Lovely Circumstances

Lovely Circumstances

By: Takara-Star

Chapter Nine: Love

Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, or any of the characters. All of it belongs to Natsuki Takaya. I am only writing fan fiction.

--Curtains Up--

Kyo sat in the boy's dressing room staring at himself in the mirror. His expression was such that it could be taken as 'moping'.

Haru came up behind him. "What's wrong, Kyo?"

"Nothing," Kyo said coolly.

"It sure doesn't look like nothing," Haru replied. "Are you breaking up with Honda-san already?"

"No!" Kyo exclaimed, glaring up at Haru.

"Well, what's wrong then?"

Kyo sighed heavily. "Shishou says he's going to 'court' Hana-Jima."

Haru's eyebrows raised some in surprise. "Shihan's pursuing her? Lucky guy. Hana-Jima san has a nice figure."

Kyo stood up. "You disgust me. Keep your thoughts to yourself."

"Haven't we already discussed this? I'm a completely normal guy. Is it so wrong for me to notice? I'm not going to lie and say that Hana-Jima san's ugly," Haru said with a sigh.

"I never said it wasn't normal for you to notice. I'm saying, keep your thoughts to yourself. You don't see Yuki or me throwing everything we happen to think about around do you?" Kyo said angrily.

Totally ignoring Kyo, Haru said, "Do think Honda-san has a nice figure?"

Kyo blushed, and his eye twitched. "That has absolutely nothing to do with what I just asked you, or the original conversation, stupid! You are such a perv!"

Haru still continued to ignore him. "Well, do you?"

Kyo continued to blush, and gritted his teeth. "Yes, fine, whatever. Of course I think Tohru's attractive. But all of this has absolutely nothing to do with what we originally were talking about! It's not something worth discussing either!" Kyo grabbed Haru's shirt, "Happy now?" Kyo then let him go, pushing him down.

Apparently satisfied, Haru stood up and dusted off his pants. "Shihan's not going to abandon you. Is that the problem?"

Kyo hated sounding so immature. "Partially. But, also the fact of having her as my…mom."

"Ah. They only like to tease you, you know? Uotani-san and Hana-Jima-san don't mean anything by it."

"I know, but it's still annoying," Kyo said, rolling his eyes. "But, I guess I should be happy for Shishou. I mean, I'm in love too…so, maybe I could be more understanding. But, even I have to admit that they would be good for each other."

--Curtains Up--

Kazuma sighed heavily as he waited outside the school for Hana. He was sort of nervous about his first outing with her. It was nerve racking to think that he was actually pursuing someone…especially since the person was quite a bit younger than him. But, he did like her. He liked her the moment he first laid eyes on her. He thought it was interesting and different that she wore black all the time; and she was mysteriously…beautiful? For some odd reason, he was attracted to her because she was a little mysterious and seemingly kindhearted. Believe it or not, he knew about how she always teased Kyo. But he didn't see it as something to worry about. Kyo and Hana were friends at least, right?

"Hello, Kazuma-san," Hana said from behind him. "How are you?"

He turned to her, and smiled. "Good. And how are you, Saki-Chan?"

"Very well, thank you."

Kazuma pulled out a bouquet of pink roses for her, from behind his back. "I wasn't sure what kind of flowers you'd like. But, I just saw these and had a feeling you might like them."

Hana took the flowers with a smile. "They're very lovely, Kazuma-san. I thank you, very much."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I was afraid I'd get the wrong kind."

"It's the thought that counts anyway," Hana said, still smiling. "But these flowers are still very beautiful."

"Shall we go then?" Kazuma held out his hand to her. Hana gave him a nod of her head, and took his hand, lacing her fingers in his.

--Curtains Up--

Kureno felt very satisfied with himself. It turns out he had done the right thing after all, leaving Akito at Hana's house that day. He wasn't sure what would happen if he did that, but, it seemed to have been a great idea. Akito was the complete opposite of what she was before.

"Kureno-chaaaaaaaan! Kureno-chaaaaaaaaan! Kureno-chaaaaaaaaaan!" Akito called, skipping over to him. "Do you want to go see the play with me tomorrow? Please please please please pleeeeeeeease?"

Kureno looked over at her, thinking. "I'm not so sure, Akito."

"Aw! Why not?" Akito stuck her lip out in complaint.

"I…have my reasons. I may go, but, it might not be a good thing if I did."

"Is it because of Arisa-chan?"

Kureno's eyes widened, as she said Arisa's name. Akito's eyes looked a little sad. He didn't say anything to her, but Akito could see the answer in his eyes. "Arisa-chan…asked me about you. If I knew who you were, and how you were doing."

