I was so happy when you smiled, you smile breaks through the clouds of grey.

Far from the sunny day that lie in sleep. Waiting with patience for the spring,

When the flowers will bloom renewed again,

Knowing there's more beyond the pain of today.

Although the scars of yesterday remain, you can go on living as much as your heart believes.

You can't be born again although you can change,

Let's stay together always!

AMÉLIE'S P.O.V

I smiled to myself as I breathed in the fresh air. The sky looked so beautiful and blue and the white fluffy clouds looked as if it were painted in gentle strokes. The sun was shining bright, warming up my pale skin, erasing the goose bumps that had once been there as it broke through the tall trees.

I turned back to my small black tent and waved goodbye to the photo of my mum and my dad. See you later, guys. Take care of the house for me while I'm gone, okay? I'll be back soon! I take in a deep breath before grabbing my bag and zipping the tent closed. I guess it didn't really matter if I didn't. It's not like people would randomly walk through the forest and raid a tent… at least I hoped it didn't happen.

I swung my guitar over my shoulders, making sure the strap was adjusted properly. I took it with me everywhere. It was my most prized possession. It was a gift from my dad when I was really young. I don't remember how old I was when I got it but I treasured the old thing like no tomorrow. It was a simple, everyday acoustic guitar. It was a light mahogany colour with a small written in fancy writing on the side. It read:

To my beautiful princess Amélie on her special day.

Happy birthday beautiful. Xxx daddy.

It was amazing how something that was made out of string, metal and wood could make such beautiful sounds. My guitar was accompanied by my song book. It contained all the various lyrics and chords that I've created. It was tucked away inside a small leather pocket I had made at the back of my guitar. I never left home without either of them.

I tugged at my uniform. Naturally I chose to wear the boys uniform: black coloured shirt which I left un-buttoned and rolled the sleeves up to my elbows, a loose tie with the black pants. They came with the standard school shoes but I chose to wear my black combat boots instead. I didn't give a crap at how many times I got in trouble, they were just much comfier… but I had a spare pair of black converses in my bag anyways. I hate the girls uniform, especially the skirts. They either came in nun or slut and I didn't want to look like either. I felt much more like myself in the boys uniform. I didn't care what anyone thought. They're just jealous that I can pull off the guys uniform and they can't! I told myself.

Plus, the boys wouldn't be able to try and look up my skirt when I'm trying to reach a book in the library… it had happened once before when I was in middle school. Let's just say they're ego wasn't the only thing that had gotten bruised that day.

Just another day in the life of Amélie Francois-Hoshimi (that's me by the way), a part French part Japanese outcast. I think to myself as I trudge through the forest. It was quite beautiful. Everything was so green and luscious. Another wonderful masterpiece of Mother Nature. As my feet carry through the forest, my mind wanders back to my tent.

I haven't always lived in a tent. I did live in a hotel for a while but was kicked out for not being able to keep up with the rent. It was a crappy hotel anyway! I thought bitterly. My life is full of ups and downs. When I was little, my parents and I were involved in an… an accident. It took my parents away from me and left me mentally scarred. I'll never forget that day. Its haunted me for years…

So I moved from France to try and escape the memories, my criminal record (or I should say Juvenile record) and the stupid orphanage I had stayed at for the majority of my life and came to Japan, where my dad was from. It was an improvement, nobody knew who I was and I wanted to keep it like that.

So I began secretly living here by myself. I wouldn't exactly call it comfortable and it certainly wasn't glamorous but I was happy and grateful that it was at least something. And it's something that I have to do, for now anyways. Like my mum always said "Never give up Amélie, no matter how deep the shit is." Yup, good ol' mum and her colourful speech. "Il ya toujours un arc en ciel aprés la tempéte!" I say to myself, something my dad had told me when I was little.

Something caught my attention in the corner of my eye and I halted my steps. A little of to my right, down a small hill was this gorgeous traditional Japanese house. It looked to well-kept and well… beautiful. I couldn't help it, I just had to get a closer look. Curiosity won me over. Hey, mum, dad. Check this out! I didn't know there was a house here, did you!? Let's go check it out!

I carful tread down the hill and looked around to see if anyone was around before approaching the house. It seems so peaceful. It must be nice. At least they don't have to worry about neighbours. Coming close to the wooden porch and spot something. Sitting on a wooden rack-thing were twelve rocks with cute paintings of animals on them. I recognise what it symbolised in an instant. "Oh how cute! It's the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac." I smile. They were so well done.

"My word. Do my eyes deceive me, or is there a strange yet beautiful young girl standing on my porch?" I nearly shat bricks at the sudden appearance of the voice. "Putain de merde!" I curse loudly, jumping so high I could've touched those fluffy white clouds. Looking up I saw a man probably somewhere in his twenties with black hair and wearing one of those traditional Japanese garments (I forgot what they're called), a newspaper in his hands. I began to freak out. I've been caught! The last thing I need is trespassing under my name!

"Oh I'm so frigging sorry! I didn't mean to trespass or anything! I was just looking! I didn't mean to barge in without your permission! Please don't call the cops on me!" I beg. I tried to calm myself down. I don't think an anxiety attack would go well right now. The man waved off my frantic behaviour with a huge smile. "It's quite alright. I just set them out to dry is all. No harm done." He reassured, much to my relief. Thank the heavens that I'm not in trouble!

"But I find it hard to believe that these silly little things could attract your interest." He continued, referring to the Zodiac painted rocks. I shook my head and kneeled in front of them, as did the man. "No, I found them to be quite interesting actually. I really like them. I don't think they're silly at all." I tell him.

"Yes well… I must admit I'm particularly fond of them myself." He commented. I scanned each and every painted rock and noticed how detailed they were. They were painted to perfection. I frowned however when I noticed an animal missing. "Oh but I should've known. You left out the cat." I say, more to myself than the man in front of me.

