*Muse Tunes: "Someday" by The Strokes, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness, "Cold Lamb Sandwich" by Thomas Newman (Meet Joe Black OST), "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos

*Author's Note: A belated Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone's staying safe and healthy so far this year. As per usual, I do not own Fruits Basket. Just doing a little cha-cha in the sandbox. Olé!

Chapter 9 – Carpe Diem!

Soma Summer Extravaganza – Day 1

The first time they'd gone to the lake Hatori had driven them all in his car. This time the good doc couldn't afford to take the time away from the estate, so they were on their own. That's how they ended up taking the train with Momiji. It was hardly an epic trip, but then it was only the first leg of their journey. There was still a twenty-minute drive up into the mountains before reaching the picturesque, lakeside Soma cabin.

Momiji, of course, promised he had everything in hand. Imagine their surprise when he led them out of the train station to a sleek convertible with a familiar figure leaning against the side waiting for them.

"Hatsuharu!" Tohru called in cheerful surprise.

"Hey," Haru replied, notching his chin up in greeting.

"What are you doing here? And where did that car come from?" Yuki asked skeptically.

"I'm your ride, of course."

"And the car?"

"Shhhh, don't worry about it."

"Haru."

"Fine, it's my Mom's," Haru replied with an eye roll. "She's on another one of her cleansing spa retreats and won't be back until next Thursday...way to ruin the suspense, Yun-Yun."

"I told you not to call me that! It's bad enough I have to put up with it from Kakeru and Kimi!" Yuki hissed.

"You love it...Yun-Yun."

"Stop it!"

"Since when do you know how to drive anyway?" Kyo interjected, folding his arms in front of his chest.

"It's a mystery."

"Seriously? That's not something that should be up for debate right now!"

"Do you want a ride or not?" Haru countered, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

"It's so nice of you to pick us up Hatsuharu. I'm sure you're a wonderful driver!" Tohru proclaimed enthusiastically.

"You know it, sweetheart," Haru replied with a devilish smile.

"Fine," Kyo grumbled in defeat. "And don't call her sweetheart, you damn creep."

Haru swung easily into the driver's seat, put on his shades, and revved the engine as the others placed their bags in the trunk and piled into the car. Tohru was given the front seat while Yuki, Momiji and Kyo crammed into the back.

"I'm feelin' the need," Haru commented to no one in particular.

"The need?" Tohru repeated in confusion.

"Don't encourage him, Miss Honda," Yuki replied with a sigh.

Haru flashed a cocky smile as he hit a couple of buttons and music suddenly started blaring through the speakers. Seconds later they pealed out of the train station and were on their way. Haru whooped and floored the gas the moment they hit an open stretch of road.

"Wooooooooooooohoooo!" Momiji cried as he stood in his seat, pumping his arms above his head enthusiastically.

"Are you crazy? Sit down before you get yourself killed!" Kyo yelled, trying to be heard over the whipping wind and blaring speakers.

"What are you, 17 going on 70?" Yuki quipped sarcastically.

"Ja, Grandpa," Momiji added as he sat back down and stuck out his tongue at Kyo, making Tohru giggle.

"Et tu, Tohru?" Kyo pouted.

"Relax, Kyo...take the stick out of your ass and try to remember for a minute that you're a high school senior on an adult-free summer trip," Haru called from the driver's seat.

"Why do I bother hanging out with any of you people?" Kyo grumbled irritably.

"It's—"

"If you say it's a mystery one more time I will kill you."

By then they had turned onto a secluded backroad leading further up into the mountains. Suddenly there was far less evidence of society and far more wildlife surrounding them. Haru slowed to compensate for the winding roads and even turned the music down a little so the group could talk without having to scream.

"So, Momiji, who all is coming besides us?" Tohru asked.

"Let's see...besides us, Kisa and Hiro, Shii-chan, Aya—"

"Um, I thought you said this was an adult free trip?" Tohru asked.

"Those two don't count," Yuki grumbled. "Any chance we can dis-invite my brother?"

"Sorry Yun-Yun," Momiji said brightly.

"Don't you start too!" Yuki seethed, narrowing his eyes at the blonde.

