Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket. I do, however, own a fruitcake.

Kyo entered the doorway of the kitchen and leaned against the doorpost. His features softened and relaxed as he took in the scene before him.

Tohru stood at the sink, cleaning up the dishes that were no longer in use. The late afternoon sun was shining softly through the window, forming a soft haze around Tohru. Momiji bobbed around her, wiping things down with his usual hyper fervor. Kisa rinsed and Hiro dried the dishes that Tohru turned out. Kisa smiled lovingly up at Tohru with each dish handed to her. Hiro looked disgusted.

"What's so special about graduating? Everyone who goes through school does it, so it's not like it is some major deal. You people; throwing a party like you are the only ones who have ever graduated," Hiro ranted, carefully drying off a plate.

Kyo clenched his fists. That smart-assed little boy could sure be a menace.

"Eh, heh heh," Tohru replied, handing a plate to Kisa to rinse.

Momiji smiled at Tohru. He was now a little taller than she. "All done with the cleaning Tohru! Would you like me to clean up outside now?"

"Oh! N-no. I just appreciated your help in here, Momiji-kun. I couldn't ask you to do that too," Tohru proclaimed, her hands full of soap.

Momiji just smiled. "It's no problem! I don't mind! Anything for Tohru!"

Momiji turned to leave amidst Tohru's complaints and saw Kyo standing in the doorway. "Heeeeeyy Kyo!"

Kyo was startled as Tohru unexpectedly spun around, soap and dirty water flying through the air from the force of the turn. She stood wide-eyed at the sink, her face flushed and a giant smile on her face. The sun was still creating a soft haze around her upper body, making Tohru seem like an angelic version of herself. Kyo felt his cheeks begin to burn and a familiar fluttering in his stomach.

"Kyo-kun! I've been looking for you! Are you having a good time? Is everything all right?" Tohru walked towards him, her hands full of soap residue. "I was hoping to share the fun of the party with you!"

Kyo's face turned red as his blush deepened. She..she wanted to share—

NO. Kyo took a step back from Tohru. Tohru looked at Kyo's face, confusion etched in every cell. He ran a hand through his hair and tried his best smile.

"I'm sorry Tohru. I didn't mean to miss most of the party. I fell asleep on the roof." Kyo admonished himself inwardly for lying to Tohru. He just didn't want her to know the truth. That he'd been hiding away on the roof thinking of the next couple of weeks and lost track of time. And that he'd been thinking… of her.

Tohru smiled. "That is understood. The day was so wonderful. I can tell that you most definitely were asleep."

It was now Kyo's turn to look confused. "Huh? How so?"

Tohru wiped a hand off on her apron and ran a finger across the bridge of Kyo's nose and then across Kyo's cheek, right under his eye. "I can see the redness of a sunburn beginning."

Kyo's face flushed even deeper and he stared wonderingly at Tohru. How could he tell her that it most likely was just a blush from her being so close to him? She didn't give him the chance to reply.

"Are you hungry? We have some leftovers from the party that I can put together for you," Tohru said, puttering over to the refrigerator and peering in. As she began prattling off some of the food that was left in the fridge, Kyo allowed his facial color to fade to normal. He glanced at Hiro and Kisa, standing at the sink drying off their hands. Hiro glared as usual and Kisa smiled sweetly.

Momiji bounded over to Kyo and said softly, "She's been worried about you all afternoon."

Kyo's face flushed yet again. "Dammit!"

He wasn't necessarily upset about Momiji's comment, but rather that this was the second person who had said it to him in less than an hour. First Kagura coming and bugging him about it and now this stupid rabbit had said it too.

Tohru half-turned and looked at Kyo. "You don't want the salmon?" She then turned around to begin naming more things that she had yet to get to.

Kyo was about to burst; he hadn't meant it towards Tohru. "Yes!"

Tohru turned around, confusion radiating from her facial features yet again.

Kyo breathed in deeply and said more calmly, "Yes, I would like the salmon."

Tohru smiled brightly and brought the plate of salmon out. "I will make it for you right away!"

Tohru brought out a pan and began to heat up a skillet for warming the salmon properly.

As she began putting spices on it, Hiro sighed heavily. "What are we supposed to do now? Just stand here with pruney hands? Hands that became pruney just so that we could help you clean off those stupid plates. Plates that we didn't even dirty up. So what now?"

Tohru turned and looked at Hiro, her face showing how uncomfortable she was with deciding what the kids should do next. Kyo was about to explode when he realized… how little time left he had with Tohru. He did not want her to see him upset anymore. He knew his yelling made her uncomfortable as well, so instead of exploding at Hiro, Kyo swiftly walked up to Hiro and laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. Hiro's head whirled around, surprised.

"Hiro. I'm sure you and Kisa can find something to do without Tohru."

Kisa smiled happily up at Kyo and took Hiro's hand. "Of course, Onii-chan!" Before Hiro could even object, or feel self-conscious about Kisa taking his hand, Kisa had led him out through the dining room to outside.

Momiji looked surprised up at Kyo, and then outside to where Kisa and Hiro had just walked. "Wow."

Grabbing Momiji, Kyo gave him a half-hearted noogie.

"Waaaa! Kyoo's… not… really hurting meeeee… OUCH! THAT HURT!"

Kyo sat in the dining room, watching TV and heartily glad that everyone was finally gone. It seemed like the party had gone on for hours and he was exhausted just from hiding all day.

After he had eaten the salmon from Tohru, he was then shuffled outside by Kagura and made to open his graduation present from her. It had been a photo book full of pictures of the two starting from when they were very young and on to the present. It also contained candid shots of him with various other family members, including a few of him in the school play. Tohru was in a couple of the pictures, but never alone with him.

He was surprised by how much the gift meant to him. Kagura had taken a lot of time to put dates on the back of each one as well, so that he could always remember just how old he was and when it had occurred. He could take it to the room…NO. He wouldn't think of what room was waiting. Just for him. He placed his face in his hands to keep the dark feelings from pouring from every part of him.

He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and glance over to see Yuki sitting caddy-corner from him, watching TV as though he'd been there all along. Yuki was staring straight at the TV, not noticing the inner-turmoil that Kyo was currently experiencing.

Good, Kyo thought. Don't want that bastard to see me like this. Kyo hardened his face when he remembered Akito's bet. If he beat Yuki, he could be a part of the Sohma family. One more week and that bet was null and void. But… he didn't have the heart. So what? What if he did beat Yuki?

Kyo… Kyo could then be a part of a family. He could be accepted for who he was, finally. And he could stay. Stay with Toh—

Kyo smashed his fist on the ground to keep himself from thinking such a thing. He didn't deserve her. He'd only cause her pain.

He'd caused her enough pain as it was. He had killed her.

"Baka neko. You are ruining the show."

Kyo, surprised, looked up at Yuki. He had forgotten the damned rat was there.

Kyo stood without saying a word. He walked outside. And ran.