Disclaimer: Not mine.

Author's Note: Just keep reading, I guess…

Chapter Four: Gotta do what's right

The next morning was their first day of school. Jenny was very nervous, so she had hardly gotten to sleep. When her alarm went off, though, she was wide-awake, and wasted no time in getting on her uniform and heading downstairs. The others were still asleep, and the house was quiet. Hmm…maybe I set my alarm a bit early…

Giving her shirt a nervous tug, Jenny went into the kitchen to start breakfast- but then she realized she had no idea what to serve. She didn't want to go over the top with the American food thing, so she searched around for some clues. Luckily, she found a cookbook in the back of one of the top cabinets. Translating as best she could, she started cooking, and she heard the others start to get up and start their day. Shigure walked into the kitchen first, and smiled.

"Already got a start on your day, I see," He commented, "Are you excited about school?"

Jenny nodded, checking the rice. "Oh, yes," she said, "Very excited! I'm just wondering what this school will be like."

"Well, I'm sure that they'll all just love you there!" Shigure assured.

Yuki walked in, smiled politely at Jenny, and then did a double take.

"Maiso-san," Yuki asked, "What are you wearing?"

Turning around, Jennifer blanched. Yuki was wearing the same uniform as she was- the same dark blue shirt, the same navy pants. The only difference was that he wore a necktie, and Jenny had opted not to- she never could figure out how to tie one.

"This- this is the uniform…that they delivered…Is it not right?" Jenny asked in a tiny voice, afraid of the answer.

But before Yuki could reply, Tohru came bounding down the stairs, smiling as always. Jenny saw what the real uniform looked like- the sailor blouse, skirt, and knee socks- and blushed. However, it didn't seem to phase Tohru at all that Jennifer was wearing the boy's uniform. Instead, she smiled and said, "Wow- that looks very good on you, Jeni-kun! You look so grown up!" with such sincerity that Jenny knew she wasn't making fun.

Yuki sighed. "First Momiji, now this…" he muttered under his breath, going into the living room.

Jenny turned to Tohru, nearly in tears "Oh no! Tohru-kun! What am I going to do? I didn't know this was the boy's uniform, and I wanted so much to fit in with everyone, and now…"

"You'll be fine!" Tohru assured, "Not everybody follows the dress rules. They aren't even real rules- more like guidelines. I know a boy who wears the girl's uniform, and everybody loves him!"

Not all together comforted, Jenny started to fix plates for everyone while Tohru went into the living room also.

Shigure, who had been watching all of this from the doorway, grinned. "Tohru-kun is right, you know," he said, "Everyone will love what a fashion statement you're making, and they'll be dying to get to know you better. Hey- you might even start a fashion trend!"

"I guess so…"Jenny replied, grinning a bit at the thought. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs behind her, and she heard Shigure say, "Good morning, Kyo!". Jenny turned around to smile at Kyo. "Good mo-" she began, but stopped at the look on his face.

"JUST HOW STUPID ARE YOU?" Kyo demanded angrily.

"Wha-?"

"You're wearing the boy's uniform! Do you really want to be a guy that much? Don't you even care about how you're going to look in front of everybo-"

But Kyo never got to finish. Yuki, who had come back in the kitchen once Kyo had started yelling, kicked Kyo hard in the back, making him fall. Yuki stepped over Kyo towards the counter, and grabbed a plate of food, but Kyo knocked it out of his hands, sending the plate crashing to the ground. At the sound of the plate breaking, Tohru came in nervously

"What's the big idea?" Kyo shouted.

"You were insulting our guest," Yuki answered calmly.

"She's dressed as a guy- someone needs to tell her something!"

"It wasn't her fault that they delivered the wrong uniform. Besides, why should you care what she wears? It's her decision, you know,"

Kyo's face went pink, and he clenched his fist, scowling. "Don't act all superior to me!"

"I wouldn't have to if you didn't behave like an idiot." Yuki replied.

"Shut up!" Kyo shouted, pulling back his fist.

Jenny, knowing what was about to happen, rushed between the boys, trying to stop them from fighting. "Don't-!" She started, but it was too late.

Kyo sent her crashing to the floor, and she landed amidst the shards of the broken plate. The room went still, and Jenny was shocked- too shocked to do anything. He hit me! He really punched me! I…I can't believe it.

But soon her shock turned to pain and rage. She flung her leg out, hitting Kyo on the back of the knees, and sending him to the ground as well. Jenny stood, and looked Kyo in the face. His eyes were wide with surprise, and something else- perhaps fear?- and Jennifer looked down on him, her own face taught and her eyes dark.

"I will not allow you to treat me that way, Sohma-bocchan." Jenny stated icily, her fists clenched. She turned, and walked up to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Damn," Kyo swore under his breath, getting to his feet.

"I'm going to see her," Tohru said, walking over to the staircase. "Maybe one of my uniforms will fit her…"

Shigure sighed, "Well, you know Kyo-kun, it really was only a matter of time until someone let loose on you. You can't treat people that way without thinking of what they might-"

"Shut up!" Kyo screamed…then he added softly, "I know…"

Yuki, however was furious. "Listen," he said quickly, "I know that you don't like that she's here, and that you're afraid she might find out about us. Everyone else here is worried about that, too, but to just attack her like that is not acceptable. She's just a girl-You could have really hurt her! She isn't as strong as other people you fight, like me and Haru- you'll have to be more careful."

