It'd been a week and three days since Miya moved into the Sohma household. Miya found a job in a flower shop near Tohru's school. Ato Hana Yume ('A Flower Dream') was owned by Old Maid Tsuki, a half-Japanese, half-Chinese old woman who came to Japan because of her husband's job. After he died, Tsuki stayed for the hell of it and opened up a flower shop. A bright and colorful woman, she always had something to say and wasn't afraid to say it. It's why Miya liked to work there. She settled in with no problems. Yes, everything was great, except for one thing. None of the guys liked to be hugged and it perturbed her, to say the least, that they avoided any contact whatsoever. Shigure bought a dresser for her, one day, and she wanted to give a hug as a token of appreciation. He backed away from her, put his hands up, said "That's okay. Just tell me thank you and it'll be fine," and left the room. Yuki and Kyo were the same; Miya wanted to hug Kyo to annoy him which worked wonders. But she was grateful for their hospitality so she let the matter slide. Though it's only been a little over a week, Miya connected with the family and felt like one of their own.

"Get back here and give me my hat, damn prick!"
"Come and get it, little girl." Kyo waved the blue and black striped hat around his finger.
"I will then!"

Miya charged at him like a wild boar. He stuck his tongue out at her and ran off. She chased him around the house, careful not to break anything like Yuki and Kyo tended to do when they argued and to not trip over the pots and pans filled with water from an earlier storm. The roof still leaked from it. Kyo halted in the kitchen, a huffing Miya behind him, and Yuki making a sandwich.

"I don't get why you like this hat so much."
"Because-it's-my-favorite-hat," she huffed. Yuki, hearing the commotion, snatched the hat from Kyo and placed it on Miya's head.
"What the hell are you doing, ya damn rat!"
"Giving Miya her hat back, stupid cat. What you were doing was idiotic."
"You would know a lot about being idiotic!"
"This coming from the cat who forgot where his room was."
"I think I'll put my hat in the dresser." Miya still heard the shouting on the way up.

Her hat snuggled away, Miya walked downstairs. An occasional PING resounded throughout the house. She'd have to remind Shigure to get the roof patched. Speak of the devil.

"Hi, Miya." Shigure came toward her.
"Hey, man. Oh! I remembered I have to give you my rent for this month."
"That's okay. You don't have to give to me ri-i-i!"

He didn't see the puddle in the middle of the hall. His eyes went wide. He lurched forward. Miya caught him instantly, instinctively. They tumbled to the wooden floor. POOF! Neither moved. Miya's shoulder pulsed when she pushed herself up. Grabbing her shoulder, she winced as more pain slivered around it. Forget that. What about Shigure?

"Shigure! Are you...all...right?"

Shigure wasn't there anymore. Miya covered her mouth. How could this be possible? Who once used to be Shigure is now a...black dog? He was right there, wasn't he! She caught him, his body, not a dog! The dog shook his head and sat down, looking at Miya.

"Miya..." it spoke.

Oh, my God. It talked! With Shigure's voice? Is that really him?

"Shigure?"
"Yes. It's me, in the flesh. Well, sort of."
"But how is this possible?" She scooted closer.
"It's the Sohma curse. You see, when we are under a great deal of stress or when we're hugged by a member of the opposite sex, we change into the animals of the Chinese zodiac."
"We? Who can change too?"
"Yuki turns into the rat and Kyo is the cat."
"No wonder they fight a lot."
"I'm sorry if I scared you."
"No, I was just surprised. Does Tohru know?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me when I first moved in?"
"We were afraid of how you'd react."
"I think it's great." Miya stroked his fur. He whined.

A strange revelation, it was, that a family was burdened with this curse. These things existed only in fairy tales, but Shigure was living proof that it was 100 real. She wondered if anyone else outside the family knew about this beside Tohru and herself. Still, Miya was not bothered by it, and if Tohru accepted them for who they were, then she could too. His tail wagged as she stroked his shiny, black fur. POOF!

"Whoa!" She shut her eyes, the image fresh in her mind. Oh, boy.
"Sorry. I forgot to tell you that the time we change back varies each time. You can look now, you know." He was dressed in his dark-green haori.
"Shigure?"
"Yes?"
"Nice...abs." She smirked.

