Fruits Ripe

Episode 2g

Tohru's POV (shifts into 3rd)

Tohru sighs while walking home through the forest in the dark. It was a quiet night perfect for her to be able to get lost in her thoughts.

She thought about what Kyo said to her at school, 'Stop causing problems and get out of here!'

She thought to herself, "When I said I'd quit being the Dog and become a Cat instead, I really meant it with all my heart. I can't believe the real Cat spirit hates me." And said the last bit aloud.

She then thought of what her mom would say, 'Just be you, Tohru.'

She knew her mom was right, "I know I should be, mom. This won't bring me down."

The sounds of gravel crunching shook her out of her thoughts. She gasped, not seeing anything, Tohru was sufficiently freaked out. The only other sounds came from the wind blowing.

"Don't tell me... Is this... some creepy forest pervert?" She thought terrified. She raised her back with her eyes closed tightly and swung it hitting Kyo right in the face. "Go away!"

Not expecting to be hit, but not wanting to yell at her again, he promptly turns away from her.

Tohru gasped as she opened her eyes and seen that she hit Kyo, " Oh, oh no. Sorry, I was just doing practice swings! Lucky running into you out here! Are you going for a walk?" She tried to make up for it, but ended up rambling, not noticing Lily checking his face with amusement written all over hers.

Kyo getting tired of her rambling defeatedly told her, "Cut it out. So, you hit me. Whatever. Just drop it."

Tohru a bit wary and confused responded, "Okay. Uh, Kyo?"

Kyo gently took Lily hands off his face from her inspection and replied to Tohru calling his name in the same tone. "Yeah, what?"

"I was just saying your name," Tohru still looked confused, but sounded sincere causing Lily to facepalm.

Kyo got a bit aggrieved by that and quickly turned to dace Tohru and somewhat shouted, "Well, it sounded like you were calling me!"

Tohru surprised by his sudden mood change just said, "Sorry."

Kyo catches himself from losing his temper and covers the top half of his face with his hand before telling her, "No, it's fine. You can say my name without needing something. And I know you don't mean to cause any problems for us. And if I piss you off, you can go ahead and hit me, I don't care." He made eye contact with both Lily and Tohru when saying this to let them know he meant both of them. Seeing Kyo get so shy and blushing, Lily thought it was really cute and gave him a nod.

Tohru took a second to think about what he said, "Am I reading this wrong, or is he trying to apologize? Is that why he's out here? To find me?-" Coming out of her thoughts she says, "Hey, Kyo. I'm sorry I hurt you" and bows. As she rises up with a sudden determination she continues blushing, "But the honest truth is, I thought you were a pervert, that's why I swung my bag at you!"

Kyo looked shocked and whispered to himself [he had a WTF did she say? face] in disbelief, "Me? A pervert?"

Tohru continued, "I actually really like you! I have always loved the zodiac Cat!"

"Uh..." he didn't know how to respond to that.

Tohru at this point finally noticed Lily, "I'm serious. I even wanted to be born the Year of the Cat. Me and Lily both, wait I'm confusing you. What I mean is, I want all 3 of us to be friends!"

Kyo blushes and takes a moment to comprehend what Tohru said, not knowing what to say. Lily goes and stands next to Tohru and spoke up softly looking Kyo in the eye, "I'd love for us to be friends as well."

At their words Shigure saying, "What'll you do if she does exist?" came to mind for Kyo. "A girl who says she loves you."

Kyo blushed and walked around the 2 girls while responding, "Ugh. Nothing's good about the Year of the Cat, okay?"

Kyo starts walking towards the house, while Tohru was lost in thought lags behind. Lily lets her and goes to follow Kyo back to the house knowing she'll follow soon. Lily smiled and nudged Kyo a bit as she caught up seeing he was fighting the blush down.

Tohru smiled while watching them, "I think... I might be starting to understand him, just a little bit. He can be awkward sometimes, yes, but I think he has a gentle heart. He knows what it feels like to be sorry. And he's an honest person." Then she caught up on the other side of Lily. They walked back in silence.

Back at Shigure's house during dinner

All 5 of them sat at the table as Tohru insisted she made dinner that night.

Shigure teases Kyo after learning what happened, "Why, Kyo, you lecherous little deviant!"

Kyo blushes a bit, but covered it by shouting back, "What gives you the right to call me that?!"

Shigure continues to tease Kyo with a smile, "You know, Tohru, he personally offered to walk you back from work so you'd get home safe and sound."

Kyo was quick to try and cover it up by telling her, "That was a one-time thing; it won't happen again."

Tohru didn't mind anymore figuring it was just Kyo's personality and calmly replied, "Okay. But I'm glad you're here. It's really nice to see you eating a proper meal with us. So how is it? Up to your standards?"

Kyo was caught off guard by how calm she was and looked away, but made eye contact with Yuki accidently, "What do you want?"

Yuki simply responded, "Nothing."

Kyo continues not backing down, "You were looking at me."

Yuki tells him in the same tone, "You're in front of me."

Kyo comments, "Sure, like you'd gimme that look for no reason!"

Tohru (our bundle of wrong place and wrong time) askes Kyo, "Is the food that bad?"

