Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Ok, now I have three definete votes for Haru/OC, and one maybe for either Kyo/OC or Haru/OC, based on the chapter. She said she prefers Haru though, so I'm going to make that Haru 4; Kyo 0. But the more I'm writing this story, the more I'm beginning to lean towards Kyo/OC for this one. I've never written one, so this MIGHT be the first. But if you guys can make some good arguments for Haru, or just keep voting for him, I may change my mind!

I have a few chapters waiting to be uploaded, but I'm going to wait until I get a few reviews for each chapter. That sounds fair, right? So maybe one chapter a day, if you guys review fast. Or more, if I'm in a good mood. (grins) And now...(ba-ba-BUM!)...the story! Chloe discovers the secret! And more Kyo/OC!I'm really beginning to like this pairing - and it was supposed to be Haru!

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism is welcome.

"I really need a break from those guys," Chloe sighed, walking home after school that same day. Sensei had almost suspended Yuki and Kyo for fighting in school, but some quick thinking and charming from Yuki managed to prevent the worse, and they were only sent home early. "Aunt Tomiko was right, maybe. It seems they're always getting into trouble."

Keeping her gaze on the ground in front of her tiredly, the girl didn't notice a white-haired figure following her until he suddenly appeared on the path.

"Haru?" she blinked in surprise, and then backed up slightly as she realized he was still Black. He smirked at her, and quickly grasped her wrist tightly.

"Nice seeing you again, Chloe," he said calmly, and she squirmed in his grasp.

"Ow…Hatsuharu Sohma, let me go!" she ordered, feeling his fingers pressing into her flesh. "You're hurting me! Let me go already, damn it!"

"Oh? You want me to let you go?" he asked in mock surprise, and then leaned closer to her. "Maybe I will, maybe I won't."

"Where are you going, stupid Cat?" Yuki asked calmly. "Tohru's at work, remember? We're leaving for dinner soon."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyo waved his hand absently, and glanced outside with an odd feeling in his stomach. "I've just…it's nothing. I'll meet you guys later, damn Rat. Don't wait up."

"Don't worry – we won't," Yuki replied coolly, and Shigure came out as Kyo took off down the road.

"Where's our Kyo going so suddenly?" Shigure asked curiously, and Yuki returned to his book with a look of long-suffering.

"Who cares?"

"It's stupid, you damn Cat!" Kyo yelled at the Zodiac spirit inside him, but continued to run down the path. "What kind of danger am I sensing? Who cares – I'm just being paranoid, since Haru's still Black, that's all."

He skidded to a stop when he heard Haru talking through the trees, and climbed up into a tree to listen and watch. His eyes narrowed when he saw Haru gripping Chloe's wrist, her skin reddening around the area he was holding.

"Haru…"

"You're afraid of me again, aren't you?" he asked mockingly, and Chloe blinked her eyes rapidly to keep the tears of pain from falling. "Well, you should be, Chloe."

"Oh yeah?" she asked, trying not to cower in front of him. "Why should I be, Haru?"

"Want me to show you?" he demanded, and Kyo's eyes widened when he remembered what Haru almost did the last time he went Black around Chloe.

"Go right ahead, bastard," she challenged him, and Haru laughed briefly. As he pulled her to him, Kyo jumped down from the tree in a panic.

"Haru – don't you dare – Haru!" he shouted, seconds too late. A mini-explosion sounded, and the three were surrounded by a white cloud. Chloe choked on it, and then straightened nervously.

"K-Kyo? Where's Hatsu…Hatsu…Haru…?" she trailed off, seeing the Ox in front of her. She fell to her knees in shock, and Kyo landed his fist on the Ox's head.

"You stupid jackass!" he shouted, and the Zodiac animal turned to look at him calmly.

"There's no donkey in the Zodiac, Kyo," he replied calmly, and Kyo realized that Haru was still Black, though much less than previously. "Besides, it's just her. Hatori can fix her."

"You…you…"

"Kyo? What's going on?" Chloe asked faintly, staggering to her feet. Kyo looked from her to the Ox and back again, and released a long groan.

"It's…complicated," he finally said, as Haru yawned uncaringly.

"Cu-cursed?" she repeated, after Kyo had grudgingly finished telling her about the Zodiac family. After a moment's paused, Hatsuharu suddenly 'POOFED' back, and Chloe spun around with a squeak.

"Put some clothes on, you son-of-a-bitch!" Kyo demanded, angry for several reasons. Haru gathered his clothes calmly, back to White, but anything but laid-back.

"Afraid your precious girlfriend's memory is going to be erased?" Haru asked cuttingly, and Kyo paled in anger. "Maybe it's best, damn Cat – ever think of that? She won't have to worry about us, or deal with the curse, or any of it. Think of the pain she could be spared."

