Kage: I know! Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai!! I lied! I said I would get this up to you in a week, but once again, SCHOOL IS TAKING OVER MY LIFE!! That, and I was busy...... .

This week, I promise to work on it, at least a little. I might be getting a job soon, but that would give me even less time to write..... -sigh-

Also, this is already chapter 10, and I've reached nothing important in the story. So, to speed it up, my chapters will be a few pages longer unless I find a good place to break it off.

Disclaimers: I own nothing other than Kurai and the plot.

Chapter 10- Living Arrangements

3rd Person POV

Kurai opened and closed her dragon-like mouth a few time in surprise, looking much like a fish. Well.... a fish with wings and a tail and a long green and yellow body..... but that's beside the point.

"I- I...I cou-" she tried a moment, before swallowing thickly and shaking her head, "I- I couldn't!!"

Shigure smiled warmly, her reaction much like Tohru's when Yuki had first brought up the offer. Only this time, Yuki was frowning in disagreement while Tohru looked excited.

"Ohhh! Kurai-kun's staying?!" she exclaimed in delight, her face stretched in a huge smile, "This is so wonderful! It'll so exciting to have you stay here, Kurai-kun!"

Kyo mumbled something incoherently from the crook of his arm where his head lay, but Yuki protested.

"Shigure," he warned, "There really isn't any room in this house for another person to stay..."

Before Shigure could say anything, Kurai spoke up, "Yuki-kun's right! I couldn't possibly impose on you anymore than I already have! Besides, the head of you family forbade you to let me stay!! I couldn't have you go against him!"

In contrast to Tohru's faulting face, Shigure just beamed, "Nonsense! You're family, and I can't possibly let you wander around the streets like you've done before," his gaze suddenly turned serious, "You were close to death, Kurai-san. It's better if you stay here."

Both Kurai and Yuki tried to protest again, but Tohru interrupted, "About the room situation," she suggested, "Why doesn't Kurai-kun stay in my room with me? The bed Shigure-san bought me is plenty big for the both of us!" She turned pleading teal eyes down to Kurai, "You will stay with us, right?"

The hybrid looked like she was going to argue again, but sighed in defeat and allowed a brief smile to stretch her mouth, "Alright...."

If possible, Tohru smiled wider while Yuki seemed to relax, now that he knew there wasn't going to be any room-sharing with Kyo, who was currently sleeping again.

Hatori sighed and leaned back slightly, "That settled, I think we should all go to-"

Before he could finish, the power flickered a moment, then died. ((AN: This is were the fun starts!))

Tohru gasped and stood up, the first thing on her mind being to fetch candle's so they could all see. However, that same thought passed through Yuki's mind, and he jumped up as well, colliding with Tohru and transforming into a rat. Of course, Momiji was on his feet, excited about the black-out, and was transformed into a rabbit when the off-balance Tohru fell against him and landed on the floor with a slight 'thump.'

Shigure, hearing the 'poofs' from his cousins' transformations', put his hand against his head, chuckling slightly. Hatori however, looked around for Kurai to make sure she didn't accidentally get stepped on or something. The Sohma doctor got a glimpse of gold in the dark before it disappeared, then Haru suddenly stood up and walked out of the room.

Puzzling over Haru and searching the table with his hands for Kurai, Hatori accidentally knocked over Shigure's cup of tea, which spilled all over said person's lap. He yelped and jumped up, banging his knee against the table, effectively making several more cups of tea spill everywhere.

Suddenly, a small light illuminated the room, and all eyes turned towards the source, which happened to be Haru holding a large candle with one hand, while the other arm held several more against his body so they wouldn't fall to the floor. Kurai was perched on his right shoulder, with her wings folded up, looking around the room with an amused glance that matched Haru's.

Tohru was sitting up, looking a little dazed, while a rat and rabbit were sitting beside her, blinking at the sudden light. Shigure was standing up, holding the wet part of his yukata away from his legs while Hatori was leaning over the table with several cups of tea spilled around him.

