Lately, I still am having problems with the uploading of the internet in my pc. Please bear with me! ^^;; To all those who visit my Furuba sites, please have patience. Since by some kind of mysterious force, I cannot upload files and I cannot work properly on the site, despite having LOTS of materials I can work with, especially in my Yukiru site. I will have to yet resolve the problem with the internet café owner, so I will have to rely on IM file sending. (Ouch) Thus the updates in my site would be very slow.

Believe me, I am very frustrated. . Ah, but perhaps, a miracle will happen in the coming days, then maybe I can work again on my sites.

Help me pray for a miracle, ok?

Syaowee

p.s.

Juunishi Academy is up in Fruit Cocktales! Check out the url in my profile.

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"Vampires? Vampires?" called out Tohru, trudging through the forest as both Yuki and Shigure followed her, not knowing what to do.

"Excuse me," said Yuki at last. "But I don't think you can summon vampires that way. And if they do hear you, they won't come out here just for you."

"Y-You don't understand!" cried the onigiri. "I must offer myself as a sacrifice so that I can save my village!"

"I don't remember the vampires doing something to your village before," said Shigure.

"I know, but lately, our animals are disappearing one by one," explained the girl. "And the livestock are our only source of livelihood. My townmates think that by sacrificing one human, the vampires would stop pestering us."

"Oh." Both men were shocked.

Shigure leaned over to his cousin's ear. "I didn't know our reputation in town was that bad."

Yuki sighed. "No kidding. Why are they blaming the animal slaughter on us?"

The novelist nodded solemnly. "We're vegetarians through and through. I mean, for instance, I can't imagine eating roast beef in front of Haru."

Yuki sighed. "Your humor is sick."

"So they say."

Tohru turned to the men. "Ah, I must be disturbing you guys already. I am sorry!" She bowed. "I can handle things from here all by myself."

"But the woods is dangerous at night!" protested Yuki.

"But you might have more important things to do than accompany me," said the onigiri.

Shigure looked at the empty gallon bottles of tomato juice, then back at the lady stranger. "Well, Yuki, she does have a point. I don't want to see Aya's reaction when he finds out that I drank all of the tomato juice."

Yuki shivered. "Shigure, please."

The novelist stood up straighter. "Tell you what. One of us can go get the tomato juices and one will accompany her to our house."

"W-Why would I want to go to your house?" asked Tohru, puzzled.

Shigure looked surprised. "I thought you want to see vam-"

Yuki kicked his cousin's foot. "You can stay with us for a while until you find the vampires. I don't think your townmates would like to see you back in Kaibara."

Tohru nodded. "Y-You're right, b-but…this is abusing your kindness. I mean, it's been just five minutes since we met each other…"

The novelist frowned. "Besides, what will Hatori and Akito say?"

Yuki shrugged dismissively. "I can take care of Hatori."

"And who'll take care of Akito?" the dog wanted to know.

All he received was a pointed look from the nezumi.

"Very funny," said Shigure, pouting. "You happen to be his favorite cousin."

Yuki glared at him. "You're the only one who can stand his attitude."

"Well, you just don't know what a great guy he is," smirked Shigure. "He's actually a very caring and sensitive guy. Warm, fuzzy-"

"You get the tomato juice," decided Yuki. "And make our order five gallons. Your mind starts to slip without it."

"You live so far away from Kaibara," observed Tohru as she and Yuki walked through the seemingly endless woods.

Yuki decided to use Shigure's universal excuse whenever asked that universal question. "We want to commune intimately with Mother Nature."

"Wow, that's so cool!" gushed Tohru. "Ah, by the way, my name is Honda Tohru."

He glanced at her, then nodded. "Yuki. The other one who was with us awhile ago is my cousin, Shigure. Just ignore his wisecracks. We all do."

"Ah, Shigure-san is funny!"

"If you live every single day with him, you'll refer to it as freaky." Yuki looked up at the roof of his residence. "We're here, Honda-san."

The onigiri's eyes widened as the four-storey sixty hectare castle came to view.

"Ok, where's Shigure?" said Kagura immediately upon Yuki's entrance to the castle.

"He's downtown, buying tomato juice," said the nezumi, taking off his coat.

"We're out of catsup too. Apparently, your brother watched a horror film that made him thirsty, but since he didn't find any tomato juice, he feasted on the catsup."

"Don't tell me. It's about a werewolf who preyed on an orphanage," sighed Yuki.

"The very same." Kagura groaned. "Our budget is running low already, for pete's sake! Would you tell those two to practice self-control?"

"Making Hatori wear a mini skirt is easier than teaching those two that virtue. Self-control is non-existent in their vocabulary," said Yuki.

Kagura then noticed the shy girl hiding behind her cousin. "Hey, who's she?"

Tohru blinked. "Um, I'm Honda Tohru. Nice to meet you!" She bowed politely.

The buta's brow raised. "Yuki, you were the last person I expect to imitate our grandfather-"

"It's not what you think." In a hurry, Yuki explained Tohru's dilemma. In the end, Kagura looked a little more sympathetic.

"Tohru-kun, it is best that you forget about finding the vampires," advised the girl. "Why don't you let your townmates suffer?"

"I love them!" protested Tohru.

Kagura and Yuki looked at each other.

"S-So I wouldn't be much of a burden," began Tohru slowly. "Then let me help out in the household chores! I can do the cooking, the cleaning…everything you want me to do!"

