Author's note: Yeah, I know that the last chapter was kinda weak, but It was late, and I had to make Kyou and Shawna friends SOMEHOW. So, yeah, I'm sorry. oh, yeah, and further on, there is a kissing scene that is almost pointlessly descriptive. I'm sorry for that, too. I was bored.

:-P

I was absolutely seething. Somehow, Jesse had managed to make me look like the bad guy in something I wasn't even aware was an issue! I was not out to destroy Kyou and Tohru's relationship, as he said, and I certainly did NOT want Yuki as well!

"JESSE!" I was pretty sure that steam was coming out of my ears.

"Yes?" Jesse asked, sweetly.

"You have absolutely lost you're mind! I am not some sort of relationship breaking SLUT!" I roared.

"See what I mean?" Jesse asked Dean, who had been talking to Jesse before I arrived. "She just yells at me when I've been nothing but nice."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Maybe you shouldn't provoke her if you don't want her yelling at you." I was glad that Dean was on my side.

"What-? I never-" Jesse started.

"Save your bullshit for someone who actually believes you." A voice cut in from behind us. we all turned to see Kyou. "I can hang out with whoever I want to hang out with, and so can Shawna. If she wants to be my friend, then she should be able to be my friend without a nosey, good-for-nothing cousin starting vicious rumors about her." Kyou's voice was a low growl.

Jesse stared at him stunned. "So what are you saying?"

"A bit dense, are we?" I muttered under my breath.

"First of all, Tohru and I are NOT going out, thus there would be no relationship for Shawna to break into. Second of all, Do you think Shawna would want a damn rat like that?" Kyou was amused by the looks going across Jesse's face before he stomped away.

As Kyou walked away, I ran after him, and gently took his elbow, guiding him to our 'secret spot'. Really It was a small garden where nobody goes.

"Thanks for the save." I breathed.

"No problem. That's what friends are for, right?" Kyou smiled softly. Even though we hang out together regularly, it never ceases to amaze me how different Kyou was when we were alone then he was with others. When I had asked him about it, he said he felt safe with me, like what he tells me will be fully appreciated and not cast aside. He said that when he was with me, he felt like he didn't have to push me away or hide anything from me. And he didn't.

"Yes." I smiled back at Kyou.

"Can I tell you a story?" Kyou asked.

"If you like. I'll listen." I actually loved to listen to Kyou talk. I would close my eyes, let the sun warm my skin, and listen. I truly felt at peace when I he spoke.

"There was this one time, when I was upset because I had snapped at Tohru again. I was curled up on the porch when Shigure found me. He gave me a whole speech, but a summary of it is that one day, a girl will tell me she loves me, and he asked what would I do then. I said i would probably ask her if she was sane. The ironic thing was that Tohru told me that she loved me not two hours later. Of course, she was proclaiming her love for the cat in the Zodiac, but I was surprised. I didn't realize until later that that wasn't the kind of love Shigure was talking about. But now, I think I know what he meant, only... nobody has told me they love me. I... I think I've fallen for the girl. It's kinda scary, you know? I never thought I would be capable of loving anyone..." Kyou's voice trailed off.

"Well now you know you can. Who's the lucky girl?" I asked. Even as I said that, I felt something drop to my stomach, and my chest hurt. Not understanding these feelings, I kept my eyes shut.

"Well, you know her..." Kyou said softly.

"Tohru?" The name jumped off my lips and I felt the pain increase. 'What is this, heart burn?' I thought.

"No." There was an indistinguishable sound in his voice.

"Not Kaia?" I questioned. The pain doubled.

Suddenly, something soft and moist brushed my lips. My eyes shot open, and I realized how close Kyou's glittering red orbs were. Before I could react, Kyou leaned in again and kissed me for a second time. "Does that answer your questions?" he murmured.

"I think so..." I whispered. "Maybe we should try it one more time to make sure..."

Kyou's face got closer again and his lips brushed mine. We stayed that way for a few moments, and I realized that Kyou's rough exterior was totally gone with one soft kiss. I'd seen TV, and how those guys were always smashing their lips against the poor girls lips and shoving their tongues into the girl's mouth. Kyou didn't do this. He softly placed his lips against mine, as if I was a precious gem that could be shattered. He was almost waiting for me to tell him he was allowed to move his mouth against mine and waiting for me to grant him access to explore my mouth with his tongue. I quickly granted him these privileges, moaning softly into his mouth at the heat and intensity of the kiss.

Finally we pulled apart, gasping for air. I was at a loss for words, and, if I didn't know better, he seemed to shy to say anything. "M- maybe I shouldn't have done that..." Kyou stuttered. This was even more uncharacteristic.

"You know," I said, attempting to comfort him. "That was my first kiss. I wouldn't let just anyone steal away my first kiss. Only someone who was really really important to me." It was the best I could do. I wasn't used to having, let alone voicing these emotions.

He looked at me and smiled softly. Then he gathered me into his arms. I loved the feeling of his arms around me. "I wish this moment would last forever..." I whispered, snuggling into his chest.

"Me, too." Kyou replied.

"I- I think that you've opened a flood gate... I'm feeling things... I've never felt before, and I don't just mean being held like this. I don't really know what these emotions are, but I know kissing you and being held by you... it feels so right." I was at a loss for words once again.

"I know." Kyou began to gently stroke my back along my spine, sending warm tingle feelings all over my body. I again, I had no idea what these feeling were, but I knew I didn't want him to stop.

After a while, he did stop. Gently, he hoisted me to my feet with him. "I think I know what I feel." Kyou said. "These words... they linger at the tip of my tongue, longing to be spoken to you... may I?" I nodded, nervously. "I love you." It was almost a whisper, but I could hear it.

Then it all clicked into place. The pain was jealousy, and the warmth was love. It had to be. They were two of the emotions I kept locked away, where nobody could find them, so I couldn't be hurt. Somehow, Kyou had managed to unlock the big steel door holding them captive.

"I love you, too." I whispered the words I swore I would never utter again as long a I lived.