Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket but I do own Penny and Tina and this story.

When they were dismissed from detention and Penny and Kyo were making their way home, they were both still mad. Kyo had less reason to be mad but his thoughts had gone to the one thing that he loved to hate.

"Stupid rat," he thought. "He was probably in that food fight and didn't get in trouble becauses he is just so 'perfect' and spoiled."

"Stupid Tina." thought Penny, walking next to Kyo. "She probably will have some stupid reason like Oh just think of it Penny! Now you and Kyo can spend time together in detention! She thinks she can get out of this...I bet she already has everyone on her side..." Penny tried to think of some trick she could play on Tina but sighed, knowing she wouldn't do it. She just wasn't the type to look for revenge.

Penny looked up at Kyo and, shocked, stopped walking and stared at his red hair. He noticed she had stopped and turned around to see her eyes wide, searching his hair. He gave her one of those looks he gave her so often of "Crazy girl..." and realized he had heard something. His cat ears had probably stuck out and Penny had seen them. Trying to change the subject Kyo said.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" There was a noise somewhere behind Penny and she turned to see what it was.

"That." said Kyo, pointing to some bushed next to the road. They walked over to the bushes, Penny in the lead and as she began searching carefully through the leaves for what made the noise, she let out a yelp and landed back on the sidewalk. She had a small furry creature with a claw stuck on the sleeve of her long sleeve shirt.

"A kitten!" Penny gasped. She untangled the kittens claw and held it gently looking in the bush again. "Oh my gosh! Kyo, can you hold it?" she asked. Holding the first kitten out to him. Kyo took it and held it awkwardly, not sure how to hold it as Penny brought out another kitten and gave it to him and then two more that she held. The first one was orange and white striped, the second black with white spots, the third yellow and the fourth grey. Penny let out those sounds that girls made when they saw something adorable as Kyo stood trying to figure out a way to hold the moving kittens comfortably.

"Oh Kyo, if I weren't a guest at your house then I would ask if I could keep them, they are so adorable!" Kyo had not seen Penny act this way before. She usually was so against all the girly stuff that Tina did that seeing her act this way surprised him but made him think she couldn't be all that bad if she liked cats.

"I am not sure, Yuki and Shigure aren't cat people." he said grudgingly. Penny noticed his tone of voice and asked.

"What about you?"

Kyo was caught off guard. "They're...ok...I guess." then he thought about what Yuki and Shigure's reactions would be if they brought home four kittens. He smile. "Hey, maybe we should take them with us, they look old enough not to need their mom and maybe you could convince Shigure to let you keep them." To which Penny's eyes lit up. He felt a twinge of guilt, knowing that he had only offered it to watch Yuki and Shigure squirm at having to try to turn her down.

"Let's go then." said Penny walking slower than before to try to balance the now sleeping kittens in her arms. Kyo's kittens were climbing around and he walked slower to keep them from falling. When Penny saw what was happening she gently took the kittens and held them with the other two. Soon she had an armful of warm, sleeping kittens and Kyo feeling stupid for not knowing how to hold a cat of all things.

At one point as they talked Penny caught Kyo gazing at her as she stroked one of the kittens ears. She wondered if Kyo liked cats more than he let on, since his animal form was a cat, like Yuki and Shigure in the books she had read or if he didn't even like his own kind. Or maybe even cats rejected him, she thought sadly, the cat being the outcast of the zodiac. Could Kyo understand what they said when they meowed? Had he heard them in the bushes talking and that was why his cat ears stuck out? She wanted to ask questions but knew that she would be giving away what she knew about the curse.

Two hours later.

Penny and Kyo had gotten home, Penny had showered and changed and was now playing with the kittens on the livingroom floor when Shigure came home.

"Hi there Penny! Did you enjoy your detenti–" he stopped and froze when he saw the kittens, eyes wide. For a moment Penny forgot that he was a dog and began to explain quickly how she had found the kittens.

Meanwhile in the bathroom off of the livingroom, Kyo had finished his shower and had gotten dressed when he heard Shigure come home. He could hear muffled voices and then Penny talking quickly, probably about the kittens. Kyo stepped out of the bathroom and, pretending that he hadn't known they were talking, interrupted Penny and said.

