Chap 4: Another day with sunshine.

'Beep. Beep.' An alarm rang shrilly into my ear. I got up slowly, sleeping still unwilling to release me. I sat up groggily. Suddenly I realized I wasn't in familiar territory. Where was I? Almost certainly not my room.

'Gomen-nasi, Miki-kun! I set my alarm clock my accident. I'm sorry to wake you up so early!' she was extremely sorry, bowing several times. Oh yes. I ended up here didn't I? And they'd kindly let me stay here for the time being. Thoughts swirled back into my mind.

'It's okay, Tohru. Really.' I got out of her bed and stretched. Waking up in an unfamiliar place was and odd start to a day, but I was determined to make my stay here fruitful and make the best out of it.

I helped Tohru tidy the bed, even though she insisted she could do it herself. She handed me a purple towel and a pink toothbrush. I went to wash up, while Tohru said she would go to the to prepare breakfast for us.

I wandered around my new home after washing up and being shooed out of the kitchen by Tohru who insisted she would prepare breakfast herself. Walking around the relatively large Japanese house, I didn't see the guys around at all. Well, why would they be awake at 6 o'clock in the morning, on a non school day? I headed outside to the garden, hoping to watch the sun rise and clear my whirling thoughts a little.

Outside, I saw a ladder resting next to the house, and decided to climb up to the roof, where I probably could see the sun better. When I climbed up to the top, Kyou was sitting on the roof, to my surprise. He spotted me and turned away awkwardly. I sat about 2 metres away from him. After what seemed like an eternity, Kyou asked a rather odd question.

' Do you like it here? It's not like I care or anything, I just want to know.' I inwardly smiled. Kyou was concerned. He was trying to nice.

' Well yes. This is a really nice place, you know. Large but really nice and clean.' Kyou just nodded blandly, just as the sun started rising. It reminded me very much of an explosion of colours.

Looking at the dazzling sunrise, which brightened up the whole forest, I felt a bubble of happiness in me. The golden hue was beautiful. A few little sparrows flew by. As a city child, I hardly got to see such beautiful sights. And moreover, with a boy whom I originally perceived as one who hated girls. I was an extreme feminist. Eventually, bored with the twittering little fellows who flew away, I decided to talk to Kyou who seemed equally bored.

' You bear the same surname as Yuki-kun and Shigure-san. Are you all related? And why is Tohru living with you all?' I wondered if I was being impertinent and sounded rude.

'Being relatives with that kuso nezumi? That sounds funny. Nah. We're just cousins. As for her, she used to live in a tent after her Okasan passed away. That kuso nezumi or Yuki, whatever you want to call him, invited her to stay with us.

'Her mother passed away?' I was utterly shocked.

'Don't mention that in front of her.' Kyou said harshly, glaring at me. Even so, I felt his brotherly concern for Tohru. He didn't want me to blurt out nonsense, hurting her. I just nodded dumbly, tongue-tied. I would never have guessed.

'Miki-kun, Kyou! We're having breakfast soon. Please come down!' Tohru's voice echoed. Kyou stealthily climbed down and I followed, rather amazed with his cat-like agility.

'Morning, Minna-san! Did you sleep well, Miki-chan and Kyou-Kyou? Asked Shigure teasingly.

'Don't call me that!'

Yuki came down the stairs, Grey hair very ruffled, eyes still closed.

'He's still sleepy. Sohma-kun isn't really a morning person.' Tohru explained. I nodded. Once he sat at the table, he seemed a bit more awake.

'Good morning Sohma-kun.' Tohru greeted him cheerfully. Yuki opened his eyes a little wider and smiled at her. 'I made rice and fish and vegetables.'

'For breakfast?' I asked incredulously.

'You don't like it? I could make something else...'Tohru started.

'No. I don't mean it that way. It's just a bit different, that's all. I usually have these only during lunch or dinner.'

'Don't worry Miki-chan. Tohru makes the best food.' Shigure chimed.

While having my meal, which was really superb, Yuki asked, 'Is it comfortable here? We're really sorry, but there aren't any more guest rooms left, so you'll have to share a room with Miss Tohru.'

'Don't worry. I love Tohru. She's like a sister to me.' Tohru blushed furiously. It was the truth. Tohru certainly was a lovely person. I had a gut feeling, simply knew, even though I had only been here a day.

'That's nice to hear. By the way, what do you plan to do here?' It felt like an exchange program.

'I don't know.' I replied. It seemed that I said many 'I-don't-knows'.

'Then why not come to school with us?' asked Yuki thoughtfully.