Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

Inspiration

"You know, most people would have said 'Don't worry about it' and been on their way," Tal greeted with a smile.

Shigure returned it with one of his own, more flirtatious smiles. "What can I say? I wanted to see you again, my lovely nymph."

Tal gave him a calculating look before turning toward the store and smiling to herself. "No, you're just in it for the jelly buns."

Shigure laughed softly. It was partly true.

-o-O-o-

"So what is it you do, Shigure?"

The two were sitting on the bench in the park where they had met the day before, Shigure with his fresh bag of jelly buns settled between them. The sky was clear and Tal pulled off her jacket and set it behind her, allowing more of the sun to reach her only slightly tanned skin.

Shigure swallowed a bite before he answered, a courtesy he reserved for special occasions such as this. "Isn't that a rather personal question? I mean, I've only known you for a day." His tone told her he was teasing her.

Tal raised an eyebrow and spoke carelessly. "I did just buy you jelly buns. I think that wins me one question."

"Hmm." Shigure seemed to think it over, when in truth, he wanted nothing more than to tell her what he did. People's reactions to his profession were always fun. It was rather remarkable, after all. "I am a writer."

"Really?" She wasn't that surprised. She could see the creative spirit in him, buried beneath his tendency toward dramatics. "What do you write?"

He took on a pleased smile. "Fine literature, with a few just-for-fun novels on the side."

"Anything I would know of?"

He gave her a wink. "I wouldn't know, now, would I? It all depends on your tastes."

A light dusting of pink settled on her cheeks, but it blew away with the wind nearly as soon as it had settled. "You're rather confident in your work," she stated.

"An artist has to be confident. Anything less and our tender hearts simply could not survive the harshness of this world. We're simply too advanced." He finished with a sigh, drawing a short chuckle from Tal.

"Advanced, indeed." She looked at her watch hesitantly before letting out a quiet sigh. "I'm sorry, but I need to get going."

Shigure stopped his munching to look at her in disappointment. "Already? But I haven't even been able to ask you about yourself! I was looking forward to it!"

Tal laughed. "As nice as that sounds, I still have to get back to work."

"Ah, at Dreamscape Gallery, correct?" he asked with a knowledgable look.

"Yes, that is what my card said." Tal got to her feet and stretched, then pulled her jacket back on over her white button-up blouse.

"I've never actually been to that one. Do you mind if I come with you?" Shigure had gotten to his feet as well, the bag of the few remaining jelly buns in hand.

The elf-like woman before him studied him uncertainly for a moment. They had shared a conversation and he had helped her track down her dog, but that didn't mean she knew him. She hadn't meant to see him again. Finally, with one last look at his smiling, and undeniably attractive, face, she made up her mind. "I suppose it wouldn't be very good for business if I denied customers. But don't be surprised when I try and sell you something," she joked.

As they began their walk, Shigure restarted a conversation. "Is the artist any good?"

Tal gave him a dry smile. "I like to think so."

"You like to believe in what you're selling, then. I respect that."

"Yes, well, an artist has to be confident. We're simply too advanced to accept rejection."

Shigure stopped mid-step. "You?"

Tal did not stop. "Me."

"Well," Shigure righted himself and caught up to her quickly, his charming attitude back in place despite his surprise, "now I'm even more excited to see this gallery."

"Is there anything that doesn't excite you, Shigure?"

He looked thoughtful. "Doctors."

Tal laughed and with a shake of her head, continued on her way.

-o-O-o-

Shigure wasn't exactly sure how he ended up walking home with a bag of jelly buns that was now empty except for one in one hand, and a painting tucked under his other arm. He had a feeling it had something to do with a beautiful wood nymph artist making good on her threat to try to sell him something. Apparently, the stories were wrong. Following a fey into a forest was fine. Following one into her place of business, however, was something else entirely.

Tal had disappeared into the back immediately, leaving him in the hands of a young woman who could only be a year or two older than Tohru. When she decided to show herself again, Shigure didn't even notice. He was too busy staring into one of the paintings that hung on a wall.

"In my experience, I find that the paintings call to the person who was meant to have them."

Shigure jumped slightly from the closeness of the voice. "You don't say."

"What do you think?"

"I think it's magnificent. I can see the magic in this painting, and feel as if I could walk right into it and wander those woods forever."

"You authors sure know how to flatter a person."

Shigure gave her the first serious look she had seen on him. "Every word was true."

The light pink appeared once more, but this time the wind wasn't around to blow it away.

Yes, it was the blush that did it. And the pleasure that appeared with it.

And so Shigure entered his house with the semi-large artwork. Yuki was there and turned to greet him, but stopped short at the sight of the bundle.

"What is that?"

"Oh, just something I picked up." He unwrapped it and found a place to hang it. "Isn't it lovely?"

Yuki walked to his side to study the painting as well. The deep forest was parted by a path that split into three directions, a few rays of sunlight pushing their ways through the leaves and pushing back the gloom between the many trunks. In the corner, sitting on a lush green leaf, was a tiny fairy, it's exotic features and dress and wings of green almost going unnoticed.

"It is," Yuki agreed. "But I can't help but wonder about the sudden interest in decorating."

Shigure shrugged, a smile tugging on his lips.

"I'm sure she was beautiful." The young man turned and went back to what he was doing before Shigure had gotten home.

He could have argued, but Yuki wouldn't believe any excuse he came up with anyway.

Settling down at his desk later that evening, he let his thoughts flow from his mind to the paper. It had been a rather nice day. He had gone out for the sake of jelly buns and a second meeting. He had returned with a painting and a sudden bout of inspiration.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the story so far.