Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket, its plot, characters, etc. but I do own my any OCs and my own plot/changes to the original plot.

I'm sorry it's been forever since I posted this.

YaoiLovinKitsune: NO It's not stripping XD I'm going to post another chapter tonight just because it's been so long.

A few days after the first day of the new school year Rika was walking back to the house. They needed a few things so she had gone to the store. She was walking down the path and saw red clothes on the ground along with a pair of shoes.

"What the-?" She put down the small plastic bag she was holding and picked up the clothes. "Is someone around here naked?" Suddenly something went up her dress and she screamed. Nearby Yuki and Tohru heard her and took off running down the path to her.

"Rika!" Rika turned to face them, her face red.

"S-Something went up my dress!" Yuki suddenly looked angry as a sliver snake came out of the top of her dress.

…

"There you see?" Shigure said. "Here they are now-" Yuki held out the silver snake.

"You want lunch, here skin this and eat it." Yuki said darkly. Shigure looked closely.

"Uh..is that Aya? It is! But what is he doing here?"

"Never mind just skin this thing and eat it."

"Hold on. Think you need to calm down Yuki."

…

"That was Ayame Sohma." Shigure explained. "And, as I'm sure you noticed, he's the snake."

"Ayame..oh."

"We'll let him sleep for a while." Shigure said closing the door to the room where Ayame was on a pillow. "Snakes naturally hibernate in the winter. I imagine that's part of the reason Aya has always been sensitive to the cold. He's not careful it could cause him to transform like this. Aya, Hatori and I grew up together. We were in the same classes through grade school, middle school, and high school. We were inseparable. So much so people called us the three musketeers."

"Oh wow, did they really?" Tohru asked.

"No they didn't." Rika said disbelievingly with a smile. He smiled at her.

"More like the three idiots if ya ask me." Kyo said.

"So what did Aya do to upset you so much, Yuki."

"I won't even say it, it's so disgusting."

"Come now, it wasn't so bad."

"Eh?" Tohru looked towards the door to the room Ayame was in when he spoke.

"You could show a little more forgiveness to your own brother." Tohru looked confused. Suddenly there was a poof sound.

"Did… he say brother?" She asked.

"Allow me to explain what happened." Ayame said. "I was on my way here, when a suddenly chill in the air caused me to transform. In my search for heat a sensed a warm body drawing near and naturally I clung to it. I suppose you could say it was instinct." He slid open the door. "Greetings everyone. And how have you been, little brother?"

"If we all followed our instincts I would've snapped you in two when I had the chance." Yuki said.

"What's the big deal?" Kyo asked. "What exactly did he do to you?" He asked me. Rika felt her face turn red.

"Nothing." She muttered.

"Oh Lucky Kyo I heard you were staying here." Ayame said.

"I told you before stop calling me that!" Kyo shouted.

"Lucky Kyo you haven't changed."

"I said stop!"

"It's been too long, Shigure." Ayame said.

"Yes, since new years." Shigure said.

"What a shame you have forgotten about me while we were apart have you?"

"Not a day has gone by that you haven't been on my mind, Aya." Shigure motioned to Tohru and Rika. "By the way these are the one and only Tohru Honda and Rika. You came to see them today right? Hm?"

"Oh yes that's right." Ayame said. He looked to me. "I'm sorry about earlier. I am Yuki's older brother, Ayame."

"Oh right, please to meet you." Tohru said.

"Nice to meet you." Rika said to him.

"So you really do exist, the Princesses I've heard so much about. Two blooming flowers trapped in a house of stinking men. Are they treating you well, Princesses?"

"You make it sound like they've been kidnapped." Shigure said.

"Brother, you're being rude, stop making fun of them." Yuki said.

"Making fun? Honestly I mean them nothing but the highest respect. So Princesses why don't you bring us some tea." He tapped the table. "And lunch would be nice."

"That's not respect!" Kyo and Yuki shouted.

