DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FRUITS BASKET!!! Though I wish wish wish I owned Yuki, Kyo, and Haru... sighs...

R&R PLEASE!!!!!!! If you Review and give me some suggestions, you might see your suggestions in a later chapter !!!!

Please No flames unless it is constructive criticism. Yes, there might be shonen-ai (Kyoki, Haruki, and/or Shigure and Hari or Aya) later on, so if you don't stuff like that, don't read it. Finally, I haven't read any of the manga but the first vol., so this is entirely based on the anime tv series, and will probably remain that way. The only thing I'll include from the manga (because everyone seems to be talking about it, and it will work well for the story) is the extent of Kyo's curse.

CHAPTER I

The snow has started falling today. Soft and gentle as cherry blossoms it fell, coating the world in a crisp blanket like white linen.

It's times like this when I wished Honda-san could be enveloped with me under these blankets. I have the windows open. Some of the snow is blown inside, and the sharp, cold air is brushing my nose and cheeks with its fingertips.

I have my blanket wrapped around me. The only things showing are my eyes and nose. I'm huddled here, rodent that I am, poking my nose out of my nest.

The snow has always fascinated me, ever since I realized that it was the meaning of my name. I have always felt that the snow drags me into it. That the snow can form a blanket around me that will drive out the people around me who hurt me, but will easily give way to the people who want to know me. These people can brush the snow away from me, and see my protected self inside.

Hatori was disappointed with me. I remember when, back at the main house, I was curled up under a blanket on his sofa, watching it snow outside. I had been with Akito earlier that day, and Hatori had just finished checking me over, like he usually did after those visits. He gave me a hot cup of tea and a blanket to sit with on his couch. Back then his eye was still bandaged.

"Yuki?" He asked me. He leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees, his dark hair flopping over his eyes. I was still shivering with the thought of Akito hovering over me, that weak smile on his lips. Akito would reach out, and touch my hair, pulling it away from my face with his cold and clammy hands. Hatori's gentle administrations had calmed me some, though, and his serious dark eyes staring into mine made me give a small half smile. "When the snow melts," Hatori asked, "what does it become?"

I stared out at the snow. It muffled the world, creating calm silence with each flake that fell. "Uncle Hari," I said, "I don't want the snow to melt."

He looked a little sad, but ruffled my hair so I would know that it was all right. "It's time you went home, Yuki, so you can sleep."

Snow makes me think of sleep. It seems to me that snow only falls at night, or when you have your eyes closed. You have to be very alert to catch it when it first falls

Hatori and I were silent as we walked, hand in hand to the doorway. I was allowed to act like a child sometimes, Uncle Hari had told me. I don't think he ever approved of what Akito did to me behind closed doors.

The wooden floor creaked as I put on my shoes and wrapped my scarf around my neck. Hatori dropped my hat onto my head. I don't know if I was supposed to hear what he said as I left.

"Yuki. I hope one day someone will be able to break open the cocoon

you have made for yourself."

The snow muffled my footsteps and a small white cloud formed on my lips as I walked outside, the white of the snow and the dark purple of the sky contrasting like a dream.

I began to shiver. The window had been open for too long. Lightly, I slid out of bed, and stuck my head out in the wind. My hair batted around my face, burning my cheeks red with cold. I regretfully looked out in the direction of my secret base, which had grown what Honda-san and I had planted last spring. It now laid, buried under a foot of snow.

That small sacrifice was a small price to pay to be surrounded by snow.