Disclaimer: We don't own Fruits Basket or any of the characters. We do, however, own all the Miyoko family. Don't sue us because you won't get anything. looks in pockets Well, on second thought, you can have this pocket lint if you want it.

A/N: This is the first time any of the three of us have tried to write an anime/Fruits Basket fanfiction. We'll try and keep it as unconfusing and keep the Sohmas as in character as possible. Please R/R when you finish! Thanks, the Fruittie Tuttie Basketcases.

Prologue (or Chapter One, whichever you prefer.): Introducing the Miyoko Family

Ren entered her new bedroom and slid the door shut. She knew her family would never forgive her; it was entirely her fault. She had let herself get close to that boy, and now her whole family was paying. Ren knew she would never hear the end of this one.

This was only the third time in a year that the Miyokos had had to move all because Ren couldn't keep her emotions in check. Akio had been very dear to her; she had only followed a natural instinct. But, when a member of the Miyoko family hugs a member of the opposite sex, they transform.

Ren sighed. "I'm going to be seeing the images of the legend all night," she muttered, placing some books on a shelf.

The Miyokos were cursed. It wasn't one of your garden-variety curses, either; the Miyokos had angered God. It had started ages ago, when Ren's family were merely nomads; telling fortunes just to make a little money…

Sakura, the head gypsy, had decided that the old Chinese zodiac was too predictable; it was time for a change. Sakura made a new zodiac to tell fortunes by. The zodiac included the owl (the wise), the wolverine (the ill tempered), the deer (the timid), the squirrel (the energetic), the panda (the lazy), the duck (the obnoxious), the dove (the peacekeeper), the turtle (the quiet), the jackal (the helpful), the bear (the tempestuous), the fox (the cunning), and the crocodile (the strong).

After many trials with this set of animals, the Miyokos found their predictions were more accurate than predictions with the Chinese zodiac. The family began to worship these creatures, thus angering God. He placed a terrible curse on the clan, stating they would forever bear the fate of transforming into these animals, one person per year.

God had left out Emiko, the smallest one of the clan. When she saw the others transform, she began to laugh. God, realizing his error, fixed the problem, transforming Emiko into the mongoose (the agile). After God left, Sakura decreed that the mongoose would be the animal forever left out of the Miyoko zodiac, just as the cat was in the Chinese, because Emiko had laughed at the rest of the family.

God, ever listening, returned. He told the clan they could ignore and neglect the mongoose of the family as much as they wanted, but there was a catch. The mongoose would be the key to breaking the curse. With the help of the one member of another cursed family, the one always excluded, the mongoose would be able to break the curse and the Miyokos and the other family may move on with their lives.

Ren sighed again. "Yeah, like that will ever happen." Ren had been trying for years to find the other outsider; she never had. That's why the family kept moving around, because Ren kept testing to see if she had met the outsider. Unfortunately, like all the others, Akio wasn't it.

Ren collapsed onto the bed, hot tears forming in her gray eyes, her strawberry gold hair framing her body. She felt so much pressure, what with being the mongoose of the zodiac and having the power to break the curse, if she found the one person who could help her. She began to sob.

Ren then looked at her wall. There, hanging up, was a picture of the entire Miyoko family. She smiled as she remembered the last family gathering; they hadn't accepted her, but they had included her. Ren stood up and walked to the photograph. She ran her fingers gently across the glass.

"Don't worry, everyone," she murmured. "I'll find him…or her. And I'll break this curse. Not for me to be accepted or loved by you, but for you. You all deserve that. So much more than I do."

Ren's tears silently flowed down her red cheeks. She wanted to give up on the search, but she couldn't. Her family was counting on her to save them. She wouldn't let them down.

Ren climbed into bed. She kissed the picture and placed it beside her head on the pillow. Then she nestled down under the covers.

Maybe Kawaia High will be different. Maybe I can find that person, she thought as she cuddled the pointy picture frame. Then everyone will be happy.

