Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits basket, but Julian, Trent, his 3 friends and Howard are mine! Pairings: There aren't any romantic pairings in this fanfic, at least not yet A/N- Occasionally, in specific lines of dialogue, there will be words in brackets. These words are simply thoughts, and are not spoken aloud.

"Shigure, I don't know about this." Julian said worriedly, chewing on her lip the next afternoon as she followed him down the street.

Shigure glanced back at her, an easygoing grin on his face. "Oh, don't worry! It'll be fine. Ayame and Mine will have such fun picking out some clothes for you. They live for this sort of thing." Shigure replied, waving off her concerns with a casual wave before he turned back around. He missed the un-amused look that flashed across her face as she folded her arms across her chest. She didn't like this. Not one bit. But she couldn't continue to wear Tohru's clothing. The girls were about the same size, but Julian was taller and a bit more, well, endowed than Tohru was. She was wearing one of Tohru's longer skirts, but because of her height, it only reached her knees. And the top? Let's not even go there. It was a good thing Tohru had founder her one of Kyo's extra hooded sweatshirts to wear over it, or else she would have never even left the house this morning. But she'd rather wear Tohru's too short or too tight clothing than be dressed in some of the outfit's that Ayame designed. He was weird. A complete flake. His assistant wasn't much better. But she really didn't have any other choice. It wasn't like she could just whip out her wad of money or anything.

"But Shigure. I don't want to take advantage of your cousin Ayame." She asked, racking her brain for a way to get out of this. No ideas were forthcoming, however.

"No, it's really no problem. Besides, he owes me a favor anyway! "Shigure laughingly replied as he clamped a hand around her wrist, pulling her after him.

"Awe! Hang it all!" She muttered in annoyance.

"Did you say something, Jules?" Shigure asked her, as she sighed in annoyance. Great. Just great. Even the dreaded nickname was back.

"No."



No one was at the shop when they arrived, a closed sign hanging in the window. A feeling of dread settled in Julian, her stomach doing a flip-flop before it sank into her shoes.

"Life is over. I just know I'm going to end up wearing a bright green mini- dress with neon yellow tights or something. If Trent ever saw that, life as I know it would be over." Julian thought in ill humor as Shigure released her wrist and pulled the door open. A little bell hanging over the door rang as they walked in, Mine, Ayame's assistant breezing out from the back of the shop.

"I'm sorry, but we're closed toda...Oh! Shigure! I didn't think you'd be here already! Why don't you 2 follow me back to the back and we can get started. Oh, this will be so fun!" Mine said, clapping her hands in excitement as she latched onto Julian's arm, dragging her along with her, leaving Shigure to follow after them.

"You must be Julian! I'm Mine Kuramae, Ayame's assistant. It's so nice to meet you! So tell me...are you Shigure's girlfriend?" She asked her, her voice dropping to a mock whisper as she asked her the last question.

"What?!? No!" Julian exclaimed, horrified that Mine would think so.

"You needn't protest so much." Shigure replied in mock sorrow as they walked into the fitting area, or whatever it was. Julian could hear Ayame talking to himself back in the clothing storage area, rushing out as Shigure and her sat on the couch, a mound of clothing in his arms.

"Shigure! You're here already? And this must be Julian! She's just as lovely as you said! I'm Ayame Sohma, Shigure's much more handsome cousin." He announced, laughing as he eyed Julian.

"I have the perfect outfits for you! This will be so grand! Even Yuki will appreciate my talent!" Ayame announced, clapping his hands gaily.

"Oh. I...I'm sure he will." Julian finally croaked out, feeling like she was trapped in a rapidly sinking ship. Shigure glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as Ayame kept talking, holding up 2 different outfits, a short mint green thing, and a bright orange and purple top or something. Her face blanched and Shigure glanced back at Ayame just in time to see the 2 things he was rattling on about.

"Ayame, those are just lovely, but I think Julian might prefer something a little more...reserved. You know...something that's a little more like her personality." Shigure replied tactfully. Julian shot him an appreciative look, feeling as if she may cry. Finally. Some one had come to her rescue.

"Oh. Well...what about this one?" Ayame asked, holding up a magenta sheath dress with huge white polka dots.

"Uh, no, I don't think that's the best idea either." Shigure replied as Julian's mouth fell open in shock, a bead of sweat appearing on his head. Perhaps this wasn't the brightest idea he'd ever had either.



"Well. That was.... uh, entertaining. " Shigure meekly replied about an hour later, 2 large bags clutched in his hands as they made the short walk back to the house. Julian didn't reply as she walked next to him, her jaw taunt as she tightened her grip on the small bag she held with Tohru's borrowed clothing in it.

"Oh? I'm happy from you. That I could be a source of entertainment for you." Julian ground out between clenched teeth, still very displeased.

