Kitsu

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

After school Study Hall. Hatori's POV

"What was that all about?" Shigure asked a frazzled Kitsu yet again.

"Shigure," she said warningly, "I'm warning you. Shut it!"

"But Kit-chan!"

"Aaya. Same to you. I'm trying to concentrate."

"But-"

"Leave it alone, Aaya," Hatori said and hit him lightly on the head.

"Okay…" Kitsu shot Hatori a look of sheer gratitude and went back to her studies.

"Aaawww…"

"Gure…" Kitsu's voice was low and dangerous.

"Come on…"

"I have HAD IT!" Kitsu screamed and stood up, picked up her books, and rushed off. Hatori got up without a word and followed her.

"Kitsu! Wait!" Hatori shouted after her as she ran down the street towards her house.

"Leave me alone!" she shouted and ran even faster.

"Kitsu!" Hatori said and came close enough to her to grab her arm. "What are you doing?"

"I can't TAKE it anymore!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Kitsu. Calm down," Hatori ordered as he began to lead her back toward the school.

"I don't WANT to calm down! And I DEFINITELY don't want to go back to the school!"

"Kitsu. Calm down. Stress is bad for you."

"Stress? Stress! You talk to me about STRESS! How stupid can you get?" When she realized what she had said, Kitsu turned red. "Oh, I'm sorry, Hatori! I- well, I guess I was so angry I didn't realize what I was saying."

"It's alright. Now, back to study hall."

Hatori opened the door and walked in. Kitsu walked up to Shigure and Aaya and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry for getting mad and yelling at you, Shigure. It was petty of me."

"What's to apologize for?" he answered good naturedly.

Kitsu's smile brightened and seemed to light up the room. "Thanks!"

"Now, can we please actually study?" Hatori's mock-pleading voice had Kitsu grinning even wider.

"Hatori? Pleading? My, the world is coming to an end!"

Aaya's grin spread to match Kitsu's. "Tori? No, you must be jesting!"

"Not at all! The sky is falling, I tell you!"

Shigure's grin spread wide enough to split his face. "Must be an imposter!"

"Or an evil twin!"

"Oh, I know! He's having a concussion! He must have hit his head on the way back!"

"That must be it! Tori, do you have any pain in your head? Are you feeling nauseous?"

"Just the normal head splitting headache when you're around, Aaya. Nothing serious."

"Hmmm… well, if that's not it, I'm going for evil twin."

"What am I going to do with all of you? I'm outnumbered three to one," Hatori said jokingly.

"Well, when you look at it, so am I," Kitsu said and the trio stared at her. "Well, I'm the only female in this group. And then you could split us two against two: dark haired and light haired. Tori and Gure against Aaya and me."

"That's an… interesting way to look at it," Hatori mused.

Kitsu grinned at him. "You started it."

The next day; Kitsu's POV

"Kitsu York, I'd like to see you in my office, please."

"Sir?" she asked once she was inside. If the principal heard the weary tone in her voice, he ignored it, for he went on.

"About your hair."

"But, sir, it's my natural color."

"Not the color. The length. I recall allowing that color, but not that length. I know that girls are allowed to have longer hair, but this is ridiculous!"

"But, sir…"

"No buts. Have it cut by tomorrow."

"But, sir, I am a dancer. I have to have long hair."

"What?" he said, taken aback.

"I am enrolled in one of the greatest ballet companies in the world. As soon as I finish high school, I'm going to America. To become a dancer. They said very clearly that my hair was my best asset, and that I should not cut it. Please, sir…"

"What? What is all this?"

"Sensei. It will take more than a year to grow my hair out this long. Please, it's only for one more week…"

"Fine. Keep it."

"Thank you."

When Kitsu stepped outside the office, Aaya was waiting for her.

"Nice story!" he commented. "I think I might try it sometime."

"Aaya. It's not a story. My mother is forcing me to go to America to become a ballerina. I'm going next week."

"What?" he said, unable to comprehend what she was saying.

"I found out this morning. I still have to tell Hatori and Shigure."

"Let's go tell them now," Aaya said and he pulled Kitsu with him in a search for Hatori and Shigure.

Hatori's POV

"Tori!" Aaya called from across the room. Hatori turned to face his friend as he came streaking across the room.

"What is it, Aaya?"

"Where's Gure?" Aaya demanded.

"Right here," Shigure said, "What's wrong?"

Aaya started to say something else, but Hatori caught sight of Kitsu struggling to keep up with Aaya through the crowded room.

"What's wrong?" Hatori demanded when Kitsu reached them. "Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Hatori," Kitsu said, cutting him off. "I'm moving away."

"What?" he demanded. Shigure moved forward.

"Next week. I'm moving to America. To become a dancer."

"What?" he asked, barely above a whisper.

"To dance. My mother is sending me to America. So I can live her dream."

A/n: Another long chappie with a surprise cliffie. Betcha didn't see that one comin'. Neither did I. It happened at the last minute. Oh, well. I don't mind. Thankies to my reviewers! I got three reviews! All signed! Amazing! I love reviews! Keep 'em comin'! R&R!