"It is!" Kyo explodes. Everyone pauses for a second as Kyo realizes he exploded at the wrong person again. Lily just watched from the sidelines thoroughly amused.

Tohru sounded a bit dejected, but responded to him sincerely, "Then I'll try harder next time."

Kyo tried to fix it but came out a bit awkward blushing, "I mean. Uh, no."

Lily looked around before clearing her throat, "I have the preview page for you Nee-san. If it interests you guys, you can look too" she said softly, she was so shy she was blushing. "Oh of course you don't have to it's just Shigure-nii, you asked what my second job was."

"Oh! I can finally know? How wonderful," Shigure eyes lit up as he smiled at her. "Hurry boys, we're waiting on you to finish your food, oh I'm excited."

Lily got up taking the finished dishes to the sink before going upstairs to get the pre cover the modeling company sent her. She was a bit embarrassed, she's only shown Tohru before but the Sohma's were growing on her. She thought about it and decided to change into her pajamas before going back down. She pulled out a white two piece and took off everything before putting it on. She grabbed a thin robe and grabbed her things again

As she was leaving their room, she saw her medication on the dresser. They didn't have any water upstairs, so she grabbed it to take downstairs while they look at the cover. Getting back downstairs she saw that everyone was still there, much to her surprise. They already cleared the table except for a cup of tea in front of each of them. She sat down next to Tohru and shyly sat the cover in the middle of the table and sitting her medication in between her and Tohru. The boys were showing so many emotions and blushing heavily from her outfit before looking at the cover she brought down. Finally they were able to advert their eyes, but blushed even more at the name and nature of some of the images.

"Ah, you know I thought your figure looked familiar. So you're a part time model, right?" Shigure questioned his eyes dazed a bit. "Aya would definitely love you."

"Wait, you're Fairy!" Kyo shouted cherry red.

"Yeah," Lily smiled widely showing off her dimples making Shigure have a nose bleed. "Oh gosh, are you guys fans!!"

"I've heard of you being a guest on one of my favorite shows, but I didn't know it was you just heard the name. Figures the perverts know you more intimately." Yuki told her honestly while teasing Kyo and Shigure.

"I'm not a pervert! Master likes buying magazines for the waiting room in the dojo and the living room for when he gets bored okay" Kyo yelled and blushed even more which both sisters thought was impossible, but they were proven very wrong.

"Well You look so adorable!!!" Tohru squealed out while hugging Lily tightly.

"Thank you. Well do you guys like it? Which one is your favorite?" Her questions were innocent enough, however only Shigure noticed the amusement and mischief in her eyes and was more than willing to play along.

"I love the nude covered in body paint," Shigure pointed out smirking as he looked closer earning a punch on both sides of his head before Tohru looked closely to pick one.

" I really love the wedding dress, it's just so pretty" Tohru decided nodding before passing it to Yuki who was closer to her.

"uh um I like the Princess dress," Yuki shyly pointing at it with his own blush to rival Kyos, then threw it at Kyo. "Here stupid cat."

"Damn rat, who said I wanna pick, huh!?" Kyo shouted before realizing what he said and trying to reword it, but it was too late.

Ohhh our own Kyo, it was hard for me to decide too don't feel bad," Shigure told him

"That doesn't make me feel better!" he shouted at the older man's teasing.

"So you like them all?" Lily asked Kyo making him freeze

"I think you broke him," Shigure commented thoroughly amused, he had the perfect view sitting in between the boys.

"I did a bathing suit one today, I should get that one back in about a week or 2 weeks, then you guys can pick from that one too. After all we're friends now aren't we, Kyo, Yuki, Gure-nii," Lily said in a husky, seductive tone once Tohru had gotten up to go to the kitchen. She lowered her volume a bit more slowly leaning over the table to pick up the magazine before biting her lip and batting her eyelashes softly having all 3's attention. "I mean you're the first boys I let see any of my early covers there the more revealing ones mixed in with the others. Some they might use others maybe not, it's up to you."

"You little minx," Shigure growled softly grabbing her chin to pull her closer. She took advantage of his hand on her cheek sliding his thumb in her mouth.

She let it pop out of her mouth before she slid back in her seat as Tohru walked in the room, "Alright let's take your medicine before you start experiencing some side effects."

"Thank you Toto-nii," She teased causing Tohru to blush. She didn't seem to notice the 3 guys who were still malfunctioning.

"Definitely side effects, have you been feeling more more blushed or dizzy or was it dazed?" Tohru asked handing her the pills.

"Yeah," she shrugged nonchalantly and dry swallowed her pills before downing some water. "Good night boys," she winked at them as she sauntered out of the living room magazine and pill bottles in hand.

"Night I'll be up in a bit," Tohru called after her finally noticing the boys. "You guys okay?"

"Yeah fine Night."

"Tch whatever.

"I'll help Ms. Honda."

"She must've done it again," Tohru chuckled before following Yuki to the kitchen.

Tohru put all the dishes in the dish washer before heading up and thinking to herself, "As you can see, Mom, we patched things up. And I have a feeling the days ahead will be fun!"

End Episode 2