"Of course you're right, what was I thinking? Let me try again." He stood up and grabbed Tohru's hand and she grabbed Rika's. "Come my Princesses, we're going out to eat."

"Oh I don't know." Tohru said.

"Don't worry it's my treat!" He called back laughing.

"Very good, feel free to order anything you like. Although I'd highly recommend the pot sticker plate." Ayame said as he finished braiding his hair. He sat between Tohru and Rika. "Don't worry about Yuki and the others, they're big boys. I do think they could manage something on their own."

"But still I, I'm not sure I should've come." Ayame put a hand on Tohru's face.

"Well, I hope you won't deny me the pleasure of treating you to lunch." He said.

"Oh no I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to sound ungrateful."

"Good, then it's settled. Waiter three pot sticker plates."

"Comin right up."

"I have to tell you it's been one surprise after another meeting you today." Tohru said. "Yuki's never mentioned you before, let alone that you're part of the Zodiac."

"I suppose that shouldn't come as news to me." He said. "As you know Yuki and I don't get along very well, or rather I should say we've never really been very close. See we're 10 years apart and when Yuki was born he got sick fairly easily so he was kept separated much of the time. I on the other hand grew up doing whatever I liked. Because of our separation I was only vaguely aware that I even had a brother. By the time I realized it a deep gap had formed between us that we're never been able to breach. That… is our story. I was told, Yuki saw Akito at the school the other day. You met him too I think. How do I put this… I've never had much interaction with him myself, but for Yuki Akito was a source of great fear. Even now at his age I'm not sure if that fear has subsided. And so, while I did want to meet you today, more than that I wanted to make sure Yuki was alright. I'm glad to see he's doing well but I was hoping to have a chance to play the big brother."

"Do you, still have that?" Tohru asked.

"It's odd in a way, the more the years go by the more I come to understand the things I didn't understand when was a child. I think when that happened I should've done this or when that happened I should've said this, that sort of thing. Only now have I begun to realize all the ways I could've been a better brother then. And I confess I feel a certain amount of regret that things are I wish I could go back and correct the mistakes I made as a child. But I suppose every adult wishes that to some degree."

"You know my mom," Tohru said quickly. "my mom told me one time when she first became a parent she finally understood how it felt to be an adult. But still… as important as that was she said she'd never wanted to forget, she always wanted to remember how it felt to be a child. Like the first time you turned a flip on the monkey bars or the first time something upset you. She said if you can remember those feelings then when you become an adult and have children of your own you'll be able to understand each other much better. And even when you don't agree you can still meet half way." She laughed. Ayame looked at her. "Oh I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be talking about you and Yuki, I guess I got a little side tracked oh I know I had a point. Mm.." She looked at him.

"Huh?"

"Maybe you and Yuki can try to meet each other half way." Ayame stared at her.

"Okay here you go." The waiter said.

"I guess that doesn't make any sense." Tohru said.

"No it does." Ayame said. "Some people say the greatest things don't they?"

"Uh-huh, mom was the best in the universe."

"Actually I was talking about you, but either way." He said. He picked up his chopsticks "I think I understand now why it is my brother's doing so well lately. Listen, as far as Yuki goes, I'll promise I'll keep trying. And you… I hope you'll continue to be there for him when I can't." He turned to Rika. She stopped with her chopsticks in her mouth and looked at him.

"Hm?"

"You too, princess. From what I can see he's got quite the little crush on you." He said with a smile. Rika swallowed.

"I-I'm sure you're seeing things. He doesn't like me like that, if anything he likes Tohru." Tohru looked up. Ayame shook his head.

"Nope I can see it." He said. Rika shook her head, rolling her eyes, and kept eating.

They got back to the house. Yuki opened the door and saw Tohru and Rika.

"Oh, Miss Honda, Rika, you okay?" He asked, not seeing his brother.

"Uh-huh." Tohru said. "Did everyone get something to eat?"

"Never mind about that, did my brother give you any trouble?"

