Don't shoot meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Disclaimer: I do no own Fruits Basket


It's nearly the end of June now and it's almost always raining. It's quite annoying, and it also meant I'll have to start using the clothes dryer more often now. Ugh, there's probably mounds of laundry at home to do too.

Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, and I were walking home from school, using our umbrellas to shield us from the rain. Right at the moment, we were waiting at the crosswalk for the light to turn green.

"The weather report said it would let up a little this afternoon." Yuki told us, trying to be cheerful about the unholy amount of water pouring down on us.

"If it does stop, that would be very helpful" Tohru smiled, "But would be even more helpful, is if it turned out to be a clear, sunny, summer!"

"Seriously" I rolled my eyes and shook my purple umbrella a bit, "Sun, and warmth, plus it means I get to stop wearing long sleeves and pants."

"Summer, huh?" Yuki asked, looking at us. "You really like summer Miss Honda, Miss Cho?"

"Yes! I can work a lot during the summer holidays!" Tohru misunderstood the question.

"I don't think that's what he meant Ru," I smiled warmly at Yuki, "But do you like summer Yuki?"

He shrugged, "Mm, I guess you could say it's not my favorite season."

I arched an eyebrow at that before shrugging and turning to Kyo, "Really? How can you not like- Kyo!" I turned to him, "You like summer right?"

"I don't know. I don't really care one way or the other" Kyo said gloomily.

Awkward silence reins once more! I shifted my umbrella and examined the boy more, he'd been awfully quiet today. Maybe . . . I remember Shigure saying something about the rain bothering him more than it did others because of the cat spirit.

"Oh! Well . . . um . . ." Tohru stuttered, obviously trying to find something to break the silence.

"Miss Honda, Miss Honda!" Yuki grabbed her attention, "It's nothing to worry about, he always gets this way on rainy days. Haru was saying something about it . . ."

"Oh?" Tohru tilted her head slightly to the right, "I see . . . So that's why he's been in such a bad mood lately."

"So it would seem" Yuki sighed, "Really, he's so irresponsible"

Kyo was instantly angry, "It's . . ." He seemed to lose any energy and bent to rest his hand on his knee, "Better than you, dammit! You . . . can't even . . . wake up in the morning!"

Now he wasn't making any sense at all, he was trying to insult Yuki, but he was failing epically. I frowned, if this weather really made him so weak, maybe he should have just stayed home.

"Dammit, this sucks!"

"Kyo, you really shouldn't push yourself so much" I bent so I could look him in the face, "You know, I could carry your umbrella if you need me too. It wouldn't be too much trouble."

Kyo started to blush a little, "L-look you . . ."

"Yes?" I urged.

"Don't "Yes?" me! Why . . . why would I . . . stand under a girls umbrella that a girl is holding?!" He growled angrily.

"Oh" I realized how that must have wounded his 'manly pride' and sighed, touching a finger to my chin. Just to tease him, I kept talking. "Well, I could always hug you and carry you home as a cat. That-"

"THAT'S EVEN WORSE, YOU MORON!" He exploded.

I giggled and winked at him, "I know," I teased him, "You're just too cute when you're all riled up!"

"WHY YOU-!"

"Miss Cho, are we ready to go now?" Yuki asked, sounding slightly amused by our banter. Tohru was watching us, a strange light glinting in her warm brown eyes.

"Sorry, I guess I got distracted." I looked at Kyo, "Are you feeling well enough to head home?"

"Aaaugh!" He groaned, "You worry too much about everything, it's making me even more tired!"

"Sorry Kyo" I apologized, resting my hand on his arm. "I guess I pushed it too far. Can I ask you a question though?"

He sighed, but nodded. "Sure, what is it?"

I twirled my umbrella, "Do others in the zodiac react the way you do to the rain?"

"What?" He shook his head and smiled slightly at me, "No, it's just how my body reacts to this kind of weather"

"Oh, I see" I nodded, "It's like how Ayame can't be out in the cold because he's the snake. You get tired if you're out in the rain."

He chuckled, "Yeah, kinda"

The rest of the walk home was pleasant, and it even stopped raining when we got home. I closed my umbrella and set next to the door to dry.

"Tch" Kyo grumbled, opening the door. "Stupid rain stops the minute we get home!"

"Hey, at least it stopped" I reminded him.

"Yes" Tohru smiled, "But at least its clear skies now!"