The man looks surprised. "The cat?" He said, confused before realising what I meant. "Ah, I take it you know the old folk tale of the Chinese zodiac." I nodded. "Yup! It was one of my favourite stories my mum told me when I was little. It's still my favourite now." I smile as I remember when mum first told me the story.

I laid in bed, all snuggled up in the big, warm blankets of my bed. "Good night Amélie." Mum smiled down at me, placing a kiss a top my forehead. "Wait!" I called out before she left my room. "Can you tell me a story?" I ask. Mummy laughs lightly before lying on the bed beside me, propped up on her elbow.

"A long, long time ago, God decided to invite all of the animals to a banquet. He sent out word for all of them to come to his house the following evening, and "don't be late" he said." She told me. "What kind of animals?" I asked. "Hmm let's see. You have the dog, the dragon, the rabbit, the tiger, the cow and the rat, the horse, the pig, the sheep, the rooster, a monkey, the snake and the cat." I sat up happily. "I love cats! They're my favwrite animal!" I exclaim.

Mummy laugh and tucked me back under the warmth of the sheets and continued her story. "However, when the mischievous rat heard the news, he decided to play a trick on his neighbour, the cat. He told the cat that the party was the day after tomorrow." I let out a gasp. "Aww poor cat!" I whimpered. "The very next day, all of the animals lined up for the celebration, and the rat led the way, riding all the way there on the back of the cow.

Everyone had a wonderful time, except for the foolish cat who missed the whole thing." Mum said, finishing her story. I used the sleeves on my bedtime shirt to wipe my tears. "Hey, why are you crying sweetheart?" Mummy asked me.

"Because the poor cat. He was tricked, he isn't foowish! He must be so lonely!" I cried before an idea popped into my head. I jumped up out of bed and pumped my fist into the air. "I know! I won't be a dog anymore. I'll be a cat!" I exclaimed, happily.

I smiled at the memory. "Funny. I wonder what he'll say when he hears he has a fan." I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at the man in confusion. What is he talking about? "He?" I ask, tilting my head to the side a little. "Oh never mind. What year were you born in?" He asked. "The Year of the Tiger" I reply.

The man nodded his head but I saw his eyes move to glance at my uniform. I shift awkwardly. "Sorry I don't mean to be rude, but I've never seen a girl wear a boys uniform before." He had a point there. I was probably the only girl in my school who had the balls for wear the boys uniform. "I like the boys uniform better." I admit. Suddenly I became really self-conscious. "Is there anything wrong with it?" I ask nervously, playing with my tie.

"Oh no, no, nothing's wrong. I must say that you pull it off well. You look better in it than most of the boys." I blushed at his comment. "Thank you." I could feel the heat in my cheeks. Gawd! When did I become such a girly girl!? I wasn't the type of girl to blush often so I didn't understand why I was blushing now.

"You're not from around here are you?" He asked suddenly. "How could you tell?" It was probably my accent. It's not strong but it's pretty damn noticeable. It ran thick in my voice. "Your accent, it's French. It is quite nice to listen to. I mean aside from your pretty-" He started but was cut off when something landed on his head, hard. It was the same school bag I had. Tall, violet hair and purple eyes… Yuki Sohma. "Please forgive my cousin, Miss Hoshimi. He's a bit of a flirt, but he's harmless… in general, and it's usually best to just ignore him." He said, smiling down at me.

My eyes widen. Oh wow, Yuki Sohma! He's considered the 'Prince' of my High School and he's standing right in front of me. And I'm trespassing in his house. If I get caught with him, the Yuki Fan girl Club will never let me hear the end of it. I shook my head. "No, no! It's alright, he's good company. We were just talking is all." I say quickly.

The man I know knew was Yuki's cousin, rubbed his head. "What do you have in that bag of yours? A dictionary?" He pouted. "No I have two of them." Yuki replied. The man rubbed his head one more time before returning his attention back to me. "So, you're one of Yuki's classmates from school." I nodded.

"Let's start over. I'm Shigure, Yuki's older and… much less violent cousin." He grinned, holding out his hand. I shook it firmly in my mine before dropping it back to my side. "Hi, it's very nice to meet you." I say, bowing respectfully. "And what brings you to our home this morning, Miss Hoshimi?" Yuki asked, with voice thick with politeness.

I rub the back of my neck nervously. I couldn't exactly tell them I was living in a tent in the middle of the forest. "Oh well um, well you know I live… nearby." I manage to say. AT least it's not a complete lie. Both Sohma's seemed shocked by this and I really wanted to change the subject.

Yuki raised his eyebrows. "You do? Where at?" I panicked. W-what am I going to say? Yeah, you know. I'm homeless and I live in a tent in the forest by the lake. 'Cos that's not weird at all. "I don't mean to be rude but I should probably be on my way. Don't want another detention for being late again. It was a pleasure to meet you." I say quickly, turning on my heel to leave.

"Wait, Miss Hoshimi." Yuki called out. I turned around and saw him walking over to me. "What's the matter? Is there something wrong with my uniform?" I ask, looking down at myself. Yuki shook his head. "No, there is nothing wrong. I just thought since you're here, we could walk to school together." He suggested.

I blushed. "Ah, yeah sure." I say as he sidled up next to me as we walked. About halfway into our (silent) walk to school, we ran into a couple of people I hoped I wouldn't see. The Yuki Fan Club girls. I groaned. Yuki and I both tried our best to ignore them as they chanted how much they loved Yuki.

I just hope they'll leave me alone otherwise they're going to end up with broken noses.

A/N: Here are the translations:

Il ya toujours un arc en ciel aprés la tempéte – There's always a rainbow after the storm

Putain de merde! – Holy Fuck