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Tohru Honda's mother passed away a few months ago, and her father died of an illness a long time ago.  She is in high school, and lives in a tent since she didn't want to be a burden to anyone.  Soon, she is discovered by Shigure and Yuki Sohma. They allow her to stay with them.  All the girls in her school are crazy for "Prince" Yuki Sohma.

Just as she is getting ready for school the next morning, who comes crashing through the ceiling but Kyo Sohma!  He usually fights physically with Yuki. Tohru tries to stop them and pull Kyo back, but she slips on a piece of plaster from the ceiling and hugs Kyo! POOF! He turns into the cat from the Chinese Zodiac legend!  Then Yuki transforms into the rat that tricks the cat, and Shigure turns into the dog.

Tohru soon finds out that the Sohma family lives with a curse. Each of them is possessed with the vengeful spirit of the zodiac animals.  Whenver they feel weak or are hugged by a member of the oppisite gender, they transform into their zodiac animal! 

As she goes on living with Shigure, Yuki,and Kyo, they realize how much a blessing she is to their dark, dark, days.