Rooster, Isamu: 33; Dragon, Ryu: 32; Dog, Masa: 32; Snake, Kisho: 32; Monkey, Keiji: 27; Horse, Seiko: 25; God, Haruko: 20; Boar, Takai: 17; Cat, Natsu: 16; Rat, Miki: 16; Cow, Tani: 15; Bunny, Akina: 15; Sheep, Satu: 9; Tiger, Kiyoshi: 9

Chapter 10: A New Beginning

The sun shone bright as people walked to school on that Monday morning. Teenage girls ran down the sidewalk, giggling as they raced each others. Teenage guys talked with each other as the walked, checking out the girls as they ran by, hoping to see up their skirts. A gray haired girl walked down the sidewalk, a small serene smile upon her face. School... public school. This was Miki's second semester in public school. She has transferred the second semester of her first year the year before. She was now a second year in school and she was excited. She had made several friends last semester. She was still a little shy around people, especially the guys. She was mostly afraid of them. She felt so bad when one of her friends tried to hug her and she couldn't touch the guys. Of course, the girls she had no problem... but why would they want to hug her? A lot of them hated her, seeing her as a threat. She was beautiful and intelligent... and quite mysterious... why wouldn't a guy want her?

"Earth to Miki," called a deep voice from behind her. Miki blinked her big purple eyes and turned around. She smiled as she looked at the tall male in front of her.

"Takai," she called, running over to him. She hugged him tightly. She had not seen him since New Years and she missed him so much. Takai wrapped his arms around her, squeezing the young girl tightly. Miki pulled away, smiling. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Takai's school wasn't far away from hers, but it still took some time to get there. She envied him, this was his last year and she still had one more to go after this one.

"I just wanted to stop by and see the little rat," Takai said, smiling down at Miki. Miki hit his arm lightly.

"You silly, you shouldn't do that if you're going to be late for your own class. Now off with you before you start off with a tardy." said Miki, shoving Takai away, laughing as she did. Takai rubbed his chest.

"Fine, fine, see if I come and visit you again," he said, a smile upon his face, and he turned around and jogged off, steering clear of any and all girls. Miki smiled. It was good to see someone else from the main house than just Masa. Ding, ding. The ten minute bell rang loudly across the school yard. Miki turned and looked up at the school. This was going to be a good year.

The hallways buzzed with chatter as Miki walked down the hallways. She held her books in her arms as she tried to find her classroom. She cursed softly to herself for not getting their earlier for she had forgotten almost everything about that school. She finally found her room and walked in quickly as the five minute bell rang. She gave a small sigh of relief and took a seat, smiling at several people as she made her way through. She sat her books on her desk as she sat. She opened one of her notebooks and began to doodle little flowers and hearts on the bare pages that begged to be wrote on.

A redhead boy ran down the hallway, looking liked a scared cat. Where was he? All these hallways were the same only the numbers changed on the doors. Where the hell was his class?

"Shit..." he mumbled to himself as he made a turn here and a turn there. He heard the five minute bell ring and he cursed more under his breath. He hated this school already. A... B... finally! 2C. He let out a small sigh of relief as he made his way into the room. He stopped about two feet inside, his eyes scanning around the room. His eyes stopped on a gray haired student... His mouth opened a bit, a small little sound escaping.. As if on cue, the gray haired girl looked up, her purple eyes meeting with his red. Her face turned into shock, her eyes big.

"Natsu!" she cried, not expecting to ever see him again.

"Miki," he muttered. He was afraid that should would try to hug him... or something worse... Wait! Why the hell would she do that? She's the damned rat, she would never want to do that to me... Don't be stupid Natsu... you stupid cat... Miki stood from her seat, her eyebrows going from their arched position to their slanted one.

"You... are you stupid!" she cried. Natsu glared as he made his way towards her.

"What is that suppose to mean?" he asked.

"Are you a stupid cat? Do you know how much danger you are in?" she scolded, her glare never resting.

"Do you know how much danger you are in Miss I run away from boys just to run into the cat then get squished and ruin mine and the cats chances at preschool." said Natsu, his hands clenched to his sides. Miki rolled her eyes.

"You are never going to let me live that down will you, you stupid cat," she spat.

"Don't call me a stupid cat! You damned rat," hissed Natsu, his voice raising in frustration.

