@(^_^)@

First order of business, GOMEN NASAI, MINNA !!!! I didn't realize that I'd put my review acceptance to only signed reviews. I'm sooooo sorry !!! I've changed the settings, so please, review !

Does anyone know how to make the italics work ? I still can't figure it out !

Disclaimer: I do not own "Fruits Basket", it is the property of Natsuki Takaya.

I hope you'll enjoy my fic (and if you don't, please tell me how I can better this story through your reviews)

Summary: A/U. Tohru Honda and Yuki Soma have been friends since childhood. As they grew up, that friendship developed into something more. But will the arrival of Yuki's controversial cousin, Kyo, change the bond between the two sweethearts ? Is Tohru attracted to Kyo's fiery character ? '…why do I feel myself drawn to him ? Why does my heart start to beat faster in my chest and my breath become shorter when he's near ? It has never been like this with Yuki. With Yuki, it is a tenderness that I feel, a gentleness and warmth … Is it the sheer masculinity and power that Kyo radiates, which attracts me to him ?'

" "- speech

' '- thoughts (they're supposed to be in italics, but it apparently isn't working)

The italics are also supposed to signify the past, as in Tohru and Yuki's childhood, etc.

Thank you to all the wonderful people who reviewed my fic ! Love you all !!

Growing Up

Chapter 3:

"AIIIIIII !!!!! I'M LATE !!!" A slightly disheveled, and very much frantic, whirlwind rushed from her room and down the stairs. "Gomen nasai, Uo-chan, Hana-chan, but I've got to run !"

"Tohru-chan …", Hanajima began.

Tohru ran to the door, threw it open, and proceeded to rush out of it, when she came in contact with a hard, male chest.

"…there was someone at the door…"

A light chuckle was heard when Tohru, bowing her head in shame, began to apologize vigorously.

"Gomen nasai, gomen nasai ! I wasn't looking where I was going, please forgive me !" She cried without looking up, blushing furiously.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Tohru-chan." An amused, baritone voice said.

Tohru looked up quickly, to find herself staring at Soma Yuki, her boyfriend of three years.

"Yuki-kun !"

"Ohayoo, Tohru-chan." He gave her a brilliant smile, as she blushed a deeper shade of red. Gently he leaned down and gave her a chaste peck on the cheek. "Happy White Day !" And presented her with a little package wrapped in pastel pink with a golden ribbon and white rose attached to it.

Tohru reddened even further (if possible ^_^) and with trembling hands accepted the gift.

"Yuki-kun shouldn't have ! I don't need gifts or beautiful flowers, Yuki-kun just thinking about me on White Day is enough !" She said in a tremulous voice.

The silver-haired man just shook his head and looked at her tenderly. 'You'll never change, Tohru-chan.'

"Unwrap it before you say anything more." He urged gently, and held her close as she pulled apart the ribbon, rose and wrapping carefully, and a little velvet box was revealed.

"Oh no, Yuki, you didn't … " Tohru said breathlessly as Yuki just held on to her waist more tightly. (she was against his back)

"Open it."

With not a small measure of trepidation, Tohru opened the velvet box, to find a twin pair of diamond earrings twinkling up at her.

"Yuki…Yuki-kun, this is too much… I…I can't accept this…" She said, stuttering, her eyes overly bright. Yuki didn't answer, he just took the earrings out of her hands and gently put them on her. Turning her around gently, he admired how the diamonds shone, rivaling the light within his girlfriend's eyes.

"You're beautiful, Tohru-chan. They suit you perfectly."

"Ano, Yuki-kun --" She tried to protest.

"No buts." Yuki held up his hands. "I'm not taking them back." 'They belong on someone as beautiful as you…' "We have to get to school, or we'll be late."

"KAMI-SAMA !!!"

* * *

 Kyo (yes, I've finally decided to introduce everyone's favorite neko ! :: looks dreamily at Kyo, who sweatdrops and starts to nervously back away:: oi, woman, I'm not gonna stay if you continue to look at me like that !::rose-chan stops immediately:: keep your fur on ! ::shakes head and looks at audience:: back to the story!)

Kyo looked at the huge light-colored mansion apprehensively. This was going to be his home for the next few years, a home to be shared with two of his cousins. The redhead's expression darkened considerably as he thought of one of those cousins. 'Kuzo nezumi ! Why do I have to live with him, out of all people !'  