Miya left him blushing so bad, he transformed again. Shigure had the title of pervert around the house and it surprised Miya that he changed from one minor comment. Seeing him didn't bother her either. Miya popped her cherry last year after the Senior Prom to a boy she liked since 9th grade. Stupid, she knew, but, damn it, this was her crush. And so she saw everything. Men were men and Shigure, well...he ate his vegetables. She snatched her keys off the table and made her way to Ato Hana Yume.

"I knew she would fine out soon. It was only a matter of time."
"When do you want me to bring her in?"
"When she comes back to Shigure's house. He's informed me she went to work not so long ago."
"Of course, Akito." Hatori exited.

Akito lied on the floor, spring breezes from the open screen door licking him. A single ray of light warmed his frail hand. The white bird came back. It always did. Unlike his family, who came on his order, not of free will. How it was supposed to be. In truth, Akito was excited to meet the new addition to his happy family. Hopefully, being an airhead didn't run in her genes as it did Tohru Honda's. Perhaps, he thought, the meeting will go wonderfully.

"What did you do that for? Are you insane!"
"Aw! You're so adorable, Kyo!"
"Quit hugging me! I'll scratch your eyes out!"

Shigure broke out laughing at the sight before him. Upon coming home, Miya decided to see what Kyo and Yuki looked like transformed. Yuki didn't mind and he changed into a small, gray rat. His purple eyes were the feature that stayed the same. A POOF and a slight haze later, Yuki changed back and currently helped Tohru study for an English midterm. Kyo, on the other hand, didn't take it so well. His orange fur matched his temper he was soon in and his hair color. His threats of death fell upon Miya's praises of how adorable he was. Eventually, Miya let him go after he promised her he'd destroy her precious striped hat. A sound reached her ears. A firm, rapping knock at the door. She'd never thought at that moment her life would change. Miya heard Shigure greet the guest and heard him mention her name. Exiting the kitchen, Miya took in the man standing before her. His raven hair hung over his left eye. His business suit, spotless. No trace of a smile adorned his professional demeanor.

"Hello. You must be Miya Horugaka. I'm Hatori Sohma."
"Nice to meet you, Hatori."
"Well, Miss Horugaka, I'll get right to the point. The head of the family wishes to meet you."
"Akito?"
"Yes. He's insisted that I bring you over to the main house as soon as possible."
"B-but-"
"It's all right, Miya. I'll come with you to keep you company," Shigure said.
"She has to meet him alone though."
"Okay. Give me a second to get my shoes on," Miya said.
"I can't help but get the feeling Akito has something else in store for her," Shigure wondered.
"We can't go against him even if he did."
"Hmm."

He'd gotten the word. She was coming. Just entered the main house, in fact. He sat against a wooden pillar, watching the sun begin to set; rays of orange, purple, and pink splashed together like a newly-formed abstract painting. Akito hated it. He preferred day or night. No in-between. Their footsteps flowed into the room, encircling him and signaling their approach. Shigure was the first to enter, then Hatori, and finally her. Ebony hair reached just below her shoulders, her eyes were Mediterranean blue, her clothes...like a common street whore. Her black boots silenced as she walked toward him; her belt chain and bracelets jingled as she knelt before him. Not much to look at.

"Hatori, Shigure. You can go." They looked at each other. "I want to speak to her alone."
"We'll be outside if you need us," Hatori stated.

Miya silently pleaded with them to stay. This Akito guy gave her the creeps. He was so pale, you'd think he'd never seen the sun in his whole life. But then again, this entire place creeped her out. When she arrived, not a sound of civilization was heard. The main house was huge and it seemed desolate. As soon as she saw this guy, the chills greeted her. He sat on a wooden bench, leaning on a wooden column. Next to him was a small flower on a gold plate filled with water. His teal eyes held no kindness as he looked her up and down. Miya wouldn't allow him to scare her.

