Natsuki grinned as she headed towards the park. While they hadn't actually started dating her and Haru had been spending a lot of time together. Right after he returned from his family's beach trip they had went on another date. They met up almost every other day for some kind of small date. He joked about them dating but they both knew neither was really dating they were just spending a lot of time together. None of them seemed serious about it, but Natsuki was starting to think… maybe…

That thought always made her think of Yukio though. She was scared that if he found out he would do something to Haru… or worse he would forbid her from ever seeing him or any of the Sohmas again… Which would then relate back to everyone else in her family. That was the biggest fear; she didn't want everyone else to lose their connection to the Sohma's. She knew the Sohma's seemed to bring happiness to everyone… well besides Kami. She was still acting strangely around them all. No one was sure what the cause was but whatever it was Natsuki was sure it had something to do with either the Sohma's or Yukio.

"Ugh! Where is that guy?!" Natsuki looked around. Her and Haru had agreed to meet up here so they could go bowling. She was excited but he was already late by two minutes. "If that guy got lost again I'm going to make him suffer!" She crossed her arms and started pacing. This wasn't the first time he was late but it was the first time he was late after her buffer zone. She knew he always had a chance of getting lost and being late so she always gave him a buffer zone of half an hour. It was the best way to make sure they were never late because of him getting lost. "UGH!" She growled angrily. "When I see that idiot-!"

"Hey." She spun to see Haru walking up. His hands in his pocket.

"YOU'RE LATE!" She frowned. "What do you have to say for yourself?!"

"I have to cancel." He said calmly.

"Huh?" She stopped and stared at him. "What?"

"I've got to go." He looked at her calmly. "I have to cancel our dates…. It's over between us."

"Over!" Natsuki glared at him. "We aren't even dating!" She glared at him.

"I owed you an explanation…. I'm getting back together with my ex." He looked at her calmly. "I-."

"Good for you!" Natsuki said darkly. "Then I'll see you later!" She started walking. "Take care Hatsuharu!"

"HEY!" Haru was next to her quicker than she could start running. "I-."

"Listen Hatsuharu if you want to date your ex then okay." She frowned. "But don't talk to me so calmly." She glared at him. "Go off and go take your girlfriend bowling! I'm going home and am going to take my anger out on Shouta."

"Listen Natsuki it's complicated!" He frowned.

"I don't care." Natsuki sighed. "You don't owe me anything… We weren't dating." She looked away. Her anger was starting to give way to sadness. She had really seen her and Haru going somewhere.

"She broke up with me because she was trying to protect me…. It's complicated. I do like you, you're a good friend…. I-."

"Take care." Natsuki started running away from him. She didn't want to talk to him anymore. Tears ran down cheeks as she sprinted she felt betrayed. She knew they hadn't been officially dating but she still felt angry at him. How could he be like that.

Haru stood there in the park and frowned. He had mixed feelings. He had kissed Rin. He didn't feel like he could be with her when he still cared about Rin… But at the same time he had begun to care about Natsuki and he had really found himself enjoying her company. When he had kissed Rin he had just been thinking of the past but the moment the kiss was over Natsuki had come to mind. He hadn't realized how strong she was in his thoughts. He had really just thought she was something to keep him entertained. She was funny, she was fun, and she was amazing. He had really come to start feeling that way. But he also knew that Rin was lying about her feelings.

He felt like he should go back to her once she came back to her. She would once whatever was bugging her was solved…. But he still kept thinking of Natsuki. He only hoped that his thoughts and feelings for Natsuki would go away by then.

Shouta hummed as he walked home listening to his music. He really was tired of school but he knew he needed to go to school. He was going to be the first… He was going to be the first in his family to get away. He was going to get his education and then get away from his family's home. He wasn't going to live under Yukio's tyrannical rule anymore. He would do his best on his own to deal with his curse… but he couldn't live with Yukio anymore. He would go to anger management classes if he had to… but he wasn't going to stay there anymore. He found himself thinking of taking his cousins, at least the ones who wanted to, with him. He was sure at least Natsuki would want to come. She hated Yukio even more than he did. She had to pretend she didn't always hate him but she did. He knew because he was in the same boat.

Shouta yawned but gasped as he slammed into a woman. "Sorry." The woman had long black hair and looked at him, looking a little shocked. "Sorry miss."

"….No problem…" She shifted. "I was distracted."

Shouta paused as he noticed that he had spilt her hot chocolate all down her dress. "Oh! Sorry." He looked at her. "Let me at least re buy you a hot chocolate."

"You don't need to." She frowned.

"Yes." Shouta smiled. "Let me treat you. Here." He looked around and noticed a nearby shop. "Let me buy you a new dress to replace that one too." He smiled. "My dad taught me to always be kind to woman and if you do anything to fix it." He held out his hand. "My lady let me follow my father's advice."

She stared at him for a moment but nodded and followed him. He smiled as he headed towards the woman's area. "By the way my name is Shouta Kibaru."

"…You can call me Rin."

"Nice to meet you Rin." Shouta watched as she scanned through the clothing rack in search of something her size. Shouta watched her calmly. She looked at the clothes and frowned. "That black dress you just passed would look good on you."

She glanced over at him. "What do you mean?"

"It would look good on you. The design there will bring out the color in your eyes." He smiled. "Plus it just looks like it would fit you."

She looked at him and smiled. "Thanks… I'll try it on." She headed towards the changing room. Shouta leaned back and smiled. "This seemed like a good way to spend the rest of his afternoon. It would be better than doing homework that was for sure.

