Surprise!!!!!!! 2 updates in 2 days! Wow! This is to make up for my slow update before. Enjoy the canoeing antics! I do not own fruits Basket

So we were at the lake. I'd finished my other chores as quickly as I could, but when I realized we wouldn't be able to clean the rooms until everyone was already at the lake, I began to worry that I would have to stay behind to clean. But my grandmother stepped in and said she would clean all the rooms and shooed me downstairs to prepare the picnic lunch, "Besides, they'll need someone to show them where the canoes and life preservers are." She smiled.

I seriously think she's trying to get me hooked up.

So there I was, leading the Sohma clan down the gravel path through the trees to the lake. Akito, Hatori, Rin and Ritzu had all stayed behind, which didn't surprise me. I was surprised to see Kyo show up, but when I saw the female dragging him along it became clear.

Now are they actually dating, or is she just wishful and unable to take a hint?

The gravel path led downhill through a wooded area before opening up to a pretty big clearing, where the dock and the boathouse were. The lake was a large one, and the dock reached about thirty feet out into it from the shore. There was also a grassy place with a roofed shelter and a picnic table and grill.

Everyone started settling in. Momiji threw off his ruffled pink shirt and ran onto the dock, cheering. Kisa and Kagura took their towels onto the dock and rolled them out there; Hiro folloed muttering something about a stupid rabbit. Shigure and Ayame sat under the shelter at the picnic table, Shigure with a book and Ayame holding a parasol over his shoulder, sitting as though he were posing for a magazine cover.

Ayame was still wearing his long sleeved outfit. I couldn't believe how hot he must be. Shigure was also in his usual traditional attire, but the others wore their bathing suits. I saw Kagura and Kisa in their suits helping each other put on suntan lotion. Little Hiro wore a button up shirt over his swim trunks, but looked pretty indisposed to getting wet.

At the moment, I was standing on the shore between Haru and Yuki watching the others. I wore shorts and a short sleeved unbuttoned shirt over my swimsuit.

Haru wore black swim trunks with a white stripe on the side and a white shirt, with the sleeves ripped off, the shirt unbuttoned. He still wore several necklaces as well as his earrings.

Yuki's swim trunks were green. He also wore his short-sleeved shirt unbuttoned. Standing between the two of them I had nothing to complain about.

This is lovely; Julie really is going to hate me, when I tell her about this.

Kyo, on the other hand was wearing his regular baggy jeans and t-shirt, looking like he would rather be anywhere else in the world. He stood back, leaning against a tree near the edge of the clearing with a scowl on his face, his hands shoved into his pockets.

I wish there was a way to make this fun for him.

"Hey," Haru said, "didn't you say something about canoes?"

"Oh yes!" I said and lead him and Yuki to the boathouse. I unlocked it and showed them where everything was, "You all can come down here whenever you want; you'll just have to get the key from us. Just make sure to put everything back after you use it." I instructed.

I stood in the doorway and watched Haru grabbed a life preserver and two oars, "Yuki," he said. "You wanna go with me?"

Yuki looked at the boating equipment, "No…I'm not really in the mood right now." He said.

"Mmm" Haru said and walked outside the boathouse, "Oi! Kyo!" he yelled. "Boat with me!"

Kyo looked up and scowled, "Are you kidding! What makes you think I want to…"

"KYO!!!!!!!!!! MY LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!" we all looked up at Kagura waving to Kyo from the dock. "Come on over here, Silly!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kyo's eyes bulged. He quickly ran towards us grabbed a canoe and shoved it towards the bank, sliding it into the water.

Kyo looked back at Haru, who was standing watching bemused. Kyo glared, "Well, do you wanna boat or not!" he snapped. Haru grinned and tossed Kyo a life preserver.

"Whatever, I'm not wearing that!" Kyo tossed it back.

"Yes, you are if you're going canoeing." I said. He may like me even less for this, but I have to enforce the rules.

"But why-…"

"KYO!!!!!!!!!!!!" Kagura's voice carried over the water.

Kyo growled and snatched the preserver Haru handed him and climbed into the front of the boat. Haru shoved them off and they started paddling around the lake, much to Kagura's vocalized frustration.

Yuki sat on the bank and watched them. I stood a few paces away. He seemed to be thinking about something. I really wanted to talk to him, but I didn't really know what to say.

I sat down, and we watched Momiji splashing the girls on the dock and Hiro yelling something at him. Momiji spotted us and waved from his place in the water. I laughed and waved back.

"So, Minna," Yuki said, "Do you live with your grandparents during the year also?"

"Hm? Oh no, I go to college in a different state. I just work here during the summers."

