Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket. I have a friend who has the last name of Dill… and he loves pickles. True story.

I've had a few responses say something about the manga/anime called "Kimi Wa Petto". I had honestly never heard of it or its plot until my first reviewer mentioned it. One told me in a private email that it might be coming out into English sometime soon, so if you like this story perhaps you could check that manga/anime out as well.

Thanks to all my reviewers, by the way. If not for you, this would soooo not be continued.

Songs to listen to for this chapter: Aqualung, "Left Behind"

"But who would want you? You're nothing but a beast; unnatural, like the rest."

Kyo opened his eyes, disoriented and dazed and breathing heavily. The bright sunlight shone down on his face, making his skin warm and wet with sweat. Kyo shifted until the sunlight was no longer affecting him.

He had dreamt about her. He had dreamt about the words she had last said; hearing those words over and over again like a poison being injected slowly until he finally awoke, numb. If only he could have remained numb to her all together…

A stabbing pain in his groin reminded him that he was no longer numb to the world, and in an act of desperation Kyo shimmied out of the tiny shorts under the covers. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the throbbing went away, but his stomach was beginning to feel a little nauseous from the sudden pinch attack.

Kyo grimaced in pain and aggravation.

Damned tiny shorts!

Kyo, in an act of anger, balled the intensely short shorts in his hand and threw them across the room. They fell in a muffled thud next to the front door.

Lying half-naked in a bed made by a girl he didn't even know made Kyo feel…

What…can I feel?

He chanced a small look over at his sleeping companion.

Kyo closed his eyes.

I have no right to this.

A pressure in his abdomen reminded him of his natural duties. Kyo was all too happy to get out of the intense morning sunlight shining partially onto his bed and into the cool darkness of the bathroom.

Glancing over at the girl sleeping less than four feet away from him, Kyo bundled the covers around his midsection and got up to go to the bathroom.

As he stood up and started to slowly creep across the room, Kyo took one more glance back to make sure she wasn't awake and watching, when the girl started to move. Kyo stopped like a deer caught in headlights; his ears shot straight up and then back, plastering themselves to his head in an unconscious attempt to make him invisible.

He watched as the girl stretched slightly and then snuggled deeper into her covers, muttering something under her breath that not even his cat ears could pick up. When she stilled herself and didn't move an inch more, Kyo relaxed his stance.

Watching her, Kyo felt his eyes take in her essence: her long brown hair, her black eyelashes splayed against her skin, the slight pink to her cheeks from being too warm, her lips that were partly open….

So…

Kyo caught himself before he could stare any further. With sorrowful eyes, he took one last glance at the girl who had freed him, and turned to walk into the bathroom.

Kyo stepped out of the bathroom, his clothes from the night before now draped comfortably on his body. He balled up the blanket he had used to hide his naked parts and held it with one arm to his side.

The room was infinitely brighter than it had been when he had stepped into the bathroom, and a slight breeze was pushing stray strands of hair into his eyes. After he pushed the hairs aside, his eyes were accosted with the most indescribable moment he had ever seen.

The girl had her arms crossed in front of her on the window pane, half of her body hanging out of the window, her stomach on the bottom of the window pane. The sun was shining so brightly onto the girl that he had to squint to see her, and what he did see took all coherent thoughts straight out of his mind.

Her white shirt and light brown hair billowed lightly in the wind. The contented look on her face seemed to shine brighter than the sun that was caressing her skin.

So…

The girl turned around, surprise echoing off of her in waves.

A huge smile lit up her face, her eyes widening as she stared at him, and Kyo couldn't help the widening of his own eyes at such a beautiful display.

Exquisite…

Kyo turned his face away.

I have no right.

The next thing he knew the girl was standing in front of him, her brown eyes peering up at him shyly, hands clasped behind her back.

"Good morning Kyo-kun! I hope that you slept well?"

Kyo frowned slightly. Kyo…kun? She didn't say that last night.

The girl seemed to take his silence as a yes, took the blanket out his hands and turned to start folding up the beds; they took up too much room in the small apartment otherwise. As she did so, Kyo stood there dumbly, not knowing what to do.

The girl didn't seem to mind, however. She chattered incessantly the whole time.

"I don't have a lot of money, so I might have to work extra so that we can get you some new clothes. I might have to get some more food too. You can have whatever there is to eat here!"

She folded up the blankets impeccably. The bedding was no exception.

"I go to school most of the day; I don't know if you do, but I promised someone I'd finish school, so here I am!"

There was a cabinet by the bathroom that she opened and gently placed the blankets and folded bedding.

As she closed the door to the closet, all movements stopped.

The girl turned and put her hands to her face, horror emanating from her facial expressions.

Kyo's ears shot up in alarm. He moved away slightly; self-preservation was a hard instinct to fight.

The girl held onto the wall to support her slight frame, her face still being held with one hand.

Kyo moved toward her, his hand outstretched…

"I… I can't believe… I… forgot to do my homework"

Kyo stopped.

You… have got to be kidding me…

He hung his head, his ears drooping forward as he sagged slightly. Putting a hand to his face, Kyo tried to suppress his annoyance.

She's freaking out... about homework?

Straightening his sagging shoulders, Kyo turned to comfort the strange girl when he felt a burst of wind blow past him. Opening his eyes, he found that the girl was no longer desolate against the wall. Turning around, he found that she had zipped into school clothes, seemingly magically, and was now grabbing a small portfolio that seemed to hold her homework.

Kyo blushed crimson at the mere thought of her getting undressed with him in the room.

It was then that he realized that the girl had been ranting on about something the whole time, and he caught the tail-end of: "…she's going to be so upset with me if I get bad marks!"

Kyo frowned again. Who is "she"?

The girl whizzed past him, flung open the door, and was about to throw herself out the door when she paused.

The girl… turned to the side and picked up the shorts that he had thrown earlier that morning.

The girl blushed.

Kyo shot forward and grabbed the shorts from her hand.

The girl turned slowly and smiled at Kyo.

Kyo made an impassive face back at her.

"I hope you have a safe day. I'll be home as soon as possible."

Kyo stood without saying anything in reply. He was still embarrassed about her finding the shorts.

The girl smiled brightly at him. A surprised look suddenly flew across her features, and the girl stepped toward him unexpectedly.

Kyo's body reflexively leaned back when she leaned forward, her face not too far from his.

The smile seemed much…

Prettier…

The girl bonked herself on her forehead softly, giggling a little.

"I forgot to tell you my name this whole time! I'm Tohru Honda. I am very pleased to meet your acquaintance, Kyo-kun."

It seemed like in a flash, she had turned and walked toward the door again, leaving behind a very stunned and shell-shocked Kyo.

As her waving hand disappeared behind the closed door, Kyo couldn't help but think about of what she had just informed him.

Tohru…

Posted November 6, 2005.

Bugs worked out November 7, 2005.