Chapter 29

TT: To anyone who wants to know why I didn't update last week – I did a special chapter for Valentines Day, placed in my 'Eyes of the cat; holiday special'. (It was the Christmas special before I extended it). No, no real romance, just a bunch of amusement and teasing by Eris.

Did you people know that this chapter and my last one actually had a purpose? They're here to enforce the fact that time is in fact moving on, and specific dates are gradually growing closer…

Or you could just ignore my attempt at foreboding just enjoy the story. Review people, TT likes reviews very much!

Dark Inu – Surprising, yes. However, I'll leave that plot idea for you, should you choose to use it.

Dyeh – You have my sympathies, poor little learner. I didn't get any self-confidence until I first drove on my own.

SillyLittleNothing – precisely why Kyo and Yuki would never let Shigure attempt to teach Tohru to drive. In any case, I don't think they'll be a chapter on Tohru learning to drive, sorry. (Use your imagination?)

Karlis – It's fun coming with names for them too – so long as I can think of any. I like to think they add to Eris' personality.

Tohru-kun – You didn't see me the first few times dad attempted to make me drive; I say this was based on experience for a reason.

Shadow Fox – that you for being the one to remind of facts I'd rather pretend didn't exist. -.- The truth is harsh, but that's the way it is, and I much prefer it to pleasant lies – or at least that's what I'll claim.

Hippo Thief – I've no doubt Eris will deem Hiro 'prank material'.

Kat – The clutch is difficult, but using it is the most necessary skill with a manual. Because without the clutch, the car will stall the moment you turn on the engine. You can't start the car without the clutch! (See the problem?)

"Say, Eris?"

The ghost tilted her head, from reading Kyo's book over his shoulder, to look at the cat, "Mmm, what is it, NeKyo?"

The cat looked thoughtful, staring at the calendar in front of him, "I could be wrong – but hasn't it been a year since we met? I sure that, this day last year, was when you suddenly decided to start following me."

Eris followed his gaze to the calendar; "I don't know about the day – I hadn't paid attention to dates in decades until I followed you home. But I remember – you'd gone and bought a newspaper, and I decided to follow you – you looked interesting with that hair colour. But then you suddenly just knew I was there – it really freaked me out, but it also made me excited; someone could see me, and would talk to me!" She smiled softly, "I think you were the first living person who'd been able to do that in 10 years." Her smile grew larger, "Do we buy a cake to celebrate?"

Kyo snorted, "Yeah, you wish." He put the book down, moving over on the couch a little so Eris could move through it to sit next to him, "I never thought I'd see you again after that day – wasn't exactly interested, either, I'd decided that ghosts were all the same – more trouble than they're worth."

Eris gave Kyo a sad and pitiful look, "Am I that much trouble, Kyo?"

The cat gave her an incredulous look, "Are you kidding – of course you are! Just look at how much chaos you cause on a daily basis." His expression changed to something softer, and he shrugged, "But then again, with you it was worth it – you threatened Akito, after all!"

"I lost my temper, that's all. There's no need to go on about it all the time – it could've happened to anyone."

"You froze him in ice!"

"Anyone could do that, too! …All they'd need is to dump him in a bath of liquid nitrogen."

Kyo scoffed, "Don't tell me you paid attention to that old TV program we were shown in chemistry? That thing nearly put me to sleep!"

"Hey, I'll have you know that those weird chemistry shows make great inspiration for pranks! Were do you think I learnt to recipe for stink-bombs I gave you?"

"The internet?"

"…"

"…"

"…Well, alright, I'll admit – I double-checked the recipe on the internet. But I learnt it in a chemistry class years ago!"

Kyo let out a snort of amusement, "You know, for some reason, I have a feeling of déjà vu."

"Oooh, I bet its something to do with the ouija board! It's come back to haunt you're mind!" Eris wiggled her fingers in front of Kyo's face, "Woooo!"

Kyo batted her arm away, "Quit it – that thing was evil, and I did everyone a favor by getting rid of it, now stop going on about it."

"Aww, fine. " Eris stuck her tongue out at him childishly. A few seconds of silence, and then she flopped back on the couched and tucked her arms behind her head, "I guess that we should stop Yuki from putting his shoes on, seeing as this is a no prank day, huh?"

Kyo froze for a moment, and then slowly turned his head to look at Eris, "What did you do to his shoes."

There was a startled, almost girlish cry from down the hall, muted by a closed door, which sounded suspiciously like 'EEEEYUUCK!'

"Um, well you know that custard that Tohru had leftover from last night?" Eris' eyes moved to look to the top-left, adverting her gaze from Kyo's.

"The custard that was gone this morning, that everyone figured Shigure had eaten during the night?"

"Ehehe, yeah, that. Well… It made his shoes smell better?"

"What did Yuki do that made you do that to him?"

"Well, lets see; he called me a figment of your imagination, and said that he wished you'd choke on a hairball?"

Kyo raised an eyebrow, "And it wasn't the latter part that made you do that to him, was it?"

Eris smirked evilly. True, her own existence was a bad subject to get on with the ghost. Because if you suggested she didn't exist, in any shape or form, then she'd react in one of two ways. Firstly, she could burst into tears and run to Kyo for comfort – this meant that Kyo would come after you and inevitably demand you apologies so that she calmed down, but was much preferred to the latter approached. Because the second approach involved her doing various tasks to prove that she could react with the real world, and hence exist. And Eris seemed to have no end to her inspiration of pranks.

Yuki stormed out of his room, holding his sneakers in one hand – his socks squelched with every step he took.

The rat's face was red with pent-up frustration, and his furious gaze rested on Kyo. In almost an instant, he was standing next to the cat, holding him by the collar of his shirt. "You… You tell that invisible shell of ectoplasm that if she pulls one more – just one more – prank on me then I will – I'll, I'll – argh!"

Kyo smirked slightly, finding it almost satisfying to be calm as his cousin last his composure, "And what, exactly, do you want me to tell her?"

Yuki took a deep breath, lowering his head so that his eyes were covered by his hair, letting go of Kyo's collar in the process, "Just – just ask her to stop with the pranks… please."

Kyo paused, looking to the side for a moment, "Eris says 'Okay'."

Yuki's head shot up, "What?"

Kyo shrugged, "Well, she says that all you had to do is ask." And with that, he stepped around stunned Yuki, and walked down the stairs. Beside him floated Eris, whistling. "Come on, Eris – lets go get that cake."

For several more moments, Yuki stood still, his expression stunned. How long had he been attempting to remain calm and simply ignore these pranks, when he could have had them ended by simply asking?

The rat of the zodiac found that he suddenly, desperately, wanted to scream.