A/N: Heyo! I loved every single review I got last chapter! I promise to try and update as often as I can. I feel like I am kind of neglecting my other story, but I am having a more productive creative flow for this one. Down the rabbit hole to chapter 4!

Disclaimer: I only own Jaden; everything else belongs to someone much more influential than me…. Darn.

4

We had been staying with the Sohams for about a week now, and we had already fallen into a routine of sorts. In the mornings Kyo and I would almost always be the first ones up at around five in the morning. He would go train outside and I would start breakfast. Tohru would come running down the stairs at six apologizing for not having woken up and started breakfast. We were slowly breaking her of that habit, but it was a very slow process. Yuki would come stumbling down the stairs about a half hour before school starts and Kyo would begin their morning argument. Shigure would walk in at random times throughout the daily schedule, almost always to find some part of his home utterly destroyed.

That was how things went. Shigure had said he had consulted his family doctor and had forbidden me from going to school until I had had a week to settle in and rest. I of course had protested. "Come on Shigure! I'll have nothing to do for a whole week!" He had shaken his head in mock sympathy and had pulled me close to his chest, my dog ears had flipped backwards and a growl had low growl had been let loose. "Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head my little pup, Uncle Shigure we'll be here to keep you company. We'll find something fun to do together."

His statement had earned him a head slap from both Kyo and Yuki, but I still had to stay home. Yuki thought I wouldn't want to try hobbling around with my still hurt ankle, and Kyo said I wouldn't want to have to keep explaining my shiner. In the end I had conceded. To give the pervert credit though, he did keep me company.

"Do you have any threes?"

"…Go fish."

"Darn it! You never have anything I need Shigure! That it the twentieth time you've beaten me this week." I threw the cards on the table and pointed an accusing finger at him. "You have got to be cheating! I have only won twice!" He brought his hand to his mouth snickering. His sleeves flopped around as he spoke; gesturing wildly even thought there wasn't really a need to.

"Would I ever do such a horrendous thing my dear sweet Jaden? Of course not! I would never do something as low down as stacking the deck or hiding cards now would I? To think you would even insinuate such a thing. It hurts, it really does." By know he had struck an overly dramatic pose, and the lights had seemed to dim, framing his person in an oddly romantic light.

Shaking my head I reached over and opened the back door. His mood lighting ruined he returned to his spot at the table reading his paper while drinking the tea he has every afternoon. "Now that that matter has been settled, you know what you have to do. We made a bet now you have to carry it out." I grit my teeth and glared at him.

"No way! You cheated!" He smirked at me. "I cheated? Who's the one who got caught switching decks on the third round? And who was it who tried to put laxatives in the cookies she was making so she could switch cards without a problem during the eighteenth round?" My glare faltered and I stepped back, crossing my arms.

"So just because you never got caught it makes what you did okay." The sarcasm was thick and my tone made it quite clear just what I thought about him at this particular moment. "Mhmm!" His chipper tone left me with whiplash. He can go from blackmailing me to smiling like a fool. This man is clearly dangerous.

He wagged a finger at me as he sipped his tea. "We agreed, first one to twenty wins won. And you lost. So you better go fulfill your part of the bargain." Though he smiled while he said I could quite clearly hear the underlying threat. Throwing my hands up in defeat I stalked out of the room, growling about hound dogs with no love life.

About three hours later Tohru, Kyo and Yuki were home from school. "We're home! Shigure!! Jaden! How was your day?" I could hear the smile in Tohru's voice, and it just made me grimace even worse. I can't believe he talked me into this. *Sigh* Anyway, a bet's a bet… I am never going to live this down.

"We're in my office Tohru! Why don't you bring the boys in here, I want to show them something." The stupid dog's voice gave me the urge to throttle him, but I was forced to over ride that desire. "What the heck do you want you dumb dog? Where's Jaden…" Kyo's voice faded out as he opened the door and he stood there staring like an idiot.

I let out a hiss. "Quit starring." I resumed my task of alphabetizing Shigure's massive collection of books and novels. Yuki stepped out from behind Kyo only to stop and stare in much the same fashion. I could feel my face heating up. "Isn't she just adorable? I have a matching one if Tohru would like to wear one, oh and then you two would be so cute together." I tried my hardest to studiously ignore him.