"But it would have been nice if it had kept raining, at least then the cat would stay quiet . . ." Yuki sighed regretfully.

"Haaah!" Kyo turned to yell, "Did you say something, you damn rat!"

"Ky-ooo~"

Kyo went stiff and gasped, I looked around him and saw Kagura looking deceptively cute and adorable as she giggled.

"Welcome home!" Kagura held her arms outstretched, jogging up to him. "My beloved Kyo~"

Kyo slammed the sliding door shut, and there was a big thud that came from the other side. It sounded like Kagura had hit her head while she was trying to get to Kyo. I grimaced and stepped back, out of range of the explosion that was bound to happen. Because, let's face it, a flimsy paper door is not going to hold Kagura for very long at all."

"Kyo?!" Kagura's voice was muffled through the door, "Kyo, dear, what's wrong?! The door closed?!"

"Yeah it's closed!" Kyo told her, "And it won't ever open again!"

I took another step back as the door rattled, and flinched as Kaguras fist smashed through the paper door.

"Open the door . . . now" She sounded demonic, and Kyo decided to open the door.

I sat around the table with Kagura and Kyo, while Tohru made tea in the kitchen. I could hear her puttering around, humming to herself.

"Well? What do you want?" Kyo asked, he was facing away from her, sitting criss cross. "Tell me your business and let's get this over with!"

"Huh?" Kagura shrugged, "I don't have any buisness"

I smiled warmly at her, "Well, anyway, it's good to see you again Kagura"

"Argh! Then what are you doing here?!"

"Why?" Kagura asked, "Do I need to have a reason to visit you?"

"I don't want you to visit me!" Kyo snapped

"Hey, Kyo" Tohru walked into the room, "You shouldn't have said that!"

I scowled at Kyo's back before looking at Kagura, concerned. "Kagura, are you-"

Kagura snapped, lifting the table up and aiming at Kyo, "I love you so . . . so much! How could you do this to me?!"

"Would you hurry up and figure out that's WHY I don't want to see you!" Kyo shouted, bristling in fear.

Suddenly Shigure was there, he grasped the back of Kyo's head and shoved him into Kagura. The change was instantaneous. The girl sighed lovingly and held Kyo to her, a blissful smile on her face.

"Shi-Gu-Re" Kyo stuttered out.

"Kagura" Shigure pushed his hand through his hair, moving it away from his face. "I'll lend him to you. Why don't you take him on a date or something?"

"Kyaah! Shii, you say the nicest things!"

"Hey! Wait a minute, what do you mean lend" Kyo shouted.

For some strange reason, the word 'date' had me feeling strange. The warm feeling that bubbled up in me wasn't a good one. I didn't like it one bit, it was like, like I was angry, but not at the same time. I grimaced slightly, pushing down on the feeling.

"I'm not going! First of all, I have no reason to go outside!"

"Hm . . . well then, Tohru." Shigure turned to the quiet girl, "Why don't you let them go out and get the groceries for tonight's dinner?"

"Huh?" Tohru asked, slightly surprised.

"Groceries? Okay, let's go!" Kagura chirped.

"I am not going!"

"Um, well, uh" Tohru walked up to Kagura and handed her the note, "Will you please do this favor for me?"

"I said I'm-"

"Of course, just leave it to me!"

Shigure smiled and waved them out, "Be safe out there!"

"Great!" Kagura hooked an arm around Kyo's throat, "Let's go on a date!"

Shigure wiped his brow, "Mission accomplished!"

I scowled at the dog, irritated that I was so . . . irritated they were going out on a stupid date. "Ah, whatever. I'm going out, call me if you need anything."

First though, I changed out of my school uniform into a pair of dark wash flare jeans and a tight purple knit sweater. I stuffed my beanie on my head and put my gloves on before leaving the house. I'm not sure where I was going, but I just needed to go somewhere where I could sort out these feelings inside me.

It took a while for me to figure out where I was going, but when I did, it made me smile. My own feet had lead me to Kyoko's grave. With a sigh, I sat down in front of the head stone and took off my hat.

"Hey Kyoko" I murmured, "I hope I'm not bothering you or anything. But, I had to get out of the house to think. I'm just . . . confused right now." I started ringing my hat in my hands, twisting it back and forth. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Shigure did something, and . . . and for some reason, it pissed me off. Well, that's the best I can describe the feeling right now." I sighed, "I don't know . . ."

"Mandy . . .?"