Kureno sighed. "What did you tell her?"

"I told her that you were doing well, and that you would see her tomorrow."

"What?" Kureno looked dumbfounded. Now he couldn't refuse to go. Not after Akito had made that promise.

Akito nodded. "After talking to Arisa-chan, I decided that…she really needs you more than I do. When I discussed it with her today, her eyes looked sad. Really sad as she asked me how you were doing. I mean, I only kept you here from my own selfishness. You…are free. You can go if you want."

He stared at Akito, lost in thought. Freedom. That word sounded amazing. But, at what cost? "Do you want me to stay, Akito?"

"I…I can't make you stay. I don't want to. I'll be fine. Besides…since Hana-chan changed my personality…it's given me time to think things through clearly. The curse is…it's all falling apart. I need to accept that. And letting you go is the first step, I think."

Kureno nodded. He really wanted to be with Arisa; and here Akito was, setting him free. He nodded, and stood up, hugging Akito. "I'm sorry you've had to put up with me for so long." He then let her go, and turned toward his room. He had packing to do.

--Curtains Up--

After the first showing of Romeo and Juliet for the community, everyone was a little sad. It was a lot of fun. One more performance left…and then…no more. Machi was strangely enjoying herself. She was feeling a little sad too that it was ending so soon.

She sat in the student council room, reading. It took every ounce of strength she had to hold back from tearing everything off the shelves today. She tried to focus on her book, and the fact that the play was ending soon.

She was so lost in thought, that she didn't even notice that Yuki had sat down beside her. He sat there waiting for a moment; wondering if she'd notice that, lo and behold, he was sitting there.

Finally he said, "That book must be really interesting if you haven't noticed that I'm sitting here."

"Huh?" Machi jumped from surprise, blushing when she looked at him. She narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"Nothing," Yuki said, chuckling.

"There is nothing in particular you wish to discuss?" She mumbled, crossing her arms, still blushing.

"Yes actually…there was something. I'm not sure how to tell you."

"What?"

"Well," Yuki said, his cheeks beginning to turn red as well. "I'll just come out and say it. I…I'm…" But, the words didn't come out; even when he said he'd 'come out and say it.'

Machi's eyes widened. Did Yuki…wait…there was no way. He didn't have feelings for her, did he? There was no way that was what he was trying to tell her…was it? How was that possible? Someone in love with someone like her? Machi knew she liked Yuki. She knew her feelings were real. Unlike those silly fan club girls who were aggressively infatuated with him.

"What is it?" she asked.

Yuki swallowed hard. He'd never done this before. "I'm in love with you, Machi…chan." Short, sweet, and to the point.

Machi looked at him in shock. Not a disgusted shock, but just…shocked. She sat there for a moment, thinking. Then whispered, "I…I'm in love with you too…" She blushed, looking away.

Yuki smiled. "That's…a…relief. I really wanted to tell you, but I wasn't sure how to, or anything."

"Me either," Machi said, a smile creeping up on her face.

"Are you smiling?" He asked, chuckling. He smirked at her.

Machi's face became beet red. "N-no," said, obviously trying to hold back a giggle.

"You are so smiling!"

"No, I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not."

"I see it."

"No, you don't."

"Yes I do."

"No, you don't."

"You can't fool me."

"Yes I can."

"No you can't."

"Yes I can."

"No, you can't."

Finally, Yuki laughed and grabbed both sides of her head. "I see it right there." He touched her lips with his thumb.

"You caught me," she said, defeated.

Yuki then kissed her gently. When he pulled back he said, "Yes, I did."

--Curtains Up--

(2 weeks earlier)

"Kimi thinks that's a great idea!" Kimi said, smiling.

"It is a really good idea, but...will people be a little angry if they find out the truth about my leg?" Tohru asked curiously.

"Maybe so, but it'll be a huge shocker come closing night. It's cool that we're adding in some extra stuff at the end of the play," Arisa said. "That's the point though...to be a huge shocker."

"Should we tell the other student council members the idea then?" Tohru asked, looking to Kimi.

"Yes, Kimi will mention it tomorrow at the meeting!"

(end of flashback)

Tohru sighed. This would be interesting. As she got ready for bed, she brushed her hair. She thought about tomorrow, and their very last performance; also the extra thing they had decided on doing after the performance. The other things they had been practicing; but the sponsors, and the actors and actresses in the play had kept it under wraps. It would be interesting, especially with the last minute changes.

Arisa had called just a few hours earlier saying that Kureno had come back to her. He had used the address that Tohru had gave him a while back to find her if he ever wanted to. Tohru smiled as she thought about them. Had Akito-san finally let him go? That seemed to be the most logical explanation. She knew that Kureno really wasn't one to break promises.

