Author's Note: Well, if you see anything different from before, if you've already read this, just know that I've been updating everything. Not really rewriting, but I did change some phrases and what not so it was grammatically correct. My proof-reading is very bad, you see? Sorry, anyways, if you're now just reading this, enjoy the chapters to come.

All characters belong to Natsumi Takaya, except Rei. She's mine. All mine. Hehe.

When we were young…

Those were the days when we played under the cherry blossom trees.

She'd just sit next to you and laugh, while I sat on the sidelines, gathering small flowers.

When we were young…

But that's all changed now.

Prologue.

An echo of tiny screeches resounded against the walls of a heavily lit, white hospital room. Doctors worked quickly, for the mother's health had dwindled in the last few weeks she had still been pregnant with her new child. "Hang in there, Mrs. Sohma… Please, just hold on." Beeps and clicks resonated in harmony, creating a symphony of mechanical sounds. Tensed voices hurried orders, and even tenser voices carried them out.

"Papa… Momma's gonna be 'kay, right? She 'ill be in no more pains no mores?" A small girl with shoulder-length, mousy-brown hair looked up to her father with reddened eyes. He held her close, while they waited outside while a loved one laid in pain in a hospital bed.

The baby's crying made the girl cringe. "It's 'lright, Rei, Momma's gonna be 'kay.." Her father looked at her with a saddened smile. His light blue eyes were in deep pain to see his wife in such a situation. "That's what you want to name the baby? Rei?…" The young girl nodded, "Because we should be thankful to having another life in our 'amily. Rei means 'ratitude…" She gave a sad, toothy smile (she lost her front tooth a day or two before) and looked down. The two watched, waited, and soon the new life was quiet, wrapped in a blanket, and a nurse was offering for father to hold. Her older sister only looked at the tiny being and cooed at the baby's sweet face.

Six years later.

"Kana-onee-chan? Can I come too?" The girl's obvious brown and blue eyes looked up desperately at her sister. Rei had heterochromia - the mismatching of eye colours. But that was nothing. It just left her with comments every once in a while, such as, "Did you know, one of your eyes is blue?" or something of the sort. What left her dying inside, was having to cope with such cruel people. She loved them to death, but they sure as hell didn't…

It wasn't her fault.

It wasn't her fault for being born a girl.

It wasn't her fault for almost causing her mother to die.

It was their's.

But Rei never blamed anyone, but herself. Couldn't she have had an abortion once her mother figured that she was having a girl? Why did little Rei have the blame on her shoulders - that she was the reason Mommy couldn't have children anymore since her birth caused her so much hurting? Or that the family didn't really have a male heir, so Kana would take over their small branch. Kana never understood it, nor did she know about how harshly they treated her when she was away. Wasn't that the reason, why she was always wanting to come along? Because Momma and Papa never treated Kana harshly, and she could get away from them without a care in the world.

Kana had friends.

Kana had someone she loved.

Rei had someone she loved.

But it was the irony of it all that she could never interfere, for it was her sister's love too. Kana was always talking about how kind he was once you got him to smile. It was hidden deep inside of him. Something that he didn't show often…

Envious Rei was… But she had to stay out of it. Her parents told her often that if it wasn't for Kana, Rei probably wouldn't be still on the Sohma family's estate. She'd be in an orphanage. It was all for Kana - that she was even here... The one that made her life worth while. Because she was there - and she cared. Even though she could be air-headed. She was doting. Kana was the soul reason, she was still here.

Rei's older sister gave her an uplifting smile, "Of course, Rei-chan." The girl offered a hand, and the two set off in search of Mayuko, Shigure, Ayame, and most of all, Hatori, Kana's love.