Yuki x Haru1st Person – Yuki (well after show ends)- 14 -

I always thought I loved Ms. Honda, but the more time I spent with Haru; the more I began to appreciate what he did for me. I never thought I would return the favor much less fall in love with him. It was nearly three years after Ms. Honda starting living in the same house as Shigure, Kyo, and I. Kyo, Ms. Honda, and I had graduated from high school. We all continued to live with Shigure. Kyo and Ms. Honda talked about moving out into the city and living together. I stopped smiling after I heard that, right after we left the school. During the summer months, Haru appeared at Shigure's door before Kyo and Ms. Honda moved.

"Can I steal Yuki today?" Haru asked Shigure, putting his arm around me.

I glared into my eyelids. Just what I need, I thought, a whole day alone with Haru. As long as Kyo never showed his face, Haru wouldn't go black.

"Sure," Shigure said, "just don't come back here for se—"

I rushed over to Shigure and hit him hard on the head. Haru grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the house. Once we were a good way away from the house, he turned to me. "Don't let him get to you, Yuki," Haru said.

I sighed. "You know everything he says is made to annoy others."

Haru looked at his watch. "We're going to be late." He grabbed my hand and pulled me all the way to the movie theater. The whole way, I felt my face turn warm.

Haru bought us both tickets and we sat next to each other. At one point, Haru slipped his hand back in mine. My face grew hot again. I allowed him to do so only during the movie. At least, someone still cared.

When the movie let out, Haru took me out to lunch and then bought me ice cream. As Haru was paying for the ice cream, I began to think. Did something happen and Haru is trying to put me in a good mood to tell me? Is he just trying to get me away from Kyo? Is Ms. Honda planning something for me and Haru is the distraction?

"What are you thinking about, Yuki?" Haru asked, handing me an ice cream cone.

"Why are you doing this, Haru?" I asked my cousin.

"I want to spend time with you," Haru said. He looked down after I took my ice cream. "You've seemed a little sad. I want to see you smile the way you did last year. I found out from Momiji that Kyo and Tohru have decided to move out and live together. I understand that they go out a lot together, too. I don't want you to hurt." He grabbed my hand again.

I acted annoyed, trying to hide my blushing face. I pulled my hand out of his. "I'm not hurt," I snapped, hiding my eyes behind my hair. "If it makes Ms. Honda happy, then I'm happy."

"No, you're not," Haru said. "You haven't smiled since you graduated. Shigure told me that that was when Kyo and Tohru told you about their plans. I'm helping them move out this weekend.

"Have you heard back from the book store?"

I looked at him, fairly confused. He had changed the subject to try to cheer me up. "Yeah, I start next Wednesday," I told him, allowing for his subject change.

"Would you mind if I came and visited you on your first day?" he asked me. "I have a treat for you."

"Sure," I replied, still surprised.

That weekend, I aided Ms. Honda and Kyo in starting their movie. The two had bought some furniture ahead of time and it was all placed in Kyo's room. Kyo and I were attempting to carry a love seat down the stairs when Haru showed up.

"Good day, Hatsuharu," Ms. Honda said, answering the door.

"Er… Hi, Tohru," Haru replied. "Am I late?" Kyo and I had gotten the love seat halfway down the stairs. Kyo was towards the bottom of the stairs while I was at the top. "It seems you're getting the biggest piece out already."

"Yeah, they've been working on that love seat for a while, Hatsuharu," Ms. Honda told Haru. "Ayame still hasn't arrived with the truck yet. We have to talk to the landlord by three this afternoon."

"Why don't you pick up your side, you damn rat!" Kyo yelled.

I closed my eyes. "My side is up, stupid cat. Why don't you try walking backwards with your weak legs," I snapped back.

Haru came up behind Kyo and stopped his protest. "Why don't you help Tohru out with the small things? I'll help Yuki with the love seat."

Kyo, at the promise of spending time with Ms. Honda, shifted his end of the love seat to Haru. Haru and I got the seat out into the yard shortly afterward. That just proves that that stupid cat really is worthless, I thought.

"When we're done here," Haru started, looking at the love seat, "would you mind coming out with me again, today?"

"I would mind, but I don't think I have a choice." I looked at him and smiled as he glanced up.

He looked at me with surprise on his face. Before I knew what was happening, Haru had his arms around my neck. "You haven't smiled in such a long time," he whispered in my ear.

My face felt warm against his neck and a warm beating came from my chest. What is this feeling? It's like when Ms. Honda started living with us. It's the same feeling.

