A small authors note: Alright! I've got 3 chapters! I'm actually making progress!

Chapter 3

Sakura awoke the next day and got ready for school. She jumped down from her tree and today, she decided to go a different way.

I'm so glad it's Friday. She thought. I wish I didn't have to work today though. Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep up the hard work! I just need to finish school so that way I can get a full-time job somewhere. My mother would've never approved of doing that. She would've said to continue on with school. I wish I could tell her that it's not possible for me. Unfortunately, my mother died a couple years ago. She had a really bad disease and doctors couldn't treat it.

My father is still alive but he works overseas. He works on building and testing boats for people to buy. He sends me a letter every end of the month to the Luna residents but I don't think I'll be getting one this month.

Sakura continued to walk and she noticed a house. What's this? A house…. Here? I wonder who lives there.

Sakura was always a curious person and decided to go down and check out the house. She ran down a path and walked up to the house.

It seems so nice and quiet here. I wonder if anyone is home.

Sakura was desperately wanting to go inside to see who lived here but she controlled herself and stood there admiring the house.

I wish I lived in a house like this. Who am I kidding though. There's no way I could afford to pay a house like this on my own. Oh, look!

She spotted a kite near the house. It had the Japanese symbol for 'dog'. Sakura was reminded of the Chinese Zodiac instantly whenever she saw or heard the names of any of the animals. Her mother, who was part of the Luna family but not affected by it, had always told the story about the zodiac when Sakura was small. She was sad about the cat not being able to join but then that same sadness somehow led to our curse. As she softly touched the kite, so not to break it, a man came out of the house.

"I take it you really like kites or you really admire the dog."

Sakura froze. In a quick second, she fell back. As she fell, a black cat tail popped out from behind. She dropped her school bag and used her hand to try to keep it hidden.

"I am so sorry! I-I didn't mean to intrude or intend to ruin your kite….. I just-"

"Relax." the man said. "It's alright. No need to worry. I was just making sure my eyes weren't deceiving me. I thought I saw a young high school girl here and I guess I was right. So are you into kites or the dog?"

"Oh, well it was the dog that really caught my attention. I always think about the Chinese Zodiac whenever I see a name of one of the animals. I know it's weird but I'm really into it."

"I don't think it's weird at all. In fact we share the same interest. I really do admire all twelve of the animals. Especially the dog as you can see."

Sakura smiled. "Well I should've known that you wouldn't have mentioned the cat. You know from the old story. I guess you could say I'm a big fan of the cat. If I hadn't been born in the year of the dog, I would've been born in the year of the cat."

"Ah, I see. You're a fan of the cat just like her…. Funny… hmm."

"Huh? Just like who?"

"Oh never mind. So you're a dog too." he chuckled a little. "That's what she was too. Also just like her, you're very cu-uu!"

A backpack came out of nowhere and was thrown at him. He fell back.

"Please forgive my cousin, Miss Luna. He's a big flirt and it would be best if you just ignore him." Yuki came up to us.

"Y-Yuki?" Sakura said in surprise. Her tail was still out so she made she to stand a few feet away from them.

Yuki? I don't believe this. Sakura thought. Then if he's here then that means this is his house. He must live here.

After a while, Yuki explained that Sakura was going to the same school and we were in the same class.

"Ah, I see." the man said. "Oh sorry, I'm Shigure. The older and not so violent cousin. You didn't happen to have a dictionary in there did you, Yuki?"

"No, I had two of them. So, Miss Luna, you said you lived around here, correct? Where is it that you live?"

"Um…. Somewhere close by. I think I should-"

"SAKURA!" Kaori came running down the hill. She stood next to Sakura. "There you are…" Kaori huffed and heaved, "I was looking everywhere for you! I looked in your tree and you weren't there and I look…….. Oh, hi." Kaori just realized Yuki was standing right there. "Um….. Hi, you're Yuki right?"

"Yes and you're Miss Suzuki."

"Well, shouldn't we be going? We're gonna be late." Kaori said.

Sakura was about to walk with her but realized her tail was still out. She stopped.

"HAHAHAyou'resofunnyKaori!What'sthehurryImeanwedon'tneedtogetthereearlyright!HAHAHA.Weonlyjustgotheresowhynotstayawhile." Sakura spoke extremely fast. Kaori was the only one who understood every word she said.

