Fruits0basket02: ~Hey! Welcome to chapter two of 'The Way of the Cat.' I don't have much to say this time except enjoy the fanfiction, read and review, blah blah blah! Enjoy!

The Way of the Cat

Chapter Two

"Did you really kiss him?" A fine, dark hair brown girl whispered to Izumi as they sat in their class and Izumi only glared at the girl. It was Suzume, the rooster, and she loved to gossip, which is how she found out about the "KISS." It wasn't surprising to Izumi that Suzume found out because everyone was talking about how unsocial Izumi was saw kissing with popular Daichi and how every girl wanted revenge on the orange hair girl but Izumi didn't have to worry much. Suzume was like a big sister toward Izumi, protecting her from most of the students because they were afraid of Suzume (in a way she looked like a thug but she had a gentle nature about her).

"I didn't but he did." Izumi said with a gruff, "I don't even know what came over him! He just said, 'thanks for inviting me over for breakfast, I really enjoyed it.' Then he kissed me." Izumi became quiet when the teacher walked by then grumbled under her breath as she thought about what the female students had in mind for her but they probably back out when they say Suzume and speaking of revenge. Eiji, the boar and Daichi's younger brother, liked Izumi and would want revenge on Daichi somehow. She sighed softly then glanced at Suzume who was giggling for some stupid reason like she could read Izumi's thoughts. Izumi frowned, feeling like she had no privacy around the rooster, read the homework assignment on the board. As she started to write down the assignment down on her paper, the teacher walked up to her desk, speaking quietly. So quietly, Suzume hardly heard the teacher and she frowned. "Why?" Izumi asked and the teacher shrugged then left for her desk to finish some work. Izumi huffed as she got out of her seat and walked to the hallway then frowned as she was met by five girls who looked mad.

"Izumi Hotaru." One said, who seemed to be the leader, "What is this rumor I hear about you with out beloved Daichi? And, if I'm not mistaken, I heard you kissed him." Izumi rolled her eyes, news traveled fast, especially when it came to Daichi and it went directly to Madoka, the leader of the Daichi fan club.

"Well," Izumi said, rocking on her heels, "Daichi and I have been friends since we were little and it is no lie I was with him but he was the one who kissed me, how many times will I have to say it." She stared hard at Madoka, who glanced at each of the females then looked at Izumi, not wanting believe the cat but Izumi looked confident and mad. As if on cue, Suzume stuck her head out of the door, looking at each of the students then she stepped out, on her way to the water fountain for a drink and she was making the others nervous just by her presence but Madoka wasn't nervous or worried. Madoka's cold glare didn't leave Izumi as Izumi stood there at the door, unmoving which made Madoka a bit nervous. She turned and started to walk away and the other girls followed her, not looking back and as they disappeared around the corner, the bell rang for lunch.

"What did they want?" Suzume asked as she walked up to Izumi and as Izumi opened her mouth to answer, two boys walked up to them with smiled and lunchboxes. One had dark brown hair with dark, almost black, brown eyes and the other had light brown hair with green eyes. Suzume smiled but Izumi groaned softly as she knew who they were; Eiji, the boar and Nobu, the monkey.

"Hey Izumi." Izumi looked past the boys, who had also looked back, and nearly froze. It was Daichi again and he was breathing quite heavily, clearly he had been running around looking for her and this made her curious. She could feel Suzume's devious smile as she walked toward him and when she past Eiji, she felt his anger and jealousy toward his older brother, which made Izumi shiver slightly. She reached Daichi and he immediately grabbed her arm and pulled her around the corner. Daichi stood very still, listening as he held her tightly in his arms then he spoke. "Izumi, I'm sorry about this morning, sometimes I can't control myself." Daichi said quietly and glanced down at her.

"Couldn't control yourself?!" Izumi felt anger boiling insider her and tried to push away but Daichi was much stronger and held her firmly against himself, "You are the most controlled person I know!" Izumi felt his grip loosen a bit, which confused her and she stopped struggling, looking up into his, normally calm eyes but they were filled with pain. "Daichi, what's wrong?" Izumi asked. Daichi didn't answer and the silence was grueling for Izumi as she waited, worried that he didn't trust her enough for whatever he was hiding.

"It is a struggle keeping my emotions in check." Daichi said, "Being with you, it is difficult trying to keep my emotions hidden when you act naturally around me and not like the females here." He met her gaze, smiling softly with little effort, "I can't hold anyone else in my arms except you because you have a great impact on me and accept me for who I am." Izumi didn't know how to react and was lost for words. She was use to the cold treatment most people gave her, especially Kiyoshi and the sudden sweet emotion from Daichi was different. His eyes became softer as he brushed some hair from her face and loosened his tight grip around her, gently. Izumi looked quickly away, avoiding his gaze.

"Daichi…." Izumi started, "Why didn't you tell me before?" She looked up, looking from under her eyelashes and blinked softly.

"I was afraid." Daichi said, "I was afraid that you were to young to understand when I noticed this, about a couple of years ago." He smiled softly, "You've grown up a lot Izumi and I think others have noticed this, not only me. Kiyoshi senses a change in you, that is why he is harder on you and Kiba has told me things that he has noticed."

"I don't understand." Izumi said, pushing away, "Why me? There are other girls out there that are dying to go out with you." She glared at him, her eyes icily, fierce blue. "Why am I different then them?"

"Are you still to young?" His eyebrow rose slightly. Izumi shook her head hardly, making herself dizzy where she used the wall to regain her balance and she closed her eyes. She opened them to see Daichi's green eyes, loving and she smiled, understanding. Daichi muttered something softly, only loud enough for her to hear and pressed his lips against her forehead but noticed Izumi's frown. "Sorry Izumi, one kiss per day."

"Stupid Daichi." She glowered then turned to leave for lunch but Daichi quickly caught up and smiled. He quickly took her hand into his and spoke softly as she laughed, looking at the reaction of some of the female students. When Izumi got home Kiba would give her 'the talk' but she didn't care. She was happy.

Fruits0basket02: UGH! I didn't like this chapter, too romantically but it just came out of my pen when I wrote I swear! Ah well, Izumi is happy and Daichi got his girl, there isn't much to say.

Daichi and Izumi: Tune in for Chapter Three!

Suzume: Read and Review please.