While Kagura and Yuki were working, Yuki couldn't help but think of Kagura's mood earlier. She was obviously feeling better but he couldn't help wondering what had happened to her. But before he could ask, Kagura spoke.

"Yuki?" she said quietly, her head down. Yuki turned toward her. "Thanks for…not asking me anything earlier. I really appreciate it. I wasn't feeling well then but now I'm better. And…I think…I want to tell you what happened… If you want to listen that is."

"Of course I do, nee-chan. I was worried but I'm glad you're feeling better."

"All thanks to you Yuki-kun," Kagura smiled but then looked down again, "This morning I was waiting for Kyou at Shishou's. I thought maybe we could train together for a little while. But he was late. And I got so worried. I was frantic Yuki-kun!" Kagura looked at him pleadingly, as if asking him to believe her, even though he already did.

"He'd never been late before. I was going to start looking for him and sending out search parties and everything but then … he showed up. And when..." Kagura started crying, "…when he got there, I hugged him, cause I was so worried and I cried…but … but…he just pushed me away. Said he had to go talk to Shishou. Apologize for being late. He … I was so worried Yuki-kun. And he just pushed me away. He didn't even tell me why he was late…he just pushed me away. And … I don't know if I can like Kyou anymore Yuki. I know he doesn't feel the same way for me, I know that, I really do. But I thought…I thought he was at least my friend. But he's not even that. He doesn't care about me…at all. And I was just kidding myself to think he did, even a little," Kagura paused and then looked up at Yuki unblinkingly, "I want to hate him, Yuki. HATE HIM. But I can't. I can't….I just can't. And it hurts…it hurts so much, I just want to die…" she stopped.

Yuki pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

"Oh nee-chan. I'm so sorry, so sorry. I wish I could do something, I really do. As much as I hated that cat, I hate him even more now. I really do. God, I wish he didn't treat you so bad."

"But you know what, Kagura-chan? You have to show him you're okay. Even if you're not. You have to put up a brave front. In fact…I have an idea. Stay for dinner."

Kagura gasped. "I can't do that Yuki, I just can't. I can't face him."

"See? That's what I mean. You have to face him. Act like it doesn't matter what he did this morning. Act like you don't care. Don't look at him and only talk to him when you have to. And when he sees how strong you are, how you don't need him, maybe, maybe the cat will start treating you better. Maybe he'll realize what a great person you are. Or maybe…you'll learn to not like him anymore."

"You really think I can do it, Yuki?"

"I know you can, nee-chan."

She sniffled, "Thanks, Yuki. You're the best."

Yuki gave her one last hug, glad he could comfort someone and then the two returned to their work.

The cake still wasn't done when the two were finished cleaning up. They were playing a game of cards when they heard the door slide open.

Looking up from their hands, they saw Shigure walk in, carrying a bundle of papers under his arm.

Strangely, Shigure only said a slight hello before he disappeared into his study.

Kagura and Yuki looked at each other in wonderment when they heard the timer go off. They rushed into the kitchen.

Kagura put on oven mittens and opened the oven door. "Toothpick," Yuki handed her a toothpick.

She stuck it into the cake and pulled it out. It was clean.

"YAY! It's done! Now it just has to cool."

She took out a cooling rack and then pulling the cake out of the oven, put it on top of the rack.

Glancing at the clock, she reminded Yuki he had to go pick up Tohru-chan from work.

Yuki hurried out the door just as Shigure walked out of his study. Sniffing something yummy in the air, he hastened to the kitchen.

"Ooh, something smells really good, Kagura-chan. Did you make that cake? It smells delicious. Looks delicious too. Can I have a piece? Please? Don't say no to a starving artist; that would be cruel."

Kagura laughed, "Don't worry Shigure-san. You can have a piece of cake…"

Shigure's feet left the ground as he floated in a cloud of happiness.

"…at dinner." The dog came crashing down.

"Aww…but why not now? Please? Or I'll tell Hatori that I'm malnourished and it's all Kagura-chan's fault."

"Well, it's not just my decision to make. Yuki-kun also helped make this cake."

Shigure stared. "On second thought, I don't think I want a piece after all," he said, shuddering.

"But Shigure-san, Yuki will be so hurt if you don't even try a piece of his cake."

"Better him than me," Shigure replied.

They were interrupted just then when the door was violently slid open and Kyou barged in. He balked though at seeing Kagura, and looking around as if for a place to hide.

Kagura, however, just asked Shigure if he wanted to help her make frosting and decorate the cake. At his affirmative, Kagura started getting the things she needed out of the cabinets and the refrigerator and Kyou slowly left the room, scratching his head and glancing back at the girl every few seconds.

Shigure's only thought was, hmm, trouble in paradise…wonder what happened?

In the meantime...

Yuki had arrived just in time to pick up Tohru. He'd been a little out of breath but punctual. They were walking home when they saw flashing lights and a Ferris wheel and other rides being set up at the park. Tohru and Yuki stopped at the entrance to the park and Yuki asked a nearby stranger what was happening.

"It's a carnival. They'll be open tomorrow. They're only here for a week since they have to be in another city by next Sunday night." The stranger handed them a flyer and left.

