*~*~*~*~*Fruits Basket*~*~*~*~* (IT BEGINS!!!!)

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

Ye gods. I am lost. Very lost. I mean. As I understand there are four groups here:
[Sohma Residence 1. Making dinner] Amaya, Saburo, Kaze (unconscious and therefore not making dinner, but in the same general vicinity), Junichi, Shujouteki
[Sohma Residence 2. 'Detective work'] Mayumi, Zenshi, Yazaki, Mariko, Joushiro
[Rufus's House. ???] Rufus, Kaoru (???)
[Walking home from grocery store] Mizuki, An Kang Mei
Corrections to this list are welcomed to aid my failing brain... oh, and I should post soon.. I think. I *better*. ARGH HERE I OFFER DRABBLEPOST that absolutely no one barring Kirstinius *cough*Young!Rufus*cough* is likely to read.

@Bulba-senpai: ... YI?! xD
@Wurzel: Look in PM inbox for full senseless chat/gripe/question x) ..oh, and I had an unlawfully good time writing our version of the Madubachi-trio. I apologize if you hadn't intended Rufus to be one of the 'higher-ranking' Sohmas.
@Vulps if reading: If your Cat is female we can pretend she has a male nickname! x) Um... I hope.
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Sohma Saburo
Rabbit, Male, Lawyer, Cruisin'
"How to have a completely ineffectual and space-filling flashback", or, "Indulgence in Theory"
----------------------------

Saburo imagines there was a time when he first felt wanted. It was not a long time. It was fourteen days six hours twenty-nine minutes and forty seconds and each second counted out by the preciseness of his fastidious soul. Saburo was seventeen and he had never met any of the young masters of the mansion, not face to face; sometimes he bowed low and saw imperious-looking feet clad in tabi socks of the finest cotton.

This young master had not been imperious at all. In fact Saburo had made the appalling transgression (to Saburo, not the young master in question) of imagining that the amiable red-haired rake before him was an errand-boy from the printer's bringing some important manuscript to the head of the house. The deception was aided further in that the youthful Rufus Valerius Sohma was holding a stack of paper covered in a messy and not inelegant handwriting. As he was later to learn, that had been a draft for a novel Rufus had been writing: his first and only novel.

Dressed unkemptly and unconventionally, an extraordinarily disreputable hat crowning his coppery locks, the young Rufus Valerius Sohma had merely grinned at Saburo when the boy had politely asked to point him the way to the old master's rooms. He grinned wider, more like the Cheshire cat than any dog Saburo had ever known, when the boy impressed severely upon him the need to bow several times before the master and only look up when commanded to. The master at the time was doubtlessly not Shujouteki, but rather his father, then already ailing from a disease he would never recover from.

Rufus Valerius Sohma twinkled at Saburo, at the serious young boy with tame yellow eyes better suited to another, tipped his disreputable hat and replied that he knew exactly which procedure he was required to follow.

It was not till later, when he was summoned by an annoyed Sohma-sama to the hall where punishments usually took place, that he found out who the printer's errand-boy really was.

Rufus Valerius Sohma was there, still twinkling, as the head of the house chastised Saburo for daring to rebuke one of a much higher social standing of himself, and threatened beating, though it was not carried out since it was clear even to the clouded eyes of the elders that Saburo would soon be an asset to the family, with his great interest in law. After the haranguing was done, Saburo walked stooped and deferential out of the room only to be stopped by the slightly (only slightly) repentant cause of his lecture.

"Sorry about that, the old git does tend to get the wind up. ...Saburo, was it?"

Introductions were made. Saburo was won over all too quickly.

For the two weeks that Rufus Valerius Sohma stayed in the Sohma mansion, while the Dog looked about for a new place to stay (he had been turned out of his previous apartment for not paying the rent and, scandalously, flirting with the landlady's pretty daughter), Saburo found that it was hard not to be friends with him, or the other, the thirteenth, the left-out that they welcomed and made their duo a trio.

His memory of that time is glowing and golden. Though they are not able to meet as often as they would wish, now that they are all grown with different vocations and different responsibilities, he believes that nothing will ever dim their friendship. It is the crutch that supports him when Shujouteki rages, and says the hurtful words though he does not mean them, when he accuses and pinpoints and bullies Saburo and makes him feel unutterably lonely.

Strange, that Shujouteki now trusted Saburo, as Saburo had trusted Shujouteki, though Saburo more out of desperation and hope. Rufus also had a foster child - what was the name - an ambiguous name - a girl's name? Kaoru, that was it. And Saburo had the excellent Mizuki. And Mizuki was becoming, to be most frank in Saburo's lawyerly mind, a burden.

Saburo picks up the phone and dials Rufus, then; Rufus would be able to make him laugh. Rufus would be able to make him feel wanted for what he was, a thoughtful worrier with a nevertheless logical and fully functioning brain who said the most outrageous things when drunk (he had not meant to but Rufus and the other one had been so persuasive and they said midori was sweet and melon-flavoured and oh Sabu-chan we know how much you like sweet fruit drinks, but they didn't mention the alcohol content, and oh he'd had the most terrible hangover) or in confidence (something grown out of having had to be mild-mannered in front of everyone except two). Rufus wouldn't consider getting him into trouble if he didn't want anything to do with it (discounting persuasion). Ah dear Rufus.

His thoughts wander towards the missing link in their three.

The other one...

Messeur Whiskers, or properly called, the Cat...

*

Saburo helps Amaya convey the swooned Kaze to a sofa. Shujouteki is frowning. His displeasure snakes like little boughs, of jealousy twined with something approaching disapproval. His gaze burns holes into Amaya's back, Amaya's lovely white-frocked back. The young woman is aware of his stare, her movements stiff as she puts a warm towel on the head of the boy. Saburo would have stayed, but the doorbell goes and he knows it is probably Mizuki, though the very smallest hope that it might be Rufus

(...or Mr Whiskers)

raises its head.

