Chapter 2 is up and running! Again, read and constructive criticism. Flames not needed, nor warranted.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, Takaya-sensei does. I own a Shigure plush dog though. huggles it

Dysfunctional Normalcy

By: MystyXIII

Chapter 2: Growing Pains

When Tohru had asked Momijii and Hatsuharu if they wanted to come over after school and hang out the answer had been a resounding yes. Well, the exuberant bunny was excited anyways. Hatsuharu responded with his usual nod of the head. So, later that afternoon, the group met up outside of the school gates and began the trek to Shigure's house. The sixteen year old rabbit, practically bouncing and chattering non-stop to anyone who would listen to him, generally an, almost, equally excited Tohru. She was happy to note that Momijii had started wearing the boys uniform this year, even though he looked adorable in the girl's top and the shorts he wore last year. She was happy she could cross that particular worry off of her list. She didn't want a repeat last year when Motoko-sempai had yelled at Momijii-kun about his choice of clothing. Everything had gone downhill from there.

But then again, Yuki-kun is the class president this year. I don't think he would yell at Momijii-kun. Oh! I wonder if he'll be home in time for dinner? I didn't really get to see him today. When I did see him, he looked away. Oh...oh...I...I need to find out what's wrong.

"Tohru? Tohru are you okay? Did something happen?" Momijii asked, a concerned look on his youthful face. He had noticed the little worried frown on her smooth face. She always silently worried.

"Yes, Tohru. Something does seem to be bothering you," Hanajima put in. "Can we help?" Tohru stopped and looked at the worried faces of her friends. She felt very grateful that they were concerned about her and it made her smile. She had wonderful, beautiful friends and she shouldn't complain. Not when she had all of this.

"No. I'm fine. I was just thinking about...uhm...if I had anything easy to make. Quick snacks and all. Yea. Silly me. I'm sure I can whip something up quickly though!" she exclaimed, her fist raised in victory. Her two oldest friends regarded her for a moment before nodding. They knew that Tohru didn't share her worries with others for fear of being a burden to them, but if and when she was ready to talk, they'd be there to smooth away her frowns. Momijii looked back and forth between Hatsuharu and Kyo, wondering if either were going to call her on her obvious covering of the truth. He loved Tohru dearly and didn't want her hiding her worries. But Kyo simply looked the other way and Hatsuharu didn't appear to be paying attention.

"Well. If you're sure," he finally said looking down at the ground. Deciding to change the topic he quickly jumped into a story of something that had happened in class today. The question forgotten, Tohru focused on what Momijii had been saying and filled the gaps with conversations with those around her. Kyo stared ahead lost in his own thoughts.

How can I? How can I say I care about her? I didn't try to stop Akito from hurting her this summer. All I had to do was run outside and tell the idiot to leave her alone. But did I? No. What good am I even with my skills as a martial artist, if I can't even protect...protect her? Akito's pet didn't try either. If anyone could have spared her that, it could've been the kuso nezumi. Akito's pet. He's as useless as I am. Bastard.

Kyo stayed lost in his thoughts the rest of the way home emerging from them only when he had heard Shigure's loud exclamations over everyone coming over. Almost immediately Tohru disappeared into the kitchen to prepare something for everyone to snack on. Everyone else gathered around the table and talked while playing whatever card games they could think of. Fifteen minutes later Tohru emerged from the kitchen with a plate full of rice balls, each different and uniquely shaped.

"What...is this?" Kyo asked looking at the plate.

"Uh...rice balls? I thought it'd be easy and fun to make them into different little shapes and stuff. But if you want something different I can go..."

"No, Tohru. They're fine," Uo said, interrupting her friend. "Aren't they Kyo?" She turned her full attention to the orange-headed boy, daring him to disagree with her.

"Damnit! Why are you looking at me like that?" Tohru looked back and forth between her two hot-headed friends and smiled. She had heard somewhere that people that were alike often fought. She figured this just might be true when she looked at these two. They both had tough exteriors, but she knew that they both had deep and caring souls.