"Hey there Shigure, so me and Penny found these kittens today and Penny wants to keep them–"

"Oh, well, I don't know about that, I mean I am really not a cat person, may have allergies to them."

Penny, who was going to tell Shigure that she didn't have to keep them before Kyo came in, knew what Kyo was doing and tried to fix what he had started.

"Oh no, I–" but one of the kittens had snatched onto her pants and when she untangled it, she couldn't help but play with it, making it chase her finger.

Shigure thought the sight cute but continued "I'm really sorry but I think Yuki may be allergic to cats."

"No," said Yuki as he walked into the room, unaware of what was going on or that Penny and the kittens were there. "I just hate them." he glared at Kyo.

"Oh, hi Yuki." Penny called from the floor, putting a shocked look on his face and a smile on Kyo's.

Kyo leaned down to pick up the kitten that was playing with the bottom of his pants. "How could you hate a face like this!" asked Kyo, stuffing the kitten into Yuki's face. Yuki, in anger and surprise, knocked Kyo's arm, sending the kitten flying through the air.

"OH!" cried Penny in fear as she jumped up as though she could catch the kitten.

As the kitten flew toward the door to a hallway that led to another part of the house, Haru walked into the doorway and paused, getting him a kitten that hit him gently on the chest. It latched onto his shirt and he put his arm under it, no emotion on his face.

"Oh Haru!" cried Penny, running over and taking the kitten from him. She placed it on the floor and it scurried off as she threw her arms around his neck in a gratful embrace.

For once, Haru looked surprised and stared at her as she came out of the hug to look up at him. Seeing his surprised look made her realize what she had just done and what had just not happened. She returned his shocked look with an even more shocked look before he grabbed her hand and began leading her out of the house. She pulled free long enough to gather the kittens and put them gently in a pouch she had left on the couch. She slung it over her shoulder, the kittens peaking their heads out of the opening, and Haru again grabbed her hand and led her into the afternoon sun with the three boys starring at them.

The three went back to arguing, Yuki and Shigure saying what Kyo had done was wrong, and mean to get Penny's hopes up like that. They all lost interest though and seperated, thinking of the two people walking through the forest with four kittens.

meanwhile

Haru held Penny's hand gently as he led her through the forest but pulled her so fast behind him that she got hit in the face with a branch. They came to a small clearing and Haru stopped and faced the confused Penny.

"What is your form." Haru said.

"My–"

"You know what I am talking about." Haru said.

"But–but I don't have a form. I'm not a Sohma."

"Do you really think I believe that? Tell me your form and your real name!"

"But you know my real name and I don't have a form! I don't know what happened back there but I am as surprised as you are."

"Where are you really from."

Penny paused. Saying that would mean she would need to tell him the whole story probably.

"I..."

"Tell me!"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because if you didn't come here telling the truth, then you probably have something to hide."

"I have things to hide, but not what you think." Why did she say that?

"Why have you come here."

"I didn't have a choice."

"Who sent you?"

"I don't know."

"Who do you think sent you?"

"I have no idea." she was speaking quieter now, realizing how little she knew about this whole thing.

"You aren't going to tell me, are you." Haru said.

"I...I don't know if I want to tell anyone." Penny was whispering now, staring at the ground.

Haru paused, studying her. "You can stay here for a while." He said finally, beginning to leave. "Someone will come for you, but for now it would be chaotic enough at the house."

"Thank you." and Haru walked off toward the house.

Penny set down the pouch with the kittens and took them out one by one. She picked up the one that Haru had caught and set it in her lap, stroking it, trying to calm it down. The other three kittens played and soon fell asleep. When the kitten in her lap (the black and white one) fell asleep, Penny placed it with its siblings and laid down, looking up at the sky.