Saburo does not go bingo, he does not strike lotto. It is Mizuki and an odd lady both together. An odd lady with too blue eyes and beautiful tanned skin and outlandish clothes. And Mizuki wants him to help keep the odd lady a secret.

She does not listen when he tries, quietly, to reason with her that nothing is a secret from Shujouteki, who has spies in every corner. The odd lady, with a Chinese-sounding name (Yi An Kang Mei was it?), begins to apologize for imposing upon the hospitality of the Sohma, how wonderful and large-hearted a clan, how lovely the decor of the house-

Saburo wants an aspirin.

[Bulbasaur4]

@Chiko-sai = Yesh, Yi!! WEEE! Actually, for my Chinese class that is my given surname- Yi An Kang Mei is my Chinese name. ^_^ Tee hee! Given to me by my teacher, Wen Wei!

An Kang Mei
"Spices! Herbs! Rocks for everyone!
**~~*~~*~~*~~**

Mei sweatdropped almost instantly as she watched Mizuki talk to her friend, asking him to keep her being in the house a complete secret. While Mei did have a habit of perhaps being a bit of a 'dreamer' or the type of person who perhaps did not always take things so seriously... or graciously... she did sense tension and a rather uncomfortable feeling arising from this "Saburo".
"Gomen..." Mei swiftly said lightly, holding up a tanned hand as she looked about the area for a moment. She had already babbled a tad bit about how the beautiful arrangement of the decor around and upon th ehouse was amazing, and how she was so surprised about how nice Mizuki and those she talked about seemed to be. Yet... once she was done a bit, Mizuki went back to asking Saburo to perhaps make things easier by keeping it a secret- to which he definately did not want to do nor did he approve.

The two turned to Mei, who smiled brightly like a cheerful flower as she gave a short bow.
"I don't want to cause any problems for you." She then looked to Saburo, and gave another short bow. "My family recently sent me here to take a year of school, and then hopefully graduate through the system so that I can further my studies. I'm from a distant tropic island, although my father was not a native- he knew people from around here. I was to stay in their home, but they had to leave in an emergency it seems and I cannot find a key inside the home." Mei withdrew a light breath, but swiftly turned around and rummaged through one of her large bags which she had next to her while Mitchka sunbathed upon another.

Taking from her bag, Mei had a small neatly-made brown jar that gleamed in the sunlight. Upon the top was a cork shoved in it, and Mei handed it to Mizuki.
"There. That is the chili powder you needed- I actually made it with my mother not too long ago. As for staying... I don't want to be a hassle."
Smiling cheerfully she looked to Saburo and then Mizuki, "I hope that I can get to know everyone around here and become friends. I'm a bit unfamiliar with this place and it would be so great to meet new people." She nodded as if matter-of-factly, and then grabbed her three large bags. Mitchka let out an annoyed meow, as he then leapt upon Mei's shoulder with great ease and seemed to sit neatly there like a kitten. (well he did look like one.)

"Wait... where are you going?" Mizuki asked, and Mei glanced at her and waved at the air.
"I can just sleep outside! Perhaps... here! Yes! Here!" Mei pointed to a distant area that may-or-may not have been part of the Sohma land- it was far enough from the house to be in question. however, it was a nice patch of grass that was guarded by a few trees, along with specks of flowers poking out from it every so often. Mitchka seemed to meow with approval at the spot. Without further notice, Mei simply lugged her bags over to the spot leaving Mizuki with Saburo as she hummed a strange foreign melody.

[Vulpix.ck87]

FINALLY!

