(Chapter Two: Ritsu Meets Rebecca)

That evening after dessert and tea had been given out Tohru walked Kandis and Rebecca to the front door with Kyo.

"Well it was nice for you guys to come over" Tohru replied.

"Yea it was great" Kandis agreed, "Hey listen Tohru, if you're not doing anything tomorrow, would you be interested in going shopping with us?"

"Oh" Tohru said surprised.

"You should go" Kyo encouraged her.

"Well sure that sounds great" she nodded her head.

"Cool. That's okay right Rebecca?"

"Oh yea it's fine" Rebecca nodded, "We would love to see you again."

"Okay then" Tohru replied, "I'll meet you downtown tomorrow. At that café that we always meet at?"

"All right" Kandis smiled, "So tomorrow then."

"Tomorrow" Tohru nodded as they left.

"Good night" Kyo called as they closed the door.

"So are you really okay with me going?" she asked as they walked holding onto one another.

"Yea" he nodded, "I was thinking about going to the dojo tomorrow anyway."

"To work out?" she pulled away and looked at him with a concerned look on her face, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Tohru I'm fine" he grinned, "I'm okay. A little workout is not going to kill me" but then he noticed that her face hadn't changed its expression, "But if it bothers you that much that's not why I am going."

"Oh?"

"No" he shook his head, "I want to go see my Master and talk to him."

"About what happened up at the lake?"

"Yea" Kyo frowned.

"Do you think he knows?"

"Oh I guarantee he does" Kyo nodded as they walked into the kitchen, "I guarantee that all of Sohma house knows by now" he sighed.

(Next Scene)

Later that night as Tohru did the dishes Yuki wandered into the room. She smiled as he entered the kitchen and crossed over to her.

"Miss Honda. Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure Yuki what's going on?"

"Well first of all do you need any help in here?" he offered.

"Sure. Can you dry?"

"Mhm" he nodded and she handed him a dish and a towel, "I wanted to ask you for a favor."

"What is it?"

"Well I'm meeting Ritsu tomorrow morning and I am taking him over to Machi's house to meet her father."

"Ritsu? How come?"

"Machi's father is an amateur yet some what professional artist. I thought that maybe he could be like a mentor for Ritsu."

"Yuki that's a wonderful idea" Tohru beamed, "But how did you find out about his talent?"

"He told me about it up at the lake house on one of our last days."

"Really? He never opened up to anyone before me."

"I know. And I've also noticed a change in his demeanor. He seems to have a lot more confidence, especially with what he did at the Zodiac banquet."

"Yea he does" she nodded with a smile.

"I thought maybe that this could give him more confidence. Not only that he we would have someone else other than people in the family as an outside opinion of his work."

"Now that is a great idea. But what did you want me to do for you Yuki?"

"I was wondering if you could go with me there tomorrow. You know be like a confidence booster."

"Oh Yuki I would love to, but I'm supposed to meet Kandis and Rebecca to go shopping tomorrow. Oh but you know what? I'm not supposed to meet them until the afternoon. I'm sure I could help you guys in the morning."

"Great Miss Honda" Yuki said happily, "That would really help."

"No problem. Now let's get these dishes done" she smiled.

"Mhm" he replied with a smile back.

(Next Scene)

The very next morning Tohru and Yuki met Ritsu close to their house. Tohru too was surprised to see his new appearance. As Yuki had seen, Ritsu's beautiful long tan hair was now short and he was wearing very stylish looking men's clothing.

"Ritsu?" she replied.

"Hello Tohru" he nodded with a sweet smile, "I didn't know that you were going to be here."

"You look amazing. I mean your hair it's so different."

"I know" he nodded again, "The paint sort of kept getting in my long hair, so I thought it was time for a change."

"It looks great on you."

"My mother said the same thing too. She said now it looks more like her son and not her daughter. Which to be honest I couldn't agree with her more.

"Shall we go?" Yuki said.

They both nodded their heads once more and all three of them walked to Machi's house. Yuki rang the doorbell and a couple of seconds later Machi opened the door.

"Good morning Yuki" she smiled when she saw him.

"Good morning Machi" he grinned back lovingly, "We're here."

"Good" she nodded, "Dad's waiting in the back. Oh" she stopped when she saw Tohru, "You're Tohru Honda right?"

