5

Teresa stepped out of the shower and quickly towel dried her hair. She got dressed in jeans and a shirt and went down stairs to find the others around the futon eating cakes.

"Here you go Teresa!" Tohru happily held out a plate to her.

"Thanks Tohru. Oh yeah, when you're done here you can go take a shower so I can help you ok?"

Tohru nodded. Within a few minutes the girls were quickly upstairs and getting ready. As Tohru took a shower, Teresa was putting in her makeup. Tohru came out and Teresa put on the final touches of mascara to her look. The dark brown eye shadow and liner brought out her blue eyes and all that was left would be her hair and dress.

Tohru sat at the table as Teresa fiddled with Tohru's own makeup. Because she also had blue eyes Teresa opted for silver and a tinge of blue eye shadow, instead of brown she used for her own. "There," Teresa turned Tohru towards the mirror and Tohru lit up.

"It's gorgeous! Thank you so much!" Tohru hugged Teresa who returned it.

"You're welcome. Do you want curls or straight?" she asked going to bathroom and hold up the straightener and curling iron.

"Um, Curls?" she asked timidly.

"Ok come here," Tohru went over as Teresa curled her hair. Teresa then proceeded to straightened her own bangs and then curled the rest.

Teresa came out of the bathroom and saw Tohru laying out both dressed on the bed. "Here you go!" Tohru beamed when Teresa came out.

"Thanks," Teresa slipped her dress into a bag and boxed her shoes.

"What are you doing?" Tohru asked.

"It's 5 o'clock, and I'll finish getting ready at the main house," Teresa said as she placed a blue and silver teardrop earring in her first piercing, keeping the crystal studs in her second.

"Oh, all right then. I'll see you there!"

"Yeah," Teresa went downstairs and outside awaiting Hatori who was supposed to pick her up.

Teresa sighed as she looked at herself in the full length mirror in what used to be her room in the main house. The blue dress accented her eyes and her hair fell perfectly across her shoulders. The shoes added two inches to her 5'4" frame. She slowly went to Akito's room and knocked. "Come in," she entered and Akito looked to her and a slow smile spread across his face.

"You look lovely," he purred her to her running his hand across her cheek.

"Thank you," she knew he wasn't lying for Hatori had said the same thing, but the context was different this time.

He placed his lips on her and she wanted to melt at the kiss. This time restraining herself from it was hard.

She pulled away gasping for air something she had never had to do before, "My Raven, seems happy now. I like that." his eyes roamed her face as she looked into him for any context of emotion but could not place what she saw.

At Shigure's Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure, were standing waiting for Tohru to come down.

"What's taking so long!?" Kyo yelled up the stairs.

"Kyo, a young lady naturally takes longer to get ready," Shigure noted. He looked different in a suit with his hair slicked back.

"You would know that," the rat scoffed.

"Coming! I couldn't find the earrings so I had to find Teresa's!" Tohru came down the stairs and the guys all were surprised at how pretty she looked. She wore her hair down and curled as Teresa had done it. The silver eye shadow accented her blue eyes and the green dress looked perfect on her.

"Is there something wrong?" Tohru asked worriedly at the guys starring.

"No, of course not Miss Honda, You look lovely," Yuki smiled and placed her coat around her shoulders.

"Well shall we?" Shigure opened the door and the four headed out.

Akito and Teresa were standing the crowd as people came up and said hello. At every turn Teresa picked up whispers, "The raven," "Wonder why she's back?" "I didn't know Teresa was out."

The whispers bothered her know but the hand she felt brush against her own did, "They're surprised pet."

"I would be too, Akito," she whispered back. "Do you mind if I go say hello to Haru?" he shook his head and slipped away. The lanterns that hung in the house lighted perfectly, accenting the festivity.

"Haru!" Teresa called and he turned around.

"You look amazing," he smiled at her.

"Thank you, you don't look to bad yourself."

Haru smiled and reached out to take her hand, "Haru…" her voice caused it to drop.

"Look," Teresa turned her head and saw Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, and Shigure, appear at the gate. "I didn't know she would be here."

"Mhmm. Akito let her come," Teresa explained.

The two made their way to the others. "Hatsuharu!" Tohru rushed forward to say hello to the ox.

"Hi Tohru, I didn't know you'd be here tonight."

"I don't think anyone did," Hatori appeared behind Haru and handed punch to Shigure.

"I suppose not." Tohru smiled.

"Tohru," the Sohmas moved as Akito came and stepped next to Teresa.

"H-hello, Akito," Tohru said and bowed.

"You look charming as ever," he told her. "Kyo, Yuki, I'm glad you came this time, it's good to see you. You too Shigure."

"Likewise, Akito." Yuki said.

"It's nice to be here as well Akito," Shigure said.

Akito nodded, "Come, pet, there are some people who would like to see you."

"Of course Akito," Teresa nodded and followed him back to the others.

"So she has to obey him?" Tohru asked.

"I'm sure it's more complicated than that," Hatori stated.

As the party went on, Teresa stayed by Akito's side talking with whoever came up to Akito, and occasionally going to see some family. Ten minutes before the banquet she and Hatori were talking along with Momiji.

"Hari, have you seen Tohru?" Shigure asked coming up.

"No why?"

"I haven't seen her."

"I thought she was with Yuki and Kyo," Hatori took another sip of champagne.

"She was but now she seems to have disappeared."

"She can't be too far."

"I'll go look!" Momiji declared and ran off.

"I'll go too," Teresa walked off and began looking, but she also didn't see Akito. She stopped in her tracks and thought for a moment. She then ran out of the party and down the halls to Akito's room.

She threw open the door and stopped to see Tohru against the wall Akito putting a hand above her shoulder. "Akito!"

Akito turned slowly, "There you are Teresa, I knew you'd come," he walked towards the raven. Teresa looked at Tohru the look of fear and relief on her face. Before she could look she felt Akito's lips crash into hers. She pulled back, "Never do that again." She nodded at the threatening voice in her ear. Akito left leaving the two girls awaiting the banquet.

"Are you ok?" Teresa asked Tohru.

"Yes I'm fine."

"What did he do?" Tohru was silent. "Tohru," she grasped her shoulders. "What did he do?"

"He was just talking, about you. Saying that I should be nicer to you, and that I might have to leave," Tohru was on the verge of tears. Teresa grabbed the girl and pulled her in a hug.

Tohru sniffed, as Teresa fixed the smeared makeup, "Teresa, I'm sorry. I had no idea what he does to you." Teresa sighed knowing she was talking about the kiss.

"Never mind that, come on," Teresa pulled Tohru out of the room and back to the party. Yuki came over.

"Miss Honda!"

"She's fine Yuki, she got lost," Teresa explained.

Yuki sighed, "I'll go tell Shigure."

"You should go find Kyo. He can't get into the zodiac banquet either, you can stay with him." Teresa barely heard the reply as she walked off to go with the crowd moving into the hall.

"Teresa!" Teresa turned to see Haru running towards her. He pulled her off into a corridor.

"Haru, you don't know who saw that!"

He silenced her by placing his lips over her own. "Come on," she followed him out and went to take her seat on the right of Akito, who sat at the head of the table. They all sat and watched as the dance began.

She could barely make out two faces in the window, Kyo and Tohru, she thought, Not missing much.