Author's Note: Do any of you guys play Kingdom of Hearts: Chain of Memories? The final battle when you play Riku is freakin' hard! Have you defeated it? Is there a possible way?

BTW, I'm gonna try and update once a week now since school is over! Enough babbling and onto the story.

Reviews:

Pearl Dragon: Thanks so much for helping and stuff! You already know the answer to your review.

Catherine b: Boy you are one smart cookie! Thanks!

And for everyone else, I didn't know you guys liked it that much. THANKS! Ya'll are the best!

Chapter 9

--Top Ten to Top Five Part I--

"…Second place, losing by one vote, is Yamato Nakano and that leaves first place to Yuki Sohma. CONGRATULATIONS to our top ten! For those of you who are interested in how the rest of the contest will go, I will be eliminating until there is one. So those ten will meet with the others and me on Saturday at ten at the radio station," Tohru Honda announced before leaving.

Those who waited for the top ten only, turned off the TV either ecstatic or depressed, but a few people on the other hand were furious or confused with the result…

Yuki, Kyo, Shigure, and all of the other cursed Sohma were at Shigure's house. Once the results were announced, they all cheered except for Yuki. How in the world did he beat Yamato and by one vote?

"Yun-chan, aren't you happy? Say something?" Kagura said, pulling his arm, trying to make him move because Yuki was standing still as if he was a statue.

"My dear brother! I knew you could do it! Now, how about we go to my shop and let me make an outfit for you," the snake said excitedly, trying to drag the rat out the door.

"ONII-CHAN. NO," Yuki said, clenching his teeth.

"Hmph, but I want to give you a present as a token of congratulations," Ayame persisted.

"How about 'congrats'? That's better than a present from you."

"No, that's too simple. I want to give you something that'll express the token of my love too. That's why you must come to my shop and let me make you something," Ayame argued.

"ONII-CHAN!"

"Aya, that's enough. If he doesn't want you to make or do anything for him than don't," Hatori butted in.

That shut the snake.

"Ahhh…young love. I knew you could do it, Yuki. After all, I based a story on you and it has to come true," Shigure said with a mischief grin.

"YOU PERVERT!" Kyo and Yuki shouted whacking him over the head.

"Kyo-kun, Yuki-kun…" Shigure started, faking sniffs, "that hurt."

"Ugh, all of this whining and arguing is giving me a headache. I'm leaving. See ya," Rin said, giving a small wave.

"I'll walk you home," Haru said, following her. "Good luck on tomorrow, Yuki," he added.

Then, one by one, the others said their 'congrats' and 'good luck' before leaving. At the end, only Kyo, Kagura, and Yuki were left. Shigure was going to hang out with Hatori and Ayame.

"I'll see you later, then Yun-chan. Good luck on tomorrow. If you need help, then you know where to find me," the boar said before leaving.

Kyo obviously wasn't going to say anything to the rat. He was too concern with his feelings and why Kagura wasn't all over him as usual. He, for once, wasn't going to mind her hugging him and going crazy over him. He hadn't spoken to her ever since she came over, and she didn't say one word to him except for maybe 'hi'.

Kyo was going to offer to walk her home like what Haru did for Rin, but he wasn't sure. With the strange awkwardness, he didn't know if he should walk her home. He didn't even know how long the tension between them would last. What if it lasted forever? What if Kagura had 100 given up on him, just when he finally figured out he…he loved…her? ARGH! He couldn't take this anymore. The only other person Kagura was close to was…uhh…the d--- rat. He had to know what was wrong with Kagura. The one day he would ask the d--- rat was…now.

Kyo grumbled as he walked up the stairs. He was that desperate, wasn't he?

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Yuki stared at the words from his law book. He wanted to be a lawyer, but the words weren't sinking in no matter how many times he read it.

'Second place, losing by one vote, is Yamato Nakano and that leaves first place to Yuki Sohma.'

'How did I get the most votes? Am I really that good?' Yuki thought. 'But at least now I know that I don't have to worry about Akito any more. It's just Yamato and the other contestants.'

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Who is it?" Yuki asked.

"It's me," the voice replied. Yuki knew that voice and was shocked as to why the baka (stupid) cat would want to talk to him.

