Later that evening I was reading my book (The Demon's Lexicon, I totally recommend ya'll read it) and listening to my iPod while mum was in the kitchen cooking up dinner. The sent wafted into my room and it smelled amazing. As a reaction I felt my stomach growl. I put a hand over my stomach as if to quiet it. It didn't work very well, but it's not like I could really do much about it. I let out a sigh, set my book down reluctantly, waited till the song on my CD finished before turning it off (It was Rumors of My Demise Have Greatly Been Exaggerated- By Rise Against, my second favorite band), and walked out into the kitchen.

When I got there I saw my father was sitting at the table playing with his phone, he was probably just putting a job in, but with him you never really know. When I sat down at the table with him he smiled at me, "Hey Akemi. How was your first day of high school?"

"Eh, it could have been worse." I shrugged, "I'm just glad I've got at least Momiji and Haru in every class except for P.E."

"Oh, that's good. Those are the boys who are always around here right?" He raised a brow.

"Yeah… Haru's the one with the black and white hair and Momiji-kun is the one who you got pissed off at the first time he kissed my cheek because you though he was my boyfriend, when really he was just being sweet. He always does that when he says good-bye to me."

"Well how was I supposed to know?"

"I don't know, but you didn't need to call him a 'slimy little bastard who was deflowering your precious Akemi-chan'… Oh crap! I just said bastard… Oh no! I said it again… Please don't tell Momiji! I promised him I wouldn't curse for at least a week!"

"Well I was just so shocked… I lost my temper… Next time you see him tell him I'm sorry for overreacting. And don't worry. It'll our little secret." He smiled.

"Good, thank you. And I will. I want him to actually stay for dinner one night." I sighed and mum told me to set the table. I stood up from my seat at the table and went into the kitchen. I pulled out three bowls, three cups, and three sets for chop sticks.

After dinner was finished I went back to my room. I couldn't believe how peaceful it was tonight. I had my window open slightly and I could hear the quiet chirping of crickets and the low croaking of frogs. Since it was about nine o'clock I laid down on my bed, got under my comforter and just listened to them.

After about an hour I just couldn't get to sleep so I got out my lap top and started reading some manga. I would have read more of my book, but that was on the other side of the room and I was wayyyyy to lazy to go get it. I may not have been sleepy, but my body certainly was tired. So after about thirty minutes I had finally fallen asleep.

*Dream start*

I was eleven years old today and I was going to visit my best friends Momiji, Kisa, and Hatsuharu. I couldn't wait! We were supposed to go to the park and eat mochi. I know it sounds simple and all, but that all I really wanted for my birthday, to be with my best friends.

When I got to Momiji's house I heard him practicing his violin. It was one of the most beautiful sounds I'd ever heard. I could listen to him all day if I ever had the chance. I stood there and just listened to him for a few minutes before knocking on the sliding glass door. He almost immediately looked over and smiled at me. He set his violin down and quickly opened the door for me.

"AKEMI-CHAN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" he shouted and kissed my cheek. This was his usual greeting for me since he said he couldn't hug me. He never gave a real excuse, but I just assume he was an aphephobic.

"Thanks Momiji-kun! Are you ready to go to the park with the others?" I grinned.

"Yeah, let me just get your present." he ran back in and came out with a perfectly wrapped box. It was pale green wrapping paper with a sky blue bow on top, "Ok! Now we can go." He grabbed my hand and pulled me off towards that park.

ffw

Later that night it was just Momiji and I at the park. I was on the swing that I always sat on when we went to the park, I named it Mika, and Momiji was pushing me.

"Momiji-kun… uhm… I hope you don't mind me asking… But why aren't I allowed to hug you..?" I asked quietly.

"Oh…uh… I'm not supposed to tell you, but I can't stand keeping it from you anymore. It's just too difficult." He sighed.

"No, if you're not supposed to then don't. I don't want to get you in trouble." I hugged the bunny stuffed animal that he gave me earlier to my chest.

"No, I don't care. I want to." He smiled kindly at me, and so then he told me everything about the junishi and how he was the rabbit. I actually thought it explained a lot. Like his personality and Haru's hair. I think he was a little shocked that I didn't freak out or automatically accuse him of being a liar, "Uhm… so…-you're not s-scare of me or anything?" he asked quietly looking to the side shyly.

I stopped swinging and looked over at him, "Momiji-kun," I started softly, "I could NEVER be scared of you. You're the sweetest, most hyper guy I've ever met, and the -best friend I could have ever asked for. You've always been there for me this past year, especially when my parents were fighting almost every night about money, and you would stay on the phone with me until I fell asleep. The day I'm scared of you will be the sign of the apocalypse." I assured him with a genuine smile.

He let out an extremely relieved sigh, "Ok, thank you Akemi. That really means a lot to me."

"Of course…" I looked at the clock on my cell phone and it was almost eleven, "Well I should get going its late. Thanks again for the bunny, and telling me about the zodiac curse. I'll see you later." I smiled and ran off home.

ffw

The next day around lunch time I was called to the "inside" of the Sohma estate. Apparently the head of the household, Akito, wanted to speak with me. My parents told me it was probably nothing, but I couldn't help but be nervous you know? And after last night… What if Akito had found out and I was going to get my memories suppressed? I can't let that happen!

After about a half an hour I finally made it to Akito's home. I can't even begin to describe to you how scared I was… but none the less I gathered all of my strength and knocked on the door. It opened on it's own and I was called in my a low feminine sounding voice. When I walked in the room was very dim and I could barely make out the outline of a boy just a little older than me wearing a kimono thingy.

This is Akito? A boy about my age is running my family? How the hell did that work out?

"So you're Akemi, right?" he asked coldly.

"Y-yes." I nodded

"So you're the one… The one that BRAT TOLD EVERYTHING TO!" he shouted and slapped me hard across the face. So hard that I was knocked to the other side of the room.

"I-I'm sorry!" I cried out as my back collided with the corner of a wooden table and a warm sticky fluid started to seep through my shirt.

"Sorry isn't good enough you little bitch! You're trying to ruin everything aren't you?" He accused and this time he lashed at my arm with a whip. (When the hell did he get a whip?)

"I swear! I'm not! I'm not!" I felt hot tears streaming down my face.

"YOU LIAR! STOP LYING TO ME!" he whipped me again.

"I'm not! I swear to you I'm not!" I tried to get up to my feet and run away, but my legs weren't listening to me… The next thing I knew everything went black.

*end dream*

I woke up screaming that night, clutching my bunny rabbit so tightly that my knuckles were pure white, "I-I haven't had that dream in two years…" I took a deep breath and got out of bed to get a drink of water. 'Just remember Akemi, 'Jeder hat sturm einen regenbrogen am ende.'' I reminded myself.