A/N: Oooh. I predict this chapter will make you all hate me. But I wanted to update to prove I'm still alive! If it sounds all purple-y and poetic, it's because I've been watching alot of fancy shojo anime lately and I'm in that kind of mood. Ohyeah, just to be clear .. I have no beta, thus, typos should be expected. Anything horribly typoed or grammatically incorrect .. please let me know!

A/N: A special thanks to EVERYONE who reviewed! I really appreciate your feedback! You're really keeping me going, because I fear a slow agonizing death if I don't update. ;D

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Fruits Basket. Certainly don't claim to. Oh how I wish I could own Kyo-kun. And Yuki-kun. And maybe Ayame and Shigure while I'm at it. n.n

NOTE: A bit of implied Ayame x Shigure from now on. May turn into a spin-off 'fic if I really start loving those two. They're so cute! Poor 'Tori-san. o.o;

The light shining through the window was harsh, even as it passed through the paper doors separating the inside of the room from the glare of the outside world. The doors seemed to glow white-hot in the sun's all encompassing rays, an image that cut into Sohma Kyo's slumber rather painfully. He grumbled deeply and turned over, but the throbbing of his head in time with his heart prevented any further rest. "Nnn .. fuck.." he growled into his pillow before crawling out of his tangled blankets, almost tripping as they wrapped around his ankles.

In his room, Shigure could hear the thumping of Kyo's footsteps next door. He smiled, sipping his tea noisily as he was apt to do in the mornings. Ayame crept silently into the room, his ivory hide rubbing roughly against the Dog's arm, tongue flicking out cutely. Apparently, the hebi was as prone to heat as he was to cold.

"Baka, Aaya-chan. Why did you go out if you knew it was so blisteringly hot out this morning?" The white serpent draped himself over Shigure's lap, his tail tip winding about his wrist lazily. "The ocean was so beautiful from the terrace I could not help but frolic in it with my dear sibling, Yuki." Shigure's eyebrows rose as he peered down at Ayame.

"You went with Yuki?" Before Ayame could answer there was a loud boom and a dusting of mystical smoke and the Dog had a very naked man settled in his robed lap, his muscular arms tight around his neck.

"Mmm. What a fine way to start the day.." Shigure grinned down at the Snake as he slid his empty teacup onto the table slowly, emulating the silver-haired man's own lusty smirk.

A fine way indeed..

The sapphire blue of the water was a trick of the light.

Obviously..

Ayame had gone on and on about how pure and delightful the ocean was before the sun reached its zenith at noon, and how wonderfully azure it shone in the morning light. It apparently was a load of flowery bull-crap as the water currently lapping at Yuki's ankles was as dusky brown as was possible. Its colour cried pollution, but Yuki chalked it up to heavy sand content.

Truly, the ocean was beautiful, and did serve to calm his nerves. Seeing the wide blue expanse made him feel free, as if leaping into it would liberate him at last from the steel jaws of the Sohma cage. He heaved a sigh and kicked at the surf, which only sighed back and withdrew from around his feet. He glanced up at the brightening sky, shielding his eyes from the glare as he watched gulls wheel noisily above. It was almost noon, and he still hadn't seen Kyo. He was shocked, as he was expecting Momiji to have dragged Tohru out against her will hours ago with the wily feline in tow. But, the beach was empty for what seemed like miles in either direction with the exception of crabs the colour of umeboshi scuttling down from the tree line.

Alone, and with his small bag filled with seashells for Honda-san, Yuki decided to head back to the house. He could almost smell the scent of breakfast on the tiny breeze that fought its way against the strong gusts that blew up from across the sea. Picking his way through a field of discarded shells on his way back to his sandals, he made out the distinct outline of smoke through the forest. He apparently wasn't hallucinating, as someone was cooking something, or else the cottage was on fire. And unless Kagura had shown up – it shouldn't be.

With one last look at the shimmering water, Yuki disappeared into the forest, swallowed up instantly by the sticky heat and obsidian shadows under the trees.

Kyo hung over the living room table, teasing an unfortunate beetle with a pair of chopsticks. He'd pick up the silvery-grey creature and watch its tiny legs flail before dropping it onto its back to watch it struggle like a tortoise to right itself. Torturing the innocent insect pleased him immensely, and the creature's colouring resembled that of Yuki's hair rather closely. He hadn't seen the elusive Rat at all today, but he wasn't particularly looking forward to seeing him either. His head was throbbing most painfully and he was more in the mood to lounge about all day. Alone.

Moments later the outer door slid open, and the Rat in question entered the room quietly. The scent of beef stew assaulted his senses, and Tohru bounded in to greet him and inform of the breakfast he'd smelled from the beach. Noticing Kyo's pained expression she immediately began speaking in hushed tones, tiptoeing back into the kitchen and sliding the paper door closed with practiced caution. She'd dealt with the Cat's various bad moods hundreds of times before.

Yuki smiled at her behaviour, and then turned his gaze towards Kyo. Their eyes met for a split second before Yuki looked away, the beginnings of a blush creeping across his cheeks. He cursed himself inwardly for his feminine display of coyness. If he was determined to hide any indication that last night's encounter had affected him so much, he was failing miserably. In his process of self-punishment he overlooked the absence of Kyo's usual insult, the only "greetings" he'd ever received since living with the petulant redhead. Not even a whispered curse was offered, simply silence and what felt like a glare burning holes in the back of his head.

Yuki took that as his cue to make a hasty exit, jogging with footsteps echoing hollowly on the wooden stairs. He passed Shigure's room quickly, doing his best to block out the muffled sounds coming from behind the door. Paper doors did little for one's privacy. Blushing even more fiercely than before, he turned into his own room and slid his door shut, reaching for a lock that wasn't there. Impolite thoughts directed towards the builders of the cottage circulated a bit, before he flopped down on his bed and waited for Tohru to announce the completion of breakfast.

The next six days would be incredibly hard, if the thirty seconds spent in the living room were any indication of things to come..


A/N: Remember! Review my loves! And I promise some more "action" next chapter! Don't kill me! I'm only delivering before everyone loses faith in me again! XD