"Oh, I see. Do you enjoy it?" He asked.

His conversation is so polite. Gosh he's pretty.

"Yeah, I mean, it's best when there are a lot of guests, then I don't get bored so easily. Of course, most of our guests are, like, old retired people, which isn't as much fun as when there are people closer to my age."

"Do you have many friends around here?" He asked.

I paused a moment. I actually had to think about that one. "My best friend, Julie, lives in town." I answered. "But she is in summer school and has a job, so I don't get to see her as much as I would like. Other than that…Hm…well, I haven't really lived here for a while, and I'm not really in touch with many people from high school…so…I guess not." Man, I sound pathetic. "I mean, I know a lot of people. We just don't hang out or anything…but it's not like I'm bored or anything, especially with your family staying here. This may end up being the busiest summer I've ever had."

Yuki smirked, "Yes, sorry about that. If we become a problem, please let us know."

"Oh no! I didn't mean it like that! You're not a problem at all! No, no! I'm happy you're here! If anything I'm going to have a hard time not wanting to tag along with you guys all the time, and I'd probably end up annoying you guys pretty badly." I laughed. If you make fun of it the truth doesn't hurt so badly.

Yuki looked at me and blinked. "Why would we be annoy-.."

"Yuki! Minna! Let's race!" Haru called from the canoe. Yuki looked at him and blinked.

I looked at Yuki, "Want to?"

He looked hesitant, "Well, I don't know."

"You don't like canoeing?" I asked.

"Well…I've…never actually done it." He admitted ducking his head, so that I couldn't see his eyes behind his hair.

Is that a blush? Is he blushing! OH my gosh! AW, he doesn't have to be embarrassed about that. A lot of people haven't canoed. Ah, that's so cute!

"Oh, it's really easy. I've been doing it since I was, like, 9." I said calmly trying to make sure it was clear that it wasn't a big deal that he'd never done it before. "You'd catch on really quickly. Steering is the only thing that sometimes gives people trouble, but only one person is actually needed for that. And I'm really good at steering."

"Well…"

"Come on, Yuki!" Haru called.

"Heh! he's just scared!" Kyo yelled tauntingly. "Aren't you, rat? You know you don't stand a chance!"

Yuki's eyes narrowed, his expression changing from one of hesitancy to determination. He looked over at me with a crafty smile, "We're going to win." He said. I smiled and nodded. He stood up heading towards the shed.

Kyo whooped and started yelling more taunts, while Haru just waved.

Yuki was ignoring Kyo, and I followed him into the shed. He grabbed a blue life vest and handed me a yellow one, "Oh can I have a blue one!" I asked. "I love blue! Not that it makes a difference if I'm drowning, but I love blue!"

He grinned at me amused and put the vest back, "Sure."

We each grabbed an oar, carried the canoe down to the bank, setting it in the water. "I'll get in the back." I said. "Since I'll be steering. All you have to do is keep the canoe going fast." I smiled.

He smiled back. "I think I can do that." He said as he climbed into the front of the canoe.

His balance is good.

I pushed off and climbed in after him. Yuki started paddling. "I have to warn you, though," I continued, paddling and steering us towards the dock where the other guys were waiting with their canoe. "I'm not very strong, but if we race so that we have to turn around in the middle, ten bucks says we can beat them. I've been watching them and they're both trying to steer at the same time, so they're having troubles keeping straight."

"That's a good idea. Why don't you set the course for the race." Yuki said and flashed a smile back at me that nearly made me drop my paddle.

He'd better not do that during the race.

Yuki was quickly getting a feel for the canoe. I'm kind of surprised he's never done this before.

We floated up so that we were beside the other canoe near the dock, where Momiji was jumping up and down in excitement. "A race! That's great! Can I judge? Can I judge?!"

"Shut up!" Kyo snapped, "We don't even know where we're racing to yet!"

"I think Minna should decide the course, since she knows the lake." Yuki said, smiling back at me.

"Yeah right! Like a girl would know anything about racing. It's not even going to be much of a challenge beating you since you're with her. Why didn't you ask Shigure to race or something?"

My eyes narrowed. First of all, I know a heck of a lot more about boating than you Mr. "I can't even keep the canoe straight because I didn't realize the person in the back should steer", second of all, I may not be strong, but when I'm competing I always compete to win, and I rarely lose, so you don't even want to mess with this! And thirdly, don't talk about me when I'm around as though I can't hear what you're saying!

Of course, if I was one of those confident strong chicks I would have said what I was thinking, but the other part of me was worried that if I said any of that he wouldn't like me.

Which was stupid, because he didn't like me anyway.

