Chapter 6:New people, new life

(Rei's P.O.V)

"Rei, I have a surprise for you." Shigure said as I trotted down the stairs followed by Kyo. Yuki was in the living room on the sofa half asleep.

What's the surprise Shigure? I asked in sign.

"I've made a decision. You can go to school with the others." My eyes widened in shock.

Really?

"Yes, really. I've arranged an entrance exam for you. And if you get in-"

"Of course she will." Kyo broke in.

"As I was SAYING; if you get in, you'll have at least one of these guys in every class so the teacher will understand you, alright?" I hadn't heard him. I was too busy jumping up and down. Tohru was opening the door when I exploded out of it and danced around her. It felt so good to move! She stared at me in shock. I guess the fact that I ordinarily moved slowly and less conspicuously was a big factor in that surprise.

"Rei-san?" Tohru tilted her head in confusion. "Did something happen?"

For once I was too happy to acknowledge her question. There was a knock on the door, and an exhausted Yuki opened it to reveal Haru.

"Haru, don't you have a house of your own?" Kyo snapped. I was still in my own little world of bliss, waltzing around the room.

"Who says I like my house?" Haru asked his eyes following my progress around the room with astonishment. "Did you give her a puppy or something?" He nodded towards me.

"She's happy because she wanted to go to school with us, and Shigure said yes."

Yuki raised an eyebrow. I was in such a good mood I didn't care if Yuki was grumpy. I grabbed his arm and began to prance around with him behind me.

Haru's P.O.V

I hadn't seen Rei so happy in a long while. She yanked Yuki into her dance and soon the two of them were twirling around the room. If it hadn't been so beautiful and distracting it would have been hilarious. I could practically feel the aura of happiness following her as she whirled and dipped. Tohru came in and began to laugh as she saw the spectacle that was Yuki and Rei. They stopped and Rei looked at her curiously. Then, letting go of Yuki's hands she walked up to me and Kyo. She stared at me for a moment as if sizing me up. Then grabbing my large hand in her small thin one, she began to swirl some more and the next thing I knew, I was dancing with Kyo's little sister. Her eyes were so happy. I felt relief pulse through me. I knew that eventually this moment would end, but at the same time I never wanted it to. I wanted to stay in this moment forever. The moment where Rei began to open up. Yuki was talking with Tohru a strange smile stretched on his own face was nice to see. Kyo's jealous gaze eventually prompted me to let go of his sister so she would go to dance with him. I chuckled slightly as I saw the bizarre pair twirl and dip in the middle of Shigure's small house. I wished I could burn this memory into my mind forever.

Rei's P.O.V

I had taken the entrance exam and passed with flying colors. Something that seemed slightly strange as I had little schooling in the past years. But, oh well. It was soon my first day of school.

"Rei don't forget to get your locker assignments from the office." Shigure said with his face hidden behind the newspaper.

Alright. I signed. I glanced in a mirror and was satisfied slightly with my appearance. I stared at myself in the school uniform. It was a navy blue dress that was sailor style and I gotta admit I looked pretty cute. My hair was in pigtails as usual but they were held back with emerald ribbons. Tohru walked down into the living room where I stood stunned at myself.

"Good morning Rei-san." She called with a smile as she trotted into the kitchen to finish making lunch for Kyo and Yuki.

Good morning. I replied as she emerged from the kitchen with 3 lunch boxes and her back pack. I heard a slight groan come from the stairs and saw the form of my brother slump down the stairs.

"Good morning Kyo." Tohru said handing him his lunch with a cheery smile. Something flickered in Kyo's eyes as he accepted his lunch with a nod and then walked toward the front door.

Where is Yuki? I asked Tohru.

"Oh he'll be down in a second. He had to get a paper he did for history." As if on cue, Yuki appeared and joined us at the bottom of the stairs.

"Good morning Rei, Miss Honda." He said with a small gentle smile.

"Good morning Yuki!" Tohru responded. I signed the same.

"You look lovely Rei." He said flashing me a teasing smile. I blushed slightly. A quick flutter of my hands said thank you.

"Would you guys hurry up?" Kyo's shout of annoyance broke through the pleasant sounds of the morning.

"Sorry Kyo-kun!" Tohru called back and grabbed my hand. "C'mon Rei-san. We'll be late for your first day!" And with that the 3 of us dashed out of the house to catch up with Kyo. Today I would make new friends. Today, I will make a new life.

*AT SCHOOL*

Kyo's P.O.V

"Hey Orange Top!" I growled slightly at that. I hated it when Uuo called me that. This was exactly the reason she did it. I trotted reluctantly over to where the tall blond girl stood with Hana. She and Uuo were good friends to Tohru so I couldn't completely hate them. After all, they took good care of her.

"What'd you want?" I snarled.