"Yuki-kun! A carnival! Wow!"

"Do you want to go Honda-san? We can go on Friday since you'll be free that day and it will be the start of the weekend."

"Can we? I'd love to. It'll be so much fun!"

"Of course we can go Honda-san. But first you have to promise me something. No, two somethings. Will you do it?"

"Of course. Whatever you want, Yuki-kun, I'll do it. If your tie needs tying, I'll do it."

"No, no, Honda-san," Yuki interrupted, "I don't need anything like that. I just want you to let me pay for your ticket and all the rides and food and games you want (and I am not taking no for an answer because you already promised). And the second thing is…you have to tell me all about carnivals since I've never been to one."

"Really? Well, the last time I went was with my dad when I was little. I really don't remember much; I was too little. But it was beautiful: all the lights, and the people. I remember the cotton candy the best; I ate so much of it, I got sick and threw up. But it was so much fun. Trust me, Yuki-kun! You'll love the carnival."

"I'm sure I will, Honda-san."

After that, the two walked home, Tohru taking her promise to Yuki very seriously and informing him all about carnivals including their horrible bathrooms ("That's why you should go ahead of time, so you won't have to use theirs").

At home, Kagura helped Tohru prepare dinner while Yuki did some light reading.

When dinner was ready, everyone sat around the table. Tohru served everyone and the meal began.

It was really uncomfortable at first because Kyou kept staring at Kagura wondering what was wrong with her but Kagura never looked up from her plate.

"Uh…Yuki-kun! How was your day? What did you do?" Tohru asked Yuki, desperate for conversation.

"Er…um, I worked on my … paper. For this thing at school. Since I am Council President. Yes. I had to write about … ties! And that maybe they should be black instead of white because white ties get so dirty so easily. Yes, that's exactly it." Yuki nodded his head, satisfied.

Tohru sat enraptured. "Really? You're right! White ties do get dirtier faster. It's so hard to get stains out of them too. You have to do a lot of scrubbing…"

And so started a conversation on ties and bleach and laundry in general.

While Kagura not jumping on Kyou was strange, so was Shigure's silence. He seemed to be absorbed with whatever thoughts were in his head, so much so, that when Kagura brought out the cake, and said that she had made it, he didn't even notice.

"Oh, wow! Kagura-chan, it's a beautiful cake. And you made the frosting too, didn't you? You didn't have to work so hard, Kagura-chan."

"No worries. Shigure-san helped me with the frosting although he ate so much of it we barely had enough to cover the cake," she sent a playful glare at the dog who just pouted in reply.

"I was hungry," he whined.

Kagura served the cake to everyone except Shigure who declined, still fearing for his life.

However, when he saw everyone around him alive, healthy, and exclaiming over the cake, he took a piece for himself as well.

"This is really good cake Kagura-chan. Not only did it look good, it tastes good too! You have to give me the recipe!" Tohru said.

"You already have it. I used one of your cookbooks, I hope you don't mind," Kagura replied.

"No, of course not."

After dinner, Kagura left with a promise to come back the next day to teach Yuki how to make frosting.

That's it.

Hope you all enjoyed that. Any tpyos or spilleng mestekas or wordsJumbledTogether i totally blame on ff . net

Shout-outs: Only to those who reviewed Ch. 9. I know some of you reviewed for the other chapters while I was gone so THANKS! it was really nice getting some reviews even while I was gone.

Dark Inu Fan: i hope this was believable. it is nice to find something Yuki can't do and i hope i didn't make it too easy for him. but i find following recipes really easy so it was hard to think of things he could mess up on. And Yuki is a fast learner and I couldn't ignore that even if he is hopeless in the kitchen. Next chapter's frosting escapades will be a lot of fun though, promise!

eni-chan: see? i updated! i told you I'd do it before December was out! And this whole (all three parts) was 18 pages long. took me forever. but i did it! email me soon, k?

inu-yuki lover100: don't worry. i won't stop until this story is done. finito. hope you liked this chapter!

hatori obsessor: i promise i will not stopuntil this story is done. just make sure you don't stop reading if i take too long. ;p

o.oxanimefreakxo.o: yeah,Yuki does suck. 8p hope you enjoy the chapter!

Tohruismyoneechan: hope i got your name right. Here it is. The next chapter. 18 pages worth. Hope you enjoyed it!

Meli09/nightgoddess: whichever name, thank you so much for loving my story so much. i hope you liked this chapter just as much.

Clairence: well thank you for taking the time to review. and you're not bad at reviews. it was really, really nice. thanks. hope you enjoy this chapter...not much Yukiru in here.

Aria's star: Update. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for your words of compliment; they mean a lot.

SomeRandomperson: Thanks for reading. Hope you liked this chapter!

flute4ever330: thanks for laughing out loud. and yes, the peeled tomato was a sign of brilliance if i do say somyself. /blush/ ;p hope you liked this chapter!

Freaky Person O.o: i love your name. yes, i did update after the entire day was done. took me forever. hope you liked this chapter!

Kea Jaganshi: Thanks for making me happy. Hope i made you happy with this chapter!

-RiceBallPlum