"Just 'cause you fucked things up with Rin doesn't mean you have the right to ruin another girl's life just because she reminds you of her for some reason!" Kyo retorted, and Chloe turned around slowly as Haru finished dressing.

"Shut it, damn Cat," Haru ordered, and then turned back to Chloe. "Scared now? Or do we disgust you?"

"You disgust me, Hatsuharu!" Chloe shot back angrily, to the surprise of both boys. "You're bitter and a sadistic bastard – maybe I don't understand everything, but I certainly know enough to know a fucked-up person when I see on."

"You little bitch!" Haru began, but Kyo stepped in-between them quickly.

"Get home, stupid Ox," he ordered, "If you can, that is. Before you cause anymore damage – or before I damage you."

"Is that a threat, Kyo?" Haru asked coolly, and then turned away. "Fine. Have fun, you two – while you can," he added, before disappearing into the dark.

Chloe and Kyo remained in the silence for a time, before he finally spoke, his back facing her as his head hung down.

"I'm…I'm really sorry, Chloe," he said quietly. She blinked in surprise, but remained silent as he continued. "You're…well, I mean – ah, damn it! Hatori will probably erase your memory, and you won't remember anything about us or Tohru since the day you met us."

Chloe paled, but continued to gaze at his back.

"I…we don't want your memory gone," he continued awkwardly. "You're…you're a good person, and a good friend. You don't deserve it. I just…I just want to tell you that…that no matter what happens, I'll still be your friend. And I'll kill Hatsuharu as soon as I find him."

Chloe almost burst out laughing at the ending threat, but managed to keep her features solemn. She strode up behind him, and placed her hand on his shoulder gently.

"Kyo…I'm sorry for causing so much trouble," she said finally, and he blinked in surprise. Suddenly, she squeezed her eyes shut, and wrapped her arms around him. "I just have to…I want to see what you look like as a cat."

As the orange smoke cleared, an orange cat with purple eyes found himself in the American girl's arms, and looked up at her. His expression was a mixture of disbelief, amusement, and embarrassment.

"I'm guessing that the other's nicknames are their animals, aren't they?" she asked, and he nodded grumpily.

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Kyo," she said, giggling a little. "But…you're so cute!"

"Hey!" he protested as she squeezed him, but to his amazement, he began to purr happily.

"Why on earth did you do that, Hatori?" Shigure asked blankly, meeting the Dragon at the main house after Yuki had returned home after dinner. "Check up on her family, I mean."

"Her last name – Dylan – sounded vaguely familiar to me, so I checked her records," Hatori told him. "It turns out that Miss Dylan's great-grandfather on Tomiko's side was the old Snake."

"What?" Shigure demanded loudly, and Hatori sighed. "I thought she mentioned she didn't have any Japanese blood in her. Besides, Tomiko is only her mother's half-sister, and her blood doesn't run in Chloe."

"The bloodline is very faint, to be honest," Hatori admitted, "But there's a possibility she has heard of the curse before, though I doubt it. But we can't take any chances with her."

"But she's not descended from a Sohma…"

"Chloe's mother is not her mother," Hatori said suddenly, and Shigure almost choked to death at the announcement.

"What?"

"Anna Dylan is not Chloe's biological mother, but her biological sister. Tomiko is her mother. Anna Dylan is indeed Tomiko's half-sister, but she is Chloe's aunt, not mother," Hatori told the Dog. "Tomiko conceived Chloe as a result of an illegitimate pregnancy, and they thought it was best to let Chloe believe that Anna, who was already married at that time, was her mother."

"That certainly explains a lot," Shigure thought. "But if this girl is related to the Sohma family…"

"I already told you that the bloodline is almost nonexistent, Shigure," the Dragon repeated, his tone revealing slight annoyance. "However, this girl holds the slight chance that one of her children will be one of the Zodiac. For that reason, she must not know of the curse – especially not from us. She must not find out about her connection to her, or else Akito may take certain…measures. You know how he likes to have every member of his family under his control."

"And the former Snake ran away?" Shigure guessed, and Hatori nodded.

"Correct. Akito had the Snake and his descendents disowned, but if he finds out that one has returned here – and that she knows of us – then there is no telling what he may decide to do."

"What?" Chloe exclaimed in horror a week later. Kyo and Haru hadn't revealed to anyone that Chloe had discovered the curse, but Shigure had noticed that she had avoided the Ox and Shigure's house ever since that night.

"Calm down, Chloe," Tomiko soothed, but was a bit disgruntled herself. There was no love lost between Tomiko and her younger sister, which was the main reason she had taken Chloe to live with her in Japan. Her niece - daughter -had begun to fall into a crowd known for getting in trouble, and due to her mother's lack of caring, Chloe had almost landed in jail.

