AN- I'm posting this now because I'm not sure if I'm gonna have the chance to post it tomorrow. so that would make it... three days without a post, then two chapts in one day!
Ah, who am I kidding, I've done better then that.
I'm trying not to drag this out, but there is still alot this story has to settle... so apologies to those who just want it to be over, I still have plans.
That dont involve me owning FruitsBaskets.

Chapter Thirty Seven

(Kyo's POV)

I pushed the door open and stumbled inside, every part of my skin shivering and cringing from how my clothes clung to my body. I felt my breath leave my lungs, and I had to put effort into inhaling. I had managed to keep the cat in my arms without dropping it, all of my strength going into my arms.

I felt completely drained; I had even forgotten to slip out of my shoes as I wandered into the house. I walked into the kitchen, soaking the floor from the rain that was dripping from my body. On my journey home the rain had picked up, and it turned out to almost be a storm, it was coming down in buckets.

"Kyo? You were outside all this time?" Shigure's voice wavered in my ears, making me even dizzier and I made my way forward to the sink where I leaned my back against, breathing heavily as I gently unravelled my hoody to see if the cat was still all right.

I laid a hand gently on top of its fur—I had managed to keep it mostly dry, but it was still wet which made the fur stick even more to my hand… it was still trembling, which meant it was alive. I felt relief wash through me.

"Is that… is that a cat, Kyo?" Shigure said from beside me.

I felt my head start to buzz and I slunk down to the floor letting out a sigh. "We have to… keep her warm…" I said through exhausted breaths—I could sense that it was female. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and I tried to keep myself from curling up into a ball and falling asleep.

I hadn't noticed that Shigure was kneeling in front of me until he was shaking my shoulder, rousing me awake. "Here." Shigure held out a towel splayed across his open hands and I gently lifted the limp cat from my soaking hoody and placed her in the towel, reaching under Shigure's hands to wrap the cat in the towel's warmth and cradling her back to my chest.

"What can we do for it?" Shigure asked as I listened to her silent rattling breath.

"She just needs to rest… and then I'll feed her and keep her warm." I said, concentrating on what the small form was yearning for.

"Well, here, give her to me so you can have a bath." Shigure said. I was feeling a little better now that I wasn't being drenched in the rain, but the churning in my stomach still had my energy drained.

"Pff," I scoffed, "You kidding me, I'm not leaving her in your hands." but any offence in my voice went limp from my tired tone. Nothing could compare to the natural connection I had with the animal in my arms, it wasn't often that I felt so accepted like I do around these creatures.

"Alright… well, I have to go and pick up a book I ordered, so make sure you have a bath before you catch a cold." Shigure said simply.

I grunted a reply and Shigure lifted himself off the floor, walking out of the kitchen. I felt the pained aura of the cat lessen in intensity, and found something inside of me spark hopefully—Maybe she was only weak and cold, if that was it then I could help her out.

I listened as a soft purr scratched from the tiny body in my arms.

With the faint noise of the door opening and closing, I let my heavy eyelids take their toll and I slid my eyes closed… only for a minute…

I felt my body slump over and I shot awake before I hit the floor, throwing out a hand to keep me from leaning any further. I let out an exhausted breath and hauled myself up from the floor, gripping the counter for stability. I shook away the sleepy mist from my mind and made my way leisurely to my room. I climbed the stairs absent-mindedly, wandered down the hall, and slid my door open, careful to keep the cat safely in my arms. I crawled onto my bed and laid down the cat gently on my soft sheets, curling up beside her and falling into a comfortable and easy sleep.

(Yuki's POV)

I gazed out of the window, blurry from the rain that was dripping down. I placed my elbow on my desk and rested my cheek in my hand, listening to how the drops of water tap-danced on the school. It had started out as a drizzle, but had quickly picked up into drenching buckets falling from the sky… and now it seemed to be calming down a bit again.

I didn't feel like leaving School Council just yet, I had no umbrella to keep me dry. At least Kyo got home before it started to rain; he would have died in this.

