"Yuki, long time, no see," said Fuyu. He then glanced at me. He bowed.

"Fuyu Hanaji, at your service," he said. "And I'd be happy to do anything for such a pretty young lady." He then took my hand and kissed it.

I started to blush.

Yuki then walked between Fuyu and I. "Leave her alone you little creep," seethed Yuki.

"'Little creep' am I? Well, at least I'm not a dirty rat," said Fuyu. He then started to walk off.

Before he could take a few steps, Yuki threw a kick at Fuyu's back. Fuyu swiftly dodged it and punched Yuki in the face. I was amazed. Very few could dodge Yuki's attacks. Only fewer could land a hit on him.

I rushed over to Yuki and helped him up.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I see you've gone rough around the edges. It was always so easy to upset you," Fuyu said with a smirk. He walked away.

Again, before he could go very far, I saw a large shape pounce on top of Fuyu.

"Hey, Yuki's my punchin' bag. The only one who hits him is me, myself, and I!" growled Kyo.

Fuyu looked up. He smiled when he saw Kyo's face. "So, it's the Lone Ranger. Why would the dirty rat, hang out with such an outcast?"

That stunned Kyo for a moment, which allowed Fuyu to push Kyo from on top of him, and land a blow to the head.

"Why you little-" Kyo was about to finish his insult until a voice interrupted him.

"Fuyu, that big mouth will get you no where. Come along!"

The voice belonged to a woman. She had black hair and was wearing a red kimono. She seemed to be carrying one of those fish bowls you could buy at the store. It was filled with some sort of dark indigo liquid.

Fuyu glared at us, but then he walked away.

As Yuki, Kyo, and I walked the rest of the way to the house, I asked, "Who was that woman?"

"That's Asuka. One of the nicer Hanajis," Yuki replied.

"Ah, so you met Fuyu and Asuka Hanaji! That must have been pleasant," teased Shigure, as we told him our story.

"Yeah, if you can call them 'pleasant'," said Kyo.

"So, Tohru, what did you think of our guests," asked Shigure, looking at me.

"Well," I started, "Fuyu seems to be very... arrogant. It seems as if he... wants to be in-control of everybody."

"Asuka, on the other hand seemed very... in charge. Kind of like Akito."

Shigure chuckled. "Both are very accurate descriptions. And if Fuyu does ever try to boss you around, just hug him and get a picture for me okay?"

Shigure started to laugh. "Man, that kid's true form is hilarious! You should really see it!"

As Shigure started to laugh, I noticed that out of the Sohmas I had met, that knew that the Hanajis were coming, Shigure was the only one who didn't seem to... well, mind!

"Well, I'll leave you three to your homework," said Shigure, and he left.

My mind couldn't focus on my homework. As I looked at Kyo and Yuki, they couldn't seem to focus too. I soon gave up on my homework, and started to make dinner.

That night, I couldn't go to sleep. My mind was on my experience with Fuyu and Asuka. I just couldn't seem to get it out of my head.

Around midnight, I heard something downstairs. I sat up in bed and listened. There it was again! It sounded like there was someone downstairs!

I quietly got out of bed and tip-toed down the stairs. The sound seemed to be coming from the kitchen! As I walked closer to it, I noticed the lights were on. I crept and there was... Shigure.

I sighed. Shigure heard it and whirled around from the fridge. "Oh Tohru, it's you," through a mouthful of food.

"Where are you going?" I asked, as I saw he was wearing a suit.

"Well, I could tell you," started Shigure, as he walked over to me, "but then you'll have to come with me."

I nodded my consent.

"I'm going to the main house for some... business," he said. "Now hurry, go get dressed, it's cold outside!"

I hurriedly got dressed. What business could Shigure have at the main house, this late at night? I thought to myself. When I went downstairs, I saw Shigure was all ready to go.

"Come on! No time to waste!"

The night was very cold. I shivered.

When we got to the main house, I noticed somebody was outside holding a lantern. As we walked closer, I noticed it was Asuka.

"Ah, Asuka, how nice to see you! You're looking exceedingly fine in this moonlight!" greeted Shigure.

Asuka frowned. "Flattery will get you nowhere. Nor will whispering your sweet nothings." She then noticed me.

"What's she doing here?"

"I said she could come. She knows about the curse," said Shigure.

I bowed to Asuka. "I promise not to interrupt your business."

Asuka sniffed. "Very well then, come along."

We entered the main house, and walked into one of the guest rooms. Standing there in the middle, was the fish bowl I had seen Asuka carrying earlier. We kneeled around it.

"Are you ready?" Asuka asked.

I nodded, so did Shigure.

"Very well, let us begin."

Asuka then looked down in the bowl. She muttered a few words. After she was done talking, the indigo fluid became lighter, becoming a light blue.

"You will find great success with honesty. Your love will soon depend on it... A great darkness overshadows you. Honesty again, is the answer. That is all I can- Wait! There is an evil coming. A thirteenth shall rise to banish all. He's coming! He's coming!"

Asuka was almost shrieking. Shigure put out a hand to comfort her. Asuka took it. She was still staring into the bowl. She then looked up.

"He's coming!"

Asuka then fainted, and the sky-blue liquid went back to its dark form...