Knock. Knock.

"Coming!" Tohru called, wheeling herself over to the door. She opened it, and saw Kyo standing there.

"Hey," he said, smilling at her. "Can I come in?"

"Sure!" she replied, smiling back.

He walked in and said, "Tomorrow's the big day, huh?" He sat down on her bed, as she wheeled over in front of him.

"Yes."

"You know," he said, seemingly in thought. "I've been thinking…"

"About what, Kyo-kun?"

"I'm wondering if it were a coincidence that you and me got the lead roles in the play. It almost seems as if we were set up for it," he said with a small chuckle.

Tohru's eyes widened. "You…really think it's possible…?"

"Uh-huh. I do. I really owe Hana-Jima and Uotani for this one. They're probably the masterminds behind this," He replied, leaning in and pressing his forehead to hers, taking her hand.

"Are you going to tell them?" Tohru whispered, blushing a little. "Thank you, I mean."

"Yeah, remind me to do that tomorrow," he whispered back.

"Okay."

Then Kyo placed his lips on hers. Not sensing that something was wrong.

Pop! Splash!

Kyo and Tohru jumped from fright, and shivered as cold water drenched them. A water balloon.

"What the…?" Kyo listened to the sounds of footsteps. "Wait here." He ran out of her room. Knowing exactly who threw the water balloon.

At the bottom of the steps, Kyo lunged out, tackling Shigure to the floor. He twisted his arms behind his back saying, "What's wrong with you?!"

"Nothing," Shigure squeaked.

"Oh yeah. I'm so sure you're just fine," Kyo scoffed. "You're a seriously twisted imbecile. You know I can send you to the hospital, right? Now did you throw that water balloon?" Kyo already knew the answer though. He twisted Shigure's arms tighter.

"Yes, I did," Shigure squeaked again. "'Cause it looked as if you might take Tohru-kun's innocen-"

"You pervert!" Kyo exclaimed, chopping Shigure over the head, hard. "You idiot! Do you honestly think that I would do something like that to her?"

"Yes," Shigure replied, still squeaking. Kyo's hand raised again to whack Shigure in the head again.

"Kyo-kun? Is everything all righ-" Tohru called, but was cut off by her wheel chair beginning to roll down the stairs. "AHHHHHHHH!" she screamed.

Kyo and Shigure had no time to react.

Bam!

Tohru crashed into them. She flew from her wheelchair, crashing into Kyo's back. Kyo flew forward, leaving Shigure under the wheelchair. Tohru reacted by hanging on to Kyo, as they flew over the table, hitting the wall. When they had made it to the ground again, Tohru was gripping him so hard, her nails were almost digging into his skin. She was too shocked to move. He was too shocked to move as well, as he lay on top of her. As they lay there, both began to realize that something wasn't right. It seemed that something was missing that was supposed to be happening. But it wasn't.

Kyo's copper eyes were staring into Tohru's, but, then they widened at her. He felt different. One person is what he felt like. Not two, not three. One. He slowly sat up, never breaking his eye contact with Tohru. Both their faces bewildered.

"Kyo-kun…are you okay?" she murmured, sitting up.

"I don't know. I feel…odd...I'm not…"

"You're not transforming…" Tohru murmured again.

Shigure moved out from under the wheelchair. He looked up them. Then he too, got confused. "Kyo-kun why aren't you in cat form?"

"I think my curse is…gone," he breathed. He still kept his eyes on Tohru.

--Curtains Up--

A/N: I apologize for the hold up. I know I said I'd get the chapters up quicker, now that the Graduation test is done and over with, but then…prom stuff made me busy again! It's this Saturday (4-19-08). But there's really nothing else coming up…well, there's the EOCT (end of course test) but that's not really a HUGE deal. I'll still have plenty of time to write.

I hate to say this…but, the next chapter will be the last chapter of Lovely Circumstances. But I'm already starting to work on my new story. Now, I said before that it would be a school fic, but, I changed my mind. There were two different stories that I wanted to do, so I chose the other one. (I will do the school fic at a later date, though) My new story is going to be called, Calico (You know, like a calico cat. That cat with three colors-black, white, and orange). Well, it takes place after the curse is broken, and after graduation. And Kyo and Tohru are making plans (I won't say what kind just yet though. I'll keep you guessing for now.). But along the way, they come face to face with someone from the past. Someone they both need to help together. It won't be a big comedy like this one (there will be some humor though.). It'll be more of a drama kind of thing.

God Bless!

-Takara-Star