"Anyway, neither of them will be coming until later so it's adult free for at least a few hours—oh, and Rin and Kagura will also be there," Momiji finished.

"Kagura is going?" Kyo asked in surprise.

"Ja, she was super excited too since she missed last year's trip!"

"I see," Kyo murmured. Tohru looked back at him curiously but couldn't read the expression on his face.

"It's going to be super fun! We'll hike and swim, play games and have bonfires every night...and fireworks! Best part is we'll do it all together, won't we Tohru?" Momiji continued excitedly.

"Yes! I can't wait!" Tohru replied with a bright smile.

Kyo silently groaned at the statement. Any hope that he and Tohru would find time to sneak off together was quickly starting to dwindle with the determined flare in Momiji's expression. It was going to be a long three days.

"Let the Soma Summer Extravaganza begin!" Momiji exclaimed as he slammed open the door excitedly when they arrived.

"Would you shut up with the stupid titles already?" Kyo muttered as he glared at the blonde.

"Come on, Kyo! Don't be such a sourpuss. It's not a real party without a snappy theme."

"Fine, just keep it down will ya?" Kyo grumbled as he looked away.

Momiji's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the uncharacteristically mild response. It wasn't the first time he'd noticed a shift in Kyo's behavior, but it was becoming increasingly noticeable. Where once he would've exploded in a colorful, short-tempered fit, more and more often Kyo would just grumble or roll his eyes instead. The fact that he was here willingly (even if reluctantly) participating spoke volumes in and of itself. Yet nothing was quite as surprising as the calm, almost relaxed demeanor of the habitually moody cat. As much as he didn't want to admit it there was really only one reason he could think of for the attitude adjustment, and she was currently standing behind them in the open doorway. As he watched Tohru laughed at something Kyo said and her whole face pinked in utter delight.

Momiji smiled affectionately in response. He couldn't help it. There was a light inside Tohru that was as beautiful as it was contagious. It just seemed to burst out of her every time her face was lit up as it was now. It was one of the many things he loved about her. What they all loved about her. He wasn't so naive to think he was alone in that sentiment however. Watching Kyo and Tohru talking together as they put down their bags, Momiji's smile faded. A strange sensation began to churn in the pit of his stomach, like the bottom was about to drop out.

"Tohru!" called a sweet, high-pitched voice a second before a flash of gold streaked across the room directly into Tohru's arms.

"Kisa! It's good to see you! And Kagura and Isuzu too, I'm so happy you're here!" Tohru called as she hugged Kisa back and waved at the two girls that were sitting in the living room. Rin immediately shot out of her seat, nodded in greeting and walked away without another word. Kagura pasted an overly bright smile on her face and stood more slowly to return Tohru's greeting.

"What am I, chopped liver?" called an irritated voice from across the room.

"Of course not, Hiro. I'm glad you're here too," Tohru replied as she turned to properly greet the boy leaning against the far wall. Hiro snorted in disbelief, but his face flushed tellingly at her words. Kisa giggled which made the young teen blush even harder.

"Come on, I'll show you where our room is," Kisa said as she grabbed Tohru's hand and pulled her excitedly across the room. "All of us girls are sharing. It's going to be so much fun!" was the last thing Momiji heard as the two girls disappeared up the stairs.

"Um, hi… Kyo," Kagura called with a small wave.

Kyo swallowed hard.

A wide grin spread across Momiji's face.

Everyone split up after that. Rin was…somewhere. Yuki and Haru were playing a video game in the living room and Kisa, Hiro, Momiji and Tohru were on their way to some undisclosed location Momiji claimed was the perfect spot for a picnic. That left Kyo to deal with Kagura alone, which was definitely not what he had in mind when he agreed to come along on this trip. Instead of spending the afternoon with Tohru and the others he was stuck on what was turning out to be an epically awkward stroll with a girl he'd barely talked to in months, and all because he'd turned into a god-damned softie. Kyo glanced at her from out of the corner of his eye but couldn't read the expression on her face. She was surprisingly sedate for someone that had a habit of using violence at the slightest prevarication. In fact, Kagura had barely said a word since they left the cabin even though it was she that insisted they needed to talk.

