Silence of a calm April Friday morning was favorably invited into the Sohma's house. Upstairs, Tohru Honda lay peacefully in her bed, pink comforter around her shoulders. The birds chirped in her window, excited to see her, begging her to get up and give them their treat they received every morning. Tohru rolled over to face the window with the slowly gathering sounds of the birds, and smiled at them. She sat up, looking at the clock. 8:37 AM. Perfect. She had learned all the waking times of the Sohmas, and when they would usually wander down to the kitchen for breakfast.

She stood, giving the birds their treats, and it reminded her of Akito. If only he would accept the fact that she cared about him, and wanted him to live, maybe he would stop being so hateful. She sprinkled the rest onto the window sill, got dressed and headed down to the kitchen.

At 8:50, she was just ready to set the table with salmon, some random vegetables, four bowls of miso soup, and a pot of rice when the eldest in the house, Shigure, came prowling in for food.

"Tohruuu, Im hungry. What's for breakfast?" he whined.

She turned, greeting him with her smile, famous in the Sohma family. "Well I'm about to serve breakfast, if you would like to sit down. We just need to wait for the others-"

"DAMNIT! We're out of milk again!" 8:53, Kyo was standing shirtless by the fridge, hair a mess and face flustered with frustration.

"Oh, good morning Kyo!" Tohru smiled, used to his random outbursts of anger.

"We're out of milk!" Kyo repeated, slamming the fridge door shut and taking his seat at the table.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm going to the store today, so I'll pick some up then." She said frantically.

"Whatever." He replied.

8:56 sharp, Yuki entered the kitchen, half asleep and still a mess from being in bed, dressed sort of sloppily.

Tohru smiled at the sight of Yuki. "Good morning to you also, Yuki. Breakfast is ready!"

Yuki managed a 'thank you' and sat down as Shigure giggled at him. "Oh Yuki, you certainly aren't a morning person. Oh well, Tohru's wonderful cooking should wake you up," he sighed, "she truly is an angel. Thank you for this food!" He began to eat as Tohru tried to protest, but gave up as they all began eating.

"So, how did everyone sleep?" She asked, after a minute of eating in silence, surprisingly not awkward. She had been there so long that it didn't feel odd to eat, and not talk.

"I didn't sleep until early this morning. Oh Tohru, writing is such a bother sometimes." Shigure was at it again.

"Then why do you do it?" Yuki stated simply, eyes closed, holding a bowl of rice.

Shigure put one hand on his chest and the other in the air, dramatically. "Because, being a novelist allows you to make anything happen in the world of the written. Drama, tragedy, romance, love affairs-"

"Alright enough!" Kyo had a habit of interrupting people. He sat there for a moment, an odd expression on his face, then sneezed a twice into his hand.

Tohru glanced up at him. "Are you sick Kyo?"

He looked away, after wiping his hand on his pants with a digusted look on his face. "No, I'm fine it's just a cold or something." He stared at the floor.

Yuki rolled his eyes. "That's not true you stupid cat. You kept me up all night while you were coughing. That's what you get for spending so much time on the roof when it's cold out, idiot."

"UUGGHH YA DAMN RAT!" he stopped, bending over and coughing into his arm, avoiding his hand this time. Tohru got up and rushed to his side this time.

"Kyo, are you ok? Here drink this; it will make your throat feel better." She handed him a plain glass of ice water. Kyo took it from her, but noticed Yuki glaring at him before he drank any of it. He slammed the glass on the table, making Tohru jump, got up and went upstairs, slamming the door on the way up.

"Ueh…Kyo?" Tohru watched him go with concern.

Shigure shook his head, drinking tea from a clay cup. "I really wish he would be more gentle with the doors in my house. If he breaks one I'll make him fix it!"

Tohru got up, asking to be excused for a few moments. Yuki glanced up at her, more awake now. "You really shouldn't worry about him Miss Honda. He'll be fine, he's too stubborn to take any medication."

Tohru protested. "Maybe, but I really should try to give him something." She got up, heading to the fridge, finding about one glass of milk in the very back of the fridge, and followed Kyo to his room. She made a stop in the bathroom for some cough medication, leaving Yuki and Shigure at the table, in admiration her concern for all living things, even a stupid cat like Kyo, in Yuki's eyes.

Tohru knocked on Kyo's door, quietly asking if she could come in. She heard a grunt in response, signaling an invitation. Kyo sat by the door sized window on the far side of his room, staring outside, not looking away as she entered the room.

"I, well, I brought you some cough medication, and some milk too! I found some in the very back of the fridge, just enough for one glass full. The cough syrup might not taste very good." She kneeled beside him, a small smile across her face.

He turned, accepting the gesture of her kindness. He took the meds, and drank some of the milk, not a sign of complaints emanating from him. He turned his head back toward the window, staying quiet.

"I'm sorry you're not feeling well." She looked at him, the morning sun shining on the side of his body, allowing his shadow to fall onto her lap.

He turned to face her, his face flustered, a bit of red returning to his pale face. He snapped at her. "I feel fine!" He stopped quickly, color adding to his already red face. "Well, I just haven't been sick in a while. You don't have to apologize like it's your fault or anything."

Tohru smiled at him, sending Kyo into think mode. How can she always seem to take care of me? She just always seems to know what to do, or say at the right times. I can't help but -

"Would you like to come down and finish breakfast?" Her voice broke Kyo out of his thoughts. He surprisingly gave her a smile and stood, offering a hand to help her up. She blushed a little at the sight of Kyo's kindness and offer of help and took his hand. As he pulled her to her feet, she was lighter then he expected and as a surprise to both of them, he pulled her close to his body. As a result, his face only a few inches from hers and hands still locked together. They were quiet for a cherished moment, both faces red but it was broken by Kyo's sudden intense cough, causing him to kneel down. He coughed into his free hand, slowly releasing Tohru's hand from his other. His eyes opened wide, as a sudden poof of orange smoke filled the air, showing an orange cat lying on the floor curled up when the smoke cleared. Tohru gasped, picking him and his clothes up, putting him on the bed under the covers, so only the kitty's head showed. It will be less revealing when he changed back.

"Hold on Kyo, I'll go call Hatori to come check on you, just stay in bed ok?" She stuttered and rushed downstairs to the phone.