I slumped over, resting my forehead on the arms I had crossed over my desk. It was Thursday… so that meant that tomorrow we would be leaving for the Hot Springs. If it kept raining like this, the trip would be quite pointless. We'd spend the whole time locked up with each other and that didn't sound like a great idea—Kagura, Ayame, Hiro, and Shigure would definitely not be a good combination to be locked in a room with. I shivered at the thought.

"Are you cold, Yun-Yun?" Manabe popped up in front of my desk, pulling out a chair and straddling it backwards.

"No, just tired." I sighed, not liking how I always seemed to be exhausted now days.

"Ha, at least tomorrow's a half day." Manabe leaned his back against his own desk leisurely, "And I think we get Monday off."

Hopefully, or else I'd be skipping school over the Hot Springs trip. I listened as the rain was slowly becoming more silent. I was wishing the rain would stop before I leave, I was going to go and pick up Tohru from work since she got off the general time that I left school today.

I glanced over to the clock—and realised that I should be on my way if I didn't want to push my luck getting there on time.

I pushed myself up from my seat, "Well, I'm going now." I tucked my chair back into my desk and Manabe flipped me a salute as I slung my backpack over my shoulder. I walked over and opened the classroom door—the hallways were empty as I walked along them, and the rain was getting more faint as it dribbled less frequently against the glass windows.

By the time I had reached the front doors, pushed them open, and was walking off the school property the rain had turned into a subtle spitting. I felt the rain drop on my cheeks and slide down my skin; I ran my sleeve over my face to dry them off.

Yesterday, after Momiji made his exit, Kyo had helped check through my homework. I had finished most of it, I only had a few more pages… and of course, Kyo and I didn't get sidetracked again—especially with Momiji's voice ringing around unpredictable parts of the house. It seemed that every time I am with him, I somehow managed to forget that the rest of the world existed. I let out a sigh as the grey clouds still covered the sky leisurely, the sun casting a solemn light over the concrete in front of me.

He was so unpredictable…

I turned onto the street where Tohru worked, and stayed clear to the right as a young playful girl skipped around the sidewalk with her mother tagging behind. When I had passed them, I glanced over my shoulder as the little girl spun around in the spot and grabbed at her mother's skirt for balance.

The sun was getting close to the horizon as it peeked through the fading clouds, and I reached the building where Tohru works and leaned against the nearby railing. I watched the cars stream by behind me and I let my mind wander…

I thought about my exams, my student council, and I thought about the darkness, the way the mother smiled at the girl when she grabbed onto her skirt. I watched the grey skin of the clouds stretch and fade, and thought about the warm sun. I thought about how I had grown so quickly, how my hands could reach a door without stretching. I thought of the summer, and what would happen. I thought about what would happen… and I thought about what was happening.

I tried to think about how I had grown so fond of Kyo, and that glimmer he got in his eyes whenever he got excited over something, or how they lit up radiantly at the expense of a challenge. I thought about how it could have happened so quickly…

How I could have gone to hating his very presence, to finding myself wishing that he were leaning against the railing with me right now… with his stubborn attitude, his radiant eyes, his raging temper... all of it...

I heard a door open along with a cheerful, familiar voice saying goodbye, and I faced the building I've been waiting in front of to see Tohru emerge from it. She looked a bit startled to see me, so I gave her a smile and soon she was beaming back, trotting over to me.

"Yuki! How are you?" She said, happy to see me.

"I'm good, was work well for you?" I asked, glad that I hadn't been late to pick her up.

"Oh yes, they're giving me more hours so I have to work really hard now!" She clenched her fists determinedly.

I gave a small laugh, "Don't push yourself too hard." She already worked hard; I was beginning to get a little worried that she would come down with a cold if she stressed herself too much.

"Oh—Yuki, how was Student Council?" She asked curiously as we turned a corner.

"It was the usual, I suppose." I answered, "The rain was coming down pretty hard earlier, so we all decided to stay inside the school."

"Oh!" Tohru suddenly stopped in shock, her hands to her mouth in a sudden realization.

"What?" I asked quickly, "Did you forget something? We can go back-"

"No, No… I had forgotten that it had rained… I hope Kyo's alright…" She bit her nails nervously, her eyes wide saucers.