"Listen, I know it's weird for me to ask you this, but I need some help and since you're the closest to Kagura, I thought you would know," Kyo said, opening the door to where he could see Yuki.

Yuki glared at him and the orange head glared back. "Huh, the baka cat asking me for help? That's a first. Who knocked some sense into you…Shigure?" the purple-eyed man insulted.

Kyo wasn't going to argue back like always. This was really, really important, and he was in serious mode with Yuki for the first time.

"OK you da…Yuki, for once can we settle our differences. I'm not in the mood to fight you and take your insults," Kyo said desperately. His temper was rising, but remained calm for the sake of his relationship with Kagura.

Yuki looked at him startled. "You're actually serious?" he said the statement in a question, raising an eyebrow.

Kyo nodded as Yuki motioned him to come in.

"So what do you want?" the rat said coldly, feeling uneasy.

"I just want to know if Kagura has said anything to you about me?" Kyo said to the point not wanting this to last longer than it has to.

The first thing that popped into his mind was what Kagura told him on the day of the second audition.

"I know you two don't get along, but please? I don't want to stop him from what he wants and if he likes Tohru, then I shouldn't stop him," she whispered. "I know he'll never return the feeling."

"I shouldn't be selfish for myself. It's not love if it's one sided," Kagura said as if she read his mind. "I want him to be happy even if I'm not. I might be the one getting hurt, but at least it won't be him."

'Should I tell him?' Yuki thought. Kagura was one of his favorite cousins, but the baka cat was his enemy. He remembered how the boar was after that day. She wasn't herself. She seemed sad and emotionless, but she didn't want to worry people. Kagura'll like him back, right?

"So…did she tell you anything?" Kyo asked once more getting impatient and really annoyed. Was the d--- rat doing this on purpose to get on his nerves?

"Yeah, she told me something on that one rainy day when you could barely keep awake for the audition," Yuki started, getting the cat's ears interested, "but….I don't know if I should tell you. It's really her personal matter."

"You d--- rat! Tell me!" Kyo said, grabbing the silver haired man's collar and his fist was ready for a punch.

Yuki gave a smirk. "You care about her? After all this time, yelling and running away, you care?" Yuki asked.

Kyo released his hold on the collar and looked at him in the eye saying, "Yeah? So what? For all of your life, you've known how if feels to have people care about you. H---, you even have fan club. What do I have? No one and it's because of the curse. It's because I'm the cat. When I finally realize I have someone that cares about me for the first time, I don't want to lose her."

Yuki's eyes widen. "So barging in my room and asking about Kagura was because you love her? And because she's been acting strange lately makes you wonder even more, right?"

Kyo's face flushed, but nodded.

"All right, but you're not going to like what you hear," he began, telling the orange head about how she had given up on him because of the contest.

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"WHAT?" Yamato screeched. "How in the world does an amateur beat me?" he shouted at the TV. He grabbed anything he could get his hands on and threw it at the walls. "I'm the popular one! I'm the most handsome one! I'm the one who's supposed to win!"

"It was only one vote. You don't have to get so temperamental. At least you made it," an eerie voice said.

"Akito?" He turned around to see an angry Akito.

"Hmph, but I'm ashamed that you couldn't beat him so I suggest you better act like a gentleman on Saturday. I don't care what place you got as long as you did better than Yuki, but I guess that shows that I was wrong," the black hair man hissed. "Besides, you're only doing this contest for the money right? It's not like you really love her, but you've been with lots of women to know what they want."

"The money and Tohru. I'll be glad to be Tohru's first and last boyfriend. And then, the fortune will be ours," Yamato summarized the plan. Are you going to tell me what they're planning?" Yamato said, smirking. "I won't let that amateur beat me anymore."

"Of course. To make it end in our favor, I suggest you prepare to…"

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The wondrous announcement a few days ago was still in the air. At the station, people were crowding outside trying to get in, but police officers were on guard making sure that no one got in except the workers and the contestants.

Yuki some how managed to squeeze through the crowd to the front. There the main officer noticed the newcomer and asked for his name. Yuki was surprised at the question, but figured it was the only way in.

"Yuki Sohma."