"Oh no, not at all. He bought us each a pot sticker plate." Tohru said. "Um Yuki. I was wondering um well… do you really not like your brother?"

"Uh."

"I mean I know it's not really any of my business I was just curious."

"I wouldn't say I dislike him. He's just a little too much for me sometimes."

"Well if that's all we could overcome it!" Ayame shouted from under Rika's dress, under her coat. Rika blushed. Yuki glared at her chest where Ayame was. "I will do all in my power to meet you halfway!" Rika bit her lip as he popped out of the front of her top. "My brother." Suddenly Kyo fell down from the last few steps of the stairs. Rika felt her cheeks burning. She looked away from Yuki.

"I-it got cold on the way back and he transformed. Snakes are cold blooded so if they're too cold for too long they could die." Rika explained.

"Well, I am a snake." Ayame said.

"You may be a snake but you're no brother of mine!" Yuki went to grab him but he went back in Rika's top. Rika put her hand over her mouth to muffle a squeak. Ayame laughed and slid out of the bottom of her dress and went down the hallway.

"You can't change the truth, Yuki."

"Ahh," Shigure said. "Welcome back you three." Ayame slipped back into Rika's clothes and popped his head out the front of the top.

"Shigure, have you picked out a place for me to sleep tonight?" He asked.

"Oh? You're staying over?" Shigure asked. Rika looked down at Ayame.

"Aya could you… possibly-?"

"Oh sorry." Rika put her arms out and he slid out of her dress and into her arms. Suddenly there was a poof and Rika found herself on the group with a naked Ayame on his hands and knees above her. Their eyes widened and they stared each other as the smoke started to clear.

"Get off of her!" Yuki yelled, his voice almost cracking. Ayame scrambled up and Rika covered her eyes quickly. She heard Ayame grab his clothes and Yuki push him into the other room. Rika pulled her hands away from her eyes as someone grabbed her around her waist and pulled her up. She put her hands on their arms and blushed as Shigure smiled down at her. He kept his hands around her. Kyo glared.

"Would you cut that out?!" Kyo shouted. Shigure rolled his eyes at him and took his arms from around Rika with a sigh.

Three days after Ayame showed up Rika woke up early and went down to the kitchen to make everyone breakfast. Suddenly she head Kyo scream.

"Get offa me!" Kyo screamed. Rika's eyebrows went up and she walked into the hall way. Ayame walked down the stairs quickly. He chuckled when he saw Rika.

"You bunked with Kyo last night?" She asked with a slight smile. He rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile before he sniffed the air.

"Oh, are you cooking?" He asked as he looked at her.

"Uh y-yeah, I thought it would be nice to make breakfast for everyone. Tohru normally does it. Thought I'd give her a break."

"That's kind of you, Princess."

"Ya know you don't have to call me Princess."

"Of course I do." He said with a smile. "That's what you are." He winked. Rika felt her cheeks heat up.

"Uh, I should get back to cooking. I'll bring you some tea."

"Oh thank you, Princess." He said before walking into the other room.

…

"I'm sorry but I had no other choice." Ayame said. Everyone was sitting at the table. "Yuki locked the door to his room, so I couldn't sleep in there."

"Why the hell didn't a go to Shigure room like yesterday?"

"Because if I had, Shigure would've kept me up all night."

"Aya, not in front of the children, please." Shigure said.

"Oh cut it out!" Kyo shouted. "How much longer are you stayin here anyway?"

"Don't worry, if it bothers you so much, tonight I'll sleep in Tohru and Rika's room." He said feeding Tohru.

"You will not!" Yuki and Kyo yelled.

"Oh, Aya." Shigure said. He looked at him.

"Yes?"

"Did you hear, Aya? Rika can hug us, watch." Suddenly he pulled Rika close to him with one arm around her.

"S-Shigure." Rika said as her face flushed.

"Hari told me, I thought he was playing a joke on me." Aya said looking a bit shocked. Shigure removed his arm and Rika sat straighter.

