Author's Note: Okay guys, I just wanted to start of by saying-
Kitsune: No, admin. Stop right there.
What?
Kitsune: You wait a month and a half before updating another chapter and all you have to say is sorry? No, you are going to update one chapter today and try and do two tomorrow. This story is almost over and we can't wait two months for another chapter.
Kitsune, I-
Kitsune: Here's the next chapter everyone. Thanks for reading my story.

At work I usually kept my hair tied back, but because it was shorter I couldn't put it in a ponytail without feeling awkward. The bookstore, where I worked, was oddly packed for a Monday afternoon. All I had to do was smile and tell people what new books we had. It was so boring. My boss, a young man in his early twenties who gained ownership of the bookstore after his father died, kept a close eye on me. I usually heard what he said to the other employees about me. That I was a weak, stupid girl with no real talent. That's why he gave me an easy job.
Around closing time two young men walked in. The were much taller than me (though it wasn't hard to be when I was so short) and had short, unkempt hair. My gaze slid down to the new romance novel and I bent down to put back on the rack. One of the men sneered. I looked up at him.
"Um, we're going to be closing soon." I said quietly and awkwardly. The taller of the two walked up to me and placed his hand on the bookshelf behind me. His arm was right above my head. He bent down so his face was inches away from mine.
"Is that so." He laughed. "Do I look like the kind of guy who reads? My friend and I were bored, but then we saw you through the window. How about you help kill our boredom?"
"I have to go home." I said. I ducked under his arm, though I didn't really need to, and started to walk away. He grabbed my arm.
"It was a rhetorical question sweetheart." He said. He wrapped his arms around me squeezing tightly. A young man with short brown hair and round glasses walked out from one of the aisles. My boss.
"Hey, what's going on here. Let go of her and get out of my bookstore. Now!" He bellowed. The two men slouched away.
"Whatever. It's not like I wanted to do anything to that unattractive twig anyways. Come on Hikori, let get out of here." The man said. They turned and left. My boss turned to me.
"What the hell happened?" He asked. His voice was angry but his eyes were sentimental.
"I-I don't know. I just told them that we were closing soon and-" I started. He sighed.
"Whatever Kitsune. If you can't even defend yourself, then it's obvious that you need an easier job secluded from people. From now on just stock the book shelves and just stay away from everyone else." He said. My shoulders slumped. He stared at my eyes. I knew that he could sense the disappointment in them. He pat my head. "Just go home and get some rest."
I didn't look at him. I just walked out of the store.

It was dark by the time I got home. Hitori was sat in his usual chair reading. After I took off my shoes I tried to duck past him. He stoped me.
"You got home late." He said nonchalantly. I kept looking down.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I got in trouble, at the bookstore." I replied. I told him what happened, though he didn't ask. He just looked at me. I changed the subject. "Do you know Kazuma?"
"Yes, he teaches Kyo and the other Sohma members martial arts. Why? Do you want him to teach you?" I nodded my head. He sighed. "Is it because you think you're weak?"
"Can you write down the directions for me?" He sighed and nodded his head. "Put in on the coffee table. I'll get it in the morning. Goodnight." I ran off towards my room.

After school I cautiously walked towards the dojo. I wasn't quite sure how Kazuma was going to react. I took off my shoes and walked in. expecting to see Kazuma there I instead saw Kyo. He sat against the wall. One leg stretxhed out and the other bent.
"Is Kazuma here?" I asked.
"Yeah, that's why I'm sitting hereon the floor. No he's not here dummy." He replied sarcastically. "Why are you here?"
"Oh you know, to stop and smell the roses." He glared at me. "I was hoping that he'd teach me."
Kyo gave a light laugh. I stared at him. "It's not funny."
"What's not funny?" A voice behind me asked. I turned around. It was Kazuma. I bowed.
"Nothing." Kyo replied.
"And you are?" He asked looking at me.
"Kitsune Sohma. I was wondering if you'd teach me Kazuma-sensei." I said looking down. He laughed and pat my head.
"Sure, why not. You can train with Kyo if you want." I nodded my head smiled warmly at him.
"Good luck." Was all that Kyo said to me.

At school the next day it felt like everyone was staring at me. A few girls would laugh at me as I walked pass them. After class a few of them had stopped me in the desolate stairwell. One of them had their hands behind their back. The shortest of the four walked towards me.
"So Kitsune. We see you got your haircut." She said while smiling.
"Yes and?" I looked at them curiously. They all laughed.
"We were just talking about how much it fit your...boyish figure." She laughed. I knew this girl. Her name was Yukina.
"Excuse me?" I huffed.
"I just mean you hardly had anything 'there' and you don't really have any curves." She replied. I clenched my fists. "No guy that I know would ever date someone who looks more manly then they do."
"Well, then you must not know a lot of guys." I replied trying to calm down. She ignored me and continued.
"But don't you all think that her hair needs to match her boyish complextion? It needs to be shorter." Yukina smiled. The girl who had her hands behind her back pulled out a pair of scissors.
"Don't come near me." I growled. They didn't listen though. When Yukina reached out to hold me back I punched her in the jaw. She touched her jaw and then yelled. She puched me a few times in the face and then kicked me in my shin. I tried punching her back, but the other girls held me back. Yukina punched me one last time before letting the girl with scissors cut a chunk of my hair out. I fought my way out of their grip and ran down the stairs.
I ran home, though there were still a few hours left of class. I face hurt and I knew my hair was uneven, but I wasn't going to cry. Not yet. I ran past a few adults in the street and accidentally bumped into a few of them. One man standing in the middle of the sidewalk accidentally knocked me over. He was looking at a few books in front of my work. I stood up.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I said while bowing. I choked back tears. My boss walked out.
"Kitsune what happened? Why aren't you in school?" He asked. He looked at my face. "Who did this to you? Come on, I'll get you cleaned up."
He grabbed my arm. He started to pull me when I shook free of his grip. I continued on home.
When I walked through the door Hatori was in his office. I tried to close the door as quietly as I could, but he still heard me. "Hello?"
I didn't reply. He walked out of his office. My throat was tight.
"Why are you home? What happed to your face? What happed to your hair?" He asked. He walked closer, but I pulled away.
"Hatori, I just want to be alone." I said trying to keep myself from crying. I walked away from him. I went into my room. I looked at myself in the mirror. My jaw was bleeding and my hair was shorter on one side. I bit my lip. I looked through my drawers until I found a pair of scissors. I cut my hair until it was even.
When I finished I stared at my reflection. I really did look like a guy. The tears poured out of my eyes. I stood up and walked over to my. I callapsed onto it and curled up into a ball. My crying grew louder.