The main guard had a stack of paper looking through it. Yuki recognized it to be the forms that Shigure filled out with his picture.

"You can go in," the officer said, making room from the entrance so Yuki could squeeze in.

Inside, most of the guys were already there. Once all ten arrived, they all shushed up to here what they had to do this time.

'Yuki Sohma, you are going to regret ever getting this far and beating me,' Yamato thought, glaring at him once he entered the door.

"Congratulations to those who made it this far, but today could be your last day seeing Tohru so close up. Today you'll be place in one of two groups so five in each. Each group will spend some time with her. The first group will have from ten thirty to three thirty. The second group will see her from four to nine today. By then, Tohru will probably know which five were her favorites. Tomorrow, you will come back here for the results and more details for those five. On Thursday to Monday, those five will each have one day to spend with Tohru. Three will be eliminated leaving two. Those two will have an entire week with Tohru, minus nights. That will be the last elimination and will determine Tohru's duet partner," Uo said, talking really fast so that only some got what Uo was saying. Others got parts like five get day or two get week.

"It's OK if you didn't get that," Tohru piped up once seeing the some of the guys confused faces. "We'll repeat them later when it comes closer."

It was Hana turn to speak. "The group will be divided according by the place you got on the votes. All the evens will be in the first group. The odds will get the later time. We have prepared the day so I suggest you use your time wisely," Hana said, her eyes giving off a glare of 'if you hurt her, I'll hurt you'.

"So group one will leave at ten thirty. Everyone else can leave, but must return at three forty-five," Tohru told them.

Yuki, Julian Smith, Nachi Kai, Daisuke Yura, and Tetsuya Tojo all went home until three forty-five came.

As for our other five, they got to spend sometime with Tohru, but it wasn't what they were expecting. The young men thought it was going to be them alone with Tohru and having fun, but her physic chick friend and Yankee thug went along.

All eight of them squeezed into the limousine. Two were hoping to sit next to Tohru, but her friends got there first. If you wanted to make it to top five, don't mess with her friends.

"OK guys, why don't we introduce ourselves first?" Tohru happily spoke up.

The guys just nodded along.

"I guess I'll start," Tohru said, seeing that no one was going to start. "I'm Tohru Honda and these are my two bestest friends, Hana-chan and Uo-chan," she said, pointing to them.

The blonde decided to go next. "I'm Arisa Uotani, but you can call me Uo-san. If you do anything that Tohru doesn't like, you're gonna have to deal with us, right Hana?" she said, showing them her bloodstain pipe.

"Hello. My name is Saki Hanajima. I suggest that if you do anything unpleasant, I shall have to punish you. Last time I did that, I put someone in the hospital. I think he's still there after six years," she said in her monotone voice, scaring the guys.

Seeing that no one was going next, Hana said next in a creepy voice, making all the guys talking at once.

"SHUT UP!" Uo screeched. All the guys immediately closed their mouth. "Now, you there," she said, turning toward the guy on her left. "why don't you start and we'll go around that way?'

He gulped and nodded. "My name is Yakumo Yang. I'm twenty-two years old and…and…I'm attending Tokyo University," the black long hair man said nervously. Yakumo had gray eyes. He was handsome, not muscular, but not scrawny either. His voice had a husky sound to it, but it was hard to tell since he was nervous. Yakumo was wearing a blue buttoned up long sleeve shirt with khaki pants. He had a pair of nice, matching shoes.

Next was a guy who had brunette colored hair with tinted blue-green eyes. He was the tallest guy out of all the guys there. He had a nice figure and a deep, soothing voice. "I'm Sano Kamono, and I'm twenty-four years old. This is my first year as a fourth grader teacher," he told them. Sano was wearing a turquoise short sleeve buttoned up shirt over a white sleeveless shirt with blue jeans.

"The name's Ginta Terada. I'm twenty-one. I'm half Japanese, half American. I lived in America, but since I'm part Japanese, I wanted to finish my studies here," said a black hair young man with light blue eyes. He looked very athletic. His hair had a nice cut to bring out his face structure. It was like Shigure's hairstyle, but a little longer. He was wearing a nice blue shirt with jeans.

