The aroma of dinner was really tormenting Hotaru, but she knew that everyone would be sat round the table by now, and she didn't want to go late. She'd rather starve. But then, she didn't think Shigure would like it if she were late…

Hotaru started gnawing her bottom lip, a sure sign that she was starting to get nervous. She hated herself for this. What she would give to be more confident. She sighed, and kicked her suitcase half-heartedly. She had completely unpacked, but she despised the unfamiliarity of her new home, looking around, you wouldn't be able to distinguish it from her old room, but she knew. It smelled different, felt different. She groaned, and fell back on her bed. Maybe she could stay there for the rest of her life, locked away in her room. She smiled at the thought, permanent peace and quiet, and no challenges, not able to hurt or be hurt…

"Hotaru-kun?"

Hotaru sat up in alarm. "Uh- Shigure-sensei! Sorry, I just, um, dozed off."

Shigure smiled. "That's okay. I thought it would be something like that. I knew you wouldn't miss it on purpose."

Hotaru smiled awkwardly. "No, of course not."

She stood up and reluctantly followed Shigure out the door.

"Ah! Hotaru-chan!"

Hotaru glanced sharply at Tohru who looked temporarily taken aback.

"Um, I'm glad to see you came down for dinner..?" Tohru persisted.

Hotaru quirked an eyebrow at the three seated round the table then turned to Shigure, who was just making to sit down himself.

"You eat with your maid?" she whispered.

Shigure, for a second, looked puzzled. "Our-?" Realisation then dawned on his face, and he laughed. "Oh no, Tohru isn't our maid!"

The boy sat beside Tohru with the orange hair glared at her. Obviously he hated her. So, she figured she'd glare right back at him.

Yuki, the grey haired boy, merely smiled. He's embarrased by me. Hotaru thought.

Tohru, on the other hand, simply had a blank expression plastered on her face. Airhead, Hotaru thought snidely, mentally rolling her eyes. Kyo, the orange boy, clearly caught her hostility towards Tohru and growled under his breath.

Shigure continued, oblivious to the tension between the four teens. "Ah no, Tohru-kun is merely a lovely, helpful girl who helps around the house. Isn't that right, Tohru?"

"Oh no, nothing like that!" she flustered, waving her arms madly. "I do it because I enjoy it!"

Uh- Hotaru watched Tohru's little display of modesty with amazement, only to find a few seconds later they were all staring at Hotaru.

"Um, Mitaki-san, how would you like to sit down with the rest of us?"Yuki said."It's not very good for you to eat whilst standing up."

He has such a kind voice. Hotaru thought, sinking down beside Shigure, an embarrassed flush on her face. His smile is really quite genuine...

Hotaru blushed deeper, and started eating without looking up, although she could still feel the scrutinising glare of the orange boy.

"Quit it." She snarled under her breath, and shot Kyo an evil glare of her own. She only did it long enough for him to recoil, then returned to eating her food quietly with her head down.

No-one but orange boy noticed what she just did, and that suited her just perfectly.

"Um Hotaru-san? How do you like the food?" Tohru said with uncertainty.

Hotaru looked up slowly. "The rice is a little dry."

She watched Tohru, first realising she had just received a criticism, then trying to figure out what to say, then stumbling out with, "Oh, is it-? I'm sorry! I'll make you some more!"

Hotaru could see out of the corner of her eye how angry orange boy was getting towards her at her making Tohru fluster.

Hotaru kept hold of her bowl. "It was- just a joke."

Hotaru glanced up at Shigure, not noticing the three rather large sweat drops appear by the other three teenagers.

"Ha-Ha, yes, well," Shigure laughed uneasily. Hotaru kept her eyes fixed on him. "I'm sure you'd love to know what animals, Kyo, Yuki and I are."

Subtle change of subject. "Yes." She replied simply.

"Well, Yuki here is a rat," Hotaru re-fixed her gaze upon Yuki, who behind his pleasant smile clearly looked uncomfortable. Better him than me. She thought.

"Kyo is a cat," Shigure continued. Hotaru smiled. "Orange-cat.." she murmured. "Now I see why Hatori-dono said you were complicated."

What followed was a rather uncomfortable silence in which every one looked away from everyone else. I guess it was a bad idea mentioning Hatori-dono.. In order to break the silence, Hotaru turned to Shigure, who looked quite despondent, and said, "Shigure-sensei? What animal are you?"

Shigure seemed to brighten up considerably, much to everyone's surprise. "Me? Oh, I'm a dog."

Hotaru smiled. "I've always been more of a dog person than a cat person." She said, glancing sharply at Kyo, smirking. He growled again.

"You don't say?" Shigure asked, a mysterious glint in his eyes.

Yuki threw some of his pickled radishes at the dog. "I wouldn't say that, miss Mitaki-san, it might give him ideas."

Shigure started laughing again, waving his hand. "Now Yuki, how dare you think that!"

Tohru started laughing, and Kyo scowled, looking away. Yuki rolled his eyes and said, "what ever, Shigure."

Hotaru smiled too, though she felt very much an outcast in this little dinner party. Don't let it get to you. She thought. You've only just moved in, of course they wouldn't immediately accept you. That orange cat won't accept me at all. But like I care. At least I managed to cheer up Shigure-sensei. She closed her eyes, and finished eating without another word.

Heya! Well third chapter! there ya go! I hope its okay! Weeeeeee! Ahem, sorry. Anyway, please review! You know the drill! I need at least four! Love sakura-chan. x

Japanese terms i may have used in this chapter.

dono: a prefix that comes from the japanese word tono, meaning "lord" it is higer than sama, and confers upmost respect.

sensei: a prefix that means teacher, or a published writer or manga ka

San: a prefix you use if you dont know someone very well

chan: usually a prefix for a girl you are friends with and/or know verywell.