"Yuki! Yuki, wait!" he heard the voice behind him, but kept walking, despite the overwhelming regret that tore at him. "Yuki, please, come back!" she called. He kept walking.

He heard her footsteps grow irregular, and eventually falter, and thought maybe she would leave him alone.

But then her voice rang out again.

And it was sad.

And lonely.

And she sounded like she would cry.

"Was it something that I did?" she said quietly. He barely heard her... but there was so much emotion in her voice.

The Prince spun around to look at her, and saw her standing there... her eyes huge with worry, tears glistened in the corners. He gasped when he saw how her lip trembled... and felt terrible for leaving like that. He never hurt anyone but her by reacting poorly.

"Miss Honda... no, of course not," he stepped towards her, reaching out a hand. "I'd never get mad at you," he frowned, tipping his head to the side.

"I just wanted for everyone to be happy... that's all. Please don't be angry," she begged him, clasping her hands.

"I understand... it's just that... that dumb cat! Who does he think he is, anyway?" Yuki growled, scowling. He glanced over at her again, and noticed that she looked even more troubled now.

"Does this mean that you're still mad? I mean... is there anything I can do to help you?" she offered.

She's always putting others before herself. Even though I could explode on her right now, she still tries to help me...

"Miss Honda," he said, smiling. "I think that the strawberries are ripe," he offered her, smiling gently.

The girl looked up, her eyes softening as she grinned at him, realizing that he was accepting her offer. "Well, then, let's go!" she said, walking by him to lead the way toward the base. Turning around, she laughed to see that he was still standing there, gaping at how she could change moods so quickly. Reaching back, she grabbed her friend's hand and pulled him along. "What are you waiting for?" she giggled.

He smiled and allowed himself to be dragged behind her.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"That stupid rat!" Kyo growled, kicking the tree in the back yard again. "What's wrong with him? Strutting around like he owns the place or something! I mean, what the hell's his problem?" he spun and kicked down the door leading to the backyard.

"Please stop destroying my house!" Shigure groaned. "You're going to have to fix that, you know!" he warned the cat, snickering at the boy's reaction. He didn't look to happy at his cousin's words.

"Yeah? Well, I'll give you something to fix!" he exclaimed, grabbing Shigure by his collar and holding his fist up threateningly. Shigure waved his hand in weak defense.

"Kyo! What are you doing to my poor Shigure?" he heard a flamboyant voice coming from the door to the kitchen, and both turned to see who it was.

"Oh, Aya! I'm so glad you're here! Kyo was just getting ready to remodel my face!" he exclaimed, rushing to the snake and grabbing his hand between two of his own in gratitude. Ayame turned away as if it were nothing.

"Oh, Shigure, it's nothing for me. I did always have wonderful timing, you know!" he laughed.

"That is true, that is true," Shigure agreed. The two men walked away through the house together, laughing about some ridiculous high school story or another.

Kyo was left alone to bask in his anger. "Grr, why is it always me that's left in the room alone?" he grumbled. "Uh- I need some food!" he said loudly, striding upstairs to look for Tohru so she could make him some lunch.

"Tohru!" he called. "I'm hungry! When're ya' gunna make lunch?" he called down the hall. No answer. She always responded when he demanded food. She must not be home.

"Probably off chasing that damn rat," he snarled. "I'll just make some rice balls," he sighed, stomping downstairs to prepare some food for himself.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Ah! You were right! There's so many of them!" Tohru exclaimed. There were hundreds of berries on the bushes. "How are we going to collect them?" she asked, they hadn't brought any baskets, seeing as they'd come here on the spur of the moment.

"Oh, that's right. Well... I dunno," Yuki shook his head. "Why don't we just try a few, and come back later to pick them?" he asked.

"Oh! I couldn't do that, they're yours, and you worked so hard to grow them! I have to at least make jam or pie with them for you! Yuki, no, I cou-," she was cut off by Yuki popping a berry in her mouth.

"Of course you can eat them. They're very edible. Go ahead, chew and swallow," he smiled, watching her chew up the berry.

"It's very fresh!" she exclaimed.

"That's because they're right off the bush," Yuki nodded, eating a couple himself. "Why don't I go get a couple of baskets? I'll be right back," he told her, walking past her towards the woods.

"A- alright," Tohru stuttered, watching him walk away. For a second he paused in hs steps. "Yuki?"

"And Miss Honda," he turned around and smiled. "Thank you," with that, he had disappeared into the trees.

Tohru was left to ponder what exactly he was thanking her for.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"My little brother! I've been wondering where you were!" Ayame danced up to Yuki as soon as he came in the door and pulled him into a tight hug. Yuki squirmed to be freed.

"Ay-Ayame? What are you doing here? Get off me!" he pushed his older brother away.

"You could at least say hello," he pouted. "We don't see each other that often."

"Yuki's just moody today, Aya," Shigure explained. "Bye the way, where's Hari today?" he frowned, it was then that he released there dear cousin was not there.

"Oh, he was busy with a patient today," Ayame explained, waving it off.

"But, how did you get here? You can't drive, can you?" Yuki asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course, I am beautiful!" he exclaimed with a laugh... which was bordering nervousness.

"He didn't ask about beauty!" Kyo interrupted through a mouth full of rice. "He asked if you can drive a damn car!" he growled.

"I didn't ask for your help talking to stupid, here," Yuki turned cold eyes on the cat.

"Shut up, ya' damned rat!"

"Stupid cat," Yuki replied calmly, looking at Kyo with no emotion in his eyes.

"Say that again!" Kyo growled, getting in Yuki's face.

"Stupid. Cat."

"Why I oughta!" Kyo began, but both boys turned to look at Shigure at his words.

"Come to think of it, can you drive?" he asked.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A.B. There you have it! Our (HoshiToTsuki's and mine) newest co-written story!

H.H.T. Yup! Our first fruits basket!!! We hope everyone was in character enough.

A.B. Yeah, we tried hard on that!

H.H.T. Please review!

A.B. OR ELSE .>. .

H.H.T. Naw, we're just joshin' ya.

A.B. But reviews WOULD mean a lot!

H.H.T. Sayonara!

A.B. Ja ne mata!