We're in the storyline, character building portion of the story guys

We're in the storyline, character building portion of the story guys. So, don't get bored and stop reading! lol It's going to get interesting. Very interesting. Trust me on this one.

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"So, you're a friend of Tohru-kun at school?" Said a smiling Shigure at the dining room table that afternoon to Kimini.

"Well, actually, I just – "

"Kimi-kun and I have a few classes together." Tohru interrupted (which was very unlike her).

Kimini gave Tohru a questioning look Kimi-kun?. When Tohru caught glimpse of this look her eyes widened, "Oh, I'm sorry! I won't call you that if don't want me to! I just, I thought it was a bit easier than saying 'Kimini-kun all the time! B-but if you – "

"No, it's okay, Tohru-kun." Kimini smiled softly and waved her hands, "You can call me whatever you want to."

The school day had proceeded pretty smoothly after History class, and come the end of the day, both Yuki and Tohru were waiting at Kimini's locker to bring her back to Shigure's house. Tohru chatted up a storm with Kimini, loosening her up some so she wouldn't be so tense at Shigure, but as soon as she walked through the door, every ounce of confidence left her. But that lack of confidence didn't stop anyone from chatting and including her into the conversation. They were, as Shgure put it only a few moments earlier, "One big happy family, ready to welcome new members". To that, Kimini smiled and was able to look at someone directly when they were speaking, instead of hiding behind several locks of hair.

"So, Kimini – what a cute name – Tohru says you have a special assignment at school." Shigure smiled and laced his fingers together, then rested his chin in them, "What's it about?"

"We're supposed to write a paper about one animal of the Chinese Zodiac."

"Really?" Shigure chuckled a little, "Well, you've certainly come to the right house. Our entire family is quite interested in the Zodiac."

"Yuki told me!" Kimini looked directly at Shigure, her eyes lighting up and a smile crossing your face, "What's your favorite animal, Shigure-san? Mine's that cat!"

"Really?" Came Tohru's exicted reply, "Me too! I love the cat! I think it's so unfair that he didn't get to go to the party."

"I know." Kimini turned to Tohru, "The cat is just as amazing as the rest of animals, maybe even more!"

"My my, looks like you two have something in commons." Shigure smiled, "Along with Kagura, you could start your own year of the cat fan club."

While those threee chatted animatedly about the cat, Kyo sat in the corner of the room grumbling incoherently to himself. He wanted nothing to do with Kimini or her obsession with the cat.

Last thing I need is another Kagura….

Yuki, who was watching the three chat, looked back at the cat and rolled his eyes, heaving a sigh, "What are you doing?"

"Stayin' away from you guys. What's it look like I'm doing?"

"I don't understand why. Kimi-kun seems like a very nice girl."

"She's obsessed with me!"

"She's obsessed with the cat." Yuki rolled his eyes, "Not you. She doesn't know you're the cat. And she never will know. So come over her, be nice, and talk to her."

"No! I didn't even want her here in the first place!"

Yuki let out a sigh and turned his attention back to the rest of the group. Kimini was guessing what year everyone was born into.

"Alright, Kimini, what year was I born into." Shigure pointed at himself, "Can you tell?"

"Hm…" Kimini looked Shigure over, studying him carefully, then smiled, "You're in the year of the dog. Right? Both you and Tohru."

Shigure clapped, "That's right! Alright, what about Yuki?"

"I knew that from the start." Kimini looked at Yuki, "He's the rat."

"That's incredible, Kimi-kun." Tohru said, "How you can figure out what year everyone was born into. How do you do it?"

Kimini shrugged a little, "I don't know. It just…comes to me. I can figure out just about anyone. Except there's one person I haven't been able to figure out." Kimini turned and faced Kyo, "I can't seem to figure out what year he was born into. He fits so many different onces."

Shigure chuckled a little, "Well…uh…I don't think you'll figure him out very easily."

"I'm quite certain you won't figure it out." Yuki said, turning Kimini's attention back to him, "Not many people can."

"Well I – "

Tohru stood up, "Kimi-kun, I'm about to start dinner. Is there anything in particular you'd like to eat?"

Kimini looked up at Tohru, then back down at the table, he black locks of hair falling into her face, "Well…my dad used to make these really special riceballs. They had all kinds of meat in them and they were sprinkled with a special seasoning. I really liked them, but when he died…" Kimini shook her head, "It's alright, Tohru. Don't worry about it. I'll eat whatever you make."

"Go ahead. Tell me the recipe." Tohru knelt down in front of her, "I'd love to make it. Or better yet, why don't you help me?"

Kimini smiled and stood up, "Okay."

And so, the two girls set to work in the kitchen, leaving the men behind in the dining area. Shigure picked up his newspaper and read through the various articles.

"She's such a sweet girl." Shigure commented off-handedly, "Reminds me of Tohru in some ways. Kisa in other ways. She even has a bit of me and Kyo in her. Like…a mix of a lot in our family."

"That's a heavy observation to make after only knowing her for about an hour, Shigure." Yuki said.

Shigure shrugged a little, "That's just the impression I got. She's passionate like Ayame, shy like Kisa, a bit forward when she wants like Kyo, an essences of playfulness like myself. These traits are so blaringly obvious to me."

Kyo scoffed, "That girl isn't anything like me."

"She's got that forwardness like you, Kyo."

"What forwardness?" Kyo questioned loudly, "All I saw was a shy little girl who can't say a damn thing for herself! She's obsessive and way to much of a pushover! I don't get what everyone sees in her."

The room was silent for a while. When no one responded for a few moments, Kyo looked around, "What?"

"You're an idiot." Yuki said plainly.

"What? What are you – Oh….oh no…."

Kimini was standing in the doorway holding a bag of leeks. She stared directly at Kyo, her eyes full of emotion.

"I didn't know you hated me so much Kyo…I just came out to ask if anyone had a problem with leeks, but…." She mumbled and dropped the bag, "If you didn't want me here, you could have just said so…I'll leave now."

"No, don't go." Yuki stood up, "Don't mind him. Half of the time he doesn't mean what he says."

"That's not true!" Kyo snapped, "I always mean what I say!" When he realized what he'd just implied he stood up, "W-wait, I mean-I didn't…"

"It's okay, Kyo. I'm just going to leave." Kimini grabbed her bag off the floor, "I need to get home anyway. Homework and stuff."

"Wait, Kimini!" Shigure called but the girl was out the door.

"I'll see you all at school tomarrow!"

Tohru stepped out of the kitchen with a completed riceball in her hand. She let out sigh.

"Poor Kimini…"

"Now look what you've done, you stupid cat." Yuki glared at the rat, "You hurt her feelings. You better apologize to her tomarrow."

"Who're you to tell me what to do?!"

"He's right thought, Kyo." Shigure sighed a little, "The female heart is a fragile thing."

"Why're you always taking his side?!"

"It's the right thing to do, Kyo. She's hurt. You should – "

"Alright! Alright! Fine! I'll apologize to her at school tomarrow!"