A/N: Sorry! Bleach has taken over my liiife! And Kagura will come NEXT chapter! I swear!

Disclaimer: The only thing that belongs to me is the plot and teenage angst. Heh.

Ah! I love you guys! I love your reviews! I love you for reading my story and liking it and giving me the will the carry on writing it! I'm sooo glad I didn't keep this a one-shot. I feel much more accomplished now, because of the awesome beautiful things you guys say! Fwee!

PS:I really don't know much about the –kun. Haha. I made a guess that in a relationship you shouldn't use it. Ah well. Someday I'll understand more. So in your reviews, please don't start lecturing me on the real meanings of Japanese honorifics!

What Can Come of Cooking

Tohru was sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through one of her school textbooks with a bored expression on her face. Normally she was all about getting her work done right, but today she felt like doing anything but work. Even the food she was supposed to be cooking sat on the counter, untouched.

She just couldn't get her mind off of the date that had happened a few days ago.

Now, she heard from her friends and other girls in school that dates were no big deal. You know, you go out on one, then you come back, and it's all good and normal again. Sometimes you'll go on more dates, but even then they're just "average" or "normal". Tohru felt a little strange that she remembered their date so much, and that she kept it locked away in that special part of her mind forever, which was mostly filled of memories with her mom. Why was it that the girls at school saw dates as just another outing, and yet this date with Kyo had been one of the best things that had ever happened to Tohru?

Tohru began to flip the pages faster and faster as she thought. Were they supposed to go on more dates? Would they be as special as the last? Would he have to officially ask her, or would even walking home be considered a date? Or an outing? Or whatever they called it?

Before she knew it, Tohru had flipped to the end of the book. She looked down at the back of the book, startled. How long had she been thinking for? Just how fast had she been flipping the pages?

She heard steps behind her. Her heart leaping, she whirled around. "Ky…" Her voice died in her throat. It wasn't Kyo who walked through the door. It was Shigure.

"Oh, hello Shigure-san!" she said happily, acting as if she hadn't been disappointed. She had forgotten Kyo was at the dojo today.

"Hello, Tohru-kun! How's supper going?" He took a seat at the table, whipping out the little fan he seemed to carry around with him everywhere he went.

"S…upper? Supper! Oh no!" Tohru jumped out of her seat, racing for the counter. "I completely forgot! I'm sorry! Sorry!" She began chopping vegetables as fast as she could, her mind completely settled on making a speedy supper.

From behind her, the knife was pulled gently out of her grasp. She continued to chop as though the knife were in her hand, but seconds later she realized it was gone. "What happened to the knife?" she cried, spinning around. "Shigure-san, the knife, it disappeared!"

Shigure was standing behind her, fan in his left hand and knife in the other.

"…Ah. How come you took the knife, Shigure-san?"

"Because, Tohru-kun, now isn't the time for supper." He gently grasped her shoulder, and motioned her over to the table. Tohru felt her knees grow weak. What had she done? Had Shigure told Akito about Kyo and her? Was he going to kick Kyo out? Was he going to kick her out? He was abnormally serious today. She wasn't used to him like this.

"Sh…Shigure-san?" She felt herself being forced into the chair at the table she had previously been sitting in. Shigure walked over and sat in the chair opposite of her, setting the knife down on the table and opening his fan once again.

"What's wrong, Tohru-kun? You look so nervous!" he gave her a smile that loosened the knot in Tohru's stomach—slightly.

"I'm just—well—um—do you need to tell me something?" She tried to keep the nervous quiver out of her voice, but it was lost battle. She bit her bottom lip to keep her eyes from tearing up. Even when she was nervous, her eyes watered.

Shigure watched her over his fan. The sight unnerved Tohru. His eyes were oddly serious. Those eyes were…well…creepy. They almost reminded her of her mom's eyes when she was about to give Tohru a serious lecture. This thought just got her even more nervous.

"Tohru-kun? You're shaking." Tohru snapped out of her thoughts to see Shigure, still watching her over his fan. She looked down to see her hands, which were folded on the tabletop, were shaking. She took a gulp of air.