He had pleaded with his shishou (spelling?), but to no avail. He wanted Kyo to mingle with people closer to his own age, family, if possible, completely ignoring the fact that Kyo and the only cousin of the same age as him, Yuki, have been enemies since they first set eyes upon each other. Kyo hated the fact that Yuki was so accepted into the Soma family, despite that his father and mother were divorced, while he, born out of wedlock, had been shunned and looked down upon all his life. Except for Kazuma, Kyo was prepared to say that he hated all the Soma family.

"Whatcha staring at, Oranji Atame ?" A haughty, feminine voice rang out. Kyo followed the source of voice, to find an unusually tall, blonde-haired girl around his age, who had her arms crossed aggressively, and was staring at him challengingly.

"None of your business, Yankee tuss !" Kyo bit back, enraged at the mockery she made of his flame-colored hair, and stomped up the steps to his new home. Angrily he pounded on the door.

"Wait, my beautiful flower, I'm coming !" Kyo's hackles rose at the jovial voice. Footsteps were heard, then the door was flung wide open, and Kyo came face to face with his kimono-clad cousin.

"Kyo-kun ?" Shigure looked crestfallen. "I thought you were my beautiful flower waiting to relieve me of the perpetual boredom of writer's block !"

A vein popped o Kyo's forehead as he heard this.

"YOU PERVERT !!!"

And smashed his fist into the writer's face, who flew back and hit the wall.

"Missed you, too, Kyo-kun."

The young man just stormed upstairs and into the bedroom that was usually his when he stayed there.

Sighing, he ventured to the window and stared at the spectacular ocean view. This house wasn't incredibly modern, but its value, due to the water views, and its beautiful spread of forest to one side of the house, was worth millions. The Soma household was rich, filthy rich.

Kyo sighed again as he thought of how Shigure and that Yankee had made him lose control so quickly. 'Must be the atmosphere of the house. Damn the Somas!  Kuzo nezumi !'

He quickly unpacked his belongings, and then climbed up on the roof to relax in the afternoon sun.

'I wonder if that kuzo nezumi or ecchi (spelling?) dog are going to cook. If they are, I might as well throw myself off this roof, it's a quicker death than from food poisoning.'

* * *

"Yuki-kun, do you want me to come over and make dinner tonight ?" Tohru asked her boyfriend at lunchtime.

Yuki shook his head lightly.

"Thank you for offering, Tohru-kun, but one of my relatives is moving in with us today. The house will be a big mess." 'And not to mention a war zone.' The prince sighed inwardly, as he thought of the relative.

Tohru was instantly concerned.

"Are you okay, Yuki-kun ?" She asked as she looked inquiringly at him, her hand immediately going to his forehead.

"Hai, it's just a little headache. I'll be fine." He said and smiled wanly at her. The onigiri didn't look convinced.

"Are you sure that I should come over today ? If Yuki-kun is tired, then Yuki-kun should rest. You can help me with the math equations another day."

"Iie, it's fine. I'd love for you to come over today." 'You're the only person who could keep me sane around that baka neko.'

* * *

 After school, Tohru and Yuki said their goodbyes to Saki and  Arisa, who were going to go shopping, and walked the long road back to Yuki's home. Most of the walk was spent in silence, they were content just to hold eachother's hand. Occasionally, Tohru would ask Yuki about council meetings and his garden.

 As they approached the mansion, a shadowed figure stood up from the roof. Yuki narrowed his violet eyes. 'Baka neko…'

"Who's that on the roof, Yuki-kun ?" Tohru asked apprehensively, as she watched the figure stroll precariously close to the edge. "It isn't Shigure-kun, is it ?"

Yuki smiled briefly as he imagined the lazy writer clambering up on the roof. "Iie, that isn't Shigure-kun."

* * *

Tohru neatly placed her shoes next to Yuki's, as they entered the mansion. They heard something clatter to the ground, and then Shigure appeared in front of them, a huge smile plastered on his face.

"My flower has come at last !" He boomed happily as he enveloped the smiling girl in a big bear hug.

"Konnichi wa, Shigure-kun !" She said as she hugged him back, a small blush on her cheeks. Yuki just shook his head and gave his older cousin a warning glare, as he held on to Tohru a bit longer than necessary.

Suddenly, the sound of furious footsteps echoed down from upstairs.

"Kyo-kun, come down and say hello to your cousin and his adorable girlfriend !" Shigure called out, making Tohru blush anew, and Yuki stiffen his back.

"Shut up, ecchi dog !" A rough, male voice yelled out. However, moments later, light footsteps could be heard from the stairs, and Kyo stepped into the living room.

* * *

I'll leave it here, but not to worry, I've already started the next chapter !  *^_^*

Happy reading !!!!

~*~//Rose-chan\\~*~