"Why should I?" she demanded. "I don't want to see her! You said I was moving here so I wouldn't have to! I'm not staying in the same house as her! Especially if she's bringing Derek! I won't!"

"I know – calm down, Chloe!" Tomiko snapped, silencing her niece's protests. "I've contacted Shigure Sohma, the guardian of your friend Tohru Honda. He seemed more than willing to allow you remain with them after your mother arrives."

"W-what?" Chloe's jaw hung open.

"I admit, I'm not that comfortable with the idea of you staying in a house with strange young men," Tomiko admitted, "But I'm even less comfortable with the idea of you staying with Derek, so don't worry. Chloe, you look a bit pale? Are you feeling all right?"

"Just…fine, Aunt Tomiko," the girl managed, and backed away. "I'm going to go take a nap. I'm really tired."

"All right, Chloe," she nodded, "I'll come get you in time for dinner. And I'm sorry about this."

"Sh-she's staying with us?" Kyo exclaimed, and Shigure eyed him with interest.

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" he asked, and Kyo stammered for a moment before falling silent. Shigure nodded in satisfaction, and then turned to the others.

"Tohru, Chloe will be sharing your room, if that's all right. Tomiko seemed very anxious to have Chloe out of the house – I don't know why, but I think it has something to do with her mother and boyfriend arriving," Shigure frowned briefly, and then sighed. "You can leave now. Not you, Kyo – I need to talk to you."

Tohru looked worriedly at the Cat as she walked out, and Yuki simply strode away as quickly as possible. The two knew of the episode between the Ox and Cat, but had promised not to tell anyone.

"What?" Kyo asked grumpily. To his nervousness, the Dog merely propped his head up on his hand, and regarded the Cat with amusement.

"I talked to Hatori today, Kyo," he began quietly. "Apparently, Hatsuharu had quite a lot to say about Chloe, and yourself as well. Is there anything you'd like to tell me before I continue?"

"No," Kyo said stubbornly.

"Hatsuharu claimed that he hugged Chloe, and you told her about our curse," the Dog continued. "Is this true, Kyo?"

When the Cat remained silent, Shigure sighed in frustration.

"Why wouldn't you tell us, Kyo?"

"You'd erase her memory!" Kyo yelled, before sitting back in his when he realized he had jumped out of it. "She won't tell anyone, Shigure!"

"I know that, Kyo. But there's something you should know about Chloe," Shigure said, and proceeded to tell him what Hatori had discovered about her. Kyo stared at Shigure once the Dog was finished, and then shrugged.

"I don't see why that's such a big deal."

"If Akito discovers that she has returned – no matter that her family was disowned, no matter that she is not cursed, no matter that she knows about the curse now – he will want her under his control as well!" Shigure snapped, surprising Kyo. "Do you want that? Wouldn't you rather that she lost her memory, rather than experience imprisonment with Akito?"

Kyo grumbled something, but Shigure's hearing caught it. He shook his head, and sighed once more.

"Kyo…I don't like it either. But Hatori will erase her memory once she comes to live with us, and we'll send her back home under the pretense of having a problem of some sort," Shigure said, and Kyo shot up.

"I can't believe you!" he shouted. "You…you're a calculating bastard! You don't give a damn about others, do you!"

With that, the Cat raced out of the room. Shigure smiled quietly, and looked at the wall with a sad sort of amusement.

"I suppose he's right."

"What are you doing here, Kyo?" Chloe asked in surprise the next day, finding the Cat in an empty computer room in school. He looked up sheepishly, and then turned back to the computer.

"I'm trying to type up a report I need, but the damn thing won't work," he snapped. "I can't figure it out!"

"Want me to try?" she offered. He glanced at her, and nodded.

"Yeah, probably," he admitted, and got out of the chair for her to sit in front of the screen. Checking the computer's monitor periodically as her fingers flew across the keys, she managed to get the program working for Kyo, and stood up in triumph.

"Hah!" she grinned as he sat back down. "I took a few computer courses back home to kill some time. I guess they paid off."

"Thanks," he grinned back at her, and resumed his pounding of the keys. Chloe watched over his shoulder, occasionally handing out some advice for his report. Kyo continued working, but became increasingly aware of her presence behind him.

Concentrating on his work, he almost jumped out of his skin when he felt a sudden pressure on his shoulder. Glancing around, he realized Chloe was resting her head on the crook of his neck, and her arm was laid on his other shoulder, as her other arm was behind her back. Her eyes were closed, and Kyo tried not to transform into a cat, wanting the continued feel of her warmth against his body. He closed his eyes as well, and Chloe began to feel the vibrations of his purrs after a few seconds.

After a few moments of listening to his contented growls, she straightened, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Sorry, Kyo," she said, looking away as she flushed. "It's just…well, it's been stressful lately, and I just feel comfortable around you. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable…"

"No problem," he managed, and resumed his typing with slightly-shaky fingers. Chloe remained staring out the window for a while longer, and turned around when he stood up.

