AN- i dont own Fruits Baskets-

Chapter Eight

(Yuki's POV)

School went by fast… a bit too fast for me, the weather was beginning to get colder and I was hoping it might get warmer out, but the sky only looks like it got even more unpleasant for my health.

I sighed.

I hope I wouldn't upset Tohru if I started coughing on the way home…

I walked with her as planned, and I hadn't coughed at all as we walked through the forest. She talked about the time she spent with her friends yesterday, and I took deep interest in it. I really do enjoy hearing that Tohru is doing well, sometimes I worry about her- I wonder if I'll ever stop worrying about her…

"-It was so fun, I hope we do it again soon!" Tohru finished off with a huge smile, I grinned back at her.

We walked in silence few a moments, and I looked over to her, and noticed that she had that determined look on her face- the kind she put on whenever she was trying to pump herself up to do something.

"What is it, Ms. Honda?"

She looked over to me and bit her lip, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you know where Kyo is?"
She's always been very careful with the subject of Kyo with me, because of our abnormal relationship of ultimate loathing with no real substantial reason.

I just shrugged, "He probably skipped a few classes, I wouldn't worry about him if I were you."

She nodded, and jumped into another conversation- I tried to concentrate on what she was saying- but all I could think of was Kyo.

I was still in oblivion about him. I didn't know what to think… but even more, I didn't know what to feel…

Tohru and I, on arriving home, separated ways when we reached our rooms. I loosened my tie and placed it in my closet along with my shirt after I had unbuttoned it and slid it off my delicate shoulders. I pinched the zipper of my pants between my fingers and dragged it down before sliding my pale, slender legs from its confines, just to turn around and slip them back into a different pair of pants. I slid my arms through another shirt and finished dressing.

I turned to the corner of my bedroom, picked up my backpack, took out my history book and sat down at my desk to finish my homework.

I hadn't realised that I had fallen asleep until I jolted straight up and out of a peaceful atmosphere when I heard a knocking at my door. I turned around in my seat as I saw Shigure lean inside, "Hello Yuki!" He smiled at me,

I turned back around in my seat and returned to my work.

"Ooh, Yuki that's not nice!" Shigure whimpered, and when I didn't reply he dropped the five-year-old act and continued, "I'm going to visit Ayame-san, and he invited you to come with!"

I put down my pencil and pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers, "Just leave, Shigure."

"Alright, if you say so… Tohru is out getting groceries- so please be so kind to let her in when she comes home, no nasty tricks, alright Yuki?"

I felt the annoyance begin to bubble and I rolled my eyes.

"Alriiight, Yuki?"
I whipped around and shot a death glare at the Dog, who screamed, and slammed the door. I listened to his footsteps as he ran squealing down the stairs. I sighed and rolled my eyes again. I waited a few minutes after Shigure left until I got up from my seat and made my way downstairs, needing a break.

I entered the kitchen and prepared some tea for myself. I took my time, not looking forward to going back to my room- but not able to think of anything else I could possibly do.

I added some honey to my tea and let it steep, leaning my back against the counter, trying not to think of certain frustrating topics including a certain frustrating orange-haired boy.

When my tea was ready, I picked it up and sipped it on the way to the porch outside. The air was a bit chilly, but it made me appreciate my warm tea more, so I lowered myself onto the hard wood and cradled my tea in my lap, looking over the land boarded by trees spread out in front of me.

After a while, the sun had found an opening in the sky and created a spotlight of gold on the ground a few feet away from me.

I wondered to myself if it was warm, or if the cold chill in the air would nip it away if I tried to stand in it. Sighing, I tilted the cup one last time to my lips and finished off my afternoon tea.

The honey had a kind of comforting taste to it, a feel, even. It's sweet subtly was gentle in my mouth as it mixed in with the warm tea.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from amongst the trees, his orange hair stealing all the attention from the beautiful view. I exhaled, set my cup down, and lifted myself up from the porch.

I waited to greet Kyo.

-End-

AN- ah sorry it's so damn short- it's just a bit of a prelude to Chapter Nine—