Kiss Kiss
By Lady of the Ink
Pairing: Kyou and Kagura Sohma
Fandom: Fruits Basket
Theme: #1- Look Over Here
Disclaimer: I don't own Fruits Basket, but you knew that . . .I hope. But I do own this story and all the twists that it takes.

Kiss Nine: This kiss is the first chapter of a multi-chapter AU story, with each chapter fulfilling a different theme.

The Life For Me

Chapter One
The Ruined Tea


"I can't believe that you're getting married in less than a week!"

It was mid-afternoon on a warm spring day. Brilliant sunshine poured through the large windows to illuminate the room within. It was a spacious area painted in a soft shade of yellow with white trim. The furniture was also white, its delicate construction marking its intended users as the slighter sex. The accents of the room – the curtains, rugs, throw pillows, and upholstering - were all a warm shade of butter yellow, looking wonderfully rich against their lighter backdrop. Even the tea service resting on the table at the center of the room matched, its daisy pattern having been specially ordered for just that reason.

Only the gowns of the women currently chatting broke the theme. The excited comment had come from Kagura Sohma, the hostess of the tea. The brunette was in the midst of refilling the cups and urging her friends to try the yummy cookies and cakes that were laid out. But even the seriousness with which she embraced her duties didn't keep a wistful smile from her face. She'd always been an unapologetic romantic and watching the love story between one of her closest friends and her cousin unfold filled her with happiness. They were two of the dearest people in the world to her and knowing that they would spend a long and joyful life together was almost as good as falling in love herself.

Almost.

She sighed lightly before continuing her earlier train of thought. "Is the dress finished yet? I'm dying to see it! From what you've described, you're sure to look like a princess when you walk down the aisle."

Tohru Honda blushed prettily at the implied compliment. "I'm going for my final fitting after I leave here. Ayame said that he's going to keep me there until he gets everything just right so I couldn't make any plans for the rest of the day. He won't even let me see the whole dress until the wedding but he seems so excited about surprising me that I don't mind waiting. I'm sure it'll be just beautiful."

Seated across from Tohru, Rin snorted. "Trust Ayame to do something so strange. How Yuki can stand some of his antics is beyond me. What kind of tailor keeps a bride from seeing her own dress? What if there's something you don't like?"

Kagura tapped her chin lightly with one finger. "You do have to admit that he's very good at what he does. I'm sure that everything he picks will be perfect because he knows he'll have to deal with all of us if it isn't."

Rin didn't look convinced. "I agree that his stuff usually comes out okay, but do you really think that any kind of retribution would be enough to keep him from doing something stupid once he gets it in his head?"

The truth in that statement made Kagura pause. Before she could come up with a response, Tohru quickly sat her cup back into its saucer and turned wide eyes toward her cousins-to-be. "It's not a problem, really! I trust Ayame to do a good job and I like surprises so I don't mind the waiting, especially since it's only for another week. Besides, the dress is Ayame's gift to me and so I think that it's only fair that he should get to decide exactly how he wants to give it." Her expression turned almost pleading as she spoke, obviously wanting to end any disagreements, no matter how light-hearted they were.

The five other women exchanged amused glances, used to Tohru's often rambling attempts to keep the peace. Arisa Uotani grabbed a cookie and broke it in half, using one piece to point at Kagura, Rin, and Kisa. "I'll just say that it was a good thing I met you guys before I met him. If I'd thought he was the average Sohma, there's no way I would have let the prince anywhere near my sweet Tohru."

Smiling at the royal nickname her charming cousin had earned, Kagura nonetheless knew that the blonde's statement was more truth than jest. Since her mother had died a few years before, Tohru had been looked after diligently by Arisa and Saki, each watching out for her in their own way. Even Kagura had gone through a screening process by the two after meeting Tohru in a bookshop one day. Luckily for her, she had not only passed but earned three new friends in the process.

It had turned out to be a good thing for Tohru and Arisa as well. Although it was something of a secret yet, Kagura knew that Arisa had been out with another of her cousins, Kureno, a few times. Neither of them mentioned the meetings but anyone who knew them could tell there was a connection growing. Tohru's luck had been in a chance meeting with Yuki when the groups of women had decided to visit Ayame's shop. That encounter been the start of their sweet romance and in just a few short days, they'd be joining their lives together and surely living happily ever after.

