Disclaimer- I do not own Fruits Basket, Natsuki Takaya does. Enjoy!

Chapter 1. Ringing Doorbells

Kazuma pushed Kyo forward albeit with some difficulty. Kyo resisted but it was to no avail, his Shishou was just too strong. Kazuma crouched down and was immediately assaulted by a pair of arms wrapping themselves along his neck.

Kazuma smiled softly before picking Kyo up. "Now Kyo, we've talked about this already." Kazuma could feel Kyo's hold on him tighten as Kyo shyly buried his head in the crook of his neck. "You're staying over with Cousin Shigure and Cousin Hatori, remember?"

Kyo shook his head and whimpered. He felt like he was being abandoned. Again. "I want to stay with Shishou."

"Kyo, I have to go to the mountains and train the other students. I can't bring you. It's too dangerous."

"I'm strong." Kyo said meekly as he brought his head out of Kazuma's neck. Kazuma chuckled.

"I know you are." Kazuma placed him back down to the ground. The air felt dirty without his Shishou holding him. He frowned and scuffled his shoes across the gravel. "I need you to be strong for me now, Kyo. Be a good kid for Shigure and Hatori while I'm gone."

Kyo pouted. "How long will you be gone?"

"Three weeks." Three weeks was a very long time especially in the tender mind of a five year old. He nodded though the movement was strained and rigid. Kazuma smiled and patted his head. Before Kyo could say anything else, he was scooped up by none other than Shigure who was waiting patiently at the threshold of the door.

"All is done then," Shigure said cheerily. Kyo automatically tensed, he did not like being held by people besides his Shishou. "Don't worry, Kazuma-san. I will take good care of Kyo-chan here."

Kyo scowled at the name but didn't say anything. Shigure noticed the action and bounced Kyo lightly, startling the cat and causing him to cling tighter to him. Pleased at the action, Shigure laughed.

Kazuma looked over Shigure with some weary. Without a doubt, Shigure was a respectable, young man though there were some things about Shigure that were questionable – like certain perverse habits. He was slightly worried of leaving an impressible Kyo with him. He only hoped that Hatori, who was also aiding over the watch, would keep Shigure on a short leash.

"Yes, I'll be off now." Kazuma shouldered the bag that he had dropped earlier when he had caressed Kyo. "Sorry for bothering you, Shigure." Shigure waved the apology off. "Kyo, be good."

Kyo nodded. It wasn't long before Shigure and Kyo couldn't see Shishou's silhouette anymore through all the forest.

"Well then, let's go inside before we catch our death." Shigure grabbed Kyo's bag full of clothes and dropped them at the base of the door. He will deal with the clothes later. A grip still tight on Kyo, Shigure continued his journey toward the kitchen.

"Are you hungry, Kyo?"

Kyo shook his head as he stared at the door with yearning. He missed his Shishou already. Shigure placed him down on the counter where he then scavenged the freezer. After a mad frenzy that lasted duration of only minutes, Shigure slammed the fridge close, a heavy look of contemplation on his face.

"Cousin Shigure? What's wrong?" Kyo felt slightly frightened. He hardly ever saw his Shigure act so serious; that was Hatori's job.

"Well, Kyo," Shigure sighed dramatically as he placed his wrist tenderly on his forehead. "It seems that we need to order out to eat."

A thought crossed him mind and he was instantly mollified. Shigure turned to him fully and grinned. "I think I'll go call Aaya!"

Without much thought, Shigure bounded out of the kitchen and down the hall where the phone sat in its cradle. Kyo could hear the distance sound of a phone turning and Shigure's off tuned humming. It wasn't long before he heard the sound of the front door opening. Kyo immediately got hopeful. Maybe Shishou has decided to take me with him.

Kyo was disappointed when Hatori came in instead. Hatori looked startled at the sight of Kyo and quickly rushed toward him.

"Kyo," Hatori wrapped his arm around Kyo and picked him up. "What are you doing on the counter? It's not safe."

"Cousin Shigure." That was all he needed to say.

Speak of the devil, Shigure walked right in as Hatori echoed his name and Kyo nodded his head in confirmation.

"Oh, Hari!" Shigure skipped up to the duo, still obliviously unaware of his predicament. "When did you get here? I just ordered out, we're having Chinese!"

"You left Kyo on the counter, Shigure!" Hatori immediately scowled. Shigure's smile faltered for mere seconds before recoiling back into a pleasant smile. "You're supposed to be watching him."

"Oh, I did, didn't I?" Shigure said as he placed a finger under his chin. He looked from the empty space on the counter then to Hatori who held Kyo in his arm.

"He could've fallen."

"He's a cat. He'll land on his feet." Hatori gave him a sharp look. Shigure instantly backed down.

"I'm sorry," Shigure cried dramatically as he tugged on Hatori's jacket vigorously. "I won't do it again, I swear! Don't hate me, Hari!"

Hatori sighed. It was too early for Shigure's loud antics. "Be quiet, Shigure. You're giving me a headache."

Shigure smiled as he plucked Kyo out of Hatori's unexpected arm. "We're having Chinese for breakfast, Kyo! Do you like Chinese?"

