Well guys this is my first fanfic. I'm really nervous about this and I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket it is owned by Natsuki Takaya. But I do own Shade.

Chapter One

"'S', where is the god damned 's'..." I mumbled in anguish as I browsed the bookstore shelves. I couldn't figure it out...why was this stupid book so hard to find?

Tiredly, I bent my head closer to the shelf, furiously looking for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

"Where is it," I growled, shoveling through the books. Then the title of a book rose out above the others and I picked it up. It was what I had been seeking for the last twenty minutes. This book—or piece of carnage, trash, however you want to look at it—was what I needed.

"Wahaha," I crowed triumphantly, "I found you! Romeo and Juliet!" I glowered over my elusive find.

I had to get this stupid book for my English class. Thinking back on it, I don't know why I signed up for the honors English anyway. Just stupid, I guess.

But I can't really say that, though... I love to read. Just not what other people tell me to. It's boring.

And my mom always said, "Shade, do whatever you want with your life. It's yours to keep." But come to think of it she told my two sisters Sarah and Jessica that too.

Why don't people give me better advice?

Well anyway, now I have to buy all these books for that dumb class. Ohhh... I'm going to be broke soon.

I sighed disgusted at what had become of my sinister existence. This school... was taking over my life. All my hours I once had to myself, any free time I might have had with my sisters leaving Japan was ultimately gone, wasted.

Damn!

I knew it was useless to bicker this way but I can't take it anymore. As I walked away from the shelter of the bookcase I began to roll my eyes simultaneously with my impending steps to the sitting area. My entire being was filled with such a rage at my current state of living, that I didn't even notice the guy sitting across from me.

I groaned, unconsciously rubbing at my temples, and stretched out on a huge red chair to read a bit before I made the long track home. It wasn't a very busy day for this little street corner bookstore. People, I guess just didn't have it in them to get their lazy asses out of bed on a Sunday morning. My eyes followed a few couples to the check out line. I wondered what they were doing here... in a bookstore. Lazily, I looked once again around the small store, until I found my eyes drawn to a peculiar figure.

"Huh," I gasped, "what the...."

Yuki? But no, it couldn't be Yuki. The coloring was all wrong. Black hair and dark blue eyes... not him; couldn't be him. A relative maybe?

My eyes followed the familiar-looking guy to the checkout area. He stood there reading what looked like a Stephen King book.

Since I had found what I came form, I curiously followed him, because I really had nothing better to do. My inquisitive nature always gets the best of me... especially in times like these, I thought wryly.

When I stood but six feet away from him I stopped and looked at him. He wore a crimson shirt and long black pants. His black hair that was only a shade darker than my own was neatly tucked behind his ears.

He was the very picture of what one would call a neat freak. His clothes seemed as if they'd never seen a wrinkle in their life—it made you want to go mess them up. But I resisted the urge and swiftly walked up to him.

"Ummm... excuse me," I whispered. He looked like he hadn't even heard me... so, being a little more assertive, I raised my voice.

"Excuse me," I said. Then his head jerked up, leveling his startling indigo eyes to my jade green ones.

"What?" he snapped.

"Well ummm..." I was so nervous I couldn't even ask him what I had intended to.

"How do you like the book," I fumbled out.

He looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze and then said, "It is none of your business—girl."

Blood rushed to my face and I looked away. When I turned around to face him again he had already immersed himself in his book. Anger flared inside me and I yelled, letting my emotions fly.

I hissed, "Thank you for your kindheartedness. It's such a joy to find someone with that kind of compassion. Oh, and by the way, my name is Shade for further reference... not 'girl'."

"Idiot," I muttered through clenched teeth. And with that I rushed up to the counter and bought my book. You didn't think I was going to stick around with this weirdo, did you? Of all the people I had ever met he... he was definitely the rudest. I couldn't believe him!

The store had become silent... obviously focusing their attention on me. Before turning to leave I looked back at him. He stood there just as I left him, staring stupidly at me. He was probably still baffled by my sudden outburst. Well, it serves him right... It doesn't take much for my emotions to boil over. I stalked to the door, making a theatrical exit. And as I left the irksome bookstore, I felt his eyes follow me.