Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Thanks to my reviewers and readers!I will be answering questions shortly in this and the next chapter, so don't worry about anything. Just read and enjoy! I'm thinking of doing a Momiji/Haru/Jenna triangle, but a thought occured to me to have Hatori instead of Momiji. Or something like that. Tell me what you think, and who she should end up with! I kinda think Hatori is a little too old, but...whatever. This was originally supposed to be Haru/OC, but let me know who you think is best!

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


"I hate shopping like this," she muttered, having checked her watch for the third time. Usually Jenna enjoyed clothes shopping, but not when she had a time limit to watch how long she was taking – she hated pressure, and the added pressure of meeting the rest of the Sohmas didn't help any.

"Do you need any help, ma'm?" a young woman with long brown hair and brown eyes asked curiously, wearing an employee's uniform. Jenna, after a split-second's hesitation, nodded gratefully.

"Please."

"Are you looking for anything in particular?" the woman asked, looking to be about Jenna's age. Her hair obscured her tag, but Jenna didn't pay much attention.

"I'm actually meeting the family of a few friends, and I'm pretty nervous about it," she laughed nervously, her statement obviously true. "It's kind of hard to explain, but I want to make a good impression."

"Hm…casual, or dressy?"

"Well…I think in-between, from what they were saying," Jenna thought, following the woman as she headed through the racks. "I don't want to look too dressed up, but I don't want to look grungy, you know? Ah…I don't know why I'm so nervous – I've met most of the family already, if only briefly."

"I can sympathize," the woman nodded, deftly looking through the clothes. "A friend of the family is coming over for dinner tonight, and I can only imagine how she must feel."

"Tohru?" Jenna blinked in surprise, finally catching a glimpse of the nametag. "Tohru Honda? I'm Jenna Stevenson – I'm the one coming over!"

"You are?" Tohru asked, equally surprised, before breaking out into a beaming smile. "That's wonderful! Well, now I can definitely help you out! I was thinking this would be nice, actually…"

"It's pretty," Jenna agreed, her eyes skimming the dress. "I think I'll try it out."

"Great! Come this way," Tohru led her to the dressing room, and unlocked the door to a changing room. "I'll wait outside."

"All right," Jenna nodded, and entered the room. After a few moments she exited, having quickly changed. The dress fell just to her knees, the skirt cut in a flattering A-line and the neck scooping slightly. The dark green set off her features, and the sleeves folded about her shoulders gracefully. "You don't think this will be too dressy?" she asked worriedly, but Tohru shook her head emphatically.

"No – of course not! And we've got the perfect shoes for it, too," she added, appearing with a shoebox. In it was a pair of black strapless sandals, the heels low but still giving Jenna some height. "I think this is the right thing for you," Tohru continued, smiling. "I can't believe the luck!"

"Yeah, me too," Jenna nodded, going back in to change.


Still a little uncertain about her purchase, but glad she had met Tohru in the store, Jenna entered her house with the bag on her arm, and automatically checked her messages.

"Jenna? It's Haru, of course. I'll pick you up around three, or so Momiji told me. See you then."

"Around three…ack! It's almost two!" she realized, and immediately went into panic mode. Rushing about the house, she was glad she had already showered, eliminating one thing from her list. Tossing the bag onto her bed she raced around like a madwoman, her makeup going on easily for once and her hair deciding to go along with her ministrations, something she was eternally grateful for. Deciding to let her hair hang loose, she slipped in black earrings to match her shoes, and quickly pulled on her stockings and shoes before slipping into the dress. Taking a long critical look in her mirror, she got her first good look at her reflection, and her jaw dropped.

"I look…good," she realized, sliding her palms down the smooth material. To her astonishment, the dress no longer seemed too formal, but appeared just right for going to the Sohmas, and made a mental note to get Tohru something good in return. Glancing at her clock she realized it was almost three, and skipped unsteadily down the stairs and grabbed her jacket – a heavy black one with round buttons, and completely covered her dress once buttoned, falling past her knees.

"Hello?" Haru called, knocking on the door. "Anyone home, or what?"

"Oh, hey!" she swung the door open and froze for a moment at seeing the young man on her doorstep. The hair and eyes – along with chokers – made it obvious it was Haru, but at first glance it appeared a different person. He wore black slacks, shoes, and a light-gray dress shirt that was partially unbuttoned.

"What?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, and grabbed her bag. "I'm all ready."

"Obviously," he pointed out, and turned around without another word. Jenna blinked, and locked her door to quickly follow the Ox to his car. "Nervous?" he asked suddenly, as she closed the door after buckling in.

"Um…"

"Don't be," he assured her, and she eyed him sideways.

"I guess he really is bi-polar," Jenna thought, with a slight shake of her head. "First he acts like he's annoyed, and now he's trying to reassure me – I think he is, at least…"


"Hatori's been looking forward to seeing you again, actually," Haru continued, staring straight ahead at the road. "He's sorry he hasn't been able to see you since you moved here, but he's been busy with the Sohmas – he's our only doctor for most of us, after all. Tohru mentioned she met you in the department store this morning – and that she helped you pick something out. I guess Momiji's message made you nervous."

