Hi Everyone, sorry for the wait. School's going to start soon so I may only update once every week. But I'll do my best to update often ^_^ And thank you sooo much for your patience. I'm so happy you like the story!

Thanks for your reviews, when I read them I want to update as quickly as I can.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket

Apologies

~~~At the Summer House~~~Tohru's POV

"Cook something yummy while we're gone!" said Momiji as cheerful as ever.

"I want to eat shougayaki." commented Hatsuharu-san as he headed out the door.

"Again?!" asked Yuki

"We'll be back soon Onee-chan." said Kisa giving me a hug.

"Take care, Tohru-kun." said Shigure ruffling my hair.

"It'll be a nice day." observed Samantha-chan "Perfect for going to the beach." She gave me a hug an waved me off as she and Momiji followed the others hand in hand.

Its the next day and we have just finished breakfast. I'm half-heartedly cleaning the table because I can't get what happened last night out of my head. Yuki-kun told me something very important. And I still don't understand; he opened "that tightly closed lid"... I listened closely, to the small voice that fell in drops instead of words. My mind is lost in thoughts. I put my hand to my forehead unconsciously. A small... ...

"...Kun?" I looked up to see Hatori-san bending down to look me in the eye. "Honda-kun?"

"Eh...? Eh?! H-Hatori-sa... EH?!" When did Hatori-san get here?!

"What's wrong? Does your head hurt?" he asked straightening himself up.

"Ah, no, it's not that. I was just, well that is..." I stuttered "I-I-I mean. Hatori-san, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

He looked off in the distance before answering. "I came yesterday with Akito, but... Due to the circumstances, I couldn't come say hello."

"I see... So you went to the trouble to...! Thank you very much!" I can't believe he came here just to say hello, he didn't have to... I'm so grateful! "Hatori-san, are you doing wel-"

"I'm sorry." he cut off. Huh? "I'm sure you came to have fun with everyone... But we left you all by yourself."

"Oh! Oh, no! Um!" I panicked "Please don't apologize! Kyo-kun was here with me, so you couldn't say I was by myself. And this way, I can get to mind the house, so I'm having fun!" That's right. Everyone went out to see Akito-san again today. So Kyo-kun and I have been taking care of things here together. I really don't mind. There's nothing that Hatori-san has to apologize for... Ah! Could it be that he's just worried about Kyo-kun and me being here by ourselves? Oh no! What if everyone's concerned about that?!... I wonder if I'm just being conceited to think that? Yeah... But... I am happy...

"... I'm so happy! Thank you so much! I-I really am very lucky! I'm so very happy! So please, don't worry about me. I'm fine!" I gave Hatori-san my biggest smile.

He ruffled my hair and turned to leave. "... That's all for today."

"Ah..."

"Kyo. Don't leave her alone." and with that, Hatori-san left.

I wonder if I'll go this whole trip without ever greeting Akito-san? Or maybe it will happen soon...? Whether it happens or not... It all depends on Akito-san, doesn't it?... Akito-san...
"Did you... open the lid?" I asked Yuki-kun last night
"Thanks to Akito." was his reply
What on earth did Akito-san say to Yuki-kun?

"Hey." said Kyo-kun jolting me out of my trance "Are you okay? You don't look so good."

"Eh?! N-No! I was just thinking about things..." I quickly said waving my hands in front of me.

Kyo slightly tilted his head to the side. "Hmm?"

OH, NO! I'm even making Kyo-kun worry about me! "Ky-Kyo-kun! Would you like to go to the beach?!" I panicked

"Huh? Look, you..."

"Don't worry! I don't mean swim. Let's play in the sand! Were you going to say something?"

"... And that would be... Fun?"

"Yes! I'm sure it will be fun!"

"... If you say so." he sighed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~At the Hanare~~~Akito's POV