Kyo shrugged his shoulder, but Kyo's nonchalant behavior didn't faze Shigure the least. He placed Kyo down, before looking toward Hatori.

"You're staying over, right?" Shigure asked as he moved toward the living room. Shigure looked back to make sure that Kyo was following suit, he was.

"Yes. The Main House has been suffocating as of late." Hatori said grimily as he sat down next to Shigure.

"You should move out like me." Thanks to riches of the Sohma family each zodiac was given money monthly. Shigure moved out and got his own house once he turned sixteen, much to the displeasure of Akito and the elders but Shigure was too strong willed to be swayed. His house was only months old.

"Maybe."

Shigure hummed whimsically before spotting Kyo who was still standing, looking bored.

"Come here, Kyo." He waved Kyo over with his hands in a slow, lazed motion.

Kyo remained rooted.

Shigure frowned slightly. "What's wrong, Kyo? Do you wanna play?"

Kyo shook his head.

"Doesn't talk much." Shigure remarked dryly toward an observing Hatori.

Shigure leaned over and pulled Kyo into his lap, much to Kyo's objection. "Don't fuss, Kyo. Be a good boy. Remember what you said to, Kazuma?"

Kyo stilled in Shigure's hold, annoyed that Shigure was using his promise toward his Shishou against him. Kyo was a strong believer in keeping promises. He saw it as unmanly if he broke promises and in his five year old mind, he was quite the man. Shigure smirked at Hatori who only rolled his eyes.

After a brief moment of quiet, Shigure howled impatiently. "When is breakfast going to get here?"

Hatori got up and returned a few minutes later with a plastic cup filled with milk.

"Here," Hatori held the milk out toward Kyo. When Kyo didn't take it, he held it closer, an encouraging smile made its way onto his face. "It's alright."

"I'm the hungry one, Hari- not Kyo." Shigure mumbled as he rested his chin lightly on top of Kyo's head. If Hatori heard Shigure's words, he made no indication of it.

A small hand reached out to obtain the said drink. Kyo murmured a small thank you before drinking. His Shishou had always taught him how to be polite. Shigure and Hatori stared at Kyo, somewhat awed at how adorable Kyo looked as he sipped milk from his sippy cup. Forgetting that he was sitting in Shigure's lap, Kyo sipped his milk contently.

"Well, who knew that Hari could be so gentle." Shigure coed. Hatori immediately frowned and diverted his eyes away from the drinking Kyo.

"Be quiet, Shigure." Hatori snapped.

"I should take a picture of our little Kyo!" Shigure squealed indignantly, as he disturbed Kyo slightly. Before Shigure could go on a rampage for a camera, the two teen heard a slight scuffle at the door.

"Is that the delivery man?"

Hatori got up but there was no need because as soon as he did, the door busted open and presented a glamorous looking Ayame. "Shigure, Hatori!" Ayame chorused loudly as he made wild gestures. "Never fear, I, Ayame Sohma, have come to greet you with the presence of my beauty."

"Ayaa!" Shigure sang happily from his position on the floor. Ayame waltzed up to him and placed an index finger on Shigure's pronounced lips.

Ayame leaned in seductively. "It is my pleasure to dine with such a beautiful man as yourself, Gure."

"Ayame," Hatori said sternly. Ayame quickly turned to face Hatori and leaned his weight on him. "Oh, Hari, don't be jealous. There's enough of me to go around. You know what, I think I'm going to -"

Ayame's tangent was broken by the sound of small coughing. Ayame whipped around and was surprised to see a standing Shigure holding a coughing Kyo and was patting his back to help alleviate the cough.

"Milk must have gone down the wrong pipe." Hatori moved toward Shigure and Kyo. Every now and then, patting the small of Kyo's back. "You're too loud, Ayame." Hatori scolded.

Shigure snickered. "Your loudness must have startled our Kyo."

Not taking any offense, Ayame looked Kyo over, surprised. "What is this? I didn't know little Kyonkichi was here." Ayame gently brushed a wrinkle in Kyo's clothes away. Once the cough had alleviated, Kyo's eyes started to droop. It wasn't long before he was sleeping on the shoulder of none other than a pleased Shigure.

"Kazuma has asked Shigure and I to watch him."

Ayame instantly brightened. "Then can I use him as a model for some of my new clothes?"

"Sure."

"No!"

"But Hari!" Once Ayame's voice reached an ungodly high pitch that was an impossible feat to accomplish by many men, Hatori found himself fiddling his pocket for medicine. He came out empty.

This was going to be a long three weeks.

A/N: First off, my lovely Beta did not Beta this yet so I'm sorry that you guys have to stomach my horrible grammar with the time being. She's been busy as of late. Instead of doing my homework, I decided to write this instead.

Slightly spur of the moment, so I'm not sure if I'm going to continue this or not.

I have to say, this is quite different from what I usually write and read. I usually write angst/hurt/comfort so excuse the amateur quality of this genre. So, this was inspired after reading many fics of Kyo when he was little (instead of doing my homework. I'll regret it later, I know.).

If you want me to continue this, please review. Suggestions are also very welcomed.

Anyway, please R&R. Reviews inspire me and make me happy. No flames please.

3/31/13