Then it was Yamato's turn. He smiled inside. He might as well mention all the things he put in the registration form, but then he remembered what Akito said about not bragging so much or else that would only make him look snotty and her friends would know something wasn't right.

"My name is Yamato Nakano. I work at Nakano Corp. My father is European, but my mother is Japanese. As you can see, I look more European than Japanese, and I am twenty-three years old," he said so sure of himself. Today, he was wearing khaki pants with a green long sleeve buttoned up shirt. He sleeves were rolled up to his elbow.

Last but not least was Ryo Midori. "Hi, I'm Ryo Midori, and I'm twenty-two years old. There's nothing special about me. Uhhh…I'm attending Tokyo University. I'm hoping to major in engineering to take over my family's company," he said with a cute smile. His silver eyes glistened in the light, and he had black hair. He looked skinny and weak, but in reality, he was strong.

After he finished, there was an awkward silence. A few minutes later, the driver broke the silence by saying that they were at their destination. They were at Tokyo Teen. The young men were surprised at why Tohru had picked such a place, but knew better to argue.

Tohru, Hana, and Uo knew what they were doing and led them up to an upstairs room. It happened to be the same room that they had last time.

When everyone was seated, someone rudely asked why they were here, and it was one big mistake.

Uo pounded the table and quickly stood up. "What'd'ya mean why are you here? You should already glad that one: you're spending time with Tohru and two: the music company has volunteered to pay for all the expenses for this contest, meaning your meal for today," she barked at him, getting ready to pounce.

"Geez, sorry I asked," Ginta Terada muttered.

"Uo-chan," Tohru whispered to her, "maybe you shouldn't have yelled at him. I mean, I think the others are wondering too."

Uo took a long sigh meaning fine.

"Well, since you asked, isn't it obvious? We're going to do duet karaoke. I'm going to sing with each of you individual for at least a song. Then we're going to have lunch here and then play a game," Tohru told them, putting her hands together as a sign of contentment.

So each of the guys took turns singing with Tohru. Not dancing because they didn't want another incident to happen as they recalled Ritsu trying to dance, but failed horribly and smashed the karaoke machine.

The order went by the highest rank to the lowest rank. That meant Yamato was lucky number to be the first to sing with Tohru, but boy was he wrong.

Yamato flashed a smile, sweet talking Tohru saying, "My, my, what luck I have. I get to be the first to ever sing with the beautiful Tohru-chan."

"Don't be so sure of yourself," Hana spoke up.

"What do you mean?" he asked, being curious.

"Oh, she means that one day when we shared this room with Sohma-kun and his family," Tohru smiled.

"You mean that Yuki fellow?" Yamato asked.

"Yup! I couldn't say no to little kids and besides, it was fun. He's a really good dancer too," Tohru said as her smile widened as she recollected her memory of that day. It felt so nice having someone's arms around her waist. She had to admit it was her first time dancing with a guy.

'WHAT! How could someone nobody steal her away from me?' the blonde young man thought. He had to win her back, but he couldn't dance with her because that would be disobeying her orders, which would look bad for him.

"So what song do you want to sing too?" Tohru asked, breaking him away from his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, I get to pick?" Yamato asked. He flipped through the selection and picked one that he liked.

Yamato:

There's always that one person
That will always have your heart
You'll never see it coming
Cause you're blinded from the start
Know that you're that one for me
It's clear for everyone to see
Ooh baby ooh you'll always be my boo

Tohru:

I don't know bout cha'll
But I know about us and uh
This is the only way
We know how to rock
I don't know bout cha'll
But I know about us and uh
This is the only way
We know how to rock

Yamato:

Do you remember girl
I was the one who gave you your first kiss
Cause I remember girl
I was the one who said put your lips like this
Even before all the fame and
People screaming your name
Girl I was there when you were my baby

It started when we were younger
You were mine my boo
Now another brother's taking over
But its still in your eyes my boo
Even though we used to argue it's alright
I know we haven't seen each other
In awhile but you will always be my boo

Tohru:

I was in love with you when we were younger
You were mine my boo
And I see it from time to time
I still feel like my boo
And I can see it no matter
How I try to hide my boo
Even though there's another man who's in my life
You will always be my boo

