"Now, THIS is weird." Shigure stared at both ladies. "Tohru-san, you haven't mentioned that you are a princess."

"I didn't." Tohru looked at him. "I… was a bit afraid of your reaction."

"But… a princess and goddess in one house?! That's amazing!" Kagura mentioned, jumping from her seat excitingly. "There are princesses in heaven???"

"Let me explain that for you." The mysterious woman stepped forward. "Mortals declare that somebody or something is divine once it ascends or descends from the sky or from above. Lately, when a woman 'descends', they call her a goddess." She explained. "As for princess Celeste, she did not descend. She was just teleported from her homeland which is not found here on your planet."

"SO she's not a goddess?" Yuki asked.

"No it's not like that. You can call her a goddess, since she's immortal. But still, you have to address her as princess---"

"That's not necessary." Tohru said quickly. "I'm… not in my homeland so… I don't have the authority to be called a princess."

"What is the name of this 'homeland'?" Kyou asked quickly and stared at the woman who came in. "AND, who are you?"

"Allow me to introduce myself." The woman bowed lowly. "I am Mildred, third guardian of the sun and a company of the mistress. Since it's forbidden to address this name here on your planet, as ordered, you can call me Uotani Arisa."

"Ooh~! Uo-chan!" Tohru repeated happily.

"Yes, princess, and I was completely against this name but your mother herself researched about this… Japan and she gave me a name. She told me that I shouldn't forget it unless I'm here." She continued.

"And, young man," she eyed Kyou. "We're not really allowed to utter the name of our beloved homeland. We believe that even mortals like you can invade it."

"Oh…" Kyou replied. "Can I ask you a favor? Don't call us mortals. It makes me think that you disgusts us as a low life creatures."

"Is that an order, Mortal?" Uotani asked.

"Never say that word again."

"Was that a threat? Are you threatening me?"

"It's an order." The neko glared sternly.

"Do you know who I am? I am one of the most powerful sorceresses in the face of the universe. If it were my will, I would let the sun explode and engulf your precious planet!" she declared in a full loud voice. "You should bow before me and beg for forgiveness because of your abandoned mouth!"

"ABANDONED? My mouth?" Kyou smirked wildly. "I don't care if you're lady Cleopatra or the 50th descendant of Zeus. As long as you stand on the Sohma property, you are under the rules of the Sohma."

The sun goddess' eyes flared in anger. She clamped her hands together on her chest and formed flame energy. "I'll show you… you…." She was about to fire it when---

"Counter!" Tohru raised her hand and a small blue energy collided with the red one. It reacted for a while then it disappeared. All of them, especially the Sohmas, were out of words.

"First rule, Mildred." Tohru glared at the goddess. "Never use magic here on Earth. It's forbidden, if you don't mind."

"I'm… terribly sorry, princess---"

"Second, never address me as princess." She repeated. "We're here on Earth, not in our homeland. We should blend in as we are ordered to. We should be addressed as equals, like fellow human beings. You will call me Tohru, while I call you Uotani."

"Yes…Tohru." She found it hard to call her name but it's an order.

"Now… that settles it." Kagura said slowly. "Do you want some tea?"

"I… don't eat 'tea'." Uotani replied.

"Of course not." Tohru chuckled softly. "You drink tea. You should try some. It's so relaxing---"

"But I'm not here to relax, prin—Tohru." She corrected herself. "I'm here to fetch you."

"Fetch me?"

"Why?" Yuki quickly stood up. "Is there something wrong?"

"Well, it's for her safety." She explained. "I believe that you've already heard that there's a criminal on the loose and it's after Tohru, right?"

"Yes, she mentioned that." Yuki replied. "But why now?"

"But it was address on the letter…" Uotani wondered. "Tohru, have you received a letter… a scroll from your mother?"

"No, not really. Why?" she asked.

"A few weeks ago, I met a young fellow who calls himself as a Sohma." The sun goddess explained. "I heard that you're living with the Sohmas so I told him to send this message to you."

