Author's Note: Ah! Last chapter was so sad! Well, it was sad for me to write… But I hope this chapter makes up for it. Oh, I've read some manga scanlations now, so I can better understand the characters' conversations, but I can't be sure, since I can't understand the original Japanese… 

Title: Neko to Inoshishi

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Some spoilers, I guess. I'll try not to have too many specific ones, though.

Summary: Kyo falls for the one girl who's always wanted him, Kagura.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket… darn…

Setting: This story takes place after episode 26.

*** = setting change

italics = emphasis

italics = thoughts

CAPITALS = emphasis

~Unexpected Events~

"I'm leaving."

Shigure looked up from his writing. "Kagura?"

"I'm leaving," Kagura said.

"Okay, when will you be back?" Shigure asked, not understanding what she really meant.

"No, Shii-chan. I'm leaving here. I don't want to live here anymore." Kagura sighed heavily and tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear.

"Why?" Shigure looked at his younger cousin in puzzlement.

"Kyo-kun…" She couldn't say anything beyond that. "I have to go. Right now. I'll ask someone to get my things later," she said. "Thank you for letting me stay in your house, Shii-chan. Goodbye."

Shigure silently watched Kagura go.

***

Kagura was walking around town aimlessly. After about two hours, she came to her senses and realized that she was standing in front of Ayame Sohma's shop. She decided to go inside.

"Hello?" she called as she entered.

Ayame poked his head into the front room. "Kagura-chan!" He rushed to her side. "Why are you here? Do you need new clothes?" he asked, excited at the thought of designing clothes for his cousin.

"No, Aya-chan. I was just wandering around, and I ended up here," Kagura said simply.

Ayame ushered her into another room and seated her on a sofa. He sat down across from her. "Mine's gone home already," he said, letting her know that she could talk freely. "Why are you out so late? I thought you were staying in Gure-san's house."

"I'm not staying there anymore," Kagura replied. "He doesn't want me there."

"Of course Gure-san wants you there."

"Shii-chan does, but Kyo-kun doesn't." Kagura sighed heavily. "He loves her."

"Tohru-kun?"

Kagura nodded.

Ayame said, "It's the same with me and Yuki. I'm trying to get closer to him, but he doesn't want me to. The only thing I can do is keep trying. I keep trying and hope that one day, it will happen." He smiled at Kagura. "And that's all you can do. Keep trying." He sighed dramatically. "Why do we have to have problems with two of the most stubborn Sohmas?"

Kagura laughed. It was weird. Ayame was actually making sense (AN: *gasp*). And how had he expressed his opinion in so few sentences? Usually it took much more than that. She stood up. "Thank you, Aya-chan. I think I'll go back now." She moved toward the door.

"Wait!" Ayame bounced over to Kagura and said, "Are you sure you don't want a new outfit, Kagura-chan? I'd be happy to make it! You always wear the same things! Try a new style! I know just what it should be! But what color…"

"Aya-chan…"

"Blue! No, green! But you always wear green… White? No… Red? No, not for you… Maybe—"

"Aya-chan, I have to go—"

"Purple. No! Yes? Oh, well, I'll decide that later. First I should decide on the fabric."

"Tencho!"

Kagura and Ayame turned toward the voice. Mine Kuramae had poked her head in through the door. "Tencho, I forgot something, so I came back to get it…"

"Mine! Perfect timing!" Ayame strode over to his assistant. "This is my cousin, Kagura Sohma. I'm trying to decide on a color for an outfit I'm making for her."

Mine looked excited at the prospect of dressing up another cute girl.

"Aya-chan, I didn't want you to—"

"Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Besides, you want to look your best for Kyon-kichi, don't you?" Ayame winked. "After all, you are engaged."

***

In the end, Kagura decided to let Ayame and Mine dress her up. They had decided to let Kagura have a dress that they had already made, sending her off with the promise that they would specially design a new one for her. She walked back to Shigure's house wearing a lavender dress. The skirt came down to her knees and had puffy sleeves.

Ayame had looked at her after she tried it on and said, "Perfect."

"Really?"

"Yes! You'll wear my clothes, and when Kyon-kichi sees you, he'll be so impressed with your style that he'll fall in love with you right away!"

Kagura sweatdropped. "Thank you, Aya-chan."

Kagura entered Shigure's house. "Shii-chan," she said, entering Shigure's room.