"Rika?" Ayame looked at her with a hopeful smile.

"Don't you dare." Yuki growled.

"Yuki," Rika said. "It's alr-ight!" Rika gasped and blushed as Ayame pulled her into his chest, wrapping both arms around her."A-aya." She looked up at him. Yuki glared at him.

"I haven't held a woman in…well… I haven't." Ayame said chuckling.

"She's 17." Yuki said.

"Oh? She's older than you Yuki."

"I'm only a year younger. You're nine years older."

"Are you jealous, Yuki?" Ayame teased. A light pink filled Yuki's cheeks. "Besides age won't matter after your birthday." He looked down at her and her face was on fire. Yuki clenched his fists. Rika gently put her hands on Ayame's chest.

"Uh A-aya…" she said. He tilted his head.

"Oh, my apologizes." He said and took his arms from around her.

"I-it's okay." Rika said looking down at her hands.

"Aya," Shigure said with a slightly scolding tone. "You've embarrassed her, her face is all red."

"Shigure." Rika looked over at him, her head still down.

"You look so cute with your face so red." He chuckled. Yuki glared at Shigure. Rika swallowed, got up and quickly left the room.

"Look what you two did!" Kyo shouted. Rika walked down the hallway.

"Rika?" She turned around to see Shigure. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm sorry." He said with a sheepish smile. He walked over.

"N-no you don't have to apologize. It's fine, really."

"Do you perhaps have a little crush on Aya?" Rika's eyebrows went up.

"N-no, of course not." She looked away and crossed her arms. He came closer.

"Do you have a little crush on me?" Rika looked away more to hide the blush that was resurfacing. "Oh? Was I right?" He tried to look at her face so she turned her back to him. He chuckled. "I am aren't I?" He tried to look around to see her face and she turned so he couldn't see again. Rika gasped as he hugged her from behind.

"S-Shigu-" Her voice caught in her throat when she felt his lips on her ear.

"Am I right?" He moved down to kiss below her ear. Rika bit her lip. "When is your birthday anyway?"

"t-three weeks."

"I can wait." He whispered into her ear. Rika swallowed and closed her eyes. He chuckled. "Can you?" Her heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath and turned to face him, his arms still around her. He looked at her as she bit her lip.

"No." She said before she grabbed his face and pulled him down into a kiss. His eyes widened but she had closed hers. He pulled away and she kept them shut tightly. He took his arms from around her. She lowered her head and let her hair hide her face.

"Rika…" She bolted down the hall, grabbed her school bag and ran out the door. "Rika!"

"Really Aya's there?" Momiji asked. They were in the school parking lot. "I haven't seen him since new years."

"For three days now." Tohru said.

"Maybe I'll go visit him. Oh then again he probably just wants to spend some time with Yuki. Which reminds me, how is Yuki?"

"Uh well.." Tohru said. Haru, who was sitting on the ground in front of a tree and had a butterfly in the space between his hands, let it go and looked up.

"Yuki." Haru said seeing Yuki walking by a few yards away.

"What, is he sick?" Momiji asked.

"Well, not exactly." Tohru said.

"Don't worry, I get it." Haru said. "Yeah, uh-huh figures."

"Hey Haru is it weird for Aya to leave his shop?" Momiji asked. "I mean he is the owner."

"Oh, so you mean Ayame runs his own business?" Tohru asked.

"That's right." Haru said. "He sells outfits for nurses, stewardesses, maids, things like that."

"So then he makes uniforms?" Tohru asked. The three of them walked closer to Haru.

"Well uh, not exactly." Haru said.

"Aya says he makes fantasies come true." Momiji said. Rika bit her lip to keep from laughing.

…

"My my, this unexpected." Ayame said

"Damn it." Kyo said.

"He's here."

"Welcome back." Shigure said.

"But how nice, you boys wanted to see me so badly you came straight home from school. And here I thought the girls and I would have the whole afternoon to ourselves."