"Ah—it's nothing. Did you have something to say, Shigure-san?"

The fan snapped shut with a whip-like noise. The sudden movement caused Tohru to startle back a bit. Shigure then gently laid his fan on the table, resting his chin on folded hands. "Ah, yes I did! It's about this…situation with Kyo-kun."

Tohru paled. "Um…yes?" She tried not to blush, but she felt her cheeks warming up already.

"It's not good to have you two in the same house."

Tohru felt relief sweep over her. So he hadn't told Akito! A sudden burst of nervous laughter escaped through her mouth. She let out a gasp, clamping her hand to her mouth, blushing profusely. Shigure watched her curiously, head cocked.

"Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to—I just, I thought…it was something else." Tohru shook her head, as if throwing off the laughter that had taken over her.

"Hmm…well, it's just not good having two that are…what's the word, together in the same household. There could be…difficulties? It's not healthy you know." Shigure fell silent, and Tohru felt the familiar despair looming over her. "Or safe, for that matter."

Tohru watched him silently, eyes round. Sudden realization had clunked into place. "Shigure-san…are you worried about me?"

Shigure's eyes shot her a furtive look. "Me? Of course I am, Tohru-kun! You're the flower of our household!" The familiar hyper Shigure was suddenly sitting in front of her. "I wouldn't want you tainted by a male household member, you know."

Tohru giggled. Shigure fell silent, his hand stopping in mid-frantic-wave. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing! Well…it's just that, you don't need to worry! Honest!" Tohru felt a blush rising to her cheeks again, and she felt the overpowering urge to stutter. "You know, I mean, Kyo-kun and I, we're, well, you know, polite. I guess."

"Polite?"

"Yes! I mean, we'll make sure to keep our distance, and I still keep my door—and window—locked…"

"Ah. See, I wish I could trust you two, but even an old man can remember the feelings and urges of a teenager." Shigure gave a heavy, dramatic sigh, his eyes somewhere else other than their kitchen. "Sometimes promises are broken, you see."

"No!" Tohru stood up suddenly, waving a hand at him. "I would NEVER break a promise! I promised not to tell about the Zodiac curse, and I haven't! Can't you trust me with this, Shigure-san? I promise! If there're are any problems, I'll come to you right away!"

Shigure watched Tohru's frantic antics and shouts with a playful smirk on his face. Tohru noticed this soon enough, because she stopped in mid-leap that was supposed to prove how honest she was. Somehow. "What?" she asked somewhat apprehensively.

"Nothing, nothing." Shigure stood up suddenly, walking over to Tohru and setting the knife in her hand. "You just better keep that promise, is all."

Tohru grinned up at him. "I will!" She was so relieved that Kyo or herself wouldn't have to leave! It was a huge weight off of her shoulders.

Shigure was leaving the kitchen now. Tohru felt a sudden impulse take over her body. "Shigure-san! Wait!"

He turned around. "Hm?"

Tohru stopped in front of him, hands clasped before her. "Um..um…thank you for trusting me. And—and caring about me." Tohru smiled up at him. "It's very fatherly of you!"

Shigure looked shocked. Tohru was about to apologize, but he then reached out and patted her head. Tohru grinned shyly as he stepped away. Then he was gone down the hall, leaving Tohru in the kitchen.

"Oh! SUPPER! Oh no!"

Kyo walked through the back door, knowing supper had gone and past. He had purposely come home slower than usual, knowing Tohru would be in the kitchen now, washing dishes.

His theory proved correct when he snuck in quietly, seeing her in front of the sink, pink apron tied around her clothes and a cloth in one hand. She was singing quietly, turning the sink on every few minutes to rinse. He grinned, and he didn't know why. Maybe just…seeing her, and knowing that she liked him, that she cared for him, made him happier than usual.

"Hey," he said quietly from behind her. He chuckled inwardly at the huge leap she gave.

