This one might be a bit creepy of you understand all of it, but that seems to be what I'm good at. I started a new book recently and haven't really had time to write, but I should finish it soon since it isn't too long. One thing I've noticed while reading is that the word 'said' is used way to much, as is 'asked'. I mean seriously? There are so many words to replace those that would be so much more descriptive. Even though I enjoy the stories I read, when I see those used repetitively over and over again, I get annoyed. Widen your vocabulary, people!

SnowyNeko: We should have a party on St. Patrick's day.

Lelouch: Another one?

Yuki: Sounds interesting. Should we bring something?

SnowyNeko: The girls and I will take care of the food.

Sebastian: I could help with that, too.

SnowyNeko: Perfect! We could use the help! Tori's the only one of us who's decent at cooking.

Yuki: I could bring sparkling wine.

SnowyNeko: And Lelouch can wear his kitty cosplay!

Lelouch: *mumbles* I swear I'm going to throw that thing out after I burn it.

SnowyNeko: Don't you dare!

Lelouch: She doesn't own the animes or their characters.


The second Sebastian calls that the rice is ready, I dash to the fire. I haven't felt this hungry since the days when dad would forget to feed me when I was little. At Cassidy's house and in Fruits Basket, I never had to go hungry due to their surplus of food. The last I ate was some of Tohru's stir-fry for lunch, but I feel like I haven't eaten in weeks.

I watch Sebastian lift the rice from the fire and wonder just how hot the helmet is. His gloves must be heat resistant or something. We don't have any bowls or utensils, so we use the crackers to scoop out the rice. In my haste, I accidently bump the side of the helmet and jerk back, hissing. Holy crap that's hot! Even if Sebastian's gloves are resistant to heat, his hands must've been scorched! Yuki stops eating and takes my hand in his, examining the burn.

After a moment, he kisses it. "It's nothing serious," he tells me, "but be careful."

I eat more than anyone else. Sebastian insists he isn't hungry, and Kara barely eats at all, complaining of a stomachache, so I gobble down their shares as well. Yuki doesn't eat much either, but I sum it up to anxiety.

When he comments on my gluttonous behavior, I say, "I know, but I still feel starved! Is there any more?"

"Yes, but we're saving it for breakfast." Tori glares at me. "You can't eat it all now."

"No, I understand," I back down. Even with all the cheese, rice, and crackers I've stuffed in, my stomach still feels ravenous, eating me from the inside out. It's an awful feeling, but not quite sickening. I should be okay. Suddenly, I let out a huge yawn and lean back into Yuki, eyelids heavy.

"I'm tired," I grumble weakly.

Yuki chuckles. "If you pass out here, I won't be able to carry you to bed, you know?"

"Yeah." I lift my arms towards the sky. "Help me up." He stands, grabbing both of my hands. He's cautious not to grasp my burn too hard as he hoists me up. Staggering, with support with Yuki, I make my way to my 'bed' for the night.

"Did you wear yourself out?" Yuki asks. "You've been pretty lively this afternoon." I give a bobbing nod in response, yawning again. Today has definitely been weird. I guess my body's reacting to the change by going a little whacko. Yuki lowers me down slowly onto the blanket and, before he can let go, I yank him down with me. He catches himself next to me, propping himself on his elbows.

"Stay," I mumble, grabbing the front of his shirt. He glances back in the direction of the fire and sighs, consenting. He lays down facing me. We clasp our hands between us and I curl up, drained of energy.

"Yuki, are you okay?" I wonder absently. I've been meaning to ask him, but there hasn't been an ounce of free time, let alone time to ourselves. This world isn't anything like his own, and I've begun to question if this is even my world. I mean, dinosaurs? And the animals are all acting strange.

"I'm alright," he reassures me. "It's just…where are we? Why does it look so different?"

I'm suddenly wide-awake. I've been hoping I'd never have to explain this to him, my arrival in Fruits Basket and the different worlds. How would he respond? Should I tell him now? I convinced the Sohmas I still couldn't remember where I'm from. Yuki knows about my family situation, but I blatantly lied when he asked if I'd recalled where I lived. I was under the impression I wouldn't have to worry about it, but that's come back to bite me. My mind, now out of its fog, rushes to find a solution. I have to explain, but how? I don't understand what's going on.

I squeeze his hand. "Yuki, I'm about to tell you something you'll never believe in a million years, but please hear me out."

His eyes widen a bit, but he nods for me to go on. I take a deep breath. I'm about to sound insane, but the truth is nothing less.