"That's what we were afraid of!" Yuki and Kyo said.

"What is that you were looking at?" Tohru asked seeing a book on the table.

"Hm, oh just some old albums of us and our high school days. See there's Hatori too." Tohru and Rika looked at the pictures.

"Pretty cute weren't we?" Shigure asked.

"Uh-huh." Tohru said with a smile.

"Yeah." Rika said looking at the picture of the three of them. Shigure looked at her.

"So Ayame, you wore your hair long even when you were in high school?" Tohru asked.

"That's right. Of course I had to bend a few rules." He took a sip of tea. "Here Yuki, you come look too. Now's your chance to learn something new about your brother."

"I'll pass thank you." Yuki said facing the other way. Ayame sighed.

"Then you leave me no choice. I'll simply have to tell you the whole story of how I got to keep my long hair at school."

"What for?!" Yuki asked turning around. Ayame ignored him.

"You see it was the very start of my first year in high school

"You like hearing yourself talk don't cha?" Kyo asked. Ayame told them how he told the principle he was from Royalty and that's why he had to keep his hair long.

"And that's how I convinced him to let me wear my hair long." Rika couldn't help but start giggling.

"You're a member of a royal family?" Tohru asked shocked.

"Duh he's lying! Come on!" Kyo said.

"Hmm.. those were the days." Shigure said. Yuki face-palmed. "And here's something else I bet you didn't know, Aya was student council president." Yuki looked a bit surprised.

"Was he really?" Tohru asked.

"He was a natural choice I supposed." Shigure said. "What with the way he looked and the way he acted. He really was very popular with the other boys. Under his term many of the old school rules were relaxed. You certainly had a way about you." He said to Ayame.

"I don't know, I always thought Hari would've made a much better president than me. Do you remember the time we all went on that class field trip?"

"Of course." Shigure said. "How could I forget?"

"So, what happened?" Yuki asked.

"Yes, well you see," Ayame started. "There was a group of students during this trip who, we'll say, wandered into the red light district." The four of them froze and stared.

"Uhhh…"

"Please reserve your judgment till I've explained. Although I would've been difficult for any healthy young man to resist this place we weren't actually the ones who went."

"Of course it's not like we hadn't seen it before." Shigure said.

"As it happened one of the teachers found out where they'd gone and then it was decided that all the boys were to be expelled from school. Well naturally as student council president I objected. A meeting was called between the students, their parents, the principal and the teachers involved." He told us what he told the people at the meeting. This concludes my wonderful story."

"You mean stupid!" Kyo shouted.

"Excuse me, but because of that everyone avoided being expelled."

"How so?" Kyo asked.

"Well after that Hatori stepped in and said a few words." Shigure said. "But Aya was our president until the very end."

"You're kidding!" Kyo shouted.

"What do you think, Yuki, has this helped you understand your older brother?" Ayame asked with a smile.

"I think you should leave." Yuki said with a fake smile.

"Well I'll have to do better. Let me tell you about the time I kidnapped the school mascot."

"I really think you should leave."

"It all started when-"

"Leave." Ayame continued with his story.

"Shigure get rid of him." Kyo growled.

"Why? This is fun.

"This is fun." Ayame agreed.

"You're killin me here!" Kyo shouted. Shigure scratched the back of his head.

"Even so, I really don't he'll listen to me. They only person he does listen to is-"

"Hey." We all looked to see Hatori. "The door was unlocked so I let myself in."

"Oh hi Hatori." Tohru said.

"Speak of the devil." Shigure said.

"Hari, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Ayame asked.

"Hatsuharu, he said I should come take you home." Hatori sighed. "So what do you say you wrap things up here, and we'll go."

"Well then Bye bye!" Ayame said. He turned to Yuki. "I guess to all the commotion you and I didn't get to talk much but don't you worry oh no, you'll see me again little brother." He looked to Hatori. "Alright Hari, ready when you are. Until next time Shigure." He said looking back at Shigure. Tohru and I stood up.