"Shigure… Why on earth is Jaden wearing a French maid's outfit?" I turned around to see this. Yuki and Kyo had him pinned to the wall; a deadly aura seemed to fill the room. I sighed, despite having the urge to hurt the hound I didn't want the two of them to do something they would regret-, well I didn't want them to kill him.

"We made a bet, I won and he would have to shut up for a whole week. He won and I had to organize his book shelves wearing a maid's outfit." They gripped his kimono tighter; he was dangling in their grasp. "You cheated didn't you." He waved his hand in the air noncommittally. "No matter, a bet is a bet after all. You can't honestly say you don't thin she's cute. He wiggled out of their clutches to come over and hug me with a puppy dog look on his face.

"I mean just look at her." As he hugged me my ears appeared, and they drooped to the sides of my head as I kept up a blank expression. I watched as the boys went from glaring to blushing. "And think about it. I have another one! Wouldn't Tohru look just as cute?" Now Kyo was the same color as a tomato and Yuki was holding his head in his hands. I looked at Tohru, but she was just standing on the sidelines a happy smile on her face. "You look really cute Jaden! I always said you would look adorable in a dress."

The sound of Tohru's voice seemed to snap Kyo out of his Shiugre-esque fantasies.

"Dumb hentai! Get your hands off of her and quit saying that kind of stuff about Tohru." He pulled me away from him. Yuki shook his head in shame at his cousin's actions. "I still can't see how they haven't locked you up yet. Where did you even get a French maids outfit anyway?" Shigure broke out into a silly grin. "Why, from Aya of course! Once he heard about the girls staying here he's offered to make all sorts of things for them. He even mentioned wanting to come by for a visi-"

"If you even let him walk through these doors I will rip your throat out and use it to make soup." I patted Yuki on the shoulder. "Now, now Yuki, you know you couldn't make soup if you tried." An evil glint showed in my eyes as I glared at Shigure. "I however will have no trouble."

Chuckling nervously Shigure slipped out of the room, no doubt running of to hide from the wrath of the boys. Yuki had managed to control his temper up until those last few comments about whoever Aya was. Kyo however had been simmering in the corner, just waiting for a reason to kick his rear end till kingdom come.

"Thank you both. I had just about finished organizing, but I had no clue how I was going to be able to take of this ridiculous costume with out having to fight him off with a metal bat." I looked up and smiled at them, they both turned away, refusing to look at me. I decided to let that past, though their actions slightly confused me.

"How was school today Tohru? Shigure says I can go tomorrow." Her face brightened and she began hopping up and down squealing like a little girl. "Oh my gosh! That's great. Hana and Uo are coming to spend the night tomorrow so it's going to be great and so much fun." Laughing with her I hopped over to pounce on Kyo, riding him piggy back. "Tomorrow I get to bother you all day long, isn't that going to be great Kyo!" He refused to look at me and grunted in response.

"Kyo? What's wrong?" He grunted and pulled me off of his shoulders, setting me on the ground. I had to crane my neck to see his face which he was stubbornly keeping out of my line of sight. Scowling I pulled on his arm. "Oi! What's your problem?"

His grimace tightened and he risked a glance down at me. "Would you just go and change clothes already! I can't take you seriously in that get up. You look so…so frilly, like some little girl!" So that's what the problem is.

"What, you have a problem with my outfit?" I hugged his arm close to me, rubbing the palm of his hand across my cheek. He shivered and yanked his arm away.

"Stop that! You are definitely going to school tomorrow. All this time with Shigure has got to be rotting your brain cells." His reaction made me giggle, but I complied. "You're probably right. I had to stop myself yesterday when I found myself reading some of the books from his more…personal collection." Kyo held his head in his hands and moaned in internal agony, pointing towards the stairs. "Go. Change. Now."

Towing Tohru along behind me I made it to our bedroom to change into decent clothes. "I can't wait until school tomorrow! It's going to be so much fun. Now we can study together, and spend so much more time together." Tohru rambled on about all of the tings we could do now that I was getting to go to school. I couldn't say I wasn't excited to be getting out of the house, but I couldn't help feeling anxious. I was good at school; class work came easy to me. Socializing however, not so much. I had never liked large groups of people.

