manager about his plans right after Tohru called him. The last thing he needs after such a fun holiday is to be lectured by Kranz when he gets back. Kranz probably would've been worried sick if he hadn't been informed about the holiday ahead of time. Licht is happy that he has people in his life that care
about him as much as his manager, and Tohru obviously do.
A few fays after her camping date with her boyfriend Tohru is looking up at the beautiful clear sky with a smile on her face. As she is admiring the day Tohru says.
"Look at that beautiful sky. See you later mom take care of the house while we're gone. We'll be back." Tohru
Tohru turns to leave for school, and thinks.
'Hello, my name is Tohru Honda. I haven't always lived in a tent. Up until last May I lived with my mom. It was just the two of us, but then the accident. After I lost mom I began secretly living here on my own. It's not exactly comfortable, but it's alright, and it's what I have to do. Like my mother says Never give up.' Tohru
As she is walking down a path Tohru turns her head, and sees a house. She goes to investigate, and says.
"How cute the 12 animals of the Zodiac." Tohru
"My word. Do my eyes deceive me, or is there a strange young girl standing on my porch." ?
Tohru backs up, and says.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was just looking I didn't mean to barge in without permission." Tohru
"It's alright I just set them out to dry. No harm done, but I find it hard to believe that these silly little things could attract your interest." ?
"No I really like them. I don't think their silly at all." Tohru
"Yes well. I must admit I'm particularly fond of them myself." ?
"Oh, but I should've known. You left out the cat." Tohru
"The cat? Ah, I take it you're referring to the old folk tale of the Chinese Zodiac." ?
"U-huh. My mom told it to me when I was little." Tohru
Then Tohru goes on to remember when he mother told her the story. She didn't realize that she had told the story out loud until she heard the owner of the house say.
"Funny I wonder what he'll say when he hears he has a fan?" ?
"He?" Tohru
"You were born in the year of the dog. I knew there was something I liked about you aside from your pretty fa..." ?
As he is saying that a school bag comes crashing down on his head. Tohru looks up, and says.
"Huh?" Tohru
"Please forgive my cousin Miss Honda. He's a bit of a flirt, but he's harmless. In general it's usually best to just ignore him." ?!
"Yuki Soma." Tohru
"Aahhh, What do you have in that bag? A dictionary?" ?
"No I have two of them." Yuki Soma
"So you're one of Yuki's classmates from school. Let's start again. I'm Shigurae his older, and much less violent cousin." Shigurae
"Hi it's very nice to meet you." Tohru
"And what brings you to our home this morning Miss Honda?" Yuki Soma
"Ha ha. Well you know I live nearby." Tohru
"You do. Where at?" Yuki Soma
"Um right." Tohru
Yuki Soma and Shigurae get puzzled looks on their faces, and Tohru says.
"Ok I think I'll just be going now. It was nice to meet you." Tohru
"Wait Miss Honda. Since you're here; Why don't we walk together?" Yuki Soma
Tohru being her kind self couldn't refuse his offer.
The prince Yuki fan club does some kind of cheer leading routine which was completely ignored. Before class the fan club girls come up to her in an angry fashion, and say.
"Ok, start talking. What was that all about Miss Tohru? Why were you walking to school with Prince Yuki; Details, and they better be good." fan girls
"It's was just a coincidence." Tohru
"Well for you're sake I hope that is all it was. Every girl in Kahwaia High class 1D knows Yuki Soma's the best looking boy in school, and he's intelligent, and great at sports. And for your info we are the prince Yuki fan club. We've got first dibs sister so you better stay clear." fan girls
"Hey!" Uo
"What!" fan girls.
"She said it was coincidence now get lost before those big noses of yours get bruised." Uo
"Now hold it Yankee. You're not going to scare us with that street thug talk." fan girls
"One more word, and you'll all get zapped with electric shocks." Hana
"Thanks, I didn't think they'd ever leave." Tohru
"Were those catty little girls bothering you? Aw Hana don't actually shock anyone ok." Uo
"What's that noise I just heard all about?" Sakuya
"Tohru was walking to school with Yuki Soma coincidentally, and the fan club was bothering her." Uo
"Those girls are so petty and annoying. I pity the guys they end up with." Sakuya
"You said it. We should get to class before we're late." Uo
Sakuya nods, and they all head to class.
