Seven Minutes in Heaven

by Kyomijiki

A/N: I think I write too much in these chapters. Maybe I should tone it down more? Less dialogue or something? Not sure, but you guys need to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket. (sobs in corner of room)

"Honda-san, what about this?" Yuki held up two stuffed animals, a tiger and a sheep, hugging each other. Tohru, Yuki, and Kyo were at the same accessory store Tohru had gone to the day before, trying to find something for Kisa and Hiro. Shigure complained of a headache right before they had left the house, so he wasn't there with them.

"Ah! That's so cute!" Tohru exclaimed. "Kisa-san would love that!"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure Hiro would," Kyo remarked. "He'd probably throw it over the fence."

"He won't if Kisa likes it, smart-"

"Look at this!" Tohru interrupted, dragging Kyo by the hand over to the corner of the store. Tohru had seen a box with beautiful designs on it.

"It has all of the zodiac on it! Even the cat, Kyo-kun!" Tohru opened it up. A sweet, bell-like melody played.

"It's a music box, Honda-san," Yuki told her. "You wind it up on the back."

"Hey," Kyo said, "There's a bunch of small plastic zodiac animals in there. I think you can stick two of them on the springs so they'll dance. Or something."

"Aww! How adorable!" Tohru exclaimed. She took the music box off the shelf and hugged it. "This is it! It's perfect for Kisa-san!"

"Hai. It is perfect Honda-san. She'll always remember you gave that to her," Yuki agreed.

"Yeah, whatever. Now you have to get Hiro a present," Kyo reminded her.

"Oh, yes! Eh…Yuki?" Tohru was confused. "What do smart teenage boys like to get for a present?"

"Uhh…" Yuki was at a loss for words. He had never gotten many presents as a child, and when he did, Akito usually took them away. Yuki scowled at the memory.

"Yuki-kun? Are you alright?" Tohru asked. Yuki's expression softened.

"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something. But, I'm okay now. Thank you for worrying about me."

Tohru grinned. She ran to the cash register to pay for the music box. Once she received her change, the trio walked around the mall, window-shopping for something that would interest Hiro.

"Do you think Hiro-chan would like some books to read?" Tohru asked.

"I don't think he reads," Kyo stated.

Tohru sighed. She glanced around the mall and saw something that caught her eye in one of the stores. Oooh…What's that? It looks like…

"…a skateboard with pictures of sheep with helmets on them?" Kyo questioned, catching up to Tohru, who had ran to the window of the shop.

(a/n: I couldn't think of anything else brilliant enough for a 13-year-old boy. Besides Guitar Hero…)

"Honda-san, are you sure Hiro would like that?" Yuki asked politely. "Won't his friends make fun of him if there are sheep on his skateboard?"

Tohru looked downcast. "Hmm…" She looked up and ran into the store, not waiting for Kyo or Yuki to follow her. "Stay there! It's a surprise!"

Yuki and Kyo glanced at each other, and looked away quickly. Neither of them wanted to be there with the other, but if it was for Tohru, they would do it. Meanwhile, Tohru was inside the shop, buying a skateboard for Hiro with different designs on it. She didn't want to be hated by him if his friends made fun of the sheep designs.

"Ta-da!" she exclaimed as she walked out of the store with her purchase. Tohru opened up the bag to let the boys see what she had done.

"Not bad," Kyo complimented, oblivious to the fact that the skateboard looked slightly girly. He was just staring at the small, orange blob-like thing on the left of the skateboard.

Tohru blushed and giggled. "Isn't it awesome, Yuki-kun?"

Yuki smiled. "Yes, it is." Truthfully, Yuki thought it was a little odd to have ALL of the Juunishi decorating the skateboard. He doubted if Hiro would think it was the same "awesome!" Tohru thought.

"I even asked the guy if he could put the sheep and the tiger next to each other! And to include the cat!" Tohru beamed. (a/n: Pssst! The cat is the orange blob Kyo's staring at!) "All the guy did was put these things that looked like stickers on the skateboard and bring them to the back room. Then, when he brought it back out, the skateboard looked like new! Hiro-chan will love it!"

Yuki grinned and Kyo smirked.

"Ah," Tohru remembered. "Don't you two have to get Hiro-chan a present too? And Kisa-san?"

"We already got them, Honda-san," Yuki said to her.

"Really? When?" Tohru asked.

"Last week. When you were out shopping, Shigure dragged us to a store downtown and we bought the gifts," Kyo said.

"Oh! Okay! Let's go then, I have to be home in time to make dinner, and then I have to get to work!"
The trio walked home, making a pit stop at the grocery store on the way so Tohru could pick up some food to cook.

The Next Day- Student Council Room:

Yuki sighed. The room was slightly a mess and Manabe and Kimi were nowhere to be found. Sakuragi, or as Manabe likes to call him "Chibi-suke," was sick, and Machi had left to make photocopies of a sign about recycling trash and other junk. Yuki was alone in the classroom, trying to fix the mess.

"I'm back, President."

Yuki was startled. He didn't know Machi was standing there, watching him until she spoke.

"Sorry for the mess," she apologized. She didn't look at Yuki as she spoke, however. Her hair covered her face as she tried to pick up the fallen papers.

