A/N: Ohmygoodness. The temptation to look at that site Audley posted was great, but I resisted. It's an AWESOME offer of you, m'dear, but I'm an old fashioned type who likes the angsty waiting and then getting the books and cherishing them for life. Haha, you know I'm cool. And yea, I DID say Kagura's story was probably going to be so opposite you'd die laughing at me. Okay, not the laughing bit, but you get it.

Oh, and the next chapter will be a kind of continuation from the end of this one. So yea, just to let you know in advance, it doesn't end there. Nu-uh. We can't let Kyo's angsting go unanswered! And yea, I call Uo and Hana by their first names in this chapter. I felt like it. Heh.

Diclaimer: I don't own Furuba, but I ownz j00.

MY REVIEWERS. WHAT CAN I SAY. I LOVE YOU ALL TO BITS. I could kiss you all right now, if it weren't disgusting and/or impossible. Yea, that's right. My reviews are now at the BIG 111! Yea, you know it's a magical number. At only nine chapters! This is definitely my biggest success EVER. I'd love to make it like 20 chapters and get 400 reviews, but that's pushing it, no? I don't think my plottage would even go that far. BUT ANYWAY. I LOVE YOU ALL.

What Can Come of Cooking

Tohru walked down the empty halls of the school. It was still early, but she had come in to bring in a project. She had also been hoping to tell Arisa and Saki about Kyo and herself.

But of course, she had forgotten Arisa liked to sleep in until the last possible moment, and Saki was off walking Megumi to his school. Tohru sighed and leaned against the wall, wondering what to do. A few students drifted aimlessly through the halls, but it was still too early for the usual bustling crowd.

Just then, she spotted an orange mop of hair vanish behind a corner. She paused, suddenly erect and alert. Had he seen her? Well, he had to, she was nearly the only one in the hallway. But…why was he avoiding her?

Tohru stepped lightly down the hall, gripping her bag tightly to keep her trembling fingers steady. She passed at the corner and peeked around it. She saw Kyo fiddling with a locker absent-mindedly. A scowl creased his face, and she knew he was thinking about something other than his locker combination.

She continued her soundless walking until she was right behind him. "Surprise!" she cried, smiling widely. Kyo jumped, but she couldn't see the expression on his face. He didn't turn around either.

"Kyo?" she asked, walking up so she was leaning against the wall of lockers beside him. She looked over to see his hand on the lock, but he wasn't moving it around to any numbers. He was looking at the lockers in front of him, his eyes glazes.

"Um…hello?" Tohru poked his arm. He jumped again, looking over at her. He blinked a number of times.

"Oh. Hey."

"Didn't you know it was me when I yelled surprise?" Tohru cocked her head curiously. Kyo averted his eyes back to his lock. Tohru felt something like hurt stab at her chest.

"Yea. Sure, I did. Why?"

"No reason, I guess," Tohru informed him hurriedly, tugging on a strand of brown hair thoughtfully. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Kyo said quickly. Tohru's shoulders slumped. She was a very empathetic person. She knew he was sad. She could feel it.

"I know something's wrong," she voiced. "Why can't you tell me?"

Kyo paused, and then shrugged. "Nothing's wrong. Okay?" He opened his locker door, but it opened on the other side. It did nothing to hide Kyo's face from Tohru's. He hurriedly grabbed his books.

"Okay," Tohru replied quietly, knowing it would be useless to continue to prod him. Before she could stop herself though, she blurted, "I'm sorry if it has anything to do with me!"
Kyo slammed the locker door more ferociously then he needed to. Tohru saw his brow was furrowed, and she knew she had said the wrong thing. She tried to hopelessly recover. "Um—um—I mean, that is…"

"Don't you have a class to go to?" Kyo snapped waspishly. Tohru felt something like a rock knock all of the air out of her. She thought he'd be a little nicer now, since they were together…

"I guess," she said hesitantly. Kyo didn't reply. Instead, he just turned around and marched down the hall. Tohru watched him leave, utterly perplexed.

