Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.

A.N: Ahh! You guys are so amazing! I really had no idea what to expect, so I was surprised when I found a bunch of awesome and really cute ideas in my inbox! Thank you! It was hard picking which one to do first, but I'll definitely write them all :D And Hanna, I just want to take the time to say thank you personally, because I couldn't send a reply to your message. The leek idea is great :)

Photograph

- First Lesson in Martial Arts -

suggested by pinksugarrush

By the time Kyo entered the kitchen, he found Tohru making sandwiches, and soup already on the stove. He sat next to his Shishou, picking up the photo album. He opened it out of curiosity, quickly leafing through it to make sure there weren't any embarrassing pictures. Tohru didn't need to see him splashing around in a bathtub or something. Why did parents take photos like that, anyway?

As Tohru brought the food over, Kyo snapped the album shut, gratefully accepting his plate. Tohru sat down across from him and picked up the photo book. While she munched on her sandwich, she happily flipped through the pages, her eyes focusing on each picture before moving to the next.

"You are so cute!" she suddenly blurted, finding a picture of him wrestling with Kunimitsu. Kyo was trying to pin the elder boy on the ground, his whole body wrapped around one of Kinumitsu's arms. "Even at a young age, you were strong!"

Kyo's face heated up and he turned away. "Don't be dumb, he was probably faking it."

Kazuma chuckled and stood, repositioning his chair to sit next to Tohru. She shifted the album so both of them could look. As she turned another page, she was met with many more pictures of a small Kyo in his martial arts uniform.

"That was his first week in the dojo," Kazuma explained. "He had so much energy, it only made sense to enroll him into the program." Gazing at the pictures, one in particular stood out to the older man. Smiling softly, he spoke the way only a proud father could. "That one," he said, pointing at one of Kyo standing with legs hip width apart. His elbows were bent at his sides, his little fists held out in front of him while an excited grin was plastered on his face. "Was the first time he put on his own karate gi."

Embarrassed, Kyo focused on his sandwich, pretending not to listen, though he did turn his head slightly to hear better as his adoptive father launched into the tale.

The sleeves were slightly too long, so the cuffs were turned up to his wrists, but otherwise, the uniform fit little Kyo perfectly. Standing in front of the practice mirror, Kyo's mouth gaped open in genuine awe. Smoothing down the fabric, he asked his reflection, "This is really mine?" He never was allowed to have anything but bare necessities before.

His shishou nodded from behind him with a smile. "Yes, it is yours to wear and practice in. Do you like it?"

Kyo spun around, balling his hands into fists, declaring, "I never want to take it off!"

Laughing Kazuma ruffled his adopted son's hair. "I'm sure you will have to eventually. What happens when it gets dirty? Or will you bathe with it on, too?" he hid a smile behind his hand as he watched Kyo pause, cocking his head to the side, mouth slightly parted in thought.

"Well," the boy started, "I guess I'll have to take it off from time to time," he compromised. Then suddenly he started punching into the air with spastic energy. "I'm going to be the best martial artist ever!" Without slowing down, Kyo continued to assault his imaginary enemy. "I'll even be able to beat that stupid Yuki and then no one will make fun of me anymore!" Cheering to himself, Kyo danced around on the practice mat, unaware of his Shishou's sudden concern at his words.

Kazuma watched Kyo move about, trying to mask his worry. He hated the way Kyo was treated for being cursed with the vengeful spirit of the cat. It wasn't his fault; Kyo didn't choose to be cursed. It saddened him every time his son mentioned his hate towards the rat child, but no matter what, he decided the day he adopted him, Kazuma would always support Kyo in his decisions. "Hey," he called, "Come here so I can show you the proper way to do that."

Ears perking, Kyo turned himself around, running back to his shishou. Kneeling, Kazuma brought himself down to Kyo's height and held out a fist. "Curl your fingers in so your knuckles are flat, and not at an angle."

Kyo tried mimicking the older man. "Like this?"

"Almost. Here," Kazuma reached out, taking Kyo's fist in his hand. Kyo let him readjust his fingers, watching attentively, trying to remember the way it felt to make a proper fist. "Now," Kazuma instructed, "You'll want to keep your arms at your side, and punch from there. If you pull your arm back, your opponent will see you coming, and either be able to block, or retaliate before you even get the chance to hit him." Slowly, so Kyo could see, Kazuma kept his arms at his sides before extended his right arm out while turning his wrist so his palm faced down. "As you strike, you want to turn your wrist like this."

Kyo nodded eagerly, then trying on his own.

Kazuma studied his movements carefully. "Very good! Now try it faster, and put your weight into it."

Soon enough, Kyo was jabbing at the air, his punches much faster and more powerful than his earlier bout of energy. He found himself circling around his shishou in a mock spar, and he brought his arms up to cover his face, just like how Kazuma was doing. He heard his adoptive father praise him as they continued to move around each other.

"Good, Kyo," Kazuma spoke. "Keep your arms up to guard your face and then strike from there. But always return your hands up to protect yourself," he guided. Playfully, Kazuma swatted at his son, testing Kyo's reflexes in dodging out of the way. He'd have to teach him how to block properly, but Kyo was holding his own fine, side stepping out of the way before trying to land a punch on his shishou. He recognized Kyo's potential, his movements natural and not jerky. He'd be a fast learner.

They continued their spar before Kyo eventually grew impatient, as his shishou blocked his punches, deflecting them to the side. Rearing back, he immediately charged forward, surprising his father. With a "oof!" Kazuma rocked unsteadily backwards as he was assaulted by a small blur of white and orange, and allowed Kyo to topple him to the ground. Climbing onto Kazuma's chest, he cheered, victorious.

"I win!" Kyo laughed, raising his arms above his head in triumph. Underneath him, Kazuma laughed, too. He laid there chuckling for a minute before an idea struck him. Reaching up, he began to tickle Kyo's sides. Squealing, the little boy brought his arms back down, trying to twist away from the attack in vain. Uncontrollable laughter rang out in the dojo as the two wrestled on the floor, and Kazuma knew without a doubt that his first lesson was a success.

After a while, they rolled to a stop, breathing heavily on the mat. And as if confirming Kazuma's earlier thoughts, Kyo spoke abruptly in between gasps for air. "Shishou, I want to do this everyday." Never in his five years of life had he ever had so much fun.