Bonsoir (it's about 9:00 PM) my wonderful readers! It's now the third chapter of Unexpected, and it's come sooner than I thought it would! Thank you so much for the reviews and thank you for reading! I'm actually very pleased with the way this story is unfolding, and sometimes I don't even know what's going to happen in the upcoming chapters (but I do know what's going to happen in the next chapter) and I find myself just typing away! I guess that was the case for this chapter. I hope you all enjoy it, because you all deserve it! Have fun reading!

Title: Unexpected
Author: Swaying Cherry Blossoms
Chapter: Cooking and Martial Arts
Summary: Tohru Honda's mother and Kyo Sohma's father have been friends for thirty years and their children have never met. But on one fateful day, the two teens meet and their lives are changed forever.


I fought you for so long

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I should have let you in

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Oh how we regret those things we do

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And all I was trying to do was save my own skin

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But so were you

- Be My Escape by Relient K

Three days passed since the evening Kazuma and Kyo were over Tohru's house. Every time the phone rang Tohru would always cross her fingers, hoping it would be Kazuma calling to see if the four of them (meaning Kyoko, Kazuma, Tohru, and Kyo) could get together again sometime. The phone had barely rung during those days, and when it did, it was sometimes Tohru's grandfather, sometimes advertisements, and sometimes even bill collectors. The previous day, Tohru had received a phone call after school from one of her best friends, Arisa Uotani, inviting her and Kyoko out to dinner with her and their other best friend, Saki Hanajima, who was to be playing Cinderella in the school play. During dinner Tohru hadn't mentioned anything about meeting Kyo, but Kyoko did mention to Arisa and Saki that an old friend had come by for a visit. Tohru and Kyoko knew how protective of Tohru Arisa and Saki could be when it came to boys.

Tohru and Kyoko had also finished ticket selling … Well, almost. They had three tickets left, and they didn't know if going around the neighborhood would help, just in case a customer of theirs needed four or more. Kyoko told Tohru she would call some people she knew to see if any of them were interested in going to the play.

It was then that the phone rang for the first time that day. It was after school and Tohru was preparing lunch for Kyoko as she came in the kitchen and picked the receiver up from the base that hung on the wall. She greeted the person on the other line, paused, and then smiled. Tohru could tell from her smile that it was Kazuma who was calling, and Tohru continued to prepare lunch, a smile on her face as well. Kyoko and Kazuma talked for about ten minutes before Kyoko hung up the phone and turned to Tohru. "We're going to go to Kazuma-chan's tonight for dinner, okay? If you don't want to, I can always call him up and tell him that another night's better"

"Oh, I'd love to go to Shishou-san's tonight!" Tohru exclaimed, her smile growing wider. "I'm sure we'll have as much fun as we did Saturday night! Should I cook something to bring over as a thank you for having us?" Kyoko nodded, smiling. "Sure! We can go to the grocery store if you need anything." She then raised her right eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest, her smile turning into a smirk. "Since when did you start calling him 'Shishou-san'? I've only heard his students call him that." Tohru wiped her hands on her apron. "Oh, Kyo-san called him that while we were on our walk! I guess I kind of picked that up from him." Tohru turned to the counter so her mother couldn't see her face turn red.

Tohru and Kyoko went to the grocery store after Kyoko had her lunch. Tohru bought ingredients to make a cake, being that Kazuma had enjoyed the cake she made on Saturday night almost as much as he enjoyed the sukiyaki. It was six o'clock by the time the cake was baked and frosted, and Kyoko and Tohru were expected at Kazuma's by seven. Tohru remembered Kyo mentioning that he and Kazuma didn't live at the dojo, and she made sure that Kyoko knew.

"Yup, Kazuma-chan told me on the phone," Kyoko said. "I don't even know where the dojo is, remember. Kazuma-chan and Orange—" Kyoko called Kyo 'Orange' because of his hair color "—just moved here from Kyoto a few weeks ago. Kazuma-chan said that his house isn't as close as the dojo is, so we'll probably take my car."

By seven Tohru had changed out of her school uniform (she hadn't any time to change when she got home) and into a long-sleeved turtleneck dress. The dress was black at the torso but when it was the actual dress itself, which started at the waist, it was printed with colorful flowers.