It was just past nine…on a school night. Amaya couldn't get to sleep, no matter how much she tried. She sighed and threw the covers onto the floor.

"Guess I'll go get something to eat," she mumbled, going down the hall and heading down the stairs to the kitchen.

"What are you doing up?" Kaori asked. Kaori owned the house Amaya, Ren, Asa, Kiyoshi, and Amarante had just moved into. She smiled at the younger girl and shook her dark, red-highlighted hair. "You've got orientation tomorrow."

"I know." Amaya sighed and plopped onto the floor. She shook her dark hair back at her older cousin. "I don't wanna be here." Her blue-gray eyes clouded with tears. "But you know how stupid Ren can be. What kind of idiot lets herself get transformed three times in a year?"

Kaori sat down beside her. She wrapped the 16-year-old up in her arms. "I know, but it's not Ren's fault. Think of it this way: she only does all that to help us. If she can find the other cursed outcast, she can break the curse. It's a lot of pressure. I think the real question is why doesn't she go up to every guy and grab them?"

Amaya smiled. She looked into Kaori's sparkling green eyes. "I never thought of it that way. Why doesn't she?"

"Uh?" Kaori asked, twisting a strand of hair around her finger.

Amaya tapped her arm playfully. "Why doesn't Ren just hug every guy she meets?"

"Well, there's the whole memory thing… And then all those guys might find her a little weird."

"You are acting extremely out of character." Amaya stared at her.

"What do you mean?" Kaori looked confused.

"Well, normally you're yelling and throwing things," Amaya looked at her, "you know, because you're the wolverine. You're 'ill-tempered.'"

"That's only with Amarante, honey." Kaori messed up Amaya's hair and stood up. "Let's get you to bed."

"Kay." Amaya accepted Kaori's outstretched hand and stood.

The two girls linked arms and started up to Amaya's room.

Kawaia high will be new…and interesting, Amaya thought as they walked. Maybe Ren can finally break the curse and set us free…and get rid of all that extra pressure.

Asa stayed where she was, against the wall right outside the kitchen, until she was sure Kaori and Amaya were gone. Then she exhaled silently and slid out the back door.

What a beautiful night, she thought, inhaling the crisp air. A warm wind blew her midnight black hair out of her black/hazel-penetrated eyes.

"What is it with you and the out of doors?" came the dry voice from behind Asa.

"Hello, Amarante. I didn't even hear you come out." Asa didn't take her eyes off of the stars.

"I am the fox, right?" The red head came out and stood right beside Asa. She looked up at the stars, too, the light sparkling in her emerald eyes. "Why do you like the outdoors again?"

"Bears don't like to be cooped up in buildings," she said simply.

"Ah, blame it on your other form." Amarante chuckled softly. "Come back in to bed. You're setting a bad example for Kiyoshi and Ren."

"That's alright, Amarante. I believe I'll stay out here tonight." Then Asa climbed up a tree and settled in for the night.

"Whatever," Amarante sighed softly. "Come on, Kiyoshi. Back to bed."

The 14-year-old boy stepped out of the shadows. He shook his bleach green hair in defiance. "Aw, how did you know I was there?"

"Because I'm a genius. Now let's go." Amarante dragged him back into the house and toward the stairs. "Get up there and don't come back down until tomorrow morning."

Kiyoshi scoffed, narrowed his bright red eyes, and climbed slowly up the stairs. "Stupid fox. Thinks she knows everything."

"ENOUGH, young man. Don't make me come up there."

Kiyoshi raced up the remainder of the stairs and down the hall to his room.

I hate living here with Amarante. She always knows what I'm up to, Kiyoshi thought as he climbed into bed. Hopefully I'll make some new friends at Kawaia High so I won't have to spend a lot of time here with her. Kiyoshi shook involuntarily and drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Well that's the first "chapter" (we couldn't decide whether to make it a prologue or a chapter). This kind of gives you an idea why the members of the Miyoko family won't…Well, you'll find out later! winks deviously See you! FTBC