"What was on your list again Miss Honda?" asked Yuki once they were in town. "I think that we might need to go into this shop to get the Miso Soup…," he said, peering through a shop window.

Tohru checked her list and replied, "Yes I think so too Yuki-kun, and…. we need potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and… um, what else was it again..?"

"Leeks?" Yuki suggested, over emphasising the word so that Kyo, who was currently standing next to Tohru with a look on his face that read 'why the hell am I here?' jump up with utter disgust plastered all over his face.

"Ah, you've gotta be kiddin me? Why the hell you like those things anyway! They taste nasty!"

Yuki sighed, even though this was the reaction he was expecting and said with a cold, hard look on his face, "Why do you make such an expedition out of not liking them? If you just learn to like them the maybe we wouldn't have this commotion of you complaining every time we went shopping."

Sensing yet another argument coming along Tohru hesitantly suggested that it would be a good idea if Yuki would come into the store with her to help with the shopping.

"Yes of course Miss Honda, that is an excellent idea," and followed her into the shop.

As the sliding door opened Tohru turned round to Kyo and asked "Are you sure that you will be OK out here on your own Kyo-kun?" A sweet smile on her face.

Kyo looked at her from out the corner of his eyes and replied "Yeah or course I'll be ok, whatya think I m? Some sorta' wuss?" What was it with her?

Watching them disappear through the glass doors, Kyo lent back against the wall and let out a silent sigh. He closed his eyes and thought about the things that troubled him. What the hell was it with her? Why did she care so much about him? All his life he had been rejected by all his family, her had never had any friends… until… her. He has always known that one day he would be locked away from the world, hidden for a reason that was out of his control. Just because he was a… a… he couldn't even bring himself to think about what he was underneath. Looking down at his wrist, he saw the red and white beads wrapped around it. If it wasn't for these… he would have never been able to meet… her. The day he was 'revealed' as a… why could he never bring himself to realise what he really was? You're a… monster! It hurt so much but he knew that he had to face it. He had no chance of ever escaping his fate. A dark, cold room awaited him. No one would ever help him get away; no one could ever comfort him when he felt most alone. But was there? He had a feeling that there might be someone out in this world that could help him. He just had to meet them… or maybe, had met them already…

"Kyo-kun…?"

A sweet voice burst him form his bubble of thought and sent him flying back to earth with an unpleasant bump. Kyo opened his eyes and looked up. There stood Tohru... the person that he always knew he could trust. But standing behind her… was the person he hated the most with his entire being. This was the person that stood between him and his goal of freedom, whenever he was knocked down… he would always stand straight back up, as strong as ever. Yuki Sohma… the rat!

He felt a warm hand touch his forehead. Tohru stood in front of him with a look of concern on her pretty little face.

"Are you ok Kyo-kun? You don't look too well… I think we should go home so you can rest."

Such kindness…

"No. I'm fine, I don't get ill."

"I really think that we should make our way home. After all we have all the things that we need, isn't that right Yuki-kun?"

But she didn't get a reply; Yuki was already walking down the street towards home.

"Let's take that as a yes!" Tohru giggled walking after him with Kyo at her side.

With Kyo and Yuki either sided of her, Tohru felt happiness fill her heart. She had such a good life; the Sohma family were always so kind to her. They gave a roof over her head when she needed it most… but she always felt like she had to repay them in some way. The curse was always at the back of hr mind… how would she help them all, they needed it so much…

"OH! WHAT A BEAUTIFULL SIGHT!"

The trio gave a small yelp of surprise and a jump back as a small man bounced in front of them with his hands outstretched. Tohru, Kyo and Yuki all blinked in unison with a blank expression on their faces. They looked at a man, no higher than Yuki's waist, who wore what looked like every item of clothing he owned. Every part of his body flashed with different coloured clothing. A silk bower hat died every colour of the rainbow toppled on his head with every jerky movement, along with countless bangles jingling all the way up his arms to his elbows. His small hands were sat in the pockets of his waistcoat that looked like it was made out of some dead animal. His boots looked far too big for him, making his dinky little feet and legs look like huge rowing boats on sticks.

Not knowing what to say at this very unusual sight, the three teenagers just froze waiting for the strange, little man to speak first.

"NEVER IN ALL MY LIFE…" the man no younger than 40 shouted at the top of his lungs "HAVE I SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER!"

None of them knew what to say, and so Yuki stepped forward and asked in a slightly timid voice, "Um… may we help you… sir?"

"CAN YOU HELP ME!" The little man bellowed, making the people passing in the street look at the four of them with strange looks on their faces. "CAN YOU HELP? BY JOVE YOU CAN!" He dived in a small pocket of his waistcoat and pulled out three very small, but professional looking cards. He shoved one into each of their hands, and said, "Call me. The names Misu Hiatwary, at your service!"

And with that he gave them a salute and bounced up into the air and dashed away almost as if he had a rocket on his back.

The three of them just stood there for a minute or two with the small cards still clasped in their hands, trying to make sense out of what just happened to them!

"What the hell was that about?" Kyo said, breaking the silence in the air. He looked down at the card.

MODELING BIZARE!

Agent Misu Hiatwary invites you to come and have a look around at the brand new modelling headquarters near you.!

See back of card for the main telephone number.

(appointments can only be made the day before expected visit)

Turning over the card he saw the number there with the message 'Call before it's too late!' printed bellow it. Tohru and Yuki were also looking at their card with some interest.

"Wow…" Tohru muttered to herself. "A real modelling agent… what did he give us this for though…?"

"Interesting…" Yuki said reading and rereading the card over and over again

"Shall I ask that again? WHAT IN HELL WAS THAT ABOUT?" He raged getting annoyed that the other two seemed to understand what was going on and he didn't.

"Shut up you stupid cat, don't be so noisy you're making people look at us." Yuki said speaking to Kyo like he was a piece of dirt on the floor. Just to make a change!

"MAKE PEOPLE LOOK AT US? THE WHOLE BLOODY STREET LOOKED AT US WHEN THAT WEIRD MAN THE SIZE OF AN ANT AS HOPPING IN FRONT OF US !"

"Wow! This is so exciting!" Tohru piped up, making Kyo come straight of his paddy and shove his hands into his pockets and walk off muttering under his breath about how much he hated 'that damn Yuki'. Tohru heard the last of his moans – 'he only came up to us because of the stupid rat…" Maybe he was right… Tohru wondered. After all what was so special about her…?

"Yes I know what you mean Miss Honda, but I wonder why he came up to us…?"

Tohru knew the answer, but she didn't tell Yuki. He didn't figure out that probably the only reason the agent came up to them was because of him. After all… he wasn't the Prince of High because he was good at Maths! And what was she compared to him? Just the side order that came with it; the only reason the girls talked to her in school was because she lived under the same roof as 'Prince Yuki'.

Tohru let a sigh escape her lips and she bowed her head a sad feeling replacing the exited.

"What's the matter Miss Honda," Yuki asked concerned at her sigh. "I thought that you were excited about it?"

Oh no! Tohru thought. Look what I have gone and done now, I am going to make Yuki worry about me for no reason now!

"Um… no nothings the matter Yuki-kun… honestly… but thank you for concern." She smiled up at his somehow beautiful face… I will never be like him…

"Hey you two!" Kyo shouted from in front of them "You'd better move your asses if ya wanna get home before it gets dark!"

Tohru looked up at the sky; the sun was slowly sinking over the horizon… along with her heart. "Oh yes coming Kyo-kun!" Tohru called back to him pushing this thought out of her head. "Come on Yuki-kun!" She called behind as she jogged to catch up with Yuki.

"Kyo's right…." In more ways than one…