"Who's the little kid?" Hana asked in her quiet chilling voice. Her fingers were busy weaving an intricate braid in her dark black hair. I tensed. Were we going to tell them she was my sister?

"Kyo?" Rei asked pulling my arm gently. She glanced pointedly at me and the strange girls in front of me. Flicking her wrist, she gestured to them and to herself. Tohru caught on to her meaning before I did.

"Rei, this is Uuo and Hana. They're my friends!" Yuki had caught up with us by now, the damn rat. Why did he have to follow us everywhere we went?

"Good morning Uuo-chan…Hana-chan." The rat spoke softly nodding to each of the girls.

"Hey." Uuo said returning the nod.

"Good morning." Hana said barely above a whisper. "Who is Rei to you?" She asked us. "Is she another cousin?"

Tohru shot questioning looks at us as if to say "well? Do we tell them the truth? Or do we just say she's another cousin?"

Yuki's eyes were shifting from confusion, to fear, to someone desperate for a plan. Suddenly I heard a familiar voice.

"So if my hair was black, does that mean I wouldn't cause trouble? If I wore a tie would that me I wouldn't beat you up?" I groaned internally. Black Haru. Of all the times to pick a fight…!

Haru! Rei signed to me and raced down the hall toward the sound.

"Hey, where's she going?" Uuo queried straightening her long blue skirt.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to excuse us ladies." Yuki said with a slight bow before racing down the hall after Rei with Tohru on his heels. What was Rei thinking? I thought as I dashed after them.

Rei's P.O.V

I raced down the hallway, the others not far behind me. What is Haru up to? I asked myself turning a sharp corner and almost bumping into someone. Looking around me, there was a large crowd of people circled around two people. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was Haru, and a tall gawky kid with short black hair and glasses. Whoa. What a weird combo. Pushing my way through the crowd I managed to get to the front. As I tried to go towards the two yelling boys, I felt a hand on my shoulder stopping me. Looking up, I saw a brown haired boy around my age.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. When that Haru kid gets ticked off being within a 20 mile radius is dangerous, much less 10 feet."

I stared at the kid. Tilting my head slightly I gave him what I hoped was an apologetic look and slipped under the arm that had been shielding me from the fray. Haru was standing 10 feet from the boy with a look that startled me. I trotted cautiously up to my cousin and tapped him tentatively on the shoulder. Unlike the other students who were wearing the school regulation uniforms, Haru was wearing his usual black attire complete with spiky bracelet and heavy chain necklaces. He glanced down at me, and his harsh face was replaced with shock.

"Rei, what are you doing here? Akito…" I stared back at him; pointed at the boy (who was now cowering against a wall) that Haru had been in the process of cussing out.

Haru, what did he do? I signed.

Haru's P.O.V

She may have tried to hide it; she may not have even noticed it. But when I accidentally let slip Akito's name, her eyes darkened. They had clouded over, if only for a second. I felt a sharp tug at my heart when that happened. But when I saw her asking me why I was going to beat up the student council president I brought myself back to the present.

"Well for one Rei, he refuses to believe this is my real hair color." I flicked a lock of my white hair aside. Frustration tinged her expression for a second. Then she brightened.

I don't suppose you told him it's because you're the ox did you? She gave a silent giggle.

"Hatsuharu Sohma who is this child?" The president asked. The "this child" set Rei off. She whirled around to face him. The look on her face was truly terrifying.

Does he know sign language?

"Yes." I replied smugly. And with that, Rei gave it to him. She might has well have been screaming she was moving her hands so emphatically.

"Wha-But-No never-Huh?" Mokoto's Takeshi had never seen a student get so angry before. Kyo ran up just in time to see his little sister give the student body president a cussing out in sign language.

"Rei!" He exclaimed.

"Kyo!" She turned towards him with a neutral expression on her face. Then with a last glare at Takeshi she grabbed my hand in her small thin one and pulled me after her towards Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru. A boy with short spiky brown hair was watching Rei with a strange look on his face. I arched an eyebrow and stared back at him. He flushed slightly and raced off after his friends who had fled the scene quickly. The rest of the crowd dispersed as well. Soon it was just us standing in the hall.

"Hatsuharu, ummm picking fights in school might not be the best idea." Tohru said nervously plucking at her skirt.

"He started it." I grumbled.

"Well cut it out." Yuki murmured.

I nodded. We all went our separate ways to class. I stayed still for a moment.

Rei's P.O.V

Haru seemed as if he was in his own little world. I looked up curiously at him. I tugged at his sleeve and showed him my schedule.

Homeroom: Miss Mayu

"You're in my homeroom. C'mon." Haru steered me gently toward our class just down the hall.

Haru, are you alright? I signed worriedly. He gave me a forced smile and nodded.

"I'm fine, really. Just a little tired is all." Shaking my head I looked nervously at the door that stood between me and a new life.

"Are you ready?" He asked. I took a deep breath. Now or never.

Let's do this.