"A week ago?" Kagura asked. "Strange… no postman went here."

"Did he wore a blue shirt and pants and was carrying a shoulder bag with lots of letters, like the usual postman wears?" Shigure asked.

"No. He wore something like black and his hair was white and black." She replied. "And he was staring at the map and mumbling, 'I know this place. I can't be lost.'"

All of the Sohmas sweatdropped and sighed.

"What's wrong?" Tohru asked.

"Ne, it's just the description's quite familiar." Shigure replied. "I believe that the fellow you saw is definitely a Sohma."

"But when will he come? It's been a week already!"

"Don't worry. Haru-san can find this house after exactly a week." Yuki explained.

"Haru-san?" Tohru wondered.

All of the sudden, the door opened and a guy came in. He wore exactly the same clothes that Uo explained: Black and he had a black and white hair. He was panting wildly and was holding a small scroll in his hand.

"YOU!" Uo stood up and glared at him. "Where have you been? It's been a week already? Haven't you noticed???"

"Sorry…" he muttered.

"Welcome back, Haru-san." Yuki said. "Honda-san, this is Sohma Hatsuharu. Haru for short."

Haru stood up straight and bowed apologetically. "Hello, sorry if I'm a bit late. I was lost in the woods and---"

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT IN FRONT OF HER! HOW DARE YOU CLAIM YOURSELF TO BE LOST WHILE YOU ARE HOLDING A SACRED PARCHMENT!" Uotani roared angrily. "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOUR---"

"Apology accepted." Tohru said quickly. "I understand and know you, Haru-san. You are the Sohma who had a… um… a bit poor sense of direction, am I right?"

"If there's less than worst, that's the best word to describe his sense of direction." Kyou muttered.

"What did you say?!" Haru asked.

"Also, I heard that there's a dark side of him." Tohru grinned. "Please don't start a fight here, okay?"

"Who is she?" Haru pointed Tohru. One by one, the Sohmas contributed the series of events that had happened, as well as Uotani. After everything was settled, Haru had a hard time thinking.

"Goddess?"

"Yes, that's right." Yuki nodded.

"And don't forget, princess." Kagura pointed.

"I don't care about that. I like 'goddess' more." He stared at her. "And you… grant wishes."

"Yes I do." Tohru nodded. "But only one per Sohma."

"I see…" the cow muttered.

"Ahem…" Uo eyed him. "The scroll, please?"

"Oh yes. This lady wanted to give you this scroll." He handed it to Tohru. "Sorry if I was really late."

"Don't you even---"

"Apology accepted." Tohru said firmly. "Please forgive Mildred. She doesn't really know how to be hospitable."

"Princess---"

"Rule… number… two… Mildred." She eyed the guardian. Yuki stared at her. He had never seen her this angry.

"Um…" Kagura began. "Can I read what is in the parchment?"

"Oh sure…" Tohru handed it to her.

"But---"

"Uo-chan!" she glared at her. "Mother won't mind."

"Thanks!" the boar happily opened the scroll. She started to read… but no words registered on her mind. "Ano…" she began.

"What is it?"

"I don't understand it…" she sweatdropped. "It looked familiar but…"

"Can you read what is written there?" Yuki asked.

Kagura nodded slowly and whispered:

El criminal todavía está en el flojo. Muy pelogroso. Enviaré a guardas del sol y de la luna para protegele.

No se olvide de usted misión. Permanzca lejos de las muchedubres como sea possible.

Te amo. De su madre.

All of them were silent while Shigure laughed loudly. "I can't believe that you actually can read that correctly, Kagura!"

"Then, genius, what is it?" she asked angrily.

"That's Spanish!." He looked at Tohru. "Am I right?"

"If that's what you call out language then, yes." She smiled.

"I didn't know you took Spanish classes, Shigure." Yuki wondered.

"I didn't. Aya-san stumbled in a bookstore and found a Spanish porn magazine." He laughed. "We just researched every single word of the articles!"

"I see…" Kyou grinned.

