Spoilers for the Manga

A young girl of about 10 years of age, sat on her bed reading a Japanese Manga book. Her name was Bethany Middleton, and she was really quite normal. Except for her Asperser's Syndrome that is. Yes she was just so completely normal, that it almost bored her to death. Figuratively, that is. Bethany sighed, looking at her book, "I wonder what would happen if I lived in the world of 'Fruits Basket'? I guess it doesn't matter, I just wish my life would be a little more interesting at least". Suddenly, the book began to glow and before the young girl had a chance to do anything, she was drawn into the book and disappeared.

Ś

Bethany slowly woke up, causing the people around her to gasp. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, as the light poured through them. 'Looks like I have to wake up now' she thought, opening her eyes to the world around her. What she saw, or rather, who she saw was not what she was expecting. Two characters from the Manga she'd just been reading looked down at her. One was Hatori Sohma, the Dragon of the Zodiac, and the other was Ayame Sohma, the Snake. She blinked up at them, "are you alright?" Hatori asked. Bethany found her voice a minute later and nodded, "yes, I'm okay," she said, as the doctor of the Sohma family held out his hand to help her up. She accepted with a small smile, but blinked when she noticed that the older man was a lot younger than she remembered from the manga and anime.

Sitting up on, what she now saw was a futon, Bethany looked up at the familiar faces around her. Hatori then got her attention, "my name is Hatori Sohma, what-" but he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, as Bethany gasped. The two teenagers watched in shock as the little girl doubled over, as if in pain. The 10 year old girl placed both hands over her heart, and grunted, narrowing her eyes, as she felt, something. It was as if another person was forcing their way into her very core, changing her, and causing her to feel another presence in her heart. As this was happening, her hair was changing colour, from brown, to pure snow white. Bethany gasped, louder this time as she quickly lowered her hands and placed them on the blanket, on either side of her legs to keep herself from toppling forwards. She was panting loudly now, with sweat dripping down the side of her face, her hair hanging over her shoulders.

Bethany shivered, as the unknown presence settled and curled up comfortably in her heart, making her chest feel heavy with a sudden and uncomfortable weight. To say the two males in the room with her were shocked would be an understatement. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Hatori left the small 10-old and walked over to the door. Opening it, he saw Akito's personal maid standing there. He frowned, having an idea of why the woman was there. "Yes, is there something I can help you with?" he asked as politely as he could. The maid nodded, gesturing to the girl who still looked shocked sitting on the bed behind him, "Master Akito wishes to see the girl" she said simply, then walked off. Hatori turned around to the little girl, "little girl," he said, getting her attention. Bethany looked up, "the head of our family would like to see you now, I have to take you to him" he explained. Bethany blinked for a moment, then attempted to get up.

After the first attempt was unsuccessful, Hatori walked over to her and helped her up himself. The walk to Akito's quarters was a quiet one. The older boy looked over at the child holding onto his arm. She seemed so pure, so innocent. If he was right in his assumptions, she wouldn't stay that way for long. Finally reaching the room of the head of the family, Hatori knocked on the door, "Akito, I've brought the girl", "come in" said a small, yet arrogant voice. The Sohma family doctor slid open the door, and gestured for Bethany to enter. The small girl walked into the room alone, and the door was closed behind her with a small 'snap'. Bethany looked ahead of her, to see an older girl, a lot younger than the two people she'd just met with short black hair and black cold eyes. Bethany shivered looking at those eyes, feeling like all the warmth had been sucked out of the room. The girl smiled at her, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Come sit down now, little one," she said gently. Bethany gulped, but complied, sitting down in front of her and attempting to imitate the way she sat, which was the lotus position with her legs folded underneath her. She was very nervous, she could feel a strange kind of connection between herself and this person and she knew it had to do with the other being inside her heart. As she'd also read the full Manga of Fruits Basket, she knew that Akito was actually a girl "Now, tell me, what is your name?" she asked softly. Bethany stayed silent, she wasn't supposed to talk to strangers after all. The young girl smiled softly, but she could still see the cruelty in her eyes, "come on now, little one, tell me your name" she said. Bethany shook slightly as the being inside of her stirred, "B-Bethany Middleton," she said quietly, as she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. W-why was she crying? She could feel it, the being inside her was crying out to her.