They arrived at Kazuma's home, after Kyoko had passed it several times, at ten after seven. Kazuma was rather amused when Kyoko explained why they were a little late and he showed them to the dining room where Kyo was already sitting, arms folded over his chest, staring at the food on the table with a grimace on his face. Tohru followed his gaze, which led her eyes to the center of the table where the food was set. Tohru couldn't even make out what it was, for the food was completely black. She felt herself sweat drop as she put on a nervous grin. Behind her, she heard Kyoko laugh. "You never were a good cook, were you?" she told Kazuma teasingly. Tohru didn't hear Kazuma respond, but she did hear him chuckle. Kyoko then patted Tohru on the back. "Tohru here can make dinner if you want! She's a great cook! Maybe she can look for something to make in your refrigerator and cabinets?"

"That would be good," Kazuma replied. "I just wish I had the ingredients for sukiyaki!" He laughed, now talking to Tohru, "That sukiyaki on Saturday night was just wonderful! And I'm sure that cake you baked—thank you for making it, by the way. You really didn't have to—will be wonderful too. But maybe Kyo could help you find something to make, Tohru-san? He's pretty good at cooking."

Kyoko and Tohru both looked at Kyo. Tohru was smiling and Kyoko began laughing. Kyo shot Kazuma a scornful look as he got up and went to the kitchen. Kazuma began to laugh to himself as Kyo slammed the dining room door shut. "Don't mind him," he told Kyoko and Tohru. "He's just shy, that's all. Tohru-san, you can go in the kitchen and cook something if you'd like." Tohru nodded, opening the dining room door after she had set her cake on the table. "Okay! What would you two like me to make?"

"Surprise us," Kazuma simply said. Tohru nodded once again and slid the paper sliding door shut, hearing Kyoko say "What the hell did you try to make?" as she started down the hall, looking for the kitchen. The hall was scarcely furnished, with an occasional table set against the wall, some plants ahead of her in the corners, and paintings on the walls. Once Tohru heard the clanging of pots and pans in the room next to her, she slowly slid open the paper door to see Kyo on his knees in front of a cabinet. Tohru smiled to herself as she quietly stepped into the kitchen and slid the door shut. She walked over to the counter and stood next to Kyo, whose head was now in the cabinet, for he seemed to be looking for something specific. Tohru thought that maybe he knew she was there, but was ignoring her, yet there was the possibility that he didn't know she was there. Tohru placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Kyo-san?"

Kyo quickly picked up his head, banging it on the top of the cabinet. He groaned and began to rub it as pots and pans came spilling out of the cabinet. They all landed on Kyo's lap and the floor, making loud crashing noises. Kyo took his head out of the cabinet and turned to Tohru. "What the hell! Why did you sneak up on me like that! Shit, you could've at least knocked or something before you came in! Or at least you could've been a little louder!" He shoved the pots and pans out of his lap as he began to pile them back into the cabinet, obviously forgetting what he was looking for. Tohru began to stammer as she stepped back a little bit.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry K-Kyo-san! I didn't know I-I'd scare you like that! I'm so sorry!" She bowed repeatedly. Kyo took a second to turn away from the cabinet and look at Tohru. Her voice and face were one hundred percent sincere when she said how sorry she was, and Kyo realized that he was too hard on her. He turned away, smacked himself in the face, and stood up as he closed the cabinet. He took a folded apron from off the counter and handed it to Tohru. "So? You got any ideas of what you can cook?" Tohru stared at Kyo for a minute, surprised at how his mood suddenly changed, and hesitantly took the apron he offered. "Hm …" she started. "It depends on what you have in the cabinets and the refrigerator!"

Kyo looked through the cabinets and the refrigerator, finding only a box of curry in one of the cabinets. He took it out and stared at it, then handed it to Tohru. "I guess you can make this," he told her. "You already know where the pots and pans are. If you need anything else, just ask Shishou." Kyo started for the sliding door as Tohru quickly grabbed his arm. As Kyo turned around, Tohru blushed at her boldness. "Eh, um … Would you like to cook dinner with me, Kyo-san? Shishou-san said that you're a very good cook!" Kyo grimaced. "I know he did, I was in the room when he said it, you know. But I'm not that great of a cook. Sure, I'm better than Shishou—pft, a helluva lot better—but," he lowered his head, his voice softening, "I don't think I could compete … with your cooking."

"Kyo-san, this apron is so cute!"

Kyo looked up, his face beat red, to see Tohru admiring the apron she now had on. Kyo breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn't heard his compliment and he turned away and shrugged. The apron Tohru was wearing was white and red striped, similar to a candy cane. "Do you wear this apron when you cook, Kyo-san?" Tohru asked. "Hell no!" Kyo hollered. "What kind of man would cook with an apron?" And Kyo was telling the truth; he never wore that apron when he cooked. He just didn't want Tohru to think he did if he answered casually. "Oh, okay!" Tohru laughed. "Shall we start making the curry then?" Kyo nodded, looking at the back of the curry box to see how it would be cooked. He got out the ingredients while Tohru got out the needed supplies. Once they were ready, they began to prepare the dinner.