"Here…" he took the scroll from Kagura. "Let me translate it for you."

The criminal is still on the loose. Very dangerous. I will send the sun and moon guardians to protect you.

Don't forget your mission. Stay away from crowds as possible.

I love you. From your mother.

He looked at Tohru. "I hope I translate it right."

"It's not exactly it but… the point remains." She said sadly. "I still need to stay here."

"You heard that, Uo." Kyou eyed her. "She is here to stay."

"But…" the sun guardian began but grinned eventually. "Very well, I will leave Tohru under your care. Make sure she won't meet anyone that isn't a Sohma, understand?"

"Of course." Yuki nodded. "I'm her master and I will protect her."

"Master?" Uo stared at him, then at Tohru. "Is he…"

"Yes, Sohma Yuki…"

"I see… you're the stepson of Sohma Akito." She replied.

"Many people say that rubbish." He whispered. "I can never call him a father."

"I see. I hope you're right." She turned to leave. "Take care, then."

"Wait!" Tohru stood up. "Where are you going to stay?"

"Somewhere… I won't be far. If you need me, just call me…" she winked. "See you next time, Tohru…"

That night, Tohru stared at the scroll silently while Yuki sat beside her. "You miss your mom, right?"

"Of course. But I don't have a choice." She whispered. "I'll be overstaying again."

"I see. You're welcomed here." He replied. "If you need anything, just tell me."

"Thank you…"

"I already decided." He said quickly.

Tohru stared at his eyes. "Ne?"

"I would like to grant you something that you've longed for." He smiled. "Your freedom."

Her spirits enlightened and a bright smile appeared on her face. "Really?"

"I can't promise but I'll try…since you've already done enough--"

He stopped talking when Tohru stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder and cried silently. "Thank you…" she whispered.

Yuki laid his arms on her back, pulling her closer. "It's nothing. But I have to wish for that after you finish your mission."

"Of course." She let him go but…

"Please don't." he said quickly.

"Ne?"

"This is the first time… that I hugged an outsider… a real woman." He whispered. "Please let me cherish this moment, if you don't mind…"

"I don't mind… Yuki-kun." She replied. She, too, love the feeling. She suddenly remembered Akito hugging her, the same way he did. He felt warm but Yuki was different. She felt that she was more secure with him, happier and the hug was pleasant.

She felt that she was a human, and not a goddess, as she felt her strength left her. His grasp tightened and she fully leaned against him. She almost fell asleep in his arms until she felt his breath on a sensitive spot on her neck. She jumped from her place and he chuckled softly.

"Sorry about that,"

She didn't reply. I wish he will do it again. She thought dirtily.

"Ooh~! Lovebirds…" someone sang by the door. They quickly broke apart as Haru came in, grinning widely. "Don't act innocently, Yuki. I saw that, you lucky---"

"What do you want, Haru-san?" Tohru asked quickly.

He shifted his jealous mood to a serious one. "Ne, I'm here to finish my statement a while ago."

"Go on."

"I would like to wish for something." He said.

"I cannot promise that your wish, or whatever it is, will remain permanent. I hope you remember Akito-san's situation a few years ago." She replied.

"I understand. I won't ask for an immortal life." He laughed.

"Okay… then your wish is granted." She nodded quickly. "You may leave now."

Haru stood there motionlessly. "I… haven't told you my wish yet."

"I haven't told you what wishes can I grant." She explained. "The greatest desire are the ones calling out my name and I myself hears it. I understand what you wished for and the reason why you wanted 'it' to happen. You don't want to fail your friends anymore."

"You know, you're a great goddess… and a mind reader too!" the cow said happily. "I hope it'll work tomorrow."

"It will. Have faith, Haru-san."

"Thanks!" then he left the room.

Yuki looked at her surprisingly. "What did he wished for?"

"Never get lost again…" she whispered. "to have a better sense of direction…"

"I see…" Yuki smiled.

=============

Sorry if I was late in updating. I just had a busy weekend.