By the time they reached the lake he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive about what she could possibly want from him. Kagura had never been shy about sharing her emotions but she seemed almost hesitant around him now. It was weird.

"Kyo?" Kagura called, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Uh...yeah. What's up?" He replied as he glanced at the brunette wearily.

Kagura had her back turned to him; her hands clasped behind her back as she looked out over the water. Even without seeing her face he could tell she was working up to something.

"I know we haven't talked much since that day. You know, when I confessed to...anyway, I wanted to talk because...well...I miss you," she said in a small voice.

"Kagura—" Kyo started in a warning tone.

"I don't mean like that!" She rushed on as she turned to look at him. "I remember what you said. That you can't love me, not ever, but...do you remember when we were kids and we used to sneak out of the estate? I would buy us bags of that awful gummy candy at the corner store and we would eat and eat until our stomachs hurt? Or when I took you to the movies for the first time? Your eyes were so big when you saw the screen come alive. I spent years dragging you all over town like that, doing whatever I wanted, wherever I wanted. You would complain but you always tolerated it, no matter how roughly I treated you. I'm sorry for that, you know. At the time, I thought it was my way of showing you I really wanted to be with you but now I realize...I realize that I was really pushing you away."

"Kagura—"

"No, it's my fault Kyo! I didn't see it, but you were one of my closest friends. I didn't want to see it past all the other stuff. You know..."

"Yeah, I know," Kyo muttered.

"I miss you," Kagura repeated as she drew closer and grabbed his hand. "I miss my friend. I don't care about the rest anymore. Please...give me a chance to make up for it. I want to earn your friendship again."

Kyo stared into her wide, pleading eyes trying to determine if she was telling the truth. She looked sincere enough, even if a small voice inside told him to tread carefully. Eventually he sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he looked at her one last time.

"Come here," he said as he opened his arms with a defeated huff. Kagura only hesitated a second before she launched herself into his chest and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"Thank you, Kyo. Just wait and see, we'll be friends again in no time," she proclaimed as she snuggled instantly against him.

"Whatever. Just don't make me regret it," he groused as he rested his chin on the top of her head. He couldn't help but think how much he wished he could hold Tohru this way.

Tohru was having such a wonderful time. She was surrounded by nature, sharing this beautiful day with some of her favorite people. The conversation was playful and lighthearted as they walked, making them giggle often along the way (except for Hiro, who mostly just rolled his eyes at their banter). Before long Momiji led them off the path, grabbing her hand to make sure she didn't trip over any tree roots along the way. She was grateful for his foresight because of course she tripped anyway. They laughed about it, but secretly Tohru couldn't help but think affectionately about all the times Kyo scolded her for her clumsiness. Even in the beginning he was always so protective of her.

"Here we are!" Momiji called, interrupting her thoughts. He stopped and pushed apart some overgrown foliage to reveal a clearing overlooking the lake.

"Momiji, it's beautiful!" Tohru gasped, clasping her hands in delight at the pretty little hillside glade.

"It's my favorite spot. Perfect for a picnic, no?" Momiji replied near her ear.

"Yes!" Tohru agreed as she smiled up at him serenely. "But how did you find this place? It's completely out of the way,"

"That's a secret," he said with a saucy wink. Tohru giggled and followed him as they moved into the clearing together.

Quickly the four of them set up the picnic and sat down to partake of the meal Momiji had packed. It was mostly finger foods, light and refreshing, which suited the mood and the setting perfectly.

"This place really is amazing," Tohru said in between bites. "You can almost see everything from up here."

"What's there to see?" Hiro asked with a sardonic snort. "It's just a bunch of dumb trees."

"But it's so pretty, Hiro! See?" Kisa replied, pointing as she spoke. "There's the lake, and mountains, blue skies and fluffy clouds…and look! There's Kyo and Kagura!"

"What? Where?" Tohru squeaked.

"Pfft, what do I care about seeing those two?" Hiro replied, but Tohru was no longer paying attention.