"Why don't you two love birds find some place else to do that," Kyo screamed from the doorway. "Damn, you just can't keep your hands off each other."

Haru pulled away from me. "Why don't keep your nose out of other people's business?" Haru asked, turning black.

A sweatdrop formed on my head as Kyo and Haru fought, verbally and physically. Ms. Honda came back out and placed a box on the love seat. She saw Haru and Kyo fighting. She looked worried. "Oh, please don't fight," she mumbled, knowing that they couldn't hear her.

"Don't worry about it, Ms. Honda," I told her. I didn't smile like I had when she first met Black Haru. "They'll be done in a moment and Haru will go white again."

"I know, but I'm still going to worry about it," she told me. She sighed and looked at me with a smile. "Could you help me with a box from upstairs? It's really heavy."

"Of course," I replied. It made me feel sad that Ms. Honda was leaving Shigure's house. Kyo was paying for the rent of the apartment and food. Ms. Honda would pay for her own things while Kyo paid for the rest through the Sohma main house and a job he had just started at the dojo his master runs.

I followed Ms. Honda upstairs. She pointed at the box. "That's the heavy one," she said. "I don't want you to do it by yourself. I had a tough time picking it up just to move it closer to the door."

I walked over to the box and lifted it up. It wasn't as heavy as she made it seem, but it wasn't exactly light. I could see why she would have trouble with it. I was much stronger than she was because of my martial arts training. "It's not that heavy," I said. I felt rude by saying that. "At least, it isn't for me." I didn't feel my face warm up like it used to, or like it had for Haru. Maybe, I've finally given up on her, I thought to myself. Maybe it's a good thing that she's leaving me alone. Oh, but she's not going away forever. She's only moving to the city. It's not like she's leaving the country. I carried the box downstairs and sat it next to the love seat. It seems I have missed my chance.

Haru walked up to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. He and Kyo had stopped fighting and Haru had switched back to white. "You're thinking again, Yuki," he said. "What's bothering you this time?"

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter," I replied, seeing if he could drop it.

"You're sad that Tohru's leaving with Kyo, aren't you?" Haru asked. He was looking concerned. "She's going to the same school as you are, so you'll see her at school and possibly at work." He turned to Ms. Honda who had followed me out with another small box. "Are we done here?"

Ms. Honda looked at him. "Huh? Oh, yeah, at least, the large items are downstairs. Kyo and I can get the rest. I see Ayame coming down the street now."

"Is it okay if Yuki and I just go on?" Haru asked.

Ms. Honda nodded. "Sure," she said. "After we check in with the landlord, I'll come back and make dinner for everyone."

The last dinner she'll make for me, I thought. I guess, I'll have to put up with take out or Shigure's cooking again. Haru grabbed my hand and dragged me, once again, towards town. He pulled me until we had passed Ayame and Hatori in the truck. Haru took me to another movie, holding my hand the whole time. The movie was a comedy and it made me laugh a lot. I never thought I could laugh like that. Now that Haru has seen me laugh like this, is he going to use it against me? No, he's not like that. He would keep it to himself or at least tell Ms. Honda. After the movie was over, Haru and I started on our way home.

"Yuki, is this okay with you?" Haru asked me when we were alone. "Is it okay that I keep taking you out like this?"

I didn't know what he was talking about. He's only taking me out to help me forget about Ms. Honda's move. He's only trying to be a friend... That thought hurt for some reason. Did I want him to be more than a friend? No, he's my cousin. That's the closest we could ever get to one another. That's the closest I want to get to him... "Yes, it's okay," I told him, "because I know you're only doing it to keep me smiling." I smiled at him. Why do I only smile at him now? What's so special about Haru? "You want me to feel better about Ms. Honda leaving. I appreciate it."

Haru stopped walking and looked at me. I stopped just a little ahead of him and looked back, no longer smiling. "You won't smile for Tohru anymore, but you'll smile for me?"

I smiled again. "I guess so," I replied. What am I doing?

Haru and I walked to Shigure's house. When we reached the door, Haru took both my hands in his. "I hope everything gets better," he told me.

"You're not staying for dinner?" I asked. I wanted, deep inside, for him to stay by my side for a little longer. Before this, Ms. Honda was the light that made me warm and happy. She was the only person that could get me to smile. I never wanted her to leave me alone. Now, she was doing just that and Haru was slowly taking her place. I knew Haru felt that he loved me because I had allowed him to vent his anger towards me. I had allowed him to become free form hatred. He now had the power to make me smile. I don't know what it was that did it, but it was something.