"Mm. Now it's my turn to visit you." Ayame winked to Tohru and me before following Hatori.

"Fair well everyone." Ayame said laughing. "Oh wait, I want to give a goodbye hug to Rika!" He said with a big smile. He turned around and faced her. Yuki glared and stepped on the bottom of Ayame's clothes. Ayame's and Rka's eyes widened as he fell forward onto her. Rika let out a squeak as she hit the floor but it was silenced when Ayame's lips hit hers. Their eyes widened even more. Everyone froze and stared. Ayame quickly got up, his face pink. Rika's hands flew to her mouth, her own face fully red. She sat up as Ayame stood. "I-I-…" Yuki looked mortified. Rika blinked before getting up and running to the kitchen, closing the door behind her. Ayame quickly went into the hallway. Hatori followed. "So… are we walking?" Hatori closed the door to the room.

"I brought the car."

"Good, can I drive?"

"No." We all heard the front door close.

"What… was that all about?" Kyo asked.

"As long as I remember Hari's been the only one who can tell Aya what to do. Aya really admires him. He sees a lot of good qualities in Hatori that he's always wished he had in himself. But since he doesn't, figures staying close to Hatori is the next best thing. He actually told me that once. With a straight face no less. Anyway, letting Hari boss him around is just one way Aya shows his admiration." Everyone got up and took the dishes to the sink. Yuki put his dish on the counter then turned to Rika who was washing them.

"Rika…" she looked at him. "I'm sorry a-about Ayame."

"Huh?"

"The…kiss."

"oh." Rika blushed. "That wasn't my first kiss…" she said with a shrug.

"I'm still sorry."

"It's alright Yuki, it's not your fault." He looked away.

"Miss Honda and I will do the dishes." He said walking to the sink.

"Oh alright." Rika said and left the room. She bumped into Shigure in the hallway.

"Rika." She bit her bottom lip and went to walk around him and go for the stairs. "Rika." He grabbed her wrist. "Was the kiss this morning… was that your first kiss?" Rika felt her cheeks heat up and nodded. He swallowed.

"I'm sorry." Rika said and tried to pull her wrist from his hand. He tightened his grip. He suddenly pushed her against the wall and put his hands on either side of her. She gasped and looked up at him. He cupped her chin and leaned down. Rika let her eyes close as he pressed his lips to hers. Suddenly Kyo walked into the hallway.

"Shigure!" he shouted. Shigure immediately backed up and Rika ran for the stairs. "What the hell were you doing?!" Yuki walked into the hall.

"What are you yelling about now?"

"He kissed her!" Kyo shouted as he pointed at Shigure. "He kissed Rika!" Yuki glared. Shigure smiled sheepishly.

"Heheh. Would it help if I said I tripped?" He ran to his office as the two chased after him.

That night after everyone had gone to bed Rika got up and went down to get a glass of water. She didn't bother to turn the light on; she had the house memorized. She put the glass away and turned around. Rika gasped and Shigure put his hand over her mouth.

"Only me, only me." He said removing his hand replacing it with his lips.

"mm." Rika pushed against his chest. "S-Shigure." she looked up at him.

"Hm?" He stroked her cheek then moved to stroke her hair.

"I-I…" He smiled.

"Guess it turns out I can't wait either." He said before leaning down to capture her lips. She let him kiss her for a moment before she pushed him away again.

"W-We can't."

"Of course we can." He brushed some hair out of her face.

"Shigure…" He kissed her cheek softly. He leaned down to her ear.

"See you in the morning." He pulled away and pecked her lips before leaving the kitchen. Rika let out a breath and touched her lips lightly.

"Oh you know what I never did find out what kinda show it is that sells outfits for nurses and maids." Tohru said. Saki, Arisa, Tohru and Rika were sitting on a bench at lunch. Arisa looked at her.

"What are you talking about?"

"She means a lingerie store." Saki said.

Again I'm posting one more chapter tonight.