Tohru plopped down next to me on the bed and grabbed my hands away from my hair. I had been trying to braid it back, and was having absolutely no luck. It was getting to be a hassle to handle and I was debating on cutting it. Tohru began plaiting my hair, much better than I had ever been able to manage. "I meant to ask you earlier, but I never found the time. Are you going to be okay with going to school with us?" I blinked and turned around to look her in the eye. She grinned lopsidedly and apologized. "I'm sorry; I know you can handle anything Jaden. You're the best at taking care of yourself, taking care of me too. But you've always had trouble in school, more than me even." Tohru was being abnormally open with her personal views.

"I'll be fine Tohru. I'll have Kyo and Yuki to bother, and Uo and Hana seemed nice." She seemed to except that and finished my braid. Standing up we trotted off to go work on dinner. School was going to be a new challenge, but I was positive I could handle it. I've survived this far, how much worse can it get…

Apparently, it could get much worse. I was used to being ignored, disliked, and even a little bit feared. After the first day I had walked through these doors to have girls glaring at me left and right for hanging onto and talking to their Yuki, I was convinced I would be receiving a less than friendly welcome. I was wrong. According to Hana, my appearance in the girl's uniform with my hair braided back by Tohru, (the braids accompanied by her signature ribbons) made me too adorable to be disliked by the average female student. I had insisted on wearing a hat to school, just in case something should happen and I would need it. Yuki had agreed on the condition I wore it correctly while in the school building. Begrudgingly I was wearing my favorite cap with its bill facing forwards. Even with the dark colored cap on my head I still looked pathetic in my eyes.

The fact that Tohru had insisted on holding hands and swinging our arms as we walked, singing whatever song came to mind as we walked just like we used to do when we went to school growing up wasn't helping me appear any more mature either.

Stupid braids, stupid ribbons, and stupid sailor looking uniform that makes me feel like some little Miss Priss! I'm already really short, now I look like I'm some ten year oldplaying dress up in her big sister's uniform. I grimaced internally while singing the chorus to Dark Blue by Jacks Mannequin. I was very fond of music in every shape and form, and had introduced Tohru to as much as possible whenever I got the chance.

"Oh look at her, she is so cute! Is she the new student?" Poorly hidden whispers followed our footsteps as we walked to class. "She is so adorable, but is she really old enough for high school?" "I heard she skipped a grade, that she's some kind of kid genius."

So the rumors had started already. I was once again the freaky kid genius, oh joy.

Instead of dwelling on that thought, I decided to distract myself. "Tag! You're it Kyo! Race you to the classroom!" Slapping my hand against the back of his shoulder, I snagged his bag as I passed him, sticking my tongue out at him. "Hey, give that back! You don't even know where we're going!"

Ignoring him, I ran off in the direction the map they had offered to me had said my new homeroom was located. Kyo yelled at me but began to chase me. I had forgotten that he was an expert in martial arts, and therefore not a slowpoke. It took every ounce of my power to stay even inches out of his grasp. I weaved in and out of people, pulling them behind me and twirling around them as I ran.

"You give that back runt!" Even though he was yelling I could see a glimmer in his eye as he dodged kids left and right. He liked roughhousing with someone that wouldn't change if he hugged them, and weren't constantly kicking his butt because they were much more skilled than him. I couldn't fight as well as Yuki, but I wrestled with the best of them.

Just as I was nearing the door of our homeroom I tripped, no, was pushed into the path of three girls. Stumbling back so that I wouldn't face plant I looked up to see the faces of my newest antagonists.

"Who are you supposed to be?" They cringed backwards, moving in near perfect unison. It made me wonder if they spent nights planning these kinds of things for what ever scenario they could come up with.

"We are the Prince Yuki fan club. And you have become a threat to Prince Yuki. It is our job to be certain you follow the rules regarding the Prince." Oh, these were the maniacs I had heard about from Yuki and Tohru. Crossing my arms may not have made me seem all that more imposing, but it made me feel better. I gave them a leveled stare and tilted my head up at them with my most bitter smile twisting my features to something less sweet and something more…sinister. At least that was what I was attempting. It is very hard to appear even remotely frightening while dressed up like a sailor in a skirt.