As Kyo turned the corner, he paused, letting out a deep breath. He hadn't realized he had been holding it all the way down the hall. His shoulders sagged, his head falling limp. Why was he being such a jerk to her? She didn't even do anything…

Kyo's hand trembled with anger. What he felt didn't even make sense. Letting out a strangled noise of anguish, he slammed a balled up fist into the lockers beside him. It almost dented the tough metal. Kyo was breathing heavily, feeling something writhe within him. Tohru didn't deserve to be yelled at. She hadn't been anything but cheerful and nice and—and wonderful. And here he was, being a total jerk when she was asking questions she the right to ask.

"But why…" his voice paused and then drifted off into nothing. His thoughts finished the question for him. But why was he starting to feel something like…regret?

Tohru stood by those lockers for the rest of the morning. When Arisa and Saki came to talk to her, she still didn't move. She vaguely remembered the excitement she had felt that morning at telling her two best friends about Kyo and herself. But now…was she going to? He had seemed so distant and so angry…

Only the ringing of the bell snapped Tohru out of her trance. Grabbing her bag from the ground beside her, Tohru realized her legs were unsteady. She stood, shaking, until she fell to the ground. Something stopped her from slamming head face into the floor, though. Looking up, she saw Momiji's hands clasped onto her arm. "Tohru?" he asked worriedly. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Tohru let out a nervous laugh, standing up again. She stamped her feet a little to get the feeling back into them. "I guess I had been standing for so long, they kind of fell asleep…"

Momiji's expression turned questioning. "Why were you standing there, anyway?"
Tohru bit her lip. "Um…because there was nothing else to do?"

Momiji watched her with the suspicion of a child who thought she had taken his favourite toy. "Something's wrong with you, Tohru. You're…sad."

Tohru felt her eyes starting to brim with tears. Shaking her head viciously, she quickly dabbed at her eyes with a sleeve. "Nothing's wrong Momiji, don't worry."

He continued to watch her, and Tohru knew he was concerned. But he shouldn't be! "Nothing's wrong, Momiji-kun. I just got into a little argument with…someone."
Momiji leaned closer so he could whisper. "Did you fight with Kyo?"

Tohru turned pale. "Wha? N-N-No! What gave you t-that idea?" she asked, her voice shrill. She laughed nervously, and knew her behaviour was giving the truth away. Momiji only shook his head slowly.

"Don't worry about getting into a fight with Kyo. He's probably just sleepy or something. He'll come back to his senses!" Momiji gave Tohru his usual grin, which sent her into smiling timidly.

"I hope so."

Momiji winked at her. "It's probably just a lot for him to deal with. You know how Kyo was never a people person, right?"

Tohru felt something like hope rise in her chest. "Yea, you're right, Momiji-kun!"

Momiji only smiled once more, and then turned and bound off to class. Tohru smiled again. Momiji seemed to know a lot more than he let on.

Later that day, Tohru walked to homeroom feeling considerably more hopeful. Maybe it had just been a bad morning for Kyo or something. She hoped now he'd be in a better mood.

To her dismay though, Kyo was off in the corner of the room, looking angrier than usual. Arisa and Saki sat up near the front, talking to each other. Tohru tried to decide who she should talk to, and realized it was safer to go see her two friends at the moment.

The minute she was within talking distance, Arisa spoke. "Tohru, what did you do to Orangey over there? He's been in a bad mood all day. You should have seen him in Biology. Nearly ripped the classroom apart."

"I heard he was just very angry," Saki interrupted, sneaking a small tidbit of some kind of mystery food into her mouth. Arisa frowned.

"Yea, well, it was pretty crazy anyway." Arisa and Saki began to bicker about the difference between ripping a classroom apart and just being angry. Tohru tuned them out though, and instead turned hesitantly to look at Kyo. She blushed when she realized he had been looking at her, frowning. But the minute she turned his way, his head turned to look out the window. She knew he hadn't been watching her admiringly or anything. The expression on his face was angry enough to scare a small child into hysterics.

"Tohru? Tohrruuu?" Tohru's head turned back to Arisa and Saki, who were both smirking in that I-know-more-than-you-think way.

"What?" she asked stupidly. Arisa jerked her head in Kyo's direction.

"Something going on with you two?" she asked pleasantly. Tohru paused.

"We just—got in an argument this morning."

"A lover's quarrel, perhaps?" Saki suggested nonchalantly. Tohru blanched.

