A/N: This story starts in 3rd person, but will later switch to Kyou's perspective.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, but I sure wish I did! :)

BTW, Please R&R, it helps me keep the will to continue.

A young girl stood in front of the principal's office. Taking a deep breath she steps inside, and speaks in broken Japanese sentences. "I am. transfer student. just arrived. What do?" Her eyebrows wrinkle in thought as the secretary looks at her puzzled for a moment, then seems to realize.

"You can speak in English, Buronu-chan. I am fluent." She smiles encouragingly at the girl.

"Ahh! Thank you. My Japanese isn't very good yet! I'm obviously the transfer student from America. My name is Riri Brown, Miss. What do I need to do?" Her nervousness disappeared and was replaced with a shining genuine smile.

"Let me print out your schedule, and then I will call the President of your class, Yuki Sohma, to show you around school. Yuki is his first name," her voice is kind as she hands over the schedule. The secretary looks for a moment while Riri is reading her schedule. "Are you having any problems reading it?"

"No, Ma'am. I can read just fine. I've just never had to practice speaking Japanese. However, kanji still presents a slight problem to me." Riri blushes, "It must seem odd that I transferred and I'm not fluent in the language."

"Not at all. You're here to learn. Hold a moment." She holds down a button behind the counter, "Would Sohma Yuki please report to the office?" Releasing the button she turns back to me. "Do you know where you're staying yet?"

Riri nodded shyly, "I'm staying in an extra room here at the school unless I find someplace I prefer."

"That makes more sense that forcing you into a home. I think that you would be uncomfortable. However, you will need a tutor. See if you can find someone, or ask Yuki Sohma." Riri nodded.

A knock on the door behind her caused Riri jump, and she exaggeratedly held her chest. Out of habit, she spoke in English, "Everybody's out to scare the living daylights out of me today. Sheesh." Yuki, or at least who she assumed was Yuki, smiled coldly at her.

He spoke carefully and slowly in Japanese, "I am sorry to have startled you."

"Riri Brown." Her voice seemed more distant. If he wanted to be cold, then two could play that game.

"Boronu-san." A slight bow was inclined in her direction.

The secretary coughed slightly to gain Yuki's attention. "Show her where all of her classes are, lunch, and help her adjust. She is staying at the school, so show her the bedroom near the infirmary." A practiced nod from Yuki answered her.

"Let us go, Boronu-san. You will also need to be introduced to your teachers." Riri nodded. Nothing was going to be fun with him around. She could only hope that all Japanese weren't as cold as him, or else it was going to be a lonely year. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

A few hours later she stood in line for lunch, abandoned by her guide until after lunch. She roughly pointed out what she wanted, realizing that she didn't even know what to call the different foods. She felt lost.

Looking around with the plate of food, she realized how much she didn't know. Did students sit within classes, wherever they wanted, fustrated she went to the one area that seemed to be for everyone, outside.

Smiles and laughter were everywhere as friends sat together. Finally, eyes scouring the ground, she found a tree in a corner that would serve as refuge. Sitting to eat, she stared at the food, and poked at it, but didn't eat it. Lonely and scared in this new place she didn't understand, she understood vague comments from students nearby.

"That's the new transfer student? She's almost as weird as the Sohma, or even spark-girl, or the violent Yankee."

"Look at her hair, it's almost blond. Have you ever seen brownish hair like that before? It looks dirty."

Tears stung her eyes and she tried to ignore them. Suddenly, someone above her spoke, "Can we join you?" A young strong built girl, a blond she noticed, spoke roughly. It was barely understandable, a dialect she hadn't dealt with yet.

"Hai. You are welcome." Riri smiled and put away her fears for the moment. It would be bad enough once the school was empty, but she was there alone.

A dark haired girl, brown haired girl, and the blond girl sat around her. They introduced themselves.

"Hanajima Saki." The dark haired one spoke ominously.

"Uotani Ansa. Nice you meet you, Boronu-san." The blond one, no Uotani-san, greeted me.

"My name's Honda Tohru. It's very nice to meet you. You're from America?" Riri nodded, startled by this girl's sudden enthusiasm when compared to the others.

For the first time, despite fumbling words, Riri felt welcome. Her laughter rang out across the school yard, and caused everyone to look at her and smile for just a moment.

During lunch, she did catch a glimpse of a group of boys looking her direction. A small, adorable blond boy, a tall black and white haired boy, Yuki, and. and orange haired boy. Something about him caused her to pause, and her heart to pound fiercely as she blushed. He'd been looking at her.