"But... Everything happens for a reason. That's what I believe... Things go wrong so you can appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies, so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself. People change so you can learn to let go, and sometimes... Good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
How can she say such things to me? She is no better than I am. Although, I do admire her for standing up for herself. But not to me. I am their god, not her! She won't replace me!
"You will not replace me! You may think you are God but you aren't!"
"Well I'm not!"
*sigh*
Maybe I should trust her...

"Akito, Samantha-kun is here." introduced Hatori from just outside the door. I requested Hatori to gather all the juunishi this morning for another one on one meeting. I don't like it when they spend so much time with that gorgon, Tohru Honda.

"Konichiwa, Akito." said Samantha quietly walking into the room. She gave a small bow and sat in front of me so we were almost eye to eye, she was lower since she's shorter.

"Hmph." I huffed

Her perfect eyebrows knit together "I'm sorry if I insulted you yesterday. I didn't mean to." she said looking down. Her voice sounds sincere, but does she really mean it? I don't trust her. But truthfully, I don't trust anyone.

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked harshly

She looked up. "I just... I thought maybe I said something to offend you... Since you stormed off right away... So, I'm sorry Akito, I really mean it."

Again, she's looking at me with those eyes that make you want to melt. Like you can talk to her about all your problems and she will fix them for you. Agh!

I quickly turned away. "Fine!"

Samantha tilted her head, as if to silently ask what's wrong. Then there was a flash of light in her eyes.

"Ah! Akito, do you like to draw?" she asked moving to sit next to me.

"What?" I asked. "What's with the meaningless question?"

"I'm just trying to find something we have in common." she smiled and pulled a sketchbook out from behind her. "See, we can draw something. Like... A bird." she turned to a page with a half sketched bird. It looks like the white dove I have at home. She placed the sketchbook on my lap an handed me a pencil.

"Why don't you finish it?"

"This is stupid." I muttered but took the pencil anyway. The bird was basically done. It just needed a tail and feet.

"That's amazing!" Samantha exclaimed as I drew the tail.

"It's pretty bad." muttered Akito

"No, it's really good!" she insisted. "Now he just needs a friend." she smiled."... You know, you can talk to me about anything you want."

"..." We worked on drawing for a good hour or two before Kureno walked in to check on us. "Akito, do you need anything?"

"... Yes... Bring in Hatsuharu."

Kureno nodded.

"Ah. Konichiwa, um... Kureno-san, yes?" spoke up Samantha, interrupting my thoughts.

Kureno turned to me for permission to speak. *huff* I will have to deal with this at some point. I gave him a reluctant nod of approval.

He turned to Samantha and bowed "My name is Kureno Sohma." he confirmed. "I don't believe we've met."

"My name is Samantha Sohma." she smiled "It's nice to meet you."

Kureno nodded.

"He is the rooster." I said bluntly while holding back my anger.

"Really?" she turned to me then back to Kureno. She started smiling even more. "That's cool!" What's so cool about it? "Hey, since your a bird," she took the sketchbook out of my hands to show Kureno "what do you think of this bird Akito and I sketched."

"Akito sketched?" asked Kureno as he examined the bird

"..." I looked away. This is stupid.

"Uh huh!" affirmed Samantha happily "He sketched the tail. He did a really good job, didn't he?"

"Yes." nodded Kureno in agreement. "I'll call for Hatsuharu."

"Okay, I'll talk to you soon!" waved off Samantha

I haven't talked to Hatsuharu in a while... That Rin girl has gotten herself into a lot of trouble hasn't she?... Heh heh, I heard she got out of the hospital recently... Ah ha ha... And she broke up with Hatsuharu... He really is stupid if he thought they would stay together for very long... He he he.

Samantha was quietly drawing another bird. She looked up to see me smirking to myself. "Something funny?" she smiled "A joke?"

