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"Summer Rains"

Chapter 4~

I don't know if Tohru had heard anything of the fight last night on the roof, but if she did, she didn't say anything about it the next morning. She was just her normal cheerful self. Shigure, on the other hand, there was something different with him. I kind of got the feeling he respected me more. Yuki glared at me every time he happened to pass me, and Tohru asked him what happened, seeing as how he had a dark bruise on half of the left side of his face. I bet his fan club will try to kill now for doing that to him, but then again, he probably won't tell them anything anyway. But, back to Tohru, he told her it was no big deal, just another fight between him and I. At least he was being honest with her today. In any case, we headed off to school and whatever. The rest of the day was normal, business as usual.

As was the odd tradition forming around here, things didn't get interesting until the evening. Shigure asked me to go with him to pick up Tohru from work, seeing as how Yuki was still sulking and refused to go anywhere.

"Sure, why not?" I'd said, I was planning on picking Tohru up anyway. So I grabbed my jacket and we headed out the door.

"I have to admit I'm impressed you defended Tohru like that." he said in his normal casual tone.

"Why? Because you think I don't care about anything?"

"No, it's not that. I'm just surprised about how much you've come to care for her."

"What can I say?" I said with a shrug, "There's just something about her."

"Heh, I think it caught Yuki off-guard too. He realizes you care more than he does."

"What do you mean more than he does? And how would you know anyway?"

"You and I both know Yuki cares for Tohru a lot," Shigure said, getting a serious tone in his voice, "but I don't think he would defend her like you did. He wouldn't use his fists to defend her unless maybe her life was in danger or something. But you, on the other hand, are willing to defend her at any time in any way you can."

"Shigure, you know what?"

"What?"

"I think you're thinking too highly of me."

We picked up Tohru and headed back home for a late dinner that Yuki wasn't present for. Shigure glanced at me and said, "He's turning into you, Kyo."

"Shut up, don't compare me to him." I said, glaring at him from over the cup of green tea I held in my hands. Tohru laughed and commented,

"It's true somewhat Kyo-kun, you never used to show up for dinner. Or lunch or breakfast, for that matter."

"Eh, he's just sulking. He probably wants you to pity him or something." I told her.

"Sulking? Sounds like Kyo to me," Shigure said, glancing at Tohru, "you agree, don't you, Tohru-kun?"

"Hai! I have to admit that it does sound like Kyo-kun!" she answered, laughing again.

"That's not fair, I'm being double-teamed!" I whined.

"Don't get whiny, then you'll start sounding like Momiji." Shigure said laughing.

After dinner, I said goodnight to both of them and retreated to the roof as always. I figured at sleep out there instead of inside again. It was somehow more comfortable out there than it was on the couch.

I figured the rest of the night would be uneventful, but then I heard Shigure greet someone at the front door. I thought it was strange anyone would be over here this late, since we hardly had vistors anyway, but I remembered since Tohru had arrived, it seemed people were coming and going all the time. Mostly family members, but that Yankee and Hanajima came over often too. I figured it was either the Yankee and Hanajima at the door, returning Tohru's notes from school or something.

I heard an apology for such a late visit and then tuned it out. I was too tired to try and figure out who it was, though I thought I recognized the voice. I leaned back and closed my eyes, enjoying the light, cool breeze that blew sometimes on these spring nights. I heard a quiet creaking sound, so I opened my eyes to find Kagura standing directly above me.

"Kagura! What are you doing here? You scared me half to death!"

From my position she appeared upside down and she was practically in my face.

"I'm sorry, Kyo-kun! I thought you were sleeping, so I was trying to be quiet because I didn't want to wake you...If I knew you were awake still, I would have said something!"

"Well...whatever...What're you doing out here so late anyway?"

"I was worried about you, Kyo-kun."

"Worried about me? Why?"

"I don't know. I just had this really weird feeling! So I had to come check on you and make sure you were alright."

So many strange things were happening lately. What, exactly, was going on?

"Well, I'm fine," I answered her, "so you don't have to stay here with me."

Waiting for something to happen, I added in my mind.

"But I want to! I was so worried, Kyo-kun! Can I? Can I please? Onegai~?"

Kagura may have been acting extremely childish, but I could see the worry in her eyes. She was serious about thinking something was going to happen to me and she was truly worried.

"All right, all right. Fine. Go get a blanket or something so you don't freeze. It gets really cold out here sometimes."

Kagura brightened instantly. "Okay!" she said happily, heading back down the ladder, "I'll be right back, Kyo-kun!"

So Kagura slept comfortably that night, curled against my chest, clinging to my sweatshirt as if for dear life. She felt so warm, and I tightened my arms around her. I was geting sleepier; why was it that when you're all nice and warm you get really sleepy? I guess it's a comfort thing. In any case, I soon fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

In the morning, I woke up feeling well-rested and in high spirits. Kagura was gone, but she'd left the blanket, wrapped it around me. I got down off the roof and headed inside. I was greeted instantly by Tohru and Kagura. They'd become close friends ever since that day they met, shortly after Tohru came to stay with us.

"Ohayoo, Kyo-kun!" they both chimed.

"Ohayoo! Something smells good."

"I helped Tohru-chan make breakfast this morning!" Kagura said with a bright smile, "Come eat something before you leave!"
"Hai, 'kaasan!" I chirpped happily, sitting down at the table. Tohru giggled at the comment, and Kagura smacked me lightly on the head.

"Don't get smart, Kyo-kun, just eat."

"Where's everybody else?" I asked while getting myself some rice.

"Shigure-san's hiding away in his office working on his next novel!" Tohru informed me.

"And Yuki-chan had already left. Shi-chan asked why uki-chan was leaving so early and Yuki-chan said he needed to get to school extra early today. I don't think it's true though. He's become distant." Kagura added.

"He's probably still sulking about that hit the other day. Don't worry about it!" I told them both. I was feeling oddly happy this morning, something I wasn't exactly used to feeling. I wondered what had caused it, and the girls seemed to notice too. They glance at me, then each other curiously, as if to say, Is it just me, or is Kyo-kun...happy?, but neither asked me about it. decided I'd stop thinking about it and just enjoy the feeling.

I think I may have scared that Yankee by being in such a good mood. She asked me repeatedly if I was feeling okay, and even put the back of her hand to my forehead to check for a fever once. Hanajima just looked at me, trying to figure out if I'd gone insane, I think. She glanced from me to the Yankee and finally said,

"Uo-chan, just enjoy his good mood, it'll probably be gone tomorrow."

I suspected she was correct, Hanajima usually was.

I caught myself thinking of Kagura often, what she had said.

I just had this really weird feeling!

It echoed in my mind as I thought about it, trying to figure it out. So many strange things had been happeneing lately. Yuki was acting stranger than usual, Shigure telling me Yuki was jealous, Kagura being truly afraid I'd suffer some horrible fate, Yuki becoming distant from Tohru...Well, and everybody else, for that matter.

The only thing that hadn't changed was that Tohru still worried over me and everybody else like she always had, and Kagura still cared as much, if not more, as she always had.

I felt sort of lost, like all this time I'd just been walking in circles and my life had been turned upside down. Mybe it was just me, maybe I was the only one who'd changed. I began to think Kagura was correct and something was going to happen to me soon.