From the moment she spotted them she couldn't take her eyes away. The two of them were standing together by the lake, Kyo's head bent to better hear what Kagura was saying. There was no telling what they were talking about but even from a distance she could see they were deep in conversation.

When Kagura took Kyo's hand, Tohru went completely still and the smile faded from her face. When moments later they embraced she involuntarily flinched. She knew in her heart Kyo would never betray her but she couldn't seem to help the awful, sick feeling that settled into her chest. It wasn't until Kisa reached for one of her hands that she realized she'd been digging her nails into her palms.

"Are you okay?" Kisa asked, staring up at her with wide, worried eyes.

"Of course," Tohru replied, smiling down at her reassuringly.

When she glanced over at Momiji she was surprised at the fierce expression on his face. He seemed almost angry somehow, but she didn't understand why. Before she could ask he broke into a smile and changed the subject. Soon enough they were all chatting and laughing again and Tohru forgot all about her moment of weakness.

Meanwhile, with some pleading on Kagura's part, Kyo agreed to continue walking around the lake. To his surprise, it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as he thought it would be. She didn't cling or make the kind of crazy random declarations that always used to make him cringe. They just talked. Not about anything important but about all the normal, boring things one would expect between acquaintances. It was almost…nice.

If nothing else it made him realize in a way that Kagura had been right. They had once been friends, back before she started treating him like some sort of personal property. Back when he'd been grateful at the idea that at least one Soma viewed him as a person rather than some despicable monster to be avoided.

How naïve he'd been back then. He'd almost forgotten.

They'd nearly completed a full lap around the lake when they spotted Tohru and the others walking back from their picnic. Kisa and Hiro quickly said their goodbyes and broke off from the rest of the group, but Tohru and Momiji agreed to join them. Kagura immediately grabbed Tohru's arm and walked ahead with her, talking a million miles a minute about who knows what. Tohru looked back at them helplessly just once before she allowed herself to be pulled along.

"So, did you have a nice date with Kagura?" Momiji asked once the girls were out of earshot.

"It wasn't a date," Kyo stated flatly.

"Oh? That's not what it looked like," Momiji said all-too innocently.

"What are you talking about?" Kyo asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"I saw the two of you. Holding hands, tender embraces, very romantic."

"It's not like that."

"Ah. So I just imagined the whole thing is it?" Momiji retorted sarcastically.

"I don't have to explain myself to you."

"What about to Tohru?"

Kyo's head snapped up at that and was surprised at the challenge that flashed in Momiji's eyes.

"What about Tohru?" Kyo repeated carefully, his voice snapping in warning.

"Oh, did I say that I saw? I meant we did. As in all of us."

"So? What's your point?"

"So, if you don't want her, little kitty, you should stop torturing her and just tell her so."

"Careful, bunny brat. You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Ah, so you do want her. Then why not confess?" Momiji asked with a knowing smirk. "What's the matter…cat got your tongue?"

"I'm warning you kid. Drop it," Kyo growled.

"Kid, huh? Last time I checked I'm just a year younger than you and every bit as capable. If you won't have her, I'll take her for myself," Momiji countered.

Kyo's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and then a roguish smile spread across his face as the implications began to sink in. Suddenly things that hadn't made sense in the past became all-too clear. He felt stupid for not noticing it before but it was obvious now, looking into his cousin's eyes. A sharp laugh burst from his throat before he could stop himself.

"Good luck with that," Kyo said, clapping Momiji on the shoulder as he walked away.

Momiji apparently had had enough of that. Without warning Kyo felt a sharp shove from behind. He caught himself before he could fall and turned to glare in disbelief.

"Don't be an idiot," he snapped.

"Arrogant bastard," Momiji retorted with another shove. This time Kyo pushed him back.

"What'd I just say?" he snarled, stabbing a threatening finger at the blonde. "Back off now, before you start something you can't finish."

That's when Momiji took the first swing. He easily sidestepped the blow, but somehow before he knew it Kyo found himself rolling on the ground dodging fists as Momiji attacked him in earnest. In an agile move he flipped back onto his feet only to block an additional flurry of incoming attacks from his annoyingly insistent opponent.

