Meep! Welcome to chapter 3! YAY! Sorry this one took a bit longer, but a little bug known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows bit me…hehehe. Thank you so much to all my reviewers! (hands out cookies)

Cocochan94: This takes place right around book 15, pretty much right before we learn anything surprising about Akito, to put it for all those who may not be able to get the entire manga series (myself included in this number, unfortunately, but I've long since spoiled most of the series, haha), but late enough that we've met all members of our zodiac. I will most likely pull bits concerning Kyo and Kyoko later on, so be on a spoiler watch, if you don't want to know anything :)

Disclaimer: I don't own nuthin. (Is poked by the grammar-person) I do not own any sort of Fruits Basket, nor it's characters, as I do not own Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Grammar-person: better…)

A/N: Just one more quick thing, it seems as if I'm having trouble accessing my story and reviews every now and then. It even said my account didn't exist at one point. Is it just my computer being weird, or are other people having trouble, too? Let me know! And now, on with the story…

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Chapter 3: A New Opportunity

"But, Kyo-kun…"

"Look, I told you I don't need your freaking help!" Kyo couldn't help himself. As soon as the words had left his mouth he ran from the disproving faces of Uo and Hana, and away from the hurt Tohru.

'Damn!' Kyo let a steady stream of curses go silently under his breath as he neared the start of another forest. 'I hurt her! Why do I keep hurting her?!'

The cat ran as fast as he could, and even after the three were out of sight, he continued at his quickened pace. Finally, finding himself next to a stream in a woodland area, he plopped down angrily. 'How the hell am I supposed to face her after that?' He glowered up at the sky before falling back to the ground. 'Do I even want to face her again?'

"Kyo-kun?" Tohru was poking her head over the side of the roof, where the cat was perched. "Are you alright?"

Kyo scoffed. "I'd ask you the same question. Not really me you should be thinking about."

"Oh…well, I mean, it won't really be that bad…right?" Tohru clambered up to sit next to the boy. "I'll still get to see you all, right?" Kyo looked at the girl. From far away he didn't notice her tear streamed face, but up close her puffy red eyes were perfectly visible. She continued. "And…well…you've all been so kind…I'm grateful for the time that we've all had together…"the girl trailed off.

The two sat in silence together for a few moments. "Y'know," the cat finally grumbled, "you can be upset about it. I mean, you don't have to keep coming around with that 'I'm happy for what we had' crap. I mean," Kyo sighed and put a hand to his head. He was horrible with words, he really was. "you can, if you want. You don't have to though. It's normal to be depressed…"

Tohru gave Kyo a weak smile which he returned.

"How much do you think I'll remember, Kyo-kun?" The girl looked at him eagerly, full of hope.

"I don't know" He responded drearily. "It's…complicated."

Tohru's face fell. There was another pause between the two. "But…you'll still be my friend, right? We'll still be together, right?"

Kyo glanced over at her. "Yeah. Yeah we will."

The cat glared through the trees, thinking of what he'd said that night. He sat up and continued to organize his thoughts. 'I told her I'd be there for her…but I hate looking at her when she doesn't remember half the crap we went through!' He was tired. He'd been through enough loss in his life, and he wasn't quite ready to try and get close with Tohru again. She acted as though nothing had ever happened, as if they could be just as close as before, but for him…well, it wasn't that easy. The cat gave a grunt as he stood up to go to the dojo for the 5th time that week.

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Tohru sat staring off into the woods. She was off of work today, and she had convinced Uo-chan and Hana-chan that she was fine a long time ago. Reluctantly, the two had left. Tohru didn't want to be rude, but she needed a moment by herself. As she reclined on her elbows, she thought about how everything had been recently.

Things had felt strange ever since she had left the Sohma house, as if something was missing. She looked to the forest again, imagining the shape of Kyo-kun crossing her path every now and then. She shifted to bury her head in her knees. Nothing had been left unsettled when she moved out, yet the Sohmas she saw all seemed…uneasy. They had grown apart, much to her dismay, but there was nothing she could do about it. It was as if there was a barrier between her and the ones she had once been so close to.

"Hey."

Tohru looked up at the unexpected voice. "K-kyo-kun?! What are you, I mean I, why are you…"

"Look…I" Kyo rubbed the back of his head, trying to force out the words. Damn conscience. "About earlier…I didn't mean to blow up at you like that…it's just…I was upset and…I shouldn't have taken it out on you…"

Tohru looked at the orange-headed boy throughout his stuttered speech. Was he really trying to do what she thought he was?

"So…well…I'm sorry."

