Disclaimer: Don't own it

Animes in this chapter: Fruits Basket, Melancoly of Haruhi Suzumiya, YuYu Hakusho, Descendants of Darkness

Chapter 5: Who am I? (AKA Beginnings)

I groaned and attempted to open my eyes. It felt like someone had thrown sand in them. I gave up. The people in the room failed to notice I was conscious, actually, I was starting to wonder if I really was.

"Will you two stop fighting!?! You'll wake her!" it was a girl's voice. Did I know her? Did she know me? Wait, who am I? Oh no, I can't remember… did I know to begin with?

"I doubt it! She's been out for nearly a week, it would take a lot more than our arguing to wake her up!" A boys voice… hmm… he sounded cocky, but he did lower his voice.

"Tohru's right. We should be more careful Kyo." A softer voice of a young man stated. Tohru? Kyo? Nope, not ringing any bells.

"Then maybe you should shut up Rat!" That cocky boy again…

"Everyone quiet! I need to give her a check up just to be sure." A firm voice, older too.

"Pervert." The cocky boy muttered and I couldn't help but agree. The hand's where gentle as he felt my forehead. I tried a second attempt on opening my eyes, this time with more success. He was, without a doubt, a good looking man with black hair that hung over his left eye, hiding it from view.

"Well hello there! You're finally awake! Good thing too, if you had been out any longer we would have been forced to take you to a normal hospital which may cause slight problems considering the… circumstances that led you to appear here of all places and in your condition no less."

"Where-where am I? Who are you? Who am I?" My voice grated on what little nerves I was rewarded with the metallic twang of copper… blood. I tried not to cough. "What happened to me?"

"Oh, you're an American! Oh dear." This came from yet another male.

"You're at Shigure Sohma's house. I am Hatori Sohma, the Sohma family doctor. As for who you are, I was hoping you could tell us. All we know is that you appeared out of thin air in front of Tohru, Yuki and Kyo more dead than alive." He pointed to each of the three teens respectfully.

"Sugar Ray?" This caused Hatori and Shigure to burst out laughing.

"Close enough."

"I… I appeared… out of thin air?" Is that even possible? It's not, right?

"You did. Scared us half to death." The boy, Yuki, stated.

"I'm sorry." I said struggling to sit up properly.

"Huh?"

"That I scared you…" I couldn't hold back any longer and started coughing up blood into my hand. Hatori was instantly at my side once more.

"You must still have a broken rib. Everyone OUT!" The others all scrambled to get out of the room, the Doctor had spoken.

"Broken rib… how… why?" He pushed me back into the pillows.

"I don't know, I wish I did, but whatever happened to you, it couldn't have been pleasant. I'm not surprised that you don't remember anything." His touch was soft but still painful. I stared at the ceiling.

"I can feel them... manacles on my wrists and ankles. I agree with you, I'm sure it wasn't pleasant, but I wish I knew who I was…" more blood came up but it was ebbing. The doctor seemed to know what he was doing. "When will I be able to get out of bed?"

"Not for a while yet, I would say two weeks at the earliest, and even then you won't go any farther than the kitchen." I sighed. Just great, stuck who-knows-where in Japan with a bunch people I don't know. Lovely. "Well, that should last you, just make sure someone changes the bandages on your wrists and ankles. Having those get infected would not be in your best interests." He stood up and was about to leave.

"Dr. Sohma," he paused "thank you for everything you've done for me."

"You're welcome." And I was alone.

***

Finally I was well enough to walk and they decided to sign me up for school. I had to take an entrance exam and they had to set me up with the Sohma name, but it wasn't too bad. I now had a name, Mercury Sohma, Mercy for short. School was okay, not great, but not terrible so far either. There were some real weirdo's though, like that girl, Suzimiya… what was her problem? But it's really not my place to judge, I'm still trying to figure out how to write right handed since my left is in a brace…

Lunch and I'm alone, yup, perfect. Tohru was talking to Hana and Arisa who where okay, but I got the feeling they don't exactly like me. Yuki was off doing President Business and Kyo was who knows where. I decided to wander off, school was boring anyway. Second week in and already cutting class, wow, we have a winner! Was I like this before? Hatori said I had probably been quite the fighter. Who knows? I can't remember, but if I was a fighter, I probably cut class right?