"Sakura, what is your problem. You only talk fast when something's-" Kaori glanced down at Sakura's hand. She was pointing to her tail.

"….." Kaori stared blankly at it at then understood. "You know what she's right. I mean we hardly know you and all so why not stay a while, right? Unless you're in a hurry…."

"Well, I'm a novelist and I stay home so I'm in no hurry but doesn't school start in about twenty minutes? I'm sure it might take a little while to get there too."

At that moment, Sakura's tail disappeared. She sighed in relief. "Well, you're right we should get going. Bye!" Sakura and Kaori began walking away.

"Miss Luna, wait." Sakura turned around to face Yuki. "Since you're here, why don't we walk to school together?"

"Sure." Sakura said.

"That great. And you wouldn't mind if we had company, would you?"

"That's fine but I don't think Shigure needs to come but if he really wants to-"

"Oh no I don't mean him. I meant my other stupid cousin."

At that moment, a boy with orange hair came up to us with an angry look on his face. Sakura knew that he went to the same school and he was in her class. He had just came into their class a couple of days ago and was still fairly new. When everybody made a big fuss about him Sakura had completely ignored them. She knew they were cousins but she didn't know they lived together.

"You better not be talking about me Pretty Boy!" He yelled at Yuki.

"Who else would I be talking about."

"Why you-!"

"I don't think you should be acting like that in front of our guests." Shigure said. "Anyways, this is Kyo. He's a bit of a hot headed person but don't let his temper bother you. Well, you kids better get to school."

The four walked together. When they got to school, they all went our separate ways. Kaori and Sakura sat outside.

"So, that was interesting. At least they didn't find out that you were a cat." Kaori said.

"Yeah…. Something seemed weird though. I sensed….. something. Something strange. It was probably nothing. I must've been nervous."

The bell rang and they all entered the class. The fan club girls were suspicious but they didn't bother Sakura or Kaori. They had a lot of respect for Kaori and even if she was a threat, they wouldn't say anything about it. They might even have a Kaori and Yuki fan club, and since Kaori's best friend was Sakura, they didn't bother her either.

In class that day, there was a lot of tension between Yuki and Sakura. To Sakura, it felt as though it was a positive tension(if that's possible). She almost liked Yuki and it seemed Yuki felt the same way. It was just a minor thing though.

Nothing could ever happen. Even if I really wanted it to. No one could ever like a black cat.

After school, Sakura went to her locker to put all her things that she didn't need away. When she went there, she saw Yuki putting his things away.

"Oh, um… hi. I didn't realize anyone was here."

"So it looks like you and I are seeing each other a lot more than usual."

"I guess so." Sakura put her things away.

"Miss Luna, are you going home?"

"Actually I have to go to work. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, well I was hoping I could walk home with you but I suppose we can do that another day."

Sakura was thankful she had to work today after all. She didn't want to have to find away to get out of telling him that she lived in a tree. She closed her locker and began to walk off.

"Sakura Luna please report to the office. Sakura Luna please report to the office at this time." the announcement speaker sounded.

"Huh? Me?"

"I wonder what they want." Yuki followed Sakura.

She was uncomfortable with him following her but she didn't say anything. She went in and the secretary told her that someone was on the phone that wanted to talk to her. Sakura answered the phone and it was her work. They told her that her schedule would be changed. She now worked Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. When she hung up the phone she looked at Yuki. How she wished she worked on Fridays still.

"Well, uh that was my work…. They said I don't have to work on Fridays anymore. They changed my schedule."

"Then I guess we can walk home together."

"Heh-Heh. Right."

They both began to walk home and as they did, Sakura felt a sort of bond between them. Sakura thought for a moment. We're not even talking and yet... and yet there's this bond forming. I can feel it. I'm sure Yuki can too.

"Miss Luna..."

"Uh, yes?"

"I remember hearing you say something about liking the cat. You know, cats are foolish creatures. They're so useless."

"Uh... I guess you must not like cats. What made you think about that?"

"The bell you're wearing."

"Huh?" Sakura forgot that she wears a bell on her neck. "Right... the bell." Sakura sighed in grief.