He was! Tohru jumped up gleefully. "Kyo-kun! Thank you. I was so worried I had done something wrong…"

Kyo unintentionally smirked at her happy state, producing a blush from the brunette. A scowl quickly replaced it as he realized what he'd done. "Well, I better be going then…"

Tohru smiled knowingly. Kyo-kun wasn't mad at her after all! There was still something the matter, but at least she was comforted in the fact that she hadn't taken a hand in it. 'Still,' she worried as he walked away, 'I hope he's alright…'

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Kyo slammed the door as he walked into Shigure's house. He was tired and incredibly irritated.

"Kyo-kun? Welcome home! You'd been gone so long, I figured you'd gone off to fight more bears in the mountains!" Shigure peeked around the corner from the kitchen, where he was failing miserably at cooking dinner.

Kyo glared at the dog, and then at the rat that was sitting in the living room adjacent to where Shigure stood. "I didn't fight bears! And I'm going to bed!" And with that the cat disappeared into his room.

"He's been more irritable lately, Kyo-kun," Shigure observed.

"…" Yuki remained silent. Thus, the dog turned his attention to the boy near him.

"As have you, Yuki-kun."

Yuki glared at his cousin. "I haven't."

"Ah, ever since Tohru-kun moved out, it seems you have."

Yuki remained silent, and turned his attention back to the television.

"Now now, Yuki-kun, I miss Tohru-kun as well. It's a shame to see all of her hard work go to waste, though."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Yuki whirled around to face the dog.

"Well, Tohru-kun had quite the effect on both of you boys, and yet you seem to be reverting back to your old selves," Shigure let loose a false sigh. "How dreadful."

Yuki looked back to the TV calmly. "The only dreadful thing around here is you."

"Yuki-kun, how can you be soo meann?!" Shigure implored, fake tears streaming down his face.

Yuki simply shrugged, making sure to hide his depressed countenance.

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"Yun-Yun! Kimi is so sorry she missed the meeting yesterday!"

Yuki sighed as he walked into the student council room before class began. He usually came in to get things organized, and was never happy when someone had beaten him to it. Especially when that someone was Kimi.

He picked up a few papers to file away. "It's okay."

"Kimi forgot all about it!" The girl smiled, pressing the tips of her fingers together. Yuki continued to ignore her as well as he could.

"Is Yun-Yun alright?" Kimi asked enthusiastically. "Yun-Yun seems upset!"

"Yes, I'm fine," He muttered. He was getting tired of people asking him that. And, for that matter, people calling him that.

"Don't make Kimi worry, Yun-Yun!" With that, the girl glanced up at the clock. "Oh no! Kimi has to get to class! Bye-bye Yun-Yun!"

Yuki, shaking his head, filed the last of the student requests before heading to class himself.

"Good morning Sohma-kun!" Tohru called as Yuki entered the classroom. He smiled over to her.

"Good morning Honda-san. How are you today?"

Tohru smiled. "Doing great! How about you and Shigure-kun? Is everything all right with you?"

Visions of a burning, trash-littered kitchen popped into Yuki's head. "Uhh, yes. Everything is going quite well."

"Umm…Sohma-kun? There was something I wanted to ask you…"

"Yes Honda-san?"

"Well…umm…" Tohru blushed. "Is everything really alright with the Sohmas? I don't mean to pry it's just…well…you and Kyo-kun seem very upset lately…"

Yuki considered asking her to come back, but then thought of the repercussions. Part of him wanted to beg her to return, ask her to leave her family that instant, but he was stupid to think of something so foolish. Akito would have his head in an instant if he even mentioned such an idea.

"Don't let that foolish brat worry you," Prince Charming spoke darkly, causing a note of concern from the girl in front of him. "Things are fine though, Honda-san," He smiled sadly, before adding, "It is a bit more lonely without you there, however."

Tohru blushed and smiled. "It's a bit lonely without all of you as well," she said softly, intending the sentiment for only her own ears.

Yuki, whether to protect Tohru's feelings or to protect his own, pretended as if he had not heard what the girl had said. "Well, I'd better get to my seat, I suppose. Class should be starting soon."

"Ah! You're right!" Tohru looked up to the clock. "See you after class then, Sohma-kun!" Tohru walked over to her seat, where Hana and Uo were talking, as Yuki sat down at his.

"So what's the deal with Prince Charming? Any more explanation as to why he's been an uptight ass lately?" Uo asked curiously.

"Or as to why orange-head has not appeared…" Hana added.

"He said that everything was fine…" Tohru glanced over to where Yuki was scribbling away at some report for Student Council. Something incredibly important, most likely.

"That's it?" Uo looked surprised.

"Well…he did say that things were a bit lonely…in the house…since I…"

"Ah HA! I knew it!" The blonde shouted in victory.

"Arisa, please contain yourself," Hana chided softly, as Arisa's outburst had earned her stares from the entire classroom.