She is so innocent. Just wait until it is wrecked...

*slide* Hatsuharu walked into the room and sat down with his knees bent and leaning back on his hands. He nodded to me, then Samantha. She smiled but I just sat with my knees to my chest and my back to him. How can he be so calm sometimes. It really makes me sick.

"Did you eat lunch yet?" Samantha asked, too sweetly for my taste

"Nah. But on the way here I saw some of the maids had trays of food. They should be here any minute." he said indifferently

"That's good. I'm getting a little hungry." said Samantha with a smile. I saw Hatsuharu grin. Ugh.

No sooner did a maid come in with a tray of food for us. It was ramen noodles.

"Grr... I don't want it!" I spat and pushed the bowl away.

Samantha put down her bowl and sat across from me. She lightly pushed my bowl back to me.

"Just one bite? It'll give you energy." she smiled

I glared at her. "No. It's disgusting."

"You haven't even tried it yet. It tastes better when it's hot."

"Nnnn..."

She moved closer to me while picking up my bowl and handing me chopsticks. I didn't take them. Curiously, she just smiled, picked up some noodles and offered me the chopsticks again. I just stared at them.

"I'm not going to feed you."

Hatsuharu was watching out of the corner of his eyes. I sighed reluctantly taking the chopsticks and eating the noodles."It's not that disgusting."

"Good." She smiled and continued eating her lunch.

In between bites Samantha would tell us about pointless things. Like how to use a colour wheel, or Vincent Van Gogh. I mean, why would you want to know about a guy that cut off his ear and gave it to his girlfriend? Stupid.

When we finished our lunch, Hatsuharu finally spoke up. "I hear Kureno's here, too. Is that true?"

Samantha was about to answer but I cut in first "Even if he were, I wouldn't let you see him." Samantha tilted her head.

"Honda-san either?"

"Why must you bring her up?"

"Because Kureno's a member of the zodiac, too."

"... Do I have to let all of the juunishi meet her?"

"Well, no, but it feels unnatural for you not to." he said casually

"Keh! Un-natural? Unnatural, you say? Hmm? Ah ha ha! Oh, Hatsuharu... Hatsuharu, you always say funny things. Heh heh... Ha..."

Hatsuharu remained silent. I bet he's just wanting to turn black. How wonderful that would be, to see Samantha's horrified reaction when Hatsuharu goes violent. Heh heh! That would break her cheerfulness! "Is there anything else? Anything, you know, unnatural that you'd like to... Keh heh heh..."

"No." he said bluntly. I leaned my head against his knee to look up at him. "And I'd like it if you wouldn't laugh like that."

"...But it's funny Hatsuharu... Just like you. The big, dumb, funny ox. Oh...?" I reached my hand up to caress his face "Why so glum? Did I hurt your feelings?" Like he has feelings. Psht, he shows no emotions.

"You shouldn't call people dumb Akito." piped up Samantha. She stopped sketching for a minute. "How would you like it if you were called dumb? You would feel pretty bad wouldn't you?"

"Heh. Well Hatsuharu is the cow." I chuckled

"Yet the cow happens to be a sacred symbol in many countries. Take Ancient Greece for example..." she pointed with her pencil "Cows are a sacred animal to the god Apollo. And if he were real and heard you right now, you'd be toast. And I literally mean toast because he's the sun god. ...Then again, he might torcher you with really bad haikus." She knit her eyebrows together and continued sketching.

I shook my head. "You can all leave now." I said to Hatsuharu. Samantha looked up with big eyes. *sigh* "Fine. You too." I muttered

She smiled as she closed her book and jumped up. Hatsuharu waited for her at the door. Yet, unexpectedly she gave me a hug that almost knocked me over.

"See you tomorrow, Akito!" I shoved her off me and she skipped over to Hatsuharu.

"Let's go get the others!"

...

Ugh! This has been a long day... ... Should I let Kureno meet Tohru Honda-san..? ... ...heh. ...maybe I should...

