, I will give you another plushie! Of Kisa! You gotta love Kisa! Well, this is my second longest chapter, after the first one! Anyway, while writing this, I realized I could never consider Tohru a guys name anymore...It's too connected to Tohru Honda! Anyway, if you want to know what happens next, I will need reviews. Other than from Lee Totema Because I know she will anyway! I LOVE YOU MY FAITHFUL REVIEWER! S'mores for new reviewers!