A/N: Sorry for not updating for a month, I've had computer problems, studying for a certification exam, signing up for fall classes, and just taking a break on the personality forums. Forgive me, this chapter might be long though, I hope it won't bore you. Please read and review! Thanks!

-x-

It was one of those days where Mom and Dad had those fights about me. It wasn't those fights where one parent defended their kid from the other. No, it was one of those fights where the parents blamed each other for the creation of the child. I was now on my way to the Sohma Estate, my mom told me to go there, not for my protection, but for theirs. It was the sad truth that I had to get over.

I dreaded arriving there, just being in the same room as Akito and the other cursed zodiacs made my skin crawl. I stopped before the gate to the Estate and hesitated a bit before raising my fist to knock. But before I could, a child-like voice appeared out of nowhere. I jumped back in alarm and swished my head from side to side, hoping to catch whoever made that sound, but no one was beside me or in the back of me. Due to my weird and jerky movements, a boysish giggle was heard and then a voice,

"Up here, cat."

I looked up to see a blond-haired kid who looked like he was five sitting on a branch of a tree just on the other side of the gate. If I remembered back to the first meeting, he was the rabbit zodiac.

"Did Akito get the message about my arrival already?" I shifted my eyes away from the brown-eyed blonde.

"Yeah," I heard the boy grunt after leaping from the branch and appeared in front of me at the gate, "he said for me to invite you in. Oh, just a warning, he doesn't want you to greet him. He said something about not wanting the dirty curse rubbing off on him."

I gritted my teeth at the words, "If he said that, then why are you here greeting me? I'm sure you don't want the curse to rub off on you too."

"True, but I have to endure it because Akito commands me so."

"Then scram," I said walking past the usagi.

"But do you even know your way to Hatsuharu's room? You're going to be roomed there," the usagi said and I stopped in my tracks.

"Excuse me?" I turned around to look at the blonde. Was he saying that I had to room with the bipolar Ox who made it known on the first day that I disgust him?

"You're going to stay in Haru's room while your parents have calmed down," he repeated.

"Did he consent to this?" I wondered.

"Who?" the blonde cocked his head to the side and then lit up, "Oh! You mean Haru? Oh . . . yeah he knows. He's preparing his room to make space for you right now."

I followed the usagi inside the house albiet reluctantly. We turned many corners, passed many rooms before we stopped.

"Here we are," the boy spoke with a smile and slid open the shoji doors and excusing himself inside. I stood out in the hall, taking everything in, from the situation at home and from the unusual agreement from the Sohma head. I looked up when I heard the soft patter of footsteps on wood and saw Akito not far from where I stood with his right-hand man. He took a glance at me, a sneer etched on his face and turned to the man beside him and said something before leaving. The man however, walked toward me and stopped,

"Dinner will be ready soon. Get the daily schedule from Hatsuharu. Don't be late."

"Got it," I said just as an irritated voice from inside the room beckoned me in.

"Be nice to the kitty," the usagi giggled before leaving me alone with the Ox.

"Your bed is there," the Ox pointed to the corner of the room where what looked like a cat bed was place. It was much too cramped there with the bookcase on one side and the door on the other. But that was not the reason why I was getting angry.

"What are you trying to say?" I growled.

"Look," Haru sighed, "none of us wanted you to come here and stink up the place. We were afraid that if you were outside, you would risk our exposure. So you either get the little hospitality we give you or you can sleep out in the cold hallway. Your call, cat."

I glared at the deadpan look on the Ox's face and turned my back to him and spoke shakily,

"You can all take back the hospitality that you willingly gave to me because you didn't trust me. There's just no way that I can sleep here when I'm being treated like this!"

I left the Estate and thankfully, no one followed after me.

-x-

It was minutes later, that I was walking halfway home when Mother Nature decided to drop in on me. Everyone knew of my condition when a storm was brewing. All my energy was zapped from me.

"A spare futon would've been it, they only took me in to mock me and humiliate me," I grumbled in the rain. When I finally reached my house, I was soaked to the bone. The lights to the house were off and I continued to press the doorbell, hoping that one of my parents would take the time to get up and let me inside. Countless presses later, I felt my eyes closed from exhaustion.

I didn't know how long I was unconscious because when I came to, I was in a slightly familiar room.

"Why am I here?" I whispered to myself, not expecting someone to respond to my question.

"You fainted."

I was slightly shocked even though I already knew that the Ox would be there considering it was his room that I was taking refuge in.

"Did you follow me?" I asked. The cow only looked at me,

"I did."

"Why?" I said.

"Because . . ." the Ox hesitated, "We knew that you parents wouldn't be there."

"What do you mean you knew? Why wouldn't they be there?"

"Your mom . . . is dead. Your dad, he went back to his hometown. The house is being sold. That's why you're here now," Haru said.

"That's not possible . . ."

"I'm sorry."

The apology was out of the blue and it sparked some anger within me, "Why are you sorry? For the cursed cat? Is this some prank by Akito's orders?"

The Ox stood up from where he sat and crossed the space to where I sat on his bed and looked down at me,

"Is it so hard to believe that maybe what I'm feeling about your situation isn't being controlled by Akito? We are all entitled to our own opinions and feelings. Right now, I'm disregarding the fact that you're the cursed cat and see you as just another person."

"I don't need your pity words!" I found myself tearing at the fact that both of my parents had left me to fend for myself. Even though I hated their looks and actions towards me, deep down they were still the ones who raised me.

I was too busy wallowing in my sorow, that I failed to realize that Haru was now wiping my tears away with his thumb. It wasn't until a kiss was placed upon my eyelid that I realized how close our bodies were.

"Wh-What was that for, you-you perverted cow!" I stuttered, scrambling back up against the headboard.

"I was doing what a mother would've done to her child if they were crying. I thought maybe it'll comfort you somehow. Look, why don't you get some more rest and I'll come back with porridge . . ." When he turned to leave, my hand reached out to grab at the back of his shirt. I didn't know what prompt me to make him stay, it surprised me.

"S-Sorry . . ." I said and let go of his shirt.

"I'll hurry back," Haru said and left the room. I laid back against the pillows and pulled the covers up to my chin, blush decorated my cheeks knowing full well that I was beginning to see the Ox as being a mother figure in my life.