Tohru woke up as early as usual. She made breakfast, and said her good mornings as normal. She went to school as normal, and she walked home as normal. At home, well, that wasn't as normal.

As Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo got home, they noticed a weird thumping noise. They tried to ignore it, but it seemed to get louder as they got closer to home.

"What did that idiot do this time?" said Kyo as they neared the house.

"It might not be Shigure this time. When was the last time that Kagura visited you Kyo?" Yuki said as Kyo ran in the opposite direction.

"What do you realy think it is Yuki?" Yuki looked down at Tohru who seemed deep in thought about the sound.

"Shigure by far."said Yuki, drawing a small smile out of the girl next to him.

"Ah! Welcome home!" The teens looked up to see Shigure tied around the waist by a rope that was dangling off the house. He looked at the wall he was pushed against, and smacked it, making the thumping sound they had heard on the way over.

"Shigure, what are you doing up there?" asked Tohru as she went to go untie him.

"Well," said Shigure looking away. "Natalie got annoyed at me for going into her room."

Yuki looked up in surprise. He had forgotten all about last night, and from the look on Tohru's face, he could tell that she had forgotten to. He remembered the weird comments Natalie had said when she was asleep. What had she meant?

"Oh! She has a room?" asked Tohru.

"Oh yes. She's in the basement." replied Shigure.

"Wait," said Yuki. "How long have we had a basement?"

"We had it the whole time we lived here, but there was never any reason to use it."

There was a loud smack as Shigure dropped to the floor. He quickly stood up, and walked into the house.

"Shigure, you better still be tied up! I'm still annoyed at you." Shouted Natalie from below.

"I told you that it was an accident." Shigure said as a square in the floor was pushed out, showing a dusty Natalie with her hair in a bun.

"Oh yes. You just happened to fall on top of me, giving me a hug. I really don't appreciate that Shigure." said Natalie before dropping down to the floor. Yuki glared at Shigure before hoping down into the hole, helping Tohru in behind him.

They looked around. It was quite dark, but there was enough light to see. It was obvious that Natalie has been working hard. Only half of one of the walls were still covered in dust and dirt. that part was Black, compared to the normal tanish color the rest of the house showed. They watched as Natalie dropped to the floor, returning to scrubbing the floors.

Before anyone could move, and without turning around, Natalie said, "No Tohru, you can't help, and yes Yuki, he really did hug me. Don't tell Kyo that I know though. I want to see how long it will take for him to notice."

Yuki walked over to Natalie, and crouched down. He looked down at her, still trying to work out what happened. "You were angry at Shigure for hugging you because you knew what that meant. How long have you known?"

Natalie smiled. "Tohru, this one's a keeper. He's smarter then he looks." She turned to him, finally stopping her work. "Tell me this, how long have I known him?"

Yuki considered for a moment. "I don't know."

"I didn't think you would." Natalie turned around to Tohru. "I'm sorry if you wanted to do anything with this room, it just seemed no one needed it."

"Oh, it's fine. Do you want anything?" replied Tohru.

Natalie looked at Yuki before speaking again. "I'm a bit thirsty, but I'm fine, really."

"I'll go get you some." said Tohru before leaving the pair alone.

~8~

Tohru walked into the kitchen to get a glass before a hand reached up behind her.

"I'll get that." said Shigure, handing her the glass.

"Thank you Shigure." said Tohru before filling it with water.

"I've known her for a long time if you were wondering."

Tohru looked over at Shigure. "You mean Natalie?"

"We went to school together. Best of friends. Even lived together for a while. Then, Akito just didn't like it anymore, and had her thrown out. and after all this time, she is still such a wonderful friend, coming back just to see us." Shigure had a distant look on his face as he spoke, remembering all the fun they had had together.

He had really missed her when she had gone. She never came back, and never said goodbye, very unlike her. She wasn't the type of person to leave without a goodbye. He wished he could have seen her just one more time, just to ask her why she left. And now, after so many years, here she was, and he didn't want to know any more. He just wanted to be sure that she would stay.

"She is one of the nicest people I've met here." said Tohru. "She helped me the first day that I started my job. and even walked with me to my tent every once in a while. She stopped when I told her I lived with a family called the Sohmas, but I never would have guessed that she knew you."

"The world does have a way of throwing curve balls at us. But we must prevail, lest the pressure will tear us down."

Tohru smiled up at Shigure before walking out the door. "Natalie wanted some water."

Shigure smiled before going to his room to continue on his newest book.

~8~

Natalie looked at Yuki before speaking again. "I'm a bit thirsty, but I'm fine, really."

"I'll go get you some." said Tohru before leaving the pair alone.

"Are you really thirsty?" asked Yuki.

"Yes, but I also wanted her out of the room."

"Why?"

"Because I'll answer any questions you have before Tohru comes back."

The cogs in Yuki's head began to turn as he thought quickly, not wanting to waist any time. "What did you first meet Shigure?"

"In high school."

"How did you know what would happen if he hugged you?"

"Because it has happened before."

"Who else do you know?"

"Hatori, Shigure, Ayame, Kyo, you, and Akito, but only in rumor."

"You said high school."

"Because I went to high school with them."

"How?"

Natalie turned back to scrubbing the floors. "Maybe next time."

Just as Yuki was about to ask what she meant, Tohru stuck her head in the floor. "I have your water if you want it."

Natalie stopped, and stood up, stretching slightly. "Wonderful timing Tohru." she said as she grabbed the glass downing it in seconds.

"I'll be starting on dinner soon. Anything either of you want in particular?"

"Not really Ms. Honda." said Yuki bowing slightly.

"Nothing for me." said Natalie. "Not very hungry."

"Ok then." Tohru said before disappearing above the hole again.

"You best be going up too." said Natalie as she walked back to her work. "I believe you have homework to do young man."

Yuki saw the smirk on her lips as she turned away. He sighed before climbing out of the hole, and going up to his room to do home work, waiting for diner to be done.

Hi! My friend just got out of the hospital, and is now getting home schooled! So sad. She asked for another chapter, so here it is. None of my beta readers have read this, so I'm sorry for any mistakes. Hope you all like it.

~Pinky