My head shot up, and I blinked in surprise when I saw Hana. She was wearing her usual black lace dress, with a black parasol over her shoulder. Megumi was with her too, he was half hidden behind his sister, looking at me with mild concern.

I stood, shoving my hat back on my head. "Hana, 'Gumi, what're you guys doing here?"

Megumi padded forward stood in front of me with his hands in his pockets, "Sister had feeling, so we came to see what was going on."

I smiled, resting a hand on his head. "Ah, of course." I turned to Hana, who had walked up to us and was now standing in front of Kyoko's grave. "What did the waves tell you?"

"That you were upset" Hana stated frankly, "And that you needed someone to talk to."

I chuckled, "Well, they were right."

"They usually are" Hana told me.

"What's wrong?" Megumi asked quietly.

I bit my bottom lip, slightly unsure. But, with Hana and her brother staring at me like that, I caved. I told them about what had happened before I'd left the house. About how I'd felt when Shigure pushed Kyo into going on a date with Kagura, and how I didn't like the feeling, whatever feeling that was.

Hana spun her parasol thoughtfully, "It seems to me, like you were jealous. Yes, that's the right word. I can read it in your waves"

"No, no, that's not . . ." I paused, thinking it over. Was that what I'd been feeling? "Really?" I asked meekly, "I'm . . . jealous. Oh god, why am I jealous over Kyo going on a date with another girl?"

Hana just looked at me with that knowing gaze of hers, making me slump slightly. Was it possible? Could I . . . could I actually . . . "Oh god, I, I like Kyo?!"

Hana shrugged, "Honestly, I've been waiting for one of you to figure it out sooner or later. It's quite obvious when one looks at it from the outside. The question is, are you going to act upon your feelings?"

I grimaced instantly, thinking about Yuki's fan girls. How they constantly bombarded Yuki with their feeling with no thought to his own. I didn't want to be like them, forcing my feelings, however newly found, upon someone unwillingly. Especially with Kyo, with how he reacts to Kagura's feelings, actually any girls' feelings, I couldn't do it.

"We're just beginning to become really good friends" I told them truthfully, "I can't, I won't, jeopardize that for anything. What if I tell him and he doesn't feel the same? It would ruin the good things we've got going!"

"Then don't" Megumi told me seriously, "Mandy, you're nothing like those girls. You care, that's the difference. Wait, then. Wait until he is ready."

I blinked back a sudden wave of grateful tears, "Man, you guys are the best." I pulled them in for a hug, "I love you two"

"We love you too" Hana told me gently, "Now, you should be getting home. It is going to start raining soon."

I smiled when the first drop hit my nose, "Alright, bye!"

Once they were gone, I turned to Kyoko's grave and chuckled. There was no doubt about it, she'd somehow gotten them here for me.

The walk home was a more cheerful one than the walk to the temple. I was feeling lighter, like a big weight had been lifted off of my chest with the revelation that I had a crush on Kyo Sohma. I wouldn't say anything, Kyo wasn't ready for that kind of revelation. The boy still had a lot of growing up to do.

I would wait, that was the right thing to do. I would keep going as I have been, as just a good friend, and keep getting closer to the Sohma's.

When I got to the front of the house, I saw something that stopped me in my tracks. A man with long brown hair was standing in front of our door, looking as if he was contemplating knocking.

"Shi- Shishou?!" Kyo's shocked voice made me blink.

This was his master? Mister Miagi he definitely was not! Kyo ran up to him, "Shishou?"

His Shishou smiled warmly, "You are looking well . . . Kyo"

Oh. My. God!


Oh crap, I am so SORRY guys!

I did not mean to go this long without updating Year of the Dog, but WiFi at home is down and work has been hell. I am posting this from New Mexico, somewhere in the desert.

Me, my boyfriend, and my best friend had wanted to surprise her boyfriend by coming to surprise him in New Mexico, but that plan went down the drain. As it turns out, her boyfriend had been two steps ahead of us the whole time. When we landed at the airport HE WAS ALREADY THERE! The little shit met us at the airport and then he PROPOSED to her!

Guys! He proposed to her!

I almost cried, but anyways, I'll just get on to thanking my reviewers now. . .

LadyAmazon: I can't get over your review! It was awesome, thank you for reading my story!

The Yoshinator: I'm happy that you loved it, thank you for your review!

Ninja-Bunny-Master:I can't wait for Hiro! Maybe I'll make Mandy act like a mean older sister . hehe .