DISCLAIMER: I do not own, or claim to own any characters from the Fruits Basket Series or Manga. This story is written based from Characters already in exsistance.

Chapter 4: Oo A snake?

Raine slowly walked home after her encounter with Akito. She still did not understand why it had to be her he yelled at today. She felt as if she had done nothing wrong. Could her feelings towards a person be considered a crime? She did seem to have strong feelings for someone in that house tonight. She laughed a little, not believing Momiji ran out telling her secret. A few weeks ago she had been walked home in the rain by Hatori, the very next morning she ran into Momiji Sohma, her cousin, and told him everything about her feelings for Hatori. Looking back on that day, she feared it was a big mistake.

She heard a noise in the bushes and turned around quickly. "Hello? Anyone there?" It was starting to get dark and she was a little frightened. "Hello?" She called again.

A tall dark figure approached her. Raine backed up quickly fearing it was Akito come to hurt her. "What do you want?" She yelled out.

The figure came closer and stepped into a lighted area. "It is I…." The figure became noticeable and Raine gasped a little. "Ayame Sohma! Come to walk the lady home!"

Ayame and Raine both laughed a little. "Aya you scared me!"

"I am sorry, I just came…to talk with you…" Ayame said walking forward a little bit. "About Hatori"

Raine looked up at Ayame. "Alright…is everything alright?"

Ayame grasped her hand. "Akito is a little mad right now. He threw a cup at Hatori…he thinks that Hatori….well…he knows…anyways…that's not the important part." Ayame shook his head.

"You said there was more to the curse…that is what you came here about isn't it?" She said staring at him.

Ayame nodded. "Yes. But you have to promise me that you will not scream…no matter what."

Raine looked at him oddly. "Huh?"

"Just promise…" Ayame said as he began to pull her close to him.

"Ok….I promise?" She said as Ayame wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

Suddenly there was a large POOF and smoke filled around them. Raine, feeling something fall got down on her knees feeling the ground. Slowly the smoke cleared and she grasped something small laying atop a pile of cloth. She looked down seeing first, Ayame's clothing…then the small object in her hand.

"Eeeeeeek!" She said dropping it quickly. A small grey garden snake slithered into Ayame's clothing.

"Aye, it's cold!" The snake said.

"A snake? A snake that talks?" Raine said staring at the small snake.

"It is I ……..Ayame Sohma!" The snake said poking its head out of the clothing.

"Ayame?" She said with a shocked look on her face.

The snake curled up. "Yes, it is I."

She looked away. "The curse?"

Ayame slithered out a little. "Yes, there are 12 of us….who…when we are stressed or hugged by a member of the opposite sex transform into the 12 animals of the Zodiac…oh…and the cat."

Raine raised her eyebrow. "12…and the cat?"

Ayame continued. "Yes, Hatori is one of those 12, along with Shigure and of course, I. Akito is not…however..."

"This is why he doesn't want me around Hatori. He didn't want me to find out." She said.

"Well, not exactly…well….yes…but then there is more. A lot more. But…I cannot really tell you much more right now." Ayame said trying to curl into a ball to keep warm.

Raine bent forward ready to pick up the snake when suddenly there was another loud POOF and a cloud of smoke. Slowly she looked up seeing Ayame, completely naked and screamed.

"Ack! You promised you wouldn't scream!" Ayame said grasping his clothing and getting dressed.

Raine shook her head. "Oh…I am so sorry, I didn't know that you were going…"

"To be naked? It's alright I didn't warn you." Ayame interrupted.

"I suppose you must be getting home, let me finish walking you." He said pulling her arm through his. "There is more to Hatori…and his life…"

Raine walked with Ayame back into town.

"There was this young lady, in which Hatori was dating a while back. She was beautiful, and wonderful…of course, no where near you…however…Hatori fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. Akito would not stand for it. He got mad and threw something, hitting Hatori in the face…hurting his eye pretty badly. Akito immediately apologized for what he did, however…he blamed the young girl. She ended up driving herself crazy…and Hatori….erased her memories." Ayame explained.

Raine walked slowly with Ayame as he explained the story. "Oh….my…that's horrible…" She said once Ayame was finished. Raine had heard that Hatori had the power to do just that but she never imagined that he had ever used it before. Finally after a while of eerie silence, they arrived at her apartment.

"Akito knows how you feel about Hatori and he doesn't approve. I wanted to do something about that…but I can't change Akito…at least know you have a better idea of why you can't get to close." Ayame said as he walked her up the steps.

Raine nodded. "Thank you Ayame…and I want you to let Hatori know that I am sorry about his life…and for me coming into it. The last thing he needs is some lovesick puppy in his life." She said walking into the door.

Ayame nodded, laughed, and walked off. "He already has one of those…"