Chapter 3: Kyo vs. Rika
Tohru, Yuki, Kyo and Shigure all walked home together.
"Geez Shigure, are you sure your gonna be able to go tomorrow? With all those papers to grade, you might not have the energy to go teach for another day." Kyo said sarcastically.
"I can't just leave those poor students to go on without a proper education. And besides when I think of the students" Shigure said thinking of all the girls in the class, "They give me the energy to do anything."
"Isn't it funny that on the that when Shigure became our new teacher, we get a new student?" Tohru replied smiling.
"Yes, I guess that is a coincidence." Yuki agreed.
"Don't forget she's also a fan of my work." Shigure added cheerfully.
Tohru looked down at her watch, "I think I should head over to my work. I'll see you guys later." She trotted off in the other direction.
"Be safe." Shigure waved.
"Humph, man I'm tired." Tohru said whipping sweat off her forehead then looked at her watch again as she left the building of her work, "I still have to make dinner too. I bet they're starving, I should hurry home." Just then Tohru saw a familiar face looking around in confusion.
"Rika?"
The girl turned around and smiled at Tohru, "There's something I recognize. Hi Tohru, What are you doing down here?"
Tohru walked over to her, "Oh I work in that building. What are you doing here?"
"I'm just exploring a little. I just moved here about 3 days ago so I don't really know my way around."
"So do you live near by?"
"I live about a half mile away in an apartment." Rika answered pointing behind Tohru.
"Why don't we walk together then? Because I live over there too."
Rika smiled, "Sure."
Tohru and Rika talked the whole way about one another. Every time, one would say something the other would ask another question.
"So you really like Shigure's books?"
"Of course," Rika blurted, "When I got here, they were the first books I read. But how so you know him?"
"I-I kinda live with him."
Rika's jaw dropped, "What?"
"No, no, no it's not like that. I also live with Yuki and Kyo."
Rika's jaw dropped even further, "You live with guys?"
"Yeah, I cook and clean for them and so in return they let me stay there."
"Really, can't they clean for themselves?"
"I don't think so. I think they tried once but it didn't work."
"Hard to believe that a novelist could be such a slob." Rika sighed, "So much for him being a responsible adult."
They finally reached the street where they had to split up.
"Well I guess I'm see you tomorrow at school." Rika said turning facing the direction of the area of an apartment complex.
"Hey would you like to eat lunch with me and my friends tomorrow. I could introduce you to everyone."
"Sure, that would be fun." Rika answered still waking down the street. Tohru smiled and headed towards Shigure's house.
The next morning, at school…
"All right students, once we finish role call we'll start." Shigure announced to his class.
Tohru looked around the classroom a little clueless, "Funny, I don't see Rika anywhere."
"Who?" Uo asked, "Oh yeah, that new student.
"Kiera."
"Present."
"Jason."
"Here."
Kyo tipped in his chair, "Does it matter? She seems like a spaze to me. She likes Shigure's novels."
"Yes, I've looked at some of his work and it's pretty…unusual." Hana replied, "But I seem to like them."
"Rika, Rika Sohma?"
All the sudden the door to the classroom opened. Rika stepped through the door, almost half asleep.
"Speak of the devil." Yuki, Kyo, Tohru and Shigure thought.
"Sorry Mr. Sohma. I over slept." Rika bowed and took her seat next to Kyo.
"That's alright, as long as you showed up." Shigure replied, then resuming his role call.
Rika looked over to Tohru and whispered, "Good morning."
"You too." Tohru whispered back.
3 weeks later… Tohru's POV
"Well Shigure has taught at our school for the last 3 weeks, but sadly today is his last day. But in those 3 weeks everyone has become friends with Rika, and surprisingly she hasn't figured out the Sohma family secret. But that's not saying there hasn't been any close calls."
"KYO!" Rika yelled jumping out of her chair and looking down at her soaked skirt, "What the hell did you do that for!"
"And you think I did it on purpose?"
"Yeah actually I do!"
"Oh really?" Kyo exclaimed, standing up facing her.
"Isn't that what I just said?"
Kyo clenched his fist, "Are you making fun of me?"
"You would need to become an idiot to be made fun of, but since it comes natural for you there's no problem."
Kyo's face turned red in frustration, "Why you stupid, ugly tomboy!"
All the sudden Shigure came up behind them and lifted them up by the shirt, "Now children, must you always fight. It's the third this week over the dumbest things. And Kyo you know for a fact that Rika is not ugly and Rika you know that Kyo isn't that stupid."
"But he-"
Shigure shuck his head, "Today is my last day, so could you two pretend that you like each other," He gently set the two down and put in a sad, pathetic expression, "Do you think that on my last day as your teacher, I want the memory of you two fighting?"
"Please…" Kyo thought not caring.
But as for Rika, her eyes were big and her mouth agape, "Okay, I'll try."
"Ah she's so cute. Reminds me of Tohru, rough around the edges though." Shigure smiled, "Glad to hear it, but for today I was thinking that we should go outside. So everyone, grab your bags and head outside."
Rika sighed and shoved her supplies into her bag, "Stupid Kyo."
"Damn new girl." Kyo mumbled.
"Wow, with Rika as his new fighting buddy it's starting to look like Yuki and Kyo fighting." Uo replied watching from the other side of the room.
"Well at least he's off my back." Yuki added with a sense of relief.
"I don't know, I would rather have no fighting." Tohru thought.
Rika slipped her bag over her shoulder and walked towards Tohru and the rest of her friends, "Hey you guys, do you have any idea where we're going?"
Uo shrugged, "No clue. With Shigure he's always a mystery."
"Yes… a complete mystery." Hana replied.
Okay... "Well, he seems normal enough.
