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Does anyone know how any reliable companies which sell Fruits Basket manga over the internet ?    

Disclaimer: I do not own "Fruits Basket", it is the property of Natsuki Takaya. The story line is mine though, and so are any characters of my creation which I may choose to introduce.

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 4

Tohru stared at the stranger. This was Yuki-kun's cousin ? They looked nothing alike ! Kyo's hair was cut short, its flame-colored bangs just reaching past his ear. Even his clothing was the total opposite of the silver-haired man beside her; Kyo's black shirt and cargos gave him an urban look, while Yuki's clothing was elegant.

Both young men were handsome, but even here, they differed from eachother. Yuki's features were delicate, feminine even, but Kyo's were aggressively sharp, with a lightly tanned face, and muscular body. His eyes were a cinnamon color, and right now they were angrily fixed on Yuki. Tohru was incredibly surprised to see the undisguised anger in those burning orbs. If Yuki was water, then Kyo was all fire ! Yuki was always cool and in control.

* * *

As soon as Kyo entered the living room, his glare centered on the rat. His concentration was so taken up with the task of glaring at his nemesis, that it wasn't until Shigure's loud cough, that he noticed the girl standing next to his cousin. She was looking at him intently, and to his embarrassment, her scrutiny caused him to blush slightly. However, he also realized how strange he must look to her, standing there glaring at the kuzo nezumi.

"Konnichi wa …" He said, before he realized he didn't even know the girl's name.

"Watashi wa Honda Tohru (was there a 'desu't at the end ?)" Tohru filled in helpfully, as she bowed.

Kyo smiled warmly, making Tohru blush.

"Watashi wa Soma Kyo. Doozo yoroshiku." He said, and shook her hand.

Tohru blushed even harder when Kyo took her hand and shook it lightly, but firmly.

"Doozo yoroshiku, Soma-san."

* * *

Yuki's mouth nearly dropped open, when he witnessed the introductions. Where were the outbursts, the rude behavior ?

When Kyo had entered the living room, he had been prepared to fight against his cousin, but then, all of a sudden, his aggressive stance loosened, and he civilly introduced himself to Tohru. The baka neko even smiled !  Had his rigorous training somehow affected his brain ? Perhaps it was one too many wrestling matches with bears ….

Perplexed, and still on guard, Yuki sat down next to Tohru at the table.

* * *

" So, what brings you back here, Kyo-kun ?" Shigure enquired.

Kyo cast Yuki a dark look, before replying.

"I decided that I needed to take a break from staying at the dojo all the time." The neko said off-handedly, not wanting to say that he had been forced. It would have been rude to say so in front of a guest.

"Kyo-san lives at a dojo ?" Tohru asked curiously. 'That explains his toned body !' She blushed prettily as she caught herself.

Kyo sent her another friendly smile her way, as he answered.

"Hai. I live and train there with my shishou."

* * *

Kyo couldn't help himself. The girl who was supposedly his enemy's girlfriend exuded such an aura of innocence and camaraderie that he couldn't stop himself responding ! It was incredibly strange, but he felt comfortable with her, the kuzo nezumi's girlfriend.

He grimaced inwardly; trust his ever-lucky and perfect cousin to snag such an unusual girl !

* * *

Yuki fought to suppress his curiosity, to stop himself gaping at the baka neko. He very much wanted to ask Kyo if he was ok.  And he wanted to tell him to stop smiling at Tohru. Yuki didn't like the way Kyo smiled gently at her, nor her blushing response.

For the first time, in the 3 years that he had dated Tohru, Yuki felt jealous. He had never worried before; the other young males at school didn't stand a chance against the incredibly popular and handsome prince, but Kyo… Kyo was a Sohma, and never before had Tohru blushed as much or at all, to a smile sent from the opposite sex, except for him. All of a sudden, he felt eyes on himself, and realized that the rest of the occupants of the table had turned to look at him.

"Yuki-kun, are you ok ?" Tohru asked, worry shinning deep in her eyes.

Yuki saw the obvious concern for him, and the underlying love in her eyes, and ceased to worry. What did he have to be afraid of ? Tohru loved him, she had loved him since childhood, she had confessed. There was nothing that could alter that, especially not Soma Kyo. Tohru only needed to find out Kyo's real self.

What Yuki did not realize, was that as soon as he thought that, he had destroyed a bit of the tremendous love that Tohru held for him. 

* * *

Phew, another chapter done. Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers ! Your wonderful comments helped made me write this faster !  It was refreshing, reading all those inspiring reviews !

As to chapter 4, I do realize that there are a few parts in which I am a bit vague. I'll try to clear them up for you, so don't hesitate to tell me so in your reviews.

"…but Kyo… Kyo was a Sohma…"- this part just simply implies that Yuki thinks of his cousin as more a threat because as a Sohma, he had access to family funds (even though Kyo hates having to rely on the Sohma family), that Kyo possesses the incredible looks of a Sohma (handsome, cute, etc.), as well as the incredible charms that the Sohma men seemed to be endowed with. I know this makes Yuki seem snobbish, but I thought it would also go well with him having been the 'school prince' for 3 (?) years.

Well, ja ne, minna !

Enjoy the fic and don't forget to always R&R !

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