A/N: I want to thank all of you for reading the story so far and leaving nice reviews! Oh god I'm at 15! That's unbelievable! Anyways, sorry for the long wait! Was busy with school and grades! Doing fairly okay if I do say so myself ^_^

Tohru laid on her sleeping bag, looking at her tent ceiling. She thought about her first day in school, and she thought about Yuki. Her best friend was right in front of her and all she could do was stand in front of him and say nothing. She felt as if she was pushing him away from her, trying not to bring things back to the way they were. He was her one true friend – she didn't have many other. But if that was the case... why was she so afraid to be near him?

Slowly sitting up, Tohru placed her hand over her head, trying to brush off her thoughts and concentrate on going back to sleep since it was a school night and she didn't want to be late again and get detention. However, something was preventing her. Her mind was too occupied to want to sleep at all.

Maybe I just need some fresh air, Tohru thought to herself as she started to get out of the tent. But before she did, she felt her neck, and remembered that her heart locket was still there. She unhooked it carefully, and placed it in her right palm as she made it out her tent ad into the starry night.

She looked around; there were no signs of annoying bugs or animals... or even a weirdo. It was all quiet and peaceful. She sat on the ground and fell on her back, gazing up at the stars. She then opened the locket to reveal the pictures of Tohru and Yuki at her birthday... ten years back. A tear ran slowly down her cheek... falling on the grass.

"Ì miss you, Yuki," she said to herself as she continued to look at the photographs, "Please come back to me. Be my friend again."

Birds began chirping their early morning songs as the Sun began shining down upon Tohru`s sleeping face. Squinting, Tohru's eyes began to flutter and she opened them slowly... only to find something shocking in front of her.

... Yuki.

That's when Shigure completely lost it.

"So... Tohru, how long have you been living in that tent?" Shigure asked in between laughs while Tohru sat embarrassed in front of him and Yuki. She was actually in their home, talking to them. The only thing making this worse was that they found her sleeping outside in front of a tent, while Shigure was laughing his head off and while Yuki looked down at Tohru as if this was crazy.

"Ì started living there about a week ago." Tohru began to speak, while hanging her head down, "I lived with my grandfather for quite some time, but after dealing with a few family issues, i decided to move out."

"Now I know why I thought it was strange that you were able to find the house in the middle of the woods," Yuki began speaking, "This whole hill is Sohma property."

Tohru felt tears form in her eyes – first Yuki had to find her living in a situation like that, and now she might have to pick up and move again?

"Please let me stay here for a little while," Tohru begged while her eyes were still glued to the floor, "I don't have a lot of money, but I'll pay you. I just need to earn enough money until I can afford a small apartment. Please...?"

"It's not safe for a young girl to be living out in the woods alone," Shigure said, after finishing his uncontrollable laughter, "The ground is loose and there are always a bunch of weirdoes and perverts wandering around. A girl can't live in a tent that long."

Tohru sighed, understanding what she had to do, I guess that means I have to pack up and move back.

Yuki noticed the look on Tohru's face as she continued staring at the floor. It made him sad to see her like this. He wandered if there was something he was able to do for this hard-working young girl who lost both her parents tragically and was struggling both emotionally and financially. He didn't know why, but he felt as if he knew her for years... but he was still missing so many puzzle pieces. She made him more comfortable, and she brought in a small ray of sunlight to him.

"Tohru," he said suddenly, making Tohru's eyes fall onto his, "I know this might sound a little strange to you, but how would you like living with us from now on?"

Tohru's eyes were wide open the moment she heard those words come out of Yuki's mouth, Was he really being serious? Was he asking her to stay at his house? "Yuki... I-I couldn't possibly –

It's no trouble at all Tohru," Yuki reassured with a smile, which made Tohru's thoughts stop instantly, "We have a room upstairs that we don't use anymore. It has a lock on it if that helps you feel a little more secure since living with boys might not be the most comfortable thing for you."

Tohru shook her head, "I don't want to cause any trouble for you. I'll find a way to make it through, and –

"It's no trouble at all," Yuki reassured her, "If you want I can bring all of your things from you tent to the house. Oh, and speaking of which, do you think you'll still need your tent?"

Hmm... Tohru thought in her head, Should she really live here? She didn't want to be a burden, but she really had nowhere else to go. She knew that she couldn't live in a tent forever, and she couldn't live somewhere where she knows she'll never be welcome. But the fact is that...

... that she would be living with Yuki. Something about that made her so happy inside. She would wake up and see him every day. They would walk to school together; they would talk and share things with each other. It would be just like it was ten years ago.

"Yuki..." she began to speak, "I will stay here from now on. But only if that's absolutely okay with you."

Yuki's face redirected to hers, and as he watched her give him a small smile, he nodded his head slowly, "It's perfectly fine with us Tohru."