"You're a bit upset, aren't you?" Shigure asked, laughing nervously as she glanced at him, her gaze on the chilly side.

"I look like a walking candy cane, Shigure. A walking candy cane with magenta hair. "She announced coolly.

"I think you look quite cute. In a sweet way."

"Yes, well, I could understand that. Looking cute...in a sweet way, since I look like a PEPPERMENT STICK! (Life sucks) When I find the person who stole my wallet, I'm going to murder them! Since this was ultimately their fault. (I wonder if that's the same as saying I'm going to kill myself ?)" Julian replied, beginning to calm down. She sighed, and ran a hand through her hair. There probably wasn't any reason to stay mad. It wasn't going to accomplish anything.

"Oh. Uh...ok." Shigure said, grinning nervously in her direction. He'd always heard American's were loud and brash...

"Oh well. I suppose this is an improvement over what I was wearing. At least it fits." She replied, catching a glimpse of herself in a store window as they walked past. She did look sort of cute. Except for the whole magenta hair thing.

"Huh. Maybe I could dye it." She thought, completely missing whatever Shigure had just asked her. She glanced up at him in confusion, tugging on a strand of her hair.

"What did you ask me?" She asked him, as he smiled slightly.

"I asked if there is anything else you needed. Like a toothbrush or anything."

Julian stared at him, her face expressionless. "Well, duh. Of course I've got other things I need, but I'm not going shopping for panties and bra's with you." She thought as she willed her mouth to smile.

"Oh, but I feel so bad for making you do even more for me." Julian heard herself saying, chewing on her lip for added effect. "Heh. Maybe when I get back, I should change my major to theatre. Because I'll have this whole acting thing down to an art." She thought while Shigure said something as he handed her some money.

"Thank you so much. You just wait right here. I'll be back in a flash." Julian hurriedly said as she shoved the money in her pocket.

"Wait! Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Shigure called after her.

"No, I'll be perfectly fine." Julian replied with a smile, before she escaped into the department store. She grabbed a basket at the door and wandered down the different aisles, grabbing the various things she needed. She'd just about finished making her selections when she heard 2 young girls behind her whispering and giggling to each other. The only thing Julian overheard them say was something about magenta and hair, but that was enough. Clenching her teeth, Julian stalked off down the aisle. She didn't stop until she'd reached the section where the hair dye was, grabbing a box of bleach blonding. She'd had enough of this "magenta" hair gig.



"Did you get everything? "Shigure asked her innocently as she stalked out of the store, a sack in her hand. She glanced up as him and plastered a smile on her face as she reached him, opening her other hand to let a handful of coins and several crumpled bills fall into his hand, the bags of clothing Ayame had given her sitting at his feet.

"Oh, yeah. I had no problems. Here's your change. Sorry there's not more of it." She announced in her best bubbly fake voice.

Shigure glanced at her as he placed the money in his wallet. She still had that bright smile on her face, but he was beginning to think there was much more to this girl than met the eye.

"Well then, if you're ready, we should go back. I'm sure Tohru has a delicious meal just waiting for us!" Shigure announced as he put his wallet away, a happy smile on his face as he grabbed the 2 bags.

"Ok! I'm getting hungry too!" Julian said with a slight laugh as the 2 began the short walk back to the house.

"This stupid hair dye better work." Julian muttered much later that night as she paced in the bathroom, waiting for the dye to set. She'd wisely waited for everyone to go to bed before she'd conducted this little experiment, and things better just go as planned. The tiny timer she'd snatched from the kitchen finally rang as she turned it off. She gingerly pulled the plastic cap off her head and turned the shower on. She was soon rinsing the dye from her hair, turning the water off once she was done. She wrapped her hair in a towel before she dried off and pulled her pajama's back on. Grabbing the towel, she bent over and pulled the towel off her head, briskly drying her sopping wet hair. She tossed her head back, her hair bouncing in every direction as threw the towels in the laundry basket. Finally working up her nerve, she padded over to the mirror and looked up at her reflection. What she saw made a vein in her head start to twitch as she clenched her jaw in a mixture of anger and irritation.

"...Well, this may be a slight improvement I suppose. "She finally snapped as she fingered a strand of hair. The good news was her hair was no longer magenta. Unfortunately, her hair hadn't turned blond either. Instead, it had turned this weird ecru color, which had a tint of green to it in the light.

"Why can't things ever go right for me?!" She hissed as her reflection as she shook her fist at the mirror.


A/N- Well, I hope you all like this chapter well enough. It and chapter 7 have been the hardest ones to write so far. Sorry if it's a bit dry. Hopefully I'll have chap. 6 and 7 up by next week some time. A Special thanks to all my reviewers! I'm glad you all like it so far, and in regards to your idea, Bronze Dagger, you'll have to check out chap. 7. It was a concept I'd been thinking about too. Until next time!