I'm so happy with how this story is going. So many people reviewed it, added it to their favorites, etc. It really helped in typing up this chapter. A giant thanks to xFadingMoonx, Sonozakisisters, Chaell, Gaara-Fan3125, Otaku-Rehab, Kyo-Honda and to -Sweeping Shadows-. I don't own Fruits Basket but it doesn't't stop me from loving Haru, Hatori and more.

My responses to reviews...

xFadingMoonx: That's a cute name. Thanks for throwing it in and for reviewing!

Sonozakisisters: Tee hee, hm. I have a black cat plushie named Midnight. That name rocks.

Chaell: Yay for a big review. Happy you're liking the story and I hope it stays that way. I admit... I don't know where I get my ideas from.

Otaku-Rehab: Aw, that's so cute. Give Spike a hug for me, please. I love cats. Thanks and happy holidays to you, too.

Kyo-Honda: Oh, I like that name, hm. Thanks for putting it up.

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When the young lady was finished, she began to take the cat from its cage and into a cardboard carrier. As she did this, she struck up a conversation with Shigure while Tohru watched. "Alright. Here you go, Sir." She said once everything was finished and gave the carrier a small push on the counter towards them. They both nodded as he took the handle and carried it out the store.

It was a short walk but it seemed longer by the constant questioning Tohru. They would walk in silence until she'd ask, "Are you okay? Here, I'll carry it." But she always got turned down. Shigure just laughed and said he was fine and besides, he could clearly imagine her getting into some type of conversation with the cat. And no one would like you getting hit by a car… especially Kyo. He'd kill me if he found out I let something like that happen to you. He thought to himself as he switched the carrier to his other hand.

--

Arriving home, he set down the carrier and went into the main room to see how Yuki and Kyo did on being alone together. "How did everythi- What happened to my house?!" Shigure gasped when he saw the table had been over turned and Yuki was sweeping what looked like glass. The cry got Tohru into the room seconds later and after seeing the room, she had the same reaction.

Yuki looked up at the two and shly smiled. "Oh, I'm sorry, Shigure. Kyo had a bit of a fit." He said and went back to sweeping. Now that he mentioned it, the cat Sohma wasn't in the room. "A fit? What happened?" Tohru asked, curious to see what could have made Kyo destroy the room. For the second time, the sweeping male looked up and sighed. "He got mad that I drank the last of the milk…then he wanted to fight but I refused." Yuki explained as he went back to sweeping. He created a small pile of glass and random things and pushed it onto the dustpan. "He left to get more though." Yuki said to them and left to empty the dustpan and put that and the broom away.

"I hope Kyo is okay when he gets back." Tohru said out loud as she turned over the table. Shigure nodded and also helped, taking cushions that was scattered around the room back into their proper places. When it was all done, Tohru sighed and saw Yuki had returned with empty hands. "Oh, thanks for helping." He said when he got further into the room.

Changing the subject, Yuki asked how the trip to the pet store went and Tohru quickly left to get the carrier. As he did this, the two Sohmas watched and laughed at how excited she was. "What animal did she get?" Yuki asked with a hand to his chin and Shigure answered back, "She got a cat. She thinks it'll get Kyo into a better mood and things."

Hearing quick footsteps, the two looked at the entrance and saw Tohru with the carrier in her hands. "Look" she said as she put it on the table and began to open it, "Shigure let me get a cat. He's so cute. He's all black with baby blue eyes." When the carrier was opened, she took a step back for the cat to come out but it didn't, instead, it stood there as if scared to go out.

"Have you named him yet?" Yuki asked as he peeked into the box to see the new cat. Tohru shook her head with a small frown, "No. Let's see…I will call him…" she said but paused to pick up the cat from its carrier so she could get a better look at him. "I'll call him Shinta!" she said, raising the cat into the air as his eyes widened. Now that the cat had been named, it felt like they had taken a step forward on the topic.

Tohru laughed at the large blue eyes that stared to her as she twirled with the cat sill in her arms. "Look, Shinta. This is Yuki." She said to the cat when she shifted him so he faced Yuki. He just smiled and gave the cat a small pat and then she turned to Shigure. He also waved but didn't bother to touch Shinta, "And this is Shigure." When the introductions were finished, she hugged the black cat and continued speaking. "You'll see Kyo when-" Tohru said softly to the cat when she got interrupted by sounds of someone entering the home.

