I DO NOT OWN FRUITS BASKET

AN: Heya'll! I like reading the reviews, but people. . . . o.o; Anyway, okay, uh, puffin –you're close, but it's more complicated than that. . . . lol –drama- I love drama. Anyway, I bet you don't wanna listen to me, and wanna read this long and exciting chapter!!! Well, okay, I won't hold you back any more. Here you go!!!

Chapter 8 – IT Begins

Uo snapped out of it and pulled away, statled. What had she just done? Akito had a bewildered look on his face. He was angry, confused, scared . . . He couldn't think of anything to say. She tried to stand up, but found her hand was still locked on to his. He wasn't letting go either. She looked over at their hands, as did he. They were holding eachother so tightly, their knuckles were turning white. Uo finally was able to pull free of his grasp, and stood up on shaky legs.

"Uh . . .uh . . ." Was all she could get out, and ran out of the room.

Akito was silent for a long time, trying to take in all the information in his head.

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Hana tilted her head, as if sensing something, but then seemed to brush it off and looked over at Yuki. He looked nervous. He rubbed at the back of his neck. "So, Miss Hanajima, what did you want to talk about?" He asked.

"Tohru and that Kyo boy. Are they . . . going out?" She asked, and Yuki fidgeted.

"No. But recently, Tohru told me of her feelings for Kyo. I told her I'd help her tell him."

"I see. You loved Tohru too. But you were the braver man to back down and let her have Kyo. I see indeed. Yuki, you are a good person. I think I will help you too. That Kyo boy is not going to be an easy target for poor, little Tohru. I think she will need both of our help, don't you think?"

"Yeah. Thanks a lot, Miss Hanajima."

"Please, just Hana." She said plainly. "You know, Yuki, I kind of know what you feel like. I was once jealous of both you and that Kyo boy. You were taking my Tohru away from me. I didn't want you to. But I realized I was being selfish. She wasn't soley my friend, she was also yours as well. Do you remember me talking to you after class?"

He remembered it was really bizarre. "Yeah." But it made sense now. He looked into her dark and mysterious eyes, and for once, was entranced. "I guess you were very brave too, then, for offering to help me with those two."

"Of course, Yuki. I only wish for her happiness, and if being with that kyo boy will do that, then I am always willing to help." She said, and Yuki felt something in his heart. That was exactly what he thought. She then smiled, and it didn't seem creepy at all to him. Her whole face seemed to light up. He found himself smiling too. "Let us see how they are doing . . ." They walked up to the kitchen, where the two were finishing the dishes. They peeked inside to see Kyo scrubbing some pots.

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"Damn, Tohru, what the hell did you do to these pans . . ." He complained as he washed the pans. She hurried over to him, and stuck her hands in the water with his, and he started to panic as she assisted in scrubbing the pots, her hands touching his. She was being so bold . . .was she doing this on purpose to drive him insane? They were so close to eachother. Kyo couldn't help but lean in closer. He loved the smell of her hair. Soon they were holding hands beneath the water, gently rubbing.

Kyo wasn't sure if this was real. "Tohru. . . ?" was all he could say, his heart was beating so fast in his throat.

She leaned closer and . . . their torso's touched slightly . . . and . . .

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Yuki saw what was about to happen and quickly pulled Hana away to distract her, but he couldn't think of what to do. So, with his mind panicking, he did the first thing he could think of. He pushed her against the wall and kissed her. He could feel her surprise and a slight tingle against his lips. Was she shocking him? He held her shoulders so that their bodies wouldn't touch. In the distance he heard a poof and water splashing around, and Kyo's angry voice. He had obviously fallen in to the dish water, and was now a very wet, and very distraut little cat.

But somehow, Yuki was preoccupied. Surprisingly, he found he was deepening the kiss, even though he felt poorly inexperienced. Hana's initial surprise was overshadowed with the increasingly intensifying kiss. Yuki was getting lost. . . the kiss felt really good. He imagined his first kiss would be with Tohru, but now that his lips were on Hana's, he couldn't have wanted it any other way. He felt a rush of electric energy through him, and his hands gripped her shoulders tighter. The energy felt extremely strong, but it also felt invigorating and wonderful.

It was when she tried to pull him closer, he broke the kiss, and backed away. He panted, and shook his head. "S-sorry . . . about that. . . . I uh . . . I'm sorry . . ." He then walked away quickly and up the stairs.

"Yuki . . ." She called after him, but he kept walking away. She started to think to herself. Her powers hadn't even sensed that he was going to do that. It was so sudden and unexpected, but she had liked it. Why did he stop? She completely forgot about the other two they were spying on and looked into the distance, pondering to herself about what had just unexpectedly happened.

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Tohru giggled slightly as she tried to scrub the wet orange cat in her lap. She had felt so entranced with Kyo that she hadn't noticed their bodies had touched. And then he fell in the water! Cats didn't take too kindly to water, and neither did Kyo. He was yelling and cursing, and she had pulled him out and dragged him frantically around the kitched looking for a towel or anything. She had finally found one and was now on the kitchen rug, trying to dry the frustrated cat in her lap.