"You are stupid, stupid cat!" she shouted, slamming her hands upon her desk. By this time, several pair of eyes had settled upon them. Miki felt the uneasiness in the room and she grabbed Natsu by the collar and pulled him out of the room. She shut the door and threw Natsu against the wall. Her hands hit the wall on both sides of his head and Miki glared at Natsu.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice in a harsh whisper.

"He told me to," replied Natsu, his voice a little shakey. He hated Haruko... and always had... Everything the stupid boy had put him through...

"Haruko?" she asked softly. "Why would he..."

"Who knows," Natsu said, cutting her off. He knew she had only saw the good side of him... which was quite weird. All of the other zodiac members saw the bad side of Haruko... but Miki... she always saw the good. A weird moment of silence passed and Natsu looked at Miki. "Who cares though. You shouldn't be here! You are in a lot more danger than I am, you clumsy girl," he spat.

"Clumsy girl!" Miki pushed away from the wall and stood there in front of him.

"Yeah, I should kick your ass now for coming to this stupid school. Its because of you that I'm here!" Natsu shouted. Natsu began to roll up his sleeve when he heard a giggle giggle. He looked around. Giggle, giggle. Miki's eyes shifted back and forth.

"Who's there?" asked Natsu. Natsu pushed Miki to the side to see two people standing there. They both had brown hair and brown eyes. The female had her hand over her mouth, trying to restrain the giggling. The male just smiled, his hand in his pocket as he looked at the two. Miki turned around and looked at the two.

"You two fight like a marry couple," said the man, the girl letting out muffled giggles.

"What the hell did you say?" asked Natsu, his hand upon his sleeve to roll it up. The girl removed her hand, and smiled. Her hair was in two pigtails and she titled her head to the side a bit.

"Sorry about my twin, he can be stupid sometimes," she apologized. Miki let out a little sigh. They didn't seem to bad.

"What are your names?" asked Miki, slapping Natsu on the arm so he'd settle down.

"You damn rat," he spat.

"Stupid cat," The twins looked at them.

"Why do you call each other rat and cat?" asked the guy. The girl hit her brother's arm.

"My name is Ran and this is my brother Udo." said Ran.

"Why do you call each other rat and cat?" repeated Udo. Ran slapped her brother. Natsu and Miki just stood there. No one ever asked them that...

"Those are our nicknames. Ever since we were little we always argued and one of the grownups said we were like a cat and a rat. He got the nickname cat because he always started and I got rat because I always win," explained Miki, a smile upon her face. Natsu glared at Miki.

"I don't always start it, thats for sure," he hissed.

"So you are brother and sister?" asked Udo, his eyes glancing up and down Miki subtly.

"No, we are distant cousins." she explained. Ran smiled.

"So what are your names?" asked Ran, curious. Miki blushed a little, embarrassed she hadn't introduced herself.

"I'm Miki and this is Natsu," she said.

"Children, class is starting. Please enter the room," said a deep voice from behind them. The twins turned around to noticed a young man, slightly built, standing there with a briefcase.

"Yes sir," said Udo, turning around and entering the classroom. One by one they filed in, taking their seats for class to start. Miki already knew that this was going to be an interesting year.

Lunch rolled around and the class filed out. Miki walked down the hallway, talking to one of the girls in class.

"Hey Miki!" came a male voice. One of the kids in class ran up to her. "Want to sit with me during lunch?" he asked. Miki blinked.

"Um... I don't know..."

"She isn't because she's going to sit with me," said another voice. Voice after voice was calling out that she was going to sit with them. Miki slyed away from the group. A hand was placed upon her shoulder.

"Why don't you sit with us Miki," said Ran, smiling at the stressed girl. Miki smiled. She gave a nod. Why not? At least she knew that Ran just wanted to talk then praise her and be lap dogs. Miki nodded and went to get her lunch.

Miki looked around outside for the twins, her lunch sack in her hand. She saw them by a tree, laughing and joking around. She smiled and walked over to them.

"Hey guys," she said, sitting between them. Her knees almost touched each of theirs, while the twins faced each other.

"Hey Miki," said Ran, smiling.

"Hey," she said, opening her lunch.

"So tell us a little bit about yourself Miki," said Udo, as he looked at her. Miki nibbled on her sandwich a bit.

"Well... there is nothing much to say," she said, unsure on how to answer the question. She couldn't tell them that she was cursed for her whole life, couldn't embrace men, and that she was a rat. She looked at them. They seemed very nice, and she'd love to share the secret with them... just like how Tohru Honda knew about it... but..