What was going on? She wondered. She wasn't a Sohma, she wasn't a member of the zodiac, so why had this happened? She remembered her realization at how little she knew about this whole situation and a feeling of hopelessness swept over her. She felt so far from home. She curled up in a ball on her side. She was pretty sure that no matter how far she traveled, she wouldn't get back home. She lay there for a while holding back tears with some success, wondering how long she would be in Japan, when it hit her. She sat up, thinking. She was in Japan, where they spoke Japanese. She couldn't speak Japanese. How could she understand everyone when she couldn't speak Japanese? She realized that when that window on the computer brought her here, it must have done something to Tina and her. It must have given them the ability to understand other languages, or atleast one, and somehow cause her to be able to hug the Sohma's without changing them into their animal forms. Did that mean she had an animal form? Was that why Haru hadn't become a cow? She wasn't sure and wondered what her form could be, if she had one. She wondered if she was a dragon and was reminded of Hatori. The first night that she had been here, Hatori had shown up and talked to Shigure. When he told her she would be staying at Shigure's she had thought it was strange and now she wndered again what he knew. Had she been able to stay because they had somehow known she wouldn't change them into their animal forms? Probably not, how could he?

She was brought back to the forest when a noise in the bushes caught her attention. She looked up to see an orange cat looking at her. It was a handsome animal and as she put out her hand to pet it, it came closer and let her scratch it behind its ears. It came close enough and let her pick it up and put it in her lap, gently running her fingers through its fur and making it drowsy. Its head rested on her knee and she cooed to it, beginning to feel drowsy herself.

"Your such a nice kitty, are you lost? Do you have a home?"

She looked at the orange thing in her lap and smiled at it. She glanced over at the sleeping kittens and said.

"Did you come to play?" she went on talking to it this way, thinking outloud about the things that had happened that day.The cat didn't seem to mind the chatter and was slipping into sleep when Penny jumped in realization. She checked her watch and saw that she was right, it was almost time for dinner. She had been racing Kyo to dinner since that first night she had gotten there, wanting to get on his nerves by sitting in his seat. Dumb, yes, but sometimes it was so funny to watch him get mad.

Penny picked the now awake cat up and placed it on the ground. She stood up and sat down again, realizing she wasn't sure of the way back. She lay down on the grass and looked at the orange cat who was probably curious why it had been woken up and reached her hand out to it, calling it. The cat came to her just far enough where she couldn't quite touch it and lifted a paw to climb onto her stomach.

There was a puff of smoke and the prange cat was gone, a shirtless (that was all she could see) Kyo leaning over her, her hand on the side of his face and in his hair instead of scratching the cat's ears.

Kyo's Point of View.

Kyo was walking through a quiet house, Yuki having left, Haru going to the main house, and Shigure in his office. Kyo stood in the livingroom when he heard the clanking of dishes coming from the kitchen telling him Tohru was home. He walked toward the kitchen door and had almost placed his hand on it when Tohru burst out, tripping and knocking into him.

An orange cat now sat on the floor in a pile of clothes as Tina called from the kitchen. "Is everything ok Tohru?"

"I'll be there in a minutes!" Tohru said as she looked at Kyo nervously. She opened the door as Kyo, clothes in mouth, ran to find a place to transform back in the forest.

The cat ran through the bushes for a while until he dropped his clothes behind a tree and went to make sure the clearing he had found was empty. He walked out and was surprised to see Penny, who had gone off with Haru. He had half thought that Penny had gone with Haru to the main house, why had he left her here? he wondered angrily. The next thing he knew he was in Penny's lap. He cursed his cat reflexes. Sometimes he couldn't control the part of him that was cat. He sat there for a while, getting drowsy, knowing he should go. What if he transformed? Why hadn't he transformed yet? Usually it took him a minute or two, maybe less and it had been fifteen, thirty minutes since he had transformed.

Suddenly he was awake and on the ground again. He turned around and saw Penny calling him. NO. He thought, I need to go. But he was taking steps toward her no matter how he fought it. He felt himself going to climb onto her stomach. STUPID CAT WILL YOU STOP! IF YOU TRANSFORM THIS IS GOING TO BE SO EMBARRESSING! WHAT IF SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE YOU WHEN SHE YOU TRY TO EXPLAIN! SHE IS GOING TO THINK YOU ARE SOME KIND OF PERVERT! but he felt his paw raise to climb onto her stomach. But instead it hit the grass on the other side of her. He looked into her wide eyes, her hand in his hair, when he realized. He was looking down at her. His hands were on either side of her on the grass. His hands.