Kyo could feel a growl climbing up his throat. A part of him was impressed Momiji had it in him to pick a physical fight. He'd never struck him as having an aggressive bone in his body. The other part thought he was incredibly foolish to incite something he had to know Kyo could end in a heartbeat if he chose to. He resigned himself to playing defense while his frustrated cousin lashed out at him with sloppy, almost comical kicks and punches. At some point he started to lose patience and put Momiji in a headlock. He was struggling and cursing at Kyo in German when they heard the sound of a piercing screech.

"What are you two idiots doing? Stop!" Kagura yelled, hands on her hips as she glared at them. Tohru was staring at them both from behind her, eyes huge with equal parts concern and confusion.

It was all the distraction Momiji needed. In an instant he slipped out of Kyo's grip and turned to deck him before he had the chance to get out of range. Kyo saw stars as Momiji's fist connected with his jaw and he went tumbling back into the lake. Tohru's scream was the last thing he heard before he hit the water with a giant splash.

Back at the cabin Kyo winced as Tohru covered his swollen jaw with a bag of frozen peas. They were sitting across from each other at the kitchen table with a bowl of water, some towels and Tohru's little pink first aid kit sitting open on the table in-between them.

"Hold that there please," she instructed. Kyo silently did what he was told, wincing again as she dabbed antiseptic onto a gash above his right eyebrow. He had no idea how he'd gotten the cut, but he supposed it hardly mattered when his whole face felt like a swollen melon. His only comfort was that Tohru was here with him, sitting close enough that her scent was starting to do things to him he couldn't examine too closely with practically the whole Zodiac sitting two rooms away. Licking his lips, he forced himself to push those feelings down deep for the time being.

"Thank you, Tohru. For taking care of me. You didn't have to," he murmured. Tohru stopped what she was doing to sit back in her seat and eye him skeptically.

"What happened?" she asked softly. He tried not to flinch at the disappointment evident in her voice.

"Um…well," Kyo began nervously, stopping to clear his throat. "I guess…I guess I was jealous."

"Jealous?" Tohru repeated in surprise.

"Yeah. I, uh—had planned on taking you on a picnic myself while we were here but Momiji beat me to it. Damn rabbit. He had you captive for practically the whole afternoon and then wouldn't shup up about it. I guess I lost my temper. I'm sorry," Kyo replied, internally groaning at how lame he sounded.

"I see," she replied, the corner of her mouth briefly tipping up in amusement. Without another word about it she finished bandaging the gash on his brow and stood. "Keep that pressed to your jaw a little while longer, I'm going to put this stuff away," she continued with a gesture to the frozen peas as she gathered the remaining first aid supplies and padded out of the room.

Kyo sighed and readjusted himself in the uncomfortable chair, closing his eyes for a brief moment of blissful solitude. He let the sounds of the approaching dusk wash over him, temporarily soothing away all his worries and cares.

"Why didn't you tell her the truth?" a familiar voice asked from nearby, making him nearly jump out of his skin.

"You big jerk you did that on purpose!" Kyo yelled as his eyes shot daggers at Shigure, who was smirking at him from the darkened doorway. "When did you get here anyway?"

"Oh, let's just say…early enough to witness your little tussle with Momiji," Shigure replied nonchalantly.

"You were spying on us?" Kyo replied incredulously.

"Not intentionally," he claimed, putting his hands up in surrender when Kyo just narrowed his eyes at him. "I swear!"

"Fine. Now go away," Kyo snapped.

"But you didn't answer my question!" Shigure whined.

"Will you go away if I do?"

"Of course."

"Fine," Kyo sighed in defeat as he eyed Shigure intently. "You heard what Momiji said…before I mean?"

"No, but I did see how things played out. Why did you take responsibility when it was Momiji who instigated it?"

"Why do you think?" Kyo asked irritably. "Fighting isn't exactly in Momiji's nature, but it is in mine. If I told Tohru he started it, it would lead to more questions, which would lead to a conclusion she's not ready to face."

"That Momiji has feelings for her?" Shigure supplied.

"Exactly."

"And how is that a bad thing?"

