Yay! Things are getting better and better. My grandparents called to talk from Oklahoma, I got a letter for some college classes and I got to update this story again! Hopefully the good will keeep on rolling. Now... back to the story... I don't own Fruits Basket, which is something we all know. Thanks to KyoxSakiFan, Kisa167, Love Inc., xxlelouchxx, CapricornGurl, angel2adevil78, Katsy17, Otaku-Rehab, curlyangel and alyhaly!

KyoxSakiFan: Yeah. I randomly wanted to throw that in for some reason and see how people would like it. Glad you liked it though.

Kisa167: Thanks so much. Enjoy.

Love Inc.: That's great. Thanks a lot and isn't Shinta a nice name? I'm so glad it got suggested to me. I was never thinking of that name.

xxlelouchxx: Awesome that you like this story so much. Really? Aw, thanks. Enjoy the chapter.

CapricornGurl: Haha, isn't it? Sometimes I wonder where I get my weird ideas from. Yeah, I'd do the same about going with Yuki or Shigure.

angel2devil78: Thanks and no problem. Yay for Kyo.

Katsy17: Thanks for reviewing and letting me know!

Otaku-Rehab: You think Kyo should follow Shigure? If I was him, I wouldn't know who to follow.

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Now with a pale bandage running diagonally across his tan nose, Kyo glared into his reflection from the bathroom mirror. That God damn Shinta… I gotta get myself some payback. He said to himself in his thoughts as he looked down to his hands that were holding onto the white sink. Sighing, he let go but looked back into the mirror to the bandage. A few seconds of silence and staring went on, and then Kyo was out into the hallway.

As his feet beat down on the wooden floor, red eyes were on watch for a certain black cat. Not seeing Shinta was comforting for the red head as he got into another part of the house. "Tohru?" he called as he slowed down his pace to he wouldn't miss the girl. He didn't hear a reply and called again as he slowed his pace even more. Curiously looking around he heard someone called, "Right here!"

Following the sound of the little voice, Kyo found the girl with small piles of clothing. Looking down to them, he saw that she had separated them, darks and whites. "She already separated them." He whispered as he looked from the piles to Tohru. The brunette didn't hear his whisper and just leaned forward to the washing machine, her elbows on the top of it. Slowly, Tohru looked to Kyo and then gasped when she saw over his nose. She quickly put a hand out to it so it was hovering just about the bandage, "Kyo! What happened?"

Crap, now she's worried as hell. He mentally whined when her cried out words reached his ears. "It's nothing. When I turned into a cat… I… you know, never mind." Kyo began but stopped when he felt too embarrassed to tell the one girl he loved so much that he got scratched just because he got into a fight with Shinta. Tohru frowned but then sighed, "Are you sure? You can tell me but… if not, then alright." The Sohma didn't reply but watched as she looked way from his and rested her chin in her palm as her elbows were still on the washing machine.

A simple mew was enough to startle the two as they quickly looked to see Shinta staring up to them. "Shinta! How are you?" Tohru asked as if the cat could respond to her. Her tone was one where a person would talk to a small child or baby in, which Kyo frowned at. Though the black cat didn't spoke back, he just purred as he rubbed on the girl's shin. Moving away from her, he began towards Kyo but didn't touch him. Instead, he just stared up to him with his blue eyes seeming like a threatening ice color.

The eyes were met with red ones as Kyo glared back, not saying anything. "Hey. Why not say hello?" Tohru's voice broke in as she picked up Shinta and held him out to the redhead. There was an awkward moment as she held out the cat and Kyo watched as if Shinta was like a blood sucking monster. "No thanks." He simply said but then saw her pleading eyes. Sighing, he slowly reached for the cat when he heard demonic sounds coming from the cat.

Kyo quickly stepped back and ordered, "Tohru, put Shinta down." Anyone with common sense would know sounds like that meant nothing well but then this did involve Tohru and he was going to take no chances. The brunette looked to the Sohma and then to the black cat in her hands as if she was in disbelief about what was happening. "Shinta?" she asked with a shaky yet quiet voice but the cat only twitched to her question.

"Tohru! I said to put him down!"

Again, the order went out but Tohru stood in disbelief. In a swift display, Shinta boomed with one last demonic noise and scratched at the girl. Instantly, she screamed out, dropping the cat and watched as he sprinted out while dropping to her knees, her hand held against her chest. "TOHRU!" Kyo screamed out, his ears twitched back to the sound of her in pain. The cat Sohma quickly got to her and kneeled down so he could be level with her.

By now, everything was out the window as Kyo tried to look at her face. Pushing the brown curtain of hair from her face, he peeked at her eyes. "Are you okay? Let me see." He whispered to her and watched as she nodded and slowly held out her hand. Looking down, Kyo saw a deep cut running across the smooth skin of her hand. As he looked from her finger tips and up her hand, he couldn't help but see how her pale pink tank top presented a dark patch that was blood. "It's okay." He whispered but stopped dead silent when he saw thin tears coming from her eyes. "Shinta scratched me. It… hurts but… why'd he scratch me?" Tohru asked, pausing as she spoke.