I guess I was worried that he would like me even less.

And as much as I tried to make myself think it didn't matter, the fact was that I wanted him to like me.

So instead of saying anything in my defense, I just sat there angry as heck, but also afraid of doing something to make Kyo like me even less. Well, I would just have to show him that I knew what I was doing.

"You baka neko." Yuki said glaring at Kyo, "Minna's been canoeing on this lake for years. You've probably never even been in a boat before have you?"

Kyo colored, and I couldn't help but smirk a little. So Yuki hit the mark.

"Yeah, well I sure know a hell of a lot more about being outdoors than you do you spoiled prissy-boy brat!"

"And why would I want to learn to be as uncivilized as you, you Neanderthal?" Yuki replied calmly. "You can't come within 10 feet of a building without breaking something."

"Shut up! You wanna fight!"

These guys aren't teasing. Do they really dislike each other that much? I looked over at Haru, but he seemed undisturbed by the whole thing.

Yuki looked back at me and smiled, politely. "So, Minna, where should we race?"

"Dammit! don't ignore me!" Kyo shouted. But Yuki did ignore him, as did Haru. They were both looking at me for instructions.

"Um…" Is Kyo going to hate me even more for ignoring him like them? "If we canoe to the right, along the bank, and follow it around the outcropping we'll reach a small cove area. We'll race to the cove, turn around, and the first one back to the dock wins."

They all agreed to this, even Kyo. And Momiji's request to judge was granted. We adjusted our position for the start and held our paddles ready. Momiji signaled the start, and we were off with the others cheering from the dock.

Kyo and Haru pulled ahead almost instantly, what with both of them being so strong and pulling so hard.

Crap! It's because I'm too weak. Now I bet Yuki regrets partnering with me.

"Wooo! You're goin' down rat!" Kyo yelled, but I could see with a quick glance that he was not in sync with Haru. That would get them in trouble. Sure enough, Kyo and Haru's lack of teamwork tripped them up. They kept paddling on the same side of the boat and swerving off. A few times their oars actually smacked together, causing Kyo to curse and yell more.

In consequence, it wasn't long before we were just about caught up with them. Yuki's strokes were strong, quick, and consistent. I matched my rhythm to his and kept us on the right coarse.

There's no way we'll lose. They'll never be able to turn faster than us.

We both hit the cove about the same time and Kyo and Haru's attempt to turn the boat was just what I'd expected and hoped it to be.

"No you stupid cow! Paddle on that side! No not that way! Forwards!" Kyo yelled.

"Well, why don't you try it!" Haru snapped back.

"Quick!" I said. "Paddle on the right side!" I shouted to Yuki. Yuki paddled hard and I stuck my oar in the water on the left, bringing the canoe around fast before paddling on the right with him. "OK! Now paddle normally!" I shouted again, and we were off! Headed back to the dock.

Kyo and Haru clumsily with much bickering and swearing got the canoe turned, but we were already a full canoe length ahead of them. But I was getting tired. Kyo and Haru paddled hard trying to catch up. Yuki was still paddling fast and hard. I tried to keep up, but it was getting difficult. He sensed it and called back, "You OK Minna?"

I gritted my teeth. No way am I letting up now. "I'm good!" I called back and paddled harder, breathing deeply. I hate competing. I can't stand to lose. So I hardly ever compete. And I hardly ever lose.

Still, Kyo and Haru were gaining on us. The dock was only 20 feet away. I heard the girls and Momiji cheering. We were so close. Kyo was yelling behind us.

We were only a few feet from the dock. Kyo and Haru were beside us now, the nose of their canoe only 2 feet behind ours. Everyone gave a last heave as we passed the dock.

"Yuki and Minna win!!" Momiji announced jumping up and down. Kisa and Kagura cheered.

I pumped my fists in the air and hooted. Yuki turned to me and smiled. "You were right. The turn did it. Good job." I blushed.

"Dammit!" Kyo shouted from the other canoe, turning to Haru. "Stupid cow it's your fault! If you hadn't screwed up the turn-…"

"My fault! You're the one who kept hitting my paddle with yours and slowing us down!"

"That's because you move too slow! You dumb cow!"

Haru's face darkened, he glared up at Kyo. He looked like he was getting angry. Yuki saw it too, "Um….Kyo." he said.

"You're just a dumb cow, you can't even turn a canoe!"

"Kyo, I don't think you should…" Yuki tried.

"Your useless! Damn! Can't you do anything right baka!"

"Kyo don't!" Now Yuki wasn't the only one concerned. I looked over at Momiji and Hiro yelling at Kyo from the dock. Kisa and Kagura watched worried.