"Look, to Tohru Momiji's a good friend, nothing more. If she knew he had feelings for her like that it would changes things. Make them awkward. Really awkward. Knowing Tohru she would try to hide it and pretend everything's alright but eventually it would come back to bite her in the ass. She doesn't need that. Neither does he for that matter."

"Oh? And how do you know she doesn't feel the same way?"

"I just know, okay?"

"I see," Shigure replied in obvious amusement. "So you let Momiji pick a fight with you, refuse to actually hit him despite all of your fine martial arts training, and lied to the girl to save her from potential future heartbreak. I didn't know you were so altruistic, Kyo."

"Do you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk?" Kyo asked in exasperation.

"Well, I am usually the smartest person in the room," Shigure replied.

"Whatever you dumb dog. You done?"

"Sure, sure…should I go tell Momiji he's off the hook?"

"Get out!" Kyo yelled, throwing the bag of peas at Shigure's retreating form.

The dog giggled like a hyena as he retreated, leaving Kyo to grumble to himself. He stood and pressed a couple of fingers to his injured jaw, opening and closing his mouth a couple of times to test out the pain. He wandered into the dining room but stopped and changed direction when he heard the maelstrom of voices coming from the next room, Shigure and Ayame's distinctive tones floating above all the rest. He didn't have it in him to deal with those two right now. Instead, he found himself slipping back outside.

Without a destination in mind, he found himself walking around to the back where he laid down on top of the picnic table to stare up at the sky. It wasn't as private as Shigure's roof, but it was better than being inside with the others, where his presence would only make him a target. He was lost in his own thoughts as he watched the sky change colors and then finally darken. One by one the stars began to wink into view. For the first time since they arrived, he relaxed as he watched clouds scuttle across the moon.

"There you are!"

Kyo sat up to see Tohru standing a few feet away, a hand clutched to her chest as she stared at him.

"Were you looking for me?" he asked, eyebrows scrunched in concern.

"You were gone when I came back to check on you. I didn't know where you went," she replied as she approached him, her eyes wide and undecipherable in the moonlight.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry. I just needed to get out of there."

"It's okay, I understand," she replied with a small smile. "Scoot over."

Kyo did as he was told so that Tohru could take a seat next to him on the table. For a few blissful moments they sat together looking up at the stars in comfortable silence. After a while he felt her hand slip into his.

"Kyo…"

"Hmm?"

"I was thinking about what you said earlier…and I have a confession to make."

A spike of fear shot through him, but he schooled his features as best as he could as he turned to gaze down at her.

"Oh?" he replied as calmly as he could.

"Yes, I—earlier when I was with Momiji and the others…on our picnic…I saw you and Kagura talking by the lake." Tohru began hesitantly.

"Okay…and?"

"I, um, couldn't help but notice how comfortable you looked together. Which is great, don't get me wrong! But then she…and then you…and then I…what I mean to say is—"

"Wait a second," Kyo interrupted, his face lighting with sudden realization. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Well, um—"

"You're jealous. You're actually jealous!" he exclaimed, a wicked grin spreading across his face as Tohru flushed a fantastic shade of red.

"You don't have to rub it in," she mumbled with a pout that made his smile grow even wider.

"Hey, look at me," Kyo replied softly, gently tilting her face up so their eyes met. "You have nothing to worry about. Not with Kagura, not with anyone. Do you understand?"

"Of course! I didn't mean to imply that you would…you know. It was like I couldn't help myself. You were there—"

"Tohru…"

"—And she was there, and I—"

"Tohru! Relax. I get it, trust me. You don't have to explain."

"Really?" Tohru said in a small voice.

"Mmm-hmm, really. You know what else?" Kyo murmured as he leaned in a little closer.

"W-what?" she stuttered, her breath hitching at his proximity.

"I missed you today."

"You did?"

"I did," he said huskily, now mere centimeters from her lips. "I'll prove it to you."

Before she could respond Kyo claimed her mouth with his own, tongue swiftly demanding entry. Tohru opened to him without hesitation, a sigh of pleasure humming across her lips when he deepened the kiss even further. It took very little for him to get lost in the feel of her mouth against his, her tongue entangling with his in an intensely erotic dance that sent heat surging through his body. He groaned when she placed a hand on his thigh to gain leverage to lean further into his touch.

