Wow, another long one! This one's longer than the last, though, I think. I'll try to keep updating chapters on a weekly basis, if at all possible. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!

Chapter 3

Tohru called up to Shigure and Yuki, and they entered the kitchen quickly. Kyo, however, was another matter.

"I suppose I should go get him," Tohru remarked cheerfully as she put down the last plate. I stood from where I had been kneeling at the low table. "Please, allow me."

The three stared.

"I just want to save you some trouble," I explained. Secretly, there were some things I wanted to talk with Kyo about.

"I don't know…" Shigure mused. "Kyo-kun usually isn't very good with people."

"But I'd still like to try," I protested. "I haven't done very much else around here. Please, where would he be?"

"On the roof," Tohru supplied, "but – "

"It's all right," Yuki said. "He seemed to act more gently towards Kari-san. Let her try." I nodded my thanks and left.

Climbing up the ladder to get to the roof, I made as much noise as possible so that I wouldn't startle Kyo when I intruded. When I reached the top, he was already sitting up, glaring at me.

"What do you want?" he demanded. I understood. After glancing in a mirror, I could tell: I was Kyoko's likeness. My hair was longer, but it would be very easy to mistake me for Tohru's mother.

"Forgive my intrusion," I said, sitting down near the ladder, "but I have some questions I'd like answered, please." Without waiting for a response, I continued.

"I… look like someone you know, don't I? Someone… who died? Someone named… Kyoko?"

He stared at me, shocked.

"How… how could you know that?"

"Well, from your expression, it's fairly obvious," I said. In a more serious tone, I continued. "But everyone is entitled to their own secrets."

He frowned at me. "Did you know her? Kyoko, I mean."

I nodded. "I've read about her."

"You were in the gangs, too, eh?" he asked. I just smiled.

"But I want you to remember that I'm not Kyoko." I told him. I wanted to tell him that he was forgiven, that it wasn't his fault, but as that would have changed everything in the story, I kept silent. "I am not here to haunt you," I finished.

The wide-eyed shock returned. "How…?" I smiled enigmatically, a trick I had learned from Shigure. "I told you – it's a secret. Just remember." I became cheerful again. "Lunch is ready."

When the two of us were seen coming in together, more than a few eyebrows were raised at the table. Kyo took his place beside Tohru as I resumed my seat next to Yuki. Nothing was said. After the ritual "itadakimasu" (thanks for the food) was said, everyone dug in.

My fears proved unjustified. I got the hang of chopsticks instantly, the same as how I had "learned" the Japanese language only an hour before. And the food was delicious, even though I couldn't put a name to most of the dishes. There was naturally fish and rice, and a bowl of leeks which was snapped up eagerly by everyone (except Kyo).

"So, Koro-kun," Shigure began after nearly ten minutes of steady going, "would you like to stay the night?" I stared. It was my dream come true! "Yes, please," I said, nodding, "as long as you're sure I won't be disrupting anything." Shigure was already shaking his head. "Of course not, Koro-kun, or I wouldn't have offered. In fact, it would be easier on us, since the head of the family is still adamant about seeing you."

No one but me noticed that Yuki had gripped his chopsticks so hard they had broken. He quietly went to the counter for others. I watched him worriedly out of the corner of my eye. Please don't worry, Yuki, I begged silently, I'll be fine.

"Of course, you'll want to call your parents," Shigure was saying. "No doubt they'll be worried by now."

How did I answer this? I didn't want to lie again, but it seemed inevitable. Who would believe the truth?

"I don't have to. My parents won't be worried," I said. Partial truth, I defended silently.

Shigure blinked. "Why ever not?"

Tohru looked at me, compassion in her warm brown eyes. "You and your parents… have fought?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah," I replied. I knew what she meant, but she didn't have to know what I meant.

Her eyes filled with tears. "I am so sorry, Kari-kun," she wailed. I cursed myself. I had made her cry for no reason. I wanted to tell her, tell them all, the truth, right here, right now.

