Ellow dearest readers, I'm so sorry I wasn't able to update after 2 days (the usual schedule) because it's the first and second week of 3rd year high and I had a hard time making my fanfic schedule and damn I closed the file without saving! I repeated the whole chap again. Argh! Sorry again. This next chapter is just the same day in chapter 2 where you finish. Only this is not when Yuki and Tohru get back in the morning. This 3 in the afternoon.

Chapter 3: YOU ARE MY NEW FRIEND

Tohru, Yuki, and the rest of the family were all having a chit-chat while enjoying the snacks that Kyoko prepared when the rain began to pour. Ayame is not present here because he's busy next door as usual.

"Mommy, it's raining" Yuki leaned on the window glass with his hands and forehead. Azumi turned to Yuki and so are the others. Tohru jumped from her sit and mimic Yuki, leaning on the glass with her forehead and hands.

"I guess we can't continue our swimming then" Azumi said kinda disappointed.

"Our swimming is delayed again, huh?" Yuki frowned. Tohru frowned as well.

"I'm so sorry, sweetie. I really think it is not safe for all of us to swim in this kind of weather." Azumi approach and patted Yuki's back. Yuki sat beside his father.

"I forgot the news I read yesterday that there will be storm coming. But I think the rain won't be that hard here. It's far from the storm's path so I guess we won't have that much problem Yuki." Yuki hugged the throw pillow beside him and Tohru frowned still sticking her hands and forehead in the window glass. The parents started another conversation again leaving Tohru and Yuki still sad about the delayed swimming. Youli noticed this.

"Don't worry, Yuki. We'll still have our swimming on some other time. Anyway, Tohru is still here for you to play with, right Tohru?" Youli thought. Maybe a playmate would distract him from thinking 'another swimming plan is delayed.'

"Right!" Tohru remove her hands and forehead from the window glass and grin. Yuki opened his mouth but remained silent. "Unless Yuki doesn't wanna play with me, don't you wanna play, Yuki?" Tohru asked with concern.

"Ah-no. That's not what I mean… ah…" Yuki tried to explain.

"No! Of course not, Tohru! Ahaha! Yuki would love to play! Ah-Yuki, why don't you change your clothes? (Because the swimming plan is already postponed and you're still wearing your beach clothes) I brought your clothes here just in case." Youli joined their conversation the moment he noticed Yuki was getting speechless.

"Ah-okay," Yuki put up a puny smile.

"Tohru, why don't you change, too? In your house clothes?" Katsuya called Tohru.

"Yes father!" Tohru grinned. Tohru and Yuki both get their sleeping clothes and headed to different bathrooms.

-----

After changing clothes, Tohru led Yuki to her room.

"You have a stuff doll? What is its name?" Yuki noticed Tohru's bear in her bed and hold its hand.

"Yes. Its name is Cuddler. I'm yet sure what will be its gender though. Oh, and this is Tomoe. They're just so cute and fun to talk to, are they not?" Tohru introduced happily.

"Yeah. Even though they don't answer back. I can confess what's on my mind. I stare at my teddy bear when I'm bored and start babbling," Yuki put up a small grin. "And I squeeze my teddy bear too tight when mommy and daddy give me gifts on my birthday!" Yuki exclaimed happily. Tohru giggled at Yuki.

"What's so funny? Don't tell me you don't do that too with Cuddler and Tomoe." Yuki is asked oddly, sitting on the side of Tohru's bed still playing Cuddler's hand. Tohru sit on the opposite side and answer.

"No, it's not that. I mean it feels nice when a friend opens up to you. I admit I also talk nonsense with Cuddler and Tomoe when I'm bored. But I never forget to pray to God and thank him for giving me Cuddler and Tomoe."

"Oh"

"And I remember when mommy, daddy, and I went to the bookstore to buy a set of stationery. I saw some sayings and quotes there, and you know what I remember the most?"

"Ah… what?"

"The saying 'A Friend is the Greatest Gift of All.' It is very true. I have friends Uo and Hana as my best friends in school. And at home, I have mommy and daddy being my very first friends. I love them so much."

"…" Yuki listens silently in every word she says.

"Oh and this night I will thank God again for having a new friend. Yuki Sohma as my new friend."

Yuki was caught off guard "Uhmm… thanks." Yuki smile sheepishly.

Tohru chuckled. "It's nothing."

"And one more thank you…"

"Huh?"

"Uhmm, I mean I never have a close or best friend other than mom and dad. Brother is always busy to spend some time with me. In school, I have some classmates I talk to, but never opened up to them. I don't even know if I should consider them as my friends. This is the first time I ever had a real friend," Yuki explained.

"Really? I don't think I did something special for you to open up and I don't think it's that hard to find a friend."

"I had a group of friends before. I was so happy back then, but when I became popular in school, they told me they are not worthy to be with me anyway. And they even asked me 'why am I the only one who gets the credits and roles in school?' I was speechless for the moment as I watch them go. I don't know, from that time on I'm not expecting that I will have a loyal best friend that most kids have," Yuki share his story.

