Author's Notes: This is my first try at a Fruits Basket fan fiction. I am actually quite new at the anime and this story just popped up out of nowhere after watching the Valentine's Day and White Day episode. So the story's timeline picks up from there. I hope you like it.

Dedication: To the whole GBS, gambatte on another school year!

Disclaimers: Fruits Basket and all its characters don't belong to me. Only the storyline is mine.

The Reason for Fighting

For the nth time that night, I rolled over to my left, trying hard to fall asleep. It was quite unusual for me to be stuck in such a predicament but then again, nothing was usual about tonight.

We were sleeping in one room.

You, Souma Kyo – my arch nemesis, my rival for all eternity – were only a few meters away from me, sleeping peacefully.

I rolled over to my right to look at you, curled up like a cat. It was funny, I thought, you didn't even remember to put up that divider between us. I guess you were just too tired to even care if you were spending the night with me, the mouse.

But that was all right. Well, with me anyway.

At least this way, I can look at you and not fight with you.

You look so peaceful, so at ease… so unlike yourself when you're awake. The moonlight that seeped through the door made your usually fiery-looking hair look so soft. There was even a smile on your usually pouting lips. I guess you were dreaming about us fighting and you were winning.

I sighed and closed my eyes. Fight… that's all we ever do. I can't stand it yet I know I can't live without it either.

Because it is only when we fight that you talk to me. It is only when we fight that I get to touch you. It is only when we fight that I know you still know that I exist.

But it hurts me so.

It hurts me that you can only look at me with rage and hatred. You will never look at me the way I want you to.

Just the way you look at Honda-san.

With care…

With understanding…

With love…

There are times when I just want to stop fighting with you. Times when I want to hold you close and tell you how much you really mean to me. Times when I just want to cry in your arms and tell you how much pain I feel because you only see me as someone you need to defeat, no more than that. Times when I want you to envelope your arms around me and say that you understand. Times when I wished that somewhere deep in your heart, I have a place to stay.

But I know it will never happen.

I opened my eyes.

Some time ago, Honda-san asked why I always fought with you. She asked me why couldn't we just settle it and become friends. I remember shaking my head and saying that it was impossible.

For in you lay the spirit of the cat, the animal that was tricked. And in I was the mouse, the animal that tricked you.

And because of this, you will never care for me, understand me… more so love me the same way that I do.

If the only way to talk to you, to hold you at least for a second is to fight with you, then I will.

That is my reason for fighting.

Owari

28May2k4

1:11p

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