"Yeah, we fought. It was no big deal, but I just thought I'd make myself scarce for a while, you know? I didn't know I'd wandered so far. Maybe I overdid it." There, two or three explanations in one.

Sudden realisation came into the faces of the four seated around me. I knew they'd just figured out what I'd said.

"Oh, all right, I understand now," Shigure said, "but you're sure you don't want to call..?"

I shook my head. Turning to Tohru, I said apologetically "I'm sorry, very sorry, for making you cry."

Tohru shook her head. "Not at all! Please don't worry about it."

The phone rang. Tohru stood. "I'll get it!" She bustled off down the hall and out of sight.

I sat looking at the three people around me, eating leeks made by Tohru, trying to convince myself that I was not delusional, Yuki really was looking at me like that, and straining to hear Tohru's conversation.

"Hello? Oh! Hello Hatsuharu-san!" Would you like to speak to Yuki-kun?...Uh, well, yes, how…? Um, er, okay, I guess. Goodbye." She hung up, and came back into the kitchen.

"That was Hatsuharu-san," she said, a puzzled look on her face. "He says he's coming over, and… he knows you're here, Kari-kun."

I forced a look of puzzlement onto my face, hoping it looked authentic. "Who?"

"Oh, Hatsuharu-san? He's another member of… the Sohma family," Tohru explained. I released the look of puzzlement.

"Ah, I see." The phone rang again, denying time for further questions. This time Yuki rose. I focused, seemingly, on my diminished dish of leek, while trying to hear Yuki's words.

"Yes? Hello, Kisa. I'll get Honda-san… oh. Well, yes, but how…? I see. Of course you can. See you then."

Yuki re-entered the room, also looking puzzled.

"That was Kisa, another Sohma. She… also knew you were here. She's coming over, too."

Another call broke up the conversation. This time, Shigure went to answer it.

"This is very odd," he said. "I don't usually get this number of calls in a month!"

My dish of leek was rapidly running low. I put some more on, listening intently.

"Haa-san? Yes. Would you like to speak with her? All right, I'll get her." He called out from the hallway. "Koro-kun? Telephone!"

Sharing a look with the other three, I went down to the phone stand.

"Here she is now, Haa-san. Don't scare her!" He passed the phone to me. I took it, reminding myself that I didn't know Hatori.

"Hello?" I said into the receiver.

"Hello. My name is Sohma Hatori, the family doctor."

"I'm Tsukiakari Kokoro."

"Ah, yes. I'm sorry to be talking to you like this when we haven't formally met, but I'd like to tell you a few things."

"All right."

"Firstly: I'm sure you're aware that the head of the family wants to see you. I want to warn you to beware of Akito. I don't know why he wants to see you, or how he will react when he does, but I just want you to know: be careful."

"Of… of course. Yes, thank-you."

"Second: I sensed very strongly the instant you entered Shigure's house and regained consciousness, and I have reason to suspect the other members of the family did, as well. I do not know what this forebodes, but this just means that you will have to be doubly wary of Akito."

"O…okay."

"Third: Are you feeling well?"

"Y-yes, perfectly," I said, a little startled at the sudden change of pace.

"Good. Call me if you need anything. Take care of yourself." He hung up.

I put down the phone, a little overwhelmed. Hatori had a way of talking that made you feel gauche and foolish even when you weren't saying anything. But what everyone said in the manga was true: However much he tried to hide it, Hatori really was a kind person.

I went back to the kitchen to find all four staring at me expectantly.

"What did Haa-san want?" Shigure asked.

"He warned me about Akito-san, and he told me the other members of the Sohma family had… sensed my presence or something."

"That's what Kisa and Haru said, too," Yuki said, frowning. "This is very odd."

"Indeed," Shigure agreed. Tohru looked as though she were about to say something when a knock came at the door. I sat up straighter as Tohru went to answer it. Hatsuharu… this should prove to be interesting.