They heard footsteps heading their way. Everyone turned to see a grim-looking man staring at Tohru in dismay.

"H-Hatori, this is Tohru-kun, my friend," said Kagura. "S-She's going to live here with us for the meantime."

His eyes looked disinterested. Instead, he turned to Yuki. He stared at his cousin long and hard then said, "We ran out of tomato juice," he said curtly.

"Shigure already went downtown," said Yuki.

"And the catsup?"

"Let's just hope Shigure has the sense to buy that too."

With that, Hatori passed by the three, ignoring the onigiri deliberately. He left the castle, slamming the door behind.

"Um…" Kagura smiled at Tohru reassuringly. "Hatori-sensei's not just in the mood to chat. He never is, until he gets his daily dose of tomato juice and catsup."

Tohru blinked. "Wow, all of you love that product that much?"

Yuki looked away. "Sort of."

Kagura took the onigiri by hand. "Come one. I'll introduce you to the rest of the family." She gave Yuki the spatula she was holding and pulled her new friend up the stairs. "You just turn the pancake when it's bubbly, ok?"

"B-But…" Yuki's objection was not entertained by his cousin anymore.

"Is it true? Honda Tohru was already offered by our village leaders already?" asked one wife behind Shigure, who was waiting in line to pay for the eight bottles of catsup he bought.

"Yes! I sure hope that the problems with our animals will stop already," replied the other old woman.

"Next!" announced Hana.

Shigure excitedly placed his goods on the counter as Hana busily computed his bill. While she was doing so, the novelist propped his elbow on the countertop and grinned sexily at her. "Hey, looking good, Flower!"

"I always look good, Shigure-san," said the Denpa quietly, eyes still trained on the groceries. If only he doesn't buy a considerable amount of grocery here, I could have long made Uo beat this guy up!

"No, you look different today…"

"Scary. That's what you say to me everyday. What do I look like, a chameleon?"

There's this certain twinkle in your eye…"

"Must be the light's reflection."

Shigure leaned closer to her. "Aw, don't be shy. I know you want me so badly! Just say the word and I'll cancel all my appointments in my very hectic schedule, and you can take me out on a date tonight."

"Sorry. I'm busy tonight. Some other time, maybe," said the girl dully. She began to pack Shigure's goods.

He pouted. "That's what you always say to me everytime!"

"Because that's what you always ask me everytime," said the Denpa, tying the bag of groceries.

"Don't bottle up your feelings, Flower. Let them out! It must really hurt not showing your true feelings to me." He clasped her hand and brought it to his heart. "Very well, let me take away that pain. Let me soothe the suffering. I will heal you, Hana-"

Denpa stare. "Let_go_of_my_hand," said Hana quietly, making the other customers flee in fear.

Shigure sweatdropped. "Ehehehe." He took the groceries. "I'll shop again tomorrow, same time, same place. Do not miss me too much. Our separation is only temporary!"

"Too bad," muttered Hana.

The novelist blew her a farewell kiss before merrily going back to the woods.

"I am puzzled," said Uo, coming out from the inner room of the shop. "Where does that guy live? I mean, I have lived my whole life here, and I've practically memorized every inch of this place, but I still can't find his house."

"It's not my problem," said Hana, returning to her work. "I mean, it's not like knowing where he lives can help us solve our current problem."

Uo nodded. "I know. Finding where Tohru is."

Shigure arrived just in time to see Yuki cower from the fire eating their gas stove. Whistling, the novelist went towards the well, calmly took a bucket of water, and threw its contents to the burning stove.

"Shigure!" Yuki looked relieved. "Thanks!"

"I see someone stupidly left you with the spatula again," said the inu. "So where's everyone?"

Yuki groaned. "They're in the living room. Kagura's introducing Honda-san to them."

Shigure tapped his forehead. "Oh, I almost forgot about our cute human sacrifice!"

"Hana syndrome again, huh?" asked the younger Sohma dryly.

"You bet!" said Shigure cheerfully. "I mean, I had to restrain her from lunging on me. She really is crazy about me! She's all over me awhile ago!"

Yuki looked at the burnt food, then sighed.

"Don't worry," said Shigure, patting the nezumi's head. "I heard charcoal tastes best with catsup and lots of tomato juice."

"Tohru-kun, meet Haru, Kisa, Hiro, Ritsu, and Hatori-sensei." Kagura grinned. "My beloved Kyo will be here any minute now, while Momiji will be back from his work in an hour or so."

"Momiji's our breadwinner," said Shigure as he and Yuki joined the family. "Our only source for our daily living budget."

"What does he do?" asked Tohru curiously.

"You'll find out soon," said Shigure mysteriously.

"I'm sorry," said Ritsu in a small voice. "I'm sorry for being a burden. I'm not a breadwinner too."

Everyone but Tohru sweatdropped.

"I'M SORRY!!!!!" Ritsu began to freak out again. "I'M A WORTHLESS, GOOD FOR NOTHING BUM WHO ONLY EXISTS TO GIVE HEADACHES TO HIS POOR FAMILY!!!"

"Amazing. He actually knows that fact?" said the novelist.

Tohru rushed to Ritsu's side to try to comfort him. "I-It's not that! We didn't mean to imply that! Calm down---!"

Ritsu accidentally slammed on Tohru's chest.

POOF!

The onigiri blinked. "W-What was that---!" Her eyes widened.

A monkey was looking up at her, sniffling.

tsuzuku