"K-Kyo-kun!" she cried, looking up at him. "You scared me!" And he supposed he had. She looked like she had just had a heart attack, leaning against the counter for support. Her hands were soapy, so he grabbed a rag.

"I'll dry."

"Oh, but you do dishes tomorrow!"

"It's all right. I'll help," he replied shortly. She gave in quietly, turning back to the sink full of water and dishes. He began to dry the already washed dishes, glad that the silence between them was comfortable rather than awkward. There had been a lot of work to get to this stage.

"Hey," he suddenly said, wondering what words he was going to say next.

"Yes?" Tohru asked, still washing dishes. Kyo dried the same cup absently, thinking of how to word his next sentence.

"When will you start calling me by my name?" Well, that was easy.

"What?" Tohru looked up at him now, smiling. "But I do call you by your name, Kyo-kun!"

He only sighed when she turned back to dishes. He forgot these things took a few tries with her.

"No, I mean without the –kun. Just…Kyo." It would make him more comfortable. Or at least, it felt like then they'd be closer. He had gotten used to the –kun on his name, but he still preferred it without.

"…Oh. Isn't that…well, it's impolite!"

He snorted. "Gee, then I'm pretty impolite, hey? I don't call you Tohru-kun or anything."

"Yes, but you hate honorifics, don't you?"

"That's not what I mean!" Kyo snapped. Then he sighed, fighting to control his frustration. "Just, since we're together, don't you think you don't have to be polite? I mean, we've known each other for a long time, and lived together for just as long! –Kun is for classmates, people you're not close with." He gave the plate he was drying a harsh wipe. "Or are we not close?"

He knew the guilt trip would work. "Oh, no, nothing like that! Kyo-kun, of course we're close! I love being with you! I do, really!"

"Then what's the problem?"

She bit her lip. He knew she was thinking, prodding her mind to try and find and argument. She probably felt more comfortable calling him Kyo-kun. Well screw that. He hated being labeled like some person in her class. He wasn't just that.

"There's no problem…Kyo."

He was startled. So startled he almost dropped the plate. "'Scuze me?" he asked hoarsely. Tohru was blushing a deep red.

"I said there's no problem."

"No, what was that last word?"

She mumbled something he couldn't hear.

"What was that?" He playfully tugged a strand of her hair. "What did you say?"

Tohru stuttered. "I-I said Kyo! Just Kyo!" She paused. "That sounds…strange. But…"

Kyo waited and got no immediate answer. "…But?"

"It also feels…better." Tohru gave him such a huge smile, he wasn't sure if it were real.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "It'll probably take getting used to, but I'll do it!" She clenched a soapy fist. "I'll call you Kyo even if it kills me!"

Kyo laughed. "I don't want you to go that far." He patted her head, turning back to drying the dishes. "Glad we got that sorted out."

"How was the dojo?" Tohru asked absently, scrubbing at a bowl. Kyo looked over at her through the corner of his, setting two cups into the cupboard above him.

"Nothing, really. Just the same as always. Why?"

"Just wondering." Tohru suddenly turned to him. "You know, I really would like to see it!"

The plea in her tone caught him off guard. "See what?"

"A fight! Between you and Shishou-san!"

Kyo was shocked. He had forgotten all about that day, when he had come to visit them the first time. "Oh, but, he's still way stronger than me."

"Then I'll watch when you think you're equal!" She smiled at him. "Will you let me someday?"

Kyo grimaced. The thought of losing so badly to his master in front of his girlfriend was an embarrassing thought. A man had his pride, you know.

"I-I guess…"

Tohru's smile was enough to make him forget any anxious doubts. "Yay!" She turned back to the dishes. "It doesn't matter when. Even if it were in a year, I'd still love to see it! Even if it's when you're an old man, and he's even older!" Tohru laughed.

Kyo made a tsking noise. "Don't you have any faith in me?"