"I can be! Uhmm, ah… but if you don't like it then it's—" Tohru shyly takes back her words.

"No! I like it that way. Thank you." Yuki smiled.

"Ah…" Tohru was speechless for the moment. 'Is this how his real smile looks like? How I wish he would always keep that smile. He's so cute. No wonder he'd get popular.'

"Ah… You're welcome."

-----

Katsuya, Youli, Kyoko, and Azumi are all having a good time when Youli's eyes wandered to the clock—

"Ah-Katsuya, it's already 8 pm, we should be going now. Ayame must be waiting." Youli's face saddens a bit wanting to stay a little while longer.

"Oh yeah. Anyway, I know we all need to have some rest and supper and prepare for another day tomorrow. The swimming plan is still on." Katsuya reminded Youli.

"Tohru won't enjoy the swimming that much if she lacks some rest." Kyoko walks to the kitchen to throw all their food left-overs.

"And so is Yuki. Guess we all have same reasons." Azumi responded.

"Right. I'll just get Yuki upstairs." Youli get up from his chair and headed upstairs.

"Okay" Katsuya replied.

"Uh… where is Tohru's room?" a voice came from the second floor.

"It's the 2nd door to your right." Katsuya answered back.

"Okay" Youli saw the door and leaned his ear on Tohru's door. He turned the knob then gently and silently opened the door. Two sleeping figures are on the either of the bed. He can see Yuki is holding a teddy bear's hand and Tohru is hugging a girl stuff doll. The room is dark and the only source of light is a lamp on Tohru's side. Youli then fixed Tohru's position on her bed and gently wrapped her with her blanket gently not waking Yuki. Then he removed Yuki's hand from the teddy and carried Yuki on his shoulder with his right hand is supporting Yuki's back, and the other is under Yuki's legs. Then he closed the door gently leaving Tohru lost in her peaceful dreams.

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——tut——tut——

Yuki was happily jumping from cloud to cloud. He turned and saw Tohru with legs trembling on a cloud far from him. Yuki went to the cloud next to Tohru.

"Come on Tohru. Jump!"

"I don't want to. It's too high." Tohru's voice is shaking.

"But I can do it. And if I can do it then you can do it, too. Now come!" Yuki try to encourage Tohru, in a petulant voice though.

"Eh..." Tohru hesitated at first but when she saw Yuki made a grumpy face, she decided to try. "Okay, I'll try. Here I go." Tohru jumped to Yuki's side. "Yay! I did Yuki! I did it!" Tohru said happily. Yuki giggled.

"I told you, you can do it. Now follow me."

"Okay." Tohru chirped. Then she followed Yuki as he jump from one cloud to another.

"Wow it's so nice here. Don't you think?" Yuki turned his back. 'Ugh, I lost her again. Where is she? This is the third time she got lost!"

"Hey, Tohru? Tohru?" Yuki jumped from cloud to cloud then he tripped.

"Aaah!" He shouted as he fell faster and faster until he saw where he's heading to.

"Ocean. Aaah!"

"Ow!" Yuki's head bumped to Youli's shoulder.

"Oh I'm sorry Yuki. I didn't mean to wake you up." Yuki can hear his dad's voice. 'Great, just a dream.'

"Dad? Where are we?" Yuki slightly opened his eyes and see some grasses below his feet.

"Mom and I are walking to our house. We need to take some sleep too you know, for another day tomorrow. I saw you with Tohru asleep on both sides of her bed."

"I fell asleep!?" Yuki was fully awake and confused. 'What? I fell asleep? Wait, what exactly happened? Ah… there was a long silence and we started yawning then get one pillow and—'

"Yuki we're here now you can now sleep again. After we eat supper," Azumi turned the knob of their house and lock the door after Youli and Yuki entered the living room. Azumi called Ayame for supper and after they finish their shower, and other business, they went straight to their respective rooms to sleep. Yuki entered his room and jumped towards his window. He moved the curtains a little to take a quick look in Tohru's room.

"She should be sleeping by now." Yuki frowned. "Anyway, good night and sweet dreams." Yuki closed his curtains and went to his bed when a picture suddenly struck his mind. He jumped from his bed and get his bag to do something before he forget.

Tohru just finish brushing and jumped to her bed. Then her eyes wandered to the window. She takes a peek on her window. She saw there a dim light that probably came from a lamp. "I guess he's just about to sleep. Good night then. Pleasant dreams, Friend."

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I think the story is kinda short and cheezy, right? XP If you have read this chapter before I replaced it, you would notice I removed the some of the overdramatic lines. But there are still many. Nothing much happen. Jeez, what a trash. Sorry. Thank you for all your appreciations to my story. I am really sorry for the delayed updates. Sorry. Thank for your reviews everyone. Please point out my mistakes for my future improvement.

Next Chapter Preview:

"We're here! We're here!" Yuki shouted.

"Look on what we have brother! Shells!" Yuki and Tohru called Ayame.

"Mommy, can I and Yuki start to swim?" Tohru run to Kyoko holding Yuki's hand.

"Sure, just leave your clothes in our car."