"Bethany, what a pretty name," she replied, but the young white-haired girl could easily tell that she didn't mean it. Bethany gasped as her tears began to gently fall down her cheeks. Akito reached across and brushed some of her hair out of her face, "but I'm afraid you're going to have to change your last name, you see, you belong to the Sohma family now, and have been possessed by the spirit of the Fennec Fox," Despite her soft voice and gentle touch, Bethany could tell that this person didn't like her. Akito caressed her cheek gently, before leaning in and whispering in her ear: "you are mine now".

Ś

It was decided that she would be staying at Shigure's house. Yuki Sohma, the Rat of the Zodiac was already staying with him, and Hatori Sohma, who she'd met earlier, and learned was the Seahorse, or Dragon of the Zodiac was to drive her there. The small ten year old followed quietly as he led her through Sohma House to get to his car. Hatori looked back at her out of the corner of his eye. Bethany Middleton, or rather, Bethany Sohma looked small and meek as she followed along behind him, trying to keep up with his long strides. Ayame had already gone home, so it was just the two getting into the older man's car.

The drive to Shigure's house was quiet and uncomfortable. Bethany really wanted to ask Hatori some things, but felt too shy to. Finally, she worked up the nerve, "u-um, Hatori-San," she started, to which he gave a 'hm' of acknowledgment. "W-what did that person mean by possessed?" she asked softly, wanting to confirm what she already knew. Hatori glanced at the girl out of the corner of his eye. She was looking down at her lap. Hatori sighed, "it means that you're going to have to be careful not to let any boy other than another one of the cursed hug you, otherwise you'll turn into a small snow-white Fennec Fox" he said, as gently as possible, but really, how do you tone down information like that? Bethany bit her lip and shivered a little, "I see" was all she said.

The rest of the drive to Shigure's house was quiet and uneventful. When they got to the fairly large house it was already night time. Hatori had called Shigure before they'd left to tell him they were coming. When the car stopped, Hatori went and helped Bethany out of the car, then led her up to the house. After knocking, both heard a cheerful voice call out: "I'm coming!" when the door opened, it revealed a man, about Hatori's age, with short black hair and eyes. He stopped upon seeing Bethany, "so, she's-" Shigure started, but got cut off by Hatori, "yes, now if you don't mind, I'm going home and to bed, take care of her, and don't try any of your usual perverted tricks" he said dryly as he walked back to his car.

Bethany waved quickly, "good night Hatori-S- Hatori" she called, barely able to cut off the 'San' after all, he was pretty much family now, wasn't he? The older man didn't say anything back, but he gave a small wave before getting in his car and driving off. Bethany shivered in the cold night air, before Shigure cleared his throat to get her attention. It worked, and she turned around to face him. "Bethany-Chan, isn't it?" he asked softly. Bethany nodded, "why don't we go inside, it's much warmer in there, and you look like you're already freezing". The ten year old nodded gratefully, before following him into the large house. Bethany looked all around her, the house was huge, maybe not as big as the house she'd left, but it was still bigger than what she was used to. "Well, Bethany-Chan, do you know about Yuki-Kun?" he asked, stopping at a door on the second floor of the house.

She nodded, "a bit, I know he's staying here with you and that he's the Rat of the Zodiac" Shigure smiled, "good, why don't you get some rest, and we can all get to know each other better in the morning" with that he bade her good night and walked off. The young girl entered her new room, she actually knew more about Yuki than that. In fact, she may just know more about the Zodiacs than they themselves did at this point. Bethany yawned deeply, everything that had happened that day had just taken the energy right out of her. Exhausted, Bethany lay down on the futon that had been prepared for her, her long white hair spread out behind her, and fell fast asleep.

To Be Continued