Title: Oh, This Summer Rain (I) (There will be another rain story involving summer vacation)
Category: Fluff (I am now making this a category. Seriously...)/Romanceish
Rating: K
A/N: Are there deer in Japan? Oh well, if not, let's pretend they are. The description of the path (Minus the cave part) is a replica of a place I've hiked before, so if it's not true to the landscape of Japan (which I know nothing about) then that's why. Sorry. Enjoy!

--

"Are you okay?" Kyo tried to hide a grin as he stared down at the hopeless girl on the ground in front of him.

"I... I'm fine. I'm sorry for slowing you down." It was obvious that Tohru was falling into a small pit of despair as a result of being such a burden. She sat up and hung her head, but looked up when Kyo started laughing . "What's so funny?"

He couldn't help it, Tohru was just so funny. He and Shihsou were going on their annual three-day long camping trip on property that actually wasn't Sohma owned, and Shishou had told Kyo if he wanted to ask Tohru along, he could. Of course, he liked spending time with Tohru and as she had never been camping before, she was enthusiastic about tagging along. So of course, when Kyo was going to go on the hike through the forest he always did the second night there (They had gone on this trip many, many times, so the two basically had a routine), Tohru had asked if she could come.

Kyo should have foreseen the troubles that would arise. Tohru wasn't very skilled at walking normally, and her being on an uneven, mostly uphill path was a recepie for disaster. She had fallen down what seemed like every few steps since they started out. Not to mention, it was cloudy out, so Kyo was trying to hurry them along before it started raining.

"Nothing," he said between laughs. "It's just... You don't have to look so upset. You always fall down a lot. You're not really slowing me down too much, anyway." If was obvious he wasn't helping much, so he shut up and held out a hand to Tohru. She took it and he pulled her up. She caught her breath for a minute, and Kyo picked a twig out of her hair. How did she even manage that? He thought.

"Are you sure you're alright to keep going? We can go back if you want." Kyo really didn't think she would last another mile, but Tohru shook her head. Her brown eyes were already shining with determination again.

"No, I can keep up. I'll do my best!" Kyo shrugged and they started off again. Before he knew it, Kyo himself was panting, too. He must not have been as in shape as he thought. Well, he thought that until...

"Kyo-kun, why are we going off the path?" Kyo turned to see Tohru looking almost longingly at the path that, in a few feet, started to go downhill.

"I just want to show you something." He was pretty sure this was the right spot. Kyo had a sudden vision of them being lost in the forest, but after leading a somewhat reluctant Tohru (She didn't complain outloud, but then again she never did about anything) through the trees they reached the spot Kyo was looking for.

Tohru gasped in delight and Kyo smiled. The two had walked a long way to reach the top of the hill they were climbing and now the whole land was laid out before them. They could see for what seemed like miles and there were no cars or civilization, just trees and a river and peace and quiet.

"Look, Kyo-kun! There's some deer!" Tohru pointed down at the river and Kyo quickly grabbed hold of her arm to keep her from toppling over the edge of the cliff.

"Careful," he warned her, but Tohru just giggled.

"I won't fall," She said, and actually sounded confident.

"Yeah, right. Like you don't fall half the time you try to walk." But he was still smiling, until the reason he was more tired than usual became apparent. "Dammit, it's starting to rain," he growled when the first few drops hit him on the face. "C'mon, let's go." His good mood started depleteting, and he started pulling Tohru away from the cliff. He was hoping they could get back to the campsite before the heavy rain started, but, as per usual, Kyo had no such luck.

He glared up at the sky and Tohru let out a soft, "Oh no," when the clouds opened up and really let the earth have it.

Kyo growled idle threats at the weather under his breath the first time he tripped. The second time, he was starting to feel weaker than he had in a while. The third time, he stood up, resigned to himself that he wasn't going to be able to walk another whole mile, and said to Tohru through gritted teeth, ""I'm going to pretend I don't see you laughing."

Tohru quickly covered her mouth, but she wasn't doing too much to hide her giggles. "I'm sorry, Kyo-kun, but it's funny because now you're the one who's falling. Usually it's me."

"Ha ha." Kyo's voice didn't hold any amusement. Instead of starting to walk again, which was sure to just be a disaster, he glanced around and tried to get a hold on their location. "I think there's a cave somewhere around here. Do you want to just wait out the rain? I think it'll take just as long to walk back."

"Ah, um, alright."

"What's wrong?" Tohru sounded nervous when she agreed.

"It's just... I've never been in a cave before. Don't animals and things live inside of them?" Kyo didn't really want to clarify what Tohru meant by 'and things,' so he just shook his head and grinned fleetingly.

"Don't worry," he assured her.

--

Indeed, there was nothing for Tohru to worry about. The cave was only about ten feet deep and just tall enough for Kyo and Tohru to walk into. Kyo sank down on the ground with a relieved sigh- he was afraid they weren't going to be able to find it, since it was off the beaten trail a bit- and Tohru sat beside him.

Kyo leaned his head back against the cool cave wall and closed his eyes. He wasn't planning on falling asleep, but he thought he could get his strength back faster if he rested his eyes. "Sorry that this turned into such an ordeal," he mumbled. His limbs were feeling heavier the longer he sat there, but at least he wasn't making a fool of himself.

"Oh, it's still fun." Tohru sounded like her usual self, even though she was probably a little disappointed about the way things were turning out.

"If this weather keeps up, we might have to cut the trip short. Sorry." Kyo was finding it harder and harder to keep himself upright and by the end of his sentence his head had fell so it was resting on Tohru's shoulder. If he had the strength, he might have moved, but this was actually kind of pleasant.

Besides, Tohru didn't seem to mind. In fact, all she said was, "Kyo-kun, you're making me sleepy..." Her yawn was the last thing Kyo heard before he drifted off to sleep.

--

Kazuma put down his book as he heard the rain cease to beat on the top of the tent and glanced at his watch. "Oh my," he said under his breath. It had been an hour and a half since the rain started and Tohru and Kyo hadn't returned. He hadn't even noticed the time pass. Well, that's what books did to you. But he did think he had to go and find the two teens.

Kyo was in no shape to do anything during bad weather, and he just hoped he had the sense to find shelter for Tohru and himself.

He knew the way Kyo hiked and also knew of a few places he might be. He was a little worried, as any good parent would be, but he knew Kyo- although he didn't always seem it- was responsible and would most definitely look out for Tohru. But he was still concerned that the two might be stranded somewhere.

So he struck out on the trails and went to look for them.

--

Once Kazuma had looked almost everywhere, he was starting to think that Kyo and Tohru had either walked a different route, or were already back at the campsite. He only had one other place in mind, a cave he and Kyo had discovered on their first camping trip.

He fought his way through the various bushes and things that blocked his way, all the while thinking he should have changed out of his usual kimono, until he could see the mouth of the cave.

"Ah, there you-" Kazuma shut up immediately when he caught sight of the scene in front of him. He just couldn't bear to interrupt or disturb this.

Tohru was lying on her side, curled up with a serene look on her face, and her arms were closed snugly around an orange cat. Kazuma smiled and leaned in carefully to verify what he thought he could hear. He would swear later that Kyo was purring.