I know I know… you all know that I don't own anything but I must say it regardless. Hope you enjoy the story my lovelies. :)

"Alright so you're gonna want to throw your weight into it. You're little and you're not exactly strong, so your advantage will be in your speed. If you have to throw a punch throw yourself into it, ok?" Kyo was giving me another lesson in martial arts. I was still really bad, but I looked forward to these lessons. Sometimes Yuki or Shigure watched us and had the occasional laugh as I fell over and yelled at Kyo to get back so he didn't poof into that cute little orange cat. Nevertheless a change of clothes was lying off to the side for him.

"Ok." I nodded in agreement. My hair was tied back into one long ponytail with my short bangs flipping on my forehead. The back of my neck was slick with sweat.

"Go!" He shouted at me and started launching slow and soft punches and kicks in my direction. Faithfully I dodged them. "C'mon Tohru! Punch me!" He was yelling at me again not exactly unkindly but aggressively. Obliging I launched a punch at my friend.

"Yeah! There you go Tohru! Keep going! You're not going to hit me I promise!" He was still yelling as we traded blows neither of us actually taking a hit. His fist glanced my upper arm and a look of surprise flooded his face as he felt the contact. I had caught him off guard just enough to make him pause a little. Taking advantage I dropped and swept my foot out making sure to keep my leg locked like he had taught me. Down went the mighty cat! Giggling my victory was short lived as I tumbled to the ground next to him for one reason or another. Kyo often made fun of my talent for falling over for absolutely no reason.

"Kyo!" I called uselessly as gravity brought my body down on top of him. I landed on his hard chest and was about to roll away seeing as how he'd be a cat in a matter of seconds when I felt hands with an iron grip on my shoulders. Opening my eyes I found I'd somehow managed to bring my arms up to my chest so we hadn't actually hugged. Why he had grabbed me I didn't know. Kyo didn't like to be touched too much.

"That was great Tohru!" His red eyes glittered with excitement. "You did exactly as I taught you! Except you tripped. Don't trip next time." He'd softened up from the cold exterior he'd put up when I'd first arrived. He wasn't as mean, but still just as protective. Now, his eyes turned concerned and apologetic while his grip on me loosened without him actually letting go.

"I hit you. I'm so sorry." Now he looked away from me and I could see his sorrow and regret written plainly across his face. When we'd first started these sessions he'd promised never to hit me and he promised the same thing at the beginning every day. I turned my hands over so that they were resting against his pale, broad chest. He'd taken his shirt off a while ago. I was only in a tank top and shorts and he had kept his standard baggy cargo shorts on.

"Kyo. It's all right. I did that on purpose. You told me to take advantage of any weakness of my opponent. I knew you'd hate to hit me so I didn't dodge as far as I should've so that you'd only sort of hit me. I'm sorry that I did that. It's ok Kyo. I'm ok." I looked down at his chest. How could I have done that to him? I shouldn't have done that. It just sort of happened and then it was happening and I couldn't stop it "I won't do that again. I promise." My long legs were brushed up against his, freshly shaved, and he carefully moved his hands down until they were at my waist careful not to encircle me with those arms so he would remain a man. I could feel his black and white bead bracelet pressing against my shirt. Surprised by his movement I looked up at his face and found him gazing intensely at me. He didn't say anything for a while. He just looked at me and I took the chance to look over his face. I could remember so much with him. That day at my grandpa's when he and Yuki had rescued me. Outside when he had looked away from me and told me I could tell people what I wanted. His exhausted and stricken face when he and Yuki had run back on New Year's to find me crying my eyes out. His smile on the rooftop when I had punched him. The feel of his muscular arms surrounding me after that horrible period of time when his bracelet had come off. I could remember his strangled face when Kagura hugged him. The annoyed look he gave me when I accidently changed him into a cat.