"Rules you say? If there is something I should have known before starting my day here, I am certain that Yuki would have told me. But if he's made a mistake, then please, inform me what rules I seem to have broken." It seemed I had managed to achieve a reaction that was at least close to the initially desired one. They shrank in there imposing demeanor, and then main air head's lackeys slunk off behind their 'fearless' leader.

"The Prince doesn't make mistakes. The Prince Yuki fan club's job is to protect the Prince. That means there are rules that must be followed.

1. Do not steal the Prince's private property

2. Do not enter the Prince's house.

3. When you talk to the Prince, you must have one person with you.

4. You call the Prince by the following names by year:

3rd years- Yuki-kun

2nd years- Sohma-kun

1st years- Yuki Sohma-kun

5. You do not associate with any of the Prince's family in ways that are deemed in appropriate for your age, rank, or personal standing.

You have exactly one warning, and if you should fail to comply with these rules," She leaned in next to me, her hair tickling my face. I felt the need to sneeze as her pig tails brushed my nose as she swung her head back and forth dramatically as she spoke. "You are ours." I couldn't hold it in.

*Achoooo!* I sneezed, rocking back on my heels. She cringed away from me, her posse of prisses shadowing her movements perfectly. Rubbing the back of my hand against the top of my nose, trying to get the itchy feeling her hair had brought on to subside I glared at them.

"You guys need a life. I'll do what I want to. Yuki is my friend and I intend to treat him that way. Not like some high and mighty aristocrat that might break if I touch him. And as far as his family is concerned, I don't see how that is any of your business."

By now I had become aware of Kyo's presence behind me. He had been hiding from the Princeling's fan girls as they ranted.

He stepped out from his hiding place and set a hand on my shoulder. "Do you girls have a problem with my little sister?" Kyo must have had his game face on, because not only did they did in appreciation as only a fan girl would, but they ran away scared out of their minds at his sudden menacing appearance. I snickered as I watched them flee, shooting me looks over their shoulders all the while.

"Thanks Kyo. I could have handled that though. I don't need you swooping in to rescue me from the clutches of the unforgiving and unrelenting rabid fan girl." He grunted and ruffled my hair, snatching his bag back from me. "I win you twerp."

Growling I followed him into the nearly empty classroom. "No fair! I was distracted and had to dodge the gawkers! What is it with you people and this lame-o uniform? I feel like such a little girl."

He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes. He had settled into his seat near the window and had propped his head on his fist, his arm making a ninety degree angle. "Well, you look like one too. Come to think of it, you are one." My eyes narrowed at him but he knew when it came to physical violence, compared to him, I was all bark and no bite. Doesn't mean I wasn't going to try though.

"I am only a year younger than you jerk. Say I look like some priss again, I dare you!" I snarled through my teeth, the last 'you' coming out as a more guttural sound, resembling more of a 'ya' than anything. "You look like some priss." He pronounced every word slowly, egging me on. It worked.

"You asked for it!" I launched myself into his lap and began pulling at his orangey hair. He caught me, but the force of my jump had caused his chair to be knocked backwards. We fell to the floor, rolling upon impact. I came out on top, having flipped so that I was on his back with him in a choke hold.

"Take it back!"

"No, get off of me!"

"I'll get off when you take it back!"
"I'll take it back when you get OFF!"

The few people that had already been in the classroom stared at us in apparent fascination. "NEVER!" My war cry declared I forged in with my attack.

Kyo rumbled something that was unintelligible and then proceeded to flip over so he had me around the shoulders with one arm. I huffed but refused to let go of my death grip on his hair. He began rubbing the top of my head ferociously trying to get me to relent on his tabby colored locks. Unfortunately we are both very stubborn people and neither of us saw a reason to relent until the other did.

So that's how Yuki, Tohru, Hana, and Uo found us upon entering the classroom three minutes later. "Take it back and I'll let go." Speaking through gritted teeth I glared at him, my face contorted in pain. I could feel my lips pulled into a demonic smile as I refused to cry out or utter a single sound of vulnerability. He was no better off. "I'll take it back, once you let go. God woman what is wrong with you! I've had to say that at least fifty times now."

Tohru gasped at the sight and began rambling about trying to stop us from hurting one another. No one paid her much attention and was content to stare at us with a blank expression on their faces. Yuki's eyebrow twitched and he spoke in his deadly calm voice that made Kyo and me pause in our wrestling to listen. "What is going on here?"

