Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

And so, another chapter is born! I'm going to bump the rating up to M for language and PERHAPS sexual content, but I'm not counting on it, so you all know. There's a lot of Kyo/OC in this chapter - I kinda like the two of them together! SasukeBlade wants Haru/OC, but no one else told me their definite opinion! Come on, people! And it's so weird writing two Furuba fics at once like this - I keep calling Chloe "Keito," my character in "In A Dog's Age"!

Oh, later in this chapter, when Chloe asks Kyo if he's dating Tohru - it's not because she's interested in him like that (yet) but because she's noticed his attitude toward Tohru and Yuki.

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism is welcome.

"Where're you going?" Kyo asked suddenly, and Chloe jumped in surprise. Whirling around, she sighed in relief.

"I thought you were Haru."

"Nah. That dumb Ox left a while ago," the Cat said, and peered at her. "What're you still doing here so late after school? You're not on the council, are you?"

"No," she shook her head. "I have tutoring afterwards with sensei, that's all. It took longer than expected today. Wait – what are you still handing around for? I thought Tohru had work today."

"Yeah," he muttered, and turned slightly red under his tan. "But it's getting dark, and I didn't think you were dumb enough to walk home alone. But it doesn't look like anyone's picking you up, are they?"

"Huh?" Chloe blinked, and then shrugged. "Nope. But I don't mind – I have to go, though, or else I won't be able to manage to eat dinner while it's hot!"

"Hang on!" Kyo sputtered, and she skidded to a stop.

"What?"

"I'll…I'll walk you home, I guess," he managed to say, glaring at the floor. "You're Tohru's friend, after all."

"Thanks, Kyo," Chloe grinned at him, and waited for the Cat to catch up before she started walking again.

"You live here?" Kyo asked, as they paused in front of a house.

"Yep," she nodded, and then glanced around. "It's not that late – do you want to stay for dinner, since Tohru's working anyway? You won't miss out on her cooking this way, either."

"Well…I guess," he nodded, and followed her into the house. "You live alone?"

"Of course not!" she laughed, tossing her bag onto the floor. "You can put your stuff there, Kyo. I live with my aunt, but she works nights during the week."

"Oh."

"So, what d'ya want?" she asked, walking into the kitchen. As she rambled off what she had, Kyo looked around the surroundings, feeling odd that he didn't have to take his shoes off to walk on the wood floors.

Although there were traces of the Japanese culture around, pictures of Chloe's family and American things filled the rooms. He noticed that there weren't that many recent pictures of her with her parents, and wondered a little about it until she popped in front of him.

"Kyo?"

"Waah!" he yelled, jumping back. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry," she said, but her face couldn't remain solemn. "Anyway, what do you want to eat?"

"What were you gonna eat?" he asked, and she blinked in thought.

"Uh…I was just going to make some tuna sandwiches, that's all," she told him. At the mention of fish, she saw his eyes glimmer. "You like fish?"

"Yeah, kinda," he said nonchalantly, but looked around eagerly. "Tuna sounds good to me. D'ya have white bread?"

"I think so," Chloe nodded, and he followed as she rushed into the kitchen again. After a moment's search, she held the loaf up triumphantly. "We do! Do you want it toasted?"

"I've never had it like that," he told her, and she paused.

"I didn't mean the tuna, though – just the bread. Do you want to try it with the bread toasted?" she asked, popping her own slices into the toaster. Kyo shrugged, and nodded.

"Why not?" he agreed, and she put slices for his own sandwich into the toaster as well.

"Um, I hope this isn't rude of me, but…"

"Spit it out," he ordered, as she turned pink.

"Well…I thought you and Tohru were dating," she managed, and then glanced up at him. "I mean, I was just wondering. Because…just wondering."

"No – she's dating that damn Yuki," Kyo said bluntly, frowning a little. He had realized that his feelings for Tohru weren't reciprocated, and he had reluctantly allowed the Rat to move in.

"Oh, sorry," Chloe blinked, and he looked down at her in surprise.

"It's not your fault," he told her calmly. "Besides, it's not a big deal."

"Okay," she smiled up at him, and he felt a strange twisting in his stomach as she turned away to save the bread from being burnt.

"Thanks for coming over, Kyo!" Chloe called, as he grabbed his bag.

"No problem. Are you gonna be okay?" he asked, and she nodded cheerfully.

"Sure," she assured him. "It's getting late – you better get home, or Shigure'll be worried."

"I doubt it," he snorted, but began to leave just the same. "I'll see you tomorrow, I guess."