Shigure, who had been resting, opened his eyes and looked up at her, surprised. He sat up. "Kagura, what are you doing here? You said you weren't going to live here anymore."

"Well, I was walking around town for a while, and I ended up at Aya-chan's shop. I went in, and we talked, and then he and his assistant gave me this dress that they designed a few months ago." Kagura adjusted her skirt. "What do you think?"

"Very nice," Shigure replied, getting up and standing in front of Kagura. "Oh, did A-ya say anything about me? Does he miss me?"

Kagura giggled. "Shii-chan, you're so funny."

Shigure smiled softly and gave Kagura a hug. "You're beautiful, Kagura. Now go talk to Kyo-kun."

Kagura hugged him back, then went upstairs.

***

Kyo was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He had given up on studying. Ever since Kagura had left his room a few hours ago, he hadn't been able to concentrate. Why had she asked him all those questions?

"Kyo-kun?"

Kyo heard a female voice and assumed it was Tohru, because Kagura had left the house. He glanced toward the doorway. "Kagura?" he said, clearly surprised. He sat up.

Kagura looked down shyly.

Kyo couldn't help but stare at her. The dress was very flattering on her (Ayame was very good at his job). "Kagura, where did you get that dress?"

"I went to Aya-chan's shop."

"Why?" Kyo asked, wondering why anyone would want to go to Ayame's shop.

"I just happened to see it as I was walking through town."

Kyo got serious. "Kagura—"

"It's okay, Kyo-kun," Kagura interrupted. "You don't need to say anything." She smiled.

Then something happened that, to Kagura, made her ordeal all worthwhile. Kyo smiled—a real smile. He smiled like he had once upon a time when Kagura was Kagura nee-chan instead of just Kagura.

***

The next morning, Tohru was in the kitchen, humming happily to herself as she made breakfast. She turned around to get something from the refrigerator and saw Kagura standing next to the refrigerator, watching her. "Good morning, Kagura-san."

"Good morning. Do you want any help?" Kagura asked, trying to be helpful.

"That's all right, Kagura-san. I'm almost done," Tohru replied.

Kagura nodded and looked down at her feet. "Tohru-kun…"

"What is it?" Tohru's face was concerned. "Is something wrong?"

Kagura shook her head. "No. It's nothing." She went into the other room and sat down at the table.

"Watch where you're going, kuso nezumi!"

"You're the one who's so clumsy, baka neko."

"Shut up!"

Kagura perked up. "Kyo-kun," she called, turning to look at the orange-haired boy who had just come downstairs. "Kyo-kun, sit next to me!"

"Why should I?"

Kagura blinked. "Well, when we get married, you'll want to sit next to me all the time, so you might as well get started now!"

"Good morning, everyone," an unfocused Shigure said, coming into the room. Yuki followed him in.

"Good morning!" Tohru said perkily, putting the food on the table.

"Ah, this old man always feels better in the morning when his precious flower greets him so nicely," Shigure said melodramatically.

"Baka Shigure."

Kagura giggled. "Shii-chan is so funny."

Kyo snorted. He looked up at Kagura as he chewed. She was being the same as always. She's acting like last night never happened, he thought. Maybe… maybe that's for the best.

"Baka, Honda-san asked you a question," Yuki said, cutting into Kyo's thoughts.

"I heard what she said!" Kyo retorted.

"What did she say then?"

"She said—she said—that's not the point!" Kyo yelled, springing up.

"Actually, Kyo-kun, that's the entire point," Shigure said, taking the liberty of informing his young cousin of the facts.

"You stay out of this!"

Shigure clicked his tongue. "Such disrespect."

"I wasn't even talking to you! I was talking to him!" Kyo said, pointing angrily at Yuki. "Not that I want to talk to a stupid mouse anyway."

Yuki stood up. "Let's just get this over with."

Kyo threw a punch at his cousin. Kick. Block. Block. Punch. Kick. Punch.

Tohru, Kagura, and Shigure looked on as Yuki and Kyo fought. Finally, with one last kick, Yuki won. Again. Kyo went flying outside.

"Kyo-kun!" Kagura rushed to his aid. "Kyo-kun, are you all right?"

Kyo stood up painfully. "I'm fine," he said gruffly, trying to look like Yuki hadn't hurt him at all. "I'm going to school now." He went inside to get his things.

