Sorry for the sudden influx of chapters, haha! ( Though I'm not sure if I should be apologizing for something like that... ) I was reading through Fruits Basket again, and decided to write more. Yesterday I finally hit the boundary I had been striving for since the beginning - Rachel's death. Today, I'm at the next checkpoint I dreamed of... The meeting with Kazuma. Can't wait to keep writing, I'm addicted now! My pinky is starting to hurt ;P

I LOVE THIS MANGA! If you couldn't tell... ;) I'll keep trying to follow the original story as best i can. I think i messed up a bit with how soon things happened like that Class trip, but overall i think i have done pretty well getting things in good sync. This is the farthest i've ever gone with a story... ^-^ Enjoi! (- Spelled wrong intentionally ;D )

Chapter 35. Kyo's my brother...

Kazuma: "I assume... That you have found out about the adoption?"

Kagura was in another room, waiting to change back so she could get dressed. Most likely she was listening. I nodded to his question, still averting my gaze. It wasn't that I disliked Kazuma or anything, but... the whole situation made me feel awkward.

Kazuma: "I'm sorry that I wasn't the one to let you know. I'm sure that... it wasn't easy to take."

I remained quiet. Not like there was much I could say or do to communicate back.

Kazuma: "I want to be honest, Taren. I don't have any desire to take over the spot that your family filled. I would never want to push them out of your life. But... I hope that I was able to help in some way with this."

Now that he actually said something like that... Perhaps it was true? Perhaps I had been worried that everyone would disappear because of this, but... I was wrong. That wouldn't happen, this was just... A new development in my life. It wasn't a bad one, either.

Kazuma: "If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, you can come to me. You did me a great service by saving Kyo, and this is the least I can do to repay you."

Oh. There was something I hadn't been thinking of for a long time... That day a very long time ago when I saved Kyo. Once again those worries about my true motives and feelings about it all appeared within my head, clouding it up. What a horrible time to remember these things, I didn't have the strength to even talk, so how could I fight them off?

Looking up, I noticed Kazuma looking at me very kindly. This was the person who... stopped me from being taken away from everything. I'm sure that, if that had happened, then it would have destroyed any hope I had of getting better. In a lot of ways... Kazuma had saved me.

Taren: "... Th..."

I started, trying to force even a simple thank you out. It didn't work though, and I only got frustrated again. Instead, I did something that I could do without speaking, I bowed to him. Without realizing it, I felt a tear slide down my cheek, and I hurriedly wiped it away.

Kazuma: "It's ok, I know that you are having trouble speaking. I've... kept in touch with Shigure lately. But thank you for trying."

For a while me and Kazuma, along with Kagura, all just sat and chatted. Well, in all honesty they were the ones who were talking. Eventually she had turned back from the transformation, and together they were relating Kyo's and their own pasts to me. It felt as if this was something precious, so I tried to focus as best as I could and soak it all in. Kazuma also gave me some clothes to wear so I could get out of my soaked ones, which was nice.

Normally people wouldn't speak of others pasts, but... I suppose me and him were brothers now. I had a lot to learn. Kagura left after a while, and me and Kazuma did our best to try and communicate. It wasn't too long after the time that school got out that there was a knock on the door.

Kazuma: "Oh, I wonder who that could be."

He said, setting down a pot of tea he had prepared.

Moments later he returned with an unexpected guest... Kyo stood there, looking awkward as he held both my bag and his own, and also my coat.

Kyo: "Y-you... left this at school."

Kazuma: "How did you know that he was here?"

Kyo: "Shigure knew, somehow. So I came over right as he told me."

I took my stuff from him, and he sank down beside me cautiously.

Kyo: "I'm sorry that you had to find out that way... But-"

He looked over at me, and then stopped short. Was something wrong?

Kyo: "Hey... aren't those... MY clothes?"

He stated, looking me up and down.

Kazuma: "Yes, Taren was soaked to the bone when he arrived here, so I lent him the ones you had left here. I hope you don't mind, Kyo."

Kyo: "OF COURSE I...!"

He began, and then slouched from the fighting stance he had entered.

Kyo: "I... mind..."

Um... Ok? What happened to him?

Kazuma: "Ah haha, I see that you still don't feel well on days like this. You see, Taren, Kyo gets very tired and worn out on rainy days."

Oh, interesting. Maybe it was a cat thing? Since usually cats didn't like water, and usually slept inside when it rained and stuff.

Kyo: "Whatever... It doesn't matter."

He said, dropping the matter of his clothes. Me and Kazuma both laughed a bit, and Kyo blushed. He really was such an interesting person.