Lord Cynic: "Disclaimer: See previous chapter. Rain is by Anthony Callea. Yuh huh, two songs by Australian artists. Heh."
Fruits Basket
Rain
Kyo sighed and stretched out on the roof of Shigure's house. He'd elected to remain there during the time of the festival, instead of joining in with the other inhabitants of the household. For some reason, it didn't seem right for him to go. Something unsettled him, and it wasn't just the damn rat. No, far from it.
I remember when we first met
Before I was invisible
I thought I'd play it hard to get
Pretend I was unapproachable
But somebody else came along and
Took all the chances that I missed
Stuck on the sidelines
I keep thinking there she goes
Ever since he'd been forced to stay at Shigure's house, he'd been exposed to the presence of an outsider. A female outsider, no less. She wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, not by a long shot. Well, neither was he, when it came down to it – not that he'd ever admit it. At first, though, she was a major annoyance. She would interfere with his efforts to beat the damn rat, making up feeble excuses for butting into his excuses. Yes, initially, he hated her. He hated the idea of an outsider living in the house, knowing the secret.
Falling like rain
No I don't get to hold her tonight
Falling like rain
I was pushed to the back of the line
Cause even though I need her love, and crave her touch
I guess I wasn't fast enough
She's falling like rain
Just not for me, not for me
As time passed, however, he'd gotten used to a non-Sohma woman around the house. In fact, it was a welcome relief from the trauma he experienced when Kagura came to visit. Damn, that girl had some serious issues. Not only that, but she took the chance to pummel him with open arms (and clenched fists of 'burning passion'). She claimed it was because she loved him, but come on. A person who loves another wouldn't beat the crap out of them. She was a psycho, that was all there was to it. Unlike…
Why I took the longest roadI'll have to plead insanity
It's like my pride put on a show
And didn't sell a single seat
While I was talking in riddles
Somebody else made perfect sense
Stuck on the outside
I keep thinking there she goes
Tohru Honda. Who would've thought that such a simple-looking girl could change his life, and his heart, so much? He hadn't realised at first how soothing her smile and her words were, and how much effect they had on him. Pretty soon, though, he'd come to relish the gentle, consoling tone of her voice and the way her face brightened with that goofy-looking grin of hers. And damn, could she cook! His cooking was tolerable at best (since Master was such a crappy cook, he made his own meals in the mountains), but she could cater for a whole party if left to her own devices. And it tasted fantastic, which was something he treasured. In fact, he treasured plenty about her.
Falling like rain
No, I don't get to hold her tonight
Falling like rain
I was pushed to the back of the line
Cause even though I need her love, and crave her touch
I guess I wasn't fast enough
She's falling like rain
Just not for me, not for me
When she discovered his true form, she accepted him for who and what he was. Even though he was a hideous, foul-smelling beast, she came to him and told him what he wanted to hear. Even though she admitted to being afraid of him, she told him she wanted everyone to stay together, she told him that she wanted to be with him. And that was the first time he realised the deep and overprotective feelings surging within his heart. That was the first time he realised he loved her.
What do you do
What do you say
When the best thing has passed you by
Where do you go
How do you know
If she'll come back another time
On the roof, Kyo sighed. By then, though, it was too late. As life returned to normal, well as normal as it got in Shigure's house, Kyo noticed how close Yuki and Tohru were getting. He wasn't stupid, he could see the warmth in their eyes when they spoke and laughed together. When they went for walks, he noticed close proximity between the two, although they all knew of the curse. Kyo's feline-like senses picked up on the sparks between Tohru and that damn rat. To him, it was clear that she'd fallen for the Prince, just like everyone else in school – the only difference was, Yuki was genuinely in love with her, too.
She's falling like rain - falling like rain
She's falling like rain - oh, oh, oh
She's falling like rain - falling like rain
She's falling like rain - she's falling
She's falling like rain
Kyo growled, but the feeling of resentment was quickly pushed away by feelings of remorse and regret. Tohru was the only girl to truly understand him. She took him in for who he was, and saw past his flaws, several as they were. Kyo had felt like a large weight was finally lifted off his heart, only to be doubled when Yuki and Tohru publicly announced their feelings for one another. The Prince Yuki Fan Club (psychos that they were) fell apart completely, and the Yankee and the psychic were thrilled for them. No one had noticed that in the background, the cat was alone again. It happened in the Zodiac, and it happened in love. But, he would be strong. He wouldn't let something like that damn rat beating him – again – in perhaps the most important battle of his life.
Falling like rain
No, I don't get to hold her tonight
Falling like rain
I was pushed to the back of the line
Cause even though I need her love, and crave her touch
I guess I wasn't fast enough
She's falling like rain
Just not for me, not for me
Suddenly, his feline ears perked as he detected the voices of everyone returning from the party. Begrudgingly, he shifted himself so that he could glimpse at the merry trio. Shigure, the sick pervert that he was, was flattering Tohru for some kind of pageant she'd entered and won. On her other side, Yuki was congratulating him more sincerely, flashing her that sickening smile that ultimately won her heart. Kyo groaned audibly and rolled over so that he wouldn't have to see them. He must've made some racket, because Yuki muttered, "Stupid cat," loud enough for him to hear. However, as rain began to pour, he knew the rat was right. He truly was a stupid cat.