"W-What? N-No! No! That's not—we just—it's…complicated?" Tohru hung her head in shame. Arisa and Saki exchanged looks. Tohru realized her hands were beginning to tremble again. She curled them into fists to steady them. "I was going to tell you guys," she said in a quiet whisper. Arisa only flapped a hand at her.

"That's not what I'm worried about." She glanced over at Saki. "Are you?"

The serious girl shook her head slowly. "No, it's the other thing."

Tohru looked up. "Other…thing?"

Arisa and Saki simultaneously looked in Kyo's direction. Tohru sighed heavily.

"He just…was really distant this morning. He was pretty angry. I'm a bit worried." She heard her voice quavering, and took a deep breath.

"Oh, that's it?" Arisa's casual tone sent Tohru sitting straighter.

"That's it?" she repeated bleakly.

"Well, I mean, he's probably just worried. This is probably all an overload to his mind. He just needs some time."

Tohru rarely heard such advice coming from Arisa's mouth. "Uo-chan, are you okay?" Her friend nodded.

"Just go do something about it! Seeing you two like this could drive anyone up the wall!" Arisa gave Tohru a little shove out of her chair, and in less than five seconds Tohru found herself standing in front of Kyo's desk.

He ignored her. He knew she was there though, it was obvious by the way his eyes flicked in her direction, but then back out to the window. She took a deep breath, steadying herself for the conversation they were about to have.

"What?" he asked snappishly, causing Tohru to take a wounded step back.

"Um…hi?"

"Hi." His answer was sharp and short. Tohru steadied herself and tried again.

"So…how are you?"

"Not good."

"…Oh." She paused, and then kneeled down beside the desk so she was level with the desktop. "Is there something I can do to help?" she asked sincerely, noticing that Kyo was flexing his curled fists on the desktop. She waited anxiously for a reply.

"No. There's not."

Tohru sighed. "Oh. I just—well…does it have to do with Kagura?"

A frost silence ensued her words. She rushed to save it.

"I—I mean, if you really love her, I'm not going to stand in your way. If you want to be with her again, then—"
"Tohru. I was never with her."

Pause.

"All right."

Another pause. This one was longer. More frigid. Tohru realized she should have worn a scarf or a sweater or something. "Well, I'll just…go then." She stood up abruptly, feeling tears prick at her eyes. Then she heard words tumbling from her mouth before she could stop them. "I just thought that we were…right enough to talk about stuff like this." She took a deep, steadying breath. "I hope I'm not wrong." Then she turned on her heel and walked back to the front of the class, where she sat beside Arisa and Saki. And then, without warning, she let her head fall onto Saki's shoulder and she began to silently cry.

It was the end of the day. Kyo felt hollow inside as he tromped down the hall towards the doors. He couldn't go home. He just couldn't. Seeing Tohru there would make things even worse.

But…why? What had suddenly come over him that made him into some kind of monster? Why was he suddenly having second thoughts about their relationship?

As he walked out into the brilliant sunlight, he decided to go walking in the park. He needed to think. He hated how he had acted that morning, but…well, that's what happened, and Tohru was just going to have to accept his behaviour.

But when he saw her crying in homeroom…

Brushing that thought away, Kyo strode across the road, his grip tight on one of his backpack straps. Now, he needed to sort out his thoughts.

It was all becoming too…heavy for him. He didn't know that the relationship between Tohru and himself would have such an impact on some people. Yuki's reaction was only a bit worrisome. But Kagura, whom he had expected (and much rather preferred) to burst into some kind of fighting machine, had cried instead. Now, he hated making girls cry. Especially when he didn't mean to, and when he didn't want them to. But now…

Well, was he even ready for this? He was still in high school, cursed by the Zodiac, and very incompetent. He could be vulgar, rude, and already knew from today that he could make those he cared most for burst into tears. It wasn't a comforting thought, knowing that.

He stopped on the sidewalk to stare at the flowers on the side. He had picked that bouquet for Tohru here…Augh! Why was this happening? One second he was against them being together and wanted to break up, and the next thing you know, he was reminiscing about all the good times! He was as indecisive as ever.

Why were all these thoughts coming now, anyway? It didn't make any sense. Being with Tohru made him happy. Seeing her cry made him hurt. Wasn't that enough? Wasn't he happy?

