Tohru's stomach growled.

"Are you hungry, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.

Tohru blushed. "A little."

He smiled. "Me too, I know a good restaurant close by."

Tohru nodded and followed him through the crowd, winding their way around people. Tohru looked around admiring the fallen snow. Clumps of the white powder surrounded the ground forming small hills of snow. She breathed in the sweet smell of cheerios as they walked past a stand.

She saw families waiting in line for the ferris wheel, small children jumping around excited. Couples holding hands as they walked by Tohru. She gazed at Yuki's hand which swayed beside him as he walked. She felt the urge to grab it and feel his warmth.

"Here we are." Yuki announced. They stopped in front of a tall two story building.

Zodiacs, the sign read.Vines hung from the side of a balcony which gazed over the frozen lake to the right. Small pedestals surrounded the building which held statues of the zodiac animals.

Tohru spotted a statue of the rat next to the statue of the cow. Outside, tables were set with a candle lit up. Red garments covered the tables, the sun reflected off the cloth making it glow bright orange.

"Wow." Tohru breathed.

Yuki chuckled beside her and opened the door. "After you, Miss Honda."

"Thank you." She smiled and walked inside the magnificent restaurant, Yuki followed behind her.

"So Yuki, the name Zodiacs, is that a Sohma thing?"

"Yes, the owner of this restaurant is a Sohma." He replied.

"Wow! Owner of this restaurant? That's amazing!" Tohru exclaimed. "Are they apart of the Zodiac curse too?"

Yuki shook his head. "No they are apart of the extended family."

"Oh okay."

"Hello there!" A lady with red curly hair walked up to them. She was wearing a white blouse with a long black skirt. A red apron tied around her waist.

"Hi!" Tohru greeted.

"My name is Carla and I'll be your waitress tonight. Table for two?"

"Yes please." Yuki said politely.

"Yuki Sohma isn't it?"

"That's me." Yuki replied.

"Great!" She exclaimed enthusiastically. "Right this wayyyy!" She walked out the building to the garden.

Yuki and Tohru followed her giggling softly.

Carla led them to a table for two next to a fountain in the garden. There was a lit candle sitting on the table. Willow trees swayed in the evening wind.

"Will this do?" She gestured to the table near the fountain.

"What do you think, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked her.

She blushed. "Oh its okay really! Thank you very much."

Carla smiled as they took a seat, she handed their menus. "Take all the time you need, I'll come back once your ready to order."

"Thank you!" Tohru called as their waitress walked away.

"What do you like, Miss Honda?" Yuki asked.

"Hmm." She examined the choices. "That looks good, but so does that, oh! They have rice balls!"

Yuki chuckled. "Choose whatever you like."

"Oh, did you pick yours yet?"

He nodded.

"Oh! I'm sorry if I'm keeping you waiting!" Tohru chattered. "Its just that there's so many good food here and I don't wanna waste your time, but I should hurry up and choose my-"

"Miss Honda please." Yuki interrupted with a smile.

She abruptly stopped. "Hehe sorry."

"No, no it's alright. Your not wasting my time of course not. I'm glad that I get to spend this time with you, just the two of us."

"Really?" Tohru blushed.

Yuki held her hand. "Really."

She blushed even more.

"Y'all ready to take your order?" Carla asked.

Tohru jumped, she didn't even notice she was standing there. She also didn't notice the soft country accent their waitress had.

"Oh I'm sorry darling, I didn't mean to frighten you." She giggled.

Tohru laughed. "Oh no its okay! And yes we're ready."

"Okay." Carla got out a small note pad. "What can I get y'all?"

After Yuki and Tohru gave their orders a few moments later their food was brought to them under 10 minutes.

"Wow!" Tohru's eyes widened. "That was fast!"

"Isn't it?" Carla smiled placing their plates in front of them. "We Sohma's are very skilled."

"Your a Sohma??"

"Haha yes dear, you must be Tohru Honda, the beautiful girl everyone's talking bout." She reached out to shake her hand.

Tohru shook it gratefully. "Nice to meet you!"

"Pleasure is all mine, dear. Now y'all enjoy your food now and call me if ya need anything." She left the garden again.

Tohru took a bite out of the rice ball, flavor rushed into her mouth making it water. "Mmm!"

Yuki smiled at her and took a bite out of his salmon. "Delicious."

Tohru wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I wonder how Shigure, Kyo, Hana and Uo are doing."

Yuki swallowed and took a sip of a glass of water. "I'm sure their having as much fun as we are right now."

"Yeah." Tohru agreed taking another bite of her rice ball. I wonder how Uo and Kyo are doing sledding...

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

Uo ran as fast as her feet can take her. It was hard enough carrying her sled while running on snow, well more like trudging.