Yes I remember boy
Cause after we kissed
I could only think about your lips
Yes I remember boy
The moment I knew you were the one
I could spend my life with
Even before all the fame
And people screaming your name
I was there and you were my baby

Yamato:

My oh, My oh, My oh, My oh, My Boo

Tohru:

My oh, My oh, My oh, My oh, My Boo

Yamato:

It started when we were younger
You were mine my boo
Now another brother's taking over
But its still in your eyes my boo
Even though we used to argue it's alright
I know we haven't seen each other
In awhile but you will always be my boo

Both:

I don't know bout cha'll
But I know about us and uh
This is the only way
We know how to rock
I don't know bout cha'll
But I know about us and uh
This is the only way
We know how to rock


When they finished the song, all the guys were jealous because they were together, looked good together, and didn't mess up. It was perfect for their first duet together.

'That show off. I'm going to do better than him,' each young man thought as invisible steam came out of their ears.

So much for doing better than Yamato, the other guys messed up except for Ryo. Ryo was the only one who had a chance to do better than Yamato.

The second time around, Yamato messed up while the others mentally smirked. Overall, the second time was better since they understood the way it worked, and when Yamato made a mistake, their chances of impressing her grew.

After all the young men sang twice with Tohru, it was already lunchtime. They all ordered something they liked and split it with the whole group.

No one really talked during the meal except for the three young women, and the occasional 'Pass the…' and 'Thank you's'.

"So Honda-chan, is the niratama dish your favorite?" Ryo asked, noticing it was her second serving of leeks and eggs.

"You're observant, aren't cha?" Uo pointed out.

"Hehe…I guess," Ryo said, flashing out a little smile.

"Actually, I don't have a favorite dish, but you can say that niratama is one of my favorites. I love cooking on my spare time," Tohru said cheerfully.

"Really? I'd really love to try something you can make," Ryo added.

"Oh? I'm not really good."

"Tohru-kun, don't be so modest. She makes us breakfast almost every day, and it's the best thing you'll every taste," Hana told them, making Tohru blush.

"If you want…I guess if you make it on to the next round, I'll make you something you like," Tohru agreed, as her red face stayed that way for a few minutes.

Ryo opened his mouth to answer but Yamato butted in. "Tohru-chan, you don't have to cook for anyone I mean, you are the famous singer. We should be the one serving you," Yamato said, trying to stop Ryo from getting closer to Tohru.

Ryo's face turned red; not because of embarrassment, but because of anger. His head boiled, as he wanted to punch Yamato, but cooled down, knowing that it wasn't a smart move to do.

"Um…actually…I don't really mind," Tohru muttered, wondering why Yamato was being weird. He wasn't like this during their date.

"Well, if you don't mind, then that sounds fine with me," Ryo accepted her invitation if he made it to the next round.

The other guys tried to squeeze in a conversation with Tohru now and then, but Yamato would always counter it. That would make Tohru confused and angry. Her friends knew that Yamato was jealous and trying to impress her, but it wasn't working.

Uo was tempted to yell at him, but she liked the way it was going. The faces are the other guys were hilarious. Some were shocked at the fact that Yamato interrupted them that their jaw touched the ground, while others faces were red and about ready to fight him, but calming down was hard after Yamato was mocking them. One was ready to jump him. He was on the edge of his seat and then stood up, but then sat down.

After lunch, instead of going somewhere else to play the game, they stayed there. You really didn't need much to play this game, just paper, pen, and questions.

"Sooo…what kind of game are we playing if we don't have to leave here?" Ginta asked. He was hoping to get to go to places all over Tokyo today, but his hopes were crushed. They stayed at Tokyo Teen since the moment they got there. It wasn't that he did not enjoy it; it was because he wanted to see Tokyo. Ginta had only been at Tokyo for three years and still didn't know his way around and wanted to see the sites and all of Tokyo. After he graduated from college and before he was going back to America, he was going to visit every single place in Tokyo.

"I really want to get to know you guys better so this game is going to let me know you better. We're going to take turns picking a question from this cup," the singer started, placing a little cup in the middle of the table. "The person who picks it will read the question, and we all have to write it down. Then, we have to answer it based on our opinion. We'll share answers later, K?" Tohru said, happy that she was finally going to get to know them better. Yamato was the only one she really knew out of all of them.