Kagura sighed again, filled with the gentle contentment that came from being surrounded by loved ones with only good things to look forward to. With the happiness of her friends so plain to see, it was like, for the moment, nothing could possibly go wrong.

"Good morning, ladies. Hands in the air, if you would."

The politely voiced command erupted into the room like a bomb. The friends reacted with a mix of starts, gasps, and one quickly suppressed scream. They all jerked around to stare with wide eyes at the source of the interruption.

A handful of rough looking men with shaggy hair and coarse clothes crowded the room's only doorway. Their expressions were a mixture of sneers and glowers and more than one carried a weapon. Even without having them raised, the easy grips with which they were held showed their familiarity and implied their willingness to use them.

One man, younger, cleaner, and more neatly dressed than the others, stepped forward. He had thick black hair long enough to brush his collar and a face free from scars or stubble. His mouth was wide and tipped up slightly at the corners, a sign of good humor that was matched by the twinkle in his brown eyes.

It was that expression that managed to snap Kagura out of the fear-induced stupor that the men's entrance had caused. Here she had been with her friends, quietly sharing tea in celebration of an upcoming joyful event when these degenerates had burst in uninvited. They'd all been startled and scared, and still were, if the quiet whimpers coming from Kisa were any indication. Now the happy mood was broken and this man had the nerve to look as though he was treating it all as a joke.

Kagura's hands clenched into fists even as the person in question spread his arms and smiled widely as though to show his non-threatening status. When he spoke, his tone was cheerful but pitched low, much like the voice one would use when conversing with a wild and potentially dangerous animal. "Sorry to intrude, ladies, but we have some business with one of you. If you would be so kind as to cooperate, I'm sure we'll get along just fine. We'll get what we came for and be on our way."

Kagura fought the urge to snort in disbelief at the grinning idiot in front of her speaking as calmly as if he were merely discussing a business deal. As surreptitiously as she could, she glanced at her companions to try and gage the situation.

When the men had burst in, they had all jumped to their feet and moved closer together. Now Rin stood on her left, her tall form positioned to shield the trembling Kisa as much as she could. The younger girl, never good with confrontations, was obviously terrified. She had her arms wrapped tightly around herself as tears rolled down her face. Rin's expression was coolly defiant and Kagura could tell that she was ready to take action the instant an opportunity arose.

On her right, Arisa had taken a similar stance. Unlike Rin, her clenched fists and narrowed eyes were anything but subtle. In that moment, it was blatantly clear how she had earned her rough and tumble reputation around town. Her obvious emotions made Saki's blank expression all the more dramatic by comparison. The shorter girl was ice to Arisa's fire, appearing totally at ease and giving nothing of her thoughts away. They were an intimidating sight, standing side by side, and that immediate impression made the real reason for their positioning seem coincidental.

In the same way that Rin was protecting Kisa, Saki and Arisa were standing at the angles best suited to conceal Tohru from the men in front of them. From where she stood, even Kagura could only see the pale curve of Tohru's cheek, her trembling lip, and one wide, fear darkened eye.

Knowing that Rin and Arisa were too volatile, Tohru and Kisa too timid, and Saki too taciturn to deal with the strangers, Kagura literally and figuratively stepped forward. She took a deep breath and lifted her chin. "What do you want?" she asked, striving for a tone between calm and demanding.

The man who had spoken both times before smirked again, pushing a hand through the unruly locks of hair that fell over his forehead. He took his time before answering, his gaze drifting over them one by one curiously before returning to meet hers.

"I'm looking for Tohru Honda."

The simple statement caused a stir among the women as the unspoken hope that there'd been some mistake died a swift and painful death. Now that they knew who the intruders wanted, it was time for the question of why to be answered. Never one to hesitate in going after something that she wanted, Kagura asked him just that before crossing her arms over her chest and cocking an eyebrow.

The man had the audacity to chuckle. The slight curve of his lip that she was quickly coming to dislike was present as he replied. "It's really nothing to worry about. My employer has requested a meeting with her. Speaking of which," he added, making a show of pulling out a watch and checking the time, "we really should be going. If Miss Honda would just step forward and come with us . . ."