"What's wrong?" she asked in a husky voice when he suddenly pulled away.

"It's nothing."

"It's not nothing, what is it?"

"I want you," he whispered into her ear, enjoying the little mewl that left her lips when he playfully nipped at her earlobe. If he wasn't so wound up he would've laughed at the way her eyes widened when she glanced down at his lap.

"Oh," she replied, followed by a giggle. "Okay, but where…?"

Kyo blinked when he realized what she was saying. Suddenly an idea came to mind and he grabbed her hand.

"Come on, I know a place."

Tohru followed him silently into the dark, her hands squeezing his tightly the whole way. Luckily they didn't have to go far to reach their destination, a little dingy, clapboard building at the edge of the woods. A floodlight over the door showed like a beacon, creating a halo of light in the dooryard that was attracting bugs from out of the surrounding darkness.

"What is this place?" Tohru asked him, eyeing the small weather-beaten building with curiosity.

"The boat house. Not sure who started calling it that, because that's not what it is exactly. The family keeps a bunch of supplies in here for the lake—kayaks, fishing gear, swimming gear, you name it. There probably is at least a rowboat or something in there, so maybe it's not complete bullshit," Kyo replied with a shrug.

"And you want to…in there?"

"It wouldn't be my first choice, but it's probably the only place we're guaranteed to be alone, so…"

"Then it's perfect," Tohru replied sincerely as she weaved her fingers through his.

No more words seemed necessary between them after that. Kyo leaned down to kiss her again, this time with more finesse than he had back at the picnic table. It wasn't long before he moved on to her jaw, to slowly work his way up to her ear which he nipped and nibbled teasingly like he knew she liked. Soon enough he moved on again to the slim column of her neck, pressing featherlight kisses to the place where he could feel her pulse racing. He chuckled when she sighed contentedly and leaned her head to the side to give him better access. Slowly he backed her against the door where he continued the exploration of her skin with hungry, open-mouthed kisses.

"Kyo, please," Tohru gasped near his ear as she dug her fingernails into his back. He raised his head and nearly lost his shit when she looked up at him with luminous eyes and bit her lip. He couldn't help the growl that crept up his throat as he attacked her mouth with renewed gusto, pulling the sweetest sounds from between her lips. Blindly he reached out for the doorknob behind her, desperately grappling for it with one hand while trying to balance himself with the other. He almost whooped out loud at his victory when he finally felt cold metal beneath his fingertips and quickly grasped and turned it.

Tohru squeaked in surprise as she half-fell into the open doorway and then laughed as Kyo caught her and swiftly kicked the door behind him. Their hands were suddenly all over each other, the urgency of their mutual need taking over everything else as they continued to hastily devour each other. Kyo nearly forgot to breathe when he felt her hand press possessively against his erection. He cursed and dropped his head to her shoulder when she squeezed him through the layers of clothing.

"God, Tohru," he whispered desperately against her neck. Almost by their own volition his hands moved down to the curve of her ass and gave an answering squeeze that made her gasp his name in return.

"AHEM!"

Kyo and Tohru sprang apart at the sound and simultaneously whipped their heads around. Kyo's eyes widened and quickly averted while Tohru yelped and clapped a hand across hers.

"Fuck-shit-damn, sorry!" Kyo said in a rush, his face turning three shades of red. "We'll, uh, just leave. Now. Right now," he added as he grabbed Tohru's hand and quickly shuffled them back outside. They could hear explosive laughter follow them out which, if possible, made them both blush even harder as they quickly made their way back up the path.

"Do you think they noticed us?" Tohru asked. "I mean, that we were…?"

"Yeah, Tohru. They fucking noticed us," Kyo muttered. The question now was, what were they going to do about it?

*Author's Note: Woo buddy! I had so much fun with the lake trip content that I ended up having to break it into two chapters (don't kill me please). Part deux should be up soon, with a little bit of luck and perhaps some good vibes to help me along the way. Until next time! xoxo