Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Deeper Kyo nor Fruits Basket

IV

Kyoshiro smiled then gaily made his way to the phone. "Well, I feel that I should alert the head of the family about this."

"Uhm...head of the family?" Yuya looked at Akira questioningly, and heard a slight grunt from Kyo's direction.

"Nobunaga." Kyo's expression turned dark, as he crossed his arms in his typical manner before his chest. His eyes burned with hatred and bore straight through Yuya's mind. She could feel the cold air forming in the room, and felt that it wasn't simply hatred that formed it, but also a sense of fear, pain, and sadness.

Yuya didn't like the feeling she was getting. Her mind felt like it was being crushed by an invisible weight that emerged from no where. Her breathing slightly struggled, but she regained her senses in order to say, "I see, I guess it would be important to let him know. I mean, now that your secret is revealed to someone outside of the family and all."

She bowed her head in a gesture of 'I'm sorry,' but Akira shook his head and placed both of his hands gently on her shoulders. "Do not worry, Shiina-san. We believe that you will keep our secret."

Yuya nodded, and once again stroked the bandage tied tightly around her forearm. Watching her do this annoyed Kyo, and he didn't know why. She deserved it for turning him into a cat. No one outside of the zodiac was to know about the curse, yet she just waltzed right in and clumsily bumped into him! It was all her fault, not his. Not in any way was it his fault. Just thinking about this pisses me off! He unconsciously slammed his right fist into the wall behind him, causing it to slightly shake from his anger. Yuya shifted her attention over to Kyo, her eyes concerned. Damn it! Don't look at me like that! He stomped into the hallway and made his way up the steps, each step creating a pounding echo within the house.

"Uhm..." Yuya continued to stare at the doorway Kyo exited through, her emerald eyes focusing on the empty spot left behind.

"Do not worry about him, Shiina-san." He stood up and offered his hand to help her stand as well. "Come, it's getting late. I'm sure we'll find a way to redo the project or make up for it in some way. Do not worry." He smiled that prince-like smile of his and led her to the door, trying not to trip over the rubble that blocked their path to the doorway. "I'll walk you home."

"N-no!" Yuya immediately began swinging her arms frantically about her, causing Akira to raise his eyebrow in confusion.

"Is there something the matter, Shiina-san?"

"Nothing is the matter! I can walk myself home! I don't want to burden you anymore! I'll see you tomorrow! Bye!" She quickly made her way through the sliding door and made a dash for home.

I certainly hope that nothing is the matter. Akira turned around and found a suspiciously smiling Kyoshiro standing in the doorway staring at him. "What are you smiling about?" Akira's eyebrows lowered, causing his beautiful features to scrunch up in annoyance.

"What? Is it wrong to smile, Akira-san? It would help if you smiled every once in a while, it doesn't do your features justice you know." Akira glowered at Kyoshiro's remark which made Kyoshiro decide upon changing the subject. "By the way, He says that it will be fine to let Yuya-san be, which means, there is no need to erase her memory at this time."

Akira raised his eyebrow not liking where this was leading. "What do you mean, 'at this time?"

Kyoshiro chuckled, betraying a not-too-friendly tone in his laugh, sending a slight chill down Akira's spine. "Well, isn't the answer obvious? Of course if the secret somehow slips out from here, all memories concerned with the Mibu family will be erased from her memory." Kyoshiro turned around, about to head upstairs to talk Kyo into cleaning up his mess.

"Why were you at the high school today?"

Kyoshiro turned around, a half-frightened look forming on his face. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention that. Eheheheh..." He held the back of his head with one hand and his laugh faded.

"Forgot to mention what?" Akira became thoroughly annoyed by now. He had suspicions that something was up today, but...

"Hotaru will be staying with us for a few weeks. I just registered him to the high school this morning. That was how I encountered Yuya-san, and my, was she a wonderful way to greet my day? It was too bad I didn't encounter others as sweet and lovely as her..." As Kyoshiro continued his perverted little rant, Akira sighed, making his way to his room upstairs. I wonder what Kyo might say to this...

As Yuya made her way home, still shook up from the day's events, she looked up at the setting sun which glowed a deep crimson as it made its way under the horizon. They look just like his eyes. Yuya looked down at her injured arm and began to think to herself, I wonder what Uo and Hana may say? I better come up with some excuse. She stood there for a moment, her index finger pressed gently against her soft, pink lips contemplating a solution to her problem. She immediately dropped her arms and drooped her head. It's hopeless! I am terrible at lying! Then again...I can always tell them the truth. Just say a cat attacked me. Because...that's was literally happened. Yuya thought back to Akira's house and remembering Kyo's angry stare and the crushing feeling that went along with it, her body shuddered. I feel so horrible. How could they live like that? Always knowing that if they aren't too careful, their secret would be revealed. Without paying any attention to where she was walking she kept her head lowered and tripped on something, causing her to fall to the ground with a poof. Poof? Oh no! Not again! "I—"

"Hmm?" A young man, somewhat older than herself, with golden blonde hair and sharp, amber eyes stared back at her, confused at her panicked expression. She simply lay there sprawled on his lap, looking up at him with her eyes wide open.

Yuya quickly gathered herself and sat on her knees quickly replying, "I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going!" She made a quick nod and slowly looked up to view his face again. I'm just running into all kinds of good-looking guys today! Oh...I can imagine what Uo and Hana would say if they ever found out I encountered so many guys in one day. She shivered at the thought of electric sparks and flying fists flailing everywhere. Oh...the casualties...

"What do you want?" The young man just stared at her, somewhat bored and only half-interested in her existence.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say I was sorry."

He just continued to stare at her blankly. "Sorry about what?"

Yuya simply blinked at him, confused at his confusion. Y-you're kidding me, right? "Uhm...I just fell on you, don't you remember?"

He looked up at the sky as if the answer lay up there somewhere. He then turned to look at her once again and with a confused look on his face stated, "You're not Kyoshiro-san."

"Eh? Of course I'm not Kyoshiro-san! Do I look like a guy to you?" Now she was just growing irritated. Is he not listening to a single word I say or something? Or is he...just...dense? They stared each other down for a moment until Yuya finally gave in. "Uhm...are you looking for this person?" The young man nodded his head, finally allowing the conversation to lead somewhere productive. "Is his last name Mibu?" One again he nodded, his features sharpening from his previous blank expression. "I can take you to him!" Yuya jumped up, pulling him by his hand and indicated with her finger to follow. He simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged, following her lead. "My name is Yuya Shiina. What is your name?"

For once being focused on something, the young man responded, "Hotaru."

Author's note:

Alrighty! I at last squeezed in Hotaru-kun but which zodiac member will he be? Can you guess? And it seems that Yuya's personality is slowly creeping its way out. Then again, Hotaru would make anyone go insane when a one on one conversation with him is brought up. That just makes him all the more adorable! She only seems timid during the first few chapters because it's not everyday that you go prancing into a stranger's house and find out that they turn into animals. So, if you enjoy her firecracker attitude, it'll appear in time. Just give the characters a chapter or two to get used to one another.

I was also contemplating on who was to take Akito's place. Nobunaga and Sakuya were my final choices, but in the end I chose Nobunaga. I dunno...I know that Akito is a female, but Sakuya's personality is just way off, and I feel that Nobunaga could match Akito somewhat, and I mean, he is basically the head of the Mibu anyway, so why not?

I've pretty much left it open pairings wise. So, anyone could end up with Yuya. We'll see what happens. Anyway, Happy New Year! And thanks for reading and reviewing :)