"Uh…not really," she stammered, and then wished she could slap herself. "What is it about this guy that makes me act like an idiot?" she wondered, becoming annoyed at herself instead of nervous.

"Akito won't be there," Haru told her, a statement that surprised her in its casualness. "He's gotten sicker over the years, and Hatori doesn't expect him to live much longer."

"Don't you…care?" she asked hesitantly, and he shrugged.

"I don't know. Not really, I think."

"Oh."

Jenna fell quiet, and they continued the ride in a tense silence. Haru appeared to grow more and more relaxed the closer they got to the main house, while Jenna's nerves were practically begging her to run for it and escape the meeting.


"Shut up!"

"We're here," Haru said, interrupting her mental shouting match.

"We are?" she looked around in surprise as he parked the car, and started to get out of the car. Out of the blue, the Ox slid over the hood of the car and opened the door before she could manage to, and held it open for her. "Thanks…" she murmured, gazing in awe at the surroundings. Haru took her elbow suddenly, causing her to jump, and he suddenly grinned.

"Calm down," he ordered, leading her through the houses. "We're not going to eat you, after all. Take a chill pill – you're making me nervous, and it's my damn family!"

"All right," she nodded, taking deep breaths to steady her nerves.

"Jenna!" Momiji yelled, rushing up. "I'm glad you came!"

"Well, why wouldn't I?"

"Hatsuharu might've scared you off," he said, winking at the Ox who grunted and stalked off with his hands in his pockets.

"Haru was very nice, actually," she protested, but Momiji grinned at her and took her arm.

"Come on, everyone's waiting!" he told her, and her heart sank.

"Everyone?"


"It's nice to see you again, Jenna," Hatori said calmly, and suddenly embraced her loosely, a hug which she gratefully returned. Stepping back, the doctor examined her with a critical eye and nodded. "You look like you're doing well – you appear the picture of health, except for your nerves. Relax."

"That's what I kept saying," Haru supplied, strolling into the room. Hatori sighed with a shake of his head, and offered a small smile to Jenna.

"You've already seen most of them, and vice versa – and we're not a horrible family in guest aspects, after all."

"I know," she nodded, flexing her fingers. "And I've already met Tohru today as well."

"Good," he nodded, and led her down the hall. "Ritsu and Ayame haven't arrived yet, and Kisa is with Tohru in the kitchen still cooking. This is Jenna Stevenson," he announced, before she could realize she was in the room with the other Sohmas. "I believe you've met Kyo before, and this is Yuki, Hiro, Izumi –"

"Rin," the young woman interrupted sharply, but Hatori took it in stride.

"Rin, and Kagura. The Cat, Rat, Ram, Horse, and Boar, respectively."

"And this is Kisa, the Tiger," Tohru introduced them, entering with a shy young woman following behind her.

"Master Ritsu and Master Ayame have arrived," a woman announced, before stepping back to allow the flamboyant Snake and cautious Monkey into the room.

"Is this the Jenna I met those years ago?" Ayame exclaimed, and Yuki's face took on a suffering expression. "My, my, how've we grown! Next thing I know, you'll be taking one of our Sohma boys away with you!"

"Ayame!" Hatori interrupted, a bit too sharply. Ayame fell silent, and Ritsu and Jenna both awkwardly bowed to each other.

"Pleased to meet you, Ritsu," Jenna said with a smile, which he returned nervously.

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied, and seemed pleased with his response.

"The Rooster isn't much for social parties," Hatori said softly in her ear, seeing her counting the Sohmas. She nodded understandingly, and found herself seated between Haru and Rin – of all the places to be, none of the Sohmas envied her position. The Ox and Horse had broken up years ago, but their on-again, off-again fighting drove the entire branch insane, with Rin becoming more and more cooler with each encounter. And the way she was eyeing the new young woman, they wouldn't be surprised if she transformed just to kick her – something which didn't escape the seemingly air-headed Ayame, who found an excuse to switch places with her, talking happily all the while.

"Ayame and Shigure were such good friends, so Ayame feels he has a certain obligation to Jenna as well," Kyo whispered to Tohru as she began to serve the meal.

"Oh."


"That was delicious, Tohru," Jenna sighed, leaning back slightly once the meal was done. She had managed to deal with the self-aggrandizing Ayame rather well, while the sullen Ox on her other side did nothing but remain silent and eat. "You have to teach me, because I can never survive on my own crap now."

"Of course!" Tohru nodded with a bright smile, and Kisa giggled. The nineteen year-old Tiger had warmed up as the night went on, and Hiro's sharp tongue seemed a little less biting – except where his just-out-of-collage-age cousins were concerned. "Evenings are usually all right, if that's fine."

"I'll have to call you and set something up," Jenna agreed, and glanced at Rin. "Would you like to come, Rin?"

