Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket.

A/N: Okay sorry it took so long to update!! New chapter!

Everyday Mayuko set off on her way back from work, and nearly got off the wrong stop. Then she would realize that she was now living with Hatori and her heart would skip a beat. This would usually be followed by her pausing to blush and then falling over when the train started moving again. It had been nearly awake but she was still not used to the prospect of living with him. She tried to avoid him as much as possible.

Finally she decided to give in. It was time to try to make this work. She would have to help him out somehow. And what better way than cooking for him? Not to mention that it's a cute girly thing to do that will hopefully earn even a little attention from him to the fact that "HELLO THERE'S A WOMAN LIVING IN YOUR HOUSE".

The only problem was that she was a pretty poor cook. So she had taken the time to check out as many cookbooks as she could carry and read them whenever she had the chance, hoping to find the perfect (and easy) recipe for her to cook for him. She sat at her desk during the last day of school for the teachers, pouring over cookbooks. She had just finished cleaning up the classroom and was taking a break before organizing the books.

She hardly noticed Tohru walk in, coming to collect her diploma, since she had been absent during graduation. "Ah, Mayu-sensei, you're interested cooking?"

"Mm, not too much, but I have to find a good recipe to cook Hatori-kun tonight…" She replied absentmindedly, realizing too late the information she had just revealed. "EH THAT IS—"

"Hatori-san?" Tohru piped up. "Are you two living together now? How wonderfully romantic!" She sighed. "I can't believe I'm going to leave any day now—I won't be able to stick around to see what happens with you two!" She sighed.

"AH—It's not that! Um, I just have some problems with the piping in my apartment, so he's letting me stay with him until it's fixed." Mayuko frantically explained.

"Oh? Is that all?" Tohru tapped her chin. "But my woman's intuition tells me there's more to it than that!" She grinned. "Two people, unaware that they're in love!" Her eyes sparkled.

So even Honda has a woman's intuition? Mayuko sweat dropped. "Really, Honda… it's nothing like that, Hatori-kun and I are just friends…" She mumbled.

"Oh right! If you need a recipe, I know one that Hatori-san likes!" Tohru fumbled through her bag for a pen and paper. "My mother taught it to me. She told me that it makes a man fall in love with whoever serves it to him, it's that good!" She giggled as she scribbled down the recipe. She handed it to Mayuko who took it with a grateful "Thank you". Tohru sighed and turned around, leaning back on Mayuko's desk and look out into the classroom. "I'm going to miss this place…" She said softly. A silence followed as warm air blew in through the windows and over the empty classroom, stirring Tohru's hair over her contemplative face.

"Ah, you're going to go live with Kyo someplace far, aren't you? I think I remember Hatori mentioning it." Mayuko remembered suddenly. She paused before leaning over her desk. "Are you sure you're making the right choice?"

Tohru smiled a little wider. "Of course. As long as I'm with Kyo-kun, I'll be fine. That's what everyone wants the most, isn't it? To be with the one they love?"

A long moment passed as Mayuko stared past Tohru at the windows beyond her. For a brief instant she saw Kana and Hatori standing there laughing, and a lonely feeling gripped her heart. "Yeah…" She said faintly. She looked at Tohru and smiled. "You're a good kid, Honda. I wish you and Kyo the best."

Tohru smiled. "And I wish the same for you and Hatori. Good luck, Mayu-sensei. I hope to see you again one day. You're one of the best teachers I've ever had."

They exchanged smiles, and Tohru left the room with a wave. Mayuko leaned on her elbow and stared at the empty classroom. She had to admit; she would miss this class the most out of all the ones she had taught. They were troublesome, but there was never a dull moment, and all of them were such nice people. She closed her eyes and saw the class filled with her students smiling and laughing with each other and smiled with satisfaction. She opened them and stood up, gathering up her things. They sure had grown up. The recipe Tohru had written fluttered to the floor.

"That's what everyone wants the most, isn't it? To be with the one they love?"

She picked it up and walked out of the classroom. Her pace quickened, as she got closer to the train station. This time she didn't forget which stop she had to get off at. On her way she stopped at a convenience store, grabbing a bunch of ingredients, before rushing back to the apartment. The recipe was thankfully simple, and she got to work right away. She didn't know how long passed between when she returned home until she heard the door opening.

She paused after setting down the proudly made curry on the table. She didn't know why she was hesitating. It might be because she kept getting images in her mind of Kana handing Hatori her homemade bento. Finally she took a breath and put on a smile, walking out into the hallway to Hatori.

"I'm home." He called as he took off his shoes. She rounded the corner, still wearing an apron.

"Welcome home!" She smiled. God we're like newlyweds… She flushed pink as the thought crossed her head.

"It smells great." He grinned. "You can imagine a bachelor like me hasn't had a proper home-cooked meal in ages."

Mayuko laughed. "Yeah I know. I've heard the home economics horror stories from Shigure and Ayame."

Hatori chuckled. "Don't remind me. But then again… I heard a few of those from Kana." He raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Is it edible?"

Mayuko blushed. "Of course!" She led him into the kitchen. "I've gotten better since my high school days."

She served them as Hatori sat down, and watched nervously as he took the first bite. She cringed as he paused after putting a chopstick full in his mouth.

"Eh? Is it that bad? I knew I should have ordered take-out!" She apologized, blushing madly, and stood up to clear the table. He grabbed her hand.

"Hold it, I still haven't said anything. It tastes great, really it does!" He smiled. "Thanks a lot, it tastes wonderful. It means a lot to me."

Mayuko stopped. The images flew through her head. Hatori and Kana were sitting under a tree, and she was watching them from afar. He tried her homemade lunch.

"Thanks a lot, it tastes wonderful. It means a lot to me."

The same words he had told her. The feeling squeezed her chest tighter than ever. Was he really still in love with her?

"That's what everyone wants the most, isn't it? To be with the one they love?"

Would he really rather be with Kana than her? The feeling crawled further up her throat. She lifted the hand that Hatori wasn't still holding onto to cover he mouth, finding tears fresh on her cheeks. How was it that every time she was with him, she would end up crying like this? But before she knew it, she was bent over, sobbing. Why am I here? Why am I in his life? What am I to him, anyway? And why am I cooking him dinner instead of Kana?

"Mayu-chan?" Hatori stood up and pulled her to her to him, holding her shaking shoulders. "What are you crying for? I was serious when I said your curry tasted good." He added jokingly.

Mayuko shook her head. "It's a stupid reason." Make something up… Quickly…

"I'm sure it's not. Tell me. What is it?" He pushed her away and wiped her tears.

"I-it's just that, that recipe was given to me by Honda… and it just reminded me that I might not see those kids again." She stammered out lies. "I'm going to miss all of them, that's all."

Hatori smiled. "That's not a stupid reason. And I'm sure you'll see them again someday soon. So cheer up. The curry's great, try some."

Mayuko smiled and rubbed away her tears. "God I'm too sentimental." She laughed, sitting down.

Hatori laughed slightly as he too returned to his seat. "I'm told that all women are a bit like that."

Mayuko blushed involuntarily. So he does think of me as a woman after all…even if we are 'just friends'. God I hate that word… 'friends'. Still she was happy.

And on top of that the curry didn't taste bad either. Let's hope it made Hatori fall in love like Tohru had said it would.