I gave her a reassuring smile, "He probably got home before any of it started." I beckoned her forward to walk with me.

"Well, the rain started right after he dropped me off…"

"Kyo dropped you off?" That would have gotten him caught in the downpour.

She nodded vigorously, "Oh no, I hope I didn't make him walk through the rain!"

"He'll be alright… did he have a jacket or anything?"

"Oh… he had a hoody…"

"See? There you go." I said reassuringly, giving her a confident smile, "No need to worry yourself, Miss Honda, Kyo can take care of himself."

"Do you think it'll rain over the weekend?" Tohru asked, "I hope it doesn't."

"I think the worst of it passed through already," I said as I looked up at the sky, the dark clouds moving further along the sky in the opposite direction. We walked back home together, an easy conversation picking up between us. She was bright as usual, and I reassured her every time she seemed to panic over a small topic. When we were walking down the familiar path to our home, we came across the path of Shigure who was strolling along.

"Good afternoon young ones!" Shigure greeted cheerfully under the shade of his small umbrella.

"Shigure! How are you?" Tohru pleasantly greeted, "Did you come out for a walk?"

Shigure shook his umbrella before closing it and falling into step with us, "Oh I suppose, I just went to pick up a book I had ordered!" he slid his hand into his robe and pulled out a small novel, "I am quite excited to read it!"

All three of us walked back to the house, and by the time we entered inside, the sky was clear of grey clouds and the sun was gleaming along the horizon, casting long shadows from the trees.

"I'll get supper ready," Tohru said eagerly as she wandered into the kitchen, Shigure at her heels throwing out enthusiastic suggestions. I slipped out of my shoes and ran a hand leisurely through my hair before following the two of them into the kitchen. I walked through the kitchen and made my way up the steps, through the hall, and slid my door open. I entered my room and closing my door before dropping my bag onto the floor.

I tugged off my tie and let it fall to the ground as I unbuttoned my shirt, sliding it off my arms and letting that, as well, drape to the floor. I slipped my legs from my pants and tugged on a different pair, fitting another shirt onto my shoulders.

I picked up my backpack after I finished dressing and carried it over to my desk where I dropped it carelessly before leaving my room and shutting the door behind me. I descended the stairs and wandered back into the kitchen where Shigure was yapping pleasantly to an attentive Tohru who had already started cooking on the stove.

"Can I help?" I asked Tohru, and she looked over to me as I leaned against the counter beside her.

"Yes! Thank you!" Tohru said excitedly.

Shigure let out an audible groan, "But I wanted something yummy!"

I looked at my with an exhausted expression, "Don't fret yourself, I wont do any of the cooking." I reached up and opened a cabinet, "I'll just set the table."

Shigure perked up immediately at this, and I rolled my eyes as I brought a stack of plates into the dining room. After I had finished setting the table I offered to help her with some of the food since Shigure had escaped to his office. She let me cut some of the vegetables for her, and I succeeded in doing a pretty decent job of it.
I kept her company as she prepared a meal for us, as there was not a lot I could do without the promise of doing it right. When she had finished cooking I helped her place the food on the table, and Shigure came without beckoning from anyone other then his keen sense of smell.

"KYO! Dinner's on!" Shigure called up the stairs before crossing the kitchen and sitting himself down in his usual place at the table. I opened one last cabinet and took out four glasses before returning back to the dinning room.

"Tohru, go fetch Kyo, he should be in his room still." Shigure said in due to Kyo's absence.

"Oh, alright, I'll be right back!" Tohru volunteered with a smile from Shigure. When she was out of the dining room I glared accusingly at Shigure. When he looked over to me he flinched back out of surprise.

"Could you stop ordering her around?" I asked solidly, lowering my body down onto the floor.

Shigure flapped his hand at me, "She doesn't mind! Plus, she is our house maid after all!"

"Don't call her that." I said in agitation, "She's more then that, and you know it."

"Yes, I suppose so." Shigure said with a finger on his chin, "She's almost like a part of the family, isn't she? Quite the special girl…"

Tohru trotted back into the room, "Um, he's asleep…"

"Oh is he then? About time, I thought he wouldn't listen to me." Shigure said, talking to himself pleasantly.