Tohru started to giggle, "So I guess I won't be needing my tent anymore. But I should bring the rest of my stuff here, and –

"Don't worry," Shigure suddenly said as he stood up, brushing off the dust on his yukata, "Yuki and I will take care of it. Maybe you should stay home from school today however. You look exhausted."

"But I can't!" Tohru suddenly said, shaking her head vigorously, "I can't skip school. It's too important!"

"Tohru, you need to understand that you need to get some rest." Yuki said as he went over to feel her head, "You don't have a fever, but I would recommend that you go to sleep now."

Tohru blushed as he removed his hand from her forehead, "I'll show you to your new room."

Tohru nodded her head as she followed him upstairs from the living room.

"Yuki," she said suddenly as they were walking, "I want you to know that if I have to stay here with you, you can leave all the chores to me."

Yuki smiled softly, "Tohru, you don't have to do that you know. Don't put yourself through all that trouble. We'll be fine –

"But I want to Yuki," she said as she stopped walking. Yuki did the same and turned around to face her, "If you are willing to let me enter your home – a complete stranger that you don't know... enter your home, the least you can let me do is help around the house."

Yuki gazed at Tohru, and stepped closer to her, making Tohru alert, but also making her gaze back. He brushed his fingers against Tohru's cheek, making her blush, "I don't find you a stranger at all."

Tilting her head, Tohru smiled as Yuki continued to speak, "But if that's what you want to do, you are more than free to do what you please. Consider this your home."

Tohru nodded, while she still smiled. They continued exploring the top floor until they found her new bedroom. Yuki placed his hand on the doorknob as he turned around to look at Tohru, "Sorry, but the room might be a little dusty. We haven't used it in a long time."

Nodding her head, Tohru followed Yuki as he opened the door to reveal her little room. It wasn't much – a small bed with a wardrobe and a small table and chair, but at least she had somewhere warm to stay and she had a sturdy roof over her head. Yuki was right about the dust though... Tohru began coughing suddenly, "It sure is dusty in here."

Yuki smiled, "Yeah we haven't opened it for quite a while. You can open the window for some fresh air – it'll really help." Yuki then reached into his pocket to pull out something. Tohru kept an eye on his hand – watching what he was taking out.

"I found this on the ground earlier on," Yuki said as he took the hand out of the pocket and opened his palm... to reveal the locket she fell asleep with in her hand.

Tohru gasped, "Oh thank you," she said quickly, "I must have dropped it. Thank you so much for finding it." She reached out and took it from Yuki's hand and laughed nervously, "Umm... you didn't open the locket... did you?"

Yuki shook his head, "No I didn't," he said reassuringly, "And I know you might think I did but this was yours and I have no right to do that."

Smiling, Tohru sighed... relieved he didn't look inside the locket, "Thank you again."

"Anytime." Yuki smiled back at her.

He headed towards the door, "I should probably let you get some rest." But before he was able to exit, Tohru stopped him.

"Yuki, I have work today... so do you think you can wake me up at five o'clock so I won't be late?"

Yuki turned around to look at Tohru, and had a concerned look on his face, "Are you sure you should be going to work today?"

Tohru nodded her head in response, "Yes I am. Missing school is too much and I can't miss work."

Nodding his head in understanding, Yuki left the room slowly, "Sleep well, Tohru."

Once he was gone, Tohru quickly hid the locket in one of the drawers in the wardrobe and sat on the bed. White sheets and a brown blanket, yellow curtains covering a small window. Small wooden desk and chair, but a room nonetheless. Tohru closed her eyes, and fell onto the bed. A moment later... she was fast asleep.

Yuki came downstairs slowly and quietly, careful not to make a noise. Shigure was still sitting in the same spot strangely, "I was wondering when you going to come downstairs. That was really nice of you to let her stay here. She really needed a place to stay and I'm glad we were able to do something."

Yuki smiled while nodding, "Tohru is a very nice girl. She promised to keep an eye on this place."

"She did?" Shigure looked surprised as he started to stand up, "That's great! Now we don't have to be messy people living in a messy little house."

Yuki chuckled as Shigure started walking into the front door, "Well, we gotta go dispose that little tent and bring all her things here. You are coming, right?"

Yuki nodded and also walked towards the front door, but suddenly stopped as he approached Shigure. He took a deep breath, and sighed, "There's something about her Shigure. I feel as I've known her for years but I don't know why I feel this way."

Shigure looked worried, "Hmm... you're saying you might have known this girl... but you aren't quite sure how or why?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

Shigure exhaled, clearly confused, "Well, we should be going before it gets dark. Let's try and finish this in one night, okay?"

"Okay," Yuki agreed as he followed Shigure out the door and shut it. As they walked away from the house into the bright daylight, Yuki turned around to look at the window in Tohru's little room. He had been having a funny feeling about her – ever since they met. What could that mean? She was acting a little weird around him as well, and he wanted to know why they both were feeling these strange feelings about each other.

But in order for him to do that, he had to know her.

Don't forget to review y'all! :D Hope you liked that chapter!