Tohru gasped. "Oh, of course I do! I'm sorry, Kyo-k…Kyo! I didn't mean to—"

Kyo cut her off with a handful of soap bubbles thrown into her face. She fell silent immediately, and then let out a little puff of air, wiping the bubbles off of her face. Kyo laughed loudly, grinning from ear to ear. Tohru glanced at him, blushing.

"What do I have to do to show you when I'm joking?"

Tohru grabbed a handful of bubbles from the sink and threw them tentatively at Kyo. They landed on his shoulder, disappating quickly and soaking into his shirt. He looked down at it, watching the bubbles. Tohru let out a giggle.

"Oh, no you don't!" Kyo cried, grabbing a huge handful of bubbles and tossing them onto Tohru's head.

"EEE!" she shrieked, as bubbles dripped out of her hair and onto her face. "Kyo! It's going to make me sneeze!"

Kyo only laughed. "Are you even going to fight back?"

Tohru shook the bubbles out of her eyes, smiling. "We should finish the dishes…"

Kyo sighed heavily, looking at the dishes he had been drying. They were now covered in bubbles again. "Your aim is way off," he noted, realizing that most of the bubbles that had hit his shoulder had fallen onto the dishes. He straightened up, grabbing the rag and turning to Tohru. "Well, if you really want to—"

Before he could finish talking, a huge spray of soap bubbles clouded his vision. He staggered back, feeling bubbles on his face and the front of his shirt. "What the hell?" he cried, wiping at his eyes. Tohru was laughing openly. Kyo blinked open one soapy eye, feeling the stinging bubbles seep into it. He rubbed vigorously at his face with the rag. "Dammit, Tohru!"

"S-Sorry!" she cried, giggling helplessly. "You asked if I would fight back."

"I…guess I did," Kyo sighed, conceding. There was no reason to get angry anyway. He tugged at her hair again, wiping the bubbles out of his hair with the other hand. "Thanks," he told her sarcastically.

"Your welcome! Oh, Kyo, you missed a spot…" He felt the rag being wrenched from his grasp. He looked down to see Tohru standing on her tiptoes, brushing stray bubbles out of his hair with the tip of the rag.

For a reason Kyo couldn't comprehend, he smiled.

Tohru noticed and grinned herself. "What're you so happy about?" she asked.

"I just…I—I'm glad to be here with you," he said simply. Tohru's face blushed a deep crimson, and Kyo looked down at the counter nervously.

"Me too," she replied quietly, handing the rag back to him. "I'm very happy!"

Kyo grinned down at her. Even the littlest things made her happy. An uncomfortable feeling grew in his throat. He turned away.

"Well, I think the dishes are almost done…" Tohru said, draining the sink. Kyo nodded, slipping the last bowl into the cupboard. "Yea."

Just then, the back door slid open. Both Kyo and Tohru froze. They heard footsteps in the back hall.

"Who's there?" Tohru whispered anxiously. Kyo shrugged. "It could just be Shigure or Yuki coming in or something. You know how they both like to bro…oo…d…"

Kyo's face turned deathly pale. He felt something grab at his stomach and twist it into thousands of small, tight knots.

"Kyo? What's wrong?" Tohru asked. He couldn't reply. His eyes were stuck on the back hall.

"KYO-KUN! MY DEAREST!"

Tohru let out a little gasp. She didn't even have to turn around to know who had come in. She had completely forgotten. Completely.

"Um…uh…" Kyo couldn't get out a sentence. He didn't even feel the usual annoyance at her bubbling out. All he could feel was shock. How could he have forgotten? HOW?

"Kyo-kun? Something wrong?"

"No!" Kyo shouted, stepping back. "Nothing! Geez!"

The girl in the doorway came closer. "Oh, don't worry Kyo-kun! I'll make it all better!" Without any warning she leapt at him, clinging onto his front by wrapping her arms around his neck. "See? I bet you're feeling better already!"

"GET OFF! GET OFF!" Kyo pried her hands off of him.

"Oh! Um!" Tohru stepped closer to the pair of them, Kyo trying to wrestle out of her iron-like grip. "Hello, Kagura-san!"