"God, shut up, okay?" Kyo asked, grabbing a broom and sweeping up the remnants of the plate. Tohru came back downstairs, looking troubled.

"The uniform didn't fit her," Tohru said sadly, "She's taller than me, and there's no way we could make it work. She's going to order the right uniform, but she'll just have to wear the one she has until it's delivered in a couple of days."

Yuki picked up his school bag, and handed Tohru hers. "It's about time we left, anyway. Kyo- you'll have walk Maiso-san to school."

"What? Why do I have to do it?" the orange haired boy asked.

"Honda-san has to meet her friends for something," Yuki said, walking out after Tohru, "And I have to get there early to set up for orientation. Besides, she doesn't know how to get there, so she couldn't go alone. There's no way around it Kyo- you'll have to go with her,"

"Fine!" he answered, throwing the plate shards away, and sitting in the living room.

Shigure, walking past on his way to his study, offered, "You also might want to take that opportunity to apologize to Jeni-kun. She looked pretty upset."

Kyo didn't answer, and Shigure moved on. A few minutes later, Jenny walked slowly down the steps and into the living room, halting when she saw only Kyo sitting there. Kyo looked around, saw it was her, and stood up.

"The others have already left," He informed her, picking up his bag, "I'm gonna show you the way to school."

Jenny nodded, not looking him in the face, and picked up her bag as well, following him out the front door. Now what do I do? He's walking me to school when he could have just left me, but Tohru-kun or Shigure-san may have made him wait for me. Now I almost feel bad about hitting him… Jenny rubbed her upper arm unknowingly, and tears sprang to her eyes. I just wanted us to be friends…

Damn… Kyo was thinking at the same time, I can't believe I hit her. She must really hate me now. She got in front of that damn rat, and I just couldn't stop in time. But she still has a right to be mad at me, I guess. What do I do now? Kyo looked over just as Jenny began to cry, and stopped walking.

"Hey…" he said tentatively, "Are you…okay?"

Lifting her tear-stained face to look at him, Jenny nodded and wiped her eyes.

"Look- I didn't mean to hit you, okay?" Kyo tried to explain, "Also…I don't think you're stupid, and I take back what I said about you wanting to be a guy. You can wear what you want….It's just…Listen, this is the way I am…and I'm not good at this sort of thing, so…Just don't cry anymore, okay?"

Is he trying to apologize? Jenny mused. Is that why he's walking me to school? To try and make it up to me?

Jenny gave a smile of relief.

"I wasn't crying because you hit me," She clarified, "I was crying because I thought you hated me!"

"Huh?"

"What I'm saying is, I'm not mad at you. I couldn't be mad at you! I love you! I love you all so much! You and Yuki Sohma-bocchan, and Tohru-kun, and Shigure-san- You opened up your home to me and welcomed me into your life completely. I'll never be able to thank you enough! I mean, um, I want us to be friends!"

Blushing a bit, Kyo turned away, and continued walking. Jenny followed, walking next to him for a while when he suddenly asked quietly, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Hm?" Jenny asked.

"When I hit you- did I hurt you real bad?" Kyo asked a bit louder so she could hear.

Jenny shook her head and smiled, glad he was worried. "You missed my face," she said, sliding up her sleeve, "and hit my arm, but it's not that bad…"

This was a major understatement- there was a very bad looking bruise on her upper left arm that was quickly turning very ugly shades of blue and purple. Kyo's eyes widened, and Jenny quickly pushed back down her sleeve.

"It doesn't hurt!" she said, "Really, I'm okay. It doesn't hurt at all, so don't worry…"

Kyo didn't answer. Soon, they arrived at school, and as he had expected, lots of people turned to look at Jenny. A few even pointed and laughed out loud. But Jenny just kept a small smile on her face.

Jenny saw him look at the ground, obviously embarrassed to be seen with her, so she said very softly so only he could hear, "You know, you don't have to walk with me anymore. I can find my way from here."

But Kyo, noticing a group of rowdy third year boys looking at them and trying to make their way closer to her, shook his head. "Nah, it doesn't matter. I'll show you where your classes are. The teachers get mad if you're late…"

A small commotion, however, had gotten Jennifer's attention. Some second year boys were playing keep-away with a first-year girl's backpack. They laughed and tossed it to each other, while the little girl cried, wailing for them to give it back. Jennifer marched over, snatched the bag out of the air, and glared at the troublemakers.

"Get out of here," she ordered angrily, "unless you're willing to take on a girl more your size."

The boys quickly made themselves scarce, and Jenny knelt by the girl, returning her books to her. "There you go," Jenny said, giving an encouraging smile, "If they bug you again, you just tell me okay?"

The little girl grinned, and said, "Thank you, Ane-san!" before rushing off inside. Kyo was surprised- he would never have thought to help that little girl, but it seemed like such a big thing to Jenny.

Scowling a bit, he said, "You do realize that everyone was staring at you, right? First those clothes, and now you pull something like this- I thought you wanted to fit in."

Jenny smiled, "I do, but that doesn't matter. That girl needed help, so I helped her. No matter what others say or think about me, I gotta do what's right."

My two cents: Awww- wasn't that sweet? Now review!