During home economics Tohru and two of her friends are talking about what happened this morning saying.
"You know the truth is I was so nervous walking with Yuki this morning I couldn't talk to him; No I couldn't even look at him." Tohru
"Really are things not going well with your boyfriend?" Uo
"Things are going great with Jekyll. I love him more and more as each day passes." Tohru
"Then why? Oh I get it you were worried about what would happen if someone saw you walking with the most popular boy in school." Uo
"Yeah, I was." Tohru
"As it turns out she was right to worry. The prince Yuki fan club went ballistic over a coincidence. Also I sense strange electric signals coming from that boy." Hana
"Here we go again Hana's electric report." Uo
"Strange how?" Tohru
"I don't know he's different." Hana
"Well I admit he does seem to have an air of mystery about him, and there are some weird stories floating around too. I hear one of those fan club girls tried to ask him out once, but he just pushed her away, and I mean that literally. Right in the hall then he left her on the floor, and ran off." Uo
"Like I said I sense strange electric signals." Hana
"Um lets talk about something else." Tohru
"How's that job of yours going?" Uo
"Oh fine I guess, why?" Tohru
"I don't know? You've been putting in a lot of hours lately. A lot more than usual." Uo
"Yeah sure." Tohru
"You're having trouble saving up for tuition aren't you?" Uo
"No it's just...well yeah." Tohru
"That's odd I didn't think tuition here was that expensive, and I don't remember you having to work this hard before unless something else has changed." Hana
Tohru is about to deny it when Uo says.
"So what is it? You in some kind of trouble? You owe somebody? Your Grandfathers giving you enough to eat right? He isn't taking your money?" Uo
"Um m." Tohru
"I know I worry to much, but seriously if you need me to rough someone up for you just say the word got it." Uo
"Ok." Tohru
After she says this Tohru is thinking.
'Uo is going to kill me when she finds out, but how can I tell two of my best friends that I live in a tent. I can still remember how hard it was on mom after dad died. She had to work so hard just to make ends meet, but she never seemed to mind. She always had a smile. It's hard to believe that someone so smart, and so strong could be taken away by an accident. After it happened there were a lot of people I could've stayed with I guess. I chose to live with my paternal grandfather. He was always so nice to me, but he's retired now and living on his savings. I didn't want to be a burden so I promised him I'd work to pay for my tuition myself. After four months the house needed some renovations, and grandfather went to stay with his daughter and her family until the work was done. He asked me if I had a friend here I could stay with. I told him yes, but Uo lives in a one room apartment, and Hana's got such a large family I couldn't ask them. They've got enough to worry about I'd just be in the way. That's when it hit me if I could some how live on my own for awhile then everyone would be happy.' Tohru
After school Tohru bumps into Yuki Soma on her way to her locker to collect her outside shoes, and discreetly put Kuro back in her bag. She grabs her bag with both hands, and says.
"Oh Yuki it's you. I mean it's...Hi." Tohru
"It seems we're beginning to make a habit of bumping into each other." Yuki Soma
The two of them walk home together, and as they are walking Tohru says.