"Ah…let me help you, Machi-san." Machi didn't reply. Once all of the papers were picked up and stacked on top of the desk, Yuki turned to Machi.

"Here," she stated before Yuki could even ask her anything, "I copied the sign. We can have Manabe and Kimi post them up all over the school when they come back."

She looked up at the ceiling and sighed, "If they come back."

Yuki smiled, and nodded. He didn't know why, but it seemed that Machi did not like him very much.

Before he could ask her if there was anything wrong, Kakeru and Kimi burst into the room.

"The king has arrived!" Manabe shouted. "All bow down to me, King Kakeru!"

Yuki sighed in defeat. He's acting so much like Nii-san, it's killing me… Yuki thought. Kimi giggled, and slapped Manabe on the back of the head. "You idiot! Yun-Yun is the president, so he is the king!"

Kakeru rubbed his head and shrugged. "I'll be the…the…umm…"

"The court jester?" Kimi snorted. She pranced order to Yuki.

"Yun-Yun!" Kimi said, "I'm boored! Give Kimi something to do!" she laughed, then said, "Your Majesty."

Yuki felt his face turn bright red, and turned to Machi for help.

"Okay," she said, taking over. "Kimi and Manabe, you two go take these signs and stick them all over the halls, especially near the cafeteria." Machi shoved the stack of papers into her half-brother's arms and gave the stapler to Kimi.

"Okie dokie!" Kimi said energetically. "Bye Yun-Yun!" she said as she dragged Manabe along with her to the door.

Once the door closed behind them, Yuki relaxed and slid into one of the chairs. Just by watching Kimi and Manabe made him tired. He saw Machi take a new box of chalk and scratch each one on the chalkboard until all of them were just barely used. She even broke one in half. Yuki also saw Machi eye the folder lying just next to Yuki's arm, but didn't reach out for it.

"Do you like making messes?" Yuki asked politely. He watched Machi sit down and play with the box of paperclips.

"No," she replied calmly. "I just really hate perfection." She still hadn't looked at Yuki during the whole meeting.

"Oh." Yuki frowned. A lot of the girls at school, especially the Prince Yuki Fan-Club, thought he was perfect.

"Do you hate me?" He only asked the question to know if she was just trying to avoid talking to him because he was "perfect."

Machi didn't answer.

Yuki went on, looking down at his hands. "Because I'm not perfect. Even if that crazy fan club thinks I am. I make mistakes, and…I mess up a lot of things too." And I also hide things from the people who want to get to know me better.

For the first time, Machi looked up at Yuki. She saw that his face was red, and he actually looked normal for a second, in her eyes. Yuki looked up too, and Machi turned her attention to the windows.

"Please don't hate me," Yuki pleaded. "I would like for us to be friends, since we are going to be working with each other for the rest of the year."

Machi was quiet. Too many things were going on in her head. Does Yuki really want to be my friend? Does he really want to know a trouble-maker like me? He's seen me make a mess of myself, and this class, but still…he's talking to me. She shook her head. Correction; he's trying to talk to me.

Machi turned around and faced Yuki. He was staring back at her.

"I…" she started. Yuki's eyes were boring holes into hers, and that made her nervous. "I…don't hate you," she admitted. Yuki almost smiled. Machi continued, "It's just…you always act so perfect, and not messed up, and people love you." Yuki blushed at this. "I just don't like people who think their all that, you know?"

"Me either. But I can certainly think of a few people who act like that," Yuki commented, thinking of Ayame and Kakeru. Machi nodded in agreement.

Yuki walked toward where Machi was sitting, kneeled down, and leaned in toward her face. He cautiously kept track of where his hands where and his position; he didn't want Machi to accidently fall onto him, causing him to transform.

"Also," he said, "I think you're pretty nice. Even if you do like to mess things up so their imperfect."

All the blood rushed to Machi's face. Stop this! Don't feel this way about the President! He's just a regular, normal person who you can be JUST friends with. Besides, you barely know him! But...he's an imperfect human...like me.

"Thank you," she muttered. Yuki backed away, just as the door burst open.

"YUKIIII-KUUUN!!"

"SOHMA-KUUUN!!"

Oh no… Yuki thought.

"Eh…?" Machi stuttered, feeling the bond between her and Yuki break as the group of girls surrounded their idol, suffocating him. She cursed silently.

Stupid Prince Yuki Fan Club…

A/N: Another chappie done! Thank gosh. I only got a couple reviews and almost 25 hits! C'mon people! "I don't care! That's okay! I'll keep writing anyway!"
Sorry, that was pathetic, since I'm not a cheerleader. Anyways, I'd love to hear from my viewers? Ya know? So by the way, I wanted Yuki to have a scene with Machi, since...I just wanted him to! Next...actually, I have writer's block, so feel free to give me ideas! And review! Well, here's the vote so far:

KyoxTohru

kyomijiki
Kyki- The Late Night Writer
Kyoru-Reviewer

HiroxKisa

Kyki- The Late Night Writer

A/N: And yes, you can vote more than once. I haven't because...that would be weird, since I'd vote for Kyoru and Yukiru. So, while I only put my name for KyoxTohru, I'm really voting for all of the couples, including the weird ones some people like to come up with. The couples with the most votes will be in the story!