Name: Sohma Kiyoshi
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Zodiac: Cat
Appearance: Kiyo never strikes you as being a tall person, in fact - despite that he’s 6’2” - he appears to be rather small, and this may be down to his narrow figure and daintily-pottering gait, or maybe his ability of folding his body in on itself by curling up or stooping or sitting cross-legged. Tussocky and mussed, his jet-black hair lies towards the front-centre of his head in a tufted and quipped, jutting fringe. His round, ever-so-slanted amber eyes are always wide-awake open, and typically pointed ears and brow always appear cocked and open to conversation and little scritchy noises. He’s peachy keen and has a solitary cowlick at the back that annoys everyone but himself Often relentlessly stares at people with an intensity that makes them very uncomfortable.
He has an absolute abandon of constrictive clothing - it makes him claustrophobic for the most part, though sometimes his love of snuggly things wins him over and so you may find him in a sleeveless-collared furry tank top or cashmere polo-neck; for the most part he dresses in loose shirts, linen pants and no socks. Bare feet or sandals are his choice of footwear - he can be a scary bugger, padding around silently and peering through the darkness at night. He wears his zodiac beads around his wrist, and by Shujouteki-law keeps them on even with his charcoal-coloured salesman suit.
Animal Appearance: A slender (if sorta gangly) black cat with yellow-amber eyes, short fur, and pricked ears. He has an inquisitive meow, can conjure smarm on whim, and tends to push his nose where it’s not welcome - a very ordinary kitty indeed. The cowlick remains..
Personality: He’s a tomcat - headstrong, bold and independent, with the scent of rivalry stinging strong in his nostrils. He can be ferocious, and Shujouteki absolutely makes his blood boil. Despite all this, he’s a soft pudding on the inside and he really appreciates the company of his friends (he, Saburo and Rufus are as thick as three thieves in a pod) and a casual easy-come/easy-go interaction with the public. He’s fairly well educated but god knows how - the most-likely explanation is through subliminal cat-nap learning and accidental eavesdropping, as he’s an undisciplined self-confessed slacker. He can come across as a bit of an airhead in general: carefree, ignorant, and blissful for all it’s worth - this is were charm comes into it, for a perpetually curious, innocent creature of such a laidback nature can never be disliked.
History: As tradition goes, Kiyo wasn’t very well received by the Sohmas due to his ‘cat curse’. Those who lived within the walls who were typically nice to the zodiac kids regarded him as a freak, and those who disliked the zodiac to begin with disliked him especially. This was partly to do with the fact that the cat was tricked out of his place in the mythical banquet by the rat, and partly to do with the bonus transformation the cat zodiac possesses: a disfigured and repulsive creature which I won’t mention so much in case you haven’t read that part of the manga yet.. ^_~
As children Saburo and Kiyoshi were generally unfriendly kids of a similar age, and so hardly ever interacted with each other, living in different parts of the Sohma residence. The stubborn and shy young Kiyoshi always wanted to be left alone for all that people disliked him, yet upon meeting an older Zodiac child he found himself in an unexpected war against the fiend. It was, namely, against Rufus - the jovial bully of a cousin who took to pestering Kiyo a lot in his kinship, but who also managed to bring the cat-child out of his shell with startling effectiveness. As they grew older it seemed that every consequent year brought a whole new litter of increasingly annoying zodiac sprogs, and eventually the Cat vs. Dog war ceased as the two joined forces to oppose the ‘young ’uns’. Another was added to their team in the form of Saburo, a politer creature who calmed the other two somewhat and completed their awesomeness.
And so they became an inseparable trio, and henceforth legend was made, though still a friendly teasing persisted between Kiyo and Rufus. Saburo went to law school, and as Rufus approached his winning long-term career as a lecherous freeloader, it came time for Kiyo’s traditional cat confinement within the Sohma grounds. True to his trip-switch rebellious nature, Kiyo adopted a ‘not bloody likely’ approach to the whole thing, had a fearsome fight with Shujouteki that no-one really knows about but which was discussed ravenously, and took off in the night to escape his imprisonment.
Out in the world at 19 he had no job or extensive education, and so pondered around for a while, half-starving, half-doing-odd-jobs. Then came his un/lucky break, for he managed to secure a job as a twine salesman. Popped fresh ‘n’ shiny in a suit the job came natural to him - it seemed he had a way of selling products to the customer that worked, even if it was by completely accidental and incompetent means. Fortunately, people like string (it’s an ever desired commodity!) and were taken in by his handsome face and innocent nature (also, customers were perhaps swayed by the fact that he was one of the few salesman on earth who actually believed in the product they were selling (Kiyo would often trail off mid pitch to sit there and play with the stuff, entranced)), and so he rose through the ranks to become Chief String Salesman and he was able to travel lots in order to sell twine - a dream come true indeed. He has humble aspirations of one day branching out into the yarn industry, but for now he returns to the Sohma household. Alas!
Relations: Saburo the wabbit and Rufus-Snoofus the ruppie. Uh.. All others are irrelevant? Naw, feel free to bug Kiyo!
Other:
1. An absolute technophobe, Kiyo blatantly refuses to try and understand how to work computers or walkmans or telephones, or to see the point in television.
2. He likes milk, meat and fish; warm places and fire. He has a head for heights and small spaces and is an expert napper. Sleeping barely four hours a night one may wonder how he remains so awake all the day long, and his sneaky secret is one that he does not keep secret whatsoever - in fact, Kiyo openly catnaps in a variety of public places, oft and without restraint.
3. Sometimes he is foolish enough to consume alcohol(namely the times when Rufus furtively slips liquor into his milk), and so consequentially gets blatheringly drunk. When he’s intoxicated, music kinda begins to makes sense . i.e. The beats start to get to him, and he will most likely do his drunken dance, which is the same for every genre of music under the sun, be it rap, classical, folk or popular music of any tempo. [Kiyo’s said dance involves shuffling his feet and moving his arms as if in a power-walking motion. He dances like your father would dance if he were on speed.] He is one funky cat ^_~
4. Otherwise music is meaningless nonsensical noise to him, and reading holds a similar weight - stationary words can simply not retain his interest - and though he enjoys and shows potential for contact sports, he usually loses sight of the game halfway through and ends up pouncing on/fighting with people like the fool that he is. Indeed, he’s a good fighter - wick, savage and instinctually feral.
5. Rain obscures his senses and puts him out somewhat, so in a similar league he keeps his showers short - just long enough to preserve his cleanliness an’ make himself smell dandy. He detests having wet hair. Other hates include citrus fruit and Shujouteki, who he hardly ever refers to by actual name (‘he’ or ‘it’ suffices instead).

*~The Cat Zodiac returns..~*

Kiyoshi’s eyes were wide-open as he took in his first sighting of the Sohma grounds for over six years. It had been a long enough vacation for him considering he had spent the former nineteen years cooped up with little outside escape. He wouldn’t kid himself - honestly, fear had kept him away. But it was a very real fear that had conquered many men - his predecessors hadn’t had enough of it to fight against their cursed fate, and had consequentially fallen victim to it. Kiyo spat in the face of his destiny, but hey he was the cat, and did they expect better etiquette than that?

The yellowed amber of his irises were lost to his wholly dilated pupils in the night, and in the half-light wrought by lit tourniquets of paraffin-sodden material upon resin soaked torches; the slender figure of the man upon the perimeter wall was hunched and shadowed, yet from the depth of his night-blackened eyes there shone a faint luminosity.. His sandals scuffed on the arched bricks, but not a sound was made as he dropped to the soft turf - all for the sigh of relief as a familiar grass tickled his toes through his open footwear. Little had changed in his absence if anything, but this did not strike him as odd, for it had been this way for many decades, nay, centuries. A beam of light illuminated a canidly unrestrained grin on the man’s face. A sandal nocked, a bag hitched, and so Kiyoshi sprinted across the lawn towards the far houses, his disposition as fleet as that of his zodiac animal.

Crouched and leaning against the door frame, the first thing Kiyo saw when the panel slid open was, against all likeliness, not the mildly surprised reeling of his teenhood friend or a pair of reluctantly-opened arms spread in welcome, but two fluffy bunny slippers embroidered swishily with the name Saburo in lilac stitching. Kiyo’s eyes flitted from the suitably adorned rabbit feet to the stripy pyjama bottoms, to the suit jacket hastily pulled on in mid-of-the-night confusion, and lastly to the sleep-crimped face of his dear friend which was, in fact, mildly surprised, but not half as reeling as Kiyoshi would have hoped. Ah well, to heck with it..