He shook his head. "No, I can't," he said. "School starts tomorrow for me and I have to get home before Hatori has a fit." Haru looked down, looking somewhat sad. "I wish I could stay." He took a step forward. His head came towards mine and he hesitated. I felt my cheeks grow warm. Haru continued forward and kissed my cheek. He turned and ran down the road. I put my hand slowly to my cheek. It was unnaturally warm.

"Oh, Yuki," Ms. Honda's voice said form the door. "Haru isn't staying for dinner?"

I turned towards her. "No, he starts school tomorrow. He is a third year and a part of the student council. He has to be up early." I walked into the house.

Shigure walked into the entrance hall. "You look flushed, Yuki," he said. "Did you get your first kiss? And only on the second date. Tsk, tsk, you two should know that you have to wait until the third one."

Ignore him. I walked past my older cousin and into the dining room. Ms. Honda had dinner already out and Kyo was eating. I sat down and started eating, as well.

"You sure took your damn time," Kyo said, angrily. "You know that Tohru cooks long and hard and you don't even have the decency to show up on time to eat it. YOU HAVE NO GRATITUDE!"

"Kyo," Ms. Honda said, "it's quite all right. You and Yuki worked hard today so you deserve to take your time."

Kyo looked guilty. "Mm-hmm, whatever," he said.

"So, the cat has finally been conquered by a girl," I said, wanting to fight with the stupid cat one last time before he left. "I always thought that he had a chance over women, but I guess even they can beat him."

"WHAT WAS THAT!" Kyo yelled in response.

I smiled inside my mind. "Oh, still not listening, too, I see. You're never going to make it in the real world."

"Oh, you're still living with Shigure! At least, I'm moving out on my own!"

That offended me, but I guess I deserved it. "Who says I'm not moving out!" I yelled at him, slamming my chopsticks on the table. "How do you know that once you're gone, I'm not going to go out and find myself a new home out of this horrible city!" I kind of meant it, but only one person came to mind, Haru. He was the only person who had gotten me to smile again. "Now that you're going to be gone, I'll be able to find a place without you breathing down my neck!" Without another word, I stood up and walked out of the room. I walked upstairs and locked myself in my room.

The next few days went by too fast for my taste. Kyo and Ms. Honda came over every morning to see if we had food for the day. The moment Kyo walked in, I went back to my room. Haru called me every night, having (somehow) learned of Kyo and Ms. Honda's visits. For a short time, he would get me to smile and laugh, taking my mind off my problems. Wednesday finally rolled around and my first day of work crept up on me. I got to the bookstore ten minutes early. My new boss let me start early. I did inventory for what seemed hours. When Haru walked in, I felt less gloomy. I smiled at him and he sat next to me on the floor, while I tallied books.

"How is it going so far, Yuki?" he asked me.

"Good," I replied.

"You haven't seen Tohru or Kyo, yet?"

I shook my head. "It's been rather slow today," I said. "I've only had to help a customer once or twice."

"The old members of your fan club seem to have been lurking in the shadows." He looked behind him. Around the corner of the bookshelf, three girls stuck their head out with evil-glowing eyes.

"Yes," I said. "They were there when I came to work." I sighed. "It seems like I can't get away from my high school life as fast as I thought."

"When are you getting out of work?" Haru asked me.

"Um... In about twenty minute," I replied.

"What are you doing afterwards?"

I thought about it. It was Wednesday. Ms. Honda said she would come over that night to make dinner for Shigure and I. She would be bringing Kyo with her. "Ms. Honda was going to cook dinner tonight, but she would be bringing that stupid cat. I guess I could get out of it or just not go."

"How about I take you to dinner? You won't have to deal with Kyo or Shigure. I have something special for you." He smirked.

My curiosity became similar to that of a child's. "What is it?" I asked, trying to be calm.

He smiled as if hiding a secret. "You'll see." He stood up. "I'll come back in a few minutes, when you get off."

I smiled and waved at him. He ran out. I finished my work as fast as I could. After I had finished, my boss put me on cashier for a little bit.

"Kyo, please wait out here," a familiar voice from the front door. Ms. Honda walked into the bookstore and up to me. "I see they've already put you on cashier."

"I just finished my work and they needed me to do something for the last few minutes of my shift," I told her. I felt rather sad. She had brought Kyo with her, but had made him stay outside. "What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to Shigure's to make dinner and thought that I would see if you would like to have some company home." She smiled at me.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Honda," I started, trying not to offend her, "but Haru is taking me out tonight. I hope you don't mind."