"I'll just go bring the tea in and then all will be ready!" she said a smile on her face.

"Hey, Kyo! Don't make her do all the work. Help her. She already brought in all this food. Start being a man!"

"Why...you...," he muttered under his breath.

"Oh that's not necessary! I don't mind at all. Really!" Tohru exclaimed hurriedly. She didn't mind getting things for people. She really just wanted to make everyone happy. What could be better than knowing that you brought a smile to someone's face, made a good memory, something that, later on down the road, they could smile again about.

"I'll go help you Tohru!" Momijii exclaimed jumping up. "Since Kyo's too busy being stupid to do it." Momijii turned and stuck his tongue out at the Cat who looked ready to pounce him. The two left the room smiling at each other the way to little kids who found something interesting would smile.

"Boy, Sohma. You're an idiot sometimes, you know that? You don't deserve to have her here you know?" Arisa said with a shake of her head.

"Indeed. Given a great opportunity to help her and you do nothing," the black haired girl said quietly. Kyo looked up sharply at her, wondering if she knew just how deep those words went. All he got in answer to his thoughts was a deep stare that seemed to almost read his soul.

"Yea, well. What do you know?" What did they know? It's not like they actually knew what went on. Didn't know what he was hiding and how no matter how he wanted, he couldn't defy "God". Hell, not that it matters. By the end of this school year I won't see them ever again. Or her. With that thought, Kyo sighed inwardly. "I'm going for a walk," he abruptly announced. Standing up he quickly made for the exit and slammed the door behind him.

Hatsuharu watched the whole thing, calmly listening to everything that was going on. These two friends of Tohru's cared for her deeply and only wanted to help her. They didn't like the idea that their innocent friend might be taken advantage of, or hurt in any way. He could tell that when they were walking home. He, too, had noticed that she had skirted the truth and had changed the subject. On the same scale though, he had noticed his cousin's tension since their last night at the beach house. He had been present at that situation as well. Akito had shown up in the middle of the night, and Momijii had stopped him from entering the house. For his insolence Momijii had been hit...hard. He could hear Black Haru just at the surface screaming. No one deserved this, especially not Momijii. Tohru had come running out and stood in front of Akito, blocking his path to Momijii. And for her insolence Akito had told her something (no one was quite sure what though) and the left three long scars on her cheek. All Kyo and his beloved Yuki could do was watch. He had saw the little bunny run off to find an adult and informed his two cousins. They had all felt great remorse over not being able to help Tohru, but those two...they felt it the sharpest. The next morning everyone pretended nothing had happened. Tohru and Momijii claimed they had fallen down.

So Hatsuharu could understand. He too had someone he loved and wanted to protect from Akito's wrath. The feeling that he can do nothing though was overwhelming. There was no rhyme or reason to Akito's choices. The only thing that mattered was if their "God" was happy and if you incurred his wrath, then you deserved whatever happened to you. Standing up he shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"I'm going to go join him," he said quietly, a polite bow given to the two girls still seated. Uo and Hana exchanged looks, confused. Shortly after, Tohru and Momijii came back in with tea and cups for everyone.

"Eh? Where'd Kyo-kun and Hatsuharu-kun go?" she asked, concern marking her features.

"They said they wanted to take a walk," Arisa said slowly.

Shigure sat back in thought. He knew what was bothering the boys. He had a keen sense, a sort of empathy. It didn't hurt that he was their that night as well. Growing up in the Sohma household was never easy. Especially if you fell in love. Which is exactly what the boys were doing. Hiro loved Kisa and for that Kisa had been hurt. The best example...well the worst example depending on how you looked at things, was represented by Hatori's blind left eye. Whenever he thought of what might happen to his little flower he felt dirty and remorseful. But not enough to stop his plans. They would probably never forgive him, but he had to see his dream made reality. He wanted to see the Last Banquet. Bowing his head and sighing he focused on his manuscript.