"I'm just not used to it," he muttered, trying to console himself or find excuses for the tense feelings he was having. "I'll accustom to it. It's just…" he let his mutterings fade into the air. It's just that he wasn't used to people noticing him, people paying attention to him. He felt a little…anxious, being with Tohru. How should he act? What should he do? Could he never be grouchy anymore?

Kicking a foot against the metal pole of a nearby streetlight, Kyo sighed heavily. He knew what he had to do, and he didn't look forward to it.

Tohru waited anxiously at home, wringing the hem of her skirt over and over again. She still hadn't changed out of her school uniform, which was definitely a first. Yuki was at a student council meeting, and Shigure was in his office. Tohru knew that Kyo was coming home purposely slow. But she wouldn't let him get away that easily.

She had a plan. She hated making plans, and she hated being sneaky, but she needed Kyo to realize something.

Just then, the door creaked open. She gave a little squeak and hid behind the corner of the foyer. She heard the sound of footsteps, then the door closing. Then rustling as he took off his shoes. And just when he walked up, he looked at Tohru, not in the least surprised.

"Hi!" she cried, trying to be cheerful. Inside, her stomach was jelly. Kyo looked down at her coolly.

"Hey."

Silence. Tohru fidgeted. Then, they both burst into words at the same time.

"Kyo, I want you to know—"

"Tohru, we need to talk—"

They both paused. Tohru stopped, blushing profusely. Why did she suddenly feel like a little schoolgirl around him? "Oh, well, um…" She knew talking was never good. It led to excuses and then break ups. She couldn't handle that. Not when she had come to realize how much she cared for Kyo. "You see, I'd let you go first, but…" She fiddled with her fingers. Kyo's eyebrows rose in surprise at her words. "But I…I need to show you something."

One of Kyo's hands was still clutching onto the one backpack strap that was slung over his shoulder. She saw him shift uneasily. "All right. What do you need to show me?"

In the time limit of two seconds, Tohru took in everything about Kyo. His orange hair that was wonderfully individual and hanging in front of his eyes expertly, the burgundy orbs that looked down at her warily. She noticed his height, and the casual way he stood. And yet, the way his hair and his body were positioned, he looked incredibly handsome. How could she have not noticed this before…before they got together?

And then it came back to her in a blinding flash. That night in the kitchen, when she had been cooking supper. The conviction in Kyo's words echoed in her mind, the way he watched her and made sure she listened. The expression on his face, his overall shyness…and the kiss. Oh, how had she forgotten that? It had been perfect. Were they avoiding everything since, just because it was awkward, or strange? Well, she didn't care. She wanted to bring back what both of them had felt at that moment.

Coming back to Earth, she looked up at Kyo. He continued to watch her, silent. She could see he was tense though. It was obvious. Sending a quick prayer of hope, she took a step closer to Kyo. His back stiffened. She grabbed his arm quickly, letting her hand drift down to his until she clasped it tightly. He looked down, then up at her, confused. She looked at him, eyes starting to brim with tears. "I want what we had again," she whispered. He looked at her closely, and she knew he was trying to think of an answer. "You don't have to say anything right now," she insisted hurriedly, hearing her voice come out shakier than she would have liked. "I just don't like getting into fights with people I care about." She paused, and then continued. "With people I love."

Kyo's eyes widened at an alarming speed. Tohru felt his hand grip hers tighter, just out of shock at her words. Immediately she felt uncomfortable at what she had said, and knew Kyo felt that way too. But there was no way to erase her words. Then, without thinking three times (she had already thought twice about it), Tohru stood up on the balls of her feet and kissed Kyo soundly on the lips. He didn't respond at first, but the kiss deepened unexpectedly, with Tohru moving her hands from his to his hair, just like that day in the kitchen. As she felt his hands wrap around her hips, she almost grinned. She felt strangely free with her actions.

She didn't care what Kyo had wanted to talk about. That could come later, if need be. Right now, all she needed was to know Kyo was there to keep her safe, to keep her company…to love her. She knew that word was alarming in itself, but she was proud. She had told Kyo what she truly felt.

And now, hopefully, he was showing what he truly felt.