And through all this, Kyo was still asleep, snoring very slightly as his back rose and fell in calmed, relaxed breathing.

Everyone started talking at once, Tohru apologizing to Momiji and Yuki, who were in turn telling her it was alright, while Hatori told Shigure he was sorry as the novelist complained about his wet clothes. Haru was trying to tell them how Kurai had led him in the dark to find the candle's, while said person was trying her hardest not to laugh by burying her head in Haru's shoulder.

Then everyone suddenly went quiet again, and Kurai really did burst out laughing. The other Sohma's and Tohru looked at each other for a moment, before laughing as well. Suddenly, Kurai spread her wings and glided into the kitchen with everyone's gaze following her. A second later, a large POOF was heard.

"I think..." Shigure said quietly, "That Kurai-san changed back..."

Tohru stood up and rushed out of the room, heading upstairs to find something for Kurai to wear while Yuki and Momiji searched out their own clothes. Shigure sighed, and walked slowly upstairs as well to change out of his wet yukata, while Hatori picked up the scattered tea cups. Haru set the rest of the candles on the table and lit them with the one he already had. A pair of poofs announced that Yuki and Momiji had turned back, and their cousins turned their heads in respect, though Haru was looking rather tempted to peek at Yuki.

Soon, everyone was in clothes, well, Tohru and Kurai were in Tohru's pajama's and were carrying in towels to mop up the spilled tea with. Momiji tried to help, Kyo slept, and everyone else moved into the living room to set up the beds. Hopefully all nights wouldn't be this eventful.

Kurai's POV

I slowly woke up to a new feeling. Warmth, comfort, and peace of mind. Then I remembered, Shigure-san was letting me live here, and I was in an actual bed. A western-style bed no less! I snuggled deeper into the warmth of the comforter and soft pillow, not really minding the pink and not quite ready to get up yet.

I suddenly felt the bed creak and move slightly, before the soft padding of footsteps announced that Tohru-kun was up. That's right, I got the side closest to the bed while Tohru-kun got the other side because she could easily slid out to start breakfast. I decided to feign sleep, shutting my eyes and evening out my breathing.

She rustled around some before the sound of her door sliding open, then shut sounded, and I raised my head. I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes, trying to get them to wake up, the running my fingers through my light-green hair. It was always a big pain in the morning, because it was really thick and just loved to get tangled while I slept.

My hair somewhat calm, I slid out of bed and stretched luxuriously before heading out the door as well. I hated it, but I would have to ask Tohru-kun for clothes. Luckily, I was only a bit taller than she was, but my disgusting thinness made up for it.

I stepped out into the hallway and looked around, before another door opening was sounded, announcing that Tohru-kun was out of the bathroom. She wore a long-sleeved jean jumper that ended above her knee's, and large white sock that hit just below said knee's. Her brown hair was in two braids, tied off with a blue ribbon on the end of each small braid.

"Good morning, Kurai-kun!" she said cheerfully, though quietly so she wouldn't wake anybody up. "Oh, you need clothes don't you?"

She smiled cheerily as I moved back into her room, her following me. She rustled around her dresser drawers for a moment asking me what I liked to wear.

I thought for a moment, because I had honestly worn my old clothes for so long, I really had no idea. It was the only pair of clothes I had, and I couldn't afford new ones. Thus, I couldn't get a job because nobody wanted to hire a street rat.

"Just pants and a shirt I guess," I told her quietly, and she stopped moving around.

She suddenly turned to me and started bowing repeatedly, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" she wouldn't let me get a word in before she started talking a mile a minute, "I guess that was pretty stupid of me, not owning a pair of pants! All I have are skirts and dresses, but nothing long enough for your comfort-!"

"Tohru-kun!" I grabbed her shoulders, "Don't worry about it, I don't have to wear pants!"

She nodded, but still looked miserable. Suddenly her face lit up and she dashed out of the room, leaving me to stare bemusedly after her. After a moment or two, she came back in with a pair of pants, looking very pleased, but slightly guilty.