"Tohru." His spoke my name as if it was precious. As if he needed it to breath. It only really came out as a whisper or a breath of a remark. I was about to answer him when his hand moved up to my face. He cradled my face with his big, rough hand. His thumb absently rubbing across my cheekbone. I couldn't help but wonder if I had dirt on my face. Or grass. Or if my breath smelled bad. We shouldn't be lying here. What would Shigure say if he saw? Or Yuki? But I couldn't bring myself to get up. Instead, unbidden, my head leaned against his touch and begged him for more. My eyes fluttered shut as his fingers fully extended and his fingertips wound up into my hair. I felt him gently guiding my face down towards his own.

oOo

We had been sparring, as was our habit now. She had started out the day giggling and saying stupid stuff. Babbling her head off as she always did before we got down to work. She told me about what she'd down that day. If I thought she should buy more of one ingredient or what she should make for dinner. My only reply had been, not leeks. At some point it'd gotten too hot for my black shirt and I'd stripped it off. Her hair had been working its way loose the entire time. I was fine with that. I liked it better down anyways. I'd finished giving her some advice on her punches and then we'd launched into another bout. Nothing like when Yuki and I went at it, but she was getting better. She could dodge now without landing on her face. Shouting encouragement we kept going until she didn't lean far enough to the right and my fist was grazing her arm. Immediately I checked her face for any sign of hurt but she was already out of my field of sight. Before I knew it she had knocked me down onto my back. I was impressed until she tripped on something and started falling down.

"Kyo!" She screamed my name as she careened down towards me, closing her eyes and tucking her arms into her body. She landed with a soft thud and tried to roll off of me, probably thinking I'd turn into a cat even though her arms were tucked up. I grabbed her shoulders to stop her from moving. I hadn't told my arms to do that. They'd done it of their own accord but now I couldn't seem to let her go. I didn't want to. I told her I was proud of her, and I was. A week away she would barely even try to hit me and here she was taking me down. And then all I could do was apologize. I couldn't look at her. I couldn't bear to see those big blue eyes that always looked up at me so trustingly, with such care and tenderness. I couldn't face her. And then, somehow, she was apologizing to me. Her voice was filled with so much regret. I peeked at her to find her staring down at my chest. I felt her shift her legs as she was talking, those long, smooth, beautiful legs. Her lip quivered dangerously. I hated it when she cried. I really truly hated it. I wished so badly to not be Sohma right then. Not to get rid of the curse. I could probably live with the curse of my 'true form,' but she needed a hug right now and I wanted to give her one. If I did I would leave her though. I would become a cat and she would feel terrible… No, I couldn't give her a hug but I could get damn close. Slowly a slid my hands down her body so that they rested on her narrow waist. She looked up at me, startled, and our eyes locked.

"Tohru." I said her name like it was the only thing that kept me sane, and some days it was. It was a breath and I didn't know if she heard it or not. Without warning my hand was moving from its spot on her waist up to her face. Oh God, it felt good to hold her like this. She had an adorable little spot of dirt on her cheekbone from when she'd fallen earlier. Absentmindedly I reached out with my thumb to rub it away. A moment too late I realized my hands might be too big and rough, but then her eyes were fluttering shut and she leaned into my touch. Her lips parted as she exhaled a little breath I hadn't known she was holding. Gently, not on impulse anymore, I began guiding her beautiful face towards mine. Her breathing was shallow and every single one of her muscles tensed up, but she kept leaning into my hand and towards me. Her dainty, little fingers curled up on my chest and then uncurled like she wanted to grab something.

And then I had to stop. Her face was achingly close to mine. I could feel her heart beating quickly through her shirt. My own heart echoed hers and fell into sync. My breathing matched hers as well. She was so close. It would be so easy to just bring her down the next half inch but I couldn't do it. I just couldn't. This had to be something that she wanted too. It broke my soul knowing what I had to do. Roughly I pushed her off and away from me, getting up too quickly I gruffly called to her over my shoulder as I walked away, grabbing my shirt.

"We're done for today. Good work Tohru."

Second or third chapter? Yes? No? Maybe? You know what to do. Read and review. Have a nice day. :)