"Finished?"

"For today, yeah," he nodded, and strode toward the door. "Coming? I'll walk you home – it's dark."

"Have you…does your family know?" Chloe asked quietly, halfway to her house. Kyo looked at her in surprise, and then looked back at the ground.

"Yeah."

"Well? You can tell me, Kyo.'

"They're going to erase your memory," he admitted, and realized the thought was causing him more than a little pain. "There's not much I can do."

"I know," she nodded, and fell silent for a little while longer. Suddenly, she stopped, and he turned to watch her. To his dismay, he saw tears in her eyes.

"Chloe…?"

"I'm sorry…Kyo," she managed, wiping her eyes self-consciously. "It's just…I'm glad you'll still be my friend…afterwards."

"I promised, didn't I?" he grinned half-heartedly at her, and looped his arm through hers. "Come on, I've got to get you home before it gets much later, or I'll never hear the end of it from Shigure."

"Sure," she nodded, a shaky smile spreading on her face.

"Honey!"

"Oh – my – god," Chloe breathed, and Kyo felt her stiffen next to him. He glanced toward her house before he continued to watch her. He stepped slightly in front of her, and resisted the urge to hiss at the two figures approaching her.

Tomiko was at the door, a distressed look on her face. A woman with dark-blond hair with bright turquoise eyes, approached Chloe with a bright smile, and embraced her reluctant daughter in a showy hug.

"Chloe, it's been so long!" Anna gushed, and Chloe pulled herself away. She forced herself to look at the tall man – taller than Kyo – with dark-brown hair and blue eyes.

"Good to see you again, Chloe," Derek, her mother's boyfriend, said quietly, with an odd sort of smile. Chloe shuddered obviously, and nodded at him cautiously.

"Yeah. I'll see you…tomorrow at school, Kyo," she said to him, looking like she was going to be sick. Kyo bristled, sensing that she was scared of the strange man, but walked away stiff-backed before he did anything stupid.

"Chloe! Good morni-what happened to you?" Tohru asked in amazement, seeing Chloe's arm cradled in a brace and sling.

"Oh, I sprained it writing," she replied, with a too-bright smile. "No big deal. How are you, Tohru?"

"I'm fine, thank you," the other girl nodded, but examined Chloe with a worried look. "We better get going, or we'll all be late for class!"

"Right," Chloe agreed, and brushed past them. Kyo glanced after her, and frowned at sensing her air of fright.

"Why is she scared at school?" he thought. "Is it because of Haru? No…something else…"

"I'm going to bed early, Aunt Tomiko," Chloe said abruptly, interrupting her mother's story. "I'm not feeling very well. Good night."

"Good night, dear," Tomiko said gently, mentally keeping an eye on Derek as her niece rushed up to her room. "I hope Mr. Sohma can take her soon."

"I'm…not…dealing with this!" Chloe muttered through gritted teeth. She had locked her bedroom door, and was stuffing clothes into a duffel bag with a furious haste. "I have to get out of this damn house!"

Sliding her window open, Chloe tugged on her jacket before she jumped out of the window. She landed on the roof, and slid awkwardly onto the ground. Her arm was out of the sling, but she was anything but happy about the loss of the brace. Wincing as she moved it, she pulled the bag onto her good shoulder, and rushed off down the street, avoiding the streetlights.

Ah...now what's going on? The mystery of her mother is revealed - I hope it's not too "ridiculous" or improbable. Things like that actually happen more than people think they do, which is why I went with this asa twist. Haru/OC will be in the next chapter and maybe the second one, so keep reading and reviewing!

KactusKat: Thanks for your opinion! I hope you keep reviewing - it makes me so happy to know that people like this story. I know I keep saying it, but it's true!
Hitaru: AAHH! Give me a definete answer! I'm going insane! (calms down and smiles innocently) Haru, or Kyo? Glad I've impressed SOMEONE - incr (in character) is hard to write, especially in a story like this! I'll give you...chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream if you give me a definete vote! Actually, I'll give that to whoever gives me a definete vote every chapter!
ultimadragoon3000: Hey! It's great to hear from you again! I love long reviews, so I don't care if you write ones like that every chapter! I'm so happy you came back and started to read my stuff again, and I love your comments. Wow - this is only the fifth chapter, and you people already want it really long AND a sequel or two! Holy crap! And ideas from you is appreciated. I'm most definetely writing this nice and long, so don't worry about that. Again, glad you think they're all incr as well.

I haven't given everyone else a chance to review yet, but I hope you all review both chapters seperately! (hint hint) But I really wanted to update this. I want to post another one now, but I'm gonna hold off so I can get all of your opinions.