Hi. I decided to make a change in my stories because I have never written a Shigure fic and wanted to try something new. So…please tell me if it seems too OOC and please review.

Disclaimer: I am in a state of denial and refuse to admit that I do not own Fruits Basket! …I pretty much admitted to it, didn't I?

Shana's P.O.V

I sat in my seat in my new classroom, deeply engrossed in my latest novel-in-progress. No one knew I had been published under the penname Kisuke Yahiori five times. Now I was working on my sixth book.

"Miss Raoshi, can you put that away? Class is starting." The teacher asked.

I tore away from my beloved manuscript. 'Farewell my love! Parting is such sweet sorrow!' I thought.

"Now class, please welcome Miss Shana Raoshi. She just transferred here." A few people nodded at me in acknowledgement but most ignored my existence.

"Now, you're going to begin a partner project and I will be assigning partners. Let's see…Yuki…you'll be working with Shana…" The teacher continued droning on but I ignored her, scanning for whoever Yuki may be.

Someone poked my shoulder.

"Over there." A rough looking girl said, pointing to a boy with grey hair.

"Thanks. I'm Shana." I said to her.

"Arisa Uotani. Call me Uo." She said back.

"Arisa, you'll be working with Saki… Tohru, you'll be working with Kyo…that's the whole class."

I raised my hand.

"Yes, Shana?"

"You never told us what exactly the project is. Do you just expect us to make something up?"

"Well, yes actually. This is a creative writing assignment. You can write whatever you want…within reason." The teacher announced. I grinned. Piece-O-cake.

At Lunch

"Hey, Shana, come eat lunch with us!" Uo yelled at me.

I joined her and a group of other teenagers. The only one other than her that I recognized was Yuki and that's only because Uo was kind enough to point him out to me.

"Hi." I said to the group, notebook with my manuscript in hand.

"Hi. Ready for introductions?" Uo asked. I nodded.

"Ok. Orange-top over there is Kyo, the girl with the braid is Saki Hanajima but just call her Hana, the girl with brown hair is Tohru, and of course, I already pointed Yuki out to you although you haven't met properly." Uo said amazingly in one breath.

"Nice to meet you all." I said with a smile.

"What's that?" Tohru asked, meaning my manuscript.

"Well…uh…it's just something I write in my spare time." I use a penname for a reason.

"Oh."

"So you write a lot then?" Hana asked me. I nodded.

"The prince and yourself will make a great team then. After all, he gets all 4.0s." Uo said.

"The prince?" I asked curiously.

"Yuki has a fan club." Uo explained.

I couldn't help but laugh. "My god, what have I gotten myself into. I'm sure I'll be on their hit list now…not that that's anything new…"

Yuki blushed slightly.

"So…what do you even want to write?" I asked him.

"I…honestly don't know. Why don't you come over after school and we can brainstorm?" He asked me.

"Sounds cool."

I absently opened my notebook and took out a pencil. I re-read the last paragraph to regain the feeling from it.

"Why? Why do you have to leave, Erin? How can you do this to me?" Sarine sobbed.

"I…there are too many memories here, Sarine. I'm losing my mind." Erin answered sadly.

"So you abandon me! You made a commitment to me, Erin! You asked me to marry you!"

"I'm so sorry, Sarine. Really I am."

"I'm so sorry, Sarine. Really I am."

I didn't realize I had said that last line aloud until Uo looked at me and said "Huh? Who's Sarine?"

I went pale. "No one!"

"What do you mean, no one! Who's Sarine!" Uo persisted.

I shrugged and tucked my black hair behind my ears, returning to my writing.

After School

"See, we live with my cousin Shigure, but, I don't think he's home right now." Yuki explained as we walked up to the house.

"Well, that's pretty cool. I live alone." I said.

"Why?"

"Got sick of listening to my parents fight all the time so I moved out." I lied.

"I'm sorry." He looked at the ground.

"Don't worry about it. It really doesn't bother me."

"You can set your stuff down right here. I think Tohru and Kyo went to work elsewhere." Yuki said, showing me where to place my things.

"Thanks." I said, setting my stuff down and following him to a table.

"So, have you gotten any ideas?" I asked.

He shook his head, discouraged. "I'm not good with this kind of thing. She normally doesn't make us do this."

"No problem. Well, let's see, I guess a good place to start is with something that interests you." I said, feeling important.

He thought long and hard. I could tell he was trying really hard to come up with something.

"Don't force it. You have to let it come to you. It sounds much better and means much more when it comes to you naturally." I instructed.

"Too true." A voice behind me said.

I turned to see a man with dark hair carrying a few parcels in his arms.

"Shana, this is my cousin Shigure. Shigure, this is Shana." Yuki introduced.

I smiled. "A pleasure to meet you."

"You as well. You, young lady, seem to know a lot about writing. May I ask where you learned it?" Shigure asked casually.

"I'm a major lit freak." I admitted.

Then I noticed a book in his hands. It was my newest book. I wasn't even aware that it was out yet.

"Hey, do you like her writing?" I asked him casually.

"Yes. She's very good." Shigure said.

"I like the relationship she put between Emmy and Murloc." I said.

"How would you know? This is an advanced copy." Shigure inquired.

"Well, I know her editor. See, Nao is trying to get one of the novels I've written published." Thank God for my ability to make up a lie within seconds!

"This is amazing! You see, I too am a novelist!" Shigure exclaimed.

"Oh, by the way, your editor called again today." Shigure looked at the floor.

"I better go start writing…by the way…Tohru wanted me to give you these…" Shigure handed Yuki a parcel containing rice balls.

I laughed. "Well, why don't you brainstorm tonight Yuki and we can discuss things tomorrow." I suggested. He nodded.

"Bye."

At Home

"No, I did not meet a hunky teacher, Nao!" I said irritably. I could almost see the frown on her face.

"Who did you meet then?"

"Three sixteen year old girls, a couple sixteen year old guys, and another novelist." I said.

"Ooh. Another novelist! Guy or girl?" Nao asked on the other line.

"Guy." I answered, sighing in despair as I knew what was coming next.

"Was he hunky! Is he cute! Is he available! ARE YOU GOING TO DATE HIM!"

"Kinda. Kinda. I don't know. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DATE!"

"Well then, finish your manuscripts faster so you will!" Nao scolded.

"No. I like taking my time." I replied stubbornly.

"Whatever. Hey, I got the manuscript you had sent to me. Finished it already. Murder/romance, I like. I'll have it edited a.s.a.p."

"Huzzah." I answered.

"Hey, want me to come pick you up for lunch? We can go get some coffee or something."

"Sure. See ya then, Nao."

"See ya."

I stared at the sky from my balcony. I was actually thinking about what Nao had been telling me lately.

"Who would want to date me!" I mumbled and then climbed into bed.