"Like hell!"

The decidedly unladylike comment coming in stereo from Arisa and Rin at the same time kept him from completing his request. A similar outburst went through Kagura's mind but she managed to avoid speaking it. If Tohru saw that they were all distressed by the situation, her kindhearted friend would more than likely volunteer to go with the men just to defuse the situation, and that was something that couldn't be allowed.

There was absolutely no question of letting Tohru go with the ruffians blocking her door. She was much too vulnerable for them to be trusted alone with her. Kagura, Rin, Saki, and Arisa would be able to handle themselves but Tohru was just too kind. She was such a sweet person that everyone around her on a regular basis felt inclined to look after her. Unfortunately, that symbol of affection that other people showed her so consistently had left her with few natural defenses against anyone who might wish her harm. It would be like throwing a lamb to the wolves.

Kagura's eyes found the weapons wielded so openly and stayed there. It seemed unlikely that the men would leave without getting what they came for. In order to get rid of the threat to her friend, some sort of middle ground would have to be reached. She'd have to give them something other than what they wanted but that would still satisfy whatever need they had that had brought them to her home.

Unless . . .

Kagura froze as a realization swept through her mind.

"If Miss Honda would just step forward . . ."

They didn't know which one of them was Tohru!

It took every bit of control that Kagura could muster to keep her face still. She needed to keep from showing her hand until the plan that had started to form in her mind found its way to completion.

Her mind worked frantically. Rin and Arisa had likely already given themselves away as Tohru's friends with their outbursts, Kisa was too young, and there was no way to let Saki know of her idea. But if she acted quickly enough and the others caught on before giving her away, there was a good chance that she could pass herself off as Tohru. They were close enough in age and appearance that even if the men had a description, she should be able to fit it.

There would still be a level of danger involved, but it would be decidedly less for her than for Tohru. Growing up in a prominent family of mostly males, she had had to learn early on how to defend herself from any number of types of attacks. The teasing she had endured as a child had sharpened her wit and her tongue until she could usually give as good as she got. With only male cousins as playmates, she had had to abandon her preferred games of dolls and tea parties unless she wanted to play alone. While she didn't enjoy the wrestling, races, or wars quite as much as they seemed to, she had become very adept at them over the years.

Of course, once she had gotten older, all the skills she had learned at their sides had become almost shameful to a maturing young woman. In a world where delicate complexions and neat embroidery defined the sub-classes, knowing how to punch someone hard enough to send them flying twenty feet was hardly something you wanted to boast about. So she had quietly boxed up the part of her that actually missed those days and set about becoming a proper lady. It was truly satisfying to finally learn that those hadn't been wasted times and that the lessons she'd learned, although a bit crude, were coming in handy for a very good cause.

Anyone who knew her well would have easily recognized the determined tilt of her chin in that moment. No matter what sort of danger she was putting herself in, she was sure she could handle it long enough for Tohru to get to safety. The others would send help as soon as she left with the men; a few hours locked in a dingy warehouse or some back room would be worth the end benefit to her friend.

Before she had time to reconsider, Kagura gave the dark-haired man a cool look. In a voice that was as level as she could make it, she said, "If I go with you, will you promise that no harm will come to my friends?" She had carefully chosen the wording in case his earlier comment had been misleading. She was implying that she was Tohru but phrasing her comment so that, if pressed, she could claim it was a suggestion of a trade off.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her friends giving her startled looks. Since that played into her deception, she wasn't too worried but she knew she had act quickly. Once Tohru caught on to what was happening, she would definitely protest.

"You're going to come along?" the man asked, looking just slightly surprised.

Kagura gave him a dirty look and gestured towards his companions. "It doesn't look like you're going to take no for an answer. At least by agreeing to along with you willingly, I save my friends a lot of trouble and distress and hopefully get this thing over with as quickly as possible. You say your boss just wants a meeting; well, fine. Let's get to this meeting, see what he wants, and get on with our lives."