"I don't need to learn how to cook from her," the Horse sneered, before standing up and stalking out of the room. Jenna blinked in surprise as Hatori stepped in smoothly.

"Rin's not very social either, to be honest," he began, but Kyo snorted.

"Oh please. She's being a bitch again, that's all."

"Shut up," Haru muttered, and Kyo ignored him.

"I think I should be going, actually," Jenna stood up hastily, and Momiji beat her to the door.

"I can drive you home," he volunteered, and she shook her head in protest.

"I don't want to be a bother –"

"I'll do it, then," Haru interrupted, to everyone's surprise, and strode out the door. Once in the hallway, he turned to gaze calmly at Jenna. "Well? Are you coming?" he demanded, before continuing to walk down the hall.

"Uh...I guess. Thank you all so much – especially Tohru for this food!" Jenna added, carrying several containers Tohru had prepared beforehand. "I'll see you all soon."

"Good night," Hatori soberly waved, and Ayame blew extravagant kisses with a grin on his face as the others laughed at her confused expression before chasing after the Ox.

"He's Black," Momiji observed, but Hatori merely sipped his tea calmly.

"Why'd you let her go?" Yuki asked calmly, and the others waited for an answer. To their disappointment Hatori ignored their curiosity and left the room quickly before Ayame could pounce on him eagerly, leaving them all guessing at his motives.

"He better not be turning into Shigure, scheming shit left and right," Kyo grunted, and Tohru sighed.


"Haru…if I did anything back there, with Rin I mean, I didn't mean to," she ventured, but the Ox continued to stare straight ahead while walking through the property. "Haru – the car was back there," she pointed out, and he turned around to grin suspiciously at her.

"We're not taking the car."

"Well, what are we taking, then?" she asked, skipping to keep up with his long strides. "Hatsuharu, if you're playing games with me, I'll go back and ask Hatori for a ride."

"You'll get lost before you do," he interrupted, and she fell silent, realizing he was right. She continued to follow for several more minutes before he stopped, grinning in satisfaction.

"A motorcycle?" she realized, and glared at him. "In this dress? Haru, are you insane? I can't ride a motorcycle like this!"

"Scared?" he asked tauntingly. Putting on his own helmet and straddling the seat, he dangled the spare helmet from a finger, his hands now bearing fingerless leather gloves. "Well?" Standing for a moment, she fumed silently before snatching the helmet and pulled it onto her head.

"No," she retorted, managing to settle herself side-saddle behind him and tightening her arms around his chest. "If this dress gets ruined, I'll kill you."

"You're welcome to," he replied, before shooting off without any warning.


"This isn't the way to my house!" she informed him loudly, forced to hold him tightly as the Ox sped through traffic like an idiot. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded when he ignored her, and his unseen face turned to her slightly.

"I'm taking you on a tour of the city," he told her, before his attention returned to the road.

"W-what?" she spluttered. "Haru, I have work tomorrow! I need to go home!"

"What, are you scared of the motorcycle?" he asked quietly. "Or of me?" he added, and she resisted the urge to punch him, knowing she'd lose her balance and most likely die.

"Bastard," she said sourly, realizing there was no way to argue with the stubborn Ox. "You really are bull-headed," she said, and was unable to see his smirk.

"I guess Momiji or Hatori didn't tell her about Black and White," he thought to himself. His two sides had grown together a little over the years, giving him more control of Black Haru, but the Ox occasionally let loose for the hell of it. When Black, White was unable to control Haru's actions, but Haru was well-aware of what he was doing lately, not like when he was in high school and often unable to remember certain incidents.


"I've come to a conclusion," Jenna revealed, once Haru had finally stopped the machine in a deserted park miles from her house.

"Oh? And what's that?"

"You're a sadistic bastard," she told him, before turning around and heading for the street. "I'm going to call Hatori right now for a ride, since it's his fault for letting me go with you."

"Hey, wait a sec!" Haru called, and grabbed her arm. Whirling her back to face him, he gazed down at her face, and his look sent shivers up her spine. "I'll take you home," he said reluctantly, but when he didn't move she tapped her foot impatiently, glaring up at him.

"Well?"

"I didn't say when, Jenna," he grinned down at her. She opened her mouth to argue with him, and he took the opportunity to abruptly lower his head and press his lips against hers. She gasped, but his kiss was a forceful one, giving her no wiggle room as he pulled her flush against him. After a surprised moment of shock, she came back to her senses and kneed him, and quickly backed up when he pushed her away roughly. "Shit! Damn, woman, that hurts!"

"I can't believe I enjoyed that!" she thought ruefully, a bit disgusted with herself, before glaring at the recovering Ox. "It was supposed to hurt, jerk-off," she said coldly. "I'm going to call a cab – if you touch me again I'll put you so far into the ground they'll be digging you out in Kansas."

"Goddamnit…" Haru groaned in his head, as White began to resurface after the nasty shock he had received. "I'm dead if Hatori finds out..."


There - White and Black were brought into the conflict! I thought it would be fun to write them, ya know? I hope this was a good chapter! Please review!