Chapter 3: Avoiding the Unavoidable

Next day

Zuka avoided Ritsu, Ayame and Shigure at all costs. Luck for her (sarcasm), Yuki, Tohru and Kyo had a school field trip for a week. And Ritsu and Ayame were staying a couple days more, for it was still raining. At the moment, Zuka was in the kitchen making lunch. She wore a pair of loose jeans with chains, her favorite black hoodie and loose socks.

"Oh... Zuka-chan…I didn't know you were in here…please just ignore me" Ritsu said quietly as he walked over to the fridge.

Zuka froze, looking from the corner of her eye. Ritsu was wearing a little blue kimono with a dark blue sash around his waist. His hair was straight down, hanging off his shoulders. Zuka blushed looking back at her rice balls.

"Um…Ritsu? Would you like a rice ball? I made enough, so I have extras that I won't eat…here" she held out her hand that had a rice ball in it.

Ritsu turned to her, milk bottle in hand. Zuka was turned away but was looking at him. He blushed and nodded.

"If you don't want it. I wouldn't want to take your food."

She turned all the way around and stuck her arm out full out, slightly blushing, head down so her layered, chin length hair hid her eyes.

"Not at all. Here. If you want another, I have extra rice" Zuka offered.

Ritsu took a small step forward, grabbing it. Their hands lightly brushed.

'Oh I hope I'm doing it right…just remember what Shigure and Ayame said…I hope I can make them proud' Ritsu thought, purposely keeping his hand against hers for a little longer than needed.

Zuka blushed and pulled her hand away, turning back around.

"Thank you" Ritsu stated quietly then ran out.

Slight yaoi

Shigure and Ayame were waiting in Shigure's room. They were both sitting on his bed. Shigure lay on his back and Ayame was laying, back against the wall, legs next to Shigure.

"Do you think it worked, my dear Aaya?" Shigure asked, propping up on one elbow.

Ayame smirked, playing with his own hair, "of course, 'Gure-san. We are the masters of love after all."

Shigure lay back down, smirking as well, then got a great idea. Sitting up fully this time, he looked at Ayame devilishly.

"What are you scheming?"

"What if we mess with Ritsu a bit, just for the hell of it?"

Ayame thought.

"Oh and what do you propose, my little 'Gure?"

Shigure smirked wider and started to climb onto Ayame. He straddled his waist, hands on either side of the white-haired man, putting his mouth on his left ear.

"Playing naughty, are we Shigure?" Ayame asked seductively, as he wrapped his arms around his shoulders.

"Giggle Here he comes."

Shigure brought his lips a millimeter away from Ayame's and closed his eyes, as did Ayame. All in all, it was a very compromising position to be in. Ritsu opened the door and ran in, still facing the door as he closed it.

"Shigure-san, Ayame-san I think it…w-w-worked" Ritsu blushed as he turned seeing the two men almost kissing.

They pulled away and turned to him, smirking. Ayame still had his arms around Shigure's neck, playing with his hair.

"Oh, hello Ristu. Sorry you had to walk in on that. Didn't know when you were coming back up so we decided to have some fun" Shigure explained.

Ayame giggled as Ritsu turned scarlet, stuttering. Shigure climbed off him and sat up.

"You were saying?"

"Um…oh…i-it w-worked. I th-think. She t-turned a-away quickly. And I think I saw a blush…" Ritsu looked down, still a bit shell shocked.

"Good, good. Time for phase two."

Shigure and Ayame smirked (again) as Ritsu gulped.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen Zuka was blushing.

'What's wrong with me?! Ugh, I'm acting like a school girl with a crush. Okay, think logically. He touched my hand; that was an accident. But he stayed there for a moment: he…froze up? Oh I don't know!' she argued in her head.

She shook her head and grabbed her rice balls, taking them into the dining room.

4 o'clock

Zuka lay on her bed, staring holes into the ceiling.

"Still raining." sigh

Her eyes grew heavy as she grew tired. After about 15 minutes of sleeping, there was a knock at her (Tohru's) door. She was in a deep sleep and didn't hear it. Slowly the door opened slightly, Ritsu peaking his head in.

"Zuka?" he whispered.

Opening the door more, he stepped in, closing it behind him. He looked at her sleeping form on the futon. Her bangs hung in her face as she tilted it towards him still asleep. Her breathing was soft as her chest rose and fell. Again he gulped as he sat on his knees next to her.

"Zuka?" he asked quietly.

Zuka slowly opened her eyes, rubbing away the sleep. She looked at him confused as she sat up.

"Hm? Oh…hi Ritsu."

Ritsu flushed slightly.

"I'm sorry I woke you! Please forgive me! I'm so sorry!"

Ritsu looked panicked. Zuka laughed and held up a silencing hand.

"Don't worry about it. I was waking up in a bit anyway. So…what's up?"

