Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. I know, I know, it's unbelievable, but believe it. Takaya is the genius behind these wonderful characters, not I!

Shishou watched as Kyo and Tohru walked toward him. Kyo's body was relaxed, as was Tohru's, but he felt a tension that had been absent in the past between them. Kyo's face lacked any sort of emotion that might give him away, but he knew that Tohru's was translucent when it came to her feelings. She looks tense.

Smiling brightly, Shishou greeted his adopted son and Tohru with a smile.

"Hello Kazuma-san!" Tohru greeted fondly, a bright smile showing relief.

"Shishou," Kyo nodded, relief also etched in his face. "Are you ready for your ass to be kicked by me, finally?"

Tohru's eyes widened.

Kazuma laughed. He knew that Kyo was just trying to bait him. "Are you sure that you're strong enough, my son?"

Kyo blushed at Kazuma's remark; Tohru smiled happily. "We'll see, Shishou."

Tohru watched for about forty-five minutes as Kyo jumped, kicked, and punched his way through his routine with various partners. She watched as they fought through mock tournaments, each taking a turn with a partner to fight until one of them succumbed to the other. Kyo and his last partner were fighting fiercely, each exhausted from practice, but neither willing to give in to the other just yet.

"BREAK!" Kazuma called after Kyo's partner went sprawling to the floor across the room. Kyo stood panting in the middle of the room, and put his hands together and bowed to his opponent. The opponent nodded in agreement with a grimace, and then painstakingly drew himself off the floor.

Kyo grabbed a towel and walked to where Tohru and Kazuma were chatting amicably. Tohru looked up at Kyo and smiled happily; Kyo's heavily beating heart skipped a beat.

"Good job, Kyo-kun!" Tohru praised. Kyo's cheeks pinked.

"I agree. You seem to get stronger with each practice," Kazuma commented, sending Kyo's ego soaring through the roof, and yet not allowing himself to believe Kazuma completely.

"Perhaps you should try practicing with me."

Tohru, Kyo and Kazuma turned to look at Yuki.

"Yuki-kun!" Tohru cried happily. "You came!"

Kazuma smiled. "I haven't seen you in a while, Yuki. Welcome."

Kazuma looked at Kyo and felt why Tohru had been so tense; the strange feelings emanating from both Yuki and Kyo were intense.

"Well, Kyo? Do you take him up on his offer?"

Kyo looked into the distance, panting still from practice. Kyo then jerked to look over at Yuki. "What, did your precious Akito tell you about our little bet? Is that why you suddenly want to fight me?" Anger tinged his words.

Yuki glared suspiciously at Kyo. "What bet?"

Kyo stared at Yuki as if to decide if whether he was telling the truth or not. Shrugging, Kyo looked into the distance again and muttered, "You haven't been practicing. It's almost unfair since I'm practically exhausted."

"That should give you the upper-hand, Kyo," Kazuma stated. "He hasn't been stretched, while you are loose and ready."

Kyo had felt the tension between him and Yuki ever since yesterday's lunch with that damned wave girl and the Yankee. He knew that if he could feel the tension, that it must be horrible for Tohru. Tohru… Darting a glance over at her, he saw her face furrowed into a frown as she stared at the floor. She must be so worried about what's changed between me and Yuki. Determinedly, he looked over at Yuki. He was almost taken by surprise to see Yuki staring hard at him.

"Fine. I'll fight you."

Yuki cocked his head to the side. "Make it worth my time."

Kyo felt his patience fading as he and Yuki made their way to the middle of the practice floor. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I've been practicing for almost an hour!"

Yuki stretched his arm in front of him. Kyo, too, began to stretch the muscles that had begun to harden while he was resting. After a good couple of minutes, Kazuma yelled out, "START!"

Kyo felt his body go into fight-mode, trying to see through his opponent's defenses, only this time it was his long-time enemy, Yuki. It was slightly unnerving, but he wouldn't react the way he used to; he wouldn't just charge head into some move without first seeing of what Yuki was capable. Feinting a little, he saw that Yuki was doing the same as he, and he blocked a punch that Yuki threw, and pushed Yuki away from him.

Yuki was surprised when Kyo tossed him casually away, as though catching his punch had meant nothing.

Something is different with him…

He's more confident.

Yuki watched as Kyo sized him up, watching every movement carefully. Yuki threw and blocked a few punches, trying to find a weakness in Kyo's defense. Kyo threw a punch of his own, and Yuki smiled inwardly as he met to catch it. Suddenly, Yuki found himself being kicked from underneath, his legs giving way to the force of Kyo's kick.

The punch had been a distraction! Yuki screamed in his head, shock roiling through him as he fell to his knees. Kyo stood above Yuki, his leg poised to kick Yuki clear across the room. Yuki stared up at Kyo, his eyes showing his surprise.

Kyo was shaking. His leg was beginning to ache from so much use from practice, but he was poised to send Yuki to the other side of Japan if he had to. I…

"BREAK!" Kazuma yelled, signaling the end of the fight.

I…won. I beat Yuki.

Yuki felt his body release the tension that was hiding deep within the box. Getting onto his feet, he watched as Kyo slowly brought his leg down, his eyes wide.

Yuki stood straight and brushed his hands off. Facing Kyo, he looked into Kyo's wide, wary eyes. Putting his hands together, he bowed to Kyo. Kyo shakily reciprocated. Standing straight again, Yuki took once last look into Kyo's eyes before turning and walking out of the dojo.

Perhaps the cat is not the fool I thought it to be.