Yuki Souma is the rat of the Chinese Zodiac. He is very popular with his classmates, so much so that they use various nicknames to call him, like “Prince Yuki”, or “Prince Charming”. The reason lies with the way Yuki acts: he is quiet, reserved, plus, he has delicate features. But the flip side of his personality is that Yuki is very insecure. Although loved by everyone, he hates his girly looks, and doesn't know exactly how to interact with others; yet, he manages to maintain a collected attitude, staying very formal and kind whenever he speaks to them. As to why Yuki turned so insecure and unable to interact with people, the reason is a past of emotional abuse: when he was young the head of the family kept him isolated, trying to convince him that no one needed him.

Yuki's cuteness is in plain sight. Firstly, there's his appearance: he has purple eyes, and dark gray hair. Plus, he has androgynous features, and he likes wearing tight-fitting clothes, often in Chinese style. Aside from his looks, which are a feast for the eye, it's Yuki's character to catch the attention. Yuki seems to be very talented in whatever he tries to do, but even though he is very popular, he finds it very difficult to be friendly. However, throughout the show, we see Yuki grow up: he gradually opens up to people, and starts expressing his feelings more often. If there's a thing he envies/admires of Kyo, that's his ability to befriend people without efforts. What's more, Yuki's difficult past ignites the viewers' sympathy, making Yuki easy to love, and impossible to forget!

Kyo Souma is cursed by the spirit of the cat of the Chinese Zodiac. Unlike Yuki, Kyo is short-tempered, competitive, and sometimes even rude. His classmates love teasing Kyo by calling him “Kyon-Kyon”, and he always becomes very angry about it. In spite of the way he acts, Kyo has a softer side to him, which he tends to hide. In fact, Kyo gets unexpectedly embarrassed in certain circumstances, all the more when Tohru Honda is involved. Exactly like Yuki, Kyo had a difficult childhood of emotional abuse, as his mother committed suicide and his father blamed him for it. Being the cat of the Chinese Zodiac, you can understand why he cannot stand Yuki, who is cursed by the rat.