Warning/disclaimer: the dialogue will sound a bit like the first few episodes from the anime, which I do NOT own. All rights go to Natsuki Takaya.
Chapter seven- The rat and the riceball.
Tohru smiled over at Kisa. "Thank you so much, Kisa," she said.
The girl in question frowned. "What do you mean? Yuki's the one who let you stay."
Tohru blushed at the mention. "Yeah, just... thanks for letting me cook with you. I love cooking. So... thank you."
Kisa beamed back at her. "No, really, I should be the one thanking you. You see, I like cooking, but it gets a little lonely after a while," The younger girl explained sadly.
Tohru nodded her agreement. "I get lonely, too," she mused, seemingly lost in thought.
Kisa frowned.
Tohru's eyes widened when she'd realized what she'd gave away. "But only when I'm not at school," she added quickly.
A little too quickly?
The smile dropped off her face as Kisa looked the older girl straight in the eye. "Sissy, Yuki said he had to chase you. Were you in some kind of trouble, or something?"
Tohru shook her head swiftly against the other girl's concern. "No. He scared me, that's all. I thought he'd try to attack me."
Kisa smiled again, satisfied with her sissy's answer. But on the other side of the paper thin wall, Yuki wasn't so easily satisfied.
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Why would Miss Honda lie, though?
It was dark out as they all gathered around the table."Thank you," they spoke in unison.
Kyo glared down at the leeks is distain. Yuki smiled as he took a bite. "This is amazing, Miss Honda, Kisa," he praised them both.
He glared at the cat across the table from him. "What are you looking at, pretty boy?!" Snapped the cat when he saw the glance.
Yuki turned away in annoyance, not bothering to even dignify the cat with a response. "You'll have to forgive my cousin," he said mildly, pointing a harsh look at Kyo, "He's an idiot."
Kyo jumped up in rage. "Do you wanna take this outside, you dang rat?!"He yelled at the silvered haired boy calmly eating his soup.
Yuki stood up himself after a moment. "If I have to, you stupid cat."
"You are so full of it!"
Shigure tittered his fingers nervously. "Try not to destroy the house, okay?" He said feign concerned.
Kyo snapped. "Okay, that's it!"
He moved to punch Yuki in the face, but the latter easily sidestepped. Tohru jumped up, pushing them away from each other. "No!" She gasped, "Don't fight! Violence can't solve this."
"Shut up," Kyo spat, "Who asked you to get involved?! Stupid outsider. She shouldn't even be here."
Yuki broke in, "Who we invite into this house is non of your concern. She's a guest."
Kyo shot a point look at his rival. "Just keep your GUEST far away from me!"
Tohru winced as he shoved passed her and slammed the door to his room.
"I'm sorry," she muttered to Yuki, "I should have gotten involved."
He shook his head. "No, that's alright, Miss Honda. He just needs to blow off steam, is all."
She nodded softly, unable to look him in the eye.
He continued, "Well, I won't let a meal as delicious as this go to waste."
Tohru was happy that Yuki was back to smiles. But somehow, her's only felt forced.
It was around eight that Tohru said she should go home. Yuki just grinned and told her happily that he'd walk her home.
Tohru blushed. "No, really, I'm fine. I can't ask you to walk me, that's too much!"
Yuki shook his head. "Don't be silly. There might be prowlers out there," he warned. "At least with a guard, they'll stay at bay."
Tohru finally nodded her thanks. "Okay, I guess so. Are you sure you really want to do this? I don't want to be any trouble."
He nodded. "Really, it's no trouble."
So, off they walked.
Tohru nervously shivered.
Yuki conversationally asked, "So where do you live exactly?"
Tohru beamed. "Oh, you can just leave me by the lake. I can find my own way from there."
Yuki frowned. "I can take you all the way. If you're afraid that you're being any trouble, I can assure you you are not."
Tohru shook her head. "No, it's not that. It's..." She sighed. "I live in a tent in the woods."
Yuki stopped. "For how long?" He didn't even bother to hide the concern in his voice.
Tohru thought about it really hard. "Actually, not that long. I lived with my fraternal grandfather, but our house needed renovations since my aunt and uncle and their kids moved in also." Another sigh, "Grandpa asked me if I had a place to stay, so I told me I did. I didn't want to be a bother."
Yuki smiled. "Let's go home now, okay? Shigure will be missing us."
Tohru's eyes widened. "What? Live with you guys? But, that's too much! I can't ask that of you."
The smile never left his face. "I'm doing this because I want to."
She thought it over. "I'll want to do some kind of work for my stay," she said finally. "I won't stay for free."
Yuki frowned. "No, really, that's okay. You don't have to."
She shook her head roughly. "No, I'll work for room and board. I don't want any money. And I want to know the rules of the house."
Yuki was amazed. She was offering more than enough. "You don't have to worry about it," he promised, "Just be yourself."
She had faint memories of her mother saying something along the same lines.
"Yuki?" She asked timidly.
Her soft voice jerked him out of his thoughts. "Yeah?"
A pale blush spread over her face. "Can we go home now?"
He smiled and took her hand, leading her back to the house.