"These are Kyo-kun's," she confessed, "But their fresh out of the wash, and I don't think he'll mind you wearing them. Now I just have to find you a shirt...." she muttered to herself as she dumped the pants into my arms.

Choosing not to argue, and secretly pleased that I wouldn't have to wear a skirt or a dress, I held up the pants. They were a dark green color, very baggy, and had a sort of string running across the back of them. ((AN: Kyo's pant when we first met him, remember?)) I ran my gaze over them again, loving them.

Tohru-kun suddenly came up and held out a white shirt, testing them against the pants, before shaking head and moving back to her dresser. A moment later, she came up with a small, quarter-sleeved black shirt. Smiling happily, she handed me some under garments and led me to the bathroom.

"I heated up a bath for you since I know you haven't taken one in a few days. Oh, not that that's you fault, I mean, you couldn't help it-"

"Thank you," I interrupted, smiling and not wanting her to go into another apologizing rant. She smiled again before bowing and moving out of the room, her braided brown hair flowing out behind her.

I looked into the water of the tub for a moment, before quickly stripping and sliding in, not remembering the last time I had truly enjoyed a bath. The warm water rippled as I slid in, heating my body and making me sigh happily.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, now that I was dressed. Kyo's pants were a little too big for my anorexic-like frame, and sat on my hips, while Tohru's shirt ended just below my belly-button, bagging slightly since it was too big as well. The sleeve's of the shirt ended just above my elbows, but didn't hug my arm like it was supposed to, once again, because of my disgustingly thin body. I had thrown my pale green hair into a loose, messy bun with a few hair bands of Tohru-kun's that I found, but my hair was uneven, and a few strands hung in my face.

I looked in the mirror at my reflection sadly, knowing I wasn't attractive. It wasn't one of those self-conscious things, I mean I really, really wasn't pretty like Tohru-kun. My face was pale and thin from years of my poor eating. My frame was so thin it looked like if you poked me, I would shatter. My eyes looked hollow, surrounded by dark circles that were threating to consume my face. I lifted up the hem of my shirt, flashing my sunken in stomach and the ribs that painfully stuck out of my skin.

I sighed, and put down the shirt, moving out of the bathroom. I wondered briefly what I'd look like after I had a normal eating style again. Maybe I'd look prettier like Tohru-kun.... or even Yuki-kun. I giggled to myself silently, thinking that Yuki-kun looked good enough to pass of as a girl. I wasn't hitting on him or anything though. Remember, I'm around 27, even if I didn't look it.

Feeling a little bit better, I padded silently down the stairs and peeked into the living room, where HastuHaru-kun, Momiji-kun, and Hatori-san were all sleeping peacefully. We almost left Kyo-kun down here last night, but Shigure-san and Hatori-san eventually dragged him up into his room. It was kind of funny, the way his body reacted to the rain. But now the sun was shining down on the muddy world, as if the horrible storm hadn't even happened.

I smiled and stepped into the kitchen, where Tohru-kun was fixing a large breakfast.

"Wow!" she said after turning to look at me, "Kyo-kun's pants really look good with your hair!" she complimented, noticing the green of the pants contrasting with my hair.

I smiled shyly and asked if I could help in any way. I knew a little about cooking, like the basic stuff, but I wanted to repay her for the kindness and patience she'd shown to me so far. She nodded and told me I could put a kettle of water on the stove for tea.

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Soon everyone was up and chatting, or rather, Kyo-kun and Yuki-kun were arguing. Kyo-kun had seemed a little put-off when he figured out a girl was wearing his pants, but a few words from Tohru-kun and he calmed down. I wonder what's between them anyways.

Shigure-san, Hatori-san and I talked a lot, even getting on the subject of my education for a bit, but since it was rather lacking, went on to their professions. It turned out that nobody had school, since the roads that didn't have gutters were all too muddy or wet to safely drive on. Anything outside of Tokyo was like a ghost town.