~~~At the beach~~~Tohru's POV~~~

"Hey. What... is that?" asked Kyo-kun looking up. Kyo-kun and I went to the beach to play in the sand, since he doesn't like water. We are having so much fun!

"It's a sand castle! It's still in progress though."

"Looks more like a sand mountain to me." he stated looking at the pile of sand sitting in front of me.

"H-huh?! R-really?!" I panicked.

"It's just, the one I saw on TV looked more like a, you know, like a castle." he explained "Not that I should talk. I've never actually made one before."

"This is your first time?! Th-that means I'm your senpai, doesn't it?!" This is so exciting!

"... Senpai, you really suck at this." Kyo-kun stated

"TOHRU!" *jump hug* *POOF!* "I'm back! I'm back! I'm back!" shouted Momiji-kun giddily

"Y-y-you startled me…" I said shakily as a little blond bunny nuzzled my cheek

"Momiji!" shouted Kyo-kun "Why, you little…!"

"W-welcome back!" I hugged Momiji-kun

"I'm back!" he giggled

"We're back Onee-chan…!" called Kisa-san running over to give me a hug.

"What's this? Aren't you two a little old to be playing kids' games?" judged Hiro-san following Kisa at a slower pace.

"I wanna play too!" called Samantha-chan skipping over from walking with Hatsuharu-kun and Yuki-kun. Yuki-kun… He's talking with Hatsuharu-kun… *Poof!*

"Ah!" That surprised me!

"Put on some clothes!" shouted Kyo-kun as Momiji-kun ran off to change.

"Tohru, is this your sand castle?" asked Samantha-chan looking at the pile of sand.

"Yes!" I replied happily

"May I make a tower for it?" she asked

"Sure!" I smiled.

"Ha ha ha!" Hmm…? That sounds like Yuki-kun's laughing. I turned to see it was him. I wonder what they're talking about?

"Hatsuharu! Come play with us!" called Samantha-chan. I passed Hatsuharu-kun to talk to Yuki-kun.

"Ah… Um… Welcome back!"

"Hello, Honda-san." He greeted me with his princely smile "Have you been playing here this whole time?"

"Y-yes! Kyo-kun and I were making a sand castle."

He looked over to the beach "A sand castle… I see. I was sure it was a sand mountain."

"AAAHH! D-does it really look that way to you, too, Yuki-kun?!" I panicked. Is it really that bad?!

"… I'm sorry about yesterday…" said Yuki-kun calmly as he looked into the distance. "You're probably worried about that, aren't you?"

"Ah…"

"I knew the things I was saying must have sounded quite strange, but I just kept talking. I'm sorry. But… I won't apologize for kissing you…" He turned to me and gave me a mischievous smile. "…Because I don't think I did anything wrong. But if you prefer, I don't mind, if you forget it."

I blushed "But… But… I couldn't possibly forget! I admit that I didn't understand everything you were saying… But I'm sure that it was very important to you… wasn't it, Yuki-kun? You told me something very important, didn't you?" But it's so small. The voice is so small. So small… I can't hear it. No matter how hard I listen… I can't hear it. His True Voice…

"..." Yuki gave me another princely smile. "There's a right time and a wrong time to tell the whole truth, wouldn't you say?" He lightly took my hair in his hands, making me blush. He whispered "That's why… someday… Okay?"

He told me that before too. While he had a fever this week… "I think there's something I should tell you… someday."

Yuki-kun moved one arm to my back and the other to hold my hand. "For now, All I can tell you is that I'm doing well. So, don't worry about me."

"YES! I-I-I understand!"

Yuki-kun grinned "Yeah."

"Tohru! Yuki!" Momiji-kun waved us over. Only Yuki-kun left because now I'm shaking with stress. I… I think he was teasing me! Somehow, It seems like he's suddenly gotten tougher. ...Breathe in …breathe out… I walked over to Momiji-kun and Kisa-san.

"It's a dumpling! Did I do a good job?" asked Momij-kun happily showing Yuki-kun a ball of sand.

"Yes, you did."

"Yuki, let's go back soon." said Hatsuharu-kun "I'm hungry." Right, I need to make dinner. Hmm…

"Tohru! Do you like the tower Kisa and I made?" called Samantha-chan beckoning me to come over.

"That's amazing! How did you make stairs?!" …

~meanwhile~ "Yeah, okay." Answered Yuki. … Suddenly, with a stern face, he grabbed Kyo's shirt collar. "You… If you happen to see Akito, don't get stupid and lose it." Kyo glared at him. "I realize it must be painful to always be scorned the way you are, but I can't have you doing anything to send Akito's sparks flying at her."

"Wh-Why do I have to hear that from you?!" shouted Kyo pulling himself out of Yuki's grip. …! What's going on? "Don't talk down to me! Who the hell do you think you are?!"

Yuki-kun stepped back. A shadow covered his eyes dramatically, "I'm me."

…

*twitch* "I… I'LL KILL YOU!" yelled Kyo-kun balling his fists.

"Ah! Um, uh!" I panicked. This isn't good!

"Yuki, you're so cool." Said Hatsuharu-kun nonchalantly

"He sure as hell is NOT cool!" shouted Kyo-kun "Not in the least!" Yuki-kun looked away with a disgusted look.

"Um!" I panicked running in between the two of them. The small voice is still far away, but… I know I'll hear his voice… someday.

Sorry for changing POVs so much. There is no consistent character right now. L Yeah, you won't be seeing from Samantha's POV for a bit. There are just so many things that help move this story along… But don't worry! We'll see more of her side soon enough. ^_^