Tohru watched Kyo go up the stairs, then turned to Kagura. "Kagura-san, are you going to walk with us?"

Kagura glanced at Shigure, who had a curious look on his face. Yuki got up from the table and went to his room, saying, "Breakfast was delicious, Honda-san."

Tohru beamed, then looked at Kagura again.

"No, Tohru-kun. I don't feel like it today." Kagura sat down across from Shigure and tried to finish her breakfast. Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki left for school.

Shigure and Kagura sat in silence for a few minutes, eating or, in Kagura's case, pretending to eat. Shigure noticed that Kagura wasn't really eating and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know, Shii-chan."

"Why did you come back?"

"I came back for Kyo-kun," Kagura replied. "Aya-chan said to me yesterday that he keeps trying to get close to Yun-chan even though Yun-chan doesn't like it. He said that maybe one day Yun-chan would finally accept him. And maybe one day, Kyo-kun will finally accept me." She shook her head. "But what if he doesn't? He doesn't need me like I need him."

"Kyo-kun doesn't always like having you around, but he does need you," Shigure said wisely. "You'll see."

"What?" Kagura looked at Shigure in confusion, but he just smiled mysteriously and went to his room.

***

"Ha-san and A-ya are coming over tomorrow!" Shigure announced during dinner on Saturday, two weeks later.

"Why?" Yuki asked.

"Because A-ya feels like it and Ha-san will make sure we don't get too crazy!" Shigure said gleefully.

Yuki and Kyo sweatdropped.

Kagura and Tohru didn't really mind if Hatori and Ayame came over. Tohru asked, "Are they staying for lunch? I'd be happy to make it!"

Shigure replied, "Oh, Tohru-kun is so sweet. A lunch prepared by you would be delicious, I'm sure."

Tohru smiled and blushed.

Kyo said, "I don't care who makes the lunch. I don't want to be here when they arrive."

Kagura picked up on this and said, "Then you can go somewhere with me, Kyo-kun!"

"No."

"Come on, it'll be fun! We'll go shopping!" she said, smiling sweetly.

"No!"

"We could take a walk in the forest…"

"No, I don't want to face a bunch of boars again!" Kyo said loudly.

"We can train together!"

"I don't want to train with you!"

"Kyo-kun!" Kagura whined.

"You know what? I'll just stay here instead!" Kyo paused. "Wait, what did I just say?"

"Baka," Yuki said, finishing his tea.

"Shut up!" Kyo yelled. "You—you—"

Yuki waited patiently to find out what Kyo was going to call him.

"Forget it! You're not worth my time." Kyo sat down, trying to look like he had won.

Kagura smiled. Kyo wasn't as eager to fight with Yuki as he used to be. That was good news. If Kyo could get along with Yuki, then maybe he could give Kagura a chance.

***

"We're here!"

Ayame and Hatori bounced into Shigure's house. Well, Ayame bounced. Hatori just walked in normally.

"Hatori-san, Ayame-san!" Tohru said. "It's nice to see you again!"

"Hello, Tohru-kun," Ayame answered, smiling. He turned to his brother. "Yuki! A pleasure to see you again!"

"For who?" Yuki muttered.

"And Kyon-kichi!"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Kagura-chan!" Ayame gave Kagura a hug. "How are you?"

Kagura grinned. "I'm fine, Aya-chan."

"Oh!" Ayame said, pulling out a bag. "I have something for you!" He pulled her into another room.

The others stood there, confused. Then Ayame came back out. He struck a pose in the doorway. "Gure-san, I missed you terribly. I'm so lonely at night," he said, staring intently at Shigure.

With that, Yuki and Kyo decided that they would rather not be in the room.

"I missed you too, A-ya. Things just haven't been the same without you." Shigure flew toward Ayame. "A-ya!"

Ayame mirrored him. "Gure-san!"

"Yosh!" they said, meeting each other in the middle, grinning like fools.

Meanwhile, Tohru had been talking to Hatori, asking him about his work. "That's wonderful, Hatori-san!"

"Tohru-kun," Shigure said, drawing her attention, "I wonder if we might partake of the delicious lunch you've prepared for us."

"Oh, but what about Kagura-san?" Tohru asked, wondering what the older girl was doing in the other room.

"She'll be here soon enough," Ayame said. "Let's eat!"