"It was nice meeting your cousin this morning. He was funny, and those little Zodiac figurines he made were really cute." Tohru
"Ah yes, but I thought I over heard you saying something about how you wish there was a year of the cat." Yuki Soma
"It's an idea I came up with when I was a kid silly." Tohru
"Cats useless foolish creatures. Tell me something Miss Honda. How familiar would you say you are with the history of the Chinese Zodiac?" Yuki Soma
"I know the stories my mom used to tell me." Tohru
"Did you know that originally it was nothing more than a simple calendar. A mathematical system to mark the passage of time. Only later did people begin to use it for things like astrology and fortune telling." Yuki Soma
"Oh I guess the story about the animals isn't true then." Tohru
"No. I'm not really sure how or when the animals first came to represent the years, but I don't believe they were there from the beginning. What I do know is that no time in the history of the Zodiac has the cat ever been included. So you see the cat has been shunned by society for thousands of years, but as the story is told it still yearns to be accepted. Like I say a truly foolish animal." Yuki Soma
"Sounds like you really don't like cats." Tohru
"I noticed it this morning that you're starting to look a bit pale. You should really take better care of yourself. Perhaps we'll bump into each other tomorrow." Yuki Soma
'Wow. He really is mysterious, but I'll pretend I didn't hear that pale remark.' Tohru
At work Tohru goes on to think.
'I can't afford to let anything hold be back I've got to much to do. Besides mom probably had it much much worse.' Tohru
"What? Hey you just going to let this trash sit here all night?" company employee
"Oh sorry." Tohru
Tohru gets so busy cleaning that it shocks everyone else in the room.
When the moon is high Yuki Soma and his cousin are walking home from eating out, and Shigurae says.
"We keep eating out like this all the time I'm going to have to buy a bigger robe." Shigurae
"Well then why don't you do the cooking?" Yuki Soma
"Why? Every time I make dinner you complain." Shigurae
"Pickled radish in curry isn't dinner it's disgusting. I think one complaint is more or less justified." Yuki Soma
"You know Yuki you've got a good head on your shoulders, but I don't think you're cut out for house work. Lets get a house keeper." Shigurae
"No. Hold up Miss Honda." Yuki Soma
Tohru goes into her tent, lets Kuro out of her bag, and says.
"Hi mom I'm home. I know it's late, but I can't sleep yet. I still have a paper to write. I'm just going to go down to the stream, and wash up a little ok." Tohru
Tohru takes a rag, and starts to leave the tent. She sees Yuki and his cousin standing there staring at her. Shigurae starts laughing at her, Tohru puts the rag away, and picks up Kuro along with his cat bed. After awhile Yuki says.
"Shigurae don't you think you're over doing it." Yuki
When they get to the house Tohru puts the cat bed on the floor, and sits down with Shigurae still laughing at her in the corner. Once Yuki is seated he says.
"So you've been living in that tent by yourself." Yuki
"U-huh." Tohru
"For how long?" Yuki
"I dunno just over a week." Tohru
"Well that explains it all of this land is Soma property. It seemed odd that we'd suddenly have a new neighbour." Yuki
"I'm sorry, but please can't I stay there a little while longer? It's only for a few more weeks then I'll go. I don't have much money, but I can pay you. Please let me stay?" Tohru
"Those woods aren't to safe. You've got wild animals, land slides, the occasional weirdo prowling around; It's not a good idea for a girl to be living out there alone." Shigurae
"So you're done laughing." Yuki
Tohru stands, holds up her right hand with the palm facing her, and says.
"Don't worry about me I'm already used to all the bugs, and if I can stand up to them I can stand up to..." Tohru
Kuro wakes up because of loud conversation, and notices Tohru fall back to her seat. He is instantly worried, and jumps onto Shigurae's shoulder. The owners are to busy checking on Tohru to notice that he's there. Yuki puts his hand to her forehead, and says.
"A fever." Yuki
"Ice I'll get ice." Shigurae
When he opens the door to the kitchen both him, and Kuro sweat drop at all the mess. When Tohru looks at it she says.
"Huh, and you call the woods unsafe." Tohru
"Well relatively speaking." Shigurae
A dog howls, and Shigurae says.
"There hear that there has just been another land slide somewhere." Shigurae
"Uh really, but how do you know that?" Tohru
"I guess you could say it's instinct." Shigurae
"Was it close?" Yuki
"Close to the tent. I mean not at all." Shigurae
They arrive at the tent, and find it buried underneath a huge pile of dirt, and rocks. Tohru panics at the