Ritsu looked down in his lap. Taking a deep breath, he looked up.

"Wouldyouliketohavedinnerwithme?" he asked quickly.

Zuka blinked, "what? Talk slower."

"inhales would you…like to have dinner…with me…just me?" he asked nervously playing with the hem of his kimono.

Zuka was silent for a moment.

"I mean, if you don't want to, I understand! I knew you probably didn't…"

"Sure."

"Really? I meant it as a date you know…if you don't feel the same…I understand" Ritsu said, close to tears.

Zuka smiled and kissed his cheek, leaning towards his ear.

"As long as I don't have to wear a dress."

Ritsu blushed and shook his head, "oh no, of course not! Not if you don't want to! You should wear what you're comfortable in!"

Zuka smiled, "what time?"

"Um…6 o'clock. Shigure and Ayame said they'd make dinner for us. Um…could you meet me in the dining room?" Ritsu asked.

"Okay, I'll see you then I guess."

Ritsu got up, "bye."

6:00 kitchen

Ritsu was fidgeting as Ayame finished putting his hair into a quarter ponytail.

"Ritsu, stop moving and let me finish" Ayame exclaimed.

"Ritsu stopped moving and closed his eyes, took a deep breath and stood when Ayame pulled away. He turned to Shigure and Ayame smiling shyly.

"How do I look?"

Ritsu wore a light pink kimono with white flowers, held together with a dark pink sash. His hair was tied up with a white ribbon. He looked adorable…and very much like a girl.

"Hey, I hope I'm not late" came Zuka's voice from the doorway.

The 3 of them turned to her. Ritsu blushed as Zuka smirked. She wore black trousers, a white button-up shirt tucked into her pants, black suspenders, a back open suit jacket and wore her hair pin straight, layered covering her face. She looked hot…and very much like a guy.

"Not at all, why don't you two go into the dining room and wait. We'll serve dinner soon" Ayame said, pushing them.

Ritsu and Zuka sat down at the table that now had 2 candles lit, flowers in a vase and set for 2. Ritsu didn't look up from his lap, a blush staining his face. Zuka smirked, leaning forward on her elbows. Ritsu turned his eyes up to her.

"So, when did you get the courage to ask me on a date?"

"Um…well…Shigure and Ayame said…I should ask you before…someone else did" Ritsu stuttered, playing with his hair.

Zuka laughed, leaning towards him, grabbing his hand. He squeaked at the contact, looking up fully at her smiling face.

"You don't have to be nervous around me. I won't judge you," she pulled his hand towards her, kissing his hand, "that'd be hypocritical, 'member?"

Ritsu blushed, giggling nervously. Zuka smiled and kissed his hand again causing another giggle. She kissed all over his hand causing another giggle, her eyes never leaving his as he giggled. The Shigure and Ayame walked in with trays covered with silver covers. They placed one in front of each of them then walked back out. Ritsu and Zuka opened their platters to see…grilled cheese! Zuka laughed loudly.

"Oh yes, grilled cheese is the most romantic food on Earth" she said, sarcastically, laughing.

"I think it's sweet. I mean they were nice enough to make us dinner" Ritsu said quietly.

Zuka smiled as Ritsu's kindness.

"Sure, very sweet," she took a bite as did Ritsu, "so tell me about yourself. I mean other than what I already knew."

Ritsu looked up, sandwich in hand looking sooo cute. He smiled smally.

"Oh well…my parents own the family spa" he noted, taking another bite.

"Really? That's so cool! Do you…get along with your parents?"

Ritsu looked at her and smiled, "at first they were…weird about me dressing like a girl. But now they're better. My mother now loves to play with my hair or dress me up."

Zuka smiled but had a sad look in her eyes.

"That's good."

They talked for about 2 hours. They joked, laughed and…well on Zuka's part, flirted to no end. At the moment, they were sitting, knee to knee; Ritsu had his hand over his mouth, giggling as Zuka told him how great he would look in some of the dresses she was forced into by her mother. Ritsu was sporting a blush the whole time.

"Oh no, I don't think so."

"No really! It'd look gorgeous on you. I however, hated every second of it. It was a little short and I have very manly legs. You, though, look like you have rather feminine legs, and I mean that as a compliment."

Zuka laughed as Ritsu turned away. She leaned forward towards his ear feeling him tense.

"I should have brought them with me, so I could see them on you" she whispered seductively.

Ritsu was scarlet as he turned towards her. She looked deeply into his eyes and leaned forward more. And right as their lips were about to collide, Shigure and Ayame fell through the door. Ritsu and Zuka turned to them. Zuka looked like she was going to kill them as Ritsu looked like he was about to die of embarrassment. He stood up, Zuka looking up at him.

"Thank you for a wonderful night. I should be going to bed. Sweet dreams" and he was gone.

Zuka turned to the 2 and glared. They laughed nervously and ran.

"Get back here!!"