A/N: Well, here goes, my first attempt at a multi-chapter fic. I found Kagura surprisingly easy to write, so I hope she's in character. The chapters of this story will be longer than this, this is merely the prologue. Also, I have to warn you: there will be Shounen-ai in this story, along with het, though nothing hardcore. Pairings will be revealed as the fic goes on, and they may not be what you expect, I only have one that I'm doing for certain... anyway enough rambling, enjoy!

Thoughts are in italics for simplicity.

Reviews are love, and encourage me to write faster!

Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own Fruits Basket.

It's appropriate, the girl thought, the street she had chosen to wander down was shades of gray-green and gray, befitting her mood. The past few days had been nothing but rain, He'd hate it, she thought, but now the rain had calmed down to a mere drizzle, sending streaks of water dancing down her bright orange umbrella. Not in the mood to stand out, she had considered grabbing her mother's more subtle navy blue one, but she couldn't bring herself to part with her own fiery one, Kyo-kun's color. It's been raining so much, I'll bet he's calmed down, he's probably just avoiding Yun-chan and Shi-chan, I bet Tohru's- she stopped her own thought by slamming her booted foot into a mud-puddle, alarming several near-by birds.

She squished over to a gazebo and took a seat on the least wet seat, although at the moment she couldn't bring herself to care much about something as trivial as rain.

What do you do? What can you do? For the longest time... I love him. It's too late to try to simply step back, I have to know. I have to know if Kyo-kun really doesn't love me. In the past, it hadn't fazed her when Kyo got angry at her, she knew he had a hard time opening up to people, the most he had ever opened up was to Shihan, and even there he still had walls up. It'll take him time, I don't mind waiting at all. She'd get him on "dates", when she could, some things were barred because of the curse, but still, less crowded diners, the park, a movie, even just time at the dojo, all she needed was him to be there, and she was happy.

It was a fragile happiness, he occasionally said things carelessly that would hurt her, before apologizing frantically for making her cry, It's so cute how he can't stand to see a girl cry... but she was fighting for more. There were steps, little steps, where he'd let me in, and I thought maybe... maybe... he could love me like I love him.

She wasn't sure what exactly had happened, all she knew was that it involved Akito, and then Kyo-kun ran into Yuki. And it was the first and last time, to date, that their fighting had really truly scared her. After that, he was gone. Not a word, letter, no note left, nothing at all for three months. Why? Why, even when he came back, didn't he tell me? Didn't he think that I'd want to know, that I'd worry!? WHY?!

Then came Tohru Honda.

And like some dainty little sunbeam, Tohru swept in and did exactly for her Kyo-kun what she'd been working her heart out to do for years. He was getting better, everyone knew it. And he... he... you'd have to be blind. She'd tried ignoring it, oh had she tried, but she couldn't any longer. Tohru-chan's healing him, and making him love her... and I can't even hate her for it. It's so unfair. But... Kyo-kun should be happy.

But she had to know. It didn't make sense to her, Even after Tohru-chan saw Kyo-kun's... even after that, after she accepted him, they're still not together! It makes no sense! If it wasn't too late, she was by no means giving up - she would fight for Kyo with everything she had, but she didn't know how anymore.

Nothings working! How do you make a boy like you? How can you get a boy's attention? What can I do that I haven't done before?! Pushing back the wave of despair, she tried to concentrate. Think, Kagura, think. You've read some of Shi-chan's books, how does the heroine win? Well... that doesn't really work, it's always a triangle, with the heroine the one being fought over. So how does that work here? Jealousy.

The word flew at her from some inner working of the mind she couldn't monitor, and once there, wouldn't go away. Make Kyo-kun jealous. How? If he saw me with someone else... everybody says that boys only look at girls who have boyfriends already... what can I do? Who could I date? There's no one, she scoffed, that plan was out. It wasn't a bad idea though... to make Kyo-kun jealous, if he really did like me he'd be jealous if I dated somebody, I wish there was someone who could make him really jealous, but who? Who would a boy hate to see the girl he likes with most?

Her second realization hit her, the shock like ice water. It's perfect. It's so... perfect. Why have I never tried this before? With this realization though, she hesitated. This would be it, at this... the answer would be out. If this didn't make Kyo-kun jealous, he truly did not want to be with her. She paused, and she wasn't sure if she should cry or laugh.

This was it. No more pretending, if Kyo did get jealous, if it did bother him, then he wouldn't be able to deny that he loved her anymore. If it didn't... well, she'd pray for the first one. Kagura jumped off the bench, and took off towards home, her boots splashing mud up onto her skirt, unnoticed.

In her mind, the makings of a plan.