Kyo's eyes narrowed as he let out his own cat-like growl. Standing up quickly, he slammed his hands onto the washing machine as he cursed loudly. "FUCK!" he yelled out and looked down at his fisted hands. "No one fucking hurts my Tohru!" Kyo said proudly, being caught up in what was happening but then stopped. Looking down to the girl, he frowned to see that she was slowly getting up.

"Um… I'll get my hand cleaned up." Tohru quietly explained, her hand back to her chest, her other hand curled around the wrist of it. As she turned to go, she felt a hand on her shoulder and stopped with a gasp. "Let me do it." Kyo said in a low voice and then left to get the first aid kit without even waiting for a reaction. Watching him go, Tohru slowly continued to make her way until she heard him shout back, "And stay there! I'll be right back!" Smiling through her tears, she sighed and waited for him to return.

-

A roll of bandages was on the floor, a trail unraveling from the bundle and created a pale snake up to Tohru's hand. She sat on the floor as Kyo sat in front of her, trying to help her deep cut. "Okay, almost done." The Sohma spoke as he rotated the roll around her hand. The girl nodded slightly and did as he said. Watching the bandages to make sure it went on correctly, he repeated to himself, "No one hurts my Tohru…" Tohru looked at him as this happened and repeated, "My Tohru?"

It made Kyo lose his pace of breathing as he coughed and quickly looked at Tohru. "What?" he asked his voice uneven from the coughing. The brunette just blinked and then explained, "You said 'my Tohru'. What are you talking about?" He didn't respond but looked for something to change the subject with. "… Done!" he randomly declared, pointing to her hand. Glancing down to it, she smiled and leaned forward to hug Kyo. "Thanks." She said and then let go of the blushing Sohma.

She studied his face and pointed out, "Kyo, you look a little red. Are you alright?" but he quickly nodded a few times. Having some of his bright hair fall into his eyes, Kyo swatted it away. "Yeah. I'm fine." He lied, "I just guess you won't be able to do laundry anymore. I actually wanted to help you with it but I'll do it for you." The girl slowly nodded with a small frown, "You're right. I'm sorry that you're going to have to do it all." Seeing her little frown, the Sohma felt some guilt about making the one he loved so much feel like that.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine." He said, regaining his tough attitude and tone. Tohru watched and tried not to laugh at how he was trying to be like such a tough guy. She watched him gather the supplies to the first aid kit and put them all back. As he finally closed the plastic top, he stood up and looked to Tohru. "You should go to your room and rest. I'll get the clothes washed." Kyo assured as the girl got to her feet and nodded. After that, she didn't move but looked at the red head. It soon became uncomfortable until she asked him, "You never told me what you meant when you said 'my Tohru'…"

It caught him off guard since Kyo thought she had forgotten all about it but it looked like he was wrong. I can't tell her how much I love her… or can I? He wondered and then took a deep breath. "It's because… because you're a very special… you're close to me." Kyo explained and found it hard to go on. Tohru smiled to his words, "Really? Wow… thanks!" she cheered and left to her room after saying she was going to her room. When she was gone, he was left alone and then sighed. Taking up the kit, he put it on the counter and stared down to it. Well… I didn't tell her everything but I did give her a few hints. I guess maybe it isn't so hard to follow Yuki's advice.

Taking his eyes from the kit, he looked to the washing machine and saw that it paused. "Why'd it stop?" he asked out loud and then paused, "Oh, fuck. I don't know how to wash clothes!" The Sohma knew the basics like the detergent, softener, bleach and anything else but other things he wasn't so great on. Slowly, he opened the top of it and looked down into it. Clothes were filled into the machine with water mixed in. There was no soap so he grabbed the bottle of detergent and studied the bottle. "Huh… how much to use…" he whispered, turning the bottle to find some type of guide.

A good few minutes later, he just decided to go with two top-fulls of detergent and poured it in. Closing the top, he punched in some buttons that looked right and watched it go. I wonder if any of this is right. I could always ask Tohru for hel- no! I'm not going to let her down! I told her I was going to do it and I damn well am! The cat Sohma mentally declared, staring hard at the washing machine.

-

Clueless washing had been done until Kyo finally decided that he really needed to get help on washing the clothes. I'll ask Yuki for help. Someone like him has to know how to wash clothing. He decided and left to find the silver haired male.

"Yuki?" The name rang out as he entered the main room to see him. The rat Sohma looked up from a book he was reading but didn't speak. Getting closer to him, Kyo continued, "Uh… I… I need help with something." Yuki put his book faced down so the text was facing the table and got up to full face the redhead. "What are you needed help with?"He asked but then got a whispered response.

"Laundry."

"What?"

"… I said laundry!"

"Oh… that's right, you can't wash clothes."