As I was leaving I noticed a guy tall, brutish looking guy with reddish hair talking with a gang of dumb looking boys. Not far behind him I saw another boy, with black hair wearing a ridiculous green uniform. Utterly bizzaro, and he was see through and might I mention the floating? Just my lucky day. Sixth sence, I see dead people. Purrfect, now all we need is Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis. The ghostie boy was making funny faces at Red's back. I shake my head and walk past him. "Follow me Green."

"Hey, you can see me?" he asked floating along behind me.

"No, I just randomly talk to the air." I rolled my eyes, "Of course I can see you. My question is why?"

"I don't know, all I know is that I died saving a boy that would have survived anyway."

"Hmph. Sure. Is there anything fun to do in this town?"

"Not really… unless you want to count all the thugs that need a really good ass kicking. Man I can't wait till I get my body back!" Okay, ghost boy is insane!

"Uh- dude, I somehow doubt you will, you're a little, well, dead…" the ghost boy then launched into this whole spiel about how he wasn't actually dead.

"Hey, I challenge you to a fight when you do get your body back." I was bored and it sounded like fun. He nodded.

"Yeah, sure, whatever you want." We took a turn down an alley. Dead end.

"Well, well, look what we have here boys!" Oh crap. I scanned for a way out or up, no luck.

"It's the Black Diamonds. There pretty tough… I could fight them if you let me posses you…" My ghostly companion offers. I shivered, that did not sound like fun and there was no way in hell he was going into my body… EVER!

"Fuck no, I'll handle them on my own." I hissed.

"She looks like an American. Come on now girly, I'll show you the time of your life."

"Oh, you are so not my type." I declared as I charged him with a nice knuckle sandwich. I made a break for the entrance. I couldn't risk fighting them, while Hatori said I was probably a fighter I was still in rough shape from when they found me. I just needed to get back to school.

"I told you I could fight them off for you."

"And I told you not in my body, you PERV!" I was right in front of the school. They wouldn't try something in public right, I mean, in an alley sure, but in front of a school? I was safe…

"Hey, you have company!!!" I turn at the ghosts call, there they where, with their own reinforcements. They attacked. My movements where instinctual, I had no idea what I was doing. Red and his gang started to help out too so that made it quicker to get them off my back, I'm sure the fact that there was a teacher running out helped a bit too. As the last one hit the ground the teacher, Kyo and Yuki came to a stop just inside school property.

"Hey, Red! Thanks for your help. I would have been food for the wolves if you hadn't pitched in."

"Eh. You looked like you were doing fine on your own, but I didn't trust those creeps to play fair. They like their knives… Say, aren't you the new girl… uh, Sohma was it?"

"Yeah, Mercury. Mercury Sohma.

"I'm Kuwabara." He answered with a goofy smile.

"If you're a real Sohma, I'm a monkey's uncle!" The ghost hissed. "By the way, I Yuusuke Urameshii." The teacher cleared his thought.

"And why weren't you in class Miss. Sohma?"

"Well, I'm new to the area and I got lost during lunch and then I bumped into these hooligans…" I put my foot on the one guys back to keep him from getting up. "and they attacked me, I'm lucky Red-sorry- Kuwabara was here to help. I'm not exactly in my best condition." I held up my braced arm even though that wasn't the real problem, the real problem was my torso, still bandaged tight. I could feel the injuries oozing and bleeding… what a nasty feeling!

"You're a pretty good liar Mercury. Had much practice?" damn the ghost. The teacher sighed and turned around.

"All of you get back to class, I'll call the police and have them pick up these doppelgangers. "

"So, Mercury, where did you learn to fight like that? That was really good for a girl." I growled but I also didn't know how to answer him.

"Uhh… Well… you see-"

"She trained with our Uncle. He runs a dojang and we all trained there when we were younger." Thank you Kyo!

"I thought she was from America?"

"She came here for her training then went back. It's a family tradition." And thank you Yuki. We walked inside, my side was smarting something fierce but I wasn't about to admit it. Unfortunately Yuusuke followed as well, all the while trying to get my attention. In class he was actually a welcome distraction, he talked and I wrote and no one was the wiser. My smarting side persisted and I could feel the bandages growing damp… they must be bleeding through.

"Miss. Sohma, your wanted in the infirmary." The assistant principle was at the door. Perfect timing Hatori! Yuki must have called him… I packed my stuff away and hoofed it to the infirmary. I arrived, and it wasn't Hatori waiting for me.

There was a man with silver hair wearing a white trench coat and glasses… this is a man I knew, a man I disliked.