Kiyo lunged forward only to wrap his arms around the startled (rabbit-in-headlights) creature that was Saburo (who simply stood with his arms reticently pinned to his sides) and squeeged him in a gesture of near-brotherly affection. Saburo sniffed, whether in overwhelming emotion or in disdain to the embrace of this unexpected - and unpleasantly smelling - thing that was clinging to his waist, Kiyo did not know, though Kiyo was also not aware that the same man had been thinking about him - and not unusually - earlier. Either way, it was at least eight or ten seconds before the rabbit composed himself sufficiently to splutter a couple of well chosen words.

“You-you-you.. you git.”

Kiyo grinned a grin that was touchingly familiar after six years, and released his fellow Sohma to stretch luxuriously up to his proper be-hunched height. He peered around Saburo at the meticulously arranged folders and books and documents-of-Sohma-mystery upon the chic desk, and at the paperwork-ridden shelves (Overworked, poor soul.. Kiyo did think), and managed to a-spy an elegantly polished drink-making contraption not far beyond. Though well-preened, the whole place had a strong feel of adopted casualness as if it were truly Saburo’s own, and so Kiyo nodded approvingly.

“Weeell, you’re alone, eh?” Kiyo said swiftly, and skirted around Saburo before he could reply, only to stride into the bathroom as if oblivious to his own startling breach of etiquette. “I’m going to take a bath, ‘kay? Whip up a brew whilst I’m grooming, rmm?” And with that the panel door was swished shut and the sound of gushing water followed hastily. Saburo had not moved an inch since he had been clamped, as it were, by the smelly fiend, and he now stood stock still in the open doorway listening to his old friend rummaging through his fancy soaps and shiz (before the cat, finally content, settled on pouring copious amounts of bubble bath into the ‘washing-hole’), followed by sounds of stripping (Saburo grimaced slightly), and a splash and an ‘Aah!’.

Saburo closed the entrance door whilst slinking off his suit jacket, and sighed as he approached his tea cups (the wee Japanese variety) - a nice strong one for himself, perhaps. Filling a cup to the brim with milk and setting it upon the small table for ‘the cat’, he sighed half-happily, half-troubled. He was going to be in it deep for this, and so his feet twitched, even though Saburo felt oddly pleased. Why did people keep arriving at this room specifically..? For yes - and bah -, he had only just gotten rid of those other pests and finally nodded off. And oh! - it was late, wasn’t it? Saburo slumped where he stood, and succumbed to rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"I suppose no-one else knows Kiyo is here.." He remarked in whisper twixt successive yawns, and feeling a bit dazed the rabbit did what he did best and focused on concocting the perfect batch of tea..

With time to think as the splashing sounds continued in the bathroom Saburo considered things. They were such old friends and so he might as well see what Kiyo had in mind.. The rabbit found his hand leering towards the telephone, a slight smile upon his tanned features as he pondered calling Rufus up and inviting him over. No, this is probably that old dog’s fault, Saburo concluded, and he was rewarded for his assumptions when Kiyo strolled back into the room, his mind having been on similar things whilst soaking in the tub. In his recycled linen pants and ragging his hair upright with a freshly laundered towel Kiyo began with: ‘So you’ll never guess what Rufus told me..’

And whilst Saburo’s face remained prim and proper, an inner sigh of exasperation rolled over him as Kiyoshi proceeded to tell of how Rufus had called him and mentioned, by-the-by, that the rat had resurfaced from his shroud of his previously apparent non-existence. Rufus-the-tattletale strikes again.. Saburo rolled his eyes in his thoughts.

“I figured I’d shirk the whole stray act for a while and come visit my old buddies, I mean, it’s been a while since we talked face to face right?” And then he paused, distracted by something Saburo could not detect. Kiyo spoke very casually and in that innocent way he had of telling and not having agendas, but then he turned to Saburo and met his gaze, and Saburo flinched a little at the gleam of desperation he saw deep in those amber eyes, so similar to his own.

“Have you met him?” He asked, and Saburo gulped.

“The rat? Yes, as a matter of fact.. He returned yesterday to no applaud, it’s all been very hush-hush.” He hesitated before going on. “His name is Junichi Sohma, and if I must say, he comes across as a very insolent young man, no more than fifteen years of age at that-” Saburo was cut off by Kiyo’s falling face. He looked as if his hopeful heart had finally succumbed to the inevitable, impending doom that had been on his tail for the majority of his life.

“He’s but a child?” Kiyo’s voiced rasped. Saburo peered at Kiyoshi over his third cup of tea.

“Yes, I’m sorry.. What did you have planned?” He asked slowly. Saburo could have guessed from the look on his old friend’s face as the cat folded over in defeat to hit his head on the table. He stayed there, forehead on the cold surface, staring at the woodwork. Kiyoshi had returned upon news of the rat, the rat which had in legend tricked the cat. If he could have beaten the rat, Kiyo’s feeble hope would have been to return to the family, accepted, nay, loved.. It was a pitiful dream but it was all he had had to cling to.

“I don’t want to run forever..” Kiyoshi whispered in the silence of the room, Saburo sitting stiffly opposite him fidgeted slightly. If only he could fight the rat, he could show everybody.. But he’s only a boy. Kiyo closed his eyes and voiced through the murk of the groan in his throat.

“How could I ever..?”

-----------------

HURRAH FOR FURUBA!! *dances with tiny Shigure doll* Don't worry about Kiyo, he'll get over it.

[Weasel Overlord]

-----*-----
---* Rufus Valerius Sohma // Dog *---

It was getting late at night now, and Rufus was bored bored bored! Kaoru was sulking in his room or somewhere, there was nothing on TV and he’d read all his books a million times already. Looking moodily at the bookshelf, Rufus scowled. Nothing!