I didn't eat a lot, much to almost everyone's protest, but it was hard for my stomach to handle such a big meal after not eating for so long. I settled for eating a little now, then I'd eat a little more everyday, and would hopefully look less like a skeleton soon.

"So, what do you kids plan on doing today, now that you don't have school?" Shigure-san asked everyone after he had finished eating.

Yuki-kun and Tohru-kun glanced at each other, while Kyo-kun just glared lazily at the ceiling. HastuHaru-kun looked at Yuki-kun, who didn't return the glance, while Momiji-kun just smiled at Torhu-kun, but nobody answered him. I felt a little bad, but I didn't want to say anything and embarrass myself, so I remained silent.

"You youngsters," he chided with a sigh, "You have a whole day without school and you plan on sitting around all day, watching TV or generally just being bored. I, on the other hand, have a deadline to meet on a novel I'm-"

"I'll need to call the main house," Hatori interrupted, "To let Akito know Momichi, HastuHaru, and I are confined here for a bit."

"Confined!?" Shigure exclaimed in mock hurt, "That's rude Haa-san! I open the doors of my house and Tohru-san's hospitality to you, and all you can do is-"

"Tohru, Tohru!" Momiji-kun interrupted this time, "Do you want to do something with me today?"

"I have to clean up the dishes first, Momiji-kun," she smiled at him.

"I'll help I'll help!" he exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and starting to clear away a few plates. Tohru-kun beamed at him and started to help him, then I got up to help as well. Soon, everyone else was helping as well. Seemed to me that everyone liked Tohru-kun, and I couldn't help but wonder what it was about her....

The dishes were clean and put away quickly, now that Tohru-kun had almost everybody helping her. When we walked back into the other room, Shigure-san and Hatori-san were discussing something, but ended their conversation as soon as they saw us.

I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment as everyone moved off to do their separate thing, and I was left alone. Suddenly I got an idea.

"Shigure-san," I started, sitting down next to him at the table, "Would it be alright if I went into town to try and get a job, now that I don't look like a homeless bum?" I chuckled at the end, and he smiled at me.

"Sure, go ahead. Do you need company?"

I shook my head, "I've stayed around here most of my life, I'll be fine."

"Alright, but what are you going to wear for shoes?"

I looked down at my feet that were covered with white socks Tohru-kun gave me, "Umm...."

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It ended up with me wearing a pair of Shigure's too big sandal's, while he gave me some money, much to my protest, to buy some shoes for myself. I moved out the house, stopping a moment to look at the spot Shigure-san told me he had found me, before moving on.

It was strange that I couldn't remember how I happened to be wounded so badly, but Hatori-san said that my mind might've blocked those memories out while I was unconscious. I didn't really understand, and I wasn't so sure that I wanted to. It might just cause more problems for Shigure-san and the others.

A nearby rustle of bushes grabbed my attention, and I recognized Tohru-kun's laugh. I peered through the tree line to see Momiji-kun, HastuHaru-kun, Tohru-kun, and Yuki-kun walking through the forest, saying something about a 'secret base.'

I blinked in confusion before moving on down the path that lead from the house. As if I hadn't already butted into their business enough, to ask them what they were doing now would just be rude. I couldn't help but wonder where Kyo-kun was though....

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Soon, I had found a pair of black slip on shoes that I just loved, and didn't use up all the money Shigure-san had given me. I ditched my socks, putting them in the bag that now held Shigure-san's sandal's, preferring to wear these shoes without them. Now, my job hunt began.

Kage: I know!! Filler chapter, lame ending, really late, among other things... I'm sorry this sucked so bad! I promise to work on it more next week, since I'm starting driver's school the last week of October, and will have even less time to write! x.X

I plan on writing some in school from now on. Or at least trying to, heh. Next chapter will be better, and full of surprises, -grins evilly- But for now, I beg of you to review, since those are the only things that keep me from quitting this story. ((Halfway kidding, meaning I was halfway serious. -grins evilly again-))