She smiled more. "No, that's fine. It's nice to see that you have someone to hang out with. I haven't seen you smile in a while. Everything is okay, right?"

I nodded. "Everything's fine." I didn't feel right smiling around her anymore. I wanted to save my smiles and laughs for Haru. I didn't know that at the time, but I did know that she wasn't the one I wanted to smile with anymore. It's time for me to find someone who won't leave me for a stupid cat.

"Well, have fun," she said and left.

I clocked out not long after that and waited outside for Haru. He came running up just as I was leaving the store. He escorted me to the restaurant he had chosen and we ate. After eating and before paying for the meal, Haru took up my hand. My cheeks went warm again.

"What do you feel right now?" he asked me. "Do you feel happy or uncomfortable?"

I shadowed my eyes behind my bangs. "A little of both," I replied.

"I've noticed you let me hold your hand more and more. You've only smiled around me. Tohru told me that you always look sad."

"What doesn't Ms. Honda tell you?" I asked him.

Haru smirked. "If you want me to stop doing these things for you, just tell me. If you don't want to continue on these… 'dates,' let me know."

I shook my head. "I wouldn't call them 'dates' because then we would be going out." I thought about that. What if Haru thinks he's my boyfriend because I've let him take me out so much? I guess, Haru is my boyfriend. It sounded all right mentally. How did it sound saying it aloud?

"How should I put this?" Haru thought for a moment. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

"Technically," I started in a low and somewhat embarrassed voice, "we are going out already." I looked down, hiding my blushing face. I looked up at him, bringing confidence to myself. "Yes, I will be."

It was really weird to have a boyfriend. I never thought that I would end up with a guy. I always thought Ms. Honda would be my first girlfriend, but I guess, Haru was already in love with me. He told me that when he walked me home that night, giving me a kiss on the cheek and a hug before leaving. I felt very alone. What really bothered me: Shigure found out, somehow.

"So, it's finalized then?" he asked me. "Yuki and Haru are finally an item. Next thing I know, Yuki and Haru will be moving into the city leaving this pour old man all by himself."

I let him brood over that as I walked up to my room. I locked the door and fell asleep almost immediately.

School started shortly after I started working. My boss wasn't too happy that I had to adjust my work schedule around my school one. Haru and I went on dates every Friday night. He stopped by the store every day to talk and hang out with me. Sometimes, when I worked late, he would pick me up and walk me home. He usually ended up staying the night because of his bad sense of direction. It wasn't really a bad sense of direction as much as not being able to recognize things once he was in unfamiliar territory. If he had been led to a place more than once, he could make it there by himself a few times until he forgot.

A month into college, Shigure told me that Akito wished to see me at the main house right away. I was scared at what Akito would have to say to me. He found out about Haru, didn't he? Shigure probably told him. What is he going to do to me?

I went right over to the main estate and right to Akito, promising to see Haru when I was done. Akito sat in the front of the room and watched me enter. I kneeled on the floor and waited for him to address me, as was custom.

"You think you can be happy with Haru, Yuki?" Akito said, after a few moments of silence.

I didn't answer, knowing he had something in store for me no matter what I did. Just as I thought, he walked up to me. "You continue to stay with him, Yuki," he whispered into my ear, "and you'll find yourself in your special room."

I gasped as silently as I could. I don't want to revisit those memories or that room. Haru! I wanted to scream out at that very moment, but I kept myself composed.

"Leave my sight," Akito snapped, pushing me backwards.

I stood up and walked slowly out of the room. The fear of being beaten by Akito once again loomed over me as I made my way to Haru's room. I knocked on the door, Haru answering shortly afterwards. Something must have betrayed me right away.

"Yuki, what's wrong?" Haru let me into his room. I knelt on the floor, closing my eyes. "What happened? Did Akito call you?" I nodded. "What did he say?"

"He told me to stop seeing you." I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to see Haru's face. My whole body felt numb as if Akito had already beaten me.

"Can you wait for me to get out of high school?" he said.

I opened my eyes and looked at him with a mix of surprise and confusion. "I don't think I understand."

"When I start college, we'll move north, out of the city and away from Akito," he said. "Even if Akito summons you, don't come back here without me with you. I'll do everything I can to protect you."

I didn't know what to say. It did make me feel better about the whole thing. I could continue to see Haru. I still had a chance at being happy. I nodded after another moment. "Thank you," I said, smiling.

Haru stood and sat behind me. He wrapped an arm around me and pulled me to him. "You know I'd do anything for you," he whispered to me.