She finally reached Kyo who was lying on his stomach clutching his sled. Uo couldn't tell if he was breathing.

"Kyo." She whispered. She bend down next to him and turned him over so that his head was resting on her lap. She brushed the snow away from his face so she could get a better look. His forehead was bruised but no signs of other injuries. It was a good thing the snow was thick that day or something much worse could've happened.

She leaned forward and rested her ear against his chest trying to hear is heartbeat.

Ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump

She signed in relief, his still breathing.

Suddenly Kyo sat up gasping which startled Uo. "What.. The hell...?"

Uo inhaled sharply. He's okay, he's okay. But why am I worrying so much?

Kyo exhaled louldy. "Did I win?"

Uo rolled her eyes. "Out of all that happened right now, your still thinking about that stupid race?"

Kyo smirked. "Why? You sad I beat ya?"

Uo punched his arm. "Shut up orange top. Didn't you know curiosity killed the cat?"

He winced.

"Oh." She paused. "Did I say something-"

"But satisfaction brought it back." Kyo interrupted flexing his arm.

"Pssh okay, come on let's go." Uo stood up and started walking towards the building to return their sleds. She turned to around to check if Kyo was following her only to see him struggling go get up.

She walked back to him and held out her hand. "Need a lift?"

He grumbled and took her hand ungratefully pulling himself up. He flinched as the pain in his body spread.

"Here I'll carry your sled." Uo grabbed his blue sled from the ground.

Kyo nodded briskly and started trudging towards the building, not saying a word to Uo, which was fine with her considering the bad mood he was in.

Once they got inside and returned their sleds, Kyo collapsed on top of one of the couches breathing heavily.

"Here."

He looked up to see Uo holding two mugs of hot chocolate.

"Thanks." He mumbled taking one.

She sat next to him but not close enough that they were right beside each other.

"You okay?" She asked him.

Kyo took a sip from his drink. "Why would you care?"

Uo was taken back. "Well excuse me, I could've left you all alone lying in the snow."

He grunted and looked away.

"I told you not to slide up that ramp in the first-"

"Well, well, well if it isn't the carrot." A deep voice bellowed.

Kyo looked up and glared to see the guy he argued with before when they were getting their sleds.

Uo looked at him for the first time. He had long brown, shaggy hair that went all the way down to his waist in a braid. Short mustache and a white earing on his left ear. He wore a plain white T-shirt with ripped baggy jeans. His leather boots covered in snow.

"What do you want ya bastard?" Kyo muttered.

The guy smirked. "Nothing really, that was a nice landing you did out there."

"Keep your noise out of someone else's business or I'll just have to break it." He snarled.

He frowned. "Yeah sure, carrot. Your no threat to me, you and your stupid girlfriend."

Kyo stood up enraged. "She's not my girlfriend!"

"Whatever, girlfriend or not. Your just some stupid ass weakling who can't even back himself up. No wonder you were dumb enough to hit that ramp. I saw you flying in the air shrieking like a 5 year old. How manly."

Uo had enough and stood up. "Shut your damn face up!"

"Or what?" The guy smirked. "Your gonna call your boyfriend?"

To Kyo's surprise Uo punched the guy in the face.

He yelped in pain. A red mark of a fist showed on his face.

"What's wrong tough guy?" Uo sneered. "Crying over a punch in the face by a girl?"

His eyes gull of hatred. "You better watch who your dealing with, bitch." With that he he turned around and stomped out the building slamming the door behind him. A few tourists looked around wide-eyed as if the guy was gonna come back with a freaking gun.

Uo cracked her knuckles. "Hope he doesn't forget that." She looked over to where Kyo was sitting his head was down and his eyes full with thought.

She sat down next to him. "Hey I know you must feel embarrassed for a girl sticking up for-"

"Its not that." He mumbled.

Uo blinked, why do I keep getting interrupted? Then she shook her head. "What then?"

He sighed heavily. "Why are you so nice to me, Yankee?"

"Nice? I wouldn't say nice."

"I mean, why do you stick up for me? After all, we technically hate each other. Why do me that favor?" He muttered.

Uo sat back tilting her head forward. "I'm not sure actually. I mean your a real jerk orange top. I just don't like seeing people get picked on. Tohru for example, she's one of my bestest friends. I'll always stick up for her."

"But that's different, Tohru, you guys known each other for a long time. Why me?"

Uo looked at him straight in the eye. "I guess we'll have to find out."

Kyo looked away.

Uo smirked. "Aw is orange top becoming a softy?"

That got him fired up. "Softy?? What the hell you blabbering about, Yankee? I'm twice more tough as you'll ever be." He walked towards the door. "Come on, I'm hungry."

Uo got up and followed him snickering. Yeah, he does have a soft side.