"What is your name?"
"Miya Horugaka."
"I'm sure you know who I am by now."
"You're Akito Sohma, the head of your family."
"Tell me, do you like living at Shigure's for the short time that you have?"
"I love it," she smiled. Anger flashed across his eyes for a mere moment. Miya didn't notice.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, I've grown quite fond of all of them. Shigure, Tohru, and the guys have been wonderful to me."
"Have they? It has also come to my attention that you know of our...little secret."
"Uhh...yeah. At first, I was a bit surprised, but afterwards, I was comfortable with it." Akito stood up from his rapidly uncomforting position against the pillar. .
"Comfortable? With those freaks?"
"They're not freaks. How can you call your own family that?"
"Because that's what they are, every single one of them. Especially that cat! He doesn't belong in this family...and neither do you! Your inferior mind can't comprehend the inner workings of this family."
"Inferior?" Miya stood up as well, seething. Her hands balled into shaking fists.
"You're nothing to us! Just a runaway who Shigure took pity on! No one wants you! I won't allow you to live there!"
"Listen here, jerk! I'm not inferior to anyone, least of all you! And since I'm not part of this family, like you said, I don't need your fucking permission to stay there! Go shove it up your ass, bastard!"

Akito's hand twitched and knocked the flower off the plate, crashing bits and pieces on the floor. Suddenly he reached out to grab her. Hatori clutched one arm while Shigure grasped the other.

"Let me go!"
"Akito, calm down!" Shigure yelled.
"I have him, Shigure."

Hatori and Shigure heard the commotion and ran in to see Akito about to grab Miya. They didn't want anything bad to happen to her like Kana and Tohru. Shigure put his hand lightly on Miya's shoulder. She smacked it away and ran out. He ran after her. Huffing, Akito freed himself from Hatori and lied down on the porch. Hatori smoothed his hair back in an effort to calm himself. It had been hectic and he agreed with Miya, to a certain point. Akito didn't seem disturbed at all. He acted as if nothing had transpired between him and Miya. Knowing Akito would like to be alone, Hatori walked out, leaving him to his thoughts.

She's certainly different from that Honda girl. More spirited. Fiery even. But it is a shame she won't see Shigure and the boys anymore. After all, we can't have anyone finding out about the Sohma curse, can we?

Miya sat stunned in Tohru's bedroom. To think that Akito can be so cruel. She thought he was bad enough, but now learning this. She knew from the moment she walked in that he wasn't friendly, even though he appeared to be. Upon coming home, she trudged straight to her room. What she wouldn't do to give Akito a punch in his face. Asshole. Shigure tapped on the door and she said he could enter. He talked to her, told her "you have the right to know," and spent the rest of the night doing so.

Miya learned all about Akito. Everything. What he did to Kana, how Hatori's eye was injured, what happened with Tohru when she went to see him, memory erasing, everything about them. There was no point in keeping it from her. The rage built inside Miya, disgusted by his treatment of his own family like he didn't want anyone to leave him. She learned of Tohru's treatment toward him. Only Tohru could be that kind to someone as evil as him.

"What you said back there, about not needing his permission, I think-"
"I don't need it. I'm 18. I can live wherever I want, and I'm glad I met someone as generous as you to invite me to stay. And I know what you're thinking. You shouldn't worry. I'm not the type to spill secrets about people I care for. I have to tell you something too."

Miya was 18, a high school dropout, and someone who had many bad memories. Four years ago, her little sister died in a car accident. A truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and rammed into the car. Her mother, Min, was spared, but grew worse with each passing day. For many nights, her mother's sobbing lulled Miya to sleep. She blamed herself for Kari's death, screaming that she was the one who should've died. Miya and her father, Ruharo, were concerned for her and they helped her in any way they could, but there was nothing they could do. Her mother shot herself in Kari's bedroom two months later. She held a picture of Kari in her hands. What was written on the back stayed with Miya ever since:

I'll be with you soon, my little angel.

Miya remembered throwing a single lily, her mother's favorite flower, on top of the casket. That was the day her father started the prescriptions and the daily meetings with Jack Daniels.

You're my whole world, he would say. My whole world.

At any time of the day, he'd be drunk. He lost his job and stayed home more often. That's when Miya dropped out. The bills needed to be paid and food had to be brought to the table. They argued most of the time. One day, Ruharo snapped. Dragging Miya from her bedroom, he threw her onto the couch and whipped her with his belt. Her back was sore for a week. When he was really smashed, the beatings were worse. Belts, glass bottles, razor blades, hands, anything that could make a mark would be brought down on her.