"Bye!" she waved, and closed the door. As she began to start her homework, several thoughts crossed her mind – one of which was why Kyo had decided to hang out with her suddenly. Not that he had been ignoring her, but this was the first time he talked to her alone.

"I wonder if he was waiting for me?" she realized, and then smiled down at her work.

"Home so late, Kyo?" Shigure peered at the Cat as he strode into the house. "And what took you so long, hmm?"

"Shut up," Kyo ordered, but Shigure followed him into the room.

"Nuh-uh, Kyo! As your guardian, I have a right to know where you were at," he began, and Kyo spun around angrily.

"I was at Chloe's for dinner, all right! So shut up already!"

"Ohh…" Shigure grinned at Kyo, who flushed.

"It wasn't like that, damn Dog," he muttered, turning away from the adult.

"Why the sudden interest in the fair Chloe, hmm?" Shigure persisted, and Kyo gritted his teeth, trying to ignore him. "Could it be because of what Haru said, perhaps?"

"Keep your damn mouth shut," Kyo said, and Shigure knew he had hit a nerve.

"Well, she certainly is pretty," the Dog continued. "But don't you think you're overreacting? Hatsuharu may not like her, but I doubt he'll actually try to do anything to her. Besides, I don't think you're interested in her just because of that Ox, Kyo. I'm not an idiot."

"Could've fooled me," Kyo muttered, and Shigure gasped melodramatically.

"You wound me, Kyo!" he cried, and the Cat merely rolled his eyes in annoyance. "But seriously, Kyo," Shigure said, suddenly serious, "If you're going to get involved with Chloe, then I suggest you be discreet. We don't need a repeat of what happened with Akito, do we?"

"Haru, you weren't serious when you said you were gonna hug Chloe, were you?" Momiji asked worriedly, as they walked to school the next morning. The Ox looked slightly confused, and remained silent for a few moments.

"I don't think so…" he said finally, and Momiji sighed in frustration.

"You said when you were Black that you were going to hug her and get her memory wiped!" the Rabbit continued, and Haru appeared surprised.

"I did?"

"Just don't go near her, and you won't go Black," Momiji cautioned, and Haru muttered something after he snorted. "Haru…"

"Fine, whatever. Just keep that girl away from me."

"Good morning, Chloe!" Tohru waved, and Chloe turned around at hearing her friend from down the hall.

"Oh, hi, Tohru!" she called, striding toward them. "Hey, Yuki – Kyo."

"Good morning, Miss Dylan," Yuki greeted her calmly.

"Yo," Kyo muttered, glancing around every few minutes, as if looking for someone. "Where're the Ox and Rabbit?"

"Haru and Momiji," Yuki told a confused Chloe smoothly, as Tohru thought.

"They were walking, so…"

"Tohru!" Momiji cried, rushing up. Kyo grabbed him to keep him from hugging either girl, and Tohru giggled.

"Hello, Momiji. Where's Hatsuharu?"

"Oh, he…uh, I think he got lost again in the hall," Momiji said finally, and Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'm sure a teacher will find him, though."

"Dumb Ox," Kyo muttered. Yuki shot the Cat a glance, but decided that he hadn't heard the note of jealousy in his voice.

"You believe that Kyo is having feelings for Chloe?" Hatori asked in disbelief, and Shigure nodded in satisfaction. "I believe you need another shot."

"Hey, wait!" Shigure protested, backing away from the doctor. "I'm serious! He followed her around yesterday at school, and then walked her home for no apparent reason."

"It could be because Haru went Black yesterday at the dojo," Hatori said calmly. "He threatened to hug Chloe."

"Oh," Shigure paused for a moment, but remained undaunted. "But it's rather sudden, isn't it? Why would Kyo decide to watch Chloe, instead of Hatsuharu? I still think there's something going on inside that Cat's mind."

"You'd do best to keep your mouth shut around here," the Dragon reminded him. "Besides, even if there is – you think Chloe will be attracted to him? And that his feelings for Tohru have dissipated so quickly?"

Shigure remained silent for a moment, and then shrugged calmly.

"Christmas is only a month away," Chloe thought to herself, walking home from school one afternoon. Tugging her jacket closer as the wind whipped around her, she sighed when she saw an all-too familiar white-and-black head in front of her, stalking along. Luckily, it was accompanied by Momiji, as usual.

"Chloe!" Momiji cried, catching a glimpse of her. Haru groaned, but stopped when Momiji tugged him to a stop. "Come walk with us!" he invited her, as she caught up to them.

"Um…I was going home…" she began, casting a glance at Hatsuharu, who promptly ignored her. Sure, she was grateful that he had helped her out that night, but he didn't have to keep acting like such an asshole all the time.