First to react, Kyo tried to defend himself. "She started it!" I stuck my tongue out at him, the epitome of graceful comebacks. "No way! He said I looked like some priss, and he won't take it back." Uo laughed at me. She yanked me away from Kyo, untangling my fingers from his hair, while Yuki pulled Kyo to his own separate corner. She patted my head in sympathy. "Sorry sweetie, you do look like one." Hana nodded. "He is right, you do look rather adorable Jaden, your short stature coupled with the high school uniform does-"

"I get it Hana. That doesn't mean I have to like it." Yuki shook his head at us. "Can the two of you act your age for the rest of the day, or am I going to have to do something about this." You could visibly see Kyo's temper rising, so I thought it was best I intervene. Tugging his sleeve I forced his attention to me. "He's right Kyo, I'm sorry. We'll behave Yuki."

By Yuki's skeptical glance I could see he wasn't buying my adorable and complacent child act. The rest of the class however… "AWWWW! She is so adorable! Do you think she's another Sohma? She looks like she's their little sister, or their kid or something." "Is she even old enough for high school?" "Who cares, she is so cute." There were hearts in every Sohma fan girl's eyes, and appreciative looks from the guys as I skipped to my seat, the only empty one left. I settled in behind Uo and next to Tohru.

My eye twitched as I was forced to listen to the sick speculations that could only be produced through fandom. At one point I became their adopted child, then I was their half sister who they had lost years ago, and yes I mean I was both Yuki and Kyo's half sister at the same time, in one of those speculations.

These people are sick…After five more minutes or so the teacher decided to call the class to order. I was forced to introduce myself. Sighing internally, I decided to set them straight about me now so that I wouldn't have to deal with them later. I cleared my throat and then stood up, rocking back and forth on my toes as I stared at the ground planning what I was going to say.

The weirdos thought that that alone was worth cooing over. That's it, screw planning…I slammed my hand down on the top of my desk and looked around the room. "Alright, would all of you quit it with the 'oh look at the adorable kiddie' bit? It's starting to tick me off." Once everyone was quiet again I crossed my arms out of pure habit and then continued. "My name is Jaden. Last name isn't important. I'm Tohru Honda's cousin. I'm fourteen and yes I skipped a grade. If anyone has a problem with me then 'tough luck for you'. I like to be left alone, and will in turn provide the same courtesy. Do we understand each other?"

I was replied with silence and wide eyed stares. Nodding I took my seat. The teacher coughed, trying to escape from the awkward silence the room had settled into. As roll was being called Uo leaned over to offer me a high five. I allowed myself a smirk and returned it. I then brought my attention back to the board. Class had begun, and I already knew I was going to be bored.

I had decided to walk home with the boys; Tohru had decided to go with Hana and Uo to get their things for the sleepover. At first I had been reluctant to let her go, but then the image of anyone trying to mess with Uo or Hana had eased my worry wearied mind. As I was stashing my things is my locker I heard a slam behind me, accompanied by the scurrying sounds of female feet.

Oh brother, the terrifying trio has returned. Lo and behold, I turn around to find the air heads from this morning, the Prince Yuki fan club. "Can I help you ladies?" My eyebrow quirked upwards in an expression of utter disdain. These girls rubbed me the wrong way.

They shuffled around until their head ditz was front and center. Then the rant began. Goody. "We warned you. You mess with the Prince and you mess with us. You were instructed not to interfere with the Prince's family. Your little stunt involving Kyo-kun this morning was a direct violation." She came up and began glaring down at me with a face that was meant to seem scary. The fact that they were treating this whole girlish matter so seriously was making it hard for me to think of them as anything more than pathetic lunatics, let alone frightening.

"Not only do we hear you we're associating with Kyo-kun, but that you're related to that witch Tohru Honda. You must be bad news, and that means that we're going to have to deal with you." Up until now they had just been wastes of my time that were merely being a nuisance. Now they had insulted Tohru, and they were going to pay dearly for that mistake.

The trio advanced on me, they must have planned to gang up on me once I was alone in the practically deserted locker area. What they hadn't taken into account was that the girl they were trying to take down wrestled with Kyo. Every. Single. Day. If these girls thought for one second that three of them could take out Jaden without there being repercussions, then they were sorely mistaken.