Kyo was suddenly behind the tree with his clothes on, face on fire, knowing he would have to explain but not wanting to have to face the girl who was in the clearing a few feet away. Kyo went around the tree and saw that Penny wasn't facing him but had her arms folded and was looking the other way.

Was she mad at him? He wondered. Probably he thought as he remembered the scene and blushed again.

"Penny?" she didn't turn around. He almost reached for her shoulder but thought she might pull away, revolted. He had messed things up badly this time. "Penny I can explain."

"Don't worry, you don't need to, I should have known, it was my fault." she had turned around but wasn't meeting his eyes, her face in a furious blush.

"Did Haru--"

"No, just---I know but---don't worry about it." she was breathing strangely from her nervousness. Kyo was confused but said.

"The thing---with the cat---it was me--but---I----I didn't have---see part of me is cat and----I didn't really have--um--control over um---that um uh---part of my brain." Penny looked up, she hadn't expected this.

"It's ok, um, why don't we head back to the house?" she offered, trying to change the subject.

"Uh...sure." Penny scooped up the sleeping kittens, Kyo wanting to offer his help but not sure if she wanted him near her, she could just be trying to be nice. As they walked back toward the house, Kyo felt horrible. He knew it wasn't his fault but he still had a guilt, he could hardly bear to look at Penny, afraid he would see her uncomfortable around him or worse, afraid. Part of him said he was being stupid but he still didn't look at her until Shigure's house stood in front of them.

He turned and saw that she was making sure the kittens were ok, Probably trying to avoid facing me he thought. But when she looked up into his eyes, there was no sign of fear or apprehension, no look like she was in a hurry to get away from him.

"Are you ok?" she asked, worried, seeing that behind his eyes, his mind was in a storm of guilt.

What am I think, she couldn't know that, I probably just look worried. But he had relaxed at the sight of her normal blue eyes and she continued.

"What happened back there--"

"Penny, I'm really sorry, it wasn't my fault--"

"I know, don't worry." she smiled kindly. "I would think you would be more embarressed..." but she stopped. She had been so shocked that she had just thought he was shirtless, but she had suddenly remembered the books and looked away as a curtesy.

"Yeah, I guess." he said none of them picking up the conversation from there. "So where do you plan on putting these guys?" Kyo finally said.

"Oh! I guess...I didn't think of that, oh no! I can't take them into the house if Shigure might have allergies!"

"Shigure doesn't have allergies, we can sneak them in and he won't suspect anything."

"Can we...can we keep them in your room? Dogs have a really good sense of smell but he might not be suspicious if your room smelled of cat, even if it was stronger than usual."

"How did you..." he began. Penny got a surprised look on her face.

"I'll help but eventually you need to explain what is going on to me."

Penny got a sly smile on her face. "You'll do it anyway."

"Oh I will, will I?" Kyo said, amused.

"Of course, how could you turn down a face like this?" she leaned in closer to him, smiling. Kyo was surprised at this sudden change and for a moment thought she was going to kiss him, when suddenly a kitten face stared back at him instead of Penny.

"Be happy I'm not Yuki." he said, taking the kitten from her hands and putting it on his shoulder to balance.

Penny smiled at the picture of the two and once again wanted a camera."I'm really glad your not Yuki." Kyo raised an eyebrow and copied Penny's sly smile from before. "I mean," she said, breaking out from the gaze she had had on Kyo but making sure she didn't look like she was doing just that. "Haru isn't here to be its wall to run into."

"I can be a wall." Kyo puffed out his chest sarcastically. Penny poked his stomach hard, knocking his stomach and chest back to their normal size before she began to run toward the house, making sure not to drop the kittens in the pouch at her side. Kyo took the kitten off of his shoulder and chased after her, the kitten's head bobbing up and down.

Please review! Knowing you like my story is so nice! Ten reviews will get a new chapter!