Chapter 7

TT: Hey everybody, thanks for the reviews! A little explanation for last chapter to people like Kouseki Yume, who didn't like my focusing on my OC instead of the usual ones- I understand that you're here to read about my story because of Fruit Baskets, indeed, most chapters do indeed focus on Kyo, not Eris herself. But I, as a writer, feel that it's important to give my readers the chance to look into Eris personality by focusing essentially on her and not the rest of them, and did so last chapter. This will, probably, be the only time I do this in my story, so no fear- Eris won't intentionally steal the spotlight.

I could use advice on personalities, please, I'm not certain I'm getting them right and, though they'll probably remain a little OOC, I'd like to keep them as in character as much as possible. 'Specially Haru, since I'm not quite certain how I'll go with him- with the others I've at least had some practice.

Also, this is my first time using footnotes like this- more an experiment more than anything, so tell me how you like them. Thanks all!

Shigure looked away from his computer screen and let out a heavy sigh. Who would've thought he'd miss the fighting in his home every day? It was like something had been taken out of their routine- and his muse evidently didn't like it.

It was Kyo who his thoughts drifted too- the one who had, or so it seemed, changed overnight. He'd suddenly just stopped obsessing with challenging Yuki, over being better than him. Oh, he was still as hotheaded as ever, but- and this was the part that made Shigure's brows furrow in contemplation- he just stopped going on about beating the rat of the zodiac. At first, Shigure had thought maybe he was just in an odd mood, or brooding, but the behavior had been going on for weeks, possibly even more than a month, now. He hadn't changed, not really, he was still just as hot tempered, and seemed to hate Yuki just as much as he ever had. He just seemed more inclined to win their verbal fights than attack.

And that was another thing, when was Kyo so good at making those snappy replies he'd been giving Yuki as of late? While Kyo was by no means an idiot, in the past Yuki had always made him so mad that he'd never seemed capable of making that sort of reply to his cousin's insults. It was all very curious.

Shigure smiled to himself, still staring out the window, "Ahh, maybe it's just his hormones are settling."

Tohru hummed to herself as she worked in the kitchen, stirring the rice before her. There was something satisfying about the group enjoying her food, like she really had a purpose for being there. Turning away to chop some carrots to go with it, Tohru let her thoughts stray.

It had been rather quiet lately. Well, not really- the arguments between Yuki and Kyo hadn't changed, but there wasn't as much physical fighting. It was like Kyo had suddenly lost interest in his passion for beating Yuki.

Or maybe he was just biding his time?

Whatever the case, Tohru wasn't sure what to think. On one side, she was pleased that there was less fighting going on, but on the other she was concerned over what could have caused Kyo's sudden change. Oh, she hoped that Kyo hadn't lost heart, or become depressed, or something along those lines! Maybe she should see if he wanted to talk…

Yuki had seemed equally surprised at Kyo's lack of physical attacks. At first he had been suspicious, expected a sudden attack in almost every waking hour and tensing whenever Kyo entered the room. But, when Kyo didn't show any signs of going through with that sort of scheme, Yuki had faded from suspicious to simply wary of what kind of plan the cat had.

Tohru shook her head, whatever was up with Kyo, she had to believe that he'd come to her if there was a problem. And if he didn't, well, she'd just have to trust him.

She brought the knife down again, head still in the clouds, but abruptly came crashing back to earth with she cut the tip of a finger.

"Didn't you love the bit where Legolas and Gimli were having their 'competition' with the orcs, and Legolas destroys the war-elephant? And Gimli's quote- 'that still only counts as one!' is just hilarious! Still, at least it explains why Gimli won the game- did he win the game? Know he did in the book, because Legolas said something like 'I do not grudge you the game, so glad I am to see you on your feet'. Or, at least, it was something like that, I can't remember now…" (1)

"Mmm." Kyo tuned out the ghost's talking, instead content to finish his coke. There were many advantages to 'chilling out'- as Eris had been quick to dub it- with her instead of someone else. For one thing, when she had decided to drag him to the movies- on threat of keeping awake for the rest of his life- they only needed to buy one seat, and then simply put a jacket on the chair beside it as if it was saved, and Eris would sit there. For another thing, he didn't have to share the popcorn.

"And that scene with Arwen and Aragon near the end of the movie? It was so sappy! Didn't you hear the people in the row in front of us go 'aww!'?" (2)

"Mmm."

"Kyo! Are you even listening?"

"Mmm."

"Argh!" In frustration she shoved him in the shoulder, sending now familiar chills down his body as he tripped slightly under her attack. It seemed hard to believe that, two months ago at best, she couldn't even knock over a saltshaker without an unbelievable amount of concentration.

"Kyo?" The pair paused, glancing back at where the voice came from. A boy, with white hair that was black at the back, dressed in what looked almost like a bikie's clothes, was standing next to a tree, walking closer when the cat's eyes rested on him.

Eris spoke first, "Hey NeKyo, isn't that your cousin that what, a grade below you? And what's with all the leather, anywho, I thought you said he was the cow- so isn't he, like, wearing the skin of old friends or something. What did you say his name was again, anyway?"

"Haru." Kyo had long since gotten used to how to answer the ghost without making it look as if he were talking to thin air (usually). He sighed, "Lost again, cow?"

"Something like that."

Eris looked between the two, "Again? You mean you were serious when you said he could get lost in his own bedroom? Huh? Huh? Kyo, do something about this guy so you stop having to ignore me!" She gave him a half-hearted pout, trying to will her 'puppy-dog' eyes to the surface.

Kyo rolled his eyes- though if it was his cousin or Eris was hard to tell, "Alright, come on- and try not to get us al- both lost." And with that, Kyo turned, leading the ox towards closer towards the house.

Haru followed in relative silence, not wanting to push his luck with the temperamental cat this time. He'd been much calmer than he'd ever seen him in these past few weeks, but who knew how long that was going to last?

There must have been a cold breeze in the air, because all at once an ice-cold sensation ran down Haru's spine, causing him to shiver.

1.- Yes, they were watching the third LOTR's movie. Don't know why, that was just the first one that came to me- lets just say that this story takes place a couple of years ago, okay? ;;

2. My mum. No joke, she did during the 'kiss scene' in the third movie- I was sitting next to her at the time.