Disclaimer: Oh how I grow tired and heartbroken of saying this...but I do not own Kyou-kun or anyone else in this story...

Well on with the story...

Chapter 2
Making Plans

"Tadaima!" I called breathlessly, opening the front door and reaching down to remove my shoes and place them in the foyer.

It only took seconds for Okaa-chan to enter the room with a beaming smile. She stooped down, helping me unzip my spring jacket after first checking to make sure my beads were in place. I couldn't help but inwardly sigh at this repetitive action. Once my jacket was off, she turned to hang it in the closet. "So sweetie, how did things go in the park today?" she asked, and then paused before adding, "Did you meet anyone there?"

I hesitated; this was the same thing she asked every time I went out. Shame would always burn inside me each time as I was forced to say " No." or worse, when I did meet someone and they shrank away like I had some contagious disease. But I didn't tell Okaa-chan about those times… Still, that was not the case today, but I had no idea what to say.

"Hai Okaa-chan, I met a girl." I finally answered reluctantly before pausing to hear her response.

Her body went rigid as she froze. "I see…this girl, what did she say to you?" she asked with worry in her voice.

I blinked; why would she be worried? "Well, she accidentally knocked down my sand castle," I choked out nervously.

Okaa-chan had long since hung my jacket, but she still stood at the closet, facing away from me. "Oh," was all she muttered.

"D-demo she was really sorry and helped me fix it! She's a Sohma too! Kagura Sohma. She's a member of the zodiac too, Okaa-san- she's the boar and she's really nice and-and …" I stammered. I knew I must have said something to make Okaa-chan sad somehow and I hate making her sad!

"She sounds like a nice girl. Does she know about you being the neko?" her voice didn't sound so sad anymore as much as hopeful?

"Hai, she knows, demo she said she doesn't care. She wants to be my friend, Okaa-chan!" I couldn't help but beam with pride as I said this. Despite who I was, despite the loathsome destiny that hung onto my heart, there was someone else who didn't care. Someone wanted to be my friend.

Okaa-chan finally faced me with tears glistening in her eyes, diminished by a wide smile. She reached down and placed a kiss on my forehead as one tear trickled down and landed on my nose. "I'm so glad to hear you've made a friend, sweetie! I told you someone else would see what I see, what a darling boy you are my son, didn't I?" she murmured, her throat choked with emotion.

"Hai, Okaa-chan, you did," I whispered, not wanting to ruin this precious moment.

She then stood up, gently ruffling my hair before remarking cheerily "I think we'd best eat before supper gets cold. We wouldn't want that now would we?"

I shook my head vehemently and she laughed, telling me to go wash up. I ran eagerly, washing my hands so quickly that a few droplets of water made their way to my pants as I rushed to sit at the table. Moments later, I was soon rewarded with a steaming plate of rice and codfish, which I immediately began wolfing down to Okaa-chan's dismay.

"Slow down, Kyou-chan, or you'll choke!" she reprimanded, but with a bemused grin.

"Iie, I won't!" I joked. I treasured these light-hearted moments together.

"Ano, Okaa-chan…" I began.

"Hai, Kyou-chan?" She nodded implying for me to continue.

"Do you think I could play with Kagura-neechan tomorrow?" I asked hopefully.

Her eyes widened slightly in surprise at my choice of suffix, but she considered the idea. " I don't know sweetie; it's supposed to be cloudy and chilly tomorrow." She sighed.

My chopsticks clattered against my plate. "Demo, I…" I trailed off in disappointment.

"Perhaps she could come here tomorrow? " She suggested, seeing my crestfallen face.

"Honto?" I perked up.

"Sure. I'd like to meet this 'Kagura-neechan' myself." She winked "I'll call her house after dinner."

"Hurray!" I cheered before picking up my chopsticks and resuming shoveling food in my mouth, only once more to be reprimanded half-heartedly.

True to her promise, Okaa-chan looked up Kagura's number in the phonebook and began dialing the phone in the hallway, right outside where I was supposed to be washing the dining room table. Stealthily, or so I thought, I crept over and placed my ear against the shoji door and listened as the phone began to ring.

"Ah, hello, this is Sohma Sakuya, is this Kagura's mother?" she asked "No, impossible! Kiri-chan? It's been a long time, like what 10 years? How are you doing?"

I blinked in surprise as I heard Okaa-chan begin chattering aimlessly. It didn't make sense. They talked about random things and I zoned out until I heard Okaa-chan say:

"Well, I was wondering if you both would like to come over tomorrow and catch up on old times and maybe some lunch. Hmmm, are you sure? I'd hate to impose anything on you. Well alright, we'll be there tomorrow at noon. All right? I'll let you go now."

Once more I felt confused. What had just happened? Then I heard Okaa-chan's footsteps heading back towards the dining room and I quickly scrambled back toward the table.