"If none of you'll start, I will," the ex-Yankee said, taking charge. She pulled a random question from the cup and smirked. "If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?"

After a few minutes of answering the question, it was Tohru's turn to ask a question. "What is your favorite room in the house and why?" she read the question.

Hana was next. "What is your favorite color and why?"

The guys scribbled something down and Ryo picked a question. "If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be and why?"

The game went on like this for an hour. By that time, Hana glanced at her watch and knew that it was almost time to leave.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's already two, and it takes us a quarter of an hour to drive back. Why don't we share answers now?" Hana said in her normal mysterious voice.

"Really Hana-chan? Wow, time sure flies. OK, I'll go first then," Tohru said, reading off the first question. "If I had three wishes, I would wish for one: my parents to be here with me," Tohru paused as Uo, Hana, and her had a moment of silence for them. "Two: everyone to be happy and not have to bear so much pain. Three: I hope that Hana-chan and Uo-chan can find someone that they'll love the most like they are doing for me."

Hana and Uo burst out in tears and hugged Tohru. No one dared disturbed them. After they broke the hug and stopped shedding tears, it was Hana's turn to answer the question. "I would wish for my friends happiness and that they would never change, hope that Tohru will find someone that she'll love, and live in peace knowing that my friends will be with me forever.

"Hana-chan," Tohru said, as she started crying again. A few minutes more, it was Ryo's turn. "Err…I would wish for my family to be safe and healthy, find the person I'm destined to be with for the rest of my live, and wish for us to be happy and healthy." He really meant that because his family might own a company, but his mother wasn't doing well. She's been in the hospital for a month now and hasn't recovered. His dad had been taking too many days off and everything else was getting put back because of that.

Yamato looked at his paper. He had wished to win Tohru and be famous. He couldn't think of another wish so he left the third blank for the third wish blank. He thought that Ryo had made up his answer to impress Tohru. Well…two could play at that game.

"Nakano-kun, what did you wish for?" Tohru asked, turning her attention to him now.

"Nothing much. I just said I wanted world peace, all the diseases to be curable, and all the children could have loving parents that didn't have to leave them,' Yamato lied. While the rest answered, Yamato quickly changed his answers that showed him to be really, really greedy and selfish.

Hana raised an eyebrow, but no one noticed. She knew that his waves had a feeling for nervousness and a hint of what he said was unsure to him. That only meant that he was lying.

After Yamato was Sano. He wanted kids to be eager to learn, teachers should get pay more, and everyone to be happy.

Yakumo's reply to the question was he wanted to pay off his college loans, wanted to get a girlfriend, and want to be rich. It was selfish, but at least he was telling the truth. Yakumo was a little ashamed to answer because he knew that all the others who went had something decent that didn't evolve them.

The last guy to go was Ginta. He wished to be a pro basketball player, get more money, and his family to be safe and healthy.

Last, but not least was Uo. She wished for pretty much what Tohru and Hana wanted. She wanted her friends to be happy and always here for her, Tohru to find a guy to settle down with, and a car. The blonde was tired of riding around in a limousine. It caused too much of a scene. A nice red convertible will do. She could take Tohru and Hana anywhere without causing fans to act up so often.

This time, Tohru and Hana didn't cry, but just hugged Uo for what seemed like forever, but it was in fact ten minutes. Those ten minutes, Tohru noticed the time and gasped.

"OMG! Hana-chan, Uo-chan, it's almost three-thirty. We have to be there at three-thirty," Tohru said as she started freaking out.

"Oh, I guess time flies when you're having fun. Anyway boys, pass the paper down so we…I mean, Tohru-kun, can read them later," Uo ordered.

Everyone passed it down without much of a care except few were embarrassed on their answer on some of the question.

'Good thing I changed my answers,' Yamato thought.

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Author's Note: And so ends another chapter. I DON'T own the song 'My Boo'.

Speaking of, this chapter is dedicated to Pearl Dragon because she is so freakin' awesome as to help me! THANKS A BUNCH TO YOU!

R&R SIL VOUS PLAIT!