Little conversation was swapped during the making of the curry, but Tohru and Kyo talked more than they did on Saturday night during their walk. They talked about school and Tohru learned that Kyo didn't go to school, for he was home taught by Kazuma. Tohru then brought up Yuki Sohma, but regretted doing so. Tohru had asked Kyo if he and Yuki were first cousins and if they had a good relationship with each other. Tohru instantly saw Kyo's hand ball into a fist and his body stiffened. "I'd rather not talk about that asshole," he said through gritted teeth. Tohru quickly apologized for bringing Yuki up, but Kyo didn't say anything after that.

The curry was finished by eight, and Tohru brought it into the dining room where Kyoko and Kazuma sat, talking happily as they did on Saturday. Tohru served everyone, then gave herself a plate of the food, and then they all sat down to eat. Kazuma and Kyoko enjoyed the curry very much, and complimented both Tohru and Kyo for making such an enjoyable dinner. They ate the cake after dinner was finished, and found that wonderful too. Kyo hadn't spoken all throughout dinner, as he had on Saturday, but Tohru felt somewhat relieved that he had opened up to her a little bit while they made dinner. After dinner and dessert were finished, Kazuma suggested something to Kyo.

"Kyo, why don't you and Tohru-san go outside in front of the house? You can show her how good you are at martial arts." Tohru's eyes lid up. "Oh, that'd be wonderful! I'd love to see some martial arts, Kyo-san! Do you think you could show me some moves?" Kyo looked from Kazuma, his easy smile making Kyo want to spit at the idea, and then to Tohru, who's brightened face and hopeful eyes told him that he couldn't say no. But he couldn't make them think that he wanted to take her outside. No, he didn't. He had to. Kyo knew that refusing would be the wrong, and stupid, thing to do. "Fine," he said eventually, looking down at his feet as he got up and started out of the dining room. Tohru stood up, looking at her mother and Kazuma, then Kyo, and then her mother and Kazuma again. "Shouldn't we clean the dishes first?"

"Don't worry about that, Tohru-san," Kazuma said. "Your mother and I will clean them."

"Sure, it can't hurt us," Kyoko added, waving a hand. "You two go outside and have fun." Kyoko then winked at her daughter, causing Tohru's blood to rush to her face. She nodded, a nervous grin on her face, as she followed Kyo out of the dining room. Kyo took her jacket out of the closet for her and they headed outside once Tohru put it on. She questioned to Kyo why he didn't have his on, for it was quite a chilly evening. "Martial arts always gets me worked up, and I get hot regardless the temperature," he told her.

Kyo now felt uncomfortable standing in front of Tohru, having her wait for him to start showing her some martial arts. Instead, he thought of something else he could do.

"Do you know any moves?"

"Hm?"

"Do you know any martial arts moves?"

Tohru looked at Kyo, thinking for a minute. She thought of all the martial arts moves she'd seen on television and, recollecting them, she nodded. "Yup! I think I know a few moves!" Before Kyo could say anything, Tohru punched her arms about, shouting "Right! Straight!" as her punch landed on Kyo's arm. Tohru had punched as hard as she could, but it didn't appear that it had affected Kyo at all. What did happen was a smirk slowly played across Kyo's face after he stared at Tohru as if she had nine heads. It was the only thing closest thing to a smile Tohru had seen Kyo give her, and she felt her insides warm. "You know, you really suck. At martial arts, I mean," Kyo said.

For the rest of the night Kyo showed Tohru the correct way to do that move she had attempted, helping her place her arms in the right position and do the punch correctly. The two didn't know that an hour and a half had passed before Tohru finally got the hand of it, and she and Kyo both knew that it was time they went inside, for Tohru had school the next day. As they both walked back to the house, Kyo yearned to ask her a question but was afraid of the answer he might get. But as they got closer to the house, he felt the question sliding up his throat, sitting on his tongue, and then it spurt out of his mouth.

"Are there any tickets left to your school play?"


I'm sorry to say that chapter four might not come out until after I come back from vacation (see the bottom page of chapter two) … but if it does, it will be a miracle! As you can see, these chapters really don't take that long for me to write, so I just might update! I hope I do! I also hope that you all enjoyed this chapter, and it's actually a little longer too! If I don't update until after my vacation, I hope all enjoy the upcoming two weeks. You all deserve it!

xoxo Swaying Cherry Blossoms