Unfortunately, she caught me before I made it 'Kyou Sohma, just what do you think you're doing, young man? You weren't eavesdropping, now were you?" she accused mirthfully.

"I –I didn't mean to- I was just…" I tried to lie, but my efforts proved futile.

"I can understand why you did it, demo Kyou-chan, it's rude to pry into things people want to keep private. I don't want my boy to grow up brash and rude, now do you?" she lectured.

"Iie, Okaa-chan, I won't do it again. Still what did she say? Why'd you call her Kiri-chan? Do you know her?" I asked her without pausing.

Okaa-chan laughed heartily before answering. "Slow down! Kiri-chan was a friend of mine during elementary school and junior high. Her family was transferred to America right before high school and we lost touch after that. She told me that after she finished high school, her family transferred back where she went to college and met Aritomo Sohma. She married him years later and they had Kagura. Heh, I guess we always did have a similar taste in boys." She grinned to my puzzlement.

"Taste in guys? Did you lick them or something? Is a girl going to try and 'taste' me too someday?" I asked innocently.

With that Okaa-chan bit her lip and her shoulders started shaking. Did I make her cry? Then why is she smiling? Confusement bubbled around me.

Moments later she stopped and ruffled my hair "Iie sweetie, it's just a saying. Girls don't really taste boys; at least not any that I know of."

"Oh, ok…" I couldn't help but feel slightly foolish "So is Kagura-neechan coming?"

"Iie, we're going to their house instead for the afternoon. Now come on, it's time to get ready for bed before-before it gets too late."

She caught herself, but I know she meant to say, "Before you father gets home." Otou-san can't stand me. He can't stand that he fathered a monster. He always works late and leaves early so he never has to look at me, but I see him sometimes. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I peep through the crack of my door and I see Otou-san and Okaa-chan talking, laughing, and cuddling. They seemed to define love, a love I wished to belong to, but was cast from. How could this man who seems so loving and warm, reject his own son, his very blood, so completely? I pondered this as Okaa-chan steered me towards the bathroom for my evening bath. I always hated it, but suddenly I wasn't in the mood to argue tonight. Okaa-chan seemed to notice, but decided not to say anything. I allowed my mind to flow as I entered the tub watching the water run from the facet.

Otou-san…he thinks I'm only a monster, not even human. I sighed remembering one night two years ago. That night I woke waking up to the sound of my parents' fighting and yelling, which was common at the time.

(Flashback)

"Sakuya, that monster is not my son! Satan himself spawned him, not me. I refuse to as much as glance at that hideous bastard!" Otou-san yelled, making me cringe under the covers.

"How dare you, Rei! How the hell do you think I feel? I carried that child in my very womb for months! I labored for hours giving birth to him, not you! Yet I cannot even embrace him! I can't even hug my own son, my only child, Rei!" Okaa-chan's voice rose to a hysterical level as she began sobbing.

"That beast is not your son, Sakuya!" Otou-san hissed.

"K-Kyou is my son and yours; I would never sleep with any other man! He's no beast; his fate is not his fault. You know that! Oh, Kami-sama, how could you put the only child you'll allow me to have through this?" she wailed.

"What do you mean, Sakuya? We can always have another, can't we?" Otou-san's voice rose.

"No, Hatori-kun said it's just not possible," she sobbed.

Otou-san began to sob too in despair. Tears streamed down my face "Gomen nasai. Gomen nasai, Okaa-chan, Otou-san. Gomen nasai! Please…Please don't cry," I whimpered, trying to rock myself to sleep…

(End Flashback)

"Kyou, time to get out now." Okaa-chan called, handing me a towel. I sighed; after that night Otou-san started avoiding me and everything seemed to be fixed…except me.

Okaa-chan led me to my room and handed me my pajamas. She usually read me a story, but there wasn't time tonight. Otou-san would be home soon.

"I love you, Kyou-chan." She kissed my forehead after tucking me in.

"I love you, too." I whispered as she closed the door.

Then I turned over on my side, facing away from the door.

'Does she really love me?' I wondered. She always says she does, she always protects me, but does she really love me? Her voice sounds so empty when she says those words to me, as if they're washed out, without meaning. Perhaps she really believes that I am a monster like everyone else thinks? I sat up and faced the mirror on my wall. I studied my face, my hands, and a scrape on my elbow. Do monsters bleed red blood, I wonder? Am I really a monster? My only responses were two ruby eyes glowing in my dark reflection.

Gosh that was dark. I wrote this right after my boyfriend and I had broken up so I wasn't too happy.

So what'd you all think? Too angsty? Not enough? Some chapters will be lighter and perhaps a little comical as young kids are. I will warn you, there will be no happy ending though... On the other hand if you all love happy endings like I do. I might write a sequel with a happy ending.

Rs- signing off.