"This is where I'm from," I tell him, meeting his gaze in the dimness. "No particularly from here, but a place like this. These sorts of colors and textures are what I was born into. This is what I actually look like. I have no idea why I first went to…your world, but it was as confusing for me then as it is for you now." I wait for his response nervously.

To my relief, he only smiles. "So you're an alien?"

"I don't think so. I live on earth too, but I don't think they're the same. There's also a Japan, Australia, and America. I come from the U.S."

"Then why do you speak Japanese so fluently?"

"I don't. When you or Shigure or anyone else talks, I hear English. When I speak, I hear English."

Now he's confused. "I hear Japanese. How is that possible?"

"How is your turning into a rat possible? I don't know, it just is. All I know is that now, when I'm unconscious, in this world, I'm conscious in yours."

"You mean you've been unconscious all this time?" He lifts his head, voice alarmed. "Are you sick?"

My breathing comes ragged. This is the worst part. I just know he's going to freak out when he hears it.

"For the first few weeks, yes. I was in a coma after I tripped down the stairs. That's how I broke my arm."

"The first few weeks? And after?"

"When that girl hit my head at prom I woke up, but not entirely. I could return a bit when I slept, and could hear you talking to me. I wasn't really here or there. I was stuck in between." Before I realize it, a tear slips down my cheek. It was frightening, being in two worlds and belonging in neither. There was no way I could live like that. "When I was in a coma in your world, I was in the hospital in mine. When I finally got out I…I wanted to go back to you and the others. I wanted to stay there."

He visibly stiffens, tightening his hand around mine. "Did you do something to yourself? Tell me you didn't."

"Yuki…I shot myself."

"Are you an idiot?" He bolts upright, eyes frightened. The background noise from the campfire ceases. "Why?"

I put a finger to my lips, wincing. He nearly never raises his voice like this. "That's not the problem. I died and returned to your world to stay. I'm confident I didn't survive a direct shot through my skull. Get the picture?"

"It's not a pleasant one."

"Yuki. I didn't survive in this world, so how am I here?"

He blinks, stunned as if he's just been slapped. I give him a now do you get it look. Slowly, he sinks back to the ground, his expression dazed.

"You're probably here the same way I went to your world, however that was, but how am I here? How and why?"

He shakes his head. "I get why you didn't tell me this," is all he says. At that, I crack a smile.

"Yeah," I giggle. "It sounds like I belong in an asylum."

"If you belong there, I do too. The guy who turns into a rat. I hope we get cells next to each other."

I punch his arm lightly. "You idiot. It's not crazy if it's true."

Well, the truth is pretty crazy if you ask me." He startles me with a kiss out of nowhere.

"I never asked." I snuggle against his chest, growing drowsy again. The faint voices of the others, which resumed shortly after Yuki's outburst, don't drown out the lulling crackling of the fire. Yuki's breathing has slowed to an even pace, and I can hear the steady beat of his heart. Somewhere in the distance, cicadas and crickets join their music together in a gentle harmony. Really, the only thing that would make this better would be an actual pillow, but Yuki's arm isn't that bad either.

Gradually, the sounds from the campfire fade away as the others retire to their 'beds'. From what I can tell, Sebastian is the last one awake and the one to put out the fire. The prairie is plunged into darkness. A couple of the others fall deep enough asleep to snore. Even so, I'm nestled up by Yuki, conscious.

My body is heavy, but my mind won't stop running. I groggily try to sort out my thoughts, but they all doggedly avoid getting caught. They all point to one thing, though: the gunshot. I'm almost entirely certain that it killed me, or at least, my body. Is it possible for me to be back in it? I pulled the trigger, and it undoubtedly fired. As disgusting as it is, I probably blew half my brains out.

I grimace. Would it be possible to fix me up exactly how I was? With current medical science, that's highly unlikely. If they did somehow save me, I imagine I'd be mentally handicapped for life. In all the confusion of my thoughts, one word comes to mind. How?

Of its own accord, my hand wanders up to my head. Okay, if they really fixed me up, there's probably a bump or a scar where the bullet went in and came out. I placed the gun right about here, so the injury would be around...

I let out an ear-piercing scream.


I would scream too, probably. Either that, or I'd gag and rip my hand away. I feel really sorry for Vierra. The way this storyline is going, she's not going to have a very pleasant time. Poor girl's gonna end up with some serious trauma. Although, I guess she's already had a tragic childhood. She isn't very lucky, is she? I'll have to have something great happen to her somewhere along the line to balance it all out.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!