"Oh, that's no problem," Momiji told her, "We can take you – right, Haru?"

"I'm busy," he grunted, but didn't leave them when the Rabbit began to drag Chloe along by the wrist.

"Haru can't leave, or he'll get lost again," Momiji told her, noticing her look. "Yesterday he tried again, and we didn't find him until early morning."

"Shut it, you damn Rabbit!" Haru growled suddenly, and Momiji blinked.

"Uh-oh, he's Black again," he murmured, and moved in-between Chloe and the Ox immediately. "Calm down, Haru. If you want to go get lost again, go ahead."

"I'll show you lost!" he retorted, and stalked away. Chloe watched after him with a blank face, and Momiji sighed in both relief and exasperation.

"Last time he walked alone while he was Black, he didn't show up until almost a week later," Momiji informed her, jogging ahead. "I better go follow him. Sorry!"

"No problem," she waved, secretly relieved that she didn't have to deal with the obnoxious Sohma boy.

"Aren't you going to visit Chloe again tonight?" Shigure asked in an innocent tone over dinner, and Kyo glared at him. Mumbling something, he caused Yuki to sigh in annoyance.

"Can't you at least swallow before you chew?" he demanded quietly, and Kyo shot a dirty look toward the Rat.

"You got a problem with the way I eat?" he shouted, and Tohru shook her head. The two Sohmas fought more as a force of habit than like they used to, especially once she had chosen between them.

"Now, now, Kyo, calm down," Shigure said, waving his finger around. "It was merely a question. Don't get so touchy about it."

"Damn Dog…" Kyo muttered, trying to regain control of his temper. Sitting up abruptly, he whirled toward the door. "I'm going for a walk," he announced, and stalked out of the room. Tohru looked blank, and Yuki calmly resumed eating.

"Aren't you going to take a walk tonight, Chloe?" Tomiko asked, and Chloe groaned in annoyance as she bent over the table and her schoolbooks.

"I'm trying work," she said testily, and Tomiko nodded.

"Which is why you should take a walk," she told her niece. "A walk will stimulate your mind, and you need the fresh air after cooping yourself up all the time working. It's not healthy."

"All right, I get it," Chloe snapped, cutting off her aunt's lecture. "I'll go, all right? I'll be back in a while."

"Have a nice time!" Tomiko waved cheerfully as her niece slammed the door shut, and sighed. "Honestly, that girl…"

"Damn it…I'm lost again!" Chloe grumbled, pausing in her walking. "I got so pissed off I lost track of where I was going. I'm gonna have to stop and ask for directions, I guess."

She sighed, and resumed her striding. Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her, and froze.

"Uh-oh…who would be out this late at night?" she thought, her mind racing. Stiffening as whoever it was grew closer, she spun around when she felt a hand on her shoulder. The figure grasped her fist easily, and held her at arm's length.

"K-Kyo?" she stammered, meeting his eyes in amazement.

"Do you usually go trying to punch people out, or what?" he demanded, letting her go and causing her to stagger back. "Geez, what the hell are you doing out here by yourself anyway? I've told Tohru a hundred times – it's not safe for a girl to walk by herself around here."

"I went for a walk, and I…um…I got lost," she admitted, and he rolled his eyes.

"You're as bad as Haru," he muttered, and she glared at him.

"Don't you compare me with that idiot!"

"Fine, fine, chill already," he said, and turned around. "Come on. I may as well take you home, since I'm out here. Let's go."

Chloe blinked in surprise after him. After a moment, she jogged after him, and kept glancing curiously at him as they continued to walk.

"Thanks, Kyo," she said gratefully, once he had brought her to her house.

"No problem," he shrugged, glad that the darkness covered his blush. "Just cut that out, all right?"

"I owe you one," she agreed, and paused before entering her house. "You're gonna get back home okay, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, of course!" he grumbled, "What do you take me for – Hatsuharu? See you tomorrow, Chloe."

"Bye, Kyo!" she called, as he strode off down the street. She couldn't hear his grumbling, but guessed he was muttering something, and grinned as she turned into her house.

"Who was that, Chloe?" Tomiko asked curiously, as her niece walked to her room. Chloe looked up, and grinned nervously.

"Just a friend from school, Aunt Tomiko – Kyo Sohma," she said, before disappearing into her room.

"Shut up, you damn Cat!" Haru shouted, flinging a chair at Kyo, who ducked it easily.

"Get a hold of yourself, stupid Ox!" he yelled back, "Are you trying to get expelled? Yo, Rat-Boy, a little help here!"