"Hey Natsu!" called Udo, waving his hand in the air. The cat looked over at the group, his lunch in his hands. He began to walk over and was almost there when he noticed Miki sitting with them. Oh hell no... He thought and began to walk past them. Udo grabbed Natsu's arm and pulled him down next to him. Natsu looked ahead of him and met the purple eyes of Miki.

"Stupid cat.." she said softly, nibbling her sandwich.

"Well aren't we just one big happy group," said Udo, smiling his stupid grin. They sat in silence for a little while, Miki and Natsu glaring at each other as they ate their lunch. Ran looked between the two Sohmas and smiled. She grabbed one of Miki's hands, snapping her out of her glare. Miki looked surprised at Ran. What was she doing?

"Miki, will you be my friend?" she asked, clasping Miki's right hand in between both of her hands. Miki blinked but laughed.

"Sure," she said, a small smile upon her face.

"Will you be my friend too!" asked Udo, clasping Miki's left hand. Miki flinched, and Natsu's eyes went wide. Don't hug her... don't hug her... Miki became tense as she felt his hand upon hers. She knew if he touched her it was alright.. but if he hugged her..

"Sure.. why not," she said, a small stressed smile upon her face. She was beginning to feel really uncomfortable.

"Friends are stupid.. who needs them.." grumbled Natsu, drinking his water. Ran gave a little smile in Natsu's direction.

"They aren't that bad," she responded.

"Oh thank you!" cried Udo after Miki responded. He let go of her hands and his arms went wide as he began to lean forward. Miki's eyes went wide as she tried to lean back to miss being hugged. She was back on her hands as Udo got closer. Shit...

"Excuse me, I think the bell just rang," said Natsu, getting up and stepping between Udo and Miki. "Lets go," he said, grabbing Udo by the collar. Udo fussed as he was pulled away, Natsu ignoring the silly protest. Miki fell onto her back, her chest heaving. That was really close... She had to thank Natsu later... maybe...

"I think those two are going to become really good friends..." said Ran as she picked up her brothers lunch as well as her own. Miki looked over at Ran and smiled.

"Yeah... probably."

"We shall be doing a project," rang into the children's minds as they sat in class after lunch. Everyone groaned, all hating to do projects. "You shall all draw a number and who ever draws the other numbers are in your group. You will get into your groups and one of you shall come up here and pick out a topic. You shall do a whole presentation on your subject and will be done and presented before exams. Do you all understand?" A grumble of yeses ran over the class and the teacher went up and down the isle, student by student picking out a number. Udo picked out the last number and opened it up. Number five.

"Alright, all numbers get together and get to know each other. Ones and twos in the front, threes and fours in back and fives near the window." The kids got up, scrambling to their assigned parts of the room. Several people hugged each other as they found who they were with. Udo sat by the window when he saw Miki and Ran make their was over.

"Why hello ladies, are you five as well?" Udo asked, grinning.

"Yes Udo you twit," said Ran, giggling. Miki counted the people in the group.

"We should have one more..."

"Oh hell no," said Natsu and the girls turned around. Natsu held his slip of paper which read five on it. Miki glared at him as she straighted out her gray skirt.

"Oh no..."

"I'm going to go draw our topic! I'll be back," said Ran as she went to the front of the room. Miki and Natsu glared at each other as they stood there. Udo stood up and stood next to Miki.

"We are all just one happy family!" he cried and went to hug Miki. Natsu growled and lept forward, hugging Udo instead. Miki blinked, wondering why Natsu had just hugged Udo.

"Yeah.. happy... family..." Natsu growled, glaring at Miki. She was going to be the death of him...

"Hey hey, little less loving there kid. Your face is turning as red as your hair and uniform," said Udo, pulling away from Natsu. Ran skipped back to the group and smiled.

"Got the topic!" she sang. Miki straighted her choker and looked at Ran.

"What is it?" she asked.

"We shall be studying the Chinese Zodiac!"

Author Notes: Cliff hanger! Woohoo:) Sorry it took so long to get this out, I was on a major writing block and lately I've been really busy with stage managing and all this other stuff! (to many excuses, sorry folks!) I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next chapter, The Project will be out sooner than this one! I also hope you like Ran and Udo... I needed to give them new friends :) Thanks for reading and hope to see your review:)