Tohru watched the castle come closer and felt her heart skip in her chest. She felt slightly afraid, this year Uo and Hana had to remain back at the castle with Ritsu, one of her mothers advisors. Tohru was told that she could remain but she didn't want to intrude on what Ritsu had to teach them, so she decided to go visit Kyo without her two friends. As she dismounted she felt her heart flutter in her chest and clenched her hands tightly in her skirts.
Yuki gave her a smile as he approached her. "Hello Tohru." He said quietly. During the last few visits, Tohru had spent more time with him than Kyo, since Kyo continued to try to hide from her and Tohru felt a kinship with the quiet boy.
"Hi Yuki." She said curtseying slightly. She looked up and noticed it was just her and Yuki. "Where is Kyo? And Haru?"
Yuki gave her a small smile and linked arms with her. He gazed at her gently, his fifteen year old heart filling with protectiveness over the twelve year old. "They are riding with Kazuma to look at a farm a days travel away. They had a flood and Kyo needed to learn how to deal with the tragedy."
"I see. He will be a very good king don't you think?" Tohru asked following Yuki into the castle and up the stairs to the study.
"If he learns to curb his temper, yes he could be a very good king." Yuki replied ringing the bell for tea. "So how go your studies?"
"Good. I'm glad as well that Ritsu, Uo, and Hana will be my advisors. That way if I have problems I can rely on them just like Mom relies on Ritsu." Tohru said smiling and sinking into one of the large chairs. For a moment there was silence then Tohru looked straight at Yuki. "Does Kyo hate me Yuki?"
Yuki sighed and ran a finger along the edge of the armchair. "He doesn't hate you Tohru. He's just not comfortable with…girls." Yuki looked at Tohru reassuringly. "Give it time."
Tohru looked at Yuki her hands folded neatly in her lap while a maid brought in a tea service. When the maid left she poured two cups and handed one to Yuki. "I'll try." She smiled at him and they began to talk about other things.
The door slammed open about an hour later and Tohru and Yuki leapt to their feet. Yuki had unconsciously positioned himself in front of Tohru and had one hand on her arm holding her behind him. Kyo stood in the door way and his eyes narrowed dangerously on the pair.
Kyo had come back to the castle and heard some of the maids talking about Princess Tohru and Lord Yuki being secluded in the study. They whispered amongst themselves about how Prince Kyo was so mean that Princess Tohru was likely to fall in love with the gentle quiet Yuki. Beside him Haru narrowed his eyes on the two women but Kyo darted up the stairs leaving his father and friend behind him. He was not jealous, he told himself. He was just angry, which was completely reasonable.
When he burst into the library and saw Yuki holding onto Tohru so possessively he saw red. "What the hell?"
Yuki stared at the angry teen and for a moment was highly confused then he began to smile. "Look Tohru. Kyo's back." He said turning his back on the angry prince.
Tohru gave Kyo her smile, the one that Kyoko and Kazuma said lit up a room and felt her heart flutter at the sight of Kyo. "Hi Kyo. We were waiting for you."
Kyo glared at Tohru. "Yeah, I'm sure you were." He snapped, his tone furious.
Yuki spun about glaring at Kyo. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Kyo glared right back. "As if you didn't know, hoping to become a prince are y-" His words were cut off as Yuki leaped forward, his fist connecting with Kyo's cheek.
"Tohru, I need to ask you to leave. Haru should be downstairs. Why don't you go talk to him and Kazuma?" Yuki said giving her a gentle smile.
Tohru looked from him to Kyo who was picking himself up from the floor and nodded hurrying quickly out the door and shutting it behind her. Yuki turned his eyes back to Kyo. "You really are stupid aren't you." He turned to the side as Kyo rushed him his foot connecting with Kyo's ribs.
Tohru entered the library downstairs and hurried to Kazuma's side. "Kyo and Yuki are fighting!" She said gripping his hand tightly. "Shouldn't we stop them?"
"Fighting?" Kazuma asked looking toward the ceiling just as a crash was heard. "What are they fighting about?"
"I'm not sure. Kyo seemed to be mad that Yuki and I were talking." Tohru said her eyebrows coming together in confusion.
Kazuma looked at Haru his own eyebrows raised and began to smile. "Oh…I think they'll be alright." He said patting her head and handing her a book to distract her. "What do you want for dinner Tohru?"
The Next Day
Kyo came down the next morning and wandered into the kitchen in search of food. He didn't expect to see Tohru laughing with the cook as she rolled out dough. He paused in the doorway watching the movements of her hands. He couldn't take his eyes off her and it only made him more annoyed with her. Even when she wasn't around his thoughts often drifted to her, her stupid smile, her stupid laugh. She really was like a disease. He watched her shape the dough carefully inside the pan before her before pouring in red filling. Her hands were gentle and smooth. She did everything deliberately and carefully, smiling the whole time.
She was just so damn annoying!
He stomped into the kitchen as she began to lay strips of dough over the pie filling. "Hello Kyo!" She said looking up at him. "You're up early."
"I'm always up this early." He muttered sitting at the kitchen table.
The chef though at first, unnerved by the prince coming into her kitchen to eat instead of ordering food to the dining room, was used to his habits by now and laid out a plate of onigiri for him. She watched as he began to eat and an evil idea came over her. She turned back to the stove to hide her face. "Princess Tohru was kind enough to make some onigiri this morning to give me less work. Wasn't that kind of her?" The chef said smiling at Tohru. She heard Kyo choke in shock behind her and her grin widened as she put Tohru's carefully made pie in the oven. King Kazuma was so right…
Later that day Tohru was outside with Yuki again when Kyo ran outside the front door to a large clearing close by. Haru came quickly behind him and punched toward Kyo's face. "STOP RUNNING STUPID!"
Tohru jumped hearing Haru's angered voice. "Haru?"
Yuki sighed and leaned back on his hands. "He's mad at Kyo for yesterday. He's been waiting for the opportunity to fight him since."
"What about yesterday?" Tohru asked looking down at Yuki.
Yuki shook his head smiling softly. If Tohru didn't realize that Kyo was jealous of him, and Kyo didn't realize he was falling in love with the gentle girl, he definitely wasn't going to tell them.
Kyo ducked and kicked back at Haru landing a direct hit on his forearm. "What the hell is your problem?"
"You are! You are so stupid! You can't see what's in front of your eyes." Haru snarled pulling him close to his face. "God! Where's Uo to beat your ass when you need it?" He snarled throwing Kyo into a tree not to far from Tohru.
Tohru leapt to her feet and ran to Kyos side. "Kyo! Are you alright!"
He pushed her hands away and crossed his arms as he glared at his friends. "Why the hell do you guys fight me every time this girl is around?" He snarled. He fell back against the tree unconscious as the two punched him in the face before gently guiding Tohru away from the clearing.
LOL I'm so mean to the poor boy but we're seeing the jealous side of him that comes out with Shigure. Ritsu's character has now been introduced and you'll meet THREE others next chapter lol!
THANKS SO MUCH TO:
kattykat: Yes you do deserve to have thisdedicated to you!
Spellcaster Hikaru: I too loved the story when I was a kid and when I watched it while babysitting I knew I had to write a Fruits Basket fanfic to it!
lydia-chan: I hope I lived up to your expectations!
MysticAngel01: I hope I don't disturb your HW anymore but I'm glad you like it!
The four of you reviewing had me writing the chapter as soon as I checked my e-mail today! Thank you so much!