Bah!

There was always work, but he wasn’t in the mood to write, and plus it was too much like, well…work, really.

Bah!

"Kaoru! Kaoru darling!!" He yelled hopefully. Nothing. Maybe the boy was in a mood with him. Not like it would make any difference; Kaoru was always in a mood with Rufus. Maybe it was something he’d said?

Struggling to his feet, Rufus meandered boredly out into the corridor and came to a stop outside the teenager’s door. Raising his hand, he knocked loudly and was gratified to hear a grunt come from within. "Kaoru?"

"Piss off." Rufus scowled at the squeaky-clean door and slouched back into the living room to flop despondently on the couch. He didn’t even have anyone to tease! He exhaled a big, breathy sigh in the way only a dog could manage, a soulful look in his eyes as he regarded the phone thoughtfully.

It had only been the night before when he’d been talking to Saburo-bunny and already he was missing him once more. Maybe he should call him…

But he might be in bed…

Rufus stared doubtfully at the phone, unsure of whether to risk his favourite rabbit’s wrath at this time of night.

"Nah…he’ll be sleeping…" Rufus shook his head with a frown. But oh, he was just so bored! And he had a strange feeling about this night, anyway. Maybe he should go and visit him…

But he wouldn’t want to be woken up, after all… so maybe he should wait until tomorrow…

Nah. Standing up purposefully, Rufus strode to the hat-stand and flipped on his hat, thrusting his hands into the sleeves of his coat and flinging his cloak over his shoulders with a happy smile on his face.

He’d go and visit Saburo! Surely he wouldn’t mind been woken up at this time of night if it was Rufus at the door! Grabbing his key, he opened the front door quietly so as to not alert Kaoru that he was leaving. The boy could look after himself for a night, and the less people who knew that Rufus was at Sab-bunny’s the less people could also decide to drop in for a visit.

It didn’t take him long to finally arrive; it never did. The path was so well-known that Rufus could have walked it in his sleep if he’d had to at any time. And the dog spirit of the zodiac almost never needed streetlights, even though they did help him to look more normal, rather than like a strange-looking man wandering the streets in the pitch black, clad in a cloak and a rather dashing hat like a murderer prowling the darkness for his next victim.

He was about halfway there when it began to rain. Glaring up at the skies, Rufus growled under his breath. Godamnit! Rain!

Putting more of a hurry in his steps, he fair scampered down the abandoned road to the Sohma residence, anxious to get out of the rain as soon as he possibly could.

‘Cause we all know what happens when it rains…

**Poof**

In the centre of the pavement stood a very disgruntled, very soggy and generally very smelly dog of the Husky variety, surrounded by a pile of sodden clothes and with a very dashing hat perched perkily over one ear.

The dog raised an eyebrow and said "Shit!" with quite some ferocity, which would surely have surprised any passers-by, should they have happened to hear this curse coming from the mouth of the purebred-looking Copper Husky which no doubt had a pedigree a few miles long.

Even more surprising, should there in fact, have been any onlookers, would have been the sight of the dog bending down and gathering up the scattered and soggy clothes in its mouth before scampering off, hat still on head, in the direction of the main Sohma household.

Slipping easily through the gates, Rufus paused for a second to get his bearings before shooting off to Saburo-bunny’s house which he remembered oh-so well. He only hoped that he didn’t have any visitors tonight…

Placing his pile of clothes on the step, Rufus stood on his hind-legs and leant against the door, reaching over to prod the handily placed bell with a wet nose. Saburo had had that bell installed long ago, when he’d moved into this particular house, when he’d got sick of Rufus scratching his old door to woody shreds in his doggy form.

Dropping to all fours once more, Rufus sat, head cocked to one side, waiting for the no-doubt disgruntled Saburo to answer his door.

The sound of someone grumbling and trudging down a corridor reached his ears and his tongue lolled out in anticipation of seeing Saburo-bunny again.

His tail thumped on the step as the sounds grew closer.

**Poof**

The door opened and Saburo’s mouth dropped open.

He looked at Rufus’ grinning face, as per usual topped off with his oh-so dashing hat. And then his gaze fell gradually downwards at Rufus’ oh-so naked body, standing on his doorstep with a pile of clothes at his feet and a rogueish smile crooking his lips.

"Hey bunny."

"Rufus?!"

"I figured I’d drop by… its sooo boring at home Sabu, you have no idea! So can I come in? It’s a tad chilly out here, ya know?"

"I noticed…" Saburo grinned wryly, his gaze dropping once more, and then rising to take in the goosepimples beginning to form all over Rufus’ body.

"Come on in then." He sighed with a scowl, although it was a half-hearted one. He couldn’t quite cover up the smile which was beginning to spread across his face.

Bending down to retrieve his clothes, Rufus followed Saburo into the house, closing the door carefully behind him and pottering into the living room, making little squelching noises as his feet touched the floor.

His eyes widened as he sauntered through the paper doorway to be greeted with a sight he’d thought wasn’t possible to see.

[Insert high-pitched, excited and unintelligible noise here]

Rufus dropped his clothes and dashed over to where Kiyoshi Sohma was lounging with a big smile.

"KIYOSHIIIII!!" Rufus, clad only in his oh-so dashing hat, flung himself at the startled cat in glee.

"Hey Snoofus. I see you’re naked again." He raised an eyebrow with a smirk and stood to embrace the happy Rufus.

The pair broke apart with a grin.

"I see you’re still wearing that hat…" Kiyo sniggered.

"Damn right I am. This is my favourite hat, after all." Rufus smirked in return.

"How’ve you been, Whiskers? You didn’t cheat on me while we were apart, did you"

"Why would I do something like that, Snoofus?"