No, daddy! Please, daddy, it hurts! No! Stop!

The scars were still noticeable. In her room, Ruharo flopped on top of her, lungs giving out what little breath she had left. His breath reeked of alcohol. The glass bottle clunked on the side table.

You're my whole world, he slurred.

He planted kisses along her neck. His finger traced her lips, chin, and chest. Miya couldn't push his weight off her no matter how hard she tried. His kisses switched to her chest. The glass bottle shone under the lamplight. Miya gripped the neck of it and broke it on her father's head. He slumped on her, the weight increasing. It took about an hour for her get out from under Ruharo. Miya stuffed whatever she could into a green backpack. She ran out into a raging storm.

That was two weeks ago. Shigure listened with a solemn expression. After she finished, he didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. If that never happened, I wouldn't have met you guys. Don't tell the others though. I don't want them to worry."
"You have my word."

Shigure patted her head, gave her one of his infamous grins, and left the room. The clock on the wall read 8:34 p.m. This early and she was tired already. Miya changed into light pajamas and snuggled herself to sleep.

"What are you doing here?"
"I came to take you back to the main house. Akito wishes to have one final word with you."
"You can forget it, Hatori! I'm not going back to that place and that-"
"I'm sorry, but it's what you and I have to do. Get dressed and we'll be on our way." He said no more of the matter.

Grumbling, Miya dressed in a red tank top, black pants, worn boots, and left with Hatori. The main house looked like it did yesterday, lifeless and still. No one was detected in the corridors or rooms. They trailed the same path to the room where Akito and Miya unpleasantly met. They entered the barren room. Akito was nowhere in sight.

"So where is he? I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."

Hatori pointed to the open screen doors. Outside, the day was cloudy and muggy. Miya thought it had added to the gloominess of the place. She saw him leaning back on the door, preoccupied in his own thought, she guessed. Akito's gaze snapped to hers when he felt a presence near him. The sight of her made his blood boil. How impertinent she was yesterday disobeying him. She needed to learn respect for him. He waited for her to say something, to apologize for her behavior. She didn't. He'd let it slide...for the moment.

"Hello again, Miya."
"What do you want?"
"Is that any way to greet someone?"
"That's the way to greet someone you don't like. Now why did you want to see me? You couldn't have missed me that much already," she smirked. Akito pushed his body up and faced Miya.
"Straight to the point. You're not to live with Shigure anymore."
"You heard me yesterday, pal. I don't need-"
"You're to live here with me in the main house."

The hinges on Miya's jaw loosened. Live? With Akito? In the main house? Away from Shigure, Kyo, Yuki...Tohru? She took a couple of steps backward. Akito watched her like a hawk. Her reaction was expected. Miya's head swayed side to side rapidly.

"No, no, no, no, no! No fucking way!" Akito narrowed his eyes.
"You will."
"Screw you! I'm outta here!" His hand shot out to her arm, tightening his grip.
"If you leave, I will call the police. I'm sure your parents are wondering where you are, wracked with worry."
"You asshole," she whispered.
"This arrangement is to make sure you won't say a word to anyone about us. The instant you say one word, I'll have Hatori erase your memory and hand you over to the police. And by the look on your face, I can tell you don't want to go back home. I wonder why. Hatori will take you back to Shigure's so you can get your things."

Without a single utter, she silently packed her clothes and belongings. Nobody was home when she came in. Thank God. She looked around the room once last time before closing the door. It had been a short time and yet she was attached to them. Kyo's and Yuki's constant fighting, Tohru's delicious cooking, and Shigure's singing. She shook her head, smiling, at that last thought.

Akito led her through twisting halls until he stopped at a particular door. Sliding it open, they stepped through.

"This will be your room from now on. Do with it what you like. In here, when you want to go somewhere or do something, you have to ask me first. Is that clear?"
"Yeah." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I get it."
"Good."

Miya stood in the center of the room taking in everything. With a sigh, she dropped the backpack and flopped down on the bed. This was her new place and she had to get used to it, especially a pale, cruel creep who made her skin crawl. This could take a while.