After Tohru found Yuki and Kyo, everyone (with the exception of Kagura) sat down at the table. A few minutes after they began eating, they heard a small noise come from the doorway. Kagura was standing just inside the room, wearing a very pretty dress. The skirt fell past her knees. It was the same soft lilac color as the bodice. The sash was a darker shade of purple. The long sleeves were made of chiffon and colored a very light, almost unnoticeable shade of indigo. The stockings she was wearing were white. Her headband and shoes were dark violet. (AN: I'm not sure if that would look good, but umm… Let's just say that it does, all right?)

Everyone was silent. Kyo stared at Kagura. Ayame was grinning and attempting to point at Kyo without being noticed. Shigure was grinning too. Hatori smiled slightly, but not enough that it was noticed. Yuki smiled. Tohru jumped up and said, "Kagura-san, you look so pretty!"

"Thank you, Tohru-kun," Kagura said gratefully.

Kyo finally snapped out of his trance. So what if she looked beautiful? So what? That didn't change anything. "What—?"

Kagura focused on him. "Kyo-kun?"

Kyo tried to act like he hadn't been affected at all by Kagura's appearance. "What are you dressed up like that for? We're just having lunch."

"Kyon-kichi, I wanted Kagura-chan to try on this new dress I designed," Ayame explained. He got up and gestured to Kagura (Vanna White style). "Doesn't she look nice in this dress? Doesn't she? Of course she does! I designed it! You see, I started with this idea—" He would have kept on going, but he was interrupted.

Hatori said, "Ayame."

"What is it, Tori-san?" Ayame asked, turning to the doctor. "Is there a particular part of the outfit you want to know about?"

"No, Ayame. Just be quiet."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Ayame sat down next to Shigure.

"I still don't see why you got all dressed up," Kyo said. "It doesn't even look that nice," he lied.

"What did you say?" Kagura asked in a dangerous tone of voice, bending down close to Kyo.

"I said it doesn't even look that nice." Within seconds, Kyo was crying out in pain because Kagura was beating him up again.

"How dare you?" POW! "You are so rude!"

Tohru stood close by, trying to stop Kagura from injuring Kyo further. "Kagura-san, I'm sure he didn't mean it!"

Yuki, Ayame, and Shigure continued to enjoy their lunch. Ayame just hoped that his beautiful new creation wouldn't be ruined. Hatori calmly readied his medical instruments. Kyo was going to need medical attention by the time Kagura was finished with him.

Finally, the beating stopped. Kagura's eyes went wide when she saw the damage she had done to Kyo. "Kyo-kun! Are you all right? Was it—was it me?"

"It was you," Shigure volunteered cheerfully.

"I'm sorry, Kyo-kun!" Kagura brushed Kyo's hair away from his face to see if she had hurt his face. "Kyo-kun, what can I do to help? I'll do anything!"

"Just get away from me," Kyo said, his teeth clenched.

Hatori came over to help Kyo, Tohru hovering worriedly behind him.

"A-ya, I think your new creation is great, even if Kyo-kun doesn't," Shigure said.

"Why, thank you, Gure-san. Mine and I worked very hard on this one." Ayame looked up at Kagura, who was still standing. "Kagura-chan, do you like it?"

Kagura nodded. "It's very nice. It fits perfectly."

"Of course it does! I made it, didn't I?" Ayame said pompously.

Tohru said, "Ayame-san is very good at making clothes. Kagura-san's dress is lovely."

Ayame replied, "Do you want me to make you one too, Tohru-kun? I just need you to come by the store for measurements…" He turned to Yuki. "Yuki, you can come too! It'll be fun! Like the first time you visited my store! We can dress up Tohru-kun in lots of pretty dresses and see which one you like best!"

Tohru tried to refuse. "Ayame-san, your offer is too generous! I don't need a new dress! I have enough clothes."

Ayame gave her a hurt look. "You don't want to try on the clothes I've designed?"

"No, it's not that! Your designer clothes are wonderful! I just—"

"Great! I'll expect to see you two soon!" Ayame said as if Tohru had not tried to refuse at all.

"Can I come too?" Kagura asked.

"Of course! Then we'll have two models!"

Yuki, Kyo, and Hatori sweatdropped. Shigure grinned.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Author's Note: Weird… But I hope it was nice and not too "out there"…. Umm… So review if you feel like it… yeah… *sigh* Not enough Kyo and Kagura interaction… Sorry! I was mostly trying to set up stuff for the next chapter… Blah…