Tohru looked over to him questionably, and when Shigure caught her glance he went into his spiel: "He came home soaking wet from the rain with a cat in his arms!"

…

"Wait, what?" I said through the jumbled thoughts in my head.

"Well, you see, it was raining earlier on." Shigure said with a finger pointing to the ceiling.

"I know that, I meant what-"

"OH NO!"

I looked over to Tohru who had her hands clasped to the side of her face, "OH NO! I forgot that it was raining after I got to work!"

"Oh, Tohru, that's alright, you got in just fine!" Shigure flapped his hand, but Tohru continued.

"No, no, Kyo dropped me off!" She slunk to the floor, "This is all my fault! He asked if I needed him to walk me and I said yes, if I didn't he wouldn't have gotten caught in the rain, and now he probably has a cold and-" Tohru gasped and looked up with fear on her face, "IF HE HAS A COLD HE CANT GO TO THE HOTSPRINGS!" and then the hysteria began where she flapped her arms all around and jumped up like there were hot coals wherever she stood, "IT'S ALL MY FAULT! IF I HADNT BEEN SO SELFISH AND MADE HIM WALK WITH ME THEN HE WOULDN'T BE-"

"Tohru!!" Shigure sang as he tugged her to the ground, and he wrapped his hands around hers and laid them down on her lap folded in his, "Panicking isn't the best solution. Anyways, Kyo only got wet because he was searching for the kitty, so it would be his fault if he caught a cold." Shigure reached out and tapped her on the nose, "Anyways, I told him to have a bath."

"B-but he was still in his school clothes." Tohru said through welling eyes.

I put my elbow on the table and rested my forehead in my hands, that cat just keeps on getting more and more stupid.

"Hm. Then perhaps he does have a cold." Shigure got a far off look in his eyes and then…

He was going, going… and he was gone.

I watched him with Tohru as he gazed at the wall with unblinking eyes. I narrowed my eyes at him, unravelled my leg from underneath me and kicked him so he fell back onto the floor. I rolled my eyes and looked over to Tohru, "Miss Honda, please don't worry yourself over him. A cold wont faze him that much." I looked over to Shigure who was sitting back up and looking at me with a very putout expression.

"So why did he bring the cat home?" I asked bluntly, a little too tired to be shocked anymore.

"Well, I don't think it was because he wanted a pet." Shigure contemplated, "But it could have been over how she was just so darn cute."

I glared away from him, irritated at his mockery, "Alright, how bad was it hurt?"

"The cat was hurt?!" Tohru exclaimed.

"Kyo said it just needed to be kept warm and be fed so, I'm guessing it'll be alright in a day or so." Shigure said as he filled his plate. "Tohru, I'm sure if you just leave a plate outside his room he'll creep out sometime."

There he went, ordering her around some more. I looked over to him dangerously, narrowing my eyes as he scooped some food inside of his mouth.

"Alright, I'll be right back." Tohru lifted herself up, I watched as she picked up a few pieces of food here and there and placed them orderly on a plate. She disembarked once more from the kitchen, her footsteps pitter-pattering across the floor and up the stairs.

"You're never going to learn, are you." I sighed.

Shigure gave me an agreeing smile.

-End-

AN-

IMPORTANT: (well, maybe) I have gotten a request from one of you awesome reviewers, and will be pairing Tohru up with Haru or Hatori (or Shigure, Ayame, or Ritsu)... if any of you have a preference at all about which one, send it in cuz it doesnt matter to me-- they'll be a background pairing, i wont get too into them. but they will be there, so if there is one of those pairings you cant stand, please tell me, or ignore it.

I'm pretty sure I can write each pairing alright... but if no one says anything, I'll slap one with Tohru.
Yes, slap, like balony on butter.
Meat and mush. that's how it works, ladies and gents.

Sorry if there are a few mistakes, my time got cut short-- I will come back and edit later if there are a few problems. So this chapter was pretty much... build up? Perhaps? To the weekend. Or friday, rather. Which will be posted soon,
so make me happy and please !Review! I love your reviews.