"See Tohru? I TOLD you they missed you!" Uo smiled brightly at the new discovery. "In fact, I think they would love nothing more than to have you over again."

"Whaa… Uo-chan, I can't just invite myself over!"

"She's right…then they wouldn't have time to prepare food…"

"Ah, no, Hana-chan, that's not it…I just, I…"

Tohru couldn't quite finish her argument, as Mayuko made her entrance, forcing the class to quiet down.

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Yuki, seated on the other side of the classroom, attempted to work on a schedule for the following week's meeting. After writing random times on a sheet of paper for a few minutes, he gave up and began to doodle instead. He allowed his eyes to wander over to where Tohru was seated with her friends. At least she seemed a bit more carefree now…Yuki couldn't help but look at her with a sad smile. Maybe it was better that her memories were suppressed. After all, now she wouldn't have to worry about the curse, as she so often had done. Still…

A selfish part of him wanted her to come back. He wanted her to be back in his life, worrying over him, and Shigure, and even the stupid cat. He missed her. With a huge effort, the rat tore his gaze from the girl and resumed his 'important duties.'

Just as Yuki was contemplating if he could, indeed, balance his pencil on is nose, Mayuko entered the classroom and yelled for everyone to take his or her seats.

The day went quickly, and soon it was time to leave for home again. Yuki departed the classroom with a graded test in tow. Another decent mark for Prince Charming. As he made to leave the room, a wailing noise stopped him.

"How could I have failed again?!" Tohru sighed out sadly, a paper covered in red marks crumpled in her hand. "And I studied so hard, too…"

"Tohru-kun, you'll do better on the next one," Hana reasoned.

Yuki, curious, walked over to where Hana and Uo were huddled around a teary Tohru. "Honda-san, you didn't do well on the paper?"

Tohru sighed and shook her head.

"Well, if you would like, I could help you. I'm sure it's difficult getting any sort of studying done in such a full house," Yuki offered. He had helped Tohru with such things before, but he wasn't sure as to whether or not she would remember it.

"Why, Sohma-kun, I couldn't possibly impose like that!"

"You wouldn't be imposing," Yuki spoke with a smile. "I'm the one asking you, after all."

"Oh, but I don't know, surely it must be more trouble for you than…"

"Honda-san, I promise you it's no trouble whatsoever. It would be my pleasure to tutor you."

Tohru blushed a bit at Yuki's words. He truly could have the manners of a Prince when he chose to. "Well, alright then, but only if it wouldn't be a nuisance to you…"

"Of course not, Honda-san. You could never be a nuisance, you know," He offered kindly. As Tohru had no response for him, he continued to speak. "Would you like to come over tonight, for dinner? Or perhaps you're working?"

"Oh, no, I'm not working. I actually have the next few days off, there was a backup at work you see, and some disagreements about hours and such…" Tohru rambled, as she tended to do when she was nervous.

"Great then," Yuki stopped her with a happy smile, producing another wave of deep red to fly across the brunette's features. "So I will see you tonight. Don't forget your books," He reminded, as he walked out the door to the classroom.

"He really is…quite enchanting…" Tohru murmured to herself.

"Ah, quite," Hana drifted over to where Tohru stood, causing the brunette to jump up.

"Oh, Hana-chan! Yo-you startled me! I…umm…just meant that…"

"It's fine Tohru-kun. You make a valid point."

"Yeah, so Prince Charming can live up to his name. But for the record, I think he was just as 'enchanted' as you were," Uo told her in a rough, yet still loving, tone. The blonde's appearance from the opposite side of Hana made Tohru jump again.

"Either way, the boy seems reasonably uplifted at the idea of you coming, nn?"

"Hell yeah! I called it!"

"Arisa, I believe we both agreed upon that point…"

"Yeah, and we were right! Ha! I knew it!"

"It's just to help me study," Tohru offered. "I mean, well, Sohma-kun was kind enough to invite me over to help me with my schoolwork, so I'll try not to be a burden…"

"Tohru-kun…don't speak so ill of yourself."

"Yeah. He invited you!"

Tohru smiled. "Yes, he did."

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"Honda-san is visiting tonight," Yuki spoke matter-of-factly as he entered Shigure's house.

Shigure looked up from where he was reading his paper with a slight smile. "Tohru-kun?" Shigure smirked as he turned to his paper. "I'm sure our visitors will be thrilled as well."

"Visitors?" Yuki groaned, even then hearing the pounding of numerous footsteps on the floor above. Who would be here to break the house now?

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Another one down! So it really was more of a filler chapter, but it's getting us somewhere, you see. :) Oh, and to let everyone know, I fixed it so now I can have anonymous reviews! I didn't realize I had the option off before…hehe…oops. So please, review! Thank you to all my reviewers again! Till next time!