There was one similarity between the Sohmas and the Hanajins:

They loved to fight.

Again, everybody was at Kazuma's dojo watching Kyo and Akako fight. As I watched them fight, my mind was wandering off. I couldn't stop thinking about the picture Botan had showed me. The towering figure, bathed in shadow, reaching out his hand to me...

I shook my head, trying to shake out the thought and image that had pestered me for the past few days and nights. I had been losing sleep because of the incessant nightmares. I had grown accustom to be afraid of the shadowy figure.

A shrill whistle brought my attention back to the match. I could see Kyo being pushed into a corner, blood dribbling from his nose. He was yelling at Akako. Akako had a sly smile on his face.

He must have finally hit Kyo, Ithought to myself.

As Kyo sat down on a stool, Kazuma came over to him, kneeling down, saying something to him in hushed tones. At the opposite side, the exact thing was happening. Akako was being spoken to-

Oh my gosh! It's Kazuma!

The man that was speaking to Akako did not look anything like Kazuma. He had wrinkled skin, and long brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Even though they looked totally opposite, the feeling I got looking at that man, reminded me of Kazuma. No. It was Kazuma's!

The man patted Akako on the back and pushed him out into the middle of the ring.

I tugged at Yuki's arm. He looked at me, as I pointed to the man.

"Yuki, who's that?"

He looked at the man, and grew an annoyed look on his face.

"That's Yuudai Hanajin. Don't look at-"

The man saw that we were looking at him. He put a smile on his face and started to push through the crowd towards us.

"Great..." mumbled Yuki.

Yuddai beamed when he took my hand and started to shake it.

"So you must be Tohru! So very nice to meet you!"

He then looked at Yuki. He held out his arms and then hugged Yuki.

I paled. Nobody touches Yuki and gets away alive!

After the seemingly long hug, Yuudai tilted Yuki's head up to look at him.

"Yuki! Long time, no see! How long has it been really?"

"Seven years," muttered Yuki.

"Seven years, eh," Yuudai said stroking his chin. He then smiled.

"Why, that would mean you were this tall when I last saw you!" He held his hand down to his knees.

Yuki blushed.

"So," Yuudai said to Yuki, trying to make it look like he was about to tell Yuki a secret, eyeing me.

"Did you bring Tohru on a date?"

I blushed, but Yuki's face was even worse then mine. It had darkened to a shade of plum purple. I felt sorry for him.

Yuudai chuckled and patted Yuki on the back.

"Just joking! Well, I must be going! Duty calls!" He saluted and walked away.

I looked over at Yuki. "Why don't you like Yuudai? He's just like Kazuma!"

Yuki looked at me sheepishly. "That's exactly why."

As I looked back to see Yuudai vanish into the crowd, I saw a piece of paper slide out of his pocket and drift slowly to the floor. I picked it off the ground. Yuki didn't notice me, he was too engaged in the fight. I then glanced on what was written on the slip of paper.

On it in bold black letters, it read:

YUKI GOES FIRST!

My eyes grew wide. I slowly slid the piece of paper into my pocket. I didn't want Yuki to see it.

"Hi Tohru!"

I quickly looked up and saw Gohachiro above me. He smiled at me.

"Why are you- Okay!"

I grabbed his arm and marched through the crowd, trying to look for some remote place so I could talk to Gohachiro. I finally found a solitary corner. I whipped out the piece of paper from my pocket and gave it to Gohachiro so he could read it. A look of surprise came on his face.

"What do you suggest we do about it?" he asked me.

I shrugged. "I don't know. But don't let Yuki see it!"

He nodded, and then gave a sly grin.

"Don't worry Tohru, your secrets are safe with me. You can trust me..."