The sounds continued into the kitchen and then into the living room. "I got more milk. You better not drink it all or…" Kyo began to threaten but then stopped to see that Tohru and Shigure had returned. The first thing that caught his eye was the cat in the girl's arms but for all the wrong reasons. "What the hell is that?" he asked, pointing a demanding finger to the black ball of fur. Tohru frowned at the question as she looked down to Shinta, then to Kyo.

"This is Shinta. Shigure got me him from the pet store."

So… she got a cat? Kyo mentally asked as his eyes widened. He felt replaced, he felt hurt and he felt… numb. Everything felt like it was swirling in slow motion for him. Why would she get a cat? Is she…replacing me? No! I won't let some random pet store cat take my home, drink my milk and… and… BE WITH MY TOHRU!

There was silence as Kyo just stared as the brunette girl just hugged Shinta as he purred a soft tune. "That's…great." He said with a weak smile and quickly left. Tohru's worried eyes followed him all the way out the room and sighed, "What happened? I thought he'd be happy with another cat in the house." Yuki sighed and took a step closer to her. "It's probably nothing. There hasn't been another cat here for a while now so he just needs time to adjust." He explained and Shigure joined in. "Yeah. Besides, maybe it's just a cat thing." He shrugged.

--

While they were inside, Kyo was outside but feeling confused as ever. "Why would she get a new cat? I bet she'll start obsessing with him and forgetting all about me. But not unless I tell her my feelings right now…" he whispered to himself as he sat on a random boulder that was in the forest area of the property. Quietly sighing, Kyo looked up to the sky and scanned the clouds like they'd give him an answer. "If I told her how I feel everything will be better and maybe… maybe we could be tog- no. It'll never happen." He said sadly as he shifted his position on the rock.

When he was finished, he rested his chin in his hands as he continued the conversation with himself but in his thoughts. Like she'd fall for someone like me. And this stupid curse doesn't help either… you know what? Fuck it! I'll tell her straight out how I feel. I don't care what happens!

The burst of determination made him jump to his feet and clench his hands into fists. Kyo looked at the house that was somewhat hidden behind trees and started to jog back. "I'm going to tell her how I feel… I'm going to tell her everything!" he said out loud, getting himself more pumped up as he picked up his jogging pace.

--

"Tohru?" Kyo called out when he got to the Sohma house and looked around. She was nowhere to be seen and when he had gotten into the main room, he found her looking through a book. Hearing someone enter the room, she looked up and saw him. "Kyo!" Tohru greeted and hurried stood up, "What happened? I got worried when you randomly left earlier." He said nothing but looked around for the damned cat she had brought home not too long ago. "No. Shinta's not here." Tohru said as if automatically knowing why he was searching the room, "He's in my room. I left him there so he could look around and get familiar with it."

Good. That stupid Shinta's not here. Kyo smiled to himself as he sat down beside Tohru, her sitting back down also. "Um… Tohru. You know, I have a lot of things to tell you right now." He started slowly, trying to keep his usual front up. The girl just looked at him and nodded for him to continue. "Well, you've been at this house for a while and you're like family to Yuki, Shigure and me so…" he said and stopped when he noticed hat he didn't even know where he was going with it. Crap. Dammit, why does this keep happening?! What do I say? Should I tell her straight out? Yes! That's what I've been planning on doing.

When the Sohma stopped, he seemed to have a confused yet searching expression, which Tohru giggled at. "Are you okay?" she asked, leaning forward to inspect a slowly growing redness on Kyo's face. Leaning away, Tohru frowned, "Don't tell me you're sick." And slapped a hand to his forehead. That did was really the icing on it as Kyo mentally panicked to her touch and struggled away from her. "Gahhh, no! I'm fine!" he said while scooting away from her. Fuck, man. This getting out of hand. Kyo mentally cursed as he looked to Tohru and opened his mouth to speak.

While Kyo was about to speak, about to confess his love for Tohru, about to take the plunge… a loud crash sounded from her room.

"Oh my goodness, Shinta!" Tohru screamed, running out of the main room. She didn't even notice that Kyo was about to speak to her and still his mouth was open. He stared forward, his mouth hanging open in total disbelief on what happened.

There he was… about to take one of the biggest steps in his teen age life when it was ruined by a cat named Shinta.

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Yup, I ended up using Shinta and thanks to Kyo-Honda for giving me the name. The next chapter should be up soon but with Christmas being so close, I'm not going to make any promises. Hugs to all, hm.