Although she'd almost been hoping her insolent tone would knock the genial expression off his face, the man seemed to take all of her comments in stride. His wide smile appeared once more and he motioned to the men behind him. They relaxed just slightly, their hands drifting away from their weapons for the first time since their arrival. Another gesture had them retreating out the door, although Kagura was certain they hadn't gone far.

As soon as they vanished from sight, the remaining man returned his attention to the women in front of him. "If you're ready, Miss Honda, we should get going."

"Just let me say goodbye to my friends first." Without waiting for his permission, Kagura turned to Rin and Kisa. While the younger girl's expression was still dazed, there was an approving glint in Rin's eye that showed she had figured out what was going on. She reached out to squeeze her cousin's hand, the gesture enough to portray her support. Kagura returned the action before turning to the other three women. Arisa was still shooting angry glares at the waiting man but paused long enough to speak. "If you do anything to hurt her, I swear I will hunt you down like a dog and destroy you." Her point made, she directed her second comment to Kagura. "Take care of yourself and get back soon. And don't worry; Saki and I will look after your stuff while you're gone."

Saki added a slight nod of agreement to the statement and it was all Kagura could do to keep from sighing out loud in relief. They were telling her that they'd make sure Tohru was safe when she was gone. Knowing things couldn't be in better hands, she turned to make her last farewell.

Tohru's expression was tight with worry and distress. Her mouth opened and Kagura knew she was about to protest what was going on. Not giving her a chance to speak, Kagura pulled her into a warm hug. Under the guise of kissing her cheek, she whispered in her ear. "Don't worry; I'll be fine."

She stepped away quickly, fighting the mist of tears that had risen in her eyes. Taking a deep breath and smoothing her hands down the sides of her skirt, she turned back towards the doorway. "I'm ready to go now."

The man nodded but made no immediate move to leave. His smile grew even wider as he looked over the remaining girls. "Are you sure none of you wants to come along? I'm sure we could think of a lot of fun things to do . . ." The waggling eyebrows he added to the comments made his point clear and unleashed an outraged shriek from Arisa. Before the blonde could charge, Kagura grabbed the stranger's arm and yanked him through the doorway.

"Are you insane?" she asked, vaguely noting that the hallway was empty as they passed through it. "I thought you said you were on a schedule; how do you plan to keep to it if you're pounded unconscious?"

The man laughed with apparent unconcern. "It was worth a shot," he replied cheerfully, twisting their arms until hers was linked through his like any gentlemen escorting a lady. Even though his tone and words were easy, Kagura noticed that he had picked up the pace as they made their way through her front hall. By the time they reached the door, she was almost running to keep up with his long stride.

The front door was standing open, probably from the exit of his friends, and so they strode right through it. Kagura was blinded by the bright afternoon light and was forced to trust his lead as she blinked to regain her sight. It was only through squinted eyes that she was able to make out the carriage waiting on the curb. There was a blur of motion as someone she assumed to be the coachman hopped down and opened the door for them.

Before she could protest, hands settled around her waist and she was lifted inside. She fell against the seat as the carriage tilted with the dark-haired man's entrance. She'd barely formed a glare at his rudeness before there was a loud shout and the conveyance began to move. Kagura was tossed to the floor with a shriek, her voluminous skirts flipping over her head and leaving her in darkness.

From somewhere above her she heard what sounded suspiciously like laughter that was quickly suppressed. She decided she was gracious enough to overlook the glimmer of humor in his eye when the man proceeded to help right her clothing and get her settled onto one side of the carriage while he took the other. What she couldn't overlook any longer was her curiosity.

"Where are we going?" she asked, only to be ignored as he turned his attention out the window. She asked again, louder this time, but there was still no reaction. Slumping down, she crossed her arms over her chest and huffed with displeasure. She had always hated being ignored when she had a question and the gravity of the situation didn't change that. In fact, this man's attitude through the whole ordeal had caused an instant dislike that made his slight all the more frustrating. She had half a mind to . . .

"Oh, oh!" her dark-haired traveling companion suddenly cried, almost bouncing on his seat as he stared out the window. "Look over here!"

Kagura's head turned more from instinct than an actual wish to obey. Her eyes widened as a white cloth settled neatly over her nose and mouth and a strong odor assaulted her senses. The last thing she saw was the man smiling gently as her vision hazed and the world faded to black.