"Alright!" They chorused, banging their fists together with a thumbs up.
"How about you, Sabu-chaaan? How’ve you been in the absence of your two favourite people?" Rufus twinkled at Saburo.

"It’s been…trying. But seriously Rufey, can we talk when you’re… dressed? Hmm? I’ll go run you a bath, you must be freezing! Would you like some tea? Or something to eat?" He chattered over his shoulder as he pottered out into the kitchen to make some tea in one of his spectacular teapots.

Rufus winced at the dreaded word, knowing full well that Saburo had probably only thrown it in there to freak him out in return for turning up naked on his doorstep in the middle of the night. With a giant, barely-stifled yawn, he flopped down on the fussy little rug in the middle of the room and smiled. It was good to be back with his friends; even if it was only for one night.

[Vulpix.ck87]

*sobs* I couldn't resist ; _ ; Sorreee ..! *dances around Wenny and Wurzo*

[WURZ OVERMOD POST CONTINUED! -->]

Sohma Kiyoshi ~ He's.. kitteney.. an' shiz.


“Ah, Snoofus, how I’ve missed you..!” Kiyo sighed and - seeing Saburo grimace from the ‘kitchen’ at the two lovesick impostors flouncing around in his living room - he flopped down onto the rug with his favourite mutt, curling up and laying over Rufus’ bare chest contentedly, despite the slick ‘n’ soggy nature of his torso. There was a clatter of embarrassment and Kiyo smiled happily as Saburo fumbled with his precious teapot upon sight of the 'unashamed two'. Stealing Rufus’ hat and flopping it over his own eyes, Kiyoshi laid there grinning like a fool.

“Hey, you know what!?” He suddenly cried out against the quiet of the room, being over loud and enunciatey as some half-brained result of his current blindness. “We should all go fishing tomorrow! Oh, it would be so fun.. Or to the beach! Yeeaeh?!”

Rufus chuckled, amused by his friend’s overexcitement and imagining the frolicking fun they would have.. If only it wasn’t mid-winter... A-heh..

“Ahh.. We could do that. But it’s New Years Eve tomorrow - or today, considering the time - and, even if you, you know, don’t turn up to have Shujou flay your guts an' all, unfortunately, myself and Bunny must attend..”

Kiyo yawned, attempting to give off the impression that he was scarcely concerned, “I’ve never been invited anyway, remember? The kitty was never invited..”

“Hey, it’ll be a drag anyway. Believe me you’re not missing anything,” Saburo chimed in from behind his tea-set (which he could apparently not bear to abandon for more than ten minutes). “Bad food, bad clothes, you’re not missing aaanything.” He repeated, then ventured tentatively. “But, ah, about Shujou? Do we mention the fact that you’re here bathing in my bathroom and snuggling his favourite lapdog or..?”

“Hrmm..” Kiyo frowned. “About that..” he sighed somewhat pensievely, before deciding to furtively escape the question in a way that would thoroughly distract his favourite rabbit-kun.. In a very blunt manner he said: “You smell like wet dog, Snoofus. I think I’m agonna retreat now..” And true to his word, Kiyo the fleet scurried off to find the warmest, comfiest, fluffiest place in Saburo’s quarters. Hugging his legs to his chest on his perch, he cackled as one Sohma Saburo shooed one Rufus-the-whiffy-Snoofus into the bathroom (“Sorry Roof, but that smell really is starting to spread..”) and called out gaily “Check out the fancy soaps! He’s got glitter an’ shiz!”, before snurgling down to kip on Saburo’s couchy goodness..

--------------------------

I love pointless posts! Hurrah!

Rufus from the bathroom: 'Argh, spilshy!' [Grumble, mumble..] 'Ooooh..! This one smells like biscuits!'

..HURRAH!

[Dark-San]

v^~ Junichi Sohma ~^v
v^~ The first meeting with a natural enemy ~^v

Current mood: Horror

~^~v~^~v~^~v~^~

(Back, locked up in the bedroom)

It was back to my loner days, as I sat upright on my desk, pondering over evening’s events. My concentration swayed like a pendulum swinging between the fine line that divides between reality and the imaginary world. Was that accidental kiss on Mizuki’s lips the cause of my loss of concentration?

This thought had fussed up my mind for quite some time as I closed my next semester textbooks, which I had planned to revise on earlier to kill time.

“Argh, I’m going nuts!”

Swinging aside both arms, I pushed over all the stacks of books off from the desk causing one particular textbook to drop onto the floor.

“Hey what is this?”

“Hah my Mandarin textbook…”

Slowly, I bent down and picked up the book. A sudden childish smacked me right across the face.

“What is the similarity between tiger and rat?”

Tiger in Chinese characters is written as,

老虎 (Pronounces as lao hu)

While the rat is written as,

老鼠 (Pronounces as lao shu)

Looks like Mizuki’s and my zodiac animals had one character in common, the word 老, appear once, for each of us.

老 in Chinese would mean old. And my foolish theory was that perhaps Mizuki and me are fated to be together at least to the blissful ripen age.

~^~v~^~v~^~v~^~

(On the way to the Kitchen)

“Hah bother…”

I was instead getting a bit thirsty, I moved down the stairway to the intended direction of the Kitchen.

My natural instincts kicked up when I was just a few meters from Saburo’s room. The uneasy feeling acted up with immediate effect, without much warning. I had felt this for the second time in my life with the first when I was five years old. That time I was almost hit by a car, a clearly close shave from having a date with the Shimigami.

“Could it be him?”

My worst fears were confirmed…

OOC: Tags Roy and Vul

[Roy Karrde]

Mizuki ‘Fireball’ Sohma
~*~*~*~*~ I understand….~*~*~*~*~

3 Hours ago

I understand…

I understand…

I kept saying those words into the phone, over and over again even though the call had long since ended. Footsteps slowly appeared behind me, stopping at the doorway before walking around the side of the mat on the floor and sat down next to me. Rabbit-kun bent over taking the phone from my trembling hands. “Hello?” He asked into the receiver. “Hello?” He asked again, before finally hearing the dial tone and slowly sitting the phone down.