"Mhm" Tohru said with a smile, "Nice to meet you" she bowed her eyes.

"Nice to meet you too. And you must be Ritsu?"

"Yes" Ritsu bowed his eyes shyly, "Nice to meet you."

"Hello. Well Dad's in his study" she led the way, "Come on back. Dad! Dad! Yuki's here!"

"All ready?" Machi's father spun around in his swivel chair and smiled, "You're always prompt Yuki."

"Nice to see you again Mr. Kuragi" Yuki shook his hand, "This is Miss Honda, a friend of mine."

"Hello" Tohru bowed.

"Hello" Mr. Kuragi nodded.

"And this is my cousin Ritsu" Yuki said as Ritsu stepped forward.

"So you're the artist?" Mr. Kuragi said.

"Yes" Ritsu nodded with his eyes down a bit.

"What sorts of things do you like to paint Ritsu?"

"Mostly flowers and stuff in nature sir."

"Okay. Well I'll tell you what I would like you to do. You see this easel?"

"Yes."

"I have a lot of paint here. I would like for you to paint me something. It could be anything. The others and Iwill wait until you are finished. Are you okay with that?"

"Uh huh" Ritsu nodded.

"Okay" Mr. Kuragi stood up allowing Ritsu to take his seat, "Take all the time you need. Let's go everybody."

Yuki and the others departed the room and Ritsu sighed nervously as he picked up a paintbrush and thought on what he would paint.

Machi served everybody tea and then Mr. Kuragi told Tohru and Yuki all sorts of stories when he was a young artist.

"Of course my wife didn't really approve of my hobby. Among other things."

"But you're such a good artist" Tohru said, "That painting over there is beautiful" she pointed to the one with the roses.

"Actually" Mr. Kuragi beamed, "Machi painted that one."

"Really?"

"Yes, Miss Honda" Yuki smiled at Machi who blushed back, "She did that one for her father's birthday."

"Wow. That's amazing."

"Thanks" Machi blushed even more.

"So Miss Honda what sorts of hobbies do you do?" Mr. Kuragi asked.

"Oh" Tohru replied, "I don't really have any hobbies."

"Well everybody has something they're good at."

"Miss Honda is a good singer," Yuki pointed out.

"Really?" Mr. Kuragi grinned as Machi watched Yuki's interest in the other girl with a bit of jealousy, "You'll have to sing for us sometime."

"Okay" Tohru nodded as Ritsu appeared in the doorway.

"Um excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt" Ritsu replied.

"Not at all" Mr. Kuragi smiled, "Are you finished?"

"Mhm."

"Okay" Mr. Kuragi got up, "Let's go look."

(Next Scene)

The five of them crowded into the room and Mr. Kuragi examined the painting. It was a beautiful scene with mountains and thousands of flowers in the meadow that lay below.

"It's beautiful Ritsu" Tohru gasped.

"Dad? What do you think?" Machi asked her father.

"Mmm. Not bad. Not bad at all. Tell me Ritsu, how long you been painting?"

"Well actually when I was a child I used to draw a lot, but I never thought I was very good at it. I just started recently. About a year ago."

"Well I got to say, for someone who only started a year ago, you are quite a talented young man."

"Really?" Ritsu smiled a bit surprised and his eyes wide with excitement.

"Mhm" Mr. Kuragi nodded, "Can you tell me what this is a picture of?"

"Of course. These are the mountains near to where I live. You see my family owns a hot spring and there are beautiful mountains behind it, and in the spring there are thousands of these little flowers all over the valley. I love that time of year."

"Very nice" Mr. Kuragi smiled again, "Well to tell you the truth Ritsu, I would love to be your mentor."

"Really sir?" his eyes became wide again.

"Mhm. I really would. You have a very beautiful talent and I would love to help you any way I can."

"Oh thank you sir" Ritsu shook his hand, "I'm afraid though, I can't come a whole lot. I help my mother at the hot spring usually quite a bit."

"We'll start out slow then. Can you make it in twice a week?"

"Yes I think so" he nodded.

"Great. Then I will give you my number" he handed him a card, "In case you have any more questions and we'll set up a date."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

"My pleasure. Machi would you show them out."

"Mhm" she nodded as Tohru and Yuki smiled at one another, "Right this way you guys."