I didn't fight. I was warm. I continued to smile.

My first year of college was finally over. I was transferring to the college in the north where Haru and I had rented our apartment. Although Haru and I had been seeing each other as a couple for over a year, I wasn't exactly sure if I loved him. It was really awkward in my mind to call Haru my boyfriend. There was little that I kept from him now. He had seen me at my best and worse. The scary part: Haru found out I was ticklish. Every time I was sad and we finished talking, Haru would pounce, pin, and tickle me. He never did it around the rest of the family, only when we were alone.

Haru and I moved at the beginning of summer. He was starting college, as well. New Year's rolled around quickly and Haru and I started on our way to the Sohma main house. I was very shaky and nervous. Akito had asked me to see him as soon as I got to the main house. Haru said he would accompany me because Akito hadn't said to go alone.

We got to the house and knelt on the floor in Akito's room. Haru sat next to me instead of behind.

"Do you really think you can run away from me, Yuki?" Akito said in his hauntingly calm voice. "Moving north doesn't get you out of the cage."

I remained silent, fearing what he might do to me. He seemed to be ignoring Haru's presence.

Akito walked up to me and put his hand on my chin. He forced my face up to look into his eyes. I looked at them and felt even more afraid. "You will move back in with Shigure or back with your parents," he demanded.

I didn't move. I don't want to move back, I thought. I'm actually happy with Haru. I... I stopped my thoughts as Akito raised his hand.

"You will do as I say," he screamed and brought his hand down. He smacked me hard across the face.

Haru stood up and pushed Akito away from me. He had turned back faster than Akito could blink. "Don't touch him," he yelled. "You've caused Yuki enough suffering. Now that he's finally gotten away from you, you want to take that away. Well, you're going to have to go through me to do that."

Haru. I knew I couldn't stop him since he turned black, but I was stunned by his reaction. He was willing to protect me from my biggest fear. Haru had loved me before we started going out. He had accepted the fact that I was still uncertain of my true feelings, but I did like him enough to call him my boyfriend. Haru was the one person who could make me smile and laugh. Right then, I feared for my boyfriend. He was standing up to the head of the house and yelling at him. If it became physical, Haru wouldn't be able to defend himself while Akito tried to kill him.

I stood up, walking in front of Haru and putting my hands on his shoulders. "Let's go, Haru," I said, fighting back tears. "Let's go, please. The banquet's starting soon."

The look he saw in my eyes switched him back to White Haru. He took my hand off his shoulder and walked with me out of the room. He pulled me into an empty room, his old place, and we sat down. I started crying once the door was closed. Haru held me as I cried.

"I didn't mean to snap," Haru said. "I was trying to stop when he grabbed your face, but he pushed too far when he slapped you."

There's a fact that I want to get straight before I continue: Haru and I hadn't kissed yet. We lived together, went out on dates, and held hands, but we never kissed, at least, not on the lips. Haru kissed my cheeks and forehead that was it.

After I calmed down for a bit, I was able to talk. "I appreciate it, Haru," I said, softly. "No one would do that for me." I know I do, I just have to say it. I closed my eyes tightly. "I know now." My voice was soft, but confident. "I do love you."

Haru's arms tightened around me. "I love you, too," he whispered.

I opened my eyes and his face was looking into mine. We leaned towards each other and shared our first kiss together. It was my first kiss ever. We pulled away from each other when someone knocked on the door.

"We're waiting for you two lovebirds," Shigure said on the other side. "Hurry up!"

Haru stood, helped me up, and we walked to the banquet hall. Shigure thought it appropriate to talk about everything that happened since we moved away. For instance, Ms. Honda and Kyo had been invited to the Zodiac Banquet. They had news for everyone, which was one of the main reasons. It made me think: If Haru wasn't under the same curse as me, then he probably wouldn't be coming with me.

Haru and I entered the hall hand-in-hand behind Shigure. Ayame stopped short of glomping me when he saw Haru.

"Oh my, Yuki has a boyfriend," my older brother shouted. Everyone got quiet and stared. I blushed. Haru squeezed my hand. "Haru and Yuki sitting in a tree—"

"Enough, Ayame," Hatori said flatly, interrupting Ayame's song. "Leave them alone. The food is being served."

"Oh, goodness me, food!" Ayame forgot me and took his seat next to Hatori.