Haru's face darkened and suddenly he stood up in the canoe making it wobble precariously. "At least I'm not a baka neko! You've never once beaten Yuki at anything have you! So what does that make you, asshole?! You're pathetic!" he yelled.

"Oh no." Yuki sighed, putting his hand to his head.

I was stunned. I'd never seen Haru act like this before (not that I've known him very long.)

"Why you little-!" Kyo jumped up and now their canoe was really wobbling, "You wanna fight squirt!"

Haru laughed low, "Bring it on, baka neko. See if you can beet me since you can't even defend yourself against Kagura."

"That's it! You're gonna pay!" Kyo yelled and lunged forward. Or rather, he attempted to; but canoes are not built for people to stand in.

"Oh the canoe!" I exclaimed, just before it tipped, sending both Kyo and Haru overboard and splashing Yuki and me. Kyo came up sputtering and angry, but what he seemed most angry about was getting wet.

Haru on the other hand, bobbed to the top, all anger gone. "Mmm…refreshing." He said calmly. The sight of him bobbing there all zen-like after he'd just looked so angry seconds ago was so strange that I couldn't help laughing.

"Stop laughing!" Kyo barked. "You think this is funny!"

Crap, I made him mad again.

"No, I wasn't laughing at you! It's just that Haru…" I tried to explain, not wanting him to get angrier.

Haru turned to me with his blank expression, "You think I'm funny?" His voice was fairly expressionless, but I still worried Oh crap! Did I offend him?

"Well…um…it's just that you…" Crap, why can't I keep my laughs to myself?

"Of course you're funny, you're both idiots." Yuki said evenly.

Kyo growled but was too busy trying to get the canoe turned upright to comment. "Haru, would you give me hand?" Kyo barked.

Haru ignored him and unfastened his life vest. He slipped out of it, swimming over to us.

"Come on, Yuki, Minna, get in the water." He said tossing the vest to the dock, where Momiji caught it.

"So you're not black?" Yuki asked.

"No." Haru said.

"Black?" I asked.

Yuki turned to me. "Oh it's just when Haru gets upset…"

"Come on, Yuki. Get in the water." Haru prodded, taking hold of the side of the boat, and rocking it precariously. I squeaked and gripped the side.

"No! Haru don't do that!" Yuki exclaimed, trying to keep his balance. "We don't want to get in the water!"

"But it's fun!" Haru smiled, and with that he pulled down on the side of the canoe, flipping it over and sending Yuki and me, flying, into the lake.

Yuki and I came up sputtering and exclaiming. "Haru! What-…what possessed you to do that!" Yuki spluttered angrily.

I laughed. "You dork! Now we have to turn over both canoes!"

"We'll do that later." He said swimming over to me. To my sudden surprise he started to unfasten the clips on the front of my life vest. "Yuki, you take off your life vest too."

"Oh!" I splashed backwards in the water, face flaming. "No! That's Ok! I can do it myself!"

Haru just looked at me with his blank expression, "OK."

"Haru!" Yuki was giving him a look.

"Haru looked back at him. "What? Do you want me to help you with yours too, Yuki?" Haru started to swim towards him.

"No! No!" Yuki flailed back in the water eyes wide, which made me laugh.

I took off my vest and put it on the dock. I looked back over to where Yuki was trying to right the canoe, a miffed expression on his face. Haru swam up beside me. "Is he really angry?" I asked, watching Yuki.

"No." Haru said, "Just annoyed. Kyo's angry." He looked over to where Kyo was trying to right the other canoe.

I followed his gaze and saw that somehow Momiji had managed to climb on top of the overturned canoe. He was laughing and kicking his feet in the water, seemingly undisturbed by Kyo yelling at him and trying to pull him off the canoe by his leg. I giggled. Kyo finally managed to pull Momiji into the water and hit him on the head.

"Waaaa! Kyo's hitting me!" Momiji wined.

"Um…should we do something?" I asked concerned.

Haru just swam calmly around me in a circle. "No, they're always like that."

Wow! A chapter with absolutely no angst! I have to admit that I had a lot of fun writing Haru in this chapter. He's just so cute when he's white! But we all love him when he's black. Anyway….next chapter: super market antics! Whoot! Oh, and I know that Kyo seems pretty mean or something. Remember, this is from Minna's perspective, so the portrayal is colored by that. I love Kyo! But realistically, he would scare someone like Minna to death...at first (mischivous glint in eye.)

As always, reviews and thoughts are always appreciated. Especially if any of the Sohmas are OOC. Also thoughts and ideas of other scrapes and situations we can get these guys into are always appreciated. I'm pretty much open to anything.