As Tohru and Ritsu waited outside, Yuki took his chance to thank Machi personally.

"I really appreciate that your father took time to do this" he replied.

"Oh he was happy to do it. Besides your cousin is really talented."

"Yea. He really is. Thank you for everything Machi."

"What did I do?"

"You set up everything. I can't thank you enough for that."

"No problem."

"I'll give you a call?"

"Mhm" she nodded and then kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Bye."

"Bye" he said sweetly as she closed the door.

(Next Scene)

"Isn't it wonderful?" Tohru sighed happily, "I'm so happy for you Ritsu."

"Thank you Tohru. It is great news" Ritsu agreed as they walked downtown to drop him off at the bus stop, "But Yuki I couldn't help noticing that you and that girl were kind of close."

"We are Ritsu" Yuki nodded.

"Yuki and her are going out" Tohru finished.

"Oh does anyone else know?"

"No. Just Miss Honda" Yuki shook his head.

"Does she know about" he started to say but Yuki nodded his head, "You're kidding me," he gasped.

"Mnm" Yuki shook his head again, "She's known for months."

"She's not the only one" Tohru said, "There are two more girls that know."

"Are you guys crazy?" he asked astonished.

"It's not that big of a deal Ritsu" Yuki retorted.

"No it isn't" Tohru added, "They're friends of ours. In fact they're."

"There you are" Kandis said as she and Rebecca came over, "We've been waiting for you."

"Oh Kandis I am so sorry. I had something to do this morning, and I just finished it."

"That's okay. So you're here too Yuki."

"Yea. I was just on my way home" he replied with a smile, "I just have to drop my cousin off. Ritsu" he started to say but noticed that Ritsu was staring directly at Rebecca, "Ritsu?"

"Huh?" Ritsu turned to look at him.

"I would like you to meet someone."

"Oh okay" he nodded absently staring back at Rebecca.

"This is Miss Kandis Ward and her cousin Rebecca. This is my cousin Ritsu Sohma."

"Hi" Kandis put out her hand to shake his but to no avail.

"Hello" he said more to Rebecca.

"Hello" Rebecca looked back at him directly.

"Well" Kandis smiled a little, "Nice to meet you. You know what Tohru" she replied, "I think that maybe my cousin has been out a little too long today. I'm gonna take her home."

"Are you sure?" Tohru said smiling a bit herself.

"Yea. We'll take a rein check. Come along Rebecca" she steered her older cousin away.

"Bye" she waved not taking her eyes off of him.

"Bye" he waved back with a glazed look in his eye as they left.

"Ritsu you're gonna miss your bus" Yuki snapped him back.

"Oh oh right" Ritsu nodded his head, "Thanks you both for everything" he walked away humming to himself.

"Wow" Tohru grinned.

"I know."

"That was interesting. They couldn't stop looking at each other."

"Yea. Real interesting. Let's go home Miss Honda."

"Okay."

As they walked Tohru turned to him.

"So Yuki have you and Machi been on any more dates yet?"

"No not yet. I'm thinking about going on one soon."

"Well maybe we can double date?"

"You mean like, You, Kyo. Me and Machi?"

"Yea."

"I don't know Miss Honda. A double date with me and the stupid cat, wait" he stopped himself, "Maybe we can make it a triple date" he smiled.

"Triple date?"

"Yea" he nodded, "A triple date would work."

"But how would that work?"

"Don't worry Miss Honda" he grinned, "I got an idea.A really good idea."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey folks! A really long one for ya! I love this story line about Ritsu coming up. You don't hear many stories about him and I can't wait to get to the next part! Hope you enjoyed it! See you all on Friday!!!

Next time on Rice-Balls in a Fruits Basket:

Chapter Three: Haru's Gift Idea

Haru now knows the truth about how Rin really feels and is determined to make her know how he truly feels. With a little help from Tohru will he be able to accomplish that? Also what is Kyo so melancholy about all of a sudden that he needs more advice from his cousin? Find out next time!!

And

Chapter Four: Tohru Spills the Beans

Kyo is not the only one upset. While alone one day Tohru encounters Kandis and decides to tell her friend all of her secrets about Kyo's true form. Find out Kandi's reaction next time!!

See ya all later!! AND…

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FANS!!!!