"Well?" Shouta looked over as Rin came out wearing the dress.

"Just like I thought." He smiled. "It fits you." She looked away.

"Thanks..."

Shouta smiled and then paid. "Now let me get that hot chocolate for you."

"... You don't have to... I only bought it because I wanted something warm to drink... I'm good now."

"I need to replace the one I split... Plus I kinda want some now myself." He laughed. "Come on. I'd feel bad if I didn't."

"Fine." She sighed. After buying her some he sat down and invited her to ask well. She folded her ruined dress up and sat it on the chair next to her.

"So.." Shouta said after a moment. "What is bugging you?"

She paused and looked at him. "What?"

"Something is bugging you right?" He took another sip of his hot chocolate. "I could tell from the moment I first saw you."

She looked down. "It's none of your business."

"It helps to talk to someone about your problems." He looked at her calmly. "Feel free to tell me."

She sighed. "It's... My family... Our head is... I hate him."

Shouta nodded. "I know that feeling."

She looked at him in shock. "Really?"

"Yeah I hate the guy... But I mean he is our family head... How can I get away from him..." He sighed.

"I know... Our head is cruel and hurts those who go against even the smallest thing he said." She frowned angrily. "Because of him..." She trailed off. "I..."

"I'm planning on running away from our head when I have enough money and am done with school."

"... I wish... I wish I could.." She looked down. "Tell me something... Do you believe in curses?"

Shouta paused and turned silent trying to decide how to answer. "Yeah... I believe in curses."

"It was a curse to be born into my family." She frowned. "I... I wish I could break this curse."

Shouta smiled gently. "Breaking curses is hard." Before she could say anything his phone went off. "Do you mind?"

"It's fine."

Shouta answered. "Hey Miyako what do you need?"

"Have you heard from Natsuki?"

"No."

"Oh... I was planning on going over to Kyo's place... But I didn't want to go alone."

"I'm sure the Sohma's will be fine if you show up alone. Or trying calling Yin, she's over there all the time now so I'm sure she'll go with you."

"I would call Kami but..."

"Yeah I would leave her alone right now... But maybe it would cheer her up..."

"Thanks Shouta... Would you be willing to come with me?"

"I don't really know those guys, you'll be fine. Go ahead." He sighed shaking his head. "Just go."

"O... Okay..." He hung up and shake his head. "Sorry Rin that was my cousin."

"Do you know the Sohmas?" Rin asked.

"Kind of. My cousins know them better. Do you know them?"

"Yeah... Which ones do you know."

"Let me remember... There was the one guy kyo, yuki... Oh um... It started with an s... And that one annoying split personality guy."

"Haru... Hatsuharu... They are my cousins..."

Shouta paused. He stared at her slowly. "So when you talked about curses... You were referring to the zodiac?"

Rin froze. "You!"

"Yeah I know." He smiled. "Because I am cursed too."

She stared at him. "Your curses?"

"Yeah... Our families are very similar." He chuckled. "Only difference is my families curse is based on our emotions."

"I see..."

"I turn into a wolf, what about you?"

"A horse."

"Nice." He smiled. "I'm curious on which of us would be faster in a race." To his surprise she started laughing. "Huh?"

"Sorry..." She covered her mouth. "You just reminded me of someone." She smiled gently. "You are really something."

"Hey I understand about your head being a jerk but you need to keep your head up... Try laughing more." He stood up. "It was nice meeting you Rin, but I'd better head home and get some homework done." He sighed. "Stupid homework."

He waved his hand as he walked away.

Natsuki stormed towards Kami's house. She felt her anger growing more. She needed to talk to Kami and get her opinion on Haru. She was about to storm into the house when she spotted Yukio through the window. There was no way she wanted to see him, nor could she talk openly in front of him.

She turned around trying to decide where to go. She spotted Isamu and Miyako walking together. She made a zig zag towards them. "Miyako!"

She looked over. "Hey Natsuki. What's up?"

"I need to talk to you…. Isamu I'll see you around." She dragged Miyako towards a near by bench. Natsuki would be able to tell if anyone was coming around. "I'm sorry… but I need to talk to someone."

"Have you been crying?" Miyako asked. "You should talk to Kami she-."

"I can't right now… Yukio is over there… But… I needed to talk to someone!" She sighed and looked at her hands. "Haru and I… we've been spending a lot of time together… I… I really thought that maybe… maybe something good would happen… But today… he in essence broke up with me." She groaned. "We weren't even dating!"

"I see… Kami would be better at this…" Miyako looked down. "I'm sorry…"

Natsuki sighed. "Sorry… I just… needed to talk to someone."

Miyako looked down. "I know what you mean… I… I have a guy I really like… but I think he likes someone else."

"Kyo right?"

Miyako blushed. "What?!"

"I've seen the way you look at him." Natsuki smiled. "I really don't see what you see in that cat though."

"Its… its hard to explain… I took Isamu with me over there and introduced him to the others.. I.. I wanted his opinion on Kyo… but he got too distracted by Tohru." She sighed. "I needed a girl I guess."

Natsuki smiled. "I think guys are just idiots…." She sighed. "I wish Kami was normal… She could help us."

"I think it has something to do with Yukio."

"Her own guy troubles." Natsuki sighed. ".. So you said Isamu seemed interested in Tohru?"

Miayko smiled and the two began to talk about everything besides their guy issues. They felt better that way. But Natsuki still felt bad about Haru and he was still in the back of her mind…. He was still occupying her thoughts.