Mitzuki: AHHHHHH! Gomen-ne, sorry about not uploading this earlier!!! My editor was busy...XD

Ritsu: Oh no, Mitzuki-san, I should be the one apologizing!!!

Mitzuki: Huh? Why?

Ritsu: Because I made you miss your deeeeeeeeaaadline!!!!

Mitzuki: (looks confused) You did?

Ritsu: Yes! (looks pitiful)

Mitzuki: Well, then we'll apologize together!

Ritsu/Miztuki: WE'RE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRYYY!!!!!

Mitzuki: I don't own Fruits Basket...but enjoy anyways!

Ritsu: (looks alarmed) I'm sorry for keeping you from reading!! (runs away) I'M SOOOOORRRRRYYYY!!!

Mitzuki: (runs after Ritsu) Ritsu!!! COME BACK!!!

Chapter 3

Tohru hummed as she helped Shigure set the laundry out to dry and looked up at the clear, blue sky. She smiled at the beautiful scene, and turned to ask Shigure if she could leave.

Shigure laughed, and said in an amused tone, "Why, Tohru-kun, you didn't even have to help! We said you could rest from your chores for a while until you fully recover."

Tohru shook her head. "But watching you and Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun do all the work makes me feel bad! I should be the one doing it! I'm living in your house and eating your food, if I can't pay it off with the money I have now, I should at least be the one to do the household chores!"

Tohru's mouth was set in a straight line, grim with determination, and it was all Shigure could do to keep from laughing out loud. He patted her on the head and announced, "I'll think about it," even though he had absolutely no intention of doing so.

However, the brunette's expression brightened immediately, and she bowed and ran off, thanking Shigure and assuring him that she would be back in an hour or two, if not earlier, to help take down the laundry. He watched in amusement as she raced off towards the trees and disappeared into the forest. A small smile played at his lips as he shook his head and walked into the house.

Tohru ran and ran, searching for the one place she had neglected to visit. She had not been here for awhile, not since she'd gotten home from the hospital, and could now barely remember where the beautiful garden laid.

Suddenly, she stumbled, her clumsy feet tripping over an object that had been left carelessly on the path. Luckily, the soft, mossy dirt cushioned her fall, and she rose again without injury, save for a somewhat sore bottom.

The cause of her fall turned out to have been a book, which she picked up and flipped through curiously, trying to identify who it belonged to. It was a delicate notebook with a creamy cover and handmade pages, and tucked inside those pages were carefully pressed flowers. She fingered one of the flowers gently, awed by its fragility, so beautiful yet so dangerously delicate.

"Ah, so that's where I dropped it."

Tohru turned, startled by the voice, and very nearly dropped the book in her surprise.

"Ah! Ohayo, Yuki-kun!"

"Ohayo, Honda-san."

He smiled at her, then his gaze drifted down to the notebook that she clutched tightly against her chest. She noticed this, and, a bit unsure, asked Yuki if the book belonged to him.

He smiled and nodded, and Tohru quickly handed it over.

"I'm sorry," she said frantically, her face pale, "I didn't know it belonged to Yuki-kun, and I picked it up to see what it was and…"

Yuki looked a bit surprised and told the flustered girl to calm down before she could hurt herself. Perhaps having Ritsu around so often wasn't such a good idea after all…

"I'm not mad," he assured her, then asked, slightly confused, "but Honda-san, why are you here? Were you looking for something?"

Tohru blushed, and said, embarrassed, "W-well, I was looking for Yuki-kun's secret garden, but I haven't been there in a while and kind of lost my way…" She looked at Yuki helplessly, and he couldn't help but laugh at her expression, so much like that of an abashed puppy.

"Then, we'll go together," Yuki decided, "since I'm going there anyways."

Tohru brightened. "Okay!"

"So, the senior prom is coming up, right?"

"Hai."

"Is Honda-san going?"

Tohru paused in her steps, her cheeks reddening as a certain someone's face popped into mind. She shrugged.

"I…I don't know."

Yuki stopped walking and looked at her, contemplating the troubled expression on her face as her gaze trailed downwards. He asked her softly, "Honda-san wants to go with Kyo…right?"

Tohru looked up, startled, and immediately shook her head, "N-no, I…" Her voice died in her throat as Yuki gazed at her, a brow raised quizzically.

"You know, Honda-san, he won't refuse if you ask him," he continued down the path, watching her intently out of the corner of his eye. Tohru shook her head sadly and ran to catch up.

"But…Kyo-kun…doesn't like stuff like this…he would think it was dumb."

Yuki sighed. "That stupid cat," he muttered underneath his breath, and turned towards the saddened girl.

"Honda-san, listen to me."

Tohru looked up again, even more surprised than before. "Y-Yuki-kun…?"

"Kyo will not turn you down."

The serious look on his face made her slightly nervous, and she nodded uncertainly.

"H-hai…"

Yuki smiled and looked into the trees.

"Look, the secret garden!" He pointed out the magnificent paradise of vegetables, fruits and flowers, watching silently as Tohru ran towards it excitedly, taking everything in. She twirled around like a little child, laughing, their previous tense mood vanishing completely, to be replaced by her ecstasy at finally finding the garden.

"Yuki-kun! Come look! Come look at this!"

He smiled and went to join her.