Luckily, I am the rat and Haru is the ox so we got to sit next to each other. Kyo sat on the other side of me with Ms. Honda on the other side of him. Kyo didn't look at me. The two of them seemed embarrassed. I was grateful that Kyo didn't want to fight me that day. I wanted to remember that night and the happy moment that had occurred just moments before. I didn't realize that I was smiling until Ritsu came up to me during Hiro's dance.

"Oh, Yuki, you look so happy. What has happened?" He was wearing a girl's kimono. Although, he did look good in it, it still seemed very wrong for him to be wearing it. I had become accustomed to weird things. I was dating Haru, after all. After just smiling at him, Ritsu started to panic at why I hadn't responded. "OH DEAR, I HAVE OFFENDED YUKI! I'M SO SORRY! I APPOLOGIZE TO THE WHOLE WORLD FOR MY INCOMPETENCE! I HAVE NO REASON TO CONTINUE LIVING!" Hiro continued to dance, but Shigure snuck over and poked Ritsu in the side. Ritsu immediately feel to the floor, though slowly and remained there for a moment. When he regained himself, he just left and returned to his seat.

"What was that all about?" Haru asked.

I smiled at him. "Ritsu being Ritsu," I replied.

The banquet ended, but no one was allowed to leave. Everyone was talking and, for only fifteen people (Akito was there, too), being rather loud. Kyo stood up and everyone fell silent. It was odd that Kyo was getting any respect at all that night because he was the cat, after all. Kyo, before now, had never been permitted into the banquet because of the folk tale and his curse. He sulked in everyone's silence for a few minutes. This will never happen to him again, I thought. I'm sure he already knows that.

"Um..." He blushed. "Tohru wanted me to tell everyone, although I don't know why she couldn't do it herself, but... anyway... I have asked Tohru to marry me." He continued to stand, flinching as if everyone was going to throw something at him.

Haru squeezed my hand, which he never let go of (I wasn't complaining about that). "Are you going to be okay?" he whispered in my ear.

I turned to him, still smiling. "Nothing can ruin tonight for me," I whispered back. He seemed to understand what I meant and smiled back.

Kisa stood up and ran to Ms. Honda. "Congratulations, sissy," she said, giving Ms. Honda a hug. I could see Hiro's jealous face.

Everyone stood to congratulate Ms. Honda and Kyo. I went to Ms. Honda. "I wish you the best of luck, Ms. Honda. Well, I guess you're going to be Mrs. Sohma, now."

"Yuki, you can call me Tohru," she said, smiling.

It seemed strange to me. I had been calling her "Ms. Honda" for over four years now. I knew her real name, but I always felt odd thinking of her as "Tohru." I nodded. "It that is what you want, Tohru," I replied.

Kyo tried to pick a fight with me when Haru dragged me over to him. He didn't succeed because I didn't want to stop smiling.

"Congratulations, Kyo," I said, interrupting his yelling fit. "Maybe now, you can become apart of the family I'm not longer a part of." Haru had his arm around my shoulder as we walked out of the banquet hall.

The next day, at breakfast, I bumped into Tohru (literally) in my half consciousness that I have first thing. I found myself a cat instead of the normal rat. Tohru looked extremely confused. I was fully awakened when she picked me up.

"Kyo, come here a moment," Tohru called to my rival.

Kyo walked up behind her. "Oh man, another cat."

"No," she started in reply, "it's Yuki."

"Huh?" He didn't seem to get it. "Wait a minute. If that's Yuki, then... Tohru, hug me."

It was her turn not to get it. They seemed to go back and forth doing that. They didn't process correctly and didn't hear properly, either.

"Oh, hell with it," he mumbled and hugged Tohru. Kyo turned into an oddly orange rat. "Does this mean...?"

"It would seem that their animals reversed," Haru explained, picking up my clothes and taking me from Kyo.

I purred and rubbed my head against his chest. It's fun being a cat, I thought.

"Yuki is now the cat and Kyo is now the rat. Kyo, you might want to give Yuki those beads now. He might have the full extent of the curse." Haru pet me behind my ears.

Tohru picked up the black and white beads that lay on the floor where Kyo had been as a human. She handed them to Haru.

"Now, who's the stupid cat?" Kyo yelled at me from amongst his clothing.

"Now, you're the stupid rat," I said, with closed eyes.

"Hey!" Kyo yelled some obscenities my way.

"Is it too early for this?" Haru asked me.

I nodded. "I'm ready to go back to bed."

Haru carried me back to our shared room. He placed me on the mat that I used and I transformed into my human form shortly after. I dressed, putting on the beads. "At least, we both get what we want," I said to Haru. He smiled back at me.