"Tohru, don't scare me like that!" He exclaimed, but she noticed he was purring as she wiped his shiny coat. "You know how I hate water, geez. A-and the h-hand thing . . ." He said, and he sighed. "You shouldn't do that to people you know."

"But Kyo, I wanted to . . .because I . . ." She stopped short. She didn't want to tell him like this. He was a cat, for crying out loud. And Akito and Hatori were in the other room. And Hana and Uo here. . . . it would just be chaos.

"Because you . . ." He tried to urge her on.

"I-I was trying to help, that's all." She said, and laughed nervously. Just then Kyo transformed back, and she tried to stand back, but he was on her lap, so he knocked her on her back, and he was above her, supporting himself with a strong arm above her head. She realized he wasn't wearing anything, basically on top of her . . .naked. She turned red in the face, but Kyo looked quite serious.

"You're a liar." He said softly, and tried to bend down his head to hers, but his hand slipped on some water, and he fell on her heavily. He transformed yet again, but this time hissed angrily and ran to the corner.

Tohru managed to sit up, and noticed her heart was racing. Was he going to . . .? She stood and excused herself from the kitchen shakily. Kyo watched her go, and spralled out on the floor and waited to transform back.

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Tohru ran up to her room, and found that Uo was already there, sitting on the bed, her hand up to her mouth, looking really out of it. Tohru sat down next to her, and Uo smiled slightly. Before Tohru could get out a word of worry, Hana burst into the room, and ran up to them and sat next to Tohru. All three were on the bed together, and all three seemed very distraut. They all hugged eachother in comfort.

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Shigure sat in bed, reading a book. It had been a few hours. Mii was still sitting there, looking very determined. He flipped the page. To be honest, he wasn't paying attention to the book, but kept stealing glances at Mii. She was getting tired, he could tell. It was getting late anyway. He sighed loudly, and set his book aside, and removed his reading glasses, and stared at her again. She was right there . . . in nothing but a robe. His carnal desires were getting the better of him, and thoughts flew in his mind of her.

But he could never do that. He was too scared, he was too much of a coward. How would she react if she ever found out about the curse? For some reason, he knew she would probably not care, but that was probably just wishful thinking.

He turned off the lights. "Goodnight Mii. If you trust me enough, you can go to your room."

"Ha." She said, before slowly drifting to sleep in the chair.

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The night at Shigure's house was relatively peaceful. Kyo couldn't go on the roof because of the rain, so he paced in his room for a while, then finally got to sleep. Yuki had laid in bed for an eternity awake, thinking, amazingly, not about Tohru, but about Hana, and the way his lips still tingled. Hatori had fallen asleep in Shigure's room, after reading one of Shigure's books. Typically, it put him right to sleep. Shigure's bed was very comfortable too, and Hatori realized how hard his own mattress was compared. The girls didn't talk much, and decided an early night would be good. Akito sat in the guest room . . .thinking . . . a small flock of birds had gathered in his room through an open window, and they were perched on his shoulders. He was stark still as he pondered to himself. He fiddled with a feather in his hand almost all night. He felt weird. Something was going to happen . . . something was going to happen . . . and it was going to happen soon . . .

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It was morning before Shigure knew it. He hadn't gotten any sleep that night. It seemed like just moments ago he was tossing and turning, looking in the darkness to see Mii asleep in the chair. He sat up and looked over at Mii, who was still asleep, curled up in the chair. It was still dark in the room. he looked out the window. It was still raining heavily.

He climbed out of bed, and went into the bathroom to shower. He came out, with a towel draped over his neck. He had forgotten to bring his clothes in with him, so he redressed into his boxers and shirt. His hair was still damp as he exited the bathroom. He heard a gasp.

Mii looked at first very frantic. She ran up to him. "Shigure! Oh, I thought you had left while I dozed off!"

"Mii, I won't leave you." He said, and almost choked. That sounded just as real as he had meant it. Was he regretting it? She frowned and saw the earnestness in his kind eyes. He was so handsome, in his own goofy way.

"I know you like to trick me, Shigure, I just didn't—" She began.

"Mii, this time . . . I won't leave you." He took a step towards her. He could hold it back any longer. He didn't see her as his editor, but as a woman he cared deeply about. He wanted to know the feeling of her body. He wanted it so badly, his muscles were tensing up, and his stomach was wrenching together in knots. He wanted her. "Mii . . . I . . ." He started, getting a breath away from her, and she looked up at him with unsure eyes.

He clenched his fist, and threw his cowardice out the window. He reached out and pulled her to him in a tight embrace.

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oh! cliffhanger! it's finally morning people! it's the day of the eclipse.... what shenanigans will occur? people! trust me with the Uo/Akito thing! it'll be fine ... i know it's getting a little ... uh, strange.... and just plain freaky .... but, it is going to work out fine. please note the birds and akito.... and if you notice in the ANIME (remember anime NOT manga) that Akito always has a bird present... hmmm.... what could that signify. (well for the manga readers, it would make sense why chicken boy is always by his side....) anyway! keep reading and reviewing please.... and i beg of you, no angry reviews... or small idosyncracies of the characters i might have missed.... i know i'm not an expert on fruits basket! I'm admitting it! this is purely for fun and excitment... so bear with me till the end.... is anyone reading this??? okay, next chapter will be up soon....