The words kind of stung as Kyo slightly winced, "Hey, don't rub it in! Are you going to help or not?!" The response made Yuki chuckle but then agree to help. As they walked back to the washing machine, the silver haired male couldn't help but ask, "So… what's making you do laundry?" The other didn't say anything but eventually did. "I promised Tohru I'd do it after Shinta cut up her hand and I told her to go to her room and rest." He said with his eyes casted down with a sad glow.

"Really? Maybe I should go and check up on-" Yuki began but got cut off by quick words, "No, leave her be." Slowly, he looked to Kyo and then smiled. Whispering, "So protective." With a teasing smile, he peeked into the washing machine. "What do you mean 'so protective'?" Kyo shot back but got calm, "I mean just that. It's nothing bad though. I actually think it's a good thing to be at least a little protective." As a response. Closing the white top to the machine, he looked to the other Sohma, "Wow, Kyo, you actually did good. Just… tone it down on the soap."

From there, they talked about the laundry but then eventually about Tohru and how Kyo was doing. "Any luck?" Yuki started the conversation. Kyo nodded with a little smile, "Actually, yeah. I… told her she's close to me and very special to me… do you think that's good?" he asked, how voice lowered to as the question towards the end. It was then that the rat Sohma felt like a parent talking about something with their child. He just nodded, "I think you're doing well. You aren't rushing it but also, when you drop your little hints, try not to make too many so it makes you seem desperate yet too little and barely notices." and Kyo listened closely to them all with a few random nods.

"Oh and… how'd you get that band-aid?" Yuki asked, pointing to his nose. Kyo sighed and lightly touched it, "Thanks to Shigure… me and Tohru… got too close and I transformed and got into a fight with Shinta." The other slowly nodded with wide eyes, "I see. Let me guess… you're going to get revenge?" and quickly got his reply. "Hell yes!" Kyo said loudly, "He scratched me and he hurt Tohru and made her cry! No one does that to her!" The more he spoke, the louder he got and eventually Yuki had to get him quiet. "Well just be careful with what you do." He said, waving his hand up and down, signaling the redhead to calm down.

A huff sounded from him and Kyo crossed his arms. "Why should I be careful?" he asked with a careless tone. Yuki frowned and sighed, "Because you might regret it. Remember… don't try to give him away, try to abandon him somewhere, hurt him-" he said but stopped when he heard a snort by Kyo. "Don't hurt him? Pfft! Someone should have told Shinta that for me and Tohru!" he said back with his arms still crossed. After that, he looked away from Yuki and saw something that gave him an idea.

"I know what I'll do." He said evilly as he slowly went to grab a can of air freshener. Showing it to Yuki, he grinned slowly, his sharp teeth seeming to shine with a secret plan. The other stared at the can and then to Kyo's face. Seeing his expression, he gasped and quickly stepped to him. "You aren't." he simply said and watched the other Sohma slowly nod. "Oh, yes, I am." He said and walked out of the room, waving the can in the air.

Searching the house for Shinta, Kyo was actually disappointed when he couldn't find the cat. "The one time I want to find him…" Kyo whispered to himself as he crept around the house, his grip on the can tightening. Turning around, he frowned when he still didn't find the animal. Damn, it's one simple cat. How hard can it be to find him?! He shouted in his mind as he left to continue his search. Eventually, all of his searching paid off as he saw a pair of bright blue eyes staring towards him. He body was huddled near the door to Yuki's room as if trying to get in and avoid Kyo.

"Hah, there you are… and guess what." He whispered with the can of freshener behind his back from the cat's view. He then smiled evilly and Shinta began to slowly move away from him until Kyo showed him what he was hiding behind his back. Raising the can into the air, blue eyes followed it as it widened. Quickly, Kyo began to spray it to Shinta and watched him jump back. Laughing to himself, Kyo continued and chased the black animal around the house.

As it turned a corner, the redheaded Sohma paused to look for him. "Get your ass back here!" Kyo called and saw a black tail. "Got ya!" he yelled and the chase continued. Minutes later, the black cat was pinned against a door with Kyo watching, a sadistic smile on his features. "You scared?" he asked loudly as sprayed some more of the cherry blossom freshener. Quickly, the door opened and Shinta instantly ran in. He was about to follow until he saw two feet in fuzzy slippers and stopped. Looking up, he saw Tohru with her eyes were half lidded as if she had been sleeping. "Kyo? What… what are you doing?" she asked with a little yawn to the end.

Kyo didn't reply but just stood silence. "I was…" he began but then paused when he couldn't think of anything. What should I say? I can't tell her I was terrorizing Shinta… even if it was for good reason. "I was… just going out and giving the air a little freshening." He lied and showed the can of air freshener as proof. Tohru just looked at it with lazy eyes and the nodded. "Okay. You picked a good scent. I'm going to go to sleep." She said slowly and went back into her room, closing the door behind her.

-

Lucky number seven is down and next is chapter eight. I'm not sure how long the story will be so I'll just continue to pour out my writing until I have nothing left. I'll be looking forward to see how everyone liked this chapter. You guys all rock and hugs to ya!