This one is shorter, but it took me a while to write. I had a bit of a writer's block. :P I think it's a sweet chapter, though.

Yuki: Don't worry about it miss author. Take your time and do your best.

SnowyNeko: Thanks Yuki! You're sweeter than this chapter is!

Yuki: M-miss author...!

SnowyNeko: Really, you are! Although Kyo is more adorable! No offense Yuki.

Kyo: WHO ARE YOU CALLING ADORABLE!?

Yuki: None taken.

SnowyNeko: I love ya and all, Yuki, but I'm a Kyo fan for life!

Hatori: Excuse me, I've come to pick up Yuki. He didn't come to his check up yesterday.

SnowyNeko: Again? Oh well. As long as your here Hatori, would you mind saying the line?

Hatori: Miss author does not own Fruba or any of its characters. Yuki, if you'd come with me...

The next week rushes by in a blur. The entire school is taking part in preparing for the dance. Stone wallpaper is plastered up in the gym, and the plan is to set up two life-sized, symmetrical fountains. To my delight, one will be punch while the other will be chocolate. It's likely fake knight suits are being set up as I speak. If you can't tell already, one of the other classes voted to make it medieval themed.

At home, there's never any peace. Kyo is constantly picking a fight with Yuki, so Tohru and I have our hands full with repairing the house. This experience has definitely upgraded my skills with fixing and cleaning a household.

The last fistfight ended with a broken door, the table on its side, and blood stains on the carpet. Kyo came away from it with a black eye and a bleeding mouth. Yuki, as always, walked away unharmed. The orange cat had disappeared for the rest of the day, his pride not allowing us to see him in defeat.

During those few precious moments when Yuki and Kyo are separated, Shigure's whining, crying, overdramatic editor makes up for the absence of the catfights. Shigure is great and all, but would it really be so difficult for him to meet his deadline? The racket his editor causes does make it somewhat tough to feel sorry for her, though. This has got to be one of the noisiest animes in existence. I can only imagine the personalities of the Sohmas I haven't met yet.

"It just occurred to me you don't have anything to wear for this, do you?"

I glance down at Yuki from my place on the ladder. I was assigned the job of hanging the lights, which are appropriately caged in metal bars for the theme. You'd think it'd be troubling for me to do this with a handicap like mine, but as long as someone (preferably Yuki) keeps the ladder steady, I'm fine.

I sit atop one of the top rings. "I suppose I don't, but it's not like I have any money." I frown. "And I don't want any of you to go out and buy something for me, either."

He gives me his ever-charming smile and says, "Don't worry about us, miss Carter. I'll figure something out for you."

"Well, you'd better do it quickly, then," I tell him, hopping from the ladder. Taking into consideration what happened last time I did something like this, I aim to land beside him instead of on top. I successfully land on my feet, but stumble forward a few steps before he reaches out to steady me.

His delicate white hand catches mine and my lunge forward come to a sudden halt. A gasp catches in my throat. His fingers wrap around my wrist gently, but firmly to hold me up. The coldness of his skin sends shivers up my arm as I slowly reclaim my proper balance.

"T-thanks," I force out, avoiding looking at him. The goose bumps on my arm refuse to go away.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" He loosens his grip but I grab his hand back before we can break contact. I whip my head to look at him, grinning widely.

"The order of punch should be arriving soon." I begin to lead him out of the gym. "Whatever teacher signs for it will need some help bringing it inside."

As we travel down the halls, I can feel the stares of Yuki's jealous fans boring multiple holes in my back. When we round the corner, I knock into someone and stagger backwards.

"Sorry!" I apologize quickly, about to continue past when I glimpse the stranger's face. Neat black hair frames eyes that hold more ice than an Alaskan winter. His body seems thin and sickly, but confidence oozes out of his every pore.

"You should watch where you're going, Vierra," he scolds me in an unnervingly cool voice. Yuki's hands tighten around mine and the revelation hits me that, this guy in front of me, without a doubt is the villain of this anime.

Normally, the antagonists of this sort of genre are simply rival love interests, who can sometimes get obsessive. If that were the case here, I don't think I'd be so edgy.

His cold eyes lock on the boy behind me, an unsettling smirk forming on his face. "This is the second one, Yuki. Are you sure you're still to be trusted?"

The grip the prince has on my hand is strong enough to be considered a death grip and nothing else. I've seen how strong Yuki is, able to kick Kyo across the yard without a second thought, so what about this person makes him so scared?

"Perhaps it's time for you to return to the main house, for you to be our white rat again."

I glance down at our clasped hands, amazed to find his shaking violently. I squeeze it reassuringly before meeting the stranger's gaze head on.

"Thank you for the offer," I tell him with an undertone of sarcasm, "but I think Yuki is just fine living in his current house." I have to resist the urge to ask him how he knew my name when I've never seen him before. I doubt he'd give me a straight answer anyway. I yank Yuki into motion as I shove rudely past the dark haired teen. "Now if you'll excuse us, we have something we need to be doing other than chatting with the likes of you. Have a nice day."

Yuki doesn't relax, even when the other boy is out of sight. I hear a soft bang and the firm hand in mine vanishes. I whirl around to find a rat, curled over on top of a pile of clothes.

Acting quickly, I scoop him up and cradle him comfortably in the nook of my sling. I gather up his clothes and rush outside to a secluded area. I lean up against the wall and drop Yuki's now carefully folded uniform at my feet.

Holding Yuki out in front of me, I notice just how terrified he actually is. Shigure told me they transform when they're over stressed. Does that guy really have such an effect on Yuki?

"It's okay," I whisper, clutching him gently in my hand. "It's okay, he's gone. There's no reason to be afraid." His eyes crack open to reveal those beautiful violet orbs of his. Even as a rat, his iris color is gorgeous. I smile at him. "You're safe."

Slowly, he closes his eyes and snuggles into my hand. "Your skin… it's warm…"

A thought crosses my mind and my eyes widen. "That's great and all, but don't you dare fall asleep on me! If you transform back, I wont be dressing you, you know?

He looks up at me, more tranquil than before. "Don't worry, miss Carter," he says, slight amusement toning his voice. "I would never do anything do indecent. I'm alright now, you can let me down." I crouch to set him on the ground.

For a moment, we just stare at each other. Then he asks, "Are you not going to ask who that was?"

"Of course not. You can tell me when and if you choose to."

More silence.

"You're a unique girl, Vierra Carter."

"Really?" I blink. "I never thought I was that odd."

The puff of makes me throw my hand over my eyes. Beyond the blackness of my hand, I can hear him laugh aloud and almost gasp.

I've heard myths a fairy's laugh is rarely heard, but its sound is more beautiful than any an instrument could produce. If fairies existed, this boy before me would undoubtedly be one.

His silken hand removes mine from my face once he's fully clothed. "I meant that in a good way." Not releasing my hand, he helps me up. "Shall we go see if the teacher still needs our help?" By the time we reach the front gate, there are already students carrying the crates of punch mix.

Finished with the rest of our work for the day, we head home, neither one of us acknowledging aloud that our hands remain intertwined.

Yay! The appearance of the elusive Akito Sohma! I actually put him in on impulse. I was planning on putting in Ayame, but obviously that didn't happen. Maybe later.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!