"Haru, what set you off this time?" Yuki asked calmly, and the Ox spun around to face him.

"Don't patronize me," he threatened, and lunged toward the Rat. Yuki backed off, and Haru skidded to a stop. Momiji appeared in the door, a worried look on his face.

"Rin got herself a new boyfriend," he told them quietly, causing Haru to go even more beserk.

"Who gives a fuck?" he demanded, punching a hole through several tables. "She can go screw who she wants to! I don't give a crap!"

"Hatsuharu!" Yuki interrupted him. "Watch your mouth, Haru!"

"Shut it, Rat!" Haru retorted, and Momiji disappeared back into the hallway.

"What's going on in there?" Chloe asked curiously, shoving her way through the crowd to find Momiji. He looked at her, and then pulled her away from the classroom.

"Can't let Haru see her – he'll really go crazy!" he thought, and stopped once they were down the hall.

"Well?"

"Haru went Black again – pretty bad this time," Momiji told her, and then winced as a crash reached their ears. "Yuki and Kyo are trying to subdue him – whoops."

Chloe spun around as shrieks echoed down the hallway, and her eyes widened as a furious Hatsuharu came flying down the hall. Momiji pulled her out of the way, and narrowly avoided hugging her as she fell backward on the floor.

Catching a glance of the girl who so infuriated him, Haru smirked as he jumped out of a window, a plan going through his mind even as he raced away from the school.

"Whew," Kyo wiped his forehead with the back of his hand as he and Yuki staggered out of the room, looking a little worse for wear. "That damn Ox is going to get us all in a shit load of trouble if he keeps this up…"

"Are you guys okay?" Tohru asked worriedly, arriving with Momiji and a hesitant-looking Chloe. Kyo's gaze met hers briefly, and he looked away quickly, several of the worse things Haru had insinuated going through his head at that moment.

"We're fine, Tohru," Yuki assured her with a small smile. "Hatsuharu just needs time to calm down. You're all fine?"

"What? Oh, yes, of course!" Tohru nodded, and Momiji grinned cheerfully at them.

"Haru almost ran Chloe over in the hall, but I managed to pull her out of his way," he piped up, and Chloe nodded her agreement. Kyo and Yuki exchanged a quick glance, and Yuki sighed.

"Who knows what Haru might do when he's Black like this?" Yuki thought, as the group strode down the hallway. "I haven't seen him so violent in years – this must really be bothering him. Chloe better stay out of his sight, or I'm not sure what he might get into his head."

"Are you sure you're feeling all right, Yuki?" Tohru asked, and the Prince snapped out of his daze.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine," he nodded again, and Kyo grunted.

"Sensei's really mad," Momiji commented to Chloe, who followed the group at a short distance. The look in the Ox's eyes when he had seen her bothered her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "I bet he's ready to suspend all of us, at the least."

"We didn't even do anything!" Chloe protested, referring to herself, Momiji, and Tohru. Kyo shrugged, and Yuki thought for a moment.

"Sensei isn't an unfair person, Miss Dylan," he told her after a moment. "I'm sure he wouldn't blame you when you had nothing at all to do with this. I wouldn't worry if I were you three."

I'm doing my best to keep all of them in-character as well. I hope you guys can notice!

Angeles : No, I get what you mean by all of a sudden professing their love and stuff. I wasn't planning on doing that at all. You just surprised me. (grins) But don't worry, they're certainly going to hate each other for a good long while, if I can help it. Having a triangle will help stretch the story out as well. If you have any suggestions, I'm more than willing to listen! I love ideas from my readers!
chocolateriku : I'm so glad you think I'm a good writer. I'm a bit surprised no one's flamed any of my FB fics, but I suppose that's a good thing. I'm improving! (does happy dance)
Hitaru : Those are interesting ideas. I'm very impressed - you're the only person to pick up that I'm hinting at something with the mother! Or at least, you're the only one to leave it in a review. Extra cookies for you!
Fan 101 : Please keep reviewing me! I like triangles too!
SasukeBlade : I hope you don't mind, but I'm using your "POOF" idea in the next chapter! Let me know what you think. And thank you for being the only one to tell me for sure who you want her to end up with! Extra cookies for you too! Please keep leaving your ideas - you have no idea how much they help me!

Again - PLEASE tell me for sure who you want the pairing to be - Kyo/OC or Haru/OC. And if you change your mind in a later chapter, don't worry. But I'd really like to know what the majority of the pairing decision is, because I'll be able to start working on that in the chapters later to come. It'd make my life MUCH more easier! So please leave your choice in a review!