The tall dirty blonde in the center attacked first, lunging at me at full force. She clearly didn't think that through seeing as I was standing right in front of the lockers. Stepping to the side and grabbing her by the waist, I added extra momentum to her pounce and helped her hit the lockers full on. With a loud *crash* she was on the ground holding her head in agony.

The brunette with the bob attacked next, she was using the claw your eyes out maneuver. I must say I would much rather wrestle with Kyo that with these girl. Heck, I'd rather get my butt kicked by Yuki. At least that would be exciting. As she went to slice my eyes I grabbed her hands pulling her to the ground I as flung my self backwards. Using the force of our fall to aid me I propelled her over top of, rolling back wards so I was straddling her. She smacked me, scratching my face. I could feel her manicured nails leave behind four horizontal lines on my face. She hit me right underneath wear my uncle had.

Great! That had almost cleared up! This is just lovely…Grimacing I boxed her ears, leaving her confused. Standing up I yanked her up with me only to throw her on top of her already fallen comrade. The last girl left seemed more scared than anything. I stood there waiting for her to make a move. She lifted a hand to her mouth. "Did you get all of that?" It was my turn to be confused. Behind me I heard footsteps, and before long another girl stood in front of me, this one holding a camcorder.

"You wretched little-" The girl with the camcorder walked up to get a close up on my face. "Wretched little what? You're the one who just beat up two innocent girls for no apparent reason. With a little editing we can make it look just like that don't you think?" The two of them snickered, very pleased with their dastardly plot. "You are completely at our mercy. You step out of line and we play this re-mastered scene for the whole school, then what. No one will respect you. You'll be seen as a bully and a thug."

Shaking my head I reached for the camera only to have it whisked out of my range of reach. "You honestly think that this is going to ruin me? If you've heard anything you'll know that I like to be left alone. This little stunt is going to do no harm and no good for my social standings. It means nothing." They snickered again, as if I was a naïve fool. They knew something I didn't. Luckily they're the type of villains that's feel it is necessary to tell their entire evil plot to the protagonist as so as they feel they have the upper hand.

"Oh, but what would Tohru think? Or the Prince and Kyo-kun. They wouldn't like it one bit now would they? To see the little darling princess as a demon, it would just make their day right." Is stopped, dumbfounded by the level of idiocy these girls had achieved. Yuki would just tell me not to fight with girls on school property. Kyo would have criticized my methods of fighting. Tohru might get upset…

"Do you actually use the muscle between your ears? Or is it just there to weigh your head down and keep it attached to your shoulders?" The hissed at me, but then huddled together having an impromptu conference. You have got to be kidding me right? I considered making a break for it, but I wasn't quite fast enough.

"Change of plans! We didn't no what to expect with you so we came prepared." By now the two girls from earlier that had been roughed up were at least standing on their own to feet. From the bag the girl with the camera was wearing a thing of duct tape was produced. "You might have taken on two of us, but there is no way you can handle four at a time." They set the camera in an open locker where it would have a good view and then readied themselves for a fight.

I glanced around looking for an escape from this madness. Nope, they had planted themselves right in front to the room's only exit. If I wanted out I'd have to fight. This feels like such a cheesy scene from a lame movie or anime…

If sighing were a sport, I would be in the platinum level of excellence at it by now. I feel like I spend my whole life sighing, and today was not going to be an exception. "I don't want to waste my time but fine. You asked for it."

Now, if they had come at me one by one like they had done last time I would have come out victorious in minutes. But they decided to play nasty and all four of them rushed me at once. The next minutes or so are so confusing and disorienting; it's rather hard to describe them.

One moment they rush me, the next I'm slamming one girl into the lockers, yanking on by the arm over my shoulder onto the floor after she tries to choke me. I think someone got kneed in the stomach and then the chin, but I let that fly as I grabbed for a brunette's fists as they came at me. One moment I feel my fists colliding with some chick's abdomen, then I feel something yanking me backwards by both arms. I reach back to fight my newest assailant off and instead of a crush crazed fan girl there stands a tall man with dark green hair.

"Would someone like to explain what is going on here?"

A/N: Okay, sorry for the ever so slight cliff hanger I will try and get five up soon though. Hope you enjoyed and like always, love the feed back, no matter what kind!

Lots of love from me to you!

-Rat