“I hate him…” tears rolled down my eyes as I balled my fist in anger. “I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.” I repeated over and over, slamming my fists into Rabbit-kun’s chest over and over again until he grabbed hold of me.

His eyes wondered over me before finally stopping at the tickets for the party tomorrow in my balled up hands. Rabbit-kun drew in a long sigh lowering us both down to the mat. “I understand, I know what rejection feels like..” He began to say.

I looked back up at him with a fury and anger in my eyes that I had never felt before. “You have no idea what it feels like, I gave everything to Ruu-kun, he’s my best friend, I even showed him the curse, and what did he do in return? Say that I wouldn’t want a boyfriend like him, I-I don’t understand.” I whimpered, sinking into Rabbit-kun’s arms

All he repeated was ‘I know, I know.’ Before finally taking the tickets from my hand.

Present Time: Near Midnight

Walking through the muddy grass with a steady stream of rain falling onto my head, I made my way down to that distant patch of land that Mei and Mitchka were camping out at. There I found them, huddled together, both shaking in the downpour that had started. Just a few degrees colder and the rain would be snow. “I brought blankets..” I smiled, offering the few blankets that I had brought with me.

Mei quickly took one gratefully thanking me as she wrapped one around her back and put another in her lap to keep Mitchka warm. “Thank… you.” Mei said through chattering teeth, her eyes looked up and down me before finally stopping on my blood shot eyes. “You’ve been crying?” She asked, patting the ground next to her.

I nodded sitting down next to her and placing a blanket around me as the rain continued to pour. “Why are boys so stupid?” I finally asked, my teeth just as shaky as her’s as Mitchka poked his small head out from under the blanket.

Mei seemed to nod for a few minutes before finally speaking up. “A boy problem..”

I brought the blanket closer, snuggling tight in it’s warmth. “They don’t understand, and they act all stupid, and string you along, pretending they like you.” Anger and Frustration welled up in me, like an unstoppable torrent of water that just flowed from my mouth. “And you trust them and they hurt you, and hurt you and hurt you.” All my hatred for Ruu-kun just bubbled out, emotions filling me. Till suddenly….

Poof

Suddenly my world became the color of the blanket. Realization dawned on me as I climbed my way out of the blanket, I had changed… at the worst possible time. “Mizuki?” Mei asked in shock picking me up and bringing me up to eye level. “Is that you?”

[Inferno_Dragon]

Sorry for the longgggggggggg delay, I have been busy.

Name: Ayato Sohma
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Personality:
Ayato is very confident in himself sometimes even too overconfident. He occasionally talks about himself most of time … okay all of the time. When he comes across something passionate that he wants to accomplish, he tries as hard as he can to finish that goal or project … although it does take him quite awhile especially when it comes to finding his true heart with friends and family. Ayato is very devoted to his friends and family and he LOVES to be the center attention. When he is around woman, he is able to turn his “charm” to impress them … the downside is that the charm might be too strong and he doesn’t turn it off no matter how strong it is.
History:
He goes to the local college to continue his education. He owns a beauty shop named after himself. His reason of doing this is to get in touch with the ladies. Ayato lives alone but would like to live with either a family member or someone he could get along with.
Appearance:
Ayato is 5’11 with sparkling green eyes (although they do change often to different colors but no one knows why so they don’t bother.) His hair color is a mixture of white and green. (So his animal form is a greenish-white Cobra.) Usually he wears a outfit that matches the colors of his eyes whatever it may be but when he is truly romantic, he wears something bold like romantic red with a touch of pink or white. He wears a necklace of lilac beads that give off a odor of fragrant passion.
Animal Appearance:
Nothing here, yet.
Other:
Transports Other into Starcraft. Activates the Nuclear Launch and waits for Other to be vaporized.

Ayato
--------------------------------------------------------------
I had just finished my last class of the day and it was almost time for me to head towards my shop. I walked past the other students. I did see some family members. I waved at them but walked past them. I never actually interact with them very much. Okay, I do but if there is something happening to them, I am not aware of it. And why should I? I only care that I am the focus. So I am usually doing homework or working at the shop. I mean I don't have to get along with them just because they are family. On the way to the shop, I passed a couple of girls. I turned on my charm to get their attention but they just snickered.

"How rude!" I said.

I walked past some of the "other" beauty shops and snicked. They weren't as great as mine was. I had the best products and I always had the most interesting customers where their customers were probably just plain. Mine were always fantastic and always wanted to keep up their appearances. I opened the door to the shop.

"Okay, let's get to work people! We have dreams to fulfill."

[Bulbasaur4]

An Kang Mei
~*~*~*~


Mei blinked, looking at the little tiger that was now swamped with a large blanket about it. Making the connection instantly, Mei picked up the small tiger cub which- if it showed expression in its eyes- Mei instantly recognized as still being Mizuki.
"Is that you Mizuki?" Mei asked, as the cub let out a small yowl-like noise. Mei could easily sense the fear in the cub, and Mei swiftly hugged it. With the rain pattering down upon her face and hair, Mei simply smiled and took the blankets and wrapped them about her head so that the rain was blocked slightly. It was odd to be so wet and have no shelter... and Mei quickly covered her three bags with the remaining blanket to prevent them from getting too wet.
Then, Mei softly stroked Mizuki's fur.
"Now then... I had heard of a legend about some people who turned into animals back at my Island." Mei said for a moment, but then stopped.
"Hey, males can be quite stupid." Mei said, "However... I believe that they can surprise us. Some times they leave, some times they come back... some times they stay in the gray. While I might not have much use or much idea as to what exactly you've been through..." Mei continued to say softly to the tiger. "I can say that, from my experience... it is better to keep a smile on your face and hope. Hope gets me through."

Suddenly, Mitchka gave a yowl and Mei looked up to see a figure approaching. The tiger swiftly seemed to shiver, as if nervous from this approaching figure.
"Hey... who are you?" The figure suddenly called out, approaching them to reveal he was a male.
"Umm... I'm An Kang Mei." Mei said, shivering slightly. "I just... was gathering here for shelter since I am locked out of my house. I just... happened to see this tiger cub out in the rain." Mei smiled, the words flowing easily. "Is it yours?" She said, shivering a bit more.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

Matsuno Kaoru
Male, Student, "Whatever" Syndrome (also termed Squall or Rukawa Syndrome)
--------------------------

He was home alone.

It seemed like only just now that the flat was crammed full of people that you couldn't even breathe without catching a noseful of Amaya's incense, or the faint scent of dog that indicated the presence of Rufus. But Sohma were Sohma, and in true, Sohma, senseless, oddball fashion, had trooped out in twos and threes to the main mansion. And Rufus, as gaily as a - well, as a dog, had strolled out of the place not long after the phone call...

that dratted phone call...

Misunderstandings abounded whenever you were dealing with this family, that much Kaoru was certain of. He had not shown much romantic emotion towards Mizuki (he thought) - beyond the occasional half-affectionate pat on the head, cynical teasing, noncommittal remarks on her style of dressing. At most, she was a little sister to him, and nothing more, though if truth be said the reality was something closer to friend. Distant friend. Acquaintance. Someone Rufus had told him to be nice to. A naive little girl trying her best to make her way in high school, years ahead of her time.

(She has a retarded brother. Sohma clan head hates her. What kind of male are you?)

Just a regular guy. That was all he ever wanted to be. He'd heard from a girl in his class once, just newly dumped, that all males were assholes. Perception, that was it. And experience. It depended on who you were. What you had gone through, and what other people had done to you.

Kaoru wandered out of his room, and stood in the hall of the apartment, such as it was. Alone. Well, alone was the best time for ... that.

He got out the mop and bucket and broom, tied a washcloth round his head, and began cleaning house, methodically, even taking the time to polish the extremely odd occult items in Amaya's room.

He told himself it wasn't just to clear his head, or to help himself to forget about that phone call.

He'd never liked dancing, anyway.
--------------
OOC: The crappiest post I've done since forever, and no transcribed breaking-Mizuki's-heart phone call. ...Because I suck like that. Expect Saburo, Kiyoshi-mooning and ratcatching soon. Will edit post if no one else posts before I'm done (highly unlikely).

[Roy Karrde]

Gahh I was waiting for Yi to add on but anyway…

Mizuki ‘Fireball’ Sohma
~*~*~*~*~ Right up the Tree…~*~*~*~*~

My claws made short work of the bark as I scampered up the tree and out of sight, the rain matting my fur as I clung to the tree, far above my friend and… Ruu-kun. “What are you doing out here in the pouring rain?” He asked as I watched both of them talk, my friend explaining why she was there.

A small growl came from my throat, as either tears or rain ran down my muzzle. “I was going to go check on my room mate, but, there is also some one I don’t want to run into.” He mumbled looking away from Mei before turning back to her. “Oh you can come back to my place, it’s warm and better than here, that is… if you want.” He offered, taking her hand and leading her away from the tree under his umbrella, making sure to be several steps ahead of her. No No NO! How could Mei betray me? Ruu-kun was supposed to like me! He was supposed to take me to his place, and out of the rain.

Hurt and shocked, I released my claw’s hold on the tree, falling to the ground in a whimper, water and mud soaking my fur. Limping back, some how I made my way back home and back into my room, pushing open the door with my paw and collapsing on my pillow. “How could you Mei?” I mumbled through my muzzle and shifted around on my pillow causing something to squeak in pain.

“Ow ow.” A small Rat head poked out of my pillow and then looked up at me in awe and shock, his eyes falling onto my sharp teeth. “Don’t eat me, please don’t eat me, I was just hiding..” He whimpered.

“Junichi?” I cocked my head curiously as the rat slowly climbed out.

The Rat looked at me for a second, and then slowly moved forward. “Mizuki! I almost didn’t recognize you in all that mud..” He grinned nuzzling his head against my side. “There are two nuts after me, I was trying to hide..” He explained, and then grimaced and jump at the sound of Kiyoshi’s voice. They were obviously searching for him.

I turned and looked at the doorway and then back at him. “C’mon we can hide…” I whispered limping under the covers with him before collapsing onto my side. “They won’t find us in here, we can have our own little slumber party.”

He looked down at my paw, probably broken, the pain was the only thing keeping me from bawling like a baby in front of him. “Like a slumber party..” He nodded, laying down next to me. “Just make sure they don’t find me.” He whispered as I put my one good paw around him for protection.

“I wont…” I yawned. “I’ll stay…awake… all… night…” I whispered, falling asleep soon after.

[Inferno_Dragon]

Ayato Sohma
------------------------------------------------------------------

I had just closed up shop and started up to head for the Sohma home. Today's business profit was incredible. Even celebrities came to my shop to try out my different beauty products. What can I say? I am a genius when it comes to this things. But of course I have to be careful. My curse allows me to keep a distance for most of the females. I have been turned into my snake form a few times but those were manly accidents. I never really get close to any female (besides family) so I am safe. That allows me to flirt from a distance. And I am not that bad.

I have few female workers because I couldn't have all male. The social workers who come to the store say that I must have a few female workers. Even though my curse does put me at risk, I find ways to interact with them without causing problems. So far no "accidents" have been caused in the store. They are mainly outside of the store or home.

As I walked home, I encountered a group of females. I smirked at them but then I realized that they were the same group of girls that snickered at me when I head to the store.

"How rude." I said once again.

Why did the snicker at me? What was I doing wrong? I mean my charm was impressive and I did respect them so what was the problem? Was it my clothing or my reputation? I shook the thoughts out of my head. A few minutes later, I arrived at the house. I didn't want to talk to anybody so I quietly opened the door.