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Author's note: sobs I'm…so…HAPPYYYYY! Thank you so much to all who reviewed and said they like my story! It makes me want to just keep writing and writing! Also, I loved the suggestions I got. A special Thanks to:

Ayame- I think I'll see where I can fit your suggestion in. I really like it

OneManShaow- . Thank you!

SangoTwin- Wow- that means a lot to me! Keep reading

Anarchy the cockroach- . I know! I just had to put that in there!

Honesty's Policy- bows I truly appreciate your criticism, and I love that you took so much trouble to tell me what you really thought. Thank You.

Now- ONWARD!

CHAPTER SEVEN: It's all she has left...

That afternoon, when Kyo and Jenny finally got home, Jenny went upstairs to put her bag away and change out of her uniform. However, once she shut the door behind her, she merely sighed, and began to open her drawers. Row by row, she packed her book bag with as much as she could. She took the photos of her brother and parents off of her bedside table, and removed the few books from the bookcases. When she was done, the room didn't look all that different; it wasn't as though she had been really given the time to settle in.

I think I'll tell Shigure-san tonight, she thought, heading downstairs to start dinner. I couldn't possibly ask him to let me stay here- not now. I would only be a burden. I wouldn't want to trouble them all, not after they showed me such kindness. I'll be sad to leave, but perhaps it will be best for everyone. I only wonder what will become of me once I get back to the states. Stephen can't keep me- he's staying on the college campus. I suppose there's something in Mom and Dad's will…I'll probably go back to Saint Mary's Academy… Jennifer loathed the thought of having to go back. It's not that she hated St. Mary's- but this time, she wouldn't be able to go back to the way things were. Even her friends would probably distance themselves from her. She'd have to be…a charity student…Wiping her eyes feverishly, Jennifer scowled at the rice, and started on the stew. No! she demanded of herself, I won't cry! I only have things to be grateful for! I must not be selfish!…I truly am...blessed…...

"I wanted to thank you for your hospitality, Shigure-san," Jennifer said, while the family was eating dinner, "but I think I'll be returning home soon."

"No, Jeni-kun, I don't think you will." Shigure said in return.

""Eh?" Jenny faltered. Not going home? What does he mean?

"I got a letter today," Shigure revealed to them, "from the exchange program. They admitted that this sort of thing was not common, but that the best thing to do would be for you to remain here and finish out your school term until they can sort things out. So for now, everything will be kept on hold until summer. You will be staying with us, just like the original plan."

"But- but" Jenny babbled, "I don't…I mean, um, that is, I don't want to be any trouble, you know, and I just thought that going home would be best, since I couldn't possibly ask you to let me stay- it would be too much bother, and you have all been so kind to me, and I just didn't want to take advantage of-"

Jenny got cut off when she felt a hand being pressed against her mouth. Looking over she saw that it was Kyo's hand. He had silenced her, but now he just kept eating, and he said between bites, "Jeez- Calm down would ya? We asked you to stay, so that's final! You're one of us now- No questions about it! Now just pipe down and let me eat." And he let go of her, and returned to eating his meal.

"Er-"Yuki said, interrupting the silence, "Yes, Maiso- san, we do want you to stay with us. As Kyo so roughly put it, you are one of us now. We consider you one of the family. Just relax, and it will all be fine. We're here for you."

Jenny smiled and thanked him, "I will do my best, Sohma-bocchan. I am at your mercy."

Sohma-bocchan? Kyo, Yuki, and Shigure thought, as Jenny went into the kitchen to do the dishes.

" 'Sohma-bocchan'?" Shigure questioned, saying aloud what everyone else was thinking, "Why on earth would she call you that, of all things?"

"It's all she has left," Tohru answered, a small, knowing smile playing about her face.

"Huh?" Yuki asked.

"Come to think about it, she called me that a few times, too…" Kyo mused to the others.

"But why?" Shigure asked again.

"Jeni-kun feels that she must show extra respect to you all," Tohru did her best to explain, "because you took her in. She wants to show you her gratitude. Also, she wants herself to remember her place. She thinks that she has to call you that, to show her respect. Basically, she's asking you to let her be your servant in order to repay her debt. It's a sort of complicated thought process. It's hard to explain unless you've felt it before, but I can relate. I must admit, I was very close to calling all of you "bocchan" when you first let me stay here…."

Kyo was fairly confused, but he thought he could sort of understand. He could remember feeling that way right after his shishou took him in, and they all agree to just accept it, and not make a comment to Jennifer.

In the kitchen, Jennifer was feeling completely elated that she was getting to stay, and after she finished the dishes, she went upstairs, and unpacked her bags, feeling happier that when she did it the first time…

The next morning was when her other uniform was to be delivered, and Jenny was very excited that she could finally dress like everyone else. The girl's uniforms are sooo cute! I hope I look good in it. I don't want to look out of place.

However, after breakfast, the others got dressed, but Jenny's clothes were nowhere to be seen.

"Hm" Shigure commented after jenny checked the mailbox for the seventh time, "It seems the mail is late today."

"But it can't be late! I don't have my uniform yet!" Jenny said

"Just wear your old one!" Kyo told her

"I can't" Jenny admitted tearfully, "The teachers won't let me! The principal said that if I didn't start wearing the right one by today, he would have me suspended!"

Yuki glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed- which Jennifer did not miss.

"Please, " Jenny continued, "You all go on ahead. I'm sure the delivery will be here soon. I'll catch up to you. I don't want you all to be late on my account."

"Are you sure Jeni-kun?" Asked Tohru, worried.

"Of course I'm sure!" answered Jenny with a smile, "I know the way there. I don't want you to be late. I'll be there by the time first class starts- promise. Just go on, all right? I'll be fine!"

And she saw the others off, waving them good-bye….

Sitting in math class, Kyo scowled out of the window.

Damn, he thought,Where is she? The second bell is gonna ring any minute!…I shouldn't have left her! No doubt she's pulled a Haru and gotten lost- we probably won't see her for a week…. Or even worse- she could have gotten herself kidnapped…That's the sort of thing that would happen to her…Gah, what am I all worried about? I should be paying attention! Who care's about some stupid girl, anyway?….. But one glance at Jenny's empty desk next to his sent his mind reeling again. Maybe I should cut class and look for her. I don't want her to get hur-

"Hello! Jennifer Maiso, reporting, sensei!"

Turning to look, Kyo's eyes nearly fell out of his head-, as did most of the boys in the class. There was Jennifer, in her sailor blouse, knee socks, loafers, and- most important of all- a super-short blue pleated skirt, just like Tohru's. She even had her hair done up in pigtails, and Kyo could only stare. But then the conversation of some of the other boys caught her attention.

"Wow- she's a real looker isn't she? You can really make out more of her, um…features, now that she's not wearing the boy's uniform!"

"Are you nuts? She's gorgeous! Hey, maybe I should ask her out…"

"You idiot! She'd never date you! Not in a million years! Besides, you only want to get in underher skirt!"

"Yeah- so-?"

But the boys quickly changed their tune once Jenny started walking over to her seat.

"Good morning, Sohma-bocchan!" Jenny greeted, sliding into her chair.

"Uh- yeah." Kyo returned, turning back to the front of the room, blushing a bit.

Crap- why am I all irritated? I should be happy she was even able to find her way here! It's not like she looks all that special, anyway. What was I expecting her to wear? Yeah, I'm just getting all upset over nothing…. But he still couldn't quite bring himself to look over at her. That is, until a paper wad bounced on his head, snapping him awake. He unwrinkled the paper and read:

Are you okay? Did you eat enough this morning? You don't look well- your face is all flushed…

Kyo hastily scribbled back, and sent the note flying back to her.

I'm fine. You worry too much…

Jenny bit her bottom lip- a nervous habit- and looked down at her lank notebook page. She couldn't concentrate- she was too worried about Kyo.

After the bell rang, they had morning break. But Kyo saw that the rowdy boys in the back of the class quickly made their way through the crowd, towards Jennifer.

"Hey, Jeni-chan!" a boy named Hamada called out, "Wait up!"

Jenny waited, a polite, but curious, smile on her face, and Kyo's blood boiled at the sight of the way Hamada cozied up next to her, and walked her out of the room. Kyo looked around, and then followed closely behind.

"So, Jeni-chan," Hamada was saying, "Do you like Japan so far?"

"Oh, yes, very much, thank you!" she replied.

"Well, I was thinking, if you wanted, I could show you around sometime this weekend…like on a date…"

"Huh?" Jenny asked, surprised, but before she could answer, she felt someone grab her from behind. Looking around, she saw it was Kyo, and she blushed madly. Kyo smoothly put his hand around her waist, and glared at Hamada.

"Sorry, but we already have plans this weekend," Kyo growled.

Hamada blanched, looking very frightened, and the next thing that Jenny knew, she was being steered down the hallway, then out into the school courtyard. When they finally reached the outdoors, Kyo removed his hand from her waist, and walked ahead of her, sighing.

"Didn't mean to scare you," Kyo told her, "but Hamada's bad news. You shouldn't hang around him."

"Wha..?" Jenny asked, still dazed, "But why? He seemed so nice…"

"Yeah, well, so did Hitler at first glance, but that didn't work out too well, now did it?" Kyo remarked, "Look, Just take my word for it. Hamada…is with a bad crowd."

"What- like a gang?"

"Sort of...He's the leader of this gang of real rowdy guys. They go out doing graffiti and getting drunk and doing drugs. The only reason he hasn't been suspended yet is because his parents are rich, and they're always donating loads of money to the school…He's a total womanizer- you can't trust him as far as you can throw him."

"That's awful!" Jenny exclaimed before she bowed to him, "Thank you so much for telling me, Sohma-bocchan! I never would have guessed." Then she added in a more quiet voice, "You're always looking out for me, aren't you?"

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" Jenny blushed, "Hey, Sohma-bocchan?"

"What is it?"

"Um- well, do you want to have lunch with me today? I brought a lunch today, but it's sort of big… So I was thinking I could share it with you...to thank you for…well- back there…"

After a moment's consideration, Kyo agreed, "Why not? I just hope you packed something good…"

My two cents: OH MY GOD! I JUST got another review! Like, two minutes ago!Thank you so much, Morurisu Shirubi! But please, don't pester me! T.T :weeps:

Wow- that was one of my longer chapters I suppose! I'm just